Import or Restore Data Guide
If you reinstall your pc before it crashes, you will not have to bother about integrating your data, just use the "files and settings transfer wizard" in Windows XP or the “windows easy transfer” in Windows Vista. These tools will make sure everything is transferred and integrated. However as this website is dedicated to computers that do not start any more, you will not be able to run one of those wizards.
After reinstalling your Windows, drivers and applications, it is time to reintegrate the data from the backup you made earlier. By integrating I mean copying to the locations in windows so that for example my documents contains your documents so you do not have to go to your backup folder to access them. It also covers integrating your email messages into outlook or outlook express, putting back your favorites into Internet Explorer.
First scan for viruses: before reintegrating your data, scan it for viruses as viruses might be the cause of your pc not starting in the first place.
For Windows XP: look for your username in the documents and settings folder. Look for the subfolders “my documents” and “favorites” . Copy those folders into your user folder in the new documents and settings folder of your windows installation, usually c:\documents and settings\username.
For Windows Vista: look for the folder “users” in the root of your backup folder or disk, depending where you made the copy.. Copy all the folders you want to integrate in the newly installed windows vista to c:\users\”your username”
How to import emails from a backup highly depends on the email client you are using, the Windows version, the Office version etc. You can post any import question in our forum.
Here is an example how to integrate emails from a backup from Outlook Express:
Open outlook express on the newly installed windows XP Start the Import wizard with File -> Import. Choose Messages. Select "Microsoft Outlook Express 6". Then "Import mail from an OE6 store directory." Now click on Browse and locate the folder in your backup where the dbx files reside. It's default location is
C:\Windows\Application Data\Outlook Express\{GUID}
or
C:\Documents and Settings\
where {GUID} is the Global Unique IDentifier (technical jargon for a unique long number) used to specify an Identity.
