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Restore CDs

These are CDs supplied by a computer manufacturer. Their pupose is to restore the computer to the same state it was in when it left the factory. Sounds good - yes?

Except, and it’s a big except: these CDs typically do not preserve ANYTHING that has been stored on the computer after it left the factory!

These CDs are great for the manufacturers - when things do go wrong (and they will go wrong) their final resolution to the problem is to blame software (programs) that have been installed later (by you) and that they will not be responsible for a repair or replacement untill you prove it is not these programs that are causing the problems. Often the only way they will accept that it is their hardware is if the computer is restored back to it’s original factory settings and then tested again.That’s easy for them to say, but what about all your data - photos, emails, letters and settings etc. it’s all stored on a now mis-behaving computer. You are in a classic catch-22 situation! Use the Restore CDs and the data is gone, Don’t and you can’t use or get to the data anyway.
 

Restore Partitions

Restore partitions are even worse than restore CDs. Not only are they your responsibility but they typically take up 4-5 Gb. of your hard disk space. Once again you normally only have one choice of problem solving - do the Restore and the result is that same as restore CDs - the computer is now as it was when it left the factory. Your information is gone.

Worse in the case of hard drive failure and you have not created a set of Restore CD’s from the Restore Partition. You have no partition and No CDs. This situation turns a major problem into a complete crisis.

So what’s the alternative?

At Guildford Computers we always supply a real original Windows installation CD. Plus original driver disks for the internal components of the computer. With a windows installation disk you can put windows back on the computer without destroying your data! It needs a little thought and probably some prompting from our techies but it is not rocket science. There are some guidelines on our recovery page.

Once windows is up and working again you can then manipulate your files and re-install programs to get back where you were before most problems occured.
 

If you want real peace of mind when storing valuable or irreplacable data on a computer remember this:

Backup, Backup, Backup!

Never have your data stored in only once place or on one piece of equipment.

If the computer fails or windows will not start and you don’t have backups

Don’t use restore CDs or Restore partiton programs!

Provided it is not a complete hard drive failure we can probably help - Your data is still there, It’s just that you can’t see it or display it. Even if you did not buy the PC from us - give us a call - our prices are reasonable.