WINDOWS REINSTALLATION

 

Windows damaged beyond repair? Computer too cluttered and slow?

Want your computer to run like new again?

 

LABOR RATE:

  

EITHER

 

$120.00

(with diagnostic)

Check for software and hardware issues that may or may not exist. Reformat drive, reinstall Windows and latest Windows service packs & updates, reinstall hardware drivers.

charges $199.00 for this item

OR

$100.00

(NO diagnostic)

Reformat drive, reinstall Windows and latest Windows service packs & updates, reinstall hardware drivers but with NO diagnostic or attempt to "repair" existing Windows installation.

FREE (optional)

Do you have critical data on your drive? Includes safety clone backup of up to 100 GB of your personal data plus migration of your data to the "new" installation, including 1 virus scan. This item does not include any restoration or re-configuring of that data. Data is simply dropped into a folder on the "new" installation.

NOTE: Not a data "recovery" off of a drive that isn't recognized by Windows, which would cost extra for data "recovery".

Keep in mind that if you are migrating old data onto a new Windows installation, there is no guarantee that any virus scan will be 100% effective.

charges at least $99.00 for this item

+ $0.25 (optional)

For each additional 5 GB of data ( over 100 GB ) to be migrated.

FREE (optional)

Labor to replace hard drive -- Highly recommended if you have critical data on the drive that hasn't been backed up. Now would be an opportune time to upgrade to a new, even larger hard drive. Your old drive itself will serve a backup of your critical personal data.

charges $49.00 for this item

FREE (optional)

Installation of FREE antivirus software (Microsoft Security Essentials) if you don't already have it.

charges $99.00 for "protection"

FREE (optional)

Installation of any of these extra "basic necessity" trusted freeware programs Mozilla Firefox, OpenOffice, AbiWord, Adobe Reader, Flash player.

FREE (optional)

Install drivers for up to 2 peripheral devices (printer, scanner, etc). Add $10 for each additional device. NOTE: You must bring in peripheral devices to insure functionality.

+ $10.00 per user

(optional)

User specific "files & settings" migration of Internet Explorer settings (but not passwords), Outlook settings and store, Outlook Express settings and stores, Dial-Up connections, Phone and modem options, Fonts, Folder options, Taskbar settings, Mouse and keyboard settings, Regional options, Network drives and printers, Desktop folder, My Documents folder (but not encrypted folders), My Pictures folder, Favorites, folder, Cookies folder, Accessibility, Screen saver selection, Sounds settings, Office settings, Common Office file types. This item does NOT include "secure" data such as encrypted files, nor any passwords. NOTE: "Old" computer must be able to boot to the desktop.

+ $10.00 (optional)

Certificate backup & migration: This is a must if you have critical "secure" data such as encrypted folders & files, or Internet Explorer passwords. NOTE: "Old" computer must be able to boot to the desktop to backup the certificate, or you should have previously backed up the certificate.

+ $10.00 (optional)

Non-Microsoft email data migration (example: Thunderbird saved emails, address book, settings). "Old" computer does not have to be able to boot to the desktop.

+ $10.00 (optional)

Non-Microsoft web browser data migration (example: Firefox data including passwords, bookmarks, form field data, cookies, etc.) "Old" computer does not have to be able to boot to the desktop.

+ $5.00 (optional)

Each additional program reinstalled other than Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird, 1 anti-virus program of your choice, OpenOffice, AbiWord, Windows Media Player, Adobe Reader, Flash player. Does not include custom configuration of or importing of personal settings or data into any programs. Just simple installation. This price does not include installation of complex programs such as Final Cut Pro, Pro Tools, etc.

charges $34.99 for this item
   

+ $20.00 (optional)

Pickup and delivery of your computer if you are not dropping it off

Reinstallation of Windows may include some or all of the following as needed:

 

Plan out the repair based on your needs

Create safety clone backup of your existing drive if you have critical data that has not been backed up

Back up license keys for various add-on software if any

Insure that you have a valid Windows product key, recover key if needed

Determine Windows version

Back up certificate(s) if any

Back up migratable user data and settings

Backup email account settings and data

Backup passwords when possible

Back up hardware drivers

Zero wipe disk when necessary

Reinstall Windows and hardware drivers

Install anti-virus software

Install basic necessity software programs

Install additional software programs if any

Virus scan data if needed

Import data

Reconfigure email account settings and data

Test cable Internet connection

Test computer and peripherals for proper functionality

WORK TIME: Typically 24 hours from the time computer is dropped off. Add 1/2 to 1 more day if migrating or configuring data.

 

Before going the "reinstall route" your computer situation must be carefully evaluated.  Understand the pros and cons of a reinstall first.

  •  Years of registry entries & deletions, accumulation & removal of programs, and infection& removal of viruses can take a toll on a computer's performance and behavior. Yes, one option is to clean, tweek and optimize your computer ("software repair" without doing a reinstall) but sometimes this can be a wasted "wild goose chase" that leaves less than gratifying results. If you have a valid Windows product key, drivers CD and other important software installation CD's, you don't have critical data and settings to migrate and re-configure (such as saved emails), then a reinstall is usually the best choice. Otherwise extra labor is needed to reload things like emails and Internet bookmarks and settings.
  •  Or sometimes a computer has major Windows operating system problems (such as damage left behind by viruses) that cannot be remedied or adequately remedied by using the various Windows and third party repair/recovery tools, and PCR "behind the curtain" fixes. This may leave no other recourse than to reformat the original hard drive (or install a new drive) and then reinstall Windows.  Critical data must first be first backed up. Programs (such as PhotoShop, MicroSoft Word, etc) cannot be "backed up". Programs must be reinstalled. Even if your computer won't start or "resolve" to the desktop, there are methods to access and temporarily save your critical data to a secondary hard drive so that it can later be re-migrated to the new Windows installation or new hard drive. 

QUESTION: I have many software programs installed on my unbootable computer and I've lost all of my original software program CD's (such as TurboTax, PhotoShop, MicroSoft Word). I don't want to lose these software programs as a result of reformatting and reinstalling Windows. Can you "back up" my software programs? Or can you use the "cloning" method to save all or part of my C drive instead of doing the complete Windows reinstallation method? My program files are installed on the same volume (C drive) as Windows.

ANSWER: No and No. You cannot "back up" software programs and then reinstall them on a new computer or fresh new Windows installation. The programs would simply cease to operate if the associated files were copied over to a new installation. The "cloning" method would unfortunately clone the entire "damaged" system drive, leaving you with the same inoperable or fussy system. 

In the future you can protect against such a "disaster" by using an additional volume (such as "D" drive) for redundant backup of your C drive using Norton Ghost or other utility. Ideally you have a one time full backup PLUS an incremental backup (that constantly saves only data that has changed). 

NOTE: PCR will make a good faith effort to protect your data. Protecting your data is priority one. However neither Palisades Computer Repair nor it’s repair tech will be liable for any loss of data, time, business or anticipatory profits, special or consequential damages by accepting any item for data backup, repair or alteration / enhancement. Customer is fully responsible to backup any important data. Data includes any and all contents found on your hard drive(s) including but not limited to programs, drivers, documents, settings, configurations, passwords, encryption keys and other keys, photos, movies, audio content, emails, etc.

GO BACK