[(JD)]

Hey folks, I have an issue with my computer and need to use my backup disk to correct it. (The computer won't accept any updates as it has a corrupted file, only available on the original back up disk.)

The problem is, the computer didn't come with any disks and I had to make my own back ups...and I did--3 of them to be sure! However NONE of them are proper backup/restore disks!!!

Sooooo... I see where the computer, a Dell, has it's own "data safe online backup" and my original backup (from 2011 ) is there... however I cannot access it. I had premier account in the past...came with the computer but don't know how to access the online account.

To make matters worse, Dell is obliterating the "online data safe" in June. I've been having issues for months (microsoft update issues) and have only now figured out I am missing a component (or it's corrupted) that is only available on the original backup.

If you have ideas, and can provide links (even to Dell how to, what to do, fix it) please do.

I'd hate to have to buy a new computer just because I can't update this one!

[-jimi-]

If the computer is still up and running, you can extract your Windows key from your system with a program made for those things. Then back up anything you want to save. After that you simply go fetch your Windows version from a safe download site and put it as an ISO file so you have a bootable CD or thumb drive. And totally start over with a new Windows copy and your valid Windows key.

That would create an original Windows copy, not sure if it is what you started with. Some computers come with Windows tweaked for that specific brand and/or with extra software, this way you won't have that. And that might not be ideal if your version included something extra you actually paid for. Some of these things also come with extractable keys though.

[January]

I talked with a tech friend for you and he suggests if you know someone who has the same computer you have, to borrow their system restore disc; that might work. He suggests failing that, install the exact same version of regular Windows and it should restore it. Then you boot from the DVD and it will give you the option to restore Windows.

[(JD)]

Thanks. It's funny how once I ask for help the solution comes... keeps me humble.

Sigh. I have no friends IRL and haven't a clue who has a computer. The Windows came loaded on the computer and I haven't a clue about a key.

However, I was finally able to access the on-computer backup in the dell data safe.
It totally reverted my system to 2011 <gasp> and supposedly put all my "current" files some where but I haven't a clue where it put them. I wanted it to go onto my external HD...since I don't have a flash drive large enough...it kept wanting to put it on a dvd or a hotstick and nothing I have takes nearly 9 GB of data... so now I have to go looking.

I had already backed up all my photographs though, onto the ext HD.
Not sure about my documents... but all my worker comp forms are on the ext HD...

None of my Hebrew classes are on the computer any more...so I need to go download those again... sigh.

I had a doost of a time (Scottish term) making it find my email though... the email provider wanted a stronger password now (have you noticed they all do...all sites like that ) and so then I had to go put in the new password on my smart phone... and there's still one email addy (professional use) that I can't find the info on to activate that. Sigh.

Reloading avast... disabling IE and Windows defender... next step WebEx and camera for class... arrrggghhH!!!!!

BUT at least the computer updated now. Which was the point.

[(JD)]

arrggghhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Well it had to be done BUT

I am STILL installing printer drivers and photoshop programs and and and... everytime I turn around to do something.... I have to go find it to install it.

AND on the internet there is always a few hundred sites that pretend to be the original you want and then after you are SURE and download it...you find it isn't and they want money...

then you have to go into your control panel and delete the program from your computer and half of them then make you restart your computer to finish the job...



Something keeps removing my Mozilla... I've had to reinstall that 3x now. And then there are creep on programs that become your default searcher or home page... and you read through all those agreement pages and nowhere did they say they were adding on that garbage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's been hours tonight just trying to get my printer noticed so I can print pages of homework for class ... and class is tomorrow night and they don't open their email the same day (because class is 3 am for the instructors).

I need to figure out if the webex camera and program are working...

arrgggh oh yeah and the avast program keeps yelling THREAT HAS BEEN DETECTED on everything I'm trying to download to restore my computer.... so I have to determine that it IS what I want and add it to the exclusion list. I have NO IDEA why the computer can't go into the external harddrive where the backup files are and find these things. I just can't seem to keep up with technology. They bravo the new technology yet it isn't for us, it's for the tech companies... everytime windows updates it blocks the other competitor programs and instills it's own (like windows defender which I do NOT use)... and makes the computer slow to boot and impossible to use until I find all the changes.

[(JD)]

UNbelievable !!!

It has taken me hours (last night and this am) to figure this one out. iTunes would not load... I mean download. It kept thanking me for downloading it but I could not find it anywhere... figuring I had more than 10 downloads of it SOME place but no...

I had to find the place to "allow" the site... ok, still no download... shut the avast OFF for 10 minutes... downloaded? nope nowhere.... changed browser back to IE... nope no good.... went into every program I could possibly find... changed the location of downloads to go to the desktop so I didn't have to go looking... but no...

Guess what? As soon as I agreed with apple to allow updates and ads from them, it downloaded! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[possum220]

I never used Avast. Having been hacked I found it was installed on my system by the people who "fixed" my computer. Grrrr. It was not very friendly and did not play nicely with my other programs. I had to get rid of it. (Meaning my brother did ).

Are you able to take it to a decent computer place and ask them to do what you need? They may be pricey but they will be able to fix it in a quarter of the time and frustration that you find yourself in.

If you ask around the friends who have computers maybe you can find a decent computer company where you live.

[(JD)]

Thanks possum.

Well I had worse experiences with both McAfee and Norton...and DocJohn back then recommended it...

Funny, just as this was going on Angie's List offered 2 or 4 hours of computer tech time for like $50 and I almost jumped on it.

I have things under control now, and it would take more time to write down and explain stuff of how I want it to someone else than to just fix it as I go...

My old computer I had taken in to Office Depot and had the fix it program on there for it... but alas it's gone I think, won't even see the CD to wipe the mother board lol I mean, it might be but maybe it's just the monitor gone? I've put it on my long list of things to do... hook it up to the TV and see if the computer works but not the monitor.

Things like finding the all-in-one printer CD and making it see the network...and reinstalling my Photo Shop program... sigh.

But alas, all the updates have been done successfully (well, one glitch that rebooting fixed )...

I am amazed at what was remembered though...like my SN and password for psychcentral.

[(JD)]

Okay... now I'm having a brand new issue I have NEVER encountered before. Obviously it's something of a new program (updated? option?) that highlights in light blue certain terms that "it" has a definition for... even in the arcade it's doing this to parts of the game names.

Where to look for this one?

never mind. I right clicked on one of the definitions and saw something referring to yahoo...that's the search engine I use... so in the options it has "show suggestions" and that was it! Whew.

[possum220]

Hiya JD,

Good to see that you have things sorted. Hopefully it will stay fixed.... forever. We do live in hope.

[(JD)]

I doubt forever~ for notebooks anyway...

the blue font came back I don't care.

I had to uninstall and reinstall my all in one printer a few times... making sure to shut down everything, unplug it from a/c and each other and keep the virus program from blocking it (in which I was NOT online but had a virus anyway that I guess was "waiting" for that 10 minute window where I shut down the firewall

I have everything on both an external HD and DVDs... but have no understanding of how to use them to reboot if I had to... once Dell no longer supports the datasafe...

BUT the computer is 4 years old and the printer is 6.

So I must be gentle.