Czuch: that is a risk only you can decide on....personally I wouldnt trust/do it, but it does have to be your decision.....that way only YOU are to blame if/when you lose everything.......sorry

Czuch: Save to disk (CD or DVD or memory stick) all data you want. It's best you save it yourself.

They are cheap enough (especially CD's) and you can make multiple backups if you want.

Then re-install if you wish.
But use a registry cleaner and a window washer after, as there will be alot of rubbish left over from all the bits you install. It'll keep your machine running faster.

But this is if your 'problem' cannot be corrected only.. as it takes hours especially if Microsoft are slow with all the updates you need to download.

(V): if you read below he said "if I do not have any cds or removable storage"

Bernice: I know... but they are cheap enough to purchase very easily. Even if he has no CD writer, a memory stick is pennies these days.

(V): Yeah, but I am also lazy.... then I would have to go through every file myself and manually download it myself.... this external one might be a risk, but they do all the work for me, we shall see how lucky I am if it works, and if not, well it is a new year anyway, I will take it as a sign that its time to tidy things up a bit anyway!!

Czuch: No... you copy the whole folder after deleting any files you don't want.

Depends on the size of "My documents" you have but you might be able to do it in one action. The other thing.... Buy a cheap external HD. Sales are on are they not.

(V): not just documents...also contact lists pictures music, I guess i am just ignorant about these kinds of things, but it seems like a lot of click and drag and looking around to find and copy specific files i want to back up?

Czuch: As I said, delete the ones you don't want and if they are all in one folder you can just back up the folder. I had to re-install our PC recently and I just copied whole folders to disk and let the PC do the work.

But it means to do this easily that you've kept ya stuff together and not willy nilly. How big is all the data, etc?

(V): Dude, i am so bad.. I have files scattered all over who knows where! This is now a hope and a prayer kind of operation... I have already finished downloading pretty much all of my files to this web site, and soon i will clear my laptop back to factory new, then hope to get these files back and then hope to get them back with no type of virus then hope my machine works better than ever before!

Czuch: My suggestion if you've done the downloading is to when you get them back to put them in folders and keep ya files neat and tidy.

.. Trust me... it makes your life much easier. I've worked in enough offices and run enough accounts depts to know how much easier it makes ya life.

And before you get the files back, make sure your anti virus software is running and upto date and scan all the files.