Wiping my system before installing Windows
Channel: AUTOHOTKEY Gurus
Date: 2023-08-15

TLDR: The key idea of the video is to emphasize the importance of backing up personal files and taking necessary precautions before wiping the system and reinstalling Windows.

1. 00:00 🔧 Wiping the system before installing Windows is important, so back up personal files, be cautious of programs like Outlook, back up the registry, and check temporary files for valuable information.
 1.1 Preparing to install Windows 11 from scratch, the speaker discusses the importance of wiping the system and making a checklist to ensure all necessary files and data are backed up or stored in the cloud.
 1.2 Keep personal files on a separate drive to avoid losing them during a Windows reinstall, and be cautious of programs like Outlook that store data on the C drive and may not be backed up.
 1.3 Backing up the registry allows users to easily transfer their program configurations to a new computer, making them a power user.
 1.4 The speaker discusses wiping their system before installing Windows and going through their start menu and program files to determine which programs they want to reinstall.
 1.5 The speaker found some important files in the temporary directory that were created in the last three months and suggested that temporary files might contain valuable information.

2. 05:36 🔧 Create a backup USB or CD before reinstalling Windows to avoid booting issues, use Rufus to make a bootable USB, and consider the pros and cons of swapping out an nvme drive.
 2.1 Create a live USB or CD before reinstalling Windows to have a backup in case the installation fails and your computer doesn't boot.
 2.2 Rufus is a tool that allows you to create a bootable USB with an ISO file, which can be used as a backup environment in case your computer doesn't start.
 2.3 The speaker discusses the benefits and drawbacks of swapping out an nvme drive, highlighting the convenience of being able to revert to the old configuration if necessary, but also mentioning the annoyance of the physical installation process and the limitation of only having one drive.
 2.4 The speaker discusses formatting their drive and preparing for installing Windows 11, including experimenting with registry settings and having a backup plan in case something goes wrong.

3. 10:01 🔧 Unplugging the battery can reset a computer, automatic backups are important for storing messages, and having a secondary hardware or live USB is recommended for backing up files before wiping the system and installing Windows.
 3.1 The speaker had a computer issue after making a BIOS setting change, which resulted in the computer not booting and the speaker being unable to access the BIOS.
 3.2 Unplugging the battery resets the system, which is helpful in avoiding potential issues, and disconnecting WhatsApp can result in the loss of messages if not backed up.
 3.3 Set up automatic backups for your computer to ensure that important messages are stored on an online server, accessible even if your computer or internet is lost.
 3.4 Having a secondary hardware or a live USB is recommended for easily accessing and backing up files before wiping the system and installing Windows, especially if registry tweaks on a phone are involved.

4. 13:58 💾 Back up all files before wiping your system to avoid data loss, including the tricky app data folder and Google Chrome's local and local low folders.
 4.1 The speaker discusses the importance of backing up files before wiping a system and mentions the tricky location of the app data folder.
 4.2 Files are saved in the program files folder, but the roaming folder is useful in a network environment as it automatically saves and shares settings between computers.
 4.3 Google Chrome saves large databases and files in the local and local low folders, with the local folder being the preferred choice for saving data, while the program data folder was the precursor to these folders.
 4.4 Copy all files before wiping the system to avoid losing data.

5. 18:56 📝 It is important to save folders and settings in the app data folder, check the C drive for customized files, make a list of necessary files and programs, and use TreeSize to delete cache files and free up storage space before wiping the system and installing Windows.

6. 23:06 📝 The speaker discusses a browser extension and a method of organizing program installations, as well as their lack of use for USB and CD/DVD drives

7. 27:51 💡 Remember to talk to someone experienced to minimize forgotten things, save settings to the cloud, use shortcuts and portable apps, and store important files in Dropbox when reinstalling Windows