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@slugmed wrote:

sorry, I think I am a dolt.  I have searched and scoured the forums and gone to

the referred help sites and I still don't know the answers:

 

1.  can I save my game folders (the executables etc.) or do I have to reinstall

the games from their repective cds? I know I can save the 'save game' folders but

the exes?

 

No, reinstall.

 

2.  must I use the dell driver cd when I reinstall?  By that I mean I have mostly

kept up with new drivers (sound, vid) and the dell cd would be REALLY old ones.

If I must use the dell cd, then I'll have to use driver cleaner and get rid of

them and install the newer forceware, right?  or can I just have a backup of my

new drivers and use those instead of the dell cd??

 

Backup newer ones, but you have to do CHIPSET first. 

 

3.  same question for the bios. I am on A03, the latest for this machine. Will I

need to flash the bios again?? or is there a way to back it up  and install from the backup external hard drive??

 

Bios is unaffected.

 

4. would it be better to just save things one by one to an external hard drive,

or should I use Acronis True Image 9.0?  and if I DO use acronis, can I pick out

what i want reinstalled???

 

I use Ghost, not True Image, but for just backing up data unless it's in a separate partition it would be a pain.  I do keep my data in a separate partition though.

thank you thank you...i feel so stupid. and my palms are sweaty just thinking about the reinstall.

 

Way too much info...  :smileyvery-happy:

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@slugmed wrote:

where do I find what chipset drivers I have now?  I think I went all through device manager but nothing.  I do have a folder with the latest drivers in C:Dell etc. so I know from the date I at least downloaded them.  but are they installed....hmmmmm?

 

thanks again...most appreciated  :)

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