How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without Losing your Data

Learn how to use Dell's Data Safe Backup and Restore utility to reinstall your Operating system, without losing data already on your system.

Reinstalling the operating system can be performed using the recovery options in your hard drive. If performed incorrectly, this process may result in data loss.

To recover the operating system, connect the PC to a wall socket and restart. Keep tapping the F8 key until you see the 'Advanced Boot Options'.

Using the arrow keys select "Repair your computer" and hit enter. Follow the onscreen prompts, and on the system recovery options screen select "Dell Datasafe Restore and Emergency Backup".

On the following screen, option 1 is to restore the computer by perserving your new or changed files. Option 2 is to "Select other System Backup and more options".

Choose option 2 to backup your files and restore your computer. In this video, let's choose option 1 to restore your computer by perserving the files. Click 'Next'.

The system will scan and ask for the types of files you want to perserve. Select your categories. Click "advanced" to select specific files. Click 'Next' when done.

Select the destination to save the files. If you want to save the files to a usb drive or external drive, connect the drive click "refresh". Click 'Next' to proceed.

Do not turn off your computer during this process. That's it! The system will complete the installation in about 30 minutes, and restore it to it's initial factory settings..