Backing Up My System

Okay first off I am not even sure this is what I want to do.
But I want my computer to go back to its original everything.
and I have my Gateway Operating system disc ready.
But it does delete all my files.
on my windows vista.


I am trying to figure out if I can back up all my files and it not be deleted.
(how would I go about doing that?)
Is that what I really want to do, or is there another way.

Someone suggested putting everything on disks.
Could I just use like a dvd disk and fill it with all my stuff.

What about my games like sims 3 and other things I uploaded onto the computer, and lost the disk for?







I guess I am trying to find out how I should keep my files while starting over?

 

First Welcome to Computer help forums!
You can copy all of your files to any medium that is large enough to hold it. I prefer an external hard drive but DVDs or CDs will do fine. Most Flash Drives are not big enough but I have no idea what you have on your computer.

Why do you feel that you need to restore your computer to its factory settings? What problems are you having?

 

OK just to add to what BeeCeeBee has said

You will loose them !!! if you do a factory reset then all the software you have installed will ned to be re-installed, from ether an .ISO image file or the original CD/DVD, and you will need the Key Code that came with the original packaging as well.

Files and Documents are easy as BeeCeeBee has said, my personal preference is that I have 2 HDD's inside my PC and Keep a copy on both so should one fail I will have a copy on the other, should both fail I have copies of the important irreplaceable stuff on Microsoft's Sky Drive, how ever this is more a precaution against Burglary or God forbid a house fire or such.

OK sounds good but depends on How much DATA you have, a single layer DVD will hold 4.7 Gig, a dual layer 8.5Gig, I currently have 80Gig of Data to back up which would require 20 single layer or 10 Double layer disks, which when you work out the cost of, equates to the money for a new HDD.

so why? if you tell us the problem then we might be able to offer a better solution!! as BeeCeeBee has already asked

 

Sorry Match, I pay about 12p for a single layer DVD-R and 30p for a dual layer DVD-R you been buying disks that are made from gold or something :lol:

In all seriousness to the poster though, if you have CRITICAL information that you cannot stand to lose then I would put this on a DVD disk as the others have said as a precaution anyway incase the HDD were to ever fail, failing that you could get an external/internal HDD or a USB thumb drive and backup to that before using the factory restore disk.
All games need to be reinstalled when you reinstall/use a factory disk, even if they are stored on another drive as some components are still written into the C:/ drive.