How to restore hard drive and windows - Gateway GT5220 PC Desktop

If the hard drive will not boot, use the Windows installation disc to repair the operating system. If that fails, install a fresh drive and install the operating system. Then attach the old drive to restore your data.

If you accidentally erased your hard drive data, you may need to purchase recovery software, or send it to a company to recover your files.

1. Run System Restore
From the start menu choose (More) Programs>
Accessories>System Tools>System Restore.
2. Choose "Create a restore point"
3. Click the Next button
4. Enter a description. Like Before I installed that hard
drive disk
5. Click the Next or Create button.
It's Next in Windows Me "Create" in Windows XP
Windows busies itself creating the restore point.
Soon a message appears on the screen, telling you that
the restore point has been created.
6. (It's OK in Windows Me. Close in Windows XP
System Restore closes

You probably need to give more details. If it's a replacement drive, did you reinstall Windows from a CD? Did you copy from the original hd? It's simple enough to remove the two cables from the original drive, physically remove and replace the drive, and hook up the new drive. But then you'd need to boot to a Windows CD in the CD/DVD player to format and install Windows, if that's what you're attempting to do.

There's possibly a recovery partition on the old drive )or a recovery CD). If so, you'd connect the new drive to a second power cable, and data cable (which might not be included in the tower) :

(from http://support.gateway.com/s/Manuals/Desktops/8510406.pdf)

To restore system software from the Recovery discs:
1 Insert the Recovery disc #1 into the CD or DVD drive.
2 Restart the computer, then press and hold
R when prompted to display the restore process options. The
Options menu appears.
3 Select a restore process option:
- Press R to boot from the hard drive recovery partition
or CD. If no recovery partition is found, go to Step 4.
- Press F to format the hard drive and perform a full system
recovery, then go to Step 5.
4 Click a system restore option. For more information, see
"Restoration options" on page 5.
- Non-Destructive System Restore (Recommended)
- Full System Restore (Destructive)
- Full System Restore (with Backup) (Advanced Option)
5 Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the system
software restoration process.

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery recover deleted data from the Windows Recycle Bin, restore lost data, even if the partition is formatted or deleted, restore data from a corrupted hard drive, virus infection, unexpected system shutdown or software failure. It supports IDE, SATA, SCSI, USB hard disk, memory card, USB flash drive, CD/DVD, Blue-Ray Disk and iPod.

Pull the hard drive, remove the battery AND the BIOS battery. Let it sit for 300 seconds. Then replace the BIOS battery and the main battery, but NOT the hard drive, then go into BIOS SETUP, and choose the default settings. Then boot to a bootable CD (such as Hiren's BootCD 15.2, or Parted Magic). Then set the boot options to NOT BOOT to the hard drive. Then reinstall the hard drive, and boot to your Windows installation CD, and reinstall the OS of your choice.

If you're trying to restore the Computer to factory settings, then you can use the VAIO Recovery Center that is shipped with the Computer.

NOTES:

• If the operating system will not start and no other troubleshooting can be performed, a recovery of the (C:) drive can be performed by starting the computer and pressing the F10 key.
• A recovery can also be performed using Recovery Discs.

1. Click the Start button, then click Help and Support . NOTE: If the Help and Support link is not available on the Start menu, re-enable the link in the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window.
   
2. In the Windows Help and Support window, click Backup & Recovery .
3. Under Backup & Recovery , under VAIO Recovery Center , click Launch VAIO Recovery Center .
4. In the VAIO Recovery Center window, under Choose a program , click to select the desired option:
   • Windows Backup and Restore
   • VAIO Hardware Diagnostics
   • Reinstall Programs or Drivers
   • Restore C: Drive
   • Restore Complete System
   • Create Recovery Discs
   • Wipe and Erase Data
   NOTES:
   
   • It is strongly recommended that recovery discs be created to help restore files if the operating system will not start. Recovery discs are bootable and can be used to perform a recovery on a properly functioning hard drive.
   • The Windows Backup and Restore option opens the Backup and Restore Center provided with the Windows Vista® operating system. This provides the ability to save information from the hard drive, such as personal data files, and restore previously backed up data.
   • Computer problems related to hardware can be diagnosed using the VAIO Hardware Diagnostics option.
   • One or more drivers or factory-installed applications may be reinstalled with the Reinstall Programs or Drivers option.
   • The entire (C:) drive can be restored to its original, factory-installed condition by selecting Restore C: Drive .
   • Choosing Restore Complete System will restore the entire (C:) drive, while removing or restoring the Recovery Drive partition. Modifying the size of the hard drive partitions is also an option with this type of recovery. This option requires you to insert Recovery DVDs created using the Create Recovery Discs option.
   • To remove all data from the hard drive, including the operating system, all programs and personal data, choose the Wipe and Erase Data option. This option is provided for the convenience of advanced users who want to install a different operating system, and who want to ensure all data has been removed from the hard drive first. All other users are strongly urged to avoid selecting this option.

If you do a System Restore using Windows own program you will retain all of your files

If you do a repair via the Windows disk you will save your files

If you do a full re-install using the Windows disk all bets are off

It is safer to back up onto memory pen or DVD all of the files which matter to you and then do the re-install , you will need a bootable copy of the Windows disk and a copy of the disk containing the drivers for the Motherboard etc

You'll need any of this.
I used SnapShot before. Very easy.

you will have to re-install the software you used to Back-up the files, to restore them

Hello,

I found these instructions for you on the Sony support site.



Solution
IMPORTANT:

• Before performing a recovery, go to the Sony® eSupport Web site at http://esupport.sony.com and check your model-specific support page. Look for software and driver updates or check for knowledge base solutions that may help you solve your computer's issue.
• This model does not require Recovery CDs. Recovery data is included on a special partition of the hard drive.
• Do not interrupt the power during the recovery process.
• Before performing a recovery, disconnect any external devices not supplied with the computer such as printers, network cables, cameras, or external storage devices, like hard drives or flash drives.
• Customers who purchased the Symantec® Norton Internet Security® 2007 software from the Sony Style® store with their computer must create a Norton Account to save their product key prior to a system recovery or the software cannot be reinstalled.

NOTES:

• If the operating system will not start and no other troubleshooting can be performed, a recovery of the (C:) drive can be performed by starting the computer and pressing the F8 key .
• A recovery can also be performed using Recovery Discs .

1. Click the Start button, then click Help and Support . NOTE: If the Help and Support link is not available on the Start menu, re-enable the link in the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window.
   
2. In the Windows Help and Support window, click Backup & Recovery .
3. Under Backup & Recovery , under VAIO Recovery Center , click Launch VAIO Recovery Center .
4. In the VAIO Recovery Center window, under Choose a program , click to select the desired option:
   
   • Windows Backup and Restore
   • VAIO Hardware Diagnostics
   • Reinstall Programs or Drivers
   • Restore C: Drive
   • Restore Complete System
   • Create Recovery Discs
   • Wipe and Erase Data
   
   NOTES:
   
   • It is strongly recommended that recovery discs be created to help restore files if the operating system will not start. Recovery discs are bootable and can be used to perform a recovery on a properly functioning hard drive.
   • The Windows Backup and Restore option opens the Backup and Restore Center provided with the Microsoft® Windows Vista™ operating system. This provides the ability to save information from the hard drive, such as personal data files, and restore previously backed up data.
   • Computer problems related to hardware can be diagnosed using the VAIO Hardware Diagnostics option.
   • One or more drivers or factory-installed applications may be reinstalled with the Reinstall Programs or Drivers option.
   • The entire (C:) drive can be restored to its original, factory-installed condition by selecting Restore C: Drive .
   • Choosing Restore Complete System will restore the entire (C:) drive, while removing or restoring the Recovery Drive partition. Modifying the size of the hard drive partitions is also an option with this type of recovery. This option requires you to insert Recovery DVDs created using the Create Recovery Discs option.
   • To remove all data from the hard drive, including the operating system, all programs and personal data, choose the Wipe and Erase Data option. This option is provided for the convenience of advanced users who want to install a different operating system, and who want to ensure all data has been removed from the hard drive first. All other users are strongly urged to avoid selecting this option.

Please update me on the same.
Regards
Sammy