How to Rebuild Your Computer Operating System

If for some reason your computer operating system is damaged and unrecoverable, there are ways to recover your operating system. If your backup system to restore your operating system does not work, you will have to reinstall software in your computer. This is also known as rebuilding the system. Here’s how to rebuild your computer operating system.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer or laptop
• Operating system
• Software drivers for your computer
• Internet access
• Backup of personal data

1. Step 1

   This article assumes you have recovered your data and will focus on building Windows close to the configuration before it crashed.

2. Step 2

   Run the recovery disks containing the factory installed software such as Windows operating system and software drivers for the hardware devices in your computer.

3. Step 3

   If you do not have the recovery disks, call the manufacturer to order another copy.

4. Step 4

   If only the individual software are available, install them in this order: Operating System (Windows, Mac OS, etc.), operating system updates, software drivers, software components, application software, anti-virus software, and personal data.

5. Step 5

   Buy an operating system if you do not have one. Before you buy, make sure it is right for your computer and determine if you will need to buy more licenses to install the operating system in multiple computers in your home.

6. Step 6

   Download and install any major service pack or update for your operating system. For example, Windows XP Service Pack 2 may be needed before you install application software or components. You will have to download the service pack from another computer with high speed internet access.

7. Step 7

   If you do not have the software drivers, download them from the manufacturer’s website. Again, use another computer with high speed internet access. You will need the drivers to provide the correct software for video (vs. generic), sound, networking, usb, media readers, and other internal devices that came with your machine.

8. Step 8

   Establish internet access first for the convenience of adding the remaining software drivers and components you don’t have.

9. Step 9

   If you play computer games with high end graphics, you will need to download DirectX software components. Sometimes it comes with the game but other games may only provide you an error message. You will have to go to the Microsoft website and find DirectX if this is the case.

10. Step 10

    Install your software applications such as Microsoft Office in your hard drive. Current applications may need .NET Framework software components (basically software library of functions and even more components). The application may provide it in the installation or it may tell you to download it. You may or may not be told what the web link.

11. Step 11

    For online applications, you may have to download and install additional software such as Java runtime. Normally, the website will give you a direct link to the download site. In Youtube for example, some videos are made in Adobe Flash format and requires Adobe Flash player to run the video. Some online games require shockwave player.

12. Step 12

    Add your personal data such as photos, videos, document files, and spreadsheets to your computer after you have completed installing the software and are satisfied that they work.

13. Step 13

    Rebuilding a computer operating system is tedious and can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. The best way to avoid this situation is to clone your hard drive. At a minimum, clone you’re the hard drive after all the software and data described above have been installed.