Any help on this would be much appreciated....
I currently run Ableton 7 and have a full project running with VST's, effects, audio files, presets etc. I would like to reformat my computer and do a fresh install of Ableton 7. However I am afraid I will lose some of these settings/presets/configurations once I do so...
How can I go about saving absolutely everything to insure this does not happen?
Reformatting computer, how can I rescue my entire project?
Why are you reformatting your computer?
If you reformat your hard drive, you will loose everything. Your OS will need a fresh install, every single piece of software you have will need a fresh install. All your licenses will need to be unlocked again. This process can take hours. Especially if you are filled with software, this process of re-authorization can take a week.
At the company I work for, we use Dell computers. And the IT techs are constantly reformatting them. What crap machines!!
But, I've never had to do this with my mac, or my HP desktop.
If you have an incurable computer virus, I suggest F-Prot. If that doesn't work, your screwed and have to reformat.
If you reformat, and you are not careful, you most likely will never get the machine working again, unless you bring your computer to a proper tech, or are as good at computer science as the guys working for Ableton.
As an average user myself, I really do not suggest this. I've tried to reformat a dell laptop from my work before, here at home. What a PITA! I had to bring it to the IT guys the next day.
Computer virus?
Try here ---> http://www.f-prot.com/
Completely back up an Ableton Project ---> File menu, collect all and save.
Put project folder on an external hard drive, usb key, or cd rw.
You should have an external hard drive anyways, where all your non program files are stored. A proper computer musician will have at least two or three types of external storage devices. You can not trust computers!!
If you reformat your hard drive, you will loose everything. Your OS will need a fresh install, every single piece of software you have will need a fresh install. All your licenses will need to be unlocked again. This process can take hours. Especially if you are filled with software, this process of re-authorization can take a week.
At the company I work for, we use Dell computers. And the IT techs are constantly reformatting them. What crap machines!!
But, I've never had to do this with my mac, or my HP desktop.
If you have an incurable computer virus, I suggest F-Prot. If that doesn't work, your screwed and have to reformat.
If you reformat, and you are not careful, you most likely will never get the machine working again, unless you bring your computer to a proper tech, or are as good at computer science as the guys working for Ableton.
As an average user myself, I really do not suggest this. I've tried to reformat a dell laptop from my work before, here at home. What a PITA! I had to bring it to the IT guys the next day.
Computer virus?
Try here ---> http://www.f-prot.com/
Completely back up an Ableton Project ---> File menu, collect all and save.
Put project folder on an external hard drive, usb key, or cd rw.
You should have an external hard drive anyways, where all your non program files are stored. A proper computer musician will have at least two or three types of external storage devices. You can not trust computers!!
too many lasers...
Nothing wrong with formatting your computer, and it's not that hard to do either. I think I do it every year or so, maybe two.
Just keep a hard drive (or some back up dvd's) with all your installers (programs, vst's, etc) and the appropriate licenses, and you should be fine.
If you have some spare cash, you can also buy a new (internal) hard disk, which replaces your old one, and do a fresh install there. That way, if anything goes wrong, you can always plug in the old one and you will have your old configuration back again. After a few months, you can format that as well and use it as extra disk space.
Just keep a hard drive (or some back up dvd's) with all your installers (programs, vst's, etc) and the appropriate licenses, and you should be fine.
If you have some spare cash, you can also buy a new (internal) hard disk, which replaces your old one, and do a fresh install there. That way, if anything goes wrong, you can always plug in the old one and you will have your old configuration back again. After a few months, you can format that as well and use it as extra disk space.
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adventurepants_
- Posts: 1773
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2007 3:05 am
LOL! so because you have no idea what youre doing, that makes Dell crappy computers. and what kind of wacky techs ever reformat business computers any more? Thats so 1998.j2j wrote:
As an average user myself, I really do not suggest this. I've tried to reformat a dell laptop from my work before, here at home. What a PITA! I had to bring it to the IT guys the next day.
To the OP, theres a lot you can do to improve performance on your PC without reformatting, do you have an actual problem with the install or do you just want a cleanout?
As far as Live goes, you will probably have some configuration issues on reinstall, but if you do a 'collect all and save' on your project, then most of it should come back, but some VST settings may not play nice, its just a fact of life. Also do a search for any Ableton folders in Documents and Settings, copy them and put them back after the reformat.
If you get into the habit of doing a good build, then imaging your computer, you will never have to reformat again, just go back to your last good image. Acronis True Image is a good product, but there are many others.
nathannn wrote:i will block everyone on this forum if i have to.
adventurepants_ wrote: LOL! so because you have no idea what youre doing, that makes Dell crappy computers. and what kind of wacky techs ever reformat business computers any more? Thats so 1998.
+1
When it comes to computers, I have no idea what I'm doing.
On a side note... ********
( edit )
as funny as I think that is, I'm afraid I'll just let it go....
too many lasers...