Windows Is there a way to reset windows back to defaults without reinstalling?

i have quite a high software install/uninstall activity, and as always after a while of having windows installed my PC is starting to become a little sluggish.

i would usually reinstall windows at this point, but was wondering, is there a way to do that without going through the rigmarole of reinstalling drivers?, i using win 7 ult retail.

not sure if this all makes sense or not

thanks in advance

 

not that I know of.. think the best way is reinstall and get the apps on you always use.. make sure everything is tweaked- back it all up with something like acronis

now you'll have around a half hour restore per 200 gigs of data.. it's a nice way to 'revert'

 

Or use the Win 7 backup utility, which is even easier than Acronis.

 

Silly question, ahve you tried running a decent cleaner like CCleaner, that get rid of a load of junk, also make sure you haven't got all your programs running all at once, again you can use CCleaner to sort this out.

 

what about a repair or would that no do it, i cant remember tbh

 

Personally I'd go for a reinstall and then use something like http://ninite.com/ to reinstall most things. Throw some games on there, then set a restore point for the future.

 

http://ninite.com/ looks great! If only i had of known about this yesterday when i was reinstalling...

 

ninite looks useful I'll have to give it a go next time I do a fresh install.

I usually do a clean install of Windows, install and configure everything I want then take an image of it so if I get a virus or some other disaster occurs I can just re imaged the HDD. Although if you have to replace the HDD or other hardware it might not be the best solution.

Edit: This Unattended Windows Guide might be helpful: http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/view/web/1/

 

CCleaner is OK at what it does but the problem is when uninstalling programs in Windows is that 99% of the time the uninstaller leaves behind files and settings which a program like CCleaner can only partially clean up.

The only way to be 100% sure of a disk and registry free of crap is a complete reinstall.

 

that ninite is a good idea.. I do that myself with bulk things like adobe plugins- have them all in compressed folders and monitored the registry on install.. then made one big reg file with all the auth and stuff

uncompress it to the plugins directory and a few in other places.. run the reg and done

man wish had thought of that before.. looks like guy is making money off it too

 

ninite is a brilliant idea, but its more the drivers and more....complicated pieces of software (setting up 3ds max and vray is bloody murder), it looks like a nice idea, just wish somone did a more comprehensive list of software for it. thanks for the advice.

i have tried running defrags and cleanups but to little effect im afraid.

i think ill try reinstalling all my software and then create an image of it. im not familiar with the process or how it works but i dont see why it cant be used to backup an installation

again thanks for the advice all