[VAIO_PC] Checklist for when backing up recovery (re-setup/initializing) or data

 [VAIO_PC] Check list for when backing up recovery (re-setup/initializing) or data

• Please provide me detailed information regarding recovery (re-setup/initializing).
• If I were to perform data backup prior to performing recovery, what should I be careful about?
• I want to roll back my VAIO PC to the condition to the time of purchase (factory shipping condition). Please teach me the procedures for recovery.
• What operations are needed after the recovery is complete?

Please follow these instructions thoroughly, complete backup of important data, and then perform recovery

Applicable Products
All VAIO Corp.’s VAIO PCs

Table of contents
Explanation
Tasks prior to recovery and points to be checked 
Perform data backup
Perform backup of digital broadcasting and music data
Disconnect peripherals and connecting cable
Disconnect additional materials
Procedures and precautions of recovery 
Types of recovery
Operation method/procedures of recovery
About installing bundled apps such as “Microsoft Office”
Validation right after recovery 
Check the actions right after recovery
About virus/security measures
Restore the backup data

• Explanation

If your VAIO PC becomes unstable due to a variety of reasons, it may be resolved by performing recovery and putting it back to its condition at the time of purchase.
When recovery is performed, all data saved in harddisk will disappear, and it will go back to the condition at the time of purchase.
Recovery requires a long time, so please  only perform a recovery when you have time to spare.
This Q&A goes through recovery procedures and tasks necessary prior to and after recovery.

Tasks prior to recovery and points to be checked
Perform data backup
Recovery will initialize (format) the harddisk, so all files that existed in harddisk prior to recovery will be deleted.
Please make sure to save important data to medias such as CD/DVD, USB memory or external harddisk, prior to recovery.

• Settings for the internet and email will be initialized as well, so please check their setup methods, etc.
  You will need to re-setup them after recovery.
• You must be careful if you are backing up contents that have copyright protections, such as recorded digital broadcastings and music data.
  Please refer to “Perform backup of digital broadcasting and music data”.
• If you have performed a data backup, make sure to check “where you backed up the data” and “if the data is accurately backed up”.
• See if the data you saved is not a shortcut icon.

• Please contact the app manufacturer for necessity and methods of backup prior to recovery, for apps other than VAIO-made.
• Backup should be done under the customer’s responsibility.
  Please note that we cannot compensate customer’s data.

Perform backup of digital broadcasting and music data
Copyright protected contents need to be backed up individually.
Database managing info may become inconsistent and may not be played, if backup is performed using Windows function.

Disconnect peripherals and connecting cable
Disconnect all peripherals such as printer, in order to detect whether the cause of the issue is the main body.
If your model did not have a mouse bundled and you have your own mouse connected, disconnect that mouse as well.
Disconnect all connecting cables (including network cable to connect to the internet and telephone line, etc.) other than the power cable and bundled display as well.

Disconnect additional materials (including memory)
In order to indicate if the trouble occurred due to the main body, disconnect all additional materials such as memory.

 Procedures and precautions of recovery
 Types of recovery
Recovery is mainly broken into the following types.

• Recovery of C drive(recovery of system drive)
• Recovery to factory shipping condition (condition at the time of purchase)

Recovery menu you can perform will vary depending on the model. Please refer to “Recovery operation method/procedures” for details.

Normally, we would recommend recovery of C drive.

 Operation method/procedures of recovery
Please refer to the following Related Q&A for recovery methods for each models.

▼Related Q&A:
[Windows 8.1] How to perform recovery (re-setup/initializing)

 About installing bundled apps such as “Microsoft Office”
Depending on the model, you need to install some of the bundled apps such as “Microsoft Office”, after recovery.

Validation right after recovery
Check the actions right after recovery
In order to indicate what the cause of the issue is that was occurring before performing recovery, validation right after recovery is necessary.
Please validate without changing file system, or installing or updating apps.
However, some of the bundled apps such as “Microsoft Office” may not be installed once the recovery is performed, so for whatever apps that were pre-installed at the time of purchase, you will have to install them.
If the issue does not reoccur when peripherals or apps are added, we can assume that the apps or devices were the causes.

About virus/security measures
It will go back to the factory shipping condition, when recovery is performed.
To improve security, apply “Windows Update” after you validate, and maintain Windows at its latest condition.

Restore the backup data
When putting back the backed up data, please read over items and Web pages you have read before you performed backup.
Please contact your provider on how to setup the internet, etc.
Please refer to the following Related Q&A for general files that needs backup and recovery method.