So…I’m a freaking genius.
In an effort to forestall re-installing Windows on my work computer, I downloaded a Registry Cleaner. Among it’s many features was an ability to get rid of “unneeded files”. So I was running it, happy to get my computer cleaned up and happy to push off a Windows re-install until I had more time.
Then a message popped up: 2000+ unneeded files found. Delete?
I clicked on view, looked through all the files, it certainly looked like something I didn’t need anymore.
Just to be safe, I made sure my backup was up to date. It was.
So I clicked Delete.
It chugged through, then popped up finished. Then I noticed something strange….all the icons (and I mean ALL the icons) on my desktop disappeared.
I thought that was strange, but figured explorer locked up and was doing something goofy.
I rebooted, and came back and it’s still empty.
huh.
So I go to my Start menu. It’s empty.
So is my quick launch.
This wonderful program had marked all (yes, all. I did a search) of my lnk (shortcut) files as unnecessary.
~blink~
So now what. I could spend the 2-3 hours to re-create all the shortcuts. It’d be time consuming, but it’d be better than a Windows re-install, right?
Well…no. After 20 minutes of trying to determine which Phtshop.exe actually launched Photoshop and which one tried to reinstall it, I decided I didn’t have time for this.
So I wiped the hard drive and reinstalled Windows.
And…you guessed it, my backups weren’t as current as I thought. (no, just kidding, they were fine).
So now I have a clean Windows machine, with shortcuts, and it’s faster than I remember it ever being.
~sigh~ why did I put up with the crap for so long?
So, my quick notes:
-unnecessary files are sometimes necessary.
-a clean Windows is a happy Windows.
-trial software makes Windows an unhappy Windows.
-apparently the first time I got cygwin to work it was a fluke. It won’t work this time.
So, yes. I am now piecing together my data so that it is something useful.
That is all.