Transferring files to new omnibook from spectre 360 using Carbonite

[mikeb36]

I really made a mess. I didn't create a Windows restore point on my new computer before transferring files from the old computer. The Carbonite backup on my old laptop includes a huge number of files in various locations that I should not have transferred to the new computer (some apps, data files, itunes, etc.) One important objective with the new computer is to get rid of all the crap accumulated on my old laptop. The new computer is only 3 days old and has no new data on it. I'm thinking of going back to my old computer and creating a new Carbonite backup with the correct files and then doing a reset on my new computer and starting all over. I think this means I will need to reinstall Windows first. Is that correct? Is there any danger in this plan? Any other suggestions?

[Pallipurath]

Hi @mikeb36 

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query.

A full Windows reset would be a good option in your situation, especially since your new computer is only a few days old, you haven't created any important new files on it, and your goal is to start with a clean system rather than trying to remove a large number of unwanted files that were transferred from your old computer.

The good news is that you do not need to reinstall Windows manually. Most modern Windows computers include a built-in Reset this PC feature, which automatically reinstalls Windows and restores the system to a clean state.

Before you reset

1. Make sure your old laptop contains all of your important files.
2. Create a new Carbonite backup on the old laptop that includes only the files you want to restore.
3. Verify that the Carbonite backup has completed successfully.
4. If you have any files on the new computer that you want to keep (downloads, documents, etc.), copy them to an external drive or cloud storage before resetting.

How to reset the new computer

1. Click Start and open Settings.
2. Select System.
3. Click Recovery.
4. Under Recovery options, select Reset this PC.
5. Click Reset PC.
6. Choose Remove everything.
   • This removes your files, apps, and settings, giving you the cleanest start.
7. Select Cloud download (recommended if you have a reliable internet connection) or Local reinstall.
   • Cloud download downloads a fresh copy of Windows from Microsoft.
   • Local reinstall uses the recovery files already on the computer.
8. Review the settings and click Next, then Reset.
9. The computer will restart several times while Windows is reinstalled. This may take 30 minutes to a few hours depending on your PC and internet speed.

Have a good day