By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

If you're running Windows, then just put the install CD in, go through the process of a new installation, and your old files will be in a directory called windows.old under your user area after you're done.

As a precaution though, I would get an external USB hard-drive and copy your files to it first just in case that doesn't work (but it should).