I am preparing to reinstall the computer operating system, but I am stuck by a problem called "WAT". Many people have encountered this unexpected technical obstacle when operating by themselves, which both delays time and causes headaches.
About the identification of WAT errors
Generally speaking, WAT errors are related to Windows activation verification. When your computer is identified as "non-genuine", it may prevent you from carrying out subsequent system reset or repair operations. This problem is not uncommon, especially after using certain tools or undergoing incomplete system updates.
A simple restart of the computer often fails to produce a solution. You have to enter safe mode first, or use the original system installation disk to start the computer. The important thing is that you can sometimes bypass the verification checks by completely cutting off the network connection before reinstalling.
Coping with system failure to start
When the operation prevents the computer from entering the system at all, you can try to start it with the help of a U disk or CD. Consider using the "Repair Your Computer" feature on your Windows installation media as a regular option. This function gives many options such as startup repair and system restore.
For more difficult-to-solve boot issues, you may need to manually rebuild the boot record. In the command prompt environment, you can try to execute the "bootrec /fixmbr", "bootrec /fixboot" and "bootrec /rebuildbcd" commands one by one. Before proceeding, it is best to back up important data first.
Completely clear hard drive data
When you encounter serious errors related to disk partitioning, you may have to format the entire hard drive. For example, the protection mechanism of some original factory pre-installed systems will retain special partitions, causing interference to the installation of new systems. Using specialized tools like DBAN to perform a full disk wipe is a more thorough approach.
This process will permanently delete all data on the hard drive, including personal files and the original system. Therefore, be sure to transfer important files to other storage devices before the operation. After the entire disk is wiped, try to install a new operating system.
Handling Third-Party Security Software Conflicts
Some types of security software, especially anti-virus software or firewalls at the underlying driver level, will prohibit modifications to the system boot area. It is best to uninstall them all before attempting to repair the boot or reinstall the system. Simply disabling it may not be enough because the driver may already be loaded.
It is recommended to enter safe mode to complete the uninstall before operation. If you cannot enter the system, you can try in the PE environment. Or you can use the dedicated uninstall tool provided by the manufacturer to complete the cleanup work at the command prompt.
Precautions for dual system installation
If you have a computer with dual systems of Windows and Linux installed, reinstalling Windows will cover the existing boot program (such as GRUB). After installing Windows, you can use the Linux installation disk to repair GRUB, or use tools such as EasyBCD to add Linux startup items to Windows again.
Another idea is to adjust the installation sequence, install Windows first, and then install Linux. In this way, the Linux booter will usually actively recognize and add Windows options, thus reducing the later repair work.
Necessary optimization after reinstallation
After the system is installed, it is recommended to update all hardware drivers immediately, especially the motherboard chipset, graphics card and network card drivers. This can solve most compatibility and performance problems. Next, the necessary runtime libraries should be installed, such as DirectX and Visual C++ Redistributable.
If you want to avoid trouble in the future, you can create a system image backup. Use Windows' own "Backup and Restore" function or third-party tools to save the intact system state to an external hard drive. So the next time a problem occurs, restoring is much faster than reinstalling.
When reinstalling the computer system by yourself, what was the most difficult problem you encountered and how you finally solved it? You are welcome to share your experience in the comment area.
