The Desktop Experience | WindowsTalk.org

Dec

How to Clean My Computer

If you’ve noticed that your computer has been acting a little slow and you’ve run every antivirus and antispyware program you own but can’t find anything wrong, you may want to take a quick look to see if there’s dust visible anywhere in your PC case or laptop. Dust you can see is an indication that there is dust that you can’t see, which is very likely clogging fans and vents and causing your computer to heat up and may very well be the cause of your computer woes. Keyboards with keys that “stick” or are difficult to press are also an indicator that you need to clean your computer. Following these steps will have your computer clean in no time.

Required Tools and Materials:

Soft bristled paintbrush
Lens cleaning cloth
Air duster (can be found at any computer accessory store)
Anti-static cloth
Phillips screwdriver
Small rod

Step One:

Unplug the computer and disconnect all peripherals (speakers, mouse, keyboard, printers, etc.)

Step Two:

Starting with the monitor, wipe all peripherals of the computer thoroughly with the anti-static cloth. Set each piece aside or move through them in order so that you donâ€™t double up on dusting as there is more to come.

Step Three:

Using the screwdriver, remove one side of the CPU housing by locating and removing the 2-8 screws that secure it to the frame.

Step Four:

Use a soft bristle brush to dust the visible dirt inside the case. Be careful not to unplug any wires as you go along.

Step Five:

Locate the fans inside the CPU – there may be 2 or more depending on the model. Use a small rod to prevent the blades from moving; use the soft brush to dislodge any large dust bunnies. Then holding the air duster upright, blow a steady stream of air onto the blades to displace dust.

Step Six:

Wipe the inside of the CPU once more with the anti-static cloth to remove any dust that has now been dislodged. When you’re finished, close the case by putting the screws back in place.

Step Seven:

Use the brush to “sweep” the keyboard a few times. Turn the keyboard over and gently tap to remove any dust stuck beneath keys.

Step Eight:

Holding the keyboard at an angle, use the air duster between each of the keys.

Step Nine:

Wipe down all the parts one final time to remove dust that may have settled during cleaning. Reattach all peripherals and plug in the computer to the power outlet.

Step Ten:

Finally, use the lens cleaning cloth to gently clean the monitor, being careful not to press into the screen as you wipe.

Tips and warnings:

If you’ve never cleaned your computer before, there may be a lot more dust that you would think possible present inside. If you can, move the computer to an open space or even to a garage or outdoors for cleaning.
Do not use wet or damp cloths on your PC or laptop as water make get onto the delicate circuitry and could cause shorting out, loss of data and in some instances fires.
Do not use astringents (alcohol, acetone, etc.) to clean LCD or LED display screens as they may cause damage over time.
Touch the frame of the computer with both hands to dissipate any static electricity your body may have stored.

Categories Hardware, The Desktop Experience
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Dec

PC Hell: Computer Hints and Tips to bring you back from the edge

by Contributed

When it comes to protecting your computer from malware especially d.exe files, even knowing things to a right level keeps you nowhere. So when dealing with your computer having malware, remember even carrying out a couple of preventive measurements can often lead you to disaster. However, unlike how you protect yourself in other areas of life by trying a couple of preventive measurements, similarly you need to put some conscious efforts to protect your PC. Certainly you cannot leave things on a chance, as doing this is like going on a war without a proper arms and protection equipments. The following article discusses about malware and the possible ways of dealing with it.

Ways malware gets in: Generally the best way which a Malware enters your system is via the medium of internet, though you will find other ways as well. The common techniques how the d.exe Malware enters comes out to be of three types. The first one is through e-mail attachment wherein it is infused craftily. The second comes through dubious websites. There are many websites which carry a number of Malware including the adware and spyware. So the moment you visit these sites your PC comes into the trap of Malware. The third is the Freeware, which usually comes along the adware and spyware. These become active the moment you install the freeware program in your PC or Laptop.

Symptoms of malware: When you see your PC or Laptop in the trap of Malware, you are likely to encounter a number of symptoms bugging your system. These include inconsistent performance of your system, your PC or Laptop getting slow while starting up or shut down time. Also, your computer system is seen freezing a lot along with a number of system errors. And when things go serious, you are likely to see a number of files missing in your PC or laptop. Plus you will also find a number of avid applications in your system and you their presence could hardly allow you to do any task at your PC or Laptop.

Problems lurking in your computer system: Once the Malware enters your PC, it leaves no stone unturned to damage your PC. The more serious kind of Malware, the worst is the results. So you may find a number of issues like identity theft wherein all your information and classified data gets robbed. Plus you will find your PC going too slow in various operations, along with carrying a number of random error messages. Also, you will see the registry of your PC or Laptop getting ruined or corrupt by simply deleting them.

Ways of combating malware: There are various ways of dealing with a Malware. Once you see your PC being attacked by the Malware, what you face is the symptoms and not any disease or worm. To make your PC free from the Malware, you need an advance and updated Antimalware tool to scan your entire PC. This tool will help you get the list of the Malware present in your PC or Laptop, thus helping you to take further course of action.

Malware comes usually from Internet making things difficult for you. Therefore while browsing the internet, make sure you carry out things in a conscious manner, otherwise you will end up getting trapped by a couple of malwares. The article gives you a fair idea about the common malware and ways of preventing your system getting affected. Hence abide by them to have a cool internet browsing experience.

About the author: Alia is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on technology and luxury. Beside this she is fond of autos. Recently she was reading about 125cc scooters. These days she is busy in writing an article on Camping tents.

Categories General, The Desktop Experience
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Dec

What, Me Worry? –PC DIY repair is the future

by James M. Fisher

For those of you who haven’t heard, PC home repair is the future.

Twenty years ago, when most of us were confronted with an alphabet soup of abbreviated formats and technical terms, we preferred to pay a technician rather than deal with a tangle of multicolored cables, and unintelligible streams of code.

Let’s face it, back then we were also taking broken toasters to be repaired.

I’m suggesting that at the first sign of trouble you throw your PC out with the recyclables (and if you are, I’ve got dibs on it). But if you are reading this, chances are you are computer literate; you know what a USB socket looks like, you have installed hardware and software all by yourself, and you have at least heard of SATA (and no, I can’t remember what it stands for either).

We are part of the next generation of PC users. We have the knowledge, and the experience to confidently tinker and tweak our personal systems. Who knows? Years from now, instead of fond memories of adjusting the carburetor with dad in the driveway, we’ll be reminiscing about time spent with our kids, installing a new graphics card.

But knowledge isn’t enough to empower the layman user, you need the tools; tools that are readily available, easy to use, reliable and reasonably priced.

Yes registry cleaners and data recovery software are abundant. They might help speed up you system, get rid of all that junk, but the fact is that they are as cosmetic as changing the light bulb on your dashboard rather than fixing that oil leak. Even the antivirus software that we trust implicitly will not repair the damage left by viruses. This not only causes hardware and software to fail or crash, but unrepaired damage leaves your system wide open and vulnerable to future attacks. And yet, even if your machine is 100% malware free, throughout the normal life of a PC, installing and uninstalling applications can cause a lot of wear-and-tear that will have a similar consequence.

Thankfully, there is a tool on the market that can deal with all of this: Reimage PC Repair (http://www.reimage.com).

All reviews I have read (PC World, Fox News, TechCrunch, etc.) for this software have one thing in common – Total surprise that it actually works. The reason Reimage lives up to its promise is probably because it was originally designed and used by PC technicians. Thanks to popular demand, Reimage simplified their product to enable the average user, with basic computer literacy, to repair their own computer, in the comfort of their own home. For the price of one average technician’s house call (about $60-70) you get a full year’s worth of support and the accessibility to this miracle repair software.

Reimage scans your entire Windows OS and corrects any compromised setting, or replaces any missing/damaged file according to the most up-to-date Microsoft security specifications. Even files that have been accidently deleted or moved by the user, can be fully restored, effectively rendering your system as good as new, improving speed and ensuring system stability, extending the life and efficiency of your PC, and ensuring that that your system is running at its full potential.

Categories Software, The Desktop Experience
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Nov

How to Clean a Computer Screen

by Roger Corwin

If you are having trouble seeing the information on your computer screen or it appears excessively blurry, it may be because your computer screen needs to be cleaned. Here are some tips on how to clean your computer screen.

Required Materials:

A piece of soft cloth
A cleaner (this can be a monitor cleaning fluid, eyeglass cleaner or electrical appliance cleaner)

Instructions

Collect the items that you will use to clean your computer monitor. Normally, you will need a soft cloth and a cleaning dluid
Ensure that your screen is turned off (disconnecting it from any power source is also recommended).
If you are using a fluid product, spray a small amount directly onto the rag. For aerosol products, refer to the directions written on the can.
Avoid spraying fluids in close proximity to the screen’s ventilation holes.
Firmly wipe down the entire screen, and then use a dry rag (or a dry portion of your current rag) to thoroughly dry the screen.
If your screen still appears dirty, repeat Steps Three to Five until your screen is clean.
If the plastic around your screen is also dirty, you can use a plastic cleaner to thoroughly wipe it off.

Avoid traditional cleaning products made for glass and paper towels. Traditional glass cleaning products can leave streaks, while paper towels can leave dust.

If you are a cleaning a laptop screen, be sure to follow the instructions provided in your owner’s manual. Laptop screens are not made of glass, and if improperly cleaned, can be damaged to point of requiring a replacement.

Categories Hardware, The Desktop Experience
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Nov

Computer Maintenance For Grandmas

by Mitz

Whether you’re an actual grandmother or anyone else a little hesitant to do your own computer maintenance, you’ll find the following simple instructions will help keep your computer working well for years to come.

Computer Maintenance Tips #1—Befriend A Geek

Despite the media’s portrayal of computer geeks as nerdy young men, computer geeks come in all shapes. My grandmother’s best friend, another grandmother, is a computer geek.

Befriending a computer geek is by far the best computer maintenance you can do. Your geek friend will teach you how to use your computer the right way, will fix problems when they’re still easy to fix, and can explain to you the many things about computers that require specialized knowledge. As a nice bonus, most computer geeks often give away their old technology to their friends, meaning free goodies for you.

Computer Maintenance Tips #2—Run Anti-Virus

Many grandmothers I know live on a tight budget, either because they have to or because they’re used to it from years of practice (raising a family has never been cheap). So a lot of you probably wonder whether it’s necessary to renew your pricy anti-virus subscription.

Many modern computer viruses are designed by criminals to carry out their illegal businesses. They infect your computer and use it to send spam or attack other computers or spread child pornography. But the government can’t tell that your computer is infected, and more than once, the police have arrested somebody for crimes committed by viruses on their computer.

But even if you’re not afraid of being arrested for child pornography or other crimes, viruses use up the computing resources of your PC, ruining the value of your $500 or $1,000 computer. Compared to that, a $30 or $50 a year anti-virus subscription costs nothing. Protecting your computer from viruses is very important.

Computer Tips #3—Make Backups

Some grandmothers use their computers all the time; some only spend an hour a week online. But no grandmother wants to lose the result of the effort they’ve put into their computer.

Yet few grandmothers backup their files. Unfortunately, every computer hard drive will eventually fail, taking with it to the grave any unpreserved data. An easy way is to simply backup files to an external hard drive.

Talk to your computer geek friend about how to make backups. You want a simple regular system that doesn’t require much maintenance. Windows comes with a backup wizard that you can use with an external hard disk, or you can use a online service like Mozy. Just make sure you get your backup system setup soon.

Computer Tips #4—Examine Error Messages

I bet I know what you do when an error message appears—you click “Ok” and hope things keep working. If they do, you quickly forget you ever saw the error message.

But little error messages like those indicate that there’s something wrong with your computer—something that could become a big problem later.

Whenever you see an error message, write down its keywords before you click Ok. Then show those keywords to your computer geek friend. He or she will either recognize the error or know how to search for it online. Then you can take care of any required computer maintenance once and for all.

My name is Mitz Pantic and I’ve been working with computers for over 25 years and love to teach people how to use their computers. Be sure to visit me at my computer tips website and say hello in the comments section. Also do not forget to sign-up for my free computer tips newsletter and receive a free 59 page Computer Terms Dictionary!

If you have any tips for computer maintenance please share them with us by leaving your comment below.

Categories Software, The Desktop Experience
Comments (39)

Nov

4 Ways to Run Windows on a Mac

by Contributed

Ok so you’re a die hard Mac user, it’s does everything you need it to, but wait, what happens when you’re working on a new project and you need a piece of software that only runs on a Microsoft Windows operating system? Uh oh, you’re in trouble.

Here at a Integral IT we encountered this problem last week, not with a client, but with one of our employees sons who has a Macbook but wanted to play a game that was on WIndows only! Luckily, there is a solution, and it’s not as extreme as having to ditch your beloved Mac and buy a whole new Windows PC.
There may be an alternative

Before jumping the gun, find out whether there’s a Mac-based alternative piece of software you can use. In most cases there is an alternative application that will do what you need.

Use Virtualisation Software

Virtualisation means that you can run a “virtual” copy of Microsoft windows on your Mac. It runs just like any other Mac program and allows you to install Windows and switch between the 2 operating systems as you wish. For this type of software to work you need an Intel processeor, which all Macs from 2008 onwards come equipped with. You also need to be running OS X Version 10.4.6 or higher. To check this, click the apple in the top left hand corner of your monitor and select “About this Mac”. You will also need your own copy of Windows. Two good pieces of software to accomplish this task are VMware Fusion and Parallels Desktop. You can try them both for free.

Boot your Mac up with Windows

The Mac OS X Snow Leopard (version 10.6 and above) comes with a handy piece of software called Boot Camp. This enabled you to boot up your Mac with Windows
instead of Mac OS. The downside is you’ll have to restart your Mac each time you want to use Windows, but the big benefit is that Windows gets to use all
your Macs processing power for it’s own needs. So if you’re planning on using memory heavy programs then this is the best route to go down. Again, you’ll
need a copy of Windows to make this work. You can find out more on the |Apple website.

The even more technical method

There is another alternative, but it’s not for the non tech minded and does require a little bit of knowledge such as using a terminal. However, if you want to avoid the expense of buying Windows and some virtualisation software then you might to check out the open source Wine project. This tool lets you run some (but not all) windows applications, and you will have to buy each individual application (if they cost in the first place). It can be quite tricky to master. There is a program call Winebottler that is designed to make
using the Wine Project easier, but that’s still in Beta.

But there you have it, 4 ways to use Windows on your Mac. Let us know your preferred method.

Guest post written by Helen Clough, she works for IT Support Company Integral IT. She’s a Windows girl at heart and won’t be heading over to Mac any time soon.

Categories Microsoft, The Desktop Experience
Comments (19)

Nov

Data recovery tools: Don’t wait to think about a file recovery service

by Contributed

The wide use of computers in personal and professional areas has created a need for possessing a strong recovery tool. This would ensure an uninterrupted work schedule and save unwanted trouble. Data loss is a taxing experience and being pro-active pays you in the long run, when you actually face such a situation. Equipping yourself with a dependable and comprehensive data recovery tool is essentially needed. You can save from losing your personal data, confidential documents and the priceless family pictures and memories.
There are many data recovery tools available to your rescue. You can choose among them, based on your individual requirement(s) and suitability. Many can be found available free on the web.
Test Disk: This powerful software works with command line. You can perform different functions ranging from having a backup, rebuilding the boot sector, fixing FAT tables and MFT, copying deleted files from partitions to recovery media, to finding lost partitions in numerous formats in locating your lost data. It can be used on Windows, Mac and Linux. The Test Disk can perform better than some of the Microsoft tools like the Fixboot and Fixmbr. Even though it has no Graphic User Interface (GUI), you can find it easy to work with.
Recuva and PhotoRec: Functionally, Recuva and PhotoRec are similar but Recuva is more user-friendly as it has a GUI. Recuva works on Windows and provides a simple file-recovery wizard. The wizard is flexible enough to restrict your search type to pictures, documents, videos, or all files etc. You can set the search location (if you happen to know it). The manual mode gives a specific platform to search for your lost files when you are aware of the location to be searched, thus saving the effort of searching the entire hard drive.
The PhotoRec, contrary to its name, is not restricted to photos or images recovery. It is a quick and reliable tool to copy your deleted files to another disk. It saves the undue intrusion into partitions. PhotoRec penetrates into your disks in a safe, read-only mode without disturbing partitions and file systems, and this concentrates only on the missing files.
Restoration: This standalone recovery tool is simple and straightforward in application. It runs on Windows. You can use it to recover files which got removed from the recycle bin, or directly deleted from within Windows. It has a small size (406k), but can perform the basic functions of data recovery software. Although it cannot be applied on all types of deleted files, users have found it worth.
Undelete Plus: It can recover files removed from the Recycle Bin, or which have been permanently deleted from Windows. Files can be sorted by types.
There are other tools like removable media such as memory cards, pen drives, sim cards, zune data, digital pictures and others which are utility specific and can be applied in particular cases. For instance, the removable media data recovery tool is an effective utility, using which you can recover lost, missing, erased or deleted files and folders.

About the author: Alia Haley is a writer who is all into machines, cars and consumer electronics. She blogs for health, parenting and beauty as well, but technology and gadgets tops the list of her favorites. Mobile reviews and social media have recently caught her interest.

Categories General, Software, The Desktop Experience
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Nov

How to Show Hidden Folders

by Roger Corwin

Normally folders and files are hidden because they are important to the operating system such as the Windows XP on your desktop or laptop. It is hidden because the less you are exposed to it; it is less likely that you will damage or discard the files “accidentally.” However, there will come a time when you will need to access these files for various reasons; typically persons access these files when there are viruses on the system and it needs to be cleaned. Sometimes you may need to access these files for debugging purposes or it may be a case that the system needs to recover from a spyware attack. Here are instructions on how to show hidden folders.

Required Tools

Computer

Required Materials

An operating system (For example, Windows XP)

Instructions

The following instructions are for Windows XP and Explorer

To access hidden folders, you first need to open any folder in Explorer.
After opening the folder, choose Tools which is located on top of your screen in the toolbar.
After you choose tools, then click on Folder Options.
A multi-tabbed dialog box will be shown; you must choose the “View” tab.
Click on “Show Hidden Files and Folders.”
Finally click on OK to close the dialog box.

The following instructions are for Windows 2003

Close every document, folder or file so that only the desktop is seen.
Find the My Computer icon and double-click on it.
Find the Tools menu and choose Folder Options.
Click View tab.
Afterwards, click on Display the contents of system folders.
Look under the Hidden Files and Folder section and select Show Hidden Files and Folders.
Undo the check mark from the box labeled Hide file extensions for known file types.
Undo the check mark from the box labeled Hide protected operating system files.
Select the Apply button and then OK and Shutdown my computer.
The computer will configure to show all hidden files and folders.

The following instructions are for Windows Vista

Show desktop
Click on the Start button
Select the Control Panel menu option
Once the panel is open, you may be in Classic View or Control Panel Home view
If you are in the Classic View, double click on the Folder options icon, select View tab and then under Hidden Files and Folders, select Show Hidden Files and Folders. If you are in the Control Panel Home View, select Appearance and Personalization icon, then click on Show Hidden Files and Folders. You will continue with steps six through to eight.
Un-check the box labeled Hide extensions for known file types.
Un-check the box labeled Hide protected operating system files
Select the Apply button and then OK so that Windows will be configured to show you hidden files and folders.

Tips and Warning

When you learn to view hidden files and folders, you will be aware of harmful programs such as viruses, spyware and you will be able to discover hijackers being a nuisance to you and others.
If you no longer want to see your hidden files and folders, you can check back boxes that states “hide files” (etc).

Categories Microsoft, The Desktop Experience
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Nov

Syncing Backup Files To External Hard Drives

by Mitz

Nowadays there are many different kinds of computer backup storage, however if you choose to use external hard drives for your backup process, syncing backup files with your computer is highly recommended. This might sound extremely difficult but it syncing backup files to external hard drives is probably one of the easiest and most cost-effective backup method available.

External hard drives are so cheap at the moment, that it is almost a crime. Therefore if you are strapped for cash then this could be an affordable backup method to you.

Syncing backup files by copy and paste

this is by far the easiest way to sync backup files to external hard drives. We all basically know how to copy and paste files from one location to the next. All you have to do is buy an external hard drive, connect it to your computer via the USB port, and start copying and pasting.

If you are truly a beginner then here is an example for you:

Connect your external hard drive to your computer. You will see an icon for the external hard drive show up in the “my computer” section for Windows XP, or “computer”, for Windows Vista and Windows 7.
browse through your computer to find the files that you want to copy.
You can select these files by making them blue.
Right click on the blue area and a menu will come up. Choose copy from the menu. You can also press CTRL and C on the keyboard.
After copying your backup files, go to your external hard drive and find the location of where you want to store the files.
Right click in the area and choose paste from the menu. You can also use the keyboard shortcut for pasting which is CRTL and V.

This method of syncing backup files to external hard drives is both time-consuming and dangerous as it relies on you not to make mistakes. It also relies on you remembering to backup. Of course it is the cheapest and most affordable way and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

Syncing backup files to external hard drives using Windows

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if you are using Windows as your operating system, especially the latest versions of Windows Vista or Windows 7, this includes a backup wizard that makes syncing your backup files to external hard drives very easy. This is one of the most obvious backup methods that you can use, however many people often overlooked this option. They simply do not realize that Windows includes a decent backup program within its operating system.

If you would like to check out the Windows backup wizard, simply visit your Control Panel and look for the backup and restore Wizard icon.

Securing your backup files on your external hard drives

Having an external hard drive to use to backup your files is fantastic, but there are a few risks that you need to take care of. One of the major risks is that external hard drives at easy to pick up and steel compare it to a desktop computer or a laptop. Especially the smaller external hard drives. You can simply placed them in your pocket and no one would be the wiser. Making sure that your external hard drive with all your precious files on it, is safe and secure, you will need to take proper precautions and be aware that this small device holds important files on it.

Another risk that people forget about is that if the external hard drive is stolen, the files are extremely easy to access. This can be taking care of by the some versions of the Windows backup wizard. It supports encryption and is password-based, therefore requiring you to remember the password.

Best Way To Backup Files To External Hard Drives

I am a total computer freak and if I was relying on external hard drives only as my backup method, I would probably have the following rules:

I would use to external hard drives. All password protected.
I would create an automated backup through the windows backup wizard, each hard drive having alternate dates.
For permanent backup files such as templates and legal documents, I would store on an encrypted hard drive and hide that in a safe place away from my computer. Possibly a safety deposit box at an external address.

What are the chances of lightning striking and frying my computer, and both external hard drives? That would be a very rare..

I have written many more articles you might be interested in about this subject with step by step instructions, screen shots and even computer video tutorials.

My name is Mitz Pantic and I’ve been working with computers for over 25 years and love to teach people how to use their computers. Be sure to visit me at my computer tips website and say hello in the comments section. Also do not forget to sign-up for my free computer tips newsletter and receive a free 59 page Computer Terms Dictionary!

If you have any tips for syncing backup files to external hard drives please share them with us by leaving your comment below.

Categories Hardware, Microsoft, The Desktop Experience
Comments (31)

Nov

How to Clean Your Hard Drive

by Roger Corwin

Depending on the type of person you are, you may want to “clean” your hard disk drive. Cleaning a hard disk drive can simply mean removing unnecessary data, or formatting the disk completely, making it a fresh device for re-installation or storage. We will first explore the deleting and removal of unnecessary data and harmful files.

Required tools and Materials

CD/DVD Burner
Disc Burning Software
USB Thumb/Jump Drive
Operating System Install Disc
Operating System CD/Product Key

Step One:

Identify all files you would like to keep and burn them to a disc or copy them to a thumb drive or an external hard disk drive.

Step Two:

Place your Operating System disc in your disc drive and restart the computer.

Step Three:

Upon restarting the computer, a message should appear instructing you to “Press any key to boot from CD”. Follow the instruction and press any key on the keyboard. This will initiate the Operating System’s setup sequence.

Step Four:

At this point, the setup sequence should display instructions to help you along with your requests. Some Operating Systems ask if you want to do a recovery on the disk drive or install the Operating System. Choose the latter.

Step Five:

After selecting you wish to install the Operating System, you will be asked if you wish to format the hard disk drive, usually indicated by the drive letter “C:”. Delete the “C:” partition.

Step Six:

After deleting the partition, you will have to recreate it. This process is easy, and will usually be automatic.

Step Seven:

After recreating the partition “C:” in the Operating System setup, select the “C:” partition to install the Operating System. You will be asked whether you want to perform a Quick Format or a Format. A quick format allows for a much faster formatting procedure which does not get rid of all the data in a permanent manner. Selecting “Format” will yield a much more thorough hard disk cleaning procedure which will erase all traces of data.

Step Eight:

Follow through with the instructions on the screen as per your Operating System.

Tips, warnings and recommendations:

Always be sure to backup your files to one reliable medium or several other external storage media to prevent any loss of data after cleaning the hard disk drive.
Never unplug or turn off the computer while formatting the drive, as a power outage may render the hard disk drive useless due to corruption.
Be sure to follow the on-screen instructions carefully to select the correct procedure for Operating System installation.
Never attempt to:
- open the disc drive during Operating System installation,
- unplug or disconnect power to the computer during Operating System installation
All Operating Systems come with a CD or Product Key which will verify that the Operating System is a genuine copy. Have this information nearby for entering it and store them in a safe place after use.
Data can still be recovered after using a “Quick Format” procedure using sophisticated hard disk drive data recovery software. It is much more difficult to recover data after a full hard disk drive format.