Hardware | WindowsTalk.org

Dec

What You Need to Know about Processor Speed

Processor speed is one of the most important factors to consider if you are going to buy a computer. Various types of processors exist, some made for laptops and others for desktop computers. Using the overclocking method, a processor can be made to run faster than it was originally intended to.

The processor speed or clock speed determines how fast the computer will perform operations and computations. Speed is measured in hertz. It is frequently referred to as the CPU (central processing unit) speed.

Clock Speed Measurements

Computers run at very high frequencies, so megahertz and gigahertz are used to express their speed. A single megahertz is equal to one million cycles per second. The gigahertz is equal to one billion cycles every second.

If a computer is advertised as running at 2.4GHz, it means the processor can perform 2,400,000,000 cycles per second. A computer that runs at 800MHz can do 800,000,000 cycles every second.

Multiple Cores

Majority of today’s computers have dual core processors. What this means is that separate processors can function in parallel. Dual core processors are common but there are also triple and quad processors available.

Types

There are several types of processors. Some are designed for desktop computers, while others are made for laptops, mobile devices and notebooks. Manufacturers will make different processors. For example, Intel makes the Celeron, Pentium and Core processors. Each one is a processor family with many variants.

AMD produces their own processors: the Sempron, Athlon and Phenom. AMD uses the Radneon processors for notebooks. Intel uses the Celeron and Core processors for laptops.

There are many other types of processors available. A processor is made for a specific computer (i.e., upgrade, built from scratch or pre-assembled).

What is the Socket?

The socket contains the processor. Both the socket and processor are on the motherboard. There is no standard socket design; it usually changes when the processor is modified. Some socket designs can be used with other processors.

Others cannot; once you change the processor, the socket has to be changed too. In some cases, you have to replace the motherboard too when upgrading the processor.

Overclocking and Processor Speed

Overclocking is a method used to increase the speed of the processor. This is attained by increasing the speed of the motherboard bus. The voltage of the power to the CPU is also increased. This will make the computer run faster. However it produces more heat. Overclocking may damage some components.

Overclocking first came into being during the early 1990s. It was a complex process. One had to open the computer casing and switch jumpers on the motherboard. The jumper positions determined the bus speed. By changing them, the computer would be forced to operate at a higher speed.

Today it is much simpler. You just have to reboot the computer and go to the BIOS settings. There you’ll be able to change the bus settings.

While processor speed is important, so is the Random Access Memory (RAM). If you are going to buy a computer, you need to look at the hard disk, video card and other components too.

Categories Hardware, Technology
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Dec

How to Clean My Computer

by Roger Corwin

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

How to Upgrade a Video Card

by Roger Corwin

With graphics that are more realistic than ever, PC/ computer games have become more and more popular in recent years. To keep up with ever increasing graphics of these games, it is a good idea to know how to update a video card. An out of date card will simply not allow some games to run or may cause lag and distort images during game play. If you are experiencing any of these problems, the likelihood is that new video card would be the remedy. Game performance would improve as well as image quality. Many existing games will automatically lower their settings to accommodate older cards, but many of the upcoming releases simply require powerful cards or they won’t run no matter how much tweaking is done to the settings.

Do some research

Before going to the store and purchasing the newest video card, you have to be certain that your current system is able to support the card. Minimum video card requirements have increased and it may work out to be more cost effective to buy an entirely new computer than to upgrade an older system to where it would be compatible with a new video card.

Using a screwdriver, open your computer and check to see whether the card is an AGP or PCI Express card slot. Systems over two years old may still have AGP and upgrading the system might be best.

If the computer has a PCI Express slot, then you are one step closer to upgrading the video card.
You will also need to determine whether the computer has enough space surrounding the video card slot to accommodate a new card. Many include now cooling fans that double the height of the card. Check the measurements to ensure the card you will purchase will fit. The dimensions of the card will be online or on the box.

Check the power capabilities of the system

Increased graphics means a lot of power consumption. The power supply for your computer may not be able to handle the increase in wattage caused by a new video card. If this happen, the computer may randomly turn off during game play or may even overheat. The power supply will usually have the maximum wattage capability printed on the back.

Turn the computer around and have a look. Ensure that the card selected can be supported by the PC power supply. At the very least, you will need 350W but 450W and upwards are recommended for serious gamers.

Select a video card and install.

One steps one and two are complete, it is easy to shop for a video card. Online retailers list in detail the capabilities and compatibility of the cards so it will be easy to narrow down what it is you need.

Installing the video card

One the card has been purchased, this is the easiest part.
Shut down and unplug the computer
Open the computer case, and remove the old card. A Phillips screwdriver is only tool normally needed for this.
Plug in the new card and replace the screw that secures it
Close the computer case and plug in.
Turn the computer on and the new video card is ready to be used

Tips and warnings

Use an anti-static wrist strap when opening the case and handling the video card

Categories Hardware
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Nov

Will Windows Be Top Choice for Tablets?

by Contributed

Most people are familiar with the iPad, the most popular and currently desired tablet in the entire world. This well-known device runs Apple’s iOS operating system. However, as 2012 comes, Microsoft will bring out their new tablets running a touch-friendly version of the Windows operating system.
According to a poll conducted by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) which surveyed both American and Chinese citizens, the Windows OS could possibly dethrone the current king of tablets. Results from both groups that participated suggested they would prefer running Windows on a tablet, beating the iOS by a decent margin.

Wireless Internet Providers Changing the Game

Specifically, 44% of Chinese consumers preferred Windows over 34% that preferred Apple. 42% of American consumers preferred the mobile version of Windows over just 27% preferring Apple on tablets from wireless internet providers.

A senior partner of the BCG, John Rose, says that this does not necessarily indicate that 2012 will see Windows emerging on tablets throughout the world, taking over as king of the tablet empire. It also does not indicate that these consumers would even purchase tablets with the Windows operating system on them. The results of the survey are strictly hypothetical.

The Boston Consumer Group survey also showed that the market for tablets is just about certain to explode within the next couple of years, even going as far to say that the number of people who own tablets in the United States is expected to be double what it is now by the year 2013.

Attraction the Focal Point

Rose states that instead of attempting to pull current Apple users from the company, the various tablets that will run Windows should instead focus on attracting people who do not already have a tablet. To put that into perspective, it is similar to the release of the Android operating system; Google established their self in a growing market and Apple did not have any significant loss in sales.

Free PC Speed & Security Scan.

It is perhaps also important to note that this survey occurred prior to the announcement of the Kindle Fire tablet, which then received an incredibly high number of pre-orders. The tablet by Amazon featured a fully-formed media marketplace with a price just low enough to attract a new audience. It is the epitome of what Rose means by a company making and promoting a tablet properly.

Is Windows Greater than Apple?
However, it is still very interesting that nearly half of the surveyed consumers prefer the Windows operating system over both Android and the iOS. Rose claims that it simply could be due to convenience and a familiar name instead of any real excitement of the platform.

Tablet PCs at Amazon

After all, many tablet owners greatly enjoy having integrated multi-device functionality, which has a prominent presence within the world of Windows devices. However, there is a huge functionality gap that Apple tablets do not currently have bridging to those services, and it might just lead to its dethronement as far as the tablet market is concerned.

Future Windows Tablet Release

As of now, neither Microsoft nor any of the hardware manufacturers with which the company is affiliated have mentioned any dates as far as tablets that use the Windows operating system are concerned, although the Build conference back in September — the conference when Windows 8 was announced — saw a few thousand Samsung prototypes given to developers.

Interestingly, the new Windows 8 desktop operating system shows a major emphasis on being touch-friendly. In fact, it is precisely the sort of technology that would work very well ported onto a tablet. However, the major question still remains with regard to whether or not a tablet with the Windows operating system could actually take over nearly half of the tablet market, putting a halt to the Android/iOS party that has been so prominent these past few years.

Blake Sanders is a writer of tech news and information at broadband comparison site Broadband Expert. Blake specializes in high speed internet as well as wireless internet providers and industry info. Note: Photo courtesy of buckaroobayvia FlickR Creative Commons.

Categories General, Hardware, Technology
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Nov

Setting Up a Computer Home Network

by Mitz

Back in the old days, setting up a computer home network was unheard of. Normal home computer users simply did not have the equipment that was needed to set up a home network. Nowadays I do not know of any household that has not got a computer and an Internet connection, however some people still feel that setting up a computer home network is still out of reach.

Setting up a computer home network is probably cheaper and easier than you think. Of course you will still need a few things to complete this task, however you most probably do not need a computer technician to help you.

More than one computer

Of course if you want to set up a computer home network, you will need two computers to do this. Otherwise if you only have one computer you might as well just simply connect to the Internet. Setting up a home network allows you to share files and resources with other computers in your house. For example you might want to share a printer by adding a network printer and having it available to all computers on your network.

Internet connection

When you are setting up a computer home network, it is obvious that you will need an Internet connection. All you have to do is phone up your preferred Internet service provider (ISP) and sign up for an Internet connection. They will usually supply you with a modem to connect to the Internet. At this point, if you are new and are getting an Internet connection for the first time, you should probably opt in for a wireless modem which will make setting up your home network easier later.

Computer home network equipment

Your computer at home network equipment will depend on your needs. I’ll will quickly list a few options available:

If you have a wireless router modem, you will not need a router. However any computer that wants to connect to this wireless Internet connection needs to have a wireless adapter fitted to it. For example most laptops have inbuilt wireless adapters, but desktops might need a wireless adapter card added to them. These components will pick up the wireless signal from the modem.
If you have a normal modem that is not wireless, and you do not have a router, you can still connect two computers to the Internet. This is done by connecting one computer through an Ethernet port any other through a USB port. In this situation, with a normal mode, you will need cables to connect both computers.
To make your connection wireless, simply by a wireless router to connect to your normal mode. This will convert your signal into wireless.

Therefore when setting up a computer home network is the computers will need a network adapter, or a wireless network adapter, depending on which modem you have.

Wireless Routers at Amazon

Quick steps to set up a home network

Let’s presume that you have a router and a modem and you want to connect to computers to the Internet. Hopefully you would have already installed network adapters into your computers, or maybe you have a laptop that already has a wireless adapter built-in.

The first thing to do is connect the router to your computer so you can access it to set it up. Routers have an IP address that you have to typing to your Internet browser in order to configure the router settings. There is a router network setup wizard that will run you through everything. When you are buying a new router you will probably even have a set up disk where every step is laid out for you. After configuring your router, it is then time to uncloaked it from your computer, and plug it into your modem.

At this point, providing your modem has an Internet connection, the router will as well. This means you can either plug computers in via Ethernet cords or if you have wireless, connect to them wirelessly. This will set you up a basic home computer network. Things get a little bit more difficult when you start to share particular files and set permissions.

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. If you need any more information about setting up a computer home network, I have hundreds of networking tips available for free on my website.

Categories Hardware, Technology
Comments (29)

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
Comments (28)

Nov

Treat your Computer Right and Reap the Rewards

by Contributed

A personal computer is a big investment. Depending on the brand and style you choose, you could spend a few hundred dollars all the way up to a few thousand dollars. Add in accessories and software and you could be looking at a large electronics investment for your home.

But once you get your computer home, is there anything you can do to make it last? Of course! Just like you use floor scrubbers and cleaning equipment to extend the life of your newly installed flooring, there are things you can do to extend the life of your new computer.

First things first, get an anti-virus program. The Internet is chock-full of dangerous viruses and data-mining worms via questionable websites, certain emails and downloads. Protect your computer before it is exposed to the World Wide Web.

A Clean Computer is a Happy Computer

Eating at your computer means a certain early death. Crumbs in the keyboard can invite critters into your home office that can chew on wires. But even without a third-party involved, food particles in and around your workspace can still spell trouble.

If your keyboard is weighed down with cracker crumbs or sticky from spilled soda, certain keys might not work correctly. You can use a keyboard cleaner or electronics duster to clean your keyboard.

Eating greasy things at your workspace and then touching the screen can mean a disaster for your eyes. Today’s monitors can no longer be easily cleaned with Windex and a paper towel. Flat-screens require special (and often expensive) cleaners. Fingerprints and smudges can do permanent damage if not immediately taken care of.

It’s All about the Updates

It’s easy for a computer to become outdated. Programs and software come out with new versions all the time. Taking the time to update the software on your machine will help make it last. If you’re multiple versions behind, your PC may run slower, but software updates are a much cheaper investment than a new computer.

It’s also relatively inexpensive to add additional memory to your computer. By adding an external hard drive, you can free up the space that is taken up by pictures, movies and music. By freeing up space, your computer will run just like the day you bought it.

When in Doubt, Scan

Anti-virus software won’t always catch everything. It’s easy for certain viruses and worms to slip through the cracks. Running a virus scan periodically will help catch anything that your software didn’t protect against. Many programs offer settings that will automatically run scans on a daily, weekly or monthly basis based on your preferences.

By catching these things early, you can minimize long-term damage to your computer. If you can’t troubleshoot the problem on your own, you can take your computer to a repair shop. Many big box electronic stores now offer technicians to assist with most computer issues.

Now that you know more about cleaning your keyboard and monitor, expand your horizons and consider learning more about cleaning equipment for your home like floor scrubbers. Guest post written by Shane Jones.

Categories General, Hardware, Technology
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Nov

Reuse Your Old Computer and Save Money!

by Contributed

You are part of the computer generation. Which means you are part of the “it constantly updates” generation, and devices become obsolete faster than you can learn about the newest lines. PC’s and laptops may be more enduring than most personal technology today, but they still eventually give out or just have to be replaced for the sake of compatibility.

But, what do you do with the old one once the new one is in? Maybe the computer is broken and can’t be used anymore. Perhaps it still works, but it just sitting in a corner as you try to decide if you could actually bother selling it, and who would buy it. Either way, you have a dilemma: what next?

You can actually reuse your old computer or laptop for something new. This option can save you money, space and is more environmentally conscious than tossing it in the trash heap.

Here are a couple of ideas on how you can reuse that techno dinosaur:

Scrap It For Parts

An old or broken computer or laptop can be a treasure trove of useful parts. Especially if you are hoping to expand what you currently have. Hard drives and RAM are great for a PC in particular, as are graphic cards, DVD drives and other little bits and pieces you can cannibalize to improve the capabilities of your new system.

Or, you can just keep them on hand. You might find that you need something in the future, and having it in a box waiting to be installed can save you a lot of cash in the long run. You will also have it if a friend finds themselves in need.

A lot of people will dismount the hard drive and use it as a portable one for saving files. The higher the space capability, the better this idea will work. Since external hard drives can be pricey, it immediately saves you anywhere from $50 to $100.

Sell Parts Online

Keeping on the same line of thought as the last suggestion, you can also build some cash to use ofr the new computer (or to make up for the cost) by scraping the old model and selling the parts individually on eBay, Craigslist or through local newspapers.

For example, right now on eBay there is a Samsung laptop ID PATA 160GB hard drive on sale for $75 right now. You can also use a bidding system, which many people will be eager to take part in.

Freecycle It

If you don’t know freecycling, you should. It is basically a giveaway where you find people locally who want what you are needing to get rid of, and vice versa. You can find a group in your city by checking out Freecycle.org.

The great thing here is that you give your computer to someone who really needs it. You can also save money by possibly trading it for something that they want to get rid of and you want or need.

Create An All-In-One Media Station

Stereos are pretty much in the past these days. No one buys CD’s, much less anything else. Instead, music has gone digital and downloaded music is the way of the future. So having an old laptop or PC hooked up to a nice set of speakers can be a great way to blast music through your house.

With all the room saved on your hard drive, there will be plenty for as many songs as you want. Plus movies, television shows and more.

Conclusion

You can reuse you computer in a lot of ways, as well as sell it to make a quick buck. If you are feeling charitable, you can also donate it to a company like ComputersWithCauses.org, which is tax deductible.

What are some of your ideas?

Jessy is a web geek and tech blogger for Life Insurance Finder, the money-saving app to compare life insurance (no registration required).

Categories General, Hardware, Technology
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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
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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.