Help Your Computer Guy: 3 Things that Will Make His Day!

By preparing these three tips in advance, these three items will reduce the time spent trying to locate information, and needed drivers or restore CDs, when your computer repair person arrives. These tips will also help reduce the stress of the entire situation by having all needed tools at hand, and will help reduce the amount of time needed to restore your computer.

1.) Original CD's with the drivers

2.) List of passwords, install keys, etc

3.) Backups of all software installed on the system

Tip#1

Of any of the items to keep handy with your computer, I cannot stress enough to keep all drivers and installation CDs handy at all times. When you get a new computer, you should have received a packet of items, which include the main board's installation CD, and CD's from all other aftermarket items installed. This might include Video cards, TV tuner Cards, Network or sound card or any other device that you had them install when they put together your computer. With some computers, I have found that the manufacture has not always provided all or any of the CDs that you are going to need in order to restore your computer back to original when you purchased the unit. With that said, I have found that the manufactures that do not provide these CD's usually have a way for you to create them when you first startup your computer, or anytime afterward. My advice is this, if they offer a way to create a restore CD, please go get some high quality CDRs and burn a couple of restore CDs. Please keep more than one just in case something happens. I will get into some storage ideas in just a little while. In addition, many companies are placing a directory on the computer's C: drive that has all the drivers that you will need. Burn several copies of this information as well, as it will be handy later when you have a problem.

Worse case scenario is that the computer that you just purchased came with nothing at all, no CDs in the box and no program/ link to create a CD, you can always find free software that will allow you to create a ghost image of your system. You will want to do this when everything is new and before you start installing all your programs, as this will allow you the ability to revert your computer back to when you first received it from the store or manufacture.

Tip#2

Whether you use a password program that helps you to remember all your passwords or a word doc, or notepad file you need to maintain all of your passwords in one place. I also suggest that you print this out from time to time and keep this information in a safe place. The time that you are going to need this information is when your computer is down and your computer person is trying to find a way onto the computer system, router, or other device and your passwords are most likely not going to be available via your computer. The passwords that you will need are all passwords for your computer accounts, especially the admin account, passwords to your router or WAP access point. Any other device that is on your network, perhaps the NAS storage unit, or the network printer, as at some time I can guarantee you that you will need these. While you are at it, also include the passwords to your email accounts, online social networks, web sites (if any), online storage solutions, and to your ISP account(s). Nothing is worse than to be paying for someone's time and you are fumbling to find the password to your ISP so that you can work with that company to resolve an internet connection issue.

Tip #3

Keep backups of all the software that you have installed on your computer. If you purchased a computer and it came preloaded with say Microsoft Word, then you should have been provided a CD or a way to create on, or a full restore CD. If you are installing software, make a backup of the CD and use the backup to run your install. Think about it this way, one day you will be faced with having to reinstall your operating system and with that all your programs. If the program is something that you rely on or that would cost you, significant monies to purchase, then you need to keep a copy of that software in a safe place.

Along the lines of storage, my recommendation when you first get your computer is to pull out 2- 9x12 manila envelops. Using a Sharpe or a pen that will write in bold enough letters, write the name of your computer on the front. As an example, if I have a computer called family, I would write "Computer: Family" I then write down some other information in regular pen. The items I would write on the envelope are the model # or other characterizations. Therefore, as an example, I might write; "HP Presario model # HP6625US, Laptop, 4GB Ram, 2.5 GHz 64-bit Intel, 160GB hard drive. Once this is, complete I would then put all the original CD's in one envelope and all the backup CDs that I created in the second envelope. In the original envelope, I keep all the paperwork that I received original from the manufacture. If I think I might need a copy of this in the future, I will make and keep a copy in the second envelope. The list of passwords will be kept in the second envelope for safekeepings. Take the first envelope with all the originals and put in your file cabinet or somewhere safe. Take the second envelope with the copies of install CDs and your password list and keep this in your desk drawer or nearby cabinet or somewhere that will be in easy reach at all times.

Now you have your original information in a safe place and a backup in a location handy for when your computer person comes over. You want the second envelope handy so that periodically you can update the sheet with all your passwords. When you add new software, make sure to make a copy and put in the backup envelope, and place the originals in the envelope marked as "Original" By having these envelopes your computer person will not only be impressed that you are organized, but that person will thank you when they are in need of a driver or installation CD.

Bonus Tip:

As I alluded to in tip #1, you can download free software that will create a ghost image of your computer system. What this means is that you can create an image of all items installed on your computer so that it can be restored easily in the future. I like to use this software to create images every four to six months. By doing this I have a restore point that is not very old. How this helps is such, say I get a virus, or install a software program that is causing me major issues. I can reinstall my operating system, install the ghost software, and then restore my ghost image. At this point, my system is back to the way it was when I last created my ghost image. All software will be there, all documents, etc. Remember that this will only restore your system to the date of your last ghost image. Therefore, there is a possibility of losing documents and all other program settings since your last image creation. Here is a handy trick for you, often times if you are having an issue, you can at least get onto the computer to some level, so you might have an opportunity to backup your "My Documents" folder before you do the restore. This will keep your documents, email, photos safe and all you will have to worry about is the software that you will need to reinstall. However, if you have your envelope handy, that will not be a huge issue either as you will have the installation cd ready for when your image restore is complete.