PC Tune Up: What to do if Your Machine Should Crash

by Rob B. Byron

Okay, we all dread the day, right? If you don't have your data backed up on a daily basis, you are yourself and your precious work in danger! It is inevitable that a hard drive will crash. It happens to everyone. Why do you thing your computer is packed with the Restoration CD in the first place? You should expect it because it's only a matter of time.

With that said, there are things you can do to fix the problem when it arises. It is not really an overwhelming task to restore your computer to its original settings. The only bad thing is that if you have not previously backed up your data, you will be out of luck! When it comes to any information you have added, like files or programs, you will loose it all when you restore your personal computer to the original settings. So, save yourself a little heartache and lost time now and back up your data before the computer crashes.

If you didn't receive a restoration CD, you will have to pay for a professional to make one using your computer's information. It is not impossible, but it will cost a little money. Be sure to keep your restoration in a safe place when you buy a new personal computer. If you don't buy your personal computer brand new, be sure that where you do get it, you have the restoration CD!

Your Restoration CD has been provided to you so that you can get your computer up and running when it does crash. It will absolutely erase any and all of the programs you have added so don't freak out when you can't find it; it won't be there unless you go back and add the information again. (Or if you had the forethought and used a back up means to store your important information.) The restoration disk will completely erase your hard drive and restore the original factory settings on your personal computer. Likewise, your restoration CD will not work in another personal computer.

Basically, it will only take about 20 minutes of your time to restore the original settings onto your personal computer. The CD will strip your personal computer down to the basic settings, so that you can g=begin to use it again. Once you get it started again, you can always reinstall any of the programs you still want/need. This is also true of any additional hardware you installed after the original programs when you got the computer.

Using the restoration CD is easy as pie! You will not really need to do much, but will want to stick by the computer while the CD does it's job. The entire process won't take more than 30 minutes and is very simple to perform. In order to restore your computer's original settings, do the following:

Turn the power on

Insert the restoration diskette (labeled Emergency Restoration Disk)

Insert the restoration CD into the CDROM

Push in And release the reset button on your personal computer (normally located at the bottom of the front of the computer)

When your computer begins again and starts to run the restoration disk and CD, the CDROM will start to restore the original settings. You can pull up a seat and stick around for the process, or you can let it do it's own thing and check in on the progress.

Once your restoration process is complete, you will be able to reset your personal computer. All you have left to do at this point is take out the Emergency Restoration diskette and CD and hit the Enter key.

Once you hit the Enter key, your Windows program will begin on it's own. Windows should start normally at this point. Make sure that you put your restoration CD and diskette in a safe place, as you may need it again in the future. Also, make sure you remember to back up your data from now on, too!

On a side note, if for some reason you have trouble locating your personal computer's reset button, just turn off the power. Wait for a couple of minutes and then turn it on again; follow instructions once the computer is up and running again.

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