Thread: Computer people please help.

Originally Posted by chee16

these are all the answers that i was looking for. since i don't know that much about operating systems i really didn't wan to mess anything up. so i guess my best bet is to reinstalll windows AGAIN ha its not that big of a deal but s=considering it is my work computer and i use it as a cash register i may have to stay late which isn't really that big of a deal.

so does anyone have any suggestions on some key files that i should be backing up? heres my list so far:
-drivers (it took me a while to find them the last time)
-Point of Sale Program (obviously )
-all word documents and other personal things like that

anything else to think about that would make things easier?

Email and browser bookmarks. Music and video files, pictures, accounting software files if you use something like that.

When you boot off the windows CD it will ask you if you want to recover/repair. Say no. Tell it you want to install. You will then see a screen that asks you to select a partition to install to. Delete everything on that screen and then "create a partition". If it asks you want it to be primary. More than likely you will use the default size which is the entire disk. Highlight the new partition and install to it. Select format NTFS(quick) since you know the disk is in working order. Then follow the prompts from there out. Make sure as soon as the drivers are installed that you run windows update and install all the criticals until there is nothing left to install and you are up to date on service packs. You will have to go back into windows updates several times after each reboot. Once that is done install your anti-virus and then the rest of your apps.

Security patches and service packs will go a long ways in preventing security holes that viruses exploit. They are absolutely vital. Basically you don't have to depend on A/V software to find something if it can't install in the first place.