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If Something Goes Wrong
Develop good computing habits
Backing up your data or your entire computer with the Windows® operating system
The most valuable component of your computer system is the data
you create and store on its internal storage drive. Since problems
with either hardware or software can make the data inaccessible or
even destroy it, the next most valuable component of your computer
system may be a recent backup of your data.
Fortunately, the Windows® operating system offers a convenient
way to back up your computer or just your important files to optical
discs, or hard drives. An external hard drive is recommended in
case the internal storage drive fails. No additional software is
required. Most of the external optical disc drives that are now
widely available can write to (or ‘burn’) as well as read from optical
discs.
Follow these steps to back up your computer or files to optical
discs, or a storage drive:
You cannot back up the computer while running on battery power.
Connect the AC adaptor before continuing.
1Prepare your backup target by connecting it and/or inserting a
blank optical disc in the drive.
2Click Start.
3Click Control Panel.
4Click Back up your computer under the System and
Security heading. Follow the on-screen instructions to back up
your files.
For more help, click Start, Help and Support, and search for
“back up files.”
General tips for installing hardware and software
Here are a few tips to help ensure safe and easy installation of new
hardware (printers, pointing devices, external hard drives, DVD
writers, scanners, etc.) and software (applications like Microsoft®
Office and Adobe® Photoshop®, or utility software such as special
toolbars for your web browser).
❖Create a restore point (refer to “Saving system configuration
with restore points” on page 177). Before installing anything,
use the System Restore utility to set a restore point (see the
section titled restore points). If anything goes wrong, you will
then be able to easily restore the Windows® operating system to
NOTE