Reformat Hard Drive Under XP? by Bob Rankin
Do You Really Want To Format That Hard Drive? Be forewarned, formatting a hard drive is MUCH different than formatting a Word document. The format will erase *everything* on the disk (the operating system, your programs and data files) and leave you unable to even boot up the PC. ... But first you'll probably want to back up your hard drive, or at least part of it. ... If you really want to format your hard drive... ... About the only thing you can do with a freshly formatted drive is install an operating system from CDROM.

How to Backup Windows XP Home Edition by Stephen Bucaro
Your computer cost you from hundreds to thousands of dollars, but the computer itself is not the most valuable part. The data on the hard disk is the most valuable part. How many hours of work did you put into creating that data? One little event, like a power line spike from a lightning strike,... You can use an older, smaller hard drive as the backup device, as long as the backup drive has more "Free Space" than the main hard drive has "Used Space". ... Install a Second Hard Drive When installing a second hard drive in your computer, it's important to configure the drives correctly.

Some Important Things To Look For In A Hard Drive by Cedric Dirose
There are many components that make a computer run, but the hard drive is of course one of the most important. If the hard drive fails, the computer will quickly become unusable, so it is important to choose this vital component with care, and to shop around for it carefully. ... The speed of the hard drive is another important consideration, and it is a good idea to look for the fastest hard drive you can find. ... What this means to you as a hard drive shopper is that you should always buy the largest hard drive you can afford.

Building Your Own Computer by D. David Dugan
The world of computers is constantly changing. It is one of the only industries that is different from month to month. If you’re in the market for a new PC, there are continually new options available. To get the best bang for your buck in computer technology, you may want to consider building... These include the motherboard, processor, cooling fans, hard drive, memory, keyboard, mouse, video and sound cards. ... Most PCs will guide you through the set up process to install the operating system.

Finding the Free Driver Downloads and Software You Need by Christy Berger
So you bought a printer. That’s great! Unfortunately, that’s not all there is to getting to use it. You have to download drivers, software has to be installed and not to mention complicated set up processes must be gone through. But don’t panic! It is our hope that once you’re done reading this... This is especially difficult when printer instructions are hard to read and fail to mention problems with computer/printer compatibility. ... Free printer driver downloads can be easy for you to find and even easier to install.

Computer Training - Computer Repair and Building by Michael Russell
There is no getting around that there are a lot of computers in the world. The percentage of homes alone that now have computers is staggering and with all these computers, some running literally around the clock, there had better be somebody available to repair them when they break down, and... After your computer is built, you'll then learn how to format your hard drive and how to install the operating system. ... The next thing you will learn is a general overview of the various parts of the computer such as the mother board, power supply, memory chips, hard disk drive and all the...

Building Computers: A Short History Lesson by Michael Quarles
In only a few years, the task of building your own computer has gone through remarkable changes, almost entirely for the good. It’s less complicated, and far less prone to the devilish sort of problems presented by certain steps in the process. One of the most notable improvements has to do with... First, you booted up from a MS-DOS floppy, and installed its files on your hard drive. ... You had to have either an IDE or SCSI I/O card as controller for the hard drive, floppy, and printer port. ... Then, with the CD-ROM going, you could install Windows.

Laptop Repair and Upgrade by Michael LaRocco
Laptop repair isnt always easy, but sometimes it can be. If the laptop isnt under warranty and you dont feel comfortable replacing some of these parts yourself, youll have to find a professional to do it. If you only want to upgrade then you cant send it back to the manufacturer and you'll have... The #1 reason for hard drive corruption is abuse, so be careful with your laptop if you wanna keep your hard drive safe. ... Hard Drive: A hard drive can be a little more tricky to upgrade. ... If your hard drive gets corrupted, youll probably lose most of your data unless a professional can...

3 Things You Need To Know Before Installing Windows Vista by Aaron Smith
The new generation of Microsoft Windows known as Vista was released earlier this year. Most new computers bought since the end of January will come preloaded with Windows Vista, but there are many people with older computers that will want to upgrade from Windows XP. ... Lastly, if you're planning to install the upgrade version of Vista, keep in mind that you can't do a clean install with it. ... This is when you format your hard drive, wiping everything clean that's on there now and installing Windows from scratch.

Dual Boot Windows and Linux: Single and Multiple Hard Drives by David Picella
The internet is full of technical articles, many of which are way too complicated for the average computer user who just wants to solve a simple problem. If you pay close attention, the internet is also a place where the "gurus" spend a lot of time yelling for help in discussion boards and forums. ... I only have enough room here to tell you the most common way to do this on a single hard drive or using multiple hard drives. ... When you install Linux—MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT INSTALL THE LINUX BOOT LOADER TO THE MBR.