Preparing Your Computer for Reformat
No matter how well you treat your computer, it eventually will need to be reformatted. While the most common reason for reformatting a computer is related to viruses and corrupted programs, reformatting can also help improve a computers performance. However, before you erase everything off your computer and reinstall the operating system there are a few things you should do first. By following the steps outlined below, you can not only benefit from reformatting, but also make sure you have all your important files and information saved.
What you will need - Before you begin wiping programs off your computer you will want to go out and buy some kind of portable drive or a batch of blank CD Rom discs. You will also want to take this time to make sure you have the latest updates for your operating system. Another good idea is to buy any hardware upgrades you are planning on making as one of the best time to change out hardware is while the computer is wiped clean.
Storing the Important Information - Even causal users tend to store important information on their computer. Take time to go through all your files and make sure to save anything that has important information on it. Such things would include any work documents, personal writing, and other similar information. Also you might want to take time to create a document that contains user names and passwords for internet sites you visit frequently.
Make a Back-Up of Your Hard Drive - Probably the most important step in reformatting your computer is making a back up disc of your hard drive. Sometimes reformatting discs can get scratched or corrupted. When this happens, having a back up of your hard drive means you can restore your computer without having to buy an entirely new OS. If by chance both the reformatting disc and your back up disc fails, contact the manufacturer of your computer as they often have formatting discs available for a nominal fee. Once you have done the above, double check to make sure that you have everything saved that you need. If everything looks good, begin the reformatting process. Once the reformat is complete, take the devices which carry your stored information and start transferring the information back to your computer. Also, you will probably need to do some downloads to update various software such as your web browser, Operating system updates and the like. It may seem that reformatting a computer is a simple process, and for the most part, it is. Just make sure to do it correctly.