Take Practical Precautions To Protect Software And Data, Back Up Original Software, Back Up Data On The Hard Drive

If the Print Screen key does not work while you’re viewing setup on the PC, carefully copy down all settings on paper. On many machines there is an advanced CMOS setup screen. Copy that screen as well, even though you might never expect to change these advanced settings yourself. CMOS can lose these settings, and you will want to be able to reconstruct them when necessary.

Also, keep a record of DIP switch settings and jumper settings on the systemboard. You can record these settings the first time you remove the cover of the machine

Keep all this information in a notebook.

When installing expansion cards, write down in your notebook information about the card, and keep the documentation that came with it in your notebook.

If you must change jumper settings or DIP switches on the card, be certain to write down the original settings before you change anything.

When the card is configured correctly, write down the correct settings in your notebook or on the documentation for the card.

Take Practical Precautions To Protect Software And Data

If software files become corrupted, the most thorough approach is to restore the software

from backups or to reinstall the software. To simplify both of these time-consuming tasks, here are a few suggestions:

Before you install a new software package, back up the configuration files for DOS and Windows 3.x, or make a backup of the Windows 9x Registry and the Windows 9x configuration files.

Because many software packages overwrite files in the \Windows\System directory during installation, back up this entire directory before you begin an installation, if you have the hard drive space.

Don’t compress your hard drive because compressed drives are more likely to become corrupted than those that are not compressed.

Don’t store data files in the same directory as the software. This way, there will be less chance of accidentally deleting or overwriting a software file.

At the very least, before beginning an installation, create a folder for the Windows 9x files that are likely to be altered during an application installation, and back up these files to that folder. Store in this folder these files: WIN.INI, SYSTEM.INI, USER.DAT, and SYSTEM.DAT. The files USER.DAT and SYSTEM.DAT make up the Windows 9x Registry.

Back Up Original Software

Many software packages today come stored on CD-ROM, which cannot be backed up easily. If you request a copy of the software on floppy disks, this can serve as your backup.

If the software only comes on floppy disks, most software copyright agreements allow the user to make a backup copy of the original disks. The copyright most likely does not allow you to distribute these backup copies to friends, but you can keep your copy in a safe place in the event that something happens to the originals. Many installation procedures that come with software on floppy disks suggest that you make backup copies and then use the copies for the installation rather than using the original. To make an exact duplicate of a floppy disk, use the Copy Disk command in Windows 9x or Windows 3.x or the DISKCOPY command in DOS.

Back Up Data On The Hard Drive

Don’t expect the worst, but do prepare for it. If important data is kept on the hard drive, back up that data on a regular basis to tape (using utility software designed for that purpose), to removable hard drives, to floppy disks, or to a company file server. Quite simply, always follow this rule: do not keep important data on only one medium.