10 tips and hints on how to keep your computer running

What are restoration CDs and why do we need them?
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When you buy your new computer, printer, scanner, ipod, pda or a digital camera you usually receive multiple cds , bundles of different little boxes together with your package. A lot of people put them away and pay no special attention to them. After some time passes, they are forgotten alltogether lost. Why do we need them? Why are they so important to keep? All disks inside the package are drivers cds supplied to you by manufacturer of the product. These are sets of programs or files designed to act as a translator or a communicator between your peripheral (printer, scanner, digital camera, etc..) and Windows. For example, there are 50-100 manufactures of mouse and keyboards and every company makes their hardware or electronics differently. As a result, they supply a code which will be able to operate their hardware accordingly. But one thing they all have in common: they are all based on Microsoft Windows. Usually if you look inside the CD’s content you will see folder or directories labeled Win98, WinME, WinXP and Win2000. These are the drivers for different operating systems. Depending on which version of Windows you are running, the “Windows installer” would find the correct set of drivers and install it for you. So, before you plug in any peripheral, by definition of user manual, you must install drivers (or Cd in this case) before plugging in any hardware. Once the drivers are installed, you may plug in your new computer toy. Windows “plug-n-play” function will locate drivers for it and you are now on your way to start using your new computer gadget.

What are restoration CDs and why do we need them?
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Sometimes there is a need to reinstall your drivers, for whatever reason it might be. Maybe you accidentally unplugged your devise while it was on and active (printing, for example) and your current drivers became corrupted, or you downloaded something from the internet and it was conflicting with your scanning software. Both programs are not working now. You will be now looking for the CDs that came with your peripheral. Engineer will need those disks as well on their arrival. Therefore, it will be the first thing they ask for.
You can also download it from the internet, but if takes too long if you have a dial up connection. You may be out of luck as well if you don’t have one at all or if its not working. You always want to make copies of your restoration CDs that came with your pc or your laptop. It contains an exact image of your hard drive. And, if you ever need to reformat your hard drive due to the hardware failure, corrupted software or a virus, you can always rely on your restoration cds. You will have your software installed the same way you received your computer, brand new in a box the day you bought it. If the cds are lost, you either will have to call manufacturer and go through a long verification process, and still get charged $50 to $100 for another set of CDs, or you will march to the local store and buy copy of Windows, Office, Anti virus and etc for your own money and be very upset about the whole situation. So KEEP the original CDs in the safe place and NEVER discard them. Make copies and store them separately. You rather be safe then sorry!