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Article: Computer System
Recovery
By Jason Alden
August 5, 2004
Sometimes it is necessary to
completely erase and reinstall your computer. This is called
"performing a recovery". Before you perform a recovery,
you should back up your important data.
Backup your data
(Word, Excel, Quicken, etc) to your CD RW drive, assuming you have such
drive. Then make a copy of that CD so that you have 2 copies of
your data (1 extra in case your original CD gets damaged). Put
those CDs asside for safe keeping.
Performing A Recovery
1. You are going to shut down your computer and turn off modem.
2. Then turn on computer and get recovery CD 1 in the CD drive quickly (if you don’t do it soon enough just
reboot).
3. You should be prompted to perform a recover/factory reset, or similar. Tell it yes that you want to do
that.
4. Follow the prompts. You will probably be prompted to put different CDs in at different times.
4b. As windows loads, you may be presented with questions such as dynamic or static IP. Choose
DYNAMIC.
5. Once Windows is loaded and you get to the desktop and the computer is completely settled down, shut it
down. Then turn on your cable modem. Wait 60
seconds. Turn on computer.
6. As soon as it is up test to see if you can browse the Internet. If you can, go to next step.
7. Go to Start / All Programs and click on Windows Update. Choose Yes if prompted to install Windows
Update something or other. Then click Scan For
Updates. You will be told that you have X number of Critical Updates and Service Packs. Install them by
clicking Review & Install Updates.
8. Usually you will be prompted to reboot after each set of updates install. When the computer comes back
up, repeat above paragraph until ZERO critical updates
are left.
Try to get through the critical updates quickly - In other words answer the requests to reboot or etc.
quickly. Each minute you are not answering prompts is another minute your computer could be infected with a
virus or a hacker can attack it (since it is connected to the internet and not all critical updates have been
applied and not Antivirus is present).
9. Then get antivirus installed. Then make sure you download the latest antivirus definition file. This
will be dated usually no longer than a week in the past. Any longer than that you have a higher risk of
getting a virus, and risk increases as the definition file gets older. [I know I told you to install Antivirus first, but
ignore that…It too may interfere with the initial Windows Updates. ]
10. Turn on Internet Connection Firewall. Start / Control Panel / Network Connections. Right click on
the connection you use to connect to the Internet, choose Properties. Advanced. Check on “Protect my
computer…”.
Preventative Maintenance On Your Computer:
+Run Disk Defrag after you do the above steps and then
once per month thereafter.
+Check Windows Updates website weekly and apply any
new Critical Updates.*
+Check your Antivirus Definitions once or twice a week
to make sure your definitions are up to date.*
+Setup a user for each member of your family. Restrict them to user level (certainly not
Administrator). Keep yourself as Administrator so you can have full control over the computer.
+Don't install cutsey programs or programs you do not
really need.
*Failure to do these steps will increase your risk of getting a virus, then you get to do this all over
again!!!
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