Welcome to Volume 1, Number 3 of Presidio Computer's Newsletter.

A. You, your computer and its operating system.

When you purchase a computer, it usually has an operating system already loaded. [The operating system (OS) is the main computer program we use to communicate with the computer. In many cases your OS is some version of Windows [created by Microsoft Corporation]. If this is the case, you have also purchased a license to use the OS.

A few years ago, the computer manufacturer provided you with a CD that contained the OS. If the hard drive failed, all you had to do was obtain a new hard drive, install the OS to the new hard drive and then restore your computer data from the backup you created.

Some computer manufacturers no longer supply a real OS disk. Instead, some put the installation files on the hard drive. This is OK, unless the hard drive physically breaks.

Some computer manufacturers supply you with a "restore" or "recovery" disk. Some of these disk will completely wipe out your hard drive; then re-install your computer to its state when it left the factory. Other disks will preserve the files you created, but will wipe out the rest of the hard drive before restoring the computer to its state when it left the factory.

Which of the above scenarios applies to your computer? I suggest that you research that issue today. Be prepared!

B. Data backup

There are 2 kinds of computer users. Those who have experienced a hard drive failure, and those who will experience a hard drive failure. A hard drive failure is as inevitable as 100 degrees during June.

Recovering from a failed hard drive can be emotionally and financially draining. Your doctoral thesis, gone. Your financial records, vanished. Your favorite family recipies, poof.

The old adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." applies here. Presidio Computers recommends that you backup your computer's files on a regular basis. How often? As often as the files change. For some of us, that means every day. Do you have to backup your data? No. It is your data, not mine. But I recommend that you backup your data every time it changes.

The method you use to backup your data depends on how much time and money you want to invest in this project. The least expensive method is to copy the files you create to floppy disks. Floppy disks generally hold 1.44 MB [megabytes] of data. A floppy disk is made up of a rigid plastic case, which surrounds a plastic sheet. The plastic is coated with iron oxide.

This has several limitations. Floppy disks store data using a magnetic field. If your floppy gets too close to a magnetic field, your data is gone. The iron oxide coating on the floppy disk can flake off. If that happens, your data is gone. Floppy disks also limit the size of a file that you can save. Without some fancy maneuvers, you can't copy a 3 megabyte file to multiple floppy disks.

Another storage method is to burn a CD. A compact disk drive uses a laser to read the data on a CD. A CD burner is a special type of CD drive. It creates, or burns, CDs, in addition to playing CDs. Most CD burners these days are CD-R (compact disk - writeable) and CD-RW (compact disk - re-writeable). CDs can hold approximately 650 MB of data.

A third storage media is another hard drive. Some computer users copy their important data to another hard drive that is located inside their computer. If your PC experiences a fire, this method is not very useful. Your original data, and your backup copy go up in the same puff of smoke.

Computer networks use tape drives to store their backup files. This method provides 2 distinct advantages. You can backup the entire contents of your computer to a single tape. 40 GB (gigabyte) tapes are common. The tape is easily transported off the premises, away from a fire that might consume the computer and its data.

There are a number of different computer programs that will transfer your data to a backup device. Some will copy only the files you select. Using this method, you will have to re-install your computer's OS, and all of the programs that were on your computer. Only after all of this has been done can you use the data that you stored on your floppy disks.

Some backup programs will copy the entire contents of your computer. Some of these programs will allow you to copy some of the data onto one CD and the rest of the data on one or more additional CDs. Using this method, all you have to do is place the storage media in the computer, start the restore process and relax.

At least in theory, you can relax. Be sure to test your backup device and media on a regular basis. Remember, Murphy was an optimist. If something can go wrong, it will, at the worst possible time.

C. Your computer's vital statistics.

At some point, your computer will develop a problem. An error message will appear. Or some part of your computer won't function; perhaps your PC won't produce any sound. No matter the situation, you'll need the following information.

1. Brand, and model

2. Serial number

3. Operating System (usually, which version of windows).

4. CPU type and speed.

5. Amount of RAM (memory).

6. Size of your computer's hard drive(s).

7. Amount of free space on your computer's hard drive.

8. Name and version of your computer's antivirus program.

9. Version of Netscape and/or Internet Explorer your computer uses.

10. How do you access your email (Outlook, Outlook Express, Eurora, Lotus Notes), ISP web site, internet site?

11. What is your ISP (internet service provider)?

12. How does your computer connect to the internet?

Some of this information can be obtained as follows:

1.a. Open the control panel.

1.b. Open the "system" icon.

1.c. Look at the tabs labeled "general" and "performance".

2. Open Internet Explorer and Netscape. Click on "help.

3.a. If your PC's OS is Windows 98, Millennium or XP

3.b. click on "start"

3.c. click on "run"

3.d. erase anything in the long, skinny white box. Then type: msinfo32

3.e. click on "ok"

4.a. open "my computer"

4.b. opposite (right) click on your C: drive

4.c. click on properties

The information contained in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. No guarantees nor warranties are expressly given nor implicitly implied.

If you want your name removed from this mailing list, please let me know. Your name is not kept in an address book. Your name is neither shared with nor sold to anyone.

Sincerely,
Ed Sloup
Presidio Computers, LLC
520 731 6446
www.presidiocomputers.com