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Why
should you format your computer and what does it mean?
To format your computer means that all your
data will be lost. Your operating system, programs, emails, drivers, pictures,
everything! All of the updates on your programs will be gone, infact the every
entire program will be gone. Formatting your computer makes your computer clean and new just like
the day you bought it.
But be warned! Your computer may have even less
than it did when you bought it because the salesperson may have loaded it with
extra software to make the sale.
When you format a computer you are actually
formatting the hard drive. This is the main storage component of your computer.
It is usually labeled as C drive on your computer.
I have had people ring me up after they have
formatted their computer to ask me where all their files have gone? And don't
laugh because it is very common.
Reasons why you might need to format your computer:
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You have built a computer and you must format the hard drive so you can
put an operating system on it.
-
You have replaced your main hard drive and the new one needs to be
formatted.
-
Your computer will not start at all. Sometimes formatting can wipe a
problem away.
-
You have a software problem that is too detailed to fix.
-
You have a major virus that you cannot get rid of.
Things you will need before you format your computer:
Programs and data you need to restore after formatting your computer:
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After
you have installed your operating system you must install your antivirus
software.
-
Install
your drivers to your computer. They are usually the sound, network adapter,
display or graphics, and maybe more if you have add ons.
-
Set up
your internet connection. You must have a network adapter driver installed for
the Ethernet cord or the wireless signal to be recognized.
-
Download
updates for your antivirus and your Windows operating system.
-
Setup
your email account.
How to set up an Email Account in Outlook Express
-
Import
settings you have saved. Restore files that you backed up before formatting your
computer.
Backup and restore your Email Account Settings
-
Install
all other programs.
How much does a computer IT person charge to format a computer?
-
Just a
simple format with you supplying the original operating system disc and
drivers it may cast from $100 to $400.
-
If you
require your computers data to be backed up it could cost extra.
-
Sometimes you can get a friend to format your computer for a small fee, or
even free.
-
An
older computer that requires more attention can also cost extra.
-
If you
don't have a copy of your discs the IT persons will have to search for your
computer drivers and you may have to pay for a new operating system. Anywhere
from $100 and up.
Notes:
As you can see, formatting your computer can be a
huge and sometimes daunting task to the newbie. However the majority of the
work is in the backup and restore stage. If you are organized, you can backup
your files every week to a safe place. This way when you do format your
computer it will be a lot easier.
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About the Author
Mitz Pantic wrote this article and others for
http://www.tips4pc.com
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