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Chapter 1

Start Here First

ou picked up this book for any of several reasons. You

may be eyeing Windows 7, Microsoft’s newest version of

Windows, and want to upgrade your computer to meet Windows 7’s

needs. Perhaps one of your computer’s parts died, and you’re

looking for a replacement. Or maybe your computer simply needs

some fine-tuning. Either way, start with this chapter.

This chapter starts with the easy stuff by letting you know when

it’s time to upgrade, and when it’s time to simply throw in the

towel and buy a new computer.

You discover how to find out what version of Windows lives on

your computer, as well as how to identify the CPU and amount of

memory hiding inside your computer’s case.

This chapter also explains how to identify every part inside your

computer’s case, so you can see if your computer meets those

fine-print system requirements listed on the side of many software boxes.

To keep your work as light as possible, this chapter explains where Windows 7 has

the power to repair itself — if those powers are turned on and running correctly,

that is. You find complete instructions on making sure the self-healing abilities of

Windows Update and System Restore are up and running.

Remember, anytime you’re not sure what plugs in where, check out this book’s

Appendix. It’s a visual directory of all your computer’s connectors and the gadgets

that will fit into them.

Topics in this chapter

✓ Determining when to

upgrade

✓ Determining when not to

upgrade

✓ Upgrading do’s and

don’ts

✓ Turning on Windows

Update

✓ Making sure System

Restore works

✓ Identifying your

Windows version and

your computer’s parts

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COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Summary of content (14 pages)

PAGE 1
Chapter 1 Start Here First ✓ Determining when not to upgrade ✓ Upgrading do’s and don’ts ✓ Turning on Windows Update ✓ Making sure System AL Y ou picked up this book for any of several reasons. You may be eyeing Windows 7, Microsoft’s newest version of Windows, and want to upgrade your computer to meet Windows 7’s needs. Perhaps one of your computer’s parts died, and you’re looking for a replacement. Or maybe your computer simply needs some fine-tuning. Either way, start with this chapter.
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10 Part I: Getting Ready to Upgrade Determining When to Upgrade Your computer usually tells you when it wants an upgrade. Some warning signals are subtle, others more obvious. At worst, they can be downright annoying. In any case, keep track of the following when you’re deciding whether it’s time to open the wallet and grab the toolbox: ✓ When your operating system demands it: The latest version of Windows, Windows 7, is easily Microsoft’s best operating system in years.
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Chapter 1: Start Here First Determining When You Shouldn’t Upgrade Sometimes, you shouldn’t upgrade your own computer. Keep your hands off during any of the following circumstances: ✓ When a computer part breaks while under warranty: If your new computer is under warranty, let the manufacturer fix it. In fact, trying to fix or replace a part sometimes voids the warranty on the rest of your computer. Some manufacturers void the warranty if you simply open your computer’s case.
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12 Part I: Getting Ready to Upgrade Do upgrade one thing at a time Even if you’ve just returned from the computer store with more memory, a wireless network card, a new hard drive, and a new monitor, don’t try to install them all at once. Install one part and make sure that it works before going on to the next part. If you can stand it, wait a day to make sure no problems turn up.
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Chapter 1: Start Here First Do hang on to your old boxes, manuals, warranties, and receipts When you need to pack up your computer for a move, nothing works better than its old box and packaging material. I keep mine on the top shelf in the garage, just in case I move. Don’t bother hanging on to the smaller boxes, though, like the ones that come with a video card or mouse. Hang on to all your old manuals, even if you don’t understand a word they say.
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14 Part I: Getting Ready to Upgrade How to fish out dropped screws When a screw falls into the inner reaches of your computer, it usually lands in a spot inaccessible to human fingers. The following should call it back home: ✓ Still can’t find it? Pick up the computer’s ✓ Is it in plain sight? Try grabbing it with ✓ If you still can’t find the screw and it’s some long tweezers. If that doesn’t work, wrap some tape, sticky-side out, around the end of a pencil or chopstick.
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Chapter 1: Start Here First Turn on Windows Update Bored youngsters work late nights probing Windows to locate programming problems. When they discover a new flaw, they write a virus or worm (a small, malicious program meant to do damage, such as erasing important files) to take advantage of it. These kids release the virus, and it begins damaging people’s computers as it spreads worldwide.
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16 Part I: Getting Ready to Upgrade 2. In the Windows Update section, click Turn Automatic Updating On or Off, as shown in Figure 1-2. The Windows Update Settings window appears. (Here, Windows XP users should click “Turn on Automatic Updates” if the updates are turned off.) Figure 1-2: Click in the Windows Update section to find settings for turning on Automatic Updates. 3.
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Chapter 1: Start Here First The downloaded updates normally install every day at 3 a.m. If you normally turn off your computer at night, change the installation time to the afternoon by clicking the 3:00 AM drop-down and choosing a different time. Windows Update organizes patches into two categories. Always install the ones in the Important Updates category, as they contain patches for security problems.
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18 Part I: Getting Ready to Upgrade 2. From the System window’s left pane, click System Protection, as shown in Figure 1-5. The System Properties window appears, opened to the System Protection tab. 3. Select the drive called System, if necessary (it’s usually already highlighted, as shown in Figure 1-6), and click the Configure button. Or, to create a restore point, click the Create button. 4. Choose the setting called “Restore System Settings and Previous Versions of Files,” as shown in Figure 1-7.
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Chapter 1: Start Here First Figure 1-6: Click the Configure button to find System Restore setup options; click the Create button to create a restore point. Figure 1-7: You set options for System Restore in this dialog box.
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20 Part I: Getting Ready to Upgrade Identifying your Windows version, CPU, and amount of memory Computers come in a wide variety of makes and models pieced together with parts made by a variety of manufacturers. So how do you know who made what part? Luckily, Windows takes pity on its users and tells you exactly what parts lurk inside your computer — you don’t even need to remove its case.
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Chapter 1: Start Here First Figure 1-8: Find out what edition of Windows your computer runs, as well as other computer properties you need to know before upgrading. Identifying parts inside your computer The big three — Windows version, CPU, and RAM — usually have the most influence on which software and new parts your computer can handle. But sometimes you need more detailed information — especially about your type of video card, for instance, or perhaps your DVD drive’s make and model.
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22 Part I: Getting Ready to Upgrade For example, to see what type of video card sits inside your computer, click the tiny icon next to Display Adapters — the Windows term for a computer’s video circuitry. As you can see in Figure 1-9, the name of your video card’s model and manufacturer appear, invaluable information when the part stops working. Armed with that information, for example, you can search for updated drivers — translators between Windows and the part.