Merry Christmas! Did you get a new computer?

If you were one of the lucky people that got a new computer for Christmas, read on. In fact if you received or purchased a new computer in the past 2 years read on. It could save you some heartache.

Most of the big name computers no longer come with CDs or DVDs. Your operating system (Windows) and other programs are pre-installed. Makes it easy to start using it right away and saves the computer manufacturer some money. All is well until your computer crashes.

You call a help line or have a computer tech come to your place. Things are pretty bad and you will have to reinstall Windows.... Pretty hard to do when you don't have a CD to install from. You could borrow a CD but then you won't have the drivers (software) to run your sound, video, network or modem.

You ring the computer company they say "you were supposed to create restore disc", sure enough, you read the manual and amongst the fine print is tells you how to create restore disc.

Now you have a couple of options. You can order the disc from the manufacturer - pay heaps- and wait a couple of weeks, or you can buy a new Operating System for heaps and have a tech dig up all the drivers for video, sound, network and modem. It will cost a bit more but you won't have to be computerless for a a couple of weeks.

Now the good news
You can prevent the problem
But
You have to do this before you have a problem

Read you manual, or look through the programs on your computer. Find out how to create recovery disc, and do it. Now when you have a problem you have the disc and you can be up and running in a short while.

If you are lucky enough to live in the Redland Shire in Queensland you can have Mango Computer Tuition take care of this for you.

Now some of the big companies only allow you to make one set of restore disc so make a copy of them and keep both sets in a safe place.

Hope you had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.