Toshiba NB305-N440BL User Guide - Page 170

170 If Something Goes Wrong Develop good computing habits Fortunately, the Windows® operating system offers a convenient way to back up your computer or just your important files to optical discs, or hard drives. An external hard drive is recommended in case the internal storage drive fails. No additional software is required. Most of the external optical drives that are now widely available can write to (or 'burn') as well as read from optical discs. Follow these steps to back up your computer or files to optical discs, or a storage drive: NOTE You cannot back up the computer while running on battery power. Connect the AC adaptor before continuing. 1 Prepare your backup target by connecting it and/or inserting a blank optical disc in the optional external optical disc drive. 2 Click Start. 3 Click Control Panel. 4 Click Back up your computer under the System and Security heading. Follow the on-screen instructions to back up your files. For more help, click Start, Help and Support, and search for "back up files." General tips for installing hardware and software Here are a few tips to help ensure safe and easy installation of new hardware (printers, pointing devices, external hard drives, DVD writers, scanners, etc.) and software (applications like Microsoft® Office and Adobe® Photoshop®, or utility software such as special toolbars for your web browser). ❖ Create a restore point (refer to "Saving system configuration with restore points" on page 168). Before installing anything, use the System Restore utility to set a restore point (see the section titled restore points). If anything goes wrong, you will then be able to easily restore the Windows® operating system to the state it was in prior to the installation, undoing any changes that the installation process introduced. ❖ Back up your critical data (see "Backing up your data or your entire computer with the Windows® operating system" on page 169).