Please note that you use this information at your own risk. In no way am I, or Green Dragon Solutions, responsible for your use (or mis-use) of this information.
When getting a new computer, particularly from a high street store or big name brand, you will generally find several things apart from what you expect.
In many cases they will not transfer your data. So make sure you have a backup and get someone to get it put on your new computer (if you don't feel you can do it yourself)
If you can get an image or are supplied with a backup disk, then you will be unlucky, if however you have access to an original operating system disk for your computer, then get someone who knows what they are doing, to get the drivers and programs for your computer, and remove the operating system completely.
Now when re-installing the operating system, arrange to have the hard drive partitioned into 2 parts (this will be 3 parts for Windows 7). Make the operating system partition approximately 40% of the hard drive space (e.g. on a 160GB hard drive, make the hard drive 64Gb; on a 320GB hard drive, 120GB). Now install the operating system and your programs on this partition.
Once everthing is on, use the operating system and set up the remaining hard drive space and format it. This partition should be used ONLY for data, (your documents, spreadsheets, pictures, music etc). Point your email store to the data partition and if possible arrange your favourites (bookmarks) etc. to be stored only on this partition.
If you do this, you will now only have to back up the data partition
Other benefits are, if your operating system gets corrupted or virus/malware laden to the point of not being able to get it (the virus/malware) off. The operating system/programs partition can be formatted and re-installed (ONLY WITH AN OPERATING SYSTEM Disk DO NOT USE A MANUFACTURER RESTORE DISK OR AN IMAGE).
Your data is your concern, BACK IT UP regularly and often (no once every couple of months is no good if you use your system daily). Back up your data, at least once every week that you use your system, preferably every day that you use your system. I suggest having a good look at GFI backup, which is free for personal use (whilst I am a GFI reseller, clearly free software does not pay me anything, and it is easy to use, so enjoy)
Please note, that NO computer manufacturer, will cover data, IT IS YOUR DATA AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
A final thought, if you do have to return your PC to the manufacturer, ALWAYS (if possible, obviously this would be difficult if it is a hard drive fault) back up your data BEFORE returning it to them.
Good Luck and I hope this will enable you have a more pleasant, computing experience.
