Before You Install Computer Hardware or Software

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Before You Install Computer Hardware or Software

Check your Motherboard Manual for any compatibility issues. Some older motherboards don't support memory modules larger than 128 Meg. Some don't support hard disk drives larger than 30 Gigabytes.
Backup your Important Data. Copy your important files to external media such as floppy disks, ZIP disks, Tape Backup, or a Server.
Shut off your screen saver - Many software and hardware manufacturers warn about running other applications during an installation, but they don't mention your screen saver. Your software or hardware driver installation could be corrupted if the screen saver pops up.
Disable Your Anti-Virus Software - Some programs need to modify your computer systems startup files. Some anti-virus software may "think" that a virus is attacking your system. Of course, make sure you know the source of the software that you're installing!
Shut Down any Programs Running in the Background. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to bring up the "Close Programs" Dialog Box or "Task Manager". Use "End Task" to shut down any not critical programs.
Run Scandisk (or CHKDSK) & Disk Defragmenter Utilities. This will verify that your system files aren't corrupted, so there aren't any surprises when you reboot your machine. If you have the time, run the "thorough" option to check for any defects or errors on your hard disk drive. Disk Defragmenter will move your data and maximize the amount of free disk space on your hard drive.