Alienware Sentia 3450 Technical Reference
100
Backup and General Maintenance
• Always backup your important data, and keep copies of your OS and programs
safe, but close to hand. Don’t forget to note the serial numbers if you are
storing them out of their original cases, e.g. in a CD wal¬let.
• Run maintenance programs on your hard disk and OS as often as you can.
You may schedule these pro¬grams to run at times when you are not
using your computer. You can use those that are provided free with your OS,
or buy the more powerful dedicated programs to do so.
• Write down your passwords and keep them safe (away from your computer).
This is especially important if you choose to use a Boot password for the SCU
(see “Security Menu” on page 5 - 10).
• Keep copies of vital settings files such as network, dialup settings, mail
settings etc. (even if just brief notes).
Viruses
• Install an Anti-Virus program and keep the definitions file (the file which tells
your program which viruses to look for) up to date. New computer viruses
are discovered daily, and some of them may seriously harm your computer
and cause you to lose data. Anti-Virus programs are commercially available
and the definitions file updates are usually downloadable directly from the
internet.
• Be careful when opening e-mail from sources you don’t know. Viruses are
often triggered from within e-mail attachments so take care when opening any
attached file. You can configure most Anti-Virus pro¬grams to check all e-mail
attachments. Note: You should also beware of files from people you know as
the virus may have infected an address book and been automatically
forwarded without the person’s knowl¬edge.
• Keep a “Bootable CD-ROM” (this disk provides basic information which
allows you to startup your com¬puter) handy. You may refer to your OS’s
documentation for instructions on how to make one, and many Anti-Virus
programs will also provide such a disk (or at least instructions on
how to make one).
