Checklist of Tips Before I Rebuild In-Laws Laptop

angelavdavis

Hi,

Although I have rebuilt my own PCs in the past, I am a little more nervous as this laptop belongs to my Inlaws so would appreciate any tips.

They have an HP laptop that is pushing it a little age-wise and is suffering from running slowly (I suspect this is down to the amount of unnecessary stuff on it). Father in law has been very kind recently and helped us out working on the house and won't accept payment, so I have offered to rebuild laptop and add some more ram into it to boost a little.

Neither of them are heavy PC users - they just use to to write the odd letter, send emails and surf the internet on occasions.

So, can anyone recommend a checklist of todos that I should note down before I rebuild with the HP setup CD?

I have noted the following so far:
-Backup data (got a portable HDD for this with plenty of space)
-Grabbed as many app disks as possible for printer drivers, etc.
-Backed up some program files in case any settings files are stored within the app directories instead of the data section.
-Backed up internet explorer favourites
-Noted product ids for Word, XP and Works in case.

I will need to go back to their house later this week to reconnect to BT internet, etc.

I can't think of anything else so any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

DatabaseError

download updated drivers for all the hardware, chipset driver, video driver, wireless lan, wired lan, usb (with chipset possibly), audio etc...check the manufacturer's site for 'em all, nothing worse than assuming the 1st thing you'd do in pop online and get the updates to find you can't get online .
put the drivers onto CD as well as the hdd, if the usb drivers don't autodetect you aint getting that extrenal drive running in a hurry

greshoff

Dont forget to back up emails as well

DatabaseError

^ good point, and export account settings from outlook etc... is easier than retyping it all.
any stored passwords?

angelavdavis

Thanks guys, we should be OK for email as they use BT Yahoo.

HoofeHearted

angelavdavis wrote: »

...
-Noted product ids for Word, XP and Works in case.
...

WARNING:- The product IDs viewable from within the application or "My Computer" are not the licence keys that you will have to enter to install XP, Word etc. The keys will be on the CDs and the laptop itself (for XP).

If these are not available then you need to run something like keyfinder from http://www.magicaljellybean.com/
before rebuilding the laptop.

angelavdavis

Thanks HH, I have these safely stored