Wanting to reformat my laptop, help?

Question

Hey guys

so school here is about to start up (September 2nd we're starting 2 weeks earlier, ew) and I want a fresh start with my computer. It's been acting a little slow and just want it to be like brand new almost. I had my PC done lots of times over the years professionaly at Superior Computers, they're amazing people there. However, I need to reformat my laptop. It's a Fujitsu A series laptop (A6110). I'm not quite sure how to do this or what each CD it came with means. I wanna make sure I know everything that I'm doing before I completely erase everything

the following Discs I have are: [4]

Recovery and Utility Disc (Disque de restrauration et d'utilitaires)[Windows Vista]

Drivers and Applications Restore Disc (Disque des Pilotes et Applications)[Windows Vista]

Built-in Camera Software (AcSoft WebCam Companion 2)

CyberLink PowerProducer, Power Director and Make Disc

Aside from the Built-in Camera Software and CyberLink... Discs what do the other 2 discs do.

Is there any way I can save pictures? or do i have to email them to myself in order to save them.

What about internet connection, will i be able to automatically sign into my internet connection again? We have Bell and right now i'm using the wireless part or will I have to set it up again?

Uhm, if anyone has any advice or could answer these questions that would totally be awesome!!

oh another question, does restoring give me a different/new IP address?

thanks again :)

hollyy

Answer 1

You will have to backup all of you documents by burning a cd/dvd or using an external hard drive. I would try to avoid emailing pictures to yourself as that would be a lot of work.

Windows Vista will be on the Recovery and Utility Disc. Once you have backed up your files, restart your computer with this disc in and it will guide you through the setup. (Your hard drive will be erased at this point)

Once you have Vista installed you should put in the Driver and Application Restore CD. This will have all of the drivers you need(video card, wireless adapter, motherboard etc.)

If you are on a wireless network you will have to reconnect to your router and enter your password.

I'm not sure if you will have a new IP address, usually your router assigns your computer one automatically when you connect to it but your internet connection itself will have the same IP.

Hope this is enough to get you started.

It helps if you have a friend nearby who can help you if you get stuck  along the way as this can be pretty difficult the first time.