User Manual

•Keepthecomputersoftware,devicedrivers,andoperatingsystemup-to-date.See“Keepingthe
computercurrent”onpage24
.
•Emptyyourrecyclebinonaregularbasis.
•CleanoutyourInbox,SentItems,andDeletedItemsfoldersinyoure-mailapplicationonaregularbasis.
•Cleanupfilesandfreeupstoragedrivespaceandmemoryspaceoccasionallytopreventperformance
problems.See“Performanceproblems”onpage43
.
•Keepalogbook.Entriesmightincludemajorsoftwareorhardwarechanges,device-driverupdates,
intermittentproblemsandwhatyoudidtoresolvethem,andotherissuesyoumighthaveexperienced.
Thecauseofaproblemmightbechangeinhardware,changeinsoftware,oranyotheractionsthatmight
havetakenplace.AlogbookcanhelpyouoraLenovotechniciandeterminethecauseofaproblem.
•Backupyourdataonthestoragedriveregularly.Youcanrestorethestoragedrivefromabackup.
Tobackupyourdata,dooneofthefollowing:
–ForWindows7:OpentheRescueandRecoveryprogram.See“Accessingaprogramonthecomputer”
onpage11
.Formoreinformationaboutbackingupyourdata,refertothehelpsystemoftheprogram.
–ForWindows10:Right-clicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartcontextmenu,andthenclickControl
Panel.ViewControlPanelusingLargeiconsorSmallicons,andthenclickFileHistory.Followthe
instructionsonthescreen.
•Createarecoverymediumasearlyaspossible.Youcanusetherecoverymediumtorecoveryour
operatingsystemevenifWindowsfailstostartup.
Tocreatearecoverymedium,dooneofthefollowing:
–ForWindows7:OpentheCreateRecoveryMediaprogram.See“Accessingaprogramonthe
computer”onpage11
.Formoreinformationaboutcreatingarecoverymedium,refertothehelp
systemoftheprogram.
–ForWindows10:Right-clicktheStartbuttontoopentheStartcontextmenu,andthenclickControl
Panel.ViewControlPanelusingLargeiconsorSmallicons,andthenclickRecovery.Followthe
instructionsonthescreen.
•ForWindows7,createarescuemediumasearlyaspossible.Youcanusetherescuemediumto
recoverfromfailuresthatpreventyoufromgainingaccesstotheRescueandRecoveryworkspace
onyourstoragedrive.
Tocreatearescuemedium,opentheRescueandRecoveryprogram.See“Accessingaprogramonthe
computer”onpage11.Formoreinformationaboutcreatingarescuemedium,refertothehelpsystem
oftheprogram.
Keepingthecomputercurrent
Inmostcases,itisagoodpracticetohavethemostup-to-dateoperatingsystemupdatepatches,software
programs,anddevicedrivers.Thissectionprovidesinformationabouthowtogetthelatestupdatesforthe
computer.
Gettingthelatestdevicedrivers
Attention:Reinstallingdevicedriverswillchangethecurrentconfigurationofthecomputer.
Togetthelatestdevicedriversforthecomputer,dooneofthefollowing:
•Downloadthedevicedriversthatarepreinstalledonthecomputer.Gotohttp://www.lenovo.com/drivers.
•UsetheLenovoprogramorWindowsUpdate.See“Gettingthelatestsystemupdates”onpage25
.
Note:ThedevicedriversprovidedbyWindowsUpdatemightnotbetestedbyLenovo.Itisrecommended
thatyougetdevicedriversfromLenovo.
24ThinkCentreM800andM900UserGuide