Every cleaning task begins with some preparation. When
you clean your home, you get out buckets, mops, dust cloths, and so
forth. You make sure every one of these tools is ready for use before
you begin cleaning. Likewise, when you clean Windows you need to check
your equipment and make sure it’s ready for use. The most important
task is to ensure you protect your data, followed by your applications.
Your data is irreplaceable, so concentrate on that part of the computer,
followed by the application settings. The following sections discuss
the preparation you should perform.
WARNING Perform the steps in the sections that
follow every time you clean Windows. These steps aren’t a one-time
process. In fact, you should consider performing these steps regularly,
even when you aren’t going to clean Windows. Everyone can benefit
from a properly maintained system—one that has good recovery options.