Years ago, when I first started hanging around in the old MSN
Windows 95/98 Talkshop chat, Al_K would talk about his notebooks
and looking stuff up in them. Eventually, I asked him what
information he kept in his book and started keeping such a record
myself.
(I hope this doesn't embarrass you, Al, but it was a really
important lesson to me and I want to credit you.)
As time has passed, I have come to regard this notebook as my most
important computer tool.
Friends (Deepak in particular) seem able to remember every detail
about their operating systems and the computers upon which they
work. (You won't often catch him out on this score. I know, having
relied on his memory many times.) My 50-something year old brain is
often inclined to forget such things, especially in times of
stress; such as when one or the other computer acts up on deadline
day. Having everything written down in front of me has proven
itself, over and over. I even take the book with me on service
calls and write down details of work done there, also.
I don't keep this information on the computer, fearing some
catastrophe will prevent me getting at the information in a timely
manner.
My book is a simple 5-inch by 9-inch loose-leaf notebook with large
rings. The ends of the book are filled with various printouts of
how-tos or configuration information. The entries are cryptic,
which is permissible, seeing as only my wife and I are intended
readers and we already know at least a good part of what's written
there, meaning the entries only have to jog our memories. Because
we don't have to worry about the physical security of our premises,
I used to keep password information, etc. in there, until Gail
explained how easy it was to keep such things on an unmarked and
encrypted floppy disk.
(We are thinking of doing one or more tips segments on encryption.
Please write us and let us know if you would like to hear about
this subject.)
At the minimum, I keep bios configuration information (only those
settings which are not defaults, to keep down the work of noting
things). Bios version, updates installed, etc. are very important
at times, to help figure out what might be going wrong or need
updating on a computer.
I keep a record of operating system installation and any
configurations there that are not defaults. Software installations
and un-installations are recorded, also, as are any configuration
information I might need to reinstall.
If you think of it, you'll know what you need to record. I found
that once in the habit, doing this came naturally enough and took
only a very small amount of time, which was repaid ten-fold when I
needed to use the book in some recovery or another. Try it. I think
you will find it eminently useful.
Jack
© 2003 Jack Imsdahl
© 2002 - 2004 by On Computers and the Videotex
Services Coalition.