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Read the Documentation

I never cease to be amazed at how people refuse, steadfastly, to read the documentation that comes with their new hardware or software. They are so excited about their new toy, whatever it is, that they are dying to get it running right away--who has time to start reading? So they start installing whatever-it-is and then have problems. Half the time they end up actually taking more time to get the thing running than they would have if they had just read the instructions in the first place. Meanwhile they often waste a lot of their time and others' asking for technical assistance.

Many, if not most problems are a result of hardware or software that has just been installed into the PC. If you are installing something new, read the documentation that came with the product. Look for files called something like "READ.ME" or "README.1ST" on installation or driver disks, and read them thoroughly before you start. Refer back in the event of trouble. You may be surprised to find that the answer to your dilemma is right there, just waiting for you to read it.

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