Why do you need the keep the original Windows CDs?

After installing any Windows operating system, it’s useful to keep the original installation media nearby. Which of the following would NOT be a good use of the original Windows 2000 or Windows XP installation CD-ROM?

A) Installing printer drivers

B) Adding new Windows operating system components

C) Running memory diagnostics

D) Re-installing video drivers

The answer: C) Running memory diagnostics

The Windows 2000 and Windows XP installation media doesn’t include hardware diagnostics, so any testing of memory, hard drives, or other hardware would be handed through third-party software. Windows Vista does include some nice hardware diagnostics, but the 220-60x series of CompTIA A+ exams doesn’t include Windows Vista as part of the requirements. The 220-70x series to be released later in 2009 will probably include Windows Vista requirements.

The incorrect answers:

A) Installing printer drivers
The Windows installation CD contains hundreds of printer drivers.

B) Adding new Windows operating system components
The Windows XP Control Panel contains an Add/Remove section for modifying OS components.

D) Re-installing video drivers
If you run into problems with video, the original Windows OS installation CD can help restore the video drivers to their original versions.

Want to know more? Watch “Software Tools.” CompTIA A+ certified professionals need more than screwdrivers and multimeters to properly troubleshoot and maintain computing systems. To provide the best troubleshooting and preventive maintenance, they must also have the right software tools. In this module, we’ll discuss the primary categories of software tools and show you where to download some free software compilations that will make your job much easier.