Click the PDF link if you're having trouble printing the documents from Internet Explorer in the labs.

• Computer Data Storage (PDF)
• Data, Drives, Folders, and Files (PDF)
• Lab Account Notes (PDF)
• File and Folder Tasks (PDF)

• Crucial.com System Scan. A downloadable tool that will scan your computer and tell you what type of, and how much, memory you have installed. You can then see what options you have for upgrading. You can always buy it from somewhere else if you like.
• Darik's Boot and Nuke. A program to completely and irrevocably destroy all data on a hard disc. Do not use it unless your are really, really, really sure that's what you want to do. Always use it just before selling or disposing of and old computer.
• Defraggler is a free filesystem defragmentation program for Windows. It's a little more user-friendly than the one bundled with the operating system.
• Dropbox is a cloud-based free storage service that automatically synchronizes any files that you put in a special folder on your computer. If you sign up with this URL, we'll both get an extra 250MB for free (and then you'll get your own referral URL for friends): http://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTExMTY3NjEwOQ

• How Hard Discs Work. Just about all of our persistent storage uses hard discs and they have some quirks we should understand.
• How does disc defrag work? There's some debate over the necessity of disc defragmentation, but it might just make your computer run a little faster.
• How can I recover a deleted file from my computer recycling bin? Just might come in handy.
• How Flash Memory Works. Skip the technical discussion of transistors and the Tunneling and Erasing sections unless you're Hard Core.
• How Cloud Storage Works. Cloud, or online, storage is no longer in our future: it's all around us right now.