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When building a computer from scratch, it
is important to document all of the components and parts that are
purchased. Once
the computer is built and operational, it may be difficult to recall
the brand of each of the components used as not all expansion cards or
computer parts are clearly labeled with manufacturer information. This
list will come in handy after the packaging has been thrown away or
the manual or instruction sheet for a particular part cannot be found.
With these details, and using the Internet, the required device
drivers or other information may be found and downloaded. It is a good
idea to make a note about specific warranty information for each
different part bought. Make sure that specifics about installation and
maintenance requirements are saved, so that warranties will be valid.
Use a small secure box to hold all of the manuals and disks used in
the assembly of the computer. Label the box with a name that
identifies the computer to which it is associated, and store it in a
secure location. If any information is needed in the future, all the
documentation will be easily available.
In a lab environment where many students use the same kits, it is not possible to preserve the original packaging and repackage the parts upon dismantling the computer. Access to the documentation for each component should be handy. In addition, an inventory checklist should be used, such as the one in the following section. This ensures that all the components needed to assemble a computer are available, as well as recording important information about each of the components. |