Documentation

How many of you know what exactly is inside your computer right now? How many of you know the model number and firmware revision of your sound card? Most probably no. You might even don’t don't know where the driver CDs and manuals for all the components are.

Correctly noting all the information of the system while you build it up and also while placing all the documentation and software CDs in a general binder will save a lot time and energy in the future. If you want to check for the latest drivers take the binder and take the part number from there. That beats having to open the case and take out the card, which might have the part number stamped on it. Want to install Linux in the system? You have the part numbers useful to decide how the components will run with the operating system.

Here the receipts prove to be handy when you want return something under warranty.

The same is applicable for the software installed. You might be required to keep all those CDs in a case, but where are the registration keys and serial numbers? What are the settings you spent so much time correcting? Similarly for the passwords you have.