I want to install a new operating system. Can someone around here run me through the steps?

1.) I have files I want to keep, how do I back them up?
2.) What the **** should I do? (steps please, as in put the cd in, press that button at this time, etc.) and please make them SIMPLE.

Thanks (confused and desperate).

Flip your keyboard around.

There will be a big red button (pictured below).

Press the big red button and hope for the best.

Seriously though,

http://www.mahalo.com/how-to-format-a-hard-drive

If you're running Windows, then just put the install CD in, go through the process of a new installation, and your old files will be in a directory called windows.old under your user area after you're done.

As a precaution though, I would get an external USB hard-drive and copy your files to it first just in case that doesn't work (but it should).

Just google it. Doing it, is easy as pie. 

If you have two operating disks. Your files just need to be on the data disk, not the one where windows is on - that will be formatted. A real Backup is normally not needed, but caution never hurts. 

Like what Soleron said, it would be a good idea to have an external hard drive so you can backup whatever you need. If you're on Windows XP and you want to install Windows 7, you can have it take everything on the hard drive and move it into a folder called "Windows.Old" before it installs Windows 7 or wipe everything from the hard drive before installing.

Like somebody else said, looking for a guide would be helpful as you could probably find one with pictures to make the process a lot easier.

what are you trying to install?

starcraft 2. it says that i need windows 7 *recommended*. i dont really understand it though. my graphics card is geforce 9800gt, but it only has shaders version 3.0. the list says i need shader version 4.0. how do i get that? do i even need to get windows 7? or is there a software upgrade for my graphics card?

lol you don't really need Windows 7 , it says recommended because its the newest and it doesn't crash like vista, i am using Linux and i managed to play the beta (Linux isn't even supported btw)

wait you misunderstand. i want the best possible performance. if there is a shader version or something like that that i can't play because of an old operating system, i'd buy a new one.  i'm not just about "minimum". so is it necessary to get windows 7 for the shaders to work highest?

im on xp btw