| PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE: Regular maintenance is the key to keeping your PC running smoothly and preventing bigger repair expenses down the road. Here is a list of tasks that can increase the speed, reliability and overall performance of your computer. Tailor this schedule to fit your needs, and make sure you have Antivirus software and a Firewall in place to protect your computer and its data from harm and Hackers. WEEKLY TASKS: ANTIVIRUS UPDATE: •Keep your computer and files safe from viruses •New viruses come out every day, make sure you have the most current virus protection •Make sure you are connected to the Internet •Right click the anti-virus icon at the lower right corner of your screen •Choose update if there, if not Left click same icon open the program and find the update link within. For All Windows Users: •To ensure that your operating system is up to date on the latest patches •Windows frequently sends out updates that help improve performance •There is no error free code, patches are sent out as errors are detected •Go to Windows Update and download the critical updates Or Windows XP can be set to update automatically: •Click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System •On the Automatic Updates tab, click either of the first two settings •To turn off automatic updates for your computer, select Turn off automatic updating, I want to update my computer manually •If you choose not to use automatic updating, you can always install specific updates from the Windows Update Web site. BACKUP!: •Accidents happen and you don’t want to lose your important files documents and preferences •This is a simple task that will save you a ton of time and money if an accident does occur •To start Backup, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup •You will need some type of removable media to complete this task such as floppy, CD, DVD or external hard drive HARD DRIVE CLEAN UP: •Temporary files can add up quickly and inhibit the performance of your computer, get rid of them to speed things up. •Go to Start menu •Select Run •Type cleanmgr (computer will then list the areas you can clean) •Select areas you want to clean up. •Click OK. •Click Yes when you are sure you only have the areas you want to clean selected. SPYWARE CHECK: •System monitors, Trojans, Adware, and Cookies all fall into the bucket of Spyware. •Trojans and system monitors need to be removed immediately. Trojans and system monitors need to be removed immediately as they affect your PC and privacy. •Adware is advertising-supported software that displays pop-up advertisements whenever the program is running even if you have a pop-up blocker installed. •Cookies are pieces of information that are generated by a web server and stored on your computer for future access; cookies personalize your web experience •Run an audit on your machine to determine vulnerability to Spyware Ad Aware is a good program for this. http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ MONTHLY TASKS: DUSTING: •Dust can be a big enemy for computer users and prevent keys from working and the mouse from rolling. •Five minutes of cleaning each month (or as needed) can go a long way to prolonging the life of your machine and maintaining performance. •Use a can of compressed air to blow the dust and any other critters that may have gotten lodged under the keys. •Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean the track ball compartment on your mouse, be very careful not to damage any of the rollers inside your mouse. Scan Disk or Check Disk •Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Check/Scan Disk. •Check the Automatic Error Fix selection box then, click Run or Start. •On Windows XP you will have to reboot for this to work, It's OK, Do It !!! DISK DEFRAGMENT: •Consolidates fragmented files and folders to improve efficiency •Consolidates free space and makes it less likely that new files will be fragmented which can slow down your PC and cause system issues •Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter. •Click the Settings tab, select the check boxes you want (to ensure fastest startup of programs, select the first box), and then click OK. •Select the drive you want to defragment, click OK, and then click Yes. QUARTERLY TASKS: PASSWORD PROTECTION: •Change them — The longer the better (8-10 characters) — the longer it is, the less likely it is to be guessed •Never use a word you can find in the dictionary — hackers use software that can try millions of words per hour. •Combine numbers and letters (for example, instead of “cowpoop”, try “cowpoop1230”. •Get a Password Manager Program. Be sure you have Up to date Antivirus and Firewall Software! If you don't, please visit my PC Security page. CLICK HERE ! |
 |
 |
