1. Protection. Install one (1) good antivirus program and several
antispyware programs on your computer. When you have more than one
antivirus, they have a problem of conflicting with each other. If you have
two antivirus programs running on your computer, it will slow your system
down and possibly cause lockups and false virus detection. It's preferable
to have more than one antispyware program running on your computer. A lot
of people are confused about the difference between spyware and a virus. (See
article on What is the difference between Spyware and a Virus?)
2. Backup. If you own or manage a business or if you have pictures or
other files on your personal computer that you don’t want to lose, you MUST backup.
I cannot tell you how many times I have seen a customer’s hard drive fail
and we could not access any of their files on the hard drive. They lost all
their pictures, music, documents, everything. There are companies in the
business of data recovery with a hefty price tag of $1000 to $2000 or more.
If you get into the habit of backing up, this problem can be prevented.
What is the best way to backup? (See
article on Methods of Backing Up Data.)
3.
Startup Removal. Remove unnecessary items from startup. Explain startup. (See
article on How Do I Speed Up My Computer.)
4. Clean
Your Computer. Keep your computer clean and free of dust on the inside.
Your computer has fans inside to help keep it cool and when they circulate
the air, the dust comes right along with it. The dust sticks to the fans
and other components inside the computer. If you allow your fans and other
components inside the computer to get caked with dust, they will fail at a
much faster rate than if you keep them clean. The dust can also prevent
your computer from being cooled properly and cause it to overheat and
possibly "fry" the motherboard and/or processor. How
do I keep My Computer Clean? Click here.
5. Update your computer. Keep your operating system
up-to-date.
6. Firewall. Make sure you have a firewall.
7. UPS or Uninterruptible Power Supply. Backup
Power Supply Protection or UPS.
8. Software. Store all your software in a cool, dry
place. I cannot stress enough to store it in a place where you will not
forget and can easily find. If you're hard drive fails or crashes and you
have to reinstall everything, you will need your disks. If you purchase
software that you download off the internet, pay the extra few dollars for
them to ship you the CD.
9. Save files in one location. When you save
files, make sure you save everything in My Documents so you can find it
later and it will make backing up much easier. In other words, when you type
something you want to save for future reference, you save it where you want
it instead of the computer saving it where it wants it. Most of the time it
will save it to My Documents, but not always. If you make a habit of saving
everything in My Documents, you will save yourself time and a headache when
you're looking for it later.
10. Google
it. What does that mean? As long as you can access the internet and you
have a question about an error or problem you’re having with your computer,
go to the address bar and type in www.google.com and
search for whatever error you’re getting or problem you’re having. Keep
searching until you find the correct solution for your problem.
