Tech Tips

12 Super Easy Maintenance Checks To Help You Avoid Expensive Computer Repair Bills, Sluggish Performance, Lost Data, and Identity Theft

1. Register all software products and sign up to receive product alerts, patches, and automatic updates.
2. Make sure your anti-virus definitions are always up-to-date.
3. Back up your data every day and verify the backups once a month. If your data is extremely important, consider an offsite backup service such as that will automatically back up your data daily.
4. Install and run Webroots' Spy Sweeper or Grisoft's Counter Spy every week to remove unwanted spyware programs.
5. Never open an e-mail from an unknown source.
6. Never visit or engage in peer-to-peer file sharing sites such as Kazaa.
7. Never download "enhanced" web browsers, screen savers, cute programs, executable files, or other programs from unknown web sites.
8. Use a quality surge protector to protect against lightning strikes and power surges.
9. Use Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter monthly to free up more space on your hard drive and help your computer work more efficiently. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then choose Disk Cleanup or Disk Defragmenter.
10. Clean out your temporary files directory. In the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click Internet Options. On the General tab, click the Delete Files button in the Temporary Internet Files section.
11. Set your e-mail to auto-archive older messages and to regularly empty your deleted items folder.
12. Install a firewall to keep hackers and viruses from accessing your computer

5 (Cheap) Ways to Make Old Computers Faster and More Reliable

Want to improve the speed and performance of your current network without investing serious cash into new PCs?

• ADD MEMORY. One of the most inexpensive and effective ways to improve a computer's performance is to install more RAM (random access memory). This will speed up the applications installed on your computer and allow you to open and run more programs simultaneously. A good resource for finding memory for your particular PC can be found at http://www.crucial.com.
• UPGRADE The Processor Or Add A Graphics Accelerator. If you are just looking for a little more "zoom," upgrading the processor or installing a graphics accelerator will give your computer the ability to process information faster and improve its overall speed.
• PERFORM REGULAR MAINTENANCE On Your Servers and Desktops. Computers, like cars, need regular maintenance to avoid problems, sluggish performance, and error messages. At a minimum, you should run ScanDisk and the Disk Defrag Utility (DiskKeeper is a very popular piece of software for this) on your machines once a month. This will make your applications and files load and run faster.
• RUN A SPYWARE SCAN Once A Week. One telltale sign that your computer is infected with spyware is slow, unstable performance. Spyware sucks up your system's resources to carry out its evil intent, slowing down your computer and even causing it to freeze and crash.
• DISABLE OR REMOVE Unnecessary Programs Running In The Background. Many computers have preinstalled software programs that use up system resources and slow down your computer. While these recommendations will certainly speed up your system, they aren't a miracle cure for a seriously out-of-date computer network. If your computer or network constantly crashes, freezes up, or runs painfully slow, then it's time for an upgrade.

Is Anything In Life Really FREE?

Warning: If You've Downloaded Free Software From The Internet, Your Computer May Be At Risk For Viruses, Hackers, and Spyware!

We've all heard the saying that the best things in life are free, but I'm not sure they were referring to software. Freeware (free software, not to be confused with open source software) such as the AVG anti-virus free edition, Spybot, and Ad-Aware are all programs you can download for the ultimate discount: free. However, you get what you pay for.

While these programs may work just fine for someone's home computer, they are not business-class tools and should not be trusted to completely protect your computer or network from viruses, spyware, hackers, and other problems. Every month we receive calls from clients who are infected with a nasty virus or boatload of spyware who had these programs installed and running, and were under the false assumption that they were protected.

Why Freeware Doesn't Protect Your Computer

In most cases, freeware is a light version of a software program that you purchase. Take the AVG free edition for example. AVG offers a free edition of their for-fee software as a way of introducing you to their fully-featured product. However, this software does not come with any online, e-mail, or phone support. It is also illegal to use it on multiple machines or in a commercial, non-profit, or educational environment (single-home users only).

You're On Your Own

As you might expect, freeware comes with zero guarantees or promises to function correctly, to be compatible with your system, or to safeguard you from threats. You're not a paying customer so you're on your own to resolve any technical problems you encounter, and you certainly won't get support if your computer gets infected. Since many free applications are plagued with bugs and incompatibilities, you may end up with a mess on your hands and no one to blame but yourself. Additionally, freeware programs are not always current with the most up-to-date protection, and don't always update themselves automatically or perform scans and tasks on a regular schedule.

Bottom line

You get what you pay for. If the files and functionality of your computer or network are of high-importance, then investing in a trusted, industrial-strength software program is a smart and worthwhile investment.

Brought to you by WEBvelations in alliance with M&D Technologies.