Eve
05-14-2004, 12:01 AM
The following was in NZ Netguide Magazine and I thought it was worth posting.Have to do it in 2 posts as too long. Cant say I follow them all though :hammer:
An ounce of prevention: Preventing PC problems
Buy, install and use a backup device.
The most obvious preventative advice is often the most overlooked. If you don’t have a backup device, get one. Today. Investigate cartridge drives, portable hard drives, rewritable CD-ROM drives and tape drives.
Use anti-virus products properly
Many PCs come with anti-virus software loaded. Check the software’s licence. When will it expire? Check what the software does. Does it keep out Trojans and Worms as well as viruses? If not, it’s useless.
Set anti-virus software to automatically download new virus definitions daily from the brand’s Web site. This updates the software’s “knowledge” so newly released viruses are blocked. And remember, anti-virus software licences need to be renewed.
Install a firewall
A firewall patrols the “border” between your PC and the Internet and will stop everything it doesn’t like the look of, or what you tell it to stop. The only excuse for not having a firewall on your computer system is if you have no connection to the Internet at all (and that includes no email access.) If you have any sort of Internet access, install a firewall.
If you turn it off to play an online game, remember to turn it back on afterwards.
Keep security up to date
Microsoft has discovered some of its software has security flaws, which can be exploited by viruses like the recent Blaster worm. Microsoft has issued patches (software fixes) to resolve these problems. It does this regularly, so to get the latest patches and see if your computer needs any of the previous fixes, go to www.microsoft.com/security If you have Internet Explorer, a shortcut is available by clicking on Tools/Windows Update and then following the instructions.
Buy a reputed PC brand with an extended warranty
Don’t expect a second hand PC to be reliable. If it is, it’s a bonus and you should take extra care to regularly back up your files. You’ll have fewer problems with a new PC. Get a brand with local support and take the extended warranty option.
Don’t let friends or relatives fiddle inside your PC case
Never! Not even if they claim to have worked on an IT support desk/be a dab hand with computers/have done it a thousand times before/know exactly what they are doing. If they’re really keen, get the locks on your computer room changed – or threaten to disinherit them.
Develop a method for installing software
To avoid the problems rogue software can cause, back up your PC registry and system before you install new software. (Do it, don’t just think about it!)
Install the software and run it for a week. If it causes your PC to crash or freeze, uninstall it, restore your registry from back-ups and possibly use a registry-cleaning product like RegCleaner (www.regcleaner.com).
Limit downloads from the Internet
Don’t be a download dodo. Every time you’re tempted to download a program, picture, screensaver, or documents from the Internet ask these three questions: Is my anti-virus product up to date? Have I got an up-to-date back up of my most important files? Do I need this software badly enough to take the risk of it affecting my PC?
Use mainstream software brands
Yes, they cost more. You are paying for the brand’s research and development into the product, its testing methodology and support network. Remember this too: Mainstream operating systems work better with mainstream software products.
Use “text only” as your email default, not HTML
If used in conjunction with an anti-virus program, eliminating HTML from your email (inbound or outgoing) will limit virus problems and privacy breaches, and discourage spammers.
Take care of peripherals and hardware
Computers are electronic, but they are not toasters. They react poorly to power fluctuations, knocks, water, oil, sand, dust, excessive heat or humidity.
Keep your PC in a well-ventilated room, dust it regularly with a damp cloth (not a feather duster) and invest in a UPS device to protect it from power surges.
Standard PC mice need regular cleaning. Infrared and wireless mice will cause you less grief – for more about mice, see the Tutorials section at www.netguide.co.nz Finally, keep food and drink away from your keyboard.
Keep a software log book
The best software log book is a little 3B1 notebook (the one you used for spelling at school.) Record the software you load, and when. Don’t forget Internet downloads. Beside each entry, enter the date, important key codes and support contact information.
Don’t remain static
If you decide to install a new hard drive, electronic card or power supply into your PC yourself, remember to observe anti-static requirements. If you don’t know what this means, don’t touch anything. Get expert help.
Create a boot disk
A boot disk acts like a “jumper lead” for a stalled PC and you should always have one on hand.
To create a boot disk:
Keep your operating system CD handy, there may be files that need to be copied from it.
Go to Control Panel and double click on Add/Remove Programs Startup Disk.
Click on the Create Disk button and wait.
In Windows 2000 or Windows XP follow the procedures below to create the boot disks.
Have available four blank, formatted, 3.5-inch, floppy disks.
Put one disk into the floppy drive on a computer running any version of Windows.
Put the Windows 2000 CD into the CD-ROM drive.
Go to Start, then click Run.
In the Open box, type the drive letter of the CD-ROM followed by \bootdisk\makeboota:
Click OK and follow the screen prompts.
Test the restore CD
New PCs come with a restore CD-ROM, which is used to restore your PC to the state it was in when you purchased it. As such, it’s an excellent option to use when a PC crashes and shows no signs of returning to normal.
You should make sure you test your restore CD-ROM when you first get your PC. However, run a full system backup before you test it, because the Restore CD-ROM wipes the hard drive in the process of restoring the system.
Don’t hit your PC.
Sure it gets rid of some frustration. But hitting a PC can damage delicate components, and so create more problems. If you feel frustration building, get expert help.
An ounce of prevention: Preventing PC problems
Buy, install and use a backup device.
The most obvious preventative advice is often the most overlooked. If you don’t have a backup device, get one. Today. Investigate cartridge drives, portable hard drives, rewritable CD-ROM drives and tape drives.
Use anti-virus products properly
Many PCs come with anti-virus software loaded. Check the software’s licence. When will it expire? Check what the software does. Does it keep out Trojans and Worms as well as viruses? If not, it’s useless.
Set anti-virus software to automatically download new virus definitions daily from the brand’s Web site. This updates the software’s “knowledge” so newly released viruses are blocked. And remember, anti-virus software licences need to be renewed.
Install a firewall
A firewall patrols the “border” between your PC and the Internet and will stop everything it doesn’t like the look of, or what you tell it to stop. The only excuse for not having a firewall on your computer system is if you have no connection to the Internet at all (and that includes no email access.) If you have any sort of Internet access, install a firewall.
If you turn it off to play an online game, remember to turn it back on afterwards.
Keep security up to date
Microsoft has discovered some of its software has security flaws, which can be exploited by viruses like the recent Blaster worm. Microsoft has issued patches (software fixes) to resolve these problems. It does this regularly, so to get the latest patches and see if your computer needs any of the previous fixes, go to www.microsoft.com/security If you have Internet Explorer, a shortcut is available by clicking on Tools/Windows Update and then following the instructions.
Buy a reputed PC brand with an extended warranty
Don’t expect a second hand PC to be reliable. If it is, it’s a bonus and you should take extra care to regularly back up your files. You’ll have fewer problems with a new PC. Get a brand with local support and take the extended warranty option.
Don’t let friends or relatives fiddle inside your PC case
Never! Not even if they claim to have worked on an IT support desk/be a dab hand with computers/have done it a thousand times before/know exactly what they are doing. If they’re really keen, get the locks on your computer room changed – or threaten to disinherit them.
Develop a method for installing software
To avoid the problems rogue software can cause, back up your PC registry and system before you install new software. (Do it, don’t just think about it!)
Install the software and run it for a week. If it causes your PC to crash or freeze, uninstall it, restore your registry from back-ups and possibly use a registry-cleaning product like RegCleaner (www.regcleaner.com).
Limit downloads from the Internet
Don’t be a download dodo. Every time you’re tempted to download a program, picture, screensaver, or documents from the Internet ask these three questions: Is my anti-virus product up to date? Have I got an up-to-date back up of my most important files? Do I need this software badly enough to take the risk of it affecting my PC?
Use mainstream software brands
Yes, they cost more. You are paying for the brand’s research and development into the product, its testing methodology and support network. Remember this too: Mainstream operating systems work better with mainstream software products.
Use “text only” as your email default, not HTML
If used in conjunction with an anti-virus program, eliminating HTML from your email (inbound or outgoing) will limit virus problems and privacy breaches, and discourage spammers.
Take care of peripherals and hardware
Computers are electronic, but they are not toasters. They react poorly to power fluctuations, knocks, water, oil, sand, dust, excessive heat or humidity.
Keep your PC in a well-ventilated room, dust it regularly with a damp cloth (not a feather duster) and invest in a UPS device to protect it from power surges.
Standard PC mice need regular cleaning. Infrared and wireless mice will cause you less grief – for more about mice, see the Tutorials section at www.netguide.co.nz Finally, keep food and drink away from your keyboard.
Keep a software log book
The best software log book is a little 3B1 notebook (the one you used for spelling at school.) Record the software you load, and when. Don’t forget Internet downloads. Beside each entry, enter the date, important key codes and support contact information.
Don’t remain static
If you decide to install a new hard drive, electronic card or power supply into your PC yourself, remember to observe anti-static requirements. If you don’t know what this means, don’t touch anything. Get expert help.
Create a boot disk
A boot disk acts like a “jumper lead” for a stalled PC and you should always have one on hand.
To create a boot disk:
Keep your operating system CD handy, there may be files that need to be copied from it.
Go to Control Panel and double click on Add/Remove Programs Startup Disk.
Click on the Create Disk button and wait.
In Windows 2000 or Windows XP follow the procedures below to create the boot disks.
Have available four blank, formatted, 3.5-inch, floppy disks.
Put one disk into the floppy drive on a computer running any version of Windows.
Put the Windows 2000 CD into the CD-ROM drive.
Go to Start, then click Run.
In the Open box, type the drive letter of the CD-ROM followed by \bootdisk\makeboota:
Click OK and follow the screen prompts.
Test the restore CD
New PCs come with a restore CD-ROM, which is used to restore your PC to the state it was in when you purchased it. As such, it’s an excellent option to use when a PC crashes and shows no signs of returning to normal.
You should make sure you test your restore CD-ROM when you first get your PC. However, run a full system backup before you test it, because the Restore CD-ROM wipes the hard drive in the process of restoring the system.
Don’t hit your PC.
Sure it gets rid of some frustration. But hitting a PC can damage delicate components, and so create more problems. If you feel frustration building, get expert help.