Computer Maintenance
Update your virus scanner
Updating your virus scanner is the most important thing you can do for
your computer. New virus are being discovered on an almost daily basis. If
you don't update your virus program regularly, you are taking a big risk. A
virus scanner is only as good as the last update to keep your computer free
from damaging virus. Most of the really good virus scanners can be
configured to check for updates without any intervention on your part. I
highly recommend you use a virus program with this capability.
Update your Windows
Along with keeping your virus scanner, you need to keep Windows updated.
Unless you are using Windows 95, which is no longer supported by Microsoft,
(sigh) you can get to the Windows update center by clicking on the link on
your computer called 'Windows Update'. I don't always download every update,
but the updates that Windows says are 'Critical' should always be downloaded
& installed. Folks who neglect this are leaving their computers vulnerable
for hackers and other attacks.
Use a Firewall
Keep your computer running smooth
If you have a car, you generally follow a maintenance schedule. You should do the same for your computer. At least once a month, run Scandisk & Defrag. Once a week delete your Temporary Internet files. Check daily for updates for your virus scanner. Keep your computer safe from spills (liquid is NOT good for keyboards). Not a good idea to eat over your keyboard, crumbs can cause sticky keys. Just following this routine should keep your computer in great shape.'I don't know how to do that!'
If you haven't been using a computer very long, you may find yourself saying that a lot. I've been using a computer for a long time and there are times I still say that. Here are just a few things you may not know how to do, but you need to know.
Delete your Temporary Internet files
OK, what are Temporary Internet files and why should they be deleted?
Every time you go to a web site, a copy of what you see on your monitor is
stored in a special place on your computer. In theory this makes your web
surfing go faster. If you return to a site you went to yesterday (or last
week ), your web browser just accesses the copy stored on your hard drive.
That's ok if you don't mind seeing the same thing all over again, but when I
go back to a site I want to see the most current information, don't you?
After a while the file that holds the Temporary Internet files can get so
big it slows your computer's performance.
So on with deleting those files. In Internet Explorer, click on the Tools
menu & select Internet options. Half way down is the button marked 'Delete
Files'. Go ahead & click on it. (Figure 1)
Then put a check mark in the little white square that says 'Delete all
offline content' (Figure 2) and click ok. Got an hourglass? Taking a long
time for it to go away? You really needed to delete those files. But you are
not through yet. To really finish the job you need to close all open windows
for Internet Explorer.
You can also delete the Temporary Internet files from the Control Panel by
clicking on your Start button on your Desktop, select Settings & the Control
Panel. Look for the icon named Internet Options and use the same procedure
explained above. AOL users can delete their Temporary Internet files this
way. If you are using Netscape, click on Edit & select Preferences. On the
left side of the new menu that opens, click on the plus sign in front of
Advanced. Highlight 'Cache". In the same menu to your right, click on 'Clear
Memory' and then click on 'Clear disk cache'. Then close your browser.