Bits & Bytes

• This is the number one important thing for you to do.  If you have good backups, you can recover from ANYTHING!!
• How do you backup?
  • Full System Backup
  • Tape backup
    • Expensive
    • Usually reserved for businesses
  • • Backup to DVD (or CD)
      • Takes too many to make it easy
  • • Online
      • Mozy.com
      • Idrive.com
      • Google “Online Backup” for more options
      • Most of the services install software that will automatically backup your data as long as you are connected to the Internet.
  • Only backup data, not programs
    • This isn’t the best approach, but it’s better than nothing.  If you don’t have the option of using one of the above methods, at least backup your important data so if you have to reload your system you will still have it.
• You HAVE to backup your system!!!
• Do it as often as you wouldn’t want to have to manually update what you lose.

If you are using Windows XP Home or one of the Vista Home editions, you don’t have backup software that comes with your system.  An alternative is to download DriveImageXML.  You can get it from http://www.runtime.org.  It is free to use for home users.

Last week we talked about how to buy a new computer, this week we are going to help you keep that computer up and running

Just like you have to perform maintenance on a new car, you also have to maintain your computer to keep it running in tip-top shape!

Backup!

• This is the number one important thing for you to do.  If you have good backups, you can recover from ANYTHING!!
• How do you backup?
  • Full System Backup
  • • Tape backup
      • Expensive
      • Usually reserved for businesses
  • • Backup to DVD (or CD)
      • Takes too many to make it easy
  • • Online
      • Mozy.com
      • Idrive.com
      • Google “Online Backup” for more options
      • Most of the services install software that will automatically backup your data as long as you are connected to the Internet.
  • Only backup data, not programs
    • This isn’t the best approach, but it’s better than nothing.  If you don’t have the option of using one of the above methods, at least backup your important data so if you have to reload your system you will still have it.
• You HAVE to backup your system!!!
• Do it as often as you wouldn’t want to have to manually update what you lose.

Clean and protect your system from malware

• “Malware” is a word that includes viruses and spyware/adware
  • Viruses, self replicate and usually cause damage
  • “Spyware” or “Adware” are programs that install themselves without you knowing it (or sometimes you do know it but you don’t realize it) and they “phone home” with information about you and your computing habits or they serve up ads to your computer
    • These slow down your computer CONSIDERABLY!
• Use only 1 program, preferably one that has antivirus, antispyware, and firewall protection.
  • I recommend Trend Micro Internet Security Pro
• You can supplement with Spybot (www.safer-networking.org) or Adaware (www.lavasoft.com)
• DO NOT DOWNLOAD A PROGRAM FOR SPYWARE FROM A MESSAGE SAYING YOU HAVE SPYWARE!!!!
• You should scan for spyware every 2-3 weeks with heavy downloads, less often may be ok if you are careful with downloading stuff and use a non-IE browser
  • DON’T JUST DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE WILLY-NILLY FROM THE INTERNET!
• Use a verified source like download.com

Have updates set to automatic in Windows

• Vista Steps:
  • Click on the Start thingy, then Control Panel
  • Click on “Security”
  • Click on “Turn Automatic Updating On or Off”
  • Choose “Install Updates Automatically”
  • Click OK
  • Close Control Panel
• XP Steps:
  • Click “Start”, then Control Panel
  • Click “Security Center”
  • Make Sure “Automatic Updates” is set to “On”, if it isn’t, it will provide an option there to turn it on.
  • Close Security Center and the Control Panel
• If Windows asks you to install updates, you should say yes!

Defrag your drive

After quite a bit of use, your hard drive becomes “fragmented”.  What that means is that some of your files are scattered all over the drive in pieces.  That makes your computer run less efficiently that it would normally.  “Defragmenting” puts them all back together.  In Vista, this is automatic out of the box and unless you’ve changed it, you don’t need to worry about it.  To defrag in XP go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Defrag.

Physically clean your system

Your computer gets dusty and the dust can hamper your computer’s efforts to cool itself.  So get either a can of compressed air or an air compressor with a tool similar to what you would use to detail your car, take your system outside, and then blow all that dust out!  Make sure to get all the fans and openings of the case.  Get inside the case around the drives, etc.  If you have pets who shed quite a bit or a very dusty atmosphere, you will want to do this fairly often.

Check back with us next week for more computer talk on WHBU 1240am!  Send us an email at bits@pc-er.com!