Kingman Arizona

Computer User Groiups

TEN STEPS FOR

MAINTAINING YOUR COMPUTER

By

Art Fuller

If you have any questions.

Call me at 928-279-3385

1. Install Anti-virus software and learn how to use it. I recommend AVG 2012 Free.

  Do not install the security toolbar.

You can configure AVG to scan outgoing mail also. Open the program, double click on the Email Scanner Icon, put a check mark in Outgoing Mail, Save Changes.  Choose Tools, Advanced Settings (on the left side) and add check marks to THE 2 boxes labeled "With attachments only".  Also be sure to change scan schedule to not interfere with your use of the computer.  The default time is 12 noon.  To change, open the program, click on scanner, click on scheduled scan, edit, and change the time.

Delete the tracking cookies "Warnings" that AVG finds on each scan once a week by opening the program, choose Scanner, Scan History, Choose the newest scan, View Details, click on the Warnings Tab, Choose "Remove all unhealed infections".  When the symbol for each one turns blue, you are done.

2.  Outlook and Outlook Express users.

should turn off the preview pane to keep out viruses that can infect your computer without opening the email. Choose “View” on the top menu then/”Layout” and remove the check mark in “preview pane”.  If you are having trouble sending email, call Frontier Tech Support at 718-4357.

3.  Delete unneeded files once a month using “disk cleanup” in Win XP.

Go to:  Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Cleanup.  Put a checkmark in those boxes with numbers in the right column and take out the checkmarks where a zero is on the right.  Choose OK and Yes to delete the unnecessary files.

Also delete temp files in Internet Explorer once a month (Tools/Internet Options/Browsing History/Delete/ and delete the  cookies, temporary internet files and history.

4.  Update your Windows operating system every week or enable Automatic updates.

  You can turn on Automatic updates by right clicking on "My Computer", choose properties and click on the Automatic Updates Tab.  My favorite choice is: Download updates, automatically but let me choose when to install them.  Find the “Windows Update” icon on your Program List or Start List.  Once there, answer, “Yes” to install the newest update software from Microsoft.  Choose "Express Install" and download and install all files presented.  Do this repeatedly, until all files are installed.  Before you install Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3, be sure to remove all Spyware from your computer and disable AVG by right clicking on the icon in the lower right of your screen. 

5.  If your operating system is acting strange, run a checkdisk.

You do not need to routinely run the checkdisk program unless you are having operating system crashes. In XP, Right Click "C Drive” /Properties/Tools/Error Checking, click both blocks and reboot when asked.  In Vista, choose "Computer", right click on "C" Drive, properties, tools, error-checking, Diskchecking.  Yes and reboot. This test may take an hour or more.

6.  Open the defrag utility and check the status of the fragmentation of your hard drive once a month.

  Windows 2000 and XP users should choose “Analyze” first, and follow recommendations on screen to see if they should defrag or not.

Windows Vista users have the option to set a time for automatic defrag.  The default time is midnight on Wednesdays.  If your machine is off at night, you have to change this time or do the defrag manually once a month.

7.  Turn off any screensavers

(See Display Icon in control panel in XP or right click on the screen in Vista and choose Personalize). Choose screen saver and select “none”.  Uninstall any other screensaver programs from the Control Panel - Add or Remove Programs in XP or Programs in Vista.

8.   Adjust the automatic timing settings for the monitor and hard drive.

Do this from the same window for #7 above, under “Power”, or after opening “Power Options” in Control Panel.  Change the top line to “Desktop”, and set the monitor to15 minutes and the hard disk spin-down to 30 minutes.  This allows you to keep your machine on all the time if you want, while minimizing power consumtion and wear on computer parts.

9.  Install 2 to 3 adware/spyware detection programs and run them monthly

to keep unwanted programs from slowing down your computer.  I recommend AdAware 2007, Spybot Search & Destroy, plus SuperAntiSpyware is optional. You should update and run each program to remove Spyware and Adware.  Next install an anti-adware/spyware prevention program called SpywareBlaster to keep the most common unwanted programs from installing themselves on your computer.  SpywareBlaster only needs an update, followed by clicking on the “Protection Status” button and choosing the 3rd line from the bottom called “Enable All Protection” to keep spyware from infecting your computer.     

If any of these programs stops updating, go to the home page for the program,

or type the name of the program into Google and look for the CNet site to download and install the newest version (see the software link).  If you need help with these programs, click on the help button or the question mark button.

10.  Install an “Un-interruptible Power Supply” (UPS),

for computers and peripherals.  If possible, run your phone line (modem) or Patch Cable (DSL or Cable Modem cable) through the UPS also. Note! Some outlets on UPS units are battery backup, while others are surge protected only.  Plug your computer and monitor into the battery backup outlets on the UPS.  A good UPS costs about 125.00.  These units are heavy, so shipping is expensive.  You can avoid high shipping costs by buying in person at computer stores in your area.  Note! Do not plug-in a laser printer to a UPS appliance, plug them directly into the wall outlet.  If you do it wrong, you could cause a fire.  Do not plug a power strip into a UPS, use the individual sockets provided.

  If you have any questions.

Call me at 928-279-3385

Art Fuller