The following are the steps you can follow to stop having your computer fixed by a computer person / company. We are always trying to help people fix their computer(s), while keeping the money they give us to a minimum. Remember this is not my main career I do this because I love to help people, and love computers.
Keep Windows (your operating system) - The Main Software that runs your computer updated.
1. Even though Microsoft has added automatic updated within windows, it really only does critical updates automatically. I would suggest maybe once a month, going out to the windows update and checking for windows updates, and perform the updates if it needs any. Below are the steps to do so
-
goto http://update.microsoft.com or in internet explorer goto the menu tools / windows update - see the screen below
-
Select the Custom Button
-
-
-
Next After you hit the custom button, it will check your computer for the updates that have been applied, and tell you what is not applied
-
I would check everything under High Priority (Critical Updates), and software optional updates. Then Click the install updates link. then the install button.
-
After all the updates are downloaded, and then installed by the update program. You are done with this task
Keeping windows updated is your best bet against viruses, and other problems on the internet.
Run disk Clean Up
2. Every month or so you can run disk clean up. This is easy to do, and cleans up files that are not needed on your hard drive. But if you don't do this one it's not going to kill you.
-
Go to My Computer and Right Click on it.
-
You can do this on every Drive you have, but for this example we will do it on your C Drive.
-
Left Click on your C Drive, and Right Click properties - This will take you to this screen
-
-
-
Right click on the disk clean up button - this may take sometime to come up
-
-
-
-
On the next screen that comes up, make sure only temporary internet files, and temp files are checked. You can also delete all the recycle bin files / files you deleted here to if you want to check that. Once all are checked, click the OK button to do the delete
-
-
Once the OK button is selected, and you choose Yes to perform the action, the computer will then delete all these dummy files for you.
Remove Cookies / Temp Internet Files / Internet History - in internet explorer
3. This one is easy, and something like this is also in the browser Firefox. But for my purpose I will just go through the internet explorer way.
-
Goto internet explorer
-
Goto the Tools Menu
-
Then select internet options
-
-
-
Click the Delete cookies button - then OK - NOTE: if you like you passwords saved, this may delete then, but if you know them this should not be a big deal.
-
The reason why you would want to delete cookies, is websites like to track you with tracking cookies. These could hold information on what you are searching for, then websites will popup advertisement on the product you are searching for. This is not to big of a deal, but still good to clear it once in awhile
-
Next Click delete files (yes this is the same as doing a delete temp internet files in the previous step, in the disk clean up. But this is just another way for you to do it.
-
Getting rid of temp internet files, helps cable modem users speed up surfing the internet, because if to many get out on your computers drive, it's more files your computer has to search locally before bringing up a internet page.
-
Next Click the Clear History - This just clears your history, no real reason you need to do this, but covering your tracks on the internet.
Run Spybot - Search & Destroy every month, performing updates to the software, and scan the computer.
4. Advertisement, Free software and other people that just want to screw with your computer has brought a whole new term into the computer world.
SPYWARE - What is it, It's one step below a virus - Slows down your computer, causes popups and is a pain in the ass.
If I loaded your computer spybot is under your programs menu / system programs. If you don't have spybot download and install it from here
To run spybot is not hard, you just need to know what to click.
-
First you need to update it, so bring the program up and click the update button on the left hand side.
-
The click the search for updates button
-
Select the BN FileForum server(Global) , check all the updates, and then click download updates.
-
If it's not downloading the update, select another server and try again.
-
-
-
Next Click the immunize, then the +Immunize button
-
-
-
What does this do you ask??? - In your restricted sites settings within internet explorer / internet options under security tab, it puts all the crappy sites in their to help keep you protected.
-
-
-
Next click the search and destroy button, on the left.
-
Then click the Check for problems button.
-
You should find very little problems on your computer, but if you do find a problem, just check it and fix it.
-
If you find that this program is finding a lot of problems with your computer, give me a call or contact us.
-
-
-
Run Ad-Aware every month, performing updates to the software, and scan the computer.
4. This program fixes the same types of problems that spybot fixes, but does find some things that spybot does not.
-
If I loaded your computer, Ad-Aware is under your programs menu / system programs / Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal
-
If you don't have Adware Download it here
-
This will tell you right out of the gate that it needs updating, click ok
-
-
-
Then Connect - then ok, it should update it, if not, try again until it does.
-
-
-
-
Then click Finish
-
Now hit the Scan now button, then perform full system scan, click next
-
-
-
This will take awhile so go get a cup of coffee. Or spend some time with your kids.
-
-
Then is will come up like this
-
-
-
Click Next
-
-
Right click on the box, then select all objects
-
-
-
Click Next then OK
5. This one is number 5, but is the most important. Always have virus protection on your computer, and always make sure it's updated.
Having virus protection is the same as having a condom during sex. You don't want to catch something just by touching it, or in computer terms, by clicking on it.
Goto AVG virus "Grisoft" to get your free virus protection today.
This is IT for now, I will add more later
Thanks, Ken