Friendly Computer Tips

2008-02-04T17:16:00.000-08:00

Friendly Computer Tips For All
Ever wonder how the techs remember everything? Just knowing that a task is possible on a computer is step one. Then it is just a matter of finding the right tools or information to get the job done. Here are some tips that should shed some light on some common problem areas:

Software
Does most programs scare you from trying to use them?

First think about what it is that you are trying to accomplish. Is it the right program for the job?
Most programs come with a help file that has detailed instructions on how to do a task at hand.
There are tutorials & ebooks, all over the internet for every program you can think of.
Support forums are available for most programs with people standing by ready to help.
You don't have to learn how to use the entire program. Most times just knowing the basics will get you by

10 000 Programs
There is a program for everything these days. With a tun of different graphics programs, word processors, music players and so on, how does anyone ever learn them all? Well the good news is if you learn one graphics program, you will be able to operate 100's of different ones just like it. When one program is not doing the job no matter what and it seems to hard, trying a different one may be the answer. Knowing which type of program you are using is important and commonly overlooked. Here are some of the categories software generally falls under:

Graphics, Animation, Web design
Music, Sound
Chat, Messengers
Internet, File Sharing (P2P=peer to peer)
Security
Backup and Recovery
Word Processors
Archiving
CD burning

Computer Security

Firewall
There are two types of firewalls that most people put in place. The first is built into a router and when configured properly can do a good job of protecting you. This can be referred to as a hardware firewall. But, it should not be your only defense. The second is called a software firewall. With this type of firewall in place you can configure your security to be quite a bit tighter and monitor internet activity in real time. Taking the time to learn these two firewalls will bring you allot closer to a secure computing environment.

Antivirus
You should have a good antivirus program in place that is kept up to date at all times. Keep an eye on it to make sure that it has received its updates and is running properly. This is one program worth learning well. There will be settings to tighten security even more and can be set to monitor incoming email.

Spyware Scanners
A good spyware remover can detect unwanted pests lurking in the background of your computer. Some spyware scanners will immunize your computer against attack or run in a background to protect incoming pests. Malware, Trojans, Worms are some other threats you should be familiarized with. Feel like calling a doctor yet?

Programs & Services that start with your computer
It can be quite annoying when tuns of programs and services are starting just after a reboot. Not only can it jeopardize your security, but it can slow everything down. You can turn these off by getting a good startup manager. With it, you can not only turn these programs off, but you can remove them from ever coming back. Be sure to know what you are turning off or deleting here since you can render a system unbootable in a hurry with one false move.

Backing up your computer
After getting your system just right, having it fail will really set you back during a work week.

Acronis True Image does a good job of making an exact copy of your system. There are also freeware backup tools that can be used to copy files from one partition to another. You should assess what you consider to be important, such as pictures, documents, emails, address book, and bookmarks and backup them first. Always test your backup though since you need to understand the restoration process in order to be really safe. You should always have 3 backups of the most important files in case 2 get corrupted or lost. It does happen. There are also ways to make an exact clone of your system for fast recovery down the road.

Bookmarks
What ever web browser you are using, its a good idea to backup your bookmarks every so often. By using the bookmark manager, you can be organized in such a way that will make it a lot easier to get to your favorite sites. Here are some of the folders I created inside my bookmarks:
Business | Health | Tech | My Web Site Ring | Frequently Used.

File recovery
If you have lost files, there are ways to recover them. As long as the file has not been over written, then chances are we can get it back. Its best to get the file back quickly before it degrades to the point of corruption.

Email Backup
If you have tuns of different folders inside your email program that are organizing all your mail, it is crucial that you backup this data. Eudora has always been an excellent email client and can import all your outlook email into it. Your folder structure will remain intact and messages can be easily found through the programs search utility. Another important ability of Eudora is that you can backup all your emails a lot easier by copy and pasting the program folder where all the emails reside. The attachments folder is just a folder full of files instead of being embedded into a single file like in some email programs.

File management
The trick here is to keep improving upon your organization system. Make a file system that you follow to a tee. Here are some examples of a folder structure you could create:

Business & Money | Health and Wellness | Friends & Family | Tech Stuff | Text Files

Then you would end up with folders and files inside each one. There are also many file organizers on the market. There are programs that allow you to catalog all of your cd's, dvd's and every file on every partition on your system. With it you can find any file on your system in seconds no matter which partition, cd or dvd it is on.

Internet Savvy?
The ability to Google anything you can think of and find it right away is a blessing. Using quotation marks works well by keeping those words grouped together. If you Google “best freeware antivirus” you are more likely to hone in on just that.

Computer Problems
If your computer is not working right, then there is a few steps you can take. Be sure to Google any error messages you are receiving to see what other people are doing to relieve the problems. Keep an open mind since a lot of people suggest reformatting your pc which is not really an option if you have worked so hard to get it just right. Changing the problem is the key to a solution. Think about what the exact problem is and go from there. For example, if a program cannot connect to the internet, ask yourself if your firewall is blocking it. You may have accidentally selected to block the application. Unblock it and problem solved.

Forums
Rest assured that what ever problem you are having, there is a forum entry on the subject. Someone somewhere has dealt with the problem and will have the answer you seek.

Final Tip: Whenever you solve a problem that took many hours to achieve, write down the solution for next time and keep it somewhere handy.

If you or someone you know really struggles on computers or needs help with their small business, I maybe available to take them as a new client.

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