Minimizing the risk of disk failures, virus
infections, or the accidental loss of valuable documents or data can
be accomplished quite easily by following simple procedures in the
areas of PC setup, routine disk maintenance, virus updates and
regularly scheduled backups. When done correctly, the ability to
recover quickly and fully from any of the afore mentioned maladies is
assured and your PC, as a consequence, will perform optimally at all
times.
In fact, if you follow these recommendations, you
can replace your entire PC with a new one and have it installed and
operational with all of the same software, appearances, and data in
the same amount of time that it takes to complete any ordinary new PC
installation.
PC Setup
The following tasks should be performed when
installing a new PC:
Save all receipts and papers, label and file them
where they can be located easily. Keep the packaging for about thirty
(30) days before throwing it out, in the event you have to send
everything back to the manufacturer.
Buy a power strip surge protector that includes
phone line surge protection and use it!
Create an emergency boot diskette and label it. Your
computer will come with the necessary instructions. It may even come
with an emergency boot diskette already created in which case you can
skip this step.
Install anti-virus software. If your computer did
not come with anti-virus protection software (usually Norton, McAfee
or Dr. Solomon) you MUST buy a program and install it. The basic
package is all you need. We recommend Norton Antivirus, either by
itself or in a suite - SystemWorks (NAV w/Disk Utilities), or Norton
Internet Security (NAV w/Internet Firewall).
Create an emergency anti-virus diskette and label
it. Follow the instructions of your anti-virus software.
Clean up your desktop (screen) that will come
littered with icons. These are just shortcuts to run programs and can
be deleted (right click on each and select DELETE) if you want to
unclutter your screen. The programs do not get deleted; every program
can just as easily be run from the PROGRAMS menu (START/PROGRAMS/...).
A lot of these desktop icons will be internet shortcuts to Internet
Service Providers (ISP) who are hoping to seduce you into subscribing
to their internet service. Once you have chosen your ISP you may
delete these icons.
Go to [Programs] {Run] and type in MSCONFIG. This utility allows
the user to explore the Windows start up process. When applications
are installed, normally they will put a 'stub' of themselves into the
startup process. This means they don't take as long to open when their
icon is clicked. Very rarely do they need to be in the Windows
environment. Some applications do though - antivirus (real-time
scanning, email scanning), power management (for standby and
hibernation), some printer drivers, instant messaging etc. For
explanations of most startup files, go to
this site and compare what you see in your listing to his. You can
turn off all non-essential programs by removing the check at the
beginning of it's line in the [StartUp] listing. Once the PC has
rebooted, you will have more resources...ergo more speed.
Extend your warranty if necessary. Make sure your
warranty covers parts and labor for at least two years.
Required Routine Maintenance - Weekly, Monthly
and Quarterly
Performing these preventive measures will
significantly decrease the probability and frequency that your hard
drive will crash, or the likelihood that viruses will ruin your
system.
WEEKLY (or every 40 hours of computer use):
Run Disk Cleanup
(START/PROGRAMS/ACCESSORIES/DISK CLEANUP).
Check any or all boxes. This may take about thirty
(30) seconds.
Run Scan Disk
(START/PROGRAMS/ACCESSORIES/SCAN DISK).
Be sure to check the standard box before starting.
This may take a few minutes.
Run Disk Defragmenter
(START/PROGRAMS/ACCESSORIES/DISK DEFRAGMENTER).
Check the C:/ drive, and any other hard disk (non
CD-ROM, Zip, or floppy) partitions. This may take between 10-60 or
more minutes, depending on how many files you have saved on your hard
drive.
Download and install anti-virus updates. Run your
anti-virus main program
(START/PROGRAMS/McAfee or Norton, or any other anti-virus program) and
follow its instructions.
MONTHLY:
OS and Application Updates
Download and install system updates to obtain the latest Windows
software bug fixes. This should be located on START menu as “Windows
Update,” or go directly to the
Windows Update website. We normally check for 'Critical Updates'
first. Check around (Google search, chat rooms etc..) to see if major
updates have been causing any problems after updating. Sometimes the
cure is worse than the disease - it is better to wait sometimes for
all of the bugs to be truly removed.
QUARTERLY [every three (3) months]:
Perform a virus scan of your entire hard drive
(C:/). Run your anti-virus main program
(START/PROGRAMS/McAfee or Norton, or etc.) and follow the
instructions. This may take an hour or more.
Perform a THOROUGH disk scan of your hard drive.
(START/PROGRAMS/ACCESSORIES/SCAN DISK). Be sure to check the THOROUGH
box before starting. This may take an hour or more.
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