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PC Health Checklist
Keeping your running in excellent condition is actually quite
easy. Many people make simple mistakes that end up causing their PC
to run slowly or crash.
Get A Fresh Start
This checklist
will not work on a computer that is already running poorly. The idea
behind maintaining your PC is to start clean and never let it get
dirty.
In fact, the best thing you can do is start from
scratch. Most computers come "bloated" from the factory. They have
useless software pre-installed that is never used or become inactive
if you do not pay for them.
Furthermore, most people load
numerous programs onto their PC over time. Sometimes the computer
will become infected with spyware or other malicious software.
We highly recommend you start from scratch by backing up your
data, erasing your hard drive, re-installing Windows, installing the
latest device drivers and updates, then restore your data. This is
exactly what we do during our PC Rebirth Service.
Keep Windows
Updates Current
Windows Updates are security patches released
for your computer by Microsoft. It is vital that you install these
patches as soon as they are available.
You can automate the
installation of Windows Updates whether you are a simple home user
or a complex business network.
To learn more about Windows
Updates please read our Windows Updates article.
Install or
Update Your Anti-Virus Software
If you do not have any
anti-virus software installed, or if your subscription has expired,
stop what you are doing and purchase (or at least consider) the
product we recommend, Kaspersky Anti-virus.
If you have
anti-virus software installed then make sure it is running and
current. The software should also be configured to update itself
automatically. We also recommend you schedule weekly scans of your
entire computer.
Use A Router
A router will not only allow
you to securely share your Internet connection but will also provide
you with an additional level of security.
The router we
recommend can be used on cable or DSL and will add a wireless
network to your home or office.
To learn more about a router,
visit our recommended router page or our router and personal
firewall article.
Consider UsING A Personal Firewall
A
personal firewall is a great addition to the security of your
computer. A personal firewall will allow you to control what
programs can access the Internet.
Properly managing a
personal firewall requires a little knowledge. You must know what
programs to allow and deny. For example, it may seem quite obvious
that "Internet Explorer" should have permission to access the
Internet, but what about "Services and Controller App"?
If
your computer becomes infected with spyware or other malicious
software, you should be able to recognize that the software is
unfamiliar and should be blocked. You should then start the software
removal task.
To learn more about a personal firewall, visit
our router and personal firewall article.
Take Away
Administrative Rights
Put simply, you should use your
computer as a normal user and not as an administrator.
If you
are using your computer as a normal user and inadvertently run some
malicious software, the damage that the software can do is extremely
limited.
Running as a normal user can be a complex task to
achieve but is one of the best things you can do. To learn more
visit our "Don't Be An Admin" article.
Don't Install Software
Okay, let's rephrase this one: don't install software you don't
need, even if you un-install it.
Installing a large amount of
software usually leads to system instability. You should only
install applications that you will use regularly.
Don't let
other people use your computer without your knowledge - they are
more likely to temporarily install software since is isn't their
computer.
Even though you can uninstall most pieces of
software through an automatic process, the process usually does not
remove 100% of the program. You are better off not having the
software installed in the first place.
Use Caution on the
Internet and With E-Mail
There is no doubt that visiting
"shady" websites means you are increasing your chances of becoming
hit with spyware or other malicious software.
Be extremely
cautious when opening attachments in your e-mail. If you do not
recognize the sender you should just delete the email.
It is
possible that an infected e-mail may arrive from someone you know.
This is because the message was generated by a virus and not the
individual.
Be sure to keep your anti-virus software current
when dealing with attachments. If you suspect an attachment as being
malicious, reply to the sender and ask if they sent it.
Use
Imaging Software
For the ultimate in PC health, consider
using imaging software.
Imaging software lets you take a
"picture" of your computer in its current state. If something
happens to your PC, you can use the "picture" to revert back to your
computer's original state.
Imaging used to be a complex
process done only by computer people. This has changed in the last
few years. There are several products written for both home and
office users that make it easy to image and restore your computer.
For more information, see our recommend imaging software page.
Summary
If you can pull it off, this checklist will almost
guarantee that your computer will run perfectly for a long time.
This checklist is the minimum standard that we apply to every
computer covered under our maintenance agreement.
Whether you
are a home user or business owner, following this checklist makes
sense. You will save money be reducing or eliminating PC repair
costs, and your productivity will remain consistent as your
computer(s) will always be available.
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