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Common Computer Mistakes

Computer Mistakes. There are so many things that can go wrong, and it is often the simplest slipups that can spell disaster. Listed below are three of the "most common" computer mistakes.

Too many Programs

In this age of freeware and shareware, it's very tempting to load your hard drive with all kinds of cool software. As hard as this may be to believe, even the large size hard drives of today can become overstocked, cluttered drives that will run more slowly than lean, well organized ones. The more programs you have on your system, the greater the likelihood there is that two programs will conflict with each other and cause trouble. Programs also love to auto-launch at startup. When a program auto-launches on startup, it puts an immediate demand on the resources of your computer. This will greatly increase the time it takes your machine to boot and since these programs are ALWAYS running in the "background" they are ALWAYS using memory, processor and hard drive resources.

What's the solution to this mess, you ask? For starters, don't download a million things that you will never use. Be selective in what new programs you load into the computer. Secondly, don't keep anything on your machine that you don't use. If you find yourself needing something you've purged from your system in the future, you can always re-install it. To remove unwanted software, use the uninstall features that come with most newer software packages or the add/remove programs feature in the control panel. This is the safest way to rid your computer of unwanted programs. DO NOT JUST DELETE PROGRAM FILES.

Back Up Your Data

This is another reminder of the importance of backing up files. In our April 2001 issue of the newsletter we discussed the "when", the "which", the "what" and the backup strategy. Again, here are the top three data backup tips:

1. Schedule backups - Schedule a regular time for backing up data and stick to it. A handy trick might be to use your Outlook Calendar to "schedule" the backups until you get into a routine. Some internet based emails also have it built into their software so that you can email yourself reminders. The bottom line is DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to get yourself in a regular schedule.

2. Back up data to reliable form - Floppy disks are fine for the short term, but they have a relatively short shelf life and can be easily damaged. Zip disks are better, but still not 100% safe. If the files in question are of special importance, back up them up on two separate disks and store one in a location other than your home.

3. Press Save often - It's so easy to click that "save" button, but when we get caught up in our work, we forget to take that one simple measure. If you are really bad at clicking the save button as you work, you can have Windows automate your backups.

Don't Open Email Attachments

You've been told this more times than you care to recall, but this one statement we can't emphasize enough. DO NOT OPEN EMAIL ATTACHMENTS before being certain of their safety. I know it's tempting, but opening an attached file opens your system to viruses (see April 2001 Newsletter for virus information) and if you are unlucky enough to get a virus, your computer system can be in a whole mess of trouble.

The best way to handle attachments is to first have up-to-date virus protection for your email. Make sure that the virus software is setup to scan email when it begins to load onto your system.

Secondly, stay on top of the latest viruses that are floating around the internet. The best "front line" of defense is your knowledge. Be aware of what to look for in suspicious looking email.. email that comes from family and friends does not have a 100% guarantee of being virus-free.

Computer Mistakes

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