This ten-point checklist tells you what you need to know and what you must do to coexist peacefully and productively with that inscrutable constant companion, your computer.
Make backups. Any data that you create yourself is vulnerable to disasters, from power surges and viruses to equipment failure and human error. But the best disaster insurance in the world is free: Back up everything you create onto a diskette, so you will have a copy of your work separate from your hard drive. Save your work every fifteen minutes or so and save it onto a diskette at the same time. The process only takes a few seconds, and the habit could save you hours or weeks of time and grief.
If it works, don't upgrade it. As the old saying goes: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If Windows XP SP2 is doing a good job for you, don't rush out to get Windows Vista just because it's there. Any time you change operating systems, you risk losing data and you're more prone to battling bugs that haven't been worked out by the manufacturer. Don't be Bill Gates's free beta tester.
Upgrade with more RAM. You need a minimum of 1 Gb of RAM (random access memory) to efficiently run many of today's programs. You'll get more for your money by upgrading the amount of RAM on your computer instead of buying a whole new computer. There is, however, one major caveat: don't upgrade a platform less than a dual-core processor. For example, if you're starting with a single-core Pentium V, first spend your money for the more advanced platform, then upgrade further by increasing its work capacity with more RAM.
Buy a second hard drive instead of replacing a small with a larger one. When you add a second hard drive you save yourself the trouble of transferring data to a new one. And when you think of all the bookmarks, e-mail addresses, and programs you use, you begin to realize just what a blessing that can be.
Buy antivirus software and keep current with the updates
Beware of strangers. Always download files to a USB flash drive and run your virus check software before you open a file or execute a program from an unknown source. Remember that you can only get a virus from opening a program on your hard drive.
Buy a good surge protector or better yet a UPS. Especially if you live in an area with frequent surges, spend about $50 to get one that won't fail.
Keep at least 500 MB free on your hard drive. Today's software uses part of the hard drive in addition to RAM. If you don't have enough room on your hard drive, your applications won't run smoothly. To check your hard drive in Windows XP, open Explore and Right Click a Drive and choose Properties; that will tell you how much space is free.
Purchase the right modem for your DSL.
Keep all documentation that comes with your system and any software you purchase separately. This will help with resale, upgrades, and calling the company in the event you need technical assistance.
