computer basics

BUCS
March 14, 2009
Regular gadget maintenence will prevent money.

A few easy duties done each week on this order will maintain your laptop in pinnacle shape. It is likewise vital to now no longer invite malicious code into your gadget. We name it BUCS – Backup, Update, Cleanup, Scan.

Backup.
You’ve heard it before. Hard power crashed, no modern-day backup. It should spell catastrophe for you or your company. There are plenty of properly applications available, a few unfastened, that will help you successfully insure your facts. I decide upon backing as much as CD, it’s easy, they’re cheap, and you may take them offsite for entire backup protection.

If you've got got facts which you paintings with on a every day basis (an accounting software or a database) I advocate backing up in your tough power each day, then backup the backups as soon as every week to CD. There’s a awesome software referred to as Karen’s Replicator in order to automate this method for you. Just inform it what you need sponsored up, to where, and while. Then, each day (or each night time in case you time table it that manner) it's going to make a backup to a special folder to your tough power (ideally external). And … don’t neglect about to backup your Outlook (or different e mail software) documents!

Update.
In the vintage days, I could follow patches and updates best if I wanted them. Well, you want them now. Microsoft releases vital safety fixes regularly. You can get the Microsoft updates from any Internet Explorer browser window. Just click on on Tools/Windows Update. This will take you to the Microsoft Update net site. Click on “Scan for Updates”. When it’s completed you must see a hyperlink to “Download Critical Updates”. Do it! This is what protects you from such things as the “Conficker Worm” which have been getting a lot press. Better yet, maintain your gadget set to Automatic Updates.

Then there’s antivirus updates. Just due to the fact you've got got hooked up antivirus software, it doesn’t suggest you're protected – it have to be stored as much as date. Virus definition updates arise as assaults are recognized. An vintage definition report isn't anyt any block to a brand new virus. Whatever antivirus software you've got got, open it up and test the menu alternatives until you find “Update” and run it. Most antivirus applications even have a manner to robotically replace themselves each time you’re online. Other nasties obtainable are Ad-ware and Spy-ware, I advocate Windows Defender to shield your self from these. Defender is a unfastened down load from Microsoft for Windows XP. It’s constructed in to Windows Vista. I additionally advocate walking CCleaner and/or Windows Live Onecare on occasion only for a 2d opinion. Get the ultra-modern updates, be safe.

Cleanup.
Get rid of the extra documents to your gadget. But don’t simply move into the report gadget and delete documents you don’t recognize. Use Disk Cleanup already at the gadget (Start / Programs / Accessories / System Tools / Disk Cleanup). Go thru your e mail folders and delete vintage messages. Archive the vintage stuff in case you need to keep it, however get it from your manner.
Uninstall any applications you're positive you don’t use (Start / Control Panel / Add and Remove Programs.)

Scan.
Everything. Schedule scans for a time while you may be farfar from the laptop. Run Scandisk (My Computer/right-click on and select Properties, Tools, Error-checking – on XP), Virus Scan, Spybot, Defrag (My Computer/right-click on and select Properties, Tools, Defragment Drive – on XP).
My center call is “Reboot”. If you're having a hassle with a software, simply reboot (Start / Shutdown *xp=Turn off / Restart) and take a brief stretch. Both you and the laptop assets will benefit.