Hi ya.

Just poppin on for a sec a minute ok, a few.  I wanted to drop some pc knowledge on ya.  LOL!

There is some pretty heavy new virus’ out this past week or so, and they are definitely going around.  I’ve had several pc repair calls this week (3 of the 4 ending in reformatting!) and also our kimmie had to do a little refomatting.  So this is just a general – pc maintenance/care post/guide thingy. 

Edited to add: I tried really hard to not get too technical.  PC stuff can be pretty intimidating, and I know most folks don’t care HOW their computer runs, as long as it runs.

My advice (for what its worth)

• Your antivirus — Having antivirus on there isn’t enough.  It needs to be with a company that updates their virus definitions often.  Most antivirus programs will “auto” check for new updates.  That’s great.  BUT, for what it’s worth, I would STILL manually click to check for new updates, EVERY day.  It takes LESS then a second to do, and then you KNOW for a FACT your definitions are up to date.  That is one less worry.    [what I use for antivirus:  I have Norton Security Suite on my graphics computer and both the kids’ computers.  I have AVG – FREE version on my internet pc, both laptops, the studio pc, and the hubs pc.]
  • To manually check for updates in both Norton Antivirus & AVG – simply RIGHT CLICK the icon for the software down by the clock and click on UPDATE
• FIREWALL—Antivirus is not enough.  You need a GOOD firewall setup.  If you aren’t using one, your internet connection is opening your pc to the masses. [ PC TOOLS has a good FREE one.  It is what I used before I went to the full suite from Nortons, it is also on all the pc’s with the AVG – FREE]
• Cache Cleaner/Temp files deletion — huh? lol.  Without getting to geeky on you.  I’ll just say that virus’ can hide in places that aren’t even intended to be PLACES.  The whole purpose of .tmp files is to be a temporary file.  You computer stores  info there WHILE its writing the REAL file.  .tmp files are supposed to disappear once the REAL file is done writing.  Sometimes, a lot of times actually, Windows forgets to disappear the .tmp  So you need to delete those out yourself.  Also, virus’ can hide in your browser cache.  Say you go to site abc.  Site abc is a safe site but they have a ton of banner ads.  Well if banner ad 4 links up to an infected site, and when you go to site abc banner ad 4 happens to be displaying for you… guess what!  Yeah, sucks don’t it?  So what do you do?  Well.  You can manually dump your cache and search/delete your .tmp files or you can download a free utility to do this FOR YOU.  Kim and I both use CCleaner.
  • To manually empty your cache in IE simply click on TOOLS>INTERNET OPTIONS>GENERAL click click on DELETE under the BROWSER HISTORY heading
  • To manually empty your cache in FF simply click TOOLS>CLEAR RECENT HISTORY
  • To manually empty your cache in Safari simply click RESET SAFARI in the Safari menu
  • To manually delete .tmp files  go to START>SEARCH,   All files and folders, directory C:, and in the search box put *.tmp   Delete everything it finds.
• SPYWARE —  bluh.  Spyware sucks.  Software “Spyware Blockers” can be used to help insure you do not become infected with spyware.  I highly recommend SPYBOT Seek & Destroy.  It is FREE.  Spybot runs in the background protecting your pc, much like an antivirus software.  You should MANUALLY check for updates every day though.
  • To manually check for updates simply RIGHT CLICK the icon for the software down by the clock and click on SEARCH FOR UPDATES
    • I also just BOUGHT a program called Super AntiSpyware Pro.  I had downloaded the trial, and it found a few things my other programs had missed So I bought it, just to “have it” incase of emergency.  They do have a FREE version.
• HINKY —  and when it starts running hinky, then what?  There is some GREAT – and I do not use that term lightly – software out there called TUNE UP UTILITIES.  Sometimes Windows “gets confused”.  There can be little bits left in the registry, or little files go hinky.  This program will scan your pc and fix them right up!  I have been a faithful user of PC Tuneup for, hmm… 10 years now guess (Since windows 98 was new and exciting stuff!).  It has saved my computer MORE then once. 

Now, even WITH all the precautionary software above, it is a fact… shit happens.  With that said, I’m going to tell you BACK UP, BACK UP, BACK UP.  BACK UP – to a DISK!  

“I don’t need to back up to a cd, I have 3 500-gig external harddrives…”  

well, whoop-dee-doo… 

External hard drives are great for “quick” “temporary” back ups.  They are great for moving info from one computer to another.  They are not, however, reliable.

External hard drives (MOST of them) do not have cooling fans in them.  That means, they get hot.  [TIP:  To make your ehd last longer – ONLY plug it up when you are actually USING it!  If you aren’t using it UNPLUG the dang thing!  When hd’s get hot, data gets corrupted.]  Hard drives FAIL.  it happens.  Having a back cd (or 50) is not a bad thing.  Even that is not “fool proof” Cd’s scratch, wear, etc… but relying SOLELY on an ehd for backup is not very smart.  Also remember to “close” your back up cd after burning.  If you find yourself having to replace pc parts, and then try to use the backup, if its not CLOSED the pc may not be able to READ the disk!  There IS software that can do backups FOR you.  FREE SOFTWARE.  They can even backup to an ONLINE SERVER,  and you dont have to do ANYTHING.  Check out COMODO.  I have not tried their service yet, but they are one of the most trusted companies for WEBSITE SECURITY out there.  I can’t imagine they would risk losing the big corporation website accounts by offering shoddy software.

“OMG, So much stuff to do!  How can I remember to do it all?!”

Get on a ROUTINE!
Do what I do!  Get yourself on some kind of doable schedule!  For me, the 1st day of every month is PC MAINTENANCE day.  Even if I haven’t done anything all month long, I DO do it on the first.  I also change ALLLLLL my internet passwords on the first.  Forums, blogs, galleries, stores, banks.  I keep a little tablet on my desk with all my favorite/most used sites and the passwords to access them.  Passwords should always be 8+ characters.  They should contain letters (both upper and lower case) and numbers! For example  the password: ItTickles could become:1tT1ckl3s  Never ever ever use: birthdates, kids names, pet names, or social security number as your password.  

So what should you do on PC MAINTENANCE DAY:

• Update Antivirus Software. 
  • Run FULL “DEEP” Antivirus SCAN
• Update SPYBOT
  • Full scan and IMMUNIZE
• Empty Trash bin
• Run CCleaner
• If you have it: Run Tune-Up Utilities ONE-CLICK TUNEUP  <-  I <3 this!!!!
• REBOOT  (if you’re like me your pc stays on ALL the time.  Sometimes a quick reboot can fix tons of issues!)
• Change all passwords

There, that’s not so bad is it?

I’m not posting this to look like some kind of PC wizard.  I AM smart enough to know, that I surely DON’T know, more than I know.  Ha.  Work that one out for yourself.  LOL!   I really just want to help you.  I would really miss you if your pc went down.  So, I share what I know.  Its up to you whether you do any of it or not.  I hate it when someone emails/calls for help and it was something silly they could have done to keep it from happening.  I hate even more that most of the time, I’m too far away to help FIX the problem!   KWIM? 

If you want to do this stuff but need help, holler!  Have questions?  A pc story to tell?  Whatever.  Just click COMMENT and type away.  We’re all here, reading… so TYPE. 

SUMMARY:
For quick reference here is a list of software mentioned in this post

• AVG – FREE version
• Norton Security Suite
• PC Tools
• CCleaner
• Spybot Seek & Destroy
• Tune Up Utilities
• Super Anti-Spyware Pro
• COMODO

*DISCLAIMER:  Please note that I am NOT degreed, accredited, or certified in ANYTHING pc related.
I am just a chick, who digs computers and everything related to them.
I dig putting them together, taking them apart, and figuring out how they work.
so take this post for what it’s worth. 
I am not responsible/liable/accountable for ANYTHING
YOU do to your pc.

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