Tuesday, September 1, 2015
DO NOT Computer Tip List
Poor advice
spreads as easily as good advice, and sometimes untrained instincts can lead
you down the wrong circuit when it comes to a computer. So here is a DO
NOT computer tip list: things you should avoid doing that could harm your
machine.
Ø
DO NOT defragment- your
hard drive too often. Do it only if you are deleting a lot of files that
are large, like photos. Defragging too much creates unnecessary stress on
the hard drive and can do more harm than good; it reduces the life of the hard
drive. If you aren’t deleting lots of files, defragging once every one or
two months is sufficient. (Defragmenting: When you delete a lot of files,
it leaves data gaps in the hard drive. This process removes those gaps so that
your data can be accessed more easily and quickly.)
Ø
DO NOT install Windows hardware
updates. You DO NOT need the latest and greatest updates, contrary to
what you may have heard from others. Windows security updates are good;
but hardware updates often cause more problems than they solve. Install
them at your own risk, as many cases of improperly installed updates have
caused computer corruption.
Ø
DO NOT click randomly and
quickly in continued succession if your computer is not responding—like
opening up a program or page online. Most times, the computer is doing
something in the background (something of which you are unaware or don’t see
visually). Let the computer do its thing. Clicking rapidly will not
help it load any faster, and might, in fact, confuse the computer, causing it
to freeze up or crash. Practice patience, and failing that, use CTRL +
ALT + DEL for a force quit option.
Ø
DO NOT open attachments from
someone you don’t know or that seem suspicious. Viruses can be spread
by e-mail, but only if one opens the included attachment or the web link.
You won’t get the virus if you open the e-mail alone, but you very well could
if you open the attachment or click a link in the e-mail. If the subject
line of the e-mail is the supposed sender’s name, but all that appears in the
body is a web link or attachment, mark it as spam and delete.
Ø
DO NOT leave your computer
connected to the Internet if you believe you’ve contracted a virus.
This also applies for programs on your computer that use the Internet, like
e-mail, music players, or chat programs. They may not work anyway, but
the longer your computer maintains an online connection, the more a virus can
infiltrate the machine. Unplug your Ethernet cord, turn off the Wi-Fi,
and/or shut off the computer completely.
And the final, ABSOLUTELY-DO-NOT-super-bonus:
Ø
DO NOT install more than one
antivirus program. Most people wonder how in the world they
contracted a computer virus; doubly so if they run TWO antivirus programs, but
that’s probably where the problem lies. If you have Norton, you don’t
need McAfee, or vice versa. Two can cancel each other out. Pick the
one you like best and stick with it!
Abiding by these DO NOT tips could help you avoid making common mistakes
that put your computer at risk. We want our customers to have a more
satisfying, and certainly less frustrating, time working with their computers.
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