Spring Computer Cleaning
As the threat of snow ends here in the Northeast, there always is quite a bit of cleanup around the house as the weather turns warmer. A house needs a new coat of paint periodically, and the car needs the oil changed. So too, your computer requires routine maintenance to keep it running at its max.
I will fully admit that maintaining my computer ranks up there with flossing of teeth in terms of excitement. I like to put it off just as much as the next guy, maybe more. Just this week, I stumbled on that my Spyware signatures were out of date, and next thing I know, I’m figuring out that most of my software and applications on my year old notebook had not aged well. So, here’s my checklist of things to look at while the season for cleaning is upon us.
1- Update Windows
Start with your operating system. In Windows XP, click on “start,” select “all programs,” and the third one down from the top is “Windows Update.” Clicking on this takes you to the Microsoft Windows update site. I discovered there were several critical updates, and downloaded them. Be aware this takes time, and some reboots. (Your computer can be set up to do this automatically, but I turn mine off at night so this doesn’t help me).
2- Anti-Virus
Next, check on your antivirus software. Of course, you are using one, right? Many PC’s come with one installed, but only a 90 day trial. The anti-virus software needs to update its signatures, which are the identified viruses. If the virus signatures are out of date, the best software will be rather useless and not detect the current threats. I personally use AVG Free Edition, which updates itself at least weekly. If your subscription to Norton Anti-Virus has lapsed, consider renewing it, or downloading the one I suggested. Once you have your updated antivirus software installed, scan the hard drive to get the nasties gone.
3- Anti-Spyware
I consider spyware to be a much larger threat than viruses. With so many files and sites pushing malicious spyware onto your machine with every download and site visit, this is another essential. I use Microsoft Antispyware Beta. Don’t let the beta part keep you away. This is fully functional software to keep your computer and data protected, and the best part it is free. Just like antivirus software, you need to keep the signatures up to date. It’s become a constant game of cat & mouse as the antispyware folks are always a step behind the spyware coders. By keeping your software up to date, you stay one step, and not 10 steps behind. After everything is up to date, perform a hard drive scan. Mine took on 6 minutes on a 80 GB hard drive. This is cheap insurance IMHO.
4- Drivers
Head on over to your manufacturer’s web site, and check for any updates to motherboard, audio, video, wireless, and networking hardware. Don’t forget your printer and scanner while you’re at it. Manufacturers release these updates, but often forget to tell anyone about it, addressing incompatibilities, and other conflicts. This will keep everything working at its best.
5- Optical drive Firmware
The firmware is the code that tells your disc writer what discs to write at what speed. As new discs come on the market, new firmware comes out. The key is that you have to look for it. While it is on the drive manufacturer’s web site somewhere, head on over to CD Freaks and look in their constantly updated firmware section. An update is only a few clicks away!
6-Software
Look into any updates to your major and frequently used software programs. While each update many not amount to much, when you’ve missed 6 updates, you are missing accumulated bug fixes and stability issues in many cases. Make sure you have the latest for your burning software (I missed 8 of Nero’s updates!), music player software, image software, IM client, internet browser and word processor. While I wouldn’t go crazy with this every day, once a year it is time well spent to make sure you have the latest software code.
7-Back It Up
With writable DVD discs, and affordable external hard drives, there really is no excuse. Keep that data safe by having multiple copies of it at all times somewhere other than your hard drive. My external USB hard drive can back up data at roughly 1 GB per minute, so most hard drives can be backed up in less than an hour or two. Set it up while you are watching TV, and you’re all set for a while. It’s much better than the alternative of losing your music collection, and those precious photos not to mention the last five years of tax returns.
There you have it. After you’ve spent an evening or two doing this, it feels a lot better knowing that you have everything in the computer running in tip top shape, and backed up. Now, we can get back to those gutters…
--Jonas
I will fully admit that maintaining my computer ranks up there with flossing of teeth in terms of excitement. I like to put it off just as much as the next guy, maybe more. Just this week, I stumbled on that my Spyware signatures were out of date, and next thing I know, I’m figuring out that most of my software and applications on my year old notebook had not aged well. So, here’s my checklist of things to look at while the season for cleaning is upon us.
1- Update Windows
Start with your operating system. In Windows XP, click on “start,” select “all programs,” and the third one down from the top is “Windows Update.” Clicking on this takes you to the Microsoft Windows update site. I discovered there were several critical updates, and downloaded them. Be aware this takes time, and some reboots. (Your computer can be set up to do this automatically, but I turn mine off at night so this doesn’t help me).
2- Anti-Virus
Next, check on your antivirus software. Of course, you are using one, right? Many PC’s come with one installed, but only a 90 day trial. The anti-virus software needs to update its signatures, which are the identified viruses. If the virus signatures are out of date, the best software will be rather useless and not detect the current threats. I personally use AVG Free Edition, which updates itself at least weekly. If your subscription to Norton Anti-Virus has lapsed, consider renewing it, or downloading the one I suggested. Once you have your updated antivirus software installed, scan the hard drive to get the nasties gone.
3- Anti-Spyware
I consider spyware to be a much larger threat than viruses. With so many files and sites pushing malicious spyware onto your machine with every download and site visit, this is another essential. I use Microsoft Antispyware Beta. Don’t let the beta part keep you away. This is fully functional software to keep your computer and data protected, and the best part it is free. Just like antivirus software, you need to keep the signatures up to date. It’s become a constant game of cat & mouse as the antispyware folks are always a step behind the spyware coders. By keeping your software up to date, you stay one step, and not 10 steps behind. After everything is up to date, perform a hard drive scan. Mine took on 6 minutes on a 80 GB hard drive. This is cheap insurance IMHO.
4- Drivers
Head on over to your manufacturer’s web site, and check for any updates to motherboard, audio, video, wireless, and networking hardware. Don’t forget your printer and scanner while you’re at it. Manufacturers release these updates, but often forget to tell anyone about it, addressing incompatibilities, and other conflicts. This will keep everything working at its best.
5- Optical drive Firmware
The firmware is the code that tells your disc writer what discs to write at what speed. As new discs come on the market, new firmware comes out. The key is that you have to look for it. While it is on the drive manufacturer’s web site somewhere, head on over to CD Freaks and look in their constantly updated firmware section. An update is only a few clicks away!
6-Software
Look into any updates to your major and frequently used software programs. While each update many not amount to much, when you’ve missed 6 updates, you are missing accumulated bug fixes and stability issues in many cases. Make sure you have the latest for your burning software (I missed 8 of Nero’s updates!), music player software, image software, IM client, internet browser and word processor. While I wouldn’t go crazy with this every day, once a year it is time well spent to make sure you have the latest software code.
7-Back It Up
With writable DVD discs, and affordable external hard drives, there really is no excuse. Keep that data safe by having multiple copies of it at all times somewhere other than your hard drive. My external USB hard drive can back up data at roughly 1 GB per minute, so most hard drives can be backed up in less than an hour or two. Set it up while you are watching TV, and you’re all set for a while. It’s much better than the alternative of losing your music collection, and those precious photos not to mention the last five years of tax returns.
There you have it. After you’ve spent an evening or two doing this, it feels a lot better knowing that you have everything in the computer running in tip top shape, and backed up. Now, we can get back to those gutters…
--Jonas
posted by digitaldoc at 11:33 AM
7 Comments:
I just put mine in the tub and run the water over it for a while to get the dust out...
Don't forget the Turtle Wax...
Nothing with the word "turtle" ever goes near my PC. Mequiars' Racers Wax is even boderline.
I prefer Blue Coral myself!
Blue Coral?! Aiyeeeee!
Couple more
BIOS update
DEFRAG!!!
Mike
how do they squish the turtles into goo to fit them in those bottles anyway?
I would suggest using more then one anti-Spyware app.
They all tend to miss different things.
I have the MS run automaticaly and run Spybot search and destroy and AdAware once or twice a month. I would also suggest checking the forums for the various products for issues with any updates, It can save you from problems. I did an update to Zone alarm last year and my wifes PC lost Internet access. After an hour of trouble shooting I checked the forums and found there was a problem with that release.
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