Computer Maintenance, Health and Security Check

This article is for all who need to have a better understanding of how to effective, efficiently, maintain and protect the health of their computer.

This article will be useful to you if:

1) You know how to turn on the computer and are comfortable with simple computer operations.

2) You use basic computer functions but hardly take any special care of the computer

3) You love to surf the internet

Essential "must have" programmes for the above purposes

[Please always remember that not only big brand programmes are reliable, some programmes are very heavy and taxing on resources, smaller programmes function just as well]

a) Startup Organiser

b) A programme that speed up the internet connection

c) An uninstaller [A good one will clean up the registry, after the uninstalling, this is important]

d) A good registry cleaner [Perform regular task of checking your registry]

e) A drivers scanner [programmes needs driver to run them, some of these driver needs to be updated at times, a driver scanner will detect these for you, search for the update and install it for you]

f) Antivirus and antispyware: Not all in the market are good and reliable. The better ones should not be heavy on your processing speed but equally effective]

g) A firewall

*Anyone who wish to have my recommended list MUST pm me... I don't do marketing for the brands recommended.

Maintenance [assuming your computer is in generally good health]:

Turning on and Shutting down:

I'm sure you know how to turn on the computer but make sure you always do a proper shut down. In cases where your computer hangs and you have no choice but to force shut down, the two ways to do it are:

a) Hold down, Ctrl + Alt key and press "delete"

b) Press your power button and hold on for a few seconds until the screen goes off

If the above fail to shut down your computer, you have one very simple action to set the record straight: "Turn off the power supply"...

If you have data running as you are doing the above, your data will be loss and may not be able to be recovered. So be very deligent when you are working with any project or documents, always save your project mid-ways before completion.

Installation of programmes:

a) Be sure you know the source of your programme.

b) Scan them with antivirus and spyware programme before installation,

c) If you bought the software and it came in a box with an installation disk, ignore the warning above.

Before Installation: In general it's recommended to install & register application offline if possible, and block application connecting to internet if not needed!

While installing:

a) Always follow the onscreen instruction and "read them"

b) Don't install unnecessary tool bars.

c) You need not have the icons installed to your desktop or task menu if its not a programme that needs you to click on the icon to operate it.  It only create clusters, very bad fengshui for computer.

Uninstalling:

Please use an uninstaller to do a clean uninstall.

Common PROBLEMS

Slow Startup:

Slow startup can be due to two reasons:

a) Too many start up programmes

b) Your computer is infested with spyware or virus.

To promote faster startup, reduce the number of programmes that run upon startup. This can be set using a startup control software.

It is quite cumbersome and tedious if your system are already infested with virus or spywares. Its a broad subject. Message me privately should you be suspicious of the function of your computer.

Slow Internet Speed:

a) Of course it has to do with the speed plan you have subscribed to when you sign up with your service provider.

b) There are ways to alter and increase the speed

c) If the surfing speed is exceedingly slow, it is probably infected with spywares, adwares and viruses.

Computer Security:

Elementary computer security is as simple as getting a good antivirus and antispywares and adwares scanner.

Removal of all data on hardisk: If you use FDISK, FORMAT utilities, or DELETE standard operating system command for data removal, there is always a chance to recover deleted files (using undelete file or some data recovery software) and use against the owner's will.

The hardcore computer security will include protection from external or authorised usage of your personal system. This will be discuss later.

Health Check of a computer:

a) Virus, Spywares and Adware scanning

b) Registry Cleaning

c) History and temporary files cleansing

d) Speed Checks, boosting

e) Defrag your computer

That's all folk. Hope this is helpful to all who read this article.