Tips for new computer buyers!
Here are some tips for you if you decide to buy a new computer.
Backup your data
A computer or its hard disk drive can fail at any time and without warning. When it does all your personal documents, letters, pictures, music, video, etc. is lost and in many situations cannot be recovered or costs a lot of money to be recovered. Make sure you have backups of all your important data so it is not lost when the computer fails.
Protect the computer
Make sure to protect your computer from electrical surges, brownouts, and black outs. At the very least, every computer user should have a decent surge protector on their computer and phone line if they use a modem. Surge protectors can help protect your computer during an electrical storm and could save you hundreds of dollars in repair, if it were to get damaged. It is also a good idea to have the computer running on a UPS, which can help prevent damage to a computer during a brownout or blackout.
Keep computer and its programs updated
There is no such thing as a perfect software program or hardware drivers. After the developer has released their program they may discover errors and release updates to fix these problems. In the case of major software programs and operating systems, there can be several hundred updates and service packs released during its life time. Making sure your computer and its programs are up-to-date can help prevent problems.
In addition to updating a program, programs that use other programs or plugins may also need updates, for example, it is very important to make sure all the plugins for your Internet browser are also up-to-date.
Keep the computer safe and be familiar with viruses, spyware, phishing and spam
Every computer connected to the Internet or other network need to be protected. If you’re using Microsoft Windows, we recommend having some form of anti-virus program installed and running on the computer. It’s also a good idea to have a malware detection program running on the computer to pickup any spyware or malware that an anti-virus may not have detected. Finally, every computer user should also be fully aware of other security risks such as chain mails, phishing, and spam while on the Internet.
Keep the computer clean
Keeping the computer physically clean can help keep the computer running smoothly, help prevent issues such as over heating, and help protect you from getting sick. While cleaning the computer, it’s also a good idea to clean the data on the computer. Microsoft Windows users can run ScanDisk to check the hard drive for errors and Defrag to keep the data on the hard drive organized. It’s also a good idea to go through the installed programs and uninstall anything you no longer use.
Look for free alternatives
Be familiar with and know about free alternatives to popular commercial programs. For example, almost every computer user needs a word processor program installed on their computer. Instead of purchasing Microsoft Office, which is several hundred dollars use a free alternative such as Open Office that is just as capable.
How to Create a System State Data Backup
Follow these steps to run System State data backup wizard: To use this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights. First click on Start button> All programs> Accessories> System Tools then click on Backup. Backup wizard will start, click on advanced mode option to change the backup settings.In a dialog box “Backup Utility”, select “Welcome” tab and click on Backup Wizard [Advanced] button to create backup of windows important components. Click on Next button to continue backup wizard. Now select option “Only back up the System State date” on what to back up page and click on Next button. Click on Browse button to specify the destination for backup file and also set backup file name under “Type a name for this backup” box then click on Next button.Now verify your selected settings and click on Finish button to start backup process.So easy.