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.
No support for Windows XP SP2
The support for Windows XP Service Pack (SP2) ended July 13, 2010! To ensure that you will receive all important security updates for Windows you need to upgrade to Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3) or later versions such as Windows 7.
For more information, see Support is ending for some versions of Windows.
When do you have to reinstall Windows on your computer?
When you reinstall Windows on your computer it gives you an instant reset button.
It brings back your computer back to the way it was when you first bought it. It means, you get a new computer again.
So, when should you reinstall Windows?:
- When virus or spyware infected your registry beyond repair.
- Windows startup files are corrupted.
- Computer is running slowly.
Before you reinstall Windows, make sure that you back up your important files first, because reinstalling Windows will wipe out your whole hard drive meaning your files and programs will also be deleted. That removal process is what makes it such a good thing to do. It gives you a clean slate by removing any virus, spyware, or corruption in Windows. In turn, you get a practically brand new computer minus the current shelf life of your PC. Even if your computer is running sluggish, it is a good rule of thumb to reinstall Windows every 2-3 years to give it the pep it needs.
If you have difficulty to reinstall Windows, please call VA Denver Computer Services.
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Upgrade to Windows 7 or not?
You are using Windows XP or Windows Vista and you wonder if you should upgrade it to Windows 7 or not. Well, It depends what operating system you are running.
If you are running Windows XP, do not upgrade, because Windows XP is stable and will last fine as long as your hardware doesn’t crash.
If you have Windows Vista, then it is the time. This operating system is typically slows down when you run it over time. With Windows Vista you will need 4 GB of RAM to be in good shape. And it is one of a few issues why Vista users should upgrade to Windows 7.
You can run Windows 7 with only 1GB of RAM and it is compatible with software/hardware from Windows Vista, XP, 2000, and NT. Although Microsoft claims you can upgrade from Vista directly to Windows 7, which is true, it is recommended to back up your files first and heavily consider performing a fresh install of Windows. When upgrading an operating system, the flaws and issues typically also come along with the upgrade and could cause the same issues. It is easier to upgrade since the software and configurations are supposed to carry over. If you’d like to try to perform the upgrade, we still recommend to back up your files in case you’re not happy with the upgrade due to lingering Windows Vista issues carrying over.
After you install Windows 7, don’t be disappointed when you see the same Windows Vista interface. Windows, for lack of time, decided to keep the same graphical user interface (GUI), or view, of Windows Vista for Windows 7. Don’t worry – the stability and quick navigation under the hood is a huge improvement and will be appreciated.
If you have trouble to upgrade to Windows 7, fell free to call VA Denver Computer Services, and our technician will come and help you.