The ABC's of PC Maintenance
By
WHY A KHUSHTECH-TORIAL?
What will I learn today?
You will learn the basics of PC maintenance.
What hardware and/or software does the
KhushTech-Torial apply to?
This KhushTech-Torial applies to any PC (computer
running Windows). Mac users will find parts
Of the KhushTech-Torial helpful as well.
WHY MAINTAIN YOUR COMPUTER?
Problem:
Bikes must pump air into their tires. Cars must
have their oil changed. Computers must
Be kept in good working order as well.
Solution:
Remember your ABCs:
A = Antivirus
B = Backup
C = Clean Up
A IS FOR ANTIVIRUS
A computer virus is a software program that can
destroy information or make it difficult to
Manage the contents of a computer disk. Computer
viruses can affect hardware,
Software, and/or stored information. Some computer
viruses are intentionally created;
Others are practical jokes.
Computer viruses are spread primarily through
floppy disks and e-mail. Using an antivirus
Program once a week to check for hidden viruses (for
school computers, check with
Tech staff first.) can help immunize your PC
against most viruses. In addition, you should
Take care when using floppy disks or e-mail.
A IS FOR ANTIVIRUS
Watch Your Floppy’s
Don't save files to a floppy disk unless you know
that the original computer is virusfree.
If you suspect that a floppy might have a virus,
ask the school tech staff to check it
out.
Otherwise, use an anti-virus program to check the
disk. If a virus is detected,
discard the disk!
Take Care With E-Mail
Avoid opening e-mails with odd or nonsensical
subject lines, with grammar errors
Or stilted language, and from a sender you don't
know.
Avoid opening attachments you weren't expecting,
from a sender you do not know,
or ending in .exe -- unless you're sure you
know what it is.
When in doubt about a particular e-mail, delete the message and e-mail
the sender
(If you know him or her) to learn whether the
e-mail was legitimate.
B IS FOR BACKUP
Computers aren't infallible; files do become lost
or damaged or infected by viruses.
Protect your files by backing up your work. Backing
up files simply means copying them
to a second location. A good rule of thumb is to back
up your files once a month if you
don't use the computer often, and once a week or more if
you are a frequent computer
user.
Files can be backed up to
Floppy Disks. Floppies are a simple solution for beginners, but they can be easily
damaged or lost and they have limited storage capability.
E-mail. E-mailing a file to yourself
works for one or two files, but they probably are
not secure from prying eyes.
CD-RW. If you have a CD writer, burning your files onto a
CD can provide back up
for important files, but using this method for weekly
back up is difficult.
Server. Some schools or districts maintain a secure
server; ask if you can save
your work to the server too.
Zip Drive. Although not a common option, zip discs
provide easy and largecapacity
storage. Zip drives and discs must be purchased, however.
C IS FOR CLEAN UP
Files will be easier to find if you manage your
files efficiently, straighten up your desktop
frequently, and clean your hard drive regularly.
The Khush Five of File Management
1. Only keep files on your desktop when you're
using them; otherwise, put them in a
clearly-labelled
folder on the C: drive.
2. When loose files equal ten or more, make folders
to store them in!
3. Don't be afraid to delete files containing
information you can get elsewhere or files
you won't I need again.
4. Remember that folders can be more that just one
level! Store folders inside folders!
5. Make file and folder names meaningful -- the
more specific, the better!
NEAT AND CLEAN
Clear the Desktop
You can use your My Documents folder to keep your
desktop neat and uncluttered. If you
don't find the My Documents folder on your desktop,
double-click My Computer, double-click
the C: drive icon, and then double-click My Documents
to open it. Drag files you've
saved on your desktop into My Documents. Create more
folders within your My
Documents folder: open My Documents and then click
File>New>Folder. Clearly name
each folder you create and drag the appropriate files
in My Documents into one of those
folders. Finally, delete unwanted files by right clicking
each file, left clicking Delete, and
hitting Enter.
Organize the hard drive
Your computer is always in a hurry; it throws
pieces of data into whatever empty spots it
can find on your hard drive. Eventually, that
disorganized data storage will slow down
your computer. Luckily, your computer has a built in
system for reorganizing your data.
That system consists of two steps.
Step 1: Go to
Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>and choose Disk
Defragmenter. Defragging the C: drive monthly can bring your
computer back up to
speed. ( Please call or email
me before you do this just to avoid any conflicts.)
Step 2: Go to
Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>and choose Disk Cleanup.
Run Disc Cleanup for the C: drive. Disk Cleanup
throws away temporary Internet files
and other unneeded files that could slow down your PC.
( Do this every alternate month)
TELL ME MORE
Where can I find more information about PC
maintenance?
Computer
Hope.com provides excellent tips for
keeping your PC in tip-top shape.
McAfee and Symantec offer anti-virus software you can purchase, as well
as alerts on
The latest viruses and virus hoaxes.
What's next?
Be sure to visit next Month -- and every Month --
for another quick and helpful KhushTech-Torial!