patndoris TechnoGeek

So often, I hear of people with odd behaviour problems on their computers, and I just know it's related to their maintenance (or lack thereof). I can't blame them really. With the endless list of all-in-one products that claim to protect you from everything, the average computer user probably thinks they've got it all under control. That is - until they start having problems. Then they get the more is better idea (and sometimes it is), but often they begin buying all kinds of software to try and fix the problem (failing to realize the possible conflicts between programs). Next thing you know, you've got a big old fight on your hands for what program controls what, and the performance starts to degrade even further.

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You might think the big names are better when it comes to protection. You know, the ones that come pre-installed as a trial version on your machine (in the hopes you'll be suckered into paying for continued use) or the ones sometimes offered free by ISP's. Well I'm here to tell you, you can create a better environment with free software. The key is knowing what programs are worthwhile. I sometimes feel like a broken record, and probably sound like it too! But I have a set routine I follow, and I have virtually no problems from viruses, malware, or spyware on my computers.

For ages, I've been meaning to put together a tutorial of sorts on what I believe is a very manageable maintenance program and the background to understand why doing what I suggest is important. This does not mean you click and walk away and a piece of software does all the work. It takes commitment to keep your machine clean. Whether you decide to run one program a day, or to run them all once a week (as I do), you will have to be dedicated to the task if you want to keep everything running smoothly. And then, there are periodic tasks that still need to be done to ensure peace of mind.

I have included an "index" of sorts on my Computers page. If you ever need to run down the checklist that's the place to go! First, let me list a few of the things that might indicate you need a really good cleanup.

• Your computer is freezing up or moving really slowly (If you can click to open something, go get a cup of coffee, and return to find it still thinking - it's not playing nice.)
• You're getting little pop-up balloons in the system tray trying to get you to buy software from a website because your machine is infected (Don't let them scare you into doing it! You probably DO have malware or a virus, but 9 times out of 10 it can be handled without undue desperate measures.)
• Programs are no longer behaving the way they were in the past and/or are not opening or are closing unexpectedly (This especially applies to programs such as instant messengers or other programs which access the internet while then run.)
• Your internet homepage has changed (Uhh...yah...that's a pretty good indication something nasty is on there.)
• Microsoft has a handy dandy list of other symptoms that may be related to viruses, worms and trojan horses all nicely packed in their knowledge base article KB129972. They also detail some symptoms that may simply be typical Windows behaviours. I won't bore you with all of them here, but it is a good read if you're keen to know more.

And before I wrap this up, I'd like to point out that keeping your programs up to date is an important first step in not only preventing problems, but in diagnosing them as well. Sometimes programs don't behave because you don't have the latest updates. First and foremost, be sure you are getting your critical (and optional) Windows updates. Click here for information and FAQ on updating Windows and Microsoft products. I also highly recommend the Update Checker from Filehippo. It scans your computer for programs which can be updated from the Filehippo site and advises of any updates (stable and beta) which may be available. It does not install them unless you choose to do so, and can be configured to hide any updates you wish to ignore. Whatever the method, make sure you have the latest stable updates to your OS, browser, and programs (and for the truly adventurous feel free to go beta - I'm sure you're aware of the possible problems this may pose, but also the benefits.)

If you have an off the shelf machine, you should also check your computer manufacturer's website for updates to your system and drivers at least a few times a year. You don't have to do it terribly often, but it's far easier to install the updates one or two at a time than to find you have 700 to do at once. Most new computers have an update checker available and will notify you of manufacturer updates. I strongly advise keeping them up to date. If you are one of the types who has built your own computer - well, you already know where to go to check for updates and probably aren't bothering to read any of this anyway.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go off and update everything that needs updating so you'll be ready to tackle what comes next. Oh yes - bookmark Filehippo as you'll be going there a lot if you don't already have my recommended programs installed. I bid you farwell until I blog again....