PC Help
HELP for Windows XP users
I am not going to try to help users of Windows 98 or any earlier version of Windows. Anyone who got sucked into buying an old machine loaded with '98 gets my full sympathy, but you're on your own. Especially if you are using a dial up modem. It wasn't too long ago I was running '98 with a modem, and I spent more time troubleshooting and fixing these things for my friends and family and their friends and family that I was putting the local PC retailers out of business in their support business. It was horrible. So, my sincere apologies but you'll get no help from me. Upgrade to Windows XP (or get Linux or a Mac) or go home.
Windows XP users
I am a Mac user at work, and I'd run a Mac at home if the price was right. In the meantime I am running Windows XP and I have a few "standard" suggestions for others using Windows XP.
1. Hardware - You NEED high speed internet. And you NEED at least 512MB or RAM. If you don't have these two things you'd better upgrade, because there are mountains of Windows updates to install (thus the need for High Speed internet) and Windows uses up a 256MB RAM stick without blinking.
2. Installation - at last count, installing and updating Windows XP leaves you with 26 vulnerabilities and viruses. That's no joke, you'll need to install antivirus and ad-ware and spyware protection software right away. FIRST, however, is to get rid of Internet Explorer IMMEDIATELY. Don't uninstall it, just don't use it. Fire up Internet Explorer one last time, point your browser to Mozilla.org and download the latest version of Firefox.
3. The good stuff. OK, now you should have Firefox installed. Always use Firefox. There will be times when a link or application launches your internet browser and chooses Internet Explorer instead of Firefox - whenever you get a popup that asks you always choose Firefox. After a while the Internet Explorer links will all be cnverted to Firefox links. Once in a while Internet Explorer will run. Be very careful when using it - hackers love Internet Explorer and it's far easier to hack than Firefox.
4. Antivirus, adware and Spyware - Launch Firefox and go to www.snapfiles.com. Click on the freeware link. You will see categorized listings of all kinds of software. Choose Security software and ther are headings for Antivirus, Specialized antivirus, Adware etc. In these sections you will find several helpful little programs. AVG Antivirus. Avast Antivirus. Antivir. Spybot Search and Destroy. Adaware SE Personal Edition. Spyware Blaster. I personally install all of these and run them for a full scan after updating. Then I disable them all in my msconfig setup. Then I run regular updates and system scans once a week. I also scan EVERY download, EVERY email attachment, EVERYTHING that is even remotely unknown in origin or intent. I have been wiped out by a virus only once in my life, and it was from a virus on another user's machine on my home network. And I was completely unprotected and never had a virus before that. Careful surfing and browsing will keep you relatively safe. Having a router is crucial. It provides a HARDWARE firewall to protect you against intrusion.
5. Common Sense. As I eluded to in the last paragraph, you have to pay attention. Don't download attachments from email, and don't open email from people you don't know. And don't open FORWARDED email from people you DO know. Often these are sent by email worms that your friends have on their computers. Delete them, and tell them to follow the steps in this blog entry.
Ill be back later to add more to this topic.
I am not going to try to help users of Windows 98 or any earlier version of Windows. Anyone who got sucked into buying an old machine loaded with '98 gets my full sympathy, but you're on your own. Especially if you are using a dial up modem. It wasn't too long ago I was running '98 with a modem, and I spent more time troubleshooting and fixing these things for my friends and family and their friends and family that I was putting the local PC retailers out of business in their support business. It was horrible. So, my sincere apologies but you'll get no help from me. Upgrade to Windows XP (or get Linux or a Mac) or go home.
Windows XP users
I am a Mac user at work, and I'd run a Mac at home if the price was right. In the meantime I am running Windows XP and I have a few "standard" suggestions for others using Windows XP.
1. Hardware - You NEED high speed internet. And you NEED at least 512MB or RAM. If you don't have these two things you'd better upgrade, because there are mountains of Windows updates to install (thus the need for High Speed internet) and Windows uses up a 256MB RAM stick without blinking.
2. Installation - at last count, installing and updating Windows XP leaves you with 26 vulnerabilities and viruses. That's no joke, you'll need to install antivirus and ad-ware and spyware protection software right away. FIRST, however, is to get rid of Internet Explorer IMMEDIATELY. Don't uninstall it, just don't use it. Fire up Internet Explorer one last time, point your browser to Mozilla.org and download the latest version of Firefox.
3. The good stuff. OK, now you should have Firefox installed. Always use Firefox. There will be times when a link or application launches your internet browser and chooses Internet Explorer instead of Firefox - whenever you get a popup that asks you always choose Firefox. After a while the Internet Explorer links will all be cnverted to Firefox links. Once in a while Internet Explorer will run. Be very careful when using it - hackers love Internet Explorer and it's far easier to hack than Firefox.
4. Antivirus, adware and Spyware - Launch Firefox and go to www.snapfiles.com. Click on the freeware link. You will see categorized listings of all kinds of software. Choose Security software and ther are headings for Antivirus, Specialized antivirus, Adware etc. In these sections you will find several helpful little programs. AVG Antivirus. Avast Antivirus. Antivir. Spybot Search and Destroy. Adaware SE Personal Edition. Spyware Blaster. I personally install all of these and run them for a full scan after updating. Then I disable them all in my msconfig setup. Then I run regular updates and system scans once a week. I also scan EVERY download, EVERY email attachment, EVERYTHING that is even remotely unknown in origin or intent. I have been wiped out by a virus only once in my life, and it was from a virus on another user's machine on my home network. And I was completely unprotected and never had a virus before that. Careful surfing and browsing will keep you relatively safe. Having a router is crucial. It provides a HARDWARE firewall to protect you against intrusion.
5. Common Sense. As I eluded to in the last paragraph, you have to pay attention. Don't download attachments from email, and don't open email from people you don't know. And don't open FORWARDED email from people you DO know. Often these are sent by email worms that your friends have on their computers. Delete them, and tell them to follow the steps in this blog entry.
Ill be back later to add more to this topic.
posted by Andrewstopheles at 11:46 AM
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