1. Check for Anti-Virus
Updates Daily. If you have an anti-virus program installed
or you do not want to pay for updates - uninstall current
program by going to the "start button", click on "control
panel", click on "programs or programs and features", then
"uninstall a program". Uninstall your current anti-virus
program then restart your computer. Then go to "download.com"
and search for a free anti-virus program such as AVG or
AVAST. Make sure you download and install the free version
which works just as good as the paid versions of anti-virus
programs. You still then need to update them on a daily
basis.
2. Check for "Windows
Critical Updates" Weekly. Go to "Start Button", "Control
Panel" and then to "Windows Updates". Make sure you register
on Microsoft.com - you can then
automatically have your system update itself when it has an
internet connection.
3. Check for "Spyware
Updates" Weekly. Free spyware programs such as "SPYBOT" or
"ADAWARE" or "DEFENDER" help keep your computer free from
people on the internet trying to access your computer from
any back doors. Again you can search and download from "download.com".
4. Backup your data
weekly. External usb hard drives are relatively inexpensive.
Any important pictures or documents can then be copied onto
hard drives or even some online resources. If you have a
gmail account, you can email yourself and attach really
important items to keep them online.
5. Use your "Disk Clean
Up", "Scan" and "Defrag" utilities after you backup your
data. Click on the "Start Button", "Programs", "Acessories",
then "System Tools".
6. Install an
adblocker/popup blocker add on within your browser. If you
use Firefox - you can click on "Tools" and then addons. In
Internet Explorer, this is an option under "Tools".
7. Turn your "Firewall"
on. Go to "Start Button", then "Control Panel", "Security",
"Windows Firewall" to enable it. If you have a router
directly attached to a computer - this is also another
firewall to your home network.
8. To create
a recovery drive in Windows 10: In the search
box next to the Start button, search for Create a recovery
drive and then select it. You might be asked to
enter an admin password or confirm your choice. When
the tool opens, make sure Back up system files to the
recovery drive is selected and then select Next.
9. Print a "System
Inventory" of both your hardware & software. You can
download and install a free program called "Belarc" from download.com
to do this.
10. Export your e-mail
address and email groups or use an online email like
gmail.com which keeps this info online and not on your
computer. If you use an e-mail storing this on your
computer, click on your e-mail help function to assist you
in exporting your email addresses to an external hard drive.
11. Export your
favorites/bookmarks. Click on your browser's help function
to export your favorites and bookmarks to an external hard
drive. You can also save them online at google.com/bookmarks/.
12. Sometimes files are
compressed or in a zip file. You can go to download.com
and search for a free zip program than you can download and
install to use on these type files.
13. To enhance your
experience while browsing the internet, some plugins such as
Adobe Acrobat Reader, Quicktime, Flash, Shockwave, Real
Player, may be required. You can go to download.com
to find out where you can download these free plugins.
14. If all of these things
seem to much to do, then you can expect computer issues with
a Windows computer. You may want then to consider purchasing
a Mac, you will still have to do steps four through
thirteen.
"Give the people these
instructions, too, so that no one may be open to
blame." 1 Timothy 5:7