Keeping Your Computer Happy

Computers make wonderful pets.

They don't bark (usually), they don't need to be housebroken, and when they're treated nicely, they're wonderfully obedient and cheerful.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your computer.

• Power fluctuations are one of the biggest causes of computer problems. Don't plug your computer or peripherals directly into a wall power outlet, Use a good-quality surge protector or Uninterruptible Power Supply. Make sure it's UL-listed and provides spike, surge, and EMI protection.

• Keep your computer physically clean. Use canned air to clean the dust out of the cooling fans, mouse, and keyboard. (Don't use a household vacuum cleaner; they can generate harmful static.) Use special cleaning wipes to clean the monitor; ordinary glass cleaners can damage the monitor's coating.

• Always shut down your computer properly. Improper shutdowns can cause data loss and corruption of vital files.

• Run SCANDISK (on Windows 98/Me) or CHKDSK, (on Windows XP) on a regular basis and after any unusual system event.

• Defragment your hard drives regularly. Regular defragmentation will result in less wear and tear on the moving parts inside the hard drive. If you are using Windows 98 or Windows Me, you can learn how to defragment your hard drive here. If you are using Windows 2000 or Windows XP, click here.

• Protect your computer from viruses, hackers, crackers, and other Internet vermin by installing high-quality security software, keeping it up-to-date, and scanning your system for viruses regularly.

• Clean your removable drives on regular basis. Drive cleaning kits can be purchased at any computer store.

• Run Windows Update on a regular basis.

• Avoid spyware. For an excellent introduction to spyware and helpful hints about how to avoid it, click here.

• Have your computer inspected and tuned up by a professional Computer Technician once a year, or more frequently if it begins to get sluggish or otherwise shows signs of unhappiness.

Following these simple steps will help you get the best possible performance from you computer and maximize its useful life.