The
Friends
of the
Green Howards
of the
Green Howards
|
The
Friends of the Green Howards |
Hints for Happy & Healthy Computing (1) |
| Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment (19th Foot) The North York Militia, The North York Local Militia & North York Rifle Volunteers | ||
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A computer is a very complex item of equipment, and failing to follow a few
simple rules can not only cost you quite a bit of money in repairing the computer
but can also be very frustrating.
There are also one or two things you can do to make web surfing just that bit
easier, and more pleasurable!
The following hints are provided to try and ensure that, if followed, your time
using the computer will be as enjoyable as possible.
| 1 |
BACK UP ALL OF YOUR DATA This is the first rule of all computing activities. Until you first have a computer crash, - IT DOES HAPPEN(!), it is difficult to appreciate how important this rule is. At regular intervals, copy all your data in "My Documents" on to other discs (floppies, CD-ROMs). You may also want to maintain back-ups of your Address Book, Windows Favourites, old e-mails and so on. |
| 2 |
USE A VIRUS CHECKER If you use e-mail it is absolutely essential that you use an UP-TO-DATE virus checking program on your computer. Ideally, you should up-date the definitions every week. Better still, use an automatic update system. If you use a program supplied by either Norton or McAfee these updates are available on a regular basis. (I have heard of people finding their computer infected with a virus, and saying that they were using the virus checking program supplied with the computer. This is a mistake that is easy to make; if your computer IS supplied complete with a virus checking program, make sure that you can update the virus definitions on a regular basis.) |
| 3 |
NEVER OPEN E-MAIL ATTACHMENTS UNLESS YOU ARE
CERTAIN WHERE THEY COME FROM Viruses often arrive in a computer courtesy of an e-mail attachment. NEVER open any attachment, - and particularly one with a double file extension after the file name, unless you are absolutely certain as to where it comes from AND your virus checker is on-line and up-to-date. |
| 4 |
BEWARE THE FAKE "SUPPORT" MESSAGES
FROM MICROSOFT A scam which has caught out a very large number of people is the e-mail purportedly coming from the "Microsoft Support Centre", inviting you to open an attachment which contains an update for your computer's security software. MICROSOFT DO NOT SEND OUT SUCH E-MAILS. The only updates that Microsoft supply are from their own web site. The scam e-mails are highly convincing in appearance, but opening the attachment they include will land you in trouble as the attachment carries a virus. Simply delete the message and you will come to no harm. |
| 5 |
IF YOU ARE ON BROADBAND INSTALL A FIREWALL If you are connected to the internet by broadband (high speed, always on) there is a significant risk of your computer being entered or attacked by an external "hacker". This can result in "Trojan Worm" viruses being planted on your system, or allow outside users access to the contents of your hard disc. To prevent this, it is essential to install a Firewall. Many programs are available, including Zone Alarm and programs supplied by Norton or McAfee. |
| 6 |
BEWARE of VIRUS HOAXES Although the PC user must take care over real viruses, you must also be aware that a number of HOAX virus messages regularly appear via e-mail. Usually hoaxes advise you to take particular action, such as deleting a file on your computer,and also advise that failure to do so will result in some utter disaster. Be very suspicious of such messages, especially if they have been sent to a large number of people. If you receive such a message, then check whether this is a hoax or not. This can be done by visiting Norton's page for virus hoaxes, and checking through their extensive list. |
| 7 |
INSTALL A VOLTAGE SURGE PROTECTOR ON YOUR
COMPUTER If the power supply to your computer surges, - due to faulty equipment elsewhere in the house, a faulty power supply, or a lightning strike in the vicinity, you stand to suffer significant damage to the computer. This can include loss of the mother board, the graphics card, and the hard disc (with resultant loss of data). Such a failure can be VERY costly. To protect against this, buy a surge protector and fitting this in the power lead to the computer. This doesn't cost much (say £7) and is an excellent insurance policy. |
| 8 |
INSTALL and REMOVE PROGRAMS CORRECTLY One frequent cause of computers becoming "unhappy" is the user simply DELETING a program when they have no further use for it. Programs MUST be installed, and removed, from the computer using the correct software, - either the program will have its own installation / removal system, or the user should use the facilities in "Control Panel" - "Add / Remove Programs". |
| 9 |
DEFRAGMENT YOUR HARD DISC REGULARLY When you use your computer, you will be adding and deleting files as you install / remove programs or write / delete data. This process effectively scatters blocks of information across the surface of your hard disc, and eventually the disc becomes "fragmented" to the point where reading data from it becomes noticeably slower. To prevent this being a problem, once every few weeks you need to "defragment" your hard disc. This is effected either by using the System utility provided with your computer, - from "Start" select "Programs" / "Accessories" / "System Tools" / "Disk Defragmenter", or by using a proprietary utility program such as Norton Utilities. |
| 10 |
OPEN YOUR BROWSER AT YOUR FAVOURITE HOME PAGE Most web browsers will open up, by default, at the supplier's Home Page. e.g. Microsoft or Netscape Home Pages. Most people don't use these, but immediately type in the address of the page they WANT to visit. Why not start your browsing session by opening up at the Green Howards Home Page? To do this, visit "Tools" - "Options" - "General" in Microsoft's Internet Explorer and enter the Green Howards web address, or "Edit" - "Preferences" - "Navigator" for Netscape. |
| 11 |
EFFICIENT SEARCHING If you are looking for a web site, one of the acknowledged best search engines is GOOGLE. You can ensure that Google is always available to you by installing the Google Toolbar on Microsoft's Internet Explorer. This takes little time, and is very easy to do. |
For additional hints and tips for using your browser to surf the web safely and effectively, visit "Hints for Happy and Healthy Computing (2)".
This page is provided to try and provide some guidance to ensure that your use of a computer is as trouble-free as possible, and that you will remain a regular visitor to the Green Howards web site. It must be stressed that these are simply hints derived from personal experience, and they are being passed on in the interests of trying to be helpful. The Green Howards can take no responsibility for problems that may result as a consequence of following these hints, and nor can they be expected to provoide further advice. However, if YOU have any hints that you feel could help users, please do feel free to contact us.
