How to Avoid Computer Problems

Step1

Keep things simple and uncluttered. Some examples of what not to do include: downloading games and never using them, having both demo and full version applications, downloading every tool bar imaginable on your browser, having four different browsers installed, setting "load on startup" for every program imaginable, etc. In general, things that make no sense that 95% of users fall guilty to at some point in time.

Step2

Have firewall and antivirus software, both of which should be up-to-date. This will help prevent you from getting any pesky viruses from email attachments, website bugs, and other harmful files on the Internet. This is especially important with the majority of people sporting cable modems in which you are online ALL the time.

Step3

Back up your data. This is the piece of advice everyone makes that very few people actually accomplish. Backing up data includes saving your most important files and storing it safe in some physical format: an external hard drive, CD's, and flash drives are good examples. Although you may never need to use your backup, when an emergency arises you can rest assured your passwords, membership information, and other important documents are saved.

Step4

Shut down your computer properly or don't turn it off at all. Either option is better then the latter: shutting down in the middle of a computer process. By shutting down your computer improperly, you cause files not to be placed where they are supposed to, and cause your hard drive to defragment which causes gradual slowdown, and eventually even the possibility of application failures.

Step5

Unnecessary accessory programs such as Internet speed boosters, Yahoo tool bars, and the like should not be downloaded. Not only are most of them a waste of space, but tool bars specifically can conflict with one another if too many are downloaded. This causes slowdown, glitches, and errors to occur. This also is a problem with other programs such as browsers or graphic editing programs such as Photoshop. By having more then one of any kind of premium software, you run the risk of having them conflict with each other. This causes glitches and errors in your system and your applications.