Computer Tips -- FlexITechs

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Tips and Advice
for Your Computer

"My computer has a mind of its own!" How many times have you heard someone say that, or declare it yourself? The following tips will help you avoid or solve some of the common, confounding problems that crop up from time to time on your computer systems.

Buying a Computer -- Some tips to help you buy the right computer for your situation, and not just a cheapo $300 PC because of the price.
Backups -- You should perform regular backups of your data files. Depending on the volume of data files in your computer, you can either back those files up to a CD if you have a CD-RW, a USB flash drive, or a tape backup. Be sure to put your operating system recovery CD and your operating system's Product Key in a safe place.
Lightning Protection -- There are numerous products that provide protection from lightning strikes and data loss, from surge protectors to Uninterruptible Power Supplies. Good surge protectors shut off any power surges to your computer, while a UPS allows your PC to continue operating long enough for you to shut down properly and avoid loss of data, or performs the shutdown itself by saving and closing open files and programs and then shutting the system down. Look for a device that provides a guarantee against damage from lightning or power surges. The only full-proof method for protecting your system during thunderstorms is to completely unplug your computer and all of its peripherals, including the phone line for your modem if you still use dialup Internet access.
Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter -- Running these two Windows applications will help keep your hard drive running smoothly. You should perform Disk Cleanup once a week and check Disk Defragmenter's Analyzer (in Windows XP) once a month.
Spyware -- Spyware, or Adware, is a program installed on your computer without your permission that not only tracks your movements on the Internet, but also runs in the background, thus using up your system's resources. These programs are most likely to result from free services such as online games, gambling, file sharing or pornographic web sites.