PC101-Personal Computer 101

What are the basic steps to setup a computer and keep it running?

Note: This page is under construction

Probably the most important thing you can do when first settings-up a computer is start a binder on that computer.   I highly recommend keeping basic information on your HW and SW and overall system status and changes in text files on your system, and printouts in the binder about your computer.  I cannot stress too strongly how this will be a blessing when serious problems arise,  or if you just get stuck doing something and need information about your system and what changes you have made to it, to move on.  To get more information on how to do this, click here.

A list of things you can do to keep your computer happy and running smoothly and efficiently:

1. Keep your OS, applications and HW devices up-to-date with new versions.
2. Houseclean your disk: remove old programs and HW devices, uninstall what you do not use, delete install files after installation, run the Disk Cleanup program if your OS has it, delete files in the TEMP directory every so often and remember files are not actually removed until you Empty the Recycle Bin.
3. Either Defrag your disk manually every so often (see the question on that) or set it up to run automatically which is much better (see the question on that).   A disk that has over 3% fragmentation will slow down your overall system response.
4. Don't let your hard disk fill up to where you have little free disk space.  Any disk over that is used over 70% will affect response time for disk access.   If you have housecleaned and need what you have, and don't want to get a bigger disk or a secondary one to compliment the primary, then see the question on how to reduce your current disk space.
5. Bad Sectors and misc. disk problems will slow-down your response time and maybe shorten your hard disk life.   You need to either run the Disk Check program manually, or much better automate it.   In XP there is a simple way to move the Disk Check program to run at startup which is the most effective mode.   See the question on that for further help.
6. Remove applications and devices not used, and before you install their replacements, if any.
7. Have a good AntiVirus program, FireWall (at least the XP one) and anti-spyware programs continuously running on your system
8. Never just power-off your computer!   Always try to find an alternative first.  Much is done on the shutdown of your system as the startup, so try to cause as close as possible to a normal shutdown when problem arise.  Try the Esc key; try holding down the Ctrl and Alt keys and pushing Delete once.  If the hang is due to a CD/DVD, then try to eject the media; try waiting longer; make sure a cable has not come loose; see if the system is waiting via a window behind a window (use the hold Alt and hit Tab keys to cycle thru programs).
9. Never consider a problem to exist until it happens the third time.   Computers are not logical, and can, if they so desire, do the impossible at will.
10. Use your browser to Bookmark Support pages for both HW and SW.  Also sites, like this one, that offer tips, help, diagnostics, reviews and troubleshooting steps.
11. If in doubt, reboot.
    
12. Never say never when it comes to computers (yes, I know I do).
    

Got questions you would like answered?  Yes

keoni@isp.com