Google: not just a search engine

Google is not just a search engine anymore

By Arthur Glazer

arthur@glazerthepctech.com

Firefox used to be my browser of choice. I never liked Internet Explorer and have dabbled with both Opera and Safari, but always returned back to Firefox — until recently.

One day I downloaded and installed a Firefox update only to discover my browser crashed like the Dow on Black Monday.

Then Firefox would crash almost every time I used it. I would click on a link or type in an address and boom — gone. But they are so polite at Mozilla, the creators of Firefox. Each time it crashed, I would get a message saying they were sorry and would I like to report the incident? Each report I sent got a bit stronger than the last.

With some research, I discovered the Firefox enhancements — or plug-ins, as they are called — don't work under Windows 7. I was told I should update each of the plug-ins. That wasn't going to happen and I just got rid of them instead.

I soon found it was the new Firefox that didn't play well with the new Windows and since I wasn't about to get rid of Win 7, it was time to retire my browser.

Enter Chrome, from the folks at Google. I like their search engine; I use Gmail, their e-mail client; the highly customizable home page iGoogle they offer is superb, so I thought I'd give Chrome a try.

It was touted as a lean, clean, super-fast browsing machine. They weren't lying. I can't think of a single bad thing to say about Chrome. It is wonderful. It's easy to use, stable and extremely fast.

Other browsers needed outside applications to tweak their settings. Chrome doesn't require any tweaking. This is not Googles's first barbeque. They apparently know what they are doing — and do it well.

Chrome can be downloaded here. It will take less than three minutes to download and install it.

You'll find it is also highly customizable with hundreds of themes to use. They will put pictures at the top of your page, from sunsets to SpongeBob. Their plug-ins are called extensions and there are many to choose from to enhance your browsing experience.

At first glance, you may notice there is only an address bar, no search bar like Firefox has. Well, it is an all-in-one deal. In that one space you can type the URL (address) you want to go to or type in your search query, then just hit Enter.

Not only is it a tabbed browser, but it allows you to arrange the tabs simply by dragging them to wherever you want.

It will save your passwords for you, has malware and phishing protection and will import your settings and favorites from another browser.

You have the option of opening it to a home page of your choice or to a page with large thumbnails of either your most recent pages visited or your most often pages visited.

I have mine set to a custom iGoogle page. Once you have any account with Google, you just sign in and make your page. I use my Gmail account to do that. My iGoogle page has local weather, headlines, an editable to-do list, my recent Gmail inbox (with the ability to compose an e-mail from that page), as well as a calendar and a search box. It has all of that content plus a nice tropical palm tree/ocean motif at the top of the page.

There is a shortcut bar you can toggle on and off by typing Control + B. It will keep your most often used website shortcuts there for you. If you are on gainesvilletimes.com and go there every day, just drag the star before URL to the bar below, and voila: You just created a shortcut. You can delete it by right-clicking on it and choosing delete.

Other shortcuts that will make your browsing easier are Control +Shift + N that opens an incognito window that doesn't save your history or cookies.

Alt + Home opens your home page. Control + J takes you to recent downloads. Control + T opens a new tab, while Control + Shift +T opens the last tab you closed. There are lots more.

I like the fact that it saves downloads to bar beneath the main window. This saves you the trouble of searching the system for the file you just downloaded. From that bar, you also have the option of seeing your entire download folder, should you need to.

Google has proved to be a cutting edge company with lots of products I find useful. Recently, I began using their Google Voice, which transposes my cell phone voicemail to a text message and an e-mail. It also lets me play the message on my computer. Now how cool is that?

Google is not just a search engine anymore.

And Firefox is not my browser.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly. Arthur welcomes your computer questions and ideas for future columns.

Google: not just a search engine

Google is not just a search engine anymore

By Arthur Glazer

arthur@glazerthepctech.com

Firefox used to be my browser of choice. I never liked Internet Explorer and have dabbled with both Opera and Safari, but always returned back to Firefox — until recently.

One day I downloaded and installed a Firefox update only to discover my browser crashed like the Dow on Black Monday.

Then Firefox would crash almost every time I used it. I would click on a link or type in an address and boom — gone. But they are so polite at Mozilla, the creators of Firefox. Each time it crashed, I would get a message saying they were sorry and would I like to report the incident? Each report I sent got a bit stronger than the last.

With some research, I discovered the Firefox enhancements — or plug-ins, as they are called — don't work under Windows 7. I was told I should update each of the plug-ins. That wasn't going to happen and I just got rid of them instead.

I soon found it was the new Firefox that didn't play well with the new Windows and since I wasn't about to get rid of Win 7, it was time to retire my browser.

Enter Chrome, from the folks at Google. I like their search engine; I use Gmail, their e-mail client; the highly customizable home page iGoogle they offer is superb, so I thought I'd give Chrome a try.

It was touted as a lean, clean, super-fast browsing machine. They weren't lying. I can't think of a single bad thing to say about Chrome. It is wonderful. It's easy to use, stable and extremely fast.

Other browsers needed outside applications to tweak their settings. Chrome doesn't require any tweaking. This is not Googles's first barbeque. They apparently know what they are doing — and do it well.

Chrome can be downloaded here. It will take less than three minutes to download and install it.

You'll find it is also highly customizable with hundreds of themes to use. They will put pictures at the top of your page, from sunsets to SpongeBob. Their plug-ins are called extensions and there are many to choose from to enhance your browsing experience.

At first glance, you may notice there is only an address bar, no search bar like Firefox has. Well, it is an all-in-one deal. In that one space you can type the URL (address) you want to go to or type in your search query, then just hit Enter.

Not only is it a tabbed browser, but it allows you to arrange the tabs simply by dragging them to wherever you want.

It will save your passwords for you, has malware and phishing protection and will import your settings and favorites from another browser.

You have the option of opening it to a home page of your choice or to a page with large thumbnails of either your most recent pages visited or your most often pages visited.

I have mine set to a custom iGoogle page. Once you have any account with Google, you just sign in and make your page. I use my Gmail account to do that. My iGoogle page has local weather, headlines, an editable to-do list, my recent Gmail inbox (with the ability to compose an e-mail from that page), as well as a calendar and a search box. It has all of that content plus a nice tropical palm tree/ocean motif at the top of the page.

There is a shortcut bar you can toggle on and off by typing Control + B. It will keep your most often used website shortcuts there for you. If you are on gainesvilletimes.com and go there every day, just drag the star before URL to the bar below, and voila: You just created a shortcut. You can delete it by right-clicking on it and choosing delete.

Other shortcuts that will make your browsing easier are Control +Shift + N that opens an incognito window that doesn't save your history or cookies.

Alt + Home opens your home page. Control + J takes you to recent downloads. Control + T opens a new tab, while Control + Shift +T opens the last tab you closed. There are lots more.

I like the fact that it saves downloads to bar beneath the main window. This saves you the trouble of searching the system for the file you just downloaded. From that bar, you also have the option of seeing your entire download folder, should you need to.

Google has proved to be a cutting edge company with lots of products I find useful. Recently, I began using their Google Voice, which transposes my cell phone voicemail to a text message and an e-mail. It also lets me play the message on my computer. Now how cool is that?

Google is not just a search engine anymore.

And Firefox is not my browser.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly. Arthur welcomes your computer questions and ideas for future columns.

Wireless Home Networking

Computer Care: Tweaking your wireless network

	By Arthur Glazerarthur@glazerthepctech.com

Is your laptop across the house from your router or on a different floor? Do you get the same poor reception on your wireless network that you get on your cell phone?

I can't get a decent cell signal inside my house without standing in front of a window. Sometimes I place the phone on the windowsill and use my Bluetooth headset.

But on your wireless network, there is no reason you shouldn't have a good signal. Here are some tips to help you improve reception. Most are easy fixes and many are either free or inexpensive.

First try rearranging your modem and router. If it is one device, move it across the desk; if two devices, put some space between them. Keep them away from cordless telephones that use the 2.4 GHz frequency (the 900 MHz and 5 GHz models are OK).

Try to place them centrally in the house, not in an end room or by a window. Don't put them on the floor, near other electronics or by metal filing cabinets. A DSL modem can connect to any phone jack in the house and a cable modem can connect to any coaxial outlet. You can get splitters for both to accommodate your Internet while maintaining your phone and TV connections.

The signal is line-of-sight, so if it has to travel through block walls, walls with aluminum studs and microwave ovens, the signal will be affected. Higher is better; thus, the placement of cell towers on hills (for all the good it does in my house).

If your router has antennas, try adjusting them to a lower angle. I got good results with this reaching down stairs in my house.

If you want to cut the (Ethernet) cord on your desktop, you can purchase a PCI wireless card for less than $50. Open the case, push in the card on an empty PCI slot, screw on the antenna, load the driver and you're set.

Alternatively and easier to install is a USB wireless adapter for about the same price.

While any wireless adapter will connect to any router, sometimes you get more speed staying with the same manufacturer. If you have a Linksys adapter, try to get a Linksys router.

The standard for wireless is 802.11 and has types g, b or n, each being progressively faster than its predecessor. All will work and are backward compatible.

Another thing to try is updating your router's firmware. Make sure you download the correct version. See the label under the device to be certain. Also update the driver for the wireless adapter in your computer.

To extend the wireless range in your house, you may consider getting a repeater or a wireless access point. Again, stick to the same brand with these.

These won't make the signal stronger, but will stretch the distance it travels. Less expensive than buying a wireless access point, is buying a second wireless router, as the former can be pricey. For instructions on using a router as an access point, go to http://ezlan.net/router_AP.html.

For a You Tube video on repeaters, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft0ji8-y4w0. While there, look in the right margin for other tutorials that may be of assistance.

You could also swap out antennas on either or both the router and your wireless adapter. Depending on placement of the router, get either unidirectional or omnidirectional antenna replacements. These don't cost much and often yield great improvement.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, watch this short video tutorial at http://www.crunchgear.com/2007/11/20/how-to-extend-your-wireless-range-for-5-cents/. It's a good, cheap antenna fix.

Another option for getting better reception is to try changing channels in your router setup. Although many channels are listed, I suggest you stick with 1, 6 or 11.

To access router's setup, you need to type its IP address in your browser's address bar. Linksys for example, uses 192.168.1.1 for the (private) IP address. D-Link uses 192.168.0.1 for theirs. The User and Password for Linksys is "Admin," while for D-Link it is "Admin" for the user and the password is left blank.

If you want to determine your public or outside IP address, the easiest way is to go to whatismyip.com.

With wireless networks, be sure the information is encrypted. Setup usually does this for you. WEP encryption is good; WPA is better. If it is not encrypted, not only will your neighbors (or passers-by) be able to see your network, they will be able to log on to it.

You will then be sharing your bandwidth with them, experiencing a slower connection. If they can access your network, they can access your computer and your files. So yes, encryption is important.

I can't elaborate here. Like I've said before, that's another column.

So if your wireless network's reception is as bad as my cellular reception, try some of the changes I've suggested. I can check my e-mail all over the house. You should be able to as well.

Can you hear me now?

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly. Arthur welcomes your computer questions and ideas for future columns.

Updates vs Upgrades

Computer Care: Updates vs. upgrades: Know the difference

By Arthur Glazer
arthur@glazerthepctech.com

UPDATED July 9, 2010 9:50 p.m.

Every program on our computers needs updating every now and then as does the operating system itself. But wait; is it an update or an upgrade?

Let’s see, if I upgrade to a newer version, it will be current, but is it free? Hmm, I’m not going to pay every time I get a new version of a program. Or will I?

You upgrade an operating system, but update an application. No, you can upgrade them both, but you can also update them both.

Well, who’s on first?

OK, now that I have thoroughly confused some of you, this is the way it works. There are both updates and upgrades for programs, utilities, games and even operating systems, Windows included. The difference being that usually updates are free while upgrades are not.

For example, if you have the free edition of Advanced System Care, version 3.60 and it advised you of an update, it will be free. You then go to the website and download version 3.61.

But they also want you to upgrade to their Pro version. It has more bells and whistles, perhaps a scheduler and is an all-around better program. That one will cost you.

Some companies charge when the update is to the next full integer, like from version 3.9 to 4.0.

If you paid for an application like your anti-virus program, then you will get free updates for that year, as they are on an annual basis. Those you should set to update automatically.

In most programs, you’ll have the option to set it to update automatically. To upgrade though, you’ll need to click on a link or a button.

Keep in mind, whenever you initiate a system restore with Windows, you will lose your updates previously installed and will need to redo them. Some installations in Windows Update are permanent. Be sure you need these as there is no going back.

Driver updates are always free from the device manufacturer and a good thing to look for occasionally.

The big one in question is Windows Update. There are many options when it comes to updating. Upgrading would be from XP to Vista or Vista to 7, and we all know that is not free.

If you click on the update link in Windows, whatever version you have, you will be given choices. You can set it to Automatic and let it download and install whatever and whenever it sees fit. It is in control.

There is also an option to only download the important updates, but they decide what is important. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like decisions being made for me.

You can also choose to have it download the updates, but not install them; that would be on you.

Alternatively, you can turn it off and look for the updates manually from their website. They will let you know when the updates are available. This way, you are in control. You get to look over the menu and order only what you want. You choose what to download and when to install it. This is the way I like to do it.

You can also turn off the update option completely, should you want to.

In XP, you can right-click on My Computer, choose Properties and then click on the Updates tab. All of your options will be there.
In Vista, click on the Start button and then go to Control Panel. Click on the Security heading and you can get your updates there. Look in the left panel to change your update settings.

In Windows 7, you click the start button and then go to the Control Panel, then to Windows Updates. Look in the left column to change the settings.

There are other ways to get there in all versions. That’s one of the nice things about Windows. There is always more than one way to get somewhere.

So more about updates; I used to let the system call the shots. I set it on automatic and soon discovered I was downloading and installing fonts I’d never use (Korean and Russian), security patches for Internet Explorer (I use Firefox and Chrome) and add-ons for the scientific calculator (I’m a wordsmith, not a mathematician). So now I avoid the ones I know I won’t need or use.

Plus the fact, I hate when I get a pop-up telling me Windows is installing something and then wants to reboot the computer. I feel like I’ve lost control of my system. Hey, I’m writing a column here. Hold off on the reboot, will you guys!

It’s like the User Access Control in Windows 7 and Vista where you are constantly being asked for permission to open a folder on your computer. I thought I was in charge; obviously not. You can turn that off too, by the way. But that’s another column.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly. Arthur welcomes your computer questions and ideas for future columns.

Technology Break

A break from technology is good for the soul

By Arthur Glazer
arthur@glazerthepctech.com

POSTED June 25, 2010 11:32 p.m.

This column is usually written from home on my laptop. Most times there’s a TV on somewhere in the house; my cell phone is nearby and there is the ever-ringing land line. All of these potential distractions could keep me from writing.

This column’s first draft comes to you in longhand, written on a pad in front of a campfire from the woods north of Blood Mountain. I am here, camping with my daughter for a few days.

You surely realize that I enjoy technology as much as, if not more than, most everyone else. But on this occasion, I left my laptop at home, my phone in the car and have used electricity only to blow up my air mattress.

I’ve traded in my cell phone and computer for s’mores and a sleeping bag.

Why give up a perfectly good bed and all the conveniences of home, you ask? I believe that leaving technology behind every once in a while is healthy. As much as I like my computer and the Internet, a break is good and actually writing with a pen won’t kill me.

There are no emails, calls or text messages to reply to. There is no television or radio and the only sounds I hear are the wind in trees and the crackle of the fire. The only thing I have to connect with is nature, and it is a nice change. It’s like fasting; it’s good for your soul to give up what you like, at least temporarily. You may appreciate it that much more when you get back to it; at least I do.

Nothing is worse while in the woods when you are forced to endure the electronic noise of a fellow camper. I choose not have a TV, yet may still hear one from two sites down. Some folks just don’t understand camping etiquette.

I can’t understand why someone would go to the woods in a camper with a satellite dish strapped to a tree and a microwave bolted to the counter. Part of my enjoyment out there is being away from those devices. I especially enjoy making a fire and cooking with it and sitting by it.

iPods are great, but there are so many other things to listen to in the woods. You can always hear the Top Ten later. Give nature a chance for a change. Watching a stream or a waterfall and not hearing it is like walking through a flower bed without being able to smell it.

I used to know when the sun set, what phase the moon was in and the names and places of various constellations. I think technology helped to take that away from me.

Instead of trying to find Cassiopeia or Orion’s belt in the night sky while pondering The Big Bang Theory, I now tend to answer emails and send text messages while watching CBS’s Big Bang Theory on TV instead.

I used to listen to the wind and the birds, now all I hear is voice mail and my hard drive rebooting.

Sure, technology is great. Don’t get me wrong. I make a living using technology. I often stay up late researching various aspects of computing with my laptop. There is always a late night movie on TV, classic rock on the radio, catching up on Facebook and more that I couldn’t do without my techno-toys.

All I’m trying to say is taking a break is healthy. Your toys will be there after the break, for however long it may be.

Taking a vacation doesn’t have to be a trip to the Bahamas. Often all it takes is a change of your daily routine for a short while. That includes giving up your electronic devices. Like the old jingle went: “No phones, no lights, no motor cars; not a single luxury. Like Robinson Crusoe, it’s primitive as can be.”

Do it in the woods, the beach or in your own back yard. Just try it without TV, email or texting. You will find other, more basic things to do.

Primitive can be fun. Go for a walk; gather firewood or your thoughts; take a swim or take a nap. There is so much you could do.

Live dangerously: take off your watch, turn off the phone, ditch the to-do lists, the schedules and write a letter to a friend – a real letter. Surely you’ve got a pen and paper somewhere underneath all those CDs and cables.

There will be plenty of time when you get back for catching up on voice and e-mail, responding to texts and for reformatting your hard drive.

Email your friends when you get back and tell them how nice it was being incommunicado – what a nice change it was. Or wait and see how they respond to your letter that the mailman delivered to them.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly.

Computer Care: Work to make your digital photos look even better

By Arthur Glazer
arthur@glazerthepctech.com

POSTED June 11, 2010 11:32 p.m.

If you’ve ever posted photos on the Internet, whether on Facebook, eBay or attached one in an e-mail, then here are some ways to make the next ones better.

Even the simplest camera can yield good results. The trick to quality pictures is with the photographer, not the camera.

Those little cameras don’t have great optics, but you can still get a good image from them, especially if you’re only viewing it online.

When printing, you need more pixels — a better resolution. You want at least a couple of megabytes. For online viewing though, an image as small as 100kb is sufficient.

Also, you want to avoid making those who view your photos online having to endure a long download or having to scroll and scroll because you made it too large.

Whether you’re shooting a person or an object, consider the light.

Generally, you want the light source over your shoulder when taking photos. If it is behind the subject, your subject will be in the dark.

Don’t be afraid to use a flash outside during the day. You can easily override the camera’s automatic setting. Keep in mind that a flash will become ineffective after about 8 to 10 feet. Too close though, and you’ll wash out the subject and get hot spots.

When shooting at or through glass, remember what we learned in school.

The angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. Stand at about a 45-degree angle to the subject to reduce glare.

If you shoot straight at it, the flash will bounce right back into the lens, ruining the picture.

Before you press the shutter release, scrutinize the picture you are about to take.

If it is a person, is there a tree or telephone pole coming out of their head? Either change your angle or move the person if there is.

Is it in focus? I’ve seen more good pictures that were blurry.

With most of today’s cameras, if you press the shutter release button halfway down while on the subject, it will focus it for you.

You should also get as close as possible to your subject. Sure, you can always crop it later, but still get close. Their faces will have a better exposure if you do.

Take more than one shot; lots more. It’s not like it costs anything. Try different angles; try it with and without a flash. It’s good practice to take lots more than you need.

This way you’re guaranteed at least one good one. Exposures might be off or eyes may be shut. There are also funny faces or out of focus shots to consider.

If you are shooting something small and your camera lacks a macro mode, try shooting through a magnifying glass.

This could come in handy if for example you’re putting a ring for sale on eBay or Craig’s List. Just beware of the glare on both the object and the glass itself. Auctions are always better with a few pictures.

If possible, use a tripod. Alternatively, put the camera on a table, rock, tree stump or whatever. Even digging your elbows into your ribcage will help steady the shot somewhat.

After the picture-taking process is finished and you’re back at your computer, use your software to do some real editing.

Whether with Photoshop or the free application that came with the camera, you can tweak the image to make it better.

Don’t just crop it — and most images do require cropping. Consider adjusting the brightness, contrast or gamma settings.

Many photo apps will have an “instant fix” button to click on. This way you don’t have to mess with all the tools manually.

Get rid of red-eye while you’re at it. Some cameras have a dedicated flash setting for it. By eliminating red-eye, it is one less thing to worry about in the editing phase.

Now’s the time to reduce the photo’s size, unless you plan to print it.

You can add finishing touches like a box or a frame around your image. Give it a 3-D effect by placing a shadow behind it.

Remember – and this is a big one — never make changes to the original photo.

Use the “Save as ...” option and create a secondary image. This way if you mess up a photo while experimenting, you can always start all over again from the original.

If after all is said and done, and you’re not happy with the final results, don’t settle for garbage.

Take another series of shots. It’s not like you have to pay to get them processed.

Take the time to compose and set up quality shots. Spend a little more time in your “darkroom” tweaking the photos.

It’s a creation of yours; take pride in it, whether your camera is a high-end digital SLR or just your cell phone.

You’ll feel good when that online item sells because of the photos you included or your friends leave you positive comments on the Facebook album that you posted.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly.

Rid Your System of Malware

Computer Care: Keep an eye out for malware, spyware

By Arthur Glazer
arthur@glazerthepctech.com

UPDATED May 28, 2010 11:29 p.m.

Have you ever tried to check your e-mail and found you couldn’t connect? Or maybe you clicked on an icon and nothing happened?

Perhaps your browser’s home page suddenly changed. Ever had your e-mail recipients tell you they got 20 of the same e-mail you sent once?

It’s malware. I have taken out more forms of malware infections from clients’ computers lately than viruses. The problem is, most computer users either ignore the warning signs or don’t know what they are.

Just like with a car, a PC requires regular maintenance, and checking for malware is part of it. There are free programs that will eradicate it; some suites incorporate a malware remover or you can buy dedicated utilities that will do the job.

As I’ve previously mentioned, I’m an advocate of download.com. It’s a good place to start when looking for a program, free or otherwise. All the programs I mention here are available there for download.

Some of the anti-virus suites on the market now that also have malware tools are AVG, Avira, Avast and Kaspersky. All of these have trail versions so you can test-drive them.

Some good free tools to have on your system are Super AntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, AdAware and Spybot. Keep in mind that many of the companies that sell utilities also have free versions of their product. The biggest difference is they lack any live support. They may also lack some bells and whistles the paid versions have. But they are better than not having anything installed.

The biggest mistake I see people do on their computers is to click on a button or link that suddenly appears out of nowhere. When you get an e-mail from someone you don’t know and it has a link, leave it alone. Just because it may say, “About the money I owe you,” in the subject line doesn’t mean you should click on it. It’s a scam. Delete that message.

Likewise, if you get a pop-up saying your system has 682 registry errors and you don’t have a registry utility installed, do not click on it. Windows will never advise you about these errors. Often, once you get those pop-ups, it’s too late. You are already infected.

If no matter what you click on, you get more pop-ups, then it’s time to buy a “real” program or call a technician to fix it.

In itself, having a lot of pop-ups is a way of knowing you have malware in the form of spy- or adware on your system.

One reason I like Firefox over Internet Explorer, is because it blocks pop-ups.

Aside from malware, what I call POJ can clog your system. That Plain Old Junk is the garbage files in your Recycle Bin, the temp files created by Windows, the history cache left by your browsers, the installers you once downloaded and more. If you get enough of these junk files, it will bring your system to its knees, causing it to slow down.

A good free utility to assist with that task is Advanced System Care. It will keep your registry tidy, optimizing your settings while keeping your system junk-free.

Another good source for free programs and utilities is giveawayoftheday.com. Sign up for their e-mails and wait for something that you can use. You have 24 hours to download and install each program. It will automatically be activated if you install it on time.

About programs like anti-virus and — malware: go to the scheduler and the update parts of the programs to make sure they are set properly. Set the update to automatic and schedule scans at a time when the computer is on, but not being used. Like with defrag, it is hard to use your computer when a scan is running.

Let your programs update as often as they want to and run scans on a regular basis. Check for viruses at least three times a week; the same for malware. Run a program like AVS weekly and defrag your hard drive once a month. Set up your system to put itself to sleep after a certain period of inactivity. Your hard drive will last longer if it’s not on 24/7 needlessly.

Use System Restore to create restore points that you could revert to, should something go wrong.

If you get an error message, especially on a blue screen (BSOD, the “Blue Screen of Death”), Google the exact message to find out what the problem is and take it from there. Use your computer to fix your computer. It’s a wonderful tool.

When you download programs, stay away from version 1.0 or 1.03. Let them work out the kinks and wait for at least Version 2.0.

Whatever you do, don’t ignore the problems. They will not go away. They will not fix themselves. They may go dormant for a while, but they’ll be back.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly. Arthur welcomes your computer questions and ideas for future columns.