Computer help for the tube generation

[SILVERGUN]

I do some computer repair for my friends and family and work. I have noticed that most people don't really understand thier computer, especially the "older" generation. So, I offer this thread, to try to help some of you guys who are probably too proud to ask for help, as a way to pay you back for all of the work that you've shared here.
These first couple of tips are PROVEN WINNERS, and I guarantee that you don't need to check with your son, daughter, niece, nephew, local computer guy, some dickhead on here who's going to say I'm wrong, or Bill Gates to confirm this.
This first tip is intended to keep your computer secure, no matter what you look at, or who else uses your computer, and it has saved many a computer from being infected with the latest spyware or virus....even though you are running anti spyware, internet security, firewall, virus protection software, none of them are as effective as this one trick:

TIP #1)Create a new user account with only standard user privledges, and use that account as your main internet surfing account
**If you have no idea what that means than you probably want to get someone who does to help you with this.**

Explanation: Most computer mishaps take place because we are always logged on to our computers as administrators
Administrators have total control over EVERY setting, which means that YOU have total freedom to screw up anything that you want...
When you log on to a malicious website or open an email with a virus attached, it can very easily hijack your system by compromising the administrator privledges that you have so graciously granted, unknowingly, just by being logged on as an administrator! (most people disable/ignore the warnings because they don't know what they mean and they can be annoying)

By creating and using a separate standard user account without administrator privledges as your primary account, you will always be asked to provide an administrator password anytime someone or something wants to make a change to your computer settings that requires administrator privledges. That also means that your kids won't be able to screw up your computer without entering that password...SO DON'T GIVE IT TO THEM!

MAKE SURE YOU WRITE DOWN THE PASSWORD FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT BECAUSE YOU WILL NEED IT TO MAKE CHANGES THAT ARE NECESSARY...IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE COMPLICATED, JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER... GET A NEW TATTOO!!!

I won't ramble on here any more, BUT, trust me, if you do this, it WILL give you more control over what is happening to your computer...you'll actually see what sites or email attachments are trying to damage your computer, and have the choice to cancel that action, (or allow it)
It might seem a little annoying at first, to have to enter this password, but nothing is more annoying than a super slow computer that used to be fast,,,,and you have no idea how it got that way.

Good luck
Dave

[SILVERGUN]

Tip #2) If your computer is slow, there is a good chance that you probably dont NEED a new computer, or a faster internet connection

Explanation:
It is very common for me to have my older friends/family just keep using the same computer that they think they should give up on....mainly because they can't afford a new computer
There are a couple steps that you (with a little help from someone with some common pc knowledge) can take to restore your computer to it's original state, and restore the speed that you have lost, while not losing any of your precious data:

***THIS ADVICE IS FOR ANYONE RUNNING WINDOWS XP OR VISTA...ANY EARLIER VERSION OF WINDOWS IS NOT WORTH RESTORING, MAINLY BECAUSE THE COMPUTER THAT IT IS RUNNING ON IS PROBABLY SERIOUSLY OUTDATED, IF YOU HAVE ZERO EXPERIENCE--GET SOME HELP!!, OTHERWISE YOU WILL DEFINITELY TRIP OVER SOME OF THE HURDLES THAT YOU WILL INEVITABLY RUN INTO***PLEASE DON'T HOLD ME RESPONSIBLE IF YOU ATTEMPT THIS YOURSELF AND SCREW IT UP---GET SOME HELP!!***

1) Confirm that you have the Operating System and driver discs that came with your computer and that you have a Windows sticker on your computer with your license # on it....also, make sure you have any program discs that you intend to re-install, because your programs wont run off of your old drive once you are done.
2) Purchase a new hard drive (online $60), and install it in place of your old drive inside the computer
3) Hold onto the old drive because it contains all of your old data (you will install it into an external drive enclosure later so that you will be able to attach it back to your computer via a USB cable, and access all of your old stuff)
4) Hook the cables from your old drive into your new drive
5) Start the computer, and when it asks for a bootable disc, insert the Operating System restore disc that came with your computer......(it wont be able to start, because it doesn't see a copy of Windows on your new blank hard drive)
6) Follow the instructions closely to install Windows onto your new hard drive (allow Windows to format the disc, just choose the fast option)
7) Once Windows is completely re-installed you will need to re-activate it by entering the Microsoft license # that appears on the COA label that should be affixed to your computer (check for this before you start, because without a license # you won't be able to activate your copy of Windows)
8) Activate Windows, and then go to Windows Update and update your OS to get up to the most current version available
9) Re-install any programs that you intend on using (you'll know it if you need it)
10) Go to adobe.com and download and install the latest Acrobat reader, and Flash player
11) Purchase an empty external hard drive enclosure, and install your old drive into it so that you can hook it up and get your old data off of it (if your helper is really good, they can show you how to re-install your old drive back into your computer in an empty slot alongside your new drive and connect it internally instead of using the external enclosure)
12) Copy all of your documents, pictures, music, onto your new drive, because some day your old hard drive WILL fail (they're only designed to last 5 years,,,we are all on borrowed time)
13) Go to START>My Computer>System Properties and look at how much memory you have
If you have less that 1 gig (1000 MB) of RAM (for Windows XP), you should get at least that much (online $15-20), and have it installed
If you are running Vista you should get at least 2 gigs (online $30-40), (up to 4 gigs max)
14) If you screw this up too bad you can always just put your old drive back in there and get back up and running just like you were before you started

I'm sure I may have missed some things that I take for granted (I have done this approx. 10 times), but this is a good outline for you to follow to restore your slow pc to it's original state, without spending too much $$$
Every time I have finished doing this for someone, they can't believe how much better their "old, crappy" computer performs, and they all offer me money.....sometimes I take it

GOOD LUCK,
Dave

[SILVERGUN]

Tip #3) Make sure that you don't have 2 firewalls or 2 spyware/antivirus programs running active protection at the same time

Explanation:
It is very common for me to find that older computer user's are "overprotected"...
It is usually apparent to me immediately when I look at their desktop and see icon's for Norton, Anti-this or that, System Protector 9000, McAffee, or whatever other "security" progam that has scared them into installing it in the hopes that it will protect them from the big, bad, internet monsters that will steal all of your information and go as far as reaching through your computer and stealing your wallet.........so most people will install anything that says that it will protect them from such activity.....this is where the problem happens.

Norton Internet Security slows your computer down by at least 20%--ALL BY ITSELF (made up #, but pretty accurate)
Any other security progams, spyware scanners, spam filters, firewall products that you install will also slow your pc down exponentially...
ESPECIALLY, when it isn't really a security progam that you are installing at all....it is a scam, that makes you think there is something wrong with your computer so you will just give them your credit card number, so that they will "fix" your computer ...it will actually generate a list of files that your computer NEEDS to run, and tell you that they are harmful....


If your computer is super slow, (***DISCLAIMER***GET SOME HELP)
1) Uninstall each security program, one at a time until you see the biggest change in speed.....and then, if that makes you happy----UNINSTALL THEM ALL, and just use the free security that Microsoft provides
2) Confirm that you DO NOT have 2 firewalls running at the same time (it does not double protect you,,,it double slows you down)
3) Use only Windows firewall and just set it so that it doesn't allow any incoming connection exceptions (if something stops working ,that you legitimately NEED to get through your firewall, GET SOME HELP with configuring your firewall properly)...(Most people can get away with eliminating any exceptions, but some may experience issues with their wireless accessories, etc.....get help)
4) Microsoft provides a FREE program called Mic. Security Essentials, which works fine in conjunction with your built in FREE firewall, to protect you....this, in conjunction with Tip#2 will allow you to regain a very fast computer
5) Don't go to websites that have free porn, free music, free anything,,,,,(except amp schematics from sites you can trust, like this one)
6) Don't buy into the idea that more protection is better.....if your just a casual web surfer who doesn't go into dangerous areas, you dont need all of it, and it is seriously slowing you down.

Thanks,
Dave

[John]

5) Don't go to websites that have free porn,

Whoa whoa whoa. Let's not get crazy with it now!! 

[Willabe]

John.....    

Oh, never mind.



                  Brad    

[Ritchie200]

so.....that's.......why........this........thing.......is..........so...........slow..........

......Jim........

[Willabe]

 


                    Brad       

[SILVERGUN]

Thanks for lightening this up a little....I thought I was just a blathering idiot,,,,but I hope that this stuff is useful to someone.

And, OK, you can go to some porn sites, just not the one's that involve animals, midgets, clowns, or third world countries......these do the most damage

On a serious note....NEVER use file sharing sites for freebies, because if you download that peer to peer (p2p) type software, you are opening yourself up to a world of pain and suffering, by unknowingly allowing access to anyone who wants to steal your stuff, or just give you a virus infected file for no good reason....just to be an a-hole

Again, refer back to Tip#1