Here is a list of tasks you need to do:

Maintain You System

Proper care of your computer will result in years of trouble-free operation. Remember your computer is a state of the art machine that is powerful enough to do work super computers did just ten years ago!

Here is a list of tasks you need to do:

1. Update your virus software and do a full system at least once a week. If you do not update this, then any of the 200-500 new viruses written EVERY WEEK will be able to compromise your system & DATA. Don’t forget this, if you lost everything on your hard drive, you WILL remember!
2. Run Windows update at least once a month. Important security functions are always added almost weekly & monthly. Windows update will also have driver updates for hardware every few months for users owning Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows XP.
3. Make backups of your critical information once a week. The best way is to burn CDs of your most important documents, emails, address book, & favorites. Blank CDs are less than .20 now, and it is more reliable & faster than backing up to floppies. If you make this a ritual, you will have all your bases covered if your system has a massive failure, & can be up & running in no time at all.
4. Run Scandisk once a week, if many errors are found on a consistent basis, this could be the early warning that your hard drive may fail.
5. Run Disk Defragmenter once a week, this will put all the data back in logical order so that the system starts up faster and most programs will launch faster.
6. Once every three months, open your case. Get a can of compressed air & blow the dust off of your:
A. CPU & CPU fan: If this gets clogged it will cause the CPU to overheat & fail. You may want to do this more if you have pets, or if the computer sits on carpeted flooring.
B. Power Supply: From the rear of the case, but also from the inside of the case.
C. Motherboard: Any dust build up on the surface can cause a short, so stop it before it happens.

7. Never download and open any attachments from people you do not know, and be very careful of the files friends send, because some of those funny pictures can have a Trojan horse virus imbedded in them.