Welcome to the first of my ‘Tech Tips’ posts, the main reason for these are so I have a repository of articles I can refer people to rather than giving the exact same advice over and over. If you find this article is out of date feel free to contact me. My articles are mainly aimed at Windows users for 2 reasons: first, they are the most used platform and second, they are the most likely to get problems. Now, I use Windows, I like Windows I’d recommend a Windows PC for many people and, if used properly, it’s a very stable platform. Mac and Linux users, you’re probably a bit more tech savvy anyway, but some of my advice might help you out too.

For my first article I want to go over the basics, by that I mean the basics of keeping your computer in good shape. Many people find that over time their computers get slower, errors pop up at the start and the internet gets slower. Computers are like cars, you can drive and drive your car, just needing to fill it up every now and then. But after a while you’d need to put in some water, change the oil, get new tyres. The same is true of a computer, at first with a few basic programs installed it’ll run fast, as you fill up the hard drive and install new programs things slow down. In this article I’m going tell you how to do that maintenance. It’s really simple once you know how, the first time it may take a while. But once done keeping in shape takes seconds.

Job 1 – Un-install all the Rubbish

Got anti-virus? That’s the first thing you should un-install. Yeah, it’s shocking to hear but the chances are it’s doing way more damage than good. It’ll be hogging your PC’s power, probably be no use in stopping a virus and going to make getting your PC into shape even harder. If you spent £50+ on it, I’m sorry you’ve wasted your money, cut your losses now and get rid of it. It can be quite hard to remove virus protection, so if it isn’t obvious Google the name of your anti-virus with the word un-install. I haven’t got enough time to give you instruction on how to remove all the various different types, sorry.

Also on the un-install list: games you don’t play anymore, demo’s of programs you don’t use and anything that came on a cover disc. If you go to Start -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs (Programs and features in Vista) you should have a list. If you right click on the column headings and select ‘more…’ you can add a column that tell you the last date you used that program. If it’s been more than a year you probably don’t need it.

Job 2 – Clear your start-up list

When Windows starts, there a list of programs it starts as soon as the computer is ready. This is what causes the slowness at the very start, you just want to get on with what you want to do but the computer is still “thinking” about getting started. The problem is some programs think they are so important and vital that they want to be ready and running just in case you want to use them but the chances are you aren’t going to use them, so they are just taking up time and power from your PC. To use the car analogy again, it’s like towing a trailer everywhere with 4 spare wheels, an spare engine, windscreen and gearbox, just in case you need to change them. The chances are you won’t but you do keep a spare in the boot as that’s reasonable. To check out if you’ve got a problem with this look down to the right, by your clock, if there’s an arrow click it. You should see some small icons, these are all programs who’ve got running. Some are needed, they are your spare tires. But if you have more than 5, you probably have too many.

Getting rid of them is easy, and don’t worry if they are things you use, they’ll still work fine when you start them from the start menu. You’re just stopping them from starting themselves without you saying so. So to get rid of them simply go Start -> Run (or just use the ‘Start Search’ box in Vista) and type “msconfig” (without the speech marks). Now your into the tool to turn them off. Go to the “Startup” tab. Now just go down the list un-ticking everything you don’t want to start. If your not sure a good rule of thumb is to un-tick everything unless the Manufacturer column reads Microsoft, Apple or Google. Click “OK” once your done and restart your PC. You should notice it’s quick already, the slower your machine has become the bigger change you’ll see.

Job 3 – Update, Update, Update

Lots of computers I end up “Sorting out” for people have a message pop-up near the clock saying “Updates Available”, lots of people don’t do them, for some reason they seem to think updating is a bad thing. But just think about it, why would Microsoft send you an update to make your computer worse? No. Updates are sent out to close security holes that virus’ and malware uses and to improve performance and functionality. Now if you’ve had that update reminder for a while then I’m afraid you have a long task on your hands, it serves you right really. But once your are up-to-date updates are quick and easily to install. If you turn your PC on in the morning and you see an update message just get it done.

If things do go wrong during an update (they rarely do) you’ve always got System restore (Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore).

Updates are available for other programs you have installed, most can self check or have an option in their help menus, again program writers aren’t going to send out updates to make their programs worse so every now and then just check you are up-to-date.

Earlier I told you to un-install your anti-virus, if you keep up-to-date virus’ won’t be a problem, combined with the common-sense section below you’ll never get a virus.

Job 4 – Browsers

Many people don’t quite know what their browser is, luckily Google made this nice video to explain:

As the video said, the browser is the most important program on your computer. By default you probably have Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (and hopefully after the last job the latest version), but as much as I like Microsoft and their products, Internet Explorer is truly terrible. Other browsers are vastly superior. The ‘Others’ are: Firefox (the main competitor and a big geek favourite), Google Chrome (A relatively new browser but very powerful gaining ground fast), Safari (Apple’s browser, underneath is pretty much identical to Google Chrome) and Opera (Good browser but not widely used). I’d urge you with all my life to use Google Chrome, it’s what I use and I use all the main browsers in my job as a Web Programmer. In my view it’s hands down the best browser.

So in summary of the browsers, stop using Internet Explorer (IE) and use Google Chrome. Your computer will love you for it.

Job 5 – Common-sense

To end this inaugural ‘Tech Tips’ my last tip is common-sense. Sticking to some basic rules will, to use the analogy again, make you a better driver and get better mileage.

You’ve heard this before. Don’t open attachments to emails you’re not expecting. If you’ve got a friend who sends you lots of “funny” emails, it time to tell them a) it’s not 1995 anymore and b) they are giving out your and their email address to people you should be.

Don’t use pirated software, not only will they be packed with nasty stuff, you’re stealing from people. Also the chances are there’s an “open source” program out there for free that does the same job, I’ll go into some of the best free software in the future but in the meantime check out http://www.openoffice.org it’s a full office program like Microsoft Office, but it’s totally free! Awesome!

Don’t pirate music, films or TV, again it’s packed with nasty things and you’re stealing from people. There are ways to do it safely but I’m not going to tell you, there are also easy free alternative like iPlayer. Youtube has most songs with music video’s anyway and you might want to check out spotify.com it has a free music service.

Don’t put any disc that comes free on a newspaper or magazine in your PC. Just because it’s free doesn’t mean it’s good.

Don’t click on ads on the internet that proclaim to speed up your PC/Internet.

Pay attention when installing new software, it’s easy to just go next, next, next… but sometimes you’ll miss a tick box that means you get more installed than you thought you were installing.

Job Done?

Well it’s a damn good start. Keep checking back for more advice, because there’s lots more to cover from networking to mobiles, from browser extensions to open source software. But using the above advice to keep your PC in shape is a great first step. I hope it helps.

Ashley.