Ok, so I am a computer nerd and I get asked for help with different problems all of the time from everyone. Even random people on the street stop me to ask "Will you fix my computer?". I have learned over the years to completely avoid places like Best Buy or anywhere that computer parts are sold. For some reason, people think that I work there and start to ask me questions and if I have one, the people that work there cannot help me. That is why I shop for parts online.
Anyway, here are some simple facts that people do not seem to understand and that cause a majority of problems on their computer.
- The antivirus software that you got with your computer sucks and is not protecting you.
- The antivirus software that you got with your computer is a demo (usually)
- The antivirus software that you got with your computer will waste your time because it does not work because it is a demo, is expired and will not update because you will not pay the $60 a year to keep it up to date.
- An unprotected computer will become compromised (read that as infected with a virus or Trojan) within 15 minutes of being plugged into a cable modem. (No, you do not have to do anything, just plug it in. Yes I am serious.)
- Using Limewire will likely get you a nice trojan or virus on your computer.
- Getting useful toolbars for internet explorer is NOT a good idea. (maybe just stick with Google's) It will make your computer SLOW.
- Forwarding chain letters is NOT a good thing to do.
- Downloaded little programs (like zwinkie) are NOT just cute little things. They are spying on you.
- If you are on myspace and a "friend" sends you a link, then you find out that you have to log in again DO NOT DO IT. You are no longer on myspace and they are stealing your account. (not as much of a problem anymore. Myspace fixed some things.)
- The updates from Microsoft and Apple FIX PROBLEMS and help to prevent invasions to your computer. UPDATE YOUR COMPUTER regularly. Yes, it takes some time, but not having a computer takes more.
- All you have to do is click a banner and your computer can become infected. I have fixed many computers that have had porn spyware that would just pop up porno ads in the middle of minding your own business. The (not so) funny thing is that one of them was on our church computer that we use every service for playing music and showing the words on a screen. SOMEONE went somewhere they were not supposed to at some time and porn ads started popping up during a service. Some of the ads had SOUND and would play through the church sound system. ("oh baby, click me!") How's that for holy, holy, holy? Now the thing is, that does NOT mean that someone was looking at porn on the church computer. It just means that they probably clicked an infected ad. They may not even look like porn ads.
There are a lot more things that affect your computer, but computers rarely just start being slow, just because. 99% of the time, it is because of a Trojan, spyware or something like that. This is a list of things that you HAVE to do. If you ask me for help and you have not done these things, I will just tell you to do these things and hang up on you. ;) (Probably not, but do them any way to make our lives easier, mmm kay?)
- Be prepared to loose everything! – go get a one or two gig usb drive and keep important files on it. Pretty much any documents that you would need if your computer was stolen. Burn pictures to a CD. Make 2 copies. Keep your CD's in a jewel case or sleeve and put the important ones in a cd box. Now since we rarely have paper pictures, I recommend that everyone have a cd box of just pictures. If you BUY a downloaded a program from the internet, save it to the USB drive. If you BUY music online, record it to a CD. If it is a free download DO NOT save it (it is basically saved on the internet for you and you can get the new version later if you need it). You HAVE to do this because it is a possibility that I will tell you that it would just be easier to start from scratch and reinstall Windows. A 2 gig USB drive can be found on eBay for like $10. That is more than enough for most people. Hey, also, you should know where your windows install CD's are. If you do not have them now, get them. You may have to contact the computer manufacturer to get them since some guys are now not sending CD's and force you to make your own. That is SO ghetto. (Thanks HP, you suck!). they may want to charge you for these. Do not pay more than like $15 or you are getting ripped off. Of course you may have no other choice.
- Go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and get the latest updates for your computer. When it is done, DO IT AGAIN. Then DO IT AGAIN until there are no more updates to get. If you have a Mac, click the apple in the top left of your screen and click "check for updates" then DO IT AGAIN until there are no more to get.
- If you have antivirus software that came with your computer (not something that you bought), uninstall it. Go to "Add or Remove Programs" from the Control Panel and uninstall it from there.
- If you have a PC, go to http://free.avg.com/ww.download?prd=afe and download AVG Free antivirus. This is FREE and works great. Now you do not have to worry about subscription fees and all that junk. Install it and run it. You will probably see a bunch of stuff.
- If you have a PC go to http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2008/3000-8022_4-10045910.html and download Ad Aware. This will find and remove spyware. Install and run this program. The free version will not run automatically, so you will have to remember to run this every month or so. (You will not need it as much after following the next step)
- This is the most important step. I would really recommend that you take a minute and at least try to read this http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm if you just trust me and have no idea what they are talking about, jut get this http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip and install it. It is a zip file, so you will need to copy the files to another place in your computer and then run the mvps.bat file. This ONE THING will help you more than most of the stuff above. What this does is if a website is trying to load ads, or if your computer has a Trojan that is trying to do stuff, it just blocks it. Really it just routs it to a different place, namely your own computer. You may notice that some sites look different after installing this, but you will get over it. All you are missing is the ads. Do This. Of all of the things, do this one. Call me and I will help you do it if you need the help. If you have Vista, please read the main site (the first link in this number) because I do not use Vista (it sucks) and I may not be able to help you. If you ask me about it, I will not be much help and will likely be irritated.
Anyway, I hope that this helps. Next time you call, it will be $70 an hour (and that is a good deal. Geek squad charges $120!). ;)