Computer Maintenance Tips

While browsing the web and downloading websites can be a lot of enjoyment there is also a certain amount of responsibility in maintaining our computer(s). Proper care of our equipment means making the best use of our time when we have the opportunity to surf the web. While TMA family of educators cannot be responsible for every user who desires to properly maintain their computers we hopefully can offer some tips to direct you along the way.

Tips:

Though TMA offers no technical support for your personal computer, nor can they guarantee any software operating properly on your system, there are help forums that may be of assistance to you. One that I have found of personal assistance is PC 911 (http://www.pcqanda.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=1).

Please be sure to follow “all” manufacture guidelines for your specific computer (Dell, HP, etc.) and operating system (i.e. Windows 98, 2000, XP, etc).

Antivirus Protection

If you are going to be on-line—even for a second, you need anti-virus software. No one is immune from a virus or a malicious script file. This is normally worth spending some hard earned cash on.

• AVG: http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php
• Norton: http://www.symantec.com/nav/nav_9xnt/
• NOD32: http://www.esetsoftware.com/home/home.htm

Cookie Eater (Spyware)

Did you know that your every move is being tracked on the Internet? The Lavasoft site states, “Most people are familiar with freeware, shareware, cookies, media players, interactive content, and file sharing. What they may not realize is that some of the aforementioned may contain code or components that allow the developers of these applications and tools to actually collect and disseminate information about those using them.” As a matter a fact a “cookie” can keep a website from downloading! There are two very good FREE programs that should be used in combating this infringement upon your privacy: (please use both if possible)

• Ad-Aware: http://www.lavasoft.de/default.shtml.en
• Spybot Search & Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.htm 

Firewalls

If you do not have a firewall installed you are asking for computer health problems. The new Windows XP-SP2 has a built in firewall, but you need to insure it is properly enabled. Here are some additional firewall programs, some having FREE editions:

• Norton Personal Firewall: http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf
• Outpost Firewall: http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpost/

Java 

To download certain items (pictures, visual effects etc.) on the TMA website and the remainder of the internet it would be helpful to have JAVA loaded. You must enable JAVA after you have installed it. These are FREE downloads. Note some computers do not use JAVA—read your system guidelines. 

• Java Script: http://java.sun.com/
• Microsoft Java Virtual Machine: http://www.hardwaregeeks.com/modules.php?modid=4&action=show&id=5

Reading PDF Files

• Adobe Acrobat Reader: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Web Browsers

Please keep your web browser (and all programs on your computer) up-to-date. Updates are needed to help protect you from viruses, to maintain the integrity of your system, and to assist you in more effective surfing and communication on the web. Not having an updated browser may mean not being able to download certain web sites—including TMA’s. Update pages for the most poplar three browsers may be found below. For all others use your “help menu” of your browser to navigate to the proper web page for updating your particular computer with the most up-to-date browser.

• AOL: http://www.aol.com/?bboptout=0
• Firefox: http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
• Internet Explorer: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx
• Netscape Navigator: http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/download.jsp