Tech-bite

Think about it; you're in the final stages of writing what you're certain is the best novel since Ernest Hemingway took a crack at it. You can already smell your fortune and taste the Pulitzer. But before you can hit save , disaster strikes. The computer freezes, you lose all your data. Your dream is over.

In 1990, only 15% of American households had personal computers. In 2000, that number had increased to over 50%; there are more than 60 million households equipped with PCs in the U.S.

As practical as they may be, computers require major upkeep. Find out what you can do to prevent a life-numbing crisis with the following tips. But before you continue, keep in mind that the following tips are for novices, and not the computer masterminds out there.
Virus
Computer viruses take many forms. Sometimes they are created by criminal masterminds, other times teenage pranksters just want to impress their friends. But the results are incredibly damaging. On average, it will take $10,000 US and 50 hours for a company to recover from a viral infection. The Love Bug alone had a worldwide economic impact of $8.7 billion.

Prevention
Bypass attachments
Most viruses are delivered through e-mail so it's important that you delete any e-mail that has an attachment you're not expecting. Viruses can often be disguised as other types of files such as pictures or screensavers, and they can even be sent from a friend's e-mail address without their knowledge.

Install antivirus software
Good software, like McAfee or Norton, will allow you to scan your computer for viruses, repair infected files, and catch viruses before they can be installed on your PC. Subscribe to the "update" feature and your antivirus software will automatically download the latest virus updates onto your computer. Since it is automatic, you will always have the most up-to-date virus scanning software, though you have to pay a fee for it.

Kill your connection
If you have access to broadband Internet, sever the link whenever you're not using it. You certainly don't want to make it easy for hackers to crawl into your system and leave booby-traps. Many ISPs give customers static IP addresses. An experienced hacker can trace the IP address to a specific address and use your computer as a springboard to break into other computers.

Password-protect your network
If you are working on a network, shield your station with passwords so that someone on another terminal cannot do whatever pleases them on your machine. It may also keep a virus from spreading like wildfire across a network.

Avoid file sharing
Although a dip in MP3 swapping is occurring with the recent music industry crackdown, it's important that you stay away from these sharing programs. Not only can you inadvertently download a virus, but you make your computer vulnerable to anyone who may want to infect you with one. Many downloads now come disguised as legitimate files when in fact they contain viruses.

Don't share floppies
Disks that have been in other computers may have been infected with a virus. To avoid transmitting the virtual disease on your system, steer clear of other people's floppies.
Dealing with it
Stay calm
If you think a virus has infected your PC, remain cool. Many viruses are actually inoffensive, kind of like worms that have for sole objective to e-mail themselves to other users. They can also be hoaxes designed to make you panic when they are, in fact, harmless. The first step is to come up with a plan.

Don't turn off your PC
Since a lot of viruses can only become active after you reboot, you are advised to let your computer run until you know enough about the infection. Many viruses need a reboot to engrain themselves into your computer's registry. Fire off your antivirus software immediately or visit an online scanner. Call your antivirus software company if you have any doubts as to how to proceed or go online (if possible through another computer) to read up as much as you can on the steps to take to eliminate the virus.

Avoid sending e-mail
Until the virus has been completely eradicated, don't e-mail anyone. The last thing you want to do is pass on the virus on to your friends and colleagues.
Pop-ups
If pop-ups weren't an amazingly convenient way to advertise inexpensively, marketers would have stopped using them a long time ago. Things being as they are, an abundance of pop-ups may overload your system and make it crash unintentionally.

Prevention
Close the windows
The easiest solution is to shut the windows as they appear. If you can't click the "X" in the right-hand corner of the pop-up page because it's outside of your screen, simultaneously hit the "Alt" and "F4" keys on your keyboard.

Adjust your browser
A more drastic measure is to fiddle with the preferences in your browser (Tools/Internet Options for Internet Explorer; Edit/Preferences for Netscape). Disable cookies and JavaScript and this might eliminate some pop-ups.

Dealing with it
Use blocking software
If you can't live any longer in the world of pop-ups, consider installing a program that eliminates pop-ups before they appear. For example, Google.com offers the "Pop-up Blocker" with their toolbar and it's absolutely free.
Crash
While a typical hard drive has a life expectancy of three to five years, your computer may crash sooner than that for a variety of reasons, including overheating, viruses or conflicting software. There's no surefire way to avoid crashes but you can put chance on your side by doing the following:

Prevention
Clean the hard drive
Every once in a while, your hard drive needs to be defragged. Use the cleanup function of your operating system, as well as the defrag option. This will not only remove bits of useless data and reorganize the way it is stored, but will also increase your PC's speed.

Remove unnecessary programs
When we surf the Net, we often download software for immediate use. The problem is we forget to remove it when we're done. These small applications are oftentimes triggered at startup and take resources we could use someplace else. So check the Windows Startup folder and eliminate programs that are not required, like an MP3 player. If you don't know what a specific file does, however, don't delete it right away.

Reboot periodically
A computer is like a gluttonous monster, it will consume all the energy available until there is none left. Each opened application on your PC requires a certain percentage of memory to function. When too much memory has been used, the computer becomes unstable and crashes are very likely. Don't wait for your machine to hit 0% on the resource scale. Reboot every few hours to guarantee optimum performance.

Buy more RAM
It might be a good idea to purchase more RAM chips. Adding memory will give your applications more legroom and your computer will run much faster. The end result will be that crashes will occur less frequently.
Install crash-prevention software
There are some nifty little programs on the market, Crash Prevention Software (CPR) being one of them, that minimize the effects of a crash. For instance, they alert you when an application is about to crash or they attempt to fix the problem without resorting to a crash. The software can even delay the crash, giving you enough time to save your work.

Good physical shape
While most of the activity happens on little silicon chips, the physical shape of your PC is important. Don't let dust invade your machine and ensure that the Central Processing Unit (CPU) fans are unobstructed. And to avoid a power surge frying your hard drive, plug your computer onto an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). This device will remain evenly powered at all times.

Dealing with it
Shut down
When you think your computer's about to crash, hit Alt-F4 to close the program you are using. When invited, save the file to the same filename; selecting a new name will require more computer resources and may precipitate the crash.

See a professional
Depending on the number of times your computer crashes and whether it has generated more serious problems such as the inability to use certain programs, you may want to have an expert take a look at your hard drive. It can be expensive and, sometimes, there may be data they won't be able to recover.
Spam
Spam is, in this context, not a brand of canned meat but rather unsolicited multiple marketing e-mail. With 182.67 million people online in North America, if marketers make a sale to only 1% of them, they're pretty happy campers. Here are some tips to help you avoid spam.

Prevention
Use a spam filter
Most Web-based providers, as well as e-mail readers, except for those with Outlook Express, have the option of filtering out spam. Just go to the Preferences menu to turn it on. It most likely won't be 100% accurate, but it's a good start.

Don't unsubscribe
By law, marketers have to provide you with the option of unsubscribing to their mailing lists. However, in reality, when you click this button, you let the marketer know that your e-mail address is active. This will only encourage them to send you more spam.

Dealing with it
Change your e-mail
What happens if an ex-girlfriend-turned-stalker keeps calling you at home? You change your number, right? If spam becomes such an annoyance that it keeps you from enjoying the Internet to its fullest, you might have to resort to changing your e-mail address.
general tips
Install a firewall
A firewall is like a security gate surrounding your home; it keeps intruders away. A sturdy firewall will protect you from possibly damaging attacks from hackers. Those virtual criminals can cause even more damage than you think -- they could prevent you from accessing your own files or steal your identity.

Don't clutter your desktop
The more icons there are on your desktop, the slower your machine will be (since most Windows computers have Active Desktops, a sort of mini-program that runs on your computer desktop). Create a folder on your desktop and put everything in it. The less clutter there is, the more memory your computer has. Speed equals performance and that means fewer problems for you.

Delete superfluous fonts
PCs are delivered with a smorgasbord of fancy fonts built in. They can take up a lot of space, especially if you don't use them all. So, if you're not in the graphic design business, obliterate the fonts you don't need in the Windows/Fonts folder.
save the day!
Since our lives are now governed by computers in a fiber-optically connected world, it is important to protect ourselves from the more infuriating aspects. By learning these simple techniques, you can outright avoid a disaster on your personal computer.