The Care and Feeding of The Care and Feeding of Your Personal ComputerYour Personal Computer

C/IL 102C/IL 102

Take Care of Your PCTake Care of Your PC

The Operating SystemThe Operating System Virus and Other VerminVirus and Other Vermin Making the best of Files and FoldersMaking the best of Files and Folders

The Operating SystemThe Operating System

Keep your Operating System (W 2k, Keep your Operating System (W 2k, XP, …) up to dateXP, …) up to date

If you have a permanent network If you have a permanent network connection configure your machine connection configure your machine for automatic updates.for automatic updates.

Why? Operating Systems are Why? Operating Systems are complex, they contain defects, they complex, they contain defects, they contain inefficiencies – they require contain inefficiencies – they require maintenance.maintenance.

Virus and Other VerminVirus and Other Vermin

If you use the web, your operating If you use the web, your operating system and web browser need help.system and web browser need help.• Virus protectionVirus protection• Spy protectionSpy protection• Spam protectionSpam protection

Virus protectionVirus protection

Install a reputable virus programInstall a reputable virus program Purchase a virus update contractPurchase a virus update contract Learn how it worksLearn how it works Automate the system check and Automate the system check and

update process.update process.

Spy and Spam ProtectionSpy and Spam Protection Look for some good free stuffLook for some good free stuff I useI use

• SpybotSpybot• SpyblasterSpyblaster

Together these two program form a Together these two program form a defense against web browser abuse.defense against web browser abuse.• Pop upsPop ups• Vicious web sitesVicious web sites• Data minersData miners

Files and FoldersFiles and Folders

Keep your website organizedKeep your website organized Organize you’re Organize you’re My DocumentsMy Documents

• Use lots of meaningful names for foldersUse lots of meaningful names for folders• And put meaningfully named folders And put meaningfully named folders

within those folderswithin those folders• When you save a file, save it in the right When you save a file, save it in the right

folder.folder.

Windows ExplorerWindows Explorer

Learn to use Learn to use Windows Windows ExplorerExplorer

Windows ExplorerWindows Explorer

It can be used It can be used to insert to insert folders and folders and subfolderssubfolders

Shift/Cntl Click/DragShift/Cntl Click/Drag

Shift ClickShift Click• Select a Select a

sequencesequence

Shift/Cntl Click/DragShift/Cntl Click/Drag

Cntl ClickCntl Click• Select a non Select a non

sequential set sequential set of filesof files

Shift/Cntl Click/DragShift/Cntl Click/Drag

Shift/DragShift/Drag• MovesMoves the set of the set of

files on the right to files on the right to the folder on the the folder on the leftleft

Cntl/DragCntl/Drag• CopiesCopies the set of the set of

files on the right to files on the right to the folder on the the folder on the leftleft

SummarySummary

If the items mentioned in this If the items mentioned in this presentation are not obvious to you presentation are not obvious to you before the semester is over, you are before the semester is over, you are doing yourself a disfavordoing yourself a disfavor