106 Preventative Maintenance Tips
(see 5/24/03 SIG meeting presentation, also)
Personal Habits - General
1. Know what you’re doing before doing it
2. Don’t panic after a problem or crash – it’s usually not that important
3. Be prepared for a hard drive crash – it will come someday
4. Don’t do anything important when you’re tired
5. Check details of insurance coverage on computers in your home
6. Don’t share your computer with others
7. Don’t let others change your computer or computer settings
8. Exercise/discuss parental controls if children use your computer
9. Keep your computer out in the open (e.g., if sharing with others)
10. Shutdown computer when finished for the day
Hardware/Software - General
11. Know what you’re doing before doing it
Operating System
12. Keep Windows updated (it also updates Internet Explorer, Outloook Express,
Media Player, etc.)
13. Make sure sources of operating system patches are legitimate
14. Use passwords (e.g., BIOS startup, Windows startup, screensaver)
15. Reboot computer if it starts acting unusual (reinitializes programs,
frees resources, stops memory leaks)
16. Learn how to use troubleshooters built into operating system
17. Check computer subsystems with diagdx.exe from Run… command line
18. Consider using a one-click utility-suite checkup program
19. Create Emergency Startup/Rescue operating system disk
20. Create Restore points (e.g., Windows ME, XP)
21. Turn off DCOM to help plug holes in operating system
22. Turn off Windows Messenger service to reduce annoying popups
23. Use Vendor/System Restore disc to repair Windows
24. Remove unneeded Windows applets (i.e., go to Windows setup)
25. Clean up the Registry occasionally (e.g., use third party programs like
EasyCleaner, RegSeeker, or RegClean)
26. Run system files checker to check for corrupted, outdated, etc. files
27. Remove eye candy (e.g., screensavers, wallpaper, XP enhancements)
28. Remove unneeded Windows Services
29. Uninstall unneeded fonts
30. Use MS Knowledge Base (and KB index site) to solve problems
(search on MS site)
31. Use Google to solve problems (e.g., enter problem directly in search field
using quotes)
32. Use Web forums and/or discussion/message boards to solve problems
33. Empty Dr. Watson file (drwtsn32.exe) and start learning how it can help you
Hardware
34. Add surge protector and/or UPS on power supply
35. Add RAM to the max (especially if your computer uses shared memory)
36. Add new video adapter card with own memory if graphics performance is poor
37. Keep hardware drivers updated
38. Check for hardware conflicts in Device Manager
39. Run Scandisk (or, Chkdsk in XP) regularly (Regular and Thorough, in Safe
Mode or DOS, if necessary)
40. Set Scandisk Standard to Free Lost Files/Delete Cross-linked Fragments in
Options Dialog box
41. Consider using online tools to check for hardware/software problems
42. Download and install free utilities to help test/fix hardware
43. Consider using a full hardware-diagnostic checkup program
44. Convert hard drive to file system best suited for your op. system – FAT16, FAT
32, NTFS, etc.
45. Calibrate monitor gamma (for WYSIWYG printing)
46. Print test page occasionally to keep print nozzles from clogging
(especially Epson)
47. Turn printer power off with printer switch not power strip switch
(your printer knows the difference)
48. Partition large hard drives
49. Make drive partition startup/rescue disk
50. Check for problems with audio (e.g., grounding, ground loops, interference)
51. Watch for buffer underrun on older CD burners
52. Buy a CD cleaning kit (e.g., rotary soapy chamois or scratch removing solvent
system)
53. Buy a Velcro mouse cleaning kit
54. Buy a 3.5 in. floppy drive cleaning kit
55. Blow out dust balls inside computer case occasionally
56. Keep computer off the floor
57. Reseat adapter cards to motherboard occasionally
58. Reseat peripheral cords to motherboard occasionally
59. Unplug power cord before opening computer case
60. Ground yourself before touching components inside computer case
Software Programs
61. Know your software so you can avoid adding spyware to your hard drive when
installing it
62. Use Vendor/system Restore disc to reinstall op. system/drivers/applications
(without reformatting drive)
63. Remove unneeded programs (e.g., startup menu, msconfig, add/remove
programs, registry, restore system with Vendor/System restore disc)
64. Run Program Compatibility Wizard (in XP) if program starts acting up
65. Update software programs to insure best performance
Files on Hard drive
66. Run Defrag regularly (in Safe Mode, if necessary)
67. Turn off Rearrange Program Files in Defrag Settings dialog box
68. Delete temporary files regularly (e.g., File Finder, Windows/temp folder, Disk
Cleanup)
69. Recover text from any file with MS Word >File >Open>File Type…Recover
Text From Any File
70. Backup/archive all data files
71. Backup files to free web space, if available
72. Store precious data in a safe deposit box
73. Backup Address Book
74. Backup Bookmarks/Favorites
75. Delete temp files, cookies, history list, and Net cache occasionally
Personal Habits and the Web
76. Know what you’re doing before doing it
77. Don’t ask for trouble on the Web (e.g., free stuff, games, file sharing, opinions)
78. Don’t store passwords internally/externally
79. Don’t give out personal information on the Web
80. Use one-time credit card purchase procedure on the Web
81. Call web site phone number and order items
(better than using credit card in online order form)
82. Don’t email large attachments
Hardware/Software and the Web
83. Know what you’re doing before doing it
84. Install an error-correcting, external dialup modem if yours is too slow
(e.g., less than 40 Kbps)
85. Install a surge protector on the modem line
86. Use parental control software if sharing with children
87. Any information you give out on the Web, in forms, chat rooms, etc. is public
knowledge (perhaps forever since many web pages are cached on web archive
servers)
88. Keep antivirus program updated – check to be sure
89. Make antivirus startup/rescue disk
90. Perform full hard drive virus scan occasionally
91. Install popup/adware blocking program
92. Keep popup/adware program updated
93. Install software/hardware firewall and check its performance regularly
(use it to block ALL Net activity when away from computer for long periods)
94. Modify email address slightly to mess up email address robots
(e.g., use “at” instead of @)
95. Delete suspicious email immediately
(from Preview Pane and Deleted Items folder)
96. Don’t open attachments unless you know contents
97. Set email program to send/receive in .txt format only (not .html)
98. Be careful when answering email
99. Turn off Preview Pane in email program (go to View>Layout)
100. Use spam, etc. filters on incoming email (e.g., email reader, internal
MailWasher, or external Postini)
101. Don’t answer requests for confirmation
102. Keep correct security levels on firewall
103. Test computer/browser security level
(e.g., Qualcom site, Gibson Research, others)
104. Only install Active X controls, java scripts, etc. from trusted sources
105. Use NetBios inside/TCPIP outside home network
106. Reseat network cable to network adapter card occasionally