This year, I resolve to . . . whip my PC into shape

By Roger Fillion, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Monday, December 31, 2007

With 2008 just about here, the well-intentioned are scrambling to make New Year's resolutions: Hit the fitness club, stash more in the retirement account, eat whole grains. . . .

But even the most conscientious sometimes forget to include their computers - be it that old adored PC or shiny new laptop - in the list.

"Whether you're a gadget freak that waits in line for days to pick up the hottest new tech device or are comfortable using the same personal technology products year after year, try not to wait a whole year before taking some of these important measures again" - that's how Geek Squad pitches its "techsolutions" for 2008.

Tips from the Geek Squad, along with Circuit City, Denver-based Action Computers Inc., Microsoft and Apple include giving your computer a good cleaning, removing trial software that's pre-loaded on your new computer, and making sure you've got anti-virus and anti-spyware software installed and updated.

"Today's big problem is spyware. It's 70 percent of what we do," said Daniel Kelley, service manager at Action Computers, which operates two stores in the Denver area.

While viruses can alter the way a computer operates, spyware can steal a computer user's personal data and keep track of their keystrokes. The information is sent to a third party. Also, Web surfers often unwittingly download spyware programs.

How can you tell if you've got spyware? You'll find small windows that open automatically on your screen.

If these "pop-up" ads open even when you're not surfing the Web, your computer might be infected. You also might find your computer is slow when browsing the Internet.

Think of your computer as a car.

"If you don't do regular maintenance on your car - such as change the oil - you're going to have problems with your motor. A computer is the same principle," advises Doak Moore, support escalation engineer at Microsoft.

So here are some resolutions to keep your computer running all year long.

Steps to a better computer

Blow out the dust

You'll be amazed at how dusty the inside of a computer can get. The dust can make your machine heat up, harming the computer. "It's like a blanket on the inside of your computer, stifling it," says Mark Hope, president of Action Computers Inc.

You can clean your PC at home using a can of compressed air available at hardware stores. Here's what Geek Squad suggests: Turn off and unplug the computer. If the fan on the back is fuzzy, use the can to spray off the dust in a sideways direction.

It helps to remove the side of the case when doing this so the dust inside can escape. And it's a good idea to do this outside or in the garage. It can get messy!

Protect against the bad stuff in cyberspace

Make sure you have anti-virus and anti-spyware software installed. And get regular updates, which can be done automatically. Also, perform regular scans to make sure no virus or spyware has infected your computer.

"You need to activate the scan on a regular basis," says Mike Irwin, chief operating officer of Webroot Software Inc., a Boulder provider of anti-spyware and anti-virus software. Irwin scans his computer every time he logs on.

Firewall protection is vital to screen out hackers, viruses and worms that try to infiltrate your computer via the Internet.

A firewall also can stop unauthorized data from exiting your computer - such as personal or credit-card information getting sent to a third party.

Update operating system

Keep your computer's operating system updated. That way you can get the latest security patches, software fixes, etc.

To find out what updates you might need for Windows, go to update.microsoft.com. There, you can get your computer scanned to see if you need any optional or "high-priority" updates.

Apple recommends Mac users go to apple.com/softwareupdate to learn how to configure your machine to get updates automatically.

Do regular backups

If your computer crashes, you can lose valuable financial information, photos, documents, music files, you name it. "I've had millionaires in my office in tears. They didn't back up and it was just before tax time," says Mark Hope of Action Computers.

For about $100 or less, you can buy an external hard drive to store valuable data. What to back up? "Back up everything you can't live without," Hope advises.

Alternately, you can use a secure remote backup service. Instead of storing your data on a hard drive, you send the information via the Internet to a server computer where it's stored. Circuit City is among the many outfits offering such a service.

Ditch unnecessary programs

A new computer often comes pre-loaded with trial software in hopes you'll like it and buy the full version. These might include anti-virus software or so-called "productivity software" involving such things as spreadsheets, database systems and graphics.

"It bogs down the computer," said Eric Sindelar, Rocky Mountain manager for Circuit City's band of tech gurus dubbed "firedogs."

On Windows, go to the control panel and choose Add or Remove programs to get rid of the unwanted stuff. Just make sure you know what you're removing. You don't want to discard the wrong thing.

Recycle

When it comes to disposing of your old computer and other electronic gear, don't toss them in the trash. Recycle the stuff.

Computers, television sets and other electronics contain hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium and mercury. When thrown in the garbage, those toxins can leak into the groundwater or contaminate the air if the trash is incinerated.

Action Computers will help you recycle. You also can visit the Environmental Issues Council's Web site - eiae.org - which keeps track of local and national recycling programs.

fillionr@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2467

• January 1, 2008

  7:17 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Ramm writes:

  Get rid of Windows latest crap offering. Vista [victum] get back to XP for a better quality of life.