Tips to help Keep Windows running smoothly. Windows was designed to be user friendly and this convenience directly attributes to it's success. The drawback is that the more convenient something is, the more potential there might be for conflict. I like to think of it as a balancing act much like that of Newtons third law that states every action must have an equal and opposite reaction. Or the non scientific approach "You can't have your cake and eat it too".
How to Keep Windows Running Smoothly
Here are some general rules and guidelines a Windows user can use to keep the Operating System in balance without creating conflict.
Never use the Internet Without Antivirus Software
This is probably the single most important rule. Never use the internet or check your e-Mail without Antivirus Software installed. Not only is it important to have a good Antivirus Software solution installed, but also make sure it's kept up to date. Thousands of computers are infected with viruses daily.
Repair shops can charge hundreds of dollars to fix an infected system. A basic Antivirus solution will typically run less than $50. Even a Free Antivirus program is better than nothing. If you don't want to spend money, I recommend the AVAST Free edition which is an excellent solution.
Keep Windows up to date
So many computer users forget to keep their Windows Operating System up to date. I can't even count how many times (in the past, I no longer do computer repair) I have had a client bring a computer to me with software or hardware compatibility problems that could have been avoided had they just done their updates.
Try not to make too many changes at once
Windows contains many settings that can be easily modified via dialog boxes and properties pages. Be careful when adjusting settings. If your attempting to troubleshoot a problem, be sure to make only a few changes at a time and document what changes you have made along the way. That way if you cannot resolve the problem yourself, you can still bring the system back to it's original state without causing further complications.
Use "Add or Remove Programs" to remove installed Software
Never just delete software or applications that are installed on your computer. The Add or Remove Programs option located in the control panel is a great feature built into Windows to detect and use Uninstaller scripts. It's important to use the Add or Remove Programs option otherwise you can corrupt other parts of the system if they happen to be sharing any of the same files.
Make sure your System can handle an Upgrade
Most software and hardware manufacturers list the system requirements to use their product. Whenever planning to do a hardware or software upgrade, always make sure your system has the necessary resources and can handle the upgrade. A great tool for checking almost every aspect of your computer system without ever opening the computer case is a FREE product called System Information for Windows (SIW).