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CC-181  Computer Maintenance/ Troubleshooting   (7 wks.)    
Survive your computer Troubleshooting and Maintenance Friday 12:30-2:30

You have heard the stories and thought it could never happen to you, but it has.  Your computer has just crashed?  Don’t spend hours on the phone with technical support.  Some basic maintenance procedures, which will help prevent your computer from crashing

Basic maintenance and troubleshooting for your PC computer.  Hands-on activities include: Screen Savers, disk and file management skills, scan disk, defrag, virus scan, spyware/adware, and much more

Class 1 Sep 15, 2005 - Backup with windows

  1. My Computer,  drive C properties, tools
  2. backup with copy and paste
  3. How to Use Windows XP
  4. Keeping Windows Up-To-Date
  5. How to Back Up, Restore, or Move Outlook Express Data

Class 2 Sep 22, 2005 - Backup with special tools

  1. Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool
     http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx#run

  2. Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware Beta Update

  3. NERO introduction

  4. NERO Backup

  5. Nero 6 Ultra Edition Major Update

  6. Nero 6 Ultra Edition QuickStart Guide

Class 3 Sep 29, 2005 - Hard Drive maintenance

  1. ScanDisk - Useful Tool
  2. Extreme Tips: Up close: System Mechanic 5 Pro
  3. http://www.langa.com/current.htm
  4. How to Automate the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
  5. Defrag Your Hard Drive
  6. Defrag Mysteries Learn more about defragmentation.
  7. Automating Windows Maintenance
  8. Hard Drive Roadblocks Use Our Solutions To Put Your Drive Back On Easy Street harddrive
  9. Cleaner 20 Tips To Improve Your PC’s Performance
  10. Save yourself with System Restore

4th class , Oct 7, 2005 Virus - spyware - malware

  1. Navas Cable Modem/DSL Tuning Guide
  2. Protect your savings from Phishing attacks
  3. Are you prepared for the next virus attack?
  4. Spyware Doctor - Reviews and free downloads at Download.com
  5. Spyware Doctor Review
  6. http://courses.help.com/
  7.  
  8. Protect your PC in 3 steps: 1. Use an Internet firewall 2. Get computer updates 3. Use up-to-date antivirus software
  9. Spyware and other unwanted software refers to software that performs certain tasks on your computer, typically without your consent. This may include giving you advertising or collecting personal information about you. Learn more about the symptoms of spyware and other unwanted software and how you can help protect your computer.Watch the video http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/video1.mspx
  10. Top 3 things you can do to prevent spyware

5th class , Oct 14, 2005 How to format/FDISK

  1. BackUp MyPC
  2. The museum of obsolete disks,or Why I hate Iomega
  3. Performing a Clean Install of Windows XP
  4. How to format/FDISK
  5. Copying files from CD to Hard Drive
  6. How to start in safe mode

6th class , Oct 21, 2005 How to install Windows
i.e. rebuild your hard drive and get a new registry

  1. Iolo's System Mechanic 5 Pro
  2. Norton system works ????
  3. Spyware Removal Derby "Call for Help"
  4.  
  5. The news is out, and so is adware
  6. analyzing how spyware and adware programs work
  7. Ad Ware, Spy Ware, and Trojans, Oh My!
  8. How to install Windows XP in 5 hours or less
  9. Clean Install Windows XP
  10. Clean Install of Windows XP
  11. PC is Bloated
  12. clean up hard drive
  13. Other Articles from Microsoft. (scroll down this page)
  14. System Maintenance (scroll down)

  15. DVD-RAM: What Is It?

  16. DVD demistified

  17. Crash Control Target The Common Causes Of Crashes & Lockups
  18. Print This Troubleshooting Tips To Make Your Inkjet Printer Fit To Print
  19. Focus On Displays Solve Typical Video Card & Monitor Problems
  20. Sound Audio Improve The Output Of Audio Cards & Speakers
  21. Trouble-Free Surfing Bypass The Unfriendly Waves That Hamper Dial-Up, Cable & DSL Connections
  22. Ten Steps to Trouble-Free Computing http://www.pchell.com/tensteps/step1.html
  23. Preventive Maintenance Schedule and Summary
  24. Tech support hell
  25. Help & Support Tools
  26. Microsoft support guide
  27. How to Backup Outlook Express Mail, Address Book, Mail & Newsgroup Settings, Mail Rules, and Blocked Senders List

7th class , Oct 28, 2005 - Drivers !

  1. how to install your operating system
  2. http://www.cnet.com
  3. http://www.zdnet.com/
  4. http://www.smartcomputing.com/
  5. http://www.driverguide.com/
  6. http://www.drivershq.com/
  7. http://www.drivermagic.co.nz/p/nph-home.php
  8. http://www.windrivers.com/
  9. Products Designed for Microsoft Windows
  10. Scan hard disk file systems for errors
  11. Scan for viruses
Intel's CEO addresses execution problems, looks ahead to WiMax

From  CNET :
For some of you, this week's Q&A may be just common computing sense, but other people have no clue about how to maintain a smooth-running computer (case in point: my 74-year-old father, although he is well-versed in digital photography and Photoshop). I know that this week's great, winning answer by Mark and all of the other submissions won't let me stop being my father's IT guy, but they will at least give him some guidelines for maintaining a safe and smooth Windows system. In addition to Mark's answer and the honorable mentions this week, I included two additional listings: recommendations for PC maintenance utilities and reference Web sites from our members. So Rhonda, I hope you and your kids find these answers by our members helpful. And if any of you have more to add, please chime in; the more we share, the better off we are. Thanks, everyone, for your participation.

1My kids and I have three computers at home, running Windows 98, Me, and XP. Granted, the XP system runs the smoothest since it is the newest one, but I would like to get some recommendations from people on some regular maintenance routines, hardware, or software that I should use to ensure their best performance.

--Submitted by: Rhonda E. of Durham, North Carolina

I am sure there are many ways to keep the hardware of your three computers running smoothly, although I am of the opinion that if it isn't broke, don't fix it. Meaning, if your computers' hardware components appear to run smoothly, I wouldn't do too much tinkering to rock the boat. However, there are little things you can do:

1. Keep dust away from the computers and everywhere around them.
2. Keep wires and leads tidy and out of harm's way as much as possible.
3. Make sure each computer case has plenty of ventilation around it, and that it is standing on a firm base.
4. Don't let your computer workspaces get cluttered up.
5. Don't eat or drink anywhere near the computer, printers, scanners, or keyboards. (Difficult I know, and I am the worst offender, but any crumbs in the keyboard or spilt drinks on the case or keyboard can do a lot of damage.)
6. Don't move the computers around when they are switched on. If you have to move them, shut them down first.
There may be other similar steps you can take, but the essence is, keep the computer area clean and clutter-free.

As to software and the operating systems themselves, there is much more you can do. Although you have three computers with different operating systems, (OSs), housekeeping is the same for each. In particular, upkeep Windows 98 and Me is very much the same, but the methods you use are the same for them as for XP. It seems to me that there are five main issues, but... Read more

Please click the following links for this week's:

For Mark's efforts, we’re sending him his choice of any Help.com Learning CD.

 

Windows XP How To's

CNET's Guide to Using Windows XP
Read CNET editors' top tools and tips for using Windows XP. Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
 
Download now
ZDNet's Guide to Using Windows XP
Read ZDNet's editors' top tools and tips for using Windows XP. Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
 
Download now

 

Other Articles from Microsoft.

Using the Windows XP Backup Utility
Get great sound from your PC
Sending Bulk Emails
Adding a hard drive
Adding a CD Drive
Adding a Graphics Card
Installing Programs in Windows XP
Creating animated Powerpoint slides
Installing Hardware
Creating and Managing User Accounts
Using .NET Passport
Broadband(pt2): Making the Most of Broadband
Broadband(pt1): Choosing Broadband
Surfing securely with IE 6
Cleaning out your PC (Part 3)
Cleaning out your PC (Part 2)
Cleaning out your PC
Protect your PC
Revitalise your PC
Using the Windows XP support tools (Part 3)
Using the Windows XP support tools (Part 2)
Using the Windows XP support tools
Listen to your music away from your PC
Discovering the System Registry
Using the Task Manager
Get the most from Office XP
Useful Tips for Excel
Getting the most from Internet Explorer
Dealing with Hardware Problems
Sending faxes with Windows XP
Partitioning your hard disk
Guide to Windows Messenger
Creating a home network
Buying and using a digital camera
Multiple PCs & one Internet Connection
Importing Rules Into Outlook Express
Using Microsoft Outlook
Downloading and playing MP3s

System Maintenance

Deleting Unwanted Programs
Step by step guide to remove/uninstalling.
 
Find out what your Windows Hotfixes do
What exactly do they do?
 
Win XP Time Travel
A great feature of Windows XP is System Restore .
 
CPU Activity
Monitor that activity!
 
Check for Corrupt System Files
How to hunt down corrupt system files.
 
Defrag Mysteries
Learn more about defragmentation.
 
Recapture System Speed
Make it fast and stable, once again.
 
A Fast System Properties Box
A faster way to get to your system properties.
 
Full Path
Learn how to make windows show you the full file path.
 
System Password Protection
Password protect the whole computer.
 
Shut Down Hang Ups
Do you have problems when the time comes to shut down Windows?
 
But I already Uninstalled it !
Learn how to get uninstall programs off the Add/Remove listing.
 
Save my Bookmarks!
Learn how to save bookmarked web pages.
 
Updating Drivers
Learn about updating the drivers on your computer.
 
Instant Properties
Get to your properties faster.
 
Reformat & Reinstall - Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Reformat your hard drive and reinstall windows step-by-step!
 
Disk Reformatting
Learn how to reformat your disks.
 
What's My Code?
Find those product keys.
 
Scan Disk & Defrag
Learn how to use your Scan Disk and Defrag tools.
 
Windows Updates
Keep Windows updated and running smoothly with this tip.