People frequently complain that their computer is slow or it is infected. Nothing is %100, but there are steps that you can take that will prevent problems for you or your computer users.
- AntiVirus software. Whether you pay for it or download it for free, every computer and server should have antivirus software. The smaller the better. I like AVG Free (free for home users) and McAfee ASAP for multiple computer businesses. McAfee ASAP is very lightweight, centrally managed, and affordable with prices in the low $20 per year per desktop.
- Firewall. Windows XP includes a built-in software firewall, but I do not necessarily mandate that it is used. For desktop computers with just about any router on the market connecting you to the Internet I consider it an option. Keep it on until it breaks something. Some multi-function printers and server-centric software do not play well with firewalls. If you have a notebook that travels in the wilds of coffee shops and airports, then it is a must to enable the firewall.
- Wireless network. Be sure that you have your wireless network at least secured with WAP and a good secure passcode. If you do not then turn on the computer firewall, and avoid doing sensitive things such as banking or shopping.
- Do not run your computer as administrator. In our travels across the Internet these days we can run into all sorts of dangers such as malware. One way to stem the problem is to ran with less than administrative rights on your computer. Create an Administrator account for installing software and applying patches. Then create limited user accounts. That includes for yourself. Only use the administrator account for installing software or updates. Never surf the web while in the administrative account.
- User education. Educate users on not opening attachments unless they know the sender, and they were expecting the attachment. Also teach them about opening files provided though other means including thumb drives and DVD-ROM. Do not make them too paranoid, but let them know the real dangers.
- Patches. At a minimum you should install Microsoft’s security patches as soon as possible after their release which is typically on the second Tuesday of a month. You should try to keep other software up to date as much as possible. If nothing else the Microsoft patches are the most important.
- Testing. It is time-consuming, but it is very valuable. You should setup a computer that is very similar to most of the computers in your organization. Try to include as much of the same software and features as most of your other computers. That includes connecting it to your network and the Internet. When you are considering adding or upgrading software try it on your test station first. It is a lot more fun to find a problem on one computer then every workstation in the building. Once you install the software run through some typical work flows of opening programs, printing, etc to check for potential conflicts. This test station can also be squeezed into emergency duty if someone’s hardware fails. It is a two-for-one bonus.
- Defrag hard drives. This simple step is not nearly noticeable as it once was, but it does help to keep the fragmentation of the data down on the hard drives.
- Hard drive maintenance. This is going to be a plug for a product that I love – SpinRite by GRC. This program is expensive, but it is not if you consider the amount of time and effort saved. I have used it for several years, and I have not had a hard drive failure in many years. I run it every three to six months on every computer with a spinning hard drive.
The bad news is that in spite of all of these precautions you will still need to reinstall Windows occasionally. Hardware failure or just plain bad luck with a virus or malware can happen to anyone. Windows just breaks down over time, but these steps will greatly extend your time between format-installs. When you do that reinstall be sure to blow out the computer case. Dust and dirt buildup can shorten a computer’s life and make it run more slowly.