Brent Lacy

 
1. Ensure that you have Antivirus software that is up-to-date and working properly. If you are getting application errors when your antivirus software is loading, there is a decent chance you’ve already been compromised. If you don’t remember actively buying a license or subscription update, then there is a slim possibility that you are protected. Most people would not drive without car insurance. Consider a high quality antivirus software package your PC insurance.

2. Make sure that your operating system has all needed patches and updates. An easy way to make this happen in Windows XP and Vista is to enable Automatic Updates.

3.Even though illegal software may (usually) function the same, who do you call when there’s a problem? There are several hundred people per year now that can tell you that paying $200 or less for a legit copy of windows would have been better than the $25,000 per illegal license plus court costs.

4. Make sure there is enough RAM memory in your computer. A computer without enough RAM is similar to trying to run a race while breathing through a straw. A few years ago, when DDR RAM (the RAM that is now used in a high percentage of computers on the market) first hit the market, system builders did not put anything more than the bare minimum in your PC. This happened because DDR RAM was expensive and adding more would increase the cost of the system. Fast forward a few years and DDR RAM is now much cheaper. In many cases you can get a 1-gigabyte stick of DDR for under $100.

How much is enough? A good rule of thumb that I tell customers is for Windows XP, 1 gigabyte for general use. This provides plenty of available RAM for Internet activities, light gaming use (think Solitaire and FreeCell, not MechWarrior), Word Processing, etc. For Vista, allow twice the amount as XP, because it simply requires more hardware to function, as it is a larger, more resource-intensive Operating System. If you are buying a new machine with Vista and it has 1 gigabyte of RAM or less, keep in mind that a standard load of Vista on most major brands of PCs takes between 300-800 MB of RAM simply to boot up, let alone run applications. Budget for the most RAM that you can.

5. Do your homework early. Find out who the reputable repair shops in your area are before you need them. Use the same kind of care you would when you choose a mechanic for your car. In a small town (or even a big one), it will not take a lot of asking around to find out who has a good or bad reputation in their field.

 Brent Lacy is a IT Technician and Web Designer with 10 years of experience in the field. He runs a fast-growing design firm named BrentLacy.com and is also full-time youth minister at Calvary Baptist Church in Odessa, MO. Most Importantly, he is his kids' dad.