What NOT to do with your new computer...

What NOT To Do With Your New Computer...

By: Scott Hendison � Published: January 2000

Congratulations! You're now the proud parent of a bouncing baby computer. Here are a few tips regarding what not to do with your new addition to the family . . .
Don't fill it up with a bunch of software at one time. Let the computer digest what you're feeding it. Install a program and try it out for a few minutes, then reboot it before you add a second program. Some people even recommend running a "scandisk" on the hard drive before every new installation. If a piece of software wreaks havoc on your system, you'll have no way of knowing which one it is if you've installed several all at once. (Tune Up Your Computer 2-98)

Don't let every program you install insert itself into your "startup" of Windows. If you are getting numerous icons by your clock (lower right - "system tray") you are being robbed of your precious system resources. Learn to remove them so that they only run when you want them to run. (Speed it up Buddy - 2-99)

Don't pass along chain e-mail. There is no terminally ill child named Billy getting 3 cents for every person you forward those messages to. Trust me, I'm sure.

Don't YELL online. When typing, make proper use of caps and small letters, or type all in lower case. Typing in all caps is considered inappropriate; equivalent to yelling at someone. I did not make this up. There are published "netiquette" guides out there and they all mention this.

Don't bury your computer tower against the wall under your desk where there is no air to circulate. Computers need airflow to stay cool. Heat is your enemy. Leave at least 4 to 6 inches around the back and top of your box if possible.

Now, a touchy subject . . . (Sorry Mom) Try to refrain from tormenting your friends and relatives by forwarding them huge file attachments, pictures, cartoons, songs, etc. that you think they want to see. Try sending everyone you know an e-mail asking who would like you to tie up their phone lines for forty minutes. I'll bet you don't get many takers.

A good rule of thumb for me is if it won't fit on a floppy disk (maybe two), then it's too big to send via an unsolicited e-mail. When everyone has high-speed Internet connections like DSL or Cable modems it won't matter anymore. For now though, most of the world does not. If you do have high-speed access, don't forget that what you send in 30 seconds may take me 45 minutes to receive on my laptop in a hotel.

Instead, teach yourself to use your free Windows 98 program called Front Page Express and build your own website. It's fun, easy to learn, and you can probably put up your site for free with your ISP (Internet Service Provider). This way anyone can view your pictures etc. in seconds, and they won't have to download them unless they want to.

Finally, don't get too frustrated when things just don't work. Remember it's just a computer. More often than not, the problem is due to a schlocky piece of software called Windows, and we're all just lab rats in this great big science project. Just smile, reboot, and try it again.