Below are instructions I feel everyone should accomplish each week if their computer is used daily and online, especially for general web browsing. Ignoring them works for a while, but eventually a problem happens or some program sneaks its way to your hard drive, and then instead of a small problem such as a discovered Trojan Virus, you now have an inoperable or unrecoverable Operating System.

No matter whether you are using Windows, Linux or dual booting your computer, first and formost backup your important information to some type of removable media, ie, usb drive, cd, dvd, etc. If you accomplish this step and nothing else, at least then if your system crashes, you have your important files.

The Windows portion below was written for Computers using Windows XP. If you are using Vista or Windows 7, the process is very similar and you should be able to accomplish the steps below. Fair warning, if you are using Windows set aside time when you are not using the computer but will be around it. These steps may take a few hours, and you can not do anything else with your computer while they are running.

Windows TLC

These steps should be completed weekly if Windows is used daily and online. If Windows is used less often, the frequency may be reduced proportionately.

1. Do a complete virus scan on all hard drives and usb drives. Run any anti spyware programs you may be using.

2.  Check and clean out your internet settings. Ensure your firewall is on, Browser settings at least to medium, accept third party cookies is off at a minimum. It is a good idea to remove cookies, and flush cache if you have he option.

3. Defragment the hard drive. Using your mouse click on: Start: All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Defragmenter -> Defragment. Do a complete hard drive defragmentation. The purpose for this is a Defragment completely erases any cookies, etc, that were removed in an earlier step by overwriting the empty space were they did reside.

The Linux portion below was written with PCLinuxOS in mind. If you use any Linux with Synaptic the process is almost if not identical.

Linux TLC

Linux by its nature requires less care than Windows because it is extremely difficult to infect Linux with viruses, spyware, or malware.  One caveat is infected Window files will sit nicely in a Linux folder waiting to be opened up in Windows. For these reasons the frequency of TLC for Linux is less frequent and consists of fewer steps. Once you click apply, you can ignore the Laptop until you see a window appear with information and waiting a button press.

1. On either the bottom tab, or in the menu system click on: Synaptic Software Manager-> Enter password.

2. Click ‘Reload’ button [Top Left] (Wait for downloading to finish, usually about twenty seconds))

3.Click ‘Mark All Upgrades’ button (This will mark all files the Computer needs)

4. Click Apply.

This will begin the downloading of files, and updating. After downloading and updating is complete, Synaptic provides a summary page of the process.

If a window states all files could not be downloaded and do you want to continue, click ‘Cancel’ and try again later in the day or the next day. This window means some needed files could not be downloaded for various reasons. All other downloaded files will remain in a folder until the remaining files can be downloaded, then the upgrade will take place. This step is very important, never click continue if al files could not be downloaded.

If all files were downloaded and installed which is the norm, a summary window will be present. You may either read the process and/or close the Window. Occasionally the Window will tell you need to reboot for changes to take effect if a new kernel is installed. If so please reboot at the first opportunity.

Windows and Linux part 1

Windows and Linux Part 2

Administrator or Root Verses Guest Account

You should never log in as Administrator or use your computer logged in as Administrator in Windows or Linux for everyday computing. Administrator account is all powerful and is meant to be used only for making important changes to your computer. Examples of important Administrator functions are defragging the hard drive in Windows, installing updates, and setting up internet access.

For day to day computer usage please use the Guest account in Windows and your user account in Linux. The best reason to use Guest account is due to the following scenario which is a common reaction among average computer users.

When logged in as Administrator in Windows (and Linux, but it does not apply the same way) on the internet, a pop up window opens stating you just won a prize, etc, most people click ‘Okay’ or ‘Click Here’ to close this window.

Because the Administrator account is the account being used, it is possible that clicking ‘Okay’ may install a virus. This can conceivably  happen because the Administrator is the highest level user and the popup now has Administrator’s permission to do whatever it wants.

Using the Guest account is a smarter and safer method. I use the Guest account for most of what I do in Windows when I use Windows. The Guest account does not have the same permissions as the Administrator which makes it safer for the computer. By using the ‘Guest’ account you are minimizing the damage that can be done to the Windows Operating system.

Using Linux is a little different. There are individual user accounts that each user should use, and only one Administrator  account. If you are in the guest account and going to do something only the Administrator can do, you will be asked for the password. This generally will not happen.

If someone wants to use a computer using Windows, have them use the Guest Account. If you let them use the Administrator Account, they can make changes and/or add and remove programs or files from the computer. If a virus infection happens, it may not be possible to undo the virus, and that is not good.

Firewalls

In Linux there is a basic Firewall installed protecting the computer from most common intrusions. The firewall can be customized and upgraded if you choose. In Windows the installed Firewall does not offer this level of protection. The Linux Firewall can also be modified to block certain websites and selected search words. There are stronger Firewalls for Windows, but usually they must be paid for.

Windows Virus Protection

On most of the computers there is very basic anti-virus software installed by Windows. It is important to increase the virus protection WIndows has with at least free and preferably commercial anti-virus software. No virus protection is completely safe. The best protection for your computer is a user that thinks.

If You Have Problems

If anyone installs copied or stolen software on the computer, the computer will get viruses or worse, and the Windows Operating System will eventually quit working. There is no easy way to fix a broken Windows computer and make it work again. Reinstalling Windows is usually the only choice, and is at least a six hour process if all goes well. Reinstalling Windows can take sixteen or more hours to do on a slow connection. I would rather spend my time on more enjoyable tasks.

I wrote this as a general guideline for a project I am part of. This is a brief overview of Linux and Windows, and some simple suggestions for safer computing. Because I prefer Linux, it may appear to be a little biased. At the end are weekly tasks that everyone should attend to on their computer to keep it operating at its best.

Windows and Linux on Your Computer

As you have now installed Linux your computer, you will have seen a menu on the screen for a few seconds. This is the boot menu allowing you to choose between Linux and Windows operating systems. If you did not choose an option, by default you didn’t end up in Windows, but at the logon screen in Linux. Your computer is now two computers. You have a normal Windows computer you are used to using, and the default Linux computer.

Linux is an operating system like Windows, only Linux is better in many areas. Linux [generally speaking] does not get viruses, malware, or spyware like Windows. Linux will not slow down as Windows can from all the junk various Web Sites install or place on your computer.

Instead of a ‘My Documents’ folder Linux uses a file folder named ‘Home’. Inside the Home folder there is a folder with your user name and in that folder are (usually) more folders already created where you can store your files, or you can create folders of your own.

If you have other other users of your computer and you want to, in Linux, each person can have their own ‘Home Folder’ for their own files and settings. Each person only has their folders and settings and Linux looks they way they want it to. Users can also place files in a shared folder where any other person can see, open, and work with them.

In Linux you can burn CD’s, DVD’s, listen to music, watch movies, im, chat, and everything else you can think of doing. Software for doing these tasks is [generally] already installed.

You may have Open Office Org, which for general use is compatible with Microsoft Office. There might be minor changes with complex spreadsheets, or highly formatted word documents in Open Office Org, I am not an expert on it. I do my typing in a program like Notepad, so my documents are easily transferred from one computer to another without having multiple word processing programs installed.

With Linux, there are thousands of programs available for use and almost every program you want is free within limits. Because Linux does not easily get viruses and spyware, you don’t have worry about viruses like you do in Windows. You can even use Linux to scan for Viruses on the Windows part of your computer if you wish.

Linux program names are different from windows, some are not as polished, some are way better than their WIndows counterparts, though they all do the same things and more. Internet Standards and Microsoft Office Standards change very slowly, so everything one does in Windows is done in Linux too.

Internet

When using the internet it is best always use Firefox, or another Web Browser. Never use Internet Explorer unless it is absolutely required. Do let anyone else use Internet Explorer unless they have no choice. It is safest for your computer to use Linux and Firefox when on the Internet. Also follow these good habits when browsing the web:

A. If you are on the internet, and a popup tells you need to check something on your computer, click on the red X on the top corner of the pop up window.

B. If a popup asks you if you want to add a toolbar, or search bar, click on the red X on the top right of the pop up window. Never add toolbars or anything that claims to speed up your computer, improve file searches, or speed up downloads. Even if they have no malware or spyware in them, they will slow down your computer. Your computer is already as fast as it is going to get.

C. If a popup asks you to do anything else, click on the red X on the top right of the pop up window.

D. Popup windows from may say you have won something, or a friend is trying to find you, or you have been selected to get a free computer. These popups are trouble for your computer. Always click on the red X on the top right of the pop up window.

E. Never click on the words: ‘Okay’ or ‘Close’ in a popup window. Sometimes it does not mean Okay or Close, but means install a virus. All the programmer of the popup has to do is change the meaning of the ‘Okay or Close’ button to install a virus if the button is clicked on.

F. You should not use file sharing programs in Windows or Linux. File Sharing Programs use your computer whenever it is connected to the internet, slowing down your computer. Many of the files you get through file sharing programs have viruses embedded in them. File sharing types of programs use your computer as a mini server, partially taking control of your computer to both manage and send files to others, even when you are not using the program itself. You agreed to share your processor power on install.

If you do use file sharing programs, you are very likely to get a virus and eventually you won’t be able to use your Windows computer. Your Linux computer will should work as well as it did when you first turned it on because it does not have these issues with the big exception you are sharing your computer with the world as  a mini server.

Programs on Your Linux computer

The Linux distribution on your computer was chosen because it is almost like Windows. It is lightweight and suitable for older Computers too. When you use Linux you will find most programs do the same things Windows programs do, and more.

I put a number of games in the games section so there are lots of games to play. mostly they are educational in one sense or other. There are the other menu options too, same as Windows. Remember If you get on the internet using Linux, you can not get viruses, or otherwise harm your computer.