Q: My laptop crashed a while back, and when I took it to have it fixed, the company that worked on it told me that the problem was that I had a lot of programs running and that caused a lot of viruses.
Robin Watkins
A: I wonder if it's possible that you misunderstood -- or didn't completely understand -- what the computer technicians told you. It happens. For instance, I don't know a lot about plumbing and when someone fixes the pipes at my house and explains what was wrong, he may use terms I don't know and I'll end up really not understanding what was wrong or how it was fixed.
Having several programs running at one time doesn't magically attract viruses. Most viruses enter a computer in one of the following ways:
From opening e-mailed attachments infected with viruses. Or from downloading infected programs from the Web or a disc. In some rarer cases, viruses get in from visiting infected websites. Common sense will tell you that the only way a virus can get to your computer is through an outside source. They don’t float around in the air.
There isn't a direct relationship between how many programs you have open and the odds of getting viruses. Here's what to worry about instead.:
Make sure you have a good anti-virus program and keep it running and updated. The best of these programs can keep almost any virus off your computer. These programs detect viruses when they try to enter your computer and eliminate them. If a person uses a program like that he isn't perfectly safe but viruses shouldn't be a routine problem. There's another threat called adware/spyware. Nowadays that seems even a worse threat than viruses. There also are programs that will monitor your computer and either keep this stuff from getting into the computer, or delete them if they do.
Here's what you should do. Call the computer repair people back and make sure you have good anti-virus and anti-adware/spyware programs installed. The repair people may have installed programs like that for you when they worked on your computer. If they did not, you need to do that.
Q: I have recently purchased a new laser printer. I have connected it to my home network by the wireless feature of the printer through my router. This allows me to print from my laptop, and is really a great feature. I also have a desktop computer that I use as my primary computer. The desktop is connected to the router with an ethernet cable. When I turn the printer on, the process of the printer powering up will cause the desktop to shut down and restart. This can be a real pain. What is causing this problem?
David Carlton
A: I sent a follow up e-mail to David. Turns out he had both the laser printer and the desktop computer connected to the same UPS (uninterruptable power supply). Laser printers have a heating element. And when that element turns on it draws a considerable amount of power. That taxed the UPS's ability to supply power and caused the power-starved desktop printer to turn off. That's my theory anyway. David promised to write again to let me know if putting the two devices on separate circuits solved the problem.
Q: Whenever you suggest commercial brands for computer protection you never suggest McAfee. Should I consider replacing McAfee with Norton?
Colin Rose
A: McAfee is fine. When I suggest a specific program I'm not saying all others are bad. Most of the major brand anti-virus programs work just fine. Keeping the program you have active and up-to-date is much more important than the name on the box.
Have a question?
Please send questions to Bill Husted at tecbud@bellsouth.net. Although he reads every e-mail, not all are answered. E-mails are selected for publication based on the likelihood the answers will be of general interest.
About the Author
