HELP DESK
Q: I downloaded Avast on top of another anti-virus program and it froze my computer. I can't turn it off properly just by pressing the power button. Any suggestions? — Clyde Wallace
A: Well, as you've discovered for yourself, it is a bad idea to run two anti-virus programs. While it often works just fine, there's also a chance of getting into a mess. So stick with just one. It's OK to run more than one anti-spyware/adware programs (if you're sure it does not also check for viruses). But stick with just one anti-virus program. Now, let's get to your problem. Try starting your computer in Safe Mode and then use the normal uninstall feature you'll find in the Windows Control Panel. If you don't know how to use Safe Mode just type those words – Safe Mode — into the Windows Help menu for complete instructions.
The secret to a happy relationship with your computer is a simple one and does not require a degree in electrical engineering or even a deep understanding of the technology that makes the danged thing go.
Instead, this secret is a mind set, a way of thinking that – once mastered – will go a long way to keep you out of trouble.
Basic training
If you continue to drive a car without changing the oil it will eventually die. There are some basic maintenance practices for a computer – that if not followed – will have the same result. That’s a basic truth.
And here’s the basic truth when it comes to computers. You must install and use programs that block or delete the swarm of bugs that buzz around the Internet. That means using anti-virus, anti-spyware/adware software. Most of this software will also look for other varied threats that are usually lumped together under the term malware.
The last piece of your basic training arsenal is a program that will save a back-up copy of what you create – including photographs, documents, spreadsheets, emails and the like. Luckily Windows comes with an adequate free program for doing this. There are also online services such as Carbonite (www.carbonite.com and Mozy (www.mozy.com) that will safely and automatically save your information to a secure online site. However you decide to do it – just do it. Take me at my word on all this – you must do it. No one can skip that step and survive for long.
Curiosity can kill more than cats
No matter who you are or where you live you will often get intriguing emails from friends and strangers alike. You’ll be directed to check out a new video, or see shocking pictures, or read some new bit of gossip.
Same deal goes for browsing websites. You’ll find places that promise everything from a full head of hair to instant riches – just click on the link. If I had to boil down my suggestion on this topic to a single statement it would be this: Stay away, don’t click.
Ironically that holds true for emails sent by a trusted friend or a family member. That’s true because – at times – the email accounts of friends and family get hijacked by some evil doer and are used to send emails containing what amount to cyberbombs to everyone in their address book. When you get an email that seems to be from a friend you can always check with them to make sure that they actually sent the links or attachments and then, once you know, open them.
Don’t assume you know what you are doing
It’s just human nature and I’m not immune to this one – it’s easy to over-estimate your computer skills. When that happens and you begin to fix problems that are way above your pay grade you can land in a world of trouble.
Think long and hard before you start any repair task – whether it’s installing a new hard disk or trying to dig out some stubborn bug in a program. Some of you can truly do it safely.
The trouble here is – when offering general advice – I can’t know who can do what. And, based on the emails I receive, some of you can’t either. Take things slow; be cautious and even skeptical of your ability to tackle computer problems. Many times taking a machine to a professional repair shop is money well spent.
Rushing toward defeat
This is a problem with both beginners and true experts. When trouble strikes there is a temptation to tackle it right away, to get things up and running again as soon as possible.
Trying to fix things while in one of these hyper states can result in skipping steps or making foolish mistakes while in a panic. The best way to proceed is to turn off the computer and leave it alone for a while. If the problem disappears when you turn the machine back on, abandon all thoughts of figuring things out.
If the problem does pop up again, do some thinking about any changes you may have made recently. In most cases it is one of these changes – new software, updated software, new devices added to the machine – that is at the root of the problem. So be a good detective and look for clues.
Give it a rest
When I suggest that you turn off your computer daily, it is not an attempt by me to suggest that you lead a more balanced life. Instead, this process of turning the machine off acts as a way of flushing troubles away.
Turning the computer off – and I’m not talking about putting it in sleep mode – gives it a fresh start. Some bits of programs tend to linger even when you close the program. Turning the machine off gets rid of these trouble making stragglers. That’s true whether you use a desktop, laptop or tablet computer.
But there’s another reason for powering down if you use laptop computers. The heat-generating electronics packed into that small case gets hot fast. And killing heat can do great damage if the laptop is left on constantly.
I wish I could tell you that if you follow all my tips you’ll never have another computer problem. Instead I have to tell you that – no matter what you do – you’ll occasionally be visited by some glitch or another. But following these tips will at least postpone and even eliminate some problems.
So go ahead, get your mind right and your computer will surely follow.
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