Below are some tips and recommendations you might find of help.

Backing Up Your Data
What Files to Backup
Keeping Track of Your Passwords
Selecting Good Passwords
Formatting your Drive with NTFS
Scanning Pictures
File Resolution. Picture size, File Size
A Quick Tutorial to Scanning Pictures for Web Pages
Reinstalling Windows XP
Sharing a Local Printer over a Home Network using Windows XP
How to Prevent your Computer from trying to automatically connect to the Internet
Tips for Running Security Suites



 

 

 

 





 

 

 

Disaster Recovery Box
I highly recommend that you have a place where you keep all of your diskettes, and recovery CDs that came with your computer when you first purchased it. Be sure to include the CDs for your printer, scanner, and any other paraphernalia you have purchased. You should also keep incremental backups of your documents, pictures and important data.

Backup Your Data Often
You should backup your data often. I prefer to use specialized software for those backups that perform the backups automatically and at specific scheduled times. Nowadays you can purchase an external USB drive where you can backup all of your important documents, pictures and music. Maxtor and Iomega among others offer several USB hard drives that often received excellent reviews from leading computer magazines. Some of those drives come with software that do automatic backups.



If you don’t have any software to backup your data, there are several good programs that will do the task. Handy Backup. You can download an evaluation copy of this program that will work for (30) thirty days. If you like it you can purchase it on-line for about $30.00. Of course, there are many others that will do a good job as well. Another very good program is Replicator from Karen's Power Tools, best of all this program is free.

• Documents
• Music
• Pictures
• Videos
• Desktop
• Downloads
• Favorites (your Internet explorer favorite Web sites)
• Bank records and other financial information (such as Quicken, Microsoft Money)
• Tax programs (just the tax information, not the program)
• Your e-mail address book
• Personal projects

Be sure to include the software you purchase and downloaded from the Internet as well as the music you purchase or downloaded from the Internet.

Windows 7 users: Windows 7 makes easy to backup your Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos. All you have to do is to select the "Libraries" folder. However, you should also include your Favorites, Desktop and Downloads.

Depending on how your computer is configure Windows XP users should find "My Documents" , "Favorites" and "Desktop" under (Local C:) Documents and Settings, folders labeled “All Users”, “Owner” and/or the users name.

Also be sure to check for documents stored under Program Files and any other folders you have created on the local C or external drives.

If you haven't already decided where you want to store your backup copies—external hard disk drive, CDs, DVD's, or some other storage format—and you want to know more about your options, you can read about Backing Up Your Data.

Tips for Running Security Suites

1. Delete/uninstall your old security software: You should run only one anti virus engine at a time. Be sure to completely uninstall one anti virus product and rebooting your PC before installing another one. Also, turn off Windows firewall off when using another companies firewall. Running both will have conflicts.
2. Check the integrity of your hard drive: Run Windows’ chkdsk utility before the installation to rule out or repair any problems with the hard drive. Go to Start, Run and type chkdsk in the dial box. Click OK
3. Run Windows’ Critical Updates, to make sure your system is completely up-to-date before you installed security software, which you should also make sure you keep up to date.
4. Keep a record: In case you need to call tech support, make a record of the installed date, serial number or key-code number and telephone numbers.
5. Antispyware: If you like, you can run more than one antispyware application along your security suite.
6. Keep your subscription current. This is probably the most important thing you must remember. Your security suite is only as good and effective as the latest update. Please don’t forget to renew or replace your security software.
   
   

Passwords
Are you going crazy keeping track of all the different passwords?
Many of us have different screen names and different passwords for different systems and/or logging on to different web sites. Keeping track of all of those can be challenging.

RoboForm makes logging into Web sites and filling forms faster, easier, and more secure. RoboForm memorizes and securely stores each user name and password the first time you log into a site, then automatically supplies them when you return. With just one click RoboForm will navigate to a Web site, enter your username and password and click the submit button for you. Completing long registration or checkout forms is also a breeze. Simply click on your RoboForm Identity and RoboForm fills-in the entire form for you. You no longer need to remember all your passwords. You remember one Master Password, and RoboForm remembers the rest. This allows you to use stronger passwords, making your online experience more secure. RoboForm uses strong AES encryption for complete data security. Version 6.9 improves integration with Windows Vista.

Password Keeper is a nice program that you can download and use for free. If you like it and decide to use it, the author expects you to register the program. The program, however, will continue to work just fine without registration. But if you register (only $20.00 with a lifetime of updates) you will get rid of the annoying prompt asking you to register and, of course, you will have support and will be notified of free updates.

If you have a PDA, Password Plus seems to do a great job of keeping your passwords and PIN numbers organized, and not only can you have them in your desktop or laptop computer, but the program will also synchronize them with your PDA. I couldn't live without this program.

Wireless Networking
If you want to setup a wire/wireless Network, you will need a NAT router and wireless cards. You should have one machine that can connect to the router by wire.

Here is a good web site to check before you setup your network. Here in another very good web site. This is about the best one I've found. Very clear and comprehensive.

Disclaimer
These tips and software recommendations are only a guideline. This is hardware and software I’ve used, and I have had a good experience with them. By no means do I mean to imply that these are the ones you should buy and/or use. I am sure there are many other products that will work very well for you. This is intended only as a guide to give you an idea of what products are out there that would make your computing experience safer and more enjoyable.