NMRLS PC FAQ

· When this happens are you using a Browser (Internet Explore or Firefox)? If yes, it may be a pop-up add and can be ignored, close it. Even if it is real, your program or Windows will remind you again and again to install this update.

· Is the software or upgrade or up-date is coming from one of these guys?

o Microsoft Windows / Microsoft Office or Apple (iTunes) or Norton Anti-Virus or Firefox or Adobe (Reader or PhotoShop) or any other brand of software on your computer, then click YES and go on with our life!

· You have no choice if you want legitimate software installed. The terms are called a EULA (End-User License Agreement), if you say no you don’t get the software …

VIRUS MESSAGES

I have gotten pop-up messages while using the computer that say that the computer may be infected with a virus. Then the message instructs me to follow certain instructions to remove the virus. These messages look like they come from Windows or Microsoft.

How do I know if they are for real?

· First know your anti-virus (A-V) program! This is the only program on your computer that will give you a virus warning. What brand is it? Symantec, Norton, MacAfee, AVG?

· When this happens are you using a Browser (Internet Explore or Firefox)? If yes, it may be a pop-up add and can be ignored, close it. Even if it is real, your anti-virus program will remind you again and again!

What should I do if I get a message that says my computer has a virus?

· Follow the instructions that your anti-virus gives you. Usually an A-V program will quarantine a suspected file and ask you whether to delete it … the answer is YES! Usually an A-V program finds a virus in an email attachment, again it will be quarantined and it will ask you to delete … the answer is still YES!

· An A-V program is always running in the background looking for suspicious files and activities. You should also schedule a daily scan of your system.

Are there any cheap or free Anti-Virus programs?

· YES!

o AVG Free: http://free.avg.com/

o Avira AntiVir: http://www.free-av.com/ (see Consumer Reports, p.33, Sept. 2008)

spyware

What is spyware?

Spyware is software installed on your computer without your knowledge. It can be a threat to your privacy, to your passwords and to any financial, medical or personal data you may have on your computer. It may just be tracking what websites you visit and for how long, or it may be recording your keystrokes to crack your passwords or credit card number. A lot of it is poorly written and, privacy concerns aside, it gunks up your computer, makes it run slow, takes up space on your hard disk(s) and may make your computer more venerable to viruses. It really serves no good purpose … do I need to go on? Of note, spyware and viruses are not so much a problem with owners of Apple computers.

Do I need it?

· No you do NOT need spy-ware … You need ANTI-SPYWARE!!!

· The simplest and easiest thing for Windows users is to install Windows Defender. This is Microsoft’s FREE anti-spy program for both Windows XP and Vista. On Vista it is preinstalled, no need to download. On Windows XP you may need to download it.

· Find it here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/

o Defender will scan your system as it installs and will then constantly run in the background protecting you. And it even automatically run a daily scan (which you can re-schedule in the Tools menu). If it misses a scan it will catch up, but may ask you to run a scan “right now!” If Defender finds spyware, follow the on-screen

Another well-respected and FREE Anti-Spyware program is Spybot.

· Spybot can run alongside Defender and may find programs that Defender does not.

· But, Spybot is a little more complicated to set up and can slow down a PC when it is running a scan.

· Find it here: http://www.safer-networking.org/

Is it already on my computer?

· Maybe … download and install one of the programs above!

Do I have to do something or does it run automatically?

· On Windows Vista computers Microsoft Defender is preinstalled, no need to download.

· On Windows XP you may need to download it, see above.

· On Macs … not a worry so far …

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Personalizing the Desktop & Start menu

How do I change the background of my desktop? How would I change the color scheme?

Windows XP

1. Right-click with mouse anywhere your desktop that is not an open window

2. Choose Properties

3. Choose Desktop tab

4. Scroll through pictures under Background: Click on your choice

5. Click on Apply button

Windows Vista

Step-by-step changing background:

http://www.winvistatips.com/change-background-image-a127675.php

How do you add or delete programs from the Start Menu?

· Quick answer : Right-click, choose remove from this list

· Setting this from the start: Right-click on Start button, choose Properties, choose Customize, Number of Programs on Start menu

How do I reset the date and time?

· Double-click on time in lower right corner and re-set it. Be sure to set proper Time Zone too!

Screensavers

What about screensavers? Why do I need one?

· Yes, probably … In theory they prevent an image from being permanently burned in to a screen. Many new flat-panel LCD monitors run screen savers or go to sleep automatically to prevent this.

How do I select a screensaver that I like?

· It’s reflects your taste and sensibility …

Windows XP

1. Right-click with mouse anywhere your desktop that is not an open window

2. Choose Properties

3. Choose Screen Saver tab

4. Click on Screen Saver drop-box and Click on your choice

5. Click on Settings button to customize

6. Click on Apply button

· A good choice for Public PCs is 3D Text. You can type in an upcoming program, reminder to log-out, etc. A cheap and easy marketing tool!

Windows Vista

Step-by-step changing background & screen savers:

http://www.winvistatips.com/change-background-image-a127675.php

How long do I set the number of minutes I want the screen to be idle before the screensaver activates?

· Whatever time-period is most convenient for you, but less than an hour.

Organizing Desktop Icons & Shortcuts

How do I create a shortcut?

1. Right-click on anything (a file, a folder, a program) and choose create shortcut from menu

2. Move the short-cut file to Desktop or a folder where it is convenient for you

Arranging Icons

1. Right-click with mouse anywhere your desktop that is not an open window

2. Choose Arrange Icons By … you have many choices!

3. TIP: Choose Align to Grid

How do I Clean up Desktop shortcuts

· If you want to get rid of a shortcut either drag to Recycle Bin or right-click and choose Delete

Automated “cleanup” of un-used icons on Windows XP

1. Right-click with mouse anywhere your desktop that is not an open window

2. Choose Properties

3. Choose Desktop tab

4. Click on Customize Desktop

5. Check Run Desktop Cleanup …

6. Click on Apply button

Is deleting the shortcut the same thing as deleting the program?

· NO! The shortcut is just that, a shortcut to get to the program. or file. or folder you want to get to.

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DEFRAG?

What is this?

· A Microsoft Windows program (both XP & Vista) that pulls fragments of files saved on your hard drive together. This makes the speed of retrieving files quicker and easier. The process may also discover problems with a hard drive and give you ample warning that your drive is about to crash and die …

· Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_Defragmenter_(Windows)

Am I supposed to be doing this?

· YES!

If yes, how?

Windows XP

1. Double-click My Computer on the desktop.

2. Right-click the disk you want to defragment (usually the C:\ drive), and then click Properties.

3. On the Tools tab, click Defragment Now.

4. Click Defragment button.

Windows Vista

For a nice step-by-step goto Windows Vista Tips:

http://www.winvistatips.com/disk-defragmenter-a96.php

And how often?

· Monthly will be fine.

· Be aware it will take a long time if you have never run it before …

Are there other clean up processes that I should be running regularly?

· Yes Check Disk! Also known as CHKDSK. Check Disk checks to make sure your hard drive is organized efficiently as well as checking for bad sections of your hard drive and telling Windows not to put stuff there.

How do I know what they are?

· You asked me!

· The two most important things are Defrag and Chkdsk.

· Use Windows help menu and Microsoft will spell this all out too, but not as succinctly.

1. Click on Start

2. Choose Help and Support

3. Choose Performance and Maintenance

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Check Disk / CHKDSK

Running CHKDSK on the fly!

Windows XP

1. Double-click My Computer on the Desktop, then right-click you want to check (usually the C:\ drive).

2. Choose "Properties".

3. Click the "Tools" tab at the top of the Properties window.

4. In the "Error-checking" section, click the button "Check now".

5. The option "Automatically fix file system errors" should be chosen for routine checks.

6. Click Start.

· If serious disk problems are suspected, the option "Scan and attempt recovery of bad sectors" should also be checked. However, this may involve a period of many hours.

Windows Vista

For a nice step-by-step goto Windows Vista Tips:

http://www.winvistatips.com/vista-chkdsk-a126028.php

How do I make my computer do this automatically!?

· Use the Windows Task Scheduler!

To open Scheduled Tasks in Windows XP:

· Option 1 via Start menu

1. click Start

2. click All Programs

3. point to Accessories

4. point to System Tools

5. click Scheduled Tasks

· Option 2 using Windows Help menu.

1. Click on Start

2. Choose Help and Support

3. Choose Performance and Maintenance

4. Click on Scheduling tasks

5. Click on Schedule a new task

Scheduling Tasks (CHKDSK / DEFRAG)

How do I schedule a CHKDSK and DEFRAG task to repeat weekly and monthly?

1. Double-click Add Scheduled Task to start the Scheduled Task Wizard, then click Next in the first box.

2. The next box displays a list of programs that are installed on your computer, but not DEFRAG or CHKDSK!

3. To find DEFRAG and CHKDSK click Browse, double-click the Windows folder

4. Scroll through folders until you find system32 folder

5. Double-click system32 folder.

6. Scroll through files and find chkdsk.exe, click on chkdsk.exe (you will need to repeat these steps for defrag.exe too!)

7. Click on Open button

8. Type a name for the task where file name is highlighted in blue (ex. Weekly Check Disk), and then choose one of the following options:

• Weekly for Chkdsk

• Monthly for Defrag

9. Click Next, specify the information about the day and time to run the task, and then click Next. (Lunch time or anytime when a slower computer won’t bother you as much).

10. Type the user name and password of an Administrator (which is You! on your home computer / on work computer you may need your IT staff to set this up). By default, the wizard selects the name of the user who is currently logged on.

11. Click Next, and then click Finish after you verify the choices that you have made.

IMPORTANT - You may get a black window with text popping up when CHKDSK and DEFRAG want to run. Do not be alarmed, it is saying that they can not run right now, but would you like them to run next time your computer starts? The answer is YES! Type a “Y” in that black window and go on with life satisfied your computer is properly maintained!

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Windows performance

What is Safe Mode?

· A way for Windows to start if there is something wrong with Windows, a program or installed hardware, the possibilities are endless … unfortunately

What should I do if my computer automatically starts up in Safe Mode?

· It depends …

· Try to re-start by choosing shut down at the start menu

· Did you just install some new software or a new hardware (a mouse or keyboard)?

· Uninstall it in Safe mode and re-boot (re-start by choosing shut down at the start menu)

· If these options don’t work it might be time to call Dell or the Geek Squad or take it to a local repair shop …

What causes Windows to freeze?

· Lots of things … but, it’s not you, it’s the PC!

· Windows and the software you are using encounter a problem

· Windows and the hardware you are using encounter a problem

· You got a virus

· You got spyware

· Your computer is old

What should I do when Windows freezes?

· Re-boot!

o To reboot from the keyboard hold down all three of these keys: CRTL-ALT-DELETE

o If Ctrl-Alt-Del does not work, hold down the power button for at least 10 seconds to force the PC to shut off. Count to 10, turn it back on.

What if Windows seems OK, but a particular program is freezing?

See if there are any updates for the program

In that program, Click on the Help menu then click on updates

OR - Google search the name of the program and the word “updates”

Final Option: Un-install the program and forget it ever happened …

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UNINSTALLING PROGRAMS

When I open my email the Yahoo! Messenger and/or AIM program pops up, how do I stop that!?

· Uninstall it!

How do I uninstall a program?

If program comes with it’s own uninstall program use that.

1. Go to Start \All Programs\[name of program] folder

2. Click on icon/shortcut for uninstall [name of program]

3. Re-boot, even if it doesn’t ask to re-boot (just to be sure it’s cleared out)

If the program does not have an uninstall icon/shortcut, then:

1. Goto Start \Control Panel \Add or Remove Programs

2. Choose the program to remove from listing

3. Click on Remove button

4. Re-boot, even if it doesn’t ask to re-boot (just to be sure it’s cleared out)

BACKING UP

Should I back up often?

· YES!!!!!

· At the library your cataloging and circulation data is backed up by NOBLE. But local spreadsheets or Word documents may not be ...

· At home you should be backing up all your documents including your digital photographs and videos, as well as any legally downloaded music or movies. If your hard drive crashes you will lose all those pictures and have to re-buy all that music!

O.K. How? And is there a way where it will run automatically? And maybe for free too?

· Yes and it depends …

EASY - External Hard Drive – $$$

· Another very useful and even easier option is to buy an external backup hard drive ($75-$125). This drive will include very user friendly software which will also backup your “My Documents” files and folders automatically and on a portable hard drive separate from your computer.

· Buy a hard drive that is at least 100GB (gigabytes), that will give you plenty of room for backups.

· Brands: Seagate, Maxtor, Western Digital

· Stores: Best Buy, Circuit City, Staples

HARDER - Microsoft Backup – FREE!

· If you have two or more separate hard drives on your computer or if your computer is part of a network linked to file server, use Microsoft Backup. It is available for both XP and Vista.

· In Windows XP, find it in Start \All Programs \Accessories \System Tools \Backup

· In Vista find it in Start \All Programs \Accessories \System Tools \Backup Status …

· Use the Backup Wizard to set up a backup of “My Documents and Settings.”

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Scott Kehoe, Consultant/Trainer, NMRLS / scott@nmrls.org / 978-762-4433x16 / AIM: bibliotechy

09-04-2008