Computer Tech Support

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This page is being created to address the many minor software issues that can become major problems for a good majority of users. Although Monkeys tend to be on the higher end of the spectrum when it comes to dealing with computer issues, perhaps this page will be of some assistance. At the moment this will be Windows based but anything Mac users wish to add could do so. Anything you feel you can contribute, by all means feel free to edit.

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Basic Computer Maintenance

There a few basic things that everyone should do every so often to help keep your computer running in tip-top shape. Not to be confused with diagnosing and removing specific threats or problems, these programs and tips are only for general maintenance use and can be of value to any computer user, regardless of other problems you may be having.

  • Disk Defragmentation - Defragmenting a hard drive is a very basic operation that should be done every couple of months. The timing depends mostly on how often you install/uninstall programs and add/remove files or folders. Defragmenting the hard drive will ensure that your computer can quickly access your data without having to sort through junk. Think of it as "sorting your stuff" in a way. This utility can take quite a bit of time so it is best to run before a good night's sleep.
  1. To begin the program click on START-->PROGRAMS-->ACCESSORIES-->SYSTEM TOOLS-->Disk Defragmenter
  2. You are given the option to "ANALYZE" the drive in order to find out whether defragmenting is recommended
  3. You may either do this or simply skip this step and click "DEFRAGMENT"
  • Disk Cleanup - From time to time files can build up on your hard drive that you may never need. Here are a few tips to help you free up a good amount of space if you find yourself running low or just doing some maintenance. Windows includes a "Disk Cleanup" utility which has combined a few tasks into one massive cleanup act. This is a great program to run to locate areas of excess files.
  1. To begin the program click on START-->PROGRAMS-->ACCESSORIES-->SYSTEM TOOLS-->Disk Cleanup
  2. The program will first calculate the amount of space that can become available from certain cleanup tasks
  3. Once this is done you will get a menu allowing you to choose which options would free up the most space. Clicking each item will give you a description of the purpose of these files to allow you to make an informed decision on whether you need them or not.
  4. After you have checked off the appropriate items, click OK to remove them.
  5. The MORE OPTIONS tab contains even more options for removing excess programs, components, and system restore points. These options can be used at your discretion to free up more space.
  • Data Backup - It cannot be stressed enough how much you will kick yourself if you do not make it a regular routine of backing up important files, folders, and emails. Hard drives are not the most stable things in the world and DO have a shelf life. Combined with the ability of viruses to corrupt your Windows installation you should be backing up all important data at least once a month. If your email supports IMAP it is a good idea to use that as well. IMAP will allow all emails to remain located on a central server instead of on your hard drive, allowing you to access your email from multiple machines as well as reformat a computer without losing important emails. Web-based email such as Gmail or Yahoo is also an option.
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Viruses

Viruses are host programs that run from your computer as a result of an installation of some kind on your system. You may find that your system is running slower than usual, internet speeds may decrease, your internet connection could die altogether, or you may see no symptoms at all and still be infected. Read on to find out how to Detect, Remove, and Prevent viruses on your computer.

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Prevention

Contrary to popular opinion not all viruses are contracted on a machine as a result of clicking a link, reading an email, or opening an attachment. It is possible to become infected without doing anything whatsoever on your part. So how do you prevent these pesky things from getting on your machine?

  • Windows Updates - It is CRUCIAL that your operating system be up-to-date with the latest security patches. A brand new computer can become infected in just a few short minutes without proper security patches. Windows regularly releases these "critical updates" to Windows users for downloading. Visit Windows Update, scan the computer, and install all CRITICAL UPDATES. It is also a good idea to set Windows to automatically update when you are connected to the internet. This can be done by going to START-->SETTINGS-->CONTROL PANEL-->Automatic Updates.
  • Email - While a good antivirus program will detect and remove email attachments with known viruses in them, it is always a good rule of thumb to only trust the files that you are already expecting to receive from someone. If you didn't expect it, don't open it, period.
  • Firewall - A software firewall is a type of program that will only allow programs access to the internet that have been specifically allowed by you. It can also prevent incoming connections from other users on a network. These programs range from the relatively quiet to the more advanced and can cause major internet problems if permissions to certain programs are accidently denied or allowed. Windows XP has a default firewall which can be turned on/off and adjusted from the control panel under SECURITY CENTER. Other popular programs are ZoneAlarm, BlackIce, and Norton.
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Detection and Removal

Detecting and removing viruses is something best left to an anti-virus program. There is simply no reason NOT to get one and have it running at all times. While I will not get into the specifics of each program here are a few quick tips to making sure you get the most out of your antivirus program.

  1. Make sure you have it set to automatically update the definition or dat files every day. Many major companies have started releasing these updates more regularly and you want to be absolutely sure your anti-virus program is searching for the latest viruses.
  2. Automatic scanning is a great way to have piece of mind that your computer is free of viruses. I set mine to run every night around 3am but this may be a little extreme. If you do not leave your computer on at night or do not want to run a scan every night, make a virus scan once a week a minimum amount to make sure your computer is free of viruses.
  3. If you use an email client such as Outlook, Thunderbird, or Eudora make sure your anti-virus program is actively scanning the attachments. This is normally a default setting but not a bad thing to check.
  4. If your antivirus program is having problems removing a virus it finds it is sometimes best to run it in Safe Mode. Safe Mode is a startup option that does not allow any outside programs to start up (sort of a barebones version of Windows). To start your computer in Safe Mode, continually hit F8 when you turn on your computer until you are given a long list of startup options and choose SAFE MODE from that list. Once your computer is fully started up you can run a virusscan by going to the anti-virus folder located under START-->PROGRAMS.
  5. Some viruses are very hard to completely get rid of. Specific instances of "IRC BOT" viruses have been known to replicate themselves sometimes a month after initially cleaning the computer. If you are having problems with a constantly recurring virus that returns after you have cleaned it (and you are up-to-date with Windows Updates) it is probably in your best interest to back up any data you want to keep and reformat the computer.
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Popular Programs

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Adware/Spyware

Adware and Spyware are quickly becoming as much a pest as viruses have been the past couple of years. Adware is usually installed on your computer as part of a bundle with another program, for example many free file-sharing programs will install adaware in order to make their money. Spyware is a bit more malicious. Spyware can be installed on your computer without you even authorizing it as a result of various browser exploits, although sometimes it can be installed as bundled software with another program as well.

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Symptoms

Typically symptoms include massive amounts of popups, perhaps even when you are not actively browsing the web, slower access to webpages than usual, extra toolbars in Internet Explorer, extra toolbars on the desktop, and unknown icons appearing on the desktop for programs you have not installed.

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Detection and Removal

There are many great tools available both for free and for a fee on the internet. On the free side of things, Ad-aware and Spybot are the industry standard for detecting and removing adware and spyware from a machine. Microsoft's recently released Anti-Spyware program is also a nice addition which goes a bit further by running actively in the background and preventing spyware from installing itself on your computer. For paid anti-spyware programs Counterspy and Spy Sweeper contain many user options that are not available in their free counterparts like scheduled scanning, automatic updates, and registry key change prevention. If you are willing to spend $20-$30 on a program like this than go for it. If you don't mind a little DIY maintenance than the free programs should be just fine to clean up your computer. As with viruses, if you are having problems removing spyware one of the best things you can do is to start the computer in Safe Mode before you do a scan to allow no other programs to be running at the time. To start your computer in Safe Mode, continually hit F8 when you turn on your computer until you are given a long list of startup options and choose SAFE MODE from that list.

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Prevention

There are steps you can actively take to prevent infection of adware and spyware on your computer. Here are just a few tips:

  1. Consider using an alternate browser such as Firefox or Opera. Internet Explorer is currently not secure and more prone to these types of infection as well as browser hijacks.
  2. Always be aware of what you are agreeing to when you install something. Do NOT assume that you have to click YES on a box in order for a site to load. By doing so you may very well be agreeing to many different programs being installed on your computer. When in doubt, just click the X in the top right corner and move along.
  3. Install a popup blocker to prevent many unwanted popups and solicitations. Google Toolbar is a great free popup blocker with many other features. Firefox has a popup blocker built into the interface. An updated version of Internet Explorer for Windows XP also contains a popup blocker.
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Popular Programs

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Troubleshooting

If you are having specific problems hopefully this area will guide you where to look for the answer

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Slow Startup

  1. Download Hijackthis and scan the computer
  2. Once done scanning save a log of the scan to the computer (DO NOT REMOVE EVERYTHING IT FINDS)
  3. Upload your scan log here
  4. Remove any suspicious entries noted by the site
  5. Make sure to scan for both viruses and spyware, as these programs are also part of the startup process
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