Computer Fun!

 

Today is update Tuesday. After my wife's computer updated and then restarted she found a new program installed on her computer “Antivirus Pro”. We don’t own this program have never heard of this program, and definitely didn't download it. Tristan was no longer able to use the Internet, run many of her programs, restore to an earlier point, or even run her virus scanner. the one thing we could do was reinstall windows….. What Fun!!

 

The good news is that Tristan had just backed up her important files to DVD's so her data was saved.

So let the fun begin….I think it is great fun to do a clean install of windows… you get to pick and choose (from the mass amount of programs that you have installed over time), the ones you actually use.

We started by reinstalling Windows. Then we started on the fun task of figuring out which programs Tristan needs/wants. Some we had, (on various hard drives and flash drives around the house, (that is my fault, I like storage),  others were included with the restore disks that came with the computer, and some we had to go rooting around the net for.

 

As I helped with the reinstallation of every thing, we discovered a couple of programs, (we had difficulty with before hand), that worked this time around, (made my wife happy!!). It is now 7:45 PM and Tristan's computer is just about finished.

 

Here are some suggestions for heavy content creators or picture takers…and all who could possibly get a virus.

• Install a security program and turn on windows fire wall

The program I use is Microsoft Security Essentials

This Idea comes from “The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management”

• Back up…There is a three step process to backing up

1. make 3 copies of your data
2. put it on 2 different kinds of media I.E. hard drive cd DVD.
3. have an off site back up (on the web or at your office or at a parents house

Remember that one copy is not a backup and don’t make a copy then delete the original because you will still only have one copy.

For a great article on backing up visit dpbestflow.org 

• Get a password manager

 

The one I use and recommend is Last Pass.

Last Pass not only remembers your password for every site you save to it, but it remembers websites and logins for those sites.  Last pass will even generate secure passwords for you. All you need is to set a master password and let last pass do the rest.

This is what my password vault looks like (yes I did edit the contents so you cant see some of my user names).

 

By clicking on the links on the left it will automatically take you to the site and log you in.

 

Please let me know what your suggestions for a good computing experience are.

 

Jason