Windows XP Users

Have you...

  • Updated to Service Pack 2?

    • Service Pack 2 includes a variety of security patches and bug fixes. Detailed instructions on how to get it from Microsoft can be found here.

  • Turned on Automatic Updates?

    • Turning on auto-update will help your computer stay protected from hackers. Click on Start -> Control Panel -> Performance and Maintenance -> System. Under the Automatic Updates tab, select either "Automatic" and pick a time when you're not using the computer, or pick "Download updates for me but let me choose when to install them" for finer control of updates. Remember to keep your computer updated - they're important for its health.

  • Updated to Internet Explorer 7.0?

    • IE7 is surprisingly useful and quite more stable than IE6. If you haven't updated yet, you should strongly consider it. You can find it here.

  • Tried out Firefox 2.0?

    • If you're really not enjoying the way IE is going, have you tried Firefox? Firefox is an alternative browser to Windows. And it's completely free. No kidding. It also has a variety of useful plugins designed by users. You can download it here.

  • Gotten a security package?

    • You should be running a virus scanner, a spybot scanner, and a firewall of some kind. We recommend AVG Anti-Virus, Spybot - Search and Destroy, and running a good router with a firewall built into it. If you don't have access to a good router, an ok substitute is Zone Alarm, but it's not nearly as user friendly. We offer all of these (and decent routers) in a bundle here in the shop.

  • Cleaned out your temporary internet folders?

    • Cleaning out your temporary internet files will help your computer running fast and save on hard drive space. In Internet Explorer, click Tools -> Internet Options, then select the option to delete your temporary internet files.

Linux Users

Have you...

  • Enabled journaling?

    • Journaling will help your computer recover in the event of a loss of power.

  • Started using SSH instead of telnet?

    • SSH will help protect your passwords from being exposed to eavesdroppers, and most system support it nowadays.

  • Installed Wine?

    • I know, we installed Linux to get away from Windows. But a lot of programs are still only coded for the Windows platform. WINE lets you have your cake and eat it too. Here's some common myths about Wine.