How To Have A Good Computer With No Problems In 5 Easy Steps

[bofe]

Step 1 ) Run a stable operating system. By Stable I mean Windows 2000, XP, Mac OS X, or if you're into the Linux side of things you can just stop reading this.

Step 2 ) Make a choice: Either don't connect your machine to the internet, or invest in a firewall (software or hardware)

Step 3 ) Patch your machine frequently. Run Windows Update, Whatever the Apple update is, or apt-get.

Step 4 ) DO NOT DOWNLOAD ANYTHING THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY DO NOT TRUST.

Step 5 ) Routinely Scan for Malware/Spyware/Viruses

I run win2k. It's worked for me and my machine for 3 years now... zero problems.

 

[kurabrhm]

Have you seen 'How to lose a guys in 10 days' starring Kate Hudson? The message in that film is equally dubious!

 

[SirKenin]

How about 1 easy step?

Learn what you are doing and don't buy a piece of junk computer to begin with. People seem to forget that it's seldom the O/S that's the problem, it's the hardware.

Blaming it on the O/S means you simply don't have the skills to take the bull by the horns and resolve the real issue.

 

[Morrog]

Step 6) Don't use Internet Explorer. Use Mozilla, Firefox, or Opera.

 

[SirKenin]

lol. I like IE 6 It's all I use.

 

[plum]

good tidbits, hero.

 

[mathias1979]

I follow Step 4...an so far no major problems with my computer over the past couple years.

-Matt

 

[Stryper]

i concur with dr. feelgood.

hes the one to call dr feelgood.

 

[marduke]

linux is stable.. i run it on my server, and never had a drama.

also spend the money on good quality hardware, far to many times i have seen computers stuff up because of cheap hardware (by cheap i mean generic stuff).
there are only certain brands i will buy.

 

[trunks2k]

I have an easier way of making sure your computer never causes you any problems.

Unplug the power cord.

You'll never have to worry about viruses, crashes, "hackers" (the real word is crackers), etc.

 

[askbros]

Another one is to use a magnet. You'll never have problems with that drive again!

 

[mannmann]

I have an easier way of making sure your computer never causes you any problems.

Unplug the power cord.

You'll never have to worry about viruses, crashes, "hackers" (the real word is crackers), etc.

Humpf - u got there before me..

So Doctor, how's he looking?
Patient is stable..
STABLE? - Dead is STABLE!!

 

[Morrog]

MAgnet, bah, get with the times. You're supposed to use at _least_ a vat of acid. Most people use EMP bombs, a tactical nuke or two, or a chainsaw.

 

[plum]

defenistrate it.

 

[Stryper]

mac os x

 

[Tarheel25]

People seem to forget that it's seldom the O/S that's the problem, it's the hardware.

Unless you are running anything Windows ME & earlier. Those OS' absolutely suck and have so many bugs in them it makes Mexico look like Antarctica. XP is better; yet has it still has plenty of security issues, probelms, etc. Although hardware does play a significant role, the OS could help. We have a daily use worskstation here that has an up-time of over 800 days now. What is it? An old pieced together Pentium 233 MMX running Linux. Never crashes, never has any issues, just is reliable as anything. Anyone that buys a PC straight from Wal Mart, Target, Best Buy, etc, needs to know that chances are very high your PC will not last long. I think the three worst brands I have seen over the years are Compaq, eMachines, and Acer. Just absolute garbage on the insides of those things.

 

[marduke]

ah yes the good ol pentium II 233, i had one, was the most stable computer i ever had (even running XP on it) but i did have nearly 1Gb of ram... lol oh and i overclocked it to 500MHz hehe ran a P3 cooling fan on it, and never had a problem. ran day and night for 3 months straight (until we had a brown out...)

 

[Servant777]

Step 3 ) Patch your machine frequently. Run Windows Update, Whatever the Apple update is, or apt-get.

Yeah, well, use apt-get if you have Debian or some other DEB-based system. Most Linux distros are almost as stupid as windows when it comes to updating. You can't install that fancy commercial Linux and expect it to be both up-to-date and stable after two years, same as windows. You always need the new cd set. Well, not with Debian. You install once (granted, it can be a pain in the butt) and after that you only need to use apt and it will never be outdated (unless you break the system by doing something very stupid).

One thing I've noticed about computers though is that you will never be totally free of problems. Even if there are no other problems, a hardware failure will occur sooner or later.

 

[mac_philo]

As to the person who said the OS does not matter, I disagree. Windows ME will give ANYONE problems.

As for upgrading Linux, it's not true that only Debian can upgrade without problems, though Debian is still the best. Mandrake can do it now, too. I've upgraded the last four versions without getting new CDs.

I'm a Linux nut, but I don't hate Windows. I just find Windows to always be either boring or irritating. Linux is fun for me.

My linux desktop has been running for 380 days nonstop with one crash. My OSX system has been running nonstop since I bought it (three months) without a crash.

I do believe Windows makes it much easier to screw your computer up, with browser hijackings/spyware/programs running automatically/worms/etc... But most people can use it and it runs on cheap hardware, so it's OK. I think Joe User would be better off with Mac OSX, but you have to pay a bit more for the hardware.

 

[SirKenin]

As to the person who said the OS does not matter, I disagree. Windows ME will give ANYONE problems.

You're welcome to disagree but between Dell, HP, Compaq, Sony and EMachines, not to mention myself and countless other VAR's, we've deployed it on 10's of 1000's of computers. It's been deployed without a hitch on more machines than you can possibly even think of.

I tend to take the opinion of an individual with a grain of salt. No offense