Don't plug your computer OR ANY OTHER DEVICES ATTACHED TO THE COMPUTER directly into a wall outlet. That's right, you must use a GOOD surge protector. So, get a good surge protector, and plug your PC, scanner, printer and devices into it. If you run out of outlets, get another surge protector. Also, if you use dialup Internet access, or have the phone cord plugged into your modem for faxing or any other purpose, run the phone cord through a surge protector.

I get a lot of calls each year where the customer had their computer plugged into a surge protector, but their computer got fried through the telephone line. Also, if you use a cable-based Internet provider (such as RoadRunner), then get a surge protector that protects the incoming CATV cable.

What do these surge protectors look like? Here are some excellent Tripp-lite models.

Just click on the picture to see a larger version.

TLP808. Good surge protection for desktop computers that do not use a modem.	TLP808TEL. Basically the same as the TLP808 but also protects phone line.	TLP808TELTV. Adds protection for your cable TV or cable Internet (RoadRunner) connection	TLP810NET has protection for phone, cable TV or cable Internet (RoadRunner) connection and Network connection	TLP810SAT protects phone line and two CATV cables (satellite Internet, such as DirecWay)
Need more information on these or other surge protectors? Go to www.tripplite.com

You can get GOOD surge protectors by Tripplite, Curtis, and other manufacturers almost anywhere. Expect to pay $25 - $70 depending on the features. If you got a "bargain" surge protector for $5, expect to replace your equipment when you get a significant spike. A good surge protector is one of the best investments you can make.

Did you know there are several great antispyware programs that are FREE?

You MUST keep a current antivirus on your computer if you are going to connect to the Internet for ANY reason (and yes, email is connecting to the Internet).
We recommend using a name-brand product such as Norton, McAfee, Panda, Microsoft's Windows Live OneCare, or TrendMicro.
If you have an outdated operating system (such as Windows 98) you my need to install a free product, such as AVG. You can go to www.download.com and search for AVG. Again, download it, install it, update it, and run it. There is a FREE AVG version for home use, but you must pay for the business version.

Many people will get an error message while in a program and promptly forget about it. They then run other programs, noticing their computer gets slower and slower. Finally, I get the call and ask the infamous question: "Have you tried rebooting?"

Believe it or not, this fixes the problem the vast majority of the time. There are a few times when they are infected with a virus, the hard drive went kaput!, or some other serious problem exists, but most times it just needs rebooted.

What does reboot mean? You click on the Start button (usually in the lower left corner of the screen) and choose restart or shutdown.

What if the computer locks up? Then you have to turn it off manually. Normally, you can hold down the power button on the front of the computer for 5 - 10 seconds and it will shut down. Many people just press the button, see that it won't shut down, and pull the plug. Wrong idea! You have got to HOLD the button for 5 - 10 seconds and it WILL shutdown. Then wait 10 seconds, press the button again to restart.

Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself before you make this decision.

1. How old is your computer? If your computer is more than 5 years old, it is most likely time for a new one.

2. What operating system do you use? If you don't know, right-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop and choose Properties with a left-click. If you are running Windows ME or Windows 98, then buying a new one is almost always the right answer.

3. How many components do you need to upgrade? If you just need to upgrade your ram, you can usually add 512 MBs for under $100 for many computers. But if you need to upgrade your hard drive, video card, ram, and operating system, then you should REALLY consider getting a new one.

4. Do you WANT a new computer? Many people upgrade their computers spending hundreds of dollars just to buy a new one 6 months later. They really wanted a new one, but couldn't justify it to themselves. But their 6-year-old computer with more ram, an new hard drive, and an OS upgrade to Windows XP still ran slow. So now they are out of the upgrade money and the money for the new one.

5. Bottom line: If you are going to spend 50%-75% or more of the cost for a new computer on upgrades, just buy the new computer! I have seen people actually spend MORE to upgrade their computer than it would have cost to buy a more powerful, more dependable new computer.

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