HP and XP Help

  • Thread starter Thread starter martymkm
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martymkm

I am relatively new to computers but thanks to semi-lurking in here I've
picked up quite a bit but have a few questions.... I have a HP with
512mb ram, 120gb hard drive, and 2.80 ghtz. I have MSN9 dialup.
I have dl'ed Ad-Aware SE, Spybot S & D, Spywareblaster. I also bought
the Norton AV and firewall so I "think" I am pretty secure in the
security area. Or is there something else I need?
And I'm wondering, I hear all kinds of talk of upgrading this and that
(drivers, among other things.) Is this necessary to do this every so
often to keep you machine running efficiently? If so where would I find
out what I need? I visit the Windows update site a couple times a week
so I'm good in that area....

Play Safe; Marty
 
Those are two excellent questions.

By far, the most important way to protect yourself from viruses and spyware
is to learn how to avoid them in the first place. Don't rely exclusively on
software to keep you out of trouble. Viruses and spyware can be notoriously
difficult to remove, and even if successfully removed they can still leave
your system in an unstable state. If anti-virus and anti-spyware
applications can completely eradicate an infection, consider yourself lucky;
if they can restore your system to a point where you can backup your data
files and re-install your software, consider yourself fortunate. Prevention
is always better (and considerably less time consuming) than cure.

There are only two types of software updates that you must install: 1)
security updates from Windows Update (including Service Pack 2) and Office
Update (if you're using Microsoft Office), and 2) updates to your security
software, especially virus definitions. It's your choice as to what other
software updates you install. You asked about drivers: Unless you are
experiencing a problem with a particular piece of hardware, there is no
reason to update that hardware's driver.

One thing you absolutely must do is to get into the habit of making regular
backups. It's easy enough to backup your data files, and there are mountains
of software to help you do it. As you become more advanced you'll want to
image your system partition, or even your entire hard disk. With a known
good backup you can get out of any trouble short of the physical destruction
of your computer. And if you copy that backup to a DVD, and a tree falls on
your computer, you can laugh.
 
[email protected] said:
I am relatively new to computers but thanks to semi-lurking in here I've
picked up quite a bit but have a few questions.... I have a HP with
512mb ram, 120gb hard drive, and 2.80 ghtz. I have MSN9 dialup.
I have dl'ed Ad-Aware SE, Spybot S & D, Spywareblaster. I also bought
the Norton AV and firewall so I "think" I am pretty secure in the
security area. Or is there something else I need?
And I'm wondering, I hear all kinds of talk of upgrading this and that
(drivers, among other things.) Is this necessary to do this every so
often to keep you machine running efficiently? If so where would I find
out what I need? I visit the Windows update site a couple times a week
so I'm good in that area....

Play Safe; Marty
Click to expand...

Hi Marty, you will get different opinions on this so here's mine.
I believe "that if it isn't broke ,don't fix it"
Having the latest update or driver for a program does not always mean that
it is the best and the baddest (anti-virus and malware scanners are excludded
of course).Sometimes the latest driver may cause problems that you didn't
experiance before you updated, so unless you are having a problem I wouldn't
update at every new release. Even at windows update "read" what the hotfix is
for and decied if it applies to you or not,many so called critical updates
really are not needed if you have a stand alone computer in your house,If you
click on "read more" at windows update you may find that it says someting
like this on many hotfixes
"This exploit can not be exploited remotely"
So if the person needs to have their hands on your keyboard to take
advantage of this do you really need to install it?
When someone says to install all critical updates they are under the
belief that you are stupid and cannot decide for yourself just what you need
and don't need.

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_device_drivers.htm
 
When someone says to install all critical updates they are under the
belief that you are stupid and cannot decide for yourself just what you need
and don't need.
Click to expand...

Wrong.

Microsoft's critical updates for Windows are just that - critical. If
there is not already a virus/trojan released to exploit whatever the
upodate fixes there soon will be.

And updates for antivirus & antispyware software are also essential.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."
 
Thanks for the responses guys. I really appreciate it. I hold to the
theory if it ain't broke, don't fix it too, LOL
I am very diligent about updating all of the things I have, every other
day or so (right before I run them), and from a different user each time
just for smiles and giggles.
I have read every single post on here and have learned quite a lot, but
still have a ways to go so as the governor of CA once said "'I'll be
baaaack!"....

My hats off to everyone for the eduction; Marty
 
That is a very poor theory. (If it ain't broke don't fix it) Usually stated
by someone unsure of himself. If it ain't broke, can you make it better??
 
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