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| Anti-static wrist bands to discharge your body |
My PC is old. My long trusted vendor assembled it nearly six years ago. It was much used and abused in the years before I got my Macs. And guess what, not once has it needed reformatting.
The other day, my vendor said, “I usually have to format my clients’ PCs every six months because they either become slow or crash without any warning. How come yours didn’t have any such problem? ”
Well, here is the secret to that.
* The computer is made up of several components that are eventually put together. Always insist on the sealed boxes of the parts. There are two reasons for this. One, you will never be cheated by a vendor passing off a second-hand part.
Second, and most important, the maximum retail price (MRP) is clearly marked on the boxes. Manufacturers print the MRP because the tax structure varies from state to state. For example, Maharashtra has a different tax structure than West Bengal’s; usually PCs turn out to be more expensive there.
Our vendors buy their parts from distributors or retailers. They get them at a much cheaper rate. Whatever it is, they cannot charge you more than the MRP. In fact, if you know the tax regime of your state for electronic goods, you can bargain with your vendor and get a good deal.
* Buy genuine Windows. The two types of Windows XP (Home and Professional) come in two versions. One is called the OEM version (original equipment manufacturer). Licenses of OEM versions of Windows are sold to manufactures for installation on new computers. They are full versions of Windows. They are widely available on the “grey market” and the Internet and cost considerably less than retail full versions. Just be careful not to purchase a pirated copy. It is much better to buy an original Windows from a trusted retailer even though it will cost you more.
* If you have purchased all the necessary hardware, you are ready to get your PC assembled. Before unpacking your components from their original anti-static bags, you must put on an anti-static wrist strap, which will discharge your body. It is important that you discharge yourself or there is a danger that you can damage the components by anti-static shock while touching the parts or peripherals. No vendor I know ever does this.
* A PC assembler never reads the manuals that come with the components. This often results in faulty assembly. Sometime ago I asked another vendor to install a wireless keyboard and mouse on my desktop. There was a clear warning on the box that said install the software first and only then plug in the devices. This guy just ignored the instruction and till today I have problems with the wireless keyboard and mouse.
* You do not have to be a techie to read the manual. It is written in short, crisp sentences that any seven-year-old will understand. Glance through the manual and imbibe whatever you can. This will also make the assembler more careful.
* Most vendors give you a trial copy of Norton or some other software to protect your PC. Norton is a big resource hog. Just reject it if he tries to install it. Remember, after the six-month trial is over, you will have to purchase your anti-virus software. Also, they never tell you that you need to update the software every week. You would be better off if you bought a copy of Zone Alarm Extreme Security 2010 for about Rs 3,300 from www.zonelabs.com. If you cannot afford one right away, pick up the free version of AVG from http://free.avg.com.
* Always keep your windows up to date. You will find the option for this among your programmes. Otherwise just open Internet Explorer and go to http://update.windows.com.
* In the course of using your PC, you will be downloading several free software. Make sure a proper anti-virus programme protects you. Otherwise you will be in trouble. Also, these programmes offer updates often, usually to patch up security holes. Keep your software up to date. These companies offer upgrades and updates. Upgrades mean they are enticing you to buy the software. Updates, on the other hand, give you the latest version of the free programme. Always accept the updates.
Finally, when you are done, go to www.belarc.com/free_download.html. Download the free Belarc Advisor. This gives you a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, missing Microsoft hotfixes, anti-virus status, benchmarks, and displays the results in your Web browser. It will also point out if anything is wrong with your computer; you may have wanted a certain feature but you vendor did not provide it. This will help you confront your assembler.
Send your computer-related problems to askdoss@abpmail.com. The solutions will appear soon.
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