Every so often I receive a call from my brother about his computer. You see, he has one of those "technically challenged" personalities. He can tear apart a car engine, replace the pistons, and put it back together; but he can't maintain his computer. This amazes me, because there are really only two things you MUST do with a computer:
1) Make sure your Anti-virus software is installed, updated, and is not EXPIRED.
2) Make sure your Windows updates are installed on a regular basis.
There are other things you can do to enhance your routine maintenance, but these two are the only ones you MUST remember. As an added convenience, both tasks have automated reminders and warning systems built in! You know, those little pop-ups that say "ANTI-VIRUS IS EXPIRED" or "UPDATES ARE READY TO INSTALL".
This seems pretty simple to me, but for some reason I see computers all the time with expired anti-virus software. When I ask about it, the person usually says to me "That pops up all the time and I just close it".
Hello? Didn't that raise an alarm for you?
If the breaks in your car start to sqeek, most people have it checked out (especially if it continues or gets louder). You don't ignore the situation by turning the radio up... do you? You wouldn't consider driving your car for 20,000 miles without getting an oil change, but that's exactly what you're doing by avoiding these two things. Just like a car, a little routine maintance can avoid big (expensive) problems down the road.
So, my advice for you today is to LISTEN TO YOUR COMPUTER. Treat it like a car and when you notice something "unusual", have it checked out. Spend a little time and "change the oil" every few months. Don't call your computer guy after 15 months (20,000 miles) and request routine maintenance on your virus infected computer. As one of those "computer guys", I can speak for everyone that we'd rather answer your questions every 3 months than rebuild your computer every year.
If you still have a problem with this concept and don't understand the value of routine maintenance, suggest to your "computer guy" that he/she start charging you for major problems.
Or one could get a Mac
Or maybe Ubuntu.
This article hits close to home, but be careful what you ask for. I've found that every time we visit different members of my family I end up looking at a computer instead of visiting.