10 Stupid Things You Can Do To Mess Up Your Computer

I am shocked you would recommend Download.com as they do everything possible to include additional programs along with those you actually want. Ten years ago they were the best site on the web for downloading but now you will be lucky if you download something and your homepage has not been changed.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sorry, that was supposed to say that CNET's Download.com and Tucows are UNsafe. FileHippo is one that seems to be good these days.

Bob, thanks for another interesting and useful article. I always enjoy your commentary, even if the topic has no application for me, because of your literary style. No other geekly commentary has such elegant advice as this: "Don't click inside the popup window, or you could get sucked into a vortex of cyberslime."

Don't mess with the Registry!. one typing error could cause a lot of trouble.
Don't be tempted to reply to spam emails. Just delete them.

You could avoid most of these by avoiding windows and buying a Mac

You have to be careful with FileHippo these days.
If there's a 'Download Manager Enabled' in the green download link, it will work exactly like Cnet's Download.com website.
Use their 'Direct Download' link instead.

My best friend found a way to destroy his first desktop. He bought it at Radio Shack and they lied to him about everything and he could not get it to do anything at all. Being a Hothead he threw it out the window from the 2nd floor. Since then with my help he has become pretty much of an expert. I sometimes have to ask him ho to do something, old age plays tricks on your recall.

His grandson about 10 yrs. old has a notebook and his mother keeps uninstalling his Antivirus. The Computer is so bad that it will require using the discs that came with the Computer to try and fix it. I suggested that if he can get it fixed and updated that he install Automatic Security Updates and Install a Good Free A/V and lock it so that only his dad has or my friend has Administrative Privledge. Not allow him to take the computer out of the house.

Whenever you do an Uninstall, do a search of 'all files and folders' - search for both "Company Name" such as: 'Adobe' and then "Program Name" such as "Acrobat", or "version identifier" such as: '7.0', with the options "Search system folders", "Search hidden files and folders" and "Search subfolders" checked.
Delete all of those related files found.
You should do this search and delete whenever you Uninstall any programs. It will remove lots and lots of leftover junk files and corrupted files taking up room on your hard drive. If you do so, you will find that just "uninstalling a program" leaves lots of garbage behind...
If nothing else, they take up hard drive space.

PS to my other post:
Before you do a search of 'all files and folders', it is important to first shut down completely for at least 30 seconds, and then restart. This releases any "Locked files" for deletion.

You should also search for OTHER program files that you have previously "uninstalled"
Bet you find them! The more you search the more you will find!
A very long time ago, I went through the "Technical Uninstall" of McAfee (Several PAGES of very technical uninstall instructions, including some registry editing).
Then I did a search for any leftover files, (Still found PLENTY!) then installed Norton, several years later I installed "Registry Mechanic", it found several of the old McAfee files!

Another one that bears mentioning IMO particularly for us burgeoning oldies is don't imbibe in your favourite beverage near a power connection or other live circuits for obvious reasons. And as a footnote to DWRarm I wholeheartedly agree that you are master of syntax elegance.

Very nice list Mr. Rankin but I wonder if you actually had an order of importance in mind when you listed them in this order!
Not withstanding Kurt Vonnegut's quote: "I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center." :)

I stopped using CNET's Download.com some time ago. I now use Softpedia.com, which is easy to use for downloading and does not try to trick you into downloading extraneous programs and toolbars.

To the guy saying you can avoid this by buying a Mac. Macs are now targeted by malware writers, and Mac users get nailed because they foolishly think they're immune.

Mmmm. I did it a few months ago. I deleted some files I thought weren't necessary and crashed. I should have known better. Many dollars later I had a tech come and reinstall windows 7. He also reinstalled from my backup external harddrive. Only problem is I cant open my photos as he put a different name down as administrator. Oh well. Thems the breaks.

Gang --- I have done some of the dumbest things, to my computers, over the past 18 years!!!

I personally think, the worst thing anyone can do, to their personal or office computers, is to continually click on anything and everything!!! Boy, when I got my very first computer, that is just what I did ... Until, I learned a couple of lessons.

Mind you, back in 1996, the Internet was not as bad, as it is today. Plus, the Hackers and Crackers were on a learning curve, just like the rest of us. Computers were much, more simple, too. But, even with all of that ... You could get into some REAL trouble!!! Viruses were becoming more commonly known, back in 1996. The Geeks knew, but, the regular computer user was basically clueless.

I personally, encountered my very first virus, when I was a member of AOL, in 1997. I download a game, from AOL and got hit!!! My computer started acting crazy and I couldn't do much of anything. I also, did NOT have an Anti-Virus program, on my computer. In all honesty, there were not many of the Anti-Virus programs available, at that time.

My only option, was to re-format my whole hard drive, which, wasn't a big of deal, as it would be today. My hard drive was only 1.3GBs. OMG, today that amount would be a good download, for a great game!!! But, this action of my very first re-formatting, was to be the start of my road to Geekdom. :)

I can NOT stress enough ... You may have an Anti- Virus or Anti-Malware program on your computer ... BUT ... IF ... You do NOT update the data bases, routinely, like everyday ... You may as well not have either of these programs, installed!!!

Maintenance is the key word, to protecting your computer, at all times!!! If, you are using the FREE version of these programs ... It is up to YOU, to manually update the data bases or to set up your Task Manager for these programs to do so.

Now, if, you have the Pro or Premium versions, it is still YOUR responsibility to set up the schedules, for automatically updating all data bases and versions, of the programs that, YOU use. Bottom line ... YOU are responsible for the actions of these programs, period.
Good maintenance, start with you and end with you. Your computer is only as good, as you are with maintenance. :)

Hi...No mention of useful applications like CCleaner or using disk fragmentation / registry cleanup / startup entry cleanup ..!!!!

@Sandy Papas; Access to those files can be changed if they're not encrypted. Assuming they're in a folder you right click? on the folder to access the folder's properties. Then click the security tab. You change permissions for administrator or users. And who owns the folder and contents. Very confusing procedure if you haven't studied how to do it. I have not but have accessed files by changing folder owner and permission through trial and error. I suggest searching the net for instructions how to then try.

I had to chuckle because right after I read about not clicking on popups that popup in the middle of your screen, up pops YOUR popup for your newsletter. Just thought I would share that particular chuckle.

The best software i have found for uninstalling programs is Revo they have a free version, after using it for almost a year i liked it so much that i purchased the PRO version for 1 computer at $19.62. you can google it for more information.
Scanning for leftovers after the standard install. The Pro version does much more, well worth the price.

How to make your computer a door stop, in one easy lesson.

About 7 years ago, I had a wonderful ASUS motherboard or MOBO. Yes, this was an older MOBO, but, it was working wonderfully ... Until, I decided to "overclock" my CPU.

When you are going to "overclock" a CPU, you are suppose to do this, in increments ... NOT ... In one tail swoop, okay???!!! So, just guess what I did?

You are so right ... I did it in one tail swoop ... The results were a door stop!!! Doing this act, caused the CPU to burn up, as well as the MOBO. I had to get a NEW CPU and MOBO. It was an expensive lesson to learn. :^) :^) :^)