Care and Feeding of Your Laptop Carolyn McHale For SETFC Rally May 2007
Topics 2 Terminology Configuration Computer & WiFi Practices Power Options Housekeeping/Maintenance Problems Tips Checklist before leaving home
Terminology - RAM Random Access Memory Computer s workspace; determines the size and number of programs running RAM can be clobbered system or program will freeze 3
Terminology KB, MB, GB Kilobyte (KB) = 1,000 bytes or characters Megabyte (MB) = 1 million bytes Gigabyte (GB) = 1 billion bytes 4
Terminology - MHz Megahertz (MHz) measure of the processing speed of the computer 8, 16, or 32 bit word size handled by computer; thought of as lanes on the highway; more lanes, more traffic capability Combination of speed and number of lanes is the total processing speed 5
Terminology - Connectivity WiFi Wireless Fidelity Ethernet protocol/standard allows connection to the internet Bluetooth short range data transfer protocol/standard between devices; radio waves IrDA - Infrared Data Association protocol/standard between devices; line of sight - short path USB Universal Serial Bus interface allows devices to be connected ISP Internet Service Provider 6
Finding Your Laptop Configuration Hard drive greater than (>) 80 GB RAM > 512 MB to 2 GB Processor - > 1 GHz 7
How to Find Laptop Configuration? 1 - Right click on My Computer 2 - Select Select properties properties 3 - General Click ontab General tab Operating system, update status, license ID Processor speed, RAM size 8
Finding Laptop Configuration 1 Automatic Updates tab Settings for Automatic Updates 9 When using phone dialup, you need to set updates to NOTIFY to conserve resources rather than automatically download
Finding Laptop Configuration 1 System Restore tab Turn on or off System Restore capability 10
Finding Laptop Configuration 1 Hardware tab 2 Device Manager 11
Finding Laptop Configuration Click on the + to expand listing Status of hardware whether computer is working properly If there are any yellow warning markers on top of the +/-, there is a problem 12
Finding Laptop Configuration Another Method 1 Click on START, HELP 2 type configuration in the search box 3 Pick the task Get Information about Your Computer 4 Click on View general system info 13 Disk size
Good Computer Practices 14 Always use legal software Turn on Windows Firewall Turn on Windows Automatic Update Maintain Antivirus software updates Examine attachments in email and make a conscious decision to open or delete Forwarded email is a good clue to possible viruses Don t click on links in email which ask for personal information Set Internet Security to Medium or better
Good Laptop Practices in the RV Use a surge protector Make sure laptop has enough air circulation Don t store laptop in hot location ie in the Trek bed! If using with GPS to navigate, purchase adapter to run laptop on chassis battery Password protect user accounts on the laptop Don t install software that you don t need 15
Password Protect User Accounts Set a password for all user accounts Control Panel, User Accounts Pick the account to change 16
Password Protect User Account Select Change My Password 17
Good Laptop Practices in the RV Protect sensitive files with passwords Set Power options Use Standby and Hibernate mode to conserve battery Leave computer in hibernate mode overnight Restart every several days to clean out RAM 18
Password Protect Sensitive Files - Excel 1- Select TOOLS 2 Select General Options To Save the file with a password, select FILE, SAVE AS 19
Password Protect Important Files - Excel Enter a password 20
Password Protect Important Files - Word To Save the file with a password, select FILE, Tools, SAVE Options AS 21
Password Protect Important Files - Word To Then Save click the on file Security with a password, and type select in a password Tools, Options 22
Password Protect Important Files & Your Internet Connection Quicken Get a safe IP address for doing financial transactions on the internet ie www.anchorfree.com 23
Power Options 3 Screen Saver tab 1 Right Click on desktop 2 Select Properties 4 Power Options 24 Set battery power settings
Standby and Hibernate Mode 3 Select either Standby or Hibernate mode (use Shift key) 1 click on Start 2 Select Turn off Computer 25
Good WiFi Practices Turn off WiFi when not connected Constant searching uses resources Ask to connect to a another RV s WiFi Maintain secure primary WiFi connection Don t download video, massive amounts of pictures when using someone else s WiFi 26
Good WiFi Practices - Security 27 Change your behavior on the road THINK about security Use a Hotspot Shield on the road reassigned IP address Automatic connection default router name (linksys) at home connects to same name on road Delete old wireless profiles so they don t auto connect Uncheck File/Printer sharing from Wireless Network Connection properties (General tab) Uncheck Allow Other Network Users to Connect (Advanced tab)
Routine Housekeeping Clean up files, ie delete those no longer needed Can always RESTORE from Recycle Bin Clean up email files, especially Sent folder Delete Temporary Internet files 28
Delete Temporary Internet Files 1 Open Internet Explorer 2 Click on TOOLS, Internet Options 29
Delete Temporary Internet Files 1 Click on DELETE 2 Decide what files to delete 30
What are Cookies? Text files put on your computer by websites where you have visited A trusted website uses cookies to learn your preferences and allows you to skip signing in Websites will collect information and may put your privacy at risk by tracking sites you visit Advertisements and banners track your web use for marketing purposes 31
Cookies When you delete All Cookies, you may need to enter your ID and password the next time you visit a site Set Internet Privacy at Medium blocks 3 rd party cookies which don t have a privacy policy; blocks 1 st party cookies that save contact information without your approval 32
Setting Medium Security 1 Open Internet Explorer 2 Click on TOOLS, Internet Options 33
Setting Medium Security 3 Click on Privacy tab 4 Set to Medium or higher 34
Periodic Housekeeping Backup files Empty Recycle Bin Run Disk Cleanup Defrag hard drive 35
Backup Options Run Backup (Start, Accessories, System Tools) or Copy My Documents to a CD or USB Flash drive While on the road, BACKUP Before leaving home store backups in a safe place and/or safe deposit box 36
Why Run Disk Cleanup? Frees up space on your hard drive Safely deletes temporary Internet files, Windows temporary files, unnecessary program files, and empties Recycle Bin 37
Disk Cleanup 1 - Click on START 2 Accessories 3 System Tools 4 Disk Cleanup 38
Why Run Disk Defragmenter? Consolidates fragmented files and free space Each file/folder occupies a single contiguous space Computer will run more efficiently 39
Defragment Hard Drive 40 1 - Click on START 2 Accessories 3 System Tools 4 Disk Defragmenter
Disk Defragmenter 2 - Click on Defragment Will take 20-60 minutes or longer Shows whether you need to run the Defragmenter 41 1 Click on ANALYSE
Dealing with Problems What to do when a program stops running? What to do when program doesn t function correctly? What to do when you can t connect to the printer? What to do when your computer freezes? What to do when the USB ports don t recognize the hardware? What to do when WiFi doesn t connect? Other general problems 42
Dealing with Problems Program Stops Running Wait for a few minutes low resources If this solves the issue, save the file, exit the program, exit other programs so nothing else is running Restart the program When you are finished, restart the computer If this doesn t work.. 43
Dealing with Problems Program Stops Running Click on File, Exit or the X in title bar May have to do this several times until the program stops If program still doesn t stop, press Ctrl+Alt+Del Click on Applications tab Select the application that is hanging; click on End Task button may have to do several times 44
Using Ctrl+Alt+Del 1 Click Applications tab 45 2 select application 3 click on End Task
Dealing with Problems Program Stops Running If Crtl+Alt+Del doesn t work.must Restart Click on Start, Turn Off Computer If laptop is frozen, hold down power button until it turns off Only want to do this as a last resort for you could corrupt programs if done frequently Wait for one minute before restarting 46
Dealing with Problems Program Doesn t Function Correctly May need to run Repair function May need to reinstall (which may require an uninstall first) why you need to carry software CDs with you NEVER uninstall Microsoft Office always use Repair May need new drivers (dll files) from the website Check FAQs at website to diagnose problem Send email requesting Help reason to always use legal software 47
Dealing with Problems - Printer Turn off printer, physically disconnect & reconnect Check ink; paper jam; may need to clean printer heads Check printer connection in another program, ie Notepad Use printer diagnostic utility If printing garbage characters wrong driver 48
Dealing with Problems - Computer Freezes? 49 Wait for a few minutes resources might be low Crtl+Alt+Del If this doesn t work.must Restart Click on Start, Turn Off Computer If laptop is frozen, hold down power button until it turns off Only want to do this as a last resort for you could corrupt programs if done frequently
Dealing with Problems Use Technical Support Computer manufacture or software company Help on website support, FAQs, online Chat Keep a printed list of phone numbers/email Be able to verbalize problem; document what steps you have done Consult Help on the PC START, HELP 50
Dealing with Problems USB Doesn t Function When using 3 or 4 different devices connected by USB, the port can be confused and not know what device is being connected Must Restart 51
WiFi Issues Can t Connect Not a strong signal Structure blocking signal - move PC closer or to another part of RV Using a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) WiFi card, you may need to reboot 52
Other Problems No sound check volume isn t muted; try to play another sound file; check Sound & Audio Devices in Control Panel Task bar disappears move mouse to edge of screen & look for double arrow Mouse jumps around clean mouse rollers; check for dirt; remove GPS attachment until PC complete turned on 53
Other Problems Can t connect to Internet via external modem turn off, unplug modem; plug modem in, plug in router, turn on computer 54
Disaster Plan If the laptop died what would be lost? Is there a backup of your files? Do you have a bootable recovery disk? Can you start in SAFE mode? Do you have a recovery plan 55
Tips Use Briefcase Function Files from home PCs can be placed in briefcase Synchronize will keep the files up to date no matter where the changes have been made 56
Tips - Single Click to Open Items Can have a web like interface on desktop Select Single Click to Open Items 57
Tips - Single Click to Open Items 1 open My Computer 2 click on Tools 3 select Folder Options 58 4 select Single Click
Checklist Before Leaving Home 59 Update Windows software Update Antivirus software Synchronize Briefcase with home computer Make sure you have Software CDs all the personal files you need a copy of all your online IDs and passwords all the cables, connectors and mouse printer, paper, and spare ink cartridges
References Consumer Reports - http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronicscomputers/ select Easy Fixes CNET for info on viruses www.cnet.com select Security Center Definitions - http://whatis.techtarget.com/ Free diagnostics - http://www.pcpitstop.com/ Measure Internet speed - http://bandwidthplace.com/speedtest Secure browser when on free WiFi - http://anchorfree.com/hotspot-shield/ 60
Other Problems You Have Encountered?
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