Ask the Pro
Computers aren't that difficult to understand. Most things can be learned on the internet. Below I've listed out some common questions. Of course, if you feel that any step by step instructions I give are too difficult, just set an appointment. I'll be more than happy to give you an in depth computer analysis and eventually a solution.
Q:I have many different passwords for all kinds of things on the internet. I have a hard time remembering them all, so I was thinking about changing them all to be the same. Is that bad?
A:YES, especially if it is something easy to remember. Try to not make passwords one word with all lower case letters. Remember, if someone finds out your password, and you use the same one for everything, you will have to change your password on EVERYTHING. It's extremely important that you take extra precautions to safeguard your identity.
The best way to keep track of passwords is to write them all down and keep them in your file cabinet or safe. If you prefer a digital storage system, you can archive your passwords in an excel document and password protect it. That way you only have to remember one to get to the rest.
Q:I was told to "defrag" and delete my cookies, but I have no idea what those things are. Can you help me?
A:Defrag (or Disk Defragmenter) is a tool that does exactly what it sounds like, repair fragmented files. The tool can be found under All Programs > Accessories > System Tools in most versions of Windows. Cookies are not neccesarily a bad thing, though when you get too many, Internet Explorer or another browser can become slow. Some cookies store information about places you've been on the internet and should be deleted every so often for privacy. There is a way to delete them manually, or you can download one of the many tools that clean them, such as CCleaner. Of course, if you don't feel up to it, I can do a full system cleanse!
