Maintain Your Computer - Keep Your Business Running

Maintaining your computer is extremely important -especially if you are an Internet Marketer. As youknow, without your computer, your business cancome to a screeching halt. There are 4 importantsteps in which you can perform on a regular basis,to help protect your computer and your livelihood.

First line of defense, invest in quality virus software.Be it Norton AntiVirus, McAfee Virus Softwareor another software program, protect yourself andyour computer.

I personally have set Norton to run every evening.It may seem like a hassle when you're trying toget a project done, however, a 10 minute break inthe action is far better than a one or two days ofdown time - and possible loss data, if your computer crashes. And trust me, I've learned this from experience.

Second line of defense, invest in ad ware software.I use Ad-Aware SE Personal - you can get the freewareversion or the shareware version - the decision is yours.I'm currently using the freeware version, but will eventuallybe going to the paid version for added protection. Anyway,Ad-Aware SE will protect your computer from suchcritters as, data-mining, scumware, parasites, mulware, browser hijackers, to name just a few.

A third line of defense is to always backup your data. Even though you don't want to hear this, realize thatyour hard-drive can either go belly up or crash. It isalways better to have a backup - it shortens the down time.

Just a side note, when I was working in the corporateworld, I had the misfortune of having a supervisorthat was computer illiterate. My computer started tomake sounds similar to that of a seagull. I told mysupervisor that I thought my hard-drive was going out.She did not want to believe me, and stated "We donot have the money in our budget for a hard-drive". I found that to be a rather crass remark and waitednervously for my hard-drive to make its exit. Tomake a long story short, two days later, I get a crypticstatement flashing on my screen that said "Back upyour Hard-Drive - Error" -- than my hard-drive crashed and died. Amazing, they did have $60 in their littleold budget to get a new hard-drive. Now, how muchdo you suppose my supervisor's statement cost the company?

Fourth line of defense and maintenance, always clean outyour temporary Internet files. It uses up memory!

To clear out your temporary Internet files do the following:

1. Open up your Internet connection.

2. Click On Tools, then Internet Options

3. Under the General Section you should see a section labeled "Temporary Internet Files"

4. Click on the button that says Delete Cookies, and then the button that says Delete Files. When you click on delete files, a box will open up and will ask you if you want to also delete off-line files - check that box, as well.

Within the General Section you should also see a section calledHistory. I decrease the number of days that I hold on to the pages that I visited. Again, this helps to save memory.

These simple maintenance tips can keep your computer cleanand protected, which is extremely important when you'remaking your living on the Internet.

Vickie J Scanlon has a BBA degree in Administrative Management andMarketing. Visit her site at: http://www.myaffiliateplace.biz for free tools, articles, ebooks, how to info, and computer software/hardware - to meet your budget and needs.