Normally we think of maintenance as a chore, something we have to do to keep things running smoothly and prevent problems down the road, whether with our car, house, or computer. But with a PC, maintenance can actually be fun … approached from the right perspective.
Automatic Updates
The “joy” of computer maintenacne takes many forms. These days, automation is the byword. Operating systems such as Microsoft Windows and Symantec’s Norton Interenet Security let you automatically keep crucial parts of your computer system up to date. It’s fun to watch the technology keep tabs on itself.
The security vulnerablilites of Windows are legion, and this forces you to download patches and updates if you want to minimuze your exposure to hackers seeking to break into your system over the Internet.
You can run Windows Update periodically through Microsoft Internet Explorer, which automatically detects which versions of Windows components you currently have installed and, by checking with Microsoft’s site, which have newer versions.
Or, if you are running Windows XP Home Edition, you can automate things even further...