New Laptop Must

Once you turn on your new laptop and go through the set up screens and enter the required information, the next thing you should do is make your recovery CD's or DVD's.  This recovery disks give you a way to recovery your laptop to the original factory condition should something happen.  And chances are that this is only a matter on time.

To help you, there maybe an icon on the desktop screen to start the process. If there is not, consult your manual or material that came with the laptop to find out how to make your recovery disks.  The Recovery DVD's or CD's are important and making them should not be over looked.

For more computer training info, visit: http://www.alphacomputer.ca

Avoid Automatically Opening Your E-mails

If your Preview Pane or Reading Pane is opened in your E-mail program, you run the risk of automatically opening an E-mail with a virus.  You should shut that feature off in your computer based E-mail program.

You should have the choice of which E-mail you open or not.  Having the Preview Pane open always what ever E-mail is highlighted to automatically open.  If you want to view an E-mail, open it by double left clicking.  Don't play Russian Roulette with your E-mail.  Check your Help menu for instructions on shutting this feature off.

Here is a link to a video I put on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-iPxzyr5Wo&feature=channel_page

Laptop Battery Best Practices

Your laptop battery will work a lot like your cell phone battery.  Make sure you allow your laptop battery to be drained right down.  This allows you to get the most time out of your battery charge.

If you only keep letting the battery drain to 1/2 mark, when you use it on battery, guess how long your battery will last.  The 1/2 mark.  So make sure you allow your battery to drain right down.  You'll appreciate it next time you travel with your laptop.

Don't Leave Laptop Plugged In

Once your laptop is fully charged and you are no longer using it, unplug the laptop from the power supply.  Once the battery is fully charged, it's good to use.  Leaving your laptop plugged in after using it may hurt the battery over the long hall. 

Make sure, every now and then, that you run the laptop on battery power only so that the battery can be drained.  These steps will extend the life of the battery.

Laptop Power Plug-in Damage

One real weakness in a laptop is the power plug-in jack at the back.  If you twist the power plug-in part in the jack, you can damage it.  This is not a replaceable part that I am aware of.  Repairs probably will require soldering components inside.  This can be expensive.

Use care when unplugging the power plug-in from the jack so that you do not damage the jack.  Do not move your laptop since this can twist the power plug-in going into the jack at the back of the laptop.  Also place the power block unit either on the floor or safely beside the laptop so that it will not fall and twist out the power plug-in.

Your Greatest Possible Weakness

You may have the best anti virus and security package available, but it only takes one employee to bypass it and create havoc.

Those blue hyperlinks in E-mails and unsafe web surfing can cause malware to be downloaded into a computer and onto your network.  All the employee has to do is to click on something, and bang... disaster strikes. 

Make sure your employees know about the risks.  No one wants a computer down for any amount of time at the workplace.

http://www.alphacomputer.ca Alpha Computer Web Site

Using E-mail Effectively

Using E-mail for business is a must.  Depending on what you are doing for a business, you may be getting more E-mail that others.  In this case you need a strategy to handle the load.

First delete the spam and garbage quickly and without mercy.  Second, scan for high priority E-mails and act accordingly. Third, have a folder that you can use to dump the E-mails you want to work through out the day on.  Fourth, have a folder just for E-mails that have information you may need later.  Just dump them into that folder.  Try to keep the Inbox empty when you can so it does not get depressing.  What ever you decide to do, make a plan and stick to it.

I included a note on my http://www.alphacomputer.ca/Alpha_Computer_Blog.htm#7 about the importance of a good subject line.  Check it out also.