Maintaining Your Computer

...and saving yourself fromtechnological catastrophe

SLIS-LITASpring 2009

Overview

Security Consciousness

Backup Strategies

Network Security

Hardware

Security Consciousness

Your computer is vulnerable

photo from Flickr

Backup Strategies

How important is your data?

Backup Strategies

What’s your current backup strategy?

Backup Strategies

It’s easy.

Don't shut down without backing up your work.

Backup Strategies

Backup Strategies

Save As with a different filename every hour at least

e.g.

compare & contrast-1.doc

compare & contrast-2.doc

compare & contrast-3.doc

Full vs. Limited Backups

• Full = entire hard drive / device

Limited Backups: backup the essentials – what do you absolutely need?

Backup Strategies

Backup Strategies

CD-R or DVD±R

Backup Strategies

Invest in an external hard drive

Often they come with free automatic backup software.

Backup Strategies

Invest in an external hard drive

Are they worth the money? $90 for 320 GB drive

8 hours working on a paperx $10 per hour $80

Backup Strategies

Invest in an external hard drive

… but an external hard drive does not necessarily protect from natural disasters or theft

Backup Strategies

Use free online resources:

WebDAV WebDAV

E-mail E-mail

But remember that networks are not up 100% of the time.But remember that networks are not up 100% of the time.

Visit my.wisc.edu My Webspace

Upload a file into a folder.

If you need a file, you may download:https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/wstraub/web/maintenance.doc

Backup Strategies

Backup Strategies

Verify your backup at least 1 x month

Make a date for it on your Wisc Calendar

Backup Strategies

Remember the Buddhist principle:the transient nature of the composite

or as the Beatles sang back in the 1960s: all things must pass away

Backup Strategies

• Choose a backup strategy and use it.

• Don't shut down your computer without first backing up your work.

• Back it up again!

• Save Wisely (multiple filenames)

• Verify your backups 1 x month.

• Think: what’s the worst case scenario?

Network Security

Get an antivirus programUpdate itUse itFirewallUpdates for your operating system Update/patch essential software

You've heard this before...

http://www.cio.wisc.edu/security/

Network Security

Update/patch essential software:Microsoft Office (Microsoft update)Adobe Reader (adobe.com)Adobe Flash plug-inAdobe ShockwaveQuickTime / iTunes (apple.com/quicktime)Mozilla FirefoxOther browser software

Hardware Maintenance

Defragment your hard drive

Dust

Maintaining Your Computer

Both computers and cars need regular maintenance.