Donnette

I am older than Bill Gates, one of the founders of Microsoft. I have also taught the use of computers in a private college. While I don't like teaching the use of any specific operating system, I do guide novices on the use of computers.

There are some absolutes in using computers that will help all users--regardless of age, computer, operating system, objective or hardware.

These absolutes include:

WE are in the juvenile state of the computer!
[Cars, airplanes and TVs took 60-100+ years to reach much of heir current state. WE have only had desk top computers since the mid 1970s, and electronic computers period since the 1940's and the internet for commercial use less than 15 years.]

Computers require the almost perfect melding of chunks of hardware [monitors, motherboards, ram sticks, internet modems, printers, hard drives, scanners and other business assisting or entertainment items.

Computers require the almost perfect melding of the operating system to the internet and both of those to the box's hardware.

Computers are used by both highly technical people, by average consumers, by those who are mentally handicapped and everyone in-between--ages 2 to 100, in all parts of the world. Computers are used by people for simple purposes like writing to friends, writing books, etc. and also for complex things like tracking weather or military armies or single attackers and EVERYTHING inbetween.

Our problems begin with the understanding that computers and hardware and software instruction are written by people from throughout the world who have from complete understanding of their own language to no understanding of their own language, to great technical understanding to no technical prowess and others who, again, are inbetween in understanding.

Computer programs have code that must be understood by anything and everything that uses one's computer. That, in itself, is rather an absurd requirement but it is nevertheless a necessity! [Re-phrased, this means that the computer must "talk" to the monitor, to the modem, to the printer, to each program and those things "downloaded" must be understood by all "applicable" components on the computer.

When it seems a miracle that one person can talk clearly and be easily understood 100% of the time by his next door neighbor, it seems beyond comprehension that people who you will never meet, can write "code" in such a way that it blends perfectly with everything on YOUR computer without your having to seek clarification from the code writer.

At least, that is what is required to have everything run smoothly.

After the commercial internet was created, greater demand was placed on computers and people began choosing sides-brands. Some chose computers made by this or that company and then, other began choosing operating systems, and later, this or that program or piece of hardware and these became what has been called "computer wars."

IN the mean time, I get the task of answering "regarding one's computer and/or components of computers, why/how their computer works or does. TOO often, I have no answer whatever. I have no answer BECAUSE what sometimes works perfectly for one computer is absolutely ignored by another one!

And such things as hard drives, floppy drives and hardware and software "nick names" can challenge the best of tech users, much less the average user!

My rules, then, converted to a PC and a new PC I am writing this data on now,] include:

running SCAN DISK at least monthly. This is a way to tell the computer that maybe a program has given the computer's systems odd information and it needs to be removed or cleaned up;

running a virus remover daily;

running a mysterious program remover [like spy bot] daily. [ BELIEVE it or not, some web sites you visit innocently to either help you chat or to buy things through, can and often do leave little things called COOKIES on your computer and sickos write programs to use those cookies to leave other bad junk on your computer!]

transfer old programs no longer used to another hard drive or delete them;

if you depend on specific data on your computer to be there every day, you can "protect it" in one of 3 basic ways;

a. copy it all to another hard drive you keep in your computer [often called mirroring];
b. copying it all to DVDs you create on your own DVD WRITER; or
c. email your entire hard drive content's to an external storage area. [copying

Next; keep the following things in mind--

No one in the UK or Nigeria has money waiting for you--in fact, they have opposite desire; to help you send THEM money. So, ignore emails to you about lost relatives who left you money.

Next--do NOT presume that ANY web site is as friendly to you as you would like to think it is! I am an old customer of Earthlink. As of two weeks ago, Earthlink SOLD OUT to greed and now puts advertisements on their servers where I review my "review first" email before I download it. My email box is SQURENCHED tightly together as they now make room on the right side for more offensive ads! Also, your favorite web site definitely puts a COOKIE on your computer to make REMEMBERING your visit easier for them and you and that site also sells your info to other companies in what is called email address mining.

Next--just like stalkers in life, and thieves in life, there are sickos who try to steal your info. They also get their jollies by sending you not just overt porn but viruses. Their game is "HOW many computers can i harm today!" So, do not open email from people you are unsure of. Cute emails are also used to send junk that can stop computers from operating.

I like computers and really enjoy the ease with which I gather news, data, company info, pictures, etc. However, I use it with caution too.

MY next and last rule is--

When in doubt, close up all your programs, and shut off your computer. Re-start it.

If it is not working "correctly" the next day, go to control 8 and SAFE mode and run the scan disk and virus removers.

if that does not solve the problem and it is not a critical issue, shut it off and leave it alone for 1 day.

it is very difficult to harm your computer if you follow these rules I have listed above. IF things just seem to be caving in on themselves, you can, if need be, [if you have the disk], re-install the operating system. IF you must do so, it is suggested that you send all your data elsewhere for storage or put same onto CDs/DVDs, so that you can pick though it later when your system is backup and running smoothly!

if that does not work, get out your credit card and either take your box to your preferred computer repair shop or call a tech.

I did use one guy and I gave him 30 minutes to solve a simple problem. He took 2.5 hours and still did not solve it. Rule here; make sure the teck you may hire does not learn his -her trade on your time and your dollar.

Luck.

kkemper1@mindspring.com

your IT teacher. [past programmer too]

Well, do you? Ever thought about it at all? You've got a Homeowners Insurance Policy. Right? Well, years of experience tell us that most people think their home business is covered with just their Homeowners Insurance. And that is fine for your 12 year old daughters' lemonade stand. But when the "hobby" becomes a business, things can change!

Sure, you would not be the first one to have a stolen business computer covered by Homeowners, but understand this... It is a flip of the coin! If it was taken together with the TV, some jewelry, and other valuables, you may have won.

Typically, Homeowners Insurance excludes a business and all business property and liability. Want the good news first? OK. Many times coverage may be added inexpensively with just a couple endorsements to the policy, but it wholly depends on the underwriting stance of the insurance company. And the even better news is that SOME Homeowners Insurance already include an endorsement for a small amount of business personal property, typically $500-$2500. These are intended for the person who takes their work home with them. If all you wanted was the good news, you can stop here. If you want to understand the bad, read this: Let us consider the example of a small home eBay business. There are several around these days and you probably know of one or may be such a business. For this example, assume that you have an inventory of about $10,000. and there is a small fire, damaging the inventory. The insurance adjuster comes out and comments "Boy, you sure had quite a few fancy widgets!" To which you respond, "Yeah, we sell them on eBay." Strangely, the adjuster is interested. "Oh really? My wife collects fancy widgets, and we talked about selling a few on eBay ourselves. How is that going?" Now you are in business, and one of the first things you ever heard about advertising was that word of mouth was great and free.

In this case you will find, that word of mouth is not so great and certainly, is not free. That smell of smoke is not from the fire a couple days ago. Your goose has been caught, slaughtered, plucked, basted, skewered, and is turning nicely on the rotisserie as you speak. Now the really bad news. What we have been talking about thus far, is the property angle. Do not forget you also have your Liability situation to think about. While this article cannot get into all the nuances, just understand that Liability is your legal responsibility to others for damages to their person or property. Translated - what you owe someone, because of something you did, or did not do, that caused them injury in some way.

For instance, in a Home business related situation, a gentleman stop by our house to pick up an eBay purchase he had made from us. Had he slipped on ice and fallen, we probably would have been liable for his injuries. Heck, we WOULD have been - he was an attorney! But his presence, being business related (picking up a purchase, even if it was "only" eBay), changes the degree of care owed to him legally.

It is recommend you endorse your Homeowners Insurance for an office exposure, should something of this nature be possible in your business situation. The premium is only about $15. and it covers PREMISES Liability. There, that was easy to take care of, wasn't it!

But read on, it gets worse again. Let's suppose that the gentleman who so innocently stopped by my house had gotten hurt using his eBay purchase. He is an attorney, remember - just my luck! He had bought a collectible from the Worlds Fair in Buffalo, NY, but let's suppose he had bought a small antique machine or utensil. The sale intended that it be hung on the wall and admired. Friends come in and ask, "Hey, what the heck is that thing?" But this guy decides to see if it still works. Not an unusual or unpredictable event. No one ever thought to put that in the auction bill, not that it would matter. Heck no one even knew it SHOULD have had a guard on it! He loses a finger trying it out. Do you know what an attorney's finger is worth? You are about to find out!

Let's not even imagine his seven year old child is the one injured. She was going to be a brain surgeon. Guess she will have to settle for being an attorney now. Would you want a surgeon without all their fingers? Wouldn't inspire confidence, would it? No matter how they really lost it. This is where you are starting to wonder if your business is really worth it all. You find out that your Homeowners Insurance has an exclusion for PRODUCT Liability. Yesterday you had never heard of it and today you are quickly becoming an expert. You actually start reading the forms that came with your policy, the ones that you filed away ten years ago.

Lucky you! They weren't put in the trash like so many others have done. You are looking for that famous loophole, as described in so many movies. You think there is the slightest possibility that this has never happened to anyone else and the insurance companies may have not thought of excluding such an event. Silly YOU! The story could go on, but you have suffered enough. And if you don't get the picture now, you may never anyway.

Now you wish you had Business Insurance. You tell everyone you are in business, don't you? Why, you had business cards printed, just last week! Did you go into the print shop and ask for personal cards?

Just what sort of insurance should have been carried? Go ask your Independent Agent for a Business Owners Policy, aka BOP. You can often get one for small businesses for a minimum premium of $250. The companies that offer them at that price are getting to be fewer in number, but they are still available. If you are in New York City, it's going to be higher, certainly. But it should not be higher than a $500 minimum premium, unless your small business has really grown. Have your agent fill in the blanks to best tailor it to your specific situation. So there you have it ladies and gentlemen. Don't you wish you had just read the last couple paragraphs first? For $250 you can go to sleep and forget about fires and product liability what-cha-ma-call-it.

Oh, did you say that you have an employee (or volunteer labor)? Can't you just hear it now, "Oh boy, something else I hadn't thought of to loose sleep over." Watch for the next in our series for the home business. Try to think of these as a natural pep pill.

Author: George "Corky" Devendorf. Having retired from his 30+ years insurance career, he know shares what he learned from both sides of the industry in his blog, SecretsOfOwningYourOwnBusiness.Com (http://www.secretsofowningyourownbusiness.com). Common sense advice from the real world. If you are new to business stop by for good free advice that others have paid dearly for.