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MAY, 2003
New Connection Makes Downloading a Quick Job
Our volunteers and staff are enjoying our new internet connection and phone service.
Our T1 / partial 384 service is making quick work of downloads for drivers and updates.
Downloads supposed to take hours with a 56K modem take about five to eight minutes with the 384 T1.
Since we deal with equipment that is at least 12 months old or older (and usually 18 to 24 months and
older) we see software that rarely, if ever, has had its updates. I suspect this is in large part due to
the length of time it takes to download updates if you are using a dial up modem and/or if you have
put them off. Then the overwhelming number, and the length of time to download, make for a high risk
of auto disconnect.
The risk in not doing the updates is back door entry of spyware, viruses, worms, etc.
So with system updates, antivirus updates, and backing up data, computers actually give us a lot to do,
just to keep them running right.
A Thorough "Tune-Up" for Any Computer
So with a new combination of fast download scans and updates, we've noticed a useful process to service
machines with existing licensed software where the software and/or data needs to remain on the machine.
If a network card is not already in the computer, you'll have to install one and then shut down and
reboot. Hook up to the faster connection, and start:
1 - spyware sniffing software utility, and clean-up
2 - antivirus active scan, disinfect, and update
3 - operating system update and internet browser update
This really is a very thorough "tune-up" for any computer with any operating system.
First, we used "Spybot - search and destroy", a very simple program to make sure
unwanted registry cookies, etc. are removed. Evidently these are programs that collect info about the
use of your computer and hand this info over to specific websites. We are amazed at some of the sites
that transient users had visited on some school machines we were working on, and we knew the school
would certainly want them removed. Spybot also gave us the bad news about viruses and worms on some
of the computers.
Second, we logged on to Panda Software for an activescan on-line of the computer's hard
drive. This feature is also available at other antivirus software vendor websites including
Symantec (maker of Norton Antivirus) and McAfee. After scanning and cleaning up any virus/worm problems (most problems can be
cleaned automatically, but some require you to have clean floppies to download compressed files and go
through more intensive steps to clean), we download the updated virus definitions, engines,
and/or files. These come from the antivirus website for the program already on the computer. You
have to reboot to complete the install and/or update process.
Third, we go to the Operating System software website (Microsoft for Windows,
Apple for Macintosh) and download security updates, etc. This process
may require going off line afterwards, or shutting down and rebooting. When you're back on line, go to
your web browser website (Microsoft for Internet Explorer,
Netscape for Navigator or Communicator) and download the updates
for your browser.
Your computer manufacturer (HP, IBM, Dell, etc.) may also have updates at their website for improved drivers like video, sound,
DVD, modem, etc., or bios updates. Check the website of your computer manufacturer.
Thanks for reading, and check out the rest of our site. Regards!
© 1991 - 2003 Computers & Education and Computer Recycling Corporation. All rights reserved.
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