I would like to address several  issues relating to Microsoft Windows
stability. Though this issue may not be so crucial for users of
home computers, for people who use their computer in the course of
their work, there are some important things to know about Windows
stability. Here are the most important methods to keep your
computer functioning properly.

First of all, there are three programs which are most important for
the stability of your system. First and foremost is a virus
scanner. Viruses can attack anything that runs software on it, even
mobile phones. Viruses may be transmitted through email
attachments, through websites, software programs, through media
such as CDs, zip disks, diskettes, etc. At the beginning, many
viruses originated from Eastern Bloc countries. Perhaps in the
future terrorists may chose viruses as a favored mode of operation.

If your Internet browser seems to be slowing down, your browser
homepage changes of its own and you can’t change it back, icons
you’ve never seen before start appearing on your desktop, these may
all be signs that you’ve been hit by spyware or adware. These are
little programs which are placed on your system by advertising
companies or hackers. The programs enter your system via emails,
music downloads, instant messages, or even by browsing the
Internet. As an indication of how large the problem has become,
Dell has reported that close to 20% of their technical support is
caused due to spyware or adware.

A firewall is an important protection against this menace, and can
be composed of hardware, software or both. A firewall serves as a
partition, protecting your computer from the outside world, be it the
Internet, a network or Intranet. Windows XP users already have this
option which is automatically deployed on the system (verify that
Service Pack 2 is installed, as this ensures that the firewall is implemented
properly). Users of earlier Windows versions can purchase or
download for free software equivalent firewall programs.

Another important step is to periodically perform maintenance on
your system, which helps in the prevention of problems over time.
Luckily, Windows already has some of these tools, which saves on
having to purchase or download them. At Accessories > System Tools,
you can find the Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter, two
applications which help keep your system functioning properly.
These tasks should be carried out at least once a month (dependant
on usage).

Another important pointer, that many computer “wizards” neglect, is
to make sure that you are only installing such programs on your
computer which you absolutely need. Too many programs on the
systems will cause Windows to become unstable. Even after
uninstalling a program, some leftovers on the system can prove
hazardous to it over time. The KISS rule (Keep it simple, stupid),
is definitely a good tactic when using Windows. So don’t be too
quick to install all kinds of questionable tools you may not really
need.

Also important is to remember to update your systems periodically.
Updates for Windows as well as for other Microsoft applications
appear regularly on the Microsoft website. It’s possible to
configure your system to perform these updates automatically, but
this may also be the cause of serious problems. Some people have
woken up to find that after their system automatically updated, it
actually became completely corrupted while they were sleeping.
Though this may happen for systems which were already unstable to
begin with, such stories are enough to make you want to update your
system manually. Whichever way you chose, don’t forget to carry out
this important process.

A final point is related to your hardware. I am a staunch supporter
of keeping your PC on at all times. To do so, your computer must be
equipped with surge protectors against electrical anomalies, and
also have a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). It must also have
excellent security systems installed. However, you will see that
your hardware, including the hard drive, will last longer if it is
kept on, than if you keep turning your computer off. Though some
may say that the newer technologies enable turning the computer off
at night, my experience shows that this is not the case. It is
similar to a light bulb, which is much more prone to failure when
it is being turned on than during constant use. This is because of
the initial power surge that occurs when power is initially applied.