Introduction

Before you take your computer in for service, you MUST read this!

I bought my computer with hope in my heart and a tingling in my fingertips.  My new computer was going to do everything for me – keep me organized, pay my bills and keep me in contact with family and friends.  In fact, I was almost certain that my precious little bundle would help me take off that pesky 10 pounds I had gained since leaving the corporate world to start my own business.  Then I thought, why stop there?  My computer could quite possibly be the conduit to world peace!  But alas, this was not to be. 

Instead, my $1,500 bought me viruses, spyware, pests and, quite frankly, the computer of my nightmares instead of my dreams. 

Being the stubborn, yet independent person that I am, I decided that I was not going to pay hundreds of dollars to keep my computer working optimally.  Besides, I realized after taking it to the shop just once that I would have to bring it in at least once every couple of months to keep it running the way it should.  Service in my area (rural) is $85 an hour.  I’m guessing it’s even more in urban areas. 

Do the math.  That could add up to over $500 a year.  I don’t want to spend $500 a year servicing my computer.  I want my $1,500 computer to last me a long time.  Besides, why would I spend one third of what I paid on my computer each year just for “routine upkeep”?   Would I do that for my car?  No!  Would I do that for any other major appliance?  No!  

So I decided that I really needed to learn do it myself.  And I did.  I studied, I interviewed computer service technicians, and I practiced.   And I talked to people – lots of people – about what their most troublesome computer problems were. 

If there is one statement I heard over and over again from the pros, it was this:

To keep a PC running smoothly, regular maintenance is critical.

As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  And that’s why the focus of this book is on prevention. 

Heart disease is so much easier to prevent than to cure.  Exercise, eat right, don’t smoke, and maintain your ideal weight.  That, versus open heart surgery.  You decide.

The same holds true for your computer.  Maintain it, and you won’t have to spend the money for “open computer surgery!”

Before we go any further, please understand that I will not be responsible for any problems you might have with your PC.  While these are simple, basic processes, and you're not likely to have any difficulty, please pay attention to the instructions. When you voluntarily change the way your PC works, you have to be careful, no matter how big or small the change is.

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