Bootdisk.Com ____________________________________________________ THE TWELVE MOST COMMON DEADLY SOFTWARE SINS (with explanations why) 1. Updating your BIOS just because a new version is released. This is commonly called flashing your BIOS. You should only attempt to flash your BIOS to solve a real problem. The most common problem is BIOS hard drive limitations. Be sure to read the docs for the new BIOS FIRST to see if it addresses the problem you are trying to solve. 2. Installing any new software or upgrading your drivers while you are on the Internet or with all your background applications running. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del to see all your running background programs. Sure, you've done it a hundred times with no problem. But it only takes a minute to use a program such as EndItAll to close them before you do any installs or driver upgrades. 99 minutes of time over the course of 6 months or so is worth the effort assuming the other option if things go bad is a few days of no internet access or 5 days finding and installing all your old software if an improperly done software install totally wrecks Windows and you have to start fresh. 3. Upgrading to the latest version of any software as soon as it's been released and is available for free. If there is a feature you need then go for it. However, I believe it's best to let the "Johnny who has to have the latest crowd" do my BETA testing for me. Yes it's true, it's very common for software authors and companies to make available for public download software that really hasn't been properly or fully tested yet on a decent number of systems. The other issue is hardware requirements. Yes if you read the docs your system may meet the minimum hardware requirements of the newest and latest program version, but "their" minimum requirements may not be practical for everyday use. Read the "recommended" requirements for a better handle on if your system is up to the specifications needed. AOL is perhaps the worst offender. Tell your friends and customers NOT to download the latest version of AOL as soon as it's posted on their website. Wait until the CD is released before you even consider taking a chance on an AOL upgrade. Microsoft is also guilty of misleading people into BETA testing newer versions of Internet Explorer in my opinion. Watch for terms such as "preview" release or similar jargon. 4. Installing or Reinstalling Windows with your peripherals turned ON. This includes your printer, scanner, zip drive, and any other device connected to the back or front of your computer. Get Windows working right first, then connect the external devices one at a time and make sure they work. Another benefit is that it also makes installing drivers much easier and more foolproof. 5. Running any "Fix Windows Automatically" programs in the background. No ifs, ands, or buts. This includes programs such as Nuts&Bolts, Norton's Crashguard, and Norton's Utilities. Yes there are many utilities that can find and fix problems with Windows. However, you should never install any such software if your OS is already heavily damaged. These types of applications "get in bed" with Windows to fix a problem so installing them on a shaky system is NOT recommended. It's best to use them as preventive maintenance and only run them as required or as part of a regular maintenance schedule. As a reminder, we're not talking here about utilities such as tweakUI, BootLogAnalyzer, HardDriveValet, or EasyCleaner that you can use to help you diagnose a problem or clean the system or registry. These types of apps. aren't "fix windows automatically" programs and they don't mate with Windows. They are simply specialized tools. 6. Trusting that duplicate .dll file and orphan file finders and similar cleaners will work properly. There is absolutely NO WAY any program of this type can tell for sure if a .dll or other file isn't needed by one or more of the applications you have installed. Yes, these types of programs can be a help to experienced techs and advanced Windows users, but even then, you never want to delete such files you want to either move them or rename them before you decide they are safe to delete. 7. Assuming that Microsoft's Internet Browser is just a web browser. It's not. It's actually a complete Windows Upgrade and should be treated as such. Take the same precautions with installing any new IE release as you would if you were upgrading Windows to the next version or installing a Service Pack. 8. Installing your cable Internet access or standard ISP access software from their proprietary CD. This is NEVER required. All the Internet access protocols and services you need are built into windows. Often these CDs install customized versions of IE or Netscape and insert nasty keys into your registry and system files. They often install many types of nasty background applications as well, which can and often do interfere with the normal operation of your system. If you don't know how to tweak your system to connect to the internet with your ISP without using their disk, call them and have them walk you through it or have a buddy come over and help. Or hire somebody. Now that I've said that, there are exceptions to this "rule" where using their CD may make life a bit easier. ATT dialup and some home user Optimum Online (cable) CDs come to mind. Other exceptions are the "free ISP" disks and services such as AOL and CompuServe. 9. Installing new video or sound Drivers or versions of MS DirectX when your system is working just fine. These days, your sound, video, and DirectX all work in concert with each other. "Upgrading" a single component just for the heck of it may cause all types of undesirable results. According to Microsoft, DirectX is actually a Windows Upgrade and cannot be uninstalled if things go bad. If things do go bad, you are faced with hours now of removing and installing all 3 components of your system. Back to the basic rule-If your system is working fine, then don't mess with it. 10. Using age-old apps designed for older versions of Windows on a new PC. This is such a common error. People acquire a new PC with Windows 98SE, Me, or XP on it and then assume that the CDs they bought or acquired back in the Windows 95 days will work. Yes, some of them may, but in reality, you really have to match your applications with the new OS you now want to use. Third party Windows applications and even older Microsoft applications "mate" with Windows. DLL files may be replaced with older versions. The registry or system files may be modified in a way that your newer OS just can't deal with. For example, installing that old McAfee or Norton's anti-virus CD you paid for years ago seems tempting, but it can also and can easily put your new OS to a "ground zero" state making it totally useless. If you are going to upgrade or buy a new PC with a new OS, take the time and research first if your older stuff will work. Be prepared to spend the money on the new versions of your favorite applications that are engineered to work with your new OS. 11. The Auto-Update feature for my applications will make my life easier and make my computer run better. Watch out for features like "auto-update" or "check the website for updates" items in any of your applications. These apps. commonly phone home or try to at regular intervals. They also may add unnecessary baggage to your existing menu of background processes. Many of them are now incorporating spyware into the feature as well. A slight exception to this may be for you anti-virus program. Yes it's good to use the Auto-Update feature manually on a regular basis to check for new definition files, but it's NOT good to allow that feature to run 24/7 unless you have it set for intervals of like 24 hours or so. 12. Attachments to email are safe if they come from my friends. While that used to be the case it's NOT the case any more. Sure, even though you were expecting an attachment from your friend or coworker it was always prudent to check for viruses before you opened up the attachment anyway. Follow this rule: If you are not expecting an attachment in an email then don't even bother opening it. Delete it. The newest generation of viruses and Trojans can steal peoples address books and send you email with nasty attachments without your permission. People can also easily steal your friend's AOL handle while you are online talking to them and then send you a Trojan or virus. It's more important than ever to keep your anti-virus program up to date. Your friend may say he's running an anti-virus like Norton's, but if it hasn't been kept updated it's worse then useless because it presents a false sense of security.