Seven tips to a
healthy computer
By Chip Reaves
HOW TO RECYCLE
YOUR OLD COMPUTER
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO with your old
computer when it’s time to upgrade? If it’s
too old to donate to a school or charitable
organization, you’ll have to recycle. It’s not
smart (and indeed illegal in many states) to
dump them in landfills. Fortunately, many
companies and organizations have established recycling programs. To recycle your
computer, follow these two steps:
1. Find a recycling program. Costco offers
one through the Trade-in & Recycle
Program on costco.com. In this program,
certain electronics are recycled free—
and in some cases you’ll actually be paid
for them. For details, go to costco.com,
click on “Electronics” then on “Trade-in
& Recycle.”
Some manufacturers are establishing
recycling programs for their branded
products. Typically, these programs will
recycle their branded products free, and
take all other products for a fee.
2. Destroy your data. Make sure you “wipe”
your hard disk before recycling your computer. Deleting files or reformatting drives
is not enough. You must either physically
destroy the drive or use a utility called a
disk sanitizer or a data shredder. Look for
a disk wiping utility that at least meets
the DoD 5220.22-M standard. A
WHETHER YOU ARE PART of a small business, a multinational corporation
or are just trying to find a recipe online at home, you may seem to spend
just as much time fixing issues and conflicts on your computer as you do
working on it. For the home user, this is merely an inconvenience. But for
a business it can add up to tens of thousands of dollars lost to decreased
productivity or repairs.
Although the mere thought of trying to fix a computer would cause a cold
sweat to break out in most of us, it is in fact the simple little things that even
the most timid technophile could prevent that cause the majority of desktop
woes. Malware, viruses, identity theft and spyware account for about 80 percent of all computer issues resulting in downtime.
Fortunately, there are certain simple tips everyone can follow—
businesses and individual computer users alike—that will keep your computer
(and wallet) in tiptop shape.
1. Old hardware
Studies have shown that the likelihood of physical problems with computer equipment goes up significantly
after 24 to 36 months. Consider replacing computer systems every three
years—considering how inexpensive
computers have become, one major
repair bill could easily cost more than
purchasing an entire new system.
2. Power protection
Surges and power drops can cause data loss and are always damaging
to sensitive components, reducing their lifespan. Most people do use surge
protectors, but what many don’t realize is that surge protectors wear out over
time. For the best protection make sure that the surge protectors for all of
your computer equipment are replaced every two to three years.
3. Illegal software
Many businesses don’t realize that they don’t own software—just the
licenses to use it on a specific number of PCs. Many software programs automatically report their usage via the Internet, and breach-of-license letters and
audits from software manufacturers to businesses are on the rise.
