Blogs For Writers

Your computer is part of your trade. Now-a-days every single writer should have a personal computer or laptop. If you are just beginning price will determine what kind of computer your get. We deal mostly with Windows Based systems so if you have a Apple or Linux Computer you will have to look elsewhere for computing advice. (Our service here does not depend on what kind of computer you have.) Once you get your computer you will have to do a few things to maintain it and keep it safe.

On a regular basis you should do the following:
1. Run the Clean-Up Program once a week (This is included in Windows)
2. Run the Defrag Program after that (This does not pertain to Windows Vista or Windows 7)
3. When given the options to have Windows Update Automatically choose that option. However, once a month you will have to run Windows Update manually and choose the Custom rather than the Express Scan. This will give your hardware as well as optional updates not included with the Critical Windows Updates)
4. Once a Week Update Your Virus Scanning Program. And once a month run a FULL SCAN (this will take a little bit of time so be patient)
5. Delete your internet browser history, cookies and temporary files at least once a week.

And finally, this is not a tip but a MUST DO. As soon as you can go out and buy yourself an external Hard drive. The easiest to use has a USB plug-in. The prices of the external hard drives are coming down every day. To begin with you just need one as big as your current hard drive on your personal computer or laptop. Make sure you COPY your data files, music and pictures to the external hard drive at least once a week. When you get a lot of files this may take time so be patient with this as well.