Many of us have had the glorious experience of "Student Computers" in the
library and many have had the technical backup to maintain these wonders.
Some of us, like me, has had to learn from experience and when one doesn't
know the difference between a 486 and a 222, it's rather daunting.
If you allow students, teachers, administrators, garbage people, to use
their own floppy, to have access to the Internet, download e-mail, you know
that there can be problems. Here are some suggestions :
1. for virus checkers - download and install the free AVG 6.0 Anti-Virus
System (http://www.grisoft.com). You must register to receive the serial
number and, if possible, I'd advise you to download a different copy for
each computer, although one copy will work. Selection all the options and
it will scan everything coming in, including e-mail. You can then
scan-at-will or set up a schedule. In addition, AVG can be set up so that
putting a floppy disk in lead to it being automatically scanned. I'll
e-mail you directly if you want instructions for this option
2. for Spyware and Cookies that are sneaked into your computer while you
are not looking - download and install the free Ad-ware version
6.0 (http://www.lavasoft.com). I've tried a number of such programs, but
Ad-ware tops them all (so far) with not only identifying spyware and
cookies but giving you the option to quarantine (ie., you want to keep
certain cookies), remove selected/all from your computer. By the way,
despite what you might have heard, not all Cookies are "bad" - some are
simple shortcuts (read : "poor programming") designed to speed things up
for you.
3. Ad-ware may or may not work on the cookies found in your Internet
directory (I'm not sure), but you should frequently look at the features
in the new Internet Explorer or Netscape (Opera and others probably have
similar features) that eliminate the items in your cache and cookies. If
you haven't already done so, be sure to update your browsers as their
features are constantly being updated. In Internet Explorer, click on
Tools, Internet Options and then Delete Cookies, Delete Files, and Clear
History. At this point, too, you might want to decide if you want to store
the history (sites visited) or establish a certain number of days of storage.
4. E-mail storage. You can end up with tons and tons of e-mails that are
downloaded and stored in folders. You should, of course, always educate
the users that all e-mails are public information at every point along the
delivery system. Determine some policy of storage/removal and publicize it
well. Since all e-mails can be stored on personal floppies or re-directed
to the recipient's own computer, deleting such letters shouldn't pose a
problem once they know that the items will be erased.
5. The dreaded .exe files. No file attachments ending in ".exe" should be
opened. None. No Exception. The users must understand that this is not
"their personal computer" and double clicking on this kind of file may lead
to installing viruses, trojans, and a whole range of baddies, leading
ultimately to the removal of that machine from service. If you use
Outlook, I'm told that there is an option that ensure an attachment is not
automatically opened, but an alternative is to use as freeware version of
mail programs like Eudora Lite ( http://www.eudora.com/ ) that require you
to manually (ie., deliberately) open an attachment.
6. Watch, too, in Outlook the Newsgroups. Many servers, the people you
are connecting your computer to the internet with, have a Newsgroup
service. These Usenet Newsgroups contain a wealth of interesting
information, but they are totally uncontrolled and can contain items you
probably would not like your students (much less your garbage person) to
have access to.
7. HOWEVER - for your peace of mind in keeping the computers up and
running - do take a look at the Newsgroup "24hoursupport.helpdesk" (note
that there are other similarly named ones). These people are
wonderful! If your having problems with the computer, post a question
describing what is/isn't happening, and you will get responses quickly,
with nice people to help you along the way. (Sometimes, there is a
"bidding" system that the technicians offer a solution for a small fee)
8. Cleaning Out Documents (not only text, but pictures, sounds, etc.) As
with letters, users should know that you will erase documents and
files. In most cases, items are saved to a common directory, easily
identified and the contents removed. But keep an eye out for other places
that the users may save things. To identify the document files, use the
Windows Explorer (the icon that looks like as filing folder with a
magnifying glass in front) and locate the directories that are being
used. Highlight (Click on) the files or file folders (but NOT the one
labelled "My Documents") and delete.
9. Don't Forget the Garbage! When items are deleted from the computer,
they are temporarily stored in a Recycle Bin (see that Garbage Can
icon? Right click on that, and Empty Recycle Bin.
10. If you are using Windows, there is another feature that you might want
to use occasionally (like quarterly). Computers are both stupid and
lazy. When it goes to store information, as it is always doing, it will
not only store it together but also plop it into any available spaces along
the way. The more Fragmented the disk becomes, the slower the computer
operates. To De-Frag the disk drive : Go Start / Programs / Accessories /
System Tools / Disk Defragmenter. Select the disk drive you want and
OK. It takes time, often lots of time, but doing it overnight takes some
of the pain out of waiting. And, of course, if you De-Frag on a regular
basis, you'll use less time to complete the task.
11. If you can afford it, you'll find an investment in McAfee's [Online]
Clinic ( https://clinic.mcafee.com/ ) . The cost of US$39.95 is well
worth it. What it does it check your computer for problems and can locate
and correct a range of things, most especially dead shortcuts that your
computer makes to items you may have removed, and which peripheral
(printer, etc.) may have problems. I recommend it, but it is certainly not
essential.
12. Finally, a word about Pirate / Unauthorized Software. For years I
installed copies of programs on multiple computers, arguing that purchasing
additional original software or site licenses was simply too expensive for
a library of limited budget. I can today probably give a long list of
reasons for doing it. I'll not go into the dangers of software police
laying charges against you the librarian, the administrators and boards
that should be supervising you. They do lay charges, even increasingly in
overseas situations! However, there is a vast realm of software called
"Freeware" or "Registerware" that are wonderful alternatives and can be
legitimately used. Before you think of breaking laws and ethics, do a
check for "Freeware" (and your subject, as "word processor") on the
internet, read the reviews (especially the user's ones), download and test
some of it out. A program like OpenOffice 1.0 is an office suite with word
processor, database, spreadsheets, etc. that, like another company's
commercial version (at $500 each) is a viable alternative and legitimate
and only one of a host of other similar products. Once again, for you ONLY
take a look at the newsgroup alt.comp.freeware. Constant requests for "I
want a program that does......" are answered and, also importantly,
warnings if there are problems.
So, it is as daunting task to keep computers going. And, the tasks I've
outlined above make it seem even more time-consuming. If you are not a
"techie" (or even if you are), why not train a few of the students. You'd
be suprised how well your computers will run. And the hassles you'll save
yourself.
Earl Sande
Semi-Retired International School Librarian
10189 133 Street
Surrey, BC
V3T3Y8
earlsande@hotmail.com
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