I often have people say to me, "I just got a computer. What should I do now?" All journeys begin from a departure point and with a first step, and purchasing a new computer can look like the beginning of an impossible journey. Don't be alarmed- we all started somewhere. Yes, there is a lot to learn, but it does get easier as you go along.

      Over the years I have helped a lot of folks with a lot of different problems, and some problems just keep popping up, over and over, and the same solutions are applied over and over. So, here, assembled in one place, and the ones that I have most often applied or recommended to folks, and the ones I have personally found most useful.

      I will assume you are already connected to the Internet (for, after all, that is where you most likely got this article!). Based on that, let's begin:

1) Be sure that the Operating System is Up to Date. Don't take for granted that it is so. I just found out that my own computer was not updated and should have been about two years ago!

      See my article on "How to Update Windows XP".

      For other operating systems, consult your manual or the help file.

2) Get An Up-To-Date Anti-Virus program. If you don't want to buy one feel free to try one of the free applications available on the Internet. One I can highly recommend is AVG Free Edition http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php from Grisoft.

      See my full review of AVG for more details

3) Install a Firewall . For the home user, a firewall is a software application that you install that 'resides' between your computer and the outside world. It keeps outsiders from looking in, and keeps your computer from getting out unless you give it permission. "ZoneAlarm" from Zone Labs http://www.zonelabs.com is not only the best (in my opinion), but it is also free.

      See my review of ZoneAlarm for details

4) Try another browser. Before you become accustomed to Internet Explorer, I HIGHLY recommend going over to Mozilla.org and download the newest version of their browser- Firefox. It's free and you'll never go back to Internet Explorer once you use it.

5) Get an Alias.Call your ISP (if necessary) and get an alias or two- these are additional E-Mail addresses that you can use on your one account, and the messages sent to them will come to your "regular" E-Mail address. Why? Because you can use your main E-Mail address for friends, family, and such, but use the alias for shopping and other Internet uses. If the alias starts getting a lot of Spam, then it can be easily deleted with little loss to you- that is to say, you don't have to inform all your friends that you changed addresses.

6) GOOGLE!- www.google.com This is a search engine. It will find things on the Internet for you. What things? ANYthings! Type in a breed of dog, a hobby, a place, a computer error code, a type of fabric, or even your own name and be ready to be amazed at what comes up. Using a search engine effectively takes a bit of practice, but Google is a great way to become accustomed to the Internet.

7) FROOGLE! www.froogle.com - This is the shopping arm of Google. Here you can shop for just about anything, and limit the price range of what you are looking for. Before actually shopping, I would suggest reading My lesson on safe Internet Shopping a the FRCN University (lesson 105). How well does this work? I transposed two letters in the name of an item I was shopping for, and Froogle returned ten hits from pages that also misspelled the same word in that way!

8) Learn "Cut and Paste" and "Copy and Paste" - These two, very powerful tools can be extremely helpful- they can double the usefulness of your computer once you learn to use them.

      See my lessons on both in the FRCN University . The lessons are written for beginners, and learning these functions will serve you for many years to come.

9) Learn To Type – If you can't touch type (or type quickly with more than two fingers) this is the time to learn. Thee are software applications that will teach you typing, that modify the lessons to assist you in the areas in which you need the most help. Use Froogle and shop for a typing tutor.

10) Delete E-Mail Attachments – NEVER open an attachment to an E-Mail unless you specifically requested it be sent to you, and even then, be suspicious. Many attachments are now being cleverly sent with messages that are meant to gain your confidence like, "That E-Mail you sent me had a virus. Open the attached file for instructions on how to clean your computer." Don't get suckered in! Be wary. Be suspicious! An anti-virus program may not always protect you from malicious attachments.

      See my articles on Spam and E-Mail hoaxes for more details.

11) Don't get caught by a Phishing scam- Phishing is a term to describe an E-Mail message sent on order to get you to type in something like a user name and password to a bank account or credit card number and password or PIN. The message will look like it comes from your credit card company or bank, and the link will appear real, but it takes you to a fake, lookalike website. It might say something like, "We have just monitored an access to your account by an unauthorized user. We have locked your account. To access your account it will be necessary to go HERE and change your user name and password." You should always manually open your browser and physically type in the link to such sites, or use your own pre-existing bookmarks or favorites to open the site. NEVER (and I do mean NEVER!) click on such links that come in E-Mail messages.

      See my articles on Spam and E-Mail hoaxes for more details.

12) Learn How to Help Yourself - When you need help with an application, hit the "F1" key on the keyboard. This will open the help file in just about every program you will ever use. There you will find assistance on most everything you will need to operate that program.

      For help with some basic Windows functions, try clicking on "Start" and then selecting "Help and Support." For more complicated problems it isn't mush help, but for the basics it is a place to start. Also remember that there are lots of resources on the Internet. Use Google to find help as well!

13) Right Click – There are many times when right clicking can being you an alternate menu. For example, right click on the desktop and select "Properties." There you can adjust the look of the desktop, change the screen saver, and a lot more. It works in your browser as well. Right click on a link and various options will appear depending on the browser you are using.

14) CTRL+ALT+DEL – This is a key combination that you should know. If the computer locks up or freezes, hold down the Ctrl key (control) then hold down the Alt (Alternate) key, then hold down the Delete Key, then release them all at once. It will either bring up Windows Task Manager where you have the opportunity to shut down the offending application (in Windows XP), allow you to restart the computer (in other versions) or hitting it twice might reboot. If not, then you have a serious lock-up and need to reboot (hit the reset switch on the computer).

15) RTFM – This stands for "Read The Freakin' Manual!" If you are having a problem take the time to read. Virtually all applications on your computer have some sort of manual, whether printed on paper or in the form of help manual in the program or stored in the file folder with the application. Although it will contain a lot of information you may not need, TAKE THE TIME to read it. It may not make sense now, but will help you in the long run.

16) Protect Your Computer Electrically – Get a line filter to protect your computer from electrical spikes and be sure it has modem protection. I recommend one of the UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies) that not only protect against voltage spikes and irregular changes in the sine wave '60 cycle' but also protect against voltage dips as well as brown outs. Some will even automatically shut down your computer if the power goes off.

      See my article on the damage that electrical surges can do and how to protect yourself and your computer.

17) Get a Better Office Suite. An office suite is a set of related applications that are used for letter writing (word processing), working with spreadsheets (accounting and other numeric and financial worksheets), creating presentations and basic graphics, basic desktop publishing (like making a sign or brochure) and more. You can spend a few hundred dollars on "Microsoft Office" but why should you when OpenOffice is available free? This excellent open source application even opens all Microsoft Office Suite application files, and saves in those formats as well.

18) Rid your Computer of Spys – No, this is not some left-over warning from the 50's Communist scare. Spyware are applications added to your computer from various sources that watch what you do and send information back to another location. It might be innocent information, like a list of websites you visit, but it could be malicious such as typed user names and passwords. My attitude is, if you want information from me, pay me.

      See my article on Spyware for more details

      Following all of these hints and tips might take some time- even weeks, but when completed they will make you life with a computer easier, safer, and less frustrating. It won't be long before you are asking your friends things like, "You DO have a firewall installed, don't you? Well, I recommend ZoneAlarm." And the best part? You will actually know what you are talking about!