Here's a simple true-false quiz designed to help get to the bottom of
common computer misconceptions. Finally, here's some information you can
feel good about e-mailing to your friends.



True or false? My PC will start behaving worse than a tired toddler if I
don't power it all the way down at night, every night.



False. Your PC doesn't need to be shut down fully every day to stay
healthy. Many people hate to wait for Windows to shut all the way down.
And they really hate to wait for it to boot all the way up again. The
more programs and utilities you have running, the worse that boot time
becomes. One answer: Use Windows XP's Hibernate option (look for it in
your Control Panel under Power Options). This will make your PC go to
sleep instead of shutting all the way down.



=================================================================

True or false? If I spill a drink on my keyboard, it's totaled.



False. A desktop computer's keyboard will usually survive a spill
(though you Big Gulp types should be extra careful). Turn the keyboard
upside down on top of a kitchen towel and leave it alone for a while.
Then you can wipe the top of the keys down with a slightly damp cloth
and be back in business.



Disclaimer alert: You can try the same drill with a laptop's keyboard,
but it may not fare as well because critical parts live beneath the
keyboard and some liquid may ooze down. And beware, spills typically
void a laptop's warranty, so some owners may find it worth the money to
buy an extended warranty or accidental damage coverage that specifically
covers drops and spills. Get it from the manufacturer who sold your
equipment to you. I'm not sure about this answer... I once spilled a
diet coke on my keyboard. a lot of the keys got stuck and I had to
replace the keyboard.



=================================================================

True or false? If I stick a magnet near a floppy disk, it will erase the
contents.



True. You've never seen James Bond do it, but it works. If you rush to
the refrigerator, grab a magnet, and stick it on a floppy disk, you'll
probably destroy the files.

=================================================================



True or false? My PC is running slow and I have strange icons in my
system tray, therefore I probably have a virus.



False. If you are running antivirus software and keep it updated, you
probably have spyware instead. These nasty little invaders run in the
background, slow down your PC, change your Web browser settings, and
leave weird stuff lying around that can be harder to remove than
dishwasher gunk.

==================================================================



True or false? I can't have spyware, because I ran an anti-spyware
program and it erased several items.



False: Anti-spyware programs vary greatly in effectiveness. In PC
World's recent tests, these programs grabbed as much as 90 percent of
spyware and as little as 66 percent. You may need to run a couple of
programs to remove it all. (Fortunately, a few good spyware removers are
free.) For the scoop on which products to consider and how to kill all
the spies, see PCWorld.com
<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ttpcworld/tc_techtues_pcworld/storytex\
t/124807/18179482/SIG=12134usml/*http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/\
0,aid,122496,pg,1,00.asp> .

===================================================================



True or false? There's no way for me to remember all my passwords, so I
need to make crib notes on a piece of paper and hide it well.



False. Some people write passwords on Post-It notes and stick them
someplace near the computer, but this is a really bad idea. Sure, you
have to remember a ridiculous number of user names and passwords these
days, for dozens of programs and sites. But there's a better solution to
the problem. Check out Password Safe
<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ttpcworld/tc_techtues_pcworld/storytex\
t/124807/18179482/SIG=126tg7p09/*http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_d\
escription/0,fid,23779,00.asp> , a free utility that creates strong,
unique passwords and saves all the info in an encrypted database. You
don't have to remember all your passwords, just one.

===================================================================

True or false? If my PC breaks under warranty, my PC company will
replace the parts good as new.

True. But the key phrase here is "good as new," not "new." Many PC
owners are surprised the first time a part fails, and they learn this
lesson. But most PC companies have language in the warranty that allows
them to send you remanufactured parts as replacements. These parts are
not strictly brand new, though they go through some reconditioning and
testing. I once had to replace my mother board twice in one year. Dell
finally sent me a new computer.

===================================================================

True or false? My laptop's batteries will become less effective if I
keep recharging them before they're empty.

False. That is, unless you have an ancient notebook PC with a nickel
cadmium battery. Today's lithium ion batteries do not suffer from this
problem. You don't have to run them down to empty all the time, but you
should occasionally.

===================================================================

True or false? I don't need to pay for tech support because my cousin's
kid works with computers and helps me out when I have questions.

False. Your little helper will never tell you, because he or she is too
polite, but no one likes being the "computer kid" to the extended family
or neighborhood. Here's the good news: Great tech-support services now
exist where you pay a reasonable monthly fee, or buy a block of
phone-support minutes, with a company that can use the Internet to
remotely peek at, control, and fix your PC--or just quickly answer your
PC-care questions.

====================================================================

True or false? I'm ready to give away my old computer after I've deleted
all the files.

False. Deleting files isn't good enough. You'd be amazed what people can
pull from the hard drives of secondhand or donated computers if the hard
drive hasn't been completely reformatted and Windows reinstalled. (And
if you pass along the PC to a family member, you're probably not going
to do this.)

PC World did a story where we found : Social Security numbers, income
tax returns, and other personal and important information on old,
discarded hard drives. Once you pass along your old PC, you have no idea
where it will travel down the line. To erase your info, try a free
utility program, such as Eraser
<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ttpcworld/tc_techtues_pcworld/storytex\
t/124807/18179482/SIG=111ld1omg/*http://www.tolvanen.com/eraser/> , to
zap documents into oblivion. There's also Webroot's Window Washer
<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ttpcworld/tc_techtues_pcworld/storytex\
t/124807/18179482/SIG=12668du44/*http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_d\
escription/0,fid,25803,00.asp> for cleaning up the many little nuggets
that lurk elsewhere. For this article and more information go to :
www.PCWorld.com <http://www.PCWorld.com>





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