Spending a day helping out at my dad’s Apple Computer retail and repair shop, I learned a lot about people’s computer problems.
At the store, I organized reports about everyone who’d come in during the past few years—and there were huge numbers of people who’d come in distress with destroyed computers. I noticed that many people have the same sorts of problems with their computers. Here, I’ve pulled together the most common mistakes people make to help teens learn what NOT to do.
First of all, tons of people procrastinate when it comes to getting their computers fixed! Many computers are programmed to give warning signs when they are malfunctioning. For example, some computers have fans that turn on when they get overheated. In other cases, applications will quit frequently if something’s wrong. Instead of calling a professional, though, many users try to either self-diagnose their computer or just ignore the issue altogether. Don’t do this! It just wastes time, and chances are the computer won’t get any better. Waiting may even cause the computer to get worse, costing more money in the end to fix. It’s just a lose-lose situation!
Now, how many times have you accidentally knocked something over? Everyone’s a little bit klutzy at times, but there are still many people who eat or drink around their computers. Spilling something on a computer is incredibly damaging, and even small crumbs can jam the keyboard. So don’t take the risk of eating your cereal while watching videos on YouTube, and don’t rest your coffee on the keyboard while typing an essay. Trust me: You won’t be happy if your hand slips and knocks food all over your computer!
When I was at my dad’s office, the theme of the day—or rather the theme of the store’s existence—was “data recovery.” Everywhere I turned, people were concerned about whether their old files could be retrieved. I can’t tell you how many people lost essays, photos, music, projects, and everything else on their computers. That’s why I really stress that you have to back up your files, especially when it comes to schoolwork.
There are a few ways to back up your files. The most tedious way is to print out hard copies of each project and keep them just in case. A better way is to save files on a flash drive or burn them onto a disc. But I think the best way is to use an external hard drive. For about $50, you can find a good one that holds up to 250 GB. Best thing about an external drive? It requires minimal effort—you simply plug the hard drive into your computer when you want to back up. And it backs up everything on the computer.
These days, teens depend on their computers. Yet many make common mistakes when using them that can cause serious problems. By following these tips, you’ll be able to keep your computer safer and your files backed up. It’ll be much easier for you—and your computer might even appreciate it!
Experts estimate that about 25 percent of all PC users lose computer files each year. So it’s definitely a good idea to back up!
