10 Things to Do on Your Family Computer When You Go Home for Vacation
Vacation travel almost always means that if you are tech-savvy and well-versed in family computers, someone will ask you to take a look at their laptop, phone, or desktop computer. Stop them at the pass with this list of tips the next time you’re at home.
10. Run OS updates (as soon as possible).
If you don’t think you will have enough time to just sit back and relax while you are there, with the computer turned off in the background or another room downloading updates and fixes, perhaps run Windows Update or fire up the Mac App Store and check for updates there as soon as you get settled.
First, it allows the computer to do something after you get there so that you don’t get attacked right away with technical support requests, and second, it saves you from the most time-consuming part of the whole family’s tech support process. way. Let these updates run, install, reboot, and repeat until they are all ready. Then you can move on to other things where you really need to sit down and use that thing.
9. Install (or make sure they have) virus protection and antivirus software.
Of course, which antivirus and antivirus tools you install on your parent, brother, sister, cousin, or other family member’s PC is entirely up to you , but make sure they have something , because you can’t always trust the “good Internet hygiene “. “To protect you, and you definitely can’t always trust this someone whose mess you’ll have to clean up if something bad happens.
Once you are sure they have some sort of protection – or if they already have it – make sure it is in good working order, has been updated at least half recently, and run a system scan, just in case. After all, an antivirus is useless if it has never been updated and used.
8. Update their browsers and extensions.
Every modern web browser is updated these days, and usually on restart whenever there is a new version to download, but if someone in your family is using a version so old that they are not, or they are using an outdated browser in the First, now is a good time to speed them up.
They may be using browser extensions that have proven to be malicious (or simply unreliable ) and have never replaced them with reliable ones. Being at home for the holidays is a good time to change them up and give them a little more online privacy.
7. Remove Crapware or unnecessary programs.
Whether it’s a Mac or a PC with Windows, nothing gives you a more comfortable interaction with your computer, than delete OEM-software and any other applications and services that run in the background and that you really do not need. Get rid of them and give your family back the computer, which will be faster as a result.
Grab a copy of Decrap for Windows and let it do its job, extracting all the useless tools the PC maker has decided you need to have, such as the “support and help” tools, which are simply glorified links to the support section of their website. or some DVD creation tool you will never use. Then grab a copy of Revo Uninstaller , our favorite Windows app uninstaller, or AppCleaner , our favorite for Mac , and get rid of everything else your family member just doesn’t use. They won’t notice the crap is gone, but they will notice a faster PC.
6. Automate whatever you can
Go back to their favorite apps, settings and tools and automate as much as possible . System updates? Configure them to automatically install at night or during quiet hours when your computer is not in use. It’s the same with your backups. Set all your family members’ favorite apps to automatically download updates and security patches, and then install them the next time you open the app.
In fact, if there is something that , you can automate, do it and let them know that you did it. This way, you will never need to indicate that some driver says it has an update and they don’t know what to do, or some other application says there is a new version and they are not sure how deal with it. Just let everything happen automatically.
5. Do some speed tests now to get ammo later.
It may seem silly, but although everything else works fine, go on SpeedTest.net and run bandwidth test. While you’re at it, do a little benchmarking on your family’s computer. This may seem like an unnecessary overkill, but it gives you a guideline against which you can interpret any real-world problems.
If you understand what their broadband speeds look like under normal conditions, you’ll know when they complain about slowness, whether it’s their computer or home network, not their service provider. If you know how much their processor gets hot, you can tell if it’s overheating. A quick note will save you the guesswork now, even if they are educated, later, when asked to quickly fix any problem they run into.
4. Prepare them with helpful DIY resources.
Look, I’ve worked in IT for a long time, and even my very best attempts to get people to educate themselves and learn how their computers and applications work have often been met with “but I can just call you, you can help!” – if not said aloud, definitely in relation. However, for every four or five people who really responded that way, there was one who really wanted to learn and really wanted to be self-sufficient. Do it for them.
Give them a small list of links or tools they can use to troubleshoot their problems and where they can learn more about how their technology works. Maybe you can even point them to Lifehacker here or our Lifehacker U online courses and they can learn a little technique for themselves.
3. Back up your data and set up regular backups.
Every hard drive fails, it’s just a matter of when – and therefore everyone needs reliable and reliable backups to avoid losing valuable, irreplaceable data. When we say reliable, we mean following the old 3-2-1 backup rule : 3 backups (two are not enough if important), 2 different formats (for example, Dropbox and an external hard drive or external hard drive, and DVD) and 1 out-of-office backup (if your house burns down or is robbed and you lose your computer and that shiny external hard drive, how will you recover?)
Customize bulletproof backup system easily, putting just a few minutes. If something like Crashplan , our favorite, is too complicated, consider another simpler and more streamlined tool to get the job done. You can even use built-in tools like Windows Backup on Windows 10 or Time Machine on macOS. Whatever it is, do it so that no one will call you in a panic and say that they have lost all their photos, music, or a very important document or paper. Oh, and don’t forget to check and recover before you go home.
2. Install the remote control tool.
When it comes to family support, the best thing I’ve ever done was install Teamviewer on my dad’s computer. He doesn’t often need my help, but when he does, it’s much easier to connect to his computer remotely and see what he sees than trying to interpret his descriptions of an app that I don’t use, or a settings screen that I have never seen or maintained. him through it.
Teamviewer is not your style? We have many alternatives that do the job as well, but this is a huge help and much better than sitting on the phone saying, “Press the button, it’s right here” and hearing “What button, I can’t see the button” over and over again. … above.
1. Don’t do it in the future.
Finally, the most important thing you can do – at least for your own sanity – is to politely give up your family’s support role in the future . If you don’t like it (and some people like it!), Sometimes it’s better to just save everyone the frustration and give your loved ones a few more options to help themselves, or get help elsewhere without calling you to help.