Happy Birthday America!

Surge Protectors

Is your computer protected from power surges? Contrary to popular belief, your computer does not need to be running to be seriously damaged or even destroyed by a power surge. Just being plugged in provides the path for a surge of electricity to enter your computer.

A surge protector stops surges of electricity before they reach your computer. The better quality surge protector you buy, the better protection it delivers. The surge protector is sometimes destroyed when it arrests a large electrical surge. You do not return it to the store. It did its job and gave up its life for you. You go to the store and buy another surge protector--smiling all the way.

In addition to the power connection, you need to protect you internet connection line too. If you use dial-up or DSL to connect to the Internet, you need surge protection for your phone line. As a matter of fact, a power surge is much more likely to enter your computer through your phone line than through your power cord. If you use cable internet, you'll need surge protection for your cable line.

You can buy phone line and cable line surge protectors separately, but it's usually more economical to buy a good electrical surge protector that includes a jack for internet connection.

Power Backup

To fully protect your hard drive and data files, you may want to consider a Power Backup unit. A Power Backup unit is a large battery that keeps your computer running in the event of a power failure. The length of time it will keep your system running varies, depending on the brand/model you select.

When a power failure shuts your computer off without going through the proper shutdown sequence, you will lose all unsaved work and risk damage to your hard drive. Even a small unit that keeps your computer and monitor running for 10-15 minutes is enough time to save your work and shut down properly. Some models include a software/hardware kit that will automatically close your open programs and shut your computer down properly in the event an extended power failure occurs when your computer is unattended.

  "Reply" vs. "Reply to All"

Sometimes we receive an email that has been sent to several people whose names are in the To or Cc block of the message heading. When we reply to this message, we have two choices:

1. Reply - This will send our reply to only the sender—the person who sent us the message. This is generally the choice we want.
2. Reply to All - This will send our reply to the sender AND to everyone else who received the original message.
   Examples:
   A) Your "forward happy" friend sends a message to you and 50 of her closest friends—most of whom you don't even know. If you use Reply to All, your reply will go to your friend, and the other 49 of her friends. This is probably (hopefully) not what you want.
   B) On the other hand, with a small group of friends, family and/or coworkers who do know each other, using Reply to All is very appropriate, since you know everyone in the group, and they will be interested in your reply.

Computer Tips and "How To's"

Great everyday computing tips and "how to's" are always available on Connie Holloway's Everyday Computing web site. Connie is a computer instructor at Central Georgia Technical College, a colleague and my friend.   www.everydaycomputing.com.

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