Top 10 things to do for mom's PC over Thanksgiving

by Nitin Badjatia Nov 23rd 2005

You love your mom, right? Remember all those times she took you to soccer practice? And that time when she was the only one clapping in the audience during your 'recital'? She's always been there for you, and this Thanksgiving weekend it is time to give a little love back. Since we are not the sentimental type here at Download Squad (flowers and puppies just don't do it for us), we thought we'd offer up 10 tips to make mom's computing experience more enjoyable. So, take a break from the annual long weekend of awkward conversations, bad football games, and watching TV reruns in anticipation of the big feast. It's time to fix mom's PC!

When was the last time your mom did a full backup of her computer files? When was the last time you backed up your computer (sorry, had to ask)? Do your mom a favor and make at least two backup copies of her most precious files. Keep one backup for your records, and have your mom store another copy in a safe place. You might want to take a look at NTI Shadow 2 (on sale for 99 cents until the end of the year) as a backup utility, if mom's computer lacks one.
Like all moms, we bet yours has collected a bunch of photo files over the years. We are also confident that they are not as well organized as she thinks they are. Clean up her photographs by putting them in the My Pictures folder on her computer. Then download Picasa from Google and show her how to use it. Picasa, along with its online companion Hello, are your friends. They will make sending pictures to your mom much easier, and will make viewing pictures more pleasurable too.
Now that her pictures are all sorted out neatly, it's time to buy her a nice LCD screen to get rid of that boat-anchor CRT monitor on her desk.
While we're thinking of hardware upgrades, why not get your mom some real speakers to replace those tiny, screeching ones that came with the computer? Your mom deserves better sound quality when she listens to music, right?
Install Firefox. Your mom will love it. Trust us on this one.
If your mom would like to keep one place to store notes, copies of web pages, and other clippings, setup Evernote for her. Given that Evernote lets you copy and categorize notes, web pages and clippings, this program will help her keep track of all kinds of stuff in one place.
Update the anti-virus software on her machine, as well as the spyware detection software. It has probably been a while since she had the latest, and greatest, virus definintions on her PC. We know you keep your virus definitions up to date, right? To keep spyware at bay, we prefer Adaware by Lavasoft.
Introduce your mom to the world of VoIP by setting up Skype. We're pretty confident that all moms would love to be able to chat with their children at any time. Even more inviting to most moms is when they can chat for free. Of course you will thank us for this tip once your mom buzzes you while you are in some important meeting at work.
Run a system check utility on her machine to clean out the cobwebs that slow down system performance. Systweak does a good job in cleaning up PCs.
Get her a real email account. Many moms (and dads for that matter) fall into the trap of using some default, arcane email address that was provided by their internet provider. Make her email address a memorable one. Be a sport, move your mom onto a vanity domain name and have it forwarded to her favorite email address. Domain names can be bought for less than $9/year and will give your mom a special email address that is easy to remember (okay, this is sort of senitmental).

See, now that wasn't so hard was it? We know you've got big plans for the coming four days, but we're confident you can make your mom's computing experience more enjoyable by just devoting a few minutes between the feast, football games and the Friday 5 a.m. Wal-Mart run that you plan every year. Happy Thanksgiving!

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Alexander said 8:49AM on 11-23-2005

Let's add Quintura Search to this package
http://www.quintura.com/quinturasearch/
It's fresh view to search via the internet.

geek2us said 8:57AM on 11-23-2005

Some good advice given here, but what if it your dads pc? Heh
http://www.geek2us.net
Coffee

HotMeatPants said 9:35AM on 11-23-2005

Show her http://www.neodux.com - she'll regret ever giving you control of her computer.

AceHenry said 10:25AM on 11-23-2005

Haha I love the article title.

MrRockabilly said 11:41AM on 11-23-2005

This is a good list . . . I especially like number 5. Everyone here in the office gave me a blank stare when I laughed out loud. It will be a nice change from my anual box of See's candies.

Scott said 11:50AM on 11-23-2005

"Friday 5 a.m. Wal-Mart run"...?

Best Buy all the way, baby!

J said 11:58AM on 11-23-2005

i'm gonna do all these on my dad's computer instead since my mom doesn't use one

suezz said 12:44PM on 11-23-2005

The one thing to do for mom's pc over thanksgiving.

Install LINUX.

Faraz Rabbani said 1:18PM on 11-23-2005

I'd recommend getting Copernic Desktop Search installed and running on her computer. People always "lose" stuff--documents, pictures, files, songs--on their machines, and an efficient desktop search program really helps them out...

krd said 1:20PM on 11-23-2005

I suggest changing number 5 to "Install opera"
I don't think mom has time to look for extensions, or know what to do when they stop working when a new version of it comes out every... um.... 2 weeks.
trust me on this one.

Kevin said 2:08PM on 11-23-2005

Agree with #9. If Mom needs the kind of help that is on the list, Opera is a better way to go than Firefox. Mom would never know how to install a Firefox extension. Also suggest installing LogMeIn, so that you can give Mom a remote checkup once in a while.

paolo said 2:37PM on 11-23-2005

Install Linux.

paolo said 2:39PM on 11-23-2005

Sorry I wanted to say: install Ubuntu Linux. http://www.ubuntulinux.org/

F. Cisco said 4:03PM on 11-23-2005

I would prefer to install Opera instead.
Its also free and much more secure.

Andy Atkinson said 4:19PM on 11-23-2005

Putting UltraVNC on mom's computer will let you quickly administer it when she needs help with something, and lets her stay logged-in. She'll watch in amazement as you move her mouse around and remove that spyware. Remember to open up the required ports on her router before taking off.

http://paininthetech.com/fix_your_moms_computer_with_ultravnc

Joid said 6:09PM on 11-23-2005

Instead of giving tip no. 7 i would install HitmanPro http://www.hitmanpro.com. Every two weeks she has to start this program and:
Ad-Aware SE 1.06, Spybot Search & Destroy 1.4, Spy Sweeper 3 & 4, Spyware Doctor 3.2, CWShredder 2.15
SpywareBlaster 3.4, Spyware Block List, NOD32 AntiThreat 2.5, Sysclean Package, SuperDAT VirusScan will run behind eachother. Your mom's PC will be easily cleaned and shutdown automatically. What a relief!

AFD said 6:14PM on 11-23-2005

I recommend a good defragmentation before sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner.

jeremy said 7:47PM on 11-23-2005

I also agree with the Opera sentiment. It's much less hassle than firefox and looks slightly "newer" and "cooler," although that depends on preference...

Vikram said 10:48PM on 11-23-2005

I'd just like to comment on suezz's remark.

"Install LINUX"

1) This guy probably doesn't even use Linux, and wants to sound like all the 'nix drones out there.

2) Unless suezz's mother is a geek and a hardcore computer user, Linux is going to be hell for her.

Joe said 1:00AM on 11-24-2005

I got my mum a mac mini. In addition to the alliteration, it's attractive, tiny and it just works. Six months later and no problems.

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