*1. Don't double-click everything.* Windows 101: Double-clicking is how 
you open items in Windows. It's not how you open links in your Web 
browser, click buttons in dialog boxes, or do pretty much anything 
else--and if you reflexively double-click, you might accidentally zip 
right past something important or submit a form twice. If you don't need 
this reminder yourself, chances are you know someone who does.

*2. Use slashes and backslashes in the appropriate 
situations.* Let's get it straight: / is a slash (or forward slash, if 
you must), and \ is a backslash. Backslashes are conventionally used for 
Windows file paths (C:\Program Files\Whatever), while slashes are used 
for Internet addresses (http://www.pcworld.com/howto.html).

**
3. Record the exact error message.* When your PC crashes, it'll usually 
try to tell you why it is doing so--albeit with a string of numbers and 
letters that you won't understand. Write the message down in its 
entirety (or take a screenshot, if possible) so you can later plug it 
into Google or give it to your tech support agent. If your PC didn't 
provide an error message, go to Action Center (in the Control Panel) and 
see if it shows up under 'View archived messages' or 'View problems to 
report'.

*4. Bring deleted files back from the dead.* When you delete a file from 
your PC or memory card, you're not wiping it off the actual hard drive. 
Instead, you're simply removing the index information that tells your PC 
where the file is, at which point the PC is free to treat the part of 
your disk that contain that file as empty space that it can write 
something else to. If you've accidentally deleted something, undelete 
utilities such as Recuva 
<http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,67538-order,4/description.html> can 
help you find those files again as long as you haven't already written 
over that file with something new.

DBAN; click for full-size image.
Don't leave your personal data on your old PC's hard drive. Nuke it 
completely with Darik's Boot and Nuke.

*5. Wipe your hard drive before getting rid of it.* Because your PC 
doesn't immediately get rid of the files you delete, you can't just 
reformat your hard drive before recycling or selling your old 
computer--because someone might be able to use an undelete app to 
recover your sensitive data. We have all kinds of tips for completely 
erasing an old drive 
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/157126/how_to_completely_erase_a_hard_drive.html>, 
but the short version is: grab Darik's Boot and Nuke 
<http://www.dban.org/>.

Uncheck the boxes; click for full-size image.
Want a totally worthless toolbar added to your browser? No? Then uncheck 
the box for that option before you install updates.

*6. Uncheck the boxes before you install.* Lots of helpful apps out 
there give you the option of installing search toolbars and other 
add-ons--and some of them are so pushy about being helpful that their 
installers are configured to install the uninvited extras unless you 
check a box saying you don't want them. Not only is each add-on another 
thing that your PC needs to load, but you have no idea what kind of data 
it could be sending out. They come bundled with the app because they 
make money for the app developer, not because they're particularly 
useful. So take a close look at what you're installing before you click 
Install--and in return, the installer won't change your search engine or 
install apps you don't need.

*7. Beware of viruses living in Office docs.* Experienced Microsoft 
Office users can take advantage of its built-in Visual Basic for 
Applications support to automate complex tasks with macros. However, 
malicious coders can use those same tools to design viruses that may 
interfere with your work and that of your colleagues. By default, Office 
is set to disable all macros and notify you when a doc you're reading 
contains them (to toggle this setting, in Word, select /Word Options, 
Trust Center, Trust Center Settings, Macro Settings/), so you should 
already be safe on this score.

Disk Cleanup; click for full-size image.
Don't spend a bunch of money on dubious disk-cleaning software. Windows' 
built-in Disk Cleanup utility has all the cleaning power most users need.

*8. Be skeptical of "cleaning" apps.* Apps that make vague claims about 
improving your PC's performance and clearing out its clutter (Registry 
cleaners, I'm looking at you) will generally do more harm than good (if 
they do anything at all). To clean up your system, simply run Disk 
Cleanup (to reach it, select /Start Menu, All programs, Accessories, 
System Tools/); it comes with every Windows installation and it won't 
mess up your PC.

*9. Uninstall your old apps.* If you regularly download and install new 
apps from the Internet, you should get in the habit of pruning your 
collection every now and then. To do so, open the /Programs and 
Features/ control panel, scroll through the list, and click 
/Uninstall/ to ditch items you no longer want. You may need to take a 
trip into your C:/Program Files/ folder to hunt down a few additional 
unused apps. The less stuff you have on your PC, the less things are to 
go wrong.

*10. Don't let a spilled drink ruin your laptop.* If you keep your cool 
when a spill occurs, you may be able to prevent your data from 
disappearing and your motherboard from frying. Instead of panicking, 
quickly but methodically unplug the power cord and yank out the 
battery--don't wait for Windows to power off. Next, detach anything 
connected to the PC (network cables, USB devices) and pull out any 
readily removable components such as an optical drive. Tilt the laptop 
to try to drain the liquid in the direction that it spilled onto your 
PC, but be careful--you don't want to tilt the laptop in a direction 
that would allow the liquid to seep even deeper in. If you see liquid on 
the surface of the laptop, dab it off with a towel. At this point, 
unless you're comfortable disassembling your PC and cleaning it with 
electronics cleaner, you'll probably want to take it to a tech.

*11. Turn down UAC.* Both Windows 7 and Windows Vista include a security 
function called User Account Control, which dims the screen and flashes 
a dialog box whenever you install an app or change your system settings. 
Though this arrangement can be useful for catching sneaky apps that are 
trying to install or change things without your knowledge, it can also 
be annoying. If you use Vista, grab TweakUAC 
<http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,67530-order,1-page,1/description.html>to 
make it less annoying without turning it off. If you use Windows 7, the 
default settings aren't too bad, but I recommend that you go into the 
User Accounts control panel, click /User Account Control settings/, and 
change the setting to the third notch down, so UAC will still warn you 
but it won't dim the screen.

*12. Don't work in your admin account.* Many PC users are accustomed to 
doing their everyday work while logged in to their PC's administrator 
account--especially in Windows XP. Doing so can save you the hassle of 
having to log in and out when you want to install apps or make changes, 
but it also leaves you much more vulnerable to viruses and malware--so 
don't do it.

Icon View; click for full-size image.
The Control Panel is far easier to navigate when you can see all the 
icons at a glance.

*13. Keep your Control Panel in Icon View.* The Control Panel's 
Categories view can be useful if you're intimidated by the many 
different options available, but it can also make finding what you're 
looking for more difficult (especially if you're following detailed 
instructions that refer to the control panels by name). Click /Classic 
view/ on the left (in Vista) or choose /Large Icons/ from the /View 
by/ dropdown menu in the upper right (in Windows 7), and you'll have 
ready access to all of the control panels.

Notification Area Icons; click for full-size image.
Limit the clutter in your system tray by paring down the list of icons 
that occupy it.

*14. Clear your system tray.* Apps often park themselves in the system 
tray (the row of icons on the right side of your taskbar) and stay open 
without your realizing it. Take the time to clear it out occasionally. 
Open the /Notification Area Icons/ control panel, and check the box on 
the bottom that says /Always show all icons and notifications on the 
taskbar/ to get a sense of how cluttered your system tray is; then 
right-click each one you don't need and choose /Close/. Your RAM will 
thank you.

*15. Manage your power settings.* If you're using a laptop, you'll want 
to know how to change your power settings so your PC doesn't waste 
battery when you need to conserve it, doesn't slow down when you need to 
go fast, and doesn't go to sleep at an inopportune moment. Open the 
/Power Options/ control panel, and choose from among several presets 
containing different configurations for when you're plugged in and when 
you're mobile--or feel free to create your own. To access the advanced 
settings, click /Change plan settings/, /Change advanced settings/; 
there you'll find detailed options related to your battery, Wi-Fi radio, 
graphics card, and more.