Charles Babbage’s once quirky invention has become a must-have these days.Logging on to our very own personal computers and getting on the Information super highway is no more a matter of pride, it is a necessity. And then there is the fun element: watching movies and playing a slew of awesome games.

But, for all that, PCs ain’t all joy and jollity. They can be real pests when the mood seizes them. A few smart tips to help keep even the most pesky of them in line.

1. Back-up your data:

Always create back-ups of every bit of important information you store. There are many different ways of going about it. The simplest, fastest and cheapest involves burning your information to a blank CD or DVD. Burning a backup, for people with CD writers, is as simple as dragging your ‘My Documents’ folder over to the blank disk (using a program such as Nero burn, or software included in Windows XP).

2. Passwords:

While using your computer, the Internet or installing software, you may need to remember many different passwords. It’s important to not only keep track of all passwords, but keep them secure. The best way to do this is to use a mixture of words and numbers you are likely to remember, such as your phone number and street name. They key, though, is that no one else should be able to work it out.

3. Defrag regularly: To help your computer run faster, you may need to let it organise where the files are physically stored on your hard drive. This is called defragmenting or ‘defragging.’ When starting your computer, hold down ‘F8′ until the ’safe mode’ option appears. Once Windows loads, go to the ’start menu > run’, and type in ‘defrag.’ Select ‘C: drive’ and click ‘defrag.’

4. Clear old cache files: Deleting temporary files used by Internet Explorer when viewing Web sites is a good way to free up space on your hard drive. In Microsoft Internet Explorer, select “Tools > Internet options.’ Click delete file in the ‘Temporary Internet files’ box.

5. Maintain up-to-date virus definition: It is vital that you have a very good anti-virus programme (AVG, Norton Anti-Virus and MacAfee are some examples) and keep it up-to-date. Most anti-virus programmes have an automatic ‘update/download’ option. Selecting this will keep your virus-checker up to date and prevent your system from being infected by those dangerous viruses.

6. Disable anti-virus software: Make sure your anti-virus software is disabled when loading new software programs in order to avoid a conflict.

7. Spring clean: Dust is the enemy of your PC and can cause major problems if left unchecked. Buy a micro-vacuum cleaner to keep your computer dust-free.

8. The latest drivers: Always check the manufacturer’s Web site before installing new software. Sometimes disks bundled with a peripheral device, such as a printer, have old software. Save the file at an appropriate destination (the desktop is a good place). Double click on the file and install the software. Now connect your device. The best way to install the hardware is to connect the device to the computer and let Windows recognise it. If there are any problems or Windows does not start to recognise the hardware, make sure the device is plugged into the correct slot and the power is connected.

9. Changing start-up programmes using msconfig: Most programs try to gain an entry into the start-up programmes list. To remove unwanted programmes, use the run command (click on Start to get there) and type MSCONFIG. This will bring up a small program allowing you to configure the way your computer loads. In the last tab of the window, you will have the option to disable/enable startup programmes. Be careful to disable only programmes that you understand, otherwise you may render your computer unusable.

10. Stand-by mode: Place your PC in standby mode to save power if you are going to leave it turned on for any length of time. (a) Open ‘power options’ in the control panel. (b) On the ‘advanced’ tab, under ‘when I press the power button on my computer’, click ’standby’. You can also put your computer on standby by clicking ’start’, clicking ‘turn off computer’, and then clicking ’stand by.’