Things NOT to do!

* If you have to wiggle the power connector on your laptop to get it to power on, STOP IT!
                -By wiggling the connector you may be doing more damage to your laptop, even possibly damaging the motherboard.
                -If you damage the motherboard in your laptop further the cost of repairs more than doubles!

*Do you really want to trust a free anti-virus, fix-it utility,  or anything else that's supposed to protect your personal information?
                -There's a reason that corporations, banks, businesses, professionals, etc PAY for tech support and anti-virus protection,
                            because they know it works!! If a freebie worked for them don't you think they would be using free stuff in these
                            economic times?  I defy you to find any major business or bank using free anti-virus software. Enough said.

*If your computer is making a funny noise, it's generally NOT a good idea to keep using it thinking it might go away.
                -When a computer starts making new noises it's trying to tell you it's hurting and needs help...NOW!

*If you have new software magically show up on your computer, don't assume it's the software fairy doing something good for you!
                -When things appear out of no where it's not magic. It' is however a very good indication that something has infected
                            your computer.
                -While sometimes these things can be attributed to not paying attention to the extras you might be installing when all you
                            really wanted was Adobe Flash Player, many times it's more like you've either gotten a nasty email passing along
                            an infection from some one else or you've been some place that had a pop up window that you clicked on OR
                            perhaps you got one of those interesting freebie fix-it utilities or other free software (legal software or not) that
                            brought along a buddy that you really didn't want.
                -Many times this leads to loss of information or the need for a complete reload of your computer.
 
*Don't assume all computer repair people more honest or dishonest, ask questions and find out just what the heck it is they're talking about.
                -If you don't feel comfortable dealing with some one or if they can't satisfy your questions, get a second opinion.
                -Check around to see what other people you know might have to say about them. You may find some one better that most
                            people say good things about or you might find that you're better off going some place else. That being said, please
                            remember that the majority of techs are honest people, it's just a few bad ones that giveeveryone headaches.
                -Ask for your old parts back, especially old hard drives! Thay have your personal information on them!
                            Besides it's really great therapy to take a big hammer and smash the crap out of your old drive!!!!! Try it some time and
                            I bet you have a HUGE grin afterwards :)
                -One last thing in this area. You can talk to your tech about other things besides computers to get a n idea of what they're about.
                            Sometimes this is even better than asking tech questions for people that feel really lost about tech stuff :)

*Don't have repairs done that cost more than your computer is worth! Or even close to what it's worth.
                -When repairs cost more than the computer is worth, it's time to move on and get a new or refurbished computer.

*Don't use Limewire, Frostwire or other file sharing utilities.
                -Firstly all you're doing is pirating music, software, movies or whatever.
                -If you're paying to use these file sharing services, you're still getting pirated/illegal stuff. Yup same as stealing.
                -Use of these also puts you in serious jeopardy of getting your system infected with all sorts of nasty viruses, trojans,
                            malware (malicious software), etc. You can easily bypass any security you have this way and end up actually infecting
                            yourself by using them. These tend to be the worst kind of infections.
                -If you don't believe these things are actually stealing, you really need to do some research and stop fooling yourself. At the very
                            least if you want to continue to do such things, own up to it and admit to what it is. Thievery, stealing, pirating. If the owner
                            isn't getting payed for their work, that they have every legal right to, then why would they continue to do more?