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Ten pitfalls to avoid

1. Too many new fonts
We all love to add something cool; especially fonts. But too many fonts severely degrades Windows performance. It even is a cause of system crashes. Remove unneeded and never-used fonts before adding new ones. Remember, running Windows with more than 500 fonts is a sure recipe for disaster.

2. The CD-ROM drive hole
CD-ROM drives usually have with a tiny hole in the front. This is the emergency eject button. Shove in a paper clip when a disk develops shyness and refuses (r)ejection! But never try and eject a spinning disk; you'll damage both disk, drive and possibly PC. And do avoid shoving a toothpick into the hole; even if its a handy scabbard!

3. Single floppy disk label please
Floppy drives really use available space to cram lots into what is really very little. To avoid a floppy getting stuck inside the drive. Or a label coming loose and snagging somewhere, avoid using more than a single layer. Carefully remove the old before adding anew.

4. Post-it No-No
Post-its may be handy for note taking. But the certainly don't belong on removable media like floppy disks or CDs. And please don't stick them anywhere near moving parts life CD drive trays, printer heads. Or the PC power switch; even if you like living dangerously.

5. Avoid nested folder mess
Just because Windows lets you create multiple, nested folder is no reason for doing so. Its not just hard for the OS to track what's where. Its hard for users to remember where they last left a file. Or locate one. Instead organize folders by type. And archive or delete the contents of files you are never going to access again. Especially those with a hard copy carefully filed away!

6. Sound 'n Light Don't Mix
Those strange radiating patterns and pulses along the edges of your monitor screen are most often caused by improperly shielded magnetic interference. Most commonly found in speakers. So keep the two apart; or wrap your speakers in carbon paper with the smudgy side out. It's messy enough to ensure that the twain don't meet!

7. Little Basics
Don't clean keyboards with the computer on. Its a great way to either burn out the keyboard. Or zap your computer. Also don't leave CD-ROMs or floppy disks out on the hot car dashboard; it will melt or warp. After all its only plastic. The same goes for carry naked CDs in a purse or plastic bag; they will be scratched. Carry them in a jewel box instead; even two at a time.

8. Nice mousey
Just because you love pool is no reason to play with the rubbery heavy ball found in a mouse. Mice won’t work if their balls get dirty or lose their spherical shapes.

Compiled by G Menon
[email protected]

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