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After You Install

Even if your PC has run amok, there are ways to obliterate bugs after they bite. Check out these practical tips.

Uninstall the Right Way

If your PC starts misbehaving, but you think you've identified the culprit, try uninstalling the guilty party. It's tempting to delete the unwanted program in Windows Explorer or dump the entire folder into the Recycle Bin. But this move leaves a trail of garbage behind, and the Windows Registry files get messed up. Your best bet: Run the program's own uninstaller utility, if there is one. Select Start, Programs, [Program Name], Uninstall [Program Name] (or [Program Name] Uninstaller). You'll usually be asked to confirm that you want to remove the program; click OK.

If the application doesn't have an uninstall option, turn to the Windows Add/Remove feature. Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs. Select the troublesome app from the list (if it's there), then click Remove.

If you have Windows Me or Windows XP, try running System Restore to see if that gets you back to a stable state.

If your removal attempts don't change a thing, call the software company. (You have that number close at hand, right?)

Stay On Top of Windows Updates

If your PC runs Windows 98, Me, 2000, or XP, you can use the Microsoft online support feature known as Windows Update by clicking Start, Windows Update (or Start, All Programs, Windows Update if you run Windows XP). As long as you're hooked up to the Internet and you get this feature rolling, Windows Update will automatically scan your system and notify you of any recommended updates to your operating system. These include fixes or enhancements for your version of Windows and Internet Explorer, including any necessary critical updates such as security patches. Windows Update also provides an Office Update link to update your Office programs.

Windows Update can be handy because it assembles info about all the known issues--and their fixes--together in one spot. Even though you might feel compelled to download every single update, especially the critical ones, review each item first. Be selective. Most updates may be right on target, but some might not apply to your situation. For example, you may not use Windows Media Player or have a networked computer. A word of caution: Be prepared for a backlash. Some companies may rush to release a fix--and the patch itself could introduce a slew of new bugs.

Go Back to the Source

As soon as you encounter problems with a specific product, visit the company's Web site and find out if there are any bug alerts, driver updates (especially following a new operating system release), or, better yet, any fixes. Keep checking the site for news. If your PC is brand new and the problem involves software that came with the machine, you might be able to get help from your computer manufacturer. Most companies will cover the preinstalled software for a limited time; this period is often 30 days, sometimes more.

Complain Loud and Clear

Pick up the phone or send your gripes via e-mail. If you can, call during business hours. That way, if the techie can't help solve the problem, you can ask for a manager and have a better chance of resolving the issue. Don't be shy about contacting the vendor more than once. Keep complaining. You may sound like a broken record, but it can pay off. Techies usually track every single support call (or "case number"), and your problem may eventually get pushed through the right channels, resulting in a patch.

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