High Tech Talk

Websites that keep your PC purring

By Mike Wendland

The following, with links, is the script from Mike Wendland's High Tech Talk segment that aired on NBC News stations across the country on the week of  April. 20, 1999

Websites that keep your PC purring

High Tech Talk for April 20, 1999

[ANCHOR INTRO]

Keeping up to date on the latest computer improvements and upgrades is no easy task. But by following the suggestions on some easy-to-use websites that our “High Tech Talk” Reporter Mike Wendland has found for us this week, you can keep your system up and reliably running. Here’s Mike’s report. 

[HIGH TECH TALK… maintenance websites]

Call these websites I have for you this week basic maintenance sites… places to go to keep your PC purring.

Let’s start with this site… the Driver Guide (http://www.driverguide.com/ )… and no, we’re not talking about vehicle drivers… but computer driver files, those important little applications that keep our hardware…such as video cards, modems, printers and the like… running well. These driver applications are regularly upgraded and updated and making sure you have the latest version of the driver…or control program… for your PC gizmos is important for trouble-free operation. After registering for the site… it’s free… you simply enter in whatever hardware you have and search for new drivers. Don’t worry about the geek-speak…beginners get a lot of hand holding on how to do this.

If you use Windows 98, you should be sure and take advantage of this free option. From the “Start” button on the lower left hand part of your screen, select the “Windows Update” feature. It takes you to a special section of the Microsoft website (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ ) where you can learn about important upgrades or patches to the Win98 Operating System. You select what you want and the site automatically downloads and installs the improvements.

And here’s another neat feature. I keep this on the PC Mike site (http://www.pcmike.com/davidhelp.htm) and it’s my special hints and tips section, maintained by a guy named David Akerly… known as the Cyberpaperboy.  David Does Windows…. and he has all sorts of special suggestions about what you can do to keep your Windows-based PC working right… plus, some handy tips on what to do when things go wrong. Some of these, you’ll want to bookmark for easy reference when you need them. And, of course, it’s all free.

[WENDLAND SU CLOSE]

[CG=MIKE WENDLAND]

I can’t stress how important it is to be proactive in keeping your PC drivers and operating files up-to-date. If you want to check out these basic maintenance sites out,  I’ve made it easy for you by putting in direct links to all of them site [CG=www.pcmike.com]… there’s my address on your screen. Remember, till next time, you can reach me anytime… online. I’m Mike Wendland, for NBC News.

Mike Wendland covers the Internet for NBC-TV Newschannel stations across the country.. His "PC Talk" radio show airs Saturday and Sunday afternoons on WXYT-Radio AM1270. His latest book "The Complete No Geek Speak Guide to the Internet" is available in book stores or through his website at http://www.pcmike.com