Avoiding Common Mistakes Users Make
People Really DO These Things!
MISHAWAKA. Technically-oriented people often have a good
laugh at the things non-technical users do, like hunting for
the "Any" key or trying to use their CD-ROM drive
tray as a cup holder. These stories may be apocryphal,
but there ARE some common mistakes that users make that are
easy to avoid. A recent article in TechRepublic
listed some of the most common avoidable errors.
Sticky Stuff. Not surprisingly, several of the
most common errors involve sticky subjects like labels and Post-It
notes. A Post-It note on a CD-ROM that is inserted
into the drive can have dire consequences. Similarly,
a Post-It note stuck over the PC's Reset button is inviting
an unscheduled reboot when the user absent-mindedly reaches
for the note.
Floppy disk labels are another sticky offender.
The problems with these usually relate to loose or peeling labels,
which can come unstuck inside the drive when the disk is inserted.
A related problem is multi-layer labeling, in which
users keep adding new floppy labels on top of the old ones.
Eventually, these can build up enough to jam the disk in the
drive or catch on the internals and peel off. Either way,
a sticky mess inside the drive will result in a support call.
WindowMania. Tech Republic also identifies overuse
of Windows features as problematic. Windows makes it easy
to install new type fonts that can enhance the appearance
of documents, web pages, and the like. However, it is
SO easy to add fonts that some users get carried away and install
hundreds on their PCs. A few extra fonts are fine; hundreds
can bog down Windows to the point of malfunction.
Another example of too much of a good thing are nested
folders in Windows. The use of folders is a great
organizational tool, but when users create folders 15 layers
deep, problems can result. A flatter organization structure
will avoid these issues and make for shorter file paths.
Other common errors include cleaning the keyboard while
the computer is still on, sticking things in the CD-ROM eject
hole, and damaging CD-ROMs by carrying them in bags
or purses where they can be scratched or warped by high auto
interior temperatures.
A little bit of training will go a long way in preventing these
problems - most of them are common sense issues that most users
will grasp easily once they are informed.
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CompStar Technologies is a leading Indiana-based provider of networking, technology, and communications services. With offices in Mishawaka (serving South Bend, Elkhart, Warsaw, Michigan City, Fort Wayne, Niles, St. Joseph, and Benton Harbor, Michigan) and Indianapolis, CompStar provides network design / support, network security, wireless networking, business telephone systems, VoIP (voice over IP), and cctv / video surveillance systems. CompStar is the Technology Division of Direct Line Communications, headquartered in Mishawaka, Indiana.
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