The top ten New Millennium PC Resolutions:
10. I will get a virus scanner and install it on my PC.
9. I will update my virus scanner at least once a week.
8. I will get and install a free firewall.
7. I will not perpetuate spam mail. I will check things out before I forward them to others.
6. I will learn to use the "bcc" (blind carbon copy) feature when I send mail so all the recipients do not have to read four pages of addresses.
5. I will learn to use the "cut and paste" feature when sending e-mail so I will not forward 16 copies of the same note with 300 addresses in it.
4. I will tidy up my forwarded e-mail by removing the ">" at the beginning of each line.
3. I will run "REGCLEAN" once a month to clean out the leftover gunk in my registry for installing and removing programs.
2. I will consider getting a Trojan scanner, because not all Trojans are caught by a virus scanner.
1. I will run backups, Backups, and more BACKUPS!

Why are we going to do these things? Well, resolutions 9 and 10 should be pretty obvious - virii can do bad things to your PC, so protect it

As for number 8, if you are on an "always on" Internet connection such as "Roadrunner' or "DSL," a firewall is your protection from hackers. Sure, you think that your ISP gives you firewall protection and to an extent, that's true. But, what protects you from people that are also behind that same ISP's firewall? Different story now, isn't it?

Resolutions 4,5,6 and 7 are easy things to do when you are sending e-mail. It makes your notes look a lot more professional and readable, and it saves the recipients a whole lot of time because they don't have to sift through lines of junk to find out what you are trying to say.

Those little ">" marks also show how many times the note has been forwarded.

The "bcc" (blind carbon copy) field is very useful for two reasons - it doesn't allow everyone on your mail list to see whom else is on your mail list and the recipients don't have to wade thru three or four screens of addresses to get to your note. Did you know that on most e-mail services you do not have to have an address on the "TO" line? You can BCC everybody and the mail will get where it is supposed to.

Resolution #3 is about Regclean, useful tool if you are in the habit of installing and removing programs from your PC. There is always some residue left behind and Regclean will get rid of it and keep your registry from growing to monumental proportions. It will also allow programs to load faster because Windows doesn't have to sort through so much junk to find the information it needs.

Resolution #2 isn't critical, but it is another safety precaution. Most virus scanners will detect most Trojans, but not necessarily ALL Trojans. A Trojan scanner is designed to do ONLY that, detect Trojans. It does not replace a virus scanner but works in conjunction with it to keep your PC healthy.

And if you don't know why Resolution #1 contains the word "BACKUP" three time, then put your PC back in the box and take it back to the store you bought it at and trade it in for a typewriter.

Happy New Millennium!!!