Several doctors I know say they are constantly bombarded with small questions any time they bump into someone they know. Working in the information technology field is much the same, except instead of “What does this ache mean?” or “Why do I feel like this?” I get “How come my screen freezes twice a day?” and “Why won’t this load?” What my medically-minded friends say about people’s bodies, holds true in cyberworld—the only way to stay digitally healthy is to be proactive.

Think of this column as “Dear Abby” for your computer, or your own private appointment at the Genius Bar without the hassle of mall parking.

Here are some basics for setting up your home or office computer. This means installing necessary software, making sure your calendars are properly backed up, and setting up remote access so you can get to your data from anywhere.

Many of the programs and apps desktop and laptop users use on a day-to-day basis are coupled with the pieces of software that run in the background of a computer, and can be hard to find, or even harder to update. Users will find themselves having to visit a host of websites—sometimes upwards of 20 or more—to get the basic software that is taken for granted, such as Java, Adobe Reader, VLC Player, and so on.

In comes the Holy Grail for IT professionals: NiNite.com. NiNite is a website that allows the user to check off any of more than 50 commonly used applications and necessary tools, and download and install them with about three clicks. The brilliance of this website is that it actually scans your computer briefly and finds exactly what type of operating system you use. It then uses this information to seek out the correct version of the programs you’d like installed, downloads and installs them. While doing this, if you already have one of those programs installed, it automatically downloads and installs the update. Oh, and it also makes sure that none of those annoying toolbars or add-ons come along for the ride. The best part is it’s free.

With telecommuting becoming more popular, clients often ask me what the best software is for gaining remote access to their PC or MAC. I must stress that you should first check your company’s remote access policy before proceeding on a remote solution. Once you have the go ahead, “remoting in” can benefit both the employer and the employee. Some companies have their entire team work remotely and come into the physical office only once or twice a week. The same solution that works for the office can work for your home. If you are away on vacation and want to check something on your home computer, remote software is essential.

The three leading companies that do this are LogMeIn, TeamViewer, and GoToMyPC (all three of which can be accessed from their websites). The beauty of these programs is in their simplicity. Go to the website. Create an account using a simple email-based authentication. You’ll be prompted to download their software at the end of the process. Make sure Java is updated to its most recent version (downloaded via NiNite). Once you’ve installed that small application you can access that computer anywhere you can get on the Internet, just by logging on to the website. Additionally, each of these companies has apps available for Android and iPad tablets and smartphones. Voila! You’ve never been so connected.

Each application has its strengths and weaknesses. Finding the right one depends on your specific needs. But, as with so much in life, with experience comes knowledge. If you use one of these resources, write in to tell me how it worked for you. If you’re having trouble with one of them, write in with your question. This column is your forum, and together we’ll control+alt+delete all your technology problems.

Shneur Garb is the founder and CEO of the Garb IT consulting group based in Teaneck. To have your computer and network questions addressed in this column, please email [email protected].

By Shneur Garb