Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Fix Computer Problems | Solve Computer Problems


Computer problems are something that every computer owner deals with at one time or another during the life of their computer. Many people call computer tech support companies or on call computer consultants to come to their home and aid them in solving their computer problems. What the average computer owner doesn't realize is that common computer problems are very easy to solve with a little detective work and the desire to save money. This article will provide any computer user with common solutions to two every day common computer problems.

Instructions

1: Solve virus problems by downloading free anti-virus software. AVG Anti-Virus offers a free home edition with free updates for life. Avast Home Edition is also free. Both can detect and remove viruses for free.

2: Download driver updates instead of installing new hardware. For instance, if your printer worked with Windows XP but doesn't work with Windows Vista, visit the printer manufacturer's website for an updated driver. Installing the updated driver will allow your current printer to work correctly with Windows Vista.

3: Visit Craigslist.com and FreeCycle groups to find free computer parts. Many companies give away old computers and parts. They place listings on Craigslist.com for locals in the area to pick up the discarded electronics.
Yahoo's FreeCycle groups allow users to give away and ask for computers and computer components. Many users give away old parts after upgrading instead of tossing the parts. All you need is a Yahoo account and a valid email address. Groups are available all over the country.

4: Get free help with installing software and hardware. Ask a friend or relative to install a new piece of hardware or software for you instead of paying a technician $100 or more. Ask to see if your local high school, community college or university has a free computer troubleshooting or repair program. Many schools allow users to bring in computers for their students to troubleshoot and repair. The students get hands-on experience while you receive free computer service.

5: Become a product tester. Companies will send you computers, computer parts and software to test. You keep everything for free by sending back a review to the company. Check local newspapers and job search websites, such as Monster and CareerBuilder, for product tester positions in your area.

6: Take advantage of computer warranties. If your computer is still under warranty, you can replace broken hardware for free through the manufacturer. The computer company will also allow you to send in your computer for free to troubleshoot and repair problems with hardware.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Do it Yourself Computer Repair Hassles


Do it yourself computer repair allows you to do perform immediate repairs for your usual computer problems. However, this task requires you to have a thorough understanding of the details of your computer hardware and software. If your confidence at doing this task lies on a few pages of how-to and repair manuals, there is a good chance that you might do more harm than good in correcting the problem. Although performing do it yourself repair gives you the power to make the final decision in your every move, it may not be the best decision to make.

The Do-It-Yourself Type of Computer Owners

It is understandable for self-reliant people to perform a do it yourself repair. While it dictates the speed as well as the efficiency at which the adjustments, updates and all necessary troubleshooting tasks will be done, it also helps yield huge savings in doing simple to complicated computer repair jobs. However, just like any form of repair, you need to first understand all the nitty-gritty stuff about your computer. You need to be knowledgeable about computers.

Simple Computer Repairs Made Easy

Simple computer problems like virus and worm attacks and slow operations can be remedied with routine maintenance tasks. To restore smooth and quick responding computing operations, you need to maintain regular schedules of defragmenting your hard drive, running disk cleanup, installing or updating anti-virus software and data backup and recovery applications. These maintenance measures are helpful in preventing your computer from crashing. They are also crucial in keeping all your files and programs protected against the usual attacks of annoying spyware, malware and computer worms and viruses.

How to handle more complicated Computer Troubleshooting

You need to have the correct tools to do computer repairs. In addition to hand tools like screw drivers, solder irons and others, software like anti-virus and registry mechanic programs are also considered computer repair tools. These tools can be used to perform minor repairs to simple and common computer problems like installing updates and upgrades to existing programs, correcting registry problems, installation of hardware and software accessories and more. However, when it comes to dealing with more complicated problems, which mostly involve software and file problems like system recovery, corrupted files, automatic shut down and more, you really need to consult with an experienced computer repair technician to avoid further damage or loss of data.

Article Source: http://goo.gl/V5av8

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Solving Computer Problems


Are you looking for some valuable information that will help in solving your computer problems? If you are experiencing computer problems; then you are in the right place. This article is written to help you solve your computer problems so that you can get back online and begin finishing what you are trying to do.

There are all kinds of computer issues that you can be dealing with when you own a PC. However some of the most common computer problems are the fact that many people do not take the time to clean up their system. If you are right now trying to figure out what to do to solve your computer problems; the first thing you want to ask yourself is "have I cleaned the PC registry in a while.

If you have no idea what the registry is then most likely you have neglected to get it cleaned. It is quite common for people to develop problems with their PC registries. As a matter of fact almost everyone who owns a computer will at one point develop problems with it.

This is because your PC registry is the backbone to your entire system so therefore if you neglect to get it cleaned then it can slow down quite a bit. Think of it as a file cabinet that you hold all your important files; as soon as the file cabinet becomes too congested or messy it is time to clean it up; otherwise you may begin to notice that the file cabinet will not close.

Well this is the same thing with the registry. Once the PC becomes too full; then the registry can not expand to hold anymore files or software programs that you want to upload. It will also be so full; then it will cause your computer to be slower than normal.

There are some ways to clean up the registry and the first one is to purchase a registry fix software that you can get a hold of while browsing online or one that you purchase from your local retail store. Another method is to find a software cleaning company that will do the whole process. The latter one is the one that most people end up using; because the software cleaning companies that you can find online will walk you through the entire process.

Since you are dealing with the registry which is the most important part of the computer; it is important to find a company that you feel comfortable with. You can easily access the same software program that we use to keep our computer running problem free; by visiting our site below. There is no reason to struggle and try to figure out how to go about solving computer problems; get all the information you need below.
Read more:http://goo.gl/YTUCe

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Diagnose a Broken Computer


When Computers Break

Computers make our lives better in so many ways, but when they fail they can be indescribably frustrating. Increasingly, many of us have a good portion of our lives on the computer. From our important documents, pictures, and files to our music and movies to the games and other activities that we choose to spend time on, the computer is the location of a huge percentage of contemporary life. When your computer breaks, it can feel a lot like being stuck in a place where you don’t want to be. Without the computer, so much of what you do on a day to day basis is suddenly unavailable. The good news is, by following a few easy steps you should be able to avoid panicking and head down the road to repairing your machine.

Turn off the Internet
The first step when you are having serious computer trouble is to avoid making the problem worse. This can be difficult if you have no idea what the problem is, but there are a few tricks you can use make sure you don’t do further damage. First, if you still have access to the internet, disable it until you are sure the problem isn’t caused by a virus. If you do have a virus, it’s important that you don’t allow it to contact other computers or exchange information over the internet. After you have disabled the internet, you can run full system scans for viruses and malware. If you don’t have free antivirus and anti-malware programs already installed, do that as soon as possible, so you are prepared in the event of a computer problem.

Retrace Your Steps
After you have ruled out viruses and malware as the cause of your computer issue, it is usually safe to turn the internet back on. This will allow you to search message boards and tech support forums for advice on how to deal with your specific problem. Before you do that, however, consider what you were doing when the problem began, and what you did in the few minutes, hours, or days prior to the start of the issue. Retracing your steps this way will help you narrow down the problem. You may be able to identify what caused the problem just by thinking about what happened before.

Reverse Any Recent Changes

As you retrace your steps, ask yourself these questions: Did I install anything recently? Did I change any system or program settings recently? Did I update any software or drivers recently? Did I install any new hardware or external devices (like a new mouse or keyboard) recently? If you answer "Yes" to any of these questions, there is a good chance that your recent changes are the cause of the problem. There are several reasons that changes like this can cause issues, including compatibility conflicts or registry errors. Try reversing your changes if possible. Uninstall any recently installed programs, reset settings to defaults, or go back to old versions of drivers or software. After doing this, restart the computer to see if the issue is resolved.

Restart in Safe Mode

If your computer trouble prevents you from opening programs or accessing the internet, consider running your operating system in Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, you will be unable to do many of the things you normally do on your computer, but you may regain the ability to uninstall programs or reverse any changes that could be causing issues. If your problem is caused by an issue in the Windows registry, you may be able to repair the registry using a utility or free program in Safe Mode.

Diagnose Faulty RAM

In the event that your computer does not turn on at all, there are still a few things you can do to diagnose the problem before you resort to taking it to a repair technician. One common cause of computers not turning on is faulty RAM, or memory. If you are confident opening up your computer and removing the RAM, do this, trying to turn the computer on with one chip at a time and alternating which RAM slots you put them in. If the computer turns on, one of your RAM chips is faulty and you can replace it yourself. If this is not the problem, it is likely that you have another hardware issue.

Read more http://goo.gl/2AXpd

Friday, July 22, 2011

How to Diagnose Your Computer Problems Free ?


Having problems with your computer? Getting Error messages? Learn how to diagnose and repair your computer at no charge.

Instructions

If you are experiencing problems with your PC, or it's no longer performing as it used to, the likelihood is your Windows registry is overloaded with unused operating systems or other software.

To do a free scan of your registry, there are now many free programs available online, such as pctools (direct link below). You can also do a search on "free windows registry cleaner." Then simply choose the option that is best for you. Most cleaners will do a thorough scan and provide a report of any problems with your registry.


With these types of scans, you can do manual and custom scans. You can even fix the problems and schedule routine scans and repairs.


Read more: http://goo.gl/PDX4z

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Slow Computer Problem

Are you trying to fix a slow computer problem? Maybe you are experiencing a slow download time on anything and everything you are trying to accomplish online. Well chances are you are frustrated because it is taking you forever to accomplish the little things online. This article is going to discuss
a slow computer problem; and it may be the reason you are experiencing difficulties.

If you are experiencing a slow computer then chances are your computer keeps freezing up and possibly even crashing. Well all these are just signals that your computer is sending you; to let you know that it is time to clean up the registry. The registry is the backbone to your computer and holds all the controls, files, and any software that you ever downloaded onto your PC. You can easily see how the registry can become cluttered and will require cleaning every once in a while.

The registry size will continue to grow if you are using Microsoft Windows, and when it becomes very large it has a negative effect on your computer's performance. It will cause it to slow down drastically and may even possibly begin to send you error messages to check your computer. All this will cause you to ask yourself how can I fix "slow computer problem?"

However just because you are experiencing slow computer problems; does not mean that you can do something to speed up your PC. People will experience this problem at one point or another. Especially if they are using the Microsoft Windows versions: 95, 98, ME and NT/2000.

It is suggested that you scan your PC at least once a month to prevent clutter from accumulating on your PC. You can easily scan your computer for free and the scan will make you aware of what is wrong with your PC.

The system scan will scan your files for any viruses and will remove any files that are cluttering up your PC. This scan may also help your computer perform at is fastest speed possible.


Read more: http://goo.gl/gxgwK

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Troubleshooting Computer Problems - 8 Questions to Ask Yourself

Computer problems can be frustrating, especially when you don't know the reason. Sometimes there is a simple solution, other times fixing your computer requires more effort. In this article, we will take a look at how to troubleshoot common computer problems.

Question #1: Is it Just You or Your Entire Network?

One of the most common reasons for sudden problems such as the inability to access the web or print documents is related to your network. If all of the computers on your home or office network are experiencing the same problems, then you know that the trouble lies in the network not your PC.

Question #2: Are all Cords Firmly Connected?

"My computer won't start", have you checked to make sure it's all plugged in? Cords can come loose and cause your computer to fail to power up. Sometimes, this is also the case when a specific device (such as a mouse or keyboard) fail to function.

If everything is plugged in and your device still won't work, try another jack if possible. I have personally had several computers where the USB ports die for no apparent reason, causing my devices to not work. Plugging them in to another port clears it right up.

Question #3: Have You Installed Anything New Lately?

New software can introduce a variety of problems. If you started having problems after installing something new, try uninstalling or reinstalling the program. If the failed installation has caused errors in your windows registry (as often happens), you will need to run a registry cleaner to restore your registry to proper condition.

Question #4: Is It Hanging on Startup?

If you can't get past the Windows startup, you can attempt to hit the "F8" key on your keyboard and select the option to start up in safe mode. While in safe mode, you can uninstall problematic software or just attempt a reboot from there to see if the problem clears up. While in safe mode, it would be a good idea to back up all of your critical data as failure to boot can be a sign of serious problems with the hard disk.

Question #5: Is It Making Strange Noises?

Years ago, I booted up my office computer one morning only to be greeted by a screeching sound coming from my hard disk. Not knowing what else to do, I quickly shut it down. Still, I was not fast enough to save the data from permanent loss. What had happened was the needle in my hard disk had come loose and the sound I heard was it scraping my hard disk and wiping all of my data away with it.

Needless to say, if you hear a loud scraping noise immediately shut down the computer. Your data may still be able to be recovered, but you will need a new hard drive before you can use the computer again. The moral of the story is that loud noises can signal big problems for your PC and it's better to be safe than sorry.

Question #6: Are You Experiencing Problems with Specific Software?

If a particular program is giving you trouble, it can be the result of a corrupt document or a Windows registry problem. In order to find out, try closing your current document and opening a new one. If the behavior clears up, then it is likely just a corrupt file. If the problem persists, you could have errors in your registry.

If this is the case, a good registry cleaner can repair those for you automatically. In fact, cleaning the registry is a great way to put an end to many problems and end up with a faster computer as well. I left a link for you at the bottom of this article for a free download of my favorite registry cleaner.

Question #7: Is Your Computer Giving Error Messages?

Error messages are not usually much help unless you take the time to research them. If you type the exact error in to Google, you can find information on the specific cause of the problem. Often, error messages are the result of registry problems. As in the last step, installing and using a registry cleaner can help a lot with errors.

Question #8: Have You Run Your Virus Scanner Lately?

Lastly, it's an unfortunate truth that viruses are out there and your computer could catch one if you are not keeping up to date with your virus definitions. Be sure to update your anti-virus software on a regular basis to make sure that it has the information it needs to fight current threats. If you don't yet use an anti-virus software what are you waiting for? Download and run one right away to find out if your computer problems are the result of a rogue virus.

Inspired by Article : http://EzineArticles.com/1355022

Monday, July 4, 2011

How To Fix Your Slow Computer Problems

All your fun and convenience is lost the moment you start facing slow computer problems. Waiting for your PC to respond is one condition that might leave you annoyed and frustrated. There certainly is no cause for you to act frustrated if you have to handle your slow PC problems. By following a few guidelines you can always get this problem fixed within no time. You need to get started by having a backup of all your important data. This is one of the basic reasons why most computers get slow as there are chances that you might have stored too much of your data on the drives.

Even if there is not much data, still this is considered as the initial step to begin with. This is a precautionary step in case something goes wrong, still you are not going to loose any of your important data. You can try and protect it on the CD or external hard disk. When treating your slow computer problem try to get rid of all your old programs that are stored on your PC. Eliminate any such programs that are no longer being used by you as they only occupy space on your control panel. This task can be accomplished by making use of ADD/Remove button and then selecting the particular program.

After this you have to try and get rid of temporary file clutter. In case you are always connected to internet, then you need to look for cookies and temp files. If you get rid of all these files then a lot of space can be created for your slow pc to work more efficiently. You just have to try and select the option for clearing cookies and cache from the web browser.

Defrag the drive should be your very next step as this is one important step to get all your components organized. This step is done to increase the speed of your system so that you no longer have to face about slow computer problems any more. To perform this action try selecting Accessories option by clicking the start menu and look around for system tools.

In case your PC still runs slow then you might have to try and clean registry. The software might help in repairing any registry related issues that are responsible for making your system run slow. One of the main causes for slow computer problems is that your PC might also be infected by a Virus. Always ensure that a good updated Virus protection is installed on your computer.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/How-to-Fix-Your-Slow-Computer-Problems/1636573

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Computer Problems and Solutions – How to Fix Them?

Computer problems and solutions. Are you frustrated with your computers performance? If you have your computer for more then four months then you have probably already found few problems with it. Do not worry it is not your fault. Almost every computer owner after months of using its PC finds that it is slower and slower.

Actually there is big diversity of reasons why your computer is slow or not as fast as it was. However there are a few very common that can be solved just after you read this article.

What can you do and how you can find reliable source of computer problems and solutions.

1. Computers problems and solutions with hard drive.

One of the good ideas is to use special tool that every computer has. It is called disk defragmentation. I know it sounds complicated but it is pretty simple tool. De fragmenting your hard drive is like cleaning your closet. You replace different clothes and throw away unwanted. Same is with defragmentation. After a while your computer has lot of different data on the hard drive that is not placed as efficient as it should and cloud be.

2. Computers problems and solutions with software.

Another common problem with computers can be viruses malware, spywere and other harmful software. Day after day we install different programs game and other software on our PC. We download (sometimes suspicious) files and visit equally suspicious websites.

All these activities and software can literally harm your PC by changing computer settings or cluttering its memory with junk. You should scan your computer and find all harmful files.

3. Computers problems and solutions with registry.

Registry is vital part of every PC. It contains all important data about your software and hardware. It is like a DNA of computer.

Meanwhile registry is also very sensitive piece of operating system. Even slightest changes or damaged files can ruin your computers performance and make it slow time wasting machine that you hate.

Do not worry. you don’t have to buy new computer because your registry has few problems. All you have to do is use registry cleaner tool. Below is link to one of the best registry cleaning software you can find on the market. Go ahead and take action now and use it. It is fast reliable and will fix your registry in a breeze.

As you can see there are a lot of computer problems and solutions. You don’t have to be an expert or professional to solve few problems with your computer and finally make it work at its best again.


Source:-bestslowcomputersolutions.com

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Resolve Your PC Problems with Online Computer Support

Are you really sick and tired of the virus issues of your computer? Get help from an online computer support. For some people who aren’t familiar with this, it is a mode of service for people like us who are constantly encountering problems with our computers. You don’t have to troubleshoot your PC, nor do you have to go to a computer repair center. All you have to do is get it repaired at home through this amazing remote tech support.

Why Is It Popular?
There are many reasons why the remote computer support model is becoming more and more popular.

1. One of the most obvious reasons is that this support model is reasonable and it is a lot cheaper than on-site tech support. You don’t have to leave your house, spend on gas and deal with people face to face just to accomplish this.

If you are interested to avail this online computer support, you need to pay a small fee for this. However, you will be saved from all the trouble and hassles that come your way when thinking about bringing your pc to a repair shop.

2. Another reason for its popularity is the convenience of availing a 24/7 service for the whole year. You simply need to call the service provider.

What Are The Services?

You avail an online computer support to solve different kinds of PC problems. There are many known PC repair companies who offer tech support for even the most complicated pc problems. Some of the other services are: internet setup support, virus removal support, operating system support, pc security support, computer optimization support and software support.

How Safe Is It?
In order to fix your computer online, you need to have an internet connection. The support will be provided via internet. Because of this, people ask if whether this support is safe or not. A lot of service providers use top-notch technology to serve their customers. They also make sure that the customer’s are satisfied.

How Is This Service Offered?

The companies who offer this kind of service use remote connection software. They also take charge of your desktop, which is of course, given your permission. The first thing they’ll do is they will find any errors in your computer system by running the diagnosis tools on your pc. They will troubleshoot any problems that are identified. Usually, diagnosing the tech issue is free.

Are The Technicians Good?
Yes they are basically good in their field since companies would like to hire someone who is very familiar with the system and won’t jeopardize the companies’ reputation.


Things to Consider When Choosing a Support Provider

Presently, there are many online computer support service providers who might give you a tough time choosing which one to pick. Before you choose any of the providers, you must do some brief research about each of them through the internet. Get as much information as you can about the company. Take note of their service plans and go from there.


Source :- customersupport.org

Monday, June 6, 2011

Troubleshooting Computer Problems - 8 Questions to Ask Yourself

Computer problems can be frustrating, especially when you don't know the reason. Sometimes there is a simple solution, other times fixing your computer requires more effort. In this article, we will take a look at how to troubleshoot common computer problems.

Question #1: Is it Just You or Your Entire Network?

One of the most common reasons for sudden problems such as the inability to access the web or print documents is related to your network. If all of the computers on your home or office network are experiencing the same problems, then you know that the trouble lies in the network not your PC.

Question #2: Are all Cords Firmly Connected?

"My computer won't start", have you checked to make sure it's all plugged in? Cords can come loose and cause your computer to fail to power up. Sometimes, this is also the case when a specific device (such as a mouse or keyboard) fail to function.

If everything is plugged in and your device still won't work, try another jack if possible. I have personally had several computers where the USB ports die for no apparent reason, causing my devices to not work. Plugging them in to another port clears it right up.

Question #3: Have You Installed Anything New Lately?

New software can introduce a variety of problems. If you started having problems after installing something new, try uninstalling or reinstalling the program. If the failed installation has caused errors in your windows registry (as often happens), you will need to run a registry cleaner to restore your registry to proper condition.

Question #4: Is It Hanging on Startup?

If you can't get past the Windows startup, you can attempt to hit the "F8" key on your keyboard and select the option to start up in safe mode. While in safe mode, you can uninstall problematic software or just attempt a reboot from there to see if the problem clears up. While in safe mode, it would be a good idea to back up all of your critical data as failure to boot can be a sign of serious problems with the hard disk.

Question #5: Is It Making Strange Noises?

Years ago, I booted up my office computer one morning only to be greeted by a screeching sound coming from my hard disk. Not knowing what else to do, I quickly shut it down. Still, I was not fast enough to save the data from permanent loss. What had happened was the needle in my hard disk had come loose and the sound I heard was it scraping my hard disk and wiping all of my data away with it.

Needless to say, if you hear a loud scraping noise immediately shut down the computer. Your data may still be able to be recovered, but you will need a new hard drive before you can use the computer again. The moral of the story is that loud noises can signal big problems for your PC and it's better to be safe than sorry.

Question #6: Are You Experiencing Problems with Specific Software?

If a particular program is giving you trouble, it can be the result of a corrupt document or a Windows registry problem. In order to find out, try closing your current document and opening a new one. If the behavior clears up, then it is likely just a corrupt file. If the problem persists, you could have errors in your registry.

If this is the case, a good registry cleaner can repair those for you automatically. In fact, cleaning the registry is a great way to put an end to many problems and end up with a faster computer as well. I left a link for you at the bottom of this article for a free download of my favorite registry cleaner.

Question #7: Is Your Computer Giving Error Messages?

Error messages are not usually much help unless you take the time to research them. If you type the exact error in to Google, you can find information on the specific cause of the problem. Often, error messages are the result of registry problems. As in the last step, installing and using a registry cleaner can help a lot with errors.

Question #8: Have You Run Your Virus Scanner Lately?

Lastly, it's an unfortunate truth that viruses are out there and your computer could catch one if you are not keeping up to date with your virus definitions. Be sure to update your anti-virus software on a regular basis to make sure that it has the information it needs to fight current threats. If you don't yet use an anti-virus software what are you waiting for? Download and run one right away to find out if your computer problems are the result of a rogue virus.

Source: http://goo.gl/5PrR7

Friday, May 27, 2011

Resolve Your Own Computer Problems

Taking Care Of Your Own Computer Problems

Your son/daughter needs to use the personal computer to explore a project for school the following day. You hear a profanity from the study or where the computer is situated. The personal computer won't start up up or won't turn on! Your only knowledge of the computer stops after checking your email. Does this sound familiar? If you're lucky there is a teenager who is computer savvy or you have this friend who is famil;iar with the computer.

Wouldn't you like to be able to solve this yourself and be a hero in this son/daughter's eyes? Maybe we can get you headed in this direction. I am accumulating a series of articles that could help educate you for this. It is not a matter of "IF" this will could occur but one of when it will occur. Murphy's Law states it will happen when you will be able to least afford for it to happen. I've been that individual with the savvy in my family since the computer showed up in the early 1980's. If it can happen, it has happened to me.

Common Personal Computer Problems Confronting the PC User

Computer troubles might seem vastly complicated at first sight. But most are comparatively simple to solve
. That doesn't mean they will be inexpensive if somebody else does the job.
Nevertheless, some tasks can be handled an average Joe or Jane
. With a scale of 1 to 10 (where 10 should be done by qualified technicians who wear fewer than three electronic gizmos on their belt), replacing computer memory is usually about a 4. Replacing a hard drive is more difficult (about 6 or 7), but still achievable. Replacement of a video card or internal modem is no more than a 2.

A word of caution: Static electricity could wipe out the circuitry inside your PC. Prior to you reaching for anything inside that box, ground yourself by contacting the metal computer frame. Do yourself a favor and buy a wrist grounding strap. They can be found at Best Buy for approximately $5.
Here are four of the most common PC problems you could fix by yourself.

You power up the computer and zip occurs.

It Will Not Power Up

No lights, no beeps, no fan noise. What is the first thing you do? Make sure the darn thing is plugged in! Even if you're absolutely certain that it is connected, double check.

Assuming that it is plugged in, you in all likelihood have a bad power supply. This is a metal unit housed in the top and rear of the computer. It is normally installed with four screws and with the power cable connected to it. It has a fan blowing air out the back for cooling purposes. If you don't feel air movement at the fan grill and your power is good, the power supply is bad.

A wiring harness leaves the power supply inside the computer. Several power connectors are attached to the ends of the wires. These plug into drives, fans and possibly other gizmos. The harness also will have connectors to the motherboard. It doesn't matter which wire connects where, as long as the connector fits.

The computer comes is, but nothing appears on your monitor.

In other words, Windows never appears. You may have a monitor problem. Try another known-good monitor on the computer and see if anything shows on the screen. If the second monitor works, the first one is bad. Monitors are not worth repairing. Just purchase a new one. Do not open the case of a monitor to fix it. The capacitors inside monitors store electricity. You might be injured or even killed.

If the screen is dark, it might be a video card problem. First, find the video card. This is a card that fits into a slot in the CPU board. The cable from the monitor connects to the VGA (video graphics adapter) interface, which sticks out through the rear of the computer. If the VGA port is part of the motherboard, the video is built-in. You can't fix that. Otherwise, it will be part of the video card.

Assuming there is a separate card, make sure it is securely seated. The front of the card can rise out of the slot inadvertently as the back end is fixed to the computer frame.

If you have another computer that is working properly, turn it off and remove the video card. Put the card that works in the problem computer. If the system works, you need to buy a new card. If you don't have a card to test your system, buy a cheap one. If it doesn't solve the problem, return it .

You could spend hundreds of dollars on a video card. But if you're running business applications and surfing the Web, buy on price. The expensive stuff is for serious gamers.

If you regularly get the "Blue Screen of Death," you may have a random access memory (RAM) problem. This is also referred to as BSOD.

Note the message on the blue screen, especially the numbers. Check it in Microsoft's Help and Support Knowledge Base. Also, put the text of the error message in a search engine such as Google, and check the Internet.

Source: http://goo.gl/qlFIA

Monday, May 16, 2011

How to Solve a Slowing Computer Problem


If your computer is running slow, there are a few things that can be done to improved the speed. Learn what some of these things are so that you can hopefully get a faster running computer again.

Most of the time people using a computer over time will find that it starts to slow down a quite bit. This can be rather frustrating when you want to get something done and do not want to have to wait for the application to open or when moving from one window to another. There are some ways of helping your computer speed up a bit so that you won't have as slow of a machine.

The first thing that must be done is to make sure that your slow issues isn't really an internet connection issue. Sometimes people think their computer is being slow when in reality it's that their internet speed is slower which is an internet service provider issue and has nothing to do with your machine. If the applications on the machine are responsive but the internet is slow, call your internet service provider to see what the issue is.

If everything on the computer seems to be working fine but one specific program is lagging and causing you trouble, you may just need to install that application again. At times there are errors that need to be fixed which can be done when installing the application again from scratch.

Update and run your virus and malware software. You need these for protection. If you do not do this, you will always have huge computer problems. You must be responsible and keep these on, running, and updated to fight against software designed to slow down and even ruin your computer.

If you have not done this in awhile, be sure to defragment your hard drive. This will take some time the first time that you do it, but it is known to increase speeds of your machine especially when doing tasks that require the hard drive to perform properly. This can be done about once every week or two depending on how many changes you are making on your machine on a daily basis.

Lastly, if all else fails a reinstall of the computer will clean the hard drive and fresh install of the operating system will definitely speed up the computer. You will have to back up all your data from your hard drive before you attempt to wipe the hard drive and reinstall the operating system.

Source: http://goo.gl/kbHyt

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

How do I implement a firewall


We suggest you approach the task of implementing a firewall by going through the following steps:

0. Determine the access denial methodology to use.

It is recommended you begin with the methodology that denies all access by default. In other words, start with a gateway that routes no traffic and is effectively a brick wall with no doors in it.
1. Determine inbound access policy.

If all of your Internet traffic originates on the LAN this may be quite simple. A straightforward NAT router will block all inbound traffic that is not in response to requests originating from within the LAN. As previously mentioned, the true IP addresses of hosts behind the firewall are never revealed to the outside world, making intrusion extremely difficult. Indeed, local host IP addresses in this type of configuration are usually non-public addresses, making it impossible to route traffic to them from the Internet. Packets coming in from the Internet in response to requests from local hosts are addressed to dynamically allocated port numbers on the public side of the NAT router. These change rapidly making it difficult or impossible for an intruder to make assumptions about which port numbers to use.

If your requirements involve secure access to LAN based services from Internet based hosts, then you will need to determine the criteria to be used in deciding when a packet originating from the Internet may be allowed into the LAN. The stricter the criteria, the more secure your network will be. Ideally you will know which public IP addresses on the Internet may originate inbound traffic. By limiting inbound traffic to packets originating from these hosts, you decrease the likelihood of hostile intrusion. You may also want to limit inbound traffic to certain protocol sets such as ftp or http. All of these techniques can be achieved with packet filtering on a NAT router. If you cannot know the IP addresses that may originate inbound traffic, and you cannot use protocol filtering then you will need more a more complex rule based model and this will involve a stateful multilayer inspection firewall.
2. Determine outbound access policy.

If your users only need access to the web, a proxy server may give a high level of security with access granted selectively to appropriate users. As mentioned, however, this type of firewall requires manual configuration of each web browser on each machine. Outbound protocol filtering can also be transparently achieved with packet filtering and no sacrifice in security. If you are using a NAT router with no inbound mapping of traffic originating from the Internet, then you may allow LAN users to freely access all services on the Internet with no security compromise. Naturally, the risk of employees behaving irresponsibly with email or with external hosts is a management issue and must be dealt with as such.
3. Determine if dial-in or dial-out access is required.

Dial-in requires a secure remote access PPP server that should be placed outside the firewall. If dial-out access is required by certain users, individual dial-out computers must be made secure in such a way that hostile access to the LAN through the dial-out connection becomes impossible. The surest way to do this is to physically isolate the computer from the LAN. Alternatively, personal firewall software may be used to isolate the LAN network interface from the remote access interface.
4. Decide whether to buy a complete firewall product, have one implemented by a systems integrator or implement one yourself.

Once the above questions have been answered, it may be decided whether to buy a complete firewall product or to configure one from multipurpose routing or proxy software. This decision will depend as much on the availability of in-house expertise as on the complexity of the need. A satisfactory firewall may be built with little expertise if the requirements are straightforward. However, complex requirements will not necessarily entail recourse to external resources if the system administrator has sufficient grasp of the elements. Indeed, as the complexity of the security model increases, so does the need for in-house expertise and autonomy.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

5 Most Common Computer Problems


If you have a PC, then you have most likely suffered from computer problems. Most people have accepted that there PC will eventually crash due to a virus or some massive error. However this is a myth. Your PC is built to last more than a decade. However you must keep well tuned for it to make its third birthday. Nevertheless, most people would rather buy a shiny new PC rather than spend an hour trying to fix computer problems on there 2 year lap top or desktop. After another two year after their purchase lack of maintenance will cause their new PC to lose its performance speed. Whats next you guess, $3000 Windows Vista Ready PC. This is known as the consumer vicious cycle.

Why have does your computer have problems?

Well, the biggest problem that your computer has is its owner. More than 80% of computer problems stem from neglecting to perform simple maintenance task such as cleaning your registry, emptying your cache files and updating software regularly. If these task a perform diligently. You would be reading this article from a five year old machine running on Windows 98 operating system. So, lets take a look at the top five computer problems and how to avoid them.

1. Computer has performance has slowed.

This is the number one complaint from most users. There are several reason why this has occurred. However, most can attributed to lack of maintenance. Fragmented data, corrupted registry, spyware, and load of unnecessary programs and services running can all eat away at your PC speed and performance. Manage your programs and cleaning your registry would easily award you a 30% gain in performance speed. Check out The 4 ways to speed up my computer

2. Lockup, freezes, and blue screens of death.

This is a another common computer problem. However, this particular issue is a bit more serious; therefore, it needs a few diagnostic steps. In most cases this problems are caused by spyware. To avoid this problem update your anti-spyware program daily. Having the most up to date signatures will help you avoid having a serious spyware problem. However, if you have concluded that your PC is spyware free. You should update your hardware drivers. The computer cannot communicate with various hardware components without an up to date driver. When it cannot find a driver, the CPU locks up. Also, increasing your virtual memory can also help to avoid freezes. Virtual Memory will allow to you get more use out your computer's RAM. Check the resource box for more info on the subject.

3. The computer spontaneously reboots or turn itself off.

This computer problem can be usually attributed to a hardware issue. Usually its the power supply is dying or in most cases a dirty or defective cooling fan. The computer trying to cool itself by automatically switching off. So, if you feel a bit of extra heat coming out the computer. Clean the fan and make sure it running properly. If your fan is functional, check your power supply. Also, you will be surprised how many people fail to make sure the cables are attached tightly. This be the cause of this particular computer problem.

4. Strange noises and vibrations.

This is almost totally a hardware issue. You computer is made up of thousands of parts. Its not unheard of that one of them can become unhinged. Overheating can cause expansion of wires and melt some sensitive. High pitch noises such as squealing or whining sounds can be cause electronic components. Whatever the reason, you conduct a small investigation. Remove the case and run the computer to discover the origin of the computer problem. If its not a simple matter such as a loose wire or fan issue, it may be time to call a computer tech.

5. Your home page, default search engine, or web browser has changed itself.

This is also known as "high-jacking". Spyware has been installed on your computer via social networking or from email link. This action has allowed spyware to install a java script into your web browser. The spyware then sends a message to your browser to change your user settings. For example change your home page to another web page.

As you have discovered from reading the article, the most common computer problems can be handle quite easily by simple maintenance of your PC. Net time you are suffering from computer problems. Take a few minutes to run some diagnostic test before rushing out to computer technical center claiming your PC is broken. When all you need to do was just make sure it was plugged in.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

How to Fix a Slow Internet Problem


A slow Internet connection can be extremely frustrating when you are working online. You can contact a computer technician, but they will most likely charge you a large amount of money to just look at your computer. To avoid repair costs, there are some simple tricks you can try on your own to fix a slow Internet connection.

# Step 1: Run a virus scan on your computer. If your virus and spyware protection are up-to-date, the scan will detect any offenders and remove them from your computer.

# Step 2: Unplug your modem and wait a minute. Many times resetting a modem will fix the slow Internet connection.

# Step 3: Perform a system restore on your computer. This allows you to undo any harmful changes that you have made to your computer that could be causing the slower Internet.

# Step 4: Free up space on your hard drive. Routinely removing temporary Internet files and programs that you no longer use will help keep your computer running efficiently.
# Step 5: Test your connection. Many Internet providers will allow you to use their site to check to make sure that there is not a problem with your connection.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Computer Shut Down Problems


A computer is a magnet for problems. If you use your computer to surf online, you can collect many viruses and such. This article will help you if you ever have a problem with your computer shutting down before it even starts up.

# Step 1: Is this your problem? This problem comes on suddenly. You will know this is your problem if you computer shuts down for no reason.

# Step 2: Confirm your problem. You can do this by trying to restart your computer. When your computer gets to your desktop screen it will shut down again before any programs have a time to start.
This will not happen on a log in screen where you pick which user you are. You have to pick the user you had this problem on for a true confirmation.

# Step 3: Go ahead and restart your computer again. When it goes to the first screen there will be options for you to do before the screen disappears.

# Step 4: Locate which button you have to press for a system recovery. It will say something like "F11 - System Recovery."

# Step 5: Press the correct button on your keyboard corresponding with System Recovery before the screen disappears. If you missed your opportunity, let the computer restart and try again.

# Step 6: This should bring you to a system recovery wizard. Tell this wizard you want to recover to a previous date. Follow the instructions. When you get to a page where it asks you what point you want to restore to, pick a restore point two or more days before the day your problem began.

# Step 7: Finish the wizard and restart your computer. It should now load up the programs and a message should eventually appear saying something like "System Recovery Successful."

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

How to fix no Sound Problem in Computer?


There are a number of different reasons why your computer may no longer give sound. If you have this problem, read on to learn how to diagnose the problem and resolve your PC's loss of sound.

A) Check the Speaker Connections and Volume Control Settings

Step 1.
Verify that the lack of sound is not due to faulty speaker connections. A simple way to test it is to substitute the speaker connection with headphones and see if you get any sound.

Step 2.
Open the volume control window by clicking your "Start" button and then "All Programs." Click "Accessories," then "Entertainment," then "Volume Control." Alternatively, just click on the speaker icon that's in your System Tray.

Step 3.
Check the volume and mute settings. If any of the mute check boxes have been checked, uncheck them. If this doesn't work, read on.


B) Perform a System Restore If Necessary

Step 1.
If the sound has been audible from your computer's speakers and is suddenly lost, you may need to perform a System Restore. Click on the " Start" button and then "All Programs."

Step 2.
Click on "Accessories," then "System Tools," then "System Restore."

Step 3.
Complete the System Restore Wizard. If this doesn't work, read on.


C) Delete and Reinstall the Original Sound Drivers
Step 1.
Deleting and reinstalling your sound driver may resolve the problem. Your sound driver may have been corrupted or may be missing. The result of this is that the restore utility menu won't be available. For Windows XP, follow these steps.

Step 2.
Click on your "Start" button. Click on "Control Panel" and then "System." Next, click on "Hardware," then "Device Manager, then "Sound, Video and Game Controllers."

Step 3.
Click on a sound device named in the Device Manager, and then press the Delete key on the keyboard. Click "OK" in the window that appears. Remove all the listed sound devices i this way EXCEPT Audio Codec and Legacy Audio Drivers.

Step 4.
Restart your computer. Reinstall the deleted drivers using the Driver and Application Recovery CDs that came with your Windows XP system.

Step 5.
Visit your computer manufacturer's official website. Check for any updated sound driver software for your sound card. If any, download them along with the installation instructions.

Top 10 Computer Virus


Nimda

Nimda (backwards for “admin”) is a top 10 deadliest computer virus since it is a malicious worm and file infector. It was originally released in 2001 and targeted Internet servers. The virus spread by use of e-mail, open network shares, compromised or “fake” websites, Internet Explorer 5.5 and by exploitation of Microsoft 4.0/5.0 directory vulnerabilities. If the virus was received by e-mail the message would appear blank. Once the computer was infected by any of these methods it created a backdoor and modified Web documents or executable files.
Storm Worm

The Storm Worm is a Trojan horse virus that affects computers that use Microsoft operating systems. It is spread by use of email attachment. Using catchy email headings like “Death Toll in China exceeding 100,000” it lured unsuspecting people into opening them. Once the attachment is opened, malware was installed that infected the computer and downloaded malicious packets which were spread to other computers. The computer is then made into a zombie “botnet” which becomes attached to the Storm Worm server and used to forward the virus to other computers. This nasty virus has affected major networks including Comcast and Roadrunner. It is considered one of the top 10 deadliest computer viruses since it cannot be detected by antivirus programs due to its encrypted design.

Bagle (Netsky)

Bagle (Netsky) is a malicious computer virus that can affect all versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is thought to be created in Germany by using the assembly programming language. Bagle uses a SMTP engine to email itself on a massive scale. The email recipient will find the virus as an attachment. When opened it copies itself into the Windows system directory it opens TCP port 6777 or 8866. This creates a backdoor that provides remote access to the computer. It also spreads by using the infected computers e-mailing network. It was first discovered in January 2004. As of June 2010, the Bagle virus continues to remain a nuisance to computer users through new morphed versions.
SQL Slammer

SQL Slammer was a computer virus that caused denial of service (DDoS) and slowed down general Internet traffic. In 2003 over 75,000 machines were affected within 10 minutes. It worked by exploiting a bug in Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (which has since been updated).The SQL Slammer code generates random IP addresses and then sends itself out to those addresses. If a particular address is running a non-updated copy of the Microsoft SQL Server resolution service the computer becomes infected. The virus then spreads copies of itself on the Internet.

Code Red Virus

The Code Red virus attacked computers using Microsoft IIS 2.0 Web server and Windows 2000 indexing. The computers that were vulnerable to it used Microsoft Windows NT 4.0. The computer virus was released in July 2001. It worked by exploiting a vulnerability in the in the IIS indexing software. The result was defacement of websites which would display the following phrase: “HELLO! Welcome to http://www.worm.com! Hacked By Chinese!” It then would launch denial of service attacks (DDoS) about 30 days later on several IP addresses.


ILOVEYOU

Top 10 Deadliest Computer VirusesNo one would think that the phrase “I love you” would result in being one of the top 10 deadliest computer viruses. It originated in 2000 as an email to Windows computer users that included the subject heading “ILOVEYOU” along with a file attachment. After opening the attachment, the worm virus would send a copy of itself to every email address in the victims contact list by using the users sending address. It also made unwanted malicious changes to their system by overwriting files and making more copies of itself.

Leap or Oompa-Loompa Virus

This is a LAN spreading Trojan horse virus that affected Mac OS X operating systems. Once the computer was infected it altered application files. Discovered in 2006, the virus was spread over a local area network using the Bonjour iChat instant message program. The virus then attempts to prompt the user to login with the administrator password. If successful it infected the user’s software applications that were recently opened with a login password. After this the application programs would not open. The Leap virus was further spread by sending emails to all contacts in the users Bonjour buddy list.

MyDoom (Novars)

MyDoom is a top 10 deadliest computer virus worm since it affected users of Windows operating systems. It originated in 2004 and spread by email and through the Kazaa peer-to-peer network. The worm arrives as an email message attachment. It then created a backdoor by opening TCP ports 3127 through 3198. Once the computer was compromised, it accessed network resources. The virus was also designed to release a denial of service attack (DDoS).

The Klez Virus

Klez is a virus that behaved like a worm or a Trojan horse. Klez first arrived in 2001 as an email attachment targeted at computers that used Microsoft Windows operating systems. When opened, it stole all email addresses in the users contact list and on the compromised computer’s hard drive. The virus did not stop there. It infected program applications and disabled antivirus software. Then the virus waited for thirteen days, and corrupted the victim’s personal files and any network drive attached to their computer.

Melissa Virus

Melissa was the original top 10 deadliest computer viruses that appeared in the 1990’s. It was a macro virus that spread on Microsoft Word 97/2000 and Microsoft Excel 97/2000/20003 documents. It was first seen in the late 90’s. If an infected document was opened, the virus attempted to send out mass emails using the attached computer’s address book. It was also capable of deleting critical computer files. Other variations of the virus affected address books of Microsoft Outlook users or destroyed Excel documents. It was later discovered that the Melissa virus was the creation of David L. Smith. He was arrested and convicted to 20 months in prison in 1999. Ironically, he ended up working for the FBI to help them track down viruses and the people who created them. As for the Melissa virus, many variations became obsolete once it was discovered that it left traces of itself in the Windows Registry.