Your Computer Problems

Fix Computer Problems | Solve Computer Problems

2011-08-31T03:10:00.000-07:00

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.

Do it Yourself Computer Repair Hassles

2011-08-26T04:16:00.000-07:00

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

Solving Computer Problems

2011-08-21T22:11:00.000-07:00

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

Diagnose a Broken Computer

2011-08-02T02:13:00.000-07:00

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

How to Diagnose Your Computer Problems Free ?

2011-07-22T22:29:00.000-07:00

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

Slow Computer Problem

2011-07-17T23:57:00.000-07:00

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

Troubleshooting Computer Problems - 8 Questions to Ask Yourself

2011-07-09T03:33:00.000-07:00

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

How To Fix Your Slow Computer Problems

2011-07-04T22:51:00.000-07:00

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

Computer Problems and Solutions – How to Fix Them?

2011-06-28T22:57:00.000-07:00

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

Resolve Your PC Problems with Online Computer Support

2011-06-23T04:24:00.000-07:00

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

Troubleshooting Computer Problems - 8 Questions to Ask Yourself

2011-06-06T00:24:00.000-07:00

Resolve Your Own Computer Problems

2011-05-27T03:21:00.000-07:00

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

How to Solve a Slowing Computer Problem

2011-05-16T22:56:00.000-07:00

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

How do I implement a firewall

2011-05-03T04:18:00.000-07:00

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.

5 Most Common Computer Problems

2011-03-29T22:29:00.000-07:00

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.

How to Fix a Slow Internet Problem

2011-03-22T04:16:00.000-07:00

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.

Computer Shut Down Problems

2011-03-15T00:40:00.000-07:00

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."

How to fix no Sound Problem in Computer?

2011-03-08T23:11:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-08T01:58:00.000-08:00

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.

FCC Offering Computer Broadband Speed Test

2010-10-06T03:34:00.000-07:00

In a rare effort Fedzilla (federal government) has released a service that is beneficial. It is an accurate broadband speed test for your Internet connection. The service is offered, but not endorsed (per website legal), for demographic measurement of the population.

The FCC is acquiring a survey of Internet broadband speeds throughout the country. The FCC has made a gargantuan proposal for broadband deployment throughout the United States. The gathered information is theoretically for inventorying the current national state of broadband. The FCC barely mentions the proposal is supported via a new tax they are pursuing .

Over the past six weeks our broadband connectivity was sluggish and it almost took an act of Congress to get our provider to look into it. Somehow I don’t think Fedzilla is capable of fixing is the ISP’s reliability. This is another issue for another day.

During our slug speed we checked a number of broadband speed tests and the winner is the FCC. Other contenders included SpeakEasy, SpeedTest, Verizon, and Charter. The attributes of the contenders were so inaccurate they don’t come close. Speedtest.net is a joke as it comes down to the speed of the server. We tested the speed with over five servers and in each case the speeds varied from 6 mbps to 16 mbps. Seems a bit ironic considering the domain name is “speedtest.net.”

The other contenders tests were so outdated they either didn’t display speeds past 10 mbps or were not programmed to go beyond a speed that was way lower than our ceiling speed of 25 down and three up.

In the end the FCC site rocks for a real-world measurement of your Internet connection. Get on your computer and measure your speed. It will provide you the ammunition necessary to start on the repair of your broadband connection.

Source:- www.netnetblog.com

FCC Offering Computer Broadband Speed Test

2010-10-04T00:41:00.000-07:00

Source:- www.netnetblog.com

Remove Svchost.exe Malicious Virus

2010-09-08T04:25:00.001-07:00

Generic Host Process for Win32 Services or svchost.exe is a legal and essential component of Windows which is used to host services which run from dynamic-link libraries (DLLs). Multiple instances of Svchost.exe can run at the same time. So it is not a problem in most cases if you see five or six or even more copies of svchost.exe running in your services because they host different groups of DLLs.

Steps to remove malicious Svchost.exe Virus:

1) Scan your PC for the following viruses: CashToolbar Downloader-MY, System1060, CoolWebSearch Svchost32, ADCLICK-AG, ADCLICK-AX, ADUYO-A, AGENT-V, AGOBOT-KL, AUTOTROJ-C.

2) Go to Windows Automatic Updates properties (right-click on My Computer, then click on Properties and switch to Automatic Updates tab).

3) Choose "Turn Off Automatic Updates", click OK and reboot your PC.

4) Manually update Windows using "Windows Update" shortcut in the start menu.

5) Turn automatic updates on.

6) If your problem is not solved on this step, uninstall old Hewlett-Packard printer and scanner drivers (if any) and download new drivers from the manufactures web site.

7) If your problem is not solved on this step, use the following command to show all svchost.exe instances and associated services or libraries: tasklist /svc /fi "imagename eq svchost.exe"

This is good and effective way of Generic Host Process or svchosts.exe repair.

New Updates for Google Image Search

2010-07-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

Google declared number of updates to the design and presentation of the image search section on its Web site. Google also said it would begin offering advertising with images on these pages. Company has given a major overhaul to the layout of its Images search engine's results page and introduced a new advertising format specific for this service. Google Images, whose index includes 10 billion photos, will now feature what the company calls a "dense tiled layout," designed to simplify the procedure of reviewing many images.

Now, a designer could show an ad with a picture of a new trench coat whenever somebody searched for pictures of coats, or a ski resort could show a picture of its mountain that would show up when people search for images of winter vacation spots. The site will also feature an instant scrolling feature that lets users sift through an endless stream of photos rather than continually clicking to load a new page of images. Google built its image search engine in 2001. People use it to answer different questions that are more easily explained with a picture.

The new advertising format, called Image Search Ads, lets advertisers include a thumbnail image along with the ad's text. Aside from the thumbnail image, Image Search Ads work like Google's pay-per-click (PPC) ads, the text ads that run along Google search results and in partner Web sites.

Remove Antimalware Doctor, A Rogue Anti-spyware

2010-07-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

In present era with the rapid development of computer technology more and more computer users become the victims of computer threats. Except replicating itself, a virus can also make a computer break down through infecting all the documents on it. There is a rogue anti-spyware program called Antimalware Doctor which also infects PC.

How infection arises:
When an infected file on your PC is executing, virus will replicate itself and produce a DLL file under directory %System%. DLL file will be added in other running applications and then virus will execute the main routine code. Antimalware Doctor contains Trojans virus and it will infect most executive applications on your hard disk by writing some DLL files.

Removal way:
If you think about restoring your computer when get infects with Antimalware Doctor, the most effective way should be formatting the infecting hard disk. But to format the hard disks on a system may result in many troubles since the user always saves many important data and files on them. There is another great method to resolve it. That is to use professional anti-virus program. Download and install Spyware Cease, an excellent and powerful security program designed for computer users. To get better removing effect, you can run and execute the removal under safe mode.

Quickly Install Internet Explorer 8 on PC

2010-07-05T20:12:00.000-07:00

Installing IE 8 on computer is very simple. Follow the given steps securely and you will be ready to run Internet Explorer 8.

Installation Process:
1. Search IE 8 on Internet and Click on button for "Download Internet Explorer 8”.
2. Select the respective country from the menu.
3. Select operating system in second step. A pop-up window will open and then save the file. Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 will save to your selected folder.
4. Double click the IE8 file saved on folder and select "Run" in the "Open File - Security Warning" window.
5. Now select "Continue" button if a window named "User Account Control" pops up.
6. Continue clicking "Next" on the "Welcome to Internet Explorer 8" window. You may either follow the steps in the wizard or click "Ask me Later" to confirm your personalized settings at a later time.
7. At last press the "e" icon on your desktop to open new IE8 browser.

Different reasons for System Crash

2010-06-27T20:38:00.000-07:00

The different reasons for your system crash are described as follows:

1. Hardware conflict:
The number one reason why Windows crashes is hardware conflict. Each hardware device communicates to other devices through an interrupt request channel (IRQ). These are supposed to be unique for each device. If there are a lot of devices, or if they are not installed properly, two of them may end up sharing the same IRQ number. When the user tries to use both devices at the same time, a crash can happen.
2. Bad Ram:
Ram (random-access memory) problems might bring on the blue screen of death with a message saying Fatal Exception Error. A fatal error indicates a serioushardware problem. Sometimes it may mean a part is damaged and will need replacing.
But a fatal error caused by Ram might be caused by a mismatch of chips. For example, mixing 70-nanosecond (70ns) Ram with 60ns Ram will usually force thecomputer to run all the Ram at the slower speed. This will often crash the machine if the Ram is overworked.
3. BIOS settings:
Every motherboard is supplied with a range of chipset settings that are decided in the factory. A common way to access these settings is to press the F2 or delete button during the first few seconds of a boot-up.
Once inside the BIOS, great care should be taken. It is a good idea to write down on a piece of paper all the settings that appear on the screen. That way, if you change something and thecomputer becomes more unstable, you will know what settings to revert to.
A common BIOS error concerns the CAS latency. This refers to the Ram. Older EDO (extended data out) Ram has a CAS latency of 3. Newer SDRam has a CAS latency of 2. Setting the wrong figure can cause the Ram to lock up and freeze thecomputer’s display.
4. Hard disk drives:
After a few weeks, the information on a hard disk drive starts to become piecemeal or fragmented. It is a good idea to defragment the hard disk every week or so, to prevent the disk from causing a screen freeze. This will start the procedure. You will be unable to write data to the hard drive (to save it) while the disk is defragmenting, so it is a good idea to schedule the procedure for a period of inactivity using the Task Scheduler.
5. Fatal OE exceptions and VXD errors:
Fatal OE exception errors and VXD errors are often caused by video card problems. These can often be resolved easily by reducing the resolution of the video display. If you have video card hardware conflict, you will see it here. Be careful at this point and make a note of everything you do in case you make things worse. The way to resolve a hardware conflict is to uncheck the Use Automatic Settings box and hit the Change Settings button. You are searching for a setting that will display a No Conflicts message.
6. Viruses:
Often the first sign of a virus infection is instability. Some viruses erase the boot sector of a hard drive, making it impossible to start. This is why it is a good idea to create aWindows start-up disk. A virus scanner requires a list of virus signatures in order to be able to identify viruses. These signatures are stored in a DAT file. DAT files should be updated weekly from the website of your antivirus software manufacturer.

Speedup Slow Startup Times in Windows 7

2010-06-17T21:12:00.001-07:00

On a system with one- to two-year-old hardware, Windows 7 usually takes only 20 to 40 seconds to boot up. Even the performance-wise challenged netbooks rarely need more than a minute to be ready for work! Certainly, boot times vary significantly from one computer to another. This is nothing new. But if Windows 7 clients need way longer – and we’re talking way over one or two minutes – then you’re looking at a resource hog.

So what could be causing the problem?

1. You just installed a new driver, which hasn’t been WHQL-certified and delays the boot up process. It could be a simple driver bug!
2. You installed a piece of resource-intense software that initializes a process or a service during startup.
3. You updated existing software or Windows 7 itself. Yes, it’s not unheard of that some updates cause a significant boot delay.

Speed Up a Slow Windows Computer

2010-06-09T19:51:00.000-07:00

Are you constantly waiting for you computer to respond. Have you decided that it’s just time you go out and get a new computer? Before this, there is a easier and much cheaper option that can give you the same results.

Some people will tell you that in order to get back the performance on your computer you need to upgrade the memory in it. Sounds good, but unless you know what type of memory to get let alone know how to install it properly that bit of information won’t help you out much.

Spyware, malware and viruses can also slow down your systems performance. Even though these little nasty’s can sneak onto your computer at any time, most people are well aware of the mess they can cause on your computer. Most people these days have at least one if not more antivirus programs that protect them as long as they keep them up to date and run them on a regular schedule. but even these are no guarantee.

The problem with most slow computers is actually the registry file. Because the registry plays such an important role in the operation of a computer, keeping track of the location of every file and setting your computer has, it means that if some of those entries become corrupt from every day use that they can lead to serious issues when it comes to performance. Over time the problem can become so bad your PC will just crash on you with a blue screen error all the time.

This is why having a registry cleaner is so necessary. It’s not strange the first time you run the program to find thousands of errors in your registry. And even if you do clean them run the program again either later that day or the next day. There may be even more errors that have popped up that were either missed the first time or new errors that popped up.

Removing Anti Virus Armor Rogue Anti-Spyware

2010-06-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

Anti Virus Armor also known as Anti-Virus Armor 2010 is a rogue anti-spyware application designed to pilfer money from computer users. Once active on the infected computer, Anti Virus Armor pretends to scan your system and display some imaginary threats.

Steps to remove Anti Virus Armor Rogue Anti-Spyware:

1. Restart your computer and keep pressing F8 Key before Windows launches. Use the arrow keys to select the “Safe Mode with Networking” option, and then hit ENTER Key to continue.
2. Download Spyware Cease install it and update its database to the latest. After that, restart your computer so as to make Spyware Cease fully functional. Repeat Step 1 into Safe Mode and run an Online Scan of your computer so that Spyware Cease can detect all potential malware in your system.
3. After the Online Scan finishes, click “Details” for the malware detected to make sure that your important data are not infected and removed. Ignore or select the scan result and click “Remove” to remove the threats. Reboot your computer and let Spyware Cease delete all detected virus.
4. Download and install RegTweaker to repair your corrupted registry.

To make your computer run as perfectly as before or much faster than before:

1. Download and install RegTweaker.
2. Run a full scan of your registry.
3. Click “Repair Problems” and repair all errors detected.

Google attack on fake antivirus software websites.

2010-05-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

Within last 13 months Google analysed nearly 250 million website and found that fake antivirus websites accounts for more than 15 percent of total malicious attack.

Cyber criminals are using more and more sophisticated tactics to trick unsuspecting PC users in to downloading and installing applications laced with malicious code, which, when activated, they gives hackers "back door" access to a computer and personal stuff within it. This allows criminals to use the machine to send spam emails, or to try and capture personal information and login details for online banking and email accounts.

Fake antivirus--false pop-up warnings designed to scare money out of computer users. "Once it is installed on the user system, it's difficult to uninstall, you can't run Windows updates anymore or install other antivirus software, and you must install the [operating] system," rending it unusable until it has been cleaned up.

More than half of the fake antivirus software - which predominantly targets MS Windows machines - was delivered via adverts, Google said. Graham Cluley of security firm Sophos, who has been involved in the studies, said that one of the key ways that hackers spread fake anti-virus was so-called black hat search engine optimisation techniques.

"They then create websites stuffed with content, which in many cases appears on the first page of search engine result pages (SERP)." Anyone clicking on the link, would be confronted with a pop-up with a link of fake antivirus program. Google uses tools to filter out booby-trapped websites, but the firm said that hackers were managing to avoid detection by moving between domains quickly.

Watch TV on the computer

2009-12-15T23:10:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought of TV channels on your computer. Internet TV software allows you to watch TV shows, movies and live sports online. Now a days, it is not difficult to watch TV anywhere, so why not see it on your computer. You just need to install a tv tuner and follow the instruction and you would be surfing the channel in no time.

Here are some reasons, why you should watch TV on the computer.

• You need to spend so much on a television for your home, so why not buy a TV tuner that can give you the benefit of a TV.

• TV tuner cards add functionality; by using PVR software that is free of cost, you will be able to record shows for future playback without paying any subscription charges.

• There is no need of any dedicated DVD recorder.

With Windows 7 Internet TV too, you can see your favorite TV shows wherever and whenever on Windows Media Center for free. Windows 7 provides you with the growing amount of media content on the Internet. You have the option to select from several online TV shows and movies.

With a broadband connection, Windows Media Player is inhabited with Internet TV channels and contents which are organized in such a manner that the user can simply locate the desired program.

The Internet TV in its pre-release edition only used to provide short clips and promos but in it's final release Windows 7 has been populated with online content.

Battcursor feature For latest Windows 7

2009-10-25T23:20:00.000-07:00

If you do a lot of work on your laptop or when you are away from your home, the battery life is always the cause of the worry to the user. The user always remains anxious about how much battery is left and how much work can be done on the laptop.

Windows 7 provides the solution to it. Battcursor feature in the latest Windows 7 feature keeps the track of the battery life and keep the user aware of the battery status. Its power saving functions are quite impressive. Though it is a little program but offers many useful features.

The tool includes indicator to the cursor. The cursor itself turns into a floating battery meter and whenever the battery power is low, the percentage and the visual indicator will be displayed. Aero Glass style feature allows you to set BattCursor to show Windows title bar which itself alters the color to warn you when your battery is low.

The title bars will give the blue color if the battery is full or nearly full and if your laptop is running out of battery the spectrum will shift to the warning colors. By default it displays yellow for low and red for critical. You can also modify the colors and activate the Power profiles as the battery diminishes.

To keep the user aware, BattCursor also shows the current charge level. It also allows you to disable the Aero Glass and Windows Sidebar when certain level is attained by the battery to extract more life out of the battery. Power Profiles in Windows 7 feature can be automatically switched with the BattCursor. Once you enable the function, at the specified charge level your system will be changed from high performance to balanced to power saver.

Windows 7 features – Virtual Hard Disk

2009-10-22T03:19:00.000-07:00

Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 7, comes with a number of new features including relatively lesser known Virtual Hard

Disk that enables a user to install various operating systems on a single machine.

The tool, which is a file formatted to be structurally identical to a physical Hard Disk Drive, enables you to test software on

different operating systems and reduces the cost or hassle of actual hardware.

This feature which is included in latest Windows 7 allows a physical computer to mount and boot from an operating system contained

within a VHD.

VHD’s ability to directly modify a virtual machine’s hard disk from a host server supports many applications, including:

* Life-cycle management and provisioning
* Backup and recovery
* Image management and patching
* Disk conversion (physical to virtual, and so on)
* Antivirus and security
* Moving files between a VHD and the host file system

In a nutshell, following are the advantages are provided by Windows 7 new feature VHDs:

Multiple operating system support: Now you can easily install multiple operating system without making changes in Master Boot

Record.

Backup-and-Restore: Changes to the contents of a VHD (such as infection by a virus, or accidental deletion of critical files) are

easily undone.

Multi-User Isolation: Many current operating systems support having multiple users, but offer varying degrees of protection between

them (e.g., one user of the OS could become infected by a virus which infects other users, or make changes to the OS which affect

other users). By giving each user their own version of the operating system — say, by creating for each of them a differencing VHD

based on a base installation of the OS — changes to any particular child image would have no effect on any of the other child

images.

Laptop Data Recovery : What The Options Are

2009-09-09T02:34:00.000-07:00

A lot of significant data is being stored on laptops nowadays. Laptop use has augmented significantly in recent time. Increased demands for portability and handiness have been envisioned in this mobile technology.

Demand for laptops has gone up in part due to the increase of telecommuting in businesses today. Businesses often allow employees to work on laptops at residence and bring them to job.

Data loss in a laptop can end up costing the business a lot of employee hours worked. Even people who use their laptops for personal use are not happy if they lose any significant data. Moving along with a laptop all day can cause stress on the machine and raise the probability of data loss.

There are many companies that can help you with the laptop data recovery process. After you contact a company, first you will probably go through an assessment process to evaluate the degree of damage done.

A lot of companies will offer a free assessment and a quotation if they feel they can effectively perform resurgence operations. It may be a excellent idea to shop around for services to make sure you are getting the best deal. Each company may offer a different price. Some companies even have flat price.

If you are panic over a blank laptop screen or a hard drive crash, you will be happy to find out that a high percentage of the requests data recovery companies get are successful accomplished. However you still need to be prepared that some of the data may never be recovered. The only way to find out is get proactive and contact representatives from data recovery firms.

Several data recovery companies have specific departments for performing data recovery operations on laptops. You can get a lot of your data recovered and take delivery of it in a readable format, even from badly damaged storage devices.

Laptop systems are more delicate and therefore highly vulnerable to damage to their hard drives.

There are many companies online that can offer you internet-based laptop data recovery. This allows you to ship of your laptop to company’s center of operations and have it shipped back to you after the data has been recovered.

Some frequent problems that are experienced with a laptop are a hard drive crash, dead screen, etc. There are different types of laptop data recovery operations you can perform. Laptop data recovery can allow you to recover files after such events and after technical malfunctions. You may also be able to recover MS Word, Excel or Power Point files that you may have unintentionally deleted.

Laptops can receive a lot of neglect and their hard drives can get damaged. You may need laptop data recovery supports if:

You dropped your notebook and it no longer turns on.
An unwanted e-mail has downloaded a Trojan or virus on your laptop.
You accidentally deleted some significant company files and you want them retrieved in a urgency before your person in charge finds out.
The laptop’s hard drive crashes.

Always back up your data before disaster strikes

2009-09-08T02:32:00.000-07:00

One day you turn on your computer and it won’t start. Yikes! What now?
If you backed up your data, you won’t lose it no matter what the problem is. Backing up data is simple. For example, keep all your Word documents in a single Folder, then write that Folder to a plug-in USB memory stick after you update the documents. Or, write out all your data Folders once a week to a writeable CD.

For the few minutes it takes to make a backup, you’ll insure your data against a system meltdown. This also protects you if malware corrupts or destroys what’s on your disk drive.

If you didn’t back up your data and you have a system problem, you can still recover your data as long as the disk drive still works and the data files are not corrupted. You could, for example, take the disk drive out of the computer and place it into another Windows machine as its second drive. Then read your data — and back it up!

If the problem is that Windows won’t start up, the web offers tons of advice on how to fix and start Windows.

Another option is to start the machine using a Linux operating system CD and use Linux to read
and save data from your Windows disk. If the problem is that the disk drive itself fails, you’ll need your data backup. If you didn’t make one, your only option is to remove the drive and send it to a service that uses forensics to recover data. This is expensive and may or may not be able to restore your data. Learn the lesson from this guide rather than from experience – back up your data!

Encrypt your data

Even if you have locked your Windows system with a good password, anyone with physical access to your computer can still read the data!

One easy way to do this is simply to boot up the Linux operating system using a CD, then read the Windows files with Linux. This circumvents the Windows password that otherwise protects the files.

Modern versions of Windows like Vista and XP include built-in encryption. Right-click on either a Folder or File to see its Properties. The Properties’ Advanced button allows you to specify that all the files in the Folder or the single File will be automatically encrypted and decrypted for you. This protects that data from being read even if someone circumvents your Windows password. It is sufficient protection for most situations.

Alternatively, you might install free encryption software like TrueCrypt, BestCrypt or many others. If you encrypt your data, be sure you will always be able to decrypt it! If the encryption is based on a key you enter, you must remember the key. If the encryption is based on an encryption certificate, be sure to back up or “export” the certificates, as described here. You might wish to keep unencrypted backups of your data on CD or USB memory stick.

Laptop and notebook computers are most at risk to physical access by an outsider because they are most frequently lost or stolen — keep all data files your portable computer encrypted.

All About Your Recycle Bin

2009-09-04T02:31:00.000-07:00

How to Empty your Recycle BIn

Recycle Bin is a place where you files are stored temprorarly for a time period when you deleted some from your pc computer. So, that if the files are deleted accidently it can be recovered.

As after some times a lot of files are piled up in your recycle bin eating up your storage space You should empty them periodially.

Select the Recycle Bin Icon available on your Desktop
Just Right Click and Select the option Empty Recycle Bin.
When ask for further confirmation click Yes.

How to Remove the Recycle Bin from the Desktop

Having some of the icons really iritates some of the time and if you don’t use the Recycle Bin to store deleted files why to carry this icon at your desktop , you can get rid of its desktop icon all together.

Run Regedit and go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/explorer/Desktop/NameSpace

Click on the “Recycle Bin” string in the right hand pane. Hit Del, click OK.

How to Rename the Recycle Bin

Have you thought about changing the name of your Recycle Bin to Crap Box. But you were not so here is your chance to do so..

To change the name of the Recycle Bin desktop icon, open Regedit and go to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/CLSID/{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

and change the name “Recycle Bin” to whatever you want (don’t type any quotes).

How to Increase the Size of your Recycle Bin

Have you ever experienced that you have deleted a file accidently and when you tried to recover that from your recycle bin to your astonishment it is not there in your recycle bin. Why?
Well by default the size of the recycle bin is set to certain percentage of your c: drive and if the file you have deleted is more than what it can accomadete in that case the file is deleted permanetly and you can not recover it from your recycle bin. So why not increase that size..

To Increase the size of the Recycle bin

Select the Recycle Bin Icon available on your Desktop
Just Right Click and Select the Properties option.
Increase the percentage bar as per your convinence.
Click Ok and you are done.

Use WIFI Hotspots with Security

2009-08-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

Wow Internet for free! Everyone's dream right? It is a nightmare if you don't take precautions and learn to secure your laptop. Identity Theft is on the rise and Using security with free public WiFi Hotspots is crucial. Follow these tips and stay safe. Well Safer, that is.

Step 1 : When purchasing your laptop make sure you have WIFI capability as well as security systems such as SpySweeper, Antivirus Security, and popup blockers. Having a good backup system in place or an online backup such as Carbonite is excellent for restoring lost data in event of laptop hijacking.

TIP: Run virus scan once a day and back up your computer weekly.

Step 2 : Next, when using your WIFI in public, choose a location that requires registration. It may be appealing to sit and sip coffee but if the location is open to the public with no registration, you are at risk for hackers to access your information.

Limit your banking and personal information to the home computer. That way your information is secure while using you laptop in public which lowers the chances of identity theft.

TIP: The location should offer unique login codes to use WIFI.

Step 3 : Password protect your computer, your internet login, and your important files. Do not keep a password file on your computer listing all your passwords. Change your passwords fairly frequently. Ask if they support Wireless Client Isolation. On your computer remember that anyone can be listening in. You cannot deter that but you can use safer methods such as encryption, which is set up on the wireless router. So you need to ask the WIFI Hotspot if they have encyption enabled. This will show up as a key in the connection box.

TIP: Look for Encryption key in Hotspot's connection box

Step 4 : If you must access banking and financial spots make sure you are accessing the correct url. In the URL address box look for https:// s indicates secure. Note also the secure padlock in lower right hand side of browser.

TIP: Look for secure websites

Step 5 : While you are at the WIFI hotspot, make sure to seat yourself so that people aren't easily able to see your screen.
Make sure to close out browser windows when idle. Do not leave your laptop unattended even for a couple of seconds.

Take precautions to have your laptop or case is easily identifiable by you.
Read the article on preventing laptop loss at the airport.

How do you get rid of antivirus 360?

2009-08-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

An affirmation to start: 1) Do not copy your documents elsewhere as this will only spread the Malware, do NOT use your Email until this is cleaned and DO NOT REFORMAT unless it is your last resort.

Now for the main part: Malware is one of the worst kind of viral infection, deeply rooting itself in your system (some even hide in your router's firmware). Virus scanners (which are mostly blind to it) and the Restore Point Utility are not good things to use against such invasion for this reason alone.

So DON'T take chances with it !!!

There are two different programs that might be referred to as the Antivirus 360. There is the Norton Antivirus and there is a rogue anti-spyware program Antivirus 360? Antivirus 360 is not a good program!

See the related link to Spyware-techie.com for information about the spyware Antivirus 360 and removal information. You should read that and remove the rogue program right away!

Here is more information about how to remove the spyware Antivirus 360:

You need to run these 4 essential steps to remove all the spyware on your computer.

1. Run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

2. Run the anti spyware removal programs Spybot

3 Run Superantispyware

Use Mozilla Firefox or the Google chrome browser for browsing unsafe websites

How to bypass a parental control?

2009-08-12T01:27:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, my dad put some type of program or used his administrator account to block any downloads on my account. I do know how to change his password in "run" but i did not tried that but some how manage to find a way out to get away with that.

Here is some of the steps i came along..

Step 1 : Get the name and password of a friend who has an unblocked account. On the logon screen, scroll down to where you would enter your screen name, and select guest instead. Log on with the name and password of your friend

Step 2 : Access a different web browser. If your AOL account lets you, try to open Firefox or IE, and access the web through these browsers. Make sure to use AOL every once in a while so your parents see an AOL activity report.

Step 3 : Use a web proxy. These are websites that let you view and/or access websites from an independent server (i.e., it's not connected to your original AOL account). Some proxies only allow you to view a page; others allow you to access pages with username/password accounts. Keep in mind that it is very difficult to watch video through proxy servers. Web proxies like Open Silence and Mowser (see Resources) work with AOL.

Step 4 : Use a different computer, such as one at a library with Internet access.

Trend Micro warns of new worm for Symbian OS

2009-07-17T05:12:00.000-07:00

Symbos_Yxes.B spreads via SMS. He holds a valid certificate from Symbian. After an infection, he steals serial number and participant ID and sends the data to a server on the Internet. Trend Micro has a new worm for Symbian OS and warned of the spread by SMS. The Symbos_Yxes.B-called malware can be manipulated via a website on a mobile phone that will unlock a user supposedly legitimate application as Symbian ACSServer.exe information source file (SIS) to download offers.

The malware bypasses an important safeguard for the mobile operating system. Symbian OS only allows the installation of signed applications. The certificates are issued by Symbian Signed, which is now part of the Symbian Foundation. Symbos_Yxes.B has, like the previous variant A, has a valid signature. After installing the malware steals, who is himself "Sexy Space" called, information like the serial number and IMEI Subscriber Identity IMSI, and sends them to a server on the Internet. In addition, the worm sends out SMS messages to the contacts of a user to continue to spread. The text of the SMS, he also receives from the server.

"In other words, there seems to be a botnet from mobile phones to act," wrote Trend Micro spokesman Jonathan Leopando in a blog entry. Worse, however, that the Variaten A and B of Symbos_Yxes have a valid signature that really meant
was detected pests. "There may be a random act, but the incident is not just strengthens the confidence in the signature system."

Microsoft Office 2010: The Technical Preview in test

2009-07-15T04:21:00.001-07:00

Microsoft Office is almost widespread as Windows. But when the users have an upgrade fatigue set, and Web-based competitors want a piece of cake. Office 2010 are currently only available to selected users as a Technical Preview. A public beta will only appear in a few months. Office remains the de facto standard for office productivity among both businesses and consumers. However, companies like Google and others are trying to challenge Microsoft with free Web-based versions of applications similar to Word, PowerPoint and Excel, which make up the core of Office.

Office product manager, who pointed out that the Technical Preview, not all for the final planned features, and some still not working correctly. The current release is meant to provide feedback for the developers. In fact, we come again to the areas which still need some fine-tuning. One can only advise against this, the Technical Preview in production environments only. The quality of the upcoming Office package is not yet at the level of the 7th beta of Windows Office 2010. Unlike Windows, both variations on the same disk should come under 64 bit. However, Microsoft did demonstrate the online suite at the conference during a keynote by Microsoft Business Division President Stephen Elop, who said a technical preview would be available in August, followed sometime after by a public beta.

Srware plans Iron Chrome browser for Mac OS

2009-07-12T21:50:00.000-07:00

The Chrome-based browser version Iron broadcasts differently than the original version, no usage data to Google. Iron Srware used for a newer and JavaScript rendering engine, making the browser a little faster than the original works. According to Managing Director Stefan Ries, Srware plans a Google Chrome Engine based version of Mac OS Iron available. This was announced in Ries e-mail. Currently, Iron Srware browser for Windows. The company offers Iron as a portable and installation version.

Google's Chrome Engine offers over the competition, especially in matters clear speed advantages. Particularly fast in the browser JavaScript code to work. Already at the start shows the Google browser, it requires few resources. Especially on slow PCs Chrome starts much faster than the competition. Chrome sends the other hand, a lot of data to the Google headquarters. This is the browser in the criticism of data protection advised.

Srware with Iron provides a chromium-based browser version, the data into account. Unlike the original is not unique client ID is generated, by which the user can theoretically be identified. There is also no set time stamp, which provides information about when the browser was installed. Incorrectly entered addresses will not like to Google Chrome. It also includes an Iron Adblock, which the browser is not Google has to offer. For Iron Srware used a more recent rendering and JavaScript engine as Chrome, so the browser Srware in practice works a little faster. In fact, could be in the Iron benchmark almost always say before Chrome. Users, the development of the free browser wants to support can be via Paypal Srware a donation to you.

MessageLabs warns against short URLs in spam e-mails

2009-07-08T21:44:00.000-07:00

Nowadays, There are plenty number of short URLs in the spam e-mails. These kinds of spam messages with links abbreviated as increases from 0.5 percent to 2.5 percent. The increase indicates an automated generation of short URLs out. MessageLabs has warned the users against a strong increase of the short URLs in spam e-mails. The proportion of unwanted messages that contain a condensed link, either in the last week of at least 0.5 percent to two percent.

Short URLs make it possible for spammers, the ultimate goal of a link before the addressees to hide. They will often rely on social media sites like Twitter, which the number of characters of a message limit. "Normally such an increase is an indication that a spammer has found a way to generate short URLs to automate," said Matt Sergeant, senior anti-spam researchers at MessageLabs. A botnet with the name "Donbot" did this last technique increasingly used. The botnet appears to be designed, advertising display. Many computers are badly infected from the viruses, malwares and spywares.

Kaspersky has warned against possible dangers, which condensed out URLs. Services such as tinyurl and is.gd now offer optional preview links to pages in the full URL of a target display. In addition, Finjan a "Secure Browsing" called, free plug-in for Internet Explorer and Firefox. It discovered manipulated sites that are behind short URLs hide.

HTML 5 is not making open source video codec fixed

2009-07-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

A clear definition fails the resistance of the browser manufacturers. They fear patent and qualitative problems. HTML 5 will not open-source codec for the item "Video" set. So far, H.264 or Ogg Theora for selection for multimedia content such as videos directly in the browser without plug-in from a third party, such as Adobe Flash or Microsoft Silverlight play. One of the key features of HTML 5 is its native handling of rich media such as video and audio through the video and audio tags, which mean Web developers do not have to rely on proprietary products such as Adobe's Flash or Microsoft's Silverlight. A solid integration of Ogg Theora is loud Hickson, inter alia, the resistance of Apple failed. The company wanted the codec due to lack of hardware support and unclear patent situation is not installed in Quicktime.

Google's Chrome browser, support in the current version of both codecs, the developer writes on the website of the Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group (WHATWG), an association of companies involved in the development of HTML 5 work. The search provider could not license H.264 for Chromium, the open-source version of the browser available. Google also doubt that the quality of Ogg Theora for YouTube videos. Opera and Mozilla in turn refused to use H.264 because of patent and licensing problems.

He voted for the definition of codecs provided paragraphs of HTML-5-specification away, so Hickson. Instead, there are no targets, as in the past with tags for the presentation of images and image formats for the "Embed" and plug-in APIs and Web fonts. Hickson suggests two possible solutions to the problem. First, could the spread of Ogg Theora as much to grow, that Apple has to give up his resistance. On the other hand, one could wait until the patents expired and the H.264 codec will become the dominant technology.

Bing introduces real timeTwitter posts in its search results

2009-07-02T19:49:00.000-07:00

Microsoft have taken a big step towards the Bing success. Now, Microsoft will shows the real time Twitter posts in the search results. This news will help Microsoft to keep the hype about Bing intact. According to sources, Bing is successful in grabbing the search market where as Google lost little of bit during June month. Microsoft is testing the real-time search on Bing introducing the results of "posts" facts on Twitter. At the same time, the editor opens his own account on the official site of microblogging. Microsoft announced Wednesday evening on the blog dedicated to Twitter Bing it included in its search results.

Now, It will very interesting that how Google is going to react about this Bing step. Users can decide which browser is better than rest of them. It is very clear that Microsoft Bing have many new features that Google does not have. For now, Microsoft has restricted the number of "twitterers" a few thousand people selected based on volume of Twitter and the number of followers. By typing the name of a person followed or preceded by Twitter, you get the latest posts and link to his account and as to set an example, Microsoft has at the same time created its own account on Twitter.

The real-time search is emerging as one of the major challenges for search engines "classic." Twitter regularly demonstrates greater responsiveness to the news front. The implementations seems more of a publicity than reality. Bing is showing
up recent tweets from well-known people. The search appears only when that person's name and Twitter in provided in the same query. This has been tweaked via Twitter's API, which doesn't differentiate it from a simple widget that shows you the most recent tweets of a twitter member. A tool which neither Microsoft nor Yahoo, or Google can not do without. The Mountain View company is currently working on a project specific search engine to Twitter would take into account the size of messages.

The compatibility of Windows Vista

2009-06-30T21:39:00.000-07:00

To reassure those who are reluctant to migrate to Vista because of compatibility issues, Microsoft opened its website on a space that brings together all the Vista drivers and lists of equipment and software compatible. Microsoft has put online in
the next few hours the Windows Vista Compatibility Center, a space on its U.S. site dedicated to the compatibility of its operating system. This is a very concrete sign that shows that the problem of compatibility of Vista with older PCs, peripherals and software market is still valid. It was largely marred the launch of the OS, and was revived with the recent release of Service Pack 1, which has brought new incompatibilities.

Windows Vista Compatibility Center is supposed to offer all the resources and information to easily migrate to Vista. In addition to essential downloads drivers, and access to practical information ( "& How to Help"), some 9 000 references
compatible products should be included. This equipment requires a special Vista driver as cameras, printers and scanners, mobile terminals, adapters, etc. But Microsoft has also integrated displays, keyboards, mice and other hard drives that do not present a compatibility problem with the OS. For the Windows Vista Compatibility Center is also a commercial site on which it is possible to buy a wide range of peripherals and software for PC.

Except that this service charges a few startup problems. The home page was first posted the following message: "Windows Vista Compatibility Center is not currently available" ( "Not available"), followed a few hours after the message: "Windows Vista Compatibility Center will be launching soon, please check back! "(It will be launched soon, thank you to return").

Microsoft launches the service Hohm

2009-06-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

Microsoft announced Wednesday evening, Hohm a free online service that allows individuals and businesses to better manage their electricity consumption and reduce their bills. It is still in beta version, Hohm made its debut on 24th June 2009. This application is available only for US consumers. It gives a better idea of how much energy they are consuming.

So, Microsoft Hohm really helps to conserve the energy and save money. This free online service is an analysis tool available to individuals and professionals to analyze and measure their power consumption and, second, issue advice to lower the bills. Microsoft has also set up a Web site for consumers who are interested in signing up for the beta test of Hohm. Microsoft Hohm is available at "MSHohm.ORCSWeb.com". So, US custumers can order for Microsoft Hohm by submitting their email adderss at "MSHohm.ORCSWeb.com". Microsoft will send a notification to the email address when Hohm becomes available.

With Hohm, Microsoft has just mark the PowerMeter Google breeches. The amount of electricity consumed in the house can be measured by installing thiis widget on your computer. But unlike Hohm, PowerMeter requires the installation of a transmitter box to collect the information. “Microsoft Hohm demonstrates how a combination of advanced software and Internet-based services can help people track, understand and manage their personal energy usage Microsoft also intends to market this sort of intelligent at an attractive price.

Microsoft integrates Media Center in Windows Home Server

2009-06-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

The editor enriches its home server OS for a Power Pack 2, which includes Windows Media Center. This update also brings support for video formats like MP4. It should be available in French at the end of April. It is designed with HP in 2007, Windows Home Server, the operating system for multimedia home server from Microsoft, has never really convinced and struggling to find its place on the PC.

To restart it, the Redmond company has put online a Power Pack 2 in English. It will be available before the end of April in five other languages, including French. The installation of this expansion pack takes place via the Windows Update and the OS needs to already have the previous Power Pack on a PC with Windows Home Server.

Main novelty of the Power Pack 2, the arrival of Windows Media Center. This feature will simplify the connection and sharing files with other PCs equipped with Media Center (XP or Vista), and allow streaming MP4 files from the server to the X box 360 or to the Media Center Extender devices, as multimedia gateways. In other words, we can say that two separate products with goals that are highly complementary to each other. They will each benefit immediately once Windows Home Server ships. Windows Home Server will be able to perform its tasks, connecting all the computers in your household, creating automatic multi-PC backup and restore, deliver a comprehensive solution for centralized storage and allow for remote access.

Power Pack 2 also adds Windows Home Server many assistants to facilitate connections between devices but also its interface outside the local network. Finally, it corrects problems encountered by users when backing up files or folders on PC LAN, and it removes previous limitations on copying media files from a PC running Vista. Microsoft has also released this Word document with details of the changes introduced by this Power Pack 2.

Spyware Removal

2009-06-21T22:11:00.000-07:00

Spyware is a computer software program that hacks personal information of the users and send it to the third party. Spyware is installed on computer without the user permission. Spywares are mainly responsible for the malfunction and slow performance of the computer. There are many anti-spyware removal programs in the computer market but some of anti-spyware programs are generally used by the users. Spyware Doctor is a award winning spyware protection software from the PC Tools. It detects, removes and protects your computer from various kinds of spywares. It has some advanced features as compared to other spyware protection programs. You can download the trial version of Spyware Doctor from the link "http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/".

There are some other important spyware protection programs which are the followings :--
1. Superanti-spyware
2. Webroot Spy Sweeper
3. PC Tools Spyware Doctor
4. Sunbelt Software CounterSpy 2.0 Beta
5. Lavasoft Ad-Aware Personal 1.06
6. Safer Networking Spybot Search & Destroy 1.4
7. Windows Defender
8. AVG Anti-Spyware
9. CounterSpy

Points To Remember :--
You need to update all these softwares before start the scanning process because it helps to get all the latest definitions of all the spywares. We need to remember the following points which prevent the installation of spywares :--
1. You need to make sure that never install the programs on computer which contains the spywares.
2. It is always recommended to have a pop-up blocker program that prevent the computer from spywares.
3. Never click on the unknown pop-ups and links.
4. You have to scan the computer over the specific time with updated Anti-Spyware program to remove the spywares.

Spyware Removal Instructions :--
Now, We are discussing all the steps that are involves during the Spyware removal process.
1. You need to download and install the Spyware removal software on the computer.
2. You should update the Spyware removal software before start the scanning process.
3. You should restart the computer in "Safe Mode with Networking".
4. You should scan the computer by using updated Spyware removal software.
5. You should remove all the infected files from the computer after completing the scan process.
6. You should restart the computer in "Normal Mode".

Turn on Automatic logon in Windows XP

2009-06-12T23:00:00.000-07:00

In Microsoft Windows XP, We can automate the logon process by storing your password and other pertinent information in the registry database. This feature permits other users to start your computer and to use the account that you establish to automatically log on. We should not use this Windows feature if your are concerned about security because If you set a computer for automatic logon, anyone who can physically gain access to the computer can also gain access to everything that is on the computer and your password is stored in the registry in plain text.

You can use Registry Editor to add your log on information by the following steps :--
1.Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2.Locate the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
3.Using your account name and password, double-click the DefaultUserName entry, type your user name, and then click OK.
4.Double-click the Default Password entry, type your password under the value data box, and then click OK.

If there is no DefaultPassword value, create the value then follow these steps :--
1.In Registry Editor, click Edit, click New, and then click String Value.
2.Type DefaultPassword as the value name, and then press ENTER.
3.Double-click the newly created key, and then type your password in the Value Data box.
4.Double-click the AutoAdminLogon entry, type 1 in the Value Data box, and then click OK.

If there is no AutoAdminLogon entry, create the entry then follow these steps :--
# In Registry Editor, click Edit, click New, and then click String Value.
# Type AutoAdminLogon as the value name, and then press ENTER.
# Double-click the newly created key, and then type 1 in the Value Data box.
5.Quit Registry Editor.
6.Click Start, click Restart, and then click OK.

You can also use turn on automatic logon without editing the registry in Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition and in Microsoft Windows XP Professional by the following steps :--
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type control userpasswords2, and then click OK.
3. Clear the "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer" check box, and then click Apply.
4. In the Automatically Log On window, type the password in the Password box, and then retype the password in the Confirm Password box.
5. Click OK to close the Automatically Log On window, and then click OK to close the User Accounts window.

Firewalls protection against the external threats

2009-06-10T23:44:00.000-07:00

When a connection to the Internet without a firewall, it takes no more than a few minutes and the computer has a trojan or similar threats as relevant tests show. Firewalls are an absolute must to uninvited guests away from your computers. A firewall is a part of a computer system or network that is designed to block unauthorized access while permitting authorized communications. It is a device or set of devices configured to permit, deny, encrypt, decrypt, or proxy all computer traffic between different security domains based upon a set of rules and other criteria.

Norton Internet Security provides comprehensive protection against the latest threats from the Internet. The program is immediately after installation in the background, optimizing the security settings and automatically protects against a variety of spy programs, viruses, worms and crime ware. It also protects the functions contained in the intelligent firewall against hackers and prevent unauthorized spying programs transmitted information.

Another round-safety tool, F-Secure Internet Security. The suite protects your PC from viruses and hacker attacks from the Internet. With the help of the integrated and excellent anti-virus software, the user is safe from viruses, e-mail. The firewall protects against attacks from the Internet. The tool also has an integrated lock time. There are some good firewall software program is available which protects your computer from external threats. Here is the list some firewall software programs:--
1. Mcafee Personal Firewall
2. Norton Personal Firewall
3. Panda Firewall
4. Comodo Firewall
5. Zone Alarm
6. PC Security Shield
7. Black Ice Defender
8. Agnitum Outpost Firewall Program

The Agnitum Outpost Firewall Program detects and blocks hacker attacks and intruders. It also offers full control of privacy, monitors network activity and those between the applications on a computer. It also prevents that Internet worms, especially in the inbox to become active. A self-protection feature ensures that the firewall direct target of an attack will. The extremely user-friendly Personal Firewall protects your PC effectively against hacker attacks, worms, trojans, spy software and other malicious code. Filtering rules to prevent or allow connections and applications that access the Internet want to be recorded and reported.

Troubleshooting of configuration errors in Windows XP

2009-06-08T01:53:00.000-07:00

We should follow these troubleshooting stpes to get rid off Configuration errors in Windows XP :--
Method 1: Diagnostic and Selection startup modes
To perform a diagnostic startup, follow these steps:--
1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
2. On the General tab, click Diagnostic Startup, and then click OK.
3. Restart your computer.
If the problem does not occur, use Selective startup mode to try to find the problem by turning individual services and startup programs on or off.

Method 2:-- Selective startup
Selective startup enables you to select the files and the settings that you want the computer to load when you restart the computer. Select from the following options:
1. Process System.ini File
2. Process Win.ini file
3. Load System Services
4. Load Startup Items

Method 3:-- Change individual file settings
If you know the different settings in each configuration file, you can enable or disable individual settings in the file that has the tab for that file in the System Configuration utility. To prevent individual items in a configuration file from loading when
you restart your computer, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
2. Click a tab: System.ini, Win.ini, Boot.ini, Services, or Startup.
3. Select or clear the available settings.
4. Click OK.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 until you find the problem.

Method 4:-- Manually extract a file
If you have to fix a corrupted file, extract the individual Windows file from the CAB files. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
2. On the General tab, click Expand File.
3. In the File to restore box, type the name of the file that you want to restore.
4. In the Restore from box, type the path of the Windows XP .cab file from which you want to restore the file. Or, click Browse From to locate the Windows XP .cab file.

Method 5:-- Return to normal startup
1. After you complete your troubleshooting and fix your configuration, return to a normal startup. Follow these steps:
2.Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
3. On the General tab, click Normal startup.
4. Click OK.
5. Restart your computer.

Windows XP Boot and Startup Trouleshooting

2009-06-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

Many computer users are generally facing the booting problems in Windows XP. It is mainly caused by corrupted Windows XP operating system. In this case, computer hardware appears to power up okay but the Windows XP operating system would not boot properly. There are some basic troubleshooting steps in order to get rid off booting problems in Windows. We are providing the following troubleshooting steps in case Windows XP would not boot :--

1. Use a Windows Startup Disk:--
We need to create a Windows startup disk for this method. We can create a Windows startup disk by the following steps :--
# Double click on the "My Computer" icon on your Desktop.
# Click on the 3½ Floppy (A:) icon just enough until it becomes highlighted.
# Click on the word File, which is contained in your top tool bar area.
# This will pull down a menu for you to now click on the word Format.
# Place a check mark in the box next to Create an MS-DOS startup disk at the bottom of the screen.
# Then click the "Start" button to begin creating your Startup Disk.
# Windows will display a warning that Formatting erase all data or your disk. Click on "OK" tab to continue.
# Windows will then display a progress indicator bar denoting the status of your System Disk.
# When the status bar reaches 100% your System Startup Disk will be complete.
# Close the format complete window by clicking on OK at the bottom of the screen.
# Click on the "Close" button to close the Format 3½ Floppy (A:) window.
# You should store your Startup Disk in a safe location.
You should insert Windows startup disk into the floppy drive on the afflicted system and press [Ctrl][Alt][Delete] to reboot the computer.

2. Use Last Known Good Configuration:--
This feature will allow you to undo any changes that caused problems in the CurrentControlSet registry key, which defines hardware and driver settings.

3. Use System Restore:--
System Restore takes "snapshots" of critical system files and some program files and registry settings and stores all these information as restore points. System Restore allows the rolling back of system files, registry keys and installed programs etc.

4. Use Recovery Console:--
Recovery Console can be accessed from the original Windows installation CD. It is particularly useful for repairing or replacing important operating system files.
5. Fix Corrupt Boot.INI :--
We can fix corrupted Boot.ini using "bootcfg /rboot" command. We should enter the "Load Indentifier" and enter something random as this is just a label. If 'bootcfg' asks for 'OS Load Options', enter '/fastdetect'.

6. Fix a corrupt partition boot sector

7. Fix a corrupt master boot record

8. Disable automatic restart

9. Restore from a backup

10. Perform an in-place upgrade

PC Optimization

2009-05-27T23:28:00.000-07:00

We should perform "PC Optimization" tasks on our computers over the specific time. "PC Optimization" helps to increase the computer performance and reliability. It includes the various steps that should be performed in the systematic order. These are following steps that comes under the "PC Optimization" task :--1. We should create a system restore point for the safety purpose.2. We should delete all the temporary Internet files like temp, %temp%, prefetch files.3. We should optimize the browser by deleting all the cookies, history and junk files.4. We should scan the computer by using any updated antivirus program.5. We should install and download the "Anti-malwarebytes" software program on the computer.6. We should update "Anti-malwarebytes" software program.7. We should scan the computer using the "Anti-malwarebytes" software program.8. We should delete all the infected files after "Anti-malwarebytes" scanning result.9. We should restart the computer in normal mode.10. We should install and download "Superanti-spyware" software program on the computer.11. We should update "Superanti-spyware" software program.12. We should scan the computer using the "Superanti-spyware" software program.13. We should delete all the infected files after "Superanti-spyware" scanning result.14. We should delete all unwanted start-ups items by using the msconfig utility.15. We should un-install all unwanted softwares from the computer.16. We should perform the "Diskcleanup" task on the weekly basis.17. We should perform the "Defrag" task on the monthly basis.18. We should keep at least 5% free space on the 'C' drive.19. Reduce recycle bin maximum size20. Reduce size of system restore21. Turn off Hibernation.22. Turn off Indexing service.23. Disable the performance settings.
Best PC optimization tools 1. Ccleaner2. Perfect Optimizer
Best PC scan software programs1. Kaspersky antivirus2. Avira antivirus 3. Antimalwarebytes4. Superantispyware5. Spybot
Many major organization are providing some impacable software programs for "PC Optimization" which helps the users to run the computer smoothly. We can run the computer smoothly and properly by following all these above troubleshooting steps. We Should update all the security softwares on the regular basis which helps to get the latest the definitions of various viruses, spywares and malwares etc.

iYogi Acquires Clean Machine Inc.

2009-05-14T02:24:00.001-07:00

Larry Gordon, Founder of Clean Machine appointed as President Global Channel Sales at iYogi

New York, NY, May 11th, 2009 : iYogi, a global direct to consumer and small business remote technical support provider, today announced it’s acquisition of Clean Machine Inc, a provider of remotely administered PC security and performance management services. Clean Machine will operate as a separate brand under the iYogi services umbrella along with the recently lunched Support Dock (www.supportdock.com) and its comprehensive range of 24/7 technical support services for computers, printers, MP3 players, digital camera, routers, servers and more than 100 software applications. Larry Gordon, Founder of Clean Machine is appointed as the President of Global Channel Sales for iYogi.

iYogi will integrate technology and innovation that Clean Machine Inc. has developed for delivering an enhanced service experience by proactively managing the health and security for PC's and Apple Computers. This acquisition also broadens iYogi's access to key markets through Clean Machine's existing partnerships. Larry Gordon's past experience and successful track record will accelerate iYogi's expansion through his focus on global alliances.
Commenting on the acquisition of Clean Machine Inc., Uday Challu, CEO & Co-founder of iYogi, said,

"This acquisition will help iYogi to enhance our customer experience and extend our market reach to the millions of consumers that are challenged by the increasingly complex technology environment. Clean Machine's proactive maintenance and management of PCs in home and small business environment will be our launch platform for building the next generation of managed services for consumers."

"We are delighted to have Larry spearheading partnerships and global alliances for iYogi. His incredible experience in marketing, sales and building global alliances will help forge partnerships with retailers, multiple service operators, software publishers, original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and other such companies that are at the frontlines for managing tech support issues for consumers and small businesses",

added Challu.

With more than 20 years of experience, Larry Gordon has played a variety of strategic roles in marketing, sales and building alliances. Larry was the Executive Vice President at Capgemini and Kanbay. He was also VP of Global Marketing for Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH), a leader in global IT services and Director of Marketing for New York based Information Builders.

"I am excited to join a company that shares a common mission to Clean Machine in creating a global brand for delivering the best technical support to consumers and small businesses. We also share a common approach of utilizing highly skilled talent with leading edge tools, thereby delivering services at incredible price-points, with high margins for our partners",

said Larry Gordon, the newly appointed President of Global Channel Sales at iYogi.

ABOUT IYOGI

Headquartered in Gurgaon, India with offices in New York, USA, iYogi provides personalized computer support for consumers and small businesses in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. IYogi's 24/7 phone and remote technical assistance, spans across a comprehensive range of technologies we use every day from a wide range of vendors. Utilizing its proprietary technology iMantra , and highly qualified technicians, iYogi delivers amongst the highest benchmarks for resolution and customer satisfaction. iYogi is privately held and funded by SAP Ventures, Canaan Partners, and SVB India Capital Partners. iYogi was recently awarded the Red Herring Global 100 Award, recognizing it as one of the 100 most innovative private companies driving the future of technology. For more information on iYogi and a detailed list of technologies supported, visit: www.iyogi.net.

ABOUT CLEAN MACHINE

Clean Machine Inc. is a NJ-based and incorporated company that helps consumers and small business owners easily manage and protect their computing environments safely and cost effectively. The company is has a unique, powerful and inexpensive PC concierge service. Specifically, each customer is assigned a highly-trained tech concierge who remotely examines their computer system on a scheduled and very secure basis. The PC concierge will immediately fix software-based problems and prevent new threats to the customer's computing environment including offensive pop-ups, browser redirects and slow performance, and then provides a detailed report. Clean Machine's proprietary Radar(TM) technology (Remote Access Detection Audit and Repair) allows its expert technicians to remotely resolve any problems, eliminating the need for customers to go through the frustrating process of speaking with a tech support expert, and still having to do the work themselves. In other words, the Clean Machine PC concierges do it all. For more information on Clean Machine please visit www.pccleanmachine.com.