July 2nd, 2009

Over the next few days, we’ll be taking a look at some of the things to think about when you’re doing your own computer repairs. Over the course of the series, we’ll talk about everything from equipment you might need to training you might consider getting. Today, we want to start with some general principles to keep in mind.

First of all, if you’re going to do your own computer repairs, you need to understand the risks. When you open up your computer, you may be voiding any warranty provided by the computer manufacturer. While that isn’t always the case, you will definitely want to check your warranty paperwork to see if this is the case.

You also want to recognize that there is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to doing your own computer repairs. If you spend $800 in parts and countless hours trying to fix your computer, you could have instead just gone out and bought an entirely new (and probably faster) computer than your old one. Recognizing when its time to give up is an important part of fixing your own computer.

Finally, don’t be afraid to try new things. As long as you’re taking all of the proper safety precautions - using a static grounding strap when you’re handling hardware, and making sure you have a recent good backup of your system, for example - then there’s really not that much you can goof up on your computer that you can’t go back and fix.

Finally, make sure you take good notes as you go along. One of the most common mistakes people make when they try to fix their own computers is to not accurately record what they changed and when, and so they find themselves misdiagnosing a problem. Take good notes and you’ll be way ahead.

July 1st, 2009

If you’re like most computer users, you’ve probably at some point or another experienced a problem with a program that just doesn’t want to run correctly on your computer. For many, it’s simply a computer game that crashes when you’re running it. Knowing what sorts of things can cause your computer to crash when you’re playing a game can help you to troubleshoot the problem when it happens, and maybe even prevent it from happening the next time.

One of the most common things that can cause a computer game to crash is a hardware problem. It could be, for example, that your RAM or your video card is defective. Because computer games tend to be resource-intensive when compared to things like word processors or Internet browsers, you may not even notice that there is a problem. When you start the game, however, your computer tries to access that particular portion of the hardware that’s damaged, and everything crashes.

Another possible problem is a driver problem. A driver is, in the most basic sense, a piece of software or code that allows Windows to be able to properly communicate with the various pieces of hardware that are installed on your computer. If your drivers aren’t up to date, it could cause your computer to crash. The best way to resolve this problem is to make sure your computer is updated.

Registry problems can also lead to your computer game crashing. To make sure your registry is in its best shape and that everything runs smoothly, make sure to run RegCure. RegCure cleans your registry and optimizes your computer.

There are many other possibilities that can cause your game to keep crashing, from a defective disk to user error to viruses. If you start with the above possibilities, however, you’ll find you most likely resolve the issue.

June 30th, 2009

When a program locks up or doesn’t respond in Windows Vista, you probably know enough to bring up the task manager and attempt to end the task. Generally speaking, that will make the program close out and you will be able to go on working normally. It can be helpful, however, to understand a little bit more about tasks and processes in Windows Vista so that you can more effectively troubleshoot these kinds of lock ups.

A task, in the most basic sense, is an application that Windows Vista is running. Microsoft Word, for example, might be a task. The same holds true for the Firefox web browser, or even for the solitaire game. In task manager, each given application is listed, by name.

Processes are related to tasks, but they’re not exactly the same. A process is one item that is using your computer’s resources - CPU and memory - at a given time. A process is tied to a single file on your computer, typically an executable file. So, “winword.exe” or “firefox.exe” might be a specific process.

Tasks rely on more than just a single process to function. They include all of the other files that a program uses, such as DLL files or even Windows services. On the other hand, processes are tied to all of these things but refer specfically only to the actual executable file that’s using system resources.

If you have a task or a process that seems to be hanging up in Windows Vista, RegCure may be able to help. In some instances, these lock ups may be caused by problems with the Windows registry. RegCure will clean the registry, get rid of corrupted entries, and help your PC to run at its optimal condition. While it may not fix every lock up, it will help your computer to run much more smooth.

June 29th, 2009

One of the most commonly misunderstood concepts in the personal computer world is that of memory. People often use the term “memory” to refer to any number of things in the computer. Knowing a little bit about hard drives and memory will help you to be able to more effectively troubleshoot your computer problems when the time comes.

In the most basic sense, “memory” in the computer world refers to a part of the computer that stores data. Your RAM - which stands for Random Access Memory - stores working information for your computer while the computer is turned on.

Static memory is often referred to as “storage” or a “storage device.” This can include, for example, your hard drive. The hard drive is one component inside your computer. It stores information even when your comptuer is turned off.

Where this all becoems especially confusing is that people usually use the terms “RAM” and “memory” interchangably. For example, they might say you need to “increase your computer’s memory” to get better performance. While a hard drive is technically a type of memory, buying a larger hard drive generally won’t improve your computer’s performance.

Another way that “hard drive” becomes confusing is that some people take the term to mean their computer case, as distinct from the monitor, keyboard, mouse or other peripheral devices. In other case, people refer to their case as the “CPU,” which is also incorrect as the CPU is a single chip inside of your computer that makes everything run correctly.

While it isn’t critical that you master all of these terms, it is especially helpful when you take your computer in for service or when you’re troubleshooting problems and looking up solutions online.

June 28th, 2009

One of the most common misconceptions in the world of computer security has to do with computer viruses. While computer viruses are a real threat, it is important to understand exactly what it is that computer viruses can do and what they can’t do.

Computer viruses can, in some cases, erase data from your hard drive. They can literally delete files on your computer. In other cases, they can corrupt files on your computer or overwrite files on your computer, making it so that those files are inaccessible or useless.

On the other hand, computer viruses can’t physically damage your hard drive. There have been many myths over the years about a computer virus that can corrupt your hard drive physically, and this just isn’t possible at all.

Computer viruses can also corrput your Windows operating system. They can make it so that your comptuer won’t boot at all, or they can make it so that Windows runs very slowly.

In addition, computer virues can corrupt your registry. They can create entries in your registry that will keep the virus coming back again and again. They can also change settings on your computer by making changes to your Windows registry.

Cleaning your computer with an antivirus program is the best way to recover from a computer virus. Once your computer is clean, however, you should also pay some attention to your registry. RegCure can clean your registry and optimize your computer. It will get rid of corrupted entries, or entries that the virus may have left behind.

June 27th, 2009

June 26th, 2009

Unless you have been hiding under a rock, there is a good chance you’ve heard about the variety of online backup services offered on the market today. These services promise to back up your data so that, should anything happen to your computer or your data, you can recover it easily. These services typically charge you a monthly fee and require that your Internet connection is active.

There are many advantages to these services. First of all, most of the online backup services are relatively easy to use. You simply install their software, sign up for the service, and you’re ready to go. Over time, your computer will back itself up on the online service. When you need to recover some of your data, you simply run the online backup program and select the file or files you need.

In addition to ease of use, these services don’t require special hardware. In contrast, if you back up your computer at home, you are going to need some backup hardware device or another at some point. In days gone by, this meant an expensive tape backup device that you had to physically install inside of your computer. Today, it’s more likely to mean a USB hard drive that’s attached to your computer. However, you also need a reliable backup program in order to make effective use of the device.

This additional hardware and software means that online backup are less expensive, at least initially, than backups at home. To create a good home backup system, you’re probably looking at spending around $300 to get started. In contrast, many online backup services don’t require any initial payment beyond their regular monthly fees.

If you think you may need to be able to recover your data at some point, online backup services are a good option.

June 25th, 2009

The Windows Vista registry is one of the most important parts of Microsoft’s latest operating system. The Windows Vista registry is a storehouse of information that relates to everyting from hardware to system settings to software. Because it’s such a vital part of the operating system, erros can take a number of different forms. Knowing how to recognize the signs of Windows Vista registry error can help you to troubleshoot them more quickly and effectively.

One of the possible signs of Windos Vista Registry errors is frequent computer lock ups. In addition to lock ups, system crashes are also a good indication of a Windows Vista registry error. If your computer is slow to start or slow running overall, this can also indicate a problem with the registry. You might get DLL error messages, or error messages about missing files.

Many different things can cause Windows VIsta registry errors. In some cases, it is a piece of information left behind in the registry after you uninstall a program. While this doesn’t always happen, it is a relatively common cause of the errors.

At other times, Windows Vista registry errors may be cause by spyware or viruses. Even after the virus is cleaned, there may be references to it left behind in the registry.

The best way to deal with Windows Vista registry errors is with RegCure. RegCure cleans your registry of orphaned or corrupted entries, optimizes your performance and solves many types of registry error issues.

June 24th, 2009

There are a number of different problems that computer users can experience during windows startup. There can be lockups, or just generally slow performance when you first boot up your computer. In many cases, the cause of such a problem is a new hardware component that’s recently been installed, a new program or application taht’s been installed, or a system file that has become corrupted in one way or another. The good news is that Windows startup errors are relatively easy problems to troubleshoot in general.

One of the first steps in troubleshooting issues with Windows startup is to do a simple reboot of your computer. Sometimes, that’s all it will take. The Startup issue might resolve itself, and you won’t have to worry about it. If the problem persists, you can move on to the next step.

From here, you’ll want to boot the computer into safe mode. To do this, you have to restart your computer once again. As your computer starts up, press the F8 key repeatedly to bring up the boot options menu.  From there, you can select “Last Known Good Configuration” using the arrow keys on your keyboard. Press Enter on your keyboard, and your computer will try to start.

If your computer locks up at this point, you need to uninstall any recently installed hardware components and see if you’re able to boot. If not, it may be time to take your computer in to have it looked at by a professional.

In some cases, running RegCure may help you with your startup problem. RegCure identifies and removes corrupted registry entries, as well as registry entries for hardware or software that are no longer installed on the computer. In this way, RegCure helps to optimize your Windows performance.

June 23rd, 2009

Even if you consider yourself something of a computer geek and like to tinker around with your PC, there will more than likely come a time when you could use some computer help from a trained technician. Yes, the majority of computer problems can be fixed with relatively basic troubleshooting practices and techniques. For the tough problems, however, you need to get computer help from someone else.

Unfortunately, it can be hard to find the right person. Many computer technicians may actually not be much more qualified to fix a problem than you are. They may or may not be specially trained, or have passed certification exams. For this reason, it’s important to choose the right person for your computer help.

One of the best ways to get good computer help is to ask around. Talk to friends and family about their experiences. See if they’ve had anyone service their computer in a reliable way.

You should also consider hiring a certified technician. Specifically, you want a computer repair person who has the industry standard A+ certification. This indicates that they have a solid knowledge of PC hardware issues.

In addition, talk frankly about costs up front. Know if there is a diagnostic fee, and how much the regular repair rates will be. In some cases, you’ll discover that its less expensive to buy a new computer.

Finally, get computer help from someone you are comfortable with. You need to be able to communicate the problem to the technician, and you need to be able to understand what they have done to fix the problem.