Home Computer Repair

Home Computer Repair Do's and Don'ts

2011-08-26T04:55:00.000-07:00

As time has evolved over this last decade from 2001 to 2010, our everyday use of computers has increased. We rely on them for more than ever before, and trying to keep them up to date and running smoothing can prove to be more of a chore than actually using it and enjoying it. Regardless if we overlook the general maintenance on our computers, it can prove to be as bad, and as expensive, as if we neglect doing the general maintenance on our cars. The problem is in these days of economic crisis, we have less money to spend to have professionals do the work on our computers, and we take it upon ourselves to try to maintain them and even fix them. I'm here to give you some general do's and don'ts to avoid any severe mistakes that could lead to you being without your computer for a few days, while your local professional fixes your mistakes.

1. Do get yourself a can of compressed air, or a shop vac and clean the dust out of your pc once a month. This helps keep the fans clean and functiong properly, it also makes sure your system is just clean and running smoothly. It fairly easy and not a lengthy process to pop off two screws, remove the side cover and finish rather quickly.

Don't suck up half your computer wires if you choose to use a shop vac. Just be smart and careful and keep your eye on wires. Would suck to have to dig your processor out of the bottom of the shop vac.

2. Do get a spy-ware/virus scan software like SuperAntiSpyware or Malwarebytes AntiMalware. These two free tools can save you from even some of the worst viruses and at the same time save you from the professional fees that are being charged.

Don't neglect to do this once a month. Spy-ware and other rogue Trojans can hide in your system and slow your computer way down. It's better just to run these free scans and keep your computer free from all the garbage that is picked up by surfing and downloading on the Internet.

Article Source: http://goo.gl/N2w7c

How to Rate Home Computers

2011-08-21T22:32:00.000-07:00

Even though prices have fallen sharply in recent years, a personal computer is still a major purchase. With that in mind, computer users should compare computers before making a purchase. There are a number of important factors to consider when purchasing a new computer, and it is important to consider each of those factors as you shop.

Instructions

Make sure you know the minimum required specifications for the operating system you will be using. Make sure that you have at least twice the minimum requirements in both areas to make sure your operating system will run efficiently.

Compare the hard-drive size on each computer you are considering. The price of storage has dropped quite a bit, so the minimum hard-drive size you should consider is 500 GB. Purchasing a computer with 750 GB or 1 TB of storage space will give you plenty of room to grow.

Look for a computer with a quality DVD burner. Most new computers come with DVD burners as standard equipment, but if you plan to watch movies on your computer a Blu-ray DVD player can be a worthwhile upgrade.

Make sure the computers you are considering have a fast processor. Processor speed is an important consideration, since a faster processor will be able to handle many different tasks simultaneously. It is often worth spending a little more on a computer to get one with a top-speed processor.

Open as many programs as you can on the display computer at the store. Open several browser windows, as well as some office productivity programs. After all of those programs are open, right-click on the taskbar and choose "Task Manager" from the menu. Click on the "Performance" tab and watch the graph move. Watch for spikes in the CPU usage that could indicate a lack of system resources.

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

Advantages of Networking Your Home Computers

2011-08-02T02:35:00.000-07:00

Computers have become an integral part of our life, not just at work but at home as well. It is not unusual for a household to have two or more computers. Just like an office, you can network your home computers together in order to share documents, photos, video, and more. Many homeowners have discovered that a home network is an affordable solution to sharing your family's high-speed Internet connection and computing resources.

A network is a system that connects two or more computers together so that they can share information and the use of peripherals. Before this technology was readily available, consumers had to buy each computer its own printer, scanner, and Internet access. This made adding another computer a very expensive proposition.

There are two types of home networking systems, wired and wireless. As you might guess, wired systems require that you physically connect each computer or device using specialized cables. A wireless system requires no cables because it uses a radio wave to transmit data between the machines.

A home network offers a variety of advantages to the homeowner. Listed below are a few reasons that networking is so popular in many homes.

Broadband Internet Sharing: Networking enables two or more people to browse the Internet at the same time. This feature allows many members of the family to research, work, and shop at the same time without having to wait their turn. For one fee, you can provide Internet access for all of the computers in the home.

File Sharing: Networking allows you to share and access files that are stored on various computers in your network. This means that you can finish up the report on your laptop that you started on your desktop computer in the home office. You can also access photos, videos, and documents on any computer in your network. Many people appreciate the flexibility that this feature offers.

Peripheral Sharing: Once your network is up and running, you can set up all of your computers to have access to peripherals like the printer and scanner. There are substantial savings with only having to buy one device to be used on multiple computers.

Play Multi-Player Games Together: You and your kids can play computer games together with networked computers. Now you only have to buy one game to entertain the various gamers in your family.

For many people, the idea of a home network is very appealing but the thought of setting it up can be overwhelming. Luckily, there are very talented home technology experts that can come to your home and create a network that will benefit your family. These professionals take care of setting your network up and securing your system. Enlisting the help of home technology company is a good idea to ensure that your system is set up correctly. Plus, they will educate you about your network and its technology.

A home networking system offers convenience and cost savings over time. Once you have a network installed, you will appreciate all of the benefits it provides for your family.

Article Source: http://goo.gl/E46sR

How to Fix My Computer at Home ?

2011-07-22T23:09:00.000-07:00

When your computer stops working you may be tempted to cart it off to the local repair shop, but that can be an expensive option. The prices charged by computer repair technicians can be quite high, and in some cases it can cost more to have an old computer repaired than it would to purchase a brand new system. But before you trash that old computer and buy a new one it is important to try some simple repairs on your own.

Instructions

System Restore

Turn on your computer and log on. If your computer started acting up after the installation of a new software package or piece of hardware, you can use System Restore to undo those changes and resolve the problem.

Click on the "Start" button and choose "All Programs" from the menu. Choose "Accessories" from the menu and then "System Tools." Choose "System Restore" from the menu and use the calendar to choose a restore point from before the problem first occurred.

Run through the System Restore process and allow your computer to reboot. Log on to the computer and test it.

Hardware Issues

Remove the retaining screws that hold the case in place, then remove the cover by pulling up on the case release lever. The position of these retaining screws and release levers will vary by manufacturer and model, so it is a good idea to consult your user guide.

Set the case cover aside in a safe place and look inside the case. Disconnect each cable and wire one at a time, keeping an eye out for loose cables as you go. Reconnect each of the cables, making sure that each cable is firmly seated.

Turn your computer back on and test it. Leave the case off for now in case you need to check the cables again. As the computer starts up listen for the cooling fan and make sure it is running. Cooling fans are a common point of failure for many computers, and if the fan is not running it will cause the computer to overheat. You can purchase a new cooling fan and replace it to resolve this problem.

Read more: http://goo.gl/RZuq3

How to Learn PC Repair at Home

2011-07-18T01:12:00.000-07:00

Although you can gain a PC repair education from a traditional university, this takes a lot of time and money. An easier way to learn the trade is to teach yourself PC repair at home. With the skills you learn from trying it at home, you should be able to fix both software and hardware problems on nearly any computer. PC repair skills will open your career options and make you more useful to friends and family.

Instructions

Take classes from an online university. Penn Foster Career School offers an at-home PC Maintenance and Repair program that teaches you about hardware, software, networking and troubleshooting. Also try classes from CBT Direct or Delmar Learning.

Purchase a few older PCs that you can use to study on. Open up the case while the power is unplugged so you can have a look at the innards of the computer. This is a better idea than testing out PC repair concepts on your main computer as you may end up making a wrong move and damaging the computer beyond easy repair.

Read books about PC repair. There are books at varying difficulty levels so you can gain a complete education. Visit a library or a bookstore to browse their selection of PC repair books. "A+ Guide to PC Hardware Maintenance and Repair" by Michael Graves is a good book for dealing with PC hardware repair and can prepare you for A+ certification.

Subscribe to computer magazines such as PCWorld and PCMag. Not only will you learn PC repair techniques, but you will also learn about new updates in technology throughout the computer industry. Since computer technology improves drastically every year, it's important to stay up-to-date.

Watch videos about PC repair on the internet. Video Jug has an entire section of how-to videos devoted to computers. Learn about hardware, software and more. YouTube has many PC repair tutorial videos as well. Watch these videos when ever you're stuck on a problem or you want to learn a new technique.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_6120991_learn-pc-repair-home.html#ixzz1SRWm6UQP

Home Computer Repair - The Do Nots

2011-07-10T20:57:00.000-07:00

What not to do. Do not shell out for such programs like Norton Anti Virus, Mcafee Anti Virus, or any other over priced program. These programs expend more on advertising than on the quality of their product, and most will not assist you in your mission to get your home computer repaired. Also there are programs obtainable only by way of the internet which will not resolve any of your home computer repair problems and only make your bank account decrease.

Some programs are, Registry Repair, Registry Cleaner, Reg Mechanic, and Reg Cure. These programs will cause you a lot greater harm than benefit, and there are not a lot of ways to get help in the occasion you do not recognize how it works.

I have experimented with most of the programs in one way or more on my home computer. You can discover a lot of them when you do a very easy Google query for "home computer repair". I have thus far not found one program that works effectively for a broad variety of computer repair problems. There are a number of programs that function well for very precise list of home computer repair jobs, the problem then is in recognizing your individual issue, and can it be fixed without spending money; often the answer is yes!

In the occasion I do ever find a program that can resolve a lot of the normal home computer repair issues, I won't delay in endorsing the program and I will profit monetarily. You have been warned. I am human and this is what I love to do, if I can get paid for it, while staying honest, I will. Until then, on with the free home computer repair counsel and instruction...

Home Computer Repair - how did I learn?

How do I identify how to repair home computer repair problems? I have learned a lot, diverse things from different programs that I had to buy. I educated myself that these programs were not doing anything really complicated, everything I knew I could do myself .

I have decided not to tell you the exact learning process with my experience with various programs, and online tutorials about home computer repair. That will just end up boring you a lot, and you'll leave and end up paying for some program that will cause you more harm than good. Not to mention cause your bank account $ amount to decrease! Instead I will explain to you in very simple terms how to do your very own home computer repair.

I've gained the knowledge, so I am passing it off to you, in the hopes you can benefit, or your computer can benefit, without spending loads of cash on programs that will not work and just confuse you.

Most programs that claim to fix your computer, do not, and are a big waste of $$$. I know, as I have tried a lot of them when first getting into home computer repair. I learned a lot from them, in how they worked, but my bank account took a hit for this.

Article Source: http://goo.gl/9rZ26

Save Money With Online Computer Repair Support

2011-07-04T23:16:00.000-07:00

With the rapid advancement of technology, out buying habit has also been changed. We are now quite habituated in buying products online through our debit and credit cards. In the realm of computer repair too, a significant change has been noticed. Gone are the days when we used to carry our computer to the PC repair shop to fix problem. It would take a huge amount of time and the cost was also quite hefty. But now the scenario has been changed a lot. Instead of rushing to a computer repair shop, now just you need to call a remote tech support service provider. They will remotely connect your computer through encrypted software and resolve the issue in minutes. It saves your precious time and labor.

There is no dearth of remote computer repair companies and almost all the companies offer round the clock service which is available all through the year. Due to this reason, the popularity of online computer service has been growing rapidly. Wide and diverse selections of services are offered by these companies. In fact, some of them claim to resolve all sorts of PC issues. These include PC setup support, PC speedup support, software support, virus removal support, internet setup support, operating system support and many more.

Whether you have laptop or desktop, if any computing issue arises, just you need to contact any of these remote PC repair companies. Do you have a printer and it is not working on properly? These companies also offer solution for you. They will diagnose and detect bad hardware parts and assist you to get it repaired.

There are a number of reasons for which the popularity of these types of services is on the rise. The main facility is that the computer user can have their computer repaired then and there. They don’t need to keep their PC at the computer repair shop for several days. The technician will remotely connect your PC and fix the issue and they will also make you understand how you can protect your system from facing any such problem in future. So, from a user’s point of view it is certainly a great advantage to get tech assistance without spending any extra bucks.

One of the most alluring features of online computer repair is its price point. Charges of the remote computer repair companies are very reasonable and in many cases it is just half of what most retail computer repair shops charge. So, it is a great advantage for a computer user. In addition, you are also protecting nature from pollution as you don’t need to drive all the way to a computer repair shop.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Save-Money-with-Online-Computer-Repair-Support/1866871

Home Study Computer Repair Course

2011-06-28T23:32:00.000-07:00

There are millions of personal computers in use today. And someone has to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair them. With PCDI's convenient home study course, you can learn how it's done! However, there are certain skills you need to begin a career as a PC Repair Technician.

We'll teach you computer repair, from the monitor to mouse, from memory to motherboard. And it's not as complicated as you might think. Our training will teach you to:

Add printers, software, scanners, joysticks, etc. to your computer.

Troubleshoot, install, and maintain your computer system.

Remove and replace CPUs, motherboards, and memory.

Prepare for the A+® Certification exam, and much more.

Many PC repairs involve easy disassembly followed by quick plug-in replacement of parts; many other problems are fixed by running diagnostic programs and letting the software guide the work.

Our distance learning course takes you through the step-by-step procedures covered in the A+ Certification exam. When you graduate, you should have the skills and the knowledge required to take this exam, which is recognized as the industry standard for entry level computer technicians.

Request free information and find the best matching course matching your needs below.

Source:- www.homestudycourses.net

Home Computer Support

2011-06-23T03:30:00.000-07:00

Home Computer Support & Service New Jersey

Your home computer is just as important if not more so than your machine at work and in fact, with today's home and business computer networks merging the two might very well be the same computer. Secure networking is a must to protect your personal information and data against network threats, risks, and spyware.

Wireless Network Setup

Our fast growing coverage area allows us to completely service Central Jersey and the surrounding areas. We offer the same excellent business-grade performance to our residential customers that we provide to our professional clients. Our home computer service technicians provide guaranteed on-site service and support for your computer, peripherals and applications.

Install New Hardware/Software

Our consultants are Microsoft and/or A+ certified technicians with several years of experience supporting network servers, desktops, routers hubs, and switches in both small office and enterprise wide environments

Remove Viruses & Spyware

PC Cured has been a provider of computer support in the New Jersey for more than 10 years. Our technicians are all certified professionals and can help you with a complex task such as proxy-server or firewall configuration all the way down to virus removal.

Data Backup and Recovery

We offer non-destructive data recovery methods and will provide back-up data consulting for home or office machines. We know that proper data backup is an integral part of setting up any network. That's why when we provide data back-up consulting we target the information you need the most. Whether on DAT or Hard Disk, at work or at home we provide backup and recovery that is reliable and timely.

Onsite Computer Repair

We are located right in Central Jersey, our technicians are only a few hours away from helping you with your computer problem.

Let us help you reach your desired destination.

Source:-www.pccured.com

Home Computer Repair - The Do Nots

2011-06-06T00:57:00.000-07:00

If you think home computer repair is hard or next to impossible then please read this article.

Ok, so you are almost certainly here reading this because you have, or believe you have a computer predicament, or maybe your home computer is just not performing normal. DO NOT do the flying experiment! Your computer cannot fly, and will by no means be able to fly, so do not test this theory out of your second story window! Simple home computer repair techniques I will explain to you will help; all while your bank account stays untouched(credit cards too)

So concerning this blog... I am going to be schooling you (not selling you) how to go from identifying that you have a home computer repair problem, all the way to fixing that same problem. The principle is to get your home computer functioning the way you want it to.

Along the journey you will learn I do own and control a home computer repair and services company, BUT in no way am I at this juncture to solicit their services. We only service a very little area in southeast Michigan. Be taught what you can here for free, so that you will not require any home computer repair gurus for help.

What not to do. Do not shell out for such programs like Norton Anti Virus, Mcafee Anti Virus, or any other over priced program. These programs expend more on advertising than on the quality of their product, and most will not assist you in your mission to get your home computer repaired. Also there are programs obtainable only by way of the internet which will not resolve any of your home computer repair problems and only make your bank account decrease.

Some programs are, Registry Repair, Registry Cleaner, Reg Mechanic, and Reg Cure. These programs will cause you a lot greater harm than benefit, and there are not a lot of ways to get help in the occasion you do not recognize how it works.

I have experimented with most of the programs in one way or more on my home computer. You can discover a lot of them when you do a very easy Google query for "home computer repair". I have thus far not found one program that works effectively for a broad variety of computer repair problems. There are a number of programs that function well for very precise list of home computer repair jobs, the problem then is in recognizing your individual issue, and can it be fixed without spending money; often the answer is yes!

In the occasion I do ever find a program that can resolve a lot of the normal home computer repair issues, I won't delay in endorsing the program and I will profit monetarily. You have been warned. I am human and this is what I love to do, if I can get paid for it, while staying honest, I will. Until then, on with the free home computer repair counsel and instruction...

Source: http://goo.gl/v0fcn

Computer Repair the Remote Way

2011-05-29T23:27:00.000-07:00

If the computer is a technological marvel, Internet has outwitted it, and it has taken even computer repairs into unprecedented heights. Computer repair itself can now be managed through the virtual medium.

Online computer repair is routinely done nowadays by the manufacturing company, which has sold the machine to the computer owner. They invariably have an ID with which they can log on to the computer and manage the repairs during the warranty period. After the initial warranty period if the buyer opts for extended warranties, the provision for computer repairs through online access will continue.

Independent computer service centers also provide remote access repair services. Since most service providers offer the choice of online service along with on site or off site computer repairs, it is up to the customer to choose which one he needs. While doing repair via remote access, the technician will be able to see the customers computer fully on his computer screen. This means that he will be seeing all the errors and problems exactly as the customer is seeing it sitting in front of the computer. This facility makes it easy for the customer because he does not have to mail to the technicians or explain to him orally what the error is.

Different types of PC repairs like getting rid of viruses, removing spy ware, installing software, updating software or operating system, reversing file corruption, and all forms of computer optimization can easily be done through remote access. Computer repair requirements resulting from mechanical reasons will be less amenable to repair by remote access. At least some of the problems will require on site repair.

Even so, service providers will be able to identify the problem from a distance without having to come in person and examine the machine. Sometimes they will be able to rectify the problem by giving online guidance to the customer. Also getting a diagnosis done by remote access saves them time and the need to travel just for examining.

Even though during online repairs the machine is completely left open to the technician at the other end, the owner does not completely lose control over the machine. There is a provision, which allows the owner to deny access if he feels that there is misuse. The connection program that allows remote access is generally disconnected after the repair and reactivated when another computer repair becomes necessary.

With time being a constraint for everyone, lots of people prefer to have their computer repairs done through remote access. As long as users have a good Internet connection, problems can be solved instantly. Online computer service providers generally charge an hourly rate. It is a money saver formula for both the customer and the service provider. Since the traveling expense is not there, the technician will be able to charge less for it, and also provide the service at all times of the day.

The Internet is chock-a-block with remote access computer repair specialists. By doing comparison-shopping and also basing the selection on personal recommendations, customers can choose from among them. Though professional ethics will prevent the service providers from misusing the computer access that they have been given, some people may be uncomfortable about keeping their machines open to others and may prefer not to avail the facility.

Source: http://goo.gl/hiWfJ

Top 7 Home Computer Repair Check Points

2011-05-23T03:10:00.000-07:00

Your home computer is prone to damage as any other machine in your house, more, if you are connected to the Internet. You must take measures and learn some basic home computer repair methods to safeguard your computer against any potential damage. Here are the top-most important tools that serve as home computer protection as well as home computer repair methods:

Anti-virus: You should invest in good anti-virus software for continuous online protection. To help with home computer repair, anti-virus software provides fixes for latest viruses and guards against spamming and phishing. You should update the anti-virus package periodically. The most popular ones include BitDefender, McAfee, Kaspersky Lab, F-Secure, Symantec Norton, and Panda. A typical package will cost you $30 to S50. Some basic anti-virus packages are also available for free.

Anti-spyware/Anti-adware: Spyware and adware prove a menace when it comes to the performance of your computer. As a home computer repair and protection method, scan your computer using an anti-spyware, anti-adware package like Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy. These packages are available for free online.

Operating System and Program Update/ Specific Computer Manufacture's Update: Updating your computer periodically with critical and recommended updates goes a long way in protecting your home computer against damages and rectifying non-functional devices.

o Firewalls: Your operating system may provide you with a firewall by default. You should install a personal firewall if your computer does not have one. A firewall acts as a filter, protecting your computer from malicious content from the Internet. Some popular firewalls include McAfee, Norton, and Zone Alarm. Some firewalls like Kerio are also available for free.

Disk Defragmentation and Disk Cleanup: These tools come built-in with your computer and serve as important home computer repair methods. These tools help free up space on your computer. You should run these tools periodically.

Error-checking utility: The computer provides another built-in home computer repair utility called the Error-checking utility. It checks the hard disk for bad sectors and tries to recover them.

Back up and Recovery: A very dependable method for home computer repair is system restore. You should create restore points on your computer so that in case of any damage, you can restore your computer to a previously secure checkpoint. Also, to avoid losing any important data in case of a system damage or failure, it is a good idea to back up your data periodically.

Source: http://goo.gl/CXR1u

Computer Repair - What You Need to Know

2011-05-16T23:05:00.000-07:00

Has your computer been testing your patience for a long time? Picture this: you're in the middle of emailing a crucial report to your boss when suddenly, your computer freezes and doesn't respond to your desperate mouse clicks. Or it restarts every now and then, and you wonder why it happens all the time. Don't lose your cool-having your computer repaired can still revive the operation of your machine. If your computer is acting up, don't ignore the symptoms, either. Computer repair should be done as early as possible to prevent further troubles.

It's interesting to note that many people own computers but only a few of them know how to fix computer problems. Usually, computer owners seek the help of computer technicians to correct or solve the problem. That's why computers repair shops proliferate everyday and make lots of money from their customers.

If you're looking for a computer technician, you can find many business cards and fliers that advertise pc repair services. It'd be better if you take your computer to a small repair shop in your locality because its services are less expensive than that of large PC repair shops.

It's not enough to rely solely on the expertise of the person you hired to repair your computer. Try to keep yourself informed about computers so that you won't be deceived by unscrupulous technicians. Also, make sure that the technician you hire is competent and skilled enough. A good repair person can accurately diagnose the problem of your computer and provide a reasonable estimate of cost and repair time.

Always make sure the amount that repair shops charge you is fair. If you think the cost of repairing your pc is expensive, you can request for a detailed description of the tasks that were done and the price of each. If you're still not convinced, then you can try negotiating the price. Asking the repair shop to lower their charge can pay off in some instances.

Besides repair shops, you can also try to avail of a remote pc repair service. This service works by using remote screen sharing software to connect your computer to the repair company. The company then solves your computer problems from its office.

Source: http://goo.gl/uzMQ8

Firewall related problems

2011-05-03T04:34:00.000-07:00

Firewalls introduce problems of their own. Information security involves constraints, and users don't like this. It reminds them that Bad Things can and do happen. Firewalls restrict access to certain services. The vendors of information technology are constantly telling us "anything, anywhere, any time", and we believe them naively. Of course they forget to tell us we need to log in and out, to memorize our 27 different passwords, not to write them down on a sticky note on our computer screen and so on.

Firewalls can also constitute a traffic bottleneck. They concentrate security in one spot, aggravating the single point of failure phenomenon. The alternatives however are either no Internet access, or no security, neither of which are acceptable in most organizations.

How to repair MBR on Windows 7?

2011-03-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you can corrupt Windows' MBR (Master Boot Record) unintentionally, through installation of another operating system for instance, and you need to repair it before Windows can boot again. The error message that you usually get is "Operating System not found". Under Win 95, 98 and ME, you could have used a standard MS-DOS utility called FDISK in the Command Prompt console. However, FDISK is not distributed with Win NT, 2000, XP, Vista, and 7. So you either have to resort to finding an alternative utility called MbrFix.exe and run it from floppy, optical or USB drive or follow these direction from the installation DVD to repair your MBR. While these directions are specific to Win 7, you maybe able to use the knowledge gained to apply to your particular Win install.

Instructions

Step 1:
Insert Win 7 installation DVD and boot from DVD drive. While in some older systems you may have to change boot order through system BIOS, most newer systems allow booting from DVD without changing boot order by simply clicking on any key when prompted to doing so.

Step 2:
Choose your default "Language", "Time", and "keyboard Input" on the first window and click next.

Stepp 3:
You're now presented with 3 choices. Click on "Repair Your Computer" to gain access to the System Recovery window. Now choose "Command Prompt" in order to run the desired utility which is called "bootsect.exe". Bootsect is located inside the boot folder so change your directory to boot. Now run "bootsect /nt60 C:\" if you had Win 7 initially installed in the C partition. Alternatively, you can run "bootsect /nt60 SYS" or "bootsect /nt60 ALL" to repair the system partition or all partitions. Eject the DVD, and restart computer. Your computer should now boot Win 7 again.

How to Download Registry Repair?

2011-03-22T04:36:00.000-07:00

Registry Repair is a program designed to restore and correct issues with your Windows registry. The registry houses information pertaining to all programs and hardware; however, when you remove a program from the computer, small bits of files and information are left on the registry, which can significantly slow down the computer when booting it up. Registry Repair corrects all of these issues and is available for download.

# Step 1: Open your Internet browser and navigate to registryrepair.net.

# Step 2: Click the "Download" button for the free trial version. To purchase the program, select the "Purchase Software" tab in the program window when you have finished installing the program.

# Step 3: Double-click the downloaded file to open the Registry Repair installation wizard. Accept the user license agreement, then click "Next" until you reach the installation page. Click "Install" and Registry Repair will install onto your computer.

How to Fix an Offline HP Printer?

2011-03-15T01:50:00.000-07:00

Timeframes are a part of a typical day in the life of the office worker. When an HP printer goes offline, it can easily stifle your workflow, which in turn can cause frustration. Now put that hammer down and realize that there are a few troubleshooting steps to try before resorting to such extreme methods. Relax, take a deep breath and get your printer back online so that you can view the ink on printed paper.

# Step 1: Check the cables to and from the printer to the computer and make sure that all of the connections are secure. A disconnected cable is often the cause of rendering the printer offline.

# Step 2: Turn the printer off and back on. Sometimes it could be just a glitch in the network. Reset the printer by turning it off and then wait 60 seconds and turn it back on again.

# Step 3: Check the toner or ink cartridge. Most HP printers have the capacity for both color and black ink or toner cartridges. They will normally run on just one of the two; however, when the one installed becomes too low or is installed incorrectly, it will go offline.

# Step 4: Check for torn paper, paper clips, sticky label residue and other items that could be the cause of printer jams. Any of these will stop a printer in its tracks.

# Step 5: Set the printer as your default printer and see if this resets it to online status. From the Start menu, select "Control Panel". Select "Printers and other Hardware". Under "Pick a Task", select "View Installed Printers or Fax Printers". Select the questionable printer that is offline. Select "Printer" from the pull-down menu. Click on "Set Printer as Default".

How to Connect to an XP Home Computer ?

2011-03-08T23:32:00.000-08:00

Setting up a home network improves your overall computing experience by allowing you to share files and play games across multiple computers in your network. Connecting to a computer running Windows XP Home is a routine procedure that can be completed in 20 to 60 minutes, depending on how many computers you wish to connect.

Step 1:
Plug an Ethernet cable into the network port on the back of each computer and connect the other end of the Ethernet cables to the ports located on the back of the router.

Step 2:
Run the Network Setup Wizard on the computer running XP Home. Open the "Start" menu, click on the "Control Panel," select the "Network Connections" option, and press the button for the setup wizard.

Step 3:
Input the salient features about your network, including the number of computers and the type of network you are setting up. Set the Workgroup as "XPHOME."

Step 4:
Repeat the procedure on the other computers in your network.

Step 5:
Restart all computers to complete the connection.

How to Repair Slow Computers?

2011-03-08T02:26:00.000-08:00

A slow computer can be frustrating and time consuming. Simple computer tasks can take minutes to load, or not work at all. Keeping your operating system free of viruses, spyware and extra computer files can speed up your computer dramatically. There are many reasons for system slowness, most of which you can fix for free at home.

Step 1:
Run your antivirus and malware software. Viruses can cause processes to run in the background, which slows your computer. Malware can cause advertisements or popups that pollute your desktop.

Step 2:
Remove unnecessary programs. Click "Start" then "Control Panel," and find "Programs and Features." Right-click and "Unsintall" programs you no longer use or toolbars that attach to your Internet browser. This frees disk space and makes your computer run more efficiently.

Step 3:
Run "Disk Cleanup" by clicking "Start" and "All Programs." Click "System Tools" and "Disk Cleanup." You can delete temporary Internet files, Java applets, dump the Recycle Bin and remove old restore points from this menu. Most space you free using Disk Cleanup will come from temporary Internet files.

Step 4:
Click "Start," and then "Run." Type "msconfig" in the box and click the "Startup" tab. Uncheck any processes you do not want to load at startup. This improves loading time when you turn your computer on.

Step 5:
Run "Disk Defragmenter" to correct system slowness. Defrag clumps files and folders together so your computer can find find files faster, which speeds loading time. Use Defragmenter after you have deleted unnecessary files by clicking "Start" then "All Programs" and "Accessories." Click "System Tools and "Disk Defragmenter" to run it.

Texas PC Repair Now Requires PI License

2010-10-04T21:43:00.000-07:00

From its Texas Rangers to its enthusiastic take on the death penalty, the Lone Star State has long been known for its aggressive stance on law enforcement. Thanks to a strange new, law it's a sting that may soon be felt by a number of the state's computer-repair people.

A recently passed law requires that Texas computer-repair technicians have a private-investigator license, according to a story posted by a Dallas-Fort Worth CW affiliate .

In order to obtain said license, technicians must receive a criminal justice degree or participate in a three-year apprenticeship. Those shops that refuse to participate will be forced to shut down. Violators of the new law can be hit with a $4,000 dollar fine and up to a year in jail, penalties that apply to customers who seek out their services.

Some of the area's larger companies already employee technicians with PI licenses, a fact which generally doesn't apply to small computer repair shops.

Originally published on Gearlog .

Source:- www.pcmag.com

Remove W32/Virut Virus from Computer

2010-09-19T20:53:00.000-07:00

W32/Virut is a polymorphic virus that infects executables and screensaver files, and attempts to downloads additional malware. The Virut.CM variant also injects an iframe object into HTML based files, disables Windows file protection in order to infect essential protected Windows system files. A viral thread, running under winlogon.exe or services.exe, attempts to connect to an IRC backdoor through port 80 or 65520, in order to download additional malware components.

Virut infects executable files as they are accessed, by either subverting a call through the IAT (import address table) in the original host code to jump to itself, or completely replacing the entry point of the executable file to point to itself. Because executable files are infected in this way, files on network drives accessed from an infected computer may also be infected.

Due to the aggressive nature of this malware, some infected files may become corrupted, to the point where they are not possible to repair or clean. In such cases certain files might have to be restored from a backup. Install best antivirus program that suites PC for removing this virus.

Email Security on Computer

2010-09-12T21:43:00.000-07:00

Email is a prime means of communication for business purposes that is quicker and cheaper. It brings with it the necessity to make one's corporate messaging system as secure as possible.

Different E-mail threats:

A variety of different elements weaken your corporate email system and while some are widely known - such as email viruses - others tend to be ignored. Emails carrying offensive messages or confidential corporate information can create immense inconvenience and expense for a company that has not equipped its mail server with the appropriate tools. Some companies lull themselves into a false sense of security upon installing firewall. More targeted measures are needed to counteract this and other security loopholes in a corporate network.

1. Threat of information leaks: Organizations often fail to acknowledge that there is a greater risk of crucial data being stolen from within the company rather than from outside. FBI statistics, for example, reveal that among Fortune 500 companies, most data thefts in 1998 were by internal users. Again, research results carried in PC Week in March 1999 report that, out of 800 workers surveyed, 21-31% admitted to sending confidential information - like financial or product data - to recipients outside the company by email.

2. Threat of emails containing malicious or offensive content: Emails carrying sensitive information, or unsolicited mail messages sent out by corporate users are not the only problem a company has to tackle with regard to employees' email use. Under British law, employers are held responsible for emails written by employees in the course of their employment, whether or not the employer consented to the mail. The insurance company Norwich Union was asked to pay $450,000 in an out-of-court settlement as a result of emailed comments relating to competition.

3. Threat of spam: About 90 per cent of email users receive spam - or unsolicited commercial mail - at least once a week, a survey conducted by the Gartner Group shows. The research results, issued in June 1999, revealed that almost half those surveyed were spammed six or more times a week. The study surveyed 13,000 email users. Spammers can use a corporate mail server to send out their unsolicited messages, often bringing trouble upon the unwitting organization. Virgin Net recently underwent such an experience when one of its subscribers apparently used its network to send out 250,000 junk messages.

Email Security tips:

The security menaces are many, but effective solutions do exist. The first step to enhance security recommended by cyber-security consultants is the formulation of a corporate email policy document. This is used to inform all members of the organization which messaging practices are deemed unacceptable.

Corporations may choose from a selection of email security packages. Some solutions are created to tackle a particular menace alone while others contain a convenient bundle of tools to deal with the various hazards. It is up to each organization to select the software that best suits their needs.

An efficient anti-spam tool will pick up words and phrases that usually appear in unsolicited commercial emails and block the unwanted message from entering the system. While preventing inconvenience to recipients, this saves the corporation time that employees would otherwise have wasted reading and deleting junk mail - paid work time that could be better applied.

Instantly Remove McAfee Products from Windows without Formatting

2010-07-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

Since the advent of various computer programs and software, the concept of malware or viruses has become perhaps the prime concern of programmers and users as a whole, be it at home or any enterprise. Software designers have designed a number of various highly efficient anti-viruses, which are more like vaccines, to prevent virus attacks and other malware functions to a system.

Issues while uninstalling McAfee Products:
However, there is one major drawback of using McAfee products. A user faces problems in completely removing McAfee products if he has to uninstall one. Uninstalling the program from “Add or Remove Programs” in the Control Panel, or deleting the installed files from the directory location does not remove McAfee products completely. This hinders the future installation of similar programs when the user opts to install a new one. The system indicates that the previous McAfee product is still installed and it’s unable to carry out the installation of a similar new program.

Removing process:
McAfee itself provides a solution to this problem. The McAfee Consumer Products Removal (MCPR) Tool, launched by McAfee completely uninstalls any McAfee product installed in the system. This tool is a simple “.exe” file, which on installation searches for any installed McAfee products on your system.

The procedure for completely removing a McAfee product is described below:
1. Download McAfee Consumer Products Removal (MCPR) Tool.
2. Press the downloaded file to install it to your system. Windows Vista users need to right click on the downloaded file and then select to “Run as Administrator”. Confirm any messages appearing to continue.
3. Once installed, the MCPR takes charge of its process of removing the McAfee products installed in your system.
4. When all the McAfee products are removed completely, i.e., the removal process is finished, a message declaring “Cleaning Successful” appears. Restart your system to finish removing McAfee products completely from your system.

Facebook New Face Detection for Uploaded Photos

2010-07-06T20:02:00.000-07:00

Facebook made tagging and sharing photos easier with its new face detection algorithm, a nifty little feature Facebook acquired when it purchased Divvyshot back in April. No more clicking on photos to select the faces of your friends as the new face identify feature will scan your uploaded photos and automatically select the faces in the photo.

If you have a Facebook profile, you've probably seen tagged images of you that you feel aren't accurate representations of your real-life person. The good thing is that tagging is boring and time consuming so a lot of people don't bother. Well, you better hope they don't find Facebook's new feature too convenient. Though it's not quite as drastic as Picasa's characteristic, which uses facial identification to automatically tag faces that you've tagged in the past, Facebook is making it easier to tag people with the introduction of facial recognition technology. Before, you had to select someone's face and then type in their name. Now, Facebook is automatically picks out the faces in photographs and just asks you for the name.

Over 100 million photos are uploaded to Facebook every day, making the social networking site something of a clearinghouse for random holiday snaps. Of course, those holiday snaps quite often contain people, and it’s in tagging those people that the whole process of adding photos to Facebook slows down a bit. The process is being automated, thanks to recent Facebook acquisition Divvyshot.

How to Uninstall ESET NOD32

2010-06-29T19:44:00.000-07:00

There are two methods by which ESET NOD32 Antivirus can be removed from system. They are described as follows.

Method 1:
This method may not conduct a clean ESET NOD32 Antivirus removal. Before you perform this un-installation, please close all programs and uninstalling ESET NOD32 Antivirus in Windows NT/2000/XP requires administrative privilege.
Step 1. Click Uninstall ESET NOD32 Antivirus from Start-Programs-Quick Heal group.
Step 2. ESET NOD32 Antivirus Uninstaller will prompt for the deletion of Reports, and then proceed by pressing OK.
Step 3. Uninstaller at last will prompt you to restart your system for changes to take effect

Method 2:
A quick and safe way to completely uninstall and remove ESET NOD32 Antivirus program in seconds
If you are unable to uninstall ESET NOD32 Antivirus from your computer by using above method, then try to download an automate removal tool.

There is actually a fantastic removal tool that can help you fully uninstall and remove ESET NOD32 Antivirus with great success and make sure all the now-defunct Registry entries and related files are eliminated automatically with a few clicks. Aside from this software, it can also completely remove other programs like Authentium, Norton, Trend Micro, Internet Explorer, or Microsoft Office, and similar programs.