Steffans Computer Tips

How to trouble shoot Windows startup problems

2010-12-26T14:33:00.002+00:00

How to troubleshoot Windows startup problems

Sometimes Windows begins to load but then stops responding during the startup process. In most cases, the problem is a new piece of hardware, a new program, or a corrupted system file. Follow the instructions below to troubleshoot the problem. Try to start your computer after each step. Continue to the next step only if Windows continues to fail during startup.

To troubleshoot startup problems

1.	Restart your computer. Immediately after the screen goes blank for the first time, press the F8 key repeatedly. The Windows Advanced Options menu appears. If the menu does not appear, restart your computer and try again. Use the cursor keys on your keyboard (your mouse will not work) to select Last Known Good Configuration, and then press ENTER. Windows XP attempts to start.
2.	If you recently installed new hardware, shut down your computer and disconnect the hardware. Then, restart Windows XP and troubleshoot your hardware to get it working properly.
3.	Restart your computer and press F8 again. This time, choose Safe Mode and press ENTER. Windows XP attempts to start in Safe Mode, which does not automatically start programs and hardware, and displays very primitive graphics. If Windows XP starts successfully in Safe Mode, you can remove any programs or updates you have recently installed. Then, restart your computer normally.
4.	Additional troubleshooting is possible, but it can be complicated and may require reinstalling Windows XP. Contact technical support for further troubleshooting assistance. Alternatively, you can perform a repair installation of Window XP. It might solve your problem. However, you will lose some settings and need to reinstall updates.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2010-12-23T23:19:00.002+00:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Customizing your ICONS in Windows XP

2010-12-23T12:59:00.001+00:00

My friend Tyrone asked me the other day how to customize icons on Windows XP, so I thought I’d write up all the ways to change the icons, by using the built-in methods

Changing My Computer, My Documents, and Recycle Bin Icons Manually

Right-click on the desktop and choose Properties, then on the Desktop tab you should choose the Customize Desktop button.

In the Desktop Items dialog you can select one of the icons and click the Change Icon button.

Now just click the Browse button, and pick whichever icon file you would prefer.

Change Icons for Specific Folders Manually

You can change the icon for many folders by right-clicking the folder and choosing Properties, and then clicking Change Icon on the Customize tab.

How to quickly repair a wirelss connection on your computer

2010-12-22T12:06:00.000+00:00

When troubleshooting your computer, you want to make it as easy as possible. One of the most frustrating problems is unable to connect to the Internet due to your wireless connection not working problem. Now there are many ways to tackle this problem, however your first plan should be the easiest way.

Therefore:

Step One

Right click your wireless icon at the bottom right of the screen on the task bar

Step Two
When you right click this a small drop down menu will appear and one of the options is repair. Click this and Windows will automatically renew your IP address disconnect and then reconnect to the wireless network and clear other options too , a bit like a refresh and start again. This (for me anyway) works 90% of the time and solves my connectivity issues.

What to do with an overheating computer

2010-12-21T16:41:00.000+00:00

Like every other machine, a computer heats up a little while you use it. The heat produced is blown away through the air vents by natural convention, or forced convention, depending if the electric powered fan is off or not. Electric components are mounted on innovative fin designs that help with dissipating heat energy. Transistors in computer and video chips also add to the heat your computer emits. If you have been using a computer for a long time you should be able to tell when your computer is overheating.

Causes of overheating

Overheating may be due to bad cooling design—this rarely occur nowadays. Gaming also triggers overheating. Severely multi-tasking the computer makes the CPU operate at high capacity and this generates a huge amount of heat in the process. Using your computer in a high temperature environment adds up to the heat energy an average computer produces already and can lead to overheating as well.

Signs of overheating

At high temperature, fail safe software, shuts down your computer to prevent damage. Blue Screen and frequent memory errors are some of other symptoms of an overheating computer. A simple sign to look out for is constant or frequent fan operation. You can also use a program like Speedfan to monitor your CPU and video card temperatures.

How to Fix an Overheating Computer

The best way to fix an overheating computer is by reporting such problem to the manufacturer. That is, if you're still under a warranty. A warranty is suppose to protect you, the costumer, from any problem you may encounter while making good use of your computer over a given period of time. In severe cases, your computer manufacturer will either fix the problem or get you a new machine.

If you're using a laptop, a laptop cooler may serve a good purpose. Laptop coolers are electrically powered devices that consist of a fan and seat for your laptop. For desktops, some people prefer removing the cover of the casing. While this might improve ventilation, it's not a good way to fight computer overheating as it exposes the internal components of your computer to dust.

You can also disassemble and clean up clogged air vents and pathways of your computer. This is delicate, especially to people of less computer experience, as this exercise may affect the functionality of a computer. The best thing to do, if you're under a warranty, is to report to the nearest manufacturer's servicing centre around you. It's important to note, disassembling your computer or any other electronic product, under warranty, could terminate the warranty agreement.

Before you disassemble your computer, here're some few useful tips: First, try reducing screen brightness. This may help. In addition, there're software programs that can be of help too. If you're using DELL, you may want to control the thermal management by using precision fan control utility. Other free software programs are also available online. It's important to add, these software programs are written by people who have no link whatsoever to any computer manufacturer in the world, so it makes common sense to exercise caution with these and only used highly trusted and recommended software.

Dangers of Overheating

Overheating can damage your motherboard or any other vital system components such as your cpu or your video card. Also, a hot computer usually runs slower than a cooler computer. Keeping your computer from overheating can also keep the computer from slowing down.

How to find your routers IP address

2010-12-20T13:43:00.000+00:00

There will be instances when you will need to find your routers IP address (normally when you are having problems with it ) To find this it is quite simple, just follow the steps below:

1. Press start then run and in the box type cmd

2. A black screen will turn up, whre the flashing cursor is type ipconfig and then enter

3. Your local information will turn up, the default gatweay will normally be your router. Furthermore, you can can the computers IP address this way.

The best way to remove spyware on your computer

2010-12-19T15:46:00.000+00:00

Manual Spyware Removal

Sometimes you may know a certain program is spyware. In this case, you can try to remove it manually. This is done by using the uninstall function of the computer. For Windows users, you can remove specific applications by going to your control panel (in "Settings") and selecting the "Add/Remove Programs" function. Once there, you will see a list of programs. Click on the program you believe to be spyware and select "Remove". Make sure to restart your computer after the removal to be sure all changes required for the spyware to be removed are complete.

Unfortunately, most of the time removing spyware is not this easy. For example, how can you know for sure that a certain program is spyware? If you uninstall the program the spyware came with, it doesn't mean that the spyware will be uninstalled too. Also, many spyware programs are invisible, meaning that they won't show up in your program list. Sometimes spyware programs can disguise themselves as programs important to your computer by using official sounding names like "winstartup". Spyware can also disguise itself by using dozens of different file names in different locations, or even by generating random names so it's not as easily detected. Even if a spyware program appears on your program list and you can uninstall it, not all traces of the program are always removed. In this case, you should use an anti-spyware program.

Spyware Removal Using an Anti-Spyware Program

The first rule of removing spyware by using a specialized program is to not rely on anti-virus programs. Because spyware is different from viruses, you need a different program to remove it. Check out our section on anti-spyware program reviews to pick one that's right for you.

Start by downloading the latest updates for the program you're using. This ensures the program is up to date on what spyware to look for and how to find it. Most spyware removers will have an "Update" button you can click on to download the latest information.

Next, exit all browser windows and programs that you have running. This includes email. You should also disconnect your computer from the internet. These functions impede the functionality of the spyware remover because it can't scan files that are in use for spyware. The more activity you have going on in your computer, the more likely it is that spyware is open and working too.

Once everything is exited and you are disconnected from the internet, run a scan using your spyware cleaner. Do this by pressing the "Scan" button. This means that your anti-spyware program will look for suspicious files on your computer and report back to you, and you will be given a choice of what to do with any suspicious files it finds.

After the scan, turn on immunization options to help protect your computer against the spyware program your scan has found in the future. Immunization options can be turned on by a button called "Immunize." Next allow your spyware cleaner to remove any spyware it finds.

After you run a scan using your anti-spyware program for the first time, restart your computer and run a scan again. This ensures nothing was missed the first time. Let the program remove any additional spyware files. If suspicious files were found during the second scan, restart your computer and run the spyware remover again. Keep repeating the scan-restart-scan process until your anti-spyware program cannot find any more spyware.

If you repeat this process three times and your spyware remover keeps finding spyware, or if your program can't find any more spyware but you think there's still some left, you may want to try running a scan in your computer's "safe mode." When you start up your computer in "safe mode," only the most essential processes can activate. This will prevent spyware from activating in the background and trying to hide itself while your spyware remover scans for it.

When you have finally removed all spyware your computer, you can start undoing any damage or setting changes the spyware may have caused.

Other Options

Sometimes spyware programs can become so embedded in your system that you can't deal with it yourself. For example, your computer may not be able to start up or open its internet browser anymore. In these cases, you may want to contact a local computer technician who knows how to fix the problem.

Remember, the prevention of spyware is the best method of keeping your computer safe. Learn aboutspyware prevention so you can protect your computer from spyware in the future and avoid going through the complicated removal process.

Spyware Removal Complications

Because of the nature of the connection between spyware and freeware, namely that spyware producers pay freeware producers to include the spyware in their product, the removal of spyware may affect the freeware program it was installed with (if that's the way the spyware got onto your computer). Spyware is a form of revenue to the company that produced the freeware, so if you remove the spyware sponsoring it, the freeware may no longer work. This is a small price to pay to remove such a security threat from your computer, but removal is your choice, you just have to decide where your priorities lie.

You may not know for sure if a freeware program will stop working until you remove its spyware. But there is a way to test whether removing spyware will affect the performance of your freeware. Most spyware removers give you an option called "Quarantine." This means the spyware cleaner will disable spyware files and put them in a folder to be deleted later rather than deleting them permanently right away. This allows you to run programs after the spyware quarantine and make sure everything still works with the suspicious files removed. You can then go back into your spyware cleaner and delete the suspicious files permanently. If something is not working properly with the spyware files quarantined, you can restore them. This lets you test the effects of spyware removal on your programs without actually removing it.

If you choose the quarantine option and everything on your computer seems to be working well after cleaning, remember to go back into your anti-spyware program and delete the spyware files permanently.

It does need to be stressed that spyware can be a major threat to the security of your computer. If your choose the quarantine option and find that one of your freeware programs doesn't work properly with its spyware removed, think carefully before restoring the spyware. Evaluate how important this program is to you and whether you can install another program without spyware that would work just as well. Restoring the spyware should only be a last resort.

Furthermore, protection is the best form of defence in this matter and there are a lot of products on the market however I have found the best and cheapest (since it is free) product out there to protect you computer is avast home. This does an amazing job of protecting you from virus, trojan horses, worms etc.

Here is the link

http://www.avast.com

How to install Windows 7

2010-12-19T09:21:00.000+00:00

As we all know Windows XP is nearly every one's favourite, especially since Windows Vista is, in my opinion, a disaster. However, Microsoft have remedied this matter with Windows 7 (which in actual fact is Vista Service pack 3 !!) Windows 7 improves in every way on Vista, especially on the interface and the security. It will support nearly all the software people have downloaded onto XP which is a big bonus.
Another good feature is the fact Windows 7 automatically plays on the T.V if you wi-fi enabled T.V or an X-box. What I think is the best feature is that the hardware of the operating system is becoming future proof where it is designed to work with upcoming hardware devices such as touch screen.

Here is an excellent video on how to install Windows 7 form you tube, which explains in detail how to finally kick the XP habit.

Top 10 mistakes that PC users make

2010-12-16T15:34:00.000+00:00

1. Misbehaved Programs - You've probably heard of spyware, also known as adware or malware. These programs are generally designed to run silently in the background and make money for some person or company somehow. Some spyware simply tracks your surfing habits in order to sell for marketing purposes, while others pop-up ads, redirect you to different sites, install toolbars, change settings, and worse. Spyware often requires expert help to remove, and can often

But where do these misbehaved programs come from? Spyware does not directly spread in the manner of a computer virus or worm. Spyware gets on your system either through security 'holes' in unsafe programs (see #2) or by hitching a ride with another program (like the ancient Trojan horse).

So do some research before you download, and use some common sense. If the program is designed to do something illegal or semi-legal (like P2P programs Kazaa, Limewire, Morpheus, etc.) don't be surprised if they take some liberties with your PC along the way. Especially beware of free utilities and screensavers, which are also a major source of spyware. However, some of our favorite programs are free; so the point is, make sure to check the source and exercise caution when downloading.

2. Unsafe Web Browser - Internet Explorer is the default browser on almost all new PCs. Don't use it! Internet Explorer is the most common point of entry for spyware. Even on a fully updated install of Windows, many websites can install spyware AUTOMATICALLY.

The solution is simple: just download and use a different web browser. We like Mozilla Firefox (free download), and Opera is also good (and free). You can visit all the same websites with Mozilla Firefox without having to worry about spyware. However, please note Firefox won't remove spyware or in any way actively protect your PC; it is simply a safe way of viewing websites.

3. Backup Your Data - So what's the best way backup your data?

Well, there are many options. First, don't rely on floppy disks; they are too delicate, slow, and only hold 1.4MB of data. CDRs are a popular choice, since they are inexpensive (about $0.25 each in bulk), most PCs have CD-writers, and you can backup 700MB at a time. Blank DVDs hold about 4500MB each. Some also use flash drives (usually 1024MB and up), or external USB hard drives (80,000MB and up). Small business owners may want to consider a more automated backup system, like using an extra hard drive along with reliable backup software (we use Acronis True Image).

4. Security Software - Most computer users know that they need some sort of antivirus protection. But if you visit the software store, you'll encounter a vast array of 'internet security products' designed to protect you from spyware, hackers, pop-ups, junk mail, and so forth. Should you go for the extra protection?

No. Really, just don't. The best way to avoid problems with your PC is to keep things simple. Most security software is a bloated mess of programs that accomplish little more than slowing down your PC. We regularly 'fix' computers by removing such software, which can conflict with other programs or cause other networking problems. Plus, the extra protection isn't necessary. If you follow steps #1, 4, 6 and 10, you won't have any problems from hackers, spyware, or pop-ups.

However, you should use some sort of anti-virus protection. Viruses can spread in unusual ways. So search out a simple anti-virus product (not Norton or McAfee) and make sure it stays up to date. See our eBay store for our recommendations.

5. Surge Suppressor - Most PCs that are damaged by surges and lightning, by far, are hit through the TELEPHONE line, not the power cord. Most modern surge suppressors include phone line protection. Use it. And be sure it's a good one, like an APC or Belkin brand; we've seen cheap ones that failed and let the computer get fried anyway.

6. Keeping Windows Updated - You need the latest security patches and service packs to avoid the latest exploits that hackers and viruses use to attack your PC. All window users should either turn on automatic updates or manually get them regularly.

Some users are paranoid about allowing Microsoft to send them updates, thinking that it might damage their computer.

7. Inkjet Printers - Inkjet printer ink is priced a little higher than gold right now. Seriously. So when you're shopping for a printer, check the ink cartridge prices too. Don't be tempted by that £29.99 Lexmark deal. If you price the cartridges, you'll see where they're making the money.

Also, if you are a small business owner and you print in large volumes, you NEED a monochrome laser printer. Remember to look past the higher price for the printer and the toner cartridge, and instead calculate the MUCH lower cost per-page and all the time you'll save. And if you think you'll miss color, see #8 below.

8. Printing Digital Photos - If you just read #7, you know that operating an inkjet printer can be expensive and time-consuming. It's doubly so with printing photos (photo paper, ink costs, cleaning print heads, etc.). So consider bringing your memory card or CD to a place like Walgreens, CVS or Target where you can use a simple kiosk to select and print photos quickly.

Even better, import all of your photos into Picasa (free download from Google) where you can crop and enhance them. Then select your favorite photos and click the [Order Prints] button to select from a variety of online printing services to send them to. If you don't mind waiting to receive them for a few days, getting prints this way is generally less expensive, easier, and many of these services offer several free prints for new customers.

9. E-mail Attachments - This is one of the biggest area of frustration for new PC users. The first mistake is usually trying to send a file that is too large.

What is too large? Well, consider the rate at which the other person will receive the file: On a dial-up connection, which most of your friends are probably still using, they'll be receiving the files at about 4 or 5kB per second. So if you send them a photo straight from your 3 megapixel camera for instance, at about 900kB it will take 3 to 4 minutes per photo to download. Ouch. So resize that photo first before you send it.

Also, it's important to remember not to send someone a file that they can't open. For instance if you use WordPerfect to create a document, but your friend uses Microsoft Word, they won't be able to view it. What can you do? Pick up PDF Creator (free) to create a document that anyone can view and print, or you could both switch to OpenOffice (also free) which supports many document types and can also export to PDF.

10. Protect Your PC From Other Humans - That's right. Your friends and family can be one of the biggest threats to the health of your PC.

We see it all the time: Joe pays to have his PC cleaned and is told how to keep spyware out. Later, Bob comes over to check his e-mail, and then browses some 'fun' sites using Internet Explorer. Bob then decides to do you a favor and install some of his favorite free software. If you've read #1 and #4, you can imagine the state that Joe's PC is in right now.

What practical steps can be taken, other than locking the computer away? Well, if you use Windows XP, just let them use the 'Guest' account built into Windows. You see, the Guest account doesn't allow users to install programs or to change system settings. Note that you may need to visit the User Accounts section of the Control Panel in Windows to enable the Guest account.

Using the Guest account may not work out well for a family member, though. Working in a limited account environment can be frustrating in the long term, and also some utilities and games don't function correctly in a limited account. So instead of trying to install some kind of draconian security software, it may be best to just sit the family down and explain the dangers (and expenses) of unsafe computing to them.

What to do with a computer that is running slow

2010-12-14T16:24:00.000+00:00

A Computer running slow can mean a lot of different things, apart from viruses and malaware which I will cover in a later topic, there are 3 main ways to improve the performance of your PC without too much effort.

1. Disk cleanup
Start - All programs- Accessories- System Tools and then disk cleanup
It should look like this:

It will tick automatically what it thinks best to delete, I recommend leaving as is and just press OK, after a few minutes it will finish.

2. Disk Defragmentor
All your files do not add themselves in order on to your hardrive and can be "fragmented" this leads to reduced perfomace as the hardrive tries and accesses the data.

Start- All programs- Accessories - System tools - Defragment

It should look like above:

Once you click on it it will ask you to analyse each drive (if you have more then one) after it analyses the hard drive it will tell you if you need to defragment . Defragment can take quite a long time so make sure you have plenty of time when you want to do it. I quite often do it overnight.
I also recommend you use defragment about once a week maybe once every 2 weeks to keep on top of it.

3. Programs running at start up of the machine

Tweaking what programs run when you first start the machine up can also help to increase the speed a little bit to do this follow the instructions below:
Start - Run - type msconfig, this will open up the system configuration utility. Select the tab that says General and then tick the box next to "Selective Start up".
Then click the Start up tab and it will give you a list of all the programs that start when the machine starts. Obviously don't delete and Windows System applications anything else should be fine.

This is what the system configuration utility looks like

How to unlock and account after three incorrect password attempts (in a domain environment)

2010-12-13T16:07:00.000+00:00

The one thing I do each day the most is unlock peoples account after they have forgotten their passwords and have locked their accounts. And this is how you do it :

1. As administrator (with the relevant security clearance) go to active directory, which looks like something like this :

2. Right click the main domain (a little drop down menu will appear and on that click find)
3. Put in the users name who has locked their account and press find.
4. Their name will appear and you right click their name and go down to properties.
5. Go to account tab
6. Finally you will see a small check box saying account locked that needs to be unticked and your have done it.

How to remove programmes you have installed

2010-12-13T14:22:00.001+00:00

If you have ever downloaded a programme and then have decided you don't need it anymore, but you don't know how to remove it, it can be quite frustrating. Here is how to completely remove any programmes you don't need anymore .
1. Click Start.

2. Click Control Panel.
3. Click switch to Classic view and it should look like the following:

4. Double Click on Add and remove, normally at the top 3rd from the left.
5. Then wait while the list populates., make sure in the tabs on the left the one that says change or remove programmes is highlighted.
6. Find the programme that you want to delete and click on it. An option to remove it will come up and click on that.
7. Normally it will take you through an unistallation process and then you are do

How to customise your display settings in Windows

2010-12-13T14:21:00.001+00:00

This hint enables you personalise your Windows to how you want it. This is how you do it:

1. Right click anywhere on your desktop
2. Go down to properties
3. There will be five tabs - Themes, Desktop,Screensaver, Appearance and settings
THEMES- enables you to create your own personal theme
DESKTOP- Enables different backgrounds, the colour of the background and how the background will look.Also has customize desktop which gives you more choices of how it will look
SCREENSAVER- Enables you to put a screen save on your computer, either one you have downloaded or one of the preset ones. It also gives you some power options about how long the monitor etc is left on.
APPEARANCE- Basic controls to change how the desktop will look. Also has an affects tab to customise it a little further.
SETTINGS- This enables you to change the resolution and the quality of the colour. Be aware that you need to make sure your monitor can handle any changes you make otherwise your screen will go blank when you change it. Basically, you should increase the screen resolution until the screen looks sharp, however don't move it too far if your monitor cant handle it. The advanced tab gives more choices, however a lot of people leave this on default as that normally works just fine.

This gives you the basic overview of how to customise your desktop, if you need any specific questions answered please don't hesitate to comment and ask

Steffans Computer Tips

How to trouble shoot Windows startup problems

How to troubleshoot Windows startup problems

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Customizing your ICONS in Windows XP

How to quickly repair a wirelss connection on your computer

What to do with an overheating computer

Causes of overheating

Signs of overheating

How to Fix an Overheating Computer

Dangers of Overheating

How to find your routers IP address

The best way to remove spyware on your computer

Manual Spyware Removal

Spyware Removal Using an Anti-Spyware Program

Other Options

Spyware Removal Complications

How to install Windows 7

Top 10 mistakes that PC users make

Top Ten Computer problems

Insufficient Memory

Adware

Slowdown

Weird Noises

Failing Power Supply

Overheating

Bad Hard Drive Sectors

Rootkits

Spyware

What to do with a computer that is running slow

How to unlock and account after three incorrect password attempts (in a domain environment)

How to remove programmes you have installed

How to customise your display settings in Windows