My computer did what!

Review of the uCertify 220-701 CompTIA A+ Essentials PrepKit

2011-08-29T18:46:00.006+01:00

As a computer technician I like to stay up to date on technology and I like to test myself with the latest A+ exams.

I recently had a chance to use the uCertify - C220-701: CompTIA A+ Essentials prepkit which has over 824 practice questions and 300 study notes for the 2009 CompTIA A+ certification exam.
I like the format and layout of the practice test section, you can select pre-made practice tests, a final test when you are ready and finally an Adaptive test that is a simulation of the real CompTIA test,you can even create custom tests too which is really cool.
During the tests you can choose to start the test in either Test mode (answers shown at the end) or Learn mode (answers shown after each question) you can even bookmark, tag certain questions to review them later or discuss with another user.

The study material is good too with Study notes, study tips ,how to, articles,flash cards it really does prep you for the CompTIA exam so that you pass it with an A (A+ in this case :) ).
The article and study note sections are very informative and very easy to learn, some even have diagrams and screen shots to explain certain windows procedures since learning with pictures is always easier and much more fun.

There is a Test history section where you can check your results and review the questions that you got wrong.
The test readiness report gives you a report of all the tests that have been completed ,not yet completed ,failed, passed and from here you can even re-attempt any Test.
Take a look at the objective readiness report to find out if you really are ready for the CompTIA exam it lists the six objective groups and your passing percentage for each one ,if they are all over 95% then one can take the exam with a positive outlook.

Overall I liked the products features ,design ,layout and it does what it's supposed to do and that is pass the CompTIA A+ Essentials exam the first time.

For more Information Visit:
uCertify: http://www.ucertify.com/
Product Download: http://www.ucertify.com/exams/CompTIA/220-701.html

How to completely remove AVG Anti-Virus from your PC.

2011-05-16T15:17:00.000+01:00

If you cannot uninstall AVG Anti-Virus the normal way then you will have to use the AVG Remover to remove AVG completely from your computer.
Here is the link:
http://www.avg.com/ww-en/download-tools

Windows Live Messenger 2009 is not responding error windows xp

2009-12-02T11:06:00.002Z

In Windows XP while trying to open windows Live Messenger 2009 or earlier you will get an error saying that Windows Live Messenger is not Responding and that it has to be closed.

After reading the steps listed on the Windows Live support page:
http://messenger-support.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!8B3F39C76A8B853F!15940.entry
The option that worked for me was to uninstall Adobe flash player and Adobe shockwave player and then reinstall them.
You can do this by going to the Control Panel ,Add/Remove programs and uninstall them from there.
Or you can use the uninstall tool:
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/141/tn_14157.html
Then install the latest version from Adobe.com and Messenger should work.

Windows Live messenger data execution prevention error Vista

2009-12-02T10:47:00.003Z

If you have an Acer laptop with Windows Vista installed you might get the Data Execution Prevention error while trying to run windows live messenger.

The fix is to download an update for the eDataSecurity application.

http://support.acer.com/acerpanam/notebook/0000/Acer/Aspire1300/Aspire1300faq61.shtml

0xC00D002F error when trying to edit music file in windows Vista

2009-10-09T14:06:00.000+01:00

A recent user was trying to edit a music files Genre from the windows Vista music folder but when trying to do this error 0xC00D002F would appear.
The solution seems to be to use the built in Advanced Tag Editor in windows media player ,to do this open media player and click on the media library option then find your file that you want to edit and under the Title section right click on the song and choose Advanced Tag Editor ,editing should now be possible.

The menu looks like this
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/images/howto/AddAlbumInfo12_ATE1.gif

Download Norton AntiVirus 2010 with AntiSpyware from Symantec

2009-09-10T10:31:00.004+01:00

Norton 2010 products are now available

Norton AntiVirus 2010 with AntiSpyware
Winning protection against viruses, spyware and more
1 Year Protection for 1 PC
Key Technologies- IMPROVED Stops viruses, spyware, bots and more - Proactive protection automatically removes threats and stops new attacks before they can do damage.
- Uses intelligence-driven Norton Insight Network for faster, fewer, shorter scans - Uses real-time online intelligence to identify and scan only files at risk. So you can spend more time using your PC and less time waiting for scans.
- NEW! Delivers clear performance and threat explanations - Download Insight, File Insight, and Threat Insight give you greater insight into downloaded applications and files by telling you where they came from and how they impact your PC's resources and performance.

Download Norton AntiVirus 2010 with Antispyware from Symantec today! Click Here

Key Technologies- IMPROVEDStops online identity theft, viruses, spyware, bots and more - Guards your PC, online activities, and your identity against all types of Internet threats.
- IMPROVED Stops attacks before they get on your PC - Proactively blocks hackers and prevents dangerous software from downloading to your computer when you surf the web.
- NEW! Delivers clear threat and performance explanations - Gives you greater insight into downloaded applications and files by telling you where they came from, if they can be trusted, and how they may impact your PC's resources and performance.
- NEW! Identifies unsafe web sites right in your search results - Warns you of dangerous web sites and suspicious sellers so you can surf and shop online with confidence.

Essential protection from viruses, hackers and privacy threats - Norton Internet Security 2010 Click Here

Over 100 posts on mycomputerdidwhat

2009-09-09T14:48:00.001+01:00

Over 100 posts have now been made on mycomputerdidwhat ,thank you to all the visitors of the site.
I will keep posting as time becomes more available.
Hopefully the next 100 will come sooner than the first :)

invalid boot.ini file loading from C:\windows Windows XP

2009-09-09T14:39:00.001+01:00

Before Windows XP loads the following message is briefly shown invalid boot.ini file loading from C:\windows and then windows loads normally.

The following steps from Microsoft worked a treat for me ,first make sure that your CD ROM drive is the first boot device.

Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer.
When you receive the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM.
When you receive the "Welcome to Setup" message, press R to start the Recovery Console.
If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you have to use from the Recovery Console.
When you are prompted, type the administrator password, and then press ENTER.
At the command prompt, type bootcfg /list, and then press ENTER. The entries in your current Boot.ini file appear on the screen.
At the command prompt, type bootcfg /rebuild, and then press ENTER. This command scans the hard disks of the computer for Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, or Microsoft Windows NT installations, and then displays the results. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to add the Windows installations to the Boot.ini file. For example, follow these steps to add a Windows XP installation to the Boot.ini file:
1. When you receive a message that is similar to the following message, press Y:
  Total Identified Windows Installs: 1
  
  [1] C:\Windows
  Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All)
2. You receive a message that is similar to the following message:
  Enter Load Identifier
  This is the name of the operating system. When you receive this message, type the name of your operating system, and then press ENTER. This is either Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.
3. You receive a message that is similar to the following:
  Enter OS Load options
  When you receive this message, type /fastdetect, and then press ENTER
4. Type Exit and windows will load normally.

how to take ownership of a folder or drive in Windows XP

2009-09-09T09:41:00.000+01:00

If you try to access information from a specific folder ,file or even drive that had a password on it you will probably get an access denied message in this case you need to take ownership of that file ,foler or drive.
First of all make sure the Security tab is enabled ,for more info see how to enable the security tab in windows xp
Right-click on the file ,folder or drive that you want to take ownership of and click on Properties and then Security now click on Advanced and then click on the Owner tab.
In the Name list select your user name or click on Administrator and then click on OK.

Note for folders and drives if you want to also take ownership of all the contents within them check the option Replace owner on subcontainers and objects and then click on OK

how to delete files permanently instead of going to the recycle bin in windows

2009-09-08T14:06:00.000+01:00

If you want to delete files permanently and don't want them to go to the recycle bin then hold down the Shift key while pressing Delete on the keyboard or by clicking on the word Delete in a menu and the file will permanently be deleted.

This is handy if you use a public computer or if you don't have time to empty the recycle bin.

how to disable error reporting in Windows XP

2009-09-07T15:58:00.000+01:00

When windows encounters an error from the last shutdown or restart an error report is shown with details of the problem and if you want to send it to Microsoft.
I personally always click on send report because sometimes there is a solution to the error itself but for those who want to turn off this feature here is how to do it:
Right click on the My Computer icon on the desktop (or go to the System icon in the Control Panel)
Select Properties followed by the Advanced tab.
Now click on the Error Reporting tab and check the option to Disable error reporting ,click on OK and then OK again on the Advanced tab menu.

how to disable the guest account in Windows XP

2009-09-07T15:49:00.000+01:00

If you want to disable /turn off the guest account in Windows XP then do the following:
Click on Start ,Control Panel ,User Accounts then click on Change an account select Guest and then click on Turn off the guest account .

To activate the account click on turn on instead of off.

Missing icons on desktop Windows XP

2009-09-07T13:01:00.001+01:00

All the desktop icons have vanished only the taskbar is shown ,now what!
In this case there is a simple fix:
Right click the desktop and in the context menu select Arrange Icons By and make sure Show Desktop Icons is ticked.

If you want to only add the My Computer ,My documents ,Network icons on a new installation or computer then follow the steps in this article:
http://mycomputerdidwhat.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-add-my-computer-my-documents.html

Free download Windows Defender for Windows XP

2009-08-24T17:49:00.002+01:00

If you want to use this program for Windows XP then you can get it for free from Microsoft.
Here is the link:
http://www.microsoft.com/DownLoads/details.aspx?familyid=435BFCE7-DA2B-4A6A-AFA4-F7F14E605A0D&displaylang=en

Error: Action failed for registry key AVG antivirus error

2009-08-14T15:56:00.008+01:00

When trying to install the free AVG antivirus I received the following computer error:
Error: Action failed for registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows: creating registry key

After some research it seems to be a permission problem ,to solve this do the following:
Click Start ,Run and then type regedit and then OK.
Now navigate to that key in the registry ,start at the top left side and click to expand the keys one by one.

Starting with HKLM (which is short for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.)

And then Software ,Microsoft ,Windows NT ,CurrentVersion ,Windows.

On the Windows key right click it and choose the option permissions.

On the permissions tab click on the Advanced button near the bottom right.

On the Advanced menu make sure all the users are set to Allow and not Deny ,if they are set to deny then select that user and click on Edit ,then click and mark the full control checkbox.

Restart the computer and AVG will now install.

If you get an access denied error when trying to change these settings then the best would be start the system in Safe Mode and then log in with the administrator account and try the steps from there.

Change your current antivirus to Panda Antivirus Pro 2010 and forget these problems.
Free trial period too :)

Philips printer and fax drivers.

2009-06-19T16:10:00.002+01:00

Philips doesn't support their faxes nor printers since 2002 as it was bought by Sagem ,so all support is done through them.
To get drivers for your philips product go here:
http://support.sagem-communications.com/site/page_accueil.php?site=1&pays=uk

how to export your address book in Outlook Express 6

2009-05-14T12:36:00.003+01:00

To export your address book contacts in Outlook Express 6 do the following.
Open Outlook Express and click on Address book or Tools ,Address book.
When the address book opens click on File ,Export and then Address Book (WAB).
Choose the destination and give it a name and then click on Open.

The address book has now been exported to be used on another computer or if you just want a backup.

how to save or export your email account in outlook express 6

2009-05-14T12:19:00.002+01:00

If you want to save or export your email account in Outlook Express 6 to be used on another computer or to just make a backup do the following:
Open Outlook Express click on Tools ,Accounts and make sure the Email tab is selected.
Click on the current email account and then click on Export on the right hand side ,choose the destination and give it a name.

That's it.

If you want to import it on another computer do the same steps but click on Import on the right hand side.

how to install TCP/IP protocol in Windows XP

2009-05-14T12:11:00.003+01:00

If you need to install TCP/IP on your computer ,in case you deleted it or some or other reason then do the following instructions from Microsoft:

Right-click the network connection, and then click Properties.
Click Install.
Click Protocol, and then click Add.Click Have Disk.
Type C:\Windows\inf, and then click OK.
On the list of available protocols, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click OK.

If Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) does not appear, follow these steps:
Click Start, and then click Search.
In the Search Companion pane, click More advanced options.
Click to select the following three check boxes:
Search system folders
Search hidden files and folders
Search subfolders
In the All or part of the file name box, type nettcpip.inf, and then click Search.
In the results pane, right-click Nettcpip.inf, and then click Install.
Restart the computer.

how to display the quick launch menu on the taskbar windows XP

2009-05-04T14:59:00.002+01:00

The quick launch has the show desktop icon and also allows you to add shortcuts from your favourite programs to be "quick launched".

Here is how to display it on the taskbar if it already isn't.

Right-click on any free space on the taskbar and on the menu that appears select the option Toolbars and the toolbars menu appears click on the quick launch option to activate it.

It should now appear on the taskbar ,to be able to drag shortcuts to the quick launch toolbar make sure the taskbar is not locked.

how to create a bootable DOS startup disk in Windows XP

2009-05-04T14:50:00.002+01:00

To create this disk open MY Computer ,right-click the floppy disk drive and choose Format.
in the format options section select the one that says Create an MS-DOS startup disk and click on Start.

The diskette is now bootable

Internet Explorer 8 system requirements

2009-05-04T14:38:00.001+01:00

Internet Explorer 8 is finally here ,here are the system requirements from Microsoft.

Computer/Processor

Computer with a 233MHz processor or higher (Pentium processor recommended)

Operating System

Windows Vista 32-bit
Windows Vista 64-bit
Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 (SP 1) or higher
Windows XP 32-bit with Service Pack 2 (SP 2) or higher
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
Windows Server 2003 32-bit with SP 2 or higher
Windows Server 2003 64-bit with SP 2 or higher
Windows Server 2008 32-bit or higher
Windows Server 2008 64-bit or higher

Memory

Windows Vista 32-bit – 512 MB
Windows Vista 64-bit – 512 MB
Windows Vista with SP 1 – 512 MB
Windows XP 32-bit with SP 2 or higher – 64 MB
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition – 128 MB
Windows Server 2003 32-bit with SP 2 or higher – 64 MB
Windows Server 2003 64-bit with SP 2 or higher – 128 MB
Windows Server 2008 32-bit – 512MB
Windows Server 2008 64-bit – 512MB

Display

Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution monitor with 256 colors.

Peripherals

Modem or Internet connection; Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse, or compatible pointing device

how to search for people in your address book Windows XP

2009-03-05T11:30:00.002Z

To search for people that are in your address book using the Windows XP Search program do the following;
Click Start ,Search then click on Printers, computers, or people then choose the option People in your address book ,make sure Address book is selected in the Look in section.
The last step is to fill in the persons name or details and click on the Find Now button.

how to remove or add the default games in Windows XP

2009-03-05T10:37:00.002Z

Windows XP comes with some default games installed like Hearts and Minesweeper if you want to remove or add these games do the following;
(In order to install games you might be asked to insert your windows XP setup CD.)

Click Start and then Control Panel ,open Add or Remove Programs and then click on Add/Remove Windows Components in the left pane ,when that opens double click on the name Accessories and Utilities .
You can now double click on the Games section and add or remove the games that you want or don't want ,click OK when you have finished making the changes and finally click on Next to finalise the installation or removal.

how to disable the Automatic Desktop Cleanup Feature in Windows XP

2009-03-04T12:04:00.002Z

To disable this somewhat annoying program from popping up do the following;
Right-click a free area on the desktop and choose Properties.
In the Display Properties menu click the Desktop tab and then click on Customize desktop ,uncheck the option Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days and then click OK.

No Audio Output Device is installed error after installing Windows Vista SP1

2009-03-02T09:53:00.003Z

After installing the vista SP1 update you might notice that there is no sound and the speaker icon on the system tray displays the following message No Audio Output Device is installed ,what seems to work is to remove the audio driver from Device Manager.
To do this click Start ,Control Panel ,System and Maintenance and then Device Manager on the left pane.
On the Device Manager dialogue box click on the Hardware tab and then Device Manager ,expand the Sound ,video and game controllers section ,right click on the current sound device(Realtek ,Via ,soundblaster etc.)and choose uninstall ,do not check the option Delete the Driver Software for this device unless you have the installation CD or software for your sound device.
After doing this restart the computer and Vista will reinstall the device and the sound will work again.

This weeks TOP PC games chart 16 February 2009

2009-02-16T11:39:00.000Z

Here is this weeks top PC games chart from CUSTOMPC

01 Football Manager 2009 (No change)
02 World of Warcraft: Wrath of Lich King (Last week: 3)
03 Grand Theft Auto IV (Last week: 2)
04 Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 (No change)
05 Football Manager Live (Last week: 7)
06 The Sims 2: Double Deluxe (Last week: 5)
07 CSI: New York (Last week: 6)
08 Call of Duty: World at War (No change)
09 Spore (No change)
10 Fallout 3 (No change)

Will my new motherboard work with my older CPU and Ram?

2009-02-16T11:17:00.004Z

If your older motherboard has packed in and your tight on a budget replacing the motherboard is the best option.
But is it compatible with your current CPU or Ram memory?
The best way to do this is to look at the motherboards specifications on the box itself or even better go to the manufacturers website ,there you can see its CPU support list and also what Ram memory it can handle that way you can be certain that it will boot up.
The major factors are the CPUs FSB(Front Side Bus) e.g. 400 ,533,800,1066 ,its L2 memory cache e.g. 512kb,1mb and the CPU Speed e.g.1.8 ,2.4 ,3ghz ,this can be clearly seen on the CPU chip itself on the flat top surface.
The Rams speed is also very important e.g. DDR 266,333,400 MHz and the newer DDR2 533,667,800 more info

how to change the Internet Explorer 7 default search engine.

2009-02-16T10:32:00.003Z

Internet Explorer comes by default with the Microsoft live search ,to change it to your favourite one do the following;
While Internet Explorer is open click on the Search Options drop down tab next to the search bar on the right hand side and choose the option Find More Providers , click on your desired search provider and then when prompted click on Add Provider(make sure you also check the option to make it your default search provider).

how to enable the Run box on windows Vista start menu

2009-02-16T10:20:00.002Z

To enable the Run box on the start menu like Windows XP has on Windows Vista do the following;
Right-Click the Start button and choose Properties ,then Customize.
In the Customize Start Menu screen check the option Run command and then click OK.

Alternatively you can use the Win + R key command to open Run.

This weeks TOP PC games chart 2 February 2009

2009-02-02T11:24:00.001Z

Here is this weeks top PC games chart from CUSTOMPC

01 Football Manager 2009 (No change)
02 World of Warcraft: Wrath of Lich King (No change)
03 The Sims 2: Double Deluxe (Last week: 4)
04 Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 (Last week: 3)
05 Call of Duty: World at War (No change)
06 Grand Theft Auto IV (Last week: 7)
07 Fallout 3 (Last week: 6)
08 Spore (No change)
09 Football Manager Live (New entry)
10 Left 4 Dead (Last week: 9)

how to enable the security tab in Windows XP

2009-01-28T11:25:00.007Z

To enable the security tab in Windows XP the system must first be using the NTFS file system and not FAT32.

For Windows XP Professional open Windows Explorer then click on Tools and then Folder Options .
Scroll down the list and uncheck the option Use Simple File Sharing ,click Apply then OK. For Windows XP home Simple File Sharing is enforced by default and it cannot be deactivated ,therefore you can only access the security tab from Safe Mode(it is automatically enabled in Safe Mode).

how to open Task Manger Windows Vista

2009-01-21T10:46:00.005Z

To open Task Manager in vista do the following:
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del and click on Task Manger from the Security Box.
A quicker way is to press Ctrl+Shift+Esc and Task Manger will open straight away.

This also works in windows XP

how to set a keyboard shortcut to start a program in windows

2009-01-13T11:44:00.003Z

To create a keyboard shortcut to start your favourite program quicker in windows do the following:

Right-click the program that you want to start with a keyboard shortcut, and then click Properties ,the Shortcut menu is shown.
Click in the Shortcut key box and then press on the keyboard letter that you want to use ,windows automatically adds Ctrl+Alt+ before you add your letter ,click on Apply and then OK.

All you have to do now is to press Ctrl+Alt+(your key) all at the same time for the program to start.

Have Fun.

Manage open windows with your keyboard in windows

2009-01-13T11:27:00.004Z

If you have many open windows at the same time and would like to manage them quicker than what your mouse can do ,keyboard shortcuts are your answer.
Here is a list of the common keyboard shortcut keys in windows ,press each key one at a time.

Minimize a window to your taskbar
ALT, SPACEBAR, N

Maximize a window so it takes up your whole desktop
ALT, SPACEBAR, X

Restore a window so it's visible but doesn't take up your whole desktop
ALT, SPACEBAR, R

Close a window
ALT+F4

Switch to the last window you had open
ALT+TAB

Switch to any window
Hold down the ALT key, and press TAB until the window you want is active

Hope this helps.

This weeks TOP PC games chart 9 January 2009

2009-01-09T17:59:00.002Z

Here is this weeks top PC games chart from CUSTOMPC

01 Football Manager 2009 (No change)
02 Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 (Last week: 3)
03 World of Warcraft: Wrath of Lich King (Last week: 4)
04 The Sims 2: Double Deluxe (Last week: 7)
05 Spore (No change)
06 Call of Duty: World at War (Last week: 2)
07 The Sims 2: Apartment Life (Last week: 11)
08 Grand Theft Auto IV (Last week: 6)
09 Far Cry 2 (No change)
10 Fallout 3 (Last week: 8)

how to convert FAT32 to NTFS in Windows XP

2009-01-05T12:00:00.003Z

To convert a FAT32 file system to the faster and more secure NTFS one in Windows XP do the following;

Click Start then Programs ,Accessories and then click Command Prompt.
At the prompt type the following CONVERT [driveletter]: /FS:NTFS ,Convert.exe attempts to convert the partition to NTFS

The process is one way ,therefore it is recommended to perform a backup of important information that one might have.

Windows XP error "It is Now Safe to Turn Off Your Computer" when shutting down

2009-01-05T11:19:00.005Z

when trying to shut down a newly formatted Windows XP computer you might get the It is Now Safe to Turn Off Your Computer error ,here is how to fix it.

Microsoft has various solutions for it ,this one works for me in most cases.

Open Control Panel, and then double-click System.
Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.
On the View menu, click Show Hidden Devices.
Expand Non-Plug and Play Drivers.
In the NT APM/Legacy Support branch of the device tree, you will see the item NT Apm/Legacy Interface Node. It will show a red X to indicate that it is disabled.Right-click NT Apm/Legacy Interface Node, and then click Enable.

The computer should now shutdown.

how to show hidden devices under device manager in windows XP /Vista

2008-12-17T14:28:00.003Z

To show hidden devices in device manager do the following;

First go to device manager (Control Panel ,System ,click on the Hardware tab then Device Manager) then click on the view tab and select the option show hidden devices ,

The hidden devices are shown ,this is great for removing older devices which one had or a stubborn device that cannot be removed the normal way.

This also works in Windows Vista

This weeks TOP PC games chart 15 December 2008

2008-12-15T10:18:00.001Z

Here is this weeks top PC games chart from CUSTOMPC

01 Football Manager 2009 (No change)
02 Grand Theft Auto IV (New entry)
03 Call of Duty: World at War (Last week: 2)
04 Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 (Last week: 5)
05 World of Warcraft: Wrath of Lich King (Last week: 3)
06 Fallout 3 (No change)
07 Spore (No change)
08 Left 4 Dead (Last week: 4)
09 Far Cry 2 (Last week: 8)
10 The Sims 2: Double Deluxe (Last week: 9)

How to clear google search box history

2008-12-03T10:44:00.007Z

To clear the search box history from the google main page eg www.google.com you have to clear it from your computer as that is where it is stored ,here is how to do it.

For Internet Explorer 6 do the following:

Go to the Tools menu and select Internet Options then go to the Content tab click the AutoComplete button and then click the Clear Forms button ,click on Apply and then OK to close the Internet Explorer options menu.

For Internet Explorer 7 do the following :

Go to the Tools menu and select Delete Browsing History then click the Delete forms button ,click Yes in the confirmation window when finished click on Close.

For FireFox do the following:

Go to the Tools menu then select Clear Private Data now select Saved Form and Search History and click the Clear Private Data Now button.

That is it your history has been cleared.

This weeks TOP PC games chart 17 November 2008

2008-11-17T09:57:00.001Z

Here is this weeks top PC games chart from CUSTOMPC

01 Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 (Last week: 2)
02 Fallout 3 (Last week: 1)
03 Far Cry 2 (No change)
04 Spore (No change)
05 FIFA Manager 09 (No change)
06 The Sims 2: Apartment Life (No change)
07 The Sims 2: Double Deluxe (No change)
08 Dead Space (No change)
09 Sacred 2: Fallen Angel (New entry)
10 World of Warcraft: Battle Chest (Last week: 13)

How to add the recycle bin Icon after it has been deleted in Windows Vista

2008-11-11T10:57:00.003Z

If the recycle bin icon on the Windows Vista desktop has been mistakenly deleted here is how to get it back.
Right-click on an empty space on the desktop and choose personalize ,in the new window select the option on the top left hand corner that says Change desktop icons then go to the Desktop Icon Settings section and check the option Recycle bin ,click OK when done.

This weeks TOP PC games chart 24October 2008

2008-10-24T15:38:00.001+01:00

Here is this weeks top PC games chart from CUSTOMPC

01 Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (New entry)
02 Spore (No change)
03 Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway (Last week: 1)
04 X3: Terran Conflict (New entry)
05 The Sims 2: Apartment Life (Last week: 4)
06 Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (Last week: 3)
07 Civilization IV: Colonization (Last week: 5)
08 Crysis Warhead (Last week: 6)
09 The Sims 2: Double Deluxe (Last week: 8)
10 World of Warcraft: Battle Chest (Last week: 9)

How to remove VirusResponse Alert / VirusResponse lab 2009 popup message in Windows Vista

2008-10-24T15:09:00.003+01:00

A user got infected with a virus /spyware that installed this annoying program called VirusResponse Alert (which may also be installed as VirusResponse lab 2009)and it would load on startup to scan the system and showing fake results , in some cases a pop up can appear on the taskbar saying that the computer is infected and click here to protect yourself.

The following method worked for me to remove this program ;
I updated Windows Defender ,my Antivirus program and downloaded Combofix.
I then rebooted into Safe-Mode and ran my Antivirus program ,Windows Defender and then Combofix and followed the onscreen instructions when finished Combofix rebooted back into normal windows to finish the removal.
Behold no more VirusResponse Alert problem.

Note: if you don't have Windows Defender you can use a program like Spybot search and destroy.
Try to stay away from the ones that ask you to purchase the product in order to remove the infections ,why pay when there are good ones for free :)

how to remove the startup sound in windows 98

2008-10-16T13:00:00.002+01:00

If you want to remove the startup sound when windows 98 loads ,here is how to do it.
Click Start ,Settings ,Control Panel and then go to the Sounds Applet.
Now scroll down and select the Start Windows option in the Program Events box ,and change its sound to None.
Click Apply and then OK.

How to remove the Internet Explorer content advisor password

2008-10-14T16:21:00.002+01:00

If the Internet Explorer Content Advisor has been enabled and you want to disable it but you have forgotten the password here is how to reset it.

Click on Start ,Run then type regedit.
Once in regedit navigate to the following key;
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\policies\Ratings
With Ratings selected look in the right pane for the value called Key ,select and delete it ,close regedit.
To disable the Content Advisor go to Internet Options and click on the Content tab then click on the option to disable ,enter a new password when prompted.

This weeks TOP PC games chart 10 October 2008

2008-10-10T14:06:00.002+01:00

Here is this weeks top PC games chart from CUSTOMPC

01 Spore (Last week: 2)
02 Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (Last week: 1)
03 Civilization IV: Colonization (Last week: 4)
04 Crysis Warhead (Last week: 3)
05 The Sims 2: Apartment Life (No change)
06 FIFA 09 (New entry)
07 The Sims 2: Double Deluxe (Last week: 6)
08 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (No change)
09 World of Warcraft: Battle Chest (Last week: 7)
10 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky (Last week: 9)

How to install the Fax Service for Windows XP

2008-10-07T10:28:00.003+01:00

Windows XP comes with a Fax Service but it is not installed by default.
You can use the Fax Service to send, receive, track, and monitor faxes.
Here is how to install it.
Click Start, then Control Panel, and then open Add or Remove Programs ,once open click on the option Add/Remove Windows Components .
In the Add/Remove Windows Components window scroll down and check the Fax Services option ,click next and windows will install it.(you might need your Windows XP CD)

To access the Fax Service go to Start, All Programs, Accessories, Communications, Fax, and then click Fax Console ,configure it as you wish and you are done.

Display the Quick Launch toolbar on the Taskbar in windows XP

2008-09-30T09:36:00.004+01:00

To display the Quick launch toolbar on the taskbar do the following:

Right Click on an open area of the taskbar and on the context menu select Toolbars and then
select Quick Launch .

Now you can add buttons to start your favorite programs quicker.

how to take a screenshot of Windows

2008-09-29T10:54:00.003+01:00

If you want to take a screenshot of what is on your screen when working with windows here is how to do it.
On your keyboard press the PrintScreen key on your keyboard to take the screenshot then go to your text program like word or even wordpad and then right-click with your mouse (or ctrl+v on keyboard) anywhere on your new document to paste the screenshot.
That's it your done.

This weeks TOP PC games chart 26 September 2008

2008-09-26T18:10:00.003+01:00

Here is this weeks top PC games chart from CUSTOMPC

01 Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (New entry)
02 Spore (Last week: 1)
03 Crysis Warhead (New entry)
04 The Sims 2: Apartment Life (Last week: 2)
05 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky (Last week: 3)
06 The Sims 2: Double Deluxe (Last week: 4)
07 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Last week: 5)
08 World of Warcraft: Battle Chest (Last week: 6)
09 The Witcher: Enhanced Edition (New entry)
10 The Sims 2: Freetime (Last week: 7)

How to disable System Restore on Windows XP

2008-09-26T16:51:00.003+01:00

To disable system restore feature in Windows XP do this.
Right-Click My Computer icon on the desktop and choose properties ,the system properties dialogue box opens ,choose system restore tab and then check the option to turn off system restore ,Click apply then OK when done.

Add Network Icon to Taskbar in Windows XP

2008-09-01T10:02:00.003+01:00

Usually when a network cable isn't plugged in a network icon with a red cross is shown on the taskbar as to say that no cable is plugged in but when you do plug in a cable that icon disappears.
Here is how to make that icon appear even when the cable is plugged in to make sure that it's working correctly.
Go to Control Panel ,Network connections ,Right-Click the connection that you want the icon for and choose properties.
Now check the option at the bottom that says Show icon in notification area when connected then Click on OK.
Now the icon will appear and you can be sure that you are connected.

Remove Windows Messenger from Windows XP

2008-09-01T09:40:00.002+01:00

Windows XP came with a default Windows Messenger program which had basic features.
The new versions are much better and even after instaling them this old version still stays behind.
Here´s how to remove it.
Go to Control Panel then ADD/Remove Programs ,in the new window click on Add/Remove Windows Components then scroll down to the last item and uncheck Windows Messenger ,click Next and then Finish when done.
It will now be gone from the system.

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME BSOD when starting Windows XP BSOD

2008-08-22T14:42:00.002+01:00

If you get this blue screen of death (BSOD) error when booting windows XP there is a fix.
Boot off your windows XP setup disk by making your CD/DVD drive the first boot device in the system Bios.
Then press any key when prompted to ,at the blue Welcome to Setup screen , press R to start the Recovery Console.
Now select the installation that you want to access by pressing the correct number(dont just press the ENTER key), type the Administrator password if you have one or just press ENTER if you dont.
At the command prompt, type CHKDSK/R , and then press ENTER.
When finished with the scan type FIXBOOT and say Yes to write a new Bootsector ,type EXIT to leave the Recovery console and reboot the machine.
Windows should now load correctly.

This weeks TOP PC games chart 22 August 2008

2008-08-22T14:28:00.003+01:00

Here is this weeks top PC games chart from CUSTOMPC

01 The Sims 2: Double Deluxe (No change)
02 The Sims 2: Freetime (No change)
03 Civilization IV Complete (No change)
04 World of Warcraft: Battle Chest (No change)
05 Sins of a Solar Empire (Last week: 6)
06 Beijing 2008 (New entry)
07 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Last week: 5)
08 The Sims 2: Bon Voyage (Last week: 7)
09 Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars (Last week: 8)
10 Crysis (Last week: 12)

HP director not working after installing Internet Explorer 7

2008-08-12T16:14:00.005+01:00

After installing Internet Explorer 7 the printer software program HP director does not open anymore when Clicking it.
The fix is to go to the HP support site and download a patch for your program.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&cc=us&docname=c00802504&dlc=en

Then it will work fine.

how to change the Windows XP product key

2008-08-12T14:01:00.003+01:00

If you would like to change the windows XP product key for some reason or other here is how to do it.
Before starting you should create a System Restore point in case something goes wrong.

Open the registry editor regedit by Clicking Start, Run and then typing regedit, and then click OK.
When in regedit look in the left pane then locate and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents
In the right pane, right-click OOBETimer, and then click Modify.
Change at least one digit of this value by deleting or adding to it to deactivate Windows Click on OK and then exit the registry editor.
Now Click Start, Run and type the following command, and then click OK.
%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a
The activation window will open, Click on Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows, and then click Next.
Click Change Product key at the bottom of the screen ,type the new product key in the New key boxes, and then click Update.
If you are taken to the previous window, click Remind me later, and then restart the computer.

The new key will now be in effect

search option missing from folders context menu in Vista after installing SP1

2008-08-11T10:58:00.004+01:00

After installing SP1 for windows Vista the Search option in the Right -Click folders context menu has been removed.
To fix this go to the registry editor by typing Regedit into the search box of the start menu and then opening it.
Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\find
In the right pane, Right-Click on LegacyDisable and Click Delete , Click Yes to confirm deletion.
Restart the computer and the Search option will be back.

how to open an Office 2007 document with an earlier version

2008-08-08T15:14:00.002+01:00

If you try to open a document that was made with a Microsoft Office 2007 program with an earlier version of Office it wont let you.
The solution is to download and install the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats.
The document should now work.

This weeks TOP PC games chart 01 August 2008

2008-08-01T18:16:00.001+01:00

Here is the weeks Top 10 PC games chart from CUSTOMPC

01 The Sims 2: Double Deluxe (No change)
02 The Sims 2: Freetime (No change)
03 World of Warcraft: Battle Chest (No change)
04 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Last week: 6)
05 The Sims 2: Bon Voyage (Last week: 7)
06 Sins of a Solar Empire (Last week: 15)
07 Civilization IV Complete (Last week: 4)
08 Mass Effect (Last week: 5)
09 Assassin's Creed (Last week: 8)
10 Race Driver: GRID (Last week: 18)

how to change display language in windows Vista Home Premium

2008-07-24T16:49:00.003+01:00

If you want to change the display language of Windows Vista you will have to get a MUI language pack from Microsoft but that only works with Vista Ultimate and Enterprise editions.
But there is another way that you can get Home Premium and Basic to work too.
Vistalizator is a program that allows you to use the MUI language packs on these other versions and it works great.

0x800106ba Windows Defender error Windows Vista

2008-07-18T14:53:00.013+01:00

When starting a Windows Vista computer you get a message saying that Windows Defender cannot be started and error code 0x800106ba is shown.

After much web searching and trying many options one thing I found worked for me.
Go to Control Panel then select System and Maintenance and then clicking Administrative Tools then finally select Services.
I scrolled down to Windows Defender service and to my surprise it was deactivated and stopped.
To fix this I double clicked that service to open it, then chose the option to start automatic on start up, then I was able to click on the Start service button.
I then clicked on Apply and Restarted the computer ,windows Defender started up fine.

Change your current antivirus to Panda Antivirus Pro 2010 and forget these problems.
Free trial period too :)

How to repair Windows XP

2008-07-14T10:25:00.005+01:00

First you must make sure your CD/DVD drive is the first boot device.
This can be done on system boot up by entering the CMOS setup by pressing the key shown( usually a message saying press xxx to enter setup) and changing the first boot device to CD/DVD drive then save and exit.

Make sure your Windows XP CD is in the drive ,when the Press any key to boot from CD message is displayed you must press a key on the keyboard to boot from the CD.
The CD will load system files and when done the main blue screen will appear with three options choose the one that says To setup Windows XP now by pressing the ENTER key.
Do not choose the option to Repair windows by pressing the R key as that will take you to the Recovery Console.
After pressing ENTER you will be shown the Windows XP Licensing Agreement press F8 to accept and continue.
On the next screen you will see your current installation and you will have the option to Repair Windows by pressing the R key ,press it and windows will start the repair process.
Follow the instructions and enter the required details when prompted.

You must keep your CD in the drive until the process is complete.
Some installations require you to input your 25 character Windows XP product key (this is usually stuck to your computer box or under your laptop).

how to connect laptop hard drive to desktop

2008-07-08T11:01:00.009+01:00

If you want to connect your laptop drive to your desktop there are a few ways to do it.

Laptop drives are 2.5" as apposed to the desktops 3.5" so there a few ways to connect them.

The easiest way would be to buy an external USB enclosure case that supports your specific drive.There are two types these days SATA and IDE (also know as PATA)

Another way is to get an adapter that allows you to connect your laptop drive to a desktop computer internally by attaching it to the internal IDE or SATA cables.

A device like this would work for IDE:
2.5 TO 3.5 IDE HARD DRIVE CABLE ADAPTER
Now you can attach your laptop hard drive to your desktop as extra storage.

Here is a nice SATA to USB enclosure:
Macally 2.5 USB 2.0 External Enclosure - 1 x 2.5 - Internal Hot-swappable - USB 2.0 - External

And an IDE to USB exclosure:
Macally Hi-Speed 2.5 USB 2.0 External Enclosure - 1 x 2.5 - 9.5 mm Height Internal Hot-swappable - USB 2.0 - External - Black

cannot install Adobe flash player as it always asks to install even after installation

2008-07-04T14:16:00.003+01:00

Every time I went to a flash site using Internet Explorer Adobe flash player would ask to install the flash player ,I installed it then closed and restarted the browser.
Then went back to the site and same problem ,this time I installed it again and now completely restarted the whole computer only to find the same problem.
Of all the steps that Adobe offered to solve the problem from here:
http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=tn_19166&sliceId=2

The Adobe Flash Player uninstaller worked for me:
http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=tn_14157&sliceId=1

The other steps could work for someone else as every installation can be different.

CMOS battery low voltage error on system startup

2008-07-02T12:15:00.003+01:00

When starting a computer the following error is shown CMOS Battery Low Voltage. Press F1 to enter Setup ,pressing the key allows you to continue working but after shutting down the system it comes back.
The problem here is probably the CMOS battery that is going bad and it needs to be replaced by opening the computer case and physically removing the battery and installing a new one.

For more info look here:
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000239.htm

This Weeks Top 10 PC games chart 27 June 2008

2008-06-27T13:36:00.003+01:00

Here is the weeks Top 10 PC games chart from CUSTOMPC

01 Football Manager 2008 (No change)
02 Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (Last week: 3)
03 Sins of a Solar Empire (New entry)
04 Mass Effect (Last week: 2)
05 Alone in the Dark (New entry)
06 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Last week: 5)
07 Civilization IV Complete (No change)
08 The Sims 2: Freetime (Last week: 4)
09 Lego Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (Last week: 8)
10 World of Warcraft: Battle Chest (Last week: 9)

No wireless networks detected by Windows

2008-06-26T15:02:00.002+01:00

When trying to connect to a wireless network with a laptop the windows view available wireless networks section would always be blank and a message saying that no networks were found would appear.
My first thought was to make sure the built in wireless adapter was even turned on by pressing a button on the laptop itself ,after a few seconds available networks were available and I was able to connect to the preferred network.
It could have been a tougher and longer problem to fix if I hadn't had this problem once before.

Other steps one could try is make sure the wireless card is installed correctly by looking in Device Manager and also trying to uninstall and reinstall the card.

How to check if AERO is enabled in Windows Vista

2008-06-26T14:26:00.002+01:00

Windows Vista usually automatically enables the AERO graphics engine on Home Premium versions and higher.
But some systems might not have the video card or system to handle it ,to check if it´s enabled do the following:
Right-Click on any empty space on the desktop and choose the Personalise option.
In the Personalise window choose the Window Color and Appearance option ,in the new window make sure that Enable Transparency is checked ,if it is AERO is enabled and working.
If you would like to disable the whole AERO thing then you can also do it in this window just click on the option at the bottom that says Open classic appearance properties for more color options and choose Vista Basic theme.

Whats new in Windows Vista SP1

2008-06-24T13:22:00.002+01:00

With Windows Vista now having service pack 1 (sp1) ,Microsoft have fixed some bugs and improved functions these are and not limited to:

Improvements in reliability
Improvements in performance
Improvements in security
Changes to search
Changes in memory (RAM) reporting

For complete details on these improvements go here:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/ea7577b8-813f-47a5-ba05-2f5b2e436b281033.mspx

To Learn how to install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) visit the following site:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/133c8953-c9cd-4fa5-8883-03e91bb6f2021033.mspx

how to change Windows Vista desktop backround picture

2008-06-24T13:12:00.002+01:00

New users to vista who don´t know how to change their desktops background picture need to do this.
Right-Click on an empty space on the desktop and choose Personalise from the menu.
In the personalise window click on Desktop Background to open a new window where you can now change the default picture or browse to your favourite one ,click OK and you´re done.

What program opens the following File Extension

2008-06-23T17:06:00.002+01:00

If you want to open a particular file but realise that you don´t have the correct program to open it then you will have to know which file extension it is.
To view this go to the Properties (by Right-clicking the file) and see what extension or file type it is eg: .doc.
when you know this you can go to :
http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/reference/fext/fexta1.htm
Find the file type extension and see which program can open it ,then all you need to do is to get that program.

how much should one charge for computer repair?

2008-06-20T16:12:00.003+01:00

Usually jobs can be worked out by charging per hour ,per job or even with a contract.
sometimes a format can be charged just a format and then maybe add an hour or so if they want stuff to be copied or saved from a previous installation.
Per hour can get expensive as usually the computer does most of the work one wouldn't charge per hour for instance on an anti-virus scan as the scanner will take longer and the tech just has to look once in a while but if a tech is constantly working hourly then per hour might be just and fair.
A contract type of fee happens when a business pays a monthly fee for you to go there and do maintenance which can get tricky and sometimes you do more work then what the contract fee is ,and don´t forget about them calling you when they feel like it.

I would like other experienced Techs to leave their comments on what one should charge for repairs.

Find the generic driver for a USB Mass Storage device for Windows 98SE

2008-06-16T12:11:00.003+01:00

Those of you who have the older and somewhat reliable Windows 98 operating system might need the driver for a USB Mass Storage device(pen drive ,external hard drive etc.)
If you didn't receive or have lost the install CD you can still get the driver from the manufacturers website.
Sometimes when you can't even find the driver from the manufacturer you can use a universal USB driver that will work.
You can get it here:
http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/win98se-usb-mass-storage-drivers.php

This weeks Top 10 PC games chart

2008-06-13T19:18:00.002+01:00

Here is this weeks top 10 PC Games chart from Custompc

01 Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (No change)
02 Mass Effect (New entry)
03 Football Manager 2008 (Last week: 2)
04 Race Driver: GRID (No change)
05 Lego Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (New entry)
06 The Sims 2: Freetime (Last week: 3)
07 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Last week: 5)
08 Civilization IV Complete (No change)
09 Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War Soulstorm (Last week: 6)
10 World of Warcraft: Battle Chest (No change)

CD/DVD Writer doesnt write on certain empty CDs/DVDs

2008-06-09T11:10:00.003+01:00

If you just bought some empty Cd's or DVDs and realise that you cannot record any data to them but you can record to the current stack of Cd's that you had before then the problem might lie in the Firmware of the writer itself.
Certain writers were made to record only with certain tested brands of Cd's or DVDs when they were first made.
As time went buy new media or brands were released into the market that the writer does not support.
The best way to fix this is to go to the manufacturers site of your writer and download the latest software firmware for it.
After doing the update the writer should be able to record to the new bought media.

When pressing letter keys on laptop keyboard numbers or symbols appear!

2008-06-06T20:14:00.005+01:00

When pressing some letter keys on a laptop keyboard you might get numbers or other symbols instead of the correct letter.
To fix this make sure that the FN key or Num Lock key is not activated (light must be off)
This should fix the problem.

How to physically tell if motherboard is bad or going bad

2008-06-06T20:08:00.005+01:00

One of the best ways to see this is to look for bad capacitors on the board.
Here are images on bad capacitors;http://www.badcaps.net/pages.php?vid=5.
If you have any of these symptoms then it is likely that you could be getting a blue screen of death or even the computer doesn't even boot to the Post screen.
the best solution is of coarse to get a motherboard with the same specifications that the current one had.

Can I run two webcams on Windows XP

2008-06-04T12:43:00.004+01:00

The answer is yes as long as you use two different brands.
If you use the same brand then the drivers will conflict ,now you can have Skype with one cam and Messenger on another.

Remove Windows Genuine Advantage Notification

2008-06-02T14:28:00.006+01:00

To remove the annoying “Windows Genuine Advantage Notification” from your system you will have to remove it from Control Panel but by default it wont let you remove it that way so we have to make it available to be removed.
You will have to reboot the computer into Safe Mode (by pressing the F8 key repeatedly after the computer boots up and before windows loads)first in order for this to work.
Follow the below steps to make it available:
Open the Search companion then search and delete WgaTray.exe file on your system drive (also check the “Search system folders”, “Search hidden files and folders” and “Search subfolders” checkboxes ), delete the registry key WgaLogon in the following tree: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify\WgaLogon, and to remove the entry from Add/Remove Programs list, modify the registry key in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Uninstall\WgaNotify. Click on Start.
Click on Run.
Type in regedit in the Run text box.
Click OK or press Enter.
In Registry Editor, browse the the following registry key branch:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\WgaNotify
On the right panel, modify the value of NoRemove (by right clicking on the key and choose Modify) to 0.
Exit the Registry Editor.
Re-launch the Add/Remove Program, and Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications (KB905474) is now removable.

How to enable or disable Task manager in windows XP

2008-06-02T13:38:00.014+01:00

If you want to enable or disable the Windows XP Task Manager then there is a quick way.
Click Start, Run and type Regedit.exe ,now navigate to the following key;
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System ,on the right pane select DisableTaskMgr and open it.
now adjust the values accordingly:
Value: 1=Enablethis key, that is DISABLE TaskManagerValue
0=Disablethis key, that is Don't Disable, Enable TaskManager

when you have changed the value click on OK ,Exit Regedit and restart your computer.

How to add My Computer ,My Documents ,Internet Explorer icons to desktop

2008-05-28T09:37:00.005+01:00

To add the actual icons and not shortcuts to the Windows XP desktop do the following.
Right-click on any open space on the desktop and choose properties to open the display properties window.
Now choose the Desktop tab and then the Customize tab on that page ,select the icons you want displayed and click on OK.

how much memory do I have on my computer

2008-05-26T14:27:00.004+01:00

If you want to know how much memory you have on your system there are a few ways to tell.
First we have to know which memory we want to check there are two main types Hard Drive memory and Random Access Memory or RAM.
Hard drive memory is the memory where you physically store your information and install your programs to.
RAM memory is used to temporary store information when you open or load a program ,as soon as you switch off your computer the RAM is cleared of all info ,usually adding more RAM will make your system and programs load faster.
To view the amount of Hard Drive memory one has in Windows you have to go to My Computer and view the properties of the selected Hard Drive ,here you will see what the capacity is and how much space has been used and how much is available to use.
To view the amount of RAM memory go to Control Panel click on System and on the window that opens you will see your processor speed and amount of memory you have.
Another way to view these items is to use the System Information utility.
Click Start ,programs ,accessories ,system tools and then System Information

Media Player movie has sound but no picture

2008-05-26T14:07:00.004+01:00

When trying to play a movie with media player or another player I could hear the sound but no picture was displayed.
After some research I realised that I needed Codecs in order to watch the film.
I downloaded K-Lite Codec Pack ,installed it and my problem was fixed.

Windows Vista system requirements.

2008-05-23T18:10:00.005+01:00

Anyone looking to upgrade to Vista ,here are the system requirements needed.

Home Basic

1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

512 MB of system memory ( 1gb for premium, business and ultimate)

20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space ( 40gb for premium, business and ultimate)

Support for DirectX 9 graphics and 32 MB of graphics memory ( 128mb with pixel shader 2.0 for premium, business and ultimate)

DVD-ROM drive

Audio Output

Internet access (fees may apply)

For more info ;
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/systemrequirements.mspx

New Hard Drive detected by system but Windows XP does not recognise it.

2008-05-23T16:42:00.005+01:00

After installing a new Hard Drive the CMOS setup sees the Hard Drive correctly so it is connected correctly but in windows after it has been installed by the the Add New Hardware Wizard it is not shown in My Computer.
what is happening here is that windows hasn't created a partition for this drive or it hasn't been initialized.
To verify and correct this we have to go to Disk Management this is done by clicking on Start, click Run, type compmgmt.msc, and then click OK
In the left pane click on Disk Management ,your disks and partitions are shown.
To create a new partition, right-click the unallocated space on the disk where you want to create the partition, and then click New Partition ,when asked choose Extended Partition(primary is more for installing an operating system and booting of it) ,choose the default size ,when done click Finish(or close).
For an Extended Partition we need to create a Logical Drive so right-click your new Partition and choose create Logical Drive follow the steps and at the end you have the option to Format it ,do it so that Windows will see your drive .
when complete close disk Management and see if the drive is seen In My Computer.
Here is more info if you get lost;
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000/en-us

run older programs in windows vista

2008-05-19T17:03:00.004+01:00

If you try to run an older program that was designed for Windows XP or earlier you might get an error or it just wont start.
The first thing to try is the Windows Vista Compatibility Mode ,this is done by right-clicking the program .exe file ,selecting properties and then Select the Compatibility tab.
You can choose to run the program in Windows XP compatibility mode or even an earlier windows version.
If that doesn't work you can also try disabling the Visual Themes and Desktop Composition options, play around with the settings till it works.
If all else fails see if the program manufacturer has released a patch or update for that specific program.

cannot remove virus it says its in use or write protected

2008-05-19T16:41:00.003+01:00

If you run an Anti-virus scan in windows or if a virus is found the program might give the error that it cannot delete ,quarantine or repair it.
First make sure you have the latest virus definition files (this is easily done by clicking on update button).
The best way to remove a virus is to boot into safe mode and run it from there.
when rebooting or switching on your computer tap the F8 key a few times before windows starts to load( usually after the machine beeps and shows your systems speed and memory amount).
you will be shown the boot menu( here is a description of the items shown), choose the option right on top called Safe Mode and press Enter.
After windows has loaded many files your mouse cursor will reappear and the graphical display will return.
Don´t worry if the display looks bigger or not so crisp it´s what we call the back door of windows ,click on the username that needs to be opened to enter Safe mode.
you will be asked if you want to launch System Restore or continue in Safe Mode ,choose Safe mode.
After the system has loaded the icons open the Anti-Virus program and run the scan.
when finished reboot and windows will reboot normally.

How to disable annoying startup programs in windows XP

2008-05-12T18:37:00.006+01:00

If you have many programs starting up with windows or your taskbar is full of icons and you would prefer that they wouldnt, then you can try disabling them.
This will also make your computer faster, the first way is to actually right-click on the programs icon on the taskbar and see if they have a tick next to an option called load on system tray or load with windows ,unchecking this will disable them from loading next time you restart your system.
Also going to the programs properties and looking for an option to load with windows if there is no option to tick or untick a load windows option.
Another way is to run the Microsoft System Configuration Utility or MSCONFIG for short ,
from the run box and then uncheck items from the start up tab.
Remember not to remove essential programs like your anti virus program.

Invalid / Non System Disk error when switching on PC

2008-05-09T19:46:00.003+01:00

when switching on a computer the error Invalid / Non System Disk would appear.
In this case it was an easy problem since their was a floppy diskette left in the floppy drive and the system tried to boot of it ,no operating system was found so the error was shown.
In other cases it could be a wrong boot order in the CMOS setup ,usually the Hard Drive should be the first boot device.
Also A corrupt operating system which will need a repair install.
A Hard Drive that is not properly connected or faulty can also cause this.

how to get drivers for your computer without system CD

2008-05-09T16:44:00.005+01:00

If you ever format a computer then you will need the drivers for your system ,these are usually video ,sound ,network and others ,missing a driver CD makes this even more difficult.
If you have a branded PC like HP then all you have to do is go to their website and download the appropriate drivers for your computer.
No name brand computers are more difficult you have two options.
1: Use a program to view your manufacturer like Hwinfo,
2:You will have to open up the box and look on the motherboard itself to find out the manufacturer and model of your computer.
Here is a video to help you;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COCuW6mS6EQ
If you have other devices connected to your system like a printer ,webcam etc. ,their drivers and software will also need to be downloaded from the manufacturers site or use the CD if you have it.

Epson printer prints with horizontal white bands or streaks

2008-05-09T16:38:00.006+01:00

If the printer hasn´t been used for a while this can happen.
The first thing to try is to run a head clean from the printers properties box and go to the maintenance tab, run various cleans and print a few pages until the printing improves(note this uses quite a bit of ink so you might have to get a refill).
If after many prints the print output is the same then you should try replacing the culprit cartridge.

PS: Sometimes if you get this printing problem after changing a cartridge it could also be a faulty cartridge.

windows vista error Internet Explorer has stopped Working

2008-05-06T15:51:00.004+01:00

When ever trying to open Internet Explorer the error Internet Explorer has stopped Working would appear.
First I decided to reset Internet Explorers settings by going to Control Panel ,Internet options , clicking on the advanced tab and choosing the Reset option at the bottom of the menu.
It reset all my Internet settings and the error went away.
Other steps to follow would be running an updated Anti-virus ,adware and spyware scan.

Network cable not detected by Windows Vista

2008-05-06T15:18:00.005+01:00

weird one this one ,when plugging in the network cable the system doesn´t recognise it and says no network devices available to connect to.
Also the wireless adapter connects to a network but gives an error saying that it cannot get Internet access.
First thing to try is make sure they are fine in Device Manager If they are then we try uninstalling both adapters from Device Manager ,reboot and test again.
If the problem persists then disable the firewall and Anti-Virus program and see if it will detect the cable or connect to Internet.
Since I was getting errors saying that the firewall could not be enabled and the network service could not be started I decided to rather repair the Vista installation using the Upgrade Option Of The Vista DVD as it installs vista on top of itself and repairs any corrupt system files.
no information will be lost too, here is complete instructions ; http://vistasupport.mvps.org/repair_a_vista_installation_using_the_upgrade_option_of_the_vista_dvd.htm

Device Manager shows yellow question mark for the SMBus controller

2008-05-05T17:03:00.003+01:00

After formating a windows XP computer Device Manager shows a yellow question mark for the SMBus controller(it can also be under Other Devices).
Only solution is to download and install the Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility.
restart the computer and no more errors.

Remove CMOS password from a desktop computer

2008-05-05T16:36:00.004+01:00

A client added a system password to his system via the CMOS Setup so the computer would ask for it every time the computer is switched on.
The only problem....
He forgot what it was ,now the quickest way to resolve this is to short or reset the CMOS Setup.
This is done by opening the computer box .
Once open find and locate the battery , we have to options here.
1: We can remove the battery and leave it out(with the power mains unplugged) for about 10 minutes .
2:Short the CMOS by jumpering two of the three pins(some boards only have two pins) next to the battery by placing a jumper on top of them for about ten seconds.
This is illustrated in your motherboards documentation.

Option one is the easiest one especially if you are a beginner.

Outlook Express 6 gives blank error when trying to send or forward email.

2008-05-05T11:01:00.006+01:00

When trying to forward an email to someone else or even trying to send a newly made email Outlook Express would give an error ,the weird thing was that it was a blank error with no error code.
The first thing to check is if the SMTP server is correct in the account options by going to Tools ,Accounts ,Mail tab selecting the email account and choosing properties ,go to servers tab and make sure the SMTP information is the correct information that was given by the ISP.
If all is correct then what you can then do is what worked for me many times which is create a new Outlook Express Identity.
First you must backup your email address and address book contacts.
Go to Tools ,Accounts ,Mail tab ,select your email address then on the right hand side click on the Export button ,select the destination and give it a name(keeping the extension .iaf).
If you have many email addresses then you have to do this for all of them.
Backing up the address book is very similar, click on the Address book tab(it should be next to the Send and Receive icon)once open click on File ,Export then choose address book(wab).
Select the destination and give it a name .
Once all this is done we can create a new identity.
On the File menu, click Identities, and then click Add New Identity ,type a name for the identity and click on OK.
When prompted say Yes to switch to the new identity, click Cancel to close the New Account wizard. If you are prompted to import settings or messages, select “Do not import at this time” or Cancel.
Now we are going to import the email address we exported.
Click on Tools ,Accounts ,Mail then choose the Import option on the right hand side and import the saved .iaf file.
the same thing must be done for address book contacts ,click on the address book icon then File ,Import ,Address Book(wab) and choose the location of the file and import.
Finally import your messages from the old identity ,on the File menu, click Import, and then click Messages, Select Microsoft Outlook Express 6 from the list of programs, and then click Next.
Then select the name of the Identity to import, and then click OK

The repair has now been done.

If you still get an error try to repair Outlook Express;
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318378/en-us

Drive is not accessible. Incorrect function when trying to open CD in Windows XP

2008-04-29T12:10:00.004+01:00

Strange error this one ,when a customer tried to open a CD by clicking on it in My computer he would get the error D:\Is not accessible. Incorrect function.
After doing some research at Microsoft and other areas the only real solution that worked for me was to Right-click the CD drive and go to properties ,then recording tab ,finally enabling the option to allow recording on this device.
And that was it the error went away when opening a CD.