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General Troubleshooting Computer Problems

Friday 25th June 2010 7:37 PM

Top Tips for Troubleshooting Computer Problems

As a Windows computer user, it is quite probable that you come across a lot of errors now and then. Although you might not understand a lot about them, we can help you deal with them and make sure that they do not recur.

Some common errors that PC users may come across are: error 80048820, which is caused by incorrect MSN Messenger settings; error 1603, which is caused by problems with Windows installer; and the 0x0000000a error, which occurs due to a hardware malfunction.

Now, while not much can be done to prevent hardware errors, the software errors can be easily dealt with by following the steps listed below:

• Clean your registry - The registry plays a very important role in keeping your system running, and as such should be the most looked-after component. However, since it works mostly in the background, it goes unnoticed, and unsurprisingly, is uncared for. The fact of the matter is, however, that the registry loses its efficiency over time, due to the cluttering of all the obsolete entries and broken references within it.
  
  To take care of this problem, you need to invest in a reliable registry cleaner, which will scan, fix and optimize your registry entries, resulting in faster response and fewer system crashes.

• Update device drivers - Perhaps it comes as a surprise to most of the computer users, but the hardware interface programs, commonly called drivers, also need to be updated regularly. The reason for doing so is two-fold: one, your hardware performs better when interfaced with improved drivers; and two, old drivers frequently fall into conflict, resulting in hardware errors and system crashes, or even the 'blue screen of death'.
  
  Contrary to what the 'experts' would have you believe, maintaining system drivers is very easy provided you have a good third-party driver-update tool. This tool will scan and update your system drivers all on its own, with minimal or no inputs on your end.

• Eliminate viruses - The role played by an anti-virus tool can't be over-emphasized these days. There are almost infinite ways for the viruses to attack your computer, and you can't possibly be exercising perfect caution all the time. This means that time and again you'll need a good front-line defence, which is what the anti-virus provides.
  
  However,you need to take care of certain things. You should purchase the anti-virus only from a reliable vendor, and also not forget to update it regularly by connecting to the internet. At the same time, it is very important that you schedule regular system scans and make sure that there are no hidden viruses in the system.
  

Tackling the most common Windows problems is not only easy, as this article has shown, but fun as well. The rewards are great system performance and an increase in knowledge of the Windows operating system.

Posted 7:37 PM | 0 Comments | Permalink

Wednesday 24th February 2010 12:08 PM

Isn't it galling that we need to contact Microsoft for "permission" if we choose to reinstall a product that we already legally own and use?

there is a trick for getting around product re-activation for Windows XP when reinstalling.

If you have successfully activated the OS already, and if you are reinstalling it on the existing hardware, this trick should do just fine. Here it is:

Posted 12:08 PM | 0 Comments | Permalink

Outlook - delete a stuck read receipt

Friday 19th February 2010 3:46 PM

Delete a stuck Read Receipt

Seeing messages being send without something in the Outbox? This could be a stuck read receipt. Before doing anything make sure you have a current backup of your mailbox (just in case)

Download MDBVU32.EXE from Microsoft. Extract the downloaded file and run mdbvu32.exe from within the extracted folder.

Press OK on the first screen
Select MDB-> Open Message Store and select your default pst-file (the one with the D in front of it) and press Open
Select MDB-> Open Root Folder

Open the default message store

You'll find the "Read:" message in the middle pane called "Messages in Folder"

Read Receipt visible in MDBVU32.EXE

Select the "Read:" message
In the Operations available select lpMDB->AbortSubmit() (ON SELECTED MSG)
Press Call Function and then OK

Confirm to Abort the submission of the Read Receipt"

Make sure the message is still selected
In the Operations available select lpFld->DeleteMessages() (ON SELECTED MSGS)
Press Call Function and then OK

The "Messages in Folder" pane should now be empty

Read Receipt deleted through MDBVU32.EXE
Press Close

Select MDB-> Store Logoff and then OK and then OK again on the information message
Select Session-> Logoff

You can now close the open window called MDB Viewer Test Application

Open Outlook and the notice that the stuck receipt is gone.

Posted 3:46 PM | 0 Comments | Permalink

Windows 7 locks the wireless network

Sunday 18th October 2009 12:11 AM

This was ever so annoying, but hey, it's only what is expected from Microsoft. A great 'new ?' Operating System - but with bugs.

It was evident in the the Betas, is evident in the TechNet retail installs and is evident in oem and shop retails versions of Widows 7.

The scenario is that your Wireless network works fine on Windows XP and Vista but as soon as you try getting a Windows 7 machine to join the network, not only does the W7 machine fail to connect but any other machines, aleady connected, now lose their connections to the Wireless, you will probably find that your wired connections stay good though.

The problem seems to have two stages to solve, both involving your wireless settings, one on your PC, one on your router.

Firstly, get rid of IP6, do that by clicking on the network icon in the corner of your screen and selecting 'Netowkring and security' - 'manage network connections' and then right click on the wireless network and go to properties, you will probably be asked to Continue or cancel for security, hit continue.

Take out the tick in the Internet Protocol V6 and see if you can connect, if so, good, if not, go on to the next stage - your wireless router.

Wireless Router -

This can be tricky as you need a machine that can connect to your network, you'll need another PC on Windows XP or Vista or you will need to use a CAT5 network cable to prceed.

Most wireless routers have a Web Page administration, go to that web page, if you don't know how to find i then you probably should be asking someone else to do this but most people who set up wireless can do it.

Once logged on to your wirless router you need to look for your wirless network security, you may find that you are connected via wep or wpa.

You will need to change this to WPA2, if your router has the option to connect via WPA+WPA2 then you are laughing, set that and let the router reboot.

Posted 12:11 AM | 2 Comments | Permalink

Tips to identify and resolve DLL Issures related to Malware

Tuesday 15th September 2009 8:43 PM

Tips To Identify And Resolve DLL Issues Related To Malware

Malware is a short form of the phrase malicious software and can be defined as a piece of software that attempts to damage, modify, monitor or steal the information stored in your computer by secretly infiltrating your system. Malware causes billions of dollars of losses to our economy every year. All kinds of computer viruses, Trojans, worms, adware and spyware are a part of the generic term malware.

One of the common modes of assault chosen by malware programs to inflict damage to your computer is by attacking important files on your system. This may prevent you from using your applications and can display frequent errors. In severe cases, malware infections may also cause frequent system crashes and prevent you from getting any work done on your system.

One of the common categories of files that fall prey to malware is DLL files or Dynamic Link Library Files. Since these files are common files which are frequently called upon by various applications, any problems with these files will disrupt the functioning of your computer.

However, there are certain simple ways that you can use to identify and fix your DLL error caused by malware infections. The following are some of the symptoms of malware infection:

1. If you suddenly start getting increased incidents of DLL file errors, there are chances that your system has been infected.
2. If you are getting a DLL file not found error despite the file being present in the system, indicates a malware infection.
3. In addition to DLL file errors, if you find that your computer has become painfully slow, or you find any unusual behavior like unknown icons, tools or pop-ups appearing on your desktop or browser, it may be a spyware or a virus.

Resolving DLL errors caused by Malware:

1. The best way to remove as well as prevent any further DLL errors is to never operate your computer without installing reliable and up-to-date anti-spyware and anti-virus tools on your computer. Installation alone does not provide adequate protection from malware. You must:

   1. Keep real-time protection always turned ON so that no malware can creep in stealthily.

   2. Always update the virus and spyware definitions to ensure protection from the latest malware.

   3. Perform a thorough scan of the system every week to eliminate any existing malware.

2. Adopt safe computing practices. Stay away from dubious websites, programs and emails. Never download anything from a source you do not trust. Many times, malware disguises itself as a DLL file and you may download it thinking that it is a genuine file. For example, you may get a message that "granny2.dll was not found" or "dimsntfy.dll not found". To fix this issue, you may download the missing DLL file from the Internet and copy it to your computer. However, the chances are usually high that the file you download is not genuine but a rogue disguised as the real file.

3. Finally, no computer is protected from malware without the support of a good quality registry cleaner tool. This is because anti-virus and anti-spyware tools while removing the malware are unable to completely repair the changes that these malware may have made in the registry entries. Registry tools use advanced algorithms to repair all registry related-errors including DLL errors inflicted by malware.

Posted 8:43 PM | 0 Comments | Permalink

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