Friday, November 12, 2010

Top 10 Ways to Boost the Performance of Windows Vista

Windows Vista comes with impressive Graphics User Interface or GUI such as Flip 3D and Aero interface. Windows Vista also features improved security. However, there are several ways you can get even better performance from Windows Vista yourself, or call a remote computer repair company such as www.fixit99.com.

1. Get rid of unwanted startup programs
You can improve performance of your Windows Vista OS by disabling unwanted or unused startup programs. These programs feed on the resources of the OS and it is particularly important to disable them if you have bought your Vista OS with software programs incorporated. You should only let critical software programs such as antispyware and antivirus to run on startup. You can disable these utilities using the System Configuration utility.

2. Increase your RAM
You can optimize performance on Windows Vista by increasing your systems RAM or Random Access Memory. If you are upgrading from Windows XP, which can comfortably run on a RAM of 512MB, you need at least 1 GB of ram for Vista. The recommended RAM for Windows Vista is 2 GB, especially if you are running graphical features.

3. Use ReadyBoost utility
You can use a ReadyBoost utility to make your computer think that more RAM is available. The ReadyBoost utility enables the computer to use a USB device or a chip containing flash memory to increase the system’s memory.

4. Install a graphics adapter
You should install a graphics adapter for optimum performance. A graphics adapter takes some of the graphics processing tasks away from the computer and this increases system performance. The graphics adapter should be Vista Premium Certified to avoid compatibility problems.

5. Disable unnecessary visual enhancements
A simple and effective way of optimizing is to disable unnecessary visual enhancements. Vista has many of these and they include such things as fading/sliding menus, shadows for mice menus and pointer, and animations during maximization and minimization of windows. These visual enhancements are appealing, but they slow down the computer. You can do this thorough the ‘Adjust Visual Effects’ link in the Control Panel.

6. Use the Cleanup utility of your OS
You should use the Cleanup utility for Vista for optimized performance. You should also use the Disk Defragmenter tool to optimize performance. This takes care of fragmented and unwanted files which can generate errors and even cause system crushes. You can schedule the defragmenting and the cleanup in Windows Vista.

7. Remove the Sidebar
One of the most prominent features in Windows Vista is the sidebar. This is an attractive feature, but it is not really necessary, especially if you have low RAM. You can remove it through the ‘Properties’ option under the side bar.

8. Disable aero interference
To improve performance in Windows Vista, consider disabling aero interference. This interface can be removed through the ‘Windows Color and Appearance’ option under ‘Performance’.

9. Regular scanning
You should scan the PC regularly for Malware such as Viruses, Trojan Horses, Spyware, Adware, and Worms. You should update the Antivirus regularly and you should initiate scans manually on a regular basis.

10. Seek remote computer support
To optimize performance on a computer running on Windows Vista, you should consider taking help of an expert computer repair professional. Expert advice is important because you will know what to do and what not to do to achieve optimum performance of your pc. You can also seek remote computer support offered by various companies such as www.fixit99.com.
now part of www.SmartGuy.com.
, which offers 24x7 online computer repair services while you can watch your pc being repaired by US-based professionals. The computer repair services are offered for as low as $19.95. What else you can ask for?

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Eight Commands for Registry Clean on XP Systems

Registry errors are very common in Windows XP Operating Systems. These problems include NTLDR is Missing and Invalid boot.ini, among others. Before enlisting the services of a computer repair technician or seeking remote computer support, you should attempt some home computer tech support to save time and money.

1. One such command is the change to root directory command. This command takes you to the root folder – this is a necessity for registry clean-up. At the prompt, run the C:\CD.. command.

2. Another registry clean-up command is the modification of attributes of the boot.ini file. This file determines which OS to load if you have a multi-operating-system computer, it determines the OS to be displayed during startup, and it also controls the boot process. If there is a problem with this file, you may need to recreate the file. However, you should note that this is a hidden read-only file since it is a system file. You will therefore need to change the file attribute first. To do this, on the prompt, run
C:\ ATTRIB -H C:\\boot.ini, C:\ ATTRIB -S C:\\boot.ini, and C:\ ATRIB -R C:\\boot.ini.

3. Yet another registry clean-up command is the deletion of the boot.ini file. This is necessary because repairing the boot.ini file requires the rebuilding of the file and you therefore need to remove the old file. To delete the file, simply run C:\ del boot.ini.

4. To recreate the boot.ini file, use the C:\ BOOTCFG /Rebuild command. This command is a diagnostic tool and its main purpose is checking all your system files that are loaded on OS startup. Some of the tasks performed by the C:\ BOOTCFG /Rebuild command include the recompilation of the boot.ini file, the rectification of system errors, and the removal, replacing, and/or repair of corrupt system files that may be disrupting the boot process.

5. Another command for registry clean-up is checking the HDD integrity. The actual command for this is C:\ CHKDSK /R /F. The ‘/F’ parameter checks bad sectors on the HDD while the ‘/R’ parameter marks these bad sectors. This command is not always a necessary.

6. The C:\ FIXBOOT command writes a new boot sector. This command is also important in that it cleans up anything left behind during the recreation of the boot.ini file and system files. You will be prompted whether you want to rewriting the contents of the boot sector as a security measure. Simply press the ‘y’ and press ‘enter’.

7. Another common command during registry clean-up is exiting the Recovery Console and rebooting the system. To do this, use the C:\ EXIT command. When you restart the system, all the changes will take effect.

8. You can also do registry clean-up using Registry cleaning software tools. You can get these tools online. If this is the case, the commands used will depend on the particular tool you are using. These tools will help you remove registry keys. Programs installed on Windows XP leave behind registry tools, even when the applications are uninstalled. The Registry cleaning software tools remove unwanted files.

In case, you are unable to perform these steps or facing some other software related problem, you must opt for the 24x7 services provided by computer tech support offered by a remote pc support company and get these problems immediately fixed.


"Copyright 2010 Fixit99.com, Mike Scherenberg. For more information or to view this original article, please visit http://www.fixit99.com

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Windows 2000 Repair Utility for Registry

If you have Microsoft Windows 2000, the registry will experience some problems from time to time. However, you can do home computer repair to take care of these problems. If things go beyond your control, you can even involve a computer repair technician working with a remote computer support company and save considerable amount of time and money. The remote pc support technicians help you resolve all your computer related problems within few minutes. But, before we discuss the services of computer tech support company, let’s understand the functioning of Windows 2000 repair utility.

The main reason for registry problems with Windows 2000 is the small size of the registry, which is only 16 MB. Whenever this size exceeds 10 MB, you start getting startup problems.

Note that if your registry is corrupt, there is a risk of serious system errors and the computer may even become unbootable. The most widely used Windows 2000 repair utility is the Chkreg.exe command-line. Chkreg.exe is used for Windows 2000 Server, 2000 Advanced Server, 2000 Professional Edition, 2000, 2000 SP2, and 2000 SP3. You should not use the utility for SBS 2003 because conclusive tests have not been carried out. Chkreg.exe will help you determine the size of the registry and this will help you make informed decisions. You can get Chkreg.exe from Microsoft’s download center.

Using Chkreg.exe command
Chkreg.exe command can be used with different options. chkreg /f filename [.log] will specify the name o the registry hive you intend to analyze. chkreg /f/H: will give you access to Chkreg.exe help. chkreg /f/D [ level ] will help you delete subkeys that fall on the level specified. The whole hive will be deleted if you do not specify the level. You should be very careful not to delete what you do not intend to delete. You will be prompted before deletion as a security measure. chkreg /f/S [ bin ] option is used to display usage of space on the bin you have specified. If you do not specify the bin, what will be displayed will be the space usage for your entire hive. chkreg /f/C option is used to compact the hive specified. Note that this utility will not compact a corrupt or bad hive. chkreg /f/L will detect all lost spaces. chkreg /f/R will repair the hive. chkreg /f/V will enable Verbose mode for more detailed information.

Microsoft Office 2000 is a major cause of registry problems in Windows 2000. To use the this registry repair utility if you had installed SR-1 update before May 12, 2000, you will first need to install the Office 2000 Service Release 1a (SR-1a) Update. This includes the Windows 2000 Registry Repair Utility and Office 2000 SR-1.

Note that some of your data may be lost during registry clean-up or fixing, but this depends on the type of the problem. You should be careful when dealing with registry because there is a risk of serious system problems. You should therefore do all you can to prevent the occurrence of registry problems in the first place. You can use registry maintenance tools for this. These are available online, but you should make sure it is OS-specific. These tools perform both preventive and proactive monitoring of your system. You should therefore create a backup, especially for data on the C partition, and you should create a system restore point.


"Copyright 2010 Fixit99.com, Mike Scherenberg. For more information or to view this original article, please visit http://www.fixit99.com

What to Do When I Get System Corrupt Error?

What is System corruption?

Windows OS comprises of lot of core important system files and the configuration settings etc are stored in the system registry. These aspects govern the complete OS and when one or both of these are affected they give constant errors known as system errors. Computer repairing becomes very important when the system corruption occurs and causes the system to behave abruptly.

How to solve errors involving system corruption?

The major reasons for system corruption are -
• Virus and malwares
• Invalid registry keys
• Outdated device driver
• System file corruption due to installation of software

These errors can be overcome by following these computer troubleshooting methods -

1) System Restore
2) Running a complete system scan
3) Using the Windows Repair and system commands

System Restore – System restore is a feature provided in windows which stores a snapshot of the registry on random days. It provides a list of dates to the user and once a date is chosen puts a copy of the registry to that date. This works well when a new device driver or software is installed which has corrupted the system files by installing its files within the registry. System restore puts back the good registry back and helps the system to recover completely. To run the system restore follow these steps –

1) Click on Start and Select All programs
2) Browse to Accessories and then select System tools
3) Choose System restore and select a date prior to the installation of any software or driver installation.
4) After selecting the date click Next

It will apply the settings and restart the system and the system will be clear from these system errors.

Running a complete system scan– Viruses always attack system files and try to take complete control of the system. Viruses are so advanced now that they are designed to compromise the windows shell and then download more files from the internet to affect it further. Disabling system restore is important as the shadow copies can have traces of the virus. To disable system restore follow these steps –

1) Right clicking on My computer and click on Properties
2) Select System Protection from System window
3) Select C: from the Available drives and then click on Configure
4) Select Turn Off System Restore

Once system restore is disabled you should run an antivirus update and then run a comprehensive scan of the system. This will completely take care of any virus or malware infections of the system. It is also advised to keep your system up to date by running the windows update feature which updates the important system files.
Running the Windows Repair – Running the repair will try to replace corrupted system files in the system and to achieve this follow these steps –

1) Put the Windows OS disk into the drive and boot from it
2) When prompted ‘press any key to boot from the cd’, press Enter
3) Choose the language and then select the option to repair OS
4) Select the Windows OS to repair and select Next (this is when you have multiple OS)

5) At the system recovery options menu, select Startup repair
Once the affected files are replaced it will automatically restart the system.
You can follow the above steps to solve any errors even without a computer repair technician’s assistance. These steps will completely eliminate errors related to system corruption. Regular system and antivirus updates keeps the system from getting affected by any malicious files. Buying original version of windows OS software is also very important aspect to keep your system free from all kind of unwanted errors.
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"Copyright 2010 Fixit99.com, Mike Scherenberg. For more information or to view this original article, please visit http://www.fixit99.com

Monday, September 13, 2010

How to Uninstall Office 2007?

Office 2007 is an Office productivity suite designed and marketed by Microsoft. It is a package which contains modules like spreadsheet, document creator, digital presentation creator, digital publisher etc. There are multiple versions based on the packages involved.

Steps involved in computer troubleshooting and uninstalling Office 2007
There are multiple ways to uninstall Office 2007 from the system some of them are listed below –

1) Uninstalling from the Control Panel
2) Using the Office 2007 DVD
3) Using System Restore
4) Registry Removal

Uninstalling from the Control Panel – This method uses the windows uninstaller program to remove Office 2007 from your computer. To achieve this follow these steps –
1) Click on Start and browse to Control Panel
2) Click on Program and Features option, this brings a complete list of programs present on your system
3) Choose Microsoft Office 2007 and select uninstall
This is the most basic method of uninstalling the productivity suite from your system.

Using the Office 2007 DVD – Microsoft has built-in uninstall facility in all their Office softwares, which acts as computer repair software and helps in uninstalling Office 2007. This is actually the best method to safely uninstall Microsoft office 2007 from your system. The steps include –
1) Place in the DVD in the DVD rom drive
2) The DVD will run automatically and display 3 options on the screen
3) Choose the Uninstall or Remove option and click Next
4) Select all the installed packages and click Next

It will take around 2-3 minutes to uninstall all the packages from the system and after this process Office 2007 will be completely installed from the system.
Using System Restore – You should use this process after you have tried the above steps. System restore is a feature provided by the Windows OS. The system randomly keeps a snapshot of the complete registry as a backup on some random dates and the system puts it back once the particular date is selected.

By choosing the date before Office 2007 was installed system restore puts the registry back to the selected date. Once this is done all folders and registry entries are placed according to that date so this will remove the Office 2007 from the system completely. To run the system restore follow these steps.
1) Click on Start
2) Select All programs
3) Go to Accessories and then Click on System tools
4) Browse to System restore and choose a date prior to the installation of Office 2007.
5) After selecting the date click Next

System restore will take some time to apply the setting to the selected date and once the settings are applied it will restart the system.
Registry Removal – This is the best way and the most dangerous way to remove office 2007 from the system manually. It is better to keep a manual backup of the registry before making these changes and taking help of a computer tech support professional is advisable. To achieve this follow the steps-

1) Click on Start and click on Run and type Regedit
2) Browse to the subkey HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0
3) Delete all the folders below this subkey
4) Browse to keys listed and delete them
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\12.0
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Delivery\SourceEngine\Downloads\*0FF1CE}- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*0FF1CE*
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UpgradeCodes\*F01FEC
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\*F01FEC
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ose
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Features\*F01FEC
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\*F01FEC
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\UpgradeCodes\*F01FEC
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Win32Assemblies\*Office12*
This will remove the office 2007 from the system completely

All the above steps mentioned are to remove the Office 2007 completely from the system and these methods should be performed in the order given. The first three steps can be performed easily, but the fourth step can be a little tricky and it is best to take the help of computer repair technician if you do not have much knowledge of the registry.


"Copyright 2010 Fixit99.com, Mike Scherenberg. For more information or to view this original article, please visit http://www.fixit99.com

How to Uninstall Adobe Products?

With the rise of interactive web pages the popularity of plug-ins has also increased. Plug-ins help in enhancing the performance of the browser and in running the desired software within the browser environment. Some of the most common and widely used plug-ins are provided by Adobe and they are Adobe reader, Adobe Flash and Adobe Shockwave.

What are Adobe products and when to uninstall them?
Adobe is a software company which provides products in the areas of multimedia, web documents and Web development. Some of the popular plug-ins provided by Adobe are Flash, Reader and shockwave player. The plug-ins help in viewing documents and running online videos in the browser and when any of the plug-ins get corrupted, they pop up errors within the browser.

There are 4 reasons for uninstalling the adobe plug-ins and they are:
1) When it corrupts the browsers and gives constant errors
2) When a newer version is unable to update and overwrite the old version
3) When one of the Adobe plug-ins corrupts another plug-in
4) When a website behaves abruptly with the installed plug-in

To overcome these errors, you will need to uninstall the adobe products. You do not need any remote PC support or help of a computer repair technician to run you through the un-installation process, and you can easily do this on your own.
Uninstalling Adobe Flash player plug-in

1) Open the web browser and browse to the Adobe website and select flash player
2) Download the flash player uninstaller based on your OS
3) Close all the applications which uses flash like browser, instant messengers etc
4) Browse to the location where the downloaded file is present
5) Double click on the file and it will completely remove the flash player from the system.

It is very important to close all the applications which use flash else the uninstaller will give an error.

Uninstalling the Shockwave player
1) First close all the browser and Instant messenger and programs which uses shockwave
2) Click on Start go to Control Panel
3) Select Programs and Features or Add/Remove Programs
4) From the list choose Shockwave player
5) Click on Uninstall
6) This will completely uninstall the shockwave player from the system

You can also download the shockwave uninstaller from the Adobe website and run the software to uninstall it from the system.

Uninstall Adobe reader

You can uninstall Adobe Reader from the system using the following steps:
1) Close all the browsers
2) Click on Start
3) Go to Control Panel
4) Select Add/Remove Programs or Programs and Features depending on the type of OS
5) Choose Adobe Acrobat reader from the list of programs
6) Click on Uninstall

This will completely uninstall the Adobe reader from the system. If the problem with acrobat reader continues you can remove it from the registry. It is advised to take the help of a computer repair technician if you have limited knowledge of windows registry.

1) Click on Start
2) Click on Run
3) Type Regedit and Click on OK
4) Browse to the keys given below and delete them

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Reader
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Adobe Reader
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Repair\Adobe Reader
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\68AB67CA7DA73301B7448A0000000020
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A80000000002}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\68AB67CA7DA73301B7448A0000000020
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Features\68AB67CA7DA73301B7448A0000000020
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\{358E6F10-DE8A-4602-8424-179CA217F8EE}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\{9C6A861C-B233-4994-AFB1-C158EE4FC578}

Once this is done you can browse to the program files folder and then delete the folder for Adobe Acrobat.

The above steps are used to remove Adobe products from any windows OS based system. These steps ensure that they are removed completely from the system and any error occurring due to them can be resolved. Adobe products have dedicated knowledge base web pages which act as computer tech support in itself and help in solving all kinds of errors.


"Copyright 2010 Fixit99.com, Mike Scherenberg. For more information or to view this original article, please visit http://www.fixit99.com

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Enabling Automatic Defragmentation

Windows accesses files by looking them up in the File Allocation Table, which stores the segments of the file in whichever memory space is available. Over a period of time, hundreds of broken up files lie all over the hard drive. The computer then takes a lot of time to load a file as it has to search for the fragments of the file all over the hard drive.

Disk defragmentation helps to put these fragments together so as to reduce the time taken to access the file. While some people are of the opinion that defragmentation leads to optimising the pc, others are of the view that too much of it can shorten the life of hard disk. If you are in doubt, you can consult a computer repair technician to know how often should defragmentation be done.

Before defragging your pc:• Take a backup of your files on a CD or external hard disk.
• Close all running programs inclucing the ones in the background like antivirus etc. (Enlist the help of remote pc support personnel to put off the hidden programs if you do not know how.)
• Ensure constant power supply. If the power goes off in the midst of a defragging session, it could lead to permanent damage of the hard drive.)
There are many ways to defrag your computer.

From the Control Panel• Start > Control Panel -> Performance and Maintenance.
• Select Scheduled Tasks and double-click on ‘Add Scheduled Task’.
• When the Wizard opens, click on the Next button and then Browse to C:\WINDOWS\system32.
• Click defrag.exe and then the Open button. Now give it a name and set the frequency with which the defrag must run. Follow the wizard to Finish.
• An icon with the name you have given appears in the right pane. Right click on the icon and select Properties.
• In the Run text box, you can add the drive you want to defragment like this: C:\WINDOWS\system32\defrag.exe d:
• Click the OK button and the task will be executed at the scheduled date and time.

From the registry
Note: This method involves making changes in the registry. So, if you do not have enough knowledge about the registry, please get in touch with an online computer repair company such as fixit99.com or computer technician who will help you to take a backup of the registry before you make any modifications.
• From the Start Menu, choose Run. Type ‘regedit’ in the box and press Enter.
• In the registry editor that comes up, browse down to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
• Navigate to Software\ Microsoft\ Dfrg\ BootOptimizeFunction.
• In the right pane check ‘enable’ is present. Otherwise you have to create a new one. This is done by
o Right click in the right pane and select New-> String value.
o Type in Enable.
• Now double-click on Enable to bring up a box where you can change the values.
• Type ‘N’ to disable the automatic defrag program or ‘Y’ to enable the disk fragmentation to happen automatically.
• Exit the window and reboot your system.
All in all, it is a balance between the speed of the computer and the life of the hard disk. So schedule your pc accordingly.

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"Copyright 2010 Fixit99.com, Mike Scherenberg. For more information or to view this original article, please visit http://www.fixit99.com

Enable or Disable Run commands specific to the registry

The registry is a database of startup commands and system specifications. It is like the INI files of older systems. It is used to keep track of hardware, software and memory. When Windows is started, the registry runs the commands needed to put the startup applications on the desktop.

There are two cases when you might want to enable or disable the Run commands from the registry:

Caution: Before you attempt to change the registry, please take a complete backup because the registry changes cannot be undone easily. Ask an expert computer repair technician for directions to do the same if necessary.

Case I
Disable Run Command from the Registry
Sometimes, you may need to startup the computer without launching a number of application programs that are specified in the registry like the Taskbar items (clock, antivirus, internet connections, messenger etc.).

There are four main keys in the registry dealing with the startup:

Run and RunOnce of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and
Run and RunOnce of HKEY_CURRENT_USER

Where HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE is the System key and HKEY_CURRENT_USER is the user key.

Locating the key
• Click on Start -> Run. Type regedit and hit the Enter key to open the Regedit window.
• Use the left window pane to navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. By clicking on the + sign navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \
Policies\ Explorer.

• Check if the following value names are there:
o DisableLocalMachineRun
o DisableCurrentUserRun
o DisableLocalMachineRunOnce
o DisableCurrentUserRunOnce
• If not, create them by
o Right-clicking on the right pane of the regedit window
o Select New -> DWORD value
o Type these names one by one
• Double-click the value name you want to change. A small window will open where you can change the data value by putting 0 for disabled and 1 for enabled.
• Exit the registry window and reboot the system for the changes to take place.

Since this is a registry change, it is always better to take the help of computer repair services or remote pc support experts who will help to tweak your pc in a safe way.

Case II

Enable Run Command from the Registry
Sometimes, virus attacks can remove the Run command from the Start Menu or not allow certain files to execute. Then it is important to check if the Run has been disabled by the virus in the registry and enable the Run command.

First use antivirus software to remove the virus. You can use the services of online computer repair companies such as fixit99.com to help you do this. Then,

• Access the registry keys by navigating to c:\windows\system32\ regedt32.exe.
• Move own the tree to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Policies\ Explorer.
• On the right hand pane locate the NoRun item and double click on it. Change the data value to 0 (i.e. disable the NoRun thereby enabling the Run command).
• Exit the registry and reboot.
• The Run command may be displayed once again through the Taskbar Properties option.

Remote computer support staff can help to solve problems related to running of programs in the background thus slowing down your pc, or non execution of programs due to virus attacks. Please seek their guidance particularly when dealing with making changes in the registry of your computer.

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"Copyright 2010 Fixit99.com, Mike Scherenberg. For more information or to view this original article, please visit http://www.fixit99.com

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Quick and Simple Steps to Perform Start Menu Repair

The Start Menu is an important feature in Windows Vista and indeed all Windows Operating Systems. The feature supports searches, program launches, and system configuration. There are several problems involving the Start Menu, but if you are a novice, you can get in touch with a remote pc repair company or remote pc support professional such as fixit99.com to resolve them. You have to be the system’s administrator to perform these repairs. You will need to modify your computer’s registry to take care of most Start Menu problems. However, note that if you damage the registry, your system might be rendered unbootable. For this reason, you must take a backup of your registry before any modification.

Empty ‘All Programs’ menu
One Start Menu problem is an empty ‘All Programs’ menu. To fix this problem, simply run the computer’s regsvr32 /i shell32.dll command. After this, restart the computer for the changes to take effect. If the links to your programs are still not visible after a restart, check the Shell Folder data in the computer’s registry. To access the Registry Editor, run the regedit.exe command. Check the entries under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ExplorerUserShellFolders and make sure you find %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs value data under the value name Programs and %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu under Start Menu. If an expandable string is missing, simply add it and restart the computer.

Another common Start Menu problem is a missing Start Menu option. If the Properties dialog box does not have the Taskbar Start Menu option, you will be forced to use Classic Start Menu. To solve this problem, access the Registry Editor. Under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer, set to zero the value of NoSimpleStartMenu. After this, restart the computer for the changes to take effect.

If the ‘Turn Off Computer’ icon is missing from the Start Menu, run the Registry Editor and then set to zero the value of NoClose. The locations for this are HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer. After doing this, restart the computer for the changes to take effect.

If you accidentally push the F11 Key and you are surfing the internet, the Internet Windows will take over the whole screen and you will not have access to the browser menus, the Start Menu button, and the Taskbar. To repair this, simply hit the F11 button again.

The Start Menu button can disappear if the Explore Crushes. Windows Explorer can crush due to system instability due to such thing as overloading and it can also be caused by a Virus attack. To solve this problem, open the Windows Task Manager by pressing Ctl+Alt+Delete, open the menu, open ‘New Task’ and choose ‘Run’, and then type in Explorer.exe.

Before taking the actions detailed above, you should do computer troubleshooting, particularly if you do not know the reason for the damage to the Start Menu. One way to troubleshoot is to run a virus scan. Install an updated Antivirus software program and run a complete system scan. Another effective troubleshooting tool is using freeware designed to restore Taskbar and Start Menu. There are many of these on the internet. If you still cannot take care of the problem, seek computer tech support before re-installing the OS. There are many remote pc repair companies such as fixit99.com that can help you fix this issue or any other problem that you are facing.

"Copyright 2010 Fixit99.com, Mike Scherenberg. For more information or to view this original article, please visit http://www.fixit99.com

Clearing the pagefile when system shuts down

Windows operating system uses virtual memory to increase the speed of operation. The RAM is divided into many equal sized pages. The memory needed by different programs is also divided into similar sized pages. When many programs are running simultaneously, Windows memory manager moves the desired pages from the disk into RAM to run the program. When another program is worked on, the memory manager moves the pages of the older program into a pagefile on the disk (usually pagefile.sys). The pagefile is usually one and half times the size of RAM.
During computer troubleshooting, it has been found that many third-party programs store sensitive information like passwords in plain text in the pagefile temporarily. However, since the pagefile is not erased by Windows, it results in insecure data being present in the computer thereby decreasing the security of the system.
Configuring the system to clear the pagefile when the system shuts down is the only solution to this problem. Though this method increases the security, it prolongs the time taken for shutdown.
A word of caution:
The registry needs to be modified to clear the pagefile. Incorrect modification of the registry has disastrous effects. Therefore, please take support and help from experts in home computer repair or from remote pc support to backup your registry before you make any changes to it. Then, if there is any problem the original registry can be restored with their advice.
• Start the registry window either by Start -> Run -> type ‘regedit’ ->Enter or by double-clicking the regedt32.exe in C:\Windows\system32.
• In the left pane are a number of folders. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. Expand this folder.
• Now click on the + sign on the SYSTEM folder. Navigate down the tree to go to CurrentControlSet.
• Click on + again on CurrentControlSet. Look for Control and then Session Manager folder.
• In Session Manager folder click on Memory Management.
• On the right pane of your registry editor, check for ClearPageFileAtShutdown. If it is not there then create it by:
o Right click on the right pane of the registry editor.
o Select New -> DWORD.
o Name the new DWORD value ClearPageFileAtShutdown.
• Double-click ClearPageFileAtShutdown. A value edit box will pop up.
• Type 0 to disable Clear Page File or type 1 to enable Clear Page File.
• Exit the registry editor window and reboot your system for the changes to register.
Enabling or disabling the ClearPageFileAtShutdown is a choice to be made by the user. A computer repair technician will be able to guide you depending on your usage of programs. On a system with heavy usage, the pagefile could be quite large, leading to security risk and a drop in the performance of the computer. Then it may be a good idea to enable clearing of the pagefile, even though it might mean longer shutdown period.
However, if you have a large RAM, say (1GB) and are not into heavy software it might be a good idea to do away with the paging file itself.
• From the Control Panel -> System->Advanced ->Settings ->Advanced.
• Select the Change tab and then the ‘No Paging File’ button and click Set.
This will remove the paging file from your system.
Consult a remote computer support company such as fixit99.com for best options.

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"Copyright 2010 Fixit99.com, Mike Scherenberg. For more information or to view this original article, please visit http://www.fixit99.com

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Some Benefits of Sleep Mode on Windows Vista

Sleep mode on Windows Vista involves opening the Start menu and clicking on the Power button. Next, follow the simple prompts you get. You certainly do not need the services of a computer repair technician to do this.

When in the sleep mode, the RAM or Random Access Memory is on, but the processor is off. This means, the computer reduces power consumption during sleep mode. This is particularly important if you will not be using the computer for a considerably long time. In a typical PC, the computer consumes a tenth of the energy it would in normal conditions. A laptop on the other hand will consume only 1 to 2% of its battery power on sleep mode.

Sleep mode on Vista is advantageous in that you can set the computer such that it asks for your password on wake up. This is an important security feature if you do not want others to access the computer.

Sleep mode on Vista is advantageous because all you need to do is press the power button. Some computers have sleep buttons, but you can choose the button to use for this feature. Wake up is also easy because you simply need to press the sleep or the power button again. On notebooks, you can set the computer in such a way that when you close the lid the computer goes into sleep mode. If you find sleep mode inconveniencing, you can always deactivate it.

When a computer goes into sleep mode, all open programs and documents are saved. This is advantageous because it means you will have a quick access to your documents once you resume full power. Putting a computer on sleep mode is the equivalent of putting a DVD player on pause – the computer will immediately stop what it is doing and it will resume where you left it. When you put your computer on sleep mode under Windows Vista, you will be able to get away from potentially embarrassing situations without turning off whatever you were doing. An example of this is when you are viewing pictures and someone walks into the room. This option is also advantageous over standby mode because you lose unsaved data when you put your computer on standby.

Putting a computer on sleep mode under Windows Vista is advantageous in that it takes a few seconds for the computer to resume full power. This is not the case with other options such as hibernation.

Sleep mode takes care of problems associated with standby mode and hibernate mode in Vista OS. The greatest drawback of putting a computer in standby mode is loss of unsaved data incase of power failure. In sleep mode, status information will be written in your computer’s memory and this means data will not be lost. On hibernation mode, data is saved on the HDD and the whole computer is turned off. This means restarting the computer will take time, just like normal booting. However, this is not the case with sleep mode where wake up takes only a few seconds.

If you are facing problems with your Windows vista pc, you can contact a home computer repair company such as fixit99.com that provides reliable computer tech support at unbelievable prices starting from $19.95. They have computer troubleshooting experts, who are ready to go an extra mile to fix any type of software related problem on your pc. No more visits to a computer repair centre when you can get remote computer support without leaving your home or office.

"Copyright 2010 Fixit99.com, Mike Scherenberg. For more information or to view this original article, please visit http://www.fixit99.com

Top 10 Ways to Boost the Performance of Windows Vista

Windows Vista comes with impressive Graphics User Interface or GUI such as Flip 3D and Aero interface. Windows Vista also features improved security. However, there are several ways you can get even better performance from Windows Vista, even without calling in a computer repair technician.

1. Get rid of unwanted startup programs

You can improve performance of your Windows Vista OS by disabling unwanted or unused startup programs. These programs feed on the resources of the OS and it is particularly important to disable them if you have bought your Vista OS with software programs incorporated. You should only let critical software programs such as antispyware and antivirus to run on startup. You can disable these utilities using the System Configuration utility.

2. Increase your RAM

You can optimize performance on Windows Vista by increasing your systems RAM or Random Access Memory. If you are upgrading from Windows XP, which can comfortably run on a RAM of 512MB, you need at least 1 GB of ram for Vista. The recommended RAM for Windows Vista is 2 GB, especially if you are running graphical features.

3. Use ReadyBoost utility

You can use a ReadyBoost utility to make your computer think that more RAM is available. The ReadyBoost utility enables the computer to use a USB device or a chip containing flash memory to increase the system’s memory.

4. Install a graphics adapter

You should install a graphics adapter for optimum performance. A graphics adapter takes some of the graphics processing tasks away from the computer and this increases system performance. The graphics adapter should be Vista Premium Certified to avoid compatibility problems.

5. Disable unnecessary visual enhancements

A simple and effective way of optimizing is to disable unnecessary visual enhancements. Vista has many of these and they include such things as fading/sliding menus, shadows for mice menus and pointer, and animations during maximization and minimization of windows. These visual enhancements are appealing, but they slow down the computer. You can do this thorough the ‘Adjust Visual Effects’ link in the Control Panel.

6. Use the Cleanup utility of your OS

You should use the Cleanup utility for Vista for optimized performance. You should also use the Disk Defragmenter tool to optimize performance. This takes care of fragmented and unwanted files which can generate errors and even cause system crushes. You can schedule the defragmenting and the cleanup in Windows Vista.

7. Remove the Sidebar

One of the most prominent features in Windows Vista is the sidebar. This is an attractive feature, but it is not really necessary, especially if you have low RAM. You can remove it through the ‘Properties’ option under the side bar.

8. Disable aero interference

To improve performance in Windows Vista, consider disabling aero interference. This interface can be removed through the ‘Windows Color and Appearance’ option under ‘Performance’.

9. Regular scanning

You should scan the PC regularly for Malware such as Viruses, Trojan Horses, Spyware, Adware, and Worms. You should update the Antivirus regularly and you should initiate scans manually on a regular basis.

10. Seek remote computer support

To optimize performance on a computer running on Windows Vista, you should consider taking help of an expert computer repair professional. Expert advice is important because you will know what to do and what not to do to achieve optimum performance of your pc. You can also seek remote computer support offered by various companies such as fixit99.com, which offers 24x7 online computer repair services while you can watch your pc being repaired by US-based professionals. The computer repair services are offered for as low as $19.95. What else you can ask for?

"Copyright 2010 Fixit99.com, Mike Scherenberg. For more information or to view this original article, please visit http://www.fixit99.com

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

PC Repair Tips on the Importance of the Antivirus Software

With the advent of technology, we have become more and more connected with the rest of the world via our PCs. We can use e-mail messaging applications to send and receive messages, photos, and a variety of things as attachments. We can use the Internet to read the breaking news, solve crosswords, and even learn new things. We can also use instant messaging applications to call friends, family, and even total strangers. We can always know what is happening across the world in an instant and can even connect with people hundreds and thousands of miles away.
What are viruses?
But all is not hunky dory. As technology improved, so did the menace. One such menace is the computer virus. A virus destroys your computer applications by taking over them and rendering them useless. These viruses clutter your PC and perform tasks that could eventually crash your PC.
Why are viruses dangerous?
Earlier viruses were few and far between and one could actually determine the type of virus. If you knew the symptoms, most of them were easy to detect. However, today’s viruses have evolved and can now cause more harm to your PC. In addition to just viruses, now we also have Trojans, hoaxes, spyware, adware, and jokes, collectively called malware. There are so many varieties of each that it is virtually impossible to detect each one individually.
What is the solution?
One of the best ways to deal with malware is to install reliable antivirus software. Such software contains codes to detect all known malware. And with more malware being created each day, it is important to update antivirus software regularly. That is why most antivirus software comes with regular updates containing definitions of new malware being discovered.

Additionally, with antivirus software, you can schedule regular scans so that all existing malware can be detected. Then, the software will display the list of infected files so that you know what application or data is infected. You can then use the software to remove the files.

Moreover, antivirus software helps your PC prevent malware infestation by scanning each data packet your PC receives. This ensures that your PC is less likely to be infected with a malware.

What if these steps don’t help?
If none of these solutions works, you need to call for help. Here, you have two options. Most common option we use is to call a PC repair expert or take our PC to the person. This is both time consuming and expensive, especially if the person isn’t available. But there is a cheaper, more convenient option that you can use. You can hire a remote PC repair company such as Fixit99.com. These companies offer online technical support and help you fix your PC the very same day. An additional benefit is the fact that these companies do not charge much fee. Best of all, the fee needn’t be paid if your PC isn’t fixed. The silver lining is the fact that all pc repair work is done in front of your eyes, so you don’t need to be scared of what they’re doing to your PC.

PC Repair Tips on the Importance of Registry Cleaning

Windows Registry is the heart of your PC. All information pertaining to your PC, including the software and hardware installed on the PC, various programs is stored in its registry. As you use your PC, install and uninstall applications, use freeware applications, use trial versions of software applications, or don’t shutdown your PC properly, your Windows Registry becomes cluttered, fragmented, and unusable.
How do you know if you need to use a Registry Cleaner?
The first sign of a cluttered, fragmented, and unstable Windows Registry is when the performance of your PC decreases. In such situations, you also face several runtime errors. Whenever you face such a situation, it is a sign that you should use a Registry Cleaner to repair Windows Registry of your PC.
Using a Registry Cleaner
You might wonder how a Registry Cleaner helps the Windows Registry of your PC. A Registry Cleaner helps you in several ways. Let’s learn about them in detail.
Scanning your Windows Registry
One of the key benefits of a Registry Cleaner is the fact that it helps you scanning the registry of your PC for errors. Most Registry Cleaners generate a list of erroneous registry entries, which might be redundant, obsolete, and corrupt. You can go through each entry in the list to determine whether an entry is required or redundant, freeing up a considerable amount of space in your Windows Registry.
Fragmenting your Windows Registry
After you remove all unwanted entries from the Windows Registry of your PC, you can also run a Registry Cleaner for defragmenting the registry of your PC. Defragmentation takes care of registry holes and compresses the registry of your PC, improving its performance substantially.
Creating a backup of your Windows Registry
Another useful feature of your a Registry Cleaner is that it enables you to create a backup of your Windows Registry. If your Windows Registry crashes, you can use this backup to restore the registry of your PC to restore it.
Automating the registry cleaning process
Some Registry Cleaner tools also help you automate registry scans so that you can keep it in proper working order. This Registry Cleaner feature also enables you to delete the entries that the scan indicates as safe to delete.

How often to run a Registry Cleaner tool?
Being the most important component of your PC, it is important to scan it for errors on a regular basis. Most experts indicate that you should ideally scan your registry every six months. However, the frequency of these scans depends on how frequently you install or uninstall software applications, change or update computer hardware, avoid following proper uninstall procedures, download stuff from the Internet, or change the settings of your PC. If you regularly perform any of these, you need to increase the frequency of the scans.
A word of caution
Even though most of the registry repair software are user-friendly, you should be careful while using them on your own. If required, you can reach out to a reliable pc repair expert to handle this task for you. If you want a quick and reliable solution for your pc, you can get in touch with a remote pc repair company such as Fixit99.com, which specializes in online technical support. A remote computer repair company offers you live computer repair help at economical rates.

Moreover, the entire process is completely secure and quick! You can get your pc fixed within few minutes and will not be charged anything if the problem remains unfixed.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Advantages of Remote PC Support

Imagine that you’re working hard on your PC. You have a deadline to meet and documents to prepare. Then, you also have the additional task of preparing invoices and an online meeting with your onsite clients. At such a juncture, you can’t really afford to have your PC break down. Even a little delay is likely to cause havoc to your schedule. But, these are the times when a PC is likelier to break down.

When this happens, it is a hindrance to your schedule. Now, suddenly, you need to locate a PC repair expert, who you can rely on. Of course, the computer repair expert would need to have the time and able to arrive quickly without getting stuck in traffic. Even if all this is arranged for, you need to be sure that the pc repair expert doesn’t need to consult anyone. This is because, if the expert does need to consult someone else to detect or rectify the error in your PC, the person may need to seek external help, which may again cause additional delay. And, it would probably take at least one day to resolve the error in your PC. This is simply a waste of time and money.
But there is no way out, is there?

What is the solution?
One way out of this is to use remote PC support option. Using remote computer support, the technician can simply log onto your PC and detect the problem. When an expert offers online technical support, it generally means that the expert can offer support to multiple people at the same time. It also means that if the expert gets stuck or needs a second opinion, another expert is readily available with the remote PC repair company such as Fixit99.com, either onsite or online. As a result, your problem is taken care of as soon as possible with almost instantaneous results. And you don’t even need to get out of the comfort of your own home.

Is remote PC support safe?
There are over thirty applications that help you connect your PC with another PC. Though most applications are slightly different from each other, they have one feature in common. So, before you can connect your PC with another one, both of you require the same application. But that’s not all. You and the other PC needs to take a lot of security options. One of these security options is using a password. If you use a password, then only user, who knows the password, can access your PC remotely.

Won’t it be inconvenient?
Many of the applications that help you connect to another PC come with the option to chat. This way, you can easily communicate with the PC repair expert and explain your problem in detail. Of course, this option also enables you to ensure that you know what the expert is doing and why.

Are they difficult to operate or expensive?
Though the applications that help you connect to other PCs remotely used to be quite cumbersome in the past, the new ones are very intuitive and easy to operate. What’s more? Some of these applications available free of cost and come with many variations that can be installed as required.

PC Repair Tips on Speeding it Up Frugally

Imagine working on your PC, trying to create a brilliant presentation, one that you’re sure would wow your boss. It is a race against time; the presentation has to be perfect. Your appraisal and, hopefully, promotion depends on it. But your PC is just not cooperating. It is taking ages to save each change and navigating to the next page is just too painful. Your time is running out and you won’t get the time to do a last minute test run. It will have to do.

It is during these times that you wonder if you could speed up your PC – preferably without spending a bomb on it. Well, there are a few ways to speed up your PC, without damaging your pocket too much. Let’s take a look at some of the common ways to do this.

Defragmenting your hard drive
When your PC isn’t working properly, one of the most important things you should do is to defragment your hard drive. Defragmenting your hard drive reorganizes the data on your hard drive so that it is saved together and accessible easily. Actually, defragmenting your hard drive regularly will keep your PC in a better working order.

Stopping an auto scan
Often, operating systems schedule an antivirus scan in the background. Since this searches the entire hard disk, it slows down the PC. To rectify this, all you need to do is open your task manager and search for the auto scan process. Then, just end the process and schedule it to start when you’re not using the PC.

Antivirus scan
Though antivirus scans slow the PC down momentarily, it is a good idea to run antivirus software applications. These applications help you get rid of viruses and other malware, which are one of the most common causes of a slow PC.

Cleaning the registry
Being the backbone of the PC, a cluttered registry will always cause problems. Slowing down of the PC is just one of its symptoms. So, it is a good idea to get a reliable registry cleaner tool and clean the registry of your PC. If the registry of your PC had problems, this action would drastically improve the performance of your PC.

What if these steps don’t help?
If none of these solutions work, it is an indication that something is really wrong with your PC. In such a situation it is best to call for help. Now most of us call a PC repair expert home or take our PC to the person. This is not only time consuming, but can be an expensive option. But there is a cheaper, more convenient option. You can take the help of a remote PC repair company. These companies offer online technical support by using a Remote Desktop Connection to fix your PC the very same day. An additional benefit is the fact that a remote computer repair company such as Fixit99.com charges a nominal fee, which needn’t be paid if your PC isn’t fixed. The silver lining is the fact that all pc repair work is done in front of your very eyes.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

How to instantly fix Internet Explorer 7

If you need to use your pc quite often, it is important to use a web browser that enables you optimize your web surfing experience. If you are using Windows Internet Explorer 7, and your computer is throwing one error after the other, you must first try to understand the real cause of the problem.

What corrupts IE 7?

Installation of add-ons and updates
At times, we install add-ons and software updates in order to improve the Internet experience, which can yield good results in the beginning, but may corrupt certain functions of your computer at a later stage. Similarly, installation of unwanted add-ons, lost registration information, and corrupt registry files can also cause problems with IE7.

If you are facing the computer-related problems specified below, it can be due to improper functioning of IE7 and not with your pc:
· Your system hangs when you try to open a web page causing you to either shut down or restart the pc.
· The web pages take a lot of time to display.
· The broken links are displayed.
· Various programs are displayed in the middle.

If you don’t take immediate steps to fix the problems described above, they may even lead to system failure soon.

How to fix IE7?
You can repair the IE 7 browser by either reinstalling or troubleshooting it. To repair IE7, you need to
first fix the corrupt files or lost information by resetting Internet explorer settings. To reinstall iE7, go to the website of Microsoft Download Center and install Windows XP Service Pack 3.

If you want to optimize your pc, you must clean its registry at regular intervals. However, it is highly recommended not to touch the registry of your pc if you are not an expert. You can scan your pc using effective registry repair software and fix the errors on your PC. If you keep scanning your pc regularly, it will surely help you boost its performance.

If you face any difficulty with troubleshooting and reinstallation of IE7, you can get in touch with a reliable computer repair firm that offers online IT support. The remote computer repair experts working with a pc repair company help you identify and fix the problems the very same day. There’s more! If you choose a cheap computer repair firm like Fixit99.com, offers you expert remote computer repair services starting at $19.95. Other than getting your pc fixed for registry and IE7 errors, you can even approach an online pc repair company for the following pc-related problems:
· Virus detection and removal
· Pc optimization
· Spyware removal
· Random website redirection, hijacked browser
· Inability to view online videos
· Inability to hear sound from speakers
· Inability to send/receive emails
· Instant computer repair and service

How to Boost the Performance of your PC

Slow computers are not just bad for your work, but they are also very frustrating at times. You must have experienced a sudden system shutdown or freezes while working on an important document. Or, you may have come across too many advertisements popping out of every corner of the screen and wondering what to do.

These are frustrating situations, and you can avoid them by enhancing the performance of your computer. There are many ways to boost the performance of your pc. You can contact online support, or you can try your own hand at it. Here are a few tips to increase your computer’s performance:

System properties:
Go to your computer’s Properties dialog box, and select System properties. In the dialog box, you can see an Advanced Properties button- click on it. Click Settings under Performance, and click on ‘Adjust for Best Performance’. This will boost your computer’s speed, but you might not like the visual effects. If you do not feel satisfied, you can click on ‘Let Windows choose what’s best for my computer’.

Terminating background processes:
Sometimes, there are certain background processes that slow down your computer. For example, when a certain process becomes unresponsive, it freezes the computer system, and this requires terminating that process. You can do that by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del key combination. This will open the Task Manager window. Select the Processes tab, and terminate any process that has become unresponsive. But you should have the understanding of the defective process. In case you do not know which process has become unresponsive, do not use this option.

Registry Repair:
The reason for slow performance can also be registry problems. Sometimes, the Windows registry becomes cluttered, and this is the reason for computer slowdown. There are two ways for registry repair: You can either do it manually, or use an automated registry repair tool. Do not try the manual registry repair unless you are a computer pro. If you do not have sufficient knowledge of the registry working, you can take help from remote IT support.

Fragmentation:
With regular use, the computer memory becomes fragmented, and you need to defrag it. Make sure you run a good defrag software or the default defragmenter at least once in a week. This will keep all the free memory at one place, and thus will help you boost the performance of your pc.

Virus Removal:
This is the most common cause of system slowdown. A virus can come from many sources- an infected CD/ DVD/ pen drive, or a harmful website. Do not download any data from any website that is not trusted. Some websites leave viruses or spyware on your system. These spyware copy all your usernames, passwords, and other secure information, and send it to their hosts. In this way, your confidential information can be leaked.

To avoid all such situations, and have a great computing experience, make sure you contact a good online technical support company such as Fixit99.com offering effective pc repair services, which will provide you proper guidance, and help your computer running smoothly. These remote computer repair companies help you in taking care of your PC, and in turn help your business grow.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Defining remote computer technology

Today, many businesses use remote computer technology to either monitor their employees or sharing files and other important information. Remote computer technology is also used to keep tab on employees’ performance. But, before we discuss the benefits of using remote computer technology, let’s first understand this concept. When you access a computer from a distant location through a network connection, you are using remote computer technology. In other words, a computer that you can easily access from any other location by using an Internet connection is called a remote computer.

Advantages of using remote computer technology
Remote computer technology offers many advantages to the pc users. Do you know many colleges and educational institutes are already using remote computer technology to teach their students? Similarly, many business professionals, who are traveling most of the time, also use their home pc as a remote computer and access important files from any other computer. This is because they need not carry their laptop with them, which may contain confidential information.

Who can establish a remote computer connection?
Any computer that can connect to the Internet can be use as a remote computer. A computer, which is connected through a cable Internet connection, can also be accessed remotely. Similarly, you can use this pc to connect access any other remote computer.
Remote computer connection can be established by using remote access software. For example, you must install a software program on the pc, which you want to access remotely and a host program needs to be installed on the pc, which is to be used to access the remote pc. Once you install the software, the host pc can easily access the client pc over a network.

How you can get your pc repaired using remote computer technology
Yes, that’s’ true! You can use remote computer technology to get your pc repaired by leading IT professionals working at Fixit99.com. In fact, it is a cheaper option for many home/office pc users. The pc repair process is a 3-step process, which involves:

1. Speaking with a LIVE pc repair technician
2. Connecting to your pc and you can watch the technician fixing your pc
3. Your PC is fixed the very same day, and you get 100% guaranteed work
4.
With prices starting at $19.95, remote pc repair is one of the US’s leading online computer help, which offers you following services:

· Remote customer support
· Technology consulting services
· Virus and spyware removal
· Antivirus 2010 removal and security tool removal
· Repair of Slow pc
· Registry cleaning

The online computer repair company establishes a one-time secure connection with your pc, and helps you resolve your pc-related problems instantly. If you want to get optimum performance from you pc and eliminate all detected computer errors, the friendly US-based online computer repair experts are ready to help you. The best part about their services is there are no hidden pc repair costs, and you need not pay anything if your problem is not resolved.

PC Repair Tips on Updating Drivers

When we first purchase a PC, everything seems perfect. It boots quickly, the software applications installed on it open speedily, and all devices and software application work are in a mint condition. Yet, as time passes, things do not remain so hunky dory. One of the first things that happens, is that the boot time of the PC slows down. This is often accompanied by software applications taking a long time to load and, sometimes, crashing. Last, but not the least, hardware devices also stop working.

There might be plenty of reasons for all this. But the simplest and the most common is the fact that your drivers are outdated and need to be updated.

Why do drivers need to be updated?
When you first purchase your PC, the drivers of all devices are installed on the PC. However, as time passes, the devices and their settings change. Devices also undergo wear and tear. Sometimes, you even add new devices or software applications. This causes existing drivers to malfunction or not be as efficient as earlier.

Moreover, with time, device manufacturers also discover flaws in their device drivers and release driver updates. The most common change is that device manufacturers add pieces of code to ensure that their devices do not clash with other newer devices present on a PC.
If my devices are working properly, why do I need to update their driver?

Even if your device may seem to be working properly, it might still have a flaw. Consider the example of a person whose Microsoft® PowerPoint® kept crashing unceremoniously. Checking the software application did not yield any results. Then, after careful study, it was discovered that the printer driver was not up to date and some parts of the driver were also missing. Downloading and installing the said drivers resolved the issue. Checking the PC for other outdated drivers revealed a few other drivers that had been updated. Installing these drivers made that particular PC faster and more efficient.

So whenever, you face issues in your PC, it is a good idea to first check if all drivers are installed and up to date. This would save a valuable amount of your time. To do this, you can either use one of the many software applications that help you detect missing or outdated drivers. Else you can also consult a computer repair company so that experts can help you with the task.

How do computer repair companies help?
Most computer repair companies provide both personal and online help. You can get personal help by making an appointment whereas online pc repair seems a safer, quicker and more reliable option. The remote pc repair company establishes Remote Desktop Connection and technicians fix your pc the very SAME day. Peace of mind guaranteed! You don’t compromise the security and confidentiality of your data by giving it to a local pc repair shop. There are many benefits of choosing the online technical support offered by a remote PC repair company.

First of all, the pc repair services are available round the clock. Secondly, they are offered at incredible rates. Now you need not waste your time going to local IT or PC repair shop when you can get the job done in few minutes.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

PC Repair Tips on Repairing your CD Driver

When we first purchase a PC, everything seems perfect. It boots quickly, the software applications installed on it open speedily, and all devices and software application work are in a mint condition. Yet, as time passes, things do not remain so hunky dory. One fine day you find that your CD drive starts generating errors. Sometimes, your PC doesn’t allow you to access your CD drive and at other times, trying to access the CD drive just crashes your Windows Explorer.

Though there could be plenty of reasons for this, one of the main reasons is a corrupt CD driver.

What is the role of a CD driver?
Similar to all hardware devices on your PC, your CD also needs a CD driver to run smoothly. A CD driver helps your PC interact with the CD drive installed on your PC.

What makes your CD driver corrupt?
When you first purchase your PC, the drivers of all devices are installed on the PC. However, as time passes, the devices and their settings change. Commonly used devices, such as a CD, also undergo wear and tear. This causes existing drivers to malfunction or not be as efficient as earlier.

How do repair my CD driver?
There are several ways to repair your CD driver. One option is to just download the CD driver and apply it to your CD drive. Though this was a viable option earlier, today’s drivers are getting more advanced and are a lot more complex. So to repair a corrupt CD driver you need to follow a few steps.

First, you need to ensure that the CD driver installed on your PC is the latest version. To do this, you need to check the website of the driver’s manufacturer for the latest driver version for the CD driver installed on your PC. Then, you need to check if you have the latest version. Of course, if you don’t have the latest version, you need to download the updated version.

If you do have the latest CD driver version, you need to ensure that your CD drive doesn’t conflict with other components installed on your PC. One easy way to locate and resolve this problem is to visit user blogs and check for any problems regarding your version of the CD drive. These blogs will also have a resolution that will help you resolve the CD driver error.

If your CD drive doesn’t conflict with another PC component, you might have installed the CD driver improperly. To resolve this, you need first uninstall the CD driver. Then you should read the installation steps provided with the CD driver to install the CD driver properly.

What if these steps don’t help?
If none of these solutions work, you need to call for help. Get in touch with a remote IT support company like Fixit99.com and get your pc repaired SAME day. There are many remote pc support companies that can help you fix any pc-related issue starting from software installation or removal, pc scanning, registry cleaning, and virus detection and removal. If you have been struggling hard to increase the speed of your pc, it’s time to get in touch with a cheap remote computer repair company and get your pc fixed. The online computer repair company uses remote desktop access software and establishes a one-time secure connection with your pc. The best part is that you can watch the entire process of online pc repair without paying hefty amounts to your local pc repair shop.

PC Repair Tips on Repairing Rundll32 Errors

Often, while using your PC, you might come across strange errors that make very little sense. One such error relates to Rundll32.

What is Rundll32?
Rundll32 is the registry file for PCs that have Windows® Vista® or Windows XP® operating systems. The name of the file is just to distinguish the fact that previous versions of Windows operating systems used the 16-bit technology instead of the 32-bit technology used in Windows Vista, Windows XP, and later versions.

What does Rundll32 do?
Rundll32 is a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file that contains all information about your PC, including the software applications installed on the PC and the hardware installed on the PC. This file keeps a track of all the hardware components installed or plugged into your PC along with the device drives installed to run these hardware components. Rundll32 is also required to run all these software applications and hardware components.

What causes a Rundll32 error?
There might be many reasons for a Rundll32 error. The error might be an indication of a conflict between different software applications installed on your PC. It could also be a sign indicating a successful malware attack through viruses and other spyware. Of course, it could also mean that a device on your PC isn’t working correctly. Other common reasons for these errors are redundant, outdated, or corrupt entries present in the file.

What do Rundll32 errors look like?
Most Rundll32 errors just throw an error message with the prefix Rundll and the path of the System32 folder in your C: drive. The error also indicates the module that contains an error.

How to rectify Rundll32 errors?
One of the simplest ways to rectify these errors is to run a Registry Cleaner utility. Registry Cleaners offer a user-friendly interface that helps you perform several tasks to maintain your Windows Registry. First, these cleaners help you scan your Windows Registry for various errors. They remove registry holes created by empty spaces present in your Windows Registry. They also remove redundant and outdated entries and locate and fix corrupt entries.

After the Registry Cleaners complete their scan, they also defragment Windows Registry and create its index again. This reduces the amount of space utilized by the registry and makes it faster and more efficient.

Another important function of Registry Cleaners is that they also create a backup of your Windows Registry, ensuring that, if your Windows Registry is beyond repair, you can restore it to its previous state.

Even though these Registry Cleaners are pretty user-friendly, you need to be careful when you use them on your PC. If you have any doubt pertaining to the use of registry cleaner or any other software application, you must get in touch with a remote pc repair company, which has a proven track record of satisfied customers. A remote pc repair company like Fixit99.com can help you optimize your pc to make it run faster. The US-based online computer repair technicians working with a remote pc repair company can fix any type of problem ranging from virus or spyware removal, antivirus installation, hijacked browser, slow pc, and registry cleaning. Your call is FREE if the technicians working with a online computer repair company fail to fix your pc.

PC Repair Tips on Remotely Removing Viruses

One of the most common woes of any PC user, whether at home or at the workplace, are viruses and other malware. Viruses are malicious software applications that are designed to cause legitimate software applications to crash, spread the malicious viruses, and often crash the hardware of your PC. Most viruses also delete the data on your PC and, more often than not, corrupt data to make it unusable.

Why are viruses such a threat?
One of the most common features of a virus is the fact that it can hide itself well. Being small in size, it can simply hide in a legitimate software application. It can also be disguised as something that might appeal to PC users, such as images, games, and a variety of attachments. Viruses can easily hide in something as common as an e-mail message or a hyperlink sent through a message sent via an instant messenger.

How can you detect if your PC is infected?
One of the salient features of a virus is that it can remain undetected for quite some time. With a new virus being created every other day, you cannot depend on antivirus software applications to detect and remove all viruses. So, how can you detect whether your PC is infected with a virus?

One clue used to detect a virus on your PC has suddenly and inexplicably become slow. Another clue is the fact that you are unable to open certain files or folders. Also, when you PC opens strange, pop-up advertisements or if the home page of your Web browser has changed, it is highly likely that your PC is infected with a virus.

How do I remove a virus?
Before you can remove a virus, you need to detect it first. This can be done using one of the many popular, reliable antivirus software applications. After these applications detect a virus, they also help you remove them. However, you need to ensure that you regularly update these applications so that they have new virus definitions and can detect and update most viruses.

But, if these applications don’t help, you can take the help of computer repair companies.

How do computer repair companies help?
Most pc repair companies provide both personal and online pc repair help. To obtain personal help, you need to make an appointment. However, online help can be scheduled as and when you need it. There are many companies such as Fixit99.com that provide 24x7 online help by using the Remote Desktop Connection. So, you can use a remote pc repair company for any of the problems listed below:

Virus and spyware detection and removal
Registry cleaning
PC optimization
Software installation and removal
Slow start up
All types of computer errors

The remote pc repair companies offer you flexible support plans to protect your pc and enhance its speed. You can call the remote computer repair experts anytime you want. The friendly US based technicians fix any software-related issue the very same day at very nominal rates. You need not pay anything to an online pc repair company if it doesn’t fix the problem as per your satisfaction.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

PC Repair Tips on Defining a Remote Desktop Connection

Imagine that you are working hard at creating a presentation to show case a new software application created by your organization. You plan to include screen shots highlighting the unique features of the software application along with notes on how these features work. You have it all planned but there is just one glitch. The software application can only be installed on a PC with specific configuration, so the software application is installed on a server, which is present in the server room.

All this ensures that you frequently need to physically go to the server to check each step. This is pretty time consuming and breaks your thought process each time you leave your presentation. You might wonder if you could just access the server and, therefore, the software application, from your own PC. This can be easily achieved using a Remote Desktop Connection.

What is a Remote Desktop Connection?
A Remote Desktop Connection is a Windows® administrative utility using which one PC can access another using the administrator access level. Using this utility, you can have complete control on your, also referred to as the host, and another PC almost as if you are physically using two PCs.

Though the Remote Desktop Connection works in most situations, it can face problems when the host PC has Windows Vista® while the remote PC has Windows XP®.

What are the features of a Remote Desktop Connection?
One of the basic features of a Remote Desktop Connection is that can be used in any network environment. Often, this utility is used in an office where PCs are connected to a Local Area Network. This utility can also be used in a Virtual Private Network (VPN). In such situations, the host PC should connect to the remote PC using the IP address of the PC.
Moreover, when you use a Remote Desktop Connection, the host PC can access all applications and plug-and-play devices of the remote PC. With the appropriate permissions, Remote Desktop Connection also allows you to install and uninstall software applications on the remote PC. You can also configure settings such as system, device, audio, and video on the remote PC. What’s more, you can do all this without physically going to the PC repair shop.

In our example, you can access the software application on the server and even capture the screen grabs you require. Then, you can use an e-mail application to send the screen grabs to yourself. You can even send the completed presentation to the remote PC and use its color printer to print copies of your presentation.

How can the Remote Desktop Connection be used at home?
The Remote Desktop Connection is very useful at home when something goes wrong with your PC, especially if it has to do with the software or the setting of your PC. In such situations, you can use the Remote Desktop Connection to seek help of a pc repair expert to and get your pc in working condition without leaving it at the mercy of a local pc repair technician.

Remote desktop access technology is used by a remote PC repair company such as Fixit99.com for providing online technical support. This has multiple advantages. You need not search for a pc repair expert and wait for multiple days to get your pc in workable condition. Remote desktop connection allows you to have an access to live computer repair help at unbelievable rates. The online computer repair technician will help you resolve most of the problems the very same day. Moreover, they won’t charge you if your problem remains unfixed.

PC Repair Tips on Cleaning Windows Registry

If you frequently you install or uninstall software applications, change or update computer hardware, avoid following proper uninstall procedures, download stuff from the Internet, or change the settings of your PC, it is likely that the registry of your PC will become sluggish, cluttered, and fragmented. This could be very harmful for your computer, especially since Windows Registry is the most important component of your PC. Therefore, it is important to clean your Windows Registry and rid it of errors on a regular basis. Let’s take a look at how you can do this.

Step 1: Create a backup
The first step for cleaning Windows Registry is to create a backup of your registry. This backup is a fallback for if something goes wrong and the registry of your PC crashes. To create a backup, you can simply open your Windows Registry and export everything in the registry to a .REG file. If things don’t go as planned, you can use this file to restore your Windows Registry to its previous state.

Step 2: Install a Registry Cleaner
Since Windows Registry is a pretty complicated database, it isn’t safe to clean it by oneself. This task is usually performed by Registry Cleaners available over the Internet. Available freely over the Internet, Registry Cleaners are very easy to download and install. Additionally, different Registry Cleaners are available for different versions of the Windows Operating System (OS). This variety of versions ensures that you can download the version compatible with the Windows Registry pertaining to the OS used by your PC. So all you need to do is to research the one you want, download it, and then install it.

Step 3: Run a Registry Scan
After downloading a registry cleaner, you need to use it to scan your Windows Registry for errors. The Registry Cleaner will scan the registry based on the options you choose. Usually, Registry cleaners scan the registry for registry holes, outdated and unnecessary entries, orphan entries, embedded keys, malware entries, and other registry errors.

Step 4: Repair the Registry
After your Registry Scanner completes the scan, it generates a list of probable errors in your Windows Registry. This list represents the registry entries that might be outdated, redundant, or corrupt. This list also lists orphan and embedded keys. You can go through each entry in the list to determine whether an entry is required or redundant, freeing up a considerable amount of space in your Windows Registry. Then you can check through the listed entries and delete the ones you think are errors.

Step 5: Restart your PC
After the scan is complete and you’ve removed all erroneous registry entries, you should restart your PC. If your PC throws an error, you can simply restore the registry from the backup you created.

What will you do if something goes wrong or if you were unable to clean your Windows Registry? In such situations, it is important that you seek help of a pc repair expert to oversee these tasks. You can approach a dependable remote computer repair company such as Fixit99.com, which specializes in offering online technical support.
Why to leave your pc at the mercy of a local pc repair technician, who may be more concerned about reaching the confidential information on you pc than repairing it? On the other hand, a remote pc repair expert establishes a one-time secure connection with your pc remotely and offers you LIVE computer repair help at unbelievable price. The remote computer repair process is fast and secure and you can get your pc in working condition the very same day. Lastly, you need not pay anything if the online pc repair expert fails to fix your problem. Could you ask for more? I couldn’t.

PC Repair Tips for Selecting Registry Cleaners

Being as a repository of all critical information about your PC, your Windows Registry can become cluttered very quickly. This can cause a variety of problems ranging from slowing down your PC to your PC crashing unceremoniously. That is why it is recommended that you use Registry Cleaners to maintain and repair the Windows Registry of your PC.

How to select a Registry Cleaner for your PC?
Though there are a number of Registry Cleaners available over the Internet, you need to know more about them before you can make a judicious choice regarding the one that is right for your PC. Let’s take a look at the factors you should be aware of before choosing a Registry Cleaner.

• Good Registry Cleaners find a lot of errors
• Though it is important that Registry Cleaners find a lot of errors, it is even more important to know the kind of errors they find. Registry Cleaners usually use one of the two ways to detect errors in Windows Registry. The first method, called smart and safe, searches for possible registry errors and then determines whether or not they’re errors. A Registry Cleaner using this method confirms whether a registry entry contains errors before displaying it. As a result, this method generates a lot less errors.
• The second method is called bulk and deep. Registry Cleaners using this method, display all entries that might contain an error. This leaves you the unenviable task of actually determining whether an entry contains an error. This increases the number of displayed errors but also increases your chance of deleting a critical registry entry.

• A good Registry Cleaner just needs a satisfactory backup mechanism
A backup of your Windows Registry is an excellent idea, which ensures that if the registry of your PC ever crashes, you will still have a fallback plan. However, backing up your Windows Registry is a fallback plan – it isn’t the primary way for maintaining the registry of your PC. This is because, a good Registry Cleaner should be able to repair the not-so-serious errors without needing to roll back to an earlier version and then replicating all minute changes you’ve made since then. Ideally, a Registry Cleaner should help you create a backup and repair errors.

• Registry Cleaners the clean and repair are good enough
Though it is critical that Registry Cleaners are able to sort through and repair registry errors, that isn’t always enough. Repairing the registry often leaves a lot of errors, such as registry holes, in the registry and the only way to remove them is to defragment the registry after a scan. Moreover, if your registry crashes, you would also need a backup for restoring it.

Registry cleaning is not an easy job! It can be difficult for a person, who is not an expert in this field. So, what to do? Well, get in touch with a dependable remote pc repair company like Fixit99.com and seek their support! A friendly, US-based remote computer repair technician will immediately connect with your pc and fix all types of problems within minutes! You can even call up the remote pc support technicians and explain them your problem. The LIVE computer repair help is within your reach no matter wherever you go. Do you know your call is FREE if the remote pc repair experts fail to diagnose and repair your problem?