PC TROUBLESHOOTING

PMU reset for dead or misbehaving Macs

2011-06-04T03:04:00.000-07:00

This can be different a little operational between a different Mac models.
Clearly does not reset the PMU is often necessary when you have a Mac die at the hands of You, who do not respond to commands at all to turn on the power button.
PMU is essentially the direction of the power units for Mac (maybe just for portable), who try to help you preserve your battery power-the Crown of wisdom without having to cause to explode (Yes, quite a few modern laptop battery fire that had erupted in the last few years).
PMU Apparently quite often go crazy on the laptop-but try to always err on the side of safety in their confusedness. So rather than computer laptop exploded into flames, it just refuses to work at all. That is, you go with your laptop dies.
I took to try all the different methods the PMU to reset over and over again-but in a different order-to obtain a laptop hard drive died to Mack suddenly start range again.

Though if this reset the PMU does not gain your hard disk to spin again, they might build a laptop is enough to suck in the recovery disk is Mac OS X when You are trying to put it. And that can certainly help!

The first method of PMU

If the macintosh is still alive or activated, close it consumes/turn it off.

AC Traction Mac chicle from the wall outlet or an antidote to spike.

Moved battery Chief.

Press and hold the power button clitoris to five indorsements (One-Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, etc.)

Releasing the button and replace it a fire attack, then plug the power cable back in.

Mac Pc won't turn on

2011-06-04T02:56:00.000-07:00

If Your computing device will not be turned on, try each of these steps: make sure that electric wires are connected to the outlet, and that it was connected with the right adapter. (To check whether the outlet is working, install electrical devices with lights or the other.) Make sure that the power adapter is connected to the correct port power on the side or back of the computer.
Remove all the accessories mounted go into the computer, such as printers, hubs, or other mobile device.
The computer was Reset the PMU, SMC, or PRAM. See the instructions for your model:
Portable (iBook or PowerBook)
Mackintosh mini
iMac

Power Mac
Mac Pro
MacBook or MacBook Pro
Other Mac computing machine *
Try to connect the different cables baron to figurer (if you have a working one is available). If the computer is turned on, replace the power cord.
If the computer using the power adapter, try connecting a power which is different to the bouzouki computer (if you have a job available). If the computer is turned on, replace the old power adapter. (The computer that use the power adapter including the MacBook Pro, MacBook, iBooks, PowerBooks, Power Mac G4 Cube, and Mac mini.)
If You tried all the steps above and your computer still won't turn on, contact Apple technical support (1-800-APL-CARE in the US) or take your computer to the Apple Store or Apple authoritative Service Provider (AASP) for diagnosis. If you plan to visit an Apple Retail Store, make a Genius Bar Pensée arriere in use

Blue screen of Device driver problems

2011-04-07T02:35:00.000-07:00

Device driver problems - when new hardware is added to the computer, the device drivers may not be compatible. Try to get the latest updated version of the device driver from the manufacturer website. If it still does not work, remove or uninstall the new hardware and check if the problem continues.

Error stop code 0X0000003F

2011-04-07T02:33:00.000-07:00

The cause and the trend correct :

Symptoms this born from the system Page Table Entries (PTEs) work by Virtual Memory Manager (VMM) make a mistake make window work by have no PTEs which be the necessities for window this symptoms will like to to is born with with regard to you works like multi monitors if you are born this problem many times you can fine to decorate PTEs get new as follows.

- Open Registry upward correct by go to at Start > Run already print the order Regedit.

- Go to follow this key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSessionManagerMemoryManagement

- See at right hand window switch off click at PagedPoolSize give add the value is 0 at Value data and click OK.

- Doubleclick at SystemPages if you use screen system like Multi Monitor give add 36000 values at Value data or add 40000 values if you have RAM 128 MB and 110000 values in case of have RAM exceed 128 MB already click more OK restart The.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/blue-screen-of-death-solution-407335.html#ixzz1IpQHlKCD
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Error stop code 0X000000BE

2011-04-07T02:29:00.000-07:00

The cause and the trend correct :

Symptoms this born from downing driver or program or service that make a mistake such as some file file driver a person vacates the generation the settlement gives uninstall program will down before be born this problem if be driver as a result do something roll back driver old come to use or seek driver that be late come to down (in case of have new more) if be a member of service all at we open before are born a problem give do closing or disable.

windows xp sp2 Generic Win Host 32 error

2010-10-09T05:11:00.000-07:00

windows xp sp2 and there a problem as Generic Win HOst 32 Error after that error, programs are unstable.
After this error. both pcs stop.
one is having dsl of 1 mb link connection.
and other is running on Dial up connection.
find the best solution from link bellow.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups/reader.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windowsxp.general

Above is a link to the XP Newsgroups.

They are the ones to ask about your XP related problems.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894391

See if the above MS advice helps you foer the Generic Host error.

Manual Method To Rebuild Icon Cache

2010-07-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

Follow the procedure below to re build the cache of icons in windows
1. Firstly you will need to show hidden files and folders
2. Now, open windows explorer and navigate to
For Vista and Windows 7
C:\Users\(You Vista User Name)\AppData\Local
For Example
C:\Users\abhi\AppData\Local
For Windows XP
C:\Documents and Settings\(Your User Name)\Local Settings)\Application Data
For Example:
C:\Documents and Settings\abhi\Local Settings)\Application Data
3. Delete the file named Iconcache.db
4. now close all the process and restart your computer, at the time logging in windows will automatically re create the Iconcache.db file.

Desktop doesnot appear after login Solution

2010-07-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

Open the run box. If you can't get to it by using the windows key or alt S, then hit ctrl alt del and open the task manager, file, new task.
Type explorer and press enter. The desktop should appear.
Is it happening on the administrator account only.
Before you try a system restore, see if there are any conflicts, hardware and software. Look at the device manager for hardware conflicts and disable everything under the startup tab in msconfig to test for software conflicts.
If that doesn't work, backup all data and try the system restore.
Check the mfg's site of your computer, they may have updated drivers and software patches that will solve most of the problems the MS updates are causing.

Fix Generic Host For Win32 Error in Windows

2010-05-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

Solution# 1:
1. Hop to ‘Run’ and open ‘Regedit’
2. Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Services > Browser > Parameters
3. Find the Key
Name: IsDomainMaster
and set
Data: False
4. Restart Your PC
Solution# 2:
1. Go to ‘Run’ and open ‘cmd’
2. Type ‘netsh’ in command console then press enter
3. Then type ‘winsock’ and press enter and then type reset
4. Restart Your PC
Solution# 3:
Get the LspFix and follow the steps as directed
Solution# 4:
Get the Microsoft Update Patch and apply it. Thanx to Nirmal for this.
I hope one of these solutions will definitely help you rectify the erorr
Moreover you can always see my old guaranteed post about Fixing Generic Host Error

The Computer Repairing Software

2010-03-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

The Computer Repairing Software programs are very effective in sorting out unannounced programs of the computer. There are many ways in which the computer attracts the problems. One error could lead to another and the problem becomes so grave that you are not even able to boot your PC. The computer software identifies the problems and fixes it up. The most common error which is the disk error is a result of incorrect shutdown and startup of the PC. Memory errors occur due to incorrect supply of electric current. Too many junk files in the P.C could also lead to problems in the hard disk.

Solution for Generic host win32 error

2010-02-12T20:51:00.000-08:00

Basic services such as RPC works are also made on the basis of Svchost. Generic host process Alerter, Application Management, COM + Event System, Computer Browser, Server, DHCP Client, Distributed Link Tracking Client, DNS is responsible for launching the service as clients and other users. Svchost managers act as a standard library service with a lot. Svchost Shika Karu services and libraries to read parts of them to start the various branches. Svchost.exe is to manage, you can host your DLL at the same time.

Generic Host Win32 function itself, the smell of a harmless error Generic Host Process threads 1 to hide the habit. Newly installed programs, Svchost can process a list of new records. svchost.exe Get notified when you try to start the process by using the user name. Failure, you must run the scan and then Svchost some points that can be. Generic host process autoload list, if you're looking for is a matter of signing. Svchost.exe autoload does not use the original start.

To read the extensive trauma, Windows from other threads Generic Host Process for the system function can cause the need for removal. To see large Svchost errors. "Generic Host Process for Win32 Services has encountered a problem and stopped. We're not comfortable. I'm sorry 'are signs of the most important message the virus. Svchost, and switch to delete, in any act of note. Svchost.exe error, no reply inconvertible Please note that to design countermeasures.

If no Windows experience and standard of service, svchost.exe must be aware of yourself as anything. Generic host process to join the library files that contain effective, Win32 distribute the excess load on the CPU services. Why, svchost error appears, because many of the losses that occur in all systems. Other legal Win32 Generic host svchost error you may see a file called a bad file. Win32 generic host the most important indicator for the virus to run automatically Svchost error] What you see in the list.

Manually, svchost Generic Host Win32 to determine whether or not error is very difficult spyware. Check the list automatically run msconfig.exe utility to detect viruses, this method is not bad. You must turn off the automatic update process to eliminate the possibility of generic host process error. That is, if not in intent, the Generic Host Process is to be saved from danger. Indeed, the recording system and transmutes to consult with experts, and general host process is more common on Windows systems or a generic host process win32 provide special software to erase mistakes today.

Unfortunately, they collapsed due to trying to improve the lot of the generic host process itself, the first user does not have enough knowledge about the system. After you change your Windows system instability again occurs, you can draw a general fall. Click to generic host Svchost Fix some Win32 wizard to help unload the mistake is easy. System to investigate whether there is sufficient time is not fun in the process rather Svchost Fix Wizard is a useful effort. Use Svchost Fix Wizard and other professional equipment, svchost.exe process will be easier to remove the virus.

PC Solution for Rundll Error

2010-02-12T19:13:00.000-08:00

This is the last option, hopefully, success is optional. You must perform a clean boot. To perform a clean boot your computer, do the following steps: 1. Click the First, open the menu.
2. Run button.
3. "Msconfig", enter the input field.
4. [OK]. Open the System Configuration Utility.
5. And the system configuration utility, a small circle in front of the selected startup options and then click Select. Uncheck all good choices listed below. Each took two choices, you need to do this, select the one that one does not matter.
6. OK, click Restart the computer.
7. Rundll checkboxes to identify the items at the root of the problem, and to assist in this process to move to the next step. Then the System Configuration Utility, select the tab at the top of the window corresponding to the items identified as a problem.
8. Options deselect all under one tab.
9. Restart your computer. All right, if you restart the computer, and then proceed to exclude. Uncheck the various scenarios to determine the problem. Reboot.
10. And to identify the damaged item to exit from the procedure.

After identifying the damaged item, you must contact the company identified by the product. This information in one place, you must keep the documents supplied with the program or hardware problems. If you do not have this useful information that will see online.

Installing Network Card

2009-11-23T21:52:00.000-08:00

Installing Network Card in Computer-Based Server to Windows 98, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows XP After installation step is complete the network card, which will do next is to install and set up a network card that will be used. In the install and set up the network card you use Windows 98 operating system, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows XP. Basically, install and manage the network card on each operating system on the same course, different is when the monitor displays a message that has found new hardware. However, before doing the installation and settings on each computer, make sure all cables are mounted RJ45 connectors and cables have been installed or connected at the hub and the other end installed on each computer, either the server or workstation. The following is a step of the installation and network card settings: 1. After plugging UTP cable to the connector on the rear port network card already installed, boot your computer problem. 2. If your network card supports Plug and play, booting will display a message that has found new hardware on your screen. 3. After the network card in the computer, the computer will boot again, in other words automatically booting. 4. After that will appear on the desktop icon My Networkplaces. This icon will also appear if you install the modem. 6.5.3 Installing Network Card in Computer Workstation or Windows-Based Client 98, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows XP Set up a network card on the client computer or workstation, the procedure is the same as on a computer server installation, 96

Common PC errors

2009-10-25T07:20:00.000-07:00

There are a number of common PC errors that can be avoided with a properly maintained registry. If you're experiencing any of the following windows error messages then a good quality registry cleaner with the appropriate PC diagnostic features will be useful in diagnosing and repairing your system:

* Rundll32 exe
* Runtime Error
* Blue Screen
* Win32 Error
* Kernel32 DLL Error
* Rundll Error
* Dll Error
* Windows System32 Error
* Application Errors
* ActiveX Errors
* Startup Errors

Fix blue screen errors

2009-10-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

Blue screen errors vary based on the type of error codes. they are usually associated with hardware problems. when a blue screen error comes up, it results from some sort of hardware incompatibility. you would notice a memory code next to them like the following 0x000000@# where @# can be any hexadecimal code. based on the error code, we troubleshoot. when you get a blue screen code, just note down the error code and do a google search on it and then you should find the cause and the right troubleshooting steps.

There are several ways in which you can try to correct this problem which is mostly caused by Wrong Drivers on An update of a Driver that isn't compatible with your hadware. Try to search the web with the Error code generated by your system i.e type the error code and click search. once you know which device is causing the error,check to see if it had any Driver updates and try to Roll back the Driver installation. You can also try to do a system restore and choose a time earlier that the the day of System update dates.

Restart your computer in safe mode then Click Start,-All Programs,- Accessories,- System Tools,- system Restore. choose a restore point earlier that than your last two or three updates and start restore.

Microsoft Knowledge Base

2009-10-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

The Microsoft Knowledge Base contains many articles that explain specific STOP error messages, and resolutions or ways to work around problems. Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for at least the first hexadecimal number contained in the error message. Using the example above, search for 0x0000001e. It also may be helpful to search for the identified file name and other hexadecimal numbers.

Preparation to Create a Memory.dmp File

1. Verify that your computer is set to write a Memory.dmp file (in Control Panel, double-click System, and then click the Startup/Shutdown tab).
2. Click to select the Write an event to the system log and Write Debugging information to check boxes.

Speeds Windows Vista performance

2009-08-30T00:15:00.000-07:00

Windows Vista's ReadyBoost feature allows Windows to treat a USB flash drive as a disk cache. What does that mean?
Disk caches are one way of coping with the inefficiencies of hard disk drives, which are the slowest component in most computers. Any time the computer reads data from or writes data to the hard disk, it must stop and wait for the operation to complete.
In disk caching, an area of memory is reserved for storing copies of recently used or commonly used files. When these files are requested again, Windows can read the files from the cache, which is much faster than the hard disk.
The problem with disk caches implemented by the operating system is that they consume system RAM, leaving less RAM available for other tasks. This is why the size of the disk cache is limited. This is paradoxical. Larger caches mean better performance, but larger caches consume more memory, which has the effect of diminishing performance. But what if you could increase cache size without consuming additional system RAM?
This is exactly what Windows Vista's ReadyBoost feature does. ReadyBoost allows Windows to treat a USB flash drive as a disk cache.

speed up Windows Vista Performance

2009-08-30T00:04:00.000-07:00

Disable File Search Indexing (which includes processes – SearchProtocolHost, SearchFilterHost and SearchIndexer) in Windows Vista to substantially boost performance. This is a windows service which runs in background always accessing harddisk and network resources. If you disable this, windows search may not be accurate, but that is something I don’t care.

Disbling Windows Search Service is simple. Open up Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Service. Find a service named Windows Search. Stop this service and change its startup type to manual. If you want, you can manually run the service when you are not using your system.

Once I disabled this, I found that harddisk access reduced substantially and also my internet connection was running in top speed.

Scan for Windows Registry Errors with RegCure

2009-07-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

Is Your PC Performing Badly? Scan for Windows Registry Errors with RegCure

PC performance inevitably becomes jaded over time for various reasons. Possibly the most common problem with any computer that many people try to ignore is that it becomes sluggish at best. Many computer users suffer the problem but simply believe it to be a symptom of use or age. This is unlikely to be the case and there is usually a much more specific and, more importantly, curable reason.

Fatal Errors And Exceptions

Fatal errors are not only annoying but can also cause the loss of work and serious frustration and anger. When the blue screen starts to appear it is sometimes considered the beginning of the end of a computer’s life. Some users may consider trying a system restore to a time when there computer worked well enough but may purchase a new computer in preference to hunting down the real cause of the problem.

Detect and repair disk errors computer

2009-07-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

5 ways to speed up your PC

By following a few simple guidelines, you can maintain your computer and keep it running smoothly. This article discusses how to use the tools available in Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) and Windows Vista to more efficiently maintain your computer and safeguard your privacy when you're online.
1. Free up disk space

By freeing disk space, you can improve the performance of your computer. The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk. The utility identifies files that you can safely delete, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.
Use Disk Cleanup to:

*

Remove temporary Internet files.
*

Remove downloaded program files (such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets).
*

Empty the Recycle Bin.
*

Remove Windows temporary files.
*

Remove optional Windows components that you don't use.
*

Remove installed programs that you no longer use.

Tip: Typically, temporary Internet files take the most amount of space because the browser caches each page you visit for faster access later.

To use Disk Cleanup

1.

Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.

Image of Disk Cleanup dialog box
2.

In the Disk Cleanup for dialog box, scroll through the content of the Files to delete list.
Image of Disk Cleanup for dialog box

Choose the files that you want to delete.

3.

Clear the check boxes for files that you don't want to delete, and then click OK.
4.

When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the specified files, click Yes.

After a few minutes, the process completes and the Disk Cleanup dialog box closes, leaving your computer cleaner and performing better.
2. Speed up access to data

Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. The response time can be significantly longer.

Disk Defragmenter is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end-to-end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.

When to run Disk Defragmenter
In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals—monthly is optimal—there are other times you should run it too, such as when:

*

You add a large number of files.
*

Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.
*

You install new programs or a new version of Windows.

To use Disk Defragmenter:

1.

Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.
Image of the Disk Defragmenter dialog box

Click Analyze to start the Disk Defragmenter.

2.

In the Disk Defragmenter dialog box, click the drives that you want to defragment, and then click the Analyze button. After the disk is analyzed, a dialog box appears, letting you know whether you should defragment the analyzed drives.

Tip: You should analyze a volume before defragmenting it to get an estimate of how long the defragmentation process will take.
3.

To defragment the selected drive or drives, click the Defragment button. Note: In Windows Vista, there is no graphical user interface to demonstrate the progress—but your hard drive is still being defragmented.

After the defragmentation is complete, Disk Defragmenter displays the results.
4.

To display detailed information about the defragmented disk or partition, click View Report.
5.

To close the View Report dialog box, click Close.
6.

To close the Disk Defragmenter utility, click the Close button on the title bar of the window.

3. Detect and repair disk errors

In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility.

As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult, or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors, and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced.

If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.

To run the Error Checking utility:

1.Close all open files.
2.Click Start, and then click My Computer.

#In the My Computer window, right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties.
#In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab.
#Click the Check Now button.
In the Check Disk dialog box, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.
7.If bad sectors are found, choose to fix them.

Tip: Only select the "Automatically fix file system errors" check box if you think that your disk contains bad sectors.

Free up disk space computer

2009-07-15T06:57:00.000-07:00

By freeing disk space, you can improve the performance of your computer. The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk. The utility identifies files that you can safely delete, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.
Use Disk Cleanup to:
*Remove temporary Internet files.
*Remove downloaded program files (such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets).
*Empty the Recycle Bin.
*Remove Windows temporary files.
*Remove optional Windows components that you don't use.
*Remove installed programs that you no longer use.

Tip: Typically, temporary Internet files take the most amount of space because the browser caches each page you visit for faster access later.

Download Registry Mechanic tools

2009-06-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

With a few easy steps Registry Mechanic will scan your entire registry for any invalid entries and provides a list of the registry errors found, you can then choose to selectively clean each item or automatically repair them all. For your convenience and protection Registry Mechanic can also make a backup of any repairs made so that you can easily recover any changes if required.
Registry Mechanic uses a high-performance detection algorithm to quickly identify missing and invalid references in your Windows? registry. These problems can occur for many reasons including being left-behind after the un-installation or incorrect removal of software, by missing or corrupt hardware drivers, or orphaned startup programs.

Download link

http://registry-mechanic.findmysoft.com/download/

Download PC Tools Firewall

2009-06-09T07:26:00.000-07:00

* Protects your PC as you are working, surfing and playing.
* Intelligent automatic protection without all the questions.
* Easy to use. Designed for both, novice and expert users.
* Advanced rules to protect your PC against common attacks.
* Best of all it’s FREE. No catches, limitations or time-limits.
PC Tools Firewall Plus is advanced technology designed especially for people, not just experts. Powerful prevention against attacks and known exploits is activated by default while experienced users can optionally create their own advanced packet filtering rules, including IPv6 support, to customize the network defenses. All you need to do is install it for immediate and automatic ongoing protection.

Download PC tool firewall

http://www.pctools.com/firewall/download/

PC Booster 53 speed up your PC

2009-05-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

PC Booster safely optimizes all aspects of your PC automatically: Tweak hidden System, Internet, Memory, Hard Disk, CD-ROM/DVD-ROM, Desktop, and Start-up/Shut-down settings for maximum performance.

Automatically boost your system speed by up to 100% without adding new hardware. PC Booster safely optimizes all aspects of your PC with one click: Tweak hidden System, Internet, Memory, Hard Disk, CD-ROM/DVD-ROM, Desktop, and Start-up/Shut-down settings for maximum performance.

Boot up and Shut Down at double the speed. Close off non-responding apps automatically, freeing up precious system resources and thus preventing system crashes. The hard disk module can performance-boost file caching, optimizing the usage of your hard drive.

For those concerned with privacy issues - clean up Internet history, cookies, and temporary Internet files is as simple as clicking a button. No hardcore PC tweaking experience needed as all these are done automatically! PC Boosters revolutionary Auto-Tune feature tests 9 different system modules so that any problems your system has can be diagnosed within a few minutes.

Advanced users are able to safely tweak hidden settings of their PC with the Manual Tweak. Revert back your original settings if you are not satisfied with the new settings. PC Booster, the PC Performance Booster that Works!

Internet Connection Troubleshooting

2009-04-26T20:39:00.000-07:00

Step1
Power cycle the arrangement by shutting it down and switch it on after at least 30 seconds.
Step2
Call your ISP to determine if there is trouble at their end. Quite often service is temporarily impaired at the ISP site due to maintenance purposes, construction in the vicinity or after a spell of rough weather. Ask them if your payment is overdue. Subscribers opting for automatic payments may forget to pay the bill if their credit card expires. The ISPs in such a situation may cancel the subscription without notifying the consumer.
Step3
Use ping at the command prompt to see if your computer can establish a connection. Your computer failing to connect to the remote host indicates a trouble on your Internet connection. You can ping any Web site. For instance, click on Start and then Run in Windows; type "cmd" to open the command prompt, and type "ping www.yahoo.com". Not getting a response would usually indicate a trouble from the ISP’s end.
Step4
Use the Tracert mastery to look at the complete route your request takes before displaying the desired Web page. The first few routers listed in the command results indicate ISP router activity. Regular use of Tracert therefore gives an idea if the ISP's routers have slowed down. If this is the case, you can call your ISP and bring the slow functioning router to their notice. Tracert results also show if any other router in the network is slow. In this situation, you cannot do much aside from waiting for the trouble to get fixed and visiting another Web page.
Step5

Check the cabling. All wires should be connected properly. Fix loose connection(s), if any. A cable not connected to a power supply or switches not turned on are most common oversights. Hear the click sound when inserting cables in respective ports.
Step6
Ensure that correct type of cable has been used, especially if there are multiple PCs connected to set up a network. Specific functions require certain types of cables. For instance, special Cat5 cables are needed to connect multiple PCs to a hub/switch so they can successfully function as a network.
Step7
Ensure that the dial-up or broadband modem is connected directly to the telephone line without a caller ID box, fax machine or splitter coming in between. Note that this would be valid only in case of a dial-up connection or an ADSL broadband connection.
Step8
See if the devices show correct link lights. Device lights are an indicator of accurate connections. Different lighting patterns indicate different things. For instance, network cards usually show green light on establishing a connection. Similarly, in wireless networks, the router's wireless LAN (WLAN) light is turned on at all times even if no device is connected to it. The light typically blinks when a host communicates on another host and exchanges information. Unexpected lighting indicates a trouble. Go through user manuals to familiarize yourself on this feature and make sure the devices show desired lighting behavior.
Step9
Determine if the network card is working properly. In a network, identify the malfunctioning adapter by disabling the cards one by one. If the network is wireless, ensure the network card is also wireless and is compatible on the router. A network adapter following a wireless standard different from that of the router slows down the connection.
Step10
Check network settings to verify the IP address, MAC address, TCP/IP configuration, host/domain name and other related information.
Step11
See if correct drivers have been installed. Regularly upgrade drivers so the host uses the latest utilities that take care of several issues.
Step12
Try readjusting the location of hosts especially if it's a wireless network. Move one of the portable hosts--such as a laptop--closer to the router. If it works better, interference or low signal strength is the reason for poor Internet access. Several factors responsible for inadequate signal performance include cordless devices working within the frequency range (2.4 GHz) of a wireless network, shiny surfaces and too much distance between hosts and access points.
Step13
Adjust the wireless router antenna to get an optimum signal. Most wireless routers come on omni-directional antennae to send signals in all directions, a situation appropriate for a square-shaped network. If hosts are arranged in a linear fashion, use an antenna that sends signals only in one direction. Some portable routers have internal antenna giving more freedom to users who are on the go. Use an external antenna on such routers. Antennae on varying strengths are available, implying some are more powerful than others. See if using a more powerful antenna fixes the trouble. Aside from increasing the range of transmitted signals, the reception capacity of hosts can also be enhanced. External WiFi enabled antennae attached to laptops are now available for this purpose.
Step14
Confirm that the wireless radio button, if present on your laptop(s), is switched on if you are trying to connect wirelessly.
Step15
Check configuration settings for encryption keys.
Step16
Disable the firewall (if your firewall is enabled) temporarily and check. Some settings in your firewall may cause a trouble.

Diagnose Outlook Express

2009-03-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

# Raw Communication Channel Functionality - is your Internet connection fully working?
# Email Server Communication - are your ISPs servers up and running?
# Email Credentials Verification - does you ISP recognize your current credentials?
# Outgoing / Incoming Mail Account Configuration - you can receive, but cannot send email?
# Address Book Engine Problems - when you cannot open emails or the address book had problems, this can be caused by a corrupted address book file, or it can be caused by bad Microsoft hot fixes, or damage caused by the removal of hot fixes or reinstallation of the operating system.
# Antivirus Blocking Outlook Express Traffic - is your antivirus now blocking your incoming and outgoing emails?
# Firewall Blocking Email - is your firewall blocking access to your Outlook Express email?

# Privacy Guard Hiding Email - have you recently added or updated your system protection and you can no longer see your emails?
# Recently Added Outlook Express Extensions - have you just added emoticons, group sharing, or other add-ons to Outlook Express and now Outlook Express stops functioning?
# Microsoft Hot Fixes and Antivirus Updates - everything was working yesterday, now Outlook Express stops working for no good reason?
# Outlook Express Engine Problems - if you are having MSOE.DLL problems, you may be having problems with the recently released Microsoft hot fixes, Outlook Express reinstallation errors, bad removal of hot fixes and more. These errors can also be caused by corrupted data files or corrupted registry settings.
# Corrupted Email Files - we have the most advanced DBX file repair engine in the market.

Repair a Bad Dell M170 Motherboard

2009-03-27T08:49:00.000-07:00

PL2 and PC3 are located behind the DC Jack. After locating the components apply flux and rework the joints with your favorite soldering iron.
The MAX1987 is located on the underside of the board near the DC Jack. Unfortunately you can't replace the controller without special equipment because of the Thin QFN package. I use Infrared however you can use Hot Air. Insulate the surrounding area to prevent damage, then flux, heat to ~450F and replace the chip.
Tools Required:
* Soldering Iron
* Solder
* Flux
* Infrared or Hot Air Station (MAX1987 Replacement)
* Replacement MAX1987 Chip

Why do capacitors fail on PC motherboard

2009-03-27T08:42:00.000-07:00

Electrolytic capacitors use a semi-liquid electrolyte inside the case to make electrical contact with the foil windings. This electrical interface is inherent in the capacitor’s ability to carry current and function as an energy storage unit for the electrical power input. When the interface between the electrolyte and the metallic foil windings begins to degrade, the electrical connection begins to fail. Heat build up is the primary cause of this degradation, which, depending on severity, can cause either short-term catastrophic failure, or long term functional degradation. The life expectancy of an electrolytic capacitor relates directly to its internal temperature. Every 10° C increase in internal temperature halves the component lifetime.

Disk Repair bad sector

2009-03-06T02:52:00.000-08:00

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Hard disk drive bad sector repair and removal software tool, bad sectors recovery utility software.
Disk Repair is a utility to remove/repairs logically formed bad sectors from Hard Disks and Floppy Disks.
Disk Repair is a logical bad sector removal and repair software that removes the logical bad sectors and repairs "Track 0 Bad Disks". Bad sectors are a major problem in hard disks, which are found to be mainly logical in nature. Computer companies usually have to replace the hard disk. Most often bad sectors spread and corrupt Track 0 of the disk due to which it doesn't get formatted, O/S doesn't get installed or copying data gives error.

Resolve a device conflict

2009-02-12T23:57:00.000-08:00

[+] Right-click on 'My Computer' on your desktop and choose
'Properties'.
[+] A window will appear that says 'System Properties.' Click on
the tab at the top of the window that says 'Device Manager.'
[+] If there is a conflict, a yellow exclamation point (!) will
appear next to the device name.
[+] Single-click on the driver that has the conflict (if there is
more than one, click on the first one), and then click on the
button that says 'Properties'.
[+] A window will appear that has the name of the device on it.
Click on the 'Resources' tab at the top of the window.

[+] Towards the bottom of the window you will see a box that is
labeled 'Conflicting device list'. This will tell you which
device is conflicting with the one you are looking at.
[+] To solve the problem, click on the box next to 'Use automatic
settings' so that there is not a check in the box.
[+] Click on the box next to 'Setting based on' and select each
of the configurations in the list until the 'Conflicting
device list' box says 'No conflicts'. Once it says that,
click 'OK'.
[+] Once you're back at the 'System Properties' window, click
'OK'. You will probably be asked to restart your computer.
Do so.

PC beeping, PC does not boot

2009-02-12T23:40:00.000-08:00

A different BIOS manufacturers use several number of beeps to indicate defects with various computer hardware. In an awarding BIOS CPU board you will get followers beeps:
1 long 2 short: artwork card is not securely into place, or faulty.
1 long 3 short: Graphics card is not firmly into place, or faulty video memory.
Uninterrupted beeps: No memory, or memory board not securely into place, or could be faulty.
Uninterrupted high/low beeps: No CPU, or CPU not firmly into place, or gave the sack .
Please refer to your CPU board manual to confirm what the beeps are trying to tell you.

When to upgrade to upgrade your PC

2009-01-22T01:06:00.000-08:00

The rule of thumb should be this: Upgrade when the cost of not upgrading exceeds the cost of upgrading. New hardware should help you work faster and more efficiently. Or maybe you need to upgrade your hardware to run new software applications that will improve productivity. If that's the case, upgrading is your best bet. Similar situations include a broken PC, one that crashes regularly, or otherwise keeps you from doing the work you need to do. Clearly, in each of these cases, it will cost you more to put off the upgrade than to go ahead with it.

If you've crunched the numbers and find you really do need to upgrade, don't rush out to buy the coolest, fastest, priciest computer on the lot. The best way to put off the inevitable obsolescence of your next computer is to make sure it meets all your business needs.

Take a look, not only at your current computing needs, but also at what your future requirements might be. Will you need a full-featured database program in the future? Will you run memory-hogging graphics programs or other special applications? Doing a little research at this stage may just save you a lot of money down the road.

PC Troubleshooting>Fresh Diagnose

2009-01-22T00:35:00.000-08:00

*System Information: Scanning your system and give a complete report about your computer's hardware and software, for examples: mainboard information, video system information, PCI / AGP buses information, peripheral (keyboard, mouse, printer, etc.) information, Windows registry settings, and network information.
*System Benchmarks: Testing your system performance, such as CPU, hard disk, CD/DVD ROM, and compare it with other systems.
free for download

download link
http://www.freshdevices.com/diagfile3.html

PC Troubleshooting>Xbox 360 console to PAL 60 Hz

2009-01-16T20:51:00.000-08:00

To set your Xbox 360 console to PAL 60 Hz, follow these steps:
Use an Xbox 360 Composite AV Cable or an Xbox 360 Component HD AV Cable. To do this, follow these steps:
Turn off the Xbox 360 console.
Remove the VGA cable, and then connect the Xbox 360 Composite AV Cable or the Xbox 360 Component HD AV Cable that came with your Xbox 360 system.
Connect the console to the TV, and then make sure that you set the HDTV switch on the AV connector to TV.
Configure the console to use PAL 60 Hz. To do this, follow these steps:
Turn on the Xbox 360 console.
In the Xbox Dashboard, select System, and then press the A button.
Select Console Settings, and then press the A button.
Select Display, and then press the A button.
Select PAL settings, and then press the A button.
Select PAL-60, and then press the A button.
When you are prompted to keep these new settings, confirm the settings, and then press the A button.
When you are prompted to keep these new settings, confirm the settings, and then press the A button.
Connect the VGA cable again to play the game.

Monitor Color problems

2009-01-16T20:48:00.000-08:00

If you have problems with monitor colors, then the most propable reason for color problems are the monitor settings and RGB signal connections.
* If you have one color totally missing, then check the connection of that color signal. There might be a bad connection or short circuit in the cable. If you have made a special cable yourself, check that you have wires all the wires corectly, because a wrongly connected cable can cause also this problem.
* If one color is much brigher that other colors there might be somethign wrong in the monitor settings for that color. Check also that the color input is properly terminated (75 ohm termination is the industry standard for analogue RGB signals, but in some monitors this can be disconnected which is not what you want to do). If you have accidentally removed the termination, the voltage in this line will be higher than it shoudl be (typically around two times what is needed).
* If you are sending black image to the monitorm but the picture is not black, then there is somethign definatély wrong in the monitor adjustments or you have connected one of RGB lines to some entirely wrong pin.

Troubleshooting with Cable Testers

2009-01-04T23:45:00.000-08:00

The most common hardware related compute networking problem is the bad cabling and RJ-45 connectors. There are a number of devices, designed for testing the network communication cabling. These devices include continuity tester, time domain reflectometer and cabling testers. Data cabling testers are designed to perform a number of different types of tests on the UTP/STP and coaxial cables. The master end of the cable tester is attached to one end of the cable and the load unit of the cable tester is attached to the other end of the cable. The master unit sends the signals through the cable and reads them from the load unit. When testing the cables, these devices normally detect the problems such as crossed-over wiring, broken wires, short connections and the cable connections that are improperly impaired.

PC TROUBLESHOOTING>Configuration Error Messages Meanings

2009-01-04T18:49:00.000-08:00

Press F1 to continue Invalid configuration
CMOS time and date not set CMOS battery error
CMOS memory size mismatches System configuration and setup failure
CMOS system option not set CMOS battery failure or CMOS checksu
After the beep tones occur during the startup process, the system now looks and loads the operating system. The errors that occur between the beeps and initializing the operating system can be categorized into the following categories.
• Hardware failure ( due to the physical problem with the booting drive)
• General Failure Error Reading Drive x
• Bad or Missing Command Interpreter
• Non system Disk or Disk Error
• Bad File Allocation Table
• Corrupted or missing operating system files
• Corrupted or missing boot files

The configuration or boot up problems can be occurred to the hardware or operational function’s failure and if the configuration is correct and these error appears this means there is some problems in the hardware and boot up problems are normally linked with the operating system.

PC troubleshooting>Resolving hardware conflicts

2008-12-21T06:50:00.000-08:00

Hardware conflicts occur when two or more devices contend for the same resources. Conflicts between your audio card and another device may occur regarding the I/O address, IRQ line, or DMA channel:

1. Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, and select Properties. The System Properties dialog appears.
2. Click the Device Manager tab. In the Device Manager, a plus sign(+) represents an expandable list of items. A minus sign (-) represents an expanded list. A circled exclamation mark denotes a conflict.
3. Double-click Sound, video, game controllers. A list of multimedia devices appears.
4. Select your audio card.
5. Choose the Propertis button.
6. Click the Resources tab.
7. Uncheck the Use automatic settings option.
8. Change "Settings based on:" if alternate settings are available.
9. Determine the conflict by reviewing the "Conflicting device list".
10. Select the conflicting item in the "Resource Settings" list.
11. Click the Change Settings button.
12. Use the mouse to select a new setting.
13. Select OK to close each of the properties windows, and restart your computer.

PC troubleshooting>No sound is heard from audio (music) CDs

2008-12-21T06:42:00.000-08:00

Various conditions may cause this problem. To troubleshoot, check the following:

* Microsoft Volume Control or your mixer program mute options and volume sliders.
* Connect headphones to the stereo phone jack on your CD-ROM drive’s front panel; adjust the volume control settings on the drive. If there is sound from your headphones, check the CD audio cable connection from the CD-ROM drive to the audio card.
* Ensure the speakers are properly connected to the audio card’s output connector.

Pc Troubleshooting>Hardisk>Disk Repair Software - 10.x

2008-12-13T18:17:00.000-08:00

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Hard disk drive bad sector repair and removal software tool, bad sectors recovery utility software.

Disk Repair is a utility to remove/repairs logically formed bad sectors from Hard Disks and Floppy Disks.

Disk Repair is a logical bad sector removal and repair software that removes the logical bad sectors and repairs "Track 0 Bad Disks". Bad sectors are a major problem in hard disks, which are found to be mainly logical in nature. Computer companies usually have to replace the hard disk. Most often bad sectors spread and corrupt Track 0 of the disk due to which it doesn't get formatted, O/S doesn't get installed or copying data gives error.

PC Troubleshooting > Tweaking your hardware

2008-12-07T22:55:00.000-08:00

Learn how your hard drive and graphics card impact your system’s performance, and dig deep under the bonnet to discover and fix hardware issues.

In previous guides we have looked at improving your system’s performance by simply removing unwanted programs. The next area we want to understand is the impact your hard drive and graphics card have on your system.

Before we start examining your computer, we need to see what Windows Vista believes is possible from the system when it’s working at its best. Searching for ‘Performance’ in Start Search should lead you to the Performance Information and Tools analysis of your system. If any numbers are low, then you may wish to consider looking at these areas for replacement. My laptop has a lowest rating of 4.3, which is more than adequate, but should one number be low compared to the rest, I would consider replacing that element. If your computer is running low on RAM, for example, it will use the hard drive as an extension of memory, but this deals a fatal blow to your computer’s performance because the hard drive can be 1,000 times slower than memory. In my experience, a Windows Vista PC with just 1GB of memory will struggle unless your system is only lightly used.

Other hard drive problems can be caused by fragmented files. To see if your computer is suffering from this, fire up the Reliability and Performance Monitor. While this is very useful to explore, we will concentrate on the Disk section. If you open this and sort by Response Time, you can see how long some of your disk operations take. The higher the number here, the more your hard drive is being stretched. Should you see numbers above 500ms (0.5 seconds), you need to defragment your drive or add more memory.

You can use Task Managerto look for processes that use up a lot of your CPU’s processing power. Sometimes a disk-intensive process will show light processor usage in Task Manager, while slowing the system down through intensive hard drive access, so you need to check both tools to understand what is slowing your system down. Use Task Manager to identify any programs that are doing this. This will either point to a need to defragment the hard drive or add more memory. If this file is the Pagefile.sys file, then it is a strong probability that more memory is needed. The need for programs to access the hard drive will never go away, but a slow system with a constantly illuminated drive light always points to too much hard disk usage.

Once we have tuned the most common areas of the system, we then move on to an area that Windows Vista has stretched far more than Windows XP - the graphics card. While previously the graphics card was only stretched with gaming, it is used extensively by the Windows Aero graphics and now needs to be examined. Aero graphics hit the computer in two areas - memory and GPU (graphics processing unit) performance. To see how much memory is being demanded by Aero, look at Task Manager and search for the process dwm.exe - the memory used by this process is the memory used for Aero. Aero can also cause problems with the PC’s ability to render the screen in a timely process.

There are two tests you can take to see if the graphics card is holding back your system. The first is to switch off the full Aero experience in Windows Color and Appearence. Click on the link to open the Classic appearence properties and select Windows Vista Basic. If this makes your computer more responsive, then your graphics card is causing a problem.

The second test is to run a winsat command that stresses your system and checks to see that it runs adequately. A sample command might be ‘winsat d3d -totalobj 20 -objs C(20) -totaltex 10 -texpobj C(1) -alushader -v -width 1000 -height 750′, with the width and height numbers being adjusted to something close to your screen settings. If this is jerky, then again your graphics card is showing itself as not being great for Windows Vista.

Extreme performance analysis tools
Use the most detailed analysis tools to diagnose performance issues.

1. PERFORMANCE TOOLKIT Download and install the Windows Performance Toolkit from snipurl.com/281w4 to enable the tools that hardware providers and engineers use to diagnose deep system issues.

2. TRACING CHARACTERISTICS You need to start a trace. Begin with the command “xperf -on DiagEasy -f\trace.etl” which needs to be run from a command prompt that was started as an Administrator. Now do the things that cause your system to underperform.

3. STOP TRACE While the trace was running, you will have collected a number of statistics on your system while it was not performing as desired. You now need to stop the trace with the command “xperf-d \ final_trace.etl”, from the same command prompt as before.

4. PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS The final trace file can now be loaded and examined. You will notice that the initial screen shows all the activity that was taking place on your system.

5. EXPLORE PROBLEM AREAS Now the detective work comes in. When you see a place with lots of disk or CPU activity, hover your mouse over it to see what caused it. For a more detailed view, select a region and choose Zoom or Details from the menu.

PC Troubleshooting > Run a System Health Report

2008-12-07T22:32:00.000-08:00

Here is a cool tool found in Windows Vista that lets you run a quick scan of your computer and checks its overall health. The scan checks the operating system, all hardware and security settings within your PC and offers solutions to any problems found.
The results are shown in an easy to read format with solutions beside each problem, these include;
* Errors
* Informational
* Basic system checks
* Resource overview
* Software configuration
* Hardware configuration
* CPU
* Network
* Disk Memory, and
* Report statistics

These results can essentially solve many problems you have with your PC, the report also takes the guess work and trial and error out of identifying problems. eg: Maybe you think RAM is a problem, but it could just be your CPU consumed by a background process. Run this report before trying any drastic tweaks.

To run a system health report just follow these steps;

* Open control panel
* Click system and maintenance
* Click performance information and tools
* Click advanced tools
* Click generate a system health report
* It will take a moment to scan and then give you the results

PC Troubleshooting > Speed up Vista

2008-12-07T22:30:00.000-08:00

As with XP, in Vista you can speed up performance by sacrificing the visual effects. Go to the Control Panel, System and Maintenance, System Properties, Advanced (Tab) and settings. Set the radio button in ‘Adjust for best performance’.

This may produce a marginal improvement on a low spec machine, but it I could not detect a faster response on a machine with a 1.2 Ghz processor and 2GB of RAM. In truth, I was under-whelmed by this Adjust for best performance. A better way to truly speed up your Vista machine is to buy a 1GB USB RAM stick and use Vista’s ReadyBoost feature.

Trap: As you adjust for best performance, you may inadvertently turn off the Aero graphics, particularly if you experiment with the Custom settings.

PC Troubleshooting > Speed Up the Interface Vista

2008-12-02T05:56:00.000-08:00

Windows Vista features what some of us think is the prettiest GUI in the OS industry. Its stylish transparencies and nifty animations—driven by Direct3D and your graphics card—give it a polished look that's a pleasure to use.
Unfortunately, that shiny, new interface, called Aero, is also a resource hog.

If you're running Vista on a PC that's near or just above the system requirements, you might want to shut off some or all of those features.

Here are some actions you might want to take to tweak interface niceties:

* Lose the transparency. Right-click the desktop, click Personalize, and click Windows Color and Appearance. Uncheck Enable Transparency. Click OK.
* Get rid of the Sidebar. It's cool, but some of those gadgets chow down on memory. Right-click the Sidebar, click Properties, and uncheck Start Sidebar When Windows Starts. Click OK. Then, right-click the Sidebar and click Close Sidebar. If you ever want it back, you can simply click the Start button and key in "sidebar" and hit Enter.
* Get rid of some of the visual effects. Open Control Panel, click Performance and System Tools, and click Adjust Visual Effects. In the resulting window, you can uncheck line items for animations, fades, and other effects; or simply click Adjust For Best Performance.
* Go with a non-Aero theme. To get rid of Aero entirely, use the Windows Classic, Windows Vista Basic, or Windows Standard theme. Right-click the desktop, click Personalize, and click Windows Color and Appearance. Click Open Classic Appearance Properties... and choose a theme in the Color Scheme list box. Click OK.

PC Troubleshooting > strip Windows Vista manually

2008-12-02T05:52:00.000-08:00

1. Lose What You Don’t Need
2. Keep your drivers fresh
3. Hose Out the Background
4. Use ReadyBoost
5. Speed Up the Interface
6. Miscellaneous Hacks
7. Defrag Once in a While

PC Troubleshooting > Windows Vista Speed Up

2008-12-02T05:50:00.000-08:00

Power-user site ExtremeTech helps Vista users tweak their systems to run faster—and there's more to it than just ReadyBoost.

The advice ranges from the obvious—install the latest drivers for your hardware; turn off Vista's interface bells and whistles—to the obscure: Remove unneeded Windows features and services (the article lists likely candidates), disable background programs and enable advanced write-caching on your SATA hard drive. And, of course, there's always ReadyBoost. This is one of the first articles I've seen that really delves into the nitty-gritty of tweaking Vista for performance. If your system seems a little sluggish, one or more of these tips should help give it a kick in the proverbial pants.

PC Troubleshooting > Adjusting Memory for Better Vista Performance

2008-12-02T05:41:00.000-08:00

Just like people, computers benefit from good memory, and when it comes to running Vista, less is not more. Although Microsoft lists Vista's system requirements as a minimum of 1 GB of RAM memory, the fact is the Vista needs at least 2 GB to run optimally. Memory is relatively cheap these days, so your best bet is to find out the maximum memory expansion of your system and fill the memory to capacity. See Adding Memory for help installing additional RAM memory to your computer.

Another thing you can try is changing the Virtual Memory settings. When you run out of physical RAM, Windows can use a chunk of hard drive space as virtual memory. By default, the amount of virtual memory is handled automatically by Vista. But you can fiddle with the amount of virtual memory and see if your overall performance is boosted. I recommend that you set the virtual RAM to twice the amount of your physical RAM. For example, if you have 2048MB (2GB) of RAM, you should set your Virtual Memory set to 4096MB. Here's how to tweak your virtual memory settings:

# Click the Start button and open Control Panel

# Click on System and Maintenance, then click on System

# In the Tasks Panel, click on Advanced System Settings

# On the "Advanced" tab, in the "Performance" section, click on Settings.

# Click the Advanced tab, then under "Virtual Memory", click on Change.

# Uncheck the "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives" check box,

# Select the drive that contains the paging file you want to change, normally the C: drive.

# Click on "Custom size" then enter the desired size (in megabytes) in both the Initial size and Maximum size boxes.

# Click Set, then click OK.

PC Troubleshooting > Missing Recycle Bin

2008-11-26T01:58:00.000-08:00

Vista makes it absurdly easy to toss out the garbage bin with the garbage. Just click the Recycle Bin and hit the Delete key and it’s gone, without a peep of warning. Luckily, it’s almost as easy to get it back, complete with its contents:

1. Right-click the desktop and select Personalize from the pop-up menu.
2. In the Tasks list on the left, click Change Desktop Icons.
3. Tick the Recycle Bin and click OK.

Here’s a way to help avoid deleting the Recycle Bin in the first place: Position it away from all other icons on your desktop. This simple step not only prevents you from accidentally deleting the Recycle Bin when you delete neighbouring desktop items, it also makes it easier to drag-and-drop items into the Recycle Bin in the first place. To do this, you’ll need to make sure Auto Arrange is switched off, or the Recycle Bin will snap back into place when you attempt to move it:

1. Right-click the desktop and click View.
2. If there’s a tick beside Auto Arrange, click Auto Arrange to remove the tick.

PC Troubleshooting > Make Vista behave badly

2008-11-26T01:55:00.000-08:00

Most problems with upgrading to Vista are avoidable, but if you want a recipe to make life with Vista miserable, try any of these things:

* Install Vista without first running the Vista Upgrade Advisor.
* Install Vista after running the Vista Upgrade Advisor and then ignoring its advice.
* Install Vista on an underpowered computer with ancient peripherals.
* Do an upgrade install of Vista over your existing operating system instead of opting for a clean install. Or, go one better, and do an upgrade install of an existing operating system which isn’t running smoothly to start with.

Follow any of these courses and you’ll increase your chances of ending up in a Vista nightmare.

PC Troubleshooting > The Hibernation feature is not listed in Vista

2008-11-26T01:49:00.000-08:00

If Hibernation is not listed in your power options, one of the following could be the cause:
*The computer does not support Hibernation
*Hibernation has been disabled
*Hybrid Sleep has been enabled
*You have deleted the Hibernation File Cleaner when using the Disk Cleanup tool
To check if your system supports Hibernation, try this:
1.Go to Start
2.In the Search field, type in: command prompt
3.Right click the Command Prompt entry
4.Select "Run as administrator"
5.At the Command Prompt, type in: powercfg /a
6.Press Enter on your keyboard
The output that this tool will now generate will list the power options that apply to your system.
If you have enabled Hibrid Sleep mode, Hibernation will not appear as an option because this option will generate a hibernation file. Both cannot be enabled at the same time.

When Computer will not connect to the Internet

2008-11-11T05:27:00.000-08:00

# First check to see if the cable connecting the network card into the network drop is connected to the drop and to the computer.
# Check the back of the computer to see if the network card light is on.
# Check to see if the site you are trying to pull up is at fault by typing in a common URL to see if it will make it out to that site.
# Check to see if anyone else's machine is having problems. If everyone is, then it could be the network is having difficulties.
# If the Internet connection is off on a particular hallway only, a hub connection could be down or bad.
# If there is only one machine having problems and the light on the network card is not on, try plugging another machine that works into that drop. It could be that particular drop is bad, or plug the machine that doesn't seem to work into a different drop to see if it would work there.

# Record all the data and call the Help Desk.
# Only send a call in one way either by email, in person or by Phone. Sending it in more then one way can cause multiple trouble tickets and will slow down the time it takes to get the machine repaired.

PC Troubleshooting > Keyboard doesn't respond

2008-11-10T05:25:00.000-08:00

If your machine, when booting, gives off a constant beeping noise, it is telling you that your keyboard is not connected or not working.
Check the plug to make sure it's connected securely. Try unplugging it and re-plugging it again.
If there is no response, check the indicator light on the keyboard. Is it on? Do the lights respond when you press the caps lock or the num lock key? If not, maybe your keyboard is broken.
Is there a key stuck? Gently pry off the cover and clean it with alcohol. Make sure it is not connected to your machine when you are cleaning it. The space bar frequently comes off track. Gently pry it off, noting which way the bar lies in your particular keyboard so you can replace it properly.

PC troubleshooting tips for new monitors

2008-11-09T05:21:00.000-08:00

# The picture does not appear
* Check to make sure the signal cable is firmly connected in the socket.
* Check to see if the computer system's power is ON.
* Check that the Brightness Control is at the appropriate position, not at the minimum.
# The Screen is not synchronized
* Check to make sure the signal cable is firmly connected in the socket.
* Check that the output level matches the input level of your computer.
* Make sure the signal timing of the computer system is within the specification of the monitor.

# The position of the screen is not in the center

* Adjust the H-Size, H-Phase or V-Size, V-Center controls.
* Check if the signal timing of the computer system is within the specification of the monitor.

# The screen is too bright or too dark

* Check if the Brightness or contrast control is at the appropriate position, not at the maximum or minimum.
* Check if the specified voltage is applied
* Check if the signal timing of the computer system is within the specification of the monitor.
* Especially, check the horizontal frequency.

# The screen is shaking

* Move all objects that emit a magnetic field, such as a motor or transformer, away from the monitor.
* Check if the specified voltage is applied.
* Check if the signal timing of the computer system is within the specification of the monitor.

How to troubleshoot PC USB

2008-11-08T05:31:00.000-08:00

# Check the connections.
# Installation - Always install the software for your USB device FIRST. Then plug in the USB device and allow Plug and Play to install the drivers.
# Check error messages in Event Viewer. Start / Settings / Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Computer Management (or Event Viewer)
# Check the power consumption - Use Device Manager. Use a powered hub if you have multiple devices (e.g. printers, scanners). The USB total consumption should be about 500 milliamps for a desktop and 250-300 milliamps for notebooks.

# Turns off and locks up? Check the USB Version. USB V2.0 is backwards compatible with V1.1 but V1.1 will NOT work with V2.0 USB devices. Windows XP requires Service Pack 1 for USB V2.0.

# Reset the BIOS (Re-boot and tap the F2 Key, Press F9 (Default Settings), Press F10 (Save and Exit). Some BIOS versionos have the default (F9 equivalent on the EXIT menu).

# Uninstall and replace the drivers using Device Manager under Administrator Privileges - right click on My Computer / Properties / Hardware / Device Manager - expand USB line item. Right click on the items below and select uninstall drive on the pop-up menu. Re-boot the system and Plug and Play will automatically detect the USB device and re-install the drivers for you.

# Uninstall the software - Add/Remove Programs/USB Product. Always install the software first before plugging the USB device in for the first time.

# For Notebooks - perform a hard reset.

# Perform an MSCONFIG if your computer has it.

# Shut down all other applications to avoid conflicts. Remove all other hardware devices.

# Turn the date back to the January 1, 2000 or an earlier date. There are known Y2K issues and driver bomb errors related to dates. If this solves the problem then get a new driver from the USB manufacturer or your oem manufacturer.

# Perform a recovery. Ensure that you backup your data prior to doing a recovery.

# If the problem persists then send in for service.

http://www.zappersoftware.com/Help/how-to-troubleshoot-usb.html

General PC Troubleshooting Techniques

2008-11-08T05:14:00.000-08:00

Many people will probably come to this Troubleshooting Guide looking for the answer to a specific problem that they are having with their PC. The Troubleshooting Expert can often help with this. However it is worthwhile if you are having a problem to read first the general troubleshooting information in this chapter. Using it you may be able to not only solve your current problem, but also develop your own skill as a troubleshooter so you can correct future problems more easily and quickly.

This chapter contains descriptions of most of the techniques and tricks that I use when I have a difficult problem that I need to diagnose and correct. They are based on my own experiences and my study of problem-solving methods, as well as knowledge of various problem situations that I have accumulated.

How To Install a fresh copy of Vista with only the Upgrade edition

2008-10-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

* Boot from the Windows Vista Upgrade DVD and start the setup program.
* When prompted, do NOT enter your product key but click next to proceed.
* Choose the version of Vista that you've purchased to install Vista as a 30-day trial.
* Once Vista is finished installing and you're at the desktop, run the Vista install program from within Vista.
* You'll be upgrading the previously installed trial version with your Upgrade edition so go ahead and use your product key when prompted this time.
* When asked, choose a Custom (advanced) install.
* When finished, activate Vista normally.>/li>
* You may also delete the Windows.old folder which just contains files from the trial install.

How To Customize the OEM information and graphic

2008-10-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

* Start Regedit with administrative rights.
* With Regedit browse to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
* Change or create a Key called OEMInformation if it isn't already present.
* Inside this new key create the following String values setting their values as indicated:
Logo - OEMlogo.bmp, such as c:\windows\system32\OEMlogo.bmp
(The logo bmp file can be up to 120x120 or it will be scaled to fit.)
Manufacturer - Any name
Model - Any name
SupportHours - Any time
SupportPhone - Any phone number
SupportURL - Any URL
* To see the changes, open System Properties from the Control Panel or by right clicking on My Computer and choosing Properties.

How To Revert to XP style fonts

2008-10-28T07:54:00.000-07:00

* Right click on the desktop and choose Personalize.
* On the left click on Adjust font size (DPI).
* Click on the button labeled "Custom DIP...".
* Put a checkmark in the "Use Windows XP style DPI scaling" box.
* Keep clicking "OK" buttons to exit.
* Right click on the desktop and choose Personalize again.
* Click on Windows Color and Appearance.
* Click on "Open classic appearance properties for more color options".
* Click on the "Effects" button.
* Use the drop down menu to change from Cleartype to Standard, then click "OK".
* Click on the "Advanced" button.
* Use the Item drop down menu to select various screen elements.
* Change the font for the items from Segoe UI to Tahoma (or whichever you like).
* Click "OK" to accept the changes and exit.

PC hardware test and reporting program

2008-10-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

Economic but Powerful PC Diagnostics – PC-Diag Novice is a PC hardware test and reporting program that includes one self-booting Lite DOS program and one Windows Lite program.

The Novice features include a detailed reporting of the computer's components and operating system. In addition, extensive information about the computer's processor, memory, hard drives, CD/DVD drives, floppy drives, monitor, video card, network card, modem, sound cards, keyboard, mouse, serial ports, USB, PCI, system board devices, and more.

Computer Repair and Maintenance

2008-10-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

This program is designed to prepare people to establish their own business or to work for a business in the Personal Computer (PC) repair field. Thie program provides training in the technical field of PC repair and maintenance, sufficient for program completers to sit for the CompTIA A+ Certification Examinations in hardware and software. Related competencies are developed in areas such as networking, operating systems, accounting, small business management, and customer service, which will enable graduates of the program to work on their own or for others.

There is a growing need for trained specialists in this field.
According to the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Handbook:

“Employment of computer support specialists is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2014, as organizations continue to adopt increasingly sophisticated technology and integrate it into their systems. Job growth will continue to be driven by the ongoing expansion of the computer system design and related services industry, which is projected to remain one of the fastest-growing industries in the U.S. economy.

Job growth among computer support specialists reflects the rapid pace of improved technology. As computers and software become more complex, support specialists will be needed to provide technical assistance to customers and other users. New mobile technologies, such as wireless Internet, will continue to create a demand for these workers to familiarize and educate computer users. Consulting opportunities for computer support specialists also should continue to grow as businesses increasingly need help managing, upgrading, and customizing ever more complex computer systems.”

New power supply standard: ATX12V 2.0

2008-09-29T00:06:00.000-07:00

A new ATX standard for power supply units is available and is set to replace the previous ATX 1.3 standard. It's called ATX12V 2.0.

The ATX 1.3 standard has a 20-pin power connector that connects the power suppply to the motherboard. The ATX12V 2.0 standard uses a 24-pin power connector.

An adapter is required to be able to use the new 24-pin plug of a ATX12V 2.0 power supply in motherboards that have the current ATX 1.3 20-pin connector. Most power supply manufacturers include one with their new ATX12V 2.0 power supplies, because 20-pin connectors are still being used on most motherboards. A 20-pin power-supply cable also fits into the adapter, making it possible to use an old-style power supply unit with a motherboard that has the new 24-pin connector.

Note that the motherboards for Intel Pentium 4 and AMD Athlon 64 processors have what is called an additional ATX 12V Power Connector. It is a small square box on the motherboard for a four-pin plug from an ATX12V 2.0 power supply unit. Here is what a motherboard manual from MSI says about the connector: "MSI Reminds You... 1. These two connectors connect to the ATX power supply and have to work together to ensure stable operation of the mainboard. 2. Power supply of 350 watts (and above) is highly recommended for system stability. 3. ATX 12V power connection should be greater than 18A." Most motherboards with this connector won't boot unless it is connected. The connector is also present on most recent 20-pin ATX 1.3 power supply units. I have such a PSU that is a few years old and it has the connector.

If you want to see images of the two power connectors that connect to motherboards running Intel Pentium 4 and AMD Athlon 64 processors, download the user manual for the Socket 939 MS-7100 (aka K8N Neo4 Platinum/SLI) motherboard made by MSI.

Install an SATA hard drive

2008-09-26T00:09:00.000-07:00

Installing an SATA hard drive is the simplest of all of the installations that requires no configuration of the drive itself unless you have to change a jumper on the drive to enable SATA II mode for an SATA II drive. Unless a PCI adapter card is used, it just involves connecting the drive to the motherboard with a single SATA cable (that cannot accommodate another drive), and connecting a power cable from the power supply unit to the drive's power connector. More information on SATA drives is provided a little further down on this page.

Note that if your PC has an elderly motherboard that only supports the original SATA I 150 standard, an SATA II 300 drive, which has a theoretical data transfer speed of 300MB/s, will work at the slower SATA 150 150MB/s data transfer speed. However, to do so, some SATA II drives require a jumper on the back of the drive to be set.

The jumper, which will be stored on inactive pins at the back of the drive, will have to be placed across two pins that will be indicated by a diagram on the drive. Setting the jumper makes it possible for the drive to operate at the slower speed. You can consult your PC's or its motherboard's user manual to find out if it supports SATA or SATA II. If your PC only supports SATA and you have an SATA II drive, look for a diagram on the drive that shows you how to set its SATA jumper. Drives differ in their approach from manufacturer to manufacturer. The following is an extract from the manual of an MSI K9A2 Platinum (AMD Socket AM2+) motherboard showing the jumper setting to enable SATA II mode on a Western Digital hard drive.

Serial ATA (SATA) drives

2008-09-26T00:08:00.000-07:00

All new motherboards provide several connectors (six or more) for serial ATA (SATA) hard disk drives, and may or may not provide one or two connectors for IDE ATA (Parallel ATA/PATA) drives.

Serial ATA (SATA) uses a single cable per drive. You cannot attach more than one drive to a cable. While you do not configure an SATA drive using jumpers, as is the case with IDE ATA drives, there may be a jumper setting that can reduce the capacity of the drive for motherboards that only support a certain size of drive.

The installation is simplicity itself - just attach the keyed serial cable to the drive and the other end to the motherboard, and attach a power connector from the computer's power-supply unit to the drive. The cable is keyed so that one end can only connect to the motherboard and the other end to the drive, so it can't be installed the wrong way round.

If the motherboard has a mixture of IDE ATA and SATA drive connectors (ports), and you want to install both types of drive, consult the motherboard's manual to find out how to install a particular type of drive as the primary drive and as secondary drives. If the motherboard only has SATA connectors (ports), its manual will also show you which of them is used for the primary and secondary drives. If you don't possess a motherboard user manual, download a copy from its manufacturer's site.

It's also possible to buy a PCI adapter card that allows SATA drives to be connected to the system via the PCI bus.

Installing the device drivers for a boot SATA drive

2008-09-26T00:04:00.000-07:00

SATA hard disk drives have only become available fairly recently, so Windows 98, 2000, and XP won't have the drivers for them. If you are installing an SATA drive on a system that already boots from an IDE ATA hard drive, you can obtain the driver file and point Windows to the file's location when Windows asks for it on the first boot after such a drive has been installed. But if you're installing a bare SATA drive on a new motherboard, then you have to do the following:

1. - Read the motherboard's manual, which can be downloaded from the motherboard's site if you don't have one. There will probably be a jumper that has to be enabled before the SATA controller can be used. The manual will tell you where to find the jumper on the motherboard and how to enable it.

2. - Download the SATA driver file from the motherboard's site.

3. - Copy the driver file to a floppy disk. With the SATA drive mounted in the case, connect the keyed SATA cable to the drive and the motherboard, connect a power cable from the power supply unit (PSU) to the back of the drive, and set the boot order in the BIOS to boot from CD-ROM and then SCSI. Motherboard manufacturers usually use the SCSI option in the boot order for SATA drives. The motherboard's manual will tell you what the boot order setting has to be.

Install Windows XP. Windows will detect the new drive. Press the F6 key when Windows asks you to do so, and then allow Windows to install the SATA drivers from the floppy disk. You can now install Windows, which will allow you to partition/format the drive/drive partitions as required.

If you have a laptop or desktop PC that does not have a floppy disk drive, read the following article that provides a workaround.

Install Windows XP on SATA without a Floppy (F6) -

Configure and install a hard disk drive

2008-09-23T00:12:00.000-07:00

Installing disk drives in the drive bay of a computer's case and attaching them to the motherboard and the power supply unit with the correct cables isn't difficult, but it should be done properly and with care. Don't ever use force! All of the connectors are keyed nowadays so that they can only fit into a particular socket the right way around. If you have to force anything into place, you're probably not installing it properly.

Remember that (if you are installing an IDE drive instead of an SATA drive) it is now possible to purchase round IDE disk drive cables (HDD and CD/DVD cables) instead of traditional ribbon cables. They can be used with an ATA drive of any specification. They take up less space than ribbon cables and therefore don't inhibit the flow of air inside the case as much.

The image below shows the individual cables. As you can see, as with ribbon cables, they can accommodate two drives each. Single-drive cables are also available. For some reason, they come in a wide variety of garish colours, such as red and blue.

Speed up your Virtual PC

2008-09-23T00:11:00.000-07:00

Here's a great way to easily speed up your Virtual PC performance: Filter the process name from your anti virus scanner's real time monitoring.
Since I have ETRUST antivirus installed, I simply double click on the icon in the tray and go to the "Filters" tab.
I then add "virtualpc.exe" to the excluded processes list and I should be able to see better performance next time I restart it. Haven't yet tested this out myself, but it sounds promising..

(Tip passed in by Amit Marlov, passed down by Ariel Raunstein, both of which are blogless in Israel

Heat and cooling for Hard drives

2008-09-23T00:06:00.000-07:00

You can connect a mixture of four IDE hard drives or CD/DVD drives to most most ATX motherboards (some allow more), and you can install a PCI IDE card that allows you to install more. Most current motherboards also provide four SATA connectors for SATA hard drives or CD/DVD drives. (SATA CD/DVD drives are becoming more common.) But before you add more drives make sure that the power supply unit (PSU) won't be overstretched, and make sure that they are installed with overheating in mind.

If you install more than one hard drive, you should take great care with how they are installed and kept cool. Most recent 7200RPM (rpm = revs per minute) and 10,000RPM high-speed IDE ATA drives generate a significant amount of heat, which is a major cause of drive failure.

You should leave at least a 10mm gap between drives, which can mean drilling mounting holes in new positions on the drive bays. Cooling units for a hard drive are available. Visit Overclockers.co.uk to see an example under Cooling. You can also add extra cooling fans to the case that are installed so that they blow air over the drives.

Maximizes the performance of your PC

2008-09-20T00:35:00.000-07:00

SpeedUpMyPC automatically fine-tunes all your resources including hardware, system settings and internet usage to operate at peak performance at all times. Your PC will instantly become faster, cleaner and more stable.

Even with the latest systems, users find difficulty controlling all the resources and settings to take advantage of the speed and power that they have paid for. With SpeedUpMyPC, you can monitor and control all your computer resources to automatically boost up performance and system stability in minutes without being a Windows Expert.

Now, Get Speed Up My PC and improve your system performance and speed up computer in minutes, The best Computer Speedup Software for you! Get a faster, cleaner, and safer PC within minutes.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR COMPUTER FASTER

2008-09-20T00:08:00.000-07:00

* Defragment of your hard drive: When folders are deleted or created your partitions are fragmented. They are then scattered throughout the hard drive and slow down the performance of your computer. By making use of the “disk defragmenter” function you can clean up a lot of these files and increase the speed of your PC.
* Update Windows: When you first purchased your computer and installed Windows it ran like a champ. By commonly checking with Microsoft’s website you will be privy to the latest updates. These updates help to keep your computer running safe and efficiently.
* Stay away from redundant files: Avoiding irrelevant files is a great way to maintain speed. If you have a copy of your favorite CD in the physical it isn’t necessary to have it stored on the PC as well. Files for music and video are very large and difficult to delete permanently. By keeping these files away you can keep your PC running with speed and efficiency.
* Use reliable PC cleaners: The most effective way to increase the speed of your computer is to get the aid of a powerful PC cleaner. These highly advanced programs scan your registry for errors, then instantly repair them.

Speed up PC by tweaking the BIOS

2008-09-20T00:03:00.000-07:00

No matter how fast your PC is, no matter how much extra memory you've added, you're probably not getting full performance out of it. In fact, chances are your PC is huffing and puffing when it could be snorting along at top speed.
But you can speed it up with a few small tweaks.
Am I talking about some new Windows utility program? Not at all.
The easiest way to speed up your PC has nothing to do with Windows. The secret is fine-tuning the BIOS.
If you've never heard of the BIOS, don't despair. Most users have no idea their PC has a Basic Input-Output System, and only a few ever venture far enough into the workings of the BIOS to give it a massage.
The BIOS is a set of basic instructions held on a chip inside the PC. The BIOS tells your PC what disk drives are plugged in, how much memory is installed, what sort of printing capabilities the PC has and so on. This part is not exciting at all.
But things get interesting when you look into the way the BIOS treats some of the esoteric parts inside your PC. The BIOS holds the key to how quickly your PC reaches into its memory banks, for example. It contains vital information on how to shuffle data on and off the bus (the main connecting pathway inside the computer). And it controls the timing of dozens of other functions.
You wouldn't need to adjust these important settings in the BIOS if PCs came from the factory properly set up. The sad fact is that they don't. Monitors don't. Haven't you seen the wasteful black border around the display? The manufacturer couldn't spare the time to adjust the picture. Windows doesn't. Have you noticed how slow your keyboard seems? How sluggish your arrow keys are? Your PC's Windows installation arrives with a slow-as-molasses keyboard repeat rate and a dozen other poor default settings.
And PCs don't in general. The companies that make them like to play it safe, so they keep all the speed stuff turned off or turned down.

To tune up your BIOS, you need a shareware program called TweakBIOS, by Miro Wikgren. You'll find it at http://www.miro.pair.com/tweakbios/. It's one of the few genuine bargains in serious software, costing only $15. (You can use it without paying, but the program won't save any changes you make to the BIOS unless you use the paid-for version.)
TweakBIOS is a DOS program, not a Windows program. It is designed to run before Windows boots up, in your PC's autoexec.bat file. (All PCs have -- or should have -- an autoexec.bat file. Even though Windows 95 and 98 don't need autoexec.bat or config.sys startup files, they are vital if you want to control many of the aspects of the PC's operation.)
TweakBIOS sneaks past the mundane BIOS settings that all PCs have and shows you all sorts of extra parameters that you can change to get more speed -- or to get more stability, if that's more important. The changes you make are done only through TweakBIOS, and do not get saved directly to the BIOS itself. That means you'll be able to boot up normally, with regular BIOS settings, if you bypass TweakBIOS the next time you turn your computer on.
If you make a Windows 95 or Windows 98 startup menu, you can choose whether to run TweakBIOS each time you start up your PC.

Optimized Windows Registry

2008-09-20T00:02:00.000-07:00

The best solution to fix common PC errors is to maintain a clean and optimized Windows Registry. Regular Registry maintenance can eliminate empty and orphaned registry entries, correct corrupt and erroneous entries, and defragment the registry database. As a result, your Windows Registry will contain nothing else but what it needs for speedy and proper operation. Keeping the Registry clean and compact allows your computer to always deliver its peak performance without error.
Registry cleaning and optimization can be conducted manually by IT professionals and advanced computer users. Nevertheless, if you are an average PC user, we recommend you do NOT to edit your Windows Registry manually, as the complexity of such task and the risks of mishandling Windows Registry.

A food processor

2008-09-13T08:35:00.000-07:00

A food processor is an appliance that mixes dough and chops, slices, dices, and liquefies food. It has a larger capacity and a larger motor than either a blender or a mixer and can replace both smaller appliances.

There are two types of food processors: direct drive and belt drive. A direct-drive food processor is similar to a food blender, with the motor underneath the food bowl. A belt-drive food processor places the bowl and motor side by side, connecting the two with a drive belt and wheels.

Identify the Processor Problem

2008-09-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

If the food processor won't run at all, be sure power is on at the outlet and check the electrical cord. Check the motor and the fuse.
If the unit runs intermittently, check the wire connections and repair any that are faulty. Also check the motor and, on belt-drive models, check the belt for condition and correct tension. Replace or adjust as needed.
If the unit doesn't run at some speeds, check the multispeed switch and the wire connections using a multimeter.
If the motor turns, but the blades don't, clean and lubricate the blade and repair or replace if damaged. On direct-drive models, check gears for wear and replace if worn or broken. On belt-drive models, check the drive belt and replace it if it is broken, or adjust tension if needed.
If the bowl leaks, make sure the bowl is tightened onto the base; check the seal and replace it if it is damaged.

PC Troubleshooting - 2 devices on one interface

2008-09-10T08:18:00.000-07:00

• Unplug both devices
• Reset the FireWire interface (use Device Manager to disable and re-enable the interface)
• Attach one device and turn it on
• Verify the device is detected – follow the steps above to test if the video is available
• Attach the second device and turn it on
• Repeat the verification for the first device - it is possible that connection of the second device causes the first one to stop communicating properly.
• Verify the second device is detected and the video is available

If the above fails to provide two fully visible devices then try changing the order in which the devices are attached. Ensure that the FireWire interface is reset first.

You can launch two instances of the Enosoft DV Processor – one for each device – to verify if both are visible at the same time.

3 devices on two interfaces

Getting 3 devices to work on two interfaces can be a matter of trial and error. Assume the devices are A, B and C and the interfaces are I1 and I2.

• Using only one device at a time, verify that it is fully accessible on both interfaces in the ways described earlier
• Using the guidelines for 2 devices on one interface, try to configure devices A and B on interface I1. If successful, put device C on interface I2. You should have 3 fully accessible devices.
• If this doesn’t work keep trying each pairwise combination on interface I1. i.e., B and C then A and C.
• If this doesn’t work, try all the pairwise combinations on interface I2.

Usually, you will find a combination of DV devices and interfaces that will work. Make a note of the successful configuration.

Startup Problems

2008-09-10T07:23:00.001-07:00

When you start up the system by turning on the main system power switch on the interface processor end of the power supply, the following should occur:
* The DC OK LED should go on immediately and should remain on as long as the system is receiving source power and the power switch is in the ON (|) position. If this LED does not go on, or if it goes off while the power switch is still on, there could be a problem with either the source power, the internal DC power that the power supply distributes to the internal components, or the cooling subsystem.
The green DC OK LED indicates the status of the power supply and internal DC voltages. The DC OK LED stays on when all of the following conditions are met:
* Power supply is on and the power source is providing either 100 to 240 VAC, 50 to 60 Hz or -40 to -52 VDC, in North America, or -56 to -72 VDC, in the European Community
* Power supply is providing the +5, +12, -12, and +24 VDC to internal components
* All internal DC voltages are within tolerance

If the AC or DC source power or any of the internal DC voltages exceeds allowable tolerances, the DC OK LED will not go on, or will go off shortly after you turn on the power. Because both the RSP1 (which uses +5, +12, -12 VDC), and the fan tray (which uses +24 VDC) are required for operation, a problem with any of the internal DC lines can prevent the system from starting up or continuing operation.
For example, if there is a problem with the +24 VDC line that supplies the fan tray, the system will start up but also recognize that the fans are not operating. The system will initiate a fan failure shutdown sequence, display the appropriate warning messages, then shut down after two minutes. If there is a problem with any of the other DC lines, the RSP1 will not be able to initialize the system software, so the system might attempt to start up and fail during the boot sequence.
Depending on when the DC OK LED goes off, proceed as follows:

* If the DC OK LED stays off (if it never goes on) when you turn on the power switch, there is a problem with either the AC source power or the DC power that is distributed to the internal components. Proceed to the section "Troubleshooting the Cisco 7505 Power Subsystem," on page 2-11.

* If the DC OK LED goes on temporarily, then goes off within 30 seconds, the system is most likely shutting itself down because it detected an out-of-tolerance power or temperature condition within the power supply. Proceed to the section "Troubleshooting the Cisco 7505 Power Subsystem" on page 2-11.

* If the DC OK LED goes on, and the system starts up as expected but then displays the following message and shuts down after two minutes, there is a problem with the fan tray. Proceed to the section "Troubleshooting the Cisco 7505 Cooling Subsystem" on page 2-12.

%ENVM-2-FAN: Fan array has failed, shutdown in 2 minutes

o If the DC OK LED stays off yet the system starts up correctly, displays the preceding message, and shuts down after about two minutes, there is a problem with the +24 VDC line to the fan tray. Proceed to the section "Troubleshooting the Cisco 7505 Power Subsystem" on page 2-11.

* Immediately after you turn on the power switch, you should hear the fans operating. If you are in an unusually noisy environment, such as an air-conditioned wiring closet with other equipment noise, it might be difficult to hear the fans. In that case, place your hand near the left side of the chassis (when facing the interface processor end); you should feel the exhaust air that is being forced out the side of the chassis.

o If the DC OK LED is on but the fans are not operating, there is a problem with the fan tray or with one of the fans. (The system will shut itself down if it detects that any of the fans are not functioning properly.) Proceed to the section "Troubleshooting the Cisco 7505 Cooling Subsystem" on page 2-12.

o If the DC OK LED is on at startup and fans are operating, but the system shuts down after two minutes, there is a problem with the fan tray. Proceed to the section "Troubleshooting the Cisco 7505 Cooling Subsystem" on page 2-12.

* When you turn on the system power, the LEDs on the RSP1 (see Figure 1-1 in the chapter "Cisco 7500 Series Product Overview") should go on and off as follows:

o The RSP1 normal LED goes on after the system has completed a successful boot to indicate normal system operation. This LED should remain on during system operation.

o The CPU halt LED should always remain off. This LED goes on only if the system detects a processor hardware failure.

If the normal LED on the RSP1 does not go on, or if the CPU halt LED goes on and stays on, proceed to the section "Troubleshooting the Cisco 7505 Cooling Subsystem" on page 2-12.

* The enabled LED on each interface processor goes on when the RSP1 has completed initialization of the interface processor for operation. This LED indicates that the interface processor is receiving power and has been recognized by the RSP1; it does not indicate the state of the individual interfaces. It does, however, indicate that an interface processor contains a valid microcode version. If an enabled LED fails to go on, proceed to the companion publication Interface Processor Installation and Configuration Guide to use the interface processor LEDs to further troubleshoot the problem.

Resolving Device Conflicts - PC troubleshooting

2008-09-10T07:18:00.001-07:00

Plug-N-Play was supposed to solve the problem of driver conflicts.
Windows is supposed to look at everything in your computer, see where
there is room to put the new device, and put it there. This works
pretty good most of the time, but sometimes Windows gets confused and
doesn't put the device where it's supposed to go.

Imagine that you had a lamp plugged into a socket in the wall, and
you then wanted to plug another lamp into that same socket. You
can't do it, can you? You have to unplug one of them to get the
other one in. It works the same way with a computer. You can't have
to devices using the same space, but sometimes Windows tries to do
that anyway, and it causes what you call a "conflict". Sometimes
this causes one device to stop working while the other one keeps
working fine, but sometimes it stops them both from working.

To resolve a device conflict, do the following:

[+] Right-click on 'My Computer' on your desktop and choose
'Properties'.
[+] A window will appear that says 'System Properties.' Click on
the tab at the top of the window that says 'Device Manager.'
[+] If there is a conflict, a yellow exclamation point (!) will
appear next to the device name.
[+] Single-click on the driver that has the conflict (if there is
more than one, click on the first one), and then click on the
button that says 'Properties'.
[+] A window will appear that has the name of the device on it.
Click on the 'Resources' tab at the top of the window.
[+] Towards the bottom of the window you will see a box that is
labeled 'Conflicting device list'. This will tell you which
device is conflicting with the one you are looking at.
[+] To solve the problem, click on the box next to 'Use automatic
settings' so that there is not a check in the box.
[+] Click on the box next to 'Setting based on' and select each
of the configurations in the list until the 'Conflicting
device list' box says 'No conflicts'. Once it says that,
click 'OK'.
[+] Once you're back at the 'System Properties' window, click
'OK'. You will probably be asked to restart your computer.
Do so.

Repeat those steps for each device that has a yellow exclamation
point (!) next to it. That should remove any problems with
conflicts.

Install the driver for this device - PC Troubleshooting

2008-09-10T07:01:00.000-07:00

Almost all new hardware will require you to install a "device
driver". A device driver is a program that tells Windows how
to control, or "drive" the device.

[+] After installing the device, did I check for conflicts in the
Device Manager?
Just because Windows appeared to install the device just fine,
doesn't necessarily mean that it's not conflicting (that is,
getting in the way of) another device in your computer.

If you have not installed the driver, do that first. Your hardware
Should have come with a How-To guide (sometimes called Getting
Started) that will explain how to install the driver. If it did not,
or if you no longer have the manual, see 'Scenario [3]' for
instructions on how to reinstall the driver.

If you have installed the driver, but don't know how to check for
conflicts, see the section further down entitled "Resolving Device
Conflicts."

PC Troubleshooting - Hard Drive Mechanic

2008-09-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

The Hard Drive Mechanic will perform hard drive repair in just minutes. You simply install the software on any other working computer, it sets up a special floppy disk you'll use on your failed computer, and this superb PC crash recovery program will then go to work on your crashed computer. The diagnostics will find out what's wrong and you'll just point and click to a solution.

Save yourself the panic, lost work and hundreds of dollars on hard drive repair and data restoration and check out the Hard Drive Mechanic first.

Back up Your PC

2008-09-04T10:27:00.000-07:00

For one thing, a notebook PC is more fragile than a desktop PC. Analysts at Gartner estimate that 15 percent of laptops purchased will break within the first year and 22 percent will falter within 4 years, compared to 5 percent and 12 percent for a desktop system. Motherboards and hard drives are the components most likely to fail, and if it’s the latter, then retrieving data can be an expensive business. What’s more, notebooks are also more susceptible to theft or loss – particularly if they travel regularly. Losing a laptop is never easy, but it should be insured and so replaceable. Your data may not be.

In the home, data loss is a cause of misery, but in a business context it can seriously hurt your bottom line. A corrupt or damaged hard disk will – at the very least – cost you expensive man-hours, and at the worst you'll lose data vital to the productivity or running of your company. According to data from the DTI’s Information Security Breaches Survey, 2006, the average cost to a business of their worse incident of malware attack or hardware failure may be anywhere between $20,000 and $40,000, when you consider the financial implications - from lost time to recovery costs to damaged perceptions.
So why are we so bad at backing up? Last year, a survey by Harris Interactive concluded that 35 percent of computer users never backed up their data, and of those that did 75 percent only did so once a month. Amazingly, small businesses fare worse: a Gartner report estimates that only one percent of small businesses back up daily.
The ironic thing is that simple, affordable hardware and software mean backup should be a no-brainer. Think not? Maybe you just don’t know where to start? Well, that’s where we come in. Over the next few pages, we’ll look at the options available, and make backup so easy that there just won’t be any excuse

Understanding how to troubleshoot your PC

2008-09-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

Understanding how to troubleshoot your PC isn't just a handy little skill. As we, and those around us, depend more and more on PCs, any errors and downtime can cost money in repair costs or lost productivity -- money that could have been saved by knowing how to read the symptoms, treat the problem, and ultimately how to prevent the problems in the first place.

But where do you start? Experienced troubleshooters each have their own methods, but we've always found that a basic medical model is an ideal way to keep your PC healthy. Physical damage,

viruses, and even age can apply just as easily to your PC and by following basic diagnosis guidelines you can treat most known conditions.

We've broken this feature up into the three basic steps to fixing ailments: diagnosis, treatment and prevention. As a special bonus, we've also looked at using Linux to pull you out of an emergency and you'll also find some real world examples from our Labs team.

So, grab your doctor's bag and the nearest nurse as we present our complete guide to fixing PC problems

Optimize your PC in some of these ways

2008-09-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

Increase your downloading speed 100% to 500%
Speed up ANY PC running ANY Windows operating system with ANY Internet connection type including dial-up, DSL and Cable
Optimize your computer memory to boost performance
Prevent Windows crashing errors
Never get disconnected from the internet again
Double the speed and cut the time in half that it takes your PC to boot
Speed up opening and closing programs by 100%!

Desktop computer Definition

2008-09-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

The term desktop refers to the horizontal case and the monitor is usually placed on the top of it. It has the advantage over the laptop because of the easily availability of the spare parts, lower prices and the greater availability.

It has many expansion slots like PCI, ISA and AGP and a number of the components and cards like VGA, Sound card and LAN card can be placed in them. In the modern computers, the PCI slots are the most commonly used slots and almost all the cards are inserted in them. A number of the peripheral devices like monitor, scanner, keyboard, mouse and speakers can be attached with it.

Network Troubleshooting

2008-09-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

To troubleshoot the connectivity related issues in your computer network, you need to do the following.

Update the drive of the LAN card.
Check the network cable at both ends. It should be properly inserted at both ends i.e. one end in the hub/switch and one end in the computer.
Restart the hub/switch or router.
Restart your computer.

If your connectivity issue is still not resolved then you need to replace the LAN card with a new one and configure it.

PC Troubleshooting - Printer Problems

2008-09-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

If your printer does not print, then you need to do the following.

Check the cables.
Restart the printer.
Update the driver.
Check the alignment of the printer.

If the problem is still not resolved then you need to reinstall the printer.

PC Troubleshooting - PC hangs up or freezes

2008-09-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

If your PC hangs up or freezes it may be due to the hardware/software conflicts, faulty processor fan, inadequate RAM and a virus/spyware attack. To deal with the security related threats such as viruses, hacking attacks, spyware, adware, Trojan horses, browser hijacks and other, you need to install up-to-dated antivirus, anti spyware software and properly configured firewall software or hardware. This article will provide you help in troubleshooting the most common problems with your PC.

PC Troubleshooting - QuarkXPress works

2008-08-31T09:35:00.000-07:00

If you work in a PC environment, QuarkXPress works with the
XANTÉ Utilities Windows printer description file; see the
“Windows Setup” section in chapter 4 for details on installing this
driver.
For QuarkXPress versions 3.3 or later, install the QuarkXPress PDF
by copying the XTAGROM1.PDF file from the utilities disk to the
XPRESS\PDF subdirectory. To do this type the following:
C:\>COPY A:\PDF\XTAGROM1.PDF C:\XPRESS\PDF ¿

Troubleshooting Information

2008-08-31T09:30:00.000-07:00

• The model of your controller (Command Center’s Get Info
and Print Info options provide this information)
• The current controller firmware version (Command
Center’s Get Info and Print Info options provide this
information)
• The type of computer and the operating system (version
number) you are using
• The current emulation and interface in use (and protocol if
using the serial interface)
• The amount of controller memory (Command Center’s Get
Info and Print Info options provide this information)
• The application(s), including version(s) used
• A full description of the problem
• A list of status messages if they appear
If you have the troubleshooting information available when you call,
it helps our technicians serve you more quickly. You also have a
choice of phone, fax, or bulletin board support.

PC Troubleshooting - The Controller does not show up on the Chooser

2008-08-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

Possible Solutions:
• Check for proper termination on all LocalTalk
cables and boxes. See “Connecting in a Macintosh
Environment” in chapter 2 for details.
• If you have an Ethernet setup, make sure all
Ethernet cabling is connected correctly. See your
network documentation for details.
• Make sure the current interface is enabled.
• Disable all background printing and print spoolers.
• Try a new cable between your Macintosh
computer and the controller.
• Reboot the controller and your computer. Try
selecting the controller from the Chooser again.

Miscellaneous PC Troubleshooting

2008-08-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

This section covers miscellaneous troubleshooting.
§ The controller powers up, but I cannot print from my
application.
¥ Possible Solutions:
• Make sure all cables are connected and seated
properly.
• Make sure the controller is on line. The On Line
key LED should be lit and the display window
should read READY/IDLE or READY/
PRINTING. If not, press the On Line key once to
put the controller on line.
• If you work in a Macintosh environment, make
sure the controller is selected in the Chooser.

All the lights on the controller are staying on.
¥ Possible Solution:
• Be patient. Each time you turn your controller on,
a RAM test is performed. For controllers with
large RAM sizes, this test can take a little longer.
§ When downloading a font or PostScript file using System 7, the
Macintosh displays the message, “Looking for PSPrinter...”
and then “Cannot find printer on chooser”.
¥ Possible Solutions:
• Open the System Folder and view by icon.
• Open the Extensions folder and view by icon.
• Drag the PSPrinter driver out of the Extensions
folder and into the System Folder.
• Remove any LaserPrep files from the System and
Extensions folders.
• Turn both your Macintosh and controller off and
then back on again.
• Select the Chooser from the Apple menu, make
sure LocalTalk is active, and select the controller.
• If you have an Ethernet setup, select Control
Panels from the Apple menu; then select Network
and make sure EtherTalk is selected.
• Continue printing as usual.

NovaJet Troubleshooting

2008-08-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

The printer’s keypad works incorrectly. It locks up, does not
function as it should, or there is no display.
¥ Possible Solutions:
• Check the printer’s display for any message that
may indicate a problem.
• Look over the keyboard for any visible damage.
• Cycle the power on and off to see if the keypad
will resume functioning correctly.
• Check the firmware to be sure it is loaded
correctly.

PC Environment Checkup

2008-08-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

In a PC environment, if you experience printing problems the
following quick checkup may provide an easy, fast solution.
Make sure your application, controller, and computer
communications settings all match. You can check and
change controller settings through the front panel (see
“The Configuration Menu Structure” in chapter 5). See
your application and computer documentation for checking
and changing those respective settings.

If the front panel displays WAITING, try sending an endof-
job marker using the XANTÉ Utilities D.PS file. If the
previous job lacked this marker, the controller expects
more data and will not print until it receives the
end-of-job. See “PS_FILES Directory” in chapter 4 for
details.

PC TROUBLESHOOTING - Macintosh Environment Checkup

2008-08-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

In a Macintosh environment, if you experience printing problems the
following quick checkup may provide an easy, fast solution.
• Make sure all LocalTalk cabling and transformer boxes are
connected correctly. If there are any open sockets, close
them with terminating resistors. See “Connecting in a
Macintosh Environment” in chapter 2 for details.
• Make sure you select the correct PSPrinter icon and your
controller, and verify that LocalTalk is active in the
Chooser.
• Make sure the correct PSPrinter file is in your System
Folder.
• Make sure you install screen fonts to match the printer
fonts you use.

• If you have an Ethernet setup, make sure all Ethernet
cabling is connected correctly. See your network
documentation for details.
• If you have an Ethernet setup, open the Control Panel,
click Network, and make sure EtherTalk is selected.

Troubleshooting DDR2 SDRAM

2008-08-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

DDR2 Performance range:
200Mhz (5.0ns @CL=3)
267MHz (3.75ns@CL=4)
. Power supply: VDD:1.8V±0.1V
. Bi-directional data strobe (DQS)
. Differential clock inputs (CK and CK#)
. DLL aligns DQ and DQS transition with CK transition
. Auto & self refresh capability (8192 Cycles / 64ms)
. Double-data-rate architecture; two data transfers per clock cycle
. Programmable Read latency: 3 and 4 (clock)
. Programmable Burst length: 4 or 8
. Programmable Burst type (Sequential & Interleave)
. Edge aligned data output, center aligned data input
. Serial presence detect with EEPROM

Memory DIMM SPD Reader Beta

2008-08-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

DocMemory SPD Reader is an automatied application software to take the guesswork of upgrading your PC memory. It helps PC users determine the correct memory information which aid in the memory upgrade for their PC. All done without the need to know the specific Manufacturer Model Number. With a simple click of the mouse, DocMemory SPD Reader builds a detailed memory profile of your PC system by reading the DIMM memory SPD EEPROM, displaying the SPD content results as follows :
Operating Systems : Runs on Windows 95/98/ME/NT4/Windows 2000/XP
Memory Type : Support DDR1, DDR2 and some SDRAM dram memory
Memory Chipset Supports only Intel DDR2//DDR1 and SIS DDR chipsets
License : License associated with this product allows for free prersonal use only
Download the SPD Reader Software and the installation program automaticallys installs it in your harddisk.
Note : Software does not change any configuration in your PC.Please read instruction carefully before installation, please use at your own risk. An uninstall software are provided in the program, if you plan to delete the program.

Troubleshooting Memory Failures using AMI BIOS Beep Codes

2008-08-23T11:44:00.000-07:00

AMI BIOS is the most popular BIOS used by most motherboard manufacturer- you should be able to determine your system BIOS by reading the screen display on the Top screen during power up.
Procedures – The normal procedure is to power up the PC system, watch for error message on the monitor screen and listen to the PC beep tone. A single beep during boot-up process is normal and does not indicate a failure if the system continues to boot-up.
1 Beep tone - DRAM refresh failure
2 Beep tone - DRAM Parity failure
3 Beep tone - Base 64K RAM failure
4 Beep tone - System timer error
5 Beep tone - CPU failure
6 Beep tone - Keyboard controller error
7 Beep tone - Virtual mode error
8 Beep tone - Display memory read/write error
9 Beep tone - ROM BIOS checksum error
10 Beep tone - CMOS register read/write error
11 Beep tone - Cache memory error Continuous Beep tone - Memory or Video memory failures

Troubleshooting Memory failure without a Memory Tester.

2008-08-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

A Removing the modules one by one from motherboard. This is simplest method for isolating a failing module, but this may apply only if the motherboard have more than one module on the SIMM or DIMM Slot. By selectively removing module one at a time from the system and then running the test you will be able to find the bad module very quickly. Be sure to mark the module that passes or when it test fails.

Swap the modules around . When none of the modules can be removed, swap and rotate modules to find which module is defective. This technique can only be used if there are two or more modules in the system. Change the location of two modules one at a time.

For instances, place the module from SIMM slot 1 into slot 2 and place the other module from slot 2 in slot 1. Run the diagnostic test and if either the failing data bit or address changes, you know that one of the module you have just swap is defective. By using several combinations of module swapping you should be able to check which module is defective.

Replacing with known good module. If you are unable to use either of the above two techniques, you are left to use known good modules and selectively replace of modules one by one to pin point the memory failure. This is the easiest way to detect memory failure.
Removing and cleaning the metal contacts. If your PC system is older, sometimes dust and oxidation will cause poor contact in the SIMM/DIMM slot. Remove the module and clean the gold or tin contact with a “pencil eraser” or any cleaning solution used for video and audio head cleaning. Make sure you remember which slot is being used, and be careful

not to reverse the module while reinserting into the SIMM/DIMM slot
Identifying memory failure using motherboard BIOS codes. If you are not trained to perform the correct diagnostic methods – majority BIOS developers and motherboard manufacturers have device a simple way of telling you if your system is having problem by emitting beeping tones from the build in speaker on the motherboard, without the aid of a memory tester.

Troubleshooting Memory Failures using Award BIOS Beep Codes

2008-08-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

Award is the another popular BIOS developer and they use the fewest beep codes by far.
Procedures – The normal procedure is to power up the PC system, watch for error message on the monitor screen and listen to the PC beep tone. A single beep during boot-up process is normal and does not indicate a failure if the system continues to boot-up.
1 Long Beep tone - Memory Problem
1 Long Beep and 2 Short Beeps - DRAM Parity failure
1 Long Beep and 3 Short Beeps - Video error
Continuous Beep tone - Memory or Video memory failures

Active Directory Operations

2008-08-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

You can "harden" your Domain Controllers' configuration by using Security Templates, which are files that contain relatively restricted configurations and group policy settings. These templates are good starting points, but may not provide adequate security in some cases. Make sure you test these templates before applying them to production servers, to avoid "over-hardening" your Domain Controller in such way that can possibly affect its functionality. You can find sample Security Templates on the Windows 2000 Security Operations guide. Security template settings are covered in detail in the Best Practice Guide for Securing Active Directory Installations and Day-to-Day Operations .

Parity Errors TROUBLESHOOTING

2008-08-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

Parity errors are generated whenever the built-in error detection and correction system in the chipset determines that a memory error has occurred. The message is generally the same whether standard parity checking is enabled, or the more advanced ECC detection and correction. When an error of this sort occurs with ECC enabled, it means that an error of two bits or more (which ECC cannot correct) has been encountered.
It is important to realize that not all parity error messages mean that there is a problem with the memory, or even the motherboard. For example, resource conflicts can cause parity errors. The causes of parity errors vary greatly depending on whether the error message occurs when the machine is first booted up, or while the system is in general operation. For this reason I have two different troubleshooting sections, one for each of these two scenarios

System Memory Troubleshooting

2008-08-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

When there is an apparent failure of the system memory, there are a myriad of different possible causes. The most common causes of memory failure (or apparent failure) vary greatly depending on whether the memory is in an existing system or in one that was just assembled or recently upgraded. This is because memory failure in a new system is more often than not due to misconfiguration or using the wrong type of memory, while in a system where the memory once worked, it is more likely that the memory itself has gone bad.