Quick
Links:
How
to Repair a Damaged Hard Drive Using CHKDSK
Source:
5 Star Support
This
article applies to Windows XP/2000
<>Introduction:
Over time, your hard drive could develop errors for a
variety of reasons. The most common reasons are:
-
Improper Shutdowns
-
Power
Outages
-
Power
Surges
-
Age of Drive
In
this article I will explain a method that can repair a damaged
hard drive. It is also possible to be able to tell if the hard
drive is nearing its end by using this method.
Warning: Depending on the extent of the damage to your hard
drive, this test can cause the hard drive to actually fail. So,
prior to running this test, be sure to backup all data.
Read the
rest of this article
here.
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Perform a Clean Installation of Windows Vista
Source:
5 Star Support
<>Introduction:
Performing a Clean Installation of Windows Vista is the
preferred installation method. The alternate method
available is an "Upgrade" installation. I do not
recommend upgrading. Too many things can go wrong with
an upgrade and I have seen this many many times with all
Windows operating systems. A Clean Installation gives
your system fresh file paths that usually amounts to a
much faster and reliable installation.
Read the rest of this article
here.
This is a
hardware diagnostic tool that Microsoft includes with
its Windows Operating Systems. This tool can be used to:
٠ Troubleshoot Existing Device Problems
٠ Configure Changes in Resource Settings
٠ Identify Device Drivers
٠ Update a Device
٠ Driver Rollback to an Original Device Driver
٠ Enable, Disable or Uninstall Devices
٠ Create a Printed Report Using Device Manager
<>How do I access
the Device Manager?
Method #1:
Go to Start>> Run. Type in: devmgmt.msc [Enter] or click
OK.
Method #2:
Go to Start>> Right click "My Computer">> Select
Manage>> Device Manager.
Method #3:
Go to Start>> Control Panel>> System icon>> Hardware
tab>> Device Manager button.
Read the rest of this article
here.
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In order to complete this
task, you will need:
1) Category 5 (Cat 5) crossover cable (see fig#1). You
can purchase these cables in different lengths. Be sure
to buy the one that fits your needs.
Note: A crossover
cable is different from an Ethernet cable. If you're
using a Hub or a Switch to connect the two computers, an
Ethernet cable will do fine.
2) Fully functional Ethernet Adapters (Network Cards)
installed on both computers systems.
Be sure that both computers are logged in to Windows.
Connect each end of the cat5 crossover cables in to the
network cards of each computer.
Bootup both computers and sign them both on to Windows.
Read the
rest of this article
here.
[Top]
The Windows Vista
Firewall
Source:
Support4Vista
We all have
heard at one time or another, about the Windows XP
firewall and how useless it is. However true or untrue
these statements are, they can effect the confidence of
future Windows products security systems. This paper is
intent upon educating the public on the facts of the
subject matter. So, let's get with it...
<>The Difference:
No third party software can lay claim to the fact that
the Windows Firewall starts its protection once the
computer is turned on. Is that important you ask?
Absolutely. If a capable malware program could turn
itself on at the same time that the computer starts to
boot, common sense would dictate the danger of this.
Now, knowing the fact that the Vista firewall 'does'
start at boot, we need to confidently know that it is
going to protect from boot.
Read the
rest of the article
here.
[Top]
Preventing
Malicious Attacks
Source:
Computer Basics
Preventing
attacks from adware, spyware, trojan horses, keyloggers
and other parasites is essential. You can greatly reduce
your risk of infection with education, the right
combination of software and good computer habits.
<>Education
Their counting on your lack of knowledge to infect your
system. Educate yourself, family members and friends. It
won't matter how well you protect your computer if
someone else installs malicious programs when you aren't
around. Become familiar with what can attack you, types
of infection methods, signs or symptoms of infection and
new outbreak's. Visit our Security Center to keep on top
of the newest threats.
When installing software "always" read the software's
EULA (End-User License Agreement). The EULA could
contain a warning that spyware is being installed on
your system. If you just "click" through, you will miss
this warning.
Read the
rest of this article for
here.
[Top]
Installing a New
Hard Drive
Source:
5 Star Support
And the
drive interface, in a PC clone, will nowadays almost
certainly be EIDE (Enhanced Integrated Drive
Electronics) or the older IDE (Integrated Drive
Electronics). For simplicity's sake, I'll say "IDE" when
I mean IDE/EIDE for the rest of this tutorial, because
the differences aren't likely to be apparent in domestic
circumstances. If you're one of the rebels with a SCSI
controller, adding more drives is even easier.
Preparing the drive:
Any IDE controller can handle two hard drives at once.
IDE drives actually have the controller built right onto
the drive - the card plugged into the PC expansion slot,
is really little more than a cable adaptor, with no
controller circuitry of its own. For all remotely recent
motherboards, the IDE connection circuitry is built into
the motherboard, and no adaptor card is needed; you just
have IDE cable sockets right there on the motherboard.
Read the
rest of this article
here.
[Top]
Manually Defrag
Your Computer in Windows Vista
Source:
Support4Vista
The biggest
difference between the defrag tool in Windows XP and
Windows Vista is that Vista is setup to defrag all of
the partitions of your hard disks automatically and on a
weekly schedule by default. I suppose this was a
decision by the Vista system engineers probably based on
the new search feature and its constant indexing of your
hard disks and the importance of keeping tidy files for
faster results. If you try running a defrag manually,
you will not receive any system progress or receive any
visual indication of how fragmented your system
partitions are. However, it is possible to manipulate
the system via a command prompt to receive such
information. Here's how to run the command line
defragmentation utility:
To open a command prompt window, click the Windows
button>> All Programs>> Accessories>> Right click the
Command Prompt button and select the "Run as
administrator" option. A command prompt window will now
appear.
Read the
rest of this article
here.
[Top]
Creating a Google
Group
Source:
Computer Basics
Using
Google Groups is a great way to keep in touch with
family and friends no matter where they are. Or, if your
would like to create a Group to discuss a certain hobby
with others with the same interest, this is easily done
with Google Groups. Create a community that people can
interact with either in a private or public setting.
Whatever your vision is for your Group, you'll be able
to get it started very quickly! Each Group has a
generous storage capacity of 100 MB. That's going to be
very difficult to reach that storage capacity limit! If
you're ready to get started building your new Group, I'm
happy to help you! The first thing that you will need to
do is create an account. Here's how:
Read the rest of this article
here.
[Top]
Manually Backup
Windows XP
Source:
5 Star Support
Windows XP
Professional comes equipped with its own backup tool.
While there are many 3rd party software that will
perform this operation too, Windows XP's is just fine.
If you are a Windows XP Home user, follow the steps
outlined below. Or, go ahead and skip to the next
section.
<>Installing Windows Backup Utility in Windows XP Home
Edition:
Insert the Windows XP Installation CD in to your CD
drive.
Select "Perform Additional Tasks" from the XP Welcome
screen.
Select, "Browse this CD".
You will now be taken in to Windows Explorer. From here,
you will need to double click on the following folders:
ValueAdd>> Msft>> Ntbackup.
With the Ntbackup folder open, double click the file
titled: Ntbackup.msi
The Windows XP Backup Utility will now be installed on
to your Windows Application.
<>Using Windows XP Backup Utility:
To access the Windows XP Backup Utility, go to Start>>
All Programs>> Accessories>> System Tools>> Backup.
Or- you can simply go to Start>> Run. Type in: ntback
[Enter] or click OK.
Read the
rest of this article
here.
[Top]
Secure
a New
Computer
Source:
5 Star Support
It has been
proven that a computer straight out of the box and then
connected to the Internet can be infected by viruses and
worms in less than 30 seconds. To avoid this very
unpleasant situation, please take the time to safe-guard
your computer by following these simple steps listed
below:
<>Enable the Windows Firewall:
If your Windows XP Operating System has the SP2 update
installed already, it is most likely that the Windows
Firewall is turned on. However, some computer
manufactures or system administrators will turn this
feature off. So, check to make sure that it is turned on
for the moment. Here's how:
1. Go to Start>> Control Panel>> Security Center>>
Windows Firewall
2. Make sure that the "On" radio button is ticked (see
illustration below).
<>Install Anti-Virus Software:
If you have already purchased Anti-Virus software and
have the disc available, go ahead and load that on to
your new system at this time. If you do not have any
Anti-Virus software, please proceed with the next step.
Don't worry, I'll get you hooked up with a good
Anti-Virus software that you can download for free! But,
first things first...let's continue.
<>Install All Windows Updates:
After it is certain that your Windows Firewall is
activated, go to the Windows update site (link below)
and install all available updates for your Operating
System. Follow all "recommended" procedures when using
the Windows Update site.
http://www.windowsupdate.com/
Read the
rest of this article
here.
[Top]
The purpose
of the System Restore feature is to create a snapshot of
the systems configuration so that the Administrator can
easily return a system back to a known good
configuration. Using the system restore feature will not
cause a system to lose any data.
System Restore is designed to automatically create a
restore point each time the system recognizes a
significant change in the file or application structure.
System Restore also has the flexibility to allow users
to create their own restore points at any time.
Read all of
the Frequently Asked Questions regarding Windows XP
System Restore
here.
[Top]
Basic Windows Vista
Troubleshooting Guide
Source:
5 Star Support
Troubleshooting a Vista computer system
that is having problems can be a difficult task due to
the endless software and hardware configuration
possibilities on a machine. However, I've put together a
basic guide for Vista users that may lend a helping hand
in finding out where the trouble lies and how to fix it.
<>System Restore:
If you do not know where to start and you don't have a
clue as to why you're having trouble with Vista, then I
recommend using System Restore to take your system files
back to a time when you were not having any trouble. To
use System Restore, follow the instructions below:
Go to Start>> All Programs>> Accessories>> System
Tools>> System Restore
Click Next
Select "Choose a different restore point"
Click Next
Select a date and time that you would like to restore
to.
Click Next to begin the process
In the confirmation prompt, select Yes.
Once system restore has completed the process, your
computer will restart.
<>Identify a Hardware Problem:
In this section I will show you how you can identify a
hardware problem.
[More]
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