FREE TUTORIALS
Most Common Computer Problems

ference	Issue / Question
We Can fix that for you.	I have problems in Windows after installing new software.
We Can fix that for you.	How do I fix illegal operations? My computer displays a blue screen after booting, what can i do to solve this problem?
We Can fix that for you.	My computer is running slow what steps can I do to fix it? Do you need ant-virus soft ware ?
We Can fix that for you.	How to fix an invalid page fault. I need to increase Security to my files and folders to access by other people.
We Can fix that for you.	How to fix a fatal exception error.
We Can fix that for you.	How to fix a general protection fault
We Can fix that for you.	Runtime errors. My computer dispalys error messages every time.
We Can fix that for you.	Divide error.
We Can fix that for you.	Issues relating to msgsrv32. My Web browser can not open any web page and yet am connected to the internet?
We Can fix that for you.	My computer displays a black screen & the word "NTLDR" missing after powering it? Why do Windows programes stop responding?
We Can fix that for you.	I need to regain my computer hard disk drive space.
We Can fix that for you.	Windows restarts without warning me.
We Can fix that for you.	Computer turns off without warning. Computer displays, "your memory is running low" what can i do ?
let us know.	Windows freezes or stops responding.
We have the solution for that	What should I do when a computer freezes?
We Can fix that for you.	Not a valid win32 application. I need to upgrade to Windows Vista Inspirat
We Can fix that for you.	Missing Microsoft Windows applications.dll files.
Question & Answer	Section containing a listing of all our questions and answers.
FORUM	If your question is not listed on this page please try send it to us through our mail box .

The computer locks up and/or is acting weird?

1. If the computer is frozen and will not respond to any commands, it may be necessary to press Ctrl + Alt + Del (all three keys at the same time) to bring up the Task List. Select any program that says "Not responding" and click the End Task button. Repeat until all tasks are ended. If this does not work, turn the computer off, wait several seconds, turn the computer back on, and let the computer run the Scandisk.

2. Reboot it. A majority of problems that occur while you are using your computer can be fixed by rebooting. Applications sometimes don’t release memory like they should when they are finished. The end result is your computer locks up or acts really weird. When you reboot, memory registers are cleared and most everything is reset. This fixes a lot of problems.

Special Note

It doesn't hurt a computer to leave it running all the time. However, using the computer for long periods of time causes small problems that can build into larger ones. When Windows reboots, it fixes most of these small problems. Therefore, restarting the computer periodically while working can help reduce the risk of glitches.

the computer is completely dead?

Check all the connections, the cables between the CPU and the monitor and all the electrical cables. Check the wall socket or surge strip to see if they are bad (sometimes a surge strip will have good and bad outlets). If you have a green light on your monitor but not on your CPU, then there is a problem with your CPU. If there is a green light on your CPU and not your monitor, then you have a problem with your monitor and your CPU may be fine. If you have another monitor that you know is good, the quickest way to test is to put another monitor on the machine and see if you get an image on the screen. If you have a light on both the monitor and the CPU, check the pins of the data cable between the monitor and the CPU. A single bent pin can cause an image problem.

the keyboard doesn't work?

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del (all three keys at the same time) to bring up the Task List. Select any program that says "Not responding" and click the End Task button. Repeat until all tasks are ended. Check periodically to see if the keyboard will work.

2. Check to make sure the keyboard is still properly connected to the computer. If the keyboard has been disconnected, you may have to reboot your computer.

3. If all else fails, then turn the power off. Wait a couple of minutes before turning the computer back on.

Special Note

One of the dirtiest parts of your computer is the keyboard. Regular cleaning will help keep the keyboard working properly. First, blow compressed air through the spaces in between the keys to remove dust and lint. If you shake your keyboard upside-down this will also remove some of the particles.

 

 

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the mouse doesn't work?

Check to make sure the mouse is still properly connected to the computer. If the mouse has been disconnected, you may have to reboot your computer.

Like the keyboard, the mouse pad is sitting in the open most of the time getting dusty, wet, slimed, or anything else that happens on you desktop. The mouse then rolls over whatever has collected on the mouse pad and gets inside, gumming up the works. To clean the mouse pad, wipe it off occasionally with a damp cloth or get a new one.

 

the computer displays a disk error or non-system disk message?

1. You may have left a disk in the A drive. Remove it and press any key on the keyboard to reboot the computer.

2. If you don’t have a disk in the A drive, and the message is accompanied by a "clunking" sound, turn the computer off and send for a technician.

the computer starts up in "safe mode"?

At times your computer could develop a problem which causes you machine to boot up in what is called "safe mode". The easiest way to try and solve this problem is to run a "scandisk".

1. Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and Scandisk.

2. Place a check on "Automatically fix errors".

3. When Scandisk finishes, reboot your computer to see if this fixed the problem.

4. If the computer still boots up in the Safe Mode, click on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and Disk Defragmenter. If you receive the message "You don't need to defragment this drive now", continue with the process anyway.

5. When Disk Defragmenter is finished, reboot your computer to see if this fixed the problem.

6. If the computer still starts up in safe mode, you need to contact a computer technician.

the printer doesn't work?

If the printer will not print at all, you need to determine if the printer itself will not work or if it is not receiving a print message from the computer.

1. Many models have a built-in self test option which allows you to print a test page by holding down the feed button for a few seconds. The power button will begin to flash and a test page will print. If the printer self test fails, your problem is with the printer itself rather than the printer cable or computer. Should this occur, you should contact a technician.

2. If the printer self test prints, the next step is to have Windows print a test page. Click on Start, Settings, Printers, and right click on the icon of the printer with the problem. Select properties and press the Print Test Page button. If the test page fails to print, make sure the printer cable is firmly seated in both the computer and the printer. You should also check the ends of the printer cable to make sure that none of the prongs are bent. If the test print fails, or if the print consists of nonsense characters or a few characters printed over many pages, you need to uninstall then reinstall the drivers for your printer.

 

Paper feed problems and jams can often be resolved by using paper which conforms with the specifications provided by the printer manufacturer. On ink jet printers, the rubber rolls which pick up each sheet can sometimes become coated with paper residue which decreases the friction. Cleaning off the residue can sometimes solve paper feed problems.

Special Note

If your ink jet printer is making a banging or grating noise, you need to clean two areas of the printer.

1. Some models of ink jet printers have a gray colored narrow plastic film which extends almost the whole width of the printer just behind the rod on which the print head travels. If this film gets dirty, the print heads can have problems determining where it is and can crash against the end of the printer. Use tissue or soft cloth to clean this strip.

2. The printer head moves across a rod that can also become dirty. With the printer power on, raise the front of the printer and clean the rod with a paper towel. Put the front of the printer back down and turn off the printer. This time when you lift the front of the printer, the printer heads will move across the rod. This will allow you to clean the part of the rod that was covered when you cleaned it the first time. If you spray the paper towel with WD-40, this will do a better job of cleaning the rod.

As the printer gets older, it may become necessary to perform these two cleaning jobs at least once a weak.
CAUTION!!! ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT IT'S VERY RISKY AND DANGEROUS TO REPAIR ANY OF YOUR MACHINES WITHOUT ANY PRIOR TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE. IT IS ALWAYS RECOMENDED THAT YOU CALL A TECHINICIAN.

Basic Microsoft Windows XP troubleshooting.

Issue:

Basic Microsoft Windows XP troubleshooting.

Additional information:

This document has been created as a location of general steps that can be taken to help you with problems you may be experiencing with Microsoft Windows XP that are either general problems and/or problems not documented elsewhere in the Computer Hope database.

Below are some reasons why a user may follow the steps in this document.

1. Unknown or undocumented problem with computer running Microsoft Windows XP.
2. Performance issues with the computer, for example, the computer running slowly.
3. Users who wish to run maintenance on the computer or potentially speed up the computer.
4. Users looking for steps to help resolve an issue or that may help locate the cause of an issue.

Users may find explicit documented questions and answers on our Windows XP Q&A page. Additional information about Windows XP can also be found on our Windows XP main page.

Solutions:

Error messages encountered during boot before Windows loads

Before following the below steps please make sure that the error you are encountering is not already documented on Computer Hope by performing a quick search for the error and by looking through our Windows XP Q&A page.

1. Ensure that your computer BIOS settings are correctly configured to the hardware that is installed in your computer. Improper settings in the BIOS may cause various types of errors when first booting an IBM compatible computer. These errors often occur as the computer is first booting and may stop the load process of the computer.

Error messages while Windows is loading

Errors that occur while Windows XP is loading and/or or prevent Windows XP from loading are likely being caused by a configuration error in the registry.

1. If you have recently changed or installed something that could have caused Normal Windows to stop loading, try loading the last known good configuration. Additional information about how to do this can be found here.
2. If you are unable to get into Normal Windows and believe that removing or uninstalling a program or changing a setting may help enable you to get into Windows, boot the computer into Windows XP Safe Mode.
3. If your computer has worked fine in the past but recently has been experiencing the issue you're encountering, run the System Restore option to restore the computer to an earlier date.

Other error messages that occur while Windows is loading or after Windows is loaded

Errors that have occurred while Windows is loading and/or after Windows has completed loading are often caused by a program that is automatically loading each time Windows is loading, problem or misconfiguration of a hardware device, or computer virus.

1. If errors occur but Microsoft Windows still loads, verify no issues or conflicts exist in Device Manager. If errors are found, read through our Device Manager page for steps on resolving issues.
2. Ensure that if programs are loading automatically that these errors are not associated with these programs. Many times utilities such as virus programs may attempt to load when Windows first starts and cause errors to occur. If you believe that your startup errors are associated with another program, please refer to our basic software troubleshooting.
3. Make sure Windows XP is up to date by checking Microsoft Windows update page.
4. If your computer has a virus protection program installed, make sure it is up to date and that no viruses are being detected. If your computer does not have a virus protection program, you may wish to consider installing a program to make sure no viruses are causing your problems.
5. If your computer has worked fine in the past but recently has been experiencing the issue you're encountering, run the System Restore option to restore the computer to an earlier date.

Other error messages

If you are experiencing other error messages, it is likely these errors are being caused by the software program you are running and/or a hardware device you are attempting to utilize. It is recommended you see the basic troubleshooting section for your hardware device or software program.

Computer running slowly

1. Make sure your computer has at least 500MB of free hard disk drive space. If your computer has less than 500MB free, it may cause the computer to operate more slowly.
2. Run Microsoft Scandisk and Defrag on the computer. Additional information and help with these commands can be found on our scandisk page and our defrag page.
3. Close any programs that are running in the background and/or disable background programs from automatically loading each time your computer boots.
4. Click Start, Search, and click For Files or Folders. In the search window, search for files named *.tmp and make sure you are searching or looking in the local C: drive. Once search has completed, delete any files found.
5. Ensure that no errors or conflicts exist in the Device Manager.
6. Make sure Windows XP is up to date by checking Microsoft Windows update page.
7. Ensure your computer has the latest drivers for the hardware devices installed in your computer.
8. If your computer has a virus protection program installed, make sure it is up to date and that no viruses are being detected. If your computer does not have a virus protection program, you may wish to consider installing a program to make sure no viruses are causing your problems.
9. If your computer has worked fine in the past but recently has been experiencing the issue you're encountering, run the System Restore option to restore the computer to an earlier date.

Issue with hardware device

If you are having difficulties with a hardware device, please see our basic troubleshooting section for steps that can be taken to help resolve your hardware issues.

Other

If you are still running into errors or unable to resolve your issue, please search our web page, check our on-line help section, and check our Q&A section for additional help and/or recommendations. If after checking these locations you are still unable to resolve your issue, feel free to contact our support team.

MANUPLATING WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEMS.

Collecting Information About Your System

In order to be able to complete the installation procedure smoothly, you should collect certain information about your system before beginning the installation. Often the installation utility will be able to determine your system configuration automatically but when it fails to do so, you must be prepared to supply the needed information. Otherwise, you'll be forced to terminate the installation procedure, obtain the information, and restart the installation.

Information You Need

To obtain this information, you can consult your system documentation and the documentation for any devices installed by you. If your documentation is missing or incomplete, you may need to contact your hardware vendor or manufacturer. Alternatively, you may be able to find the needed information on the manufacturer's web site; use a search engine such as Yahoo! or AltaVista to discover the URL of the web site.

Configuration Information Needed to Install Linux

Device	Information needed
Hard Drive(s)	The number, size, and type of each hard drive. Which hard drive is first, second, and so on Which adapter type (IDE or SCSI) is used by each drive. For each IDE drive, whether or not the BIOS is set for LBA mode
RAM memory	The amount of installed RAM
CD-ROM Drive(s)	Which adapter type (IDE, SCSI, or other) is used by each drive For each drive using a non-IDE, non-SCSI adapter, the make and model of the drive
SCSI Adapter (if any)	The make and model of the card
Network Adapter (if any)	The make and model of the card
Mouse	The type (serial, PS/2, or bus) The protocol (Microsoft, Logitech, MouseMan, etc.) The number of buttons For a serial mouse, the serial port to which it's connected
Video Adapter	The make and model of the card The amount of video RAM

To obtain the needed information, you may need to examine your system's BIOS settings or open your system's case and examine the installed hardware. Consult your system documentation to learn how to do so.

Collecting Configuration Information by Using Windows

If you run Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98, you can obtain much of the needed information by using the Windows System Properties dialog box, which you can launch by using the Control Panel:

1. Click on the Start menu. A popup menu appears.

2. Select Settings on the popup menu and click on Control Panel in the submenu. The Control Panel appears.

3. Double click on System. The System Properties dialog box appears. If necessary, click on the General tab, so that the dialog box resembles

   The General tab of the System Properties dialog box shows the type of your system's processor and the amount of installed RAM.

   The General tab of the System Properties dialog box

   

4. Click on the Device Manager tab.

   You can double click on an icon (or single click on the plus key adjacent to an icon) to obtain additional information. For example, by double clicking on the Disk Drives icon you can determine whether a disk drive uses an IDE or SCSI interface.

   If you have a printer, you can use the Print button to print information about your system's devices.

   The Device Manager tab of the System Properties dialog box

   

From the Device Manager tab, you can learn the following information:

• The number and type (IDE or SCSI) of your system's hard drives.

• The make and model of CD-ROM drives.

  Some installed CD-ROM drives do not appear in the Device Manager tab of the System Properties dialog box. Often the CONFIG.SYS file will contain clues that help you learn more about such drives.

• The type of mouse installed.

• The make and model of the video adapter.

• The make and model of multimedia adapters, such as sound cards, if any.

• The make and model of network adapters, if any.

• The make and model of SCSI adapters, if any.

Below are the AMI BIOS Beep codes that can occur. However, because of the wide variety of different computer manufacturers with this BIOS, the beep codes may vary.

AWARD BIOS beep codes

Below are Award BIOS Beep codes that can occur. However, because of the wide variety of different computer manufacturers with this BIOS, the beep codes may vary.

If any other correctable hardware issues, the BIOS will display a message.

IBM BIOS beep codes

Below are IBM BIOS Beep codes that can occur. However, because of the wide variety of models shipping with this BIOS, the beep codes may vary.

Macintosh startup tones

Phoenix BIOS beep codes

Below are the beep codes for PHOENIX BIOS Q3.07 OR 4.X

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