When the typical consumer begins searching for a new computer, they usually look for the best deal from the largest, name brand super store they can find — but this is the best computer system for your money and will it really do everything you need it to?

If your at the cross roads in your search for a new computer, let me offer you some professional computer advice before you spend your money on a name brand system from the super store down the street. There are several advantages to buying a custom computer from a professional system builder.

Guarantee

If you purchase a system from a professional builder, you can be assured of the quality that goes into building your new computer system. Everything from the parts, to the time spent installing your custom system will be done with extra attention to detail. You can be guaranteed that a custom built computer will do everything you envisioned your computer doing and usually more. All computers from a system builder will offer a guarantee of some sort. Most reputable builders offer a 90 day parts & labor warranty from the date of purchase, on all new custom computer systems.

Quality

All the parts purchased for a custom computer are thoroughly reviewed to make sure the components perform as expected or better before they purchased, and extremely installed in the customers new computer. All custom systems are designed, built, tested, packaged, and shipped with a great deal of pride from the builder. This typically goes a long way towards the value of the final product you receive for your money. The old saying you get what you pay for could not be more true. Custom computers are built with you in mind and every little detail is taken into consideration.

Performance & Reliability

Professional system builders will generally test each individual computer more thoroughly. The individual attention applied during the building of a custom computer can assure first rate quality, and reliability not available from typical mass-produced, name brand computers. High quality, custom built computers will typically perform better when running newer applications; and especially when running hi-def games that require a great deal of video processing power. You can be assured that a custom built system can handle any application or game that you throw at them.

Expandability

Custom computers will save you money in the long run due to the expandability they provide. Name brand computers are designed and sold; such that when technology advances you must live with the old computer or buy a new one. When you own a custom computer you have the option to upgrade only old hardware that needs it, while maintaining any serviceable components; therefore, extending the service life of the computer and all the hardware it uses.

Usability

Usability is important because you know your computing routine and needs better than anyone. Custom built systems can be catered to your exact specifications based on your individual computing requirements. You get the savings you deserve by not buying hardware you really do not need, and the performance you want because you helped design it yourself. With a custom built computer system your productivity will increase, and anything you do on the computer will be done with ease.

Serviceability

All electronic devices will eventually fail, and yes that includes computer systems. When the time comes to get repairs performed on your computer, you will find that using "off the shelf" parts as opposed to "proprietary" components, like name brand manufacturers use, means that custom computers can be repaired by just about anyone. The warranty of some prebuilt, name brand computers require repairs to be performed at a particular service location, and with specific parts, which may mean repairs take much longer. The parts for some of these name brands can even become obsoleset after only a few years. This means you would have to buy a new computer if you were unable to get the part to repair it from the manufacturer. Custom computers can be repaired with "off the shelf" parts from hundreds, if not thousands of different vendors. This makes the parts less expensive and more readily available when your computer needs repaired.

Source by Jason Ballard

Runtime error 6 is an “overflow” problem that may happen for one of a handful of reasons.

Runtime error 6 can occur when data gets too big for its britches.

This “overflow” problem can happen when, somewhere along the way, data has been entered that is too big for its data field. What does this mean in plain English?

Let’s say you’re working with Microsoft Access (a database program). You have to put information into various fields (boxes), when some of these boxes are pre-set to only accept certain values. (This can be arranged for a variety of reasons; there is no need to go into the specifics here, as it would require several articles!)

If one of these fields is pre-set to accept values of only 0-255, you’d cause an overflow error if you accidentally entered, say, 377.

Now of course you wouldn’t do this. However, sometimes programmers make mistakes. Sometimes a program must generate a random variable and it could be that the parameters on the generator are too wide (it generates larger numbers than it should).

Nevertheless, sometimes this doesn’t happen until it’s a bit too late. That’s why searching for updates, patches, and new versions/upgrades to your software is often a solution to this problem.

Runtime error 6 occurs with Microsoft Site Server 3.0.

Microsoft Site Server 3.0 is an example of how this kind of error may occasionally occur in even the most tested and professional software. Fortunately, this is one instance of runtime error 6 that can be easily cured. Microsoft support currently offers help with this error.

What else can cause an overflow problem?

Usually, the problem with this error comes from a mistake in programming. It can also come from your registry.

The Windows registry is a directory of program files that all the programs on your computer use. It directs functions to connect with their proper compliments in other programs and hardware.

Without it, your word processor would have to search your entire computer for the printer jack, every time you wanted to print a document. It would also have to search your entire computer for the keyboard, screen, and supporting software every time you started it up!

This would leave your computer unable to run more than a handful of programs at any one time–and even those would run slowly.

Registries can become cluttered over time through no fault of yours. They can also become damaged by spyware and viruses – problems that anti-virus programs don’t typically fix. You can help avoid this by learning more about runtime error 6 and other registry issues.

Source by John E. Blake

It could often be unnerving to even know where to get under way when taking into account purchasing a state-of-the-art laptop, suddenheless with our clear handbook you will be loaded with the education you require to make an informed decision. From netbooks to notebooks to laptops, we will illustrate what all the available variations are and what you will need for your own personalized requirements.

First up, I think what we really want to tackle is what precisely is the difference between notebooks, netbooks and laptops. Lets stay with netbooks and notebooks, these are what i like to call "mini laptops" for when related to the benchmark laptop many things about them is minimized. From the real tangible size of the computer down to the scientific particulars and computational power is less than such of them're larger brothers. Many a time, such netbooks are thought of as very much entry-level laptops, aimed more so at children or those who need extreme mobility without the power and specifications of an actual laptop. So if you're browsing to get your child involved in their initial laptop a netbook may be the perfect way to start.

At the heart of each laptop lays its Central Processing Unit (CPU) which is essentially the intelligence of the laptop and offers all of the ability. These days the CPU is divided into a number of different cores which manages the processing of information and information separately of each other and it's advocated that you pick a model with at least 2 or more cores. Thankfully suddenless some present-day laptops will come with at least 2 cores and many a time have 4 or more cores ensuring the utmost possible computation capacity.

Working near the CPU is the memory of your laptop, which is used to store data and information while the CPU works on other things. Here we would strongly advise at least 2GB of memory, be that as it may this very much depends on your overall needs from the laptop. For instance if it's usually to be used to look through the internet and type out essays etc then you may often get away with a lower size of memory. although if you're looking to render high detail video or play the latest computer games then you really should be wanting for around 4GB of memory to ensure your laptop all the power it demands to take care of these complex tasks.

Another vital item you should consider is the storage space offered, frequently from your hard disk drive and it's here we've advised the very least you need is 250GB of storage which will give you plenty of room for all your photos, music and videos. Again, if you're looking to process video or play the latest games then you should keep in mind a greater disk drive, somewhere around the 500GB mark should be plenty for your needs.

The final consideration to make is that of your laptops screen size, after all this is mostly going to be settled by your decision of netbook or actual laptop, with the major concern being either your screen is wide-screen or not. Although increasingly so some laptops will come with a wide-screen display and it's quickly becoming the norm in laptop construction.

Source by Tara McFarnaham

Having your pc or computer inspected by a knowledgeable computer repair technician may not actually be as expensive as you would think. Many people have the opinion that the professional computer repair solution will be too costly and many will attempt to correct the computer problems themselves rather than considering taking it to a local computer repair service.

Many people regularly try to correct computer issues themselves and end up frustrated, angry and no closer to a solution. How much stress and irritation will this cause you! Computer owners commonly wind up teething their hair out when they can not resolve the pc problems they are experiencing.

Sometimes a friend or relative will claim to be an expert and attempt to correct the problems with your computer. This solution can be successful at times and you may succeed in saving money but in many cases, they simply make the computer worse. Having a friend or relative render your computer unusable or even losing your important information can indeed put a great strain on any relationship and is to be avoided if possible. Although they have the best intentions, employing a professional computer repair technician to do the job for you instead is a far better solution and saves any fallout with your friends and family.

It is not uncommon for people to immediately rush out and buy a new computer when problems arise. Even if you have money to burn, this rash action is definitely unnecessary and will be expensive for no reason. A better course of action would be to take the computer to a local computer repair company and ask them to provide a quote or estimate to repair the computer for you instead. You may well be surprised at the cost of repair when compared to replacing with a new computer.

A local computer repair business will charge a fee to repair your computer but, due to their knowledge and expertise, it will be repaired and back to you much sooner than you expect. The technician will be familiar with the symptoms you describe and most likely, have an idea of ​​the solution before you even finish describing it. This is why he is an expert, years of diagnosing and correcting computer problems. Most local computer repair businesses are trustworthy and reasonably priced. Going down this path also ensures that the experience is frustration free for you.

Most towns and cities will have more than one computer repair business so it's worth checking a few things out before making a decision. Listed below are a few suggestions:

• Do they offer any kind of guarantee on work carried out
• Are repairs carried out on site? Some may send them away for repair
• Make sure they provide an estimate before proceeding if components are needed

This advice should help you find a local computer repair business that can get your computer up and running quickly.

Source by Raymond Cunningham

Anti-virus software is software that you install on your computer so that you can be alerted when you have a virus. Anti-virus software will help to keep your computer safe against worms, viruses, Trojan horses, and other uninvited programs.

The software can also help you clean your computer if you should happen to have a virus. The important thing to remember about anti-virus software is that you make sure to update it often so that you get the latest computer virus definitions installed into the software program. There is no point in having the anti-virus software if you’re not going to update it. You’ll be able to get updates from the vendor that sold you the anti-virus software, such as Norton.

Many times you may already have anti-virus software on your computer in which case you be sure to uninstall it before installing your new software. To find out if you have virus software check under your Start menu to see if you one listed, such as McAfee or Norton. Keep in mind that just because you have anti-virus software already installed on your computer that it (1) might not be working, and (2) hasn’t been updated for a long time.

Once you’ve installed anti-virus software on your computer you’re going to want to make sure that you use it correctly. Make sure that the settings in your computer automatically turn the anti-virus software on when you boot up your computer. You always want to be protected. If you’re downloading something off the Internet your anti-virus software will let you know if there is a problem.

You can also use the anti-virus software to specifically scan any downloads, or files, that that have been sent to you via e-mail. If you are alerted that you have a virus your software will guide you with the right steps to removing it. Make sure that you don’t continue to use your computer until the virus, or worm that you have, is removed. You don’t want to send e-mail to friends and help in the spreading of the virus.

Source by James Hunt

Have you found that your pc is unexpectedly slow at work and the system gets stuck or freezes very often. It is not only annoying but if do not pay some heed to this problem, soon your pc will get so tired that it will even lose the ability to load the operating system and windows will no longer work unless you fix these errors with a windows registry cleaner.

The obvious way to solve this problem is to increase the memory of your system, but it is not the efficient approach nor a permanent solution, because soon you will find out that even the increased memory is running out due to all the resources being used.

The root of the problem is not necessarily insufficient hard disk space. These are the reasons.

# 1 It is the burden experienced by your computer due to unnecessary and an excess amount of installed programs, and excess data. Even a small amount of computer memory is enough if it the computer is optimized properly with a windows registry cleaner any by removing unwanted programs.

Fixing this problem means making a list of programs installed on your system, then mark and uninstall all the programs that are not of importance or are not needed.

# 2 The root cause of the problem is the windows registry. Because it is where all the information stored about a computer is kept. Due to malfunction or errors in the registry your computer will then fail to run programs and will start to have strangely. Devices will not work and in some cases the system will be unable to boot.

The best way to fix this problem is to run a free registry scan and then fix the errors with a windows registry cleaner. This will let the user know about all the errors and problems and enable you to fix them quickly.

These are the two problems for a computer and the easiest solutions, which will boost to the performance of your PC and make it run faster than ever.

Source by Greg Durnett

The trick to speeding up Windows is to fix the problems that are slowing it down. All Windows computers run ina way that requires several different components all run smoothly and effectively. The 'system' of Windows is designed in a way that requires many different parts of your PC to run smoothly, otherwise they could make your system run extremely slowly.

The reason why most Windows computers run slowly is all down to a your PC being unable to process the settings, files or programs it needs fast enough. This causes it to take longer to read the files it needs, slowing it down. This is why many computers run slow … and the cause of these issues is almost always inside a part of your computer called the 'registry'.

The registry is the largest cause of a slow PC, and it's because it is sooner to it becoming corrupt. The registry is a database which stores the settings, options and system files for Windows, and is the largest reason why many Windows PCs run slowly.

Every time you use your PC, the registry is constantly being opened and read too many times, which makes Windows confused, forcing it to save many of these files in the wrong way. This causes them to become corrupt and unreadable, which slows down your system.

The trick to speed up your Windows PC is to clean out all the damaged registry files that are slowing it down. This is done by using a 'registry cleaner' tool which scans through the registry database and removes any of the damaged and corrupted files that are inside it. To use one of these tools, you first need to download one off the Internet. There are many different tools all around the Internet, on popular download sites and private sites as well. You need to download one, install it and then it will scan your PC for errors.

When you scan your PC with a registry cleaner, it scans for errors that are causing it to run slowly. The cleaner will check every registry file on your PC and then remove any of the damaged ones that are causing issues, allowing your computer to speed up. In order for this trick to work, you really need to get a good registry tool that can remove the largest number of errors from your system.

Source by Hank Marvin

Having a damaged laptop can be a very nerve-wracking situation, especially when you use the laptop daily. There are factors to look at before you get your laptop fixed. In most cases when you have a broken laptop, you mostly think of replacing it. The first question that pops up to your mind is whether you should purchase a new laptop or not. Well, buying a new one might not be the only option since you can get your laptop repaired at low prices. Nonetheless, it depends with the severity of laptop damage, the age of your damaged laptop, and the costs of laptops.

Some of the repairs that may require you to purchase a new laptop include a broken motherboard, broken LCD screen, and a severely damaged case. These types of repairs are mostly expensive, and putting in mind the period you have been with your laptop, this could be the best time to get a new laptop. Nonetheless, it is advisable to consult a professional to give you advice on whether it is viable to repair or buy a new laptop.

Regardless of whether you want a laptop support service or replacement, you will have to decide on what you will do with your data. If you are unable to turn on your laptop, it will be difficult to retrieve your data. That is why it is advisable to have backups on your laptop data to protect you from these tricky situations. This will also make it easier for you to access your data while your laptop is undergoing repair.

Some laptop support services provide data backup and recovery. Always ensure that you inquire about backup and recovery options when looking for a computer service. Additionally, you also want to be certain that your data is secure and safe with whoever offers you support services. With this, you would want to ensure you select a certified laptop repair service.

The most important thing that most people would want to know is the repair cost. This may prove to be a tricky situation since most laptop repair services have to diagnose your laptop first before giving you the pricing. Even some of the flat rated laptop repair services do not cover the parts needed to repair your laptop. If you are worried about repair costs, you do not need to take your laptop to a repair service that diagnoses your laptop before they give you repair charges. You may end up with an astronomical bill.

Different repair services handle their laptop services differently. There are those that will replace a vital component instead of repairing the affected area, which might be a bit expensive. If you want to save on cash, then it is advisable that you go to a service center that diagnoses the problem first. With this, they will detect the problem and repair the broken component. This will save a whole lot of money. However, you should always make sure to contact a reputable laptop service company to ensure you get quality services.

Source by Reegs Taylor

One of the first things you learn when you get your own personal computer is your computer system can give you hours of enjoyment and help you to explore worlds that you did not know exhausted.

When you make the right choice you'll have a laptop, PC or mobile device that will be both reliable and perform well. However, to get the most from any computing experience you need to be aware of the fact that nothing is infallible and computer maintenance will be required on an ongoing basis.

Computer Repair And Maintenance Can Be Proactive

In short that means that part of your computing experience and education should be that you become familiar with the right kind of computer maintenance necessary to help your new system perform as new for as long as possible. A little research on the internet will reward you as you'll discover websites that can not only provide you with a variety of different services you should have a problem, but can also help you become more computer maintenance proactive and Pc savvy so that you can avoid many pitfalls before they even happen.

This also means that you'll get to know what to look for in any computer repair service that you may need to employ if you prefer not to carry out computer repairs and maintenance yourself.

To help you along here is a list of the prerequisites you should be looking for.

* PC maintenance is essential. Like anything else that you own, making sure your computer is in good working order is essential to get the most from any machine. That's why you need to look for a service they can offer features like spyware and adware removal and even a guide on how to fix a slow computer.

* You also want to find a website that can advise on other computer maintenance aspects that typically get overlooked when it comes to your computer, for example the importance of a thorough cleaning.

* Software. Additionally you need to find a website that has a comprehensive approach to self help computer repair and maintenance. For example: what you need to know about important things like antivirus software, what it can do for you and how it can help to keep your system running smoothly and secure.

* Online support. Ideally your chosen provider will also offer a 24 hour remote support service because lets face it, not all problems during business hours.

Of course there are several other factors that you need to look at to make sure that you have a comprehensive computer repair company working with you, one major factor for example is data recovery.

Data recovery services are one of the most essential and underestimated ingredients that you'll need to have access to, and the reason is simple when you stop to think about it. Whether you're a home user or a small business, your data is your most critical element and the one that you want to keep safe at all costs.

A sensible computer repair website therefore will also have a comprehensive data solutions services section that can advise on the many aspects of disaster and data recovery, and even online backup services so you can ensure that your data data will be kept nice and safe and always be available to you.

Source by Dave Talbot

Whether you own a desktop or a laptop, you must have noticed how fast technology has changed and progressed. For the non-technical person, it is almost impossible to stay in step with all the changes that are out there. For most of us, a multitude of computer support and online computer repair resources are available to help our systems get back to life.

With increasing craze of searching everything online, there is a sharp rise in online computer support vendors. It has become a popular service offering some computer enthusiasts looking for things like setting up computer, PC troubleshooting or optimization or fixing email errors, virus and spyware removal, and other critical issues such as the blue screen of death error. Online personal computer repair works for most issues.

Online computer support is the simplest, cheapest yet the most self sufficient service for tech savvy and small business that can not afford a full-fledged IT helpdesk to handle their daily needs. These techs take care of everything remotely over a secure Internet connection. It offers the users to control actions taken on their system; tech support enhances the user's computer knowledge.

Services such as online computer troubleshooting, computer set-up / installation, computer repair are available to all; whereas other services such as server support and network monitoring and reporting re especially designed for small businesses. These service plans are made considering specific needs of businesses.

How to differentiate some tech support companies? Good technical support companies first diagnose the things comprehensively where an under experienced or bad computer support company will try to rush the support session.

Online computer repair is most helpful at the time of troubleshooting software problems. Starting out with simple issues such as those of installation of any software programs simple to critical, you can contact these techs for anything related to your PC.

By working with a support resource that offers a combination of computer technician services and online PC Repair, small businesses can receive the IT support they need without the heavy price tag associated with it. Another advantage of availing these tech services is their 24×7 availability.

Source by Joshep John

There are many benefits to overclocking your hardware peripherals. It is said to benefit computer owners who have low end models. Overclocking increases the speed of any hardware peripheral more than the limit set by the manufacturer. By overclocking, the low end hardware is made to perform just as its higher end version does. Some computer enthusiasts who have good and new quality models also overclock their computer hardwares in order to push them to perform much better. Beside speed advantages, overclocking gives greater signal strength which helps your hardware perform at a maximum level.

Take the 3.0 gigahertz Pentium 4, its owner can overclock it to 3.4 gigahertz. By doing so, he has on his hands now a computer that works exactly like the actual Pentium 4 3.4 gigahertz without having to shell out more money for an upgrade or a new computer purchase. With overclocking, you are also able to test drive an upcoming model or a newly released model you are contemplating on buying.

You can overclock just about everything on your computer, the graphics, memory, and processors. While still on experimentation, PCI, AGP (accelerated graphics port), USB and serial ports of older computer models have the potential of being overclocked. However, a person who owns older models of computers may best exercise caution not to overclock their hardware while no concrete success results are documented and while there is still no accurate information regarding specific instructions and troubleshooting processes.

Remember to overclock your system in increasing levels, starting at minimum speed modification. An abrupt system modification through oveclocking may cause serious damages to your computer. It has been reported that some computers suffered from data loss, frequent boot failure, and even system crashing. By overclocking a step at a time you are more able to assess your computer's overclocking limit. Increase speed only after you've already placed your system through thorough performance system testing and after you ascertain your computer's stability on the present modification. On the web, you can find sites and companies which offer CPU tests for stability. You can easily scout for a reputable site and product to acquire CPU testing from.

Possible overheating problems (which were reported to be the common problem to overclocking) can be induced from occurring by ensuring enough peripheral cooling to maintain low temperatures. Remember to always keep your CPU cool, and most of the time, everything will be alright.

Gaming computers also benefit much from overclocking. Because of a faster and higher performance level, players experience less problems (or even none at all) with game loading game and performance. Owners who like to play computer games, eve online ones, would definitely have an increased level of satisfaction with gaming.

Source by Billy Zype

Computer software is what allows people to do what they need to accomplish in their everyday activities. A more complex definition of a computer software is; Software is a program that enables a computer to perform a specific task, as opposed to the physical components of the system. The physical components of the system were what I have talked about in the last post, the actual hardware that a person can physically touch.

The most common software that people know of is the operating system. Operating system is a system software that allows other software of your choosing to be ran properly. The operating system is the middle man to interacting between the hardware and the other software. The software that you want to install should be loaded onto a hard drive, or memory RAM. After the software is loaded on either of these two data platforms, the computer can execute the software.

People have many different software that allows them to do many different tasks. For example, the Microsoft Word program allows you to type up papers, and create templates. It’s a type of software that you should have, because it allows you to complete more complex tasks in one spot, instead of going to different many places. This is what people back in the day have done, and it is fun seeing how software keeps on transforming tech world today. Software allows us to create an easier way to complete things, and it can be found in many of the technologies today, and not just the computers.

Computers are not just hardware equipment, but it’s something that I will be discussing today. There are many different types of computer hardware, and all together, the hardware you use makes up your complete working system. Some of the more common hardware that people are aware of are CD-ROM drive, which allows for a computer to read specific information located on a CD, and the FLOPPY disk drive, which is a much older hardware, allows people to merely do the same exact thing as CD, but in a less sufficient way. These two are more known to people because these two hardware pieces that people interact with the most.

Some of other big hardware items are, Hard Drives, Memory (RAM), Motherboard, Power Supply, and Central Processing Unit (CPU). Hard drive is a non-volatile memory device that allows you to save information regardless whether the power is on or off. You can permanently save information on a hard drive, and then recover it whenever you want. The memory, also called RAM, also is there to store information both permanently and temporarily. RAM interact with majority of the operating system software which I will later talk about. The motherboard connects everything together, and allows for all the hardware to communicate sort of speak. Motherboard is the foundation of the computer and is a vital piece of making the computer work. It takes power from the Power Supply and powers the CPU, and other components such as RAM.

The computer consists of more than these things, but these are some of the major ones that I felt that you should know. Next time I will be talking about computer software.

Source by David Mathes

Are you renovating your office or starting a new office? Alternately, are you looking to begin your own home office? The solution is to use furniture that appeals to you as well as to your pocket.

Computer office furniture is one of the essential office add-ons. As most offices choose to automate their services, there is greater emphasis on furniture built around the office requirements. There is an opportunity to locate the right Computer office furniture in industry magazines, exhibitions, product literature etc. and to learn more about the kinds of furniture that will suit your needs as well as enhance your office atmosphere.

The most inexpensive way to find computer furniture that meets your requirements is to go online. If you are adept at handling computer research for products, then you can begin with googling for Computer office furniture. If you are not very keen on spending time and researching, you have several other alternatives.

Begin by going through reviews and ratings of retailers and sellers of computer furniture. Here you will be able to gain complete knowledge about the range of products available in the market today. It will help you to understand the technical limitations of your office space as well as that of the office furniture models that you choose to use in your office. It will also help you gain knowledge about the different types of materials these types of furniture are available in.

Most importantly it will help you appreciate the different aspects of furniture and how to evaluate the available office work space for Computer furniture. The first immediate requirement will be that the furniture is highly functional. It will not help if the furniture is a simple fashion piece and is not able to support rigorous work or tough conditions as well as the wear and tear caused due to intense handling of the computers and related furniture.

Computer office furniture will have to blend into the surroundings too. This is possible only if you choose the furniture which is not only useful to your company but is also of a finish that will blend with the interior. The furniture should be functional and highly fashionable too, however, it should not be a bother or hamper the progress of work in the office environment; the furniture should not be a distraction.

Computer office furniture covers a wide variety of designs. For example, computer office furniture could include computer tables, chairs, computer racks, CPU extension rack, printer extension etc. It could also include furniture to store computer accessories and other paraphernalia.

Computer furniture is the most versatile and important feature of an office. Since nowdays no office can work efficiently without the use of a computer and no longer can other desks and workstations double up as computer tables, the need for specific computer furniture is very important. A good understanding of what is required and what is not becoming critical to purchasing and installation of office furniture and especially computer office furniture with its multiple level desks, racks and other equipment.

Source by Harvey Pinkman

Your laptop or desktop computer and its systems, however sophisticated and complex they may appear to be (and actually are) at face value, are also susceptible to freezes, crashes, the BSD (the feared Blue Screen of Death) or at worst a complete and total breakdown of your system.

How this affects you will depend specifically upon the nature of the failure and what you were doing at the time of the failure. For instance, if you do not store important data on your computer and it has a complete break while you were engaged in nothing particularly important, this will not be a particularly big deal for you.

However, if you do store data on your desktop or laptop computer and you have not backed up that data, a total system breakdown could have the most disastrous of consequences, not only for your personal convenience, but also for your commercial situation.

When you refer the latter hypothesis to the fact that a personal computer, whether it is a laptop or desktop, has become almost an essential for the vast majority of people in the world, either in the personal field or in their business and financial lives, the importance of doing everything possible to avoid a computer failure becomes all the more palpable.

But how do you minimize the chances of this happening?

The first and absolute rule is to make sure that your computer is not vulnerable to attack from outside parties. There are literally millions of infections that can invade your operating system and your hard drives that can, quite literally, disable your computers. All kinds of virus, malware and spyware is out there waiting to slip inside the computer's defences, if there is even a small trace of vulnerability. Trojan horse, keyloggers and a variety of other infections can not only make your computer stop operating as it should, or altogether, in some cases. They can also steal valuable files and dishonestly obtain stored stored There are numerous types of infections out there. An up to date protection system is there before vital if you want to preserve the safety of your computer and the information stored on it. Antivirus protection and anti-malware and anti-spyware programs are all available, often at no cost. These can ensure that your laptop or desktop continues to work and safely store your information. The best way of accessing these protection programs is by checking out computer review sites on the internet. There you will be able to share advice from other computer enthusiasts about the best deals available to you. Whatever you do, and although you do it, make sure that you get your computer protected. It is the single most important thing to do.

Of course, it is possible that you will become infected with a virus, even with the best of protection. In that case there are tools that can be employed to eradicate the infection or you can get online advice about how to eliminate the threat manually. Modern operating systems such as Windows also provides a system restore program, which will put your system back into the shape it was in before the computer was infected.

However, not all viruses will be eliminated by using system restore in this way, so a total clean up is usually necessary. Sadly, some viruses are so stubborn or so skilful in hiding themselves within your computer that the only way that you can be sure to get rid of them is by formatting your hard and relating your operating system and your files and programs from the manufacturer's CD. It is vital therefore, that you back up all your files on a regular basis so that they can be reloaded onto your computer if you do indeed need to carry out a format. If you are storing important information it probably makes sense to back up this information – meaning copying it onto some portable storage medium such as a CD or a USB drive or an external hard drive – at least once every week. That way your files will be protected and capable of being restored to your computer if you are unlucky enough to have carry out a complete re-writing of your hard drive. The vast majority of computers have a large amount of random access memory (commonly referred to as RAM) The amount of RAM will affect how quickly your processes run. If you have an older desktop or laptop computer and it is running more slowly than you would like you may consider upgrading the amount of RAM. Memory cards can be purchased easily on the internet and you might be pleasantly surprised at the increased efficiency of your computer after carrying out an upgrade.

The same can also be said about reducing the amount of data held on your hard disk. The fuller this hard disk is the lower your computer is likely to run. There are two basic ways to free up space on your hard drive. The first of these is simply to uninstall any unnecessary or unused programs that you have stored there. This can free up lots of hard disk space, particularly if you are uninstalling large programs. The second way is to defragment your hard drive. This process collects the files on your computer that have become fragmented and re-organizes then tidily, so saving space and also causing the programs to run more efficiently. If you find that you still have simply too much stored on your computer you might try to move photographs and other heavy space using files, such as media files onto an external hard drive. This can also free up lots of space.

The final option is to buy a new hard drive and install this in place of your old one. This is an option, which, unlike the upgrading of your RAM, is likely to require the help of a computer engineer. You might also want to look at the number of programs that automatically start up when you turn on your computer. When you download or add certain programs they write themselves to start up every time your computer switches on. This can cause a long wait for all of these programs to load.

The more of these you remove at start up the quicker your computer will be in loading.

Finally, you might with to consider cleaning up your registry entries so that unnecessary entries are removed. It is advisable to be very careful when doing this and it is probably best not to try it at all unless you know what you are doing because you may disable your computer alike. However, if you do know what you are doing, tidying up the registry can have a very positive impact on the performance of your computer.

Conclusion

In summary, there are several ways that you can enhance the performance of your computer. There are also ways of cleaning up your computer if it becomes affected by an infection. However the best advice that anyone could give is that it better to be safe than sorry. So protect your computer from these threats at all times.

Source by Billy Phillips

Gaming desktop computers are built to process the huge amounts of information available while playing massive role-playing games or first-person shooters, especially while online. These games contain incredible detail and often require quick reactions. A gamer is only as good as the computer on these games, and the difference between success and failure could lie in whether a computer lags a second or two behind. Many of these computers use liquid cooling technology.

Gaming desktop computers are also built to conveniently handle all the peripheral devices that go along with those games, including ports for joysticks, steering wheels and any other devices. They are also built with more style and portability than normal computers.

Some of the cheapest gaming desktop computers are those that are built specifically by the person who will be playing them. Often a gaming PC just as powerful can be found for the same amount of money.

The other option is to purchase a specific gaming computer that has been built for that purpose. A cheap gaming desktop can be had for around $1,500, while others can run as much $8,000.

Regardless of which option is used, there are a few things the buyer should keep in mind. A fast central processing unit (CPU) will help prevent the lag that can occur during massive online role-playing games. Some of the best gaming PC units will contain dual or quad core processors for those indulging in extreme gaming experiences.

Memory is also important for successful PC gaming. A large amount of memory is necessary to allow the gaming computer to quickly access programs it uses on a regular basis. The best gaming desktop PC will have at least two gigabytes of RAM memory and could have up to eight gigabytes.

Many computer games have realistic-looking graphics, but without a high end graphics card the images will not look nearly as good as they were intended. Graphics cards often can be upgraded.

With a desktop gaming computer, the whole package is important. A fast central processing unit and lots of memory will not be enough if the graphics card is below par.

Investing in a good desktop gaming computer can mean the difference between life and death in the often realistic and complex world of online gaming.

Source by Joanell Hutchinson

All computers, no matter their use and functionality require some extra add-ons to make them user- friendly and enjoyable. In simple terms, these accessories modify a computer's utility. Use of add-ons makes work on the computer simple and enjoyable. This ease of use is thought about by the increased functionality adapted from using adornments. The common attachments in today's market are keyboards, mice, scanners, monitors amongst other add-ons.

Computer accessories augment the experience one gets from using his or her computer. Computers of today are more functional and have increased capabilities. This is as a result of technology advancement that has taken place in the past two decades.

The acceptance of tablet PCs thought about some additional components in the computer market. Slate and touchscreen tablets do not come with in-built keyboards. However, one can choose to buy an accessory keyboard and attach it. Computer manufactures provide accessory keyboards and mice for their touch tablets and slates.

Although there are some in-built computer accessories in some PCs, they are not of the required standards. More often than not, in-built accessories do not perform their required tasks to the expected levels. This is the reason why most computer users go out to buy additional accessories. In-built speakers often produce poor sound qualities, and this may force one to go buy better speakers.

Here are some factors to consider before purchasing computer accessories.

When going out to buy accessories one should always choose accessories that go with devices that they have. The best option of buying accessories is from the manufacturer of the computer.

Before you go out buying computer attachments from the Internet, you should consider some important factors. You should first conduct a thorough research to see the websites that offer the best prices and quality accessories. In some cases, one can buy a substandard accessory that can even spoil a computer. There are some retail stores that deal in accessories for computers and other devices, but at times, their prices are higher than those online stores and manufacturers. The best option remains to buy add-ons from the manufacturers.

Installation of accessories.

Installing attachments is not a hard task. Most of the additions come with a step by step manual guide for easy and correct installation process. These installation manuals come in the form of CD which provides the steps of installation. One should always read and follow these manuals so as install and use accessories in a correct manner.

Source by Pat Dooley

Mostly, people are inclined towards expensive software to optimize their machine which most of the time create more problems. I will tell you about some of the basic tips to make your windows running smoothly without going more complex.

1) First of all, you don’t need to download any expensive software like “System mechanic”, “Avg Tuneup” etc to optimize your windows as they most of the time create more trouble rather than doing what they should do. So, try avoiding this software and look for the free alternatives.

2) Use the “Windows Disk Cleaner”. It is a simple and effective tool to clean the system and it does a fair job in doing what its name implies. The engineers of the Microsoft Windows are clever enough to make their “Windows Disk Cleaner” effective for their users. There are a variety of options to choose for cleaning the PC as required.

3) Use the “Windows Disk Defragmenter”. It looks very simple but, believe me, it will replace all your other defragmenter software. It also has an option for scheduling the time for defragmenting.

4) If you prefer a system cleaning software then “CCleaner” can be a good option for you. It is such a wonderful cleaning software and also includes a registry cleaner. Just use the free version and it will be sufficient for your whole system. The great feature of the “CCleaner” is that it has the option to let you find out about your startup programs in detail. You can turn off useless extensions of browsers, or disable scheduled tasks which take the precious memory of the system.

5) You can also use the “Defraggler” for defragging the system. It’s another great software from the same company of CCleaner “Piriform”. The best thing about this software is that it can make your system’s fragment almost zero. You can also confirm this by defragging from this software and then checking from the “Windows Disk Defragmenter”. Just click on the “Analyze” for checking. Aside from defragging effectively, it can also defrag locked system files. For using this, open the Defraggler and click on the settings. From there select the option “Boot Time Defrag” and there you can select the time when to perform.

Note: These tips are very basic, but they are effective. I personally follow these tips and my system is running smoothly. Also, these expensive cleaning software creates more problems. You may find this kind of software have a very good rating on reviewing websites like the “Top Ten Reviews” etc but have you see free software on their website. So, what this implies is that these kinds of reviewing websites charge a huge amount of money from the pricey software making companies and in turn rank them on top.

Source by Khizar Ahmed

Malware has become a serious issue over the last few years, infecting more computer systems on multiple platforms (Microsoft and Apple). As of yet there is no 100 percent effective way to stop all of these programs. This article will cover some basics of the effects of malware on computer users, warning signs and preventative measures.

The most common means of a malware program is no longer to steal information in the traditional virus sense (via keyloggers, monitoring web access, etc.) but is now primarily focused on voluntary submission of personal banking information for monetary gains. These programs use the annoyance factor and scare tactics to attempt to fool the common computer user into volunteering bank or credit card information to resolve the issues on their system, all while maintaining the appearance that this could possibly be a legitimate program.

How do you know whether you are infected or not? The most common is an unfamiliar program will suddenly appear claiming there is an issue with your computer system. Commonly malware disguised as a fake program utilizes several means of appearing legitimate, such as using logos or names of software or hardware components. Examples of this are XP Antivirus, Vista Anti-spyware, Hard Drive Diagnostics, and many variations. No legitimate program names its software like this because of copyright infringements and standard business practices. Even Microsoft, creators of the Windows platform, use their brand in their security software name (Microsoft Security Essentials, Windows Defender) as do major third party antivirus providers.

Successful ways to prevent infection of this software is to become familiar with your protection software so that you know when it is updated and should a malware program trigger you can recognize it as such. You may use the hotkey Alt+F4 to shut the malware program down should it bypass your virus protection, hopefully preventing infection. There are also companies that sell Malware Protection and do a better job at stopping these programs than an anti-virus provider.

The most notable effect of malware is lost time and productivity, since they will attempt to halt all work being performed on the system, some even prevent their removal. If the program is successful at obtaining your bank information there could be monetary effects to the infection as well. Overall the most important thing to do if you are unsure is to call your local computer store and inquire about it. You will find that in most cases they are happy to give you some advice to prevent further system damage and if it turns out you need repairs done they will be able to assist you with that as well.

I hope this article has assisted in your search on malware. Thank you for reading!

Source by Steven C Baker

Occasionally HP printers can run into an issue known as a PCL XL error. Apparently, the PCL XL error makes it impossible to print certain documents. It can occur intermittently or with every request to print. Fixing it is key to getting the printer to work correctly again.

Different Types of PCL XL Errors

This type of error indicates an interruption in the print stream: for some reason, the printer sees the stream as corrupt. PCL XL refers to a “language” that the computer uses to communicate with the printer. HP forums describe it as being “highly structured,” which is the reason that any little disturbance will be picked up by the printer and keep it from doing its job.

If the user only experiences these errors in an intermittent or seemingly random fashion, it is most likely that the error lies somewhere between the computer and the printer. Anything from a bad cable, to a bad network, to a bad port could lead to a PCL XL error. Possibly the printer itself is at fault.

If the error is more regular or produced every time a document is printed, the cause is most likely a driver issue. Drivers are the programs that let the computer communicate with the printer. These may be difficult to fix.

Several Ways to Fix PCL XL Error

Various activities can create problems with drivers. Changes to networks or the drivers themselves can trigger these errors. Unfortunately, staying on top of Microsoft update may also induce a driver error if one of the updates changes the driver. Try locating the printer’s disk and reinstalling the drivers or going to the manufacturer’s website to download them.

Sometimes, computers have been set up using universal drivers to communicate with the printer, and these seem to have more problems. Locate and download the exact drivers for the printer being used.

Another option that works well for some machines is to disable some extra printing features:

1. In the program you are working with, click File, then Print, then Properties, and finally Advanced.

2. Disable the “Advanced Printing Features” option.

3. Disable the “Print Optimizations.”

This does not necessarily fix the error per se, but allows printing to continue without seeing the error message.

Driver Errors Can Be Registry Errors

Drivers talk to printers by way of the registry, since that is how the computer catalogues these various background files. If a registry entry has been corrupted that deals with the printer-computer connection, the the user may see an error. Research using a registry cleaner to fix a PCL XL error and get the printer running again.

Source by John E. Blake

Facebook is a wonderful website that lets us stay connected with our friends. A great majority of users can not live without it. All people want this website to run without any problem. However, It becomes a serious concern when Facebook freezes. We can not use it properly and feel frustrated. Are you wondering what can be the reasons for Facebook freezing and how to fix it?

There are many reasons that account for this kind of freezing. I have mentioned the reasons along with the possible solutions. The suggested solutions are easy to act upon. An average computer user can take these steps and avoid Facebook freezing in his computer.

Small size of RAM makes computer slow. When we use many programs at once, computer gets bogged down. Uploading and viewing pictures or watching videos on Facebook can cause your browser to freeze. This problem can be cured by increasing the size of RAM. An increased RAM size will make sure that enough space is available to run many programs at the same time.

Corrupt Windows Registry causes freezing in computer. With the passage of time, Registry becomes congested and corrupt. Registry is most vital part of the computer system. It stores and use vital information. Cleaned Registry ensures smooth and fast computing. To repair Windows Registry you need to use the best Registry cleaner / System Optimizer software. It will solve this problem.

The most important thing that you can do to optimize your Facebook is to optimize your internet connection. To do so you will need to adjust internet settings. Not all people will be able to do this task manually. So it is recommended you use a system utilities software that provides the feature of internet optimizer.

One way to optimize browsing on your PC is to remove unwanted add-ons / extensions from your browser. Most of the time it is the slow browser that loads web pages slower than what is expected. To remove add-on / extensions from your browser simply go into the settings area of ​​the browser and disable the ones which are of least importance to you. This will remarkably increase browser performance ..

It is also recommended to clean system junk and browsers junk. You can do this through the system utilities software. Do not forget to run antivirus scan to make it sure that viruses are not the culprit behind slow internet and slow Facebook speed.

Re-download Java Runtime Environment (JRE). The JRP program files can be corrupt and cause issues with Java Scripts. Click Start | Control Panel | Programs Uninstall a Program. Click "Java Runtime Environment" and click "Uninstall" button. Follow the wizard and uninstall it. Visit the official website of Java, download setup and reinstall the program.

Check-out the list of Facebook applications to fix Facebook freezing. You may have authorized a number of Facebook applications. Click the Downward Arrow on the top-right side of the screen. Under left side panel, click Apps. Delete each Facebook application you do not require.

Source by A. Honey