PC Remedies

Alpha AntiVirus Removal Guide

2009-11-23T08:10:00.001-08:00

Alpha Antivirus (aka. AlphaAntiVirus and Alpha AV) is a fake anti-spyware program which is usually installed by a trojan or downloaded one of many fraudulent Fake Scanner Sites.

Alpha Antivirus displays fake system messages and pretends to catch / block malicious intrusions. In an effort to block removal, AlphaAntivirus sometimes packs a trojan of its own which attempts to block real antivirus programs from running, giving off error messages whenever you try to run a program or simply shutting them down. Once installed, Alpha Antivirus performs a system scan and displays exaggerated fake results:

Alpha Antivirus can hijack Internet Explorer and prevent the user from visiting certain websites and display a warning page instead. Below is a sample of the fake error messages that Alpha Antivirus displays:

Threat type: Malware, Hi-Jacker, Rogue, Spyware

Advice: Remove Immediately! This is a very high risk threat and should be removed ASAP as to prevent harm to your computer and / or to protect your privacy.

Detection:
SpyNoMore removes AlphaAntivirus: Yes

Threat risk: High Risk

Very dangerous malware. Can log user's keyboard activity and take snapshots of the user's screen. Uses stealth installation and removal is very difficult. Category includes spyware programs, adware programs and trojans.

Symptoms:

Popup messages claiming that your computer is infected.
Installation of Alpha Antivirus without your consent.
Can block antivirus programs.
Can block access to antivirus websites.

Fakes warning messages:

like: "W32.Ackantta.B@mm", "Tojan.Mdropper.AC", "W32.Pavsec.C", "Trojan.Wincod", "W32.SillyFDC.BAZ".

Alpha Antivirus Signature Details:

The following information includes some of the standard signatures associated with this spyware threat.

Running Process Signatures:

svchasts.exe
Windows Police Pro.exe
alphaav.exe
alpha.exe

File Signatures:

msvcm80.dll
msvcp80.dll
msvcr80.dll
windows Police Pro.exe
ppp3.dat
ppp4.dat
svchasts.exe
bennuar.old
dddesot.dll
desote.exe
sonhelp.htm
sysnet.dat

Internet Explorer Integration: Yes

Alpha Antivirus Removal Instructions For XP

WARNING! Modifying your computer can cause serious problems and make your system worse than it already is.

Removing or modifying items incorrectly or partially can cause your computer to experience critical errors, which can prevent your PC from restarting or cause loss of Internet connectivity and data loss.

If you’re a novice or unsure of what you are doing, please DON’T attempt to manually remove items from your computer system. If you’re infected with Alpha Antivirus, you can safely and quickly clean your computer by downloading a commercial solution.

We recommend SpyNoMore by Illysoft LLC. It has proven to be 100 percent safe and effective in removing Alpha AntiVirus.

SpyNoMore is backed by a full money-back guarantee in case it fails to remove Alpha AntiVirus from your computer.

It’s risk free so, download the SpyNoMore antivirus trial and scan your PC now.

**ANY manual removal instructions found on this site are for Information Purposes Only. PC Remedies takes no responsibility for damage that may result to your computer system as a result of the use or misuse of the information contained herein.

Note: The following instructions have proven to be effective for XP users and are a good example of a typical malware removal process.

1. Hit Ctrl Shift and Esc at the same time and bring up your task manager and choose the processes tab and look for XPAntivirus.exe, XPAntivirusUpdate.exe,
xpa.exe, xpa2008.exe

Right-click on them and choose end process. If it won't let you end the process.Download this free malware killer called Pocket Killbox and read the instructions and use it to kill malicious processes and hunt down infected files and delete them for good.

Download: http://www.killbox.net/downloads/KillBox.exe

Instructions: http://www.killbox.net/help.html

2. When you’re done shutting them down click on [File] at the top left corner of your task manager and choose New Task (Run).

Type msconfig and hit Ok. Go in BOOT.INI tab and tick both "Safe boot" and to the right of that "Networking" and hit Apply and Close.(It will boot in "Safe with networking mode" Choose Administrator)

3.While in "Safe with networking mode" download Malwarebytes.

(Free) http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?tag=mncol

**Note: If you already have Malwarebytes installed and it won't run, go in it's program file and right-click on the red mbam app and rename it mbam.bat then right-click and choose Send to-> Desktop (create shortcut) now close out of everything and go to your desktop and use that application to launch M-Bam for now on.

4. Right-click on the mbam setup app you downloaded and rename it xxxx then Double-click on it and install and update it and run a full scan and delete/quarantine all entities it finds and restart if it asks? **Note: If it won't update use this link to download and install the latest rules:

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/database/mbam-rules.exe

5. Go to Start,Run,type msconfig and hit ok. Go in BOOT.INI tab and un-tick Safe Boot and then go in the Startup tab and uncheck all programs not needed at startup (Only check programs you want running all the time like antivirus,IM,etc) " Less is better in this case" and hit apply,close,restart. Your computer will boot normally and on your desktop a window will popup,check "Don't show this message" box and hit ok.

6.Download BitDefender free antivirus and install,update,and depending on time run either a "Deep System" scan which takes hours and cleans everything or a "Full System" scan that takes minutes and will shut down most malware till you can run a deep scan?

http://www.bitdefender.com/PRODUCT-14-en--BitDefender-Free-Edition.html

Additional Information:

Microsoft How To Get Rid Of Malware Instructions

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistasecurity/thread/ba80504b-61f1-4d71-960f-b561798b7b42

Malicious Software Removal Tool

http://www.pchell.com/virus/malicioussoftwareremovaltool.shtml

Conclusion:

Alpha AntiVirus is a aerious threat to your personal information and PC security.

It can be difficult to remove and if these manual removal instructions have failed to remove Alpha AntiVirus then you clearly need to a professional solution.

As mentioned previously, SpyNoMore virus removal software has proven to be 100 percent effective in removing Alpha AntiVirus. and it comes with a risk free, full money back guarantee. I’ve used it on hundreds of client systems with great success.

Download the SpyNoMore antivirus trial and scan your PC now to verify your infection and get further details on how to purchase SpyNoMore.

Windows 7 YouTube Videos

2009-10-25T06:56:00.001-07:00

Windows 7 YouTube videos are showing up a lot lately since the launch of Windows 7 on October 22, 2009. Video searchers are looking for reviews and information to help them decide whether or not to make the switch to the new OS, and if so how to properly go about it.

For more Windows 7 YouTube videos, visit RevuTube

RevuTube is a video blog featuring video reviews, comparisons, buying tips and opinions. One of the Windows 7 videos explains how to buy Windows 7 for only $29.99

My personal thoughts on this topic are outlined in the Windows 7 YouTube video below and are based on 30+ years as a computer tech. The advice in the video mainly applies to users of older Windows systems who want to upgrade but it could easily apply to anyone that may have a few doubts about jumping in right away.

Now, I’m not a Mac user or even a fan (although I think they make a fine product). With the launch of Windows 7, their advertising department has been busy capitalizing on the inherent problems associated with new Windows releases.

These ads are effective for one simple reason… they’re essentially based on truth. This Windows 7 YouTube video showing one of Apple’s latest ads, drives home the point quite effectively.

In my many years as a PC tech, EVERY major Windows release has had a ton of problems that weren’t addressed during development. With this new release comes a new era of Windows 7 incompatibilities. So you can expect the same to be true (more or less) for Windows 7.

Personally, I’ve found at least one program that I use professionally that refuses to run on the Windows 7 platform. It starts to load but then freezes and refuses to run at all. The developers will no doubt come out with an upgrade soon and I’m hoping it will be free. But it may not be, so it may become a further expense. For now, I’ll have to keep using it on my older system until that’s worked out. This situation illustrates perfectly the kinds of issues that appear with ANY new Windows release. Expect this to be the case with many older software programs you might own.

Don’t get me wrong, my opinion of Windows 7 is that it’s a winner and will probably go down as one of the best Windows OS releases ever. If you’re buying a brand new PC or laptop, you’ll probably have few, if any, problems, so I say go for it.

But if you’re upgrading from a previous version like Windows XP (which statistics show is the most prevalent Windows version), you may be in for a rough time trying to move your existing apps over to Windows 7.

New features that can simplify home computing, like HomeGroup for example, will only work with Windows 7 equipped PCs. So if you want to share files and printers, you can. You just network them the old Vista or XP way. But don’t expect Windows 7 to solve those issues for you.

Data won’t be an issue (Microsoft has a free utility to help with that) but software and drivers are another story. We’ll have to wait and see how it all works out in the end, but for now, if you’re an existing XP user, I say hold off for several months until the hype has a chance to die down. Microsoft is sure to release patches and service packs that will fix problems they couldn’t account for in the initial release.

From an upgrade point of view, Microsoft has focused on Vista users. If you have a Vista computer, upgrading should be easier.

Your best bet (if you can) is to wipe your old system files and do a clean install on your hard drive. Then you can attempt to reinstall your apps on the new OS. This will eliminate upgrade hassles on the system. Just make sure that your old software is Windows 7 compatible BEFORE you go this route.

Also, be aware that this is also the most expensive copy of Windows 7. Upgrade prices are cheaper. You can even get free upgrades if you recently bought your system with Vista on it. Many OEMs have an upgrade program that they’ll honor for awhile.

Bottom line: If you plan to upgrade to Windows 7, wait a awhile for the dust to settle. Microsoft and probably some third-party software developers will come out with fixes and utilities that will make the process of upgrading simpler and smoother for users of older Windows systems.

Windows 7 YouTube videos can a real benefit during this time of transition to the new operating system. There are many issues that can be remedied this way, so I’ll be putting out several of these in the near future. If you’d like to stay on top of my new Windows 7 YouTube videos you can subscribe to my YouTube channel.

HomeGroup Windows 7 Networking Video

2009-10-21T07:39:00.001-07:00

HomeGroup Windows 7 Networking

HomeGroup for Windows 7 is a brand-new networking feature designed specifically to simplify the task of networking home PC's allowing them to share files and printers with ease.

In past versions of Windows, networking computers entailed assigning them to a particular workgroup. This was often a complex and frustrating job, so Microsoft designed HomeGroup to remedy all those problems by making it a "one-click" task. Unfortunately, this new feature will ONLY work with Windows 7 computers. Systems running older versions of Windows will have to still be connected to Windows 7 PC’s the "old fashioned" way.

Using HomeGroup permits connected PC’s to share USB connected printers too. This allows any computer in the group to print to any networked printer in the home, as long as it’s attached to a Windows 7 computer.

(Click Images to Enlarge)

When you first establish your network connection in Windows 7, it will instruct you you to pick a location for your computer. Choose "Home Network", which then permits you to use HomeGroup. After several seconds of configuration, the setup wizard will tell you to select which sort of files to share. This might include pictures, documents, music, etc.

Once that’s done, the setup wizard will show you the system generated, unique password for your HomeGroup, which you must then use to connect to other Windows 7 computers. Write this password down so that you can use it in the next step.

To connect a computer to the HomeGroup, go to Start -> Control Panel -> Network and Sharing Center. Next, select "Available to Join" under the heading, View Your Active Networks.

The computer shown below is already a member of the HomeGroup, but it will show up in the same blue highlighted area. Once you press on join, it will ask you again to confirm joining and then prompt you for the password that the main HomeGroup PC showed you. After that’s done, choose which file types you want to share with the other members of the HomeGroup. This is a privacy feature that you can employ if you feel like it.

Once connected, the other PC’s in the HomeGroup and their shared resources should show up in the left navigation pane of Windows Explorer under "HomeGroup". A new "Share With" drop-down menu will be added to the top menu of Windows Explorer too. This feature lets you instruct Windows 7 to only share the files and folders that you select.

Windows 7 will install any printers located within the HomeGroup to all other computers automatically. You can then print your documents from any system just as if it was a local printer connected to your system.

Windows Media Player & Windows Media Center will also automatically search networked systems for media files that to play. This adds extra freedom for home entertainment since you can play media files located on the network as if they were located on your own system.

HomeGroup for Windows 7 is a much needed enhancement to setting up networks in your home. It permits simple and fast setup with none of the pain associated with previous Windows versions. Inexperienced consumers will find it a breeze to use and home entertainment enthusiasts will love the simplicity and flexibility of the robust media streaming features as well. If you’ve ever had a hard time setting up new PC’s on a home network (and who hasn’t?) you’re going to enjoy this new Windows 7 networking enhancement.

Norton AntiVirus 2010 Review

2009-10-18T16:38:00.001-07:00

Norton Antivirus 2010

Norton Antivirus 2010 persists along its revitalization pathway that commenced last year and has consistently moved forward towards becoming a more refined, efficient and better performing antivirus program.

It defends your PC against viruses, spyware, bots, worms, and other malicious code without bogging you down or getting in your way. It quickly safeguards against the latest viral threats and easily installs in only fifty-four seconds, requiring no system reboots.

Hackers and spammers will be thwarted with the around-the-clock protection provided by the Symantec intrusion detection system. It prevents and blocks computer viruses and malware. Positive actions eradicate open threats and banishes fresh threats right away to guard your personal computer.

Antivirus 2010 uses a small memory footprint and its intrusion detection system detects hidden code before its invasion. The updating system ensures that you’re always covered and the Symantec security network regularly updates with new definitions that are installed painlessly within minutes.

2010 incorporates the new SONAR 2 technology, which keeps you protected against both new and unknown threats.

Sonar 2 works on the principles of intelligence based technology which speeds up the scanning process and in so doing, lowers the time needed for scanning. After a scan, it continues to sift through the online intelligence network in order to detect the trustworthiness of files present on your system.

Once the trust or threat level is determined, it then performs the scanning of suspect files. The process consumes negligible time for scanning and this means your PC will be available for use more often instead of being tied up doing security tasks. At risk files are scanned with dramatic speed.

Norton Antivirus 2010 efficiently provides cleaning processes and finds threats easily. It clearly and concisely shows all the pertinent information regarding the CPU including the memory resources used by key applications necessary for the correct functioning of your computer system.

It provides a clear picture of the threats it finds, identifies sources and shows the negative effects those threats could bring down upon your machine. You’re cautioned about the threats and you’re able to prevent them from infecting your system by simply side-stepping them. Overall security is maintained by frequently updating the malware definitions which allows the swift identification of current threats.

Norton Antivirus 2010 opens up a new chapter in protection systems for Symantec. It is the lightest and fastest antivirus application they’ve created thus far and builds upon updated technology based on their experience.

Free AntiVirus AntiSpyware Microsoft Security Essentials

2009-10-07T12:44:00.001-07:00

Free antivirus, antispyware software often fails to protect computer systems adequately because the required virus definitions constantly need to be updated. That takes manpower to keep on top of it all, so free solutions usually don’t have the budget and hired staff to do the job. But now there is no real reason for users to lack the protection that security software affords.

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is free antivirus, antispyware software created by Microsoft that provides protection against viruses, spyware, rootkits, and trojans for Windows XP, Vista, and 7. MSE has been tailored for home and personal use and replaces Windows Live OneCare (a paid antivirus subscription) and Windows Defender.

Symantec and McAfee, are claiming that MSE is not as effective as their own offerings and AVG Technologies views MSE positively, explaining that it reinforces the company's model of free antivirus software.

Public reaction has been mostly positive and reviews praise its simple, well laid-out interface, modest resource utilization, and Freeware license . (* See Video)

System Requirements

Hardware requirements depend on the Windows OS version:

Windows XP requires a processor speed of 500 MHz and higher. 1 GB of RAM is the minimum required.

Windows Vista and 7 both need a 1 gigahertz CPU and 1 GB of RAM.

All systems need a VGA screen resolution of 800 × 600 or better, 140 MB of free space, and an Internet connection.

Features

MSE is designed for consumers and is based upon the Forefront Client Security desktop agent but lacks that product’s centralized management features.

It’s built upon the same security engine (known as "Microsoft Malware Protection Engine", or MSMPENG ), and virus definitions that all Microsoft antimalware products share.

Prior to installing, MSE searches for a valid copy of the Windows operating system. No doubt many users that are running illegal copies of the OS will be disappointed. Registration and personal information are not necessary and will not be asked for when running the setup.

By default, the program disables Windows Defender, since MSE already contains defenses against malware and is not limited to just spyware and adware.

Definitions are updated 3 times a day to Microsoft Update.

Archived files such as Zip and Rar files are decompressed, and then scanned using default settings

Downloaded files and e-mail attachments are scanned as well.

MSE’s Dynamic Signature Service tries to more accurately identify malware by searching for updates if a program displays suspicious behavior.

Prior to acting against a suspicious file, MSE will prompt for user input. If no reaction is received within 10 minutes, then the malware is acted upon based upon to its default action.

System Restore points are saved before removing any malware so that if a mistake was made, you can recover the deleted file.

Verdict

Free antivirus, antispyware software has often been lacking in the past. This was due to loose ends in the updating of definitions that left holes in the protection of a computer system.

I have not been a fan of Microsoft security products in the past, but I think that Microsoft has finally hit a home run with MSE. The software is fast, easy and intuitive to operate and the emphasis on using small system resources, makes it much better than it’s better known competitors. The fact that it’s Windows 7 compatible also means that new computer owners this year will not necessarily have to spend extra to get quality protection. And users of XP and Vista won’t be left out either.

While no protection software should be relied upon, Microsoft Security Essentials offers a great free option for users looking to protect against themselves against Internet threats. Microsoft is off to a good start with MSE, so let’s hope that they keep improving it so that we can all enjoy more freedom while surfing the Net.

Download Microsoft Security Essentials

Beware of ScareWare and Scamware

2009-10-06T13:35:00.001-07:00

Scareware and scamware are terms that mean the same thing. They are a kind of PC malware that confuses or dupes users into buying the faked or artificial removal of alleged viruses, spyware, trojans and other assorted malware. In effect, it is like having your computer hijacked and then being forced to pay ransom money to get it back. In the past few years, scareware has become a rising and dangerous security menace to users in both the desktop and mobile computing environments.

Scareware consists of numerous forms of fake software with limited or no benefit which is purchased by consumers thru unethical selling practices. The sales approach is engineered to induce shock, anxiety, or the perception of a threat, directed against a trusting user. Many types of spyware and adware use scareware tactics as well.

An oft-used tactic calls for convincing users that a computer virus has infected their PC, then advising that them they download (aka buy) antivirus software to get rid of it. Commonly the virus is completely fictitious and the software is either totally non-functional or is itself malware. According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, the amount of scareware software in circulation climbed from 2,850 to 9,287 in the last half of 2008. In the beginning half of 2009, the APWG discovered a 583% gain in the number of scareware programs in circulation.

The term "scareware" can also mean any program or virus that tricks users and causes them to experience fear and panic. Another common name for them is “Rogue Security Software”.

How Scareware Spreads

Fake security software prays upon the trust of naive and gullible users. The name of the software and the polished look and feel of the download site is a social engineering tactic designed to defeat the security built into modern operating systems. Names like “AntiVirus 2009” and “WinDefender” sound like the legitimate security products put out by Norton and Microsoft.

The victim downloads the software believing that it will make his computer safer from Internet predators. Then as the software installs itself, the user will often willingly bypass and override the defenses of the system, unaware of what they are actually doing. I’ve actually done this myself a few years ago, so don’t feel too bad about yourself if you’ve done the same thing recently. Just take a lesson and learn to double-check BEFORE installing ANY new software on your system.

Most scamware/scareware programs include a Trojan horse component which users mistakenly install at the same time as the main program.

The Trojan may identify itself as being:

A browser plug-in or extension (notably a toolbar)
An image, screensaver or archive file attachment in an e-mail message
A multimedia codec needed to play a certain video clip
Software shared on peer-to-peer networks
A free online malware scanning service

Other methods of infection are totally automatic, requiring no user activity to install. These ones take advantage of system security vulnerabilities so ALWAYS be suspicious of new websites and software even if someone you know refers you.

The following video produced by Fox channel 11 in January 2009, explains more about scareware and scamware and shows what really happens to people who fall prey to this predatory tactic.

In conclusion, just stay aware and never let your guard down when you’re on the Internet. If something looks fishy or too good to be true, stay away from it. Never be too anxious to download anything off the Internet and always check names of products and websites to make sure they truly are the real thing.

Protect Your PC 10 Easy Ways Video

2009-09-30T05:48:00.001-07:00

Protect your PC and keep it safe from identity theft, viruses, malware and scams.

In today’s complex computing environment there are many ways in which an unscrupulous person can gain access to your computer system and cause great harm, destroy your hard work and generally give you lots of headaches.

Protecting yourself is easy if you’re proactive and stay one step ahead of your adversaries. That’s what this video is all about.

It offers ten specific steps that will take back your PC from criminals and vandals.

PC Remedies for 5 Common PC Problems

2009-09-29T08:37:00.001-07:00

Pc remedies DO exist for most common pc problems.

Your computer system is a complex device with many layers of hardware and software that must cooperate and share resources while operating at blazingly fast speeds. Under these circumstances, conflicts are very likely to occur and, over time, become increasingly inevitable.

If you've owned your computer system for a considerable amount of time, you've no doubt experienced at least one of the five following problems.

CAUTION! - Opening your computer case or adjusting computer settings can cause severe damage to your computer and void manufacturer warranties. By following the advice given below, you acknowledge that you are doing so At Your Own Risk!

1. Hardware Conflicts

The primary cause of Windows computer system crashes is hardware conflict. Individual hardware sub-systems, such as your video card and sound card, communicate to other devices through an interrupt request channel (IRQ). For example, a printer usually connects internally on IRQ 7. The keyboard usually uses IRQ 1 and the floppy disk drive IRQ 6. Each device expects to hog a single IRQ for itself.

Interrupts are supposed to be unique for each device but conflicts can happen when sub-systems are accidentally configured to use the same IRQ. This often happens when you have tried to upgrade one of these devices with a new one and forgotten to make sure certain hardware jumpers are configured correctly. This often results in a computer crash.

By the way, a crash is the computer's way of saying that it's confused and can't figure out what to do. It just gives up and fails.

The method of checking to see if your computer has a hardware conflict is through the following route. Click:

* Start-Settings-Control Panel-System-Device Manager.

Often, if a device has a conflict, a yellow '!' appears next to the device's description in the Device Manager.

Highlight Computer (in the Device Manager) and press Properties to see the IRQ numbers used by your computer. If the IRQ number appears twice, two devices may be fighting each other for the use of it.

Sometimes a device might share an IRQ with something described as 'IRQ holder for PCI steering'. This can be ignored. The best way to fix this problem is to remove the problem device and reinstall it.

There are times when you may have to locate newer drivers on the Net to make the device function properly. A good resource is www.driverguide.com. If the hardware device is a soundcard, or a modem, it can often be remedied by moving it to a different slot on the motherboard (Caution! Opening your computer case, may void the warranty).

When working inside a computer, ALWAYS make sure you switch it off, unplug the main power cord and touch an unpainted metal surface to discharge any static electricity that might accidentally destroy sensitive computer circuitry.

If you have any doubts about your ability to prevent accidents, DON'T DO IT! It's better to pay a seasoned professional to handle these problems than to risk your safety, ruin your computer and possibly lose all of your data.

2. Faulty RAM

RAM, (random-access memory), problems might bring on the blue screen of death with a message saying Fatal Exception Error. A fatal error means a serious hardware problem has happened. Often, it may mean that a component is damaged and needs a replacement.

But a fatal error caused by RAM might mean there's a mismatch of chip types. For example, mixing 70-nanosecond (70ns) Ram with 60ns RAM usually forces the computer to run all the RAM at the slower speed. This often crashes the machine when the RAM is overworked due to memory intensive operations like playing a video game.

A way around this problem is to enter the BIOS settings of the PC and increase the wait state of the RAM. This often has the effect of making it more stable.

Another way to troubleshoot a suspected RAM problem is to rearrange the RAM chips on the motherboard, or remove some of them. Then attempt to repeat the circumstances that caused the crash. When handling RAM, try not to touch the gold connections, since they can easily be ruined by improper handling.

Parity error messages also refer to RAM. Modern RAM chips are either parity (ECC) or non parity (non-ECC). Mixing the two types can be a major cause of trouble.

EMM386 error messages refer to memory problems but probably aren't connected to bad RAM. This message may be a result of free memory problems often linked to old Dos-based programs.

3. BIOS Settings

All PC motherboards are equipped with a range of chipset settings that are determined at the factory. A common way to access these settings is to press the F2 or the Delete Button during the first several seconds of a boot-up.

Once the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) settings screen is displayed, you should exercise great care BEFORE changing anything. It's essential that you write down all the settings that appear on screen onto a sheet of paper so that if you change something and the computer becomes erratic and unstable, you'll know what settings to revert to.

A common BIOS error revolves around CAS Latency. This refers to RAM. Older EDO (extended data out) RAM has a CAS latency of 3. Newer SDRAM has a CAS latency of 2. Setting the wrong value can cause your system RAM to lock up and freeze the computer's display.

Your Windows operating system is better at allocating correct IRQ numbers than any BIOS. If you can, set the IRQ numbers to Auto in the BIOS. This will put the burden of allocating IRQ's on Windows instead of on you. Make sure the BIOS setting for Plug and Play OS is switched to 'YES' to allow Windows to do this.

4. Hard disk drives

After several weeks of adding new software and changing data, the information on a hard disk drive starts to become disorganized and fragmented. For faster startups and optimal performance, it's really important to defragment your hard disk every week or so. To prevent the disk from causing a screen freeze. Go to:

* Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-Disk Defragmenter

This will begin the defragmenting procedure. You won't be able to write data to the hard drive (to save it) while the disk is defragmenting, so it's important to schedule the operation during a time period of inactivity using the Task Scheduler.

The Task Scheduler should be one of the small icons on the bottom right of the Windows desktop.

Some lockups and screen freezes caused by hard disk issues can be solved by reducing the read-ahead optimization. This can be adjusted by going to:

* Start-Settings-Control Panel-System Icon-Performance-File System-Hard Disk.

Hard disks will also slow down and crash if they're too full. Do some regular housekeeping on your hard drive every few months or so and free up some space on it. Open the Windows folder on the C: drive and find the Temporary Internet Files folder. Deleting the contents (not the folder) can free a lot of space. A free software utility called CCleaner is handy for this.

Empty the Recycle Bin every week to free more space. Hard disk drives should be scanned every week. To find errors or bad sectors, click to:

* Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-ScanDisk

Another thing you can do is to assign the Task Scheduler to perform this operation at night when the computer is not in use.

5. Fatal OE Exceptions and VXD Errors

Fatal OE Exception Errors and VXD Errors are often caused by video card display issues.

Many times, these can be resolved quickly by reducing the screen resolution of the video display. Go to:

* Start-Settings-Control Panel-Display-Settings

Slide the screen area bar to the left and view the color settings on the left side of that window. For most PC's, high color, 16-bit depth is sufficient.

If your display freezes or you experience system lockups, it might be because of the video card. To make sure it doesn't have a hardware address or IRQ conflict click on:

* Start-Settings-Control Panel-System-Device Manager

Next, select the + beside Display Adapter. Some text describing your video card should appear. Select it (make it blue) and press Properties. Then push Resources and select each line in the window. Look for a message that says No Conflicts.

If there is a video card hardware conflict, you should find it here. Take great care at this point and make a written note of everything you do just in case you make things worse instead of better. Then you can roll back your settings.

The way to resolve a hardware conflict is to uncheck the Use Automatic Settings box and hit the Change Settings button. You're looking for a setting that will display a No Conflicts message.

Another practical way to remedy video problems is to select:

* Start-Settings-Control Panel-System-Performance-Graphics

Move the Hardware Acceleration Slider to the left.

Most often, the cause of problems relating to video graphics cards is outdated or corrupt drivers. A driver is a tiny piece of special software written by the device manufacturer so that their device can communicate with the main computer.

Google your video card's manufacturer and search for the most recent drivers for it.

Final Note

Still feel like putting your fist through your computer screen? If you've done everything suggested here and you still can't resolve your computer problems, you probably need a professional solution. Free PC remedies will only go so far and after that you will need to spend a few dollars.

Drivers are at the heart of a multitude of PC problems. Your best bet is to keep all your drivers as recent as possible to avoid these issues. Unfortunately, most companies are lax in notifying users of new updates so you're forced to scour the Net in search of the latest ones manually.

A better and more efficient way to do this is to use a commercial solution like Driver Detective.

It keeps track of ALL your installed drivers and updates them automatically. It's a quick and easy way to avoid the hassle and frustration of having your system hang unexpectedly. Even seasoned computer professionals rely on Driver Detective, so why shouldn't you?

Click here to download a free driver scan using Driver Detective.

Easy Transfer for Windows XP How-to Video

2009-09-22T19:27:00.001-07:00

Easy Transfer for Windows XP is a utility from Microsoft that allows you to move your application documents and settings from your old XP-based PC to your new Windows 7 computer system.

It Does Not install your old software onto the new computer. It simply moves the files and settings so that when you re-install your software on the new system, it will feel familiar and you can resume working where you left off. This will save time and should help you avoid too many hassles when you begin working on your new system.

The video presented here shows you step-by-step how to use Easy Transfer to perform the migration task.

You will need your Windows 7 setup disk and some means of creating an Easy Transfer run disk for Windows XP. This can be an external hard drive, USB flash drive or network drive. Internal hard disks won’t do for this operation.

Easy Transfer for Windows XP can be downloaded from the Microsoft download center but you need to be aware that the XP version may throw up an error. That’s why this video uses the version of Easy Transfer included on the Windows 7 Setup disk. Using this version seems to work perfectly in tests. We provided the download link for information purposes only.

Gmail Chrome Extension How-to Video

2009-09-21T16:28:00.001-07:00

If you’re a Gmail and Chrome user like I am, you would probably enjoy tighter integration between the two products.

When browsing with Chrome, if you click a “mailto:” link, your default email client will start instead of your Gmail account.

The solution presented here, relies on installing a Chrome extension (a special script) that will start a Gmail compose dialog whenever you click a mailto link.

This special PC Remedies video will take you through the steps necessary to download and setup the extension.

The link to download the Gmail Chrome extension is located on the Chrome Plugins discussion forum. Click the link below and search for the post by the user “PAEz”. He is the developer who made this possible for our use and we owe him a vote of thanks.

Download the Gmail Extension for Chrome

So watch download the Gmail Chrome extension, watch the video and install this handy tool. Enjoy…

Slow Startup Remedy

2009-09-17T18:07:00.001-07:00

Does your PC suffer from slow startup?

Do you sit in front of your PC screen gazing at the hour glass icon that's been displaying on your monitor for five minutes or more? You need to check your electronic mail prior to going to the office, but your computer is taking an eternity to boot. You keep asking yourself in disgust, "How come my computer takes so long to boot up?"

Knowing why this happens will allow you to easily prevent delays and make booting up as easy as waking yourself up with that morning cup of coffee. Despite your hard drive size, RAM, or what have you, there's normally only one main problem that causes your computer to experience slow startup.

Your Startup Folder Is Crowded

Whenever you install a new program, its programmers like to pretend it's really important. So they set it up in your startup folder which makes it run whenever your computer boots. When you have several of these programs competing with each other all at one time, Windows becomes so over-burdened with this software and the associated settings, that it responds in a super slow manner.

In order to remedy this, click on your Start Menu, select Run and type in msconfig. This will start up the System Utility Configuration. Choose the "Start-up" tab and deselect any programs that aren't absolutely needed when you boot your system.

This action will greatly enhance your startup speed since your computer will not be fighting to get multiple programs started before the desktop screen appears.

WARNING! If you're uncertain about a particular program, then leave it alone. It's better to have a slow booting computer than it is to spend hours troubleshooting one of your important applications and possibly losing critical data.

Having said that, it's usually not that much of a problem but it always pays to be careful when playing with your computer's settings. Discretion is called for in these matters.

Get Rid Of Dead Wood Programs

Once you've trimmed your startup folder, you can try deleting old programs that you don't use anymore. Go to your Control Panel and select Add/Remove Programs. Your program list will load and you will see an uninstall button next to each listing. Click the button next to the program and this will start the uninstall procedure.

If you have a lot of programs like I do, your list can be slow to load. CCleaner, a free utility, has a feature that gives you fast access to the Add/Remove listings.

Getting rid of unused programs can reclaim hundreds of megabytes of disk space and remove their associated settings from the system registry.

Defragment Your Hard Disk

Finally, once you've done the previous steps, run a Disk Defragmenter to put all of the data that naturally gets spread out over time back together.

Computers store bits of data randomly and this adds up over time so that your disk heads, need to search hard to find all the pieces of your program when it loads it. A defrag, will make all the data line up in neat, organized rows so that the drive heads have a lot less seeking to do and your computer speeds up again.

To do this right click on My Computer, Properties, Tools, Defragment.

Restart your system and you should notice a dramatic change in boot up speed.

Still Having Problems?

If you're tearing your hair out after completing the preceding steps and are still experiencing slow startup or erratic behavior, then you should consider that you might have a virus on your PC. You need to take things a step further and run a virus scan on your computer to make sure that there are no malicious files present.

The fact is that there are programs that make this process extremely easy for you and do a thorough job if you're willing to spend a little bit of money for them.

Spyware Doctor is a top-rated malware & spyware removal utility that detects, removes and protects your PC from thousands of potential spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, spybots and tracking threats.

It has been downloaded over 100 Million times and receives a million more downloads every week. People worldwide use Spyware Doctor to protect their identity and PC security. Click Here for a free trial scan.

Solid State Drives Solve Drive Crashes

2009-09-17T06:47:00.001-07:00

Solid state drives are the latest thing in technology these days. But did you know that the engineering behind these devices has been around for quite awhile and has only recently been commercialized? This innovation available today, ends the plague of hard drive crashes and ushers in a new era of reliable computing. This is especially true for laptops and notebooks and other forms of portable computing. This latest upgrade will now make them more durable and rugged.

This report focuses on what an SSD is and what benefits it contains for future generations of computer users.

What are solid state drives?

Solid state is a term referring to electronic circuitry that's entirely constructed out of semiconductors and was earlier only used to describe electronics that utilized semiconductors instead of vacuum tubes. An example would be the early electronic transistor radio receiver that made it possible to take your radio anywhere instead of having to stay at home listening to your old tube type radio.

These days, almost all electronic devices are made-up of semiconductors and chips. Regarding SSD, this term refers to the physical reality that the chief data-storage medium comes from semiconductor technology instead of magnetic media such as hard drives containing rotating disks and many other complex moving parts.

SSD's are comparable to flash drives that plug into USB ports. Both flash drives and solid state drives use memory chips that are non-volatile which means that they retain stored data even without power. The form factor is the main difference between these two pieces of hardware. The flash drive is primarily designed to be an external device, while an SSD is designed to be installed internally in place of a traditional hard disk drive.

Outwardly, traditional hard drives and solid state drives look alike. This was done on purpose so that SSD's could fit anywhere a traditional hard drive resides. They can be fitted into any laptop or desktop just like any other common hard drive. They have the exact same dimensions and utilize the same ATA or SATA interface connections.

Major Benefits

There are three major benefits explaining why this kind of data drive is superior.

Faster data access - Blindingly fast, you won't even see the Windows XP loading screen.
Lower power consumption - Unlike regular hard drives, SSD's use less power making your laptop or notebook more energy efficient, which translates to longer battery life
High Reliability - The lack of moving parts inside means there is little to no chance of a drive crashing due to shocks from dropping or jarring. Perfect for portable computing even in rugged environments

These reasons alone should be enough to convince anyone to make the switch to SSD technology as soon as possible.

Solid state drives will gradually take over the traditional hard drive as the drive of choice for computer buyers.

The Downside

Being new in the market place, they're a bit on the expensive and this makes them cost prohibitive right now. Like all new technologies, they will eventually become cheaper and cheaper. As more people buy them and manufacturers begin to produce more, prices will naturally fall. But for now, be prepared to lay out some serious cash.

If prices for solid state drives fall within the next few months, it's a sure bet that more people will definitely make the jump.

Speed Up Vista In 5 Easy Ways

2009-09-16T16:44:00.000-07:00

Follow these steps to speed up Vista..

PC Remedies offers you an easy step-by-step approach to speed up your Windows Vista. By un-cluttering your hard drives and tweaking your settings, PC Remedies helps you solve your Windows troubles and make the most of your Vista experience. Make your Windows Vista speedier today.

01

Clean up your hard drive

Do this using a program such as CCleaner.

This freeware program is compact, contains no spyware or adware and is used to remove unused files and traces of your online activities from your computer system. This action helps Windows Vista run faster and also frees up more free space on your hard disk drive.

You can download the program from here: http://www.ccleaner.com/

02

Disable the Windows Search Service.

To do this, click on the button, then in the area right at the bottom that says Start Search, type: services.msc and press Enter.

You will then be presented with the Services window.

Scroll down to find the “Windows Search” entry.

Double click on this and when the Windows Search Properties window comes up, change the Startup type to DISABLED.

Then under Service Status, click on STOP.

That shall stop the constant Windows Search service from indexing your hard drive and in turn speed up your computer dramatically.

03

Tweak Aero.

Most recent computer systems will support Aero, however if your machine does not, then please disregard this section.

Go back to the main desktop screen and right click anywhere on the main wallpaper, and then choose Personalize.

Now in the window that comes up, select the first option, which should be: Window Color and Appearance.

If your computer supports Aero, you should see the following:

Un-tick the Enable transparency option as it appears above.

This will now help speed up your video display by disabling this feature, which is not required by most users.

04

Remove unnecessary items from Startup.

To do this, click on the button, then in the area right at the bottom that says Start Search,

type: msconfig and press Enter.

This will launch the System Configuration window. Now click on the Startup tab.

In here will be listed all items that launch when your computer system starts up from a boot.

Un-tick any items you are sure are not required. Keep items like your anti-virus software and anything you may “think” you need. If you’re not sure on what to un-tick, the best advice would be to leave it alone OR perform one un-tick at a time and reboot after each change to see what the consequence is.

05

Disable User Account Control (UAC).

To do this, click on the button, then in the area right at the bottom that says Start Search,

type: msconfig and press Enter.

This will launch the System Configuration window once again. Now click on the Tools tab.

Scroll down to select the Disable UAC line. Once highlighted, now click on the Launch button below.

Reboot your computer and that annoying question asking to allow constant Vista changes to be accepted or denied will be removed.

If these tweaks don't speed up Vista, then you probably have issues that are deeper and you may need a professional registry cleaner to root-out and fix your speed problems. Click here for a free registry scan.

Network Troubleshooting - 101

2009-09-15T16:03:00.001-07:00

Network troubleshooting entails recognizing and diagnosing network problems with the objective of keeping your network running at peak performance. It requires a technique that begins with the cabling and works through the OSI (Open System Interconnection) reference model to the application layer. Network devices have cables that terminate at wired switches and cabling is a major source of network issues, so they're a perfect place to focus on at the start.

When troubleshooting, the trick is to figure out what's changed just before the problem began. Often it's simply hardware that isn't functioning or some modification was made like a new software installation, a change in equipment configuration or the addition of new employees that's putting added stress on the network.

The problem could be a single issue or several problems that have arisen simultaneously. Begin at the client adapter, ascertain specific symptoms and proceed with troubleshooting from there.

Questions:

Below is a sequence of questions that should be used as guidelines during your troubleshooting procedures:

1. Are you able to ping the switch IP address?
2. Are you able to ping the router?
3. Are you able to ping the DHCP server?
4. Can the client obtain an IP address?
5. WAN circuit available?
6. Any new software recently installed on the client or server?
7. Do ALL clients have this problem?
8. Is the pattern random or specific?
9. Is it a server specific or application specific issue?
10. Is the DNS server IP address setting correct?
11. Is a firewall filtering traffic?
12. Have you ran traceroute and examined routing behavior?

TOOLS:

A) Windows control panel shows network adapter settings, firewall configuration etc.
B) Ping and traceroute verify that network routing is working.
C) Look at the ARP table on the desktop, switch and router confirming the device MAC address is there.
D) Network packet sniffers examine packet information such as protocols, filtered programs or errors with applications.
E) Verify change management activities and determine what if any device was changed and how.
F) Show interfaces at the router will reveal any interface errors pointing to a cable or hardware problem.
G) Examine router interface utilization patterns.

Check Cables:

Determine if the network problem is affecting a single user, a department, building or city wide by working at the cable level first. A city-wide problem sometimes means a data center outage. An on-site issue often points to a circuit, router or primary switch. A department level issue can mean a problem with their network switch or fiber cabling.

The single user problem might be a plethora of issues from a bad cable to network permissions. It might not be something you do all the time, but having the equipment, supplies and know-how to whip up a network cable on the spot can be very useful.

Because companies often use hundreds of applications, network switches and routers the problem becomes much more complicated when it's a cross department issue. Not all employees have the same network permissions and use a variety of software applications across departments, cities and countries.

Determining who is being affected by the problem can be a critical factor in solving the issue. The ping is a popular tool because it verifies that at the network layer, all is working as it should. In this case, you should then be focusing on application issues. This is not always the case though. Traceroute verifies how packets are traveling between source and destination. You could have packets using non-optimal routing paths and this could be causing performance problems.

Final Note:

Understanding basic network troubleshooting methods in various situations will help you recover quickly on work networks and in the home. By recognizing how network troubleshooting fits into the framework of the OSI model, you can identify at what layer problems are located and which type of troubleshooting tools you need to employ. Using proven strategies for network troubleshooting and following the steps outlined here, you can approach a network problem methodically and resolve it with minimal interference with network users.

Windows Registry Repair - 101

2009-09-14T14:49:00.001-07:00

Repairing the Windows registry manually is a complex and daunting process involving many steps that even seasoned computer professionals avoid unless it's the only thing they can conceivably do to save a user's computer.

The following methods are NOT intended for use by the novice or faint of heart. If you attempt to repair your registry on your own using the info outlined below, you do so At Your Own Risk! For a faster, safer and reliable solution, click here now.

In order to affect a Windows registry repair manually, it's essential to have a detailed and complete understanding of what the Windows registry is, how it's structured and how it works.

The Windows Registry Explained

The Windows registry feature is a comparatively modern add-on to the Microsoft Windows operating system. This means that it wasn't included in the earlier editions of Windows, that is to say Windows 3.x and older. Rather than the registry feature, these former versions of Windows possessed an .ini file and a .dat file stored in each folder and subfolder. These .ini files and .dat files held the settings and configuration data for the files in the folder or subfolder they were connected with. Ini and dat files are still used by programs today but registry entries are the preferred programming method.

Continued...

Storing settings and configuration information in this fashion is very difficult and unreliable. If the user accidentally deleted them or otherwise behaved in a careless manner, these actions would cripple the entire system causing freezes and crashes. Not surprisingly, that's what often happened and as I recall, I spent many frustrating hours pulling my hair out reinstalling Windows and starting from scratch with my software applications. This was in the days BEFORE "System Restore". Clearly a better method of storing settings was needed to avoid these catastrophes.

Windows Registry History

With the development of Windows NT, these settings and configuration data came to be incorporated into what has become the Windows registry. In the beginning, the Windows registry was just a database where settings and configuration data could be viewed by typing in the command "regedit.exe", but could they could not be edited.

Subsequent versions of Windows (Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows 2000) saw alterations to the Windows registry feature. The registry modification command used became "regedt32.exe" instead of "regedit.exe".

The key difference between these two utilities is that while the regedit.exe interface allows the computer user to view more information regarding registry keys, regedt32.exe actually granted permission for the user to do more with the registry keys by means of extra functionality.

Windows XP was the first edition of Windows that integrated the best features of regedit.exe and regedt32.exe . In Windows XP, the command "regedit.exe" is used, as well as the visual interface of the older version of regedit.exe. These were then merged with the features and functionality of regedt32.exe. This version of the Windows registry has since become the staple in later versions of Windows such as Windows Server, Windows Vista and now the new Windows 7 OS.

The Components of the Windows Registry

The Windows registry as we recognize it today has two primary elements: the key and the value. The key is almost the same as the folders that we can observe in Windows Explorer. Each key can possess subkeys inside it, just like a folder in Windows Explorer might have subfolders. In contrast, the value is the name/data pair that is contained inside the keys and subkeys. They're the little fragments of data where the information about how our computer should be running is kept.

Keys are organized into hives. The hives found in a Windows registry are:

• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (HKCR) - the hive where the keys and values relating to the plethora of applications we use on our PC are stored.

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU) - contains information about the settings used by the person using the PC at the particular time that the computer is being used.

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM) - relates to the general settings used by ALL the registered users of the machine.

• HKEY_USERS (HKU) - stores data corresponding to those in HKCU, for ALL registered users of the computer.

• HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG (HKCC) - temporary data that the computer gathers when it's booting up.

Editing and Repairing the Registry

There are several methods that a user can employ to modify and repair the registry. Among them are:

• Editing Manually. Editing manually means opening the registry using the regedit.exe command and sifting through the registry keys and values yourself... deleting values and keys that you find to be invalid or suspicious.

• Windows Registry Editor. The Windows Registry Editor is a support tool released by Windows as a companion to the Windows registry. It can be used to locate keys and values, rename them, change them, add to them or delete them.

• Microsoft Management Console (MMC). Also referred to as Group Policy, MMC is used by system administrators to manage networks and computer system components, including registry editing in various computers included in the network.

• Registration Entries (.reg). In this method, registry changes are put into a registration entries file and then run using a script.

• Windows Script Host. Alterations to the registry can also be done by scripting using Visual Basic or JScript. The basic methods that can be used under the Windows Script Host are: RegDelete, which deletes values from the registry; RegRead, which restores a key's value or the name of a value in a key; and RegWrite, where new values are created or existing values are changed or written over.

• Windows Management Instrumentation. The automated process of performing administrative tasks in Windows, including Windows registry repair and editing.

• Console Registry Tool for Windows. This method makes use of the reg.exe tool and of various codes and scripts typed in at the Command Prompt of the Windows OS.

As exhaustive as Windows registry repair can be when done by hand, it's tedious and time consuming and exceedingly hazardous. Even practiced computer techs avoid being forced to disturb the Windows registry unless there's no other alternative to resolving the problem. If mistakes are made when attempting to fix the Windows registry by applying one of these techniques, it can result in destabilizing the system. This means making it worse off than it was before you started. If this should come about, the user would need to reformat the computer and reinstall the OS entirely which means the loss of all data and software installed on the system!

The Preferred Way To Do Windows Registry Repair

To reiterate, repairing the Windows registry using the methods detailed above is highly risky, tedious and time-consuming.

A better way of fixing problems with a computer's Windows registry is by using third-party registry cleaner utility. This type of software greatly reduces the risks and effort necessary for repairing the Windows registry. Most of all, third-party registry cleaners are much, much safer and faster.

A registry cleaner that really stands out from the rest is RegCure.

It's quick - it can often do all the scanning and repairing that needs to be done in as little as a minute.
It's thorough - it seeks all the invalid entries and malicious code hiding in the dark corners of the computer's registry.
And most importantly, it is safe - it has a backup and restore feature that allows the user to go back in case that a mistake is done during the scanning process.

Using RegCure is the number-one way to do a professional Windows registry repair. Download a free scan of RegCure from the link here.

Registry Repair - Does Freeware Really Work?

2009-09-12T21:19:00.001-07:00

Registry repair is the key to maintaining a healthy and fast computer system that's not especially prone to system errors.
More often than not, computer users aren't aware that resolving their computer health problems merely means cleaning the system registry.

Instead, the registry is frequently the most ignored area of the computer when it comes to the upkeep and resolution of computer issues. Since commercial programs cost money and may not end up solving your problems, you may be wondering if there is anything such as free registry repair software that actually works.

The response to this question can be both "Yes and "No".

Continued...

There are various no cost registry repair software programs that you'll be able to easily download from the Internet, but many of these applications won't fix all the problems in your registry. Some programs will just scan your registry for errors, identify them, fix a few of them, then ask you to upgrade to the full version to finish resolving ALL the errors. Of course, they probably won't tell you that right up front and what happens if you just don't have the funds for the upgrade right now?

I don't want to leave you with the impression that all freeware registry programs are simply a come-on to a sale. There are also some pretty good ones that can be fairly effective. They can detect registry errors and fix them. CCleaner is one that comes to mind. It's very good for a freeware program.

But by and large, these programs are not as thorough and extensive in discovering your registry errors and consequently may not be capable of resolving errors that tend to recreate themselves. Also, you should be on your guard when it comes to freeware registry repair that may appear to be effective in resolving your PC registry issues. In the end you may find out that they contain spyware, adware or viruses that will cause more harm to your computer than what you originally intended to resolve.

The Registry Is Complex:

The Windows registry, (by storing information on your PC in several files) saves the relationship between hardware, memory space, and addressing. It contains the information and settings for all your hardware, software, users, and preferences for your computer. Whenever you make a change to the Control Panel settings, file associations, system policies, or installed software, your changes are reflected and stored in the registry. The operating system continually references this information during its operation. When the registry becomes very large, your computer's performance can decrease and cause it to be unstable.

As you can see, the registry is a complex and vital part of your computer system. Most of the latest software depends upon what it contains to run properly and if it's full of garbage and outdated entries, it will bog down your snappy new system to a crawl. It can cause lost time and give you many headaches if it's out of whack. Repairing and maintaining it should only be entrusted to companies with professional resources, support and a proven track record of effectiveness.

The Risks:

If you depend upon your computer system for important business and great entertainment, why would you entrust something as important as your registry to a hobbyist or even worse a hacker? It just makes good sense to be cautious when dealing with the registry. Selecting a good registry cleaner is therefore crucial in resolving and preventing PC health problems.

When your registry has a lot of loose ends and glitches, a freeware registry cleaner may not deliver everything you need to get the job done. Besides, although freeware might resolve some of your issues, it probably won't come with technical support that is often critical to ensuring the stability and high performance of your computer. What this amounts to is that if anything goes wrong in the course of running the program, you won't be able to enjoy the support of an expert on how to fix the problem.

Good registry repair software is the full version that comes with user manuals and technical support that will guide you through, step by step, in case anything unfavorable happens with the use of the registry repair software.

Just bear in mind that anything can happen and need to be prepared for any anomalies that might appear. Even perfect software programs can sometimes behave unexpectedly. It's better that a program comes with a guarantee so you'll have more options and the peace of mind of knowing that you're getting the most from the program.

Final Note:

Registry repair freeware may help you resolve a few errors but to really pursue your computer problems properly, you need to professionally clean your registry with a proven product like Regcure. It's well known and proven effective. It's the only way to make sure that even those hard-to-find errors and spyware that may be embedded in your registry are removed.

How to Remove Spyware and Adware

2008-02-13T07:21:00.001-08:00

Do you have a spyware infestation? Do you know what actions to take once your laptop or PC is infected with spyware, ad-ware or viruses?

It's estimated that around 90 percent of computer systems are infected with some form of spyware, ad-ware or virus. With odds like that, it's very likely that your computer either now has, or will soon manifest signs of a system take-over.

What is Spyware and What Does it Do?

Spyware is generally defined as software that secretly takes advantage of vulnerabilities in a user’s computer system to the benefit of an unseen third party. The name spyware comes from the fact that the software often records information about your computer and transmits that information covertly to a remote server or intruder. Spyware can make your laptop or PC slow down, crash, get infected with viruses and worms and even cause hard drive erasure. This is on top of collecting sensitive data like your passwords, logins and banking or credit card details.

You're observing inexplicable slowdowns and crashes, especially when searching the Internet or running a security or anti-virus program
Your Internet web browser opens to an unknown homepage, returns unanticipated search results, or directs you to an unsolicited website
You find that your mouse, keyboard, monitor, or CD/DVD drive is unresponsive or acting unpredictably
Pop-up or pop-under browser windows are opening when you are not surfing the Web, or are opening so often as to be distracting
Your security or anti-virus programs are not functioning, and/or you cannot visit security-related web sites (eg. www.symantec.com)
A program or application that you've tried to uninstall reappears when you reboot your computer
Your PC seems to "have a mind of its own" and is difficult or impossible to control

Do you have some or all of these signs? If you do, you definitely have a spyware/malware situation on your hands and need to take action to identify and remove them before they do damage to your system.

Ways to Remove Spyware

1. Reformat Your Hard Drive
I DON'T recommend you start with this method, but the easiest and most obvious way of removing malicious pests from your PC is to reformat your hard disk. In the event that you turn on your PC and the infestation is so rampant as to make using your computer unbearable and removal impossible (and some infestations are), you may need to seriously consider this option. In this scenario, simply slide a Windows XP or Vista CD into your ROM drive, re-boot, and go through a complete reinstallation of Windows. Don’t forget to enter your BIOS/CMOS and change your boot sequence so your CD-ROM drive boots before your hard drive. Backup your data but don't backup programs, since they are very likely infected. If you copy these files back onto your clean system, it could become infected all over again. You'll need to reinstall your favorite programs from the original disks once Windows has finished reinstalling. This is a last ditch case though and should only be considered if no other solution works for you. Of all the ways, it is the ONLY way to truly be sure your system is virus free. It's brutal but it's effective.

2. Try Free Spyware Removal Software
If you’ve simply got a few small issues and your computer still runs properly, then you can opt to clean up your hard drive with any number of programs. There are many, many free ones out there, but the ones I suggest would be Lavasoft Ad-Aware and Spybot: Search and Destroy. Both of these programs are free and can be downloaded via their respective web sites.

The most user-friendly program of the two is Ad-Aware If you're a newbie or don't really "get" computers, it's a suitable free solution. It will locate and remove just about all the malware out there. None of the solutions I tried detects every spyware out there. That's because there's so many of them, no one company can encompass them all. But this is good and it's free.
Spybot is a program for more advanced users. It's one of the best, but if you have trouble understanding and coping with PC problems, you might have difficulty figuring out how to use Spybot effectively. It's definitely not for the computer illiterate. If you have time, you can always read the readme files or the Spybot forums and gradually work your way through it. But if you're in a hurry or just not very good with computers, you probably need a faster and easier solution. 3. Paid Solutions
Everyone likes a freebie and I'm no exception. Many times freebies offer the only solution for the messed up spyware invading your system. Free solutions are usually offered by individuals or small groups (2-3 people) that have made it a personal goal to keep spyware at bay. Spybot is one of those programs.
The only thing about free solutions is that you have to ask yourself one important question. If a software program is free, how can you be sure that the people that make and update the software have all the resources they need to do the best job of cleaning and protecting your computer system against these dangerous threats?
New threats arise every day by the dozens and staying on top of them is a full time undertaking. The people that provide the free solutions are doing a fine job, but do they have enough manpower to be effective against the daily onslaught of new enemies? We all have to eat, so how do they spend their time when they're not working on spyware solutions? Will they still be there tomorrow to provide protection if they make little or no money doing it?
Clearly, to be really effective, we need to not only clean up our current spyware mess but we also need to do our best to protect ourselves from future infection. The best people to do that in my opinion, are the people who are paid to do the job. It's the only way to be sure that adequate resources are made available to meet the massive challenge of properly updating the spyware/malware database to make sure it's able to protects us against future threats.
LavaSoft offers a good paid solution called Ad-Aware Pro and it's reasonably priced. It's a well known solution with a good reputation. It's the upgrade of their free offering and offers enhancements to improve protection of your system.

Final Note:

If you try the software mentioned above and still can't get rid of your problems, you may need the solution that I personally used to help me remove the spyware infection I mentioned earlier. Of all the software I tried to remove the problems from my system (both free and paid), this was the only one that was able to identify ALL the spyware, ad-ware and trojans on my system and remove them. Once I used it to clean my system, my problems disappeared and have not returned since. This may or may not work for you like it did for me but if you still have any doubts that all your problems have been resolved, visit this site and try the free scan. It can't hurt to get a second opinion when it comes to these nasty pests that are so difficult to detect and erase. Why take a chance that you're still open to abuse of your computer system?
My personal method of dealing with spyware these days is actually is 2 pronged. I use my primary spyware remover and then back it up with an Ad-Aware scan just to be sure they both agree that my system is clean. It's slightly more expensive but this method gives me maximum protection and peace of mind. If you've ever had a bad spyware infection, you'll understand just how important that is.

Is your PC very slow? It’s time to speed it up!

2008-01-31T13:16:00.001-08:00

Do you remember when you bought your new PC? When you switched it on everything was fast and smooth. A huge improvement over the old machine.

A year later and the machine has slowed down considerably. Starting-up has gone from a few seconds to several minutes. Shutting-down takes forever. Loading programs and saving documents has become very slow.

Why has this happened? No, it is not your imagination. There are a range of reasons.

Continued...

The first is data fragmentation. As files are added and deleted on your machine, file fragmentation takes place. Think of a brand new pack of cards. All of the hearts are together and in sequence. If you need to access the 8, 9, 10 and Ace of hearts, it is a very quick process to find them. But once the cards have been shuffled, the process becomes much longer.
The second reason is spyware. If you machine does not have anti-spyware software installed, there is a 99% probability that your computer is infested. It can happen within a few seconds of connecting an unprotected machine to the Internet.

Then there are Trojan Horses. These operate just like Trojan horses in Troy. They get inside and start working their evil. Most anti-virus and anti-spyware software does not deal effectively with these.

Other issues that could have a major impact include:

The start menu too many programs are being loaded up at start-up

Windows Registry Windows maintains a registry of programs that are added and removed. It does this badly, so that the registry often does not reflect reality.

The pre-load every time windows loads a new file or program, it adds the details into a prefetch file. This is loaded into windows every time it starts. Windows tries to find all the files. It takes longer if they are not there.

Viruses do more than just slow down your machine. They could render it unusable!

Temporary files Windows may try to load these into memory at start-up

Missing networks Windows searches for every network defined in the system at strat-up.

A variety of solutions can be tried to speed up your machine.

Before you get taken in by some of the offerings on the Web, remember that many of these are bogus. Products are advertised as free solutions. After downloading and running the software you are presented with a massive report of over 300 problems. If you then buy the free product, you will get a key that unlocks the code to fix your machine. It is unlikely to make any difference!

If you fall for these solutions you will usually be wasting your money.

A variety of programs masquerade as anti-spyware packages. After downloading, it reports that your machine has 1281 spyware threats. You have to pay to remove’ these threats. Many of these packages are Spyware or Trojan installers. Apart from trying to get you to part with your money they can cause considerable damage to your system. Before downloading investigate. A Google search will normally tell you what you need to know.

The packages mentioned below have all been tried and tested.

Run Windows defrag. Select this from the control panel and select each hard drive separately. If your drive was very fragmented this may be all that is required to speed-up your machine.

Run a Registry cleaner. Registry Mechanic works well. A 30 day evaluation version is available try it. Once the registry is clean your machine should be faster.

Advanced Windows Care is a freebie from IOBit.com. It examines your system for a variety of problems and fixes them. This may help to improve performance. IOBit also have a free defragmenter that runs on your machine and constantly monitors file fragmentation.

Download and install Windows Defender from the MSN download page. Windows defender is a free spyware remover from Microsoft. In addition use Spybot - it is good and will get rid of most spyware problems.

Trojan Remover will eliminate Trojans. I used the fully-functional evaluation version to save a machine that could not be used. The problem was solved.

Edit the start menu. Advanced Windows Care has a start menu editor included. Many programs load at start-up and remain resident in memory constantly. They can become a major drain on machine resources, and it is usually better to remove all but the essential ones. Don’t try to remove anything that you are not sure of.

Check your free disk space. Windows prefers at least 25% of the hard drive to be free space. Sounds ridiculous, but its true. Ideally, purchase an external USB Hard drive to store your videos and music and to back up your machine. The more free space on your machine, the faster it will run.

Clear the Windows prefetch file. Get detailed instructions for this from the Web. It will speed-up your start-up.

Install a good anti-virus program. Grisoft have an excellent free program called AVG free for home users. It works better than some of the premium anti-virus packages!

Uninstall any unwanted programs. All those programs that you have installed and never use should be removed. They use up space and resources.

Remove any unused network references. Go to COntrol Panel, Network connections, and remove any networks that you no longer use.

You have spent the last five hours trying to tune your machine. If it is up to speed, congratulations! You can skip the next section.

If you still have problems, then it is time to reinstall Windows! When all else fails, this is usually the best route to go. To be safe, back-up your machine first! Re-install Windows using the Operating System CD that came with the machine. On some machines the installation files may be on a separate partition of the hard drive. Reinstalling Windows will take about 90 minutes.

Once the installation is complete, you can download and install all of the updates that have been applied since the last installation (or when you bought your machine). Windows can take care of that automatically.

If your machine is still slow after all of this then buy additional memory and get a larger hard drive. Perhaps it is time for a new machine!

As a last resort (many will argue that this is a better option altogether), replace windows with Linux! I am very happy with Windows XP, but one thing lacking is efficiency. Windows inevitably begins a path of slowing down from the moment you begin. Linux is somewhat more stable and efficient. A variety of Linux options are available the most popular being Ubuntu. Remember that your Windows programs will not run on this platform! There are Linux alternatives available for most applications and most of these are free. For example, openoffice.org is a good office suite available totally free

PC Remedies

Alpha AntiVirus Removal Guide

Alpha Antivirus Removal Instructions For XP

Windows 7 YouTube Videos

For more Windows 7 YouTube videos, visit RevuTube

HomeGroup Windows 7 Networking Video

Norton AntiVirus 2010 Review

Free AntiVirus AntiSpyware Microsoft Security Essentials

System Requirements

Features

Verdict

Beware of ScareWare and Scamware

How Scareware Spreads

Protect Your PC 10 Easy Ways Video

PC Remedies for 5 Common PC Problems

1. Hardware Conflicts

2. Faulty RAM

3. BIOS Settings

4. Hard disk drives

5. Fatal OE Exceptions and VXD Errors

Final Note

Easy Transfer for Windows XP How-to Video

Gmail Chrome Extension How-to Video

More PC Remedies For Common PC Problems

1. Viruses

2. Printers

3. Software

4. Overheating

5. Power Supplies

Final Words

Slow Startup Remedy

Your Startup Folder Is Crowded

Get Rid Of Dead Wood Programs

Defragment Your Hard Disk

Still Having Problems?

Solid State Drives Solve Drive Crashes

What are solid state drives?

Major Benefits

The Downside

Speed Up Vista In 5 Easy Ways

Follow these steps to speed up Vista..

01

Clean up your hard drive

02

Disable the Windows Search Service.

03

Tweak Aero.

04

Remove unnecessary items from Startup.

05

Disable User Account Control (UAC).

Network Troubleshooting - 101

Questions:

TOOLS:

Check Cables:

Final Note:

Windows Registry Repair - 101

The Windows Registry Explained

Windows Registry History

The Components of the Windows Registry

Editing and Repairing the Registry

The Preferred Way To Do Windows Registry Repair

Registry Repair - Does Freeware Really Work?

The Registry Is Complex:

The Risks:

Final Note:

How to Remove Spyware and Adware

What is Spyware and What Does it Do?

Ways to Remove Spyware

Final Note:

Is your PC very slow? It’s time to speed it up!