Corey Sandler

Article / Updated 06-26-2017

When you run a computer in safe mode, you can start it, test most of its systems, and change certain settings. Safe mode is an excellent way to diagnose — and often fix — your computer’s problems. Start your computer in safe mode If you can start your PC in safe mode, its basic hardware probably isn’t the cause of your problem. If you can’t start your PC in safe mode, you have a problem with basic hardware or the basic elements of Windows. If your PC starts in safe mode all by itself, some component is preventing normal startup. Remove any discs from the CD/DVD drive, if your PC has one and shut down your computer. If you can’t do a normal shutdown, press the Ctrl+Alt+Del key combination and then release the keys. Next, press and release the Alt key; press the U key to select the Shut Down menu; and press the U key to turn off the computer. (This works in XP, but not in Vista or Windows 7.) Wait a few moments to allow the computer to shut off fully; then restart. The computer begins processing its self-test, and you should be able to see messages on the screen, including advice on alternative ways to start the computer. When the self-test is complete and the computer pauses before it begins loading Windows, repeatedly press and release the F8 function key on the keyboard. Keep doing so until the Windows Advanced Options Menu screen appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, you’ll see a “keyboard error” message; restart the computer and try again. If you begin tapping too late, the computer will go on to load Windows, and you have to repeat the shutdown/startup process. Use the arrow keys to select the version of Windows you want to start in safe mode and then press F8; otherwise, press the arrow keys on the keyboard to highlight the Safe Mode option and press Enter. The computer starts loading Windows in safe mode. When Windows is fully loaded in safe mode, you see the words Safe Mode in the corners of your screen. To exit safe mode, simply restart the computer from the Start menu and allow Windows to load normally. Use your computer's safe mode tools When you’ve restarted a troublesome computer in safe mode, you can use several diagnostic and repair tools to attempt a fix. Plug and play: The availability of plug and play means that the computer can recognize most devices that are plugged in during or after start-up. Not all device drivers are available in safe mode, however. Help and Support: Choose Start→Help and Support to open the Help and Support window, which provides searchable instructions and troubleshooting tips for many elements of the system. In basic safe mode, however, networking and Internet access are disabled; to search on the Web for assistance, you have to choose the Safe Mode with Networking option during start-up. Device Manager: This tool allows you to update device drivers and configure hardware. System Restore: This utility lets you retrieve settings and other information stored in the computer at an earlier time. Command prompt: In certain circumstances, you may want to reach the command prompt to run a program that resides outside Windows. To display the prompt, choose Start→All Programs→Accessories-- >Command Prompt. Registry Editor: This tool is not for inexperienced or unguided users. You may need to use it, however, if a support professional directs you to make changes in your Windows Registry files. Don’t make changes without backing up the previous set of files and without getting specific instructions about changes. A mistake in a critical section can render Windows unusable, requiring you to reinstall it. Test new computer hardware in safe mode You can test new hardware in safe mode. Start your computer in safe mode. Uninstall any drivers or other software that you installed for the new hardware. Then shut down your computer, uninstall the new hardware, and restart the computer in normal mode. If the problem goes away, you’ve isolated its source. Contact the manufacturer of the new hardware for assistance.

Article / Updated 06-26-2017

Keeping your computer in tip-top shapes helps you avoid system crashes. If you’re the forgetful type, you can even set a reminder for your computer’s maintenance tasks. Choose Start→Control Panel→System and Security and then click Schedule Tasks in the Administrative Tools window. The Task Scheduler dialog box appears. Choose Action→Create Task. The Create Task dialog box appears. Enter a task name and description. Choose when to run the task. You have two choices: only when you are logged on or whether you’re logged on or not. Click the Triggers tab and then click New. The New Trigger dialog box appears. Choose a criteria and any settings in the Begin the Task drop-down list. Click OK. You can use the settings to specify how often to perform the task as well as when and at what time of day to begin. Click the Actions tab and then click New. The New Action dialog box appears. Choose the action that will occur from the Action drop-down list and click OK. Your choices include starting a program, sending an e-mail, or displaying a message. Depending on what you choose here, different action dialog boxes appear. For example, if you want to send an e-mail, you get an e-mail form to fill in. Click the Conditions tab and enter any other settings. If you want to set conditions in addition to those that trigger the action that control whether it should occur, the Conditions tab is where you do so. Click the Settings tab and make settings that control how the task runs. After you complete all settings, click OK. Your task is now saved. If you like a more wizard-like interface for building a new task, you can choose the Create Basic Task item from the Action menu. This walks you through the most basic and minimal settings you can make to create a new task.

Article / Updated 06-26-2017

To keep your computer running its best, you should defragment, or consolidate files, on your hard drive. Defragmenting your hard drive improves your computer’s performance and is something you should be doing regularly. Disk defragmenting may take a while. If you have energy-saving features active (such as a screen saver), they could cause the defragmenter to stop and start all over again. Try running your defrag overnight. You can also set up the procedure to run automatically at a preset period of time, such as once every two weeks, by using the Configure Schedule button in the Disk Defragmenter window. To clean up files on your hard drive: Choose Start→Control Panel→System and Security. The Administrative Tools window appears. Click Defragment Your Hard Drive. The Disk Defragmenter dialog box appears. Click the Analyze Disk button. This step checks whether your disk requires defragmenting. A drive with 10 percent or more fragmentation should be defragmented. (If you’ve been using your computer for a while, the drive may show 50 percent fragmentation or more.) When the analysis is complete, click the Defragment Disk button. A notation displays the progress of defragmenting your drive. When the defragmenting process is complete, the Disk Defragmenter dialog box shows that your drive no longer requires defragmenting. Click Close. The Disk Defragment dialog box and the Control Panel close.

Article / Updated 06-22-2017

Clean your hard drive to keep it in tip top shape and your data safe. The best repair is the one you don’t have to make. If you can keep your computer up to date and in tune, you and your PC will live a happier, more productive life. Start by making sure that you clean your hard drive to keep it in tip-top shape with regular cleanings. Choose Start→All Programs→Accessories. Select System Tools and click Disk Cleanup. The Disk Cleanup dialog box appears. In the Files to Delete list, check the boxes next to the names of the files you want to remove and clear the boxes next to any files you want to keep. Click the Clean Up System Files button. The list of files you can remove safely expands, and the More Options tab appears. Click the More Options tab to clean up programs you don’t use or to remove System Restore files. You should remove System Restore files and shadow copies only if you’re desperate for hard drive space. These files can help you get your system back to normal if the current installation files become damaged or your configuration gets out of whack. Click OK to start the cleanup process. Windows asks whether you’re sure that you want to delete these files. Click Yes. Your hard drive is now cleaned up.

Article / Updated 06-19-2017

When the computer is built, the system configuration information is stored in part of the computer’s memory where it won’t get lost when the power is turned off. You can use the System Configuration tool to search for the sources of problems caused by corrupted, missing, or misassigned programs and elements of Windows. View system configuration in Windows XP Here's how to have a look at your system's settings. Choose Start→Run to open the Run dialog box. Type msconfig in the Open text box and click OK. The System Configuration Utility dialog box appears, displaying seven tabs. Each tab contains settings for various elements of your PC. Click the Services tab. You see a long list of the current software services running in Windows. Click the Startup tab. This tab lists the programs that launch every time you start your machine. Click the Tools tab. It lists the software tools you can use to inspect or troubleshoot your system. (Interestingly, Microsoft’s help-desk technicians may use the same tools to help you uncover and repair a problem with your computer.) When you’re ready to get on with other computer tasks, click the OK button. The System Configuration Utility dialog box closes. Select diagnostic startup in Windows XP It certainly is interesting to poke around inside the System Configuration Utility, but you also can use it as a serious diagnostic tool. Choose Start→Run to open the Run dialog box, type msconfig in the Open text box, and click OK. The System Configuration Utility dialog box appears. On the General tab, select Diagnostic Startup and click OK. The utility takes a few seconds to disable all but the most essential startup programs and services. When the Restart/Exit prompt appears, click Restart. When the diagnostics notification appears, click OK. Windows displays the System Configuration Utility dialog box again. Click the Startup tab, scan the list for a program that’s a likely troublemaker, and check its check box. You recognize a troublemaker through a process of elimination and good guessing. Analyze the problem that you’re experiencing and try to find an application that may have something to do with it. Start with anything that isn’t a Microsoft product and, therefore, may be incompatible with Windows. Click OK to restart your computer in Selective Startup mode. If the problem recurs, proceed to the next step. If the problem doesn’t occur, repeat the steps until you locate the offending application. Reinstall the problem program or contact the software manufacturer for help. Return your system to normal startup. To do so, choose Start→Run to open the Run dialog box. Type msconfig in the Open text box and click OK. The System Configuration Utility dialog box opens. On the General tab, select Normal Startup and click OK. Your computer restarts with all its programs enabled. View system configuration in Vista and Windows 7 Viewing the system configuration in Vista and Windows 7 is different than in Windows XP: Click the Start button and then click inside the Search Programs and Files field (Start Search in Vista) at the bottom of the screen. The msconfig program appears at the top of the search box. Click msconfig to display the System Configuration dialog box. Vista displays a UserAccount Control notice. Investigate the Services, Startup, and Tools tabs. These tabs are essentially the same as those in the System Configuration Utility dialog box in Windows XP. Missing from the System Configuration dialog box, however, are the .INI tabs from Windows XP — which is probably a good thing, because you shouldn’t change those settings anyway. Click the Boot tab. The System Configuration dialog box appears. Click the General tab, choose Diagnostic Startup, and click OK to test your system with minimal applications loaded. When finished, select Normal Startup on the General tab and click OK. You return to normal startup mode, and your computer restarts with all its applications enabled.

Article / Updated 06-19-2017

You need to free up disk space on your computer's hard drive to help it run effectively. When you free up disk space, you’re essentially cleaning unused files and fragments of data off of your hard. If you can’t free up enough disk space for your needs, you may even have to replace your hard drive with one that has more capacity. To free up disk space on your hard drive: Choose Start→Control Panel→System and Security and then click Free Up Disk Space in the Administrative Tools. The Disk Cleanup dialog box appears. Choose the drive you want to clean up from the drop-down list and click OK. Disk Cleanup calculates how much space you'll be able to free up. The Disk Cleanup dialog box tells you that Disk Cleanup calculated how much space can be cleared on your hard drive and displays the suggested files to delete in a list. Select additional files in the list to delete by clicking next to them. Click the View Files button in the Disk Cleanup dialog box to see more details about the files that Windows proposes to delete, including the file size and when they were created or last accessed. Click OK. The selected files are deleted. Click the Close button. The Control Panel closes.

Article / Updated 06-19-2017

When you buy a new PC from a retailer or directly from a manufacturer, it ordinarily comes with a version of the Windows operating system already installed. However, if you’re experiencing issues, reinstalling Windows should fix almost any problem. Reinstallation works best if: The manufacturer supplied a restore disk with the computer. That disk returns a PC to its original factory-delivered state. If you don’t have a restore disk, you have to perform an ordinary installation from the original Windows discs. Your computer is able to start, and you can get to the operating system. You can make backup copies of all your personal data. Be sure to keep the alphanumeric product key that came with your Windows installation disc. You can’t install Windows properly without this key. To reinstall Windows: Make copies of all the personal files on your computer. Remember that a complete reinstallation wipes the hard drive clean, removing all software and all your personal files. You don’t need to make backup copies of your software programs; you’ll need to reinstall those programs anyway when Windows is back in place. Choose Start→Turn Off Computer→Restart to restart your computer and watch the screen carefully. You should see a message to press a function key (F2 probably) or another key combination to enter the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) screen. Press the designated key or key combination. You have only a few seconds to press this key to interrupt the startup process and enter the BIOS screen. Look for an option called First Boot Device, Boot Sequence, or something similar; press the arrow keys on your keyboard to select this field and then press Enter. You may have to select Advanced Options or another submenu to find it. In the resulting screen, select CDROM/DVD and then press the Esc key until you return to the main BIOS screen. Follow the onscreen instructions to save your new settings and exit BIOS setup. Your computer will restart from the CD/DVD drive. Insert your Windows installation CD into the drive and then restart your computer. Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 present slightly different startup screens. These steps describe the Windows 7 procedure, but the procedures in Windows XP and Vista are similar. The object is to get through the opening screens to the custom install screen, where you can reformat your hard drive and begin a clean installation. In the startup screen, select the Install Now option. In the next screen, select I Accept the License Terms and click the Next button. You’re asked what kind of installation you want to do. Select Custom (Advanced). If you’re given a choice of partitions, select the larger partition for your Windows installation. In most cases, you have only one or two choices: maybe a small partition (200MB or so) and a large one (30GB–100GB or larger). 9.In the next screen, click Advanced to expand the options at the bottom of the screen and choose the option to reformat your drive. Follow the onscreen instructions to reformat your drive and install Windows. You’re prompted to enter the Windows product key. This key — a set of 25 letters and numbers — may be on the Windows CD/DVD case or on a separate sheet of paper that came with the software. Some manufacturers also place a copy of the key on a sticker affixed to the computer case. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation. You’re all done!

Article / Updated 06-19-2017

Several events may result in unexpected, unwanted changes in critical files on your computer. Fortunately, you may be able to resolve problems by restoring your computer’s settings. System Restore, featured in all current version of Windows, allows you to go back to a specific restore point — a group of settings that were in effect last night, last week, or at some other time. By default, System Restore creates restore points automatically every day, but you can also create them at any time. System Restore is most likely to work if you use it immediately after you notice problems. Save any open files on your computer and close all programs. Make sure that you have current backups of essential data files. Launch System Restore in any of the following ways: Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7: Choose Start→All Programs→Accessories→System Tools→System Restore. Vista only: Click the Start button, type system restore in the Search box, and then click the utility’s name in the search results. Windows 7 only: Click the Start button, type system restore in the Search box, and then click Restore Your Computer to an Earlier Time. The resulting window asks whether you want to create a restore point (set one manually) or choose a previously recorded restore point. Follow the appropriate step for your version of Windows: Windows XP: Select Restore My Computer to an Earlier Time and click the Next button. Vista: Select Recommended Restore or Choose a Different Restore Point and click the Next button. Windows 7: Select Open System Restore and click the Next button. In the next window, select a restore point. It’s best to choose one just before the day and time when you began experiencing problems. Don’t go too far back in time. Going farther back than necessary could disable good updates and changes that you made before the problem started. Try using restore points created just before problems started. Click the Next button. The computer chugs along for a few moments, preparing the information it needs, and then restarts. When your PC restarts, follow the appropriate step: Successful restoration: If the restoration is successful, you see a screen like the one shown in the figure when Windows loads. Click the Finish button to close System Restore. Failed restoration: If the restoration fails, your computer restarts in the same condition it was in before you attempted to fix it. Repeat these steps with a different restore point. To undo restoration changes, open System Restore; select the Undo System Restore radio button and click Next. You won’t see the option to undo a system restore until you’ve done a system restore.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

If you don’t know how to perform software updates, you won’t benefit from application improvements, bug fixes, and new security defenses (including virus and malware attacks). Follow these instructions and get the new software versions online. These steps show how to manually update applications, but you can set up your computer to automatically update. Check the File and Help menus for update instructions. You should be able to find the software version number also on the Help menu. Choose Start→Programs→All Programs. Look for the install directory of an application you want to update. Look for an update program option. Point your Internet browser to the software manufacturer's Web site and look for update instructions. Download a newer version than the version you’re running. Install according to the software directions. Run diagnostics and use a defragmentation utility, which differs depending on your operating system: Windows XP: Choose Start→All Programs. Select Accessories→System Tools. Click Disk Defragmenter. Select the drive you want to defragment. Click Defragment. Windows Vista or Windows 7: Choose Start→Control Panel. Click System and Security. Choose Defragment Your Hard Drive in the Administrative Tools section. Choose the drive you want to defragment. Click Defragment Disk.