Understanding the boot.ini File
Understanding each step in the boot process is important for troubleshooting Windows startup problems. Boot.ini is one of the first files to come into play in the boot process, therefore it's important to know how to edit, or should it become necessary, to replace the boot.ini file. More ...
Tips for Preventing Your Laptop From Overheating
For the past month or so, every time I put my laptop on my lap, I ended up with scorched thighs, which I can assure you, isn't a pretty sight! There are tons of other people experiencing the same problem as me. So what Causes a Laptop to Overheat? More ...
How to Create a Windows XP Boot Disk
In many cases the cause is a corrupted startup file which prevents the computer from going through the bootup from start to finish. In this case, an easy way to start your PC is to have an emergency boot disk handy. A Boot Disk contain copies of critical files needed for startup that you should have made earlier. More ...
Slow Log-on to ISP
When you are connecting to an unknown network, you need to determine which network protocol the other network uses, and you may need to log-on to the other network. Common network protocols are NetBEUI, IPX/SPX, and TCP/IP. More ...
PC Technician's Guide to EMI (Electromagnetic Interference)
The high-frequency digital circuitry in PC's can emit radio waves EMI that interferes with the operation of nearby electronic devices. This 's referred to as Electromagnetic Interference or EMI. More ...
How to Recognize and Repair Power Supply Problems
The Power Supply convert's your regular household current into low DC voltage used by the computer. When this component fails, there is simply no activity going on with your computer. Remember to do the easy troubleshooting first. Inspect the Power Supply for any damage. Double-Check all connections. More ...
Create Recovery Discs for Windows Vista with HP Recovery Manager
After booting up your computer, with factory installed Vista for the first time, be sure to create a set of recovery discs of the full factory image. The recovery discs are used to start up (boot) the computer and recover the operating system and software to factory settings in case of system instability or failure. More ...
Clear DNS Cache to Fix Network Issues
If you are frequently receiving error messages when trying to access websites, you may need to clear your DNS cache. A DNS cache can become poisoned when computer viruses insert invalid entries into the cache. More ...
Video - Dell Laptop Optical Drive Replacement Tutorial
If the optical drive has been in use for a while, it may simply need cleaning. Many people have had good luck with Memorex's laser very low cost lens cleaner disc. However, if cleaning the optical drive does not solve the problem, this video shows how to replace it. It's amazingly easy. More ...
Can't Boot From CD or DVD Drive
There are several situations where you might need to boot from an optical drive, for example if you want to install an operating system or use a live disc to troubleshoot a system. If you find that your computer can't boot from its optical drive, this article contains a few tips that might help solve the problem. More ...
Use chkdsk to Find and Repair Disk Errors in Windows 7
If your computer takes a long time to start, and occasionally locks up or crashes, Check Disk is a command line program that can perform an analysis of the disk and repair any errors it finds. More ...
How to Reinstall Windows XP
There are several circumstances in which you might need to reinstall Windows XP, for example if you upgraded a system component that might require a different hardware abstraction layer (HAL), like the motherboard. This article shows you how to perform a reinstallation (also called a repair installation) of Windows XP. More ...
