There are a lot of issues and errors a computer can go through in its lifetime and there are also a lot of solutions for it. Some of the solutions to a computer issue are too complicated for an average Joe to do. Let’s face the facts – we are not as tech-savvy as we think we are. There is one easy solution to a faulty computer system which is sure to resolve almost any issue - reformatting. Reformatting the hard drive of your computer will allow you to start over from a clean slate. This is usually the solution to bad virus infections and other unmanageable software issues. Most technicians view this procedure as a last resort because it will erase any and all of your old programs and files. If you want to save your important files, you need to back-up your files in an external storage equipment. You can purchase a flash drive or external hard drive for this. There are also a lot of free online backup services that you can find. It is practical and smart that you do back-up of

Most people become so attached to their laptops that they don’t want to get rid of it even when signs of old age start appearing. It is perfectly understandable why this happens. If you have had your laptop for years now, I’m sure parting with it is not a very easy thing to do. Well, the good news is – you won’t really have to. There are ways that you can do to save your beloved old laptop and improve its performance. The cost of buying a new laptop can be too much for some people. During these trying times, not everyone can afford to just add a new expense to their already long list of expenses. Working to salvage your old laptop seems to be a more practical idea. One of the typical things that happen to old laptops is that it slows down after a few years. Adding new programs, applications, music files and videos over the years will take up a lot of space in its memory, causing it to slow down. An obvious resolution would be to clear up all the junk files you have accum

Many call it the “blue screen of death”. This dreadful computer issue is feared by many. Imagine working on your computer, taking a few minutes of coffee break and then going to back to be greeted by a blue screen on the monitor. You try to move the mouse and reboot the PC but nothing happens. So what is this mysterious blue screen? Here are some useful information help you uncover its mystery. The blue screen of death (BSOD) is also known as a stop error and considered to be one of the most severe problems that Windows systems encounter. There can be many causes to this. It could be because of a software problem like a virus infection, device incompatibility, driver error or a corrupt registry. Most of the time, it is usually caused by hardware failures which tend to be much harder to resolve. When this occurs, it is possible to lose all the data you have in the computer. It can also cost you a lot of money to have it fixed as some issues would require you some of the parts o

Computers need fans inside the case to keep all the electrical components cool. If they overheat your computer will stop working and it can even destroy the hardware you have installed. Replacing a defective fan can mean the difference between a small expense and replacing the whole computer. You do need to be careful and pay attention to detail when replacing a computer fan. The first thing you need to do is determine what size fan you have in your computer case. You will want to replace it with a fan that is the same size, this does not mean that you cannot get a fan that is a little more powerful, but the measurements need to be the same so that it can be mounted in the same spot inside the case. Some computers come with more than one fan or slots where you can add more fans if you find that you need them for cooling. For instance the case I am using right now has three fans installed in it. This could be a good idea if you live in an area where you get consistent high temperatu

First you need to find out what kind of hard drive is compatible with your mother board. Otherwise, you will have an expensive hard drive sitting on your desk that is totally unusable. So, before you order that knew hard drive with all that extra space that you are craving, check out your computer specifications to find out what model of mother board you have installed and then go shopping for your hard drive. If you are like most people these days you will probably be shopping online for your new hard drive. There are many great suppliers, just make sure that the hard drive you choose is compatible with the mother board that is already installed. You should be able to find this information in the specification section of the part description. If it does not tell you what systems the hard drive is compatible with, contact the supplier and ask them or find a hard drive that does give you this information. It is much easier to ask than order it and have to return it later. If you a

Installing more memory in your computer is one of the easiest ways to improve the performance and speed of your computer. However, it is important to buy the right type of memory. There are several computer brands on the market so it is not surprising that there are several brands of memory. Even within a given brand there are things to watch out for. If your computer was manufactured before 2002 then you may have an older style of memory module in it. Most computers built after 2002 have DDR or DDR2 memory modules in them. If you still have your owners’s manual for the computer check in it and see what type of memory is installed . Computers are individuals when it comes to replacing memory, there is no one-size-fits-all involved. The first thing you need to do is find out what kind of memory your computer can run. Computers can be limited to certain amounts, speeds, and manufacturers. If you buy the wrong kind of memory module it will not work in your computer. Your comput

One of the biggest problems that can happen with your computer is to get infected with a virus. This is such a troubling hassle which can destroy your files and eventually make your computer system crash. Not all viruses, spywares or malwares are that destructive though, as some of them can just be really irritating. One example is window pop-ups that continuously show on your screen. Most of them advertise adult products or sometimes cause your computer to freeze and hang. This is one of the most common symptoms that demonstrate a virus infection on your computer. Viruses are commonly found in unknown websites, emails from strange recipients and infected flash drives. The sad thing is even social networking websites like Facebook and MySpace can also be infected because of hackers. A good example is koobface.  This is a virus program found in Facebook and was created by hackers to get your credit card details and other important information. It would usually contain titles and wor

A lot of people are intimidated with the thought of computer repair. Because computer systems seem to be very complicated, a typical housewife or an average Joe might get scared to try their hand in repairing a problematic computer. One of the best weapons you can arm yourself with is knowledge. Training yourself to be computer savvy is a step towards understanding and overcoming your fear of this technology. You don’t really have to have a mind like Bill Gates to be knowledgeable in computers. As long as you have the right training, you can pretty much work your way in doing computer repair yourself. Maintenance is the key. Simply put, if you don’t want your computer to crash then take care of it. Although computer systems are reliable most of the time, regular maintenance is still crucial. It is just like every other possession that you might have, which when not maintained properly can show wear out signs pretty quickly. If you are able to properly maintain your computer on

As a computer technician, I often get asked to help people speed up their computers. Many people think it's some kind of secret process or takes all kinds of special skills, but it really doesn't, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Rather than try to write pages about how to do it, check out these few webpages from lifehacker.com that really explains how to speed up Windows. Mythbusting: Debunking Common Windows Performance Tweaking Myths Top 10: Top 10 Ways To Clean Up Your PC One thing that I will add that wasn't included in the Top 10 list or the Mythbusting is concerning Service Packs. Service Packs are released on a regular basis from Microsoft, as well as numerous other updates. They are worth installing for two main reasons. First, the Service Packs can improve performance issues (example: Vista). Second, getting a virus or some other form of malware is an easy way to slow down your computer, and Service Packs and updates from Microsoft along with virus protect