Basic computer troubleshooting

Overview
Below is a listing of commonly asked computer questions and answers and basic troubleshooting steps for major operating systems and software programs. Keep in mind that this is just a select few of our thousands of questions and answers in our database. If you're encountering a more specific issue you may want to try Mr. Hope.

Common Windows errors and how to fix them

Issue I have problems in Windows after installing new software. Cause After installing any utility, driver, or other software program you can encounter an almost endless list of issues that can be caused by any of the below reasons. 1. Confliction with other software installed on the computer. 2. Issue with program. 3. Improper installation or problems with installation. Solution Reinstall or uninstall the program If you're encountering problems with your computer or other programs after installing new software on your computer, uninstall the program and see if the issues persist.

Uninstalling Windows software. After the program has been uninstalled try installing the program again.

How to install a software program.

Note: If after installing a program you're unable to boot into Windows, try booting into Safe Mode. Check for software program updates or new versions If you continue to experience issues verify that the program, game, or utility you're installing doesn't have any updates by visiting the developer of the program website. If you're installing a software program or drivers for a hardware device such as a printer. Get the latest software and drivers from the manufacturer instead of using the included software. A listing of links to drivers can be found on our drivers page.

b. How do I fix illegal operations?

Issue How do I fix Illegal Operations? Cause Illegal Operations can be caused by several different factors. Below is a listing of the more commonly known reasons for getting an Illegal Operations. 1. TSR's or Third-party programs causing memory conflicts or other conflicts with the program or programs attempting to be run. 2. Data not being read properly from source. Running a program or game with a dirty CD can cause the CD to be read improperly causing Illegal Operations. Floppy diskettes, which may contain errors can cause illegal operations. 3. Installing a program or game on a hard disk drive that has errors or is highly fragmented. 4. Corrupt files. 5. Memory managers. 6. Bad, incorrect or not the latest video drivers. 7. Computer Virus. 8. Added hardware 9. Error in program coding 10. Corruption or problem within Windows. 11. Bad Memory, invalid bits or physically bad memory. Solution TSR's or Third-party programs TSR's or Third-party programs running in the background are one of the more commonly found reasons for Illegal Operations. If you are receiving an Illegal Operation when attempting to run a game or program it is recommend that you

temporarily remove or disable programs running and TSR's running in the background, ensuring that these programs are not causing your issues. How to remove TSRs and startup programs. If, after removing these programs, you run the program or game and no longer receive the Illegal Operations, it is recommend that you reboot the computer and disable or End Task each program or TSR one at a time to attempt to determine what program is causing the Illegal Operation. Data not being read properly from source When running a program or game from a CD you receive an Illegal Operation, verify that the CD is clean. Additional information on how to clean a CD or CD-ROM drive can be found on our Cleaning Page. If you are running a game from a floppy diskette or other floppy media such as a zip diskette or LS120, verify that the diskette does not have physical errors with it by running a ScanDisk or a disk drive utility included with the drive. Installing a program or game on a hard disk drive that has errors or is highly fragmented When installing a program or game onto a hard disk drive it is recommended if you receive errors after installing that program or game that you uninstall that program or game, run a ScanDisk, then a defrag, and finally install the program or game again. If errors exist on the hard disk drive, they will cause the program or game to run improperly and can cause Illegal Operations. Microsoft ScanDisk help page. Microsoft Defrag help page. Corrupt files Corrupt, bad or missing files can cause Illegal Operations. It is recommended that you uninstall or reinstall the program causing the Illegal Operation to verify that any corrupt, bad or missing files are replaced or repaired during the reinstallation. Memory managers If you are running a memory manager that is used to obtain more memory or handle the computer memory in replace of Windows, it is recommended you temporarily disable or uninstall this program to verify it is not the memory manager causing the Illegal Operations. Bad, incorrect or not the latest video drivers Bad, incorrect or not the latest video drivers may cause Illegal Operations when performing such tasks as moving the mouse or dragging data from one source to another as high demands are placed onto the video card. Decrease the video settings to at least 800 x 600, 256 colors to verify if the program or game being run is having errors because of the current video settings.

How to set the resolution in Microsoft Windows? How to set the resolution or change the resolution/adapter in Windows 3.x. If, after attempting to adjust the video settings, you still encounter the same issue, verify the computer is utilizing the latest video card drivers by visiting our computer video drivers section. Computer Virus Because computer viruses are loaded into memory and can change the data of program files when infecting a computer, ensure that a virus protection utility is installed on the computer and that you have the latest Virus Definition. Additional information about computer Viruses can be found at our Virus page. Added hardware If added hardware has been recently installed onto the computer it is likely that either the hardware is conflicting with other hardware devices on the computer or that the drivers used to install that hardware is causing issues with other hardware or software installed on the computer. If added hardware has recently been added to the computer, it is recommended that you temporarily remove that added hardware and the software associated with it to ensure it is not causing your issues. Error in program coding If you are receiving Illegal Operations only when running a particular program, verify that the program is compatible with the Version of Windows you are running and ensure no available patches or software are available that may fix errors made during the development stages. Corruption or problem within Windows Because Windows controls the memory operations as well as the file structure and association, it is possible for Windows or files associated with Windows to become corrupted, causing Illegal Operations or other errors. It is recommended you reinstall Windows if you are experiencing Illegal Operations in Windows or more than one program trying to be run on the computer. Bad Memory, invalid bits or physically bad memory It is possible that bad memory can cause Illegal Operations. If you have recently added memory to the computer, it is recommended that it first be removed to verify that you are not experiencing conflicts with the recently installed memory.

If no memory has been recently added to the computer and you have tried all the above recommendations test your computer memory.

My computer is running slow what steps can I do to fix it? Issue My computer is running slow what steps can I do to fix it? Cause This issue can be caused by any of the below possibilities. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Not enough hard disk space. Left over programs and bad files. Data Corruption. Missing Windows updates / Outdated drivers. Computer is overheating. Corrupt OS. Bad Hardware.

Solution Below are steps for Microsoft Windows users that should help speed up the computer or determine why the computer is running slow. Reboot If your computer has not been reboot recently make sure to reboot it before following any of the below steps. Not enough hard disk drive space Verify that there is at least 200-500MB of free hard disk drive space. This available space allows the computer to have room for the swap file to increase in size as well as room for temporary files. Determining available hard drive space. Regaining computer hard disk drive space. Hard drive corrupted or fragmented Run ScanDisk or something equivalent to verify there is nothing physically wrong with the computer hard disk drive. Run Defrag to help ensure that data is arranged in the best possible order. Background programs Remove or disable any TSRs and startup programs that automatically start each time the computer boots.

To see what programs are running in the background and how much memory and CPU they are using openTask Manager. If you are running Windows 7 run Resmon to get a better understanding of how your computer is being used. If you've got an anti-virus scanner on the computer, spyware protection program, or other security utility make sure it's not scanning your computer in the background. Often when these programs begin to scan the computer it can decrease the overall performance of your computer. Scan for malware Today, spyware and other malware is a big cause of many computer problems including a slow computer. Even if an anti-virus scanner is installed on the computer we recommend running a malware scan on the computer. Use the free version of Malwarebytes to scan your computer for malware. Hardware conflicts Verify that the Device Manager has no conflicts. If any exist resolve these issues as they could be the cause of your problem. Update Windows Make sure you have all the latest Windows updates installed in the computer. If you are on the Internet when your computer is slow also make sure all browser plugins are up-todate. Update your drivers Make sure you've got the latest drivers for your computer. Especially the latest video drivers. Having out-of-date drivers can cause an assortment of issues. Computer or processor is overheating Make sure your computer and processor is not overheating, excessive heat can cause a significant decrease in computer performance some processors will even lower the speed of the processor automatically to help compensate for the heat related issues. What temperature should my processor be running at? Dust, dirt, and hair can also constrict a proper air flow on your computer, which can also cause a computer to overheat. Make sure your computer case is clean and fans are not obstructed. Steps on cleaning your computer. Memory upgrade If you've had your computer for more than one year it's likely you're computer is not meeting the memory requirements for today. Today, we suggest at a minimum the computer have 1GB of memory. Determining how much RAM is installed and available.

Specific operating system basic troubleshooting Basic Basic Basic Basic Basic Basic Basic Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows XP troubleshooting. 2000 troubleshooting. NT 4.0 troubleshooting. ME troubleshooting. 98 troubleshooting. 95 troubleshooting. 3.x troubleshooting.

Or go through the other basic troubleshooting steps. Run registry cleaner We normally do not recommend registry cleaners. However, if you have followed all of the above steps and your computer is still slow try running a registry cleaner on the computer. Erase computer and start over If none of the above solutions resolve your issues, it is recommended that you either reinstall Windows or erase everything and then start over. Old computer If your computer is older than five years come to terms that it is likely the age of the computer that is causing it to be slow. Computers progress at an alarming rate as new programs and updates for programs come out their minimum requirements increase and will cause older computers to slow down. If your computer is older than five years we suggest purchasing a new computer or just realize it is going to run slow because it is old. How often should I buy a new computer? Hardware issues Finally, if your computer continues to be slow after going over each of the above recommendations it's possible that your computer is experiencing a more serious hardware related issue such as a failing component in the computer. This could be a failing or bad hard drive, CPU, RAM, motherboard, or other component.