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Showing posts with label Hardware. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hardware. Show all posts

Windows 7:Using keyboard shortcuts to open programs


You can create keyboard shortcuts to open programs, which can often be simpler than opening programs using your mouse or other pointing device. Before completing these steps, verify that a shortcut was created for the program to which you want to assign a keyboard shortcut. If no shortcut was created, browse to the folder that contains the program, right-click the program file, and then click Create Shortcut to create one.

Locate the shortcut to the program for which you want to create a keyboard shortcut.
Right-click the shortcut, and then click Properties.
In the Shortcut Properties dialog box, click the Shortcut tab, and then click theShortcut key box.

Press the key on your keyboard that you want to use in combination with CTRL+ALT (keyboard shortcuts automatically start with CTRL+ALT), and then click OK. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

You can now use this keyboard shortcut to open the program when you're using the desktop. The shortcut will also work while using some programs, though it might not work with some programs that have their own keyboard shortcuts.
Notes

The Shortcut key box will display None until you select the key, and then the box will display Ctrl+Alt followed by the key you selected.

You cannot use the ESC, ENTER, TAB, SPACEBAR, PRINT SCREEN, SHIFT, or BACKSPACE keys to create a keyboard shortcut.

Most Common Reasons Of Computer Crash Everyone Must Know


Computer Parts are also like human body,If one parts stop working then the main PC give a big problem.A good running condition computer stop working and you can lose your data or anything on the computer. here are some main reason why and how a computer crash or stop workin, Hardware failure or anything.sometimes Hard disk Drive Also Fail to work and lose the data. so Here are some solution to stop the computer crash..
  • Overheating The Pc
Central processing units (CPUs) are usually equipped with fans to keep them cool. If the fan fails or if the CPU gets old it may start to overheat and generate a particular kind of error called a kernel error. This is a common problem in chips that have been overclocked to operate at higher speeds than they are supposed to.One remedy is to get a bigger better fan and install it on top of the CPU. Specialist cooling fans/heatsinks are available from www.computernerd.com or www.coolit.com.CPU problems can often be fixed by disabling the CPU internal cache in the BIOS. This will make the machine run more slowly, but it should also be more stable.
  • Hard disk drives
Installing windows system in your computer aftre some weeks the information on a hard disk drive starts to become piecemeal or fragmented. It is a good idea to defragment the 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 start the procedure. You will be unable to write data to the hard drive (to save it) while the disk is defragmenting, so it is a good idea to schedule the procedure for a period of inactivity using the Task Scheduler.
The Task Scheduler should be one of the small icons on the bottom right of the Windows opening page (the desktop).
Some lockups and screen freezes caused by hard disk problems can be solved by reducing the read-ahead optimisation. This can be adjusted by going to
 Start-Settings-Control Panel-System Icon-Performance-File System-Hard Disk.

Hard disks will slow down and crash if they are too full. Do some housekeeping on your hard drive every few months and free 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.

Empty the Recycle Bin every week to free more space. Hard disk drives should be scanned every week for errors or bad sectors. Go to
 Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-ScanDisk
Otherwise assign the Task Scheduler to perform this operation at night when the computer is not in use.
  • Bad Ram(Random Access Memory)
Ram (random-access memory) problems might bring on the blue screen of death with a message saying Fatal Exception Error. A fatal error indicates a serious hardware problem. Sometimes it may mean a part is damaged and will need replacing.
But a fatal error caused by Ram might be caused by a mismatch of chips. For example, mixing 70-nanosecond (70ns) Ram with 60ns Ram will usually force the computer to run all the Ram at the slower speed. This will often crash the machine if the Ram is overworked.
One way around this problem is to enter the BIOS settings and increase the wait state of the Ram. This can make it more stable. Another way to troubleshoot a suspected Ram problem is to rearrange the Ram chips on the motherboard, or take some of them out. Then try to repeat the circumstances that caused the crash. When handling Ram try not to touch the gold connections, as they can be easily damaged.
Parity error messages also refer to Ram. Modern Ram chips are either parity (ECC) or non parity (non-ECC). It is best not to mix the two types, as this can be a cause of trouble.
EMM386 error messages refer to memory problems but may not be connected to bad Ram. This may be due to free memory problems often linked to old Dos-based programmes.
Fatal error: the system has become unstable or is busy," it says. "Enter to return to Windows or press Control-Alt-Delete to restart your computer. If you do this you will lose any unsaved information in all open applications."
You have just been struck by the Blue Screen of Death. Anyone who uses Mcft Windows will be familiar with this. What can you do? More importantly, how can you prevent it happening?
  •  Hardware conflict
The number one reason why Windows crashes is hardware conflict. Each hardware device communicates to other devices through an interrupt request channel (IRQ). These are supposed to be unique for each device.
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 will try to hog a single IRQ for itself.
If there are a lot of devices, or if they are not installed properly, two of them may end up sharing the same IRQ number. When the user tries to use both devices at the same time, a crash can happen. The way to check if your computer has a hardware conflict is through the following route:
 Start-Settings-Control Panel-System-Device Manager.
Often if a device has a problem a yellow '!' appears next to its 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 using 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.
Sometimes  find more recent drivers on the internet to make the device function properly. A good resource is www.driverguide.com. If the device is a soundcard, or a modem, it can often be fixed by moving it to a different slot on the motherboard (be careful about opening your computer, as you may void the warranty).

When working inside a computer you should switch it off, unplug the mains lead and touch an unpainted metal surface to discharge any static electricity.
To be fair to Mcft, the problem with IRQ numbers is not of its making. It is a legacy problem going back to the first PC designs using the IBM 8086 chip. Initially there were only eight IRQs. Today there are 16 IRQs in a PC. It is easy to run out of them. There are plans to increase the number of IRQs in future designs.
  • Software
A common cause of computer crash is faulty or badly-installed software. Often the problem can be cured by uninstalling the software and then reinstalling it. Use Norton Uninstall or Uninstall Shield to remove an application from your system properly. This will also remove references to the programme in the System Registry and leaves the way clear for a completely fresh copy.
The System Registry can be corrupted by old references to obsolete software that you thought was uninstalled. Use Reg Cleaner by Jouni Vuorio to clean up the System Registry and remove obsolete entries. It works on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98 SE (Second Edition), Windows Millennium Edition (ME), NT4 and Windows 2000.
Read the instructions and use it carefully so you don't do permanent damage to the Registry. If the Registry is damaged you will have to reinstall your operating system. Reg Cleaner can be obtained from www.jv16.org
Often a Windows problem can be resolved by entering Safe Mode. This can be done during start-up. When you see the message "Starting Windows" press F4. This should take you into Safe Mode.
Safe Mode loads a minimum of drivers. It allows you to find and fix problems that prevent Windows from loading properly.
Sometimes installing Windows is difficult because of unsuitable BIOS settings. If you keep getting SUWIN error messages (Windows setup) during the Windows installation, then try entering the BIOS and disabling the CPU internal cache. Try to disable the Level 2 (L2) cache if that doesn't work.
Remember to restore all the BIOS settings back to their former settings following installation.
  • BIOS settings
Every motherboard is supplied with a range of chipset settings that are decided in the factory. A common way to access these settings is to press the F2 or delete button during the first few seconds of a boot-up.
Once inside the BIOS, great care should be taken. It is a good idea to write down on a piece of paper all the settings that appear on the screen. That way, if you change something and the computer becomes more unstable, you will know what settings to revert to.
A common BIOS error concerns the CAS latency. This refers to the Ram. Older EDO (extended data out) Ram has a CAS latency of 3. Newer SDRam has a CAS latency of 2. Setting the wrong figure can cause the Ram to lock up and freeze the computer's display.
Mcft Windows is better at allocating IRQ numbers than any BIOS. If possible set the IRQ numbers to Auto in the BIOS. This will allow Windows to allocate the IRQ numbers (make sure the BIOS setting for Plug and Play OS is switched to 'yes' to allow Windows to do this.).
  • Power supply problems
With all the new construction going on around the country the steady supply of electricity has become disrupted. A power surge or spike can crash a computer as easily as a power cut.
If this has become a nuisance for you then consider buying a uninterrupted power supply (UPS). This will give you a clean power supply when there is electricity, and it will give you a few minutes to perform a controlled shutdown in case of a power cut.
It is a good investment if your data are critical, because a power cut will cause any unsaved data to be lost.
Fatal OE exceptions and VXD errors
Fatal OE exception errors and VXD errors are often caused by video card problems.
These can often be resolved easily by reducing the resolution of the video display. Go to
 Start-Settings-Control Panel-Display-Settings

Here you should slide the screen area bar to the left. Take a look at the colour settings on the left of that window. For most desktops, high colour 16-bit depth is adequate.
If the screen freezes or you experience system lockups it might be due to the video card. Make sure it does not have a hardware conflict. Go to
 Start-Settings-Control Panel-System-Device Manager
Here, select the + beside Display Adapter. A line of text describing your video card should appear. Select it (make it blue) and press properties. Then select Resources and select each line in the window. Look for a message that says No Conflicts.
If you have video card hardware conflict, you will see it here. Be careful at this point and make a note of everything you do in case you make things worse.
The way to resolve a hardware conflict is to uncheck the Use Automatic Settings box and hit the Change Settings button. You are searching for a setting that will display a No Conflicts message.
Yiu can use another way to resolve video problems is to go to
 Start-Settings-Control Panel-System-Performance-Graphics
Here you should move the Hardware Acceleration slider to the left. As ever, the most common cause of problems relating to graphics cards is old or faulty drivers (a driver is a small piece of software used by a computer to communicate with a device).
Look up your video card's manufacturer on the internet and search for the most recent drivers for it.
  • Viruses
Often the first sign of a virus infection is instability. Some viruses erase the boot sector of a hard drive, making it impossible to start. This is why it is a good idea to create a Windows start-up disk. Go to
 Start-Settings-Control Panel-Add/Remove Programs
Here, look for the Start Up Disk tab. Virus protection requires constant vigilance.
A virus scanner requires a list of virus signatures in order to be able to identify viruses. These signatures are stored in a DAT file. DAT files should be updated weekly from the website of your antivirus software manufacturer.
An excellent antivirus programme is McAfee VirusScan by Network Associates ( www.nai.com). Another is Norton AntiVirus 2000, made by Symantec ( www.symantec.com).
  • Printers
The action of sending a document to print creates a bigger file, often called a postscript file.
Printers have only a small amount of memory, called a buffer. This can be easily overloaded. Printing a document also uses a considerable amount of CPU power. This will also slow down the computer's performance.
If the printer is trying to print unusual characters, these might not be recognised, and can crash the computer. Sometimes printers will not recover from a crash because of confusion in the buffer. A good way to clear the buffer is to unplug the printer for ten seconds. Booting up from a powerless state, also called a cold boot, will restore the printer's default settings and you may be able to carry on.

Windows 7:Using keyboard shortcuts to open programs


You can create keyboard shortcuts to open programs, which can often be simpler than opening programs using your mouse or other pointing device. Before completing these steps, verify that a shortcut was created for the program to which you want to assign a keyboard shortcut. If no shortcut was created, browse to the folder that contains the program, right-click the program file, and then click Create Shortcut to create one.

Locate the shortcut to the program for which you want to create a keyboard shortcut.
Right-click the shortcut, and then click Properties.
In the Shortcut Properties dialog box, click the Shortcut tab, and then click theShortcut key box.

Press the key on your keyboard that you want to use in combination with CTRL+ALT (keyboard shortcuts automatically start with CTRL+ALT), and then click OK. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

You can now use this keyboard shortcut to open the program when you're using the desktop. The shortcut will also work while using some programs, though it might not work with some programs that have their own keyboard shortcuts.
Notes

The Shortcut key box will display None until you select the key, and then the box will display Ctrl+Alt followed by the key you selected.

You cannot use the ESC, ENTER, TAB, SPACEBAR, PRINT SCREEN, SHIFT, or BACKSPACE keys to create a keyboard shortcut.

Convert a Hard Disk or Disk PartitionFrom Fat to NTFS format


Convert a hard disk  to NTFS format

NTFS is a short form for 'New Technology File System'. The earlier file system in windows operating system was the FAT (file allocation table). The NTFS file system is the latest of the file system which has better performance than the old FAT system. The NTFS file system provides better performance and security for data on hard disks and partitions or volumes than the FAT file system used in some earlier versions of Windows. If you have a partition that uses the earlier FAT16 or FAT32 file system, you can convert it to NTFS by using the convert command. Converting to NTFS does not affect the data on the partition.

NTFS is one of the latest file system used by Windows operating systems. The NTFS file system has better performance compared to old FAT file system. If your hard disk partition is formatted for either FAT16 or FAT32 file system, it is possible to convert that partition to NTFS file system. Even if you convert your partition to NTFS file system from FAT file system, the data in that hard disk partition does not get affected. Let us now see how we can convert a hard disk partition to NTFS file system.

You can convert a partition to NTFS by using the Convert command. But once you cpnvert to NTFS, it cannot be converted back to the FAT file system. If you once again decided to convert back to FAT file system, you need to format the complete hard disk partition which will erase all the data in the partition.

You have to close all the applications or programs running on the partition thaqt needs to be converted to NTFS file system

Open the Command Prompt by clicking on Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> right-click on Command Prompt
 After right click on Command Prompt, click on the option 'Run as Administrator'.

Now  type 'convert drive_letter: /fs:ntfs'. Here the drive_letter is the letter of the partition that you want to convert to NTFS file system. Now press Enter. Let us see an example.

C:\>convert D: /fs:ntfs will convert the partition D into NTFS partition.

That is all, your partition is now converted to NTFS file system.

After you convert a partition to NTFS, you cannot convert it back. If you want to use the FAT file system on the partition again, you will need to reformat the partition, which erases all data on it.

Some earlier versions of Windows cannot read data on local NTFS partitions. If you need to use an earlier version of Windows to access a partition on the computer, do not convert it to NTFS.

Although the chance of corruption or data loss during a conversion is minimal, you should back up all data on the partition before you begin.

To convert a hard disk or partition to NTFS format

Close any open programs running on the partition or logical drive to be converted.

Click the Start button ,click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

At the command prompt, type convert drive_letter: /fs:ntfs, where drive_letter is the letter of the drive you want to convert, and then press Enter. For example, convert E: /fs:ntfs would convert drive E to the NTFS format.

Type the name of the volume you want to convert, and then press Enter. You must use the existing name of the volume or the conversion will be canceled. You can view all available volumes in the Computer folder under Hard Disk Drives.

Click to open Computer.

If the partition you are converting contains system files—which would be the case if you are converting the hard disk that the operating system was installed on—you will need to restart your computer for the conversion to take place. If your disk is almost full, the conversion process might not succeed. If you receive an error, try deleting unnecessary files, or back up files to another location, to free up disk space.

Easy Step To Customize The Start Menu In Windows



To customize the start menu in windows 7 it is easy to access the folder and favorite programs.you can get help and more easier to use windows 7.here are some easy process how to customize start menu in windows 7.
 To pin a program icon to the Start menu 
If you use a program regularly, you can create a shortcut to it by pinning the program icon to the Start menu. Pinned program icons appear on the left side of the Start menu. 
Right-click the program icon you want to pin to the Start menu, and then click Pin to Start Menu. 

Remember 
  • To unpin a program icon, right-click it, and then click Unpin from Start Menu. 
  • To change the order of a pinned item, drag the program icon to a new position in the list. 
  • To remove a program icon from the Start menu 
Removing a program icon from the Start menu doesn't remove it from the All Programs list or uninstall the program. 
Click the Start button . 
Right-click the program icon you want to remove from the Start menu, and then click Remove from this list. 
  •  To move the Start button 
  • The Start button is located on the taskbar. Although you can't remove the Start button from the taskbar, you can move the taskbar—and the Start button along with it. 
  • Right-click an empty space on the taskbar. If Lock the taskbar has a check mark beside it, click it to remove the check mark. 
  • Click an empty space on the taskbar, and then hold down the mouse button as you drag the taskbar to one of the four edges of the desktop. When the taskbar is where you want it, release the mouse button. 
Remember
  • To lock the taskbar into place, right-click an empty space on the taskbar, and then click Lock the Taskbar so that the check mark reappears. Locking the taskbar helps prevent it from being moved or resized accidentally. 
  •  To clear recently opened files or programs from the Start menu 
  • Clearing recently opened files or programs from the Start menu doesn't delete them from your computer. Click to open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties. 

Click the Start Menu tab. To clear recently opened programs, clear the Store and display recently opened programs in the Start menu check box. To clear recently opened files, clear the Store and display recently opened items in the Start menu and the taskbar check box, and then click OK. 
  • To adjust the number of shortcuts for frequently used programs 
  • The Start menu displays shortcuts for the programs you use most frequently. You can change the number of program shortcuts displayed (this can affect the height of the Start menu). 
  • Click to open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties. 
  • Click the Start Menu tab, and then click Customize. 
In the Customize Start Menu dialog box, in the Number of recent programs to display box, enter the number of programs you want to display on the Start menu, click OK, and then click OK again. 

To customize the right pane of the Start menu 
You can add or remove items, such as Computer, Control Panel, and Pictures, that appear on the right side of the Start menu. You can also change some items so that they appear as links or menus. 
  • Click to open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties. 
  • Click the Start Menu tab, and then click Customize. 
In the Customize Start Menu dialog box, select the options in the list that you want, click OK, and then click OK again. 

To restore Start menu default settings 
You can restore the Start menu to its original, default settings. 
  • Click to open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties. 
  • Click the Start Menu tab, and then click Customize. 
In the Customize Start Menu dialog box, click Use Default Settings, click OK, and then click OK again. 
To search for programs from the Start menu 
  • Click the Start button and then type a word or phrase in the search box. 
  •  To add the Run command to the Start menu 
  • Click to open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties. 
  • Click the Start Menu tab, and then click Customize. 
  • In the Customize Start Menu dialog box, scroll through the list of options to find the Run command check box, select it, click OK, and then click OK again. 
  •  To add Recent Items to the Start menu 
  • Click to open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties. 
  • Click the Start Menu tab. Under Privacy, select the Store and display recently opened items in the Start menu and the taskbar check box. 
  • Click Customize. In the Customize Start Menu dialog box, scroll through the list of options to find the Recent Items check box, select it, click OK, and then click OK again.

Computer Motherboard BIOS Reset Tips and Tricks


How do you reset the Computer Motherboard BIOS?

To reset Bios Password U need to some experience about some hardware.If you know basic hardware and software then you can easily reset BIOS.Here Are some method to reset BIOS of your Computer Motheboard.  Please do not try any of following procedures if you are not familiar with computer hardware. I'll not be responsible for the use or misuse of this information, including personal injury, loss of data or hardware damage. So use it at your own risk.
  • By Using the Motherboard Jumper: 
  • In most motherboards CMOS battery is soldered, 
  • which makes it difficult to remove the battery.
  • In this case we use another method. 
  • Almost all motherboards contain a jumper that can clear all CMOS settings along with the BIOS password. The location of this jumper varies depending upon the motherboard brand. 
  • You should read your motherboard manual to check its location.
  • If you don't have the manual then look for the jumpers near the CMOS battery.
  • Most of the manufacturer label the jumper as CLR, CLEAR, CLEAR CMOS, etc. 
  • When you find the jumper, look carefully.
  • There will be 3 pins and the jumper will be joining the center pin to either left or right pin. 
  • What you need to do, is remove the jumper and join the center pin to the opposite pin. e.g. if the jumper joins center pin to left pin, then remove it and join center pin to right pin. 
  • Now wait for a few seconds and then again remove the jumper and join the center pin to left pin. 
  • Make sure to turn the PC off before opening the cabinet and resetting the jumper. 
  • By Using Software: 
Now a days available many new  BIOS/CMOS Password Recovery Tool is the most effective.:
BIOS/CMOS Password Recovery Tool is a program that works instantly to remove any lost or forgotten BIOS/CMOS password. Simply boot your PC to DOS and execute the program, and get access to forgotten BIOS/CMOS passwords in just seconds
BIOS/CMOS Password Recovery Tool Service.
There are many software available in the market.to reset BIOS of your computer motherboard.

Fix Your Computer Blue Screen Of Death with white text appears after system bootup.



If the computer is unable to read properly from the boot device or some recent change in its configuration has caused a driver to become corrupt, then also a blue screen of death can be displayed. Another method to get rid of the blue screen for good is to make a recovery CD of your computer, and then using it to boot up your system and running the repair tool. If the error has appeared because of some serious error in the machine’s registry, then the safest bet for you to avoid losing data is to get professional help in repairing your computer or call the hardware vendor if you have recently installed a component, before you try to boot your  system again.

  •  Remove additional memory. If additional memory was installed after purchase, power OFF, remove the additional memory, and power ON to see if the problem is due to incompatible memory. 
  • Un-install software applications. If you have installed software applications recently, they may not be compatible with your system. Try to un-install them in Windows Safe Mode. 
  • Check your system for viruses. 
  • Update the BIOS to the latest version with Easy Flash in Windows or AFLASH in DOS mode. These utilities and BIOS files can be downloaded from the ASUS website. 
Remember: Ensure your Notebook PC does not lose power during the BIOS flashing process. 
  • If problem still cannot be solved, use the recovery process to reinstall your entire system. 

IMPORTANT! You must backup all your data to another location before recovering. 



CAUTION! DO NOT connect to the Internet before you have installed an anti-virus software and  Internet firewall to protect yourself from viruses. 


Ensure that you install the “Intel INF Update” and “ATKACPI” drivers first so that hardware devices can be recognized. 
  • If the problem still exist, contact your local service center and ask an engineer for assistance. 
Blue screen of death is a colloquial phrase used by computer technicians to describe what is officially known as a Stop error in computers. A blue screen appears on the monitor with text in white when the system experiences a critical error and needs to shut down to protect damage to the memory. The appearance of a blue screen during a process means that the only solution to the error is to restart the computer; therefore the  phrase ‘screen of death’ was coined to denote the finality of the situation.

A BSOD appears usually when a hardware or hardware driver is installed, which causes certain drivers to become incompatible. Trying to install softwares or hardware which is incompatible with your computer’s configuration can also cause the error to appear. If a hardware component has a buggy device driver, if there is a real time conflict between hardware or an installed application tries to divide by zero, you are likely to get this error. Sometimes this screen might also appear after a considerable time since installing something new, which means that a normal driver has become outdated now. The best solution to getting rid of the blue screen is to reinstall the hardware or software properly after booting the system in safe mode.