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Sunday 8 December 2013

How to manually set an IP address (Windows Vista)

1. Click on the Start circle in the bottom left corner of the screen. From the menu that appears, click on Control Panel.



2. Click on the option marked Classic View to the left of the Control Panel window that appears.



3. Double click on the icon marked Network and Sharing Center.



4. Click on the option marked Manage network connections to the left of the window.



5. Right click on the connection to which the IP address needs to be set. In most cases this will be either Local Area Connection or Wireless Network Connection. From the menu that appears, click on Status.



6. Click on the Details button in the new window that appears.



7. A new window filled with technical information will appear showing the IP address and other settings that are currently assigned to the network connection. Make a note of:
  • IPv4 IP Address
  • IPv4 Subnet Mask
  • IPv4 Default Gateway
  • IPv4 DNS Server
Click on Close.



8. Click on the Properties button. If a warning message appears, click on Continue.



9. In the new window that appears, click on the text marked Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then click on the Properties button.



10. In the new window that appears, click on the circle button marked Use the following IP address: and fill in the form below accordingly:
  • IP address: This is in four sections in the form of xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx. The first three sections must be the same as the old address, but the fourth section can be any number between 2 and 253 as long as it hasn't been taken by another device. If the old address was 192.168.0.4 then the new address could be 192.168.0.60 for example.
  • Subnet mask: This is almost always 255.255.255.0 but needs to be set the same as before.
  • Default gateway: This is the address of your router and needs to be set the same as before. It could be 192.168.0.1 for example.
  • Preferred DNS server: This is usually the address of your router and needs to be set the same as before. It could be 192.168.0.1 for example.
  • Alternate DNS server: This can be left blank in most cases.
After filling in these options, click on OK.



11. Click on the Close button.



12. Click on the Close button and click the cross in the top right corner of any remaining windows to return to the desktop.





Saturday 9 November 2013

HOW TO FIX: The following error occurred while attempting to print your pictures (Windows Vista)


'The following error occurred while attempting to print your pictures:' Its a very frustrating message because it does not give any indication as to why the error occurred.

This error occurred on a Windows Vista machine whenever a picture was selected in Windows Explorer and the 'Print' option clicked on the tool bar. The error appeared repeatedly and I found that the only way to close it was to use Task Manager to close explorer.exe and then manually restart it.

I was able to trace it back to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\ICM\RegisteredProfiles

renaming RegisteredProfiles to RegisteredProfiles.old appears to have resolved the problem.

I suspect the problem is caused by installing some old photo editing software that has incompatibility problems with Windows Vista but am not certain about this.

Sunday 29 September 2013

How to permanently disable PepperFlash in Chrome

PepperFlash is a version of Flash Player that comes bundled with Google Chrome. In general, it works well on most systems. However, on some websites or hardware configurations, a different version called Adobe Flash Player plugin reduces stuttering and improves general video playback performance.

PepperFlash can be easily disabled, and Adobe Flash Player plugin can be installed in its place, but a problem that many people have encountered is that PepperFlash keeps re-enabling itself, especially when a Chrome update takes place.

These instructions should keep this from happening. Please note that this will only work with a system-wide installation of Google Chrome installed to its default location in C:\Program Files.

1. Download and install Adobe Flash Player plug-in from the following address: https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/?fpchrome. Remember to un-tick the box to install McAfee Security Scan Plus.

2. Once the installation is complete, close and re-open Chrome, then type about:plugins into the Chrome address bar at the top of the screen and press enter.



3. Click the + symbol next to Details in the top right corner of the page that appears.



4. On the left of the page, under the heading Adobe Flash Player, there should be two versions of Flash Player showing: The PepperFlash version that is stored in the Chrome program folder and the plug-in version that is stored in the Windows folder. Click on the Disable link underneath the PepperFlash listing.



5. Download the following file: https://sites.google.com/site/wintegrity01/ChromeLaunch.zip. Unzip the file, then double click on INSTALL. This will place another icon on the desktop called ChromeLaunch with a golden Chrome icon. Double clicking this icon to launch Chrome should ensure that PepperFlash remains disabled.

Notes:

- As ChromeLaunch makes a modification to the folder in which Chrome is installed, administrator rights are required. Click on Yes or Continue if a warning message appears when double clicking the icon.

- Your Anti-virus scanner may detect unusual activity because ChromeLaunch is making a change to a system folder. The program must be able to make these changes to be able to work.

Sunday 4 August 2013

How to remove folders with long, random names in Windows 7


Have you ever seen a folder with a name such as 626c0e158b81c4df4b71c9? These folders are created when updates are installed, but are not always cleared afterwards as they should be. Sometimes they cannot be deleted easily, giving an access denied or similar error. Here is the procedure I use to remove these unwanted folders.

1. Right click on the folder and click on Properties from the menu that appears.



2. Click on the Security tab at the top of the new window that appears, then click on Advanced.



3. In the new window, click the Owner tab at the top.



4. Click on the Edit button.



5. In the listing under the words Change owner to, click on yourcomputername\yourusername underneath Administrators, then tick the box marked Replace owner on subcontainers and objects and click on OK.



6. Click OK on the warning message that appears and continue to click OK until all the extra windows are closed and the folder with the random name is visible again.



7. Right click on the folder for a second time and click on Properties from the menu that appears.



8. Click on the Security tab at the top of the new window that appears, then click on Edit.



9. Click on the Add button in the new Permissions window that appears.



10. Click inside the Enter the object names to select text box, type in the word Everyone and then click on OK.



11. Within the Permissions window that should now be back on the screen, click on Everyone and tick the Allow box for the Full control category below, then click on OK. Continue to click OK until all the extra windows are closed and the folder with the random name is visible again.



12. Click once on the folder with the random name to highlight it. Using the keyboard, hold down the shift key, tap the delete key and then click on Yes in the warning message that appears. The folder should now be gone.






Wednesday 3 July 2013

HOW TO FIX: Outlook not remembering passwords (Windows XP)

HOW TO FIX: Outlook not remembering passwords (Windows XP)

An error in the registry at the following location can prevent Microsoft Outlook from remembering passwords for E-Mail accounts:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

It can be fixed by resetting the entries back to the defaults. The easiest way to do this is the download the file below (usershellfolders.reg) and double click on it. Click on Yes to allow the changes to be imported, then try setting the password in Outlook again.

usershellfolders.reg

Tuesday 2 July 2013

Resolving general printing problems

Operating systems: Windows Vista, 7

I have found this simple process can resolve many printing problems.

1. Turn the printer off.
2. Click the 'Start' button in the bottom left corner of the screen. In the space at the bottom of the window, type in 'Command'.
3. From the list above, right click on 'Command Prompt' then left click on 'Run as Administrator' from the menu appears. Click on 'Yes' or 'Continue' if a warning message appears.
4. Within the black window that appears, type in the following commands, pressing the enter key after each one:
    (a) net stop spooler
    (b) del %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\* /Q
    (c) net start spooler
5. Close all the windows on the screen and then turn the computer off by clicking 'Start', then clicking 'Turn Off'. Wait for the screen to go completely blank.
6. Ensure that paper is correctly loaded in the printer.
7. Ensure that the cable is firmly connected between the computer and printer.
8. Turn on the printer and ensure that no error indicators are displayed. An error (such as empty ink cartridges) usually prevents any printing at all and needs to be addressed before going onto the next step.
9. Turn on the computer and wait for it to become fully operational. Try printing again.

Saturday 8 June 2013

How to Fix Windows XP Reboot Loop

A common starting problem with Windows XP can be caused by file system errors. The symptoms are usually that the computer starts to load Windows, then the screen turns black (often very briefly blue first) and the whole process starts over again.

If you have a Windows XP CD available (any version, but it must be a 'proper' Windows CD rather than a recovery CD provided by a large computer manufacturer) then the problem can often be fixed by following these steps:


1. Insert the Windows XP CD in the CD drive. Turn the computer off, wait ten seconds, then turn it on again.

2. Watch for a message stating 'Press any key to start from CD...' or similar. Press a key on the keyboard when this appears. If Windows tries to start as normal, the settings in your system BIOS will need to be changed to allow the system to be started from the CD.

3. A blue screen will appear, and information will flash at the bottom. Wait for a screen which invites you to setup or repair an installation.

4. Press the 'r' key to start the 'Recovery Console'.

5. A black command line screen should appear. You may be asked to choose the installation to work on. This is normally '1' (C:\WINDOWS). Press the relevant number and press enter.

6. You may be asked to enter an administrator password. This could be the password you use to log onto Windows. If no password is set, press enter.

7. Enter the command CHKDSK C: /P /R. This will set Check Disk to run through the drive and 'repair' any faults that it finds. It may take several hours for the process to process. (Note: The 'F' switch does not work from the recovery console.)

8. Type 'EXIT' and press enter to restart the computer and check to see if the problem has been resolved.

Note: If the process stops progressing for more than four hours, there may be severe damage to the hard drive. Turn the computer off by pressing and holding the power button for ten seconds and consult a technician.


Wednesday 3 April 2013

Advice on New Laptop


What to look for when buying a new laptop


For a general purpose laptop (e.g. Internet, E-Mail, photos etc), I would suggest the following specifications:

- Intel Core i3 or i5 processor
- 4GB RAM or more
- 500GB Hard Drive or more

A laptop with this specification costs around £400 and can cope with any general purpose application. There are some other things that you may wish to consider:

- Brand of laptop: I don't think this is as important as the specifications, but I would advise sticking to computer names with a strong reputation such as Dell, HP, Toshiba, Samsung, Lenova and Asus. There are countless people who will tell good and bad about all of these brands, but I find on the whole they are all very well made.

- Where to buy: Laptops can be easily purchased online from Dell (www.dell.co.uk) or from a store such as PC World. Any computer specialist should be able to provide a laptop with the above specification. John Lewis is gaining a good reputation for selling laptops as they provide a two year warranty as standard.

- Software: Remember that most computers only come with Windows and no other software. If the laptop will be used for writing documents an office package will be needed. The best package is Microsoft Office and the most economical way for most people to get it is to buy the 'Home & Student' edition which costs about £100. This includes Microsoft Word, Excel (spreadsheets) and PowerPoint (presentations). There is a free alternative called 'LibreOffice' (an updated version of OpenOffice) which may be suitable if documents are not the focus of the laptop's use and compatibility with other systems is not important. This can be downloaded from the LibreOffice website.

- Windows 8: Almost all laptops sold today come with Windows 8, which is still quite a new system. Not all existing hardware and software is compatible with it, so if you intend to use the laptop with any existing devices (e.g. a printer) they need to be checked for compatibility. This can be done at the Windows Compatibility Centre:

- Screen: A standard laptop screen size is about 15". Bigger screens are available (such as 17") but they add to the cost and make the laptop less portable. Some laptops have matt screens whilst others are glossy. Most people find the matt sort better as they don't reflect whatever is behind the laptop. This is something not normally shown in specification listings so you would have to go to a store to check. Any modern laptop should come with a reasonable screen whatever the type but its not a bad idea to see it working prior to purchase.

- Keyboard and touch pad: Some people prefer the feel of some keyboards more than others, so its a good idea to try out the keyboard before buying. The touch pad is a mouse-type device built into the laptop below the keyboard. Some people get on well with them whilst others prefer a real mouse. An external mouse can be plugged in if the operator finds the touch pad difficult to use.

Monday 18 March 2013

HOW TO FIX: A program on your computer has corrupted your default search provider setting for Internet Explorer (Windows XP)

HOW TO FIX: A program on your computer has corrupted your default search provider setting for Internet Explorer (Windows XP)



This error can occur when starting Internet Explorer because of corrupt entries in the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

It can be fixed by resetting the entries back to the defaults. The easiest way to do this is the download the file below (usershellfolders.reg) and double click on it. Click on Yes to allow the changes to be imported, then try starting Internet Explorer again.

usershellfolders.reg

Wednesday 27 February 2013

Unable to open this Internet Shortcut error

Unable to open this Internet Shortcut




This error often occurs because of remnants left over from an installation of Google Chrome. Follow these steps to resolve it.

Before attempting this procedure, try setting Internet Explorer back to the default web browser using the 'Default Programs' options in Control Panel.

1. Click on the Start circle in the bottom left corner of the screen. Click inside the white space at the bottom of the menu that appears and type regedit. If a warning message appears, click on 'Continue' or 'Yes' to proceed.



2. A new window will appear with a folder-like structure on the left. Click the arrow next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER, then the arrow next to Software, then the arrow next to 'Classes'.



3. Scroll down and  click on the item marked .html, then double click on (Default) in the right of the window.



4. A new panel will appear. Delete the text in the Value Data box, replace it with htmlfile and then click on OK.



5. Click the cross in the top right corner of the screen to return to the desktop. Shut the computer down and turn it back on again to complete the process.



Sunday 10 February 2013

HOW TO CHECK AND REPAIR AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE (WINDOWS XP)

HOW TO CHECK AND REPAIR AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE (WINDOWS XP)

1. Click on the Start button in the bottom left corner of the screen. From the menu that appears, click on Run.



2. In the small window that appears, type in cmd and click on OK.



3. A black window with white writing will appear. Type in chkdsk x: /r (where x is the letter of the drive to be checked) and press enter on the keyboard. Messages similar to the ones in the screenshot below should appear. The check should complete five stages.

Note: This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the capacity of the hard drive being tested.


4. At the end of the process, a summary of the check will appear. It should state if any problems were found and fixed.

Note: Look carefully at the number of KB in bad sectors. Bad sectors are areas of the drive which have become unusable. Development of bad sectors can be a sign that the drive is failing. If there is more than 8KB in bad sectors, I would advise replacing the drive if it is used for important data. If this is not an option, run the check periodically to make sure the problem isn't getting worse. It is very important to have a backup of any data on the drive, as it could fail spontaneously.

5. Click the cross in the top right corner of the screen to return to the desktop.