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Common Causes of System Crashes and How To Prevent Them

System crashes are annoying and time consuming. Every time your computer crashes you have to restart the computer and wait patiently to start using the applications and software programs. If you are experiencing a number of system crashes it is important to try to find the source of the problem to prevent it from happening again.

Here is a list of some of the most common reasons system crashes occur.

Viruses and Spyware. The number one reason for system crashes is because your system contains a virus or spyware. One of the reasons viruses were invented was to try to crash out systems. If you experience a system crash you should immediately run a virus scan as well as a malware scan. This could prevent the problem from happening.

Defragmenting. When you save a large number of files on your computer it takes up hard drive space. When you delete them those spaces stay there. This causes some software programs to be installed in a number of different spots on your hard drive. When you go to use that program it has to find the files and if they are in different spots it could cause the system to crash. Try to defragment the computer so that all files are put together. This could prevent system crashes from happening.

Overheating. Another common cause of system crashes is because the cooling system on the computer is not working. When a computer gets overheated it will shut off and try to heal itself by letting it cool down. Make sure all your cooling fans are working properly. If not fix them as this may fix the problem of system crashes.

Filed Under: Computers, Technology Tagged With: , ,

Computer Problems: Hard Drive Crashes

Computers are pieces of equipment that after using them for a number of years they start to become worn and overworked. When this happens it can lead to a number of problems for the computer user. The most common type of computer problem that happens as a result of age is the dreaded hard drive crash. If you have experienced a hard drive crash or believe that your computer is about to experience one it is important to make sure that you prepare for the worst. Here is what you can do to repair your computer after a hard drive crash.

Run a Virus Scan. If you notice that there are symptoms of a hard drive crash coming such as loud noises, clicking sounds or blue screens it is important to try to prevent it. Since the most common cause of hard drive crashes is a computer virus try to run a scan for a computer virus. Once the virus is removed it could prevent any data from being lost and could prevent the hard drive from crashing.

Restart the Computer. Some hard drive crashers are only tiny problems. These problems are easily solved by shutting off the computer and turning it back on after a few minutes. This will prevent the loss of data and could stop a hard drive crash.

Reinstall. Should you experience a complete system crash you will need to repair the hard drive. Once this has been done you can rebuild your computer from scratch. You will use a system restore disc and reinstall all the elements of the computer as if it were brand new.

Filed Under: Computers, General Tagged With: , ,

Computer Problems: Randomly Rebooting

Computers for the most part will usually run with very minimal problems. As long as a computer users maintains their computer through regular computer maintenance such as running virus and spyware scans, dumping caches and defragmenting regularly the computer should work smoothly. However, there are sometimes when the computer will act up. One of the most common problems computers might have is that their computer will randomly reboot itself in the middle of doing something.

If this is happening to you here are some reasons why this may be happening to your computer.

Motherboard Issues. The most common source of random rebooting is that there are massive issues with the motherboard or center of the computer. This is usually because a capacitor has failed on the motherboard. The solution to this is usually to seek another new power source.

Power Surges. When the power goes out it turns off the computer automatically. However, the power can quickly surge back. When the surge happens this can often overload the computer and cause it to burn out quickly. To prevent this from happening you need to make sure you have a power strip that is grounded and surge protected. Once a computer shorts like this there is very little that can be done.

Fatal Errors. When a computer receives a fatal error it will often reboot itself. The computer while it is rebooting is trying to fix the problem that is causing the error. Unless the computer problem is fixed on reboot the computer will continue to reboot itself until you unplug it or fix the problem.

Filed Under: Computers, General Tagged With: , Motherboard, reboot

Computer Problems: Errors Upon Starting the Computer

Have you ever experienced a problem with hundreds of computer errors coming up on your computer screen the minute that you try to start your computer? While you might have tried a system restore and dumping the cache you probably still experience these problems. That is because errors when the computer starts could be a result of spyware and viruses.


If you are experiencing these errors upon start up it is nothing to worry about. The solution is fairly simple and just takes a little time and patience. Here is how to fix the problem of start up errors on computers or laptops.

The first step is to download a reliable and safe anti-virus program. There are several free ones on the Internet as well as the name brand ones like Norton or AVG. All of these programs will work and can be installed in a matter of minutes on your computer.

After the anti-virus program has been downloaded it is important to make sure that you run a complete scan on your system. Depending upon how large your computer’s memory is this could take anywhere from a few minutes to hours. However, a complete scan is essential to finding and removing all the viruses.

Once the scanning process has finished it will show you a list of problems that might be on your computer. There will be an option to repair these problems if the computer has not already done so. Do this immediately and restart the computer.

After the viruses have been removed it might be a good idea to run a reliable spyware program as some of these are often overlooked by virus programs. These can include Spybot S&D or Malwarebytes. These similar to the anti-virus programs.

Filed Under: Computers, Internet Tagged With: , Malwarebytes,

Laptop Power Problems

Laptops are like any computer and can have a wide range of problems. Some of the problems that can be fixed are simple problems that can be fixed in a matter of minutes, other problems are more complex and require a wide range of technological knowledge in order to fix them. One of the most common types of problems that laptop users might have is that of having to deal with random power problems. If you are experiencing that here is a walkthrough of some things you can do to try to fix the problem.

Not Turning On/Randomly Shutting Off. Computers that do not turn on properly or randomly shut off in the middle of you using them are usually experiencing a problem with the power supply. To fix this problem you should make sure that your laptop battery is properly charged if you are running off of that. You can also check the power supply cord that leads to the laptop. Make sure that it stays in the computer properly and that it isn’t loose. Also check for breaks in the wire that leads from the power supply to the laptop.

Turning on But Turns Off After Some Time. If your computer turns on but will randomly shut off while you are using it this could be a sign that it is overheating. Computers that believe that they are overheating will turn themselves off in hopes of cooling themselves down. If this happens turn the computer off and check the cooling fans to make sure that they are working. If the cooling fans work and the problem keeps happening you may need to take the computer to a tech specialist as the problem could be more involved then overheating.

Filed Under: Computers, General Tagged With: Laptop, ,

Computer Tips: Learning to Type at the Speed of Light

A good computer user knows how to type at a very quick speed. However, most computer users do not start out typing at the speed of light. It takes a little practice, patience and some help to develop typing skills that are this quick. If you are trying to develop your typing speed so that you can type faster here are some ways that you can do it.

Typing Tutorials. There are dozens of typing tutorials out there. These software programs can help computer users learn the basics of typing. These programs start out easy such as learning where basic keys are on the computer. They will then work up to words, phrases and then working on not looking at the keys. If you are serious about learning to type at a faster speed these tutorials are a great way to help you learn what you need to learn.

Practice. Many computer users did not use any type of program or software device to help them learn how to type faster. Instead, these computer users were able to learn through practice and patience. They slowly built up their speed over time and quickly started to learn how to type as fast as they do.

Type Everything. A good way to practice at home is to try to type everything out. You can type out letters, write out lists of chores and other items. This will allow you to test and develop your typing speed without having to invest in the software programs that can costs hundreds of dollars.

Learning to type isn’t a difficult task. However, it does take time, energy and patience. With the right amount of each you will be able to break old habits and start typing at the speed of light.

Filed Under: Computers, Technology Tagged With: Speed of light, User (computing),

Computer Tricks: How to Find Out CPU Type and Speed

For some computer users the make and model of their central processing unit is common knowledge. In fact, some people know this information better than their name and address. However, for other computer users this information is a foreign concept to them. They have no idea what processor or CPU type they have or what the speed is.

While this type of information isn’t something that people will need to know for daily purposes it is important. Specific computer programs and applications require a minimum computer processing unit and processor speed. Without knowing what processor or CPU your computer has you could purchase a wide number of computer programs that won’t work on your computer system. Luckily, there is a quick and easy way to check what type of CPU your computer has. Here is how to do it.

For Windows Users

Step 1. Start by clicking the start button that is located in the bottom left corner of your screen.

Step 2. A menu will pop-up on your computer screen. There will be an option titled computer. You will need to right-click on the option computer.

Step 3. A dialog box will pop-up next. Inside the dialog box there will be various options. Choose the option properties. A box will pop-up that gives you all the information that you need for your CPU. This information will give you processor type, make, model and the speed that you have.

For Linux Users

For Linux users you will simply type in the command prompt “less/proc/cpuinfo” this will give you the information that you want.

For MAC users.

Mac users will need to click on the Start button. From the start they will select Run. In the run prompt box type “msinfo32″. Select OK. You will be given some options choose the system summary and you will have all the information that you are looking for.

Filed Under: Computers, Technology Tagged With: , Clock rate, Computer program, Dialog box, Microsoft Windows

Assessing Your Computer’s CPU Temperature

The CPU or the central processing unit of the computer is an essential component to the computer system. It is the main part of the computer that does all the thinking and main functions for the computer. Should the central processing unit part of the computer go down the whole computer would be completely useless as it would not operate properly. This is why it is important to make sure that your CPU is running properly. One of the biggest concerns with CPUs is that it could eventually start to run to hot.

CPUs through their daily use throughout the day will start to heat up. However, most computers have some type of cooling mechanism that will cool the CPU down and allow it to continue to run properly. Unfortunately, not all computers have a working cooling unit and this can cause the CPU to run extremely hot. In these cases it is important to know how to measure your CPU temperature.

Measuring the computer’s CPU temperature is fairly easy with the right types of software installed. Computer software programs like Speedfan and Realtemp can be run on computer systems in order to assess the temperature of the computer system. Both of these programs offer computer users a chance to assess what the CPU temperature is and how well their cooling fans are working. Some programs like Speedfan will actually show computer users what the fan speed is and whether or not the fans are working properly.

Once a computer user has this information on hand they are able to figure out their next step. For many computer users this could be as easy as just cleaning the computer fans so that they work properly. However, for some computer users this requires them to purchase new fans or cooling systems. Either way they avoid potential disaster by preparing ahead of time.

Filed Under: Computers, Internet Tagged With: ,

Computer Tricks: Creating A Graph in Excel

Many people who use the program Microsoft Excel wish to be able to add a graph into the excel sheet. Graphs are a great way to represent the data that is present in the sheet in a visual way. However, unless you know the exact steps to take to create a graph in Microsoft Excel it can be very confusing for computer users.

Here is a walkthrough of how to create a graph in Microsoft Excel should you be using Microsoft Excel 2007.

Step 1. The first step is to create labels for all the data that you want to appear in the graph. You will play the labels in Row 1. This means the first label should be located in cell A1, second label in cell B1 and so forth.

Step 2. You will now have to input all the data that you want to have the graph, graph out. You will put the data under the labels. This means everything for A1 would be in A2 and stuff for B1 would be in B2 and so forth.

Step 3. You must now highlight all the information that you wish to graph. Highlighting is done by clicking and dragging the mouse across the data you want graphed.

Step 4. Click on the second tab located on the top of the screen. This is titled Insert.

Step 5. Under Insert there will be a list of options. Choose the option titled Charts. This will cause several options to appear on the screen.

Step 6 . You will now be required to choose the type of chart or graph you wish to have in your excel sheet. Once you have made your choice click on the graph you want.

Step 7. The graph will automatically be made by Excel and placed into your Excel sheet. You will be able to change any text in the graph as well as the title of the graph if you wanted to. This can be done by simply clicking on the text and changing it by hand.

Filed Under: Computers, Technology Tagged With: Excel, Microsoft Excel, Second wine, Spreadsheet, USMLE Step 1

Computer Tips: Upgrading the RAM on Your Computer

Computers, the Internet and the software that runs on computers are always advancing. This means that the computer that you purchased a year or two ago might be outdated in terms of how much RAM is available. Computers users are recommended to install more RAM in order to keep up with the ever changing world of the Internet and various computer programs that require a high amount of RAM. A high amount of RAM is required to run several different applications and website at one time.

Upgrading to more RAM does not have to be something that only a professional can do. You can easily upgrade the RAM on your computer. Here is how it is done.

Step 1. Purchase the RAM from a local computer supply store. It is important to make sure that you purchase a RAM that is similar in configuration and size as the one that your original computer had.

Step 2. Shut down the computer completely. However, do not remove it from the power supply. When this is complete remove the computer cover so that you have access to the inside of the computer.

Step 3. You will want to ground your computer so that nothing happens to it or you have any electrical problems. Grounding can be done through grounding equipment like antistatic wristband.

Step 4. There might be cards or items in the way inside your computer. Remove anything that might be in the way of you installing the RAM.

Step 5. Read all instructions that came with the new RAM. Most will include a step by step guide that you can follow. It is important to figure out if you will need to install a SIMM, single in-line memory module or a DIMM, dual in-line memory module.

Step 6. Place the RAM into the computer. It is important to make sure that you do not interfere with the pins or slots that come with the RAM. Depending upon the type of RAM that you have it will go parallel or perpendicular. You will feel the RAM lock into place and you have completed the project.

Filed Under: Computers, General Tagged With: Components, DIMM, , , Random-access memory
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