PC Support

If you have a windows based computer, you might have come across the "bad pool caller" error, and you're probably looking for a fix. If you have this, let me show you step by step on...

While using your Gateway computer, you may eventually hit a point where you've gone too far, or perhaps a virus has corrupted and destroyed very important Windows Vista files. In this case, your...

An antivirus is a program designed to rid or prevent computer viruses. Adware and spyware are different types of computer viruses. Using an antivirus program and spyware blocker can help prevent...

Reinstalling XP will cause you to lose important data. If you want to delete all of the contents of your hard drive, you can do so without reinstalling XP. Reinstalling XP may be the better...

Microsoft Windows Vista operating system uses a system called a page file, or virtual memory. Virtual memory is used when the physically installed memory is filled. The operating system then uses...

The Adobe Media Player is a free player that allows you to search for and watch videos online. It allows you to search through a variety of channels, episodes and genres to find the videos you...

Created by Adobe, the FLV format, used for interactive online videos known as Flash videos, is inconvenient if you wish to view such videos offline. Microsoft's WMA file format, on the other hand,...

ActiveX controls are small applications that were created by Microsoft to work with Internet Explorer. They allow content to be processed by the browser. If ActiveX controls can't be installed,...

Microsoft Windows has a registry, which is used to create settings. These settings are loaded when you start Windows or load a software application. The Windows registry can be edited using a...

There is nothing more frustrating than trying to remove software that is, seemingly, indelible. More than likely, when you cannot delete a program via your computer's program removal program, a...

Microsoft Windows XP Professional is an operating system that creates profiles for each user who uses the machine. When you create a profile, there are files that save to the hard drive. The files...

Spybot Worm Free is a software designed to prevent the spread of the Spybot Worm virus, and it also serves as anti-spam software. However, sometimes this useful anti-virus, anti-spam program may...

Converting a Microsoft Word document as a .csv (comma delimited) file format is best done by importing the data. By using Microsoft Excel to convert the .doc file, being able to open and read it...

As you use the Internet on a Mac, you may want to keep tabs on your current Internet speed. This will allow you to identify if there are any problems with your connection. Further, it will allow...

It is possible to opt out of being a participating player in the data conversion guessing game. When you convert a WordPad document into another file format, import the file as opposed to saving...

Demand for computer virus removal has spawned a major industry. Chances are that you know someone whose PC contracted a devastating virus. Some viruses lie dormant for a period of time before...

Backing up a computer means making a duplicate of the folders, files (photos, music, documents, videos) and programs that you wish to keep safe from loss or corruption. There are many ways to back...

Convenience is one benefit of being able to work with offline files in Windows XP professional without an Internet connection. When you work offline, you forgo worrying about the network going...

While in Windows Media Player, if you attempt to cancel a media transfer or close the audio/video software during the transfer process, the Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) class driver may cause it...

If you find your Windows XP- or Vista-based computer behaving strangely, it may do so because of the Conficker virus. Conficker is a virus that spreads through networks and can be updated...

Every now and then, you may need to adjust the contrast for the monitor of your Dell Latitude laptop. By adjusting the contrast, you can make your monitor screen brighter or darker. Your Dell...

Formatting a hard drive wipes out all the information on the drive. The advantage of formatting a hard drive is that the user can start fresh with a new operating system. Some users choose to...

Windows computers create temporary files that make using certain programs more efficient. For example, when you use a word processing program, temporary files are created that enable you to go...

It is always good to know at least one fast way to effectively block keystrokes in Windows XP. For example, if you need to walk away from your desk for a moment, it is best practice to secure it...

MP3, or MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3, is a common audio file type. Most MP3 files come with settings that have been inputted by the file's creator; however, the settings can be changed. Artist, album...

Starting Windows in safe mode is a way to troubleshoot computer problems. Installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) does not change the way to enter safe mode. There are at least two methods...

Random Access Memory (RAM) is a crucial component for storing open programs on your computer. Somewhat like a hard drive, only much faster and with much less memory space, RAM basically holds any...

In Windows XP and other Microsoft Windows operating systems, the default software installation directory is "C:\Program Files." This directory is used by software programs for the placement of...

There are times when you might decide that you would like to take a photo of a page displayed on your computer screen, such as during an online financial transaction you want to keep track of....

Whether you make a living as a computer support technician or just help your friends and family members when they get into trouble, helping other people solve their computer problems can be very...

According to Microsoft.com, sleep mode is an energy saving feature that saves all open documents and programs and turns off certain portions of the computer in order to conserve power. Sleep mode...

Compact discs often go bad or get lost. When you have an expensive computer program on that disk and you come to a point when you need to reinstall that software, you can be left empty handed....

Virus and spyware infections are one of the most costly problems with personal computers today. The Internet is a wealth of information and opportunity, but there are safety concerns with Web...

There are a handful of different modes under which you can start up your computer. By accessing the Startup Options menu before Windows boots up, you can enable Safe Mode or other security modes,...

Microsoft Windows Vista gives you the ability to customize your themes, colors and icons. In some cases, it is difficult to change your icons back to the default settings after using a custom...

Microsoft Windows XP Professional includes a backup utility that gives you the ability to quickly create a backup of important files and folders that you cannot easily replace in the event of data...

Purchasing a new computer with the latest and greatest in processors and hard drive storage is an exciting thing to do. Facing the reality of reinstalling the software that has accumulated during...

There are several reasons you might be experiencing difficulty with the Windows XP taskbar. Perhaps you made one wrong click and all the icons on the taskbar got rearranged. Maybe you shifted the...

Audio cards, like all computer devices, require a specific driver---a program that allows the operating system to communicate with the connected hardware. Occasionally, hardware malfunctions may...

While Windows PCs are still by far the most popular types of computers on the market, this unfortunately makes them the biggest target for hackers and the viruses, malware, worms and Trojans that...

Data flow diagrams can seem daunting to a non-technical end user. Fortunately, it's easy to explain the essential ideas of an abstract system like a data flow diagram using analogies to other...

Screensavers are computer programs that protect your computer screen from damage. They prevent phosphor burn-in, which damages both CRT and LCD monitors. Once you activate a screensaver, it...

SATA hard drives are quickly becoming the standard for hard drives in PCs. The SATA connections allows for faster, more reliable input and output from your hard drive to your RAM and processing...

Some viruses, as well as worms, have the capacity to hijack the user's e-mail client and obsessively send out copies of themselves to everyone on the contact list. Other malware, like bots, adware...

It is highly recommended by Microsoft and many computer experts that reinstallation disks are created for all Windows Vista computers. These disks will allow you to reinstall your operating system...

Laptops continue to evolve and become more compact. It's possible to improve the graphics on a smaller computer to get the best visual clarity possible within its screen size limitations. It is...

If your PC runs an older Windows operating system like Windows 95 or 98, MS-DOS is an integral part of the computer. If you create an MS-DOS bootable floppy disk, you can use it to repair the boot...

A .dll, or "Dynamic Link Library," file is a file containing a number of mini programs for use by computer applications. These files are often very important for the operation of programs, as they...

The notification area in Windows Vista is the list of icons located on the right side of the taskbar next to the clock. These icons show the status of various important programs and messages about...

Malware, spyware and adware are dangerous files that secretly install on your computer and cause severe system damage. They consist of files such as Trojans, dangerous toolbars and tracking...