PC Support

The Windows Scheduler is a program that starts when you boot your machine. It is used to schedule functions like defragging a hard drive or running a backup application. The Scheduler can be used...

People are told constantly to brush their teeth and floss, but some still lose their teeth to bad dental hygiene. Computers and the data stored on them are in the same predicament. Computer users...

A .bat file is a type of file that contains basic, DOS syntax. These files can load programs, change settings or even partition a hard drive. A bat file is created in a simple text editor like...

If you want to start over or get rid of a bunch of programs, sometimes it's just easier to format the hard drive. If your laptop doesn't have a CD-ROM drive, you can still format the laptop with...

Converting an MP4 to MP3 can be done by using any number of free conversion programs (e,g,. Any Video Converter). MP4, or Moving Picture Expert Group-4, is a video format. It is used frequently by...

When your PC stops making sound, there's an underlying problem that needs to be fixed. Fortunately, most sound problems are relatively simple to fix, and the sound can be on again with a few...

Microsoft released Windows Vista to computer manufacturers in late 2006; the company released it to consumers in early 2007. Although Vista is not without glitches, errors and other problems, it...

Performing a memory upgrade on an HP Pavilion PC--as well as any other PC--can have a positive overall impact on overall video, software and hardware performance. Sluggish response in a computer...

Restoring an HP laptop or desktop computer from a backup image is very simple with the HP Total Care Advisor utility provided on all HP machines. The HP Total Care Advisor software uses the...

A computer virus is a malicious program that installs itself onto your computer without your permission. Unlike a computer virus, a worm does not need to infect a program on your computer for it...

Changing the start-up sound in Windows is quite simple---if you're using an older version of Windows, that is. For those using Windows XP or earlier, you will need to access your control panel and...

A USB device is a quickly installable accessory to a desktop or laptop machine. USB is a standard connection that interfaces the hardware devices with the operating system. A USB port has become a...

MP4 is short for "Moving Picture Expert Group-4." It is a video format most common in cell phones and portable media players. MP3 is short for "MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3." MP3 is the most common audio...

Bar codes are a technology that stamps information on packages, which helps retail stores easily scan and enter the information to a computer system. Retail stores use bar codes to read the...

The easiest way to get rid of viruses is to use an antivirus program. There are plenty of free and efficient ones available (e.g., ComboFix). However, if you don't want to download a program, you...

Dell computers ship with a separate partition on the hard drive used to diagnose computer issues. The diagnostic tool is not available when you boot into Windows, so you must boot into the...

A computer keyboard is an input device for a computer system. It has an array of keys in rows used to enter information. The QWERTY keyboard is the standard layout.

Windows Photo Gallery offers you multiple printing options, including the ability to print wallet-sized photos. Wallet-sized photos are 2 by 3 inches--the perfect size to keep in your billfold or...

Hibernate Mode on Windows allows you to conserve power without shutting down applications. The current state of the computer is saved to the hard disk and the computer shuts down. When you power...

The Refrog Keylogger is an application that records your keyboard keystrokes and saves the data into a file or sends them to a remote site. It can also monitor your computer activity, record chat...

PayPal is a useful service for transferring money between two parties. It's the standard payment method for eBay transactions and is supported by thousands of online retailers. When buying goods...

Norton Antivirus is a security program that protects your computer from dangerous programs such as viruses, Trojans and spyware. It monitors your computer in real time and alerts you of potential...

If you've ever used a software application in Windows XP or Vista that crashed, you probably noticed a pop-up window that instructs you to send an error report to Microsoft. But what does that mean?

Hard drives seem to get bigger every couple months, and with built-in RAID options in many computers, the possibility exists to create massive linked hard drive systems. With these options, you...

Flash drives are portable hard drives that allow you to store information ranging from documents to music and videos. They vary in memory size and connect directly to a USB port on your computer...

Microsoft Outlook is a software program that allows users to manage email and create schedules. Outlook can be a useful tool, but it can be an annoyance for those who do not use it often....

Many institutions have begun using Websense to block where you go on the Internet while using their computers. Websense blocks ranging from email to personal blogs, all the way to social...

Laptops operate by use of electricity. Batteries allow laptops the mobility that modern students and professionals alike need on a day-to-day basis. A lot of people have a hard time understanding...

A Trojan is a computer virus that is usually installed without the user's permission. Trojans are common and usually not very difficult to remove using the appropriate antivirus program.

Lexmark is a popular brand when it comes to printers, but as any other printer, it will eventually run out of ink. A lot of people tend to buy new cartridges when they run out of ink. The printer...

Is your work or play time on your computer increasingly interrupted by Java script run time error notices? Help is here. Java script errors appear in a popup or on a Web page. They typically...

On a Dell Inspiron laptop (as well as other laptops using Windows), passwords and other important data are stored in the Security Account Manager (SAM), which is a file readable only to the...

Using the power-save (or standby) mode instead of keeping your computer running constantly can save quite a bit of energy, and you will be able to resume your work session at any time. There are...

Converting file formats is an important task because some users often prefer one format over another. Also, some computers are not equipped to handle certain file formats. Real Media is a file...

When you have a problem with your computer that you cannot resolve, you have several ways of dealing with it. Hardware support is an official channel for troubleshooting issues with your...

Computer terminology is full of acronyms: RAM, CPU, ISO, CD-ROM, DVD and dozens of others. ISO is one that has several applications, but all are related to the organization the acronym stands for.

Email and faxing are two common methods for transferring information across long distances. Both methods have several benefits and drawbacks, and each has a place in modern business.

A home computer runs an operating system (Windows, Macintosh, etc.). The operating system knows about files. The hard disk does not know about files; it knows about sectors. Sectors are small...

If you don't want to deal with a professional installation of a wired security system or the layout of your home makes it hard or impossible to wire a security system, a wireless security system...

The "My Documents" folder is one of the earliest special folders that made its debut on Windows 95 and has been primarily used for storing all kinds of personal files. However, the name can be...

Today's PCs have gotten more complicated than ever before, and whether you are buying a new one or just trying to figure out the one at work, knowing what the parts are is important.

There are many ways to shrink your PC desktop wallpaper. Some methods require more knowledge than others. Often the image has been set to "stretch" in the Control Panel. In that case all you need...

Laser printers are economical and fast. When the time comes to replace the toner cartridge, though, you can experience a sharp pain in the wallet. Replacement cartridges can cost almost as much as...

Saving personal documents in a digital form is one of the best ways to protect yourself against losing losing precious information in accidents like fires or malfunctioning hardware. There are...

Whenever you type an address directly into your Internet Explorer's address bar, the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) will be saved in Internet Explorer's history. If you drop down this list later,...

A webinar is an online seminar or video presentation where users log on and watch someone else's screen. It can be a PowerPoint file or just watching someone navigate on their computer. Audio...

A virus is a program that will install itself on your computer without your knowledge. Computer viruses can slow down your system, and more serious varieties can transmit personal data across the...

Distribution lists are very important in keeping your email contacts organized into groups with meaningful names and descriptors. These lists can be used to organize contacts for sales...

Computers and their disks can fail. When they do, the loss of access to your data files can be absolutely devastating, especially if you do not have a recent backup readily available for you to...

Computer security is a constant challenge. With so many threats on the Internet, it doesn't take much for your computer to pick up a virus or spyware. To make matters worse, many malicious...