Computer Troubleshooting

If you receive a message on your computer "NTLDR is Missing," your computer is telling you that it is missing a vital file or files that Microsoft Windows needs to start your computer.

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...

System restore disks are often included with retail packaged computers and can be created at any time with the software included with your computer. Restore disks are used to restore a computer to...

Microsoft's lineup of Windows operating systems continues to be the most popular computer operating systems. However, not all users are satisfied with Windows as many annoyances and Microsoft...

A boot virus is a virus that infects hard drives. Because of the nature of boot viruses, they are more dangerous than normal spyware, as they can ruin important files needed to run programs on...

Although Windows 2000 was constructed as an operating system for use on business computers, it has found an audience with home users who appreciate its no-frills approach to the Windows desktop...

When booting up a computer running Microsoft Windows, the operating system will automatically load necessary programs for the computer to run. However, many unnecessary programs can also be loaded...

There may come a time when you want or need to restore your HP Laptop to the original Windows Vista factory installation. Doing a system restore is a common recommendation made by H.P. tech...

When a PC has multiple operating systems installed, a list of the available operating systems will appear on boot-up. These options are added automatically by most operating systems during...

If your computer has become unresponsive or is infected with a serious virus, you may find your only option is to reinstall the operating system. You can create your own operating system boot disk...

Boot files on a Windows XP-based computer can be replaced by using the Recovery Console. Using the Recovery Console, you can create a fresh set of boot files that will help Windows XP startup...

If your laptop is running slowly or not working properly, you can restore your laptop to the original factory settings. Every time you install something on your computer, even if you uninstall it,...

If there is a problem with your hard drive or with the boot sector on it, Windows may fail to load, displaying a blue screen with the message "Unmountable Boot Volume." Typically, when this...

If you are planning modifying the Master Boot Record (MBR) on your computer, then you should know how to repair the MBR incase something goes wrong. This article will give you a couple techniques...

When your computer is powered up or restarted, it begins booting special firmware called BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) that initiates all your computer's hardware (such as memory, video cards...

The Vista system recovery is used to repair the operating system after it becomes damaged from an abrupt shutdown or anything else that interferes with it. This can happen due to power...

If your Windows 2000 computer does not boot up, it is most likely due to a corrupted registry file. Unfortunately, you usually need to gain access to the CD-ROM drive in order to reinstall...

Long-time computer users probably remember boot discs. These floppies could boot a working version of DOS straight from the disc itself---infinitely useful when a computer wouldn't boot. Today,...

Windows XP relies on a lot of files for successful operation, so when even one of these files becomes corrupted or damaged in any way, the operating system stops working altogether. If you've...

Spyware has many clever ways of getting onto your computer, including some that are not easily detected. One of these ways is by use of the Internet Explorer Hosts file. This file is typically...

Your HP desktop computer goes through a routine called the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) each time you power the system on. The BIOS boots up your HP computer and checks each of the attached...

Phoenix BIOS is a small application that runs when you boot up your computer. It holds crucial information about your computer hardware such as the location of the boot device, port settings and...

The Windows Advanced Options screen is a boot menu on Windows computers . It is an important function that allows you to log into your operating system in many different ways, depending on whether...

Disk boot failure can result from a variety of situations. For example, system instability may occur after a new application or device driver has been installed or updated. Additionally, if an...

A boot disk, often a floppy diskette, helps you start up your computer in case the operating system cannot be booted from your hard drive because of corrupted system files or a physical hard-drive...

A computer's Basic Input-Output System, or BIOS, is a small application that runs when the user boots the machine. Enter the computer's BIOS setup to adjust settings for RAM, video cards, hard...

Being unable to boot a computer can be one of the most frustrating experiences for a computer owner who wonders how she can troubleshoot a problem if she can't access the operating system. There...

Jef Raskin, who helped develop Apple's Macintosh operating system, once said, "Imagine if every Thursday your shoes exploded if you tied them in the usual way. This happens all the time with...

Most computers require a re-installation of the operating system (OS) from time to time, as it results in a smoother running PC that is not bogged down with all the things that can accumulate with...

The easiest way to make a windows xp repair disk to help you get back online. A boot disk can be very helpful especially on windows xp.

When your Dell computer fails to boot into Windows, don't fret. Many of the causes of start-up problems are easily remedied with patience and proper troubleshooting. Simply approach the problem...

Computer memory or Random Access Memory (RAM) is a data storage interface between the processor (CPU) and all running applications including operating system (OS). RAM is among the most important...

When a computer stops working, it's a frustrating event for the owner. Some problems show signs before the computer quits working, but other users experience sudden issues rendering the computer...

The main component of a computer that is bound to fail is the hard drive. The hard drive is made of platters and a reader head, and these parts will fail eventually. Knowing typical hard-drive...

The semiconductor chip that stores the BIOS on the system board is referred to as CMOS. The CMOS battery supplies power to keep the BIOS settings while your PC is switched off. When the CMOS...

A computer that boots up slowly is not only frustrating, but is also a time waster. There are a number of reasons for a computer booting up slowly---from too many programs loading to your...

We all have computer problems from time to time. Bart PE can be one of the best tools in computer repair. This boot disk is used by many to get your important files off of a crashed, or...

At some point, you may have a computer shut down problem. Check your service pack downloads for the latest updates before beginning to troubleshoot this error. Visit...

If you find yourself stuck with a flashing cursor and no Windows start up disk, you are not alone. Many retail outlets don't provide disks and instead leave it up to customers to create boot...

Most operating system installations, and PC troubleshooting using special utilities, require rebooting the PC and running from a boot CD or DVD outside of the installed operating system. If you...

After a hard drive is formatted or if you have a new hard drive and need to create a partition map, the DOS command "fdisk" is used to create it. Partition maps tell the computer how to boot, and...

There are quite a few occasions when a clean boot is necessary. Perhaps a corrupted program is bringing your PC to a halt. Maybe the computer has recently fell in love with a horribly abusive...

A boot drive allows you to boot your computer from a floppy diskette. The boot drive is indispensable for troubleshooting when Windows operating system cannot boot from the hard drive due to...

Having problems with your laptop is frustrating and scary at the same time. It is a scary situation where you feel that you might need to spend a lot of money just to get your laptop repaired or...

Anyone using a computer for any length of time has experienced the pain of an operating system that doesn't boot up. There are a bunch of reasons why your computer system will not start up and...

When purchasing a first computer, many people become overwhelmed by the acronyms and "geek speak" in the information technology industry. With so many options and components on a computer, it's...

Updating BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is moderately easy, once you understand how the program allows your computer to operate. Before the operating system loads, the BIOS detects and...

Sometimes, several copies of Windows might be installed on a computer. You can delete these to clear up some space on your hard drive and can remove them from the boot menu.

Most computer systems are not currently designed to boot from a flash drive such as a USB memory stick, but instead are set up to boot from a floppy disk. If you don't have a floppy disk drive on...

The Microsoft Windows stop error screen, known to computer users as "The Blue Screen of Death," is displayed when a serious problem occurs and Windows cannot load properly. Identifying the error...