Archive

Archive for August, 2009

Some great options and Advice on Corrupt PST Files

August 11th, 2009

pst file repair software

Having a bad pst file is about the same as having your whole computer go down.  At least for me.always incluide the pst file in the backup software you use and back on a regular bases.

Your PST file stores all your Outlook data including contacts, attachments, e-mails.  If you don’t know how to make a backup of this then we urge you to look over at this Outlook PST backup page.  It has a link to the free Microsoft backup plug-in that will help ensure you never suffer if your pst file goes down.

For those that already have gotten an error you can view the above linked website for exact tips on trying to recover it.  Keep in mind that in the end if the free methods do not work then you will need to purchase some pst repair software to get the job done.  While the software can be a hard hit on the wallet it's nothing for the cost of all your e-mails back.
Of course the most important lesson to be learned here is to alwasy backup your data.  Not only on a regular basis but even after your file has gone bad.  The reason for this is you need to ensure you do not do more damage to the file.Making a backup is a must.  That way you can use multiple methods to try and get your data back without having to worry about doing more damage.

Outlook has a nice free tool called scanpst.exe that you can try first for free.  It is a very week tool but if your issue is just in the headers of the file it will resolve your issue.If the pst file get demaged more it is going to be that much harder to do a proper repair of it.It will only take you around twenty minutes or so to run the free tool so it's well worth a look and it's free so it should be your first option.

As far as I am aware this is the only free repair tool on the market at this time.  you would think Microsoft would of made a better tool to help in the repair process and perhaps they re-working on one but it's not here yet.

If you are having an issue with your old pst file being too big and over the 2g mark then there are a number of free and paid tools out there that can help you resolve this issue.

It’s so easy to access criminal records

August 10th, 2009

Sometime during our life, and certainly when we are parents, we will definitely need to carry out detective work. Quite a large number of parents have been in a time where their daughter is mixed up with new people. It might be a hunch or even a mother’s sixth sense that indicates something is not wholly right. It might be a new housemate for your oldest kid who gives you an strange feeling, or something else that gives you the willies. Whatever causes it, there are instances when you are not completely sure about someone. As a parent, you feel compelled to take action and do something, but you don’t want to make it obvious! What would you do in this instance?

The answer is easy. By using this web link http://www.gov-criminal-records.com you can quickly and easily check a persons criminal records by just entering their surname. The checks are free and for a very small charge you get access to all the criminal records you need.

Lots of parents feel they want to overlook their child’s affairs. However, they would dwell upon the responsibiilty that being a dad. It is very hard to compare the wellbeing of your kid (when you’re not really sure if they might be in trouble) against their need for privacy. There is no single guiding factor when a situation like this comes up, but if the senses you have are so accute that you are truly in fear of your son, you do have options.

Sometimes just talking to your child would give you the necessary information you require to calm down or to stop panicking. Often, your daughter will explain their feelings with their parents but often they won’t. Quite often a mother is forced to uncover the truth on their own. With advances in data searching, you can use the name of a gentlemen you feel sometihng is not quite right about to display tons of data. And how you should ask? Web sites like the ones above let you type in just a name, alone or with other information you may have, so that you can obtain data about the background of that person. You can discover if that person has ever commmited a felony. It can be hard to imagine your son spending time with a criminal, but it occurs a lot. If it is true, the odds are your daughter is not aware it’s happening.

Does Windows XP Registry Really Needs Cleaning?

August 8th, 2009

There is much confusion about the need to clean Windows XP registry, this article provides an overview of the reasons and remedial actions

Overview of Windows XP registry -Windows XP registry is a core component of any PCs. PC user should clean Windows XP registry regularly. IT experts often refer to the registry as the brain, heart soul and mind of Windows. The registry is used by Windows XP to store the devices and file associations of the computer. Registry is also used to store critical information on directories, drivers, Windows applications and much more. You should use a registry cleaner software instead of cleaning the registry manually, unless you are very familiar with Windows XP operating system.

Click on clean windows xp registry for more information 

Are you sufficiently familiar with Windows XP registry? – If so, continue to read
 
Taking a backup – When completing any repair process of Windows XP registry, mistakes can be made easily and damage your system further. For this reason, you should always backup your files. Fortunately there are now many proven registry cleaning software available. These tools can find the potentially questionable or unused references, and they prompt the user to review any entry that may cause a problem once removed.
 
Start menu – To begin cleaning Windows XP Registry manually, go to the start menu, and click on run. Type “regedit” in the text field, and press enter.
 
HKEY sections – Windows XP registry has many different entries separated in sections namely HKEY_CURRENT_USER, HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, HKEY_USERS, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, and HKEY_CURRENT CONFIG. There are different entries in each section, which are related to various aspects of Windows XP operation. Click on the plus sign to clean windows XP registry. You should see a plus symbol next to the root directory. This will expand a detailed list of directories and make it easier to find the entries needed to clean up the registry.
 
Entries causing conflicts – Next step to clean Windows XP registry is to erase the entries which are causing conflicts or are no longer required, such as redundant ActiveX components for example (click on repair activex for more information)
 
Clean boot records – It is also advisable to clean the boot records. This can be done easily by changing the list of programs that load when the system starts up. Look into the CURRENT_USER and LOCAL_MACHINE directories until you find the “Run|” and “Run Once” option. This makes it possible to clean the registry entries that cause certain programs to run when computer starts.
 
Bi-annual clean – It is highly recommended to clean Windows XP registry at least twice a year to drive high computer performance. This sweeps out the items no longer in use. Machines which are extremely slow usually have a large number of software, or those where drivers are constantly being installed and uninstalled, require more frequent cleanups (click on computer extremely slow for more information).
 
However tempting a manual clean or repair may be, remember that, using the appropriate registry cleaner to repair windows XP registry is usually a superior solution than attempting this manually . Many registry repair software (i.e. the best ones) also offer both backup functionality to protect your data and will also improve computer performance.

How to fix a slow computer in less than 15 minutes

August 5th, 2009

There are many ways to speed up computers and improve their performance, this article covers simple steps that anyone can follow. Implementing step 1 or step 2 should take no more than 15 minutes and will work for both PC and Mac users.

 

Step 1 -  Clean the computer registry

Slow computers often have errors in their registry. One of the main functions of the registry is to connect software, hardware and computer files. For this reason the registry is often referred to as the computer’s nervous system. Typically the computer registry becomes more prone to errors over time, is frequently corrupted, and this slows down the computer. A simple step is therefore to locate then fix registry errors. Users can in theory attempt a manual cleanup of the registry, however this is not recommended due to the high likelihood of further errors occuring. Registry cleaner software are a faster, more reliable alternative to remove errors, unused file, poor links and deal with ActiveX components. Click on fix computer registry for more information.

 

Step 2 – Delete and block adware and spyware

Another common reason leading to computers slowing-down, is the large number of spyware and adware, which are downloaded from the Internet, often without the users knowledge. This happens particularly often, when peer to peer networks are being used to download music and videos for example. One of the simplest solutions to improve any computer’s speed is to use an anti spyware or adware software to scan, remove and block these unwanted threats. In order to try out the right anti spyware or adware program, it is preferable to use a trial version which is usually free. The overall effectiveness of the software is obviously the main feature to consider, however other features are also important such as Ease of Download and Simplicity of Use, Automatic Backup, Quality of Customer Service. The best software tend to be the simplest to use and rely on a research capability that constantly updates the software for new threats. Click on best adware spyware removal for more information.

 

Step 3 – Eliminate viruses

Unsurprisingly many computer viruses can slow down computers and drive down response times. Computer viruses must be deleted for two reasons, firstly they often damage files, secondly they tend to waste memory and disk space. By running the latest version of the best anti-virus programs, users should overcome these problems and be in a better position to improve their computer performance.

 

Step 4 – Simple housekeeping tasks

There are many simple housekeeping tasks which can be done to improve the speed of any computer, for example uninstalling any software that is not needed.  Another tip is to stop programs launching automatically, as this will also improve the speed of the computer. These simple steps usually produce small improvements.

Step 5 – Optimise the Hard disk

For hard disks which are smaller than 2GB then at least 200MB of disk should be kept free and at least 500MB for larger hard disks. This freed up space is an important factor of computer speed as it is used by temporary files which software require to work effectively. This frees up space for the computer to swap files, which is used particularly when the operating system starts using virtual memory once it has run out of RAM. The system can slow down significantly in that event, if space on the hard disk is insufficient. Disk scanning programs such as Scandisk for Windows can help check for errors on the hard disk. For instance the hard disk may be too fragmented and some of its sectors may be damaged, and this can create problems even if the hard drive is large enough. Defragmenting the hard disk is another action, which will improve the response time of any computer. 

 

Step 6 – Optimising the RAM

Some programs are poorly designed and do not release RAM resources after they are closed. This reduces the RAM which is available for other programs. Computers frequently run out of RAM after a while. In order to overcome this, ugrading the RAM is probably necessary. An alternative option, which is also free is simply not to use certain programs simultaneously.

 

Step 7 – Stop the computer from overheating

Faulty fans are a common cause leading to the computer overheating, slowing down then freezing as a result. The best solution is often to replace the fan, this overcomes the problem by increasing the air flow through the computer thereby reducing its temperature and ultimately improving reponse times.

For more information click on how to make my computer faster.