Features of a Good and Efficient Windows Registry Cleaner

0
1086 days
by in OS, Windows

There are actually several problems which you may encounter with your computers. Most of the times, these problems have something to do with the Windows registry. Thus, experts say that all Windows users should carry out registry cleanup regularly in order to make sure that the computer is still in its good condition. As a matter of fact, you can do this by way of running a particular registry cleaner on your computer.

The heart of your computer’s operating system (OS) is the Windows registry. If truth be told, all computer activities like creating and deleting folders or files, installing and uninstalling programs, as well as web browsing are related to the registry. This is due to the fact that all the information acquired through these activities are being carried to and added to the registry. In addition, there are instances wherein orphan keys as well as vacant spaces are still being left and collected in the registry even if entries in the registry are deleted automatically every removal of programs. Thus, these instances result to a damaged and corrupt registry.

There are two ways on how you can deal with the registry errors. You can use the Registry Editor (regedit) tool or a dependable Windows Registry Cleaner. Nevertheless, the registry cleaner is much more preferable than the regedit. This is due to the fact that the regedit is somewhat a complicated tool to use when it comes to maintaining the good performance level of your registry. Thus, it is safe to say that registry cleaners are the simplest means to resolve registry errors and maximize the optimum level of your computer system.

Therefore, you have to download a Windows registry cleaner in the worldwide web. Even if such cleaner tools are widely available in the market still, looking for the best registry cleaner is not that easy. Registry cleaners actually come in two types namely, the shareware and freeware. Shareware tools are more advanced in terms of features compared to the freeware tools. But whatever registry cleaner tool you want, you have to make sure to test your chosen tool during the agreed testing period. And if you have achieved great satisfaction with your chosen tool then, you now have to purchase it as well as use it regularly. In this way, you can be guaranteed of a functional and healthy Windows registry.

However, aside from testing, you also have to be familiar on the real nature of registry cleaners before purchasing the full edition of a particular registry cleaner. The following are only some of the major features of a good registry cleaner:

It should have file defragmentation feature to make your computer runs faster and efficiently.
It should offer a cleanup tool which can manually analyze, display, and scan registry errors or problems. In this way, you can lessen possible errors during the process of repairing.
It should have a repair and scan feature to scan the whole record of the Windows registry making it easier to repair the errors without removing any important records on the registry.
It should have the ability to resolve errors like ActiveX, DLL, fix rundll, and runtime errors.
It should allow you to perform additional tasks for computer maintenance such as managing BHOs, files of the Internet Explorer, files on the orphan system, program shortcuts, and startup programs.
It should permit you to have backups in case the registry fails.

Indeed, you have to be familiar on the aforementioned features of a good registry cleaner before going to the market or worldwide web and purchase the full version of it. In doing so, you can surely fix your Windows XP registry as well as optimize the performance of your computers.

A beginners guide to error codes

0
1086 days
by in OS, Windows

The appearance of an error code in a computer screen usually signify that something is going wrong or are not functioning the way that it is supposed to be. It usually comes in the form of numbers or a group of numbers and letters which can signify different meanings and messages all of them indicating that failure have occurred and what needs to be done to the computer system.

For most computer users, these can be baffling especially if you are not familiar with the different meanings that are attached to the different codes. The fact that there are more than 50 codes also contributes to confusion that can result from the appearance of one. The meanings of each error code can range from missing drivers and damaged system files to application failures and insufficient memories.

Computer Errors codes are originally designed to be used by developers and software support staff. This is because they allow anyone, even those who are not professionals to work on the problem consistently and in an organized manner. Aside from that error codes can also be best described as a shortcut for the different problems or failures that can possibly occur to computers. By using numbers or letters, all the different types can be easily remembered, catalogued and be accessed every time it is needed. However, memorizing all the different error codes can still be very bothersome so it’s good to know that a complete list is available online.

Knowing what error codes are is just the first step in familiarizing with them. The next thing that you must know is how to deal with them. You can do this better if you are familiar with the type of error code that has occurred. This is because the approaches for each code differ depending on their meanings or effects on the computer system. For example, a code 1 appears on your computer screen. This means that a device has malfunctioned because it has no drivers installed or the drivers that are present are not correctly set or configured. To resolve this, you may be asked to update the driver that is the cause of the problem.

Other codes such as 15, 16 and 31 can mean that a specific system file is damaged and helps in making the search for the specific system file much easier. For error codes 400 and 500, it usually means that a computer has been neglected and not properly maintained for a very long time.
A code 10 error usually occurs because of a malfunctioning or missing driver. It could also occur because of incomplete device driver files. On the other hand, a code 39 error may occur because your CD-ROM drive is not visible in My Computer. Similar to these errors, a runtime error 429, a software error, occurs when there is a problem with the automation server that is required by MS Office applications.

In spite of the many different meanings that are associated with the many different error codes, all of them signify only one thing. Something is wrong with your computer. However it’s good to know that error codes can easily be prevented especially if you regularly keep and maintain the working physical condition of your computer. These can be done by regular system scans and updating important programs and softwares such as antivirus and registry cleaning tools. If it still appears and you still don’t know what do with it, then it will not hurt to ask for help from any professional technician or troubleshooter.

Drive Errors: What They Are and How To Fix Them

0
1105 days
by in OS, Windows

A driver is a software program that provides instructions that allow a computer’s operating system and various programs to work in congruence with different hard disk devices, controllers, and peripherals hooked up to your computer. A couple of errors relating to drivers may sometimes occur. These errors are generally caused by corrupt, missing, erroneous, or unsuited divers. To prevent these errors, it is important to have the operating system and device drivers appropriately updated. Regular antivirus and cleanup scans should also be performed to pin point and eradicate erroneous data.

Potential Drive Errors and Their Solution:

Improper connection of device to computer. To correct this, frequently inspect the cabling between the device and the computer to locate any loose connection. If a card or adaptor is being used, make sure that both are properly inserted in the appropriate slot.

Errors in device drivers. This problem arises when the driver is a buggy, poorly designed, incompatible with the operating system, when the recent driver update is faulty, or when there is a hardware divergence within the system. To address this problem, keep each component driver updated accordingly.

Resolving XP Drive Errors

Typically, driver errors in Windows XP can be addressed with the Device Manager tool as this presents information pertaining to the devices hooked up to your computer. With the Device Manager, you can revert to a previous driver update, and install or uninstall a new one. To access the Device Manager, click on Start, Control Panel, System, Hardware, and then Device Manager.

Potential XP Drive Errors and Their Solution:

Drive error caused by recent driver update. If this problem occurs, it would be best to install the previous driver version. To do this, access Device Manager, specify the problematic device, select Driver Tab, and click Roll Back Driver.

Outdated driver: This can cause computer errors which can be resolved by installing the latest driver version. Then, in Device Manager, select the problematic device, click on Driver tab, and then click on Update Driver. Perform the instructions presented on how to upgrade the driver to the version that was previously downloaded.

Corrupt driver: When a driver is corrupt, your best option is to download and install a recent driver version. Remember to uninstall the old driver first, restart your computer, and then install the new driver.

Driver errors can also be resolved by the Recovery Console. To access this feature, boot your computer with Windows XP CD-Rom. On the Welcome to Setup screen, select R and then log on to the Recovery Console by using the administrator password and typing in the command cd windows\system32\drivers. To change the name the faulty driver’s driver file, run ren Driver_Name.sys Driver_Name.old. To resolve the driver error, copy the original driver file from XP’s installation CD-Rom to the driver folder by running copy CD-Drive:\i386 Driver_Name.sys. You can then exit the Recovery Console and restart your computer. If these procedures do not resolve the problem, the error probably lies in the hardware, which should thus be repaired or replaced.

Registry Problems

A registry cleaner software can be used to keep the registry healthy. This is achieved by locating and deleting erroneous and damaged entries from the windows registry. These entries, when unchecked, will eventually cause drive errors.

Display time since last visit in PHP

1
1113 days
by in PHP

Have you ever seen those social networking sites that display the time since your last visit? They do it in a very neat way actually, that is a lot more friendlier that simply "Last login date..."

Well, this little php snippet will allow you to display messages like "Last visit was 4 days ago" or "2 weeks ago" or whatever it was, up to a year.

To use simply include the function in your code and then you'll need two timestamps to compare. One is the one that should be in the database, and it should be the date of the last user activity on the site, or the last time user logged in. The other would be normally the current time ( time() )

 
function timeBetween($start,$end,$after=' ago',$color=1){
	//both times must be in seconds
	$time = $end - $start;
	if($time < = 60){
		if($color==1){
			return '<span style="color:#009900;">Online';
		}else{
			return 'Online';
		}
	}
	if(60 < $time && $time <= 3600){
		return round($time/60,0).' minutes'.$after;
	}
	if(3600 < $time && $time <= 86400){
		return round($time/3600,0).' hours'.$after;
	}
	if(86400 < $time && $time <= 604800){
		return round($time/86400,0).' days'.$after;
	}
	if(604800 < $time && $time <= 2592000){
		return round($time/604800,0).' weeks'.$after;
	}
	if(2592000 < $time && $time <= 29030400){
		return round($time/2592000,0).' months'.$after;
	}
	if($time > 29030400){
		return 'More than a year'.$after;
	}
}
 

And here an example of usage:

 
echo timeBetween($timeFromDatabase,time());
 

And an example output for that could be: 4 minutes ago

There are two configuration variables, $after and $color. $color sets online to a nice green color, and $after is what is displayed after the time. Default is " ago". But you can set it to anything you want.

Well I hope you find this useful ;)

Tired Of Your Slow PC? Here’s How To Speed It Up

0
1118 days
by in Tips, Windows

If you are tired with your slow computer, you may be considering calling a computer maintenance professional to help you speed it up. Such services will be commonly available in the proximity of your office or home. While these are great solutions for people who do not mind spending a lot of money, a common computer user may choose to evaluate other available options, before contacting a computer technician.

Listed below are a few of the secrets that computer professionals do not want you to know. Once you know these secrets, you will save money and can maintain the performance of your computer without any external help.

Secret 1: It may be the registry

Computer experts know that many of the computers become slow because a critical part of your operating system known as the Windows Registry needs to be cleaned up. The Windows registry is a data bank containing vital information about the day to day functioning of your computer. The registry may become slow due to several reasons ranging from installation of a large number of programs to not properly removing applications from a computer. This leads to bloating and corruption of the registry and its symptoms include slow down of your PC, registry errors or system crash.

These experts are wary of sharing this reason for slow down of a PC with the user as they don’t want the users to know that registry can be cleaned easily by anyone using a reliable third-party registry tool. This tool can be easily downloaded and installed on your computer.

It is possible that there could be other reasons for a slow down of your computer, but scanning and repairing your Windows registry can improve the speed of many systems.

Secret 2: It may be the Clutter in your Hard Disk

Your Hard disk is like a house and it needs regular housekeeping. Now, you may choose to appoint a housekeeper (a computer expert) to clean up your hard disk, every once in a while, or you can take things into your own hands. Performing regular cleaning of your hard disk is good housekeeping and will save you a lot of time and money. It is similar to preventive maintenance which reduces the chances of a slow-down of your computer.

There are two important tools that have been provided by your operating system manufacturer.

  1. Disk Cleanup: It is a maintenance tool provided by Microsoft to free hard disk space. It performs cleaning of the hard disk by searching, analyzing and then deleting unnecessary files.
  2. Disk Defragmenter: It is a program which has been created to help improve the speed of accessing files in a hard disk by rearranging them in a proper, contiguous manner.

If you use these two system tools on a regular basis, you may find that the speed of your computer is improved dramatically.

Secret 3: It may be a Virus

Many malicious software like virus, Trojans or spyware that manage to enter your system may be the reason behind the slowdown of your computer. Therefore, it is advisable that your computer must be equipped with a reliable anti-virus and anti-spyware tool. This will not only protect your computer from slowdown, but will also prevent any serious damage to your computer or the important data it contains.To get the best out of these tools, you must update them and run thorough scans on your computer on a regular basis.

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