One of the most frustrating aspects of working on a computer is that sometimes they seem to run so slowly you could take a nap while the machine is processing something. OK… that is a bit of an exaggeration but it does seem like you are waiting forever.

Let’s look at how we can increase the speed of your PC without having to buy and new hardware or software to get better performance. Some of the tweaks will involve editing the registry while others will not. Make sure you backup your windows registry before you make any changes. This is just a precaution in case something goes wrong. It is also a good idea to create a new restore point as well… for safety.

Making Registry Based Changes

Backing up the registry

Perform the following steps:

1. Select Start ->Run
2. Type regedit in the dialogue box that opens
3. Once the registry editor opens, select File -> Export
4. Double click on the folder where you want to save the backup file
5. Click Save.
6. Now that we have made a backup of the registry we can do something about speeding up XP

Speed up the Menus

The default value for the system to respond to you clicking on the start menu is set pretty high. Reducing this value will speed up the response time. Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\MenuShowDelay

Double click on MenuShowDelay and change the value to 0 or any other value you want. Reboot the system for the changes to take effect.  You can experiment with different values to see what works best for you.

Optimize the Prefetch Feature for FasterLoading

Prefetch allows the system to load faster by reading system boot or application launch files into the cache. Using it will reduce the time the operating system takes to load. The files are listed in the c:\windows\prefetch folder. To speed this process up, perform the following tasks:

1. Go to the registry key
2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters\
3. Double-click on EnablePrefetcher in the right hand window and enter one of the following values
4. Enter 0 to disable prefetching
5. Enter 1 to prefetch application launch files
6. Enter 2 to prefetch boot files
7. Enter 3 to prefetch as many files as possible

Disable 8.3 Name Creation on NTFS partitions

Unless you are actually allowing someone using an operating system that needs the 8.3 naming convention, crating them uses more clock cycles to create your directory listings. To disable this normally unnecessary feature, perform the following steps:

1. Go to the to the following key:
2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem\
3. Double-click on NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation in the right pane
4. Change the value of this key to 1

Non- Registry Tweaks

The other important thing to do to speed up your PC is to perform routine maintenance such as:

1. Do regular anti-virus and spy ware scans
2. De-frag the hard drive
3. Run a good registry cleaner to keep the registry optimized.

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The windows recycle bin is one of its nicer features because it allows you to recover a file or folder that you deleted either accidentally or because you though you would never need it again.

By default windows has only one recycle bin and it is located on the C: drive and allocates 10% of the total drive space for all of your hard drives to be used for the recycle bin. It is also configured to display a dialog box asking you to confirm you deletes.

The easiest and safest way to configure your recycle bin is:

• Press the windows key+e to open up windows explorer. The windows key is located between the CTL and the ALT keys on the bottom row of your keyboard.
• Navigate to the recycle bin as shown below

• Click on Properties. The window shown below will open

• You can configure the drives independently if you have more than one, but there usually in no reason to do that. If you want to reserve less space for the recycle bin move the slider to the left and reduce the percentage. Understand that if there is no enough disk space allocated for the recycle bin any newly deleted files will be deleted permanently.
• If you do not want to be constantly asked whether or not you really want to delete a file or folder, uncheck the box for Display delete confirmation dialog
• You can choose to delete all files permanently by disabling the recyle bin by checking Do not move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted
• After making your selections, click OK

Summary

If you disabled the recycle bin, all files will be removed permanently and cannot be recovered. If you need more disk space on your hard drive and feel confident enough to delete files immediately, you can  disable the windows recycle bin and free up hard disk space. If you later change your mind you can enable the recycle by using the steps above and unchecking Do not move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted.

While I personally think that HP makes some of the best printers in the world, sometimes you will get an error message similar to the one below

PCL XL Error
* Subsystem: KERNEL
* Error: IllegalOperatorSequence
* Operator: SetColorSpace
* Position: 52

Cause of the Problem

The error is caused by a corrupted printer driver, specifically the PCL driver. PCL is the page description language that the laser jet printer uses to ‘draw’ the printed page. Without this driver working, the printer doesn’t know what to do with the data it is being sent.

How to Fix the Problem

There are several ways to fix the problem.

Directly connect to the printer

If you are using a network connection to a print server, disconnect that connection and connect the printer directly to your computer. Try printing the document again to see if it works. If not continue to the next step.

Disable High Speed and other Advanced Features

Every HP printer has an electronic control panel with several manual buttons on the printer itself. Go to the printer and perform the following actions:

1. Press the MENU key display the I/O MENU
2. Press the ITEM key until you see Parallel High Speed = Yes
3. Press the VALUE key to change the value to  Parallel High Speed = No
4. Press the SELECT key until an asterisk is displayed as shown Parallel High Speed = No*
5. Press the ITEM key until you see Advanced Functions = On in the printer display
6. Press the VALUE key until the value changes to Advanced Functions = Off.
7. Press the SELECT key and until an asterisk is displayed as shown Advanced Functions = Off*

Try to print your document again. If it doesn’t fix the problem continue to the next step.

Update your Printer Drivers

If the drivers have become corrupted or accidentally deleted you need to restore them to working condition. Since you are going to need to reinstall the drivers, you might as well upgrade to the latest version for that machine.

You can visit the HP website, download the latest drivers and install them on your computer.

You should be able to print your document now. If not, you may have a hardware failure. The best way to troubleshoot a hardware problem is to follow the directions in your user’s manual.

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The windows start menu is one of the more convenient features of the windows operating system. The start menu is divided into three parts divide by separation lines as shown below.

The part on the left above the line are program that will always be shown on the menu unless you manually remove them as shown below from the list and are called ‘pinned’ items.

The programs below that line are added as you open new programs. If you want to add one of them permanently, put the cursor on the icon and hold down the left mouse button and drag the icon above the line.

The All Programs selection is located under the last separator. Putting your mouse over the ALL Programs option produces a list of all the programs that are available on the start menu.

Unfortunately, sometimes the start menu stops working.

What Causes the Start Menu To Stop Working?

There can be several causes for this problem, but the most common causes are:

1. Corrupt or missing operating system files
2. Damaged registry keys
3. Virus or spyware infection

How to Fix the Start Menu Not Working Problem

The repair depaends on the cause of the problem.

Corrupt or missing operating system files

1. Use the following steps to repair the problems:
   Press Ctrl + Alt + Del or right click anywhere on the task bar to open the Task Manager.
   Select File -> New task(run) as shown



2. type cmd in the dialogue box and then press Enter.
3. At the Command Prompt window, type the sfc /scannow and press Enter.
   Insert the Windows XP installation disk in the CD/DVD drive if prompted.

The System File Checker will detect and try to fix or replace missing or corrupt operating system files.

Corrupted Registry Key

To fix a corrupted you need to use a good registry cleaner that has the ability to repair corrupted entries. In fact you should clean your registry as part of a regular maintenance program.

Virus or Spyware infection

Run and anti-virus and anti-spyware program to do a complete scan of your computer and eliminate all threats.

Summary

I would perform these repairs in the following order:

1. Do the anti-virus and spy-ware scan and if that doesn’t fix it
2. Repair the system files and if that doesn’t fix it
3. Clean the registry. Even if one of the first two steps eliminates the problem, you should still run a good registry cleaner to optimize your operating system performance.

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The Physxloader is a module of the NVIDIA Ageia PhysX driver used by several model lines if NVIDIA graphics cards. These drivers bring real time video effects to a program, usually a game that allows everything to look more realistic. Windows 7 does not support the Physx drivers.  The good thing is that they don’t get this error. The bad thing is that also don’t get the great graphics performance this technology brings to gaming and other video applications.

You may receive the following errors:

• Physxloader.dll Not Found
• “This application failed to start because physxloader.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.
• Cannot find physxloader.dll
• The file physxloader.dll is missing
• Cannot start a required component is missing: physxloader.dll. Please install [Game APPLICATION] again

Sometimes the errors pop up at startup and at others times during the heat of game play.

Fixing the Physxloader.dll Problem

Most problems are caused by the driver files getting corrupted. The easiest way to repair the error is to uninstall the drivers, reboot the machine and then reinstall the drivers.

Perform the following steps:

1. Click Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs
2. Scroll to the NVIDIA PhysX driver software
3. Select Uninstall
4. Restart the computer

You should also remove the files from the startup configuration by performing the following steps

1. Click Start -> Run
2. Type msconfig and Press Enter
3. In the System Configuration Utility that opens, locate NVIDIA related software under the Startup tab
4. Clear the check box next to NVIDIA files
5. Click OK to restart your system

Conclusion

Since most applications tend to leave various fragments of themself behind even after they are uninstalled, you should now run a good registry cleaner to remove these items. When that has been completed, you can reinstall the latest versions of the drivers and start enjoying your games again.

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The windows registry holds all of the hardware and software configuration that the operating system needs to make everything work correctly. It is a good idea to make a backup copy of the registry before you use the registry editor to make any changes.

There are many situations that require you to edit the registry directly. However, keep in mind, that you can break the operating system if you do it the wrong way. Backing up the registry is really just due diligence just in case something goes wrong.

There are three methods available in windows XP, Vista and windows 7 that you can use to backup the windows registry.

Using System Restore

The easiest and safest way to backup the windows registry is to use the System restore point feature. Basically the operating system takes a ‘snapshot’ of the registry at a specific point in time. Do this before you install new software, uninstall old software or make any major configuration changes.

While useful, restore points are not a permanent backup for the registry because they can be overwritten for many different reasons but are perfect if you are planning to manually edit the registry.

To create a restore point in windows XP perform the following steps:

1. Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore as shown below



2. Click Create a restore point, and then click Next.
3. In the Restore point description box, type a name to identify this restore point. System Restore automatically adds the date and time that this Restore Point was created.
4. To finish creating this restore point, click Create.

To create a restore point in Vista or windows 7 perform the following steps:

1. Right-click on the Computer icon in the Desktop, and choose Properties
2. In the left pane, click System Protection
3. Alternately, to access the System Protection tab directly, click Start and type SystemPropertiesProtection.exe.
4. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.



5. Click the System Protection tab, and then click Create.



6. In the System Protection dialog box, type a description, and then click Create.

You should receive a message that the restore has been created.

Backing Up a Specific Registry Key

To backup a single registry key, perform the following steps:

1. Click Start -> Run.
2. 2. Type regedit.exe, and then click OK
3. Locate and right-click on the key you want to back up and choose Export as shown below



4. In the Save in box, select the location you want to save the file
5. In the File name box, type a file name, and then click Save

You have just created a backup for that particular registry key. This is very useful if you are upgrading software or device drivers and think there might be a chance you will need to go back to the previous version.

Backing Up the Entire Registry

You can make a complete backup of the windows registry using the NTBackup Utility shown below to do a system state backup. To stat the wizard, click on Start -> Run and type ntbackup.exe in the dialogue box. The wizard shown below will open.

Clicking Next opens the window below and provide the choices shown.

For a registry backup select Only backup system state data and then just follow the directions.

Summary

Before backing up your registry before you make and major configuration changes, install or un-install any applications, you should always run a good registry cleaner to optimize the registry and get rid of unnecessary entries.

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Like all computer operating systems, windows writes thing to the memory (RAM memory chips) sequentially until it runs out of physical RAM. When that happens, it writes information that is not currently being used by the processor to the virtual memory. Virtual memory is a file called the pagefile and is stored on the hard disk. The pagefile is also called a swap file because the operating system will swap information between the pagefile and the physical RAM as needed.

From a security point of view, this creates a problem. Since many applications can store temporary files memory on your machine, it is possible that sensitive information such as user ids, passwords, account numbers, etc can end up being stored in the windows pagefile.

To prevent sensitive data from being available to hacker, spyware, etc., you should configure your computer to clear the pagefile at shutdown. There are two ways to do this: edit the registry or use a local security policy.

Editing the Registry

As always, you should make a backup copy of your registry setting just in case you run into a problem. Once the backup is completed, perform the following steps:

1. Click Start and go to Run
2. Type regedit in the dialogue box to open the registry editor
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
4. Select SYSTEM -> CurrentControlSet-Control
5. Click on Session Managerfirst then Memory Management as shown below



6. Find ClearPageFileAtShutdown in the right hand pane. If the key is not present, right click in the right hand pane and select New->DWORD as shown below



7. Type ClearPageFileAtShutdown for the DWORD name and select rename
8. Double click on your new or already existing key and the dialogue box shown below will open



9. Change the default ‘0’ to ‘1’ to clear the pagefile at shutdown
10. Exit the registry editor
11. Reboot the computer

Using a Local Security Policy

To use a local security policy, perform the following steps:

1. Click Start->Control Panel
2. Next double click on Administrative Tools and double click on Local Security Policy. The window shown below will open



3. Select Local Policies
4. In the right hand pane scroll down and click on Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile as shown above
5. The window shown below will open



6. Click on the enabled radio button and then on OK
7. Close any windows that are open
8. Reboot the computer for the changes to take effect.

Conclusion

Either of these security methods will cause the shutdown process to be a little longer. The registry edit is usually shorter than using a security policy but if you are not familiar with the registry, you probably should use the security policy.

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By default windows automatically adds all user accounts that exist on a computer to the list displayed on the Welcome screen so the user can click on their ID and log on. Would you like to have an invisible user account to work on your computer?

One way to accomplish this is to create a hidden user account. Now this doesn’t mean that no one can’t see the account but it does mean that your user account ID will not be displayed on the Welcome Screen.

It is good for creating accounts that you don’t want other users of the computer to know exists. To prevent others from seeing the account profile you will need to use the NTFS permissions to remove their ability to read the directory as well.

However, this kind of account is normally used to keep another family member from knowing something exists. If they are extremely computer literate, it may not be possible to keep them from finding the account. This trick worked for me to keep my teenagers out of my banking information on our shared computer in the family room.

Hiding a User Account

To create a hidden user account in Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7, perform the following tasks:

1. Click on Start-> Control Panel -> User Accounts
2. Select Create a new account and then follow the prompts until it is created

Once the account exists or if you want to hide an existing account do the following:

1. Click Start -> and go the Run command and type regedit in the dialog box as shown below



2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList as shown below



3. If SpecialAccounts and UserList is not found, create the new sub-key and name them  those names
4. Highlight UserList, then right click in the right hand pane of the registry editor.
5. Select New -> DWORD and name it the exact same name as the account you want hidden



6. Then double click on the key you just created, a box similar to the one below will appear



7. Keep the value at zero to hide the account or change it to 1 of you want it to be seen on the welcome screen.
8. Exit the registry

Restart the computer for the changes to take effect

How to Logon to a Hidden User Account

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring up the windows login dialog box and then type in  the user name and password.

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These electronic ‘stickys’ are just a useful as their real world counterparts. Instead of sticking a handwritten note on your monitor you can attach these to your desktop. While the picture below is a little crowded for my taste, it does show the convenience of using sticky notes.

There have been commercial sticky note applications available for several years that provided stickys for the desktop. I have used on for several years. The free ones have always been very limited and sometimes unreliable.

This free program not only provides the needed drivers to allow both pen and touch screen access and it lets you switch between them mid-note. Sticky notes are available only in the Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate editions of windows 7.

Now a Windows 7 is providing a free sticky note program with all of the capabilities of the paid version I use.

1. Create a new Sticky Note by clicking Start→All Programs→Accessories→Sticky Notes.
2. Format the note text by Select the Text in your sticky note then use the following commands to make changes:
   • Ctrl + b   Makes text bold
   • Ctrl + i   Makes text italic
   • Ctrl + u  Makes text underlined
   • Ctrl + t Make strikethrough text
   • Ctrl + shift +  >  Makes text larger
   • Ctrl + shift +  <  Makes text smaller
   • Ctrl + shift + L  to create lists or bullets, hit this key combination repeatedly to change between list types
3. Change the note’s color by right clicking and selecting color options then pick the color you want. Colors are a great way to organize your notes.
4. Stack the notes – manually by placing them on top of each other like shown below. The choices are Blue, Green, Pink, Purple, White, or Yellow



5. View them as a list by doing the following

• Right-Click on your Desktop and Select New-> Shortcut.  And the create a shortcut dialogue box will appear. Then in the empty white box Type or Paste the following address:
• search-ms:displayname=Search%20Results%20in%20Sticky%20Notes%20(Windows%20Sticky%20Notes)&crumb=&crumb=location:C%3A%5CUsers%5CYourUSERNAME%5CSearches%5CSticky%20Notes%20(Windows%20Sticky%20Notes).searchconnector-ms
• Click Next and then enter the new shortcut’s name when prompted
• Right click on your new shortcut then select Properties
• Add whatever keystrokes you want to define the shortcut like Ctrl +Z

Delete the note by clicking on the delete button in the upper right hand corner

Back up the notes by going to C:\Users\YourUSERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Sticky Notes and copying the StickyNote.snt file

Conclusion

Microsoft seems to be actually listening to what many users are saying about how they want to be able to use their computers. Sticky Notes is just another example of their attempt to please the average user.

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The .NET framework is a software architecture that is used by Microsoft to allow programmers to build applications and other services that can run on the Microsoft .NET technology suite. Since its initial release there have been several versions of .NET released. The suite has three major parts:

1. ASP.net
2. Common Runtime Language
3. Framework Class Library

What is a .NET Runtime Error?

These errors can be caused by several different problems.  In all cases there are caused by problems in the windows registry. Some of the more common causes are:

• Bad or incomplete program installation
• Bad or incomplete program uninstall and deletion
• Viruses and malware
• Application conflicts

No matter the cause, you usually have to reboot the computer to make it go away. The problem lies in the fact that it will reoccur unless you actually fix the problem. You will usually get an error message like the one below.

How to fix a .NET Runtime Error

Since each of the most common cause of the .NET runtime errors cause changes in the registry.

For example:

A Bad or incomplete program installation – all installations will add or delete new registry keys. Most people do not do an uninstall when the installation did not work in the first place. The problem is that the new stuff written to the windows registry is still there even though no application is using it.

Bad or incomplete program uninstall and deletion – the same thing is true in this situation. Even though you have uninstalled the program and deleted any files that belong to it, most uninstall programs leave registry entries behind that will eventually cause problems and sometimes even program conflicts.

Viruses and malware – these malicious programs are designed to cause problem in your registry and exist only to destroy or incapacitate your computer.

Application conflicts – some conflicts are caused by the applications just being incompatible with each other which means that one of the software programmers did not follow Microsoft’s guidelines for how to write programs for windows.

The best way to fix this kind of error is to do a complete cleaning of the windows registry. You can do that manually but unless you are an expert on the windows registry, I don’t recommend doing it that way.

The best solution is to use a good registry to repair your windows registry. There are both free and commercial registry cleaner programs available. The paid ones are usually more reliable, easier to use and have more features. Most of the companies will let you do a free scan to see if your registry needs cleaning.

Cleaning your windows registry is like changing the oil in your car. It is routine maintenance that should be done periodically.