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View Full Version : Before you ask for computer help, read this...


Vega
01-08-2004, 01:29 AM
When asking for help on something can you please state your operating system, the version of a program your using or having problems with and what your doing when it happens.
also if your using XP check the error logs aswell and see if you can find the log.
to find the error logs go to;
Start > settings > control pannel > Administrative tools > event viewer
there you have three logs, you only have to worry about two of them.
"applicaton" is for program errors
"system" is for operating system errors

I would like to see posts like this.

Word 2000 is crashing on XP whenever I try to print and it comes up with an error and the event log says

"The document walkthrough.txt - owned by CREDO failed to print. Win32 error code returned by the print processor: 0 (0x0)."
help!

To that I could reply "your printer is out of paper and for some reason it is crashing word, probably because your printer is locking up word. "



If it's not giving an error message then most non-hardware problems can be fixed by following this process:

1) Run Disk Cleanup (Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup).

2) Open up Internet Explorer and got to Tools > Internet Options and delete all files (including offline content) and cookies.

3) Run Scandisk by going to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scandisk (Not available in Windows XP)

4) Scan for viruses if you have a virus checker. If you don't you can go to http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ and it will search for viruses on your comp for free. There are also many free or free trial virus checkers available for download on the internet.

5) DL a spyware detector and check for spyware. This can be found for free at www.lavasoft.de or download the professional version off www.suprnova.tk.

6) Defrag your computer. Do this by going to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defrag

7) Download all recent Windows Updates. This can be found by going to windowsupdate.microsoft.com in Internet Explorer. Definitely download all the critical updates and it can't hurt to download the recommended updates as well. I wouldn't download the drivers updates though, unless the thing they have an update for isn't working properly. I downloaded a video card driver update and the comp never worked again.

8) Repeat if necessary.


-Added stuff-

9) www.google.com - Only search engine you need. Before you ask where you can find something, etc search for it here first.

10) All video conversion related questions and for all computer media stuff (video files and whatnot) they should check out www.vcdhelp.com

11) www.itools.com - GREAT site that has tons of different things, such as a language translator, word unscrambler, and a lot more.

12) Disable windows messenger service (not to be confused with MSN): do the following -

Go to Start > All Programs > Administrative Tools > Services

Look for "Messenger" in the list and right click. Go to Properties. Under the "General" tab look for "Startup type:" and change it to Disabled. Click OK. Right click the "Messenger" again and choose "Stop".

13) http://www.webroot.com/php/tryme.ph...4060&vcode=DT01

Window washer

"I highly recomend this cleaning tool. it gets into all the temp files that are normally a pain in the ass to get at or to clean out, I used to do it all manually but After I ran window washer it was like I just did a re-install.
My comp was running like it was brand new again." -CREDO

YOUR Hero
01-10-2004, 12:23 AM
those are actually good tips. I'll make it a sticky, see what the feedback is.

Funky Fly
01-10-2004, 10:49 PM
Everyone should send Vega $5 for this thread. Since that ain't gonna happen, rate him good 5 times each.

loopydate
01-10-2004, 11:01 PM
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Vega again.

CREDO
01-11-2004, 06:11 AM
Vega forgot one thing. www.google.com (http://www.google.com)

Vega
01-11-2004, 04:05 PM
Everyone already knows about Google though :roll:

BTW CREDO, did you get my PM?

CREDO
01-11-2004, 09:32 PM
Everyone already knows about Google though :roll:

BTW CREDO, did you get my PM?Yeah but do they bother to look it up first?

PM? I'll go check.

sadio8
01-11-2004, 10:14 PM
Maybe you should also add that for all video conversion related questions and for all computer media stuff( video files and whatnot) they should check out www.vcdhelp.com

DS
01-11-2004, 11:59 PM
"Housecall Medical Resources" may cure some viruses in the human body, it does nothing to computer viruses.

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ on the other hand. ;)

Vega
01-12-2004, 03:40 AM
whoops. It used to be housecall.com. At least I think so, maybe I always just searched for it on google. I'll update the main post with what everyone added later.

samichna
01-12-2004, 08:37 PM
LOL at the housecall thing, but good stuff Vega.

CREDO
01-25-2004, 11:32 AM
http://www.webroot.com/php/tryme.php?bjpc=4060&vcode=DT01

Window washer
I highly recomend this cleaning tool. it gets into all the temp files that are normally a pain in the ass to get at or to clean out, I used to do it all manually but After I ran window washer it was like I just did a re-install.
My comp was running like it was brand new again.

everyone should try this if they seem to remember thier comp running better than it is.

sadio8
01-25-2004, 04:52 PM
coolio CREDO :) Gonna try it out now :)

CREDO
01-27-2004, 12:42 PM
Another thing that I think should be added to the top of this thread.

When asking for help on something can you please state your operating system, the version of a program your using or having problems with and what your doing when it happens.
also if your using XP check the error logs aswell and see if you can find the log.
to find the error logs go to;
Start > settings > control pannel > Administrative tools > event viewer
there you have three logs, you only have to worry about two of them.
"applicaton" is for program errors
"system" is for operating system errors

I would like to see posts like this.

Word 2000 is crashing on XP whenever I try to print and it comes up with an error and the event log says

"The document walkthrough.txt - owned by CREDO failed to print. Win32 error code returned by the print processor: 0 (0x0)."
help!

To that I could reply "your printer is out of paper and for some reason it is crashing word, probably because your printer is locking up word. "

JJ Moore
03-08-2004, 07:21 AM
ALSO a good thing to do is to open up explorer, tools, folder options->View and Check these boxes : "Show hidden files and folders".

Now after that go to the route of C: and open douments and settings, local settings, application data and clean out the hidden temp folders in there, ALOT of bullshit is in there, If you havent done this ever and haven reinstalled recently, u'll be amazed on how much shit is in there, may help make ur comp run more efficiently! :y:

road doggy dogg
03-16-2004, 03:22 AM
Okay maybe I'm just stupid or something, but that "Window Washer" link is dead for me :o:$

JJ Moore
03-16-2004, 05:34 AM
just do a google "window washer" it's easy enough to find :y:

CREDO
07-09-2004, 07:35 AM
http://www.arach.net.au/~credo/images/google.gif

Rile
07-28-2004, 04:46 AM
3) Run Scandisk by going to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scandisk (Not available in Windows XP)


http://www.duxcw.com/faq/win/xp/scandisk.htm

this page has a bunch of ways to find the equivalent of scandisk on Windows XP, fastest is to right click drive, properties, tools, error-checking. ;)

G
10-09-2005, 07:32 PM
wooooooo first post in over a year in here.

Dragon
01-17-2006, 12:40 AM
Is there something as good as Windows Washer that is free? Windows Washer is free for a trial period for a month and then you have to buy it to use it.

DS
01-17-2006, 12:50 AM
TuneUp Utilities 2006

Name: Smiths
S/N: EEAS5-17M5L-5RTBQ-M9BX3-NTC7W-Q3SK2

DS
01-17-2006, 12:58 AM
Here are some programs I believe are nearly essential if you are trying to keep your computer clean and running as smoothly as possible.

TuneUp Utilities 2006 (http://www.download.com/TuneUp-Utilities-2006/3000-2086_4-10440422.html?tag=lst-0-1)
Allows you to clean your system, registry, optimize memory, customize Windows, and tweak nearly everything.

Registry Mechanic 5.1 (http://www.download.com/Registry-Mechanic/3000-2094_4-10349249.html)
Helps clean the registry. This is something most people never do and should. User friendly.

Ad-Aware SE (http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10399602.html?tag=lst-0-1)
Everyone has their favorite spyware remover by now and I find this to be the best.

Diskeeper 10 (http://www.download.com/Diskeeper/3000-2094_4-10471739.html?tag=lst-0-1)
The best system defragment software out there. Just put this on a weekly defrag and let it do the rest so you don't even need to think about it.

HijackThis (http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10379544.html?tag=lst-0-1)
This is a little more advanced but is a great tool in case you think you have a virus. Just run a scan and save the log and post it for someone who knows what to look for.

samichna
01-17-2006, 01:00 AM
Vega's jowls have jowls and a beard.

Dragon
01-17-2006, 01:00 AM
Downloaded the TuneUp Utilities. It says the key is right but needs a full name and organization. Where could I get that? :o

Dragon
01-17-2006, 01:01 AM
thanks btw tbh

DS
01-17-2006, 01:02 AM
Try Smiths for the name and Smiths & Co. for the organization.

Dragon
01-17-2006, 01:03 AM
Alright, it worked. Thanks man

Funky Fly
01-17-2006, 03:29 AM
Fucking nice.

G
02-03-2006, 07:36 AM
Just got a new computer, DS you'll have to hook me up with cracks for most of those programs you listed.