Fix PC Errors

This is an old topic but probably the most requested. It seems that everyone has a PC that is (or was) running slow. Time and time again the problem is usually just poor maintenance.

Over time as you clutter your PC with more applications, drivers, software etc, things just start to slow down. Everything is controlled by the Windows Registry, so obviously as time goes on and your PC gets cluttered, so too does the registry. More clutter, means your PC has to do more work - which means a slower PC.

In cases of poor PC maintenance, extra tweaks and even hardware wont help much, because you are not hitting the cause of the problem. Tweaking your system and adding hardware is only good when your system is already in good shape, then it will respond much better to changes.

So what we recommend is that you start maintaining your PC correctly and on a regular basis. The easiest is to use a PC optimization tool. These can give a huge performance boost and they will fix the majority of problems on your PC. With most of these tools you can also schedule them to automatically run on a regular basis. This keeps your PC in great condition without any hassles.

Besides running an optimization tool, you should also ensure that your PC doesn’t have any viruses or spyware. These can really slow down a system and you might no know you are infected.

The last option would be a re-install of Windows on your PC. If things are really bad, this can be a good way to start over. If you do this, just make sure you don’t let your PC go bad again. Because re-installing can take hours and there is potential risk of losing data - so back it up!

Free download - Optimize and cleanup your PC now

We have all experienced some kind of driver errors at one point in time, and just in case you are wondering what drivers are? Well they are just small programs used to run the various devices on your PC.

Drivers are required to run anything from keyboards, mouse, fax, monitors, scanners, printers, USB devices and the list goes on.  In most instances you can use the default drivers that are available, but quite often these can provide substandard results. We have all reformatted at one point or another and the standard system is pretty poor until you start re-installing all the drivers - hopefully you still have the CD/DVDs that came with the system.

Driver Errors

Over time it is quite possible that driver files can go missing, you might accidentally delete them, or they can be lost due to malware or for a variety of other reasons. Driver files can also become corrupted and may fail due to invalid registry entries and registry errors. If you are experiencing driver errors, then you can find more info here on: Fixing driver errors

Whatever the case may be, your best bet is to replace the driver files in question. If you don’t have the original CD, then it is generally a matter of scouring the internet, looking for those long lost drivers at various manufacturer sites and archives. This can be time consuming and we will show you a much better solution shortly.

Updating Drivers

Another common reason for drivers failing is due to them being out-of-date. It is important to keep your drivers updated if you want to keep your PC in top operating condition. Some devices come with software that will automatically update the drivers, for other you may have to do this manually, which again involves visiting manufacturer sites.

There is luckily a much better method now available for updating ALL of the drivers on your PC. There is some powerful software that will scan your system and check a huge database of drivers for any missing drivers or updates drivers that you might require. This can save many, many hours of work and we now throw this program onto every PC that comes through the office - especially the Vista boxes.

Below we have provided a free download of Driver Detective, which will automatically scan and update your drivers. Try it out and see what you think.

Free Driver Scan and Update

EXE (.exe) files are executable files common to Windows operating systems. EXE files may also rely on other resources such as image files, for use in graphical interfaces.

EXE Errors

Most of you will be very familiar with EXE files and since they are so common on Windows they are also prone to various errors.  Errors in EXE files may be hard to detect and repair and can be caused due to file corruption, missing files or Windows registry errors.

How to Fix EXE Errors

Because it can be hard to diagnose EXE errors, the first option is to try and replace the EXE file with a new copy. This will solve the problem if the original file was corrupt or missing. If the source of the EXE errors is unknown, or if there are Windows registry problems, then you will need to run a third party registry repair.
Click here to scan your PC for EXE errors.

EXE Files and Malware

Quite often EXE files are used to spread harmful malware. Always be careful when downloading or running an EXE file that did not come from a trusted source. For example, never open EXE files sent in an email - this is a common way to spread viruses. EXE files can also be hidden in .ZIP files.

For more information on fixing EXE errors:

Fix Exe Errors

We get quite a few emails regarding Outlook Express problems and troubleshooting. So I will cover some of the common Outlook Express errors that you might encounter.

There are some common categories of errors in Outlook Express, so I will break the errors down into their appropriate category.

Problems Sending Mail in Outlook Express

Sending email in Outlook Express can return various error messages and these are very common. First start by checking that you are properly connected to the internet. It is amazing how many people try to send without first being connected. Also note that some errors may be on the other users end - such as: user not found, mailbox not found etc.

Error 550 - Relaying Not Allowed
Can’t Send Mail, No Sender Specified
Mal-formed message ID: Line 3 References too long

Errors Opening Outlook Express or Outlook Express Crashing

This is quite a common problem in Outlook Express and in most cases the crashing is due to a corrupt .DBX file. These files are the database files for Outlook Express and store all the mail messages. If these files become corrupt, Outlook Express can fail to open or crash.

To avoid these errors it is important to compact your mailboxes on a regular basis. If OE wont open at all, you may need to move the DBX files until you get OE open.

In some cases, you may also have registry errors associated with Outlook Express and your mail files. You will need to run a registry repair tool to fix this common problem.

Error codes:

0×800c012e
0×800c0131
C0000006h

DBX File Errors

As mentioned above, the DBX files associated with Outlook Express can get corrupted over time. It is recommended to do regular compacting of inboxes to help avoid this problem. In certain situations you may need a special DBX repair tool. We will discuss more on that later.

Common Outlook Express Error Codes:

Below are some of the most common errors you will experience in Outlook Express.

0×800CCC00 
0×800CCC01 
0×800CCC02 
0×800CCC03 
0×800CCC04 
0×800CCC05 
0×800CCC06 
0×800CCC07 
0×800CCC08 
0×800CCC09 
0×800CCC0A 
0×800CCC0B 
0×800CCC0C 
0×800CCC0D 
0×800CCC0E 
0×800CCC0F 
0×800CCC10 
0×800CCC11 
0×800CCC12 
0×800CCC13 
0×800CCC14 
0×800CCC15 
0×800CCC16 
0×800CCC17 
0×800CCC18 
0×800CCC19 
0×800CCC1A 

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Fix Outlook Express - Free Download

Most Windows users will have experienced at one time or another, some form of DLL error. As with most errors, you probably have no idea what it means, or what a DLL even is.

DLL stands for Dynamic Link Library and these are common files used on Windows systems. They are not stand alone files, but are intended to be run from other programs. They are generally loaded on demand and linked in at run time.

So what causes DLL errors?

There can be a variety of reasons for experiencing DLL errors. Most commonly, the DLL file itself may be corrupt, you may have some invalid registry entries, or even adware/spyware on your PC.

In most cases, the problem can be fixed by replacing the DLL file with a new copy. But if there are other underlying problems, then you probably need to clean your computer’s registry. Certain adware/malware/spyware/viruses can replace DLL files with their own malicious copy, so be sure to run a regular anti-spyware scan on your PC.

Find out more about fixing DLL errors here

This question comes from Andrew, he wants to know how to edit your BIOS.

The primary function of the BIOS is to identify and initiate component hardware (such as hard drives, floppies, and CDs). This is to prepare the machine so other software programs stored on various media can load, execute, and assume control of the PC. This process is known as booting, or booting up, which is short for bootstrapping.

From time to time you may need to you may need to change settings within your BIOS, but I have had emails from people saying they are too concerned about editing anything within the BIOS. You don’t need to be too worried about changing basic settings within your BIOS, and it is a very simple thing to do. Just follow these points and you will be able to edit your BIOS;

• Click the Del, F2, or F12 key as your computer is booting up (the key is different with different computers)
• You will now be in your BIOS
• Use your arrow keys to navigate through the BIOS
• Select the item you want to edit
• Click Save and Exit
• You are done

A runtime error, in general, is an error generated during the time at which the computer is running a software application and experiences an issue.

The runtime or run-time error message can be caused by:

1. Confliction with TSR or other running program
2. Software issue
3. Computer Virus
4. Memory issue

To fix a runtime error you need to find what specific error it is first, the problem could be. It could be a software issue or a virus issue which needs to be treated immediately. Here is a link to a list of the different runtime errors you will encounter.

List of Windows Runtime Errors

Stop error 0×0000000A (Stop 0×0A) indicates that there was an attempt in kernel mode to touch pageable memory at too high a process internal request level (IRQL). Typically, this error occurs when a driver uses an incorrect memory address. Other possible causes of this error are an incompatible device driver, a general hardware problem, and incompatible software.

If you receive a Stop 0×0A error message during the installation of Windows XP, use the following troubleshooting procedures to verify your hardware components.

• Verify that your hardware is listed on the Windows XP Hardware Compatibility List
• Look for other hardware issues