New Computer VS Computer Repair

There are more than enough of options when it comes to purchasing your next computer but one thing’s for sure and thats that it’s going to cost you, from at least $900 to $2000 for an adequate PC. Is it really worth purchasing a new computer or spending cash on upgrades and repairs?

Is your PC is getting too old? you have several options. You can, for example, upgrade your current method through adding new components or replacing some of its existing ones. Or you can just buy a new machine.

Older computers are generally unresponsive, prone to continuous crashing, as well as the usual odd occurrences and error messages which can be frustrating. A cost effective upgrade, method clean up or computer repair through a professional can save you a decent quantity of cash in the lengthy run.

A slow computer can sometimes, be easily repaired yourself. In lots of cases this is the cause of an overload of unwanted programs being installed (sometimes without your knowledge), such as useless internet browser add-ons and programs that automatically run itself each time you switch on the computer, as well as of course the usual threats of Virus and Spyware.

The other option of improving PC speed and performance can be a computer upgrade. Adding more RAM (memory) will help greatly assist with multi-tasking such as email, internet browser, Skype, as well as MSN or Yahoo chat. Upgrading to a larger hard drive can give a computer additional storage space for you photos and documents.

Be cautious of investing more cash into computer upgrades and repairs. As a rule of thumb, you don’t want to be spending more than 25 per cent of the cost of a new computer (between $200 – $400) would be a typical limit. Always get a warranty on computer repairs.

When you’re searching for a new computer, or upgrading your existing computer, start through listing everything you’d such as that computer to do, eg. Internet browsing, send/receive email, photo storage, gaming and music. Once you know what you’d want to use your computer for, you will get it easier to establish what sort of computer to buy, or what computer upgrades are needed.

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Get your PC full performance again.

When we use our PC periodically it it reduce performance. Now if your PC running slowly that mean you have to care your OS status. There're many way for that.

• Reinstall/Repair your OS.

If your PC run slowly sometime your OS some files may corrupt or deleted. So you have to replace that files. To do that you have to reinstall your OS again and repair or replace its start-up files.

•  System Maintenance utility Software.

Using system maintain software you can delete junk file and temporary, cookies file in you PC. If your system has lots of junk files your system run slowly. Cclenaer, Advanced system cares are the best for that. Its better if you can clean you PC using these software once a day.

• Defragment your hard drives.

If your PC run slowly, your OS and other applications files may fragment. So you have to defrag your hard drives. To do that you can get tons of free defragment software. "Smart Defrag", "Auslogics Disk Defrag”, "defraggler". Its better if you can defrag your hard disk one a week.

• Use advanced Program uninstaller.

When you uninstalling some programs some files may remain your hard disk and also some registry key will remain your "windows registry" (leftover). So you have to use advanced program uninstaller. "Revo uninstaller", IObit Uninstaller is good one. They remove all leftover. 

• Scan for virus and malware for your PC.

Sometime you PC may have hidden virus, Trojan horses, spywares etc. They may run hidden, so sometime your PC security software (virus guard) can't detect them its real time protection. So it’s better if you can full scan your PC once a week. And also you have to daily update your virus guard. If you don't have internet connection, its better if you can use "Avira AntiVir Personal" its free and also you can get its offline update file free.

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Computer will not wake up from power saving mode sleep

When you are on your computer and walk away from it for a few minutes, on returning, it appears your computer has gone into power saving mode. In other words it has gone to sleep. This is all fine, providing you can now wake your computer from this deep power saving sleep.

Too many computer users move the mouse, tap on the keyboard, and even turn the monitor on and off, to try and wake the sleeping computer.

This Automatic Power saving mode is a great feature when it works like it was supposed to. However when you are right in the middle of writing an important document you have been working on for over two hours and haven’t had the chance to save yet, the Automatic Power saving mode can be sheer disaster.

You walk away to get a cup of coffee and come back to a blank and non responding computer. If you cannot wake the computer from this power saving sleep, than your all your hard work will be lost.

Why won’t the mouse and keyboard wake up the computer from the power saving sleep?

To use a mouse or the keyboard to wake up a computer from power saving mode, sometimes you need to enable this feature. Hopefully this is the answer to your problem because this is the easiest problem to solve.

These steps are the first to try and if this doesn’t solve your problem I will give you some extra things to try.

1. Go to the start menu.
2. Right click on My computer and choose properties from the menu that pops up.
3. System properties will open. In Windows Vista click on Advanced Settings in the right menu.
4. In both Windows XP and Vista you can go to the hardware tab.
5. Click on the Device Manager button.
6. Find your mouse in the devices list. To open sections click on the + sign next to the word. Click on the device to make it blue.
7. Then right click on it and choose properties from the menu. See the screenshot below.

1. When your mouse properties open go to the Power Management tab.
2. Put a tick in the box next to Allow this device to wake the computer.
3. Press OK. See the Screenshot below.

Extra steps to take when your computer will not wake up?

• Disable power saving mode altogether.
• Check to see if your computer has an overheating problem. If it does it will not restart until it is cooled down.
• Download all Windows Updates.
• Make sure your computer doesn’t have a under rated power supply.
• Check your hardware. Graphics cards and motherboards are common culprits for this problem.
• Clean the motherboard and other inside components of dirt and dust. Dirt causes static and static damages the board. Please see How to open a computer case safelyand How to clean inside your computer safely

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How to know if you have a computer power supply problem

A computer power supply is one of the hardest working components in your computer. It supplies power to the entire computer system. When you have problems with the computer power supply, luckily most of the time it is obvious because there will be no power to your computer. Unfortunately sometimes problems can occur with the computer even though the power seems to be still running.

Here are some of the obvious computer power supply problems:

• There is a on off switch on that back of your power supply. Check to see if this is on. If you are plugged into a socket, this switch also has to be in the on position for a computer power supply to work.
• If there is another small red switch on the back of the power supply, make sure it is on the correct voltage for your country. In Australia we choose 220v and not 110v. If you try to start your computer with the switch set to 220V in a country using 110V, your computer will not power up. You can change this voltage and then try again. It should work then. If you try to start a computer when switched to 110V in a 220V country, you will probably blow a fuse in the supply or maybe damage other components in your computer.
• Has someone been working on the inside of your computer case. Maybe the computer power supply is not even connected to the mother board. So even though you have plugged the computer in you will not hear the computer running because it is not connected to it.
• Can you smell something burning or even see smoke. This is a sure sign that the computer power supply has blown up. Especially if you here a big bang and maybe it cuts the power in your house. Unplug the computer as it could damage other components.

Computer power supplies prices

Of course all technology is always getting cheaper, however a power supply can still be expensive when buying it by itself. If you buy a computer case with a power supply included it always works out cheaper. Prices vary depending on what rating you are looking for.

What to look for when buying a computer power supply?

You should replace your computer power supply with a similar one you have removed from the computer. If you have taken a 600W power supply from your computer then rep

lace it with the same. Do not put a lesser wattage into your computer. The absolute best thing to do is take the old power supply to the shop when you are buying a new one. This way you can make sure you get enough power connections coming from the power supply. Also sometimes you will need sata power connections whilst others have the older type.

What is a computer power supplies rating?

This is a rating that shows how powerful the computer supply is. If you have a 600w power supply that is its rating. To calculate what your computer power supply rating your pc needs check out the Power Supply Calculator.

Should you buy the best computer power supply or the cheapest? 

Its the same old rule for everything you buy. What you get is what you pay for. I have seen computers work faster and more efficient with a higher rated power supply. Don’t get me wrong though, because you can get a cheap power supply that is a good quality one at a bargain price. The power supply is the most important part of your computer as it is running the entire system. You can have all the super parts inside your computer but if you do not have the right power supply to run it then you are wasting your time and money.

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I get an error that says, “not enough server storage is available to process this command.”

Here is a question: I have two systems networked to share internet connection thru a residential gateway (router). I’m trying to get them to file share but it never works. I look in my workgroup and I see both systems listed, I have the files/folders I want to share enabled, they even show up, but I’m unable to access them. I get an error that says, “not enough server storage is available to process this command.”

My system one is XPpro64-bit, the 2nd is XPpro, both NFTS file system. The router is Netgear WGT624, I tried enabling UPnP, and that seemed to get me a bit closer. It showed my system on a “local network,” but not both systems. I’m wondering if it’s the routers firewall preventing file sharing. I checked and really there is that SPI firewall, but I don’t want to disable that.

I tried creating a network drive and that didn’t work either. Any ideas?

When you try to access shared files and folders on some Windows operating systems, you sometimes get the following error message: “Not enough server storage is available to process this command.” This can sometimes mean that the IRPStackSize is not present in the Registry or if it does exist, the default value may not be large enough for the server service to administer shared folders on some of the physical drives.

To solve this annoying error you will need to open the Registry and navigate through it. You will have to edit settings in the registry, which can be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. Altering the Windows registry on your computer is a touchy subject as one wrong move can crash your computer and make it unusable. You can get a pro to do it for you or you can be a daredevil and do it yourself. Just remember that there 

How to add IRPStackSize to your Windows registry if it does not exist:

1. Go to the Start menu at the bottom of the screen.
2. Choose  Run from the menu. If it isn’t there press the WINKEY and the letter R on the keyboard.
3. Type regedit and then click OK.
4. Navigate to the following registry key by clicking on the small arrows to expand the folders.
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services
   \LanmanServer\Parameters

1. When you reach the Parameters folder select it by making it blue. Then you will see a list appear in the right pane.
2. If you do not see  IRPStackSize mentioned there, then we have to add it. See below.

1. To add it, right click on the Parameters folder and a menu will appear.
2. Choose new, then choose DWORD (32 bit) value from the menu.
3. A new value will appear in the list. Name it IRPStackSize exactly how you see it here.

1. Double click on the IRPStackSize entry to enter a data value.
2. Enter the default value which is 15 in decimal base. See the screenshot further down.
3. Close the Registry Editor.
4. Restart the computer.

How to change the IRPStackSize DWORD value in your Windows Registry:

If you already have the IRPStackSize in your registry then you might just need to change the value data for this. Navigate to the correct area as shown in the tutorial above. When you double click on the IRPStackSize entry you will come up with a edit dword box as shown below. Obviously 15 is not working for me so I might change it to 18.

Then when I restarted the computer I will go back and see if I can share the same files and access them. If the errors still persists then go back and try changing it again. It is recommended by Microsoft that the IRPStackSize value be increased in increments of 3.

Which computer should I increase the IRPStackSize on?

Just say you are trying to access a shared file and the computer you are on comes up with this error message “Not enough server storage is available to process this command”. This means that you have to change the IRPStackSize on the other computer. Not the one you are getting the error on. Its the computer that holds the shared files that you were trying to access that has the problem. So go to this computer and fix the error.

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Using Windows Remote Assistance To Get Computer Help

If you are really stuck with a problem on your computer and you know a friend that might be able to help, here is an easy way to allow them to access your computer. Even if they are half way across the world, if they have an internet connection and have sent you an invitation, then accessing your computer is entirely possible. It is always good to know who you are letting into your computer because they will be able to access your files and browse around your computer.

What you need to use Windows Remote Assistance?

1. Both computers need an internet connection.
2. An invitation file needs to be sent to the helpers email address.

How to invite a friend to help through remote assistance?

1.  Go to the start menu. Choose Help and Support.

2.  The Windows Help and Support dialog box will appear. Click on the link that saysUse Windows Remote Assistance to get help from a friend or offer help.

3.  Now to invite someone to help you, click on the Invite someone you trust to help you.

4.  If you were Offering help to someone click on the button below.

5.  The Windows Remote Assistance windows will appear. Press on use email to send an invitation.

6.  You will need to enter a password. Remember this as you will need to give it to the person helping you.

7.  Press next.

8.  If you have Windows mail, Outlook, or even Thunderbird email it will open with thepre-filled details.

9.   Enter the email address of  who you want to send this invitation to.

10.  Then type in the password you created.

11.  Send the invitation to the Email recipient.

To take up this invitation the person who receives the email will need to save the attachment that came with it to their computer. Then they will need to follow the steps above, however they must choose to offer help to someone instead of asking for help.

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My Computer Boots Up To A Black Screen With A Flashing Cursor

Amazingly, when it comes to computer errors, getting a black screen with a flashing cursor is far better than just a plain old black screen. We have to look on the bright side here and presume that the fact that you can see a flashing cursor is a good sign. At least we can treat this as a bit of clue on what to try when troubleshooting this black screen.

When the average computer user sees a black screen on their computer monitor panic immediately sets in. Both black screens and blues screens are known disasters that are dreaded by most. But as I said, seeing a black screen with a flashing cursor is not that bad.

Please note that this particular error has stopped your computer from entering Windows. It is not a black screen with a movable mouse cursor on the screen it is ablack screen with a flashing cursor that has not entered Windows yet. If this error does not suit your symptoms please see My computer has a black screen and will not boot for more information.

What causes a black screen with a flashing cursor on a computer?

There are many possible causes for a black screen with a flashing cursor and I will try to mention as many as possible. Some causes of a black screen are incorrect shutdown of your computer, not waking from sleep mode, not knowing where to boot to, corrupt software, damaged start up, and the list goes on.

The last sleep transition was unsuccessful:

This is one that I have had a lot of experience with.  People have the Windows sleep mode enabled on their computer and after to going to sleep, the computer does not wake up. This sounds crazy, I know. I have written an article on The computer will not wake up from powering saving sleep mode.

When your computer will not wake up try starting your computer in safe mode. Simply start your computer and hit either the F2, Del, or sometimes the F10 key on the keyboard. When you enter Safe mode you should then shut your computer down correctly. A clean shut down. This should wake up the computer. Then you should disable the power saving mode as soon as you can because it will most likely do it again next time. To adjust your power saving sleep mode go to the control panel, then choose the power options icon.

Why doesn’t the mouse and keyboard wake up the computer. Please see this The computer will not wake up from powering saving sleep mode.

A device connected to the computer can cause a black screen with a flashing cursor:

Did you leave a USB flash drive connected to your computer or maybe an external hard drive? Either way, the computer might be trying to boot to this device but it is not a bootable device. Remove all devices and try to start your computer again.

Another cause could be that you have a faulty device such as a DVD drive or CD drive. The computer is trying to find all devices connected to the computer and comes across a problem device. This often causes a black screen with a flashing cursor. If you disconnect the faulty DVD drive your computer can start without errors. People are often aware of a faulty DVD drive because you might have had previous problems removing discs or opening the contents of a disc.

When you see a black screen with a flashing cursor you can almost come to the conclusion that your actual computer is fine because it is still running but just not loading into Windows. As we have seen, there are a number of causes which also equally creates a number of solutions.

Your boot options have mysteriously changed:

It’s probably not a mystery, however for some reason your computer is trying to boot to other devices and not your hard drive. You can restart your computer and get into your bios to change these settings. Here’s how to get into your bios and change settings. When you are in your bios, change the boot order or boot priority to the first being the hard drive. Exit and save your settings.

This error can happen when the computer is not shut down correctly or you have another device plugged in.

You recently installed new software, updates, or drivers:

Getting a black screen with a flashing cursor is very common after installing new software, downloading updates, or even installing new drivers and devices. If this happens and you have either Windows Vista or Windows seven, your first port of call would be to insert the operating system disc. Although Windows xp is a bit more difficult to deal with, both Windows seven and Vista will repair most problems for you. This is why you should try this method first.

This can happen after installing almost any piece of software including Windows updates, believe it or not! The problem is, if there are two programs clashing, there is not much you can do to stop this..One has to go. For this reason, when installing absolutely anything on your computer, including a simple toolbar, I recommend you create a restore point for safety reasons. Imagine if everyone actually stuck to that rule???

Anyway, if you see that flashing cursor you are almost guaranteed that your computer will boot from a CD or DVD. After all it is looking for something to boot to. Of course at this stage, when you see the flashing cursor, it is too late to insert the CD, and it is too early for other remedies.

When you insert your operating CD you must restart your computer. See the following instructions.

Restore your Windows 7 computer after having a black screen with a flashing cursor?

If you get the black screen of death using Windows 7 you can always try to recover a working system by using your Operating system disc!

1. Boot from the Windows 7 operating system disc. If your computer is not set to boot from cdrom first then you need to be able to enter the BIOS to change your boot options.

2. Choose your language from the list.

3. Choose the Repair your computer option on the install now section.

4. Choose the System restore option.

5. Choose  a restore point. If you have installed a program today that caused a problem choose a restore point prior to that?

6. Let it take you back to when you didn’t have a problem.

These instructions above will work for Windows Vista as well.

Also see this article on How to repair Windows XP without formatting.

Notes on having a black screen with a flashing cursor:

• This black screen tutorial has been split up into separate sections as people are getting confused with what to try for their actual problem.
• This tutorial is not about a black screen with a movable mouse cursor on the screen it is about a black screen with a flashing cursor that has not entered Windows yet.

More options when dealing with a black screen:

Buy the Ebook “Recover Your Computer From a Black Screen”

Let us know about your black screen with a flashing cursor experiences below as there are many more causes and solutions to learn from.

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