The System File Checker can be a useful tool to help out if core system files become missing or corrupt.
This tutorial will explain how to perform it using Windows XP.
Click on start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt
Once there type in sfc and a list of commands will be displayed giving you some options as to what to do.
Typically you want to then type in sfc /scannow to start an instant scan of the computer to check for files.
Basically at this point the scan process may take a good while and i suggest you do nothing on your computer while its scanning. If it encounters a problem it will let you know. You will also need your windows xp cd with the current service pack as is installed on your computer. For example if you have windows xp service pack 3 installed on your computer then you will need to use the windows xp service pack 3 cd!
In order to tell which service pack you have installed, simply right click on "My Computer" and select properties. Up will come a window with lots of information on it. You want where it says windows xp, a version like "home edition" or "professional edition" and then some where close to that will be a service pack number!
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Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
Obtaining Your System Information
Here is a simple and sweet method for quickly retrieving your computers system information. The system information contains alot of things such as makes and model/serial numbers of hardware device and current versions of different programs. It also lists details regarding your memory capacity for your computer and for your graphics card! Overall knowing how to access your system information can be a helpful thing to know. Whether for yourself or for informing a computer repair man about problems you may be experiencing.
For windows xp all you need to do is click on start, all programs, accessories, system tools, system information. And that's it!
Now the first thing you will see is your summary. That knowledge is important to know for potential computer repair work that may be needed. If the numbers and letters seem confusing to you then you can look up some of these things on the Internet or else there is no need to worry about it. Just as long as you know where to go to tell your computer repair tech support guy about your system information. He will know what they all mean.
Often times clients of mine will need to figure out not only what kind of video 3d graphics card they are running, but how much memory it has to see if they have enough to play a game. This information is also easily obtained in the system information window. Simply click on "components" and then select "display" to pull up all the information regarding your video card. The part which talks about your cards memory capacity is "Adapter Ram" and then a number usually measured in MB or megabytes!
For windows xp all you need to do is click on start, all programs, accessories, system tools, system information. And that's it!
Now the first thing you will see is your summary. That knowledge is important to know for potential computer repair work that may be needed. If the numbers and letters seem confusing to you then you can look up some of these things on the Internet or else there is no need to worry about it. Just as long as you know where to go to tell your computer repair tech support guy about your system information. He will know what they all mean.
Often times clients of mine will need to figure out not only what kind of video 3d graphics card they are running, but how much memory it has to see if they have enough to play a game. This information is also easily obtained in the system information window. Simply click on "components" and then select "display" to pull up all the information regarding your video card. The part which talks about your cards memory capacity is "Adapter Ram" and then a number usually measured in MB or megabytes!
Friday, September 2, 2011
How to boost your Virtual Memory!
In this post i describe step by step how to increase your computer's virtual memory... Don't know what virtual memory is? =P
Well then let me explain!
Virtual memory is what allows your computer to process programs which may require more memory/RAM than you have! For example. John Smith's computer has 2gb (gigabytes) of RAM built into his computer (Those small little electronic circuit boards which fit into the main board). Now John is a busy man! and John needs his computer to run many different programs at once! John would like to browse the Internet, check his e-mail, edit a photo in his favorite photo editing program, listening to music on his computer, talk to his friends in an instant messenger program, and write up a document in his favorite word processing program! Phew!..John might be too busy!
Well what is going to end up happening as John works more and more doing all the things mentioned above, is that his computers built in RAM is going to run out and his computer will slow down horrifically so. And then poor John wont be able to do any of those things and think he has to call a computer repair guy.
Ah but wait! =D That's when VIRTUAL MEMORY kicks in to give John an extra boost in memory power! Virtual memory acts as a back up reserve of memory in case the computer runs out of normal RAM. Yay no costly computer repair service for John!
"Well how does it do that?" Glad you asked!
Virtual memory works by taking some un-used space of your hard drive and treating it like memory, adding it to the amount you already have. You can specify how much virtual memory has to work with by following these simple steps...
STEP 1:
First check to see how much hard drive space you have available for virtual memory to use. Double click on "My Computer", then right click on "Local Disk(C)" and then click on properties. Now the number with the pink icon represents how much space you have free to use on your hard drive. Remember this number! It will help determine how much virtual memory you can use.
STEP 2:
When you got that then RIGHT CLICK on the "My Computer" icon and select properties. Click on the advanced tab at the top and then click on the "Settings" button in the performance section. After which you will need to click on another tab at the top called "Advanced". And then hit the button called "Change" in the Virtual memory section!
STEP 3:
Now you will see two text boxes with numbers in them labeled "Initial size" and "Maximum size". Click on the little button that says "Custom size" so you can edit those two text boxes.... Now remember the number that told you how much hard drive space you have available? What you want to do is make sure you have at least any where from 5-10gb of space available before you change the numbers in the boxes. IF you do then you can go ahead and specify as much as you would like in both the initial and maximum amount. 3000-4000 is a good amount, Make sure the maximum size is at least 1gb or 1000 greater than the initial size!
Now when you have your numbers in place you will need to hit the "Set" button to finalize it and then hit the "Ok" button.
Here is a video walk through of how to do it in windows xp!
ADDITIONAL NOTES
If you start to run low on hard drive space, your computer will give you a warning about your virtual memory and you will have to go back into your virtual memory settings and scale back down your numbers.... Or else remove some stuff from your hard drive, maybe un-install a program or two or delete old files to free up some space!
Well then let me explain!
Virtual memory is what allows your computer to process programs which may require more memory/RAM than you have! For example. John Smith's computer has 2gb (gigabytes) of RAM built into his computer (Those small little electronic circuit boards which fit into the main board). Now John is a busy man! and John needs his computer to run many different programs at once! John would like to browse the Internet, check his e-mail, edit a photo in his favorite photo editing program, listening to music on his computer, talk to his friends in an instant messenger program, and write up a document in his favorite word processing program! Phew!..John might be too busy!
Well what is going to end up happening as John works more and more doing all the things mentioned above, is that his computers built in RAM is going to run out and his computer will slow down horrifically so. And then poor John wont be able to do any of those things and think he has to call a computer repair guy.
Ah but wait! =D That's when VIRTUAL MEMORY kicks in to give John an extra boost in memory power! Virtual memory acts as a back up reserve of memory in case the computer runs out of normal RAM. Yay no costly computer repair service for John!
"Well how does it do that?" Glad you asked!
Virtual memory works by taking some un-used space of your hard drive and treating it like memory, adding it to the amount you already have. You can specify how much virtual memory has to work with by following these simple steps...
STEP 1:
First check to see how much hard drive space you have available for virtual memory to use. Double click on "My Computer", then right click on "Local Disk(C)" and then click on properties. Now the number with the pink icon represents how much space you have free to use on your hard drive. Remember this number! It will help determine how much virtual memory you can use.
STEP 2:
When you got that then RIGHT CLICK on the "My Computer" icon and select properties. Click on the advanced tab at the top and then click on the "Settings" button in the performance section. After which you will need to click on another tab at the top called "Advanced". And then hit the button called "Change" in the Virtual memory section!
STEP 3:
Now you will see two text boxes with numbers in them labeled "Initial size" and "Maximum size". Click on the little button that says "Custom size" so you can edit those two text boxes.... Now remember the number that told you how much hard drive space you have available? What you want to do is make sure you have at least any where from 5-10gb of space available before you change the numbers in the boxes. IF you do then you can go ahead and specify as much as you would like in both the initial and maximum amount. 3000-4000 is a good amount, Make sure the maximum size is at least 1gb or 1000 greater than the initial size!
Now when you have your numbers in place you will need to hit the "Set" button to finalize it and then hit the "Ok" button.
Here is a video walk through of how to do it in windows xp!
ADDITIONAL NOTES
If you start to run low on hard drive space, your computer will give you a warning about your virtual memory and you will have to go back into your virtual memory settings and scale back down your numbers.... Or else remove some stuff from your hard drive, maybe un-install a program or two or delete old files to free up some space!
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