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Computer problem (s) - solutions
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Looking for a solution to a computer problem ? - our web site includes many computer related articles. They are packed full of computer problem solving tips, tricks and solutions.
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No matter what type of problem - a problem with computer hardware, software, the internet or, a problem with Windows - we have covered many topics so, everyone should find something interesting on our web site.
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If you have a computer problem that you want to solve quickly, tell us about it using any of the forms on our website and we will help you to find a solution - whatever the computer problem is.
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Computer problem (s) - getting help
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Or, why not search through our articles, we may have already written about your computer problem - this may be the easiest way to find an answer and solve your computer problem quickly.
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Common problem (s) are: computer is running slowly; developed a problem with computer sound; having a problem sending or, receiving email; email account has been hacked; or, a problem with computer malware or, a virus.
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We also get lots of questions from readers who are having a problem with their internet connection and/or, their wireless router. We have helped thousands of people.
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One of the main reasons why you may experience Hard Disk Drive data loss
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An electrical power surge is quoted as being one of the main reasons why you may experience Hard Disk Drive data loss or, a complete computer crash source but the damage that electrical power surges can do to your computer, isn't just restricted to the problems that they can cause to your computer's Hard Disk Drive.
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Repeated or, sustained electrical power surges will almost certainly cause damage to your computer's internal power supply and usually, a power supply that is subjected to increased voltage beyond the limits of its capability, will suffer damage that either: cannot be repaired or, is not cost effective to repair.
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Any component that is plugged into your computer's internal power supply (nearly everything) is also, susceptible during a power surge. If you have ever switched your computer on and found that the operating system refuses to start up or, discovered that suddenly, your mouse, keyboard and USB inputs have stopped working, the likely cause is an electrical power supply problem.
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As an isolated event, a sudden loss of power to your computer is bad enough, but usually, after such an event, your computer will start up again normally and will not suffer any permanent damage that cannot be rectified. Nevertheless, it is still a good idea to use a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) which will power your computer during a power outage, giving you at least, enough time to power it down normally.
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However, if your computer is exposed to sudden power outages regularly which causes your Hard Disk Drives' heads to crash, the damage that this can cause to the heads and/or, the Hard Disk Drives' platters, is not something that can easily be repaired and sometimes, can very easily, result in the Hard Disk Drive being a total loss.
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Power brown outs, a dip in the electrical voltage for a sustained period, is just as dangerous for your computer especially, if it is exposed to electrical voltage that repeatedly and rapidly peaks then, troughs. During such an event, it's quite common for some of your operating system's important files to suffer damage or, to be lost altogether.
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As with most things, prevention is better and cheaper than the cure and a good UPS and voltage regulator is definitely a worthwhile investment for anyone who owns and uses expensive computer, TV and audio equipment.
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Strangely enough, the very first Tic Top Tip article that I wrote on the 7th October 2006 (more than five years ago) was about power supply problems and in it, our readers were advised to purchase and use a UPS, voltage regulator and fused extension lead.
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During the last five years, we have lost count of the amount of computers that we have seen that have had issues that were caused by electrical power problems that could have very easily, been avoided, if the computers in question, had been connected to a UPS and/or, a voltage regulator.
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As it is the season of good will to all men, I have decided to hide three separate pictures of voltage regulators on our web site. Each of the pictures is accompanied by a question. Find the pictures, answer the questions (by email to competition@ticproblemsolver.com) and win a voltage regulator - there are 3 up for grabs !
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The competition closes at midnight on the 26th December 2011. The winners will be the first three readers who submit the correct answers by email. They will be notified by email and their names will be published here in our first article of 2012.
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Hot Tip ! - You are looking for a 5 pixel by 5 pixel transparent square in each of the pictures below. Find them with your mouse and click. Each time that you discover one of the hidden squares and click on it, a new window will open containing a question. Send an email to the email address (given above). Put "Competition Entry" in the subject line and your answers to all three questions in the main body of the email - good luck !
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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers !
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A sneak preview and free to download and try the new beta version
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Recently, I have received emails from numerous readers who have reported the same problem to me. When they visit web sites, their computer bleeps and a pop up window displays the following warning:
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"To help protect your security, Internet Explorer has blocked this web site from displaying content with security certificate errors"
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This is an Internet Explorer warning message, but Firefox, Google Chrome and the other internet browsers all have their own warning messages which are worded slightly differently, but they all mean the same thing.
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When a secure (https://) web page is requested, a security transaction takes place during which several checks are made before the page is delivered to your internet browser. If any one of the checks fail, a warning message is delivered to your browser instead of the page that was originally requested.
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Your internet browser checks that the security certificate was issued by a trusted authority, that the certificate is valid and that it was issued to the web site concerned.
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The message that is delivered to your browser warns you about the risks involved in proceeding to the web site, but also, provides you with a link to display the web site in any event. Basically, if you know and trust the web site in question, it is usually safe to proceed to it - why ? Other than the obvious, that the web site's security certificate is invalid or, has expired or, that, the web site in question should not be trusted, there is another, more common reason for this happening.
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Your computer is set to the wrong date ! If you are receiving these messages, checking the date that is set in your computer is the first thing that you should do. If it is set to the wrong date, correct the mistake and then, test one of the pages that was previously displaying the warning message. After changing the date, if it displays normally, your problem is solved, but before you sit back and relax, you should ask yourself why your computer is suddenly displaying the wrong date ?
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Your computer's Cmos battery may be running out of steam and need changing. This is a pretty simple thing to do and you don't need me to tell you how to do it - many people have already written instructions that are available by Googling - "Changing a Cmos battery."
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I want to concentrate on another, more important reason why this may be happening - your computer is infected with malware or, a virus of some kind, but before I do, a warning, if you find that you can't change the date on your computer because it won't allow you to or, that you change it successfully, but then, later, discover that it has mysteriously changed back, the likelihood is that your computer is almost certainly infected with malware or, a virus.
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Nowadays, malware and viruses are written by very clever people who know how to 'silently' infect your computer then, stay undetected and even, re-install themselves following discovery and deletion. Further, whilst your computer is running, there are places that normal malware and virus scan and removal tools cannot search. I am mentioning this because whenever I suggest to someone that their computer may be infected, they always say or, think, "It can't be because I have the latest anti-malware security software installed and it scans my computer everyday." Well, believe me when I tell you that some of the latest versions of certain malware are very robust indeed !
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In the past, I have recommended Windows' Security Essentials to our readers and today is no different, except for the fact that a new, 'offline' version of Windows Defender is now available. As usual, it is free (thank you Microsoft) but, and here is the important thing, you download it and run it whilst your computer is not running Windows.
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The program is downloaded and installed onto a CD or, a USB drive/stick which you then, connect to your computer before booting it up. This enables it to scan the places that the other virus protection programs cannot reach. If your computer is infected with a 'nasty' that is hiding in a nook or, a cranny - Windows' Defender will find and zap it !
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The program is not yet due for release, but it is in final beta which means that it is almost ready for release. Our readers can get a sneak preview and download and try it by visiting Windows Defender offline
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The most common computer problem (s)
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