6 Nov
2009

How to Repair Windows Vista Registry Errors in 6 Easy Steps

Posted by Kat

The high number of people that are searching for answers on how to repair Windows Vista is all too common.  This includes a mottled array of errors such as Trojans, registry errors, unstable security settings, and just general instability of the entire system.

Even though Windows Vista is the second most widely used operating system with 330 million users, the number of complaints quickly led to a new release of an operating system just two years after Vista was released.  Yes, I’m talking about Windows 7, released to the public worldwide in October of 2009.

Using Microsoft Updates has Never Been More Important

However, there are still plenty of people operating off Vista.  Fortunately, there has been a series of updates and service packs issued to try to solve some of the glitches.  It has definitely been a roller coaster of trial and error, leading the end user to ridicule Microsoft for making them the guinea pig.

Therefore, if you haven’t been updating Vista, you should.  However, many people have updated Vista and the updates no longer work.  This is usually due to something going wrong in the past update, creating in error in the system files and the registry.  To fix this, Windows Update will usually prompt you to download the CheckSUR software in order to check for any inconsistencies in the Windows Servicing Store.

Manual Installation of CheckSUR

You may find that you have not been prompted for a CheckSUR download, but you still are locked out of performing any further updates.  To install this:

  1. Go to Start >All Programs >Accessories >Right-click Command Prompt >Click run as administrator
  2. The User Account Control will have a dialog box where you click Continue
  3. Type in: reg add HKLM\COMPONENTS /v StoreCorruptTimeStamp /t REG_SZ /d “0″ /f and Press ENTER
  4. Now type in: reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CheckSUR\ and Press Enter
  5. Download and Install CheckSUR from Microsoft Download Center
  6. Double click the file to run CheckSUR

Whenever you install anything, it is usually a good idea to restart the computer, so the changes may register throughout the whole system on start up.

Other Options for Repairing Windows Vista

Hopefully, this fix works for you.  Sometimes, it is better to just maintain and repair Windows Vista using an advanced registry cleaning tool that will notify you of exactly what the problem is and assist you in keeping the registry clean and happy.  This not only saves you from stressful registry editing, but it also saves you time.

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5 Nov
2009

3 Ways to Speed Up Programs on Your Computer–For Free!

Posted by Kat

Do you want to speed up programs on your computer because your computer slows way down when you run more than two or three programs at a time?  There are several ways to speed up your PC or laptop without breaking the bank.

Use the free tools that Windows provides for system upkeep.

You can make sure all of your software runs faster by using the tools that Microsoft puts on your system.  All versions of Windows come with a disk defragmenter, available in “System Tools” under the Accessories menu.  It’s a good idea to use this tool at least once or twice every month.

It’s also a good idea to check for Windows updates on a regular basis.  This doesn’t just help your computer run faster–it also keeps it safer (though not immune) from viruses and spyware programs.

Check for viruses and spyware on a regular basis

It could be that certain unwelcome software on your computer is causing your programs to run slowly.  In this case, you may be able to speed up programs dramatically by performing a couple of scans with free software.

There are several free anti-virus and anti-spyware programs available online that will do a good job of keeping your computer safe if you use them regularly.  While the upgraded versions often have features that are worth the price you pay, the free versions will work fine just as long as you remember to use them on a regular basis!

It’s best to have at least one anti-virus and one anti-spyware program on your computer.  These days, many programs combine both functions.  Any computer will be safe with three of these programs installed on the hard drive.

Having more than three of these programs in operation on your computer will likely slow down system functioning, without offering a significant increase in protection.  The most important thing isn’t quantity or even quality; the most important thing about these programs is whether or not you remember to use them every week!

Keep your registry clean so that your Windows system doesn’t get bogged down.

One of the prime culprits of slow computer function is a cluttered or damaged registry.  Unfortunately, this is also the least known!

The Windows registry can accumulate damaged, out of date, or erroneous files over time.  This happens for a variety of reasons that usually have nothing to do with the individual computer owner.  Speed up programs on your PC or laptop by running a free registry scan.

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4 Nov
2009

How to Clean Your Computer’s Hard Drive

Posted by Kat

Keeping your hard drive clean is important in maintaining computer performance and running speed.  Follow these simple steps to clean your computer’s hard drive:

  1. To start, do a Windows Update on your laptop.
  2. Go to the Start menu, All Programs, Accessories, and in System Tools, select the Windows Update option.
  3. Make sure you get all available security updates.
  4. To make sure automatic updates are on, go to your Control Panel.
  5. Select Performance and Maintenance.
  6. Go to System.

While You’re at it, Clean up Your Temporary Files
While you’re in the Control Panel, select Internet Options.  Delete temporary files and cookies to clear up disk space.  Also, going to the Start menu and selecting Search, if you select All Files and Folders and type “tmp” and search.  Delete all temp files on your computer.  When you’re done, empty the recycle bin.

Disk Checks, Defragmenting, and Computer Clean Up
Next, perform a disk check, defragment, and disk cleanup on your hard drive.  To do this:

  1. Go to My Computer.
  2. Right-click on the C: drive, select properties.
  3. On the General tab, next to the pie chart showing how much disk space you are using, click the Disk Cleanup button.
  4. When the cleanup is done, delete the suggested files and empty the recycle bin again.
  5. Still in the properties for the C: drive, select the Tools tab.
  6. In turn, perform the Error Checking option and the Disk Defragment option.

Keeping Your Computer Clean
Perform this simple system cleanup to leave your PC running more smoothly by clearing up disk space and correcting errors on your hard disk.  Avoid the need to clean your computer in the future when you download and utilize a good registry cleaner.  The registry cleaner will perform many of the tasks you had to do manually with a system cleanup.


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3 Nov
2009

How to Repair Parse Errors and Speed Up Your Computer

Posted by Kat

If you experience a parse error, chances are either you have delved into the world of writing code or you are trying to install Windows XP from a CD.  In either case, a parse error can be a major interruption to your work.  Fixing an error like this should go along with basic computer maintenance to keep your computer running at peak efficiency and top speeds.

Fixing Parse Errors

A couple of different scenarios could be happening here.  The word parse comes from the Latin root for part of speech and generally refers to checking computer code for syntax errors (things that are basic to the formatting of the code or more simply, how it is notated).

Usually errors of this type refer to missing punctuation such as colons, brackets, or semicolons.  If you are using a program such as Silverlight or another similar program and experiencing a parse error, try searching the program manufacturer’s website for support or browsing support forums.

Another common type of parse error has been encountered when trying to install the Windows XP operating system (OS) onto a computer using a CD.  In this instance, the error appears with the words “Manifest Parse error: Invalid at top level of document.”

It seems that a number of these CDs contain a corrupted CONTROLS.MAN file that needs to be replaced before the OS can be installed.  Instructions for doing this can be found by searching for “manifest parse error.”

Speeding Up Your PC

When fixing these errors it is doubly frustrating if you have to wait forever for your computer to load programs, save files, and finish other tasks.  If your computer crashes and gives you the blue screen of death along the way, you will probably lose your data and need to start over.  If you have been experiencing a general onslaught of computer errors, then fixing your parse error will be even more difficult.

In order to make sure that your computer is able to do the things you ask of it, you need to make sure you are performing routine maintenance on various aspects of your PC.  Defragment the hard drive weekly, keep anti-virus software up-to-date, and run the Check Disk tool.  All of these things will help to prevent general computer errors so that you can smoothly deal with parse errors on your web page, blog, or when installing an OS.

Need More Help?

If your computer is still behaving strangely or suffering from slow processing speeds, you probably need to add a registry cleaner to your maintenance regimen.  Your registry can become clogged with obsolete information and corrupted entries making it hard for programs to perform tasks like fixing a parse error.  Help your computer fix that parse error by running a registry cleaner that will speed up your PC and keep it error-free.

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2 Nov
2009

How to Solve Cetihpz Errors

Posted by Kat

The cetihpz error cetihpz://errors/blank.htm is a common error associated with Hewlett Packard (HP) printers and scanners.  The error appears as a blank blue window that says cetihpz://errors/blank.htm.  It appears whether your computer is offline or on, cannot be exited, and will reappear every time your PC is rebooted.

Don’t Worry: Cetihpz Error is Harmless
One positive piece of information: the error is harmless.  The citehpz error cetihpz://errors/blank.htm will not affect your PC in any way, negative or positive.  It is merely a DLL communications error that occurs when your computer tries to search the Hewlett Packard website for updates.  Little is known about this error and why it occurs other than the fact that it is harmless and, most importantly, it is fixable.

Remove Cetihpz Errors
To effectively get rid of this annoying window, it’s as simple as uninstalling your current HP printer or scanner, rebooting, then reinstalling.  To do this, follow these easy instructions:

  1. On your start menu, open Control Panel.
  2. In the Control Panel window, select the Add or Remove Programs icon.  It may take a few minutes for your computer to populate the list of programs.
  3. Search the list for your HP printer or scanner, and uninstall all software, users guides, and auxiliary programs.
  4. Reboot your computer.

Your computer should be free of that little blue screen and at this time, you can reinstall your printer/scanner safely.  In some cases, merely updating your printer or scanner’s driver can solve the cetihpz://errors/blank.htm error.

Avoid cetihpz erros and similar errors on your PC when you download and utilize a good registry cleaner.  A registry cleaner will fix errors on your computer’s hard drive and prevent headaches from having to figure out how to fix them yourself.

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1 Nov
2009

The First 5 Things You Should Try When You Have a Shliwapi.dll Error

Posted by Kat

Shliwapi.dll errors have a wide ranges of causes and effects.  Today, they are often an inconvenience when using Microsoft Internet Explorer or some other program.  But some people who have experienced problems with this file have had such a hard time accessing their computers, they had to entirely reload Windows onto them!

Fortunately, shliwapi.dll errors don’t have to mean the end of your computer.  Here are the most common procedures to use to fix this kind of problem (this applies to many other .dll errors as well).

Start Windows in Safe Mode if you can’t get Windows to start normally.

In some cases of shliwapi.dll error, Windows may not be able to start properly at all–but you can often start Windows in safe mode instead.  If this is the case, you will likely be given this option when you turn your computer on.

To be honest, this is probably the best way to start Windows even if it’s not giving you trouble at start-up, if you’re dealing with a shliwapi (or any .dll file) error.  This is easy to do.

  • Press F8 when you first see the Windows log appear on your screen.
  • Select “Safe Mode” from the menu, if given more than one choice.
  • Wait for the files to load (you will likely see the names of several files zoom up your screen).
  • Proceed to take care of the error.

A few steps you can take to recover your shliwapi.dll file .

  • If you feel like you may have accidentally deleted the file when you cleaned out your computer, check your recycle bin.  If you find it there, simply restore it and restart your computer as you normally would.
  • Some “freeware” or “shareware” open-source registry cleaners work clumsily on Windows computers and occasionally delete files that they shouldn’t.  If you have recently used one of these, proceed as though you had accidentally deleted it yourself.
  • If neither of those steps are useful, use System Restore.  This will undo any recent changes you have made, restoring your computer to a previous configuration.  Select this option from “System Tools” under the “Accessories” folder in the Start or All Programs Menu.
  • You may also want to run an anti-virus program at this time.

Maintain your computer with a quality registry cleaner.

There are plenty of free “open source” registry cleaners floating around the internet.  While their authors’ intentions are good, these cleaners aren’t generally able to match up to more professionally funded ones.  Fix shliwapi.dll errors (and other registry errors) with professional software built just for that purpose.


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31 Oct
2009

What is Sistray.exe and What is It Doing on My Computer?

Posted by Kat

Found sistray.exe on your computer and don’t know if it should be there or not?  Don’t fret–you’re not the only one.  Fortunately, this program is usually harmless.

Sistray.exe helps with your graphics and is completely harmless–99% of the time.

SiS stands for Silicon Integrated Systems.  The SiS Mirage 3 integrated graphics chip allows computers to smoothly run 3D gaming graphics.  It enables the graphics card to switch clock settings automatically from 3D to 2D, which saves on CPU resources.

Sistray.exe makes it show up in the system tray on your computer.  This is the bar at the bottom-right of your windows screen that shows various icons (such as the Battery icon on laptops, and the Speakers/Volume icon on almost every windows computer in the world).

A malicious file also poses as this file.

It’s not a very common occurrence–but it does happen.  There is a Trojan virus called Prova that has a file called sistray.exe.  The file information will of course not list it as a virus.

How can you know if this file is “the real deal” or not?  Right-click on the icon or the file’s listing in your file manager.  Click on “properties” or “about” to see who or what program owns the file.  If a program other than Silicon Integrated Systems claims it, you may have a malicious file on your hands.

Anti-virus and anti-spyware programs do not take care of the whole problem.

If the sistray.exe file on your computer is from a rogue piece of software, then you definitely should run an anti-virus program to remove the Prova Trojan!

Unfortunately, anti-virus programs often do not clean up the mess that malicious software leaves behind.  You may still have problems with your Windows registry.

The Windows registry is a database that coordinates all of your system’s process files with one another, and with your computer hardware.  Without it, your computer would take way too long to perform even the simplest operation.

Unfortunately, programs like Trojan horses and viruses often leave this database damaged and “confused.”  Even non-malicious programs can leave behind “junk” in the registry when they don’t properly uninstall (many don’t).  The registry also becomes clutter through normal use, by no fault of the computer owner.

Regular application of a registry cleaning program will fix sistray.exe errors, as well as any other errors or damaged files.

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30 Oct
2009

How to Repair an “Out of Memory” Error

Posted by Kat

Trying to finish a task, like saving a final version of a PDF file or something similar, is not fun when you come across an “out of memory” error.  In order to keep from seeing the “out of memory” error and keep your programs functioning efficiently, follow a few of our guidelines.

Memories…  When You Run out of Memory

There are various types of memories–physical memory, random-access memory, and virtual memory–which all work together to store your data and allow you to access it.  The physical memory stores your files, the random-access memory (RAM) helps you retrieve what you need quickly, and the virtual memory, a quirky combination of RAM and physical memory, extends the amount of RAM you have into the physical kind to allow you to run more and bigger programs.

In order to stay on top of how much memory you need, you can do a few things to monitor the amount you are using.  First, if your machine is running more slowly than it used to, Microsoft says this can be a tip-off that you are getting low on space.  Also, that CTRL-ALT-DEL combo will bring up Windows Task Manager, which will show you how much memory you’re using with any given combination of programs.

Types of Memory Errors and What to Do

Various scenarios can trigger an “out of memory” error.  It might be that you have simply used up what you have, in which case, the easy solution is to get more.  This may be in the form of physical disk space (install another hard drive?) or allowing more RAM space on your disk (which can be configured).

Sometimes an “out of memory” error really means you have too much of one type of memory.  If your machine is set to have too much RAM, then not enough virtual memory will be available for larger tasks like saving files to the physical memory.  For a detailed instructions to reconfigure this, search the Microsoft Support Center.  But be warned, it involves editing the registry–make sure you’ve backed up the registry first.

So You Think You Have a Memory Error

It may be that the signs you’re noticing are not really “out of memory” errors after all.  Unless you actually have had an “out of memory” error message occur on your PC, it may be that the slowness you are experiencing is actually a symptom of registry errors lurking on your machine.

Since no tools are included with your PC to clean out the registry, it holds onto old data and errors until you do something about it, which slows the computer down.  Run a registry cleaner to fix the “out of memory” error and remove computer slowness.

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29 Oct
2009

Speed Up and Optimize Computer Performance

Posted by Kat

We want you to get the most from your computer, to optimize computer performance to the level that you won’t want to go back to living with the slow-running, average machine that you’re working with now.  So here are some tips to optimize computer performance and get you the speed you need.

First Steps toward Computer Optimization

The very first thing we recommend is to make sure that your anti-malware programs are up-to-date.  This can include virus protection, spyware protection, and other security threat prevention programs.  Depending on what you use your computer for, you may need to consider a firewall program.

Whatever your protection, make sure the updates do not expire, because new viruses and spyware are being created all the time, and old software simply will not find the new bugs.

Next, get into a routine of backing up your files regularly.  It doesn’t matter what system you pick (manual, an internet storage company, a software program).  What matters is that you do it.  Not only will this protect you from a loss of data, but it should get you deleting obsolete files and programs as you notice them, which will free up space on your computer, boosting speed and performance.

Clean House to Boost Performance

Your PC comes with various tools built in that will increase efficiency and optimize performance.  One such tool is the Disk Defragmenter.  Fragmentation is the name given to the process of breaking down files into chunks that fit the blocks of available space on your hard drive.  It takes a computer longer to access files that have been fragmented because the disk has to spin to several places to retrieve one file.

Running the Disk Defragmenter will put the files back together and leave the empty space all together to prevent further file fragmentation. (Run a search of your computer to find this tool, since its location varies depending on what version of Windows you’re running.)  Of course, as more programs are deleted, space frees up in inconvenient places again, so this is something to do monthly.

The Check Disk program is another tool provided with your PC.  This one repairs errors on your hard disk that may be caused by improper shut downs or program crashes.  These errors can lead to further errors.  So, in order to keep your computer performing optimally, you’ll need to fix the errors as they come.  Microsoft recommends doing this once a week.

Realize Your Need for Speed

Finally, to really boost speed, run a registry cleaner to optimize computer performance and target the errors on your Windows registry.  These errors can be responsible for a host of error messages and symptoms.   With a clean registry, your computer will run faster than you can remember!

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28 Oct
2009

3 Ways to Speed Up Loading Time for Your PC or Laptop

Posted by Kat

If you’ve had your computer for more than a couple of months, you’re probably at the point where you want to speed up loading time for your programs or your computer in general.

Defragment your hard drive.

It’s easy to defragment your hard drive–and this can really speed up loading for your files, programs, and operating system.  Fortunately, this is just about the easiest maintenance you can perform on your computer.

  • Click on the Start menu.
  • Select “Accessories” (you may have to click on “All Programs” to see this).
  • In the Accessories menu, select “System Tools”
  • Click on the Disk Defragmenter
  • Run it!

Do this at least once a month.  If your computer sees heavy use, go ahead and run it every week or two, even if it tells you that you don’t need to.  This will speed up loading for everything on your computer and help keep it running smoothly.

Root out all spyware from your system!

These days, spyware is just a fact of life for most people.  It doesn’t have to be.

Spyware eventually appears on most computers as a way for advertisers to keep track of various marketing information.  Some spyware is actively dangerous to your computer, while other spyware “merely” slows your computer down.

There are a variety of anti-spyware programs on the market today. Some offer free versions, while others are free (with a donation box, of course!)

Download one or two of these programs and run them every week or so.  Every time you catch and delete a new spyware program, you’ll be glad you did.

Make sure your registry is clean and in good working order.

Spyware, adware, and other malicious programs can leave errors on your computer that anti-spyware and anti-virus programs do not remove. These problems usually reside in the Windows registry, which is a routing database for all the “action” files for all of your programs.

Malicious programs often leave behind their malicious traces in this database, as anti-spyware and anti-virus programs do not also act as registry cleaners.

In addition, this database can become cluttered and damaged from a variety of factors over time.

A cluttered, damaged, or out-of-date registry is the most common culprit for slow-loading, slow-running computers.  Most reputable registry cleaners offer free scans to anyone interested.  Speed up loading times on your computer by scanning your computer today!


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