Entries for December, 2009

31 Dec
2009

Psapi.dll Errors: Causes and Solutions

Posted by Kat

A psapi.dll error can be an easy error to fix, but a difficult problem to troubleshoot. You can several things to fix the error, but each process depends on the nature and source of the error.

For instance, a psapi error can be caused by a poorly installed program, a hardware or driver issue, viruses, or registry problems (corrupt or missing files in your registry).

The psapi.dll file is a necessary system and program file, so under no circumstances should you manipulate it manually.

What You’ll Want to Do to Troubleshoot the Psapi Error

Since psapi problems can come from so many sources, you’ll need to approach the problem from different angles.

If you are absolutely sure of the source, then follow the instructions listed. If you are not exactly sure of the source, then you’ll want to go through each of these steps to see which might correct your problem.

  • Outdated copy of dll: Windows releases different service packs and updates that may change the nature of your dll files. If your updates are not current, then go to the website to update them first.
  • Missing dll: Run system check by opening up the command screen (Start > Run for XP) and typing in “sfc /scannow”. This process should replace any missing dlls, and it only takes a few minutes.
  • You receive error when starting a program: It is probably a poorly installed program. Uninstall the program and reinstall it. This should provide the program with the missing dll.
  • Hardware/driver problem: Go to your manufacturer’s website and be certain you have the correct and current drivers for each of your pieces of hardware (video card, sound card, motherboard, etc.)

How to Deal With Viruses

Viruses like to infiltrate your system registry files (like dll) because they are difficult to delete, hard to manually detect, and cause root problems for many of your system functions.

However, running a few deep scans with a reliable antivirus program should take care of the problem.  I recommend doing this first because cleaning your computers of potential viruses is always a great idea.

Always maintain a firewall for security purposes. This is often overlooked by many PC users.

Clean Out Your Registry

An organized, clean registry is key for optimal PC use. The registry is the area that many of your critical system files are stored. It also tends to collect bits of programs and cache data.

If you want optimum performance and security, you’ll want to keep your registry organized. Download a registry cleaner here to deal with psapi.dll errors, and you’ll find out a lot of helpful troubleshooting tips, tricks, and strategies.


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30 Dec
2009

3 Steps to Troubleshoot and Fix Psapi.dll Registry Errors

Posted by Kat

Psapi.dll problems can manifest in several different ways on your machine. Because of this, you may need to try different approaches to fix psapi.dll errors, depending on the cause of the error.

This dll error can occur during program installation, or even during Windows start and shutdown processes.

If you get a psapi error, it will probably look like one of these:

  • “Psapi.dll Not Found”
  • “This application failed to start because psapi.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.”
  • “Cannot find [PATH]\psapi.dll”
  • “The file psapi.dll is missing.”
  • “Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: psapi.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again.”

Pay attention to which error message you receive because it will be specific to how you’ll want to troubleshoot the problem.

Reinstall the Program Giving You the Error Message

If you’re receiving the error message only when you are using certain programs and not others, then it is probably because the program is missing the psapi.dll file that it needs to access in order to run properly.

The easiest fix is to uninstall and reinstall the problem program. I recommend uninstalling first because when you simply reinstall a new copy of a program over an old one it will overwrite files. I find that overwriting can potentially cause errors and buggy installations.

Installing a new copy of the program should supply the copy of psapi.dll that the program needs to run.

Use System Restore to Return to an Earlier Version of Windows

If you’ve been tweaking your system recently, and are now getting the previous error message, then it is likely that you’ve accidentally manipulated or removed a necessary file.

The best solution, in this situation, is to restore your Windows to a previous restore point. I don’t often recommend using System Restore, but in situations like these, it can certainly be a time-saver.

Remove All Virus, Trojan, and Malware from your PC

You’d be surprised at how often a system error is caused by a simple virus. Sometimes people think their whole system is dead, when, in fact, all they need to do is clean it out.

A good antivirus program should have a firewall option, as well. I prefer to use antivirus firewalls over the Windows firewall because the antivirus programs tend to update sooner for new viruses. Your mileage may vary.

Also, check out a good registry cleaner to fix psapi.dll. Sometimes dll files can become corrupted in the registry, and this can prevent necessary programs from accessing them properly.


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29 Dec
2009

Update Your Computer and Clean Your Registry to Fix Lsass.exe Error and Destroy the Sasser Virus

Posted by Kat

Unfortunately, the lsass.exe error is a pretty common problem for Windows users, considering that Microsoft delayed the security update until after several people contracted the Sasser virus.

The Sasser virus is the most often implicated source of the error, although it really isn’t the only source.  According to one source, the only time the error is a virus problem is when the error is listed as an “Lsass” error rather than “lsass” (the “L” is uppercase in the instance of viral infection).

If it is not a virus, then it is likely a registry error. Since it is difficult to troubleshoot the registry properly, I recommend a registry cleaner. However, you can never be too safe, so I recommend covering all your bases.

Disable Windows Automatic Shutdown Process

To begin your troubleshooting, you’ll need to disable the restart that the error causes.

There are two easy ways to do this.

  1. Go to Start > Run, and in the box type “shutdown –a”
  2. If that doesn’t solve your problem, then you’ll want to follow these steps
  • Go to your Control Panel and click the System tab
  • Under Startup and Recovery, click Settings
  • Uncheck “Automatically Restart” under “System Failure”

Either of these two methods should do the trick for you. Really, it just depends on which you are more comfortable with.

Note: The first option might reset on reboot, so the second method should “stick” even when you reboot.

Update Your Windows, Critical Update Regarding “Sasser” Virus

Update your system security in regards to the Sasser virus Windows critical update.

As I stated before, Windows was a bit slow concerning this protection, but you’ll be able to find it now at Microsoft’s website. After updating, you’ll want to install and maintain a good firewall on your system to absolutely prevent further infection.

Since I don’t personally trust Microsoft’s capacity to prevent further infection on my computer, I prefer to take other safeguards to insure the prevention of viruses.

Destroy the Sasser Virus

The lsass.exe file can be found in your registry. It is a Windows System file that can be infected or counterfeited.

NOTE: Unless you are a professional, I advise to NOT manually manipulate your registry. It is a rather complex system that, if tweaked improperly, can damage your system.

Rather than manually tweaking your registry and Windows System files, download a good antivirus program and scan your computer.

You’ll also want to download a registry cleaner to fix lsass.exe errors, whether it is a virus or a registry error. Registry cleaners will help prevent the possibility of further infection by keeping the sensitive files in your registry in order.


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28 Dec
2009

Backup the Registry and Repair Windows Vista Errors

Posted by Kat

Believe it or not, it’s possible to repair Windows Vista errors before they emerge. In fact, backing up your registry will help you both prevent and repair Windows Vista errors.

What is the Registry?

The registry stores everything that has ever transpired on your computer. I know, this sounds like an overstatement, but it’s not. Your registry logs even the slightest adjustments to the system. It’s like a huge repository that keeps track of the processes, applications, and settings on your computer.

It’s probably obvious that it’s extremely important to keep the registry running smoothly. However, the registry can be prone to problems. Malicious registry keys, corrupt files, and obsolete information can all ravage your system violently.

How to Backup the Registry

The best way to prevent severe registry errors is to back up the registry on a consistent basis. Windows Vista does not offer automatic backups for the registry, so you will need to learn how to manually backup the registry. You’ll need to do this by using the Registry Editor.

You can make all of your manual edits to the Registry through the Registry Editor.  If you wish, you can backup the entire registry, or you can simply backup portions of the registry. In this article, we’ll teach you how to backup the entire registry. Follow these steps:

  1. Click Start.
  2. Click Run.
  3. Type “regedit” in the text box.
  4. Press Enter.
  5. The Registry Editor is now open. Click File.
  6. Go the Export option, and click it.
  7. Enter a name for the backup registry. Make sure you give it a name you will remember.
  8. Under the Export Range heading, select All. This way you will backup the entire registry.
  9. Click Save.

Now you can revert to the saved registry if you ever encounter difficult errors.

If you own the Enterprise, Ultimate, or Business editions of Windows Vista, then you can use Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore. This function essentially backs up your entire system, including your registry, operating system, user settings, applications, and files. You should definitely take advantage of this tool if you can use it.

How Registry Cleaners Make it Easy to Backup the Registry

Finally, a registry cleaner is a wonderful program for backing up the registry. The majority of registry cleaners offer backup shortcuts, making it very easy to back up the registry. These programs also work thoroughly to scan your machine for errors and remove them.

Registry cleaners are some of the most efficient programs at resolving errors. Repair Windows Vista errors by backing up the registry and using a trusted registry cleaner.


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27 Dec
2009

Restore Your Computer’s Sound and Repair a Common Windows Vista Error

Posted by Kat

If you are running Vista and you can’t hear any sound coming from your speakers or headphones, it’s likely you’ve run into a common Windows Vista error. You can easily fix this Windows Vista error by adjusting a few settings within Vista.

Confirm your Sound Card Settings

Firstly, it’s important to identify what type of sound card is installed on your computer. A functioning sound card is necessary to produce audio output on your system. Here’s how to check the status of your sound card:

  1. Click Start.
  2. In the Start search field, type the word “Device.”
  3. In the Programs list, select Device Manager.
  4. The Device Manager window will open. Look at the “Sound, Video, and Game Controllers” category. If a sound card is listed within this category, then an entry will be displayed there.

Adjust your Device and Driver Status

If a black exclamation point or a yellow triangle is displayed next to the sound card entry, then your sound card is malfunctioning.  You need to find out what is causing this problem. There is a common bug wherein Vista cannot recognize your audio driver. To fix this issue, follow these steps:

  1. Right click on the sound card entry.
  2. Select Properties.
  3. Within the General tab, check the Device Status informational box. This box will display information regarding your sound card.
  4. Sometimes a Driver is responsible for interruptions in sound output. Open the Driver tab. Here, you can roll back, uninstall, or update your driver. This often works effectively to resolve audio problems.

If you have ostensibly fixed the issue, but your external speakers are not producing any sound, then it is possible that a hardware mishap is causing problems. Try the following:

  1. Make sure that your speakers are connected to a power source and that you have switched them on.
  2. Open the speakers’ installation manual to confirm that you have connected the speakers to the proper inputs on your computer.
  3. Push all connectors firmly into their sockets to ensure that each connection is well established.

Attack the Source of the Problem: Registry Errors

If audio errors persist, then it is likely that registry errors are interfering with your system’s audio. As a result, you need to run a registry cleaner. A registry cleaner will pinpoint the source of the problem and resolve it.

Many audio problems have their roots in the registry. It’s possible to manually edit the registry, but a registry cleaner is a safe and effective way to fix audio problems. Repair the Windows Vista error associated with audio output and learn more about how to prevent other Vista errors.

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26 Dec
2009

Fix Svchost.exe and Speed Up Your Computer

Posted by Kat

Do you need to fix svchost.exe so that it stops causing errors? Fix svchost.exe and prevent that irksome bug from interrupting your work. Fortunately, there are a plethora of methods you can use to resolve svchost.exe problems. Today we’ll discuss how Process Explorer can help solve svchost.exe errors.

Confirm that the Enemy is an Svchost.exe Error

First, make sure that you have positively identified an svchost error as the cause of your problem. You can do this by analyzing Task Manager. Task Manager lists all applications and processes currently running on your computer.

One of the easiest ways to detect an svchost error is to look for the CPU capacity bug. Svchost is notorious for introducing a bug wherein svchost takes up 99 to 100% of CPU capacity. So, here’s how to identify this bug:

  1. Click Start
  2. Type “Task Manager” into the search text box.
  3. Open Task Manager.
  4. Click on the Processes tab. You’ll probably see that multiple versions of svchost are running. If you see an inordinate number of svchost processes, it’s probable that your system has a bug. Also, take a look at the amount of memory that each svchost.exe file is using. If one is taking up a huge amount of memory, then you know that this process is the culprit.
  5. Click “End Process.”

Examine Processes to Find the Real Culprit

You have to look beyond the surface to find the cause of svchost.exe errors. Svchost essentially hosts and executes OTHER processes (.DLL files). As such, it is usually one of the services associated with svchost that causes the error.

While ending the process might work temporarily, it’s good to root out the problem once and for all. To do this, you’ll need to open Process Explorer. If you don’t already have Process Explorer, it’s readily available for download. Now, assuming you’ve got Process Explorer, here are the steps you should follow:

  1. Open Process Explorer.
  2. All processes will be displayed in the left pane. Hover your mouse over the suspected perpetrator of the error (one of the svchost.exe processes.)
  3. A list of all services associated with that process will pop up.
  4. Click Go To Services.
  5. Disable whichever services are creating the error.

Terminate Services and Clean the Registry to Solve Svchost.exe Problems

It’s often quite easy to identify which service is causing errors. Simply take note of which program tends to foment these errors. Then, terminate services associated with that program.

Sometimes the svchost.exe error will elude you completely. If this is the case, download and use a registry cleaner. A registry cleaner will scan the most cavernous and complex part of your system, the registry, and dig out svchost.exe errors. This is a great alternative, and you should try it if the above methods don’t resolve your problem. Fix svchost.exe problems and prevent them from ever bothering you again.


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25 Dec
2009

How Updates Fix the Svchost Error

Posted by Kat

An svchost error is one of the most common and irritating errors that can affect PCs. If you have encountered an svchost error, then it’s important to resolve the matter as soon as possible. After all, svchost errors are notorious for interfering with crucial system processes.

Disable Automatic Updates

An svchost problem can pop up at any time, but they most frequently appear upon startup or shutdown. There are a lot of purported methods for fixing this error. These methods can quickly tweak your operating system’s settings in a manner that destroys the svchost error.

Turning off your Automatic Updates can help fix svchost.exe errors. Here’s how to turn off automatic updates.:

  1. Click Start.
  2. Click Control Panel.
  3. Select System.
  4. Go to the Automatic Updates tab.
  5. Click Turn Off Automatic Updates.

Perform Manual Updates

After you turn off Automatic Updates, you’ll need to reboot your computer. Then, perform a manual Windows update. This is how to accomplish a manual Windows update:

  1. Open a web browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, etc.
  2. Type WindowsUpdate.Microsoft.com into the Address Bar.
  3. Press Enter.
  4. You will be redirected to a page that displays “Welcome to Windows Update.”
  5. Look for the “Scan for Updates” text.
  6. Select Scan for Updates.

At this point, the Microsoft site will audit your computer to detect which updates you need to implement. Generally, updates are divided into two categories: critical  updates and non-critical updates. Make sure you apply critical updates first, because these updates are often necessary to perform further system maintenance.

Once you’ve selected Scan for Updates, you’ll be redirected to a Review and Install Updates screen. Here’s how to move forward:

  1. Click “Review and Install Updates.”
  2. The “Total Selected Updates” page will now be open.  Here, each update will be displayed along with that update’s function. If you wish to omit one of these updates, you can simply deselect that update.
  3. Click “Install Now.”
  4. You’ll need to accept a License Agreement before installing updates. Click “Accept” and your computer will begin installing the updates.

After you have installed these updates, then restart your computer again. Go into Automatic Updates and turn them on one more time. Many times, this will resolve the svchost error.

Repairing Svchost Errors through the Registry

Sometimes the Automatic and Manual Updates tactic does not work to fix svchost problems. In fact, you can often find that registry problems are causing these errors. If this is the case, then try to clear your registry with a registry cleaner.

A registry cleaner is another battle-tested method for fixing svchost errors. Download a strong registry cleaner and put it to work immediately. You’ll notice a swift resolution of svchost errors. Your system will run smoothly, as well. Repair the svchost error and keep your computer running efficiently.

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24 Dec
2009

Get Rid of Registry Errors! Fix rundll32.exe in Just Minutes!

Posted by Kat

Registry errors can be a major problem for your computer, causing system freezes and other problems with Windows (most notably, the blue screen of death). Luckily, there are several things you can do to fix rundll32.exe errors.

Rundll32.exe errors are usually expressed as “Run a DLL as an App has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.” You’ll usually get this error message on shutdown and startup.

How Do I Know if I Have Rundll32.exe Problems?

You should know that this file is an integral file for Windows (as are most dll files). However, they can often become problematic for a few reasons.

1)    You have a virus that is hiding in your Windows registry

2)    You have faulty programs that cannot properly access the files that it needs

These are the two main reasons for the error, and luckily there are some basic things that you can do to troubleshoot your problems.

Faulty Programs Can Cause Major Issues

If a program or process cannot properly find or index the file that it needs to run, then you’ll get a dll message.

The first thing you can do is run through each program that you’ve downloaded or uninstalled recently (since you’ve gotten the error message).

What you’ll want to do is uninstall each newly downloaded program. If you have recently uninstalled a program, you’ll want to install it again and run it through the uninstallation to make sure that it was done properly.

Improperly installed or uninstalled programs will give you a dll error because the program is, for some reason or another, still trying and failing to access a file.

Infected Registry or Other Virus Problems

Viruses like to infect the registry because it serves as a vulnerable backdoor into your Windows operating system.

Through this (often unguarded) backdoor, the virus gains a foothold into your system and proceeds to infect other files (propagation).

Luckily, these problems can be solved with a simple antivirus scan. Check for any virus, malware, spyware, adware, and Trojan horses. All of these are becoming more and more common.

Your registry can often contain fragments of programs as well. It is a good idea to keep your registry clean and organized in order to reduce possible vulnerabilities in your system.

Download a registry cleaner to fix rundll32.exe system errors here and find out more about how you can keep your computer clean and organized.


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23 Dec
2009

Keep Your PC Running Fast when You Speed Up Windows Vista

Posted by Kat

Most people don’t know that you can easily speed up Windows Vista with a few easy tweaks to your system.

Excellent PC care and maintenance can go a long way and extend the life of your PC or laptop tremendously. Follow these simple methods and you should see a marked increase in your computer speed.

Remove and Disable Excessive Vista Features

Windows Vista has a lot of features, but, unfortunately, these features can take up a lot of processing space that could be used for other features. Also, it is likely that the average user won’t be using several of these features.

  • If you don’t want to disable Aero, definitely turn off its “glass transparency” setting. (It uses a lot of memory)
  • Disable Aero. Though it may look snazzy, it might slow down your PC more than you think.
    Right click on the desktop and select “Personalize”
    Go to Window Color and Appearance
    “Open classic appearance…”
    Select any preferred option but Aero
  • Disable the sidebar. Widgets like these are actually just memory hogs.

Speed Up Your Startup

An excellent way to speed up your startup time is to remove the unnecessary programs that run during startup (and Vista can have a lot of those).

  • Open msconfig (press the Windows key and type ‘System’)
  • Select the Startup tab
  • Deselect any process that you don’t want to load on startup

I suggest doing some research on which processes you want to keep and which ones are completely unnecessary for your every day usage.

You probably won’t find many of them useful or applicable. That’s why it’s best to remove them.

Also, you can still access and run them if you need them, but they won’t be slowing up your Windows load time if you disable them.

System Registry Cleaners

The Windows registry is a database that stores settings and options. It stores information for hardware, software, and user settings.

It is also a window into kernel operation (the operating system’s central component).

The registry is accessed very frequently, which can make it even larger and more disorganized. It is a very complex part of your computer, so editing it manually isn’t an option. Your best bet is to download a registry cleaner.

You can download an excellent registry cleaner here to help you speed up Windows Vista and make sure that your registry maintains a clean and error-free database for your system to access.

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22 Dec
2009

Little Known Tricks to Speed up Windows XP–Keep Your PC Running Lean

Posted by Kat

There are several tips and tricks to speed up Windows XP. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a hacker. The processes are actually quite simple.

Just follow these directions and you’ll find that you’ll be running Windows faster in no time.

Speed Up Your Startup Time

If your Windows is booting up inordinately slow, then you’ll want to read up on these tips to really speed up the process.

1)    Disable Startup Services

There are certain services and processes that are running in the background that can slow down your performance. Using these methods, disable the unnecessary processes and you can speed up your speed significantly.

  • Go to Start > Run
  • Type “services.msc” in the box
  • You’ll see a list and description of services running
  • Here is a list of services that you might want to disable:

Portable Media Serial Number
Task Scheduler Schedules
Uninterruptible Power
Automatic Updates
Telnet
Wireless Zero Configuration Service
Alerter
Background Intelligent Transfer Service
ClipBook
Computer Browser
Error Reporting Service
Help and Support
Indexing Service
IPSEC Services
Messenger
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
Network DDE
Network DDE DSDM
Performance Logs and Alerts
Portable Media Serial Number
QOS RSVP
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
Remote Registry
Secondary Logon
Server
Smart Card
Smart Card Helper
SSDP Discovery Service
System restore Service
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Uninterruptible Power Supply
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
WebClient
Windows time
Wireless Zero Configuration
WMI Performance Adapter

2)    Clean out Scheduled Tasks folder.

  • Go to C:\Windows\Tasks
  • If you don’t want to run any of these programs on a schedule, delete the shortcuts.

Speed Up Your Shutdown Times

When you’re tweaking your computer, adding or updating programs, or installing updates, you’ll be restarting your PC frequently. Sometimes Windows can seem to take forever to shut down.

Avoiding clearing your paging file can speed up your shutdown times. A paging file stores temporary files and data. Unless you’re absolutely worried about extreme security (sometimes passwords can be stored in the paging file) every time you shut down, then go ahead and disable this process.

Follow these steps to reduce your shutdown times:

  • Go to Start > Run and type “regedit” in the box
  • Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management
  • Change ClearPageFileAtShutdown to 0
  • Restart your computer

Scan Your System with an Antivirus and Registry Cleaner

Viruses and registry errors can really slow a system down. I recommend a deep antivirus scan weekly, especially if you like to download files off the internet.

A registry cleaner will clear up a lot of system errors and clean out useless program fragments (which are stored in your registry). For more information on how to speed up windows XP, check here to see how you can keep your PC running as quickly as possible.


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