Entries for the ‘RegCure’ Category

13 Nov
2009

Help! My Shell.dll File is Missing (And None of My Programs are Working)!

Posted by Kat

If you have shell.dll missing from your computer, you may be experiencing a number of problems.  The least of these will be an “illegal operation” dialog box that opens up when you try to view a web page or open your favorite program.

What causes shell.dll to go missing?

There can be many reasons for this file to disappear.

The least malicious of them may be that you accidentally deleted the file when you were cleaning out your registry.  This is only one reason you should never try to clean your registry “by hand” (due to the massive potential for error, even many PC technicians won’t touch this job!).

The program may have disappeared during a bad install or uninstall of a program on your computer.  This kind of error is simply caused by bad programming.

A bad install may overwrite the file with another (different) file that, unfortunately, has the same name.  On the other hand, a program could have thought the file was one of its own and deleted it as part of the uninstall process.

The file may also have disappeared if a malicious program such as spyware or a Trojan horse damaged the registry.  Unfortunately, the kinds of programs that remove malicious software, often do not fix the damage that bad software can make to the registry.

One thing you shouldn’t do to replace a missing shell.dll file.

There is one tempting thing you should definitely not do to replace shell.dll (or any other .dll file): You should not download a free replacement from a free download site!  Why?

For one thing, you can never be sure that you are getting the most recently updated version.  Another thing, many of these “free download” sites don’t do a very good job of checking the files that are uploaded to them.  These kinds of sites can be rife with just the kinds of spyware, adware, and viruses that will cause .dll errors in the first place!

You should always go to the source when you need to replace a missing file.  Shell.dll controls many of the API functions in Windows, so it’s best to re-download the file straight from Microsoft.

3 ways to protect yourself from missing .dll files in the future.

Always get the latest updates, patches, and service packs from Microsoft as they become available.  Check for them once a week at the very least.  You can even set your computer to automatically search for these updates in the “Windows Update” section of Control Panel.

Regularly scan your computer with anti-virus and anti-spyware programs.  There are some good free programs available like AVG, Malwarebytes, and Spybot: Search and Destroy.  Download these programs and use them!

Scan your computer for registry errors.  Unfortunately, there are not any free registry cleaners worth recommending at this time (”freeware” versions will sometimes delete the wrong files!).  Legitimate registry cleaners will however offer a free scan up-front so that you can see if you really need to purchase them in order to fix shell.dll errors.

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8 Nov
2009

3 Tips to Help You Get a Clean PC Registry

Posted by Kat

We say a lot about registries, and achieving and maintaining a clean PC registry is at the top of our priority list.  Actually obtaining that clean PC registry can be a bit mystifying, so we’re offering some suggestions that will smooth out the process and leave your registry squeaky clean in no time.

Tip 1: Don’t Ignore the Registry

The Windows registry system is used every time you turn on your PC and multiple times during each computer session.  New entries are constantly being made and are seldom deleted.  Often if they are deleted, their removal is incomplete.

Even with all this activity, the registry has no self-cleaning setting and your computer does not come with a tool to declutter the registry manually.  However, this doesn’t indicate that maintenance should be forgotten.

On the contrary, a bloated registry full of old and corrupted entries from no-longer-existent programs and old settings creates computer errors like the blue screen of death, DLL errors, program crashes, and general processing slowness.  Registry cleaning should be on your list of regular monthly computer maintenance, along with defragging, and using the Check Disk tool.

Tip 2: Leave the Manual Edits to a Professional

You may be thinking of attempting to manually clean your computer’s registry in the interest of saving money (and possibly time, if you were considering leaving your machine with a technician).  Unless you are an out-of-work and bored computer tech, don’t attempt this.

The occasional edit using the proper precautions and the right step-by-step instructions can turn out fine.  A major housecleaning session?  Not only would it be time-consuming, the registry is extremely hard to navigate and one wrong move may make it so that your computer can’t even boot up.  Even a registry back up won’t help you at that point.

Tip 3:  Use a Trusted Registry Cleaner

If we’re nixing the manual method, then we have to give you another option–the registry cleaner.  These programs scan your registry and find all of the errors at once.  Once they uncover all of the errors, you will be able to review the errors and then repair them.

Here’s an extra tip: don’t play with your computer during the repair process.  You don’t want to be creating new entries while the registry cleaner is working on your registry.  This can slow or stop the process.

And it will only take two minutes anyway.  If you regularly use a registry cleaner to obtain a clean PC registry, you will be amazed at how much speed your PC gains and how much more smoothly it runs.

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19 Oct
2009

Why You Must Know the Ins and Outs of Outlook Express Problems

Posted by Kat

It is common these days to have Outlook Express problems. You may know you need to repair Outlook Express, but you may not know how. This is where I come in. I’m going to share with you the most common problems.  Then I’m going to tell you what causes these problems.  After that, I will tell you how to repair your Outlook Express. I feel that everyone should have a clue as to why things go wrong.

Symptoms of Outlook Express Errors
First, the problems you may be encountering.  Any of these will give you headaches:

  • Your Outlook Express may be hanging or crashing
  • You may be unable to send or receive e-mail.
  • You may be receiving excessive spam
  • You can’t open folders.

Common Cause of Outlook Express Errors
Now on to the cause. The cause can simply be put as registry errors.  Since you would have to know how a computer works and something about programming to know what a registry error is, I will put it in layman’s terms.

The registry is the core programming of your Windows operating system. So when something goes wrong in the registry, you will see it in the programs you use daily and the performance of your computer in general.

Fixing Outlook Express Problems
You can try several different avenues for repairing Outlook Express manually, but most of them are just trial and error.  There is no definitive solution.  Start with the easiest one first.  All you have to do is restart your computer.  Sometimes this is enough to reorganize the files and get you on the way.  If it doesn’t work, try this:

  1. Shut down all the other programs and keep Outlook and your Internet Browser open.
  2. Delete all your Temporary Files by going to “Options” in your browser.
  3. Select “Tools” and go to “Delete Temporary Files”.
  4. When the box appears, make sure you select “Delete all offline temporary files”, too.  This will make sure that the temporary files in Outlook will be deleted.

If none of this works, you could always reregister Outlook.  Sometimes compacting the folders within your Outlook program performs wonders, too.  When all else fails, try a registry cleaner to prevent and maintain your computer.

Before you jump right into any old registry cleaner software, research how to repair Outlook Express.  I have found the most helpful and informative options at this website.  Whether you decide to try a manual fix or see if a registry cleaner will catch it, regular maintenance of your registry is necessary in extending the life of your computer.

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4 Oct
2009

How to Get the Most From a PC Update

Posted by Kat

Performing a PC update can seem like an arduous task, but if you perform a few key actions, you will see the most benefit from the least amount of work.  Get the most out of the time you spend on your PC update by checking the following list.

•    Update Your Virus Protection

If you only do one thing on this list, updating your virus protection software should be it.  This includes updating spyware and malware protection as well.  Many of these programs come with automatic updates, but they often run out after a year.  Make sure your protection programs are current and renew the updates if necessary.

•    Take Advantage of Microsoft Updates

One of the easiest ways to update many aspects of your computer at once is to click on that little balloon at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen.  This alerts you as soon as new Microsoft updates are available and will fix many bugs and errors on your computer.  Since this can be a package deal and lets you know automatically that new updates are ready for you, this is a very efficient tool for updating your PC.

•    Update Your Favorite Program

Updating any one of the programs you use the most will give you a quick PC update fix.  Many programs that you use every day, like Microsoft Office or your favorite internet browser, come out with new versions regularly.  Updating these programs will give you greater security, enhanced features, and generally better performance.

•    Update Your Registry

After any of these updates, make sure your Windows registry is also up to date.  Registry entries for old versions of programs or old settings remain in the registry long after the programs are gone and the settings have changed.

Use a registry cleaner in conjunction with a PC update to keep this area of your computer error-free.  Alternatively, you can update your registry with a registry cleaner even without updating anything else, since any previous changes to your PC have already left extraneous information in the registry.

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30 Aug
2009

6 Things You Can Do to Optimize Computer Speed

Posted by Kat

Anyone who owns a PC has experienced a decline in computer speed or performance during the life of their computer.  The main problem concerning computer speed is decreased hard drive function.  This is caused primarily by excess unwanted files on the hard drive, corrupted or fragmented files, backdated software, or the presence of spyware, malware, viruses, or other malicious invaders.

A big step in optimizing your computer speed and performance is to perform a complete computer clean up.  This entails:

  • Running the Check Disk or Error Checking utility, Disk Cleanup utility, Disk Defragment utility, and cleaning up/purging temp files keeps your computer running smoothly.
  • Emptying the recycle bin prior to defragmenting your hard drive clears up needed space.
  • Another way to improve computer speed and performance is to ensure your Windows software is constantly updated.
  • To ensure your automatic updates are turned on, go to Control Panel, select the automatic updates dialogue and check to see that it is turned on.
  • Another important step in optimizing computer speed and performance is to protect it against spyware, malware, viruses, and other malicious invaders.
  • Downloading a good virus blocker and spyware/malware screen will help locate and purge any malicious programs already on your computer and prevent further infestation by screening all internet access to your computer.

Performing all of these options will ensure your computer is running at optimal performance and speed.  Regular PC clean ups will keep your hard drive clean and free of errors, but also download and add a good registry cleaner to this agenda to further enhance computer speed and performance.

Improve your computer speed with a registry cleaner.  A good registry cleaner will not only eliminate and fix all registry errors, but it will also prevent computer crashes and data loss due to these errors.

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13 Aug
2009

Essential Information for Java Script Errors–Don’t Let this One Slip through the Cracks

Posted by Kat

Since encountering a Java Script error can be extremely common, it is important that we cover the basics of what is going on when this happens.  What you can do about it? What do you need to do about it.  If you have already experienced a Java Script error, do not panic: read on.

Is a Java Script Error Just Another Error?

Java Script errors are a little bit different than your average computer error.  This is because they are not actually errors emanating from your computer; rather, seeing this error indicates that the website you are viewing contains an error in its code and may fail to perform properly.  This does not mean that your computer is entirely safe, though, or that you should simply ignore them.

Java Script is the name of a “scripting language.”  If you are familiar with the term “programming language,” this may seem similar.

Programming languages are used to write programs and scripting languages are used to write applications on web pages.  If the code has been written incorrectly or your internet browser is unable to read the code, you see an error message and something doesn’t work right.

Addressing the Java Script Error

In order to stop seeing Java Script errors, you may be able to disable this notification within your browser’s preference settings.  You can also try switching browsers, since what one browser sees as an error may be accessible to another browser.  Many different browsers are available free online.

These measures, however, do not mean that the errors are not occurring–simply that you are no longer seeing their notifications.  They continue to have the ability to create false entries in your PC’s registry, adding to the clutter that may already be clogging it especially if you have never performed any registry maintenance.

The safest way to avoid damage to your computer from Java Script errors is regular maintenance with a registry cleaner.

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3 Aug
2009

Easy Fix for Javascript Error

Posted by Kat

At some point in time while surfing and doing other activities you enjoy on the net, you may encounter a javascript error.  This is very common, and a javascript error usually means that your Windows registry needs repair.  Before you get upset thinking you don’t know how to repair it, you don’t have to.  A good registry cleaner will take care of this for you, and requires only a few short minutes of your time.

You may not realize it, but your PC requires maintenance to perform at its best.  What commonly happens is that over time, you download new programs, install new hardware, and these things may get put in the wrong place in your registry, or place themselves over old programs or files that were never removed.  This causes corrupt and broken files in your registry, and interferes will proper performance.  Occasionally, spyware gets placed on users computers without their knowledge, and this software can damage files in your registry needed for proper functioning.  Your registry is largely responsible for completing the tasks you do when online, so it must be in good order.

Other than receiving messages that may seem totally Greek to you and having javascript problems, you may also notice a few other things.  Often when your registry is in disrepair, your PC will become slow, start up slow, and may even freeze.  You know that it is not running like it once did, but don’t really know why.  A good cleaning of your registry will take care of all of these little annoyances, and make your computer run fast like it did before.

You don’t have to live with these problems, nor do you have to buy a new PC.  If you want your computer to perform like it did when it was new, get the best registry cleaner to repair javascript errors, leaving you with nothing but a highly-optimized PC!

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2 Aug
2009

Need to Repair Outlook? There is a Simple Solution

Posted by Kat

If you need to repair outlook, you may not understand why but just know that you do.  Normally, when you have to repair outlook there is a simple reason – your Windows registry contains files that are broken, missing or corrupt.  This is a process that does not require you to know how to do it yourself.  A registry cleaning tool will do this for you, and all you have to do is click your mouse.

As an average PC user, most likely you don’t understand all of the inner workings of your computer.  You just use it to do the things you enjoy, or to look for products or information.  What usually happens is that people download files such as music, videos, games and other programs, then fail to remove them when they are no longer used.  Eventually, your PC becomes congested with all of the things stored on it.  You may download a new video or music, and it may install itself over a file in your Windows registry that was never removed.  These little things cause files in your registry to become corrupt, and affect the performance of your computer.

Other than strange error messages, you will most likely notice that your PC is not working efficiently.  It may seem slow or sluggish, and may freeze up at times.  This is very common, and happens to most people.  Using a registry cleaner takes care of all of these annoying problems about 97% of the time.  If you fail to repair your Windows registry, it could possibly lead to hardware failure or even a system crash.  This is easily remedied in just a couple of minutes.

If you want to have your computer perform as well as it once did, get the best registry cleaner to repair outlook, leaving you with nothing but a highly-optimized PC!

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1 Aug
2009

Directx Error? What to Do

Posted by Kat

Have you received a directx error?  When you get a directx error displayed to you, it normally means there are errors in your Windows registry that need to be repaired.  Do you have to repair these yourself?  Absolutely not.  Most normal PC users don’t have the technical knowledge to perform these tasks themselves, but a registry cleaning tool will take care of it for you.  It is a simple process that requires only the click of a mouse.

Occasional maintenance is required to keep your PC in top condition, but most people do not realize this.  As time passes and you use your computer on a regular basis, files in the registry become broken or corrupt.  Things you do on your PC get collected in various places on your system, and congestion results.  Your Windows registry often contains files that you no longer use, but fail to uninstall.  Then, when you download new files or programs such as music, videos, games or other software, they often install on top of old files that were not removed.  All of this affects the performance of your computer.

Besides having directx problems, you may also notice that you are getting other strange messages or that your computer has become slow.  Your PC may be sluggish to start up, or it may seem that it takes forever to simply surf the net or open up a link.  All of these problems are most likely taking place because there are erroneous entries in your Windows registry.  This can be taken care of in just two or three minutes with a good registry cleaning tool.

If you are getting annoying messages and having problems with the speed and overall performance of your PC, get the best registry cleaner to repair directx errors, leaving you with nothing but a highly-optimized PC!

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31 Jul
2009

Why You Get An Error Message

Posted by Kat

An error message usually occurs because your Windows registry needs repairing.  When you receive an error message, more than likely it makes no sense to you.  All you know is that you want your PC to work well, and stop displaying these messages.  You do not have to be a techie geek or have any special knowledge in order to fix the problem.  A registry cleaner will scan your PC for errors, and correct the entries for you in just two or three minutes time.

Why does your registry need repairing?  Most users don’t realize that a PC requires maintenance in order to perform well.  The things you do while on your computer cause files in your registry to become corrupt or broken.  Think of all the files you download and other things you do when online.  All of this eventually causes your computer to become congested.  When you never uninstall files and programs that you no longer use, new files may install on top of old ones.  Spyware can also cause problems, as it can corrupt files in your registry that are needed in order for it to function well.

Error problems may not be the only thing you notice.  Most likely your computer doesn’t run as fast as it once did.  It may be slow to start up, or just sluggish in general.  If it seems that you wait longer for links to open or files to download, it is not your imagination.  When your registry needs maintenance, it will cause poor performance.  You may also notice that your PC seems to “freeze up”.  All it needs is a good tune up!

When you use a product to scan your Windows registry, it will detect erroneous files and repair entries, which makes your computer run well again.  It’s a very simple fix, so you should do this any time you start receiving strange messages or notice your PC running slower.  The best registry cleaner will repair error messages, leaving you with nothing but a highly-optimized PC.

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