Monday, April 29, 2013

Steps To Repair A Microsoft Mouse


A computer mouse allows you to move the cursor on the screen with ease. The mouse helps the user to select, open applications with ease. It can be annoying when your mouse is not operating correctly. How to fix the problems with your mouse? Follow the steps below to troubleshoot your Microsoft mouse with ease.  

Microsoft repair instructions to fix Microsoft mouse

• Check the battery status if you are using a wireless mouse. If the battery levels have fallen, replace the batteries. Usually mouse batteries will last for long, but once it starts fading off, it will deplete at a faster rate. A jumping cursor can often notify you about this issue.
• Sometimes faulty USB port connections can also affect the mouse’s performance. A jumping cursor may also result from a faulty USB connection port. Try reconnecting the mouse into a new port. This will fix the issue if the problem was with the port.
• Keep the mouse surface and mouse pad clean. Excess debris and dust on the pad can cause issues. It can prevent the mouse from working properly. Debris and dust in excess can prevent the mouse roller from working well, thereby compromising the mouse pointer movement. Use cotton cloth or a soft cloth to dust off the dirt and excess debris. You may also use isopropyl alcohol to remove the dust off the mouse surface completely. Clean the entire surface and allow it to dry before proceeding.
• Launch the Start menu. From the Start menu, click on the label that reads My Computer.  From the My Computer window, select the label that reads Properties. Wait for your system to launch the Properties window. From the Properties window, select the Hardware tab. Scroll down the hardware tab and select the label that reads Device Manager. Scroll down the list until you find the mouse entry in the list of hardware devices. Right click and select the label Update Driver from the menu. This will make the browser search for the most up-to-date driver update.
• Click on the Start orb placed on the bottom left corner of the desktop home screen. From the pop up, select the label that reads Control Panel. Double click the Mouse label. This will launch the Mouse Pointer settings tab. Set the desired mouse speed.
Follow the above Microsoft repair tips to fix the issues with your mouse pointer. For more support and help on the same, feel free to drop into our tech blogs and forums.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Why Windows Xp Computer Fail To Start Successfully?


When Microsoft first launched the Windows XP operating system, there were a lot of issues with its different applications and features. Realizing that this needed to be fixed, Microsoft later introduced various Service Packs and updates, which fixed most of Windows XP’s problems, making it a very popular OS among household and professional circles.
Microsoft is very keen on providing the latest updates and patches to Windows users, so that they get the best of user experience possible. But despite all this, users may still find problems while using their Windows computers. Sometimes your computer may fail to start successfully. At these times, Windows stops loading, making it impossible to login to the OS. There could be several reasons behind this. The below mentioned Windows XP Support guidelines list a few reasons as to why your computer fails to start successfully.

Corrupted Windows Registry

Windows keeps detailed information about everything that is installed on your computer, in a database called Windows registry. The Windows registry keeps getting updated whenever you make any changes in your computer. But if any of the registry file get corrupted or damaged, it will affect your system stability badly, sometimes making Windows fail to load. Use a good system registry tool to repair such registry errors. For the healthy functioning of your computer, Windows registry has to be maintained well.

Problem with the boot sequence

During the normal boot sequence, Windows usually loads Master Boot Record (MBR), partition tables, the boot sector and the NTLDR file. If one of these elements is damaged or corrupted, Windows XP will fail to load, and won’t start successfully. In such a case, you need to replace those damaged files. You can use the Windows XP installation CD to perform the repair, and replace the damaged files with working ones.

Check whether there is a disk in the drive

If you have unintentionally left a disk in your computer optical drive, Windows will then scan the disk for startup information. If it is other than the XP installation CD, Windows will stop the scanning and will load afterwards. However, it the disk is scratched or dirty, the scanning will go on forever, stopping Windows from loading. Simply remove the disk and reboot your computer to get it working again.
In case you find it hard to fix any such issues, get Windows XP support from the Microsoft tech team, and get your problem fixed at the earliest.

Monday, April 1, 2013

How To Retrieve A Lost MSN Password?


Though a beginner at using a computer, I hold an MSN email account for sending and receiving emails. I already think this email reader platform is more secure than similar programs existing within the system market. In order to prevent unauthorized access to my account, I utilize the password protection feature in MSN Messenger. Unfortunately, I forget the assigned password, and this makes me incapable to access my MSN account. This is where I  spent time thinking what to do. Not for long though; I invoked the Windows Online support team and reported my issue. Detailed below are the instructions provided by them for retrieving a lost password in Windows Live Messenger.

Guidelines to follow


  • Visit the Hotmail.com website and click on the link marked Forgot your password? Normally this link is located at the right-hand side of the MSN login window. As soon as you click that link, a new window gets displayed, and you have to input your MSN Messenger ID there. When done, click OK.
  • Then you can see a captcha at the lower part of the window. Type the characters that you see in the box without any mistakes. This is to help Windows Live Messenger to verify your password request and also prevents unauthorized axis to the MSN email account. When finished, hit the Continue button.
  • Input an email address where you wish to send the new password. Now go through the Password reset instructions, to perform the retrieving action smoothly. 
  • Now login to you alternative email account, and check your Inbox to locate the email message with the subject entitled Reset your Windows Live password. When done, open the particular email messages and click on the provided link in the email message. Now you will be redirected to a new window where you can assign a new password for your MSN account.
  • Type a new password in the password field. You have to retype the password again for confirming it. When done, hit the Continue tab.
  • Now select a question and answer, and this will help you to retrieve the password when you fail to remember it. When done, click the Continue tab to finish the retrieving process.

By following the above instructions, you can easily retrieve a lost password in MSN Messenger. For more information on MSN features and functions, visit the Windows Online Support website.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Problems With Updating Vista


When we install an operating system or a software program, we would like it to be updated so that errors can be avoided. If you have Windows Vista installed on your computer, you could avail Windows Update, which is a free service that helps to keep the operating system updated. The updates of Vista will be downloaded automatically onto your computer, and after checking the updates, you may get them installed. If you have a look at the updates you would find that some are highlighted as Important, which means they are assigned higher priority for installation. Sometimes Vista does not update, and to solve this you need to troubleshoot the Windows Update operation. You can also seek assistance by contacting Microsoft chat support.
Let us check the instructions to guide you through fixing this issue.

Instructions

• You may click on the Start button on your desktop, and in the search bar, type “Windows Update”, and then click Enter. This would open up the Windows Update window, showing the present status.
• On the main Windows Update window or on the left panel, you would find View Update History, which you need to click. This would display the updates that have been installed successfully, and those which have failed to install.
• Check for the updates that have failed to install, and right click them. This will show a new screen with the installation error code, and information about the failed installation.
• Note down the error code.
• On the Windows update page that displays the error code, select Get Help with this Error. This will open up a new window called Windows Help and Support. This will have the instructions to fix the error code. You may follow the instructions thus provided, to solve this issue.
• At the top of Windows Help and Support page, you would find a search box to enter the error code. After that, type in the error code and hit the Enter key.
• If you are not able to find any solution for the problem, you may contact the Microsoft Chat support team. At the top of Windows Help and Support window, you would find Ask Someone or Expand Your Search. Selecting this will help you to start a chat with the support team or to make a telephone call with the support agent.
Try out these tips to solve your problems with updating Vista. Contact MS support if you have doubts on the same.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Some Info On Contacts Feature And The Global Address Book On MS Outlook


Among the varieties of software on offer from Microsoft, MS Outlook is definitely one that holds the “most popular” tag. It is a personal information management software from Microsoft, and helps users to send and receive emails from the desktop itself. It contains many useful tools and features, such as a calendar tool, note tools and a task manager. Here is some information on the Contacts feature in the MS Outlook program, and the Outlook address book.
A short definition
Although Microsoft Outlook program is a powerful program that consists of many features such as the ones mentioned above, it is primarily used as a desktop medium to send and receive emails by most users. It contains a Contacts feature and a Global Address Book, both of which are quite useful. The users can access the contact information of people that they come into contact with on a regular basis, through these features. However, there are slight differences when it comes to the storage of contact information in the Contacts feature and in the Global Address Book. In the Contacts feature, the information stored is usually that of the external contacts or personal contacts, while the contact information stored in the Global Address Book is that of the other employees in a company. The contact information is stored in such a way because the Global Address Books are stored on an Exchange Server, and as such can be shared with the other employees of the company.
Editing restrictions
Since the Contacts feature is stored physically on a computer, they can be edited by the users. Therefore, it is possible to edit the contact information, add new contacts to the Contacts, and delete contacts etc. But, in the case of Global Address Books, it can only be edited by a system administrator. This can be a very important restrictive feature, since both of these contain contact information. To home users, both the Contacts and the Global Address Book are editable.
Storing contact information can thus turn out to be an important decision, considering the different features of both the Contacts and the Outlook Address Book. Usually, it is the Global Address Book that contains information pertaining to the employees of an organization, and the Contacts that contains information of external contacts. These are only subtle changes, and it won’t be that much of a difference when the home users are considered.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Instructions For Disabling Automatic Updates In MSN Messenger


MSN Messenger, now known as Windows Live Messenger, is an instant messaging application that comes pre-installed with Windows operating systems. By default some of the features like automatic update are kept enabled. Therefore you need not check for MSN updates manually. Normally these updates increase the functionality and performance of the application, but sometime the updates you downloaded may not compatible with your system, so you have to go through the system manual information before downloading the update.
Let’s consider a case here, the update of Windows Live Messenger beta version is not compatible with the windows XP operating system, in such case the updates may cause harm than help. So in order to prevent the automatic updates in MSN Messenger, you required to disable the MSN update feature. The following instructions from the Windows Live Help team will guide you to do the same.
Instructions to disable updates in MSN Messenger
• Navigate to the window start button and then select the control panel option from the start menu thus appeared. This opens a new control panel home window.
• Locate the Windows update option in the control panel home window and give a click to open it.
• Now you need to click the change settings option that appears on the left side of the windows update window.
• Now trigger the downward arrow beneath the important updates option to launch the drop-down list.
• Once you finish the prior step, click Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them.
• Now put a tick mark in the box next to recommended updates to avail the necessary updates needed for your operating system and supporting applications.
• Now Windows waits for your confirmation to make the changes that you have made above. You need to click the OK button to confirm it.
• When done, click the continue button to take forward the process. Now you have completely disabled the automatic update feature in Windows operating system.
After this you will no longer receive MSN Messenger updates and news unless you enable the automatic update feature.
In case you come across any error message or problem while doing the above procedure, avail the Windows Live Help for further assistance. Thank you!


Monday, January 7, 2013

How To Diagnose And Fix Hard Drive Crashes?


Many computer users complain that they are experiencing hard disk drive crashes after several days of use. According to me, virus attacks and spyware action are the main reason for such troubles. In this article I wish to discuss a few computer repair techniques which will surely help you to detect and resolve hard disk drive errors.
It's quite irritating waiting for an application to load. But sometimes, this can take more than a few minutes. This kind of slowness in performance may be the result of a hard drive failure. Besides this, you may experience repeated blue screen of death and freezes.
In some situations, hard drive crashes can be quickly resolved by turning off your computer system.  Wait for some time and switch your system on again. This method has worked in many cases.
Sometimes, hard disk drive crashes occur due to the imperfection in the drive seating within the disk drive case. To check this, unscrew the CPU panel screws and remove the CPU casing. Now go through the hard drive connections and casing. Sometimes it may not be strictly with the hard drive. Dust accumulation on the motherboard or a fan that does not seem to spin can all contribute to a drop in system performance. Clean the dust off preferably using a portable vacuum cleaner. Mind not to touch the electrical devices on the board as this can cause unnecessary static interventions. Now replace the screws back and switch on your system to check whether this method has removed your errors. If not continue to the next step.
Formatting the system will help of course. However, this will clear all the data in the system drive. Once you have finished installing the operating system, recover all your lost data with the assist of ghost CD or backup.
Use your operating system installation CD that came with your windows computer system for installing OS on your system. Along with this, you have to provide the product key of your windows operating system version during the time of installation.
To recover your data, you can use a third party recovery software tool. Now there are numerous such tools available in the industry.
Once you finish installing the operating system on your system, reinstall all other applications again for the proper function of your system.
Computer repair techniques must be executed carefully. Sometimes all it may take is a system reboot to bring the system back to peak performance.