HELPDESK

Problem
Solution

DVD plays, but system hangs (locks up) or playback is jumpy and choppy

  1. Start your DVD player software (I.E. InterVideo WinDVD).

  2. Right click your mouse to bring up the menu.

  3. Click on SETUP.

  4. Uncheck the box: USE HARDWARE DECODE ACCELERATOR.

  5. Uncheck the box: USE HARDWARE COLOR ACCELERATOR.

  6. Save settings and attempt to play DVD again.
If the problem is not resolved then change the display settings

  1. Right click your screen and select "Properties".

  2. Click on the "Settings" tab.

  3. Change "Screen area" to 800 by 600 pixels and click OK.

  4. If the monitor accepts the change, attempt to play DVD again.

  5. If monitor does not accept the change, click on the "Advanced" button.

  6. Select the "Adapter" tab.

  7. Change the refresh rate to "Adapter default" and click OK.

  8. Change "Screen area" to 800 by 600 pixels and click OK.
Inkjet cartridge won't print

Buy a laser printer such as the ML-2010.

Print-outs from Acrobat Reader appear distorted or unreadable

Click print and uncheck any "fit to page" boxes.

Sound is choppy during video playback, no other problems with soundcard

  1. Go to Display Properties.

  2. Click on Advanced.

  3. Click on Performance Tab.

  4. Drag the Hardware Acceleration setting to its second notch: "Basic accelerator functions: Use this setting to correct more severe problems, such as unexpected errors in programs."

  5. Restart Computer.

The sound in the video i.e. AVI, FLV, etc, should no longer be as choppy.

Save passwords in dial-up networking without a Windows logon screen

  1. Click on Start.

  2. Click on Settings.

  3. Click on Control Panel.

  4. Click on Network.

  5. Click Add.

  6. Click Client.

  7. Click Microsoft.

  8. Click Microsoft Family Logon.

  9. Click OK, and install.

  10. Restart your computer now? Click No.

  11. Click on the "Primary Network Logon" dropdown box.

  12. Select "Windows Logon".

  13. Click OK.

  14. Restart your computer now? Click No.

  15. You are now at the Control Panel.

  16. Click on Passwords.

  17. Click Change Windows Password.

  18. Leave everything blank and Click OK

  19. Restart computer.

"Windows protection error, need to restart computer" message

The Windows Registry file may be corrupt. Hopefully you exported a backup copy.

  1. Boot Windows to Safe Mode.

  2. Run Regedit.

  3. Import saved Registry file (*.reg).

  4. Restart computer.

Computer often freezes, locks up or crashes

  1. Are you using software designed for the operating system?

  2. Is the system power supply < 400 watts?

  3. Is the system power supply constantly running and > 3 years old?

  4. Have you made any hardware upgrades to your system?

If any of the above is applicable you may need a new power supply.

Blurry notebook screen

  1. Go to Control Panel.

  2. Select Display.

  3. Go to the Settings Tab.

  4. Select the "Advanced" Button.

  5. You are now on the General Tab.

  6. Normal size (96 dpi) should be the setting.

  7. If not, click the Display Font Size drop down box and select other.

  8. Scale fonts to be 100% of normal size.

  9. Click OK twice.

Dial-up modem tests good and even connects, but no xmit or receive

The Windows Registry file may be corrupt. Hopefully you exported a backup copy.

  1. Boot Windows to Safe Mode.

  2. Run Regedit.

  3. Import saved Registry file (*.reg).

  4. Restart computer.

  5. If this does not fix the problem, test the modem in another system if possible.

  6. If unable to test modem in another system, reinstalling your operating system is last resort.

  7. WARNING: You lose all data when reinstalling your operating system using "system recovery" CDs because it formats your hard disk drive. Use your CD burner to copy all files you want to save before reinstalling operating system.

Disable programs that automatically load when Windows starts

  1. Click Start.

  2. Click Run.

  3. In the Open box type: msconfig

  4. Click OK.

  5. Click the Startup tab.

  6. Here you can click on check boxes to enable or disable a program.

  7. Restart the computer for any changes to take effect.

Remove programs that automatically load when Windows starts

  1. Run Regedit.

  2. Click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

  3. Click Software.

  4. Click Microsoft.

  5. Click Windows.

  6. Click CurrentVersion.

  7. Click Run.

  8. The right column lists "Keys" associated with software.

  9. Research and understand a Key before deleting it.

  10. Right click and delete any Key you deem not needed.

Click here for the user-friendly widders.com