Archive for August 17, 2009

Beep Code Manual

Posted: August 17, 2009 in System Basics, System Information
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BIOS Beep Codes

When a computer is first turned on, or rebooted, its BIOS performs a power-on self test (POST) to test the system’s hardware, checking to make sure that all of the system’s hardware components are working properly. Under normal circumstances, the POST will display an error message; however, if the BIOS detects an error before it can access the video card, or if there is a problem with the video card, it will produce a series of beeps, and the pattern of the beeps indicates what kind of problem the BIOS has detected.

Because there are many brands of BIOS, there are no standard beep codes for every BIOS.

The two most-used brands are AMI (American Megatrends International) and Phoenix.

AMI Beep Codes

Beep Code Meaning

1 beep DRAM refresh failure. There is a problem in the system memory or the motherboard.

2 beeps Memory parity error. The parity circuit is not working properly.

3 beeps Base 64K RAM failure. There is a problem with the first 64K of system memory.

4 beeps System timer not operational. There is problem with the timer(s) that control functions on the motherboard.

5 beeps Processor failure. The system CPU has failed.

6 beeps Gate A20/keyboard controller failure. The keyboard IC controller has failed, preventing gate A20 from switching the processor to protect mode.

7 beeps Virtual mode exception error.

8 beeps Video memory error. The BIOS cannot write to the frame buffer memory on the video card.

9 beeps ROM checksum error. The BIOS ROM chip on the motherboard is likely faulty.

10 beeps CMOS checksum error. Something on the motherboard is causing an error when trying to interact with the CMOS.

11 beeps Bad cache memory. An error in the level 2 cache memory.

1 long beep, 2 short Failure in the video system.

1 long beep, 3 short A failure has been detected in memory above 64K.

1 long beep, 8 short Display test failure.

Continuous beeping A problem with the memory or video.

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Change the Default Location for Installing Applications

Posted: August 17, 2009 in System Basics, System Information
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As the size of hardrives increase, more people are using partitions to seperate and store groups of files.

XP uses the C:\Program Files directory as the default base directory into which new programs are installed. However, you can change the default installation drive and/ or directory by using a Registry hack.

Run the Registry Editor (regedit)and go to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

Look for the value named ProgramFilesDir. by default,this value will be C:\Program Files. Edit the value to any valid drive or folder and XP will use that new location as the default installation directory for new programs.

How to Backup the Registry.

Posted: August 17, 2009 in Registry, System Basics, System Information
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Before you edit the registry, export the keys in the registry that you plan to edit, or back up the whole registry. If a problem occurs, you can then follow the steps how-to restore the registry to its previous state.

How to Export Registry Keys

Click Start, and then click Run.

In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.

On the File menu, click Export.

In the Save in box, select the boxs at the bottom the bottom according to weather you want to export all or only selected branches of the registry.

Next select a location in which to save the backup .reg file. In the File name box, type a file name, and then click Save.

How to Restore the Registry

To restore registry keys that you exported, double-click the .reg file that you saved.

Synchronize Your Computer Clock with an Internet Time Server

Posted: August 17, 2009 in Internet, System Basics
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Does your computer have the right time? If your computer is not part of a domain, you

can synchronize your computer clock with an Internet time server.

· Double-click the time on your task bar.

· Click the Internet Time tab.

· Select the time server you want to use and make sure to select the Automatically

synchronize with an Internet time server check box.

· Make sure that you have set the correct date before you attempt to synchronize your

clock, because the Internet time server won’t update the time if the date is wrong.

· If you have a personal or network firewall, you may have to tweak the settings to

unblock time synchronization.

Activate NetMeeting

Posted: August 17, 2009 in Internet, System Information
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Using NetMeeting, you can participate in virtual meetings, work in shared

applications, and share data over the Internet or your company intranet. NetMeeting is

actually already installed after you perform a full install of Windows XP, but it won’t

appear on the Start menu until it’s activated.

· Click Start, then Run, and enter Conf.

· Click OK.

· In the NetMeeting Wizard, supply the necessary information, and then select the Put

a shortcut to NetMeeting on my desktop (or on my Quick Launch bar) check box.

NetMeeting should start and is now listed in the most frequently used programs list on

the Start menu.

Disable the Shut Down Button on the Welcome Screen

Posted: August 17, 2009 in System Basics, System Information, Windows XP
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Do you have little ones that like to click all over the screen when you’re not

looking? Afraid of someone shutting down the computer without logging on?

· Click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance, and then click

Administrative Tools.

· Double-click Local Security Policy.

· Expand Security Settings, then expand Local Policies, and then click Security

Options.

· In the right pane, double-click the Shutdown: Allow system to be shut down without

having to log on policy, click the Disabled radio button, and then click OK.

No more shutting down without logging on!

Create Your Own Restore Points

Posted: August 17, 2009 in System Information, Windows XP
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Windows XP makes it easy for you to take a snapshot of critical system files before

you make any major changes, such as installing new software, adding hardware devices, or

changing the registry. (Windows XP automatically creates system restore points, called

system checkpoints, but you can create your own to make it even easier to recover your

system in case of a failure.) Note that using restore points doesn’t affect your

personal files, such as the My Documents or Favorites folders.

· Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and

then click System Restore.

· In the System Restore dialog box, click Create a restore point, and then click

Next.

· Type a description for your restore point, such as “Before Office XP”, then click

Create.

· If your system fails, press F8 in the boot menu, and then click Last known good

configuration. Windows XP restores your system to the most recent restore point.

Disable Error Reporting

Posted: August 17, 2009 in System Basics, System Information
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You can get rid of the Windows XP error report messages if you don’t want to send

another one in.

· Click Start, and then click Run.

· Type msconfig to open the System Configuration Utility.

· Click the Services tab.

· Clear the Error Reporting Service check box, and then click OK.

· Hit Restart to reboot your system.

Your computer will now start without loading the error reporting service.

How to backup emails and contacts in Outlook

Posted: August 17, 2009 in Outlook, System Information
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Unless you use an HTTP-based account, such as Yahoo, or a Microsoft Exchange Server email account, all of your data for MSOutlook is stored in a file called thePersonal Folders File, a file with the .pst extension.

This file is responsible for storing messages and other essential items on your PC. Many use the .pst file as the default location for the delivery of their emails. You can also use it to organize data or backup items for safekeeping. Even if you have a Yahoo orMicrosoft Exchange Serveraccount, you can still backup data to the .pst file on your local drive rather than the one stored on the mail server. I will let you know how to backup Outlook pst files.

How to Backup Your Outlook .pst File

To backup the .pst file in its entirety, follow the steps below:

First close any running messaging applications such as Microsoft Outlook, Exchange or Windows Messaging.

– Open the “Start” menu and click “Run”.
– Next, type “Control Panel” in the Open box.
– When the Control Panel opens, click on the Classic view from left and double-click the “Mail” icon .
– Click “Show Profiles”.
– Select the appropriate profile and click “Properties”.
– From there, click on “Data Files”.
– Under “Name”, select the Personal Folders Service to back up.

Though it could be named something else, the default name for this service is Personal Folders. Keep in mind that if your profile has more than one Personal Folders Service, you will have to backup each set of .pst files individually.

Take note that if you do not find any entries called Personal Folders, or if you have not stored any items such as messages, appointments or contacts in Outlook, there is a great chance that your .pst file has yet to be created.

If there is no Personal Folders Services in your profile but you can store items like messages, appointments and contacts in Outlook, this data is probably being stored somewhere else, such as the mail box on the Yahoo or Exchange Server.

To continue with the Outlook pst backup, click on “Settings” and note the path and file name that is displayed. Since the .pst file typically contains all the data the Outlook client uses, this file tends to be very large. To reduce the Outlook pst file size, select “Settings” and click “Compact Now”.

To finish up, close down all the “Properties” windows.

You can use either My Computer or the Windows Explorer utility to copy the file path you noted above. The .pst file can then be copied to another location on your local hard drive or any form of removable storage media such as a floppy disk, compact disc or a portable hard drive.

Conclusion

Performing an Outlook .pst backup is a relatively easy task. The key is to know how to locate the file and thankfully there are many ways to go about this task. If you do not feel comfortable manually backing up your .pst file, rest assured that there are a variety of software tools that will automate the process and make it much easier.

Vista can send you emails!

Posted: August 17, 2009 in System Information, Vista
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The Computer Management tool can still be accessed by right-clicking “Computer” and selecting “Manage” from the menu. However, now you can attach a task to any event. Try navigating through System Tools / Event Viewer / Windows Logs / Application. Now, go ahead and select an event – then look to the rightmost pane and click “Attach Task to This Event.” Name it whatever, describe it however, click through the next step, then in the Action step, you’ll see the “Send an e-mail” option

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