Many users of Windows computer operating systems are familiar with this scenario: You just added a new hardware component or you're using five or six applications at once, and suddenly, without warning, the computer display turns into a blue screen with the ominous message: "A problem has been detec

VMware Player is a free application for Windows users that allows for the creation of "virtual machines"--software-based computers that run on top of your physical computer and allow you to install and run software that you might be unable to use otherwise. If you have a computer running a recently

When it was introduced, .NET provided an easy way to mark each version of your program with a "Major, Minor, Build, and Revision" number. But it seems that every good thing gets complicated and that has happened here too. There are three of these numbers now and they can all be different.

If your Automatic Updates options are grayed out in Windows XP, there are a couple of possible causes for this restriction. The restriction can be lifted; however, you need access to a user account with administrator rights in order to implement the solution.

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The registry is the core of your Windows computer that contains all information and data about the configuration of the machine's files. Basically, it is where all vital data on your computer is stored so that the programs on your computer function properly. There might be instances when your regis

To locate missing DOS (Disk Operating System) files, you can use a disk directory command that lists the files you are looking for. The DIR (Directory) command locates files on a specific disk drive on your computer. The file list is displayed on the screen within the DOS dialog box. You can change

The Control Panel is the hub for all your computer's controls and settings where you can configure your computer's options. Depending upon how frequently you access your Control Panel, it might benefit you to have the Control Panel menu on your Start menu so that you don't have to navigate through t

Windows OneCare is a computer security and performance program developed for the Microsoft Windows operating system by Microsoft. The program is in use for Window's XP and Vista platforms. If you have uninstalled the Windows OneCare program, you may be having a hard time reactivating it. This is mos

When you install or set up Windows, the installer asks you to choose the registered owner and organization. The registered owner and organization show up in the "About Windows" box you get when you right-click "My Computer" and left-click "Properties." If you've acquired your computer from someone e

Yahoo Messenger enables individuals to make phone calls and engage in voice and video chat over the Internet. Users can locate friends and family by entering a person's Yahoo User ID or enter a home or cell phone number into the Yahoo Messenger's telephone keypad to use Yahoo as a voice-over-Interne

Prior to using the AVG anti-virus program, you should update the database. When you update the AVG database, you update the virus library. This helps keep your virus protection current since new viruses and other malware files are being released every day to potentially contaminate computers. If you

Dynamic Link Library, or DLL, files are necessary for specific programs to function in the various Microsoft Windows operating systems. In some cases you may want to remove DLLs, such as if the file is being used by a virus. Your operating system may also incorrectly list a DLL file as missing if it

Changing the product key on your Windows XP with Service Pack 2 operating system can be required where you discover that your original copy was illegally sold or pirated, preventing you from installing additional important updates. Changing the product key without reinstalling has the advantage of a

Under "System Properties" in Windows Vista, you will find a Logo that has been assigned to you by the manufacturer of your computer. Changing this logo isn't exactly easy--you must go into the deep, dark depths of the operating system into what's called the system's "Registry Files." But in doing so

When it comes to Web browsing, keeping your personal information and search habits private is paramount. Several Web browsers offer options to delete your Internet history and temporary Internet files. However, if you want to delete your entire history for the browsers on your operating system, you

Casement windows are designed to open outward, like doors, using a crank mechanism. It has its advantages, but also its drawbacks. The more hardware there is on a window, the more opportunity there is for something to go wrong with it. If you decide to replace that casement window with a standard do

The default settings for Windows XP cause it to automatically turn off the USB ports to save power after certain actions or a set amount of time. These settings may cause problems when the computer comes out of sleep or hibernation and after long periods of inactivity. These problems include devices

Texture packs for the computer game "Minecraft" change the look and feel of the game's world. A texture pack could, for example, replace the game's retro, low-resolution graphics with high-resolution textures or transform the medieval-style game world into a futuristic environment. "Minecraft"-focus

Startup disks, also known as boot disks, allow you to use a floppy disk drive to load Windows 2000 if the hard drive's boot loader somehow becomes damaged. Inserting the boot loader allows you to reinstall or boot Windows. You must create a Boot Disk to use this feature. The resources to create a bo