Facing Problem With Your Printer - How to Fix

Are you getting a message in your screen “unable to install a printer” whenever you are trying to add a new printer? Don’t worry we got some printer troubleshooting steps which might solve your issue.

Firstly, Try to check the connection of your printer to the computer, Most printers will come shipped with a USB cable. It might also be a RJ-45 cable or a wireless module in case of network printers. Make sure your encryption key is properly entered.

Whenever you connect your printer to the computer, The computer automatically scans for hardware changes/New devices and searches for the best possible drivers for that device.

In case you got the driver cd handy with you which came with the printer go ahead and install that .If not first try to know the make and model number of your printer.

Go to control panel > printer and faxes > add a new printer and search for the drivers of your printer and install if its there on the list. Or if its not present you can always download the drivers for your printer from the manufacturer’s website.

For farther information and assistance regarding printer repair service call us @ 1-866-515-9918.

How to Change Registered User in Windows XP

You may have bought an old computer from a friend of yours and do not want to have the registered user. Know that you have the liberty to change the registered user. If you are using the Windows XP operating system, you have the benefit of changing the “Registered to:” information available in the “System Properties” of your machine. This may be done by following some simple steps or by asking for the help of an online technical support provider. Before following the steps, know that you must have the administrator privileges.

• Step 1: Go to start menu and click on it and then access Run

• Step 2: With the Run dialog open, type in “regedit.exe” and then press Enter

• Step 3: Now navigate to the “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion” key

• Step 4: You will find a value labeled “RegisteredOrganization” in the Registry Editor on the right pane. You must double click on it for editing its value.

• Step 5: Now type your company’s name and then click on “OK” for saving the changes that you made.

• Step 6: Identify another value that is labeled “RegisteredOwner” in the right pane of the Registry Editor and double click on the value for making changes.

• Step 7: Just type in the username you want and click on “OK” for saving the changes.

If you still cannot change the registered user successfully in Windows XP, contact a remote PC support service for assistance.

How to Prevent Users from Connecting to Already Installed USB Storage Devices

If you want to stop users from connecting to the USB storage devices that have already been installed in the computer, you have to change the registry. This will ensure that the device does not function when a user is connecting to the machine.

• Step 1: When the USB storage device is already installed in your system, you have to set the Start value to 4. After this the USB storage device will not work when the user is connecting the device to the system

• Step 2: For setting Start value, click on the Start menu and then click Run

• Step 3: Now type “regedit” in the Open box and then click on OK

• Step 4: Locate the “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UsbStor” registry key and click on it

• Step 5: Double click on Start in the details pane

• Step 6: Type 4 in the Value data box and then click on Hexadecimal. Then click OK

• Step 7: The last step will be to exit Registry Editor.

Now check to find out if you are able to prevent users from connecting to the USB storage device; if you are still facing problems, you can contact the computer repair Los Angeles service for technical support.

How to Copy Files and Folders to a CD

You may often need to copy important folders and files to a CD. There are simple steps to copying files and folders to a blank and writable CD.

• Step 1: Insert a blank and writable CD in the CD recorder

• Step 2: Now double click on the My Computer icon and then click all the files and folders you wish to copy to the CD.

• Step 3: Now click on any option like “Copy this file”, “Copy this folder”, and “Copy the selected items”

• Step 4: In the dialog box named Copy Items, you have to click on the CD recording drive and then click on Copy option

• Step 5: Go to My computer and double click on the CD recording drive. Windows will show a temporary place where files are stored before being copied to the blank CD. The files and folders you want to copy should be displayed under the “Files Ready to Be Written to the CD” category.

• Step 6: Now click “Write to CD” option under the “CD Writing Tasks” category

• Step 7: When the CD Writing Wizard begins, you have to follow the instructions given in the wizard.

• Step 8: After the process is complete, you get a check box that allows you to create another CD like the one you just made. If you want, go ahead and repeat the procedure, and if you do not, then just view the CD you created.

In case of problems, contact the computer repair Houston service for online computer support.

How to Solve Mouse Problems in Dell Computer ?

If you are facing issues with your mouse while working in your Dell system, you can solve the problem by following certain steps.

•Step 1: Restart your machine and press Ctrl and Esc keys for displaying the Start menu.

•Step 2: Now press “u” to select Shut Down from the menu and press Enter.

•Step 3: When the computer is turned off, press power button to restart again.

•Step 4: You can use a new mouse; if it works, then it will be evident that the old mouse was faulty.

•Step 5: For checking mouse settings, press the Ctrl and Esc keys together for displaying the Start menu. Then click Control Panel. Now you have to click the Printers and Other Hardware.

•Step 6: Click on Mouse and try to adjust the settings.

•Step 7: In case you are using a PS/2 mouse, you have to enter system setup and make sure that the Mouse Port found under the Integrated Devices category is set to ‘ON’.

•Step 8: Now exit the system setup and reboot your Dell computer system.

•Step 9: You may also try reinstalling the mouse driver.
•Step 10: You can run Dell diagnostics. In case you find that the diagnostics tests are failing, contact Dell support service.

For issues regarding this, contact the computer repair Brooklyn service for PC repair.

How to Format External Hard Drive on Mac ?

If you use the Mac operating system, you have to use the Disk Utility program for erasing all the data that occupies your hard drive. Keep in mind that before you format the external hard drive, you must have a back up of all the data stored in the drive, as after being formatted, the data will be lost. The Mac OS X Snow Leopard, operating system of Mac, has the set of instructions you need to follow for formatting your external hard drive.

•Step 1: Get your external hard drive connected to the USB cable. Wait for the hard drive to get listed on the left side of your screen.

•Step 2: Select the hard drive, which is usually named Mackintosh HD. Now click the tab that says Erase.

•Step 3: The system will ask you to name your hard drive. Now you have to select the file formatting system that you want to use on the external hard drive for the purpose of formatting.
•Step 4: Select Mac OS X Journal and click on Erase. This file system is highly recommended for formatting since it has been designed for Mac systems.

•Step 5: Wait for some time so that the external hard drive gets formatted. You will get your empty hard drive back in a short while.

In case you are still having issues, you may contact the computer repair Miami service for technical support.

How to Partition an External Hard Drive in Windows

For partitioning your external hard drive into new logical volumes, you require a back up of the current data on the drive. After the completion of partitioning, the data present in the drive will be lost totally. Given below are the steps to create partition on an external hard drive.

•Step 1: You have to log in from an Administrator account and then connect your external hard drive to your machine utilizing a USB cable or the right connecting interface.

•Step 2: If you are using Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, you need to right click on the My Computer icon.

•Step 3: Click Manage for opening the computer management console. Now click Disk Management from the list of options available in the left hand window.

•Step 4: You will get to know the existing storage device volumes and also find the external hard drive volume.

•Step 5: Right click and select the Delete Volume option. This deletes all stored data on the external hard drive.

•Step 6: Now the external hard drive will be marked Unallocated Space. Right click on this and select New Simple Volume.

•Step 7: Now you will be asked to specify the disk space amount; you have to specify the value in mega bytes or giga bytes.

•Step 8: For creating more volumes, you have to right click on the unallocated space and repeat the aforementioned step. This should be repeated till all the space is used up.

If you face problems, you may contact the computer repair Houston service for PC repair.

How to Get Rid of Spyware

Spyware is a type of malware or malicious software, which can get information about you without you being aware of it. Spyware can get installed in your computer system without your knowledge and can change your system’s settings and may reduce the speed of your internet connectivity. It also tracks the websites you have visited and your internet habits. You need to remove spyware for the sake of computer security.

Step 1: Log on to internet and get a software for detecting spyware and get rid of spyware from your PC. You may download a free anti-spyware software program.

Step 2: When the downloading begins, you have to click on the option in the download dialog box that says ‘Run’

Step 3: Now start installing the software; the Ad-Aware menu will open and you have to select Next. You have to accept the license agreement terms and the conditions and then click Next.

Step 4: Select the standard installation option and also select the folder and drive where you want to save the Spyware.

Step 5: Select Next again for starting the installation.

Step 6: After downloading open the anti spyware software and scan your machine by clicking on the Scan option

Step 7: The scanning of your system may take some time. After it is done, restart your machine and scan the computer again.

These steps should get your PC free from spyware. If problems persist, contact computer repair Atlanta service for spyware removal.

How to Secure Your Network Connection

Securing your network connection is necessary if you want to protect all important data information such as bank account details and passwords. You can restrict internet access by following some simple steps.

•Step 1: You have to access the wireless router settings page. This is usually done by typing 192.168.0.1 in your web browser’s address bar as the IP address. If this does not help you, you may get your default user name and default IP address along with the password details from the user manual of your router.

•Step 2: After logging into the router, you have to access the wireless tab on the page. You will be asked to enter the security page and then set the Authentication Type to WPA. For the wireless access of your network, enter the KEY, which is the new password.

•Step 3: The wireless network name is kept as default or is set according to the brand name of the router. You have to change the settings by visiting the router page settings page. After changing the name, you can connect to your wireless network, even though there are several other networks in your area.

•Step 4: You may try encrypting your wireless signals. Choose the wireless settings that help you in encrypting your network, such as WPA, WEP, WPA2 and other settings. On your router’s configuration page, open the wireless security page and enter the pass phrase for accessing the network. The pass phrase should be a combination of alphabets, numbers and special characters.

•Step 5: Reduce the range of your wireless signal; change the router mode to 802.11g.

If you still face problems in accomplishing the task, you can contact the computer repair Los Angeles service for tech support.

How to Troubleshoot Windows Startup Problems

Sometimes you may find Windows loading but then stopping to respond in the midst of the startup process. The problem may be due to several causes which include a new program, hardware, or may be a corrupted system file.

• Step 1: when your screen goes blank, restart your computer and press the F8 key constantly. You will get the Windows Advanced Options menu; in case the menu does not appear, you can restart your computer and then try it all over again. Your mouse might not be working, so using the cursor keys on the keyboard select the last known good configuration; press Enter now. Windows XP will start now.

• Step 2: In case you have recently installed a new hardware, shut down your machine and then get the hardware disconnected. Now restart Windows XP for troubleshooting your hardware.

• Step 3: Restart your machine and keep hitting the F8 key. Select Safe Mode from the options and press Enter. Now Windows XP will get ready to start in Safe Mode. This will not start the programs and hardware automatically and the graphics displayed will be very primitive. If Windows XP starts in Safe Mode successfully, remove the updates and programs which you have recently installed. Now you may restart your computer normally.

For further assistance in troubleshooting and other computer problems, contact computer repair New York service for remote tech support.

Recovering Data from an Inaccessible Windows XP System

How will it feel if you have an important task to do on your computer and your Windows XP operating system is unable to start? This should get you really upset; well, do not panic if the error message that is displayed reads ‘Operating system not found’, since there is a way to recover all important data.

You can try starting your system from the Recovery Console. There may be an error message saying ‘Setup did not find any hard drives installed on your computer’. The reason behind this may be that the Basic Input/Output System or BIOS is unable to detect the disk, the hard disk itself is damaged, the partition containing the Master Boot Record or MBR is inactive, the incompatible partition is marked Active, or the Sector 0 of the hard disk has an MBR which is incorrect.


Now let’s get started in resolving the issue.

•Step 1: Check the BIOS settings. Ensure if it lists as well as recognizes the hard disk. Then restart your machine.

•Step 2: You can use Recovery Console for running the fixmbr command; this may repair your system drive’s MBR.

In case nothing works, you can ask for the services of computer repair Houston. This is a popular service provider in Houston for resolving PC issues.

How to Compress a File Using WinZip

Through file compression, it is possible to reduce the file sizes; a large file can be compressed to become a small file and the quality is not affected in any way. File compression is required when you have to send a large amount of data via email. Today the market has several softwares which can be used for compressing large sized files. WinZip is one of the leading software that is easy to use and helps in file compression. Its trial version is available on the internet for free. Know the procedure to use WinZip.

•Step 1: Run the WinZip application, and then select the ‘New’ icon, which you will find at the upper left hand side of the application window.

•Step 2: Select a folder or even a drive where you want to save the .zip file.

•Step 3: Make sure that you name the compressed file before you add files to the archive.

•Step 4: When you name the file, you will get a new window enabling you to add the file you wish to compress.

•Step 5: If you have to add multiple files, just click on the ‘Add’ icon.

•Step 6: After all the files that you selected have been compressed, c lick on the ‘File’ option and then select ‘Close Archive’.

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How to Reverse Lookup Cell Phone Numbers on the Internet

If you want to reverse lookup cell phone numbers, you do not have to be tech savvy; the method is quite easy. Your main task will be to get an authentic web service that provides reverse cell phone lookup service. You can try using web services like Reverse Genie, Intelius, Reverse Phone Directory, and Cell Phone Registry.

These web servers store the entire cell phone number database in the United States. What you have to do is enter the cell phone number you want to reverse lookup and the service will tell the number belongs to which carrier and where it is being used.

If you need the name as well as address of the phone number owner, you are required to pay a fee, which ranges from $10 to $15, through credit card payment. The information you are asking for will be mailed to you on the email address that you provide after the payment is made. You cannot question the accuracy of these web services, as they get the information directly from the cell phone service providers.

If you are troubled by prank callers, you can track them down by reverse looking up cell phone numbers online. You can look for computer repair Brooklyn services for helping you with tech support regarding any PC issues.

How to Reset Computer to Factory Settings With CD and Without CD

Resetting your computer to factory settings may be required when your computer is attacked by a virus or your machine is too slow and not working properly. Resetting the computer to factory settings cleans the entire drive. You may also have to do this when you are selling your computer and want the new user to get a clean disk.

Resetting computer to factory settings using CD

If you retain the CD that came with your computer, you can use it to reset your machine to factory settings.

•Step 1: Get the backup of important files on a USB drive or DVD. Once you reset your machine to factory settings, you will erase all important documents that you have on your drive, so having a backup is essential.

•Step 2: Insert the CD that you have in the CD drive. The computer will now ask you if you wish to restore factory settings.

•Step 3: Click ‘Yes’ when you get the option and give the computer the time to restore the factory settings. You have to be patient as the process can take a few hours to complete.

Resetting computer to factory settings without CD

If you cannot find the CD that you got when you purchased your computer, do not worry. There is a way to reset your machine to factory settings even without the CD.

•Step 1: Have a backup of all the important files, documents and images on your pen drive or DVD.

•Step 2: Start your computer and keep pressing the F1 key when the blank screen appears.

•Step 3: You will reach the setup configuration mode that lets you change the computer settings.

•Step 4: Select the option that lets you reset computer to factory settings.

•Step 5: This process may take a longer time for changing computer settings than when done with the CD.

You can get further help from computer repair Atlanta in this regard.

How to Open a Zip File

Zip files are very handy for storing more than one file; this is possible by compressing its size. The use of zip files is most common among people who want to email several related documents; the user simply zips the files into the zip file format and then sends the zipped file.

1. For opening a zip file in Windows operating system, right click on the zip file and then select Explore from the options. Select all the files and copy them all to another folder. This way, you can open the zip files without using any third party software.

2. For opening a zip file in Linux, you have to use the unzip command, which is usually available in your Linux distribution package. In case you have not installed this utility, you may use the tar command. Browse the folder where the zip file is located and type in the command ‘tar -xvf nameoffile.zip’.

3. For opening a zip file using third party software, you should install the software first. Note that WinZip and WinRar are two very popular software packs used. After the installation, right click the zipped folder and then check out for extracting the files. You may also be provided with options like ‘extract to’ or ‘extract here’. WinRar also enables you to open rar files apart from zip files.

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Tips to change Hostname in Linux

Before you try your hand at changing your Linux hostname, it is advisable that you check the present hostname on Linux operating system. The commands that you use for checking the hostname are ‘uname -n’ or ‘hostname’; these commands will give you the operating system’s current hostname.


Let’s get started to change the hostname. Suppose you want the hostname to be NEW_HOSTNAME, you need to type in the command ‘hostname NEW_HOSTNAME’. After doing this, you may find that after rebooting your system the old hostname is being displayed, instead of the new hostname. This happens owing to the fact that the hostname gets selected from a particular system configuration file.

Type ‘init 6’ at the command prompt and again check the hostname by using the hostname command. For changing the hostname to NEW_HOSTNAME permanently so that it shows even after you reboot your system, you have to make some changes in the ‘/etc/sysconfig/network’ file. Just type in ‘vi /etc/sysconfig/network’ at the terminal. You will get some options that will allow you to change the hostname. Set the hostname in the /etc/hosts file manually.

Now check the hostname to find out if it has been changed to the new one, by restarting the network and rebooting your system. These tips should help you in changing the hostname in Linux, but in case you are having problems, you can call a remote computer support provider. People in Houston often face problems in changing hostname in Linux and look for companies that offer tech support for computer repair in Houston. This article should be informative for them.

How to Download Music and Videos Faster

Do you love downloading songs and movies from the Internet? Is the slow download speed acting as a hindrance? Well if you find that the download speed is really slow when downloading multimedia data from the Internet, you will be happy to learn that you can easily increase the download speed and that too without upgrading the computer.

Ways to increase download speed :

* First and foremost, you should get a broadband internet connection if you have the old dial up internet connection. Talk to your internet service provider for getting a connection. A faster internet connection surely gives you better download speed.

* Make sure you stop all the applications and programs from running in the background when downloading. When downloading some songs or videos from the internet, avoid doing any other work on your machine.

* If you are in the habit of downloading several files together, downloading speed will be slow. Try to find out which movie or song you want to download first and pause the other downloads; go slow, one by one, and you will notice a considerable difference in your downloading speed.

Some other ways :

* If a file is very popular, chances are several people will be trying to download it. In this case, the download speed tends to be slow; try downloading the file at a time when the traffic is less.

* It is to be noted that the antivirus software installed in your PC performs security scans and regular updates on the background when you are downloading something from the internet. Stop antivirus scans from functioning when you are downloading; this will increase download speed.

* If you are looking forward to increasing download speed in bit torrent, the download accelerator can work wonders. Download accelerators are free software downloads that are accessible on the internet for managing the active downloads on your computer. These accelerators also enhance the computer’s performance, when a file is being downloaded.

The above mentioned tips should be helpful for increasing download speed in Windows XP and Vista, as well as other operating systems. Following the tips will make your downloads hassle free and faster. If you are still experiencing downloading problems, contact a remote computer service provider immediately. For computer repair Los Angeles, there is no dearth of service providers. With some research you can easily find a reliable service provider.

7 Tips to Enhance Your Wireless Network

If you find your Wi-Fi signal is weak, it implies that your connection is not reliable and fast as it should be. Boosting your wireless network (WLAN) signal is not a very difficult task. Read on to know how you can do this yourself.

The tips:

1. Keep your wireless router, access point, and modem router in a central part of your home. If your laptop or PC is on the second floor and the router placed on the first floor, make sure the router is placed on a high shelf in the room. Did you say moving your wireless router is not possible? Try the other tips.

2. If you do not want your connection to be weak, you must keep the router away from the floor, metal contact and walls.

3. Find out if your router’s antenna is removable; if yes, you can upgrade to a high-gain antenna that allows wireless signals to be focused in a single direction. Normally a majority of antennas are designed to be omni-directional, broadcasting in all directions around the router. In this case, if your router is just next to an outside wall, the signals tend to go outside your home.

4. You can get rid of your laptop's PC card-based wireless network adapter and instead have a USB wireless network adapter that comes with an external antenna. This can help increase your wireless range.

5. It will also be advisable to add wireless repeaters for increasing your wireless range. There’s no need to add any wiring. You may just position the wireless repeater midway between the wireless router, access point and modem router.

6. may also try your hand at changing the wireless router’s channel through the configuration page of the router. This can improve signal strength. Do not worry about changing the computer’s configuration, as the new channel can be automatically detected by your machine.

7. Update your network adapter drive or your firmware to increase performance of your WLAN. Choose your vendor well; go for vendors who offer equipments of twice the performance.
These steps should help you a lot in enhancing the performance of your wireless network. In case, you are not satisfied, you may call an Cheap Computer Repair Houston service provider.

How to use Disk Defragmenter to fix Slow PC?

When you sit at your PC, do you tend to multi-task? Is your slow PC acting as a hindrance? If yes, the problem might be occurring due to the many unnecessary programs running in the background. Or sometimes, computers get slower by the day as fragmented files and errors start piling up. You can try defragging your hard drive to overcome this problem. The process is quite simple.

Let’s begin

The first step to beginning defragment is accessing the Windows “Disk Defragmenter”; for doing this you have to click on Start menu, then go to All Programs and then go to Accessories. Next, go to System Tools and click on Disk Defragmenter.

Having accessed the Disk Defragmenter, you will be able to highlight the drive you want to defrag to speed up your PC. Just highlight the drive and click on Defragment. Note that a PC can be defragged in just 20 minutes normally, but the time taken for defragment will actually depend on the size of the hard drive and the number of files you have on the drive.

When the defragment is in process, make sure that you do not do any other work on your computer. Be patient and after the defragment is done, just reboot your computer. You will find that your PC is no longer slow. In the unlikely event of your machine not speeding up even after following the aforementioned steps, just contact a Affordable Computer Repair Dallas provider for help.