Monday, 3 November 2014

5 Symptoms of a RAM Problem and How to Fix It

What is RAM?

Random Access Memory(RAM) is a way for your computer to store temporary data that it is likely to need soon. Other ways that computers store data are through a cache or storage. Storage, often wrongly referred to as memory, is permanent data stored on a hard drive or solid state drive. A CPU cache is a small amount of memory that is stored right on the CPU chip. The cache is for data that is used very frequently. Both the RAM and CPU cache are temporary data stores that are cleared when your computer is turned off. You could think of the cache as a paper in your hand that you need to constantly refer to, such as a list of names or zip codes. The folder, laying on your desk, full of papers you may need for your current task is similar to computer memory or RAM. The file cabinet full of folders for all your projects would be a good parallel to computer storage such as a hard drive.
Memory problems are less common than many other computer problems because memory sticks have no moving parts so have fewer points of failure. However, due to this many RAM problems are misdiagnosed. Memory usually will last longer than other computer components so manufacturers offer warranties longer than most other computer parts. If you buy brand name memory it will likely have a lifetime warranty.

Symptoms of a RAM problem

1. You turn on your computer and it runs fine. You go about your normal tasks and notice that your computer performance decreases. By lunch time the load times of a typical website seem to be measured in minutes. Does the problem occur not just with internet websites, but also with running local programs? This type of gradual deterioration of PC performance, especially with memory intensive programs, may be caused by a RAM problem.
2. Does your computer restart randomly when you are in the middle of something? Your computer may just have booted and begins to load your desktop and then immediately reboots. It may freeze up sporadically. This could be a sign of faulty RAM.
3. Your screen flashes a blue screen with white text before restarting. Blue Screen errors can be one of the most annoying things to happen to your computer because you don't have a chance to read the error message. Many things can cause this problem and bad memory is one of them.
4. Have you found that files are randomly corrupted? This may happen with files that you frequently access and save. RAM issues can cause this problem or worse. The file structure of your hard drive may slowly go downhill and become unbootable.
5. Your attempts to install a new program repeatedly fail for an unknown reason. Could be a RAM problem. You try to reinstall the operating system, but keep getting odd error messages. If this follows number four above, it is almost a sure sign of bad memory.
There are certainly a variety of problems that could cause the issues above, but faulty RAM is often overlooked. If you have combinations of the above problems it is likely you have faulty memory.

What sort of problem could have caused damage to your RAM?

Power surges can cause all kinds of problems to computer components including RAM. It is a good idea to plug your computer and other expensive electronics into a surge protector. Make sure you know the difference between a surge protector and a power strip.
Before you handle any parts in your computer, make sure you ground yourself by touching a piece of grounded metal to discharge static electricity. Electrostatic discharge can cause damage to many computer components.
Excessive heat can cause RAM and many other computer parts to wear out over time. Not just heat from each individual part, but heat from one component can cause damage to adjacent parts.
If you have overclocked any part of your computer incorrectly, it may cause damage in the form of excess heat as noted above.
Your memory module may have some fault that did not become apparent immediately or worsened over time. This is the most likely cause of damaged RAM.

It is also possible that the memory module is not the problem at all. One or more memory slots on your motherboard could have a defect that caused the RAM to not perform normally. The defect may even be so bad that it damaged the memory stick in some way.

Diagnosing the Problem

If the symptoms started after you recently added more memory the new module could be faulty. This seems obvious, but any time a problem begins occurring after making any change to your computer, first check to see if the change caused the problem.
Your computer may produce multiple beeps or a continuous beep when you turn it on. These beeps can indicate many different problems as well as possibly being a symptom of bad RAM. Beep codes vary by the manufacturer of your BIOS. You can look up the beep codes for your specific computer. This can help you eliminate other possible problems.
If you are not comfortable working on your computer I would recommend taking your computer to a local repair store to have them attempt to fix it. I would not take it to a big retail store to have it repaired, they are in the business of selling additional parts not fixing problems.
If you are an advanced user, there are diagnostic programs that can help you know if you have a memory problem. Your computer may have one pre-installed by the manufacturer or you can download a third party program such as memtest86. Microsoft also has a program to help you diagnose RAM problems. The Windows Memory Diagnostic is a good program to use if you suspect memory problems.
If the above programs indicate your memory sticks are functioning, but you still suspect a RAM problem or if you need to find which memory module is the problem you can try removing them and placing them in different slots. Memory modules are pictured in the image below. Memory modules are small circuit boards that will be perpendicular to your motherboard. Note that I removed many of the other components to make the memory more visible. If your computer has more than one module you should remove all of them except one and then run the diagnostic tests above or perform the task that normally causes the problem.

Installed RAM

What installed memory modules look like.

RAM Slot Levers

The levers for the memory slot are white in this example.

Fixing the Problem

To remove a RAM module you will need to press the tiny levers on each end to release it. When replacing a module, make sure the indention on the bottom is lined up correctly with the slot and then press it in until you hear the levers snap. Note that some levers do not make a snap sound.
Test each of your memory modules one at a time to find the one that is bad. It is possible more than one is bad. When you find the sticks that are bad you can order replacements. If all the memory modules appear bad, then the problem is likely with the memory slot itself. Try testing each memory module in all of the memory slots to find if one of the slots is faulty. To fix a faulty slot you would need to replace your motherboard. It is possible all the memory modules are damaged if your computer experienced a serious power surge.

How To Revive A Dead Computer

When it comes to PC Repair, PC Training courses both online and off, offer a wide range of computer training programs and some of the best computer training software.
But understanding your computer will help you learn how to bring it back to life or at least understand why you can't.

Its not something we like to think about but your computer will fail, if you keep... it long enough. It may be a simple problem, such as the floppy drive not reading the disk to a major system crash.
Because computers are run by operators, User Error is the most common cause of computer malfunction. When the user is at the computer, he or she may add or delete certain files. Or he/she may remove or exchange certain hardware features.

When we look at user error, we must remember that since we're human, the user error may be easy to solve by simply asking the last user if he/she installed any software, reconfigured
any software or hardware settings, etc.

A large percentage of computer malfunctions are due to environmental factors such as power surges caused by lightning, resulting in over-voltage.

Another cause for failure may be room temperature being too high or low, as well as dust, dirt, or sunlight. If you're in business and heavily dependent on your computers, such factors as room temperature, sunlight and protection against power surges is of the utmost importance and simply cannot be overlooked.

The most common pc problem is when you can't access your PC at all. When you turn on the power switch, NOTHING HAPPENS.
Here is a quick checklist of troubleshooting procedures you should follow if you encounter this problem ....

Try the Power Switch a second or third time. If nothing happens..

Check the wall outlet for power. If the outlet has power. Check the power cord itself from wall to computer.

Check the Power Supply inside the System Unit.
Replace the Power Supply rather than trying to repair it.

If the system make those click noises, but the screen is blank, check the Monitor.
If the monitor proves to be good, check the Video Card, even in a new system.
Another big headache you will most likely encounter if you're a regular user of your computer system, is the fact that Windows will fail to load or the system's POST will fail to run.
Don't forget those preventive maintenance procedures that can be done often to keep your PC running at peek performance.
Running such Windows utilities as Scandisk, Disk Defragment, and Disk Cleanup will help your computer performing at its best. Using a can of compressed air removes dust that could build to the point of causing a short.
If you get the computer to boot but it does not want to read from the hard drive, the Master Boot Record on the hard drive may be corrupted or even missing. To verify that the master boot record has not been damaged... Call US as you will need a tech 0401 683 956

How to Repair a Corrupt Windows 7 Installation

Every operating system needs an occasional repair job, and Windows 7 is no exception. Whether the source of the problem is corrupt data, a particularly brutal piece of malware, or some other serious issue, you'll occasionally have to reinstall your copy of Windows.
Wiping your hard drive and performing a fresh installation can be a huge headache; but... fortunately there's a way to repair a corrupt Windows 7 installation while keeping all your programs, personal data, and user accounts intact. With Windows 7 you can perform an in-place upgrade installation to repair a flaky existing install. Though technically designed to upgrade older Windows operating systems like Vista, the in-place upgrade installation option can also be used to repair an existing installation of Windows 7.

The in-place Upgrade installation involves multiple stages, starting with copying installation files to the destination drive and gathering existing files and settings.

Note that you must perform the in-place upgrade process from within Windows; if your PC can't fully boot to the Windows desktop, this repair guide is not for you. A few other limitations come up later in the article, so be sure to read the entire guide thoroughly before attempting to repair your corrupt copy of Windows 7. Performing a repair installation should be your last resort, and you should consider it only if you have already removed spyware from your PC, reinstalled your drivers, and unsuccessfully tried to restore from an earlier (working) version of Windows 7 using System Restore.

Prepare Your PC for Windows 7
Before performing a repair installation, you should take a few precautionary measures to ensure that the process goes smoothly. The first step is to back up all of your critical files to an external storage device. Though the repair process is unlikely to fail or to render any of your files unrecoverable, it's always a smart idea to back up your data.

After you've backed up your system's important data, we recommend uninstalling any third-party security software such as firewalls or antivirus applications. You can always reinstall them after completing the repair process; but since you'll be initiating this process from within Windows, you need to remove any security applications that actively scan files. You should also download and store all of the drivers that your system needs to function--especially the network controller, which tells your network adapter how to access the Internet.

After backing up all of your drivers, clean out all of the temporary files and junk data that have accumulated in Windows 7 over the course of prolonged use. To do this, click the Start button, and in the Search field type Folder Options; then press Enter. In the Folder Options window, click the View tab and select Show hidden files, folders and drives; then click OK.

Next, initiate a Disk Cleanup by opening the Start menu and selecting Computer; right-click your primary drive (the C: drive by default) and open the Properties menu. Select the Disk Cleanup utility in the lower-right portion of the menu, and select Clean up system files. The Disk Cleanup utility should take a few moments to rescan the drive. Next, click the More Options tab, and select Clean Up in the 'System Restore and Shadow Copies' section at the bottom of the menu. In the dialog box that appears, click the Delete button; then navigate back to the Disk Cleanup tab, confirm that all items in the Files to Delete list are checked, and click OK. The Disk Cleanup utility should clear out outdated system files, temporary data, and other digital detritus. Depending on how much junk data is on your drive, this step may take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes.

After running the Disk Cleanup utility, you should clean out a few folders manually. Open the C: drive again, and double-click the Windows folder. Scroll down the list of folders and delete any files in the Prefetch and Temp folders. Be sure to delete only files within those two folders and not the folders themselves. Next, navigate back to the C: drive, and double-click the Users folder. Within the Users folder, double-click first the folder for your particular username, and then the AppData folder (if you don't see the AppData folder, you must not have selected 'Show hidden files, folders and drives' earlier), the Local folder, and finally the Temp folder. Delete all of the files in this Temp folder as well; then restart your system.

Sorry links for many blogs just posted today not working

Sorry all just realized as i was copying and pasting from my website files on my pc none of the links on the different blogs will work as they are directed to my f drive and not the web.

Sorry for that, i will go through them and fix that all up over the next few days.

Just loading all the info i had on my website here as i have designed a new website and need to copy all the different info pages into the new format.

How to Protect Against Spyware

Your computer could be one of the millions of those infected with some form of malware and you might not even realize it. If an internet program is tracking and sending information back to a third party — without the your permission — when it lands on your computer, you have spyware.

Spyware & Malware Symptoms

When spyware or malware is on your PC it will almost certainly cause your internet connection to dramatically slow down and you will get an excessive amount of annoying pop-up windows. Left untreated, spyware and malware could begin to crash your computer and even lead to identity theft.

Get Proactive

Proactive anti-spyware protection is essential in keeping your data private. Programs such as Webroot Spy Sweeper and eTrust Pest Patrol are offered for a small yearly subscription fee and they will help prevent, scan for and remove the bulk of unruly spyware and malware from your computer. Once installed, ensure that your software program is automatically downloading updates on a weekly basis and set to perform a full system scan every month.
There are also day-to-day tips for being proactive in avoiding spyware and malware.

Be cautious of suspicious emails from unknown sources, as they can infect your computer with spyware
Steer clear of websites of ill repute — these are a haven for malicious and annoying intruders

Information is the weapon against spyware and that is where Geek Squad Intelligence can help. We stay on top of the latest spyware, malware, and virus news so you don't have to. Check out Technogeek Intelligence Security Threat Alerts to learn more.

Firewalls Are Your Friend

Information travels between computers and networks through various data ports. In addition to other security measures, firewalls implement a "stateful inspection" of these data ports, preventing unrequested (which is to say — bad) data from coming into your computer or network. In essence, firewalls hide your PC from others trying to get in through the Internet. Various software companies offer firewall protection, but hardware-based firewalls, like those frequently built into network routers provide a better level of security.

Free Spyware Scan

Use the online Spyware Scan to check for spyware infestations. If spyware is found, you can Chat with an Agent to fix it remotely in your home. Or bring your computer into our workshop before it goes BOOM, realizing the worst may have just happened.

How to keep your Apple computer free from malicious programs and viruses

Apple computers are not safe from viruses
Fewer than half of Mac users run anti-virus software
Mac users "will be targeted more and more easily"

APPLE users need to stop living in "fantasy land" and let go of the myth that its products are safe from malicious programs and viruses.

This is the advice of security experts at anti-virus company, Kaspersky.

Fewer than 50 per cent of Mac users run any kind of anti-virus security on their computers, even though more than 700,000 Mac computers were infected with a malicious virus called "Flashback" last year.

The infections occurred after a cyber criminal exploited a security flaw in a Java application, that tricked people into downloading a virus he had written by disguising it as an update for Adobe Flash software.

While 70 per cent of user computers have had the security flaw patched and the virus removed, about 30 per cent of users are still infected, product group manager Vartan Minasyan told news.com.au.

"If Mac users continue to be so carefree, I can really tell you that they will be targeted more and more easily."

"Five years ago part of Apple's marketing was that Macs got no viruses," Minasyan said.

"Right now they're saying the opposite. On Apple.com they have started to say it's better to have virus protection installed."

The security expert says people need to change their thinking, and says he expects it to happen naturally, but not quickly.

"It is just a part of human nature to be very slow in adapting," he said. "People should actually change their belief and change their approach".

To even further destroy the Apple safety myth, Vincente Diaz, Kaspersky's senior malware analyst said it took him just 15 minutes to create a piece of malware for a Mac.

"It took 15 minutes for the Mac to show a completely grey screen," he told journalists during a presentation in Monte Carlo. "The virus blocked every input on the computer from the keyboard to the mouse.

"You couldn't do anything. And this was using only Apple's default system functions. There was nothing extra."

Part of the problem is that users are continuing to buy into the myth that Apple devices are immune to viruses.

But Apple also needs to change its approach, Diaz says.

"Apple needs to be clear about what they are controlling and way they are not," he said.

He said Apple was not so good at disclosing when it was releasing security patches for flaws, what they do, and what they don't do.

"Apple works hard to try and make its users very secure and are doing what is best for you, but they don't explain what it is actually doing," he said.

"Apple is not very transparent about what was going on when the latch for the flashback virus was released.

"It is not being very useful to consumers about updating security. That is my opinion. It needs to increase user awareness."

How to keep your Apple computer secure

1) For goodness sake, purchase and install an anti-virus security program.

2) Ensure you keep your security software up-to-date.

3) Keychain. Use it. Keychain is an Apple program which stores all of your passwords, whether it be for your bank account or your computer. Keychain unlocks as soon as you login to your computer, meaning anyone with access to your Mac can access areas of your life that are password protected like your bank, PayPal, email or eBay accounts. Prevent this by creating a password for the program which stores all your passwords. And for the love of everything that is holy, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT MAKE THIS PASSWORD THE SAME AS ONE OF THE STORED PASSWORDS. Get original. Invent a brand new password that has never been used on any of your other accounts. Do this by going to Utilities in Applications, hit Open Keychain Access and click Edit: Change Password for Keychain [username / login]. It will ask you for the password you use to log in to your computer (leave this blank if you do not have a password. We'll get into that later), type your new password into the New Password field and Verify field. The key icon next to the New Password field will tell you how secure your password is. News.com.au recommends using a combination of random letters and numbers. Hit OK. Also, always ensure to lock your Keychain when you are not using it.

4) Always double check that the updates for security are legitimate. One way to do this is to check the URL it is directing you to. First, hover your mouse over the link it is directing you to, a URL should appear along the bottom of your web browser. If the URL is not directing you to the official websites of the various software programs you are running, DO NOT CLICK ON IT.

5) If you need to update your computer but you are concerned about clicking malicious or deceptive links, just type the official website URL in your web browser and download the updates straight from Apple's website, or the website of the software you are running.

6) Turn off your automatic login. There is no need for your computer to store your username and password. Make sure you enter them manually upon start-up to minimise the chance of your credentials being stolen.

7) Lock your computer when you are not using it. Even if you are only stepping away from your computer for a minute, prevent people from accessing your device by using a password to turn off the screen saver or to wake up your Mac from sleep mode.

8) Be cautious about what information you store in the cloud. It might be a hand backup for that manuscript you work on in your spare time. But keep any personal information relating to bank account, passports, credit cards, bills, etc out of the cloud. There is always a danger storing information in remote servers as cloud security is almost completely out of your control. Needless to say having a unique, strong password helps too.

9) Remove your payment information from iTunes. Sure, it might be handy to pay for music with a single click, but storing your credit card information in your iTunes account comes with real risk. Scammers could access your details and use it to purchase all sorts of dodgy stuff for themselves, or worse, use it to gain enough personal information to access your bank account. And then you are in real trouble.

10) Encrypt important files. An encryption is a code which basically locks your files, making them unreadable without a secret key. Needless to say, sharing the key with anyone would be an act of stupidity. There are a number of good encryption programs including AutoKrypt, TorBundle, Hotspot Shield.

How To Install Windows 8 From a USB Device

Instructions on Using a USB Flash Drive To Install Windows 8

The need to install Windows 8 from a USB device, like a flash drive, is a common one due to the fact that many computers, especially tablets and smaller laptops and desktops, no longer have optical drives.
In other words, that Windows 8 install disc doesn't do you much good if you don't have anywhere to put the DVD! If you want to install Windows 8 from a USB device, you'll need to get those setup files onto a USB device. Unfortunately, simply copying them there won't do.
Windows 8 is also sold as a downloadable ISO file which, if you choose to buy Windows 8 that way, requires some steps to get it properly copied to a flash drive as well.
Regardless of whether you have a Windows 8 DVD you need to get on a flash drive, or a Windows 8 ISO file with the same goal, the following tutorial will help you get the Windows 8 installation files properly copied to a flash drive so you can get on with the installation process.
Note: The following procedure applies equally to Windows 8 (standard) or Windows 8 Pro.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: Getting the Windows 8 installation files onto a flash drive or other external USB device will take between 20 and 30 minutes, depending on what format your copy of Windows 8 is in right now and how fast your computer is.
Requirements:

A flash drive (4 GB or more) [Check Prices]
A Windows 8 DVD or Windows 8 ISO file
Access to a working computer, with a DVD drive if you have a Windows 8 DVD, with Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP installed

Important: If you have a Windows 8 ISO file and want that on a flash drive, start with Step 2. If you have a Windows 8 DVD and need that on the flash drive, start with Step 1.

Here's How:

Create an ISO file from the Windows 8 DVD. This is the procedure by which you create a single file, called an ISO image, that contains all the data stored on the Windows 8 setup DVD disc.

Once you have an ISO image created from your Windows 8 disc, come back here and continue on with this tutorial which will explain how to get that ISO file onto a flash drive.

Note: If you already know how to create ISO files with your favorite program, often called "ripping," then do so in whatever way you're used to doing it. However, if you've never created an ISO image, or don't have a program installed right now that does it, please see the linked tutorial above for complete instructions on doing so with a free program.
Download the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool from Microsoft and then install it.

This free program from Microsoft properly formats your flash drive and then copies the contents of the Windows 8 installation ISO file you have to that flash drive.

Note: Don't worry that this program has Windows 7 in the title. This program works perfectly well with Windows 8 ISO files and can be installed in Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP.
Start the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool program. You should be able to find the shortcut on the Desktop, as well as in your Start menu or on your Start screen, depending on which version of Windows you installed the program on.
Click Browse on the Step 1 of 4: Choose ISO file screen.
Locate, and then select, your Windows 8 ISO file. Then click or touch Open.

Note: If you downloaded Windows 8 from Microsoft, check your Downloads folder or your Desktop for the ISO image. If you created an ISO image from your Windows 8 DVD, the ISO file will be wherever you created it to.
Click or touch Next.
Choose USB device on the Step 2 of 4: Choose media type screen.

Note: As you can see here, there is also a DVD option. While it doesn't do us much good in this case, since the end game is to get Windows 8's setup files on a flash drive, you could also use this tool to burn a Windows 8 ISO image to a DVD or BD disc.
On the Step 3 of 4: Insert USB device screen, choose from the drop-down box the flash drive or USB-connected external hard drive you want to put the Windows 8 setup files onto and then touch or click Begin copying.

Tip: If you haven't yet plugged in the USB storage device you're planning on using, you can do that now and then touch or click the blue refresh button to make it show up in the list.
Click or touch Erase USB Device if you're prompted to do so on a Not Enough Free Space window. If you don't see this, don't worry, it just means that your flash drive or external hard disk is already empty.

Important: If this message didn't make it apparent, you should know that whatever data you might have on this drive is going to be erased as part of the process of getting the Windows 8 setup files copied.
On Step 4 of 4: Creating bootable USB device, just wait for the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool to prepare the drive and copy the Windows 8 installation files to it.

The first Status you see will be Formatting, which will take anywhere from a few to several seconds, depending on how large the USB drive is that you're using. Next will be Copying files which could take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, possibly longer, depending on which Windows 8 ISO file you're working from, as well as on how fast your flash drive, USB connection, and computer is.

Tip: Don't worry if the percentage indicator jumps ahead quickly but then sits on a single number for a very long time. While it might not make a lot of sense to behave that way, it doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong.
Assuming everything went as planned, the next screen should say Bootable USB device created successfully with a Status that says Backup completed.

You can now close the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool program window. The flash drive, or other external USB drive you're using, now has the necessary files on it to install Windows 8 and is also properly configured to be booted from.
Boot from the USB device that you just created to start the Windows 8 install process.

Tip: If the Windows 8 setup process doesn't start, it's very likely that you'll need to make boot order changes in the BIOS. See How To Change the Boot Order in BIOS if you need help doing that.