40 ways to fix your PC

If you know what a USB port looks like, chances are you're regularly called upon as the 'IT expert' by

friends and family whenever a computer goes bust or a window mysteriously disappears.

Below are some of the most useful tips I've gathered over many years of troubleshooting PCs and despairing at the number of browser toolbars unsuspecting pensioners install. And no, I'm not going to come around to "take a look". Work your way through all of these first...

General problems

1. Be Google smart

Google can be a huge help when it comes to specific error codes and very detailed problems. It's less useful for "my PC is running slowly" queries. Include as much detail as you can, putting "+" before keywords that must be matched and "-" before keywords to exclude.

2. System Restore

Windows' built-in roll-back feature will undo recent changes to the registry and hardware and software setup of your computer, without affecting your personal files and holiday photos. It's a good place to start if something has very recently gone wrong. You'll find System Restore via Control Panel.

3. Safe Mode

Tap F8 during boot-up to access the boot menu. Choose Safe Mode to launch a special stripped-down version of Windows that keeps drivers and background utilities to a minimum and looks like it's straight out of 1995. Safe Mode can be used to uninstall programs or devices, or run fixes, if you can't get into Windows normally.

4. Overheating

If your PC crashes at seemingly random times -- in other words, there's no particular software program or hardware device that prompts it -- it's possible that your computer or laptop is overheating. Invest in another fan or a laptop cooler if you think this may be the cause.

5. On-demand scans

A whole bundle of problems are caused by viruses and spyware, from slow performance to unexplained reboots. It goes without saying that you should keep your anti-virus and anti-spyware tools right up to date, but you might want to run an on-demand scanner as well to get another opinion -- Spybot Search & Destroy and Microsoft's own Safety Scanner are two good choices that won't interfere with your existing security tools.

6. Background noise

Sluggish performance that degrades over time can be due to more and more programs deciding they'd like to run in the background. Open Task Manager (right-click on the taskbar) to see what's actually using up the RAM and CPU time on your PC -- if any of the entries under Processes and Services don't make much sense, run a quick Google search for details of what they are.

7. Selective startup

If you find any superfluous entries in Task Manager, chances are they're being launched with Windows. Scour the Startup folder on the Start menu to find and remove anything you don't really need all of the time. For more control over the Windows startup process, type "msconfig" into the Start menu search box and hit Enter -- the subsequent dialog lets you make detailed changes to which services and tools can launch automatically at the same time as the operating system.

You might be surprised at how many services start up with Windows.

8. Restoring files

When Windows deletes a file, it doesn't move the 1s and 0s, it simply removes the references to them and marks the disk space as free. Unless you've overwritten the file with something else, you might be able to get it back -- Recuva is one of the best and most straightforward free tools for the task.

9. Windows won't start

Windows comes with various system recovery options (besides Safe Mode) that you can use if the operating system won't boot. Tap F8 when booting and choose 'Last Known Good Configuration' to revert back to the settings in place when Windows last launched. Another trick you can try is to unplug all non-essential peripherals -- sometimes a badly configured device will cause the startup process to hang.

10. Motherboard beeps

If your PC gets so far and no further, and you find it beeps at you and shuts down before Windows even starts loading, the problem is at a lower level. Motherboards will alert you to what's gone wrong by the number of beeps -- check the user manual to find out what they mean, or look for a digital copy on the manufacturer's website.

11. No power

If the PC or laptop doesn't get going at all, either you're in the middle of a power cut, your power cable is faulty, or the power supply unit/battery is bust. See if you can source a cheap spare cable or battery first, as a PSU replacement will cost significantly more.

12. Forums

If you do have to turn to the web, locate the developer or manufacturer's official support forums before you turn to Google. You may find there's a particular fix available or advice from other users. For smaller freeware programs, you may even find posts from the developer.

13. Ask Microsoft

It turns out MIcrosoft does know a thing or two about their own systems -- it offers an automated Fixit tool, which will try and detect what's going wrong and then do something about it.

The Microsoft Fixit site offers a number of simple troubleshooting wizards.

14. Registry cleaning

The labyrinthine settings file that is the Windows registry can cause errors, program crashes and system restarts if something has gone wrong deep within it. There are plenty of third-party tools that will scan it for problems for you, though not all of them are trustworthy -- Glary Registry Repair is one of the ones you can depend on (though as with any advanced tweaking tool, use at your own risk -- you do back up, right?).

15. Re-install Windows

This is the scorched earth policy -- but it's not as drastic as you might think. Many PCs and laptops come with recovery discs or a recovery partition on the hard drive that you can use to return your computer to the state it was in when it arrived from the factory. Of course, it goes without saying that you'll need to install your software again and you'll lose all your personal data, so you'll need copies of your important files (photos, university essays etc). This process is set to be made even easier in Windows 8.

Hardware problems

16. Test on another computer

Use another computer to test your malfunctioning mouse/camera/printer, or just another USB port, to help you work out where the fault lies. If the problem vanishes, it's not the device itself that's to blame.

17. New drivers

Head to the manufacturer's website and hunt down the latest drivers and/or firmware for your device -- installing these updates will replace damaged files, add the latest bug fixes and improve compatibility with other hardware and software.

18. Old drivers

Windows and devices themselves sometimes install new drivers without asking and these occasionally cause problems. To roll back to a previous version, find the hardware in question in Device Manager, right-click and choose Properties and open the Driver tab.

19. Uninstall drivers

Staying in Device Manager -- there's an Uninstall option that will remove all traces of the hardware in question from your system. Reboot and reattach the device to launch the installation process from scratch, which may resolve your issue.

Update, roll back and uninstall drivers from Device Manager.

20. Test the memory

It's not easy to tell when your memory is failing you and it doesn't happen often -- intermittent system instability and software crashes are the usual signs. A decent memory diagnostics tester like MemTest86+ can help by scanning the installed modules and alerting you to any potential issues.

21. Test the hard drive

Modern hard drives have something known as SMART (Self Monitoring And Reporting Technology) built into them. It's a standardised technology the disks use to report their status and general health back to Windows. Plenty of free applications can read and report this SMART data -- HDD Health is one example, which also supports SSD drives -- and they will display warning signs if you need to buy a replacement drive in the near future.

22. Windows disk checking

Windows has its own disk-checking tool that looks for problems on your installed hard drives -- right-click on a drive in Windows Explorer, choose Properties and then the Tools tab to find it.

23. Screen issues

Problems with the display can be caused by the graphics card, the monitor itself or the connecting cable (if you're not using a laptop). Using a spare cable (if available) or switching to on-board graphics (again, if available) can help you work out exactly which link in the chain is the one going wrong. If your monitor or screen is found to be faulty, there's not much you can do except dig out the warranty or pay a visit to the local repair shop.

24. Open her up

You don't have to be a PC-building expert to take a peek under the case -- just make sure you ground yourself to remove any static electricity first, and unplug the computer from the mains. Check for loose connections and screws or an excessive build-up of dust (a can of compressed air can help here). Laptops are less easy to poke around in, but some do allow access to the memory and hard drive, so you can check these connections. You may find more guidance from the manufacturer's website or the supplied documentation.

25. Backup

Unfortunately, there are times when there's just nothing you can do, and you have to accept that your hard drive or power supply unit is kaput. It's vital that you have backups of your important files and folders, and there's no shortage of services willing to help out -- Google Drive,SkyDrive, Dropbox and Backblaze, to name just a few.

Software problems

26. Updates

Has the program you're struggling with made an update available? Perhaps to support new hardware or operating system features? It's worth checking via the developer's website or the built-in update tool that most software has, though the majority of updates now install automatically.

27. Re-install

If problems persist, strip out all traces of the program in question using a third-party uninstaller --Revo Uninstaller will do the job for free -- then start the installation process again from scratch with a fresh download or the original discs. Why? It ensures any corrupt or damaged files are replaced and all of the software's settings are reset.

28. Plug-ins

Bear in mind that the problem may not lie with the software itself but with one of the program's plug-ins or extensions -- try disabling these add-ons one by one to see if the issue is resolved.

Plug-ins and add-ons are at the root of a lot of software problems.

29. Clean up

Many applications will create caches of temporary files that can occasionally interfere with program behaviour -- look for an option that will wipe these files. CCleaner is a handy third-party freeware utility that cleans up temporary files for many different applications.

30. Conflicting programs

Is the troublesome application having problems because of another program on the system? This can be particularly common with security tools that try and do the same thing at the same time. Try temporarily disabling other programs that might be causing interference.

Internet problems

31. Find the fault

First step: find where the problem is. Check if you can connect to the web on other computers and devices. Ideally plug a laptop into the router directly and run the router's built-in testing diagnostics -- your ISP may be experiencing issues. If there's only one PC that can't get online, there's likely to be a problem with its network adaptor or settings.

32. Adaptor problems

If you suspect the adaptor is to blame (a wireless USB dongle, for example), check the hardware tips above. Try updating the adaptor's driver, uninstalling and reinstalling, or simply plugging it in another USB port.

33. Update firmware

It's possible there's a firmware update for the router that you're using, though some ISPs frown on users taking this much control over their network setup. The best place to start looking is the customer forums for your ISP, where you should find details of which free router you've been lumbered with and how you can update its firmware.

34. Reboots all round

The reboot process is something of a troubleshooting cliche, but that's because it often works -- turn the router off for 30-60 seconds to re-establish the connection and reset the router. Reboot your PC for good measure to attempt to connect again.

35. Change channels

Routers typically share the same frequency as other devices, like microwaves and baby monitors, which can slow down your connection -- either move other wireless devices away, or change the channel used by your router (see the router settings for help with doing this).

Switching to a different router channel could fix slow broadband speeds.

36. Is it down?

If you're having issues with a particular site, look it up on www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com -- the problem may not be at your end. Note that if something large scale suffers a failure -- like Amazon's S3 storage -- it can affect many different sites and services at once.

37. Network management

Delve into the Network and Sharing Centre in Windows to make sure there aren't multiple programs trying to manage your wireless connection. Laptop manufacturers will often bundle their own network management software with their machines, which is fine as long as these applications aren't trying to work concurrently with Windows' own utilities.

38. Browser woes

Switching to an alternative browser is a simple way to test if your Internet-related problems are being caused by your favourite browser. If the browser is to blame, try some of the software tips I mentioned earlier, and take a long hard look at the plug-ins and extensions.

39. Firewall settings

Firewalls can be temperamental and might be blocking the site, service or program you're trying to use. Consult the incoming and outgoing settings when you've found them (if you're using the Windows Firewall, head to Control Panel). If you're struggling to get online with a particular game or networking tool, you might find instructions for allowing firewall access in the supplied documentation.

Some networking tools and games will need special firewall permissions.

40. View connections

Head into the Network and Sharing Centre to make sure your PC is trying to connect using the right connection (wireless versus wired, for example). While all of this should configure itself automatically, rogue programs or security tools can make changes they shouldn't. There are also some troubleshooters built into the Network and Sharing Centre, which are surprisingly useful.

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How to Set Up Your Own Private Cloud Storage Service in Five Minutes with OwnCloud

With so many services like iCloud and Dropbox getting hacked these days, it's no surprise that more people want to pull their data off the cloud. Instead of missing out on those great syncing features, though, you can create your own cloud storage service that you control with a service called own Cloud. With it, you'll get syncing files, notes, calendars, and more. The best part: it only takes about five minutes to get it set up.

OwnCloud is free and open source software that operates as a very simple way to set up your own syncing, Dropbox-like cloud storage system on your own server or web site. It's robust enough that it has replaced Dropbox for me in all except a few choice cases. It's also quick and easy to set up, and doesn't require advanced technical knowledge. OwnCloud is about as powerful as Dropbox, but it also allows people to make and share their own apps that run on ownCloud including text editors, task lists, and more. That means you can get a little more out of it then just file syncing if you want.

What You'll Get

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At the core of it, ownCloud offers up super easy file syncing from your desktop to the cloud. To get an idea of how it works, play around with the live demo here (it looks like the live demo might be down at the moment), and see a full list of its features here. Like Dropbox, you can access your files from anywhere, sync data, and share files with others.

Beyond that, you also get a music player built directly into ownCloud, a simple place to store contacts, a task manager, a syncing calendar, a bookmarking service, and a robust photo gallery. You'll be able to sync ownCloud with almost any desktop or mobile calendar and contacts app. That means if you want to ditch the likes of iCloud, ownCloud makes it easy to do. A recent update also added a simple install method so anyone can start using ownCloud right away.

What You'll Need

You don't really need much to get started with ownCloud. Just gather up:

• A web host that supports PHP5 and MySQL (or SQLite): This might sound a little jargony, but all it means is that you need to sign up for a service like Dreamhost (if you haven't already). If you already have a domain name like http://www.yourname.comthrough a web host (and you should), you can probably install ownCloud in a couple minutes. It sounds complicated, but you don't actually need to deal with things like PHP and MySQL for the simple installation of ownCloud. It does it all for you automatically. Just make sure your hosting service supports them.
• A copy of ownCloud Server 5: You can install ownCloud in a variety of ways, but for our purposes we'll stick the simplest method: the web installer. If you know how to put a file onto your web site, you can install this. You'll just need to upload one file to your web host.
• A URL for remote access: Since you'll likely want to tap into ownCloud from anywhere, you'll need a URL for doing so. If you don't already have a domain name, you can buy one, but if you do it's incredibly easy to set up ownCloud in a subdirectory of your site.

The nice thing about ownCloud is that it's compatible with just about any server you can imagine. We're going to stick with the simple web installer that works with an online hosting service, but if you want full control, it's easy to install on a Linux machine in your house, anumber of service providers offer one-click installs, and hosts like Dreamhost even provide their own installation guides. You also want to take a look at your web host's Terms of Service to make sure they don't outrightly ban setting up your own cloud storage on their servers.

Initial Setup and Installation

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As we mentioned early on, you have a lot of options for how to install ownCloud. For this guide, we'll keep it as simple as possible and use the web installer. With the web installer ownCloud automatically creates everything you need so you don't need any special skills to get it set up (if you have multiple users who will access ownCloud, it's recommended that you manually create a database):

1. Download and save the web installer to your computer.
2. Upload the setup-owncloud.php file to your web space using your host's web interface or an FTP app (our picks forWindows, Mac, and Linux are a good place to start if you don't have one).
3. Enter the URL of the setup file into your web browser. It should something likehttp://www.yourdomainname.com/setup-owncloud.php.
4. Follow the basic onscreen instructions to install ownCloud. After a couple of minutes it'll redirect you to the login page.

That's it. It's incredibly easy to set up as long as your web server meets the basic requirements listed in the first section. If not, ownCloud's guide for manual installations covers just about every other instance you could possibly run into.

Set Up Your Desktop and Mobile Sync

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Now that you have ownCloud installed on your web server it's time to set up the desktop sync so the files in ownCloud are the same as on your computer. For this, you'll need to install the desktop client (Windows,Mac, or Linux).

From here, setup is pretty simple:

1. Open up the ownCloud software on your computer, and select "configure."
2. Add the URL of your ownCloud server, and your login credentials.
3. Now, you need to select the files and folders you want to sync. Click "Add folder..." and select a folder on your computer. All files here will now upload and sync automatically to ownCloud. You can add as many folders as you like.

As with Dropbox, you can also simply drag files into the web interface to upload them and they'll be synchronized both locally and in the cloud, and you can share files with friends by selecting the "share" option when you mouse over a file.

For the mobile apps (Android/iPhone), you'll follow the same instructions to point the app to your ownCloud directory, then enter in your username and password. The mobile apps are notably barebones, but they function well enough for accessing files.

Sync Up Your Calendar, Address Book, and Music

Now that the basic file syncing is out of the way, it's time to get all your other stuff synced up. This means synchronizing your calendar, address book, and music.

Sync Your Calendars

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If you use a calendar app that supportsCalDAV, you just need to point it to your ownCloud installation:

1. Click the Calendar icon on the right side.
2. Click the gear icon in the top right.
3. Copy down the URL for your calendar (most calendars can access the simple URL, but OS X and iOS require a slightly different URL)

Now, just open the settings of your favorite calendar app, and add your account in the CalDAV section. All your appointments will be dumped into ownCloud and synced across any other devices you connect to it.

Sync Your Contacts

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Similar to the Calendar, you can easily import and sync up your address book with ownCloud:

1. Export your contacts from your address book into a VCF file.
2. From ownCloud, select the "Contacts" sidebar, and click the gear in the bottom left corner.
3. Click "Import" and select the VCF file you want to upload.

It will take a few minutes to get your contacts uploaded, but once they're up, you cansynchronize them with any address book that supports CardDAV (most do).

Set Up a Music Server

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One of the most interesting things you can do with ownCloud is set up a personal cloud server for all your music. Just upload some MP3 files into ownCloud, and you immediately have access to them alongside a web player. That alone is useful, but you can also set up a desktop client to access those files.

Your ownCloud server is compatible with a few different music apps, but we likeTomahawk because it's simple, cross platform, and suprisingly powerful. Here's how to set up Tomahawk to read music from ownCloud:

1. From the ownCloud web interface, click your username and select "Personal."
2. Copy down the URL listed as Media (it will read something like:http://yourdomain/owncloud/remote.php/ampache)
3. In Tomahawk, head to the Preferences (Tomahawk > Preferences), and select "Services."
4. Scroll down and select "Ampache."
5. In the dialogue box that opens, enter in your ownCloud username and password, followed by the URL you copied above.

Now, all the music you have stored on ownCloud will be playable in Tomahawk. If you're not a fan of the simplistic web player, Tomahawk works great.

Add Apps and Extend OwnCloud's Power

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Now it's time to extend ownCloud's functionality further with apps. If you click your username from the ownCloud web interface and select "Apps" you're taken to a list of installable applications. You can also browse through a few more here.

To install any of these apps, just select the app, and click "enable." After a few moments, it will be installed and you'll find a new icon on the right panel. As you'd expect, the apps range in their usefulness, but here are a few I found helpful:

• Journal: This is a simple journal and notes app that works with the Tasks app and the Calendar app. It also supports syncing if you're using a small selection of different apps on Linux or Android.
• Tasks (available within ownCloud): Tasks is a simple to-do list that syncs with the calendar or stands on its own.
• Bookmarks (available within ownCloud): Bookmarks turns ownCloud into a nice little cloud-based bookmarks manager, complete with tagging, filters, and a bookmarklet to easily bookmark any page.
• Roundcube: Roundcube adds an email interface directly into ownCube provided your mailserver supports Roundcube and IMAP.

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The nice thing about ownCloud is that with the recently added web installer, pretty much anyone can get it up and running on their own web host in a matter of minutes. Once you're set up, you can extend that functionality as much as you want, or just use it as a cloud-based file syncing service. You won't find the same amount of in-app support on mobile devices as you would with Dropbox, but as a free, private cloud server ownCloud does its job very well.

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Hyundai HCD-14 Genesis concept unveiled at Detroit Auto Show

The HCD-14 Genesis is meant to push Hyundai further into luxury territory with sophisticated styling and 3D gesture recognition technology.

The eye tracking feature allows the driver to select a function, while the 3D system allows him or her to use minimal gestures to make their selection.

These new technologies help the driver control audio, navigation, HVAC, and smartphone connectivity functions. Combined with a head-up display, Hyundai says eye tracking and gesture recognition keep the driver’s eyes on the road the majority of the time.

This may be a concept car, but Hyundai decided to make it drivable as well. However, the drive train is more realistic than the styling or futuristic infotainment interface. Under the hood is the same 5.0-liter Tau V8 from the Genesis 5.0 R-Spec and Equus. It’s mated to an eight-speed, paddle-shifted automatic transmission.

To give the HCD-14 Genesis a sporty feel, Hyundai also gave it five-link front and rear suspension and performance tires. Electronic nannies include a yaw control system and multi-mode power steering.

The HCD-14 is just a concept car, but seeing as it shares its name with Hyundai’s current premium sedan, it seems likely that certain features will make it onto future production cars. The styling and infotainment system are the standouts, but whether they can make it to production undiluted is the big question. First, Hyundai should do something about that grille.

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BB10 phones expected to release during the first quarter of 2013.

BB10 Gets Security Nod for Government Use

RIM is ready for active duty. 

Photo: Roberto Baldwin/Wired

While the iPhone has the app market wrapped up, and Android touts its customization bona fides, BlackBerry has traditionally been the security phone of choice for businesses and super spies. RIM can continue to ride the security wave with news that its unreleased platform is ready for government duty.

On Thursday RIM announced that BlackBerry 10 smartphones and enterprise servers had received FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard Publication) 140-2 certification from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). In order to pass, a device must have certified encryption algorithms when data is transmitted or the phone is at rest.

One of the features RIM has been most proud of is its security. Thursday’s announcement is good news for a company that has been struggling to remain relevantin the post-iPhone era. This is the first time a RIM product was certified before its release. Government agencies can start using the devices as soon as they become available on the market.

RIM is expected to release new BB10 phones during the first quarter of 2013.

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