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Tips on computer repair
The Windows Vista Upgrade to Windows 7 will expire on 31 January 2010
January 25th
If you buy a computer after 26 June 2009 is likely to have the opportunity to upgrade to Windows 7 "no cost". Not all computers purchased within the dates marked with the free upgrade option, the manufacturer may choose a different strategy. You will find information on the official upgrade to Windows 7 from Microsoft .
We read according to the official FAQ on the Microsoft Windows 7 ;
The period of eligibility of the program will be from 26 June 2009 to 31 January 2010. No obstante, in the case of purchases of nuevos equipos, it is possible that the computer manufacturer ofrezca period: one more glance of the program inside of this range of dates. Check with your computer manufacturer to Get to the dates and information on Ringtones redeem the discount.
That is, if you have a computer with Windows Vista installed and have not upgraded to Windows 7 give you fast, because on Sunday 31 January 2010 is the deadline to request the free upgrade .
As long as Microsoft does not give more time to update the term.
Utilities to remove antivirus programs
January 23rd
Neither have I gone mad, or is a typo. While it may seem like nonsense, sometimes we have to remove a virus from your system. It may be several reasons, such as a malfunction of the same, a change of antivirus, reinstalling programs, etc..
Usually just use the uninstaller found in the list of programs or through the control panel. But at other times we may find that it is very difficult to remove a virus, either the typical errors in uninstaller, installations of more than one antivirus program that blocks the other, a system malfunction operating or because they simply do not appear in the list of programs to remove it. In these cases, you should be aware of the existence of free utilities that serve to eliminate the virus from our system more or less permanently and safely, without modifying the system registry files or delete files manually.
In most cases are the same antivirus companies that offer these utilities, in order to support their users. One of the main advantages of these programs is that we can clean the whole system of record that the virus can reside in our system.
Just today I had to fight for a while because of a bad installation that I caused myself, ignoring the warning, so that knowledge, I had NOD32 meanwhile wanted to install it and still there was another resident virus in the system. After a couple of tests, re-installations of programs and restarted the computer I had no choice but to entrust myself to one of these utilities.
Of all the utilities that I used most were the Symantec Norton (by far) and Panda (in their disputes with printers, Internet access ...). Not for what strange reason, but it is quite common that some antivirus such as Norton, give problems when trying to remove them from the system and force us to use these utilities.
I leave you with a list of tools to remove the virus;
- How to remove Norton - Norton removal tools - Norton removal tool (direct link)
- Remove Panda Antivirus Pro 2009 - Utilities to remove Panda, PandaSecurityUtility and uninstaller_09 (direct links)
- McAfee Cleanup , to remove McAfee anti-virus utility.
- Removal tool for Kaspersky Lab products - Kaspersky Removal Tool "Klean" (direct link)
- How do I remove it manually from ESET security product? - Eset uninstaller (direct link)
- Avira Support Downloads - Avira AntiVir Registry Cleaner (direct link)
- Utility to uninstall Avast - aswclear (direct link)
- Uninstall AVG - cleanup utility (direct link)
NOTE: See the terms and aspects to consider for each tool, some need to run them under special conditions, such as in security mode (failsafe).
Some links and reference;
- How to Uninstall McAfee Security Center
- How to remove Panda antivirus
- How to solve problems that can occur in removing other antivirus (Panda)
- Uninstaller (removal tools) for common antivirus (Eset)
- AVG 9.x Uninstall / Re-Install Instructions
Something is funny enough that many companies offer a page where you refer to the tools to remove hidden programs in competition and so how can their products.
I hope this article do not have more problems to uninstall the antivirus rebels.
Where to find instructions?
January 15th

One thing that bothers me is wasting time looking for the instructions for a particular product. And needless to say that even bothers me even more when the manufacturer offers through its official website, and not speak step-listed products from or imported, is something that should take care brands if they offer better after sales service, and not avoid receiving some calls to the switchboard of their service departments. Have a small database from products that links to a download page with product information does not cost much, just keep it updated and do not delete the information, just file it.
Needless to say, that sometimes we ourselves who are causing the problem, starting to make use of an article without reading the instructions, filing documents in a place where for sure not meet again or even throwing it in the trash in order to contribute to the cause of recycling. We may also find that the product does not have all the information you need or the same format is not suitable for our needs.
I assume that we have sought information on the product's support page and find the information you want, it will be time to use web search engines, but you save a good bit of work can start your adventure by Page Diplodocs , which will help in the difficult task of finding guide, instructions, manuals and user guides for many products, not only electronic and / or technology. There is absolutely everything, but if we can help if necessary in more than one occasion.
This page is available in many languages, including Catalan (with varying success), Spanish, English, French ... where you'll find instructions in many languages too, but most in English.
It also has a section that allows us to add new files and contribute to their file.
Needless to say that lately all the instructions of electronics sold on CD in PDF format, from my point of view is a success business, reduce costs in printing and provide flexibility in searching for information to your customers, as long as you have computer able to read PDF documents. When you have a manual over 100 pages, the search function within PDF documents will be your ally!
Know any alternative?
Updated drivers for nvidia, ati and intel
December 12th

Today, one of the most important components in the world of video games for PC's video card or graphics card. To play with the highest possible quality and safety must always be passed as standard components (hardware). But if we improve the performance of our video card just to have the drivers (drivers) to date. We'll get more quality with less effort of the GPU resources and optimizing their step to avoid problems with current games.
Whenever you download the latest driver for your model of graphics card.
Also remember that laptops (notebooks) usually have a different driver version for computers sobretauala such series Nvidia GeForce M series and ATI Mobility Radeon .
Each operating system requires certain video drivers, so the drivers for Windows XP will not work with Vista or Windows 7 32 or 64 bits, and certainly not with Linux or Mac OS X. Take a few minutes to find the required version for your system and save you many headaches.
You'll find updated drivers on the manufacturer's website, although some have alternate versions and even a few pounds (like Linux), the best performance we get the original drivers from the manufacturer;
Catalyst drivers for ATI Radeon;
- Download Center - support.amd.com / us / gpudownload / Pages / index.aspx
ForceWare Drivers / ION for NVIDIA GeForce: Beta versions are more unstable, but offer more features and compatibility with current games.
- Current, stable and certificates - www.nvidia.es/Download/index.aspx?lang=es
- Beta and old - www.nvidia.es/Download/Find.aspx?lang=es
Drivers Intel: Through the website we can update the drivers from Intel team in a very easy, just enter the URL to www.intel.com / support / detect.htm and let advise us via the automatic installer.
- Automatic installer - www.intel.com / support / graphics / detect.htm
- Download Center - downloadcenter.intel.com / default.aspx? iid = subhdr + downloads
If you do not know the model card you have on your computer (Windows XP) can access:
- Home -> right click on the icon in My Computer (My Computer) -> select the option Properties -> Hardware Tab -> Device Manager -> Display adapters.
As shown in the image side, you can click on to enlarge.
Installation process and / or update the drivers for our graphics card;
- Before proceeding to update the drivers for the graphics card must be remembered that it is recommended to uninstall previous drivers from the previous version and reboot, making what is called a clean install.
You can remove the previous version of drivers from:
- Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs
This article is a review of the original that I created for the blog lanparty de Puig-Reig , you can find on this link .
Disable UAC in Windows Vista
December 11th
With the release of Windows Vista people Microsoft added a security system to prevent users run applications without our consent and knowledge, but most users did find this as a waste of time and unnecessary hassle.
The simplest way to disable this security tool is;
- Start -> Control Panel -> User Accounts and Family Safety -> User Accounts -> Enable or Disable User Account Control -> (uncheck the box) Use User Account Control ( UAC) to help protect your computer.
Click on the image above to see screenshots of the process.
We are very lazy or have problems in accessing the menu above, we can try using a free utility called TweakUAC that can download from the official website of the program.
And if we have problems we can try to disable it through Windows safe mode (press F8 before starting the system). Then access the administrator account, and should not have problems disable UAC on all users using the first method.
Needless to say once we found a case of a laptop with Vista Ultimate, which could not install any software or change system configurations due to some strange bug in the UAC system, which causes the button to accept menus were disabled on all the windows that require confirmation. The only solution that worked for us was access to the system in Safe Mode, logging in with a user with administrator privileges and follow the procedure indicated above.
0x8104000D error when installing Live Messenger
December 11th

Raise your hand all those who have never had a problem with Microsoft Messenger. Surely all who choose to not use raised the "Messenger", which incidentally is one of the most sensible things you can do that.
If you try to install the new version of Live Messenger you see the error 0x8104000D, you can follow these tips and with any luck maybe the problem is solved;
I assume that your PC is running Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2 by friends) formatted again with Internet Explorer 6 and the most current version of Windows Installer. In this case rule that may be caused by a virus, if your situation is not looking for a good antivirus and make a good use.
First proceed to uninstall the previous version of Messenger (which the well integrated with Windows XP) from;
- Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> Windows Components
Reboot and repeat the installation of the new version of Messenger, if still the same error, try to change the configuration of the web browser, access the Internet Explorer;
- Tools -> Internet options -> (tab) Connections -> LAN Settings ... -> (enable) Automatically detect settings
That we are "forcing" in Internet Explorer and other Windows programs to connect to the Internet through the connection detected.
You worked? If so you may return to spend time communicating with your contacts.
Redirect or block websites with a local file
December 8th

It could be that one day we may be required to access a service or website in a quick or easy to remember, or simply for the reason it does not work via the Internet or our local network, or perhaps we need the opposite. Will give us some examples where this technique can be useful;
- As access control, to block certain web pages, navigation restrictions in a company (hotmail, facebook ...), parental control (sex, inappropriate content ...).
- Access to websites using a name (URL) shorter or easier to remember.
- To block some websites advertising. Related to the first option, but with a different purpose.
We may also find that a malicious application modifies the hosts file without our knowledge to disturb and modify the behavior of our team. Like virus (worm) MyDoom , which modify the hosts file to prevent access to websites that we could about security or antivirus (among other things).
This file can be found in almost all current systems;
* Windows 95/98/Me: C: \ Windows \ hosts * Windows NT/2000: C: \ WINNT \ System32 \ drivers \ etc \ hosts XP/2003/Vista/7 * Windows: C: \ WINDOWS \ system32 \ drivers \ etc \ hosts * Windows 64 XP: C: \ WINDOWS \ SysWOW64 \ Drivers \ etc \ hosts * Unix / Linux / MacOS (in general): / etc / hosts
I can change it with any text editor. Where, for each new line to add next and enter an IP (separated by a space at least) the name and URL you want to use.
By default, the hosts file has some comments that start with the # symbol in front line and has at least one entry (line);
# Comment in the file 127.0.0.1 localhost
Suppose we want to access a resource that we have a PC / server to a local network, but do not want to use the IP and know his name or can not access it for whatever reason (problems with DNS servers ...). To fix it must suffice to add an entry with the server IP and next to the name you want to use, can add as many lines as necessary, but each can contain only one IP. For example;
# Comment in the file 127.0.0.1 localhost Server 192.168.0.1
From this moment we can access the PC acting as a server named "server". On the server IP is 192.168.0.1 and the name you want to use to access the resource would be "server".
To block all content from a website or access a particular service as might be the chat messenger, hotmail web page, facebook, twitter and prevent computer users from accessing services that want. We could do with these entries;
# Block these IP addresses pointing to an invalid 0.0.0.0 facebook.com 0.0.0.0 hotmail.com 0.0.0.0 ads.publicitat.com Apart from the hosts file, find a file in the same folder called networks, which has a function similar to the above, except that in this type a name and redirects to an IP address.
The mystery of the BIOS without memory
October 24th

Motherboard BIOS stack
On many occasions we have seen articles and reviews of mistakes that people make on any aspect of computing. Since the typical EPIC FAIL in place a floppy 3 1/2 in the DVD recorder to the complicated task of surfing the Internet without turning on the DSL router.
But the case before us today is different. Not talking about a Muggle started in the exciting world of computers, but the respected profession of technical services. Although it seems lie, people working in the field of computer science are also people, and as such can make mistakes and we make mistakes.
We put ourselves in a situation: The client has a desktop PC will not resist saying that the time and you get a message with white letters on a black background when you start the PC. The message is like this;
CMOS checksum error - default loaded
The technician who worked for years ripping computers is the problem in seconds. Obviously this is a bug in the BIOS battery, which has been exhausted, with a simple change to one another and re-configuring the BIOS all the problems disappear. Changing the battery is checked, everything seems to work correctly and the customer gets to your computer.
A few days back and the client says to you that the technical error that was before he repeats, some messages appear when starting the computer, does not maintain the schedule and other things ... The technician checks the BIOS setup, the operating system, everything seems fine, but if you disconnect the PC problems reappear. Something very strange, considering that he moved to a new stack, so that should not be given these errors. Are several tests, updated the BIOS, it resets the CMOS, but the problem persists. After devoting some time, we decided to check the connection of the stack is correct and everything appears normal, the battery type CR2032 KTS and the brand is well placed. Finally, a divine apparition appears in front of the coach and gives the answer to the problem. What was the problem?
TRACK: The mark stack button is Sony have in store!
What really happened? Well, the technician removed the old battery KTS, opened the little box of the new Sony battery and inadvertently turned to put the old battery instead of the new KTS.
Error Exception Processing Message c0000013
October 6th

Sometimes Windows and other programs that run under this platform will give a series of errors of those who do not know whether to laugh or cry of pain. I remember once trying to install a Contaplus (SP / Sage) and that it did not work because the local drive (HDD) had no name as drive "C", so we had to re- resintal formating and installing the operating system (maybe there was a better solution, but at that time was fast and it was decided to fast track).
The error that concerns us today is different, but I vaguely remember the previous case. If you are trying to start a program with a message similar to this;
Windows - There is no disco
Exception Processing Message c0000013 Parameters 75b6bf9c 4 75b6bf9c 75b6bf9c
When an error of this type, indicates that the program is that we start looking for a file in one place and not find it, more specifically says you can not access a particular unit, such as "C", the " D ", etc.. It turns out that this error occurs on different approaches and programs, but I think it could "ensure" that we all have some common elements, as are the units of memory card readers, external hard drives or partitions (USB, ...).
Googling a bit I found an article on a blog and another on the other blog . I advise you to discard the topic of the virus and go straight to rename the local units (or network) that can cause problems.
I've tried to extract the subject of safety items and then reboot again the problem reappeared. To rename a unit must follow the following steps (in Windows XP);
Control Panel -> administrativas Tools -> Aministración of equipos -> Administration records
Within this screen, select the drive that we want and clicking the right mouse button menu select "Change Drive Letter and path of unit ..."
Remember that you can not change the drive letter where you have Windows installed.
