Why Update Microsoft Windows Regular

Your Windows computer understands all your needs of editing docs, saving, sharing, playing music/movies, games, browsing wirelessly, talking to friends etc. However, do you understand the needs of your Windows computer? Does it sound odd? It might sound little bizarre as most of us think that our Windows operating system needs nothing except a good antivirus program for protection and a few tools that make it run faster.
To FIX your Windows 7 Problem Call +1-877-452-9201(Toll Free)

However, it's not true as Windows OS is a computer program written in millions of technical programming codes, and like any other man-made thing, it is essentially prone to errors and flaws.

These errors and technical flaws are corrected through Windows updates that are launched time to time by Microsoft. Windows being the most widely used operating system across the world is the easiest and favorite target of global computer hackers.

Windows updates are beneficial in many ways to your computer and the hardware and software you attach to it to enjoy live music, videos, games, browsing, or wireless connection among other things. Below are the some of the features that Windows updates provide:

Security:-

This has been, and is, and will be the most concerned issue with all types of computers. Since, Windows computers are little more vulnerable to virus attacks than other PCs; the concern is higher with them. Windows runs executable programs and files that trigger virus and spyware among other malware infections to be downloaded on the PC.

Besides a good antivirus program, Windows updates help keep the PC guarded against all the old and newly-developed infections. Windows updates install the necessary virus definitions to the antivirus program and expand its resources base about a particular infection's behavior. Therefore, when the particular infection tries to be installed on your PC, your antivirus program will know that it's an infection and needs to be removed immediately before it causes damage to the data.

Performance:-

Since, Windows is designed to install and run multiple programs at a time; this often results into slow performance issue. We often download and install software, tools, music/video files and browse many websites that download cookies and temp files into the PC, if not necessary to be retained, these files will only eat up computer memory and sometimes clog the computer, resulting into slow speed and performance. There could be a hardware and software also that may create issue with the Windows and result into slow performance. Windows updates repair the Windows components, improve their performance, and suggest you how to make your PC function at its best.

Software and Hardware:-

Windows updates install latest features and enhancements including drivers for software and hardware installed on your PC. The updates help improve their functionality and efficiency by rectifying the errors automatically.

Additional Tidbits:-

Now, this essentially doesn't mean that Windows updates can totally save a computer from all types of technical glitches or errors.

The article is associated with 'Why Should You Update your Windows Regularly?' available on www.vtechsquad.com.

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Windows 8 will become in 2012 - Some features revealed

According to the latest announcement of Steve Ballmer, (Chief Executive officer)CEO of Microsoft the next version of their operating system – Windows 8 will become available in 2012.

During the conference held in Tokyo Steve Ballmer didn’t tell anything about the features of the windows 10 and thus didn’t confirm or reject the rumor circulating on the Internet.

At the same the Chief Executive officer(CEO) said that they work at natural user interface. “We want smart devices to work the way we work, to recognize us and our actions. Speech recognition, vision, handwriting recognition, touch interfaces, these are all part of the theme,” said Steve Ballmer.

The second big area of innovation will come in natural language, i.e. voice, and vision, and touch. “With natural language, we're really asking ourselves the question, can we let you control your computing environment by expressing intent instead of specific commands. Today on a PC, it's file open, blah, blah, blah, respond, reply, forward….. With natural language, whether it's in English, or Japanese, or any one of a number of other languages, you should be able to command the computer with your intent, and have it take action,” explained Ballmer.

The third area will be HTML and JavaScript.

The forth one is chip and form factors. According to Ballmer the new system will support system-on-a-chip architectures, not only from Intel and AMD, but also from a set of ARM vendors.

The last thing Steve Ballmer told about was the cloud. “And with both Azure, Windows Azure and SQL Azure, as well as Office 365, we've made a major step into the cloud,” he said.

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How The Blue Screen of Death Got Its Nickname History Unfolds

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) is a name that all the Windows PC users fear of and would do their best to keep it off their system. For people who have little or no idea about BSOD, it is a STOP error screen with a blue background adorned with white text codes explaining error details. The error befalls when Windows operating system (OS) encounters a fatal issue that it can't recover from and starts shutting down.

Are you thinking why one should be afraid of the BSOD error? The reason is that when the problem erupts, Windows suddenly starts shutting down to prevent itself from further damage. So if you are in the middle of finishing an important office work (which you were just about to complete) or downloading/uploading anything or whatever work you were doing on your computer will be lost without even giving you a chance to save it.

What lies in a Name?

Like most of the people, I have always wondered how the BSOD error came into existence and where it got its name from. Nothing lies in a name but still everything lies in the name as it is the primary introduction to a thing. Well, I think that these technical tidbits help you know more about your company (any company). I researched a lot on the concept of BSOD error and went through several websites; see what have I come up with.

Origin of the BSOD Error

The BSOD made its first appearance in the year 1987 during the beta testing of IBM "Operating System/2 (OS/2) developed at Lattice, Incorporate; the developer of early OS/2 and Windows compilers. The STOP error screen struck the OS/2 when developers were porting other tools from Lattice, Inc. via internet. The reason behind the error appeared to be the bugs (it means defects or flaws in more technical term) in the OS/2's software. While giving the error description to IBM (informally known as 'Big Blue' then), the Lattice, Inc. developers named the error as 'Blue Screen of Death' associating its color with IBM's and a dead screen appearance that just didn't move away without rebooting.

Another story is that the BSOD error was originally a 'Black Screen of Death' (as some people say) instead of 'Blue Screen of Death'. The term BSOD was originally given its name by Ed Brown in the mid-1991. Ed Brown was then an IT technician with Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta in Georgia, US. Ed Brown reported that the error struck when the company implemented Windows 3.0 (OS) in the Global Marketing Group, and users when trying to run 'WordPerfect' would randomly get BISOD error screen. The error would display an entirely black screen with a cursor flashing at the top left hand corner. This would happen when a user tried to run a DOS application and eventually got stuck with the BSOD error. The system had no escape from the BSOD error until it was rebooted.

Error Horror

The BSOD error has certainly succeeded in dreading users with whatever color it appears in. Even Bill Gates, the founder of giant Microsoft Corp., had no escape from the BSOD error during the beta release of Windows 98 at Computer Dealer's Exhibition (COMDEX) in Las Vegas in April, 1998. The demo Windows 98-based system crashed when an assistant tried connecting it to a scanner to display the OS' compatibility with Plug & Play devices.

Well, don't panic (you don't have as there is a solution for everything in this world), just relax and if the error occurs to your system, then shut it down and reboot properly. Sometimes, a simple reboot resolves the problem. If it appears to be of no help, then try to pen down the error details and search the knowledge base on Google, Bing among other search engines to find out the solution. I would recommend that you better consult an expert to save time and money. The online technical support services are the best option to get value for both time and money as they don't need you to lug your computer to some place, they just fix the problem online unless there is a hardware problem.

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Install Windows 7 Themes on Windows XP

If you want your Windows XP computer to look like Windows 7 computer, you can change the themes. A variety of Windows 7 theme packs are available on the Internet on various site. Select a Windows 7 theme that you want to use, and install it on your Windows XP computer.

Note :- Before following the steps below, I do not recommend you doing this unless you are comfortable editing the Windows settings. I will not responsible for any damage that may be caused to your PC after editing the settings by following the steps below. You proceed at your own risk or may take help from Microsoft Certified Technician at their Toll Free No. +1-877-452-9201

• Download from http://windows7themes.net and install a Windows 7 theme Pack on your computer. Before you can use the themes on your Windows XP computer, you will need to change the file format and resave the theme files. The programming code for Windows 7 theme packs cannot be understood by earlier versions of the Windows operating system.

• Use a free unzipping utility such as 7-Zip, Free Zip or Quick Zip to unzip the files if you don't already have one installed on your Windows XP computer. Rename the Windows 7 theme pack file extension from ".themepack" to ".cab," and use the unzipping utility to extract the files.

• Follow the unzipping utility's instructions for extracting Windows 7 theme files. Click the "Yes" button when you are prompted to create a new file folder. Choose the file path where you want to save the Windows 7 themes on your hard drive.

• Choose a background image in the Windows 7 theme folder that you want to use on your desktop. Right-click on the background image file name, and select the option "Set as Desktop Background" from the drop-down menu list. Keep in mind that Windows XP is unable to support Aero Glass, but you can still use the background images on your computer.

• Change the desktop and system icons for your Windows 7 theme. Find a blank area on your desktop, and right-click on it. Select the option "Personalize," and then choose "Change Desktop Icons" from the drop-down menu list. Select the items that you want to use. Click "Change Icons," and locate the file path where the new icons for the Windows 7 theme are saved on your computer. Select an icon that you want to use.

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What to Do When Microsoft Windows XP Won't Shut Down

Windows users frequently run into problems no matter if they have advanced service packs installed on their computers or have downloaded updates etc. This doesn’t mean that Windows is not worth using, it simply happens due to lots of applications that it runs simultaneously. You should be first aware of what can cause the problem and then move on to the instructions to solve it.

Common Reasons for the Shutdown Problem:

1. Device driver
2. Virus infection
3. Corrupted Registry Entries
4. Hardware and/or Software
5. Corrupted File System
6. Faulty/corrupted Hard Drive
7. Corrupted Firmware
8. Recent changes

Instructions:-

Reboot Computer– A wrong or improper shutdown causes damage to the PC and thus prevents it from shutting down. Simplest of all methods, reboot your machine as it retunes the software and internal settings and therefore fixes the issue (s). You can also unplug the power cord of PC from the electricity outlet and at the same time disconnect other hardware pieces connected to the computer. Wait for 4-5 minutes and plug them back to see if the problem has resolved. This works most of the times.

Run Windows Update– It is necessary to run Windows Updates as these download and install latest patches, drivers, and definitions to your OS. The updates automatically fix any internal glitches and make your PC run smoothly.

Note :- Before following the steps below, I do not recommend you doing this unless you are comfortable editing the Windows settings. I will not responsible for any damage that may be caused to your PC after editing the settings by following the steps below. You proceed at your own risk or may take help from Microsoft Certified Technician at their Toll Free No. +1-877-452-9201

Adjust Power Settings– Click on ‘Start’> go to ‘Control Panel’> click on ‘Power Options’. If you don’t see ‘Power Options’, on the top left hand panel, click on ‘Switch to Clasic View’. Now, click on the last tab saying ‘APM’ and put a checkmark in the box that says ‘Enable Advanced Power Management Support’. Click on ‘OK’ to exit the window. If it doesn’t work, check that your computer supports Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) standards.

To check your PC’s ACPI compliance, you need to click on the ‘Start’ menu> and click on ‘Run’. Type ‘devmgmt.msc' (without quotes) in the box and click on ‘OK’ or hit ‘Enter’ on the keyboard. Under the ‘Device Manager’ Window, click on the ‘+’ sign leftwards ‘Computer’, it will show ‘ACPI’ there. If it’s not there, it means your PC is not ACPI-compliant and hence you can’t adjust power option settings.

Device Driver– Replace the faulty or damaged drive with a new one. Always download and install the latest, compatible drivers with whichever Windows version you have. Check your publisher or vendor’s website for latest and compatible drivers.

Run Registry Cleaner– Repair corrupted/damaged registry entries by running a registry cleaner. This tool cleans up all the registry-related errors and helps Windows run smoothly and effectively. Also, if you recently removed a program from your PC but not its registry entries, it will result into registry error. The unused registry entries clog a computer and stop it from functioning properly. Therefore, always remove a program’s registry entries also by going into the Windows Registry Editor.

Recent Changes– If you recently made changes to your PC like installing or removing a new software/program or hardware. Check that changes were made properly. A wrongly installed or removed software/hardware may result into Windows won’t shutdown problem. Correct the changes accordingly.

Disable Wake on Setting – If your PC doesn’t shutdown and reboots in a loop then this instruction is for you. It is because your PC’s motherboard has an integrated Ethernet card that sets up wake on call. Check Device Manager’s properties and disable the Wake-on setting.

Virus Infection– It is always advised to keep your antivirus updated so that it regularly installs latest security definitions that enhance your PC’s defense systems. It is also advised to run scans on regular basis to help detect and remove any virus/malware infection immediately at the time it tries to penetrate your system’s defense wall.

Hardware/Software– A wrongly installed, misconfigured, or faulty/corrupted software and/or hardware may result into Windows won’t shutdown problem. So check what program or piece of hardware is causing the problem and correct it.

Upgrade System Firmware– Upgrade your system’s Firmware to get rid of this problem.

Faulty Hard Drive– Replace the faulty or corrupted RAM stick. Check your hard drive by running ‘chkdsk’ command into the ‘Run’ window. Type the command without quotes in the box and hit ‘Enter’ on the keyboard. If the drive is fine, it won’t show any message. If it comes up with a prompt that hard disc drive problems were not fixed, then it indicates towards hard drive problems. Type ‘chkdsk /f and in the ‘Run’ box hit ‘Enter’. Press ‘Y’ to fix the detected errors and ‘N’ to discontinue the command. If you press ‘Y’, it will fix the problem and save lost chain content as a file in the directory that can be checked later on. If you choose ‘N’ then it won’t save the lost chain content.

Additional Tips:

1. Ensure that you are running latest service pack of Windows XP with all the updates duly downloaded and installed.
2. You must login as an administrator or atleast should have equivalent right to perform some of the abovementioned instructions.

Note:- The article is related with ‘What to Do When Microsoft Windows XP Won't Shut Down’ available on V tech-squad, Inc. You can reach V tech-squad online technical support at their Toll Free No 877-452-9201 For US/CA.

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Microsoft Windows 8 RTM release date leaked

After the great success of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Microsoft is working on Windows 7 SP 1 andWindows 8 the next version of Windows. Today, according to electronista the release date of Windows 8 RTM leaked by a Microsoft Employee. Windows Server 2012 and Office 2012 would ship a year and a day later on July 2nd, 2012.

It would seem that Microsoft may be speeding up its product development cycle. A PDF leaked by Microsoft Ex-Employee with Estimated Product Support Life Cycles.It says,

1. Microsoft will stop support for Windows XP after 2014.
2. Microsoft will stop support for the disappointed version Vista after the middle of 2017.
3. It will stop support for the super hit version Windows 7(Released in 2009) after the middle of 2019.
4. And going to release Windows 8 RTM on July 2nd, 2011 and it will stop support for Windows 8 after 2021.
5. For current Windows Client support will be available up to 2021.
6. And for Office 2010 the beta is already available on Microsoft’s download page,the support will be available up to 2022.

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Get Microsoft Product Support With Microsoft-Certified Professionals

The online technical support world has grown vaster following the burgeoning need for technical support services across the world. Being the most widely used applications, Microsoft products dominate the global software product market. The larger the use of Microsoft applications is, the higher the tendency of occurring technical problems is. There are several instances in your life when you do rounds of a local repair shop or call a technician friend to fix the major or minor glitches in your computer. You might have been irritated with the fact that such problems sometimes take longer than ever to resolve and sometimes never come to. The last problem can only happen if you have not contacted a reliable Microsoft-certified professional. So, your next question may be where to find the great Microsoft product support from?

Well, there are a number of third-party service providers that provide online tech support services for problems related to Microsoft products such as Microsoft Windows XP setup, Microsoft Office, and Microsoft Outlook etc., and other software applications also. Generally, these providers have a team of certified, skilled professionals that undergo rigorous training before getting on to the technical support job.

These professionals are generally reachable via a toll-free phone service or internet chat. You simply have to subscribe to their yearly plans and get going with their certified technical support services anytime and anywhere. The services are available round-the-clock and throughout-the-year so that whenever you have a problem with your PC, you get the resolution instantly. So no matter what time zone you are in, what place you are at, you will get your problem resolved without delay and at the comfort of your home. Easy and professional it sounds, the outstanding the experience it offers.

The best thing is that the entire troubleshooting process does not usually stretch beyond 15-20 minutes unless the problem is extremely bigger. Most of the problems are fixed in the first call thereby sidelining the need of calling again and again. Besides, the technical experts advise you how to keep your PC problem free and run it smoothly and faster. They also document all the troubleshooting steps and your information in their record for the future interaction purpose.

These services are intended to meet the requirements of all the users ranging from home, small and medium businesses (SMBs), large businesses, enterprises, to professionals etc.

Microsoft itself offers technical support for its products. Further, Microsoft technical support would only entertain its Microsoft products but not other software products, peripheral, or non-computer devices. However, third-party service providers offer better and lower-priced support plans than Microsoft tech support itself. Besides Microsoft Windows XP setup, these service providers resolve issues related to your computer (any make); peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, and routers etc.; and non-computer devices such as PS3, XBOX, Roku, and Apple TVs etc.

It is strongly recommend that you should rely only on Microsoft certified professionals as they know the products very well and use latest tools and technologies to resolve any technical glitch occurring in your PC or peripherals etc.

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Microsoft Security Essentails automatic update's settings

A few years ago, Microsoft released its free antivirus software named Microsoft Security Essentials(MSEs). This software is free to users who pass Microsoft’s Genuine Windows Validation for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Window 7. Microsoft Security Essentials have two update options manual update and auto-update. If you want to configure Microsoft Security Essentials manually then you may take help from my previous post How Update Microsoft Security Essentials Manually.

In certain conditions the antivirus software would not auto-update as often as many users would like it to.

By default, Microsoft Security Essentials(MSEs) is set for updates once every 24 hrs. The good news is the fix for this issue is very simple, and in this post i will show you how to use the Registry Editor to change how often Microsoft Security Essentials checks for updates.

Note: - Microsoft Security Essentials relies on the Windows Automatic Updates so ensure your automatic update settings are set to automatic, and you have no issues installing regular Windows Updates.

In this post you will show two fixes, BASIC FIX and ADVANCE FIX.

1. Basic Fix
The type of fix is very easy, click on the thumbnail and make sure that you have the scheduled scan enabled. Also, ensure that you have the “Check for the latest virus and spyware definitions before running a scheduled scan” box checked. It is also important that you UNCHECK the box below that setting to ensure your scans always run. This will ensure that Microsoft Security Essentials always checks for updates at least once a day, and it will also scan your computer. I recommend using the quick scan option for your daily scanning. You can also change the time of the scan to anytime during the day you prefer.

2. Advanced Fix

Note:- Before following the steps below, I do not recommend you doing this unless you are comfortable editing the Windows Registry. I will not responsible for any damage that may be caused to your PC after editing the registry by following the steps below. You proceed at your own risk or may take help from Microsoft Certified Technician at their Toll Free No. +1-877-452-9201

If you are an advanced user or are comfortable with editing the registry, then follow the steps below.

1. Click on Start and then click on Run.

2. In the Run box type regedit and press enter.

3.In the Registry Editor Navigate to the following Registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/MICROSOFT/MICROSOFT ANTIMALWARE/SIGNATURE UPDATES

4. Under that Registry Key will be a value named SignatureUpdateInterval which is a REG_DWORD type. This is the key value you can change for more frequent updates. By default it is set to 24. Double-click the key and change its value to any number between 1-24(are valid for this key).

For example, changing SignatureUpdateInterval to a value of 3 will make Microsoft Security Essentials check for updates every 3 hours. you can tweak this key as you see fit to check for updates as often as you want.

I hope this post will helpful to configure automatic updates.

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