An error in computer sometimes generates different effects such as pop ups, entire system are suddenly shut down. When this happens, you can loose your data.

We can correct a computer error, but we cannot avoid having errors in our computer.

When a computer error shows up, the important thing for us to do is to understand what the errors are, how to fix it and understand how to minimize the error in the future.
If we don’t have the ability to fix it on our own, we need an experts help. But, for sure is that we recognize the error to get the correct problem solving.

Computer errors are mostly generated because there is a conflict between commands.

Computer is essentially operates by serial commands. But, it will be generating an error when a command conflicts with the other command or when a command is asking for and information or a process that does not available.

A simple example of this typical error is when a user tries to operate an application that is not compatible with the operating system.

Most software are included with a user guide, inside that user guide there is a list of system requirements, which indicates what a computer needs to have, so that the software can work properly.
To minimize an error then you should follow the instructions given in the user guide and verify that your computer meets the minimum requirements.

A program that requires 32 MB of free memory, will generates an error if the amount of free memory in your computer is less than 32 MB.

Some programs sometimes are using a shared common files, an error will be generated when this shared files is not updated or missing.

As an example, if you install a program, let’s say Program A and later you install Program B that uses the shared files from Program A that you’ve installed previously. Later on, when you run Program B, it will generate error because the shared files that installed with Program A is outdated.
To fix this error than you must download an update version of the shared files.

A computer error can also be generated because of a missing drivers or incorrect driver version.

These errors can be resolved by updating the drivers.

These errors can be reduced if you are setting the software to update automatically.

As for the whole system, make sure to update continuously or set to update automatically

This article is only discussing common errors of a computer or software. For a specific error problem you may refer to software documentation. As most computer software will be equipped with a documentation.

Computer that we buy usually is just a Starter Kit.
It includes a set of CPU unit, monitor keyboard, mouse, and a set of speaker (optional).

For some people that is probably just doesn’t matter. But, for other people that is not enough specially with the latest technology update. They need more than standard package.

Recently, computer with a full multimedia capabilities, good graphic tools, and able to accommodate various portable are needed by users.
The only way to get those extras is by accessorizing, because the extras are not included in a standard package computer.

I’m going to use a pizza as an analogy.
A brand new computer is a plain pizza, we need to flavor and bake it to turn it into something useful
To make this plain pizza turn into a delicious pizza, we need to “accessorize” this pizza with an onion, cheese, chicken, beef, and everything else depends on your favorite.

Just like a plain pizza, this new package of computer is standard (plain). It requires to be accessorized.
Accessorizing a standard computer doesn’t have to be so expensive, but it depends on what you need to use the computer for. If you need the computer for children, you can spend less expensive for an extra software and hardware.

If you use the new computer that you buy for working purpose, that requires a high quality result, than it would be more expensive.
And if you need more peripherals such as microphones, video cameras, digital cameras, scanners, PDA’s and more, that is going to be a lot more expensive.

Accessorizing computer sometimes can become another important thing to consider besides cost. The best time to buy is when you buy a brand new package of computer.

You probably wonder why can that be another important thing to consider.
Because technologies are growing rapidly, manufacturers develop new technology continuously. If you decide to buy accessories later, by that time a newer technology have been released and probably you computer can’t accommodate the new peripherals.

That kind of problems are usually experienced by users who are attempting to use hardware that were designed for Windows Vista on Windows XP or Windows 2000 machine.

Virus is a computer program that able to spread from one computer to another computer.
They are designed specifically to gain access into parts of your computer system and they have the ability to duplicate and infecting another computer.

Below is some of the most common methods for a computer virus to spread.

Boot Information

Every disk (hard disk, floppy disk, CD, DVD) contains a boot sector even if it is a bootable disk or not.
When you turn on your computer, then it will search for boot information.
If the computer finds a disk containing boot information, it reads the boot information and uses it to start the computer in normal procedure.
For an example if you accidentally boot your computer from a bootable CD that contains a computer virus, that way the computer virus are being triggered and it is possible to be transferred into the computer’s hard drive.

After the boot information on the hard drive has been infected with the virus, it will be loaded into your computer’s memory every time you start your computer. From that memory (RAM) the computer virus infecting every disk that attached with your computer. This is how the infection spreads.

Most boot viruses could stay on a computer system for a long time without generating problems, it was designed only to stay there and spread themselves.
Such computer viruses are designed to activate their bad behaviour on a specific date depends on the creator.
But there are some nasty boot viruses that can destroy the boot information or forcing a complete format of a hard drive right after they are transferred into a computer.

Application Infections

When a computer program that has been infected with a virus is running, the virus is loaded into the RAM.
While the virus is in the RAM, if you are running another application that application can become infected.
It means that more applications on your system are possible to be infected.
Multiple infections are very common and it will definitely generate system problems.

For some time the program files may operates normally without any problems but eventually they will have problems or the infections causes the whole computer system down.

Generally, when an application is infected with a virus, the first sign of an infection is when you are saving files it is saved without a proper names or the data that you save is incomplete.
This type of viruses are often designed to search for a programs that are used to share information between users/computers such as email applications, screen savers, office document Macros, and self-extracting compressed files.

E-Mail Attachments

Most of dangerous viruses are spreading through an e-mail attachments.
In such cases, the user does not realize that they are attaching infected file/s to an email message and send it to a friend/s or colleague/s.
By the time that email is received, the virus is triggered when the attachment file is opened then infecting a new computer.

These days mass mailing email contains worms or viruses are being released.
These kind of attacks AUTOMATICALLY scans your computer’s files and search for any email address it can find and uses your email application to AUTOMATICALLY send infected messages to every email address that it has found in your computer.

It is very important to be aware over the emails that you open. Make sure that it does not contain dangerous viruses.
Even if that email comes from your family or friends, it may contain a virus.
This is the moment where an anti-virus program would be really helpful to detect your incoming messages and to make sure that the messages you receive does not contain a virus.

Have you ever loss your important data ? Well, i have.
At that moment I really agree on what people say that prevention is always a better cure.
Here are some steps that I want to share with you in order to prevent data loss.

1. Use an updated Anti Virus software and always keep it up to date
Antivirus is a special software developed to protect your computer against malicious computer virus.
Some virus can remove or modify your data without you ever realize it and some virus can cause your computer to crash.
So make sure to keep your Antivirus software uptodate with the latest patch and signature files for maximum security.

2. Protect your computer against power surges with UPS
UPS is an Uninterruptible Power Supply. It protects your computer and data during a power surge or failure.
UPS is equiped with a spare battery that provides you some time to save your documents and shutting down Windows properly so that you don’t lose any files and avoiding your computer hardware components from the possibility of damages.

3. Make sure your machine is dry and keept in dust-free area
Place your computer far away from places that can be directly exposed to rain, sun or humidity.
These places have the tendency to cause rusting and can damage your hardware components.

4. Don’t try to repair or open up your computer without any assistance
If you have no experience in repairing computer hardware, you may accidentally damage the circuit boards,
hardware components or even worst, get an electric shock! Always consult with an expert.

5. Don’t over-tweak your system
Avoid modifying your windows registry or perform an overclock to your hardware in order to boost the performance unless if you are definitely sure on what you’re doing. I’m sure you don’t want to fry your computer.

6. Make a backup copy and keep them at an off-site location
This helps protecting your backup copy from damage, just in case if there is a natural disaster such as flood, fire or any kind of disaster.

7. Don’t move your computer while it still running/operating
I’m sure that you don’t want your power cord falling off and generates a data corruption or a physical damage to your hard disk such as a head crash while you still working on a project.

8. Avoid sharing access to your computer with strangers on the network
Your data can be stolen or modified if anyone on the network can have access to your files.

9. Perform hard disk maintenance
Delete temporary files, unnecessary files and defragment your hard disk regularly.
This can help you keeping up your hard disk on good condition.

10. Aware of failure symptoms
When you hard disk starts making noises and your systems are getting cranky, it is time to start making backups on all of your data files.

I hope this steps can help you to prevent from loosing your data files.

There are numerous matters that cause a computer to perform slower than before.
It can be from software to hardware.
It can be the storage is too small or not enough RAM.
It can be your BIOS, Operating System Settings or software that are eating up your CPU and RAM.
Or perhaps it can be your network.

Here are numerous tips that can help maintaining your computer perform faster:

1. This is so classic I shouldn’t need to tell it, keep clean which ever email software you use.
I have customers who are constantly complaining, but who will resist dumping years of accumulated emails.

2. Make sure you have a great anti virus program, apply only one anti virus on each computer, make it up to date and auto monitoring.

3. Make sure you use a strong anti spyware program, utilize only one anti spyware along each computer, have it up to date and automatic monitoring.

4. Run Disk Clean Up Daily by following these steps : Start, Pograms, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Clean Up – a box opens – be certain all box is selected, click ‘OK’ – a box pops up – Click Yes).

5. Delete Cookies and Cached Files Periodically by following these steps :
Start, Control Panel, Internet Options, Delete Cookies, Click OK, Click Delete Files – select ‘Delete All Offline Content’ – Click OK, then set your clear history to no more than seven Days – Click OK.

6. A really essential measure almost everyone misses Clean The Prefetch Folder :
Start, My Computer, ‘C’ , Windows, Prefetch Folder, Edit, Select All, File, Delete – Click Yes, Close Windows.

7. Empty Recycle Bin. I believe everyone knows how to empty the recycle bin.

8. Scan drive ‘C’ :
Start, My Computer, Right Click ‘C’, Click Properties at the bottom, Click Tools, Click Check Now.
Be certain both ‘Automatically fix file system errors’ and ‘Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors’ are selected, Click Start.

9. Defrag Computer :
Start, software, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter, Select ‘C’ Drive, Click Defragment.

The last two steps, step 8 and 9, can take a while if they haven’t been done recently.
I complete this entire routine on my computer before I finish working for the day everyday and the total steps requires no longer than twenty minutes.