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Computer is a combination of analog and digital device which is used to compute complex mathematical problems. It is basically a programmable electronic device which performs high speed mathematical and logical operations. The main function of computer is to perform repetitive procedures very quickly and reliably.

The computer can be broadly divided in two sections; one is hardware and the other is software. The hardware is made of electronic circuits and components while the software is the programs required to run the central processing unit or the CPU. Again the hardware is of four type i.e. CPU, input, output and memory device. Now a days looking at the vast uses of computer people are using computer at their offices and at homes for working as well as entertainment purposes.

As we all know that each and every electronic goods need repairing and computer is not excluded from that list. Whenever there is any troubleshoot in this whole procedure the computer seems to function improperly. As a result we need to repair our computer to make it function properly. It is very tedious to repair ones computer and beside that it is also time consuming if the problem is unknown by the repairer. But if anyone has sound information regarding computer repair then it would seem to be rather easier. There are several organizations with trained and qualified technicians to help you out whenever you have problem with your computer. There are also various computer selling organizations who give after sell repairing service completely at free of cost. While there are other computers organizations, which have good computer technicians, provide only repairing service. Each of these companies serves their clients with best technical services. There are also different books or guidelines to provide us various information regarding computer trouble shoot and how to repair them. There are also technical colleges and training institute for technicians to learn more about computer problems and their repairing.

There are computers of various brands such as IBM, HP, Compaq, Dell, Apple etc. in the market and they differ from each other in respect of hardware and software. Therefore their troubleshooting problems also differ from each other. So the technicians should know how to repair these different computers. A good computer technician is required to familiar with various operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, Linux, etc. A good technician must also know how to deal with different computer peripherals such as printers, scanners, fax machines, etc.

Here are few troubleshoots of computers which are very common. They are 1) Power Supply Failure, 2) Motherboard Troubleshooting, 3) Hard Drive Failure 4), CD and DVD Drive Troubleshooting, 5) Modem Failure, 6) Sound and Game Card Failure, 7) Peripheral Failure 8) Virus Threats and many more. At first the technician need to do a complete diagnostic checkup. Then he needs follow those Basic Computer Repairing rules to repair a troubleshooting computer successfully. Beside these computer requires regular update, virus cleaning and modifications. At last we can conclude that if computers are maintained and handled properly then we can prevent our computers from various troubleshoots as we all know that 'prevention is always better than cure'.

Question : My problem is when the time comes to shut down or restart my PC - it takes about two to three minutes to shut down or restart. Please help.

Answer : Slow shutdowns can be due to various reasons. The main reason for slow shutdowns is page file clearing. This is especially indicated if the hard disk light goes on and stays on while the operating system (OS) is shutting down.

The page file is a file on the hard disk that's used as virtual memory. Virtual memory augments the random access memory on the system board. Since the page file may contain sensitive information, many OSes can be set to clear the page file when it (the OS) shuts down.

Many Web sites state this improves the security posture of an OS. They're not wrong in this, except that saying this improves the security posture of an OS is a little like saying installing 12 locks and a biometric identification system with voice analysis improves the security posture of a house.

Page file compromise is very low risk because there are many other ways to attempt to compromise the security and integrity of an OS, many of which would be easier and have better yield rates. Because of this, this option is not recommended for all but the most secure environments.

In Windows, this option is controlled by a registry entry. The registry entry in question is "ClearPageFile-AtShutdown". This key is usually located in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management section of the registry.

To attempt to turn off page file clearing, start (run) the program regedt32.exe and navigate to the HKEY_ LOCAL _MACHINE\SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\ Control \ Session Manager\Memory Management section. On the right pane, check if the entry "ClearPageFileAtShutdown" is visible. If it is, right-click on it and select Modify from the pop-up menu. When the EDIT DWORD window pops up, type "0" in the box under Value Data and click on the OK button. After the PC restarts, the next shutdown should take a little less time.

Another possibility is that there are programs or services that take some time to shut down. In general, it is not advisable to have too many services or programs running in the background because all these will have to be terminated before the OS can shut down gracefully.

To test for this, try closing all open programs and manually shutting down all background applications (including all firewall/anti-virus software) just before shutting down the OS.

Most background applications can be shut down by right-clicking on the icon in the taskbar and selecting Exit or some similar option. If it shuts down faster after all the background applications have been shut down, it's possible that there are one or more background applications that take a long time to shut down. If this is the case, not much can be done other than shutting down the offending application or finding a way to configure the parent program so it doesn't load a background application when it starts.

The offending application can be identified by looking through the event logs (Start --> Control Panel --> Administrative Tools --> Event Viewer). If nothing looks amiss, it can also be identified in this manner: First, shutdown a background application and then shut down the OS. Not the shutdown time. On the next restart, shut down another background application and note the shutdown time. This should be repeated for every application that runs in the background. If at any time the shutdown time improves after a background application is shut down, the same application becomes a prime suspect in the "slow shutdown time" issue.

It's also possible to decrease shutdown time by decreasing the time Windows waits for hung and slow applications to shut down.

To change this time, open the registry editor (regedt32) and navigate to the HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control section. From here, right-click on "WaitToKillServiceTimeout" and select Modify. In the box under ValueData, enter the time (in millisecond) the OS should wait until it summarily kills the service. The default value is 20,000 (20,000 milliseconds or 20 seconds).

Other settings that can be added here include "Hung-AppTimeout" and "Auto-EndTasks".

HungAppTimeout controls the amount of time the OS should wait before killing a hung or frozen application. AutoEndTasks tells the OS when to end hung applications automatically, or display the End Tasks dialogue. To add any of the two settings, right-click on the right pane and select New --> String Value. Enter the name of the setting (HungApp-Timeout or AutoEndTasks as appropriate). Next, right-click on the added setting, select Modify and enter an appropriate value.

For HungAppTimeout, an appropriate value is the amount (in millisecond) that the OS should wait before terminating an application. Suitable values for AutoEndTasks include "0" and "1 ", with "0" meaning "end hung applications automatically, do not show End Tasks dialogue" and "I" meaning "show End Tasks dialogue when the shutdown time exceeds the value stated in HungAppTimeout".

If using Internet Explorer, ensuring that the browser clears the Temporary Internet Files folder every time it shuts down (Tools --> Internet Options --> Advanced --> Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed) and defragmenting the hard disk drive may result in faster shutdown times.

Display hinge damage, usually caused by a drop or fall, is a common reason leading to replacement of older, otherwise working, laptops. This article explains an inexpensive method, which doesn't require specialized repair tools or skills, which can extend the life of a laptop if its display hinges are too weak to hold up the display. It isn't for the case where the display has totally broken off the body of the laptop.

Steps :

1. Read the entire article, and check that your specific laptop can be repaired in the way presented. Especially check that the fishing line can be placed in a location which doesn't get too much in the way of your normal use (heavy users of the mouse buttons or touchpad might have problems here), and that there are locations more or less in the center of the laptop where gluing the Velcro will not affect the use of the laptop (that no access doors or ventilation holes are sealed).
2. 

   Closeup of the Velcro glued to the display
   

   Closeup of bottom Velcro
   Cut two strips of the fuzzy Velcro and round the corners (rounding the corners will make it less likely that the Velcro will detach after gluing).
3. 

   Placement of glued Velcro and size of hooked Velcro
   Read the instructions for the epoxy glue; mix it and use it to glue the two strips of fuzzy Velcro, one on the back of the display, and one on the bottom of the laptop, such that the two strips are co-linear (in other words, the alignment of one strip, when extended, coincides with the alignment of the other strip. Try to make the line of the two strips be as perpendicular as possible to the axis of the display hinges.
4. Wait for the epoxy glue to harden fully. This can take 24 hours or even more. See the instructions for the particular epoxy you have used. Don't confuse the setting time of the epoxy (which can be as quick as 5 minutes) with the time until it reaches maximum strength.
5. Close the laptop display, and cut a strip of the hooked Velcro more or less to the length required when sticking it to the two glued strips in their entirety. Actually, what is more important is that the length of the hooked strip totally utilize the glued strips when the laptop display is open. Do not use the Velcro with an open display before the glue has hardened to its maximum stremgth.
6. After the glue has hardened to maximum strength, check that the Velcro can now prevent the display from falling into the closed position. Laptops with large or heavy displays may require gluing multiple strips of Velcro, or wider and/or stronger Velcro (Velcro comes in a range of sizes and bonding strengths). The laptop in the images has a 12.1" display.
7. Take the fishing line, and tie it into a loop which exactly encircles the laptop when the display is open to the working position. I used an "improved blood knot" for this. Instructions can be found in various places on the Internet.
8. Check that the fishing line loop is strong enough to prevent the display from falling into the fully open position (fishing line comes in a variety of strengths, use a relatively strong line which will not stretch under the load).
9. 

   Closeup of sticky foam tape used to retain fishing line
   Glue a small strip of two-sided foam tape (like used for mounting things) on the edge of the laptop where the fishing line should rest. If it is a bother, make the adhesive on the outside less sticky by touching it repeatedly.
10. 

    Closeup of notch made in bag closure
    

    
    

    Closeup of bag closure used to adjust the fishing line loop size

Warnings :

When gluing the Velcro, be sure not to seal up access doors (e.g., to the memory modules), ventilation holes, or access to screws which might be necessary to remove to enable future maintenance. To restore access to screws, it may be possible to make a small hole in the Velcro after gluing, but this is a risky proposition, especially since the epoxy might totally clog up the screw access hole if you apply it too liberally.

Things You'll Need :

• Velcro (both fuzzy and hooked). Velcro with preapplied adhesive is not recommended because the adhesive is usually not strong enough.
• Strong epoxy glue and the ability to use it properly
• Fishing line and the ability to tie it into a loop.

PCs are underclocked for considerably longer hardware lifespan, reduced heat generation (and hence dissipation), reduced electrical power consumption, increased stability and reduced noise from mechanical cooling parts. Read on to find out how to do it!

Steps :

1. Access the computer's BIOS settings page (BIOS stands for "Basic Input Output System"). Depending on brand of computer, this requires pressing keys during a certain time of the boot process. Some manufacturers require pressing "Delete" "F2" or + or other key combination while the system goes through POST (Power On Self Test) or displays a logo on the screen.
2. Locate "Frequency/Voltage Control" settings. BIOS screens generally consist of several pages of settings. Each page relates directly to certain parts of the computer operation. Use the "PgDn" and "PgUp" or "<-" and "->" arrow keys to navigate to the page that allows for adjustment of the above variables.
3. Scroll down to the "Frequency/Voltage Control." Press "Enter" or use the left and right arrow keys to select the value. Use the arrow keys, + and - keys or other combination to adjust the value lower.
4. Lower the CPU "clock speed". Lower these values similar to the way described above (if you can't it is because it is locked).
5. Lower the Front Side Bus (FSB) Frequency). Lower these values similar to the way described above.
6. Lower the core voltage (vCore). Lower these values similar to the way described above (don't lower it too much).
7. When complete, be sure to save the settings before exiting, otherwise the old settings will remain in place. If you think you've made a mistake, press the "Esc" key to exit without saving.

Tips :

• Locate or download and print a copy of the system board or computer manual's BIOS section. The exact BIOS access method will be described here, along with additional information on this subject and the other values in the BIOS pages.
• If you are unable to boot because of wrong values, reset the BIOS to "default" This can be accomplished by removing BIOS battery for ten minutes or so before replacing, or inserting or removing a jumper on pins on the system board, or other method described in the manual and powering on the system.

Warnings :

• Do not enter a Password for the BIOS screen that you can not remember. A full BIOS reset may be required to clear the password. The manual may explain methods to clear forgotten passwords if this happens.
• Underclocking reduces overall performance.
• Underclocking voids the system warranty on most computers, depending on the manufacturer.

Schematic symbol for a diode. In this image, the left side is negative (cathode) and the right side is positive (anode).

Use an old tooth brush to clean the area around the exhaust fan screen. If that gets plugged up, air flow is diminished and overheating can most certainly occur.

This is an article regarding swapping hard drive platters. This is not a procedure for the technically inept or faint hearted. The following carries no guarantees, and defiantly voids and nullifies any existing warranty.

Steps :

1. Know that this is only a last resort. You have tried everything else, your data is not extremely important, and/or your cash flow restricts the use of a professional service.
2. Set up a clean work environment. You can not make a super clean environment at home but use some common sense, and do the best you can. Keep air flow to a minimum.
3. Assemble and layout your tools.
4. Don powder-free latex gloves.
5. Ground yourself! If you don't know what is, or how to do it, ask google.
6. Remove the cover of your dead drive. If the cover doesn’t just lift off, look for more screws! There are screws under labels.
7. Once the cover is off, inspect the platters. If they are scratched, scorched, warped, or other wise damaged, stop you are done!
8. Set the cover back on - if the platters are physically damaged chances are you will not be able to recover any data. You can still try if you like.
9. Purchase a new HDD with the same model number and firmware version.
10. Test the new HDD. Make sure you can read and write data to and from it.
11. Remove the cover from your donor HDD.
12. Remove the platters from the donor HDD. This is your chance to learn how they are assembled, if you slip and damage parts you can get a new donor. NOTE: if you are dealing with multiple platters they cannot be removed without the proper equipment. You need a platter removal tool. The next steps are only if you are dealing with a single platter.
13. Remove the platter from your dead HDD.
14. Reassemble the donor drive with dead HDD’s platters inside (make sure all the platters are aligned in the same way towards each other as they were in the old drive).
15. Mount the donor drive.
16. Quickly copy your data. You might only get one or two chances to read from the HDD. It might make some horrible noises.
17. Unmount the HDD and discard it. Continued use of the HDD is ill-advised.

Tips :

• Before going for platter removal, try freezing the HDD (in an airtight container) and attempting to create a disk image using a tool like DD_Rescue (http://www.gnu.org/software/ddrescue/ddrescue.html). Sometimes, freezing the HDD will contract bearings enough to get a last read out of the HDD.
• To remove the platters you might have to remove the head assembly.
• Use the right tools!
• This procedure is not for logically erased data. This procedure is for physically inoperable drives with intact data.
• When swapping the platters be very careful with the head! Make sure the head is parked before you attempt to remove the platters.
• Do your homework. Look at photos of the internals of a hard disk drive before you open one up.
• HDD = hard disk drive.

Warnings :

• This will void any existing warranty.
• In most cases, this will also void your ENTIRE computers warranty, read the warranty very carefully
• Hard Drives are assembled in hermetically-sealed clean rooms, free of any dust. A single speck of foreign material introduced onto a platter will destroy the drive most of the time. If this does happen, try a can of air and spray it off, but do not wipe or use chemicals.

Want an amazing sound system on your portable DVD player?

Steps :

Warnings :

If you do actually do step 2, you could ruin the radio and the pair of headphones.

Things You'll Need :

The Logitech Freepulse wireless headphones have a "non-replaceable" Li-ion polymer battery. Of course, once the battery runs out of juice, that makes it a very expensive paperweight. Repair fix!

Steps :

1. Battery is located on the left headphone, the one without the power button and power plug on it
2. Removing the small screw on the inside of the ear piece.
   • The screw is a tiny Allen Wrench head, smaller than my smallest wrench, a 5/64.
   • I was able to use a small flat head screw driver to turn the screw, the screwdriver head was approx 1mm.
     

     
     

     Small Screw removed from headphone
3. There is also a small metal collar at the end of the headphone
   • use a small flathead screwdriver to slide the collar onto the rubber wire connecting the headphones.
4. Once the screw and collar are removed, you can force a screwdriver into the gap in the plastic between the top and bottom pieces of the headphone, and pry the two main pieces apart.
   • There will be some resistance, but nothing seemed in danger of breaking when I pried them apart.
     

     
     

     Separated halves of the headphone.
5. Remove the battery packet
   • The packet is glued to the side of the unit. I was able to pry it off, without the packets foil ripping. Probably doesn't matter if it does rip, since it's now a used up battery.
   • It's connected by a small remove-able electrical plug that offered some resistance, but came off cleanly.

Tips :

• Here is the only hit I found for the battery part number, on the Online Certifications Database.
• http://database.ul.com/cgi-bin/XYV/template/LISEXT/1FRAME/showpage.html?name=BBFS2.MH10048&ccnshorttitle=Batteries,+Household+and+Commercial+-+Component&objid=1078080586&cfgid=1073741824&version=versionless&parent_id=1076519666&sequence=1
• The battery size is approximately 25mm x 25mm. The headphone will not hold a larger battery.
• The connecting cable has a red, black, and white cable connected to a small power connector.
• It is important that the new battery be 3.7v.
• Matching the 265mAh number is not important. That just describes the battery life on a charge.

Warnings :

• Disposal of battery
• from http://forums.all-battery.com/index.php?showtopic=279&pid=558&mode=threaded&start=#entry558
• How do I safely dispose of dead or damaged Lipo packs?
• If possible, discharge the pack down to zero voltage using a motor, light bulb, etc. Next gently puncture the outer cases of the cells and let it sit in saltwater overnight. Remove 24 hours later, wrap it up in a plastic bag and toss in the trash.

Things You'll Need :

• A replacement for this battery:
  1. Synergy
  2. P/N AHB472625PST
  3. Li-ion polymer
  4. 3.7V 265mAh
  5. Made in China
  6. 25x25x5mm
• all-battery.com is an excellent source, with specific dimensions,
• http://www.all-battery.com/37vli-polymerandli-ionbatterypacks.aspx
• The best current fit is a 25x20x5mm Tenergy Polymer Li-Ion Battery 3.7V 250mAh
• http://www.all-battery.com/polymerli-ionbattery37v230mah501638.aspx