Drivers are "mini" software programs that allow Windows to interact with a hardware device or other software programs.

Drivers ensure that any hardware that you connect to your computer such as a video card or a webcam work properly.

What Causes Driver-Related Problems?
Most driver - related problems are caused by uninstalling / reinstalling programs, spyware/virus infections, or everyday computer use can cause your drivers to become corrupt. Drivers can also become outdated through Windows updates and service pack upgrades.

What Problems Can Corrupt Drivers Cause?
Corrupted or outdated drivers result into file errors, communication defects, or hardware malfunction in Windows. Usual problems include no audio, printing problems, video and/or screen defects.

How do you fix driver problems?
That's a whole 'nother chapter.

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XP performance tip:
Clear System Restore Points for Performance

Unless you've turned off System Restore, Windows' attempt at helping you fix their software problems, Windows XP creates a restore point after installing XP, once every 10 hours that Windows XP is running, or every 24 hours. It also creates a restore point when you install a new program, or install an update to Windows XP. And you can manually create restore points at any time.

BUT you can end up with a number of restore point files, which can be large.

So how do you clean them out? Assuming you are happy with the performance of your system (except for slowness, perhaps?) and you don't want to "roll back" your configurations to an earlier restore point, do the following:

To clear existing restore points
1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click System Restore. (If you have Win XP SP3, it may show system restore settings on the lower left of the window).
2. Click to add a check mark beside Turn off System Restore on all Drives, and click Apply.
3. When you are warned that all existing Restore Points will be deleted, click Yes to continue. All system restore points are deleted. Now you should manually create a restore point.

Now, to get your System Restore back...

1. Go back to Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click System Restore.
2. Click Create a Restore Point, and then click Next.
3. Name your restore point (or Restore point description"). You can use the current date or whatever you like.

Your second option...
is to not use System Restore at all, which would be a reasonable decision since the program is not all that it's cracked up to be: System Restore will not solve all your problems and bring back everything the way it was, as they may have us believe (Vista, maybe! - see Test Flying Helicopters in 1915 ). Learning how to use it to its utmost is difficult, but... —C

1. Magic START button
2. Instant desktop find
3. Allow Indexing Service on your hard drive?
4. Keyboard shortcuts

1. Magic START button

There's a magic button on your keyboard that will open up a whole new world. It's not the "Start" part I'm talking about but the Search. If you are like me you have lots and lots of files: audio files, video files, image files, Word files, program files, etc. Searching for them can be difficult.

In Windows XP if you go to START or hit the button below (which does the same thing) you can start a search process that I've been using effectively for years [see Fig 1].

Fig 1 Click on Search.

For those who want to speed things up further, hit the

button, then the letter "s" until Search is highlighted - you're in search mode. Depending on what version of the XP Service Pack you have (I have 2 - that's another story) you will have several options:

I never use "A word or phrase in the file:" I always just type in the name or partial name of the file itself.

Use the wild card "*" for unknown elements, example:

If you are looking for ALL jpeg files on your C: drive, type in

*.jpg (or *.jpeg)

For the "Look in:" portion, choose "Local Drive C:"

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In your hard drive properties window, there is an option to enable Indexing for a faster search.

I've tried both — using Indexing and not using it — and frankly, even though I have a 3.4 GHz CPU I still want as much speed (see: less slowness) as I can get, especially when I'm rendering a video or working on a 600 dpi image on Photoshop.

If you do not currently use Indexing* and decide to enable this option, it's going to be something you'll want to do at the end of the day when you don't need your PC anymore because it takes a long time to accomplish (think web spiders finding files on the internet).

*This is similar to Compressing Files, which uses compression to shrink the size of files on your drive. I don't use that option anymore either, becuase I currently use about 24 of the 232 gigabytes on my drive - why should I compress them?

If you use Indexing and decide to take it off, Windows search will still work if you perform these steps, but it may work more slowly than when your indexing was enabled. Like clearing up System Restore and clearing the cache out of Google Chrome (as well as using defrag, disc error-checking and cleaning your registry) it may speed up your PC dramatically.

Bottom line: I recommend not using the Indexing Service.

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4. Keyboard shortcuts

For those of you who tire of reaching for your mouse, there are keyboard shortcuts all over Windows and Mac. You may have noticed underlined letters above. That means that if you are in that window and want to get to the selection in a hurry without using the mouse, type the underlined letter.

If you are in the Start window, pressing the letter "s" will instantly go to Search.

Also, Ctrl-S will save your file. Ctrl F4 will close your file. Alt-F4 will close the software. Ctrl End will go to the end of a line of text. And on and on. Train yourself to use these and you may save yourself some repetitive motion injury.

Flame This Popup!

If you have wisely chosen not to have Windows automatically update your system but are nagged/tortured by the AUTOMATIC UPDATES reminder and would like to torch it, here is how :

Note: You should have antivirus software installed in lieu of Windows Firewall or the worthless Defender and/or Malicious Software Removal Tool. Verizon Fios recommends Norton, as do I.

Tired of entering a password each time you turn on your computer? Do this*:

From your Start button go to Run.

Enter: control userpasswords2

Un-check the "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer."

That's it! Re-boot and watch your desktop appear without the login!

*not recommended if you need a secure login

Recycling a PC

Make less toxic landfill junk— Consider recycling your computer.

Computer and electronic waste is a huge growing problem. Each year more and more people throw out their outdated technology.

For security, clean (wipe) your hard drive with a program such as Diskrub (sold by BitByte Software on Ebay).

Your computer may contain information about you that you are unaware of. If you've ever used your computer to make online purchases, your personal information (including credit card numbers and expiration dates) may be stored on your hard drive. Passwords, bank account information, phone numbers, addresses, and any other information you may have typed into your web browser may also be stored on your hard drive.

Deleting files does not delete the information!
When you delete a file, Windows (and most other operating systems) only removes the file name from the directory or folder. The contents of the file are still present on the hard drive. Most operating systems are concerned with performing operations quickly and efficiently, and do the minimal amount of work to remove files. This results in data remaining on a hard drive until the space is needed. Even removing partitions and formatting hard drives does not overwrite the data on the drive.

Back up your important and valuable files on a dependable server.

Google Chrome slowing down?

Could be you have many, many too many websites in the memory. Mouseover the wrench icon on the upper right of the Chrome screen (see pic). This is the Customize and Control Google Chrome tool.

Bring down the dialogue box and select

Clear browsing data

The Tuna recommends you clear everything.  Otherwise, "obliterate" the ones you want.

Do you think you need PRIVATE REGISTRATION for your website?

NO! This is another way for companies to add some capital to their coffers (see rustproofing for cars).

Private registration does not cost that much, but every cent helps, so don't waste your money.

Solution:
When you create your website profile, include as little or as much info you want.  The law does not require you to put your name and phone number on your site for the WHOIS search (see Web stuff), though they would like you to.  Better for the government if they need to find you.  Enough said.  Full stop.

Got a lot of icons on your desktop?

To find an icon lickity-split, click your mouse anywhere on your desktop (not on an icon).

Then press the first letter of the name of the file on your keyboard, hold the key down and watch the icon(s) light up. If you have several files on your desktop with the same first letter, the cursor will light up all of them, one at a time, quickly.

Try it! Great for busy people with crowded desktops.

Did you know you can choose a program to load automatically whenever you start Windows XP?

The startup folder, which contains programs that automatically load, can be a very useful feature.

Located in the menu (actual location: C:\Documents and Settings\User\Start Menu\Programs\Startup) you can bring it up by clicking

1. start;

2. all Programs;

3. Startup. 

When you've found it (there may already be a program in the folder) left click the button of your program and make a shortcut button. Place that button (NOT a copy of the program .exe button) in the Startup folder. 

Don't make these seven common online blunders:

1. Assuming your security software is protecting you
2. Accessing an account through an e-mail link
3. Using a single password for all online accounts
4. Downloading free software
5. Thinking your Mac shields you from all risks
6. Clicking on a pop-up ad that says your PC is insecure
7. Shopping online the same way you do in stores

Details from Consumer Reports.org (Sept. 2008)

Googling for a review online?

Make sure the listing isn't a phony company created by the company you are investigating!

"Cheap Web Hosting Info" is nothing more than an advertising branch of Hostmonster, a hosting company I love to hate (see review).

Go down the Google page further and you might find some authentic reviews of Hostmonster.

Copying an embedded e-mailed image:

If you want to save an image sent by e-mail and cannot left-click and save it, try copying the image.

Left click with your mouse and choose the copy image function. When you do, the image will be placed on the Windows clipboard. Open up Windows Paint by going to the Start button, choosing All Programs, then Accessories, then Paint. Press Ctrl/V on your keyboard (or Edit/Paste in Paint). The image will be pasted onto the canvass. If you have Photoshop and would like to alter or re-size the image, save it as a .bmp in Paint, then re-open in Photoshop.

Turn off automatic updates!

Here's a perfect example of a company (the 'Soft) cashing in on paranoia: automatic updates. Keeping Big Brother at bay is a full-time job. Although I have a PC and use Windows XP (still - sue me), I love to throw stones at the giant.

Here's how:

Go to START, then Control Panel, then Security Center, then just click the button to off (they'll give you a nasty red look and remind you that you're in big trouble - see Flame This Popup).

While having Windows (Microsoft's) Automatic Updates turned on may give one a sense of freedom and ease, it can also give Microsoft carte blanche on updating any MS software (such as Medial Player) at any time.

If you are happy with the way your software is operating, and you are used to it operating in a certain way, that happiness may get dashed by automatic updates. How? By installing a new version of the software to replace the one you have, the new version may function very differently than the older version (and while it may have an added feature, it may very well get rid of a feature that you need or find useful).

Recommendation:

Turn OFF automatic updates and update on your own. Go to the Microsoft.com site and look for downloads. There you can choose what you want to update and when.

FiOS Users note:

Tunarelli has it on good authority that Verizon has their own firewall and anti-* software attached to their server. They recommend augmenting this with Norton software (anti-virus, firewall, etc.). The Windows Firewall, according to many accounts will NOT protect you.

Keeping carpal tunnel at bay is a full-time job. One of the key tenets is to give your hand a break (so to speak).

Here's something you can do to lessen the "reaching for the mouse" syndrome and to get you more familiar with keyboard shortcuts:

Assigning a keyboard shortcut to a program

If you have a program you'd like to open without going for the mouse and searching for the icon or program list via the start menu,

go to the start menu (speak of the devil), find your program and

left click on it

click on Properties

click in the Shortcut key window ('None' will stay there until you start typing in a key)

enter a combination of keys: Shift/Ctrl/(letter), or Shift/Ctrl/Alt/(letter) The letter can be anything that will help you remember the program. I tried Shift/Ctrl/e for Excel.

Try it!

As with all electronic components, make sure the vent holes on your computer are clear so that air can circulate freely in and out of your computer enclosure.

Look for the intake and outlet and make sure they are not blocked.

For other electrical components, look for the hole grids and make sure they are not blocked (especially by another unit).

Make sure your fans are working, both the ventilation fan(s) for the enclosure and the fan for the power source. If your power source and/or motherboard fan fails, you might very well lose it (and the use of the computer as well as the possibility of losing files).

Consider an externally-powered fan that is not wired to your PC: This will cool your unit without adding to the stress of your computer's power source.

Cooling fan broken? Replace it now or your power source may burn out, opening up a can of worms that may include lost data.

A quick (and mouse-less) way to switch from one open program to another:

Hold down your Alt button with your left thumb, and then tap your Tab button with your left left index finger (the one you flip the bird with).

Do this once and you will get the program you last used. Continue to hold down the Alt button and then tap the Tab button several times to scroll between programs.

Holding down the Alt button will give you a menu of all the open programs.

Getting tired of that pesky Ctrl-Alt-Delete combination to get into Windows when starting your computer?

Go to your Start button. Choose Run Type the following in the command line (you can cut and paste):

control Userpasswords2

A dialogue box will pop up. Go to Advanced and then UNcheck "Require users to to press Ctrl-Alt-Delete" Click OK.

When designing your web site, leave out your

- Telephone number

- Your e-mail

If not, it's likely you will be phished or solicited, either by e-mail or by phone.

Instead, use a contact sheet, or CGI-coded document (example).

Want to enlarge type on a html page? Use Ctrl + as many times as needed to bring the text up to comfortable viewing size.

Ctrl - (minus) to make the type smaller.

When downloading programs from the internet, don't forget to delete them after the product has been unzipped and installed. This will free up a lot of disk space.

Option 2: Save all of your installation *.exe files on to a thumb (zip) drive in case you have to re-install it.

Want to make your files display in order? Put a zero-number in front with a space:

Example:

01 The Mark of Zorro

Then number the rest accordingly:

02 Son of Zorro

03 The Second Son of Zorro , etc.

Use this method for both computer files and tracks on a CD.

Too many icons on your desktop? Don't delete them, surf them:

Click somewhere on the desktop with the mouse (not on an icon) then go to the keyboard and press and hold down the first letter of the icon you're looking for.

The icons with the first letter will flash, allowing you to spot it easily. Try it!

Use the powerful START button (above) on your keyboard for a quick trip to the Start menu. Want to find a file lickety-split (that means fast, X-Generation)?

- Click on the Start button

- Press the letter "S" twice (which will bring you to the "Search" page) hit your "Enter" button,

- Type in the letter "L" -- this will bring you to all files and folders.

- If you know the name of the file, enter it here. If you are searching for a Photoshop file and you don't know the name of it, type in a wildcard asterisk (that's right -- the one above the number 8) with the dot extension of the program in the "Look in" windows. In this case *.psd. It will bring up all your Photoshop documents. Play with this program and learn how to use all it's features, and it will save you lots of time.

still here? You're unsinkable!

Having trouble playing a movie on a rental DVD? Note the minutes on your player where the DVD locked up or became "pixelated" (so you can get back to your place), then look for smudges on the DVD. Remove them with a cotton t-shirt (it works best) dipped lightly in alcohol (not scotch, dude!). If it's a shirt you like, turn it inside out. Gently wipe the DVD from the hole outwards and then, if more cleaning is needed, gently in a circle, following the pattern of the burned light on the surface.

Having trouble opening a CD or DVD bay? There is a small hole on the front of the bay tray—look for it. Take the end of a small paperclip or a large needle and stick it carefully in the hole and push lightly and hold.

Having trouble turning off your computer? Don't unplug it. Press your ON/OFF switch and hold it down until your unit shuts off.

Want to take out all the formatting in an html document? Copy the text from the .htm(l) and paste it into Word, a word processing program. All formatting should be gone at that point. Re-copy (or cut) and past back into your htm(l) document. It should not be formatting-free.

~

Want a cheap and dependable way to back up your files? If you already have a web hosting account, use your FTP server! Make a directory for backup and then upload them to your web hosting server!

Fight carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive-motion injuries and learn to use the keyboard along with the mouse, rather than just using the mouse. Memorize keyboard shortcuts (ctrl-s, for example, saves your file). Most softwares have the keyboard shortcut listed in the menu. Also, try switching the mouse to the other hand. And take breaks, flexing the fingers, wrists and forearms. More desk exercises.

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