Windows maintains a list of programs that automatically run every time you boot up your computer. Some of these startup programs (such as antivirus utilities) are beneficial, but many of them are not necessary and can slow your PC as they run automatically in the background. Speed up your boot time by .
This can happen for a lot of reasons--and unfortunately almost all of them are bad news. The most likely answer is that a fan or hard drive in your PC is starting to die, causing it to spin off-kilter. PCWorld contributing editor Lincoln Spector wrote a smart guide to pinpointing the source of a grinding-sound problem in this . No matter what the cause turns out to be, you should immediately , just in case.
That requirement is just a security precaution: Windows 7 insists that you have administrator access in order to modify or delete files when doing so might affect other people who use the computer. If you need to delete something and you don't have the password to get into the administrator account (if you bought the PC used, for example) here's .
For once, Microsoft isn't to blame. Most PC manufacturers stuff new computers with extraneous trial versions of games, movie players, antivirus utilities, and other software. If you want to get rid of this bloatware, here's .
If Windows refuses to delete a file or folder, ; you must close that application before you can finish deleting the unwanted file.
This problem relates to . Fortunately, you can make adjust some settings to put yourself back in control.
Though it's a good idea to download the latest drivers for your components, occasionally a buggy or beta driver update may degrade your PC's performance. If that happens, try to roll back to a previous version of the driver that you know is safe; if you can't do that, you'll have to uninstall the problematic driver entirely. Our walkthrough of explains how to perform a rollback and how to uninstall a driver.
Absolutely: If you ignore Windows' requests to "safely remove" your storage media, you could end up with .
Your , but you can control the process.
Windows typically keeps critical system files hidden from view to make it more difficult for untrained users to modify or delete them, and thereby inadvertently cause a system error. Usually the only hidden files are ones you shouldn't tamper with (such as your boot.ini file); however, if you need to find a file or folder and you think it might be hidden, check out our tips on .
Your PC's to charge a new iPad quickly--but you can still charge your iPad gradually. Some USB ports, however, like the ones highlighted in red below, have a higher trickle charge rate to help you charge smartphones, tablets, and other external devices.
If a computer doesn't have the , you can't watch the video. Make sure that you get the right one.
Usually this problem arises because of a . When they have trouble talking to each other, you may need to help them.
Those beeps come from the BIOS (a piece of software built into the motherboard). .
UItimately your USB ports can be any color your motherboard manufacturer desires--or all the same color, for that matter--but USB 3.0 ports are often bright blue to distinguish them from older, slower USB 2.0 ports. with USB 2.0, and the ports look identical, which makes some sort of visual indicator (such as a coat of blue paint or a "USB 3.0" stamp) extremely useful.
Thumbs.db is a Windows XP system file that for a particular folder. You can tweak Windows to get it out of your way.
is the default directory structure for digital cameras--and having such a standard is very useful.
This is a common mystery, and the answer can be any mumber of things. To figure out what your mystery port is and how you should use it, check out our picture-filled .
Whether it was the victim of a glitch or was never available in the first place, you can in a few simple steps.
Sometimes , and sometimes you do it accidentally during software installation.
This media-playback software and installs along with it.
If you use Word 2003 or an earlier version of the program, you need to pick up the .
Many programs' uninstallers are ineffective. It's a good idea to use a utility that removes not only the application but also .
Most , so you should update them--or use alternative software.
Yes, you should definitely , but you can take a few steps to reduce Windows' nagging and pushiness about when to make the changes.
The makes certain keyboard functions easier to access.
The file is probably too large. Check out .
Read our advice on before you click it.
Microsoft Outlook uses a modified version of Rich Text Format (RTF) to preserve fonts and the like, but the format often causes problems for the recipient. We have with this situation.
Don't see your most baffling PC mystery in the list? Leave us a comment and let us know!