It is important for every computer user to have some basic knowledge on resolving common PC errors. This will not only help you save a lot of time, but will also help you save money. You need not be a technical expert or a qualified computer professional  in order to resolve PC problems. It only requires a basic understanding in diagnosing computer errors and some simple step-by-step guidelines to solve them.

Here are some initial steps that you may perform when an error message is displayed on your PC:

1. The first task you need to do when you receive a computer error message is to search for a solution for the Internet. Most of the common errors are recorded on the Microsoft Knowledgebase and other third-party help websites and message forums. Using a good search engine, you can easily gain access to information on resolving the error appearing on your system. Most of the time, you will get a solution to your error message in this step. Implementing the solution provided will enable you to fix the error.

1. There are a few other things that you can do to perform exe, runtime and DLL error fixes on your Windows computer. The first task to fix and prevent error message such as these is to update the software on your computer. Many computer errors, such as the missing msvcr71.dll or missing msvcrt.dll error occur because the software on your computer is outdated. You can easily keep your software updated with the help of utilities like the Automatic Update feature in Windows and third-party scanner and update tools.

1. Next, you need to check your PC for virus, spyware and other malware infections. To do this, you need to use updated and robust antivirus and antispyware tools. It is recommended that you configure these tools to automatically update the database and scan your PC on a regular basis to ensure that your system stays free from all types of the latest security threats.

1. Next, is the task of fixing registry issues. All software and hardware add their configuration entries to the registry. This enables the registry to control almost all operations that occur on your system. Problems with related registry entries may generate errors. With the registry being quite complicated in structure is not easy to fix manually. So, it is best that you use a third-party registry tool that can automatically scan, detect and fix registry errors.

1. Finally, you need to ensure that all hardware on your computer is working fine. If you don’t know much about how to open the PC box and check hardware issues, it is best that you seek help of a reliable PC diagnostics tool. This tool will run various tests on your PC hardware to check them for problems. If a malfunctioning hardware is detected, you may need to get it repaired or replaced to fix issues associated with it.

When it comes to repairing and resolving computer errors, a general 80:20 rule is applicable. This means that 80% of all computer errors can be resolved by computer users themselves and they need not seek the help of experts to fix them. It is only the remaining 20% of errors which an ordinary user may find it beyond his or her capabilities to resolve, and have no other way but to contact a computer expert for help.

So, when you encounter a computer error, chances are high that it is a simple computer error and there is no need to panic. Among PC errors, there is one error that stands out as the type which can be easily resolved, but users have little to no idea about how to do so. This error is known as the DLL error or DLL file error. The first step to resolve DLL issues is to gain some basic understanding about DLL files, the causes of DLL errors, and then the methods to resolve them.

DLL or Dynamic Link Library files are used on Windows computers to perform specific tasks. These files can be shared among multiple computers and are required to be loaded in the system memory only when they are needed. This way DLL files not only help in reducing the load on your computer, but they also help in the development of lean and efficient applications.

Every Windows computer has hundreds of DLL files on it. Most of these files work together in perfect harmony and you are not even aware of them. What actually brings them to your attention is when an error message is displayed, such as the ones listed below:

“STOP: C0000221 Unknown Hard Error \SystemRoot\System32\ntdll.dll“

“Mfc80.dll Not Found”

“Lsass.exe: Entry Point Not Found

The procedure entry point _resetstkoflw could not be located in the dynamic link library Msvcrt.dll“

There can be many different reasons why DLL errors occur on your computer -

• One or more DLL files gets deleted or corrupted.
• Incorrect or buggy software is installed on the PC.
• A hardware component or peripheral device is malfunctioning.
• A computer is infected with malware.
• The Windows registry is full of errors, corrupt and fragmented.

There are some initial steps that you can perform to find out the cause of the DLL error appearing on your computer.

1. Write down the error message and search for a solution on the Internet. There are several help websites, out of which, some specialize in DLL errors and their solutions. If you find a solution here, you can implement it to resolve your problem.
2. If you recently installed or uninstalled software, undo the action to see if the error goes away. If an incompatible file is added or a required file is removed, reversing the action might resolve the error.
3. Scan your PC for virus, trojan and other malware infections. If the DLL file generating the error is infected with a virus, an antivirus scan should be able to detect and remove it.
4. Update your device driver and other software. Make sure that the Automatic Update tool in Windows is always enabled. For device drivers, you may seek the help of a good third-party automatic driver scan and update tool.
5. Use a good registry tool to scan the registry for problems and repair them.

Most of the time, these steps will enable you to fix your DLL error. However, if the error still remains, you might need to seek the help of a PC repair specialist.

Slow PC Problems and What To Do About Them

The speed of your computer is likely to change over time. Applications that you have installed on your PC since its purchase may slow your computer to a turtle’s pace. This is because even though new programs, applications and operating systems make our lives easier, they put a severe strain on the system resources and slow it down.

If you are like most people and cannot buy a new PC every two years but would like to use new applications efficiently on your old PC, you will need to make optimal use of your system resources. This article helps you understand problems regarding a slow computer and how to fix them.

1. Ensure that your Hard Disk is Healthy: The health of your hard disk is dependent on two things. One is the amount of data and second is how the data is organized. Your operating system provides you with two easy-to-use tools that you can deploy on a regular basis to perform maintenance tasks on your PC. These are:
   1. Disk Cleanup: Cleans up your hard drive by removing unnecessary files and frees up precious space.
   2. Disk Defragmenter: Defragments the space in your hard drive and makes it faster to access information.

You can access these tools through your Start-Up menu in your operating system. You must perform these two tasks regularly to get the best performance out of your PC.

1. Keep your Registry Error Free: Your Windows registry is extensively used by your PC while you are working since it contains critical data about each software and hardware component of your system. A large amount of data is continuously added and removed from your registry when your PC is operational. A registry overloaded with redundant information is likely to cause registry errors and slow down your PC. Therefore, it is crucial for the speed of your computer that you clean your registry frequently. You can opt for a popular tool known as Registry Cleaning Programs to keep your registry error free.
2. Protect your PC against Malware: One of the common symptoms of malware infection is a slow computer. Of course malware has the potential to cause more serious damage, but if you find that your computer has started to slow down, it could be a warning sign of a virus or a spyware. Some of these viruses or spyware can gain entry into your system under the disguise of a genuine file or program name. A popular but notorious example of this is the iexplore.exe virus. You must not operate your computer without protection tools such as anti-virus and anti-spyware installed on it. Once you have these tools, use them adequately to ensure proper instructions and follow three important guidelines.
   1. Keep online protection always ON.
   2. Perform a complete scan of the system every week.
   3. Keep these tools updated with the latest definitions to ensure that you are ready to combat the latest security threats.

A recent survey established that most computer users find DLL errors among the most frustrating computer problems. This could be because either they are not aware of DLL files or they find that these errors are very difficult to resolve without adequate knowledge of troubleshooting. However, DLL errors can be easily resolved as well as prevented if you are aware of the origin of DLL files, their significance, and common causes of DLL errors.

DLL files or Dynamic Link Library files came into existence with the goal of achieving efficiency and saving precious hard disk space during the early days of computers. It was noticed that there were certain functions that were required by different computer applications and it made sense to have common files which could be shared by all these applications. The reasons why DLL file errors occur are:

1. Missing DLL files, which can happen if one or more required DLL files are accidently uninstalled. For example, you may see the xvidcore.dll not found error message when you try to play XviD media files, but you have either uninstalled or do not have the XviD codec on your PC.
2. The application you are trying to install contains one or more corrupt DLL files.
3. Problems and issues on your hard drive that have resulted in an invalid DLL file.
4. An existing good DLL file is overwritten by another DLL file that is incompatible or damaged or outdated.
5. A malware has infected one or more DLL files.

Now that you have understood the key reasons behind this error, you must be wondering how to fix DLL errors. This article enlists 4 important steps that you can take to troubleshoot DLL errors:

1. First and foremost, you must analyze what your computer is trying to tell you. This means trying to make sense of the error message. It is likely to contain a DLL file name to begin with. It may also tell you what has happened to that file whether it is missing, not found, invalid or has encountered some other problem. The primary mode of troubleshooting such DLL errors is to search for the specified file and save the file in the correct folder.
2. In case you are not able to understand the error message, a good way to resolve the problem is to recreate the system scenario before the error happened. This can be achieved by using the System Restore facility provided in the System Tools category of your Windows Start menu. You can restore the system to the time before the error took place.
3. Sometimes, you may have a fair idea of what has caused that particular error. For example, if you were in the middle of an installation process of an application, you know something went wrong with the files associated with that application. You must try to investigate the problem by uninstalling the program. If the problem is removed after uninstallation, you must contact the program manufacturer for support.
4. Lastly, more computer users prefer using an automatic tool known as registry cleaner to resolve all kinds of computer errors including DLL errors. Registry cleaners use advanced algorithms to resolve these errors and even repair DLL files that are part of the problem. So, if you are one of those users who would like to resolve DLL errors quickly and effectively, you can install a registry cleaner on your system.

Runtime errors often occur because a bug exists in an application that was not caught and fixed at the time of development. Hundreds of runtime errors can affect Windows-based computers with runtime error 9 being among the most prevalent. This error occurs because system files are missing or corrupt. It can also occur if an application encounters a problem with the registry for some of its own components. In both cases, Runtime error 9 indicates system instability and a possible system crash looming in the near future. There are four basic steps to take that should neutralize runtime error 9 and prevent it from causing a complete system failure.

Download Critical Updates

Corrupt or obsolete files on the computer can generate runtime error 9. In some cases, there is a conflict between an application and a piece of hardware it is expected to function with. The best way to eliminate these problems is to make certain that all of your system files are updated regularly by downloading any critical updates from Microsoft and any patches created for the application. Keeping all device drivers current and up to date is also a major portion of system maintenance that can head off this particular error.

Use a Malware Removal Program to Thwart Runtime Error 9

The presence of worms, viruses, Trojans, or spyware, collectively known as malware, can cause valuable system files to be deleted, altered, corrupted, or personal information to be stolen from your computer. Any of these can be detrimental, so having a good malware removal program actively running in the background is always a good idea, and one that can prevent occurrences of Runtime Error 9. There are several good antivirus programs available that can take care of most of these problems before they even reach the system if actively running whenever the system is on.

Do a Registry Cleanup to Prevent Runtime Error 9

Because most runtime errors really result from poor registry maintenance, it is essential to have a utility run periodically to clean up the registry files and make sure that all paths are correct and no files are fragmented. Several good registry cleanup utilities are available either free or at a cost that can take care of these problems.

If the above steps do not eliminate the occurrence of Runtime Error 9, the possibility exists that a memory chip or other hardware component has developed a fault that must be repaired or replaced. Only a certified computer technician can tell for sure. You may have to contact your computer manufacturer or a shop in your town to have the system looked at and any obsolete or faulty hardware repaired or replaced. The cost of doing this will be much less than the cost of replacing an entire system and risking the loss of important data during the replacement.

Runtime errors generally occur often on Windows-based systems. They are a nuisance to be sure but they do indicate a possible problem that requires immediate attention. runtime error 9 is one of the most common of this class of errors. The cause is usually poor system maintenance. Following the four steps outlined above should repair any problems or conflicts and eliminate the occurrence of this error.

A lot can happen that can cause your smooth running Windows computer to generate errors and come to a halt. Although, there are a few causes you cannot prevent, there are several methods that can help you avoid, and at times, fix these undesired computer errors and restore your PC back to smooth and fast running performance. Let us take a look at a few such methods.

Many computer errors occur when just one or more condition required to perform a particular operation is not met. For example, you may encounter Internet connection error 619 while making an Internet connection if there is a problem with your modem or router. Therefore, to resolve such errors ensure that all entities necessary to carry out the particular operation are met.

Your operating system, device drivers, and applications comprise complex program codes. Before being released, rigorous testing of these products is done to ensure that they are error-free. However, due to complex programming some problems stay behind. These problems are patched up when detected. The software patches and updates are released on a regular basis on the product manufacturers’ web site to help you download these updates. Many software manufacturers also include an automatic update feature in their software to ensure that the updates are automatically downloaded and installed. Many errors, such as error 1053 are generated because you fail to install these updates. Moreover, your PC becomes susceptible to malware infections that are built around these lapses in software programs. In Windows, you can enable the Windows Automatic Update feature from the Control Panel to ensure that all your Microsoft Products are always up-to-date.

One other category of computer errors is the missing file errors, such as error code 126. There can be many causes of missing file problems—you install a buggy or outdated program that overwrites a working file with an incorrect or buggy version, your computer is infected with a malware, there is some problem with your registry entries, you deleted the file by mistake, or a program uninstall process removes the files. Whatever may be the cause, these errors are usually resolved by replacing the missing file. However, how you replace the file depends on which file is missing. If it is a Windows system file, you may have to start the Recovery Console and then replace the file from a Windows CD. If it is a software application, then repairing, reinstalling or updating the application can resolve the issue. If you delete the file by mistake, then first check the Recycle Bin, if the file is there, just restore it. If it is not, try to obtain the file from the Internet or some other computer with the same configuration as yours and then paste it to its location on your computer. If you think the registry is the problem, then it is recommended that you use an efficient and reliable third-party registry tool to perform a thorough scan and repair of your registry. Finally, if the errors started occurring due to a virus infection, then update your antivirus tool and perform a thorough full system scan of your computer to detect and sweep out malicious information from it.

One of the top culprits of a slow computer is too many processes. What is a process you ask? A process is anything on your computer that is running and using memory (RAM or Virtual Memory) at any given time. To see a list of the processes that are running on your computer just…

• Hit the legendary Ctrl + Alt + Del buttons on your keyboard (just once, don’t repeat or you will probably restart your computer) it may take a second for the Task Manager to show up, but it will.
• Then when the Task Manager shows up just click the Processes tab to see a list of your running processes.
• It should look like this…

You probably won’t have all the same processes as mine does above, but these are your running processes. Notice the Memory Usage of each of your running processes…

Try to roughly add up how much memory your processes are using and compare your total to your total amount of system RAM which can be found in your System Information. (shortcut - press the Windows key + Pause Break Key)

• Click Start
• Go to All Programs
• Go to Accessories
• Go to System Tools
• Click System Information
• Should look something like this…

Now comparing your amount or RAM with you total Ram usage in your processes you can judge for yourself if you are using too much RAM or not.

You can also check out the Performance Tab in your task manager…

Notice your PF (Page File or Virtual Memory) Usage, this should be kept as low as possible.

If you are getting messages that prevent you from opening programs because you do not have sufficient RAM then that is a clear sign that you need to either increase you RAM or disable some processes in your system. The best advice I can give is to not have anything running you don’t need running. If you have Yahoo Messenger, Myspace Messenger, MSN Messenger, Anti-Virus Program, Firewall, and a bunch of other icons running in your system tray at any given time, chances are you are not using all those programs at the same time so it is a good idea to close what you are not using.

I recommend downloading a great FREE program called CCleaner from Download.com. It is a great tool for cleaning your computer, your registry, unused programs, and it also helps you control your startup programs (which in turn decreases your processes, which in turn speeds up your system).

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The best way to clean up your processes go by this step by step process…

1. Examine your system tray (eg. - ) and take note of the programs that are running that you don’t want to automatically run when you turn on your computer.
2. Next open CCleaner (which I hope you downloaded because it is an essential part of this process) and do a cleaner analysis and clean your computer of the unneeded files.
3. Then it’s not a bad idea to go ahead and clean your registry (make sure to backup your registry when it asks you to).
4. Then click on tools and find those programs you’ve taken note of you don’t want anymore and remove them.
5. After you’ve removed your unwanted programs, click on startup and delete any entries you don’t want automatically starting up when you turn on your computer. (If you don’t know what some of those processes are, a great site to look up processes to find out what they are, what they do, and if you need them is Process Library. You can find pretty much any process on that site and find out if you need it or not.)
6. When you’ve done all those things, Restart your computer and see if your performance has improved.
7. If you don’t notice any faster performance, open up your task manager, and look at the processes that are running.
8. Go to the Process Library web site and check out all the processes that are running to see if you need them or not. (Some processes that may be slowing down your computer can also be viruses so be sure to check your processes thoroughly at Process Library.)

You’ve probably heard talk about someone can’t get their printer to work because they don’t have the correct drivers installed, or the DVD-ROM isn’t working because the drivers it came with were not meant for your new Windows Vista operating system.

A device driver is basically a small program of file that tells your computer and operating system how to communicate with the intended device. Usually when you go out and purchase a printer, web cam, or any computer peripheral or component, it comes with a cd. On the cd is the device software and drivers which are usually installed BEFORE you plug the device into your computer, or else windows will try to install the drivers for the device and the drivers that windows uses may not be the best drivers for the device.

It is also a great idea to check the manufacturer’s website to see if there has been any updated drivers released for your product before you install it.

Difficulty: Moderate

How Long: 10 mins – 20 mins

How Often: Usually only for troubleshooting purposes but doesn’t hurt for preventative maintenance, once every couple of weeks or so

The sfc /scannow (System File Checker) command checks your system’s protected files for errors or corruption. It can also be used for a troubleshooting tool for when you notice suspicious activities during bootup or startup.

This file can also be run from either the Run utility or the Command Prompt. To run this command:

• Navigate to Run/or open your command prompt (Click Here for Command Prompt Tutorial)
• Type in sfc /scannow in the Open text field
• Press Enter
• When it’s finished scanning the window may say something like scan complete or the command prompt window will just disappear, that means it’s finished.
• That’s all to it

Dificulty: Moderate

How Long: 5 mins – 20 mins

How Often: Weekly

The ChkDsk command (Check Disk) scans your hard disk checking for bad or missing sectors that could possible cause hard disk performance problems over time. This utility basically checks the integrity of the volume specified. When coupled with the f/ (fix) parameter, you tell the computer to fix the bad or missing sectors as it scans. This utility involves using your computer’s command prompt or run utility.

To get to the Run utility:

• Click Start
• Click Run (If using Vista you can just type in Run in the search box)
• In the Open text field type in chkdsk /f to run the ChkDsk utility
• If it says something about your it cannot lock drive, proceed to next step
• Just type Y and press Enter you system will be checked the next time you restart your computer.

Don’t Panic when you restart your computer and you get a black screen saying something about checking your hard disk, this is normal and shouldn’t take very long at all. After it finishes scanning, your computer will start up as normal.