By appealing to an international market, Microsoft is constantly seeking to come up with solid new functionality for its flagship product, without detracting from the ability to ship that product to a diverse audience that covers you, me and a whole range of different consumer needs.

Windows is not foolproof. Despite extensive testing before release, there will always be bugs picked up that require fixing. Such is the nature of an evolving digital age where online technology is becoming just as sophisticated as the operating system, Windows is constantly having to adapt and provide new solutions.

The Microsoft Updates website is a haven for keeping your Windows in the best possible working order. Say you were to purchase Windows XP in 2003 and still be using it now in 2008, thats five years where technology has advanced incredibly and new security threats have been exposed. How does the original XP 2003 customer stay safe without purchasing Vista? Downloading updates is the answer! Windows updates are free of charge and released almost daily. You can specifically ask Microsoft to inform you of pending updates and keep your PC updated every time you start up - but as many people will confirm, the updating process can become tedious when you really want to be cracking on with your work.

The most important Windows updates are where security is concerned. Viruses are constantly being designed to attack loopholes in the Windows framework. Plugging the gaps in that framework is a business that Microsoft hires an entire team to perform on a day to day basis. Their work is available for free from the Microsoft Updates website where you can grab the latest fixes hot off the press as and when they are released.

Of course, it’s a constant shift in power between the security guys and the hackers who are trying to get the better of them. But if you don’t bother to install Windows Updates, you’re putting yourself at a highlighted risk.

Microsoft is also known to periodically release Service Packs which bundle all known fixes with improvements to the actual functionality of Windows. These service packs are quite large to download, but are also free and can make quite a big impact on your experience with the PC. You’ll also find that many software apps for Windows XP now requite Service Pack 2 to be installed at the very least. This is necessary due to the change on coding structure and essential Windows library files.

Just visit the Microsoft website to get the latest Service Pack, but be aware that you will need a valid licensed version of Windows to download anything from the Microsoft site. Yes, they DO check before you download and you’ll be prevented from downloading if the version of Windows is found to be illegitimate!

It’s possible to gain support not just for JavaScript, but for full Java applications by downloading a package from the Sun website. Sun Microsystems allows you to install the Java source library files on your operating system, which in turn opens up a whole new horizon of possibilities for Java driven plugins. And of these, you will find many on the web.

Java can be downloaded across any of the major operating systems (Windows, Solaris, Linux and Apple), and it remains platform independent - one of the key factors which has allowed it to grow in popularity over time. Once the package is downloaded, you will need to restart your browser and in some cases, it may even be necessary to reboot from scratch. This allows your operating system to detect the new Java library files.

If you’re running various applications or accessing websites that require the use of JavaScript, and you still can’t see the scripting in use, it may be necessary to make some edits to the Internet browsing options that are relevant to whichever browser it is that you’re using.

Be aware that sometimes, through the user’s command or otherwise, the scripting options may be turned off thus making it impossible for a plugin to load even if you wanted it to. To counter this, you should open your browser and then go to your Tools tab. Select Internet Options and go to your Settings.

Scroll down until you see the options for scripting, including Java and Javascript. Now make sure that both boxes are checked, as well as the box for third party plugins. Save and apply your settings then close the browser. When you re-open it, you should find that scripting is enabled and in use on websites. In some cases, it may be necessary to restart the computer entirely.

So why is Javascript so important on the web? There was a time when it was quite optional to have it active. But in recent years, web applications have become so sophisticated that JavaScript is seen as a must-have.

If you’re using a website that generates JavaScript pop-ups, you must have the scripting active to get full functionality out of the site. However, some viruses and spyware apps are known to cause trouble with JavaScript. If you’re having JavaScript problems and everything seems to be enabled, you should consider running an anti-virus scanning package to make sure that there isn’t a third party app causing conflicts with the scripting interface and the DOM.

As a worst case troubleshooting scenario, you may want to download another browser to ensure that the JavaScript problem isn’t directly related to a more significant fault with the browser itself.

AOL, however, has received a lot of criticism for its walled garden approach to allowing customers to access the Internet. Not least for its requirement that an Internet connection be made from within the existing AOL software suite.

When you sign up to AOL’s Internet package, you won’t just receive the necessary software to connect to the Internet. You’ll also receive a software suite which is AOL branded to the max, and it’s this that is used to connect to the Internet. AOL will control how you get online, and by that token, when AOL decides that it wants to update its software, there’s not much you can do but go along with it happily or refuse the update. And of course, most customers are all too willing to accept upgrades in the false knowledge that it won’t compromise their ability to connect.

It shouldn’t compromise their connection, at least. But there are known problems with AOL upgrades whereby a failed software download can cause huge problems. For example, to break things down, if an upgrade crashes during the installation period, you may lose your original connection when you try to re-access the AOL connection utility. Half copied files and half meddled settings can quickly add up to a long phone call with AOL support.

The latest AOL Desktop, in particular, caused an enormous amount of trouble with existing customers. After AOL migrated to their new CPW servers, a forced download was required for users to switch over to the new settings. The stability of this system was put under close scrutiny after many customers complained of the upgrade crashing during download and resulting in a broken connection. Other users managed to connect, but with great irregularity and the speed was down significantly.

The AOL upgrade resulted in an error that looked like the below:

“Authentication Failure” Error 47-DUN-0691

When you strip away the error code and examine what AOL has changed, it appears that the suite is now attempting to connect through TCP/IP rather than the normal DSL.

To tackle the issue, go to Start and then enter your Settings.

Choose the Control Panel.

Go to Network Connections.

You will need to choose Dial BB and connect manually, as opposed to using the typical AOL suite. Assuming there are no existing complications with your configuration settings, the connection will be made and you’ll be able to browse normally.

If this doesn’t work, you will need to roll your AOL software site back to version 9.0 when the problem was non-existent. It’s far from a satisfactory solution, but once you’ve rolled your software back, you can wait for the request to re-download the update and as long as it doesn’t crash, you should be able to successfully migrate across to the CPW servers and regain full connectivity from within AOL’s suite.

HP, being such a big player in the market, has been forced to cope with an ongoing demand for relevant software from an extremely diverse population of consumers. If you’re in possession of HP hardware, you should be relieved to hear that support for their devices is generally good and you shouldn’t have too many compatibility issues in getting your new purchase up and running.

HP updates are carried out automatically in some cases (notably if you’re running an HP desktop PC), but at other times, you may need to update your HP software manually. Of all the hardware that HP has released, the printer remains one of the most popular and widely used. HP printers are everywhere, but they also require a little fine tuning on occasion. HP updates may be necessary to ensure that you have the latest drivers working with the device.

It’s also worth noting that if you install an HP printer off the bat, the software that originally came with the product isn’t necessarily going to be ideal for running the printer in the modern day. It all depends on the model of course, but if you install an older printer while you have a newer printer configured with its own library of drivers and library files, the chances of a collision and the new printer not installing are high.

For this reason, as soon as you’ve installed your HP device, it’s a good idea to visit the HP website and look for specific updates related to the product. Enter the model in their website search engine, and download any updates that have been released. It’s likely that you’ll find several. Manufacturers release their hardware without being fully aware of all the potential complications that can stem from conflicting system configurations. This makes it necessary to patch their products.

By downloading the HP updates and patches, you can ensure that you’re equipped to deal with all known compatibility issues.

Most notable of all HP problems is the conflict with Lexmark based printers. If you previously had a Lexmark printer installed, you will likely need to remove the old settings and run an HP update to overwrite the printer preferences so to speak.

HP is more than just a printer provider, however. Many people rely on HP for downloading updates relevant to their operating system. If you purchased the PC from HP, you can expect pop-ups and requests that updates to the HP software are available. These aren’t always necessary to install, but it’s good to get in to a habit of installing patches and security fixes - even if you don’t think you’re going to need them today. You might very well do tomorrow.

Just like using any form of hardware, it’s important to keep your devices up to date with the latest and best software. And more specifically, drivers. When it comes to maintaining your hardware at its optimal performance levels, the Lexmark.com website will come in very handy. It’s here where you can download software updates, security patches, and basic fixes for each and every model in the Lexmark catalogue.

Unfortunately, it’s not always as simple as choosing your model and downloading a general fix. Compatibility issues can arise just as easily from downloading Lexmark drivers as they can from installing the printer or scanner in the first place.

More worryingly, back in 2004 there was a reported case of Lexmark installing spyware on it’s customers computers. Lexmark originally acknowledged that it had installed tracking software to view the usage of its printers and cartridges before reporting back to the company for statistical analysis.

Lexmark said no personal data was taken, but that was raised in to doubt considering users were asked to fill in a registration form for “their own benefit”. The files causing the controversy were tucked away in c:\program_files\lexmark500, and they reported back to an anonymous website at lxkcc1.com - which was found to be owned by Lexmark.

Needless to say, this was not well received and many users raised a backlash against Lexmark threatening to boycott the company altogether. If you believe that you’re having problems from an old Lexmark printer which is attempting to contact another site with its usage stats, you can remove the lexmark500 entries by accessing your registry directly.

This is only an issue from old models and it seems that Lexmark has since discontinued its policy. But if you’re downloading old updates, you may wish to ensure that the tracking stats are fully removed if privacy is such an issue.

Lexmark has also suffered from several of its patches being over-ridden by other printer software. If you’re trying to download the latest Lexmark updates from the Lexmark.com website, be aware that it’s always good practice to remove software and drivers from any other printers that you no longer use.

The conflicts between Lexmark and HP printers are extremely well documented and if you’re downloading updates, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the updates will fix all of your problems if the HP printer is still stored in the registry with similar counteractive DLL files.

Lexmark.com has slowly become more reliable over time, however, and the patches seem to be better geared towards fixing the hardware in question. If you’re still experiencing uncharacteristic behavior from your Lexmark printer or scanner, you can contact support directly through the Lexmark.com website. They will be happy to assist you with any known complications and help you troubleshoot the matter.

BAD_POOL_CALLER. stop: 0×000000c2 (0×000000043, 0xc2528000, 0×00000000, 0×00000000) ”

Each of these stop error parameters is for a different problem. There is a list of more than thirty such causes that can give you this error message. If the stop error is consistent every time the system is rebooted, the following method will be effective in solving the problem:

* The hardware and RAM should be checked initially.
* Boot the system once again using the OS setup CD, or use a boot setup that has a GUI like BartPE.
* With RunScanner it is possible to use a memory test tool.
* Select a single account
* If all the accounts open then the system registry hive might be the problem.
* Locate the hive damaged and rename it, do not delete it.
* Create another hive from the backup or from the restore point.
* Initially uses the latest one and keep checking the restore points that come later.
* Avoiding harvesting any replacement hives from the hard drive booted Windows.
* After which compare the hives for differences.

This is one of the ways of fixing BAD_POOL_CALLER errors. Another method is to reinstall the OS but occasionally shows a disk read error or an error on the same lines. Switching the computer off for a minute or more and then switching it on can solve it since the error is only a slight glitch in the system operation.

The BAD_POOL_CALLER is seen for the first time after installing a hardware or software it is recommended that the computer be restarted. If it doesn’t solve the problem, the installation of the hardware or software should be checked for correction. The manufacture should also be contacted if there are any Windows updates required to correct the error. If the problem persists the installed hardware and software should be disabled, and the BIOS memory options like caching or shadowing should be disabled too. The safe mode can be used as well to remove or stop components.

To enable the safe mode just press F8 when the machine is being restarted and select it from the Advance Startup options and correct the problem. The installation of the graphics card is another reason the BAD_POOL_CALLER error shows up. A simple reinstallation of the driver can solve the problem. Microsoft has also acknowledged that the BAD_POOL_CALLER Stop 0xC2 error pops up when trying to print a document that contains a corrupt font.

A hot fix is available at www.support.microsoft.com, where the telephone number can be acquired to contact support. The call to the support team is charged except if the support team has resolved that the update will solve the problem. The error message with relation to this parameter of the BAD_POOL_CALLER error is seen only in the Win2000 Professional, Server and Advanced Server Operating Systems.

Get a Free Diagnostic Scan with RegCure PC Optimizer (Download Takes 2 Mins)

First of all, you will need to have a browser of Mozilla origin installed. This means Firefox, Flock or Seamonkey. You will not be able to use the noscript.net software with any of the other popular browsers (Internet Explorer, Safari, Google Chrome…)

The principle of the Noscript.net plugin that sets it apart from the rest is that it works on a whitelisting basis. Most anti-virus suites work on the opposite logic, whereby only scripts that are located on blacklisted websites will be removed from the execution line. By having a whitelisting system, you can ensure that only the websites that you actually trust are allowed to execute scripts.

Adding a website to your trust list is easy and will only take a matter of moments. You can select your exact preferences. It’s possible to control settings for Javascript, Java and any kind of plugin execution.

The Noscript.net plugin is accessible in the bottom corner of the browser. A simple right click will open up options for the currently viewed website. From here you can choose whether to allow or deny access in terms of the scripting capabilities across that particular site. The one downside to such a whitelisting method is that in the time that follows your installation of the plugin, you can expect to be interacting with the plugin for as long as it takes to enable scripting privileges on the sites that you already trust.

It only takes one click per type, but if you’re a prolific user of the Internet and enjoy surfing a wide variety of sites, it’s likely that you could have your patience tested by having to loosen security for every single site that you already enjoy browsing. This, however, is only a temporary measure.

Once you’ve enabled access where necessary, you’ll find that your Internet security increases tenfold. So many anti-virus packages rely on a compromise now, fix later strategy.

With the latest version of the plugin, you can go one step further and control even the HTTPS settings from within the Noscript.net add-on. That means it’s possible to force the use of HTTPS on websites where you’re particularly concerned for your data protection. You can specify that even your whitelisted websites require HTTPS where proxy connections are concerned, as this eliminates the threat of spoofing and advanced hacker attacks.

There’s no question that Noscript.net is a brilliant little add-on for those of us who are security minded first. The Internet is developing at a rapid rate and while the large majority of websites are good doing entities that seek only to improve our browsing experience, there will always be some individuals who seek to exploit the existing Internet security loopholes. You can take a big step towards complete protection by downloading the Noscript.net plugin for safe browsing.

First of all, let’s take a look at some of the symptoms you can pin to a faulty sound card:

No sound at all from speakers or headphones.
A sound starts but cuts off unexpectedly, not necessarily in the same place.
A sound that cuts and scratches while breaking up.
The computer slows down dramatically when an app attempts to play sound.
The computer crashes altogether upon a sound being played.
Error messages appear drawing attention to the audio output.

You can use the default Windows troubleshooter, as provided by Microsoft, but this is not always guaranteed to work. It will often tell you the simple basics, such as ensuring your speakers aren’t failing and updating drivers from a third party provider.

Driver faults make up a huge majority of genuine sound card problems. We might have the best sound card in the world installed, with complete audio support. But think again - if the wrong driver is installed, you can forget about getting the most out of your hardware. Always ensure, when you install a sound card, that you check the manufacturer’s website and make any upgrades that are available which were not introduced early enough to be supplied with the software CD.

You should also look out for patches that have been released to cover existing problems. It can’t be stressed highly enough. Most sound card problems can be resolved by simply updating your drivers and ruling out the chances of a failed installation.

Alternatively, you might want to make sure that Windows is configured to actually use the Sound Card that you have installed. There’s an easy way to do this.

Go to Start and then Settings.

Enter your Control Panel.

Go to the Sounds menu.

Click Events and then scroll until you find an event which has a loudspeaker icon pinned next to it.

You will be able to Preview it, and from here click on Play. If your sound card is correctly setup, you will hear the preview sound. If you don’t hear a sound, it would suggest that the sound card hasn’t been set up to run at all.

If tis is the case, follow the steps below.

Go to Start, then Control Panel in your Settings.

Click on System and move to the Device Manager tab.

Make sure that the plus sign is selected next to Sound, Video and Game Controllers.

If the option had been turned off, it’s no wonder that you weren’t receiving any sound. The sound card would not have been prepared to emit any! Save and apply your changes and then reboot the computer. You should notice that the sound kicks in immediately and your sound card begins to output the desired audio.

The company supplies chip set motherboards, graphics cards and video cards for use with desktop PCs. The chances are if you’ve had a few PCs over the years, you’ve probably been running Nvidia technology at some point. And of course, with that hardware technology, comes the need for the correct drivers to be installed on the operating system. When you’re dealing with technology that affects the graphics and visual display in particular, it’s incredibly important to have the right driver. Anything less and the downgrade in performance will be dramatic.

Nvidia have an incredible range of products on the market. The most popular type is the GeForce, which encompasses products from the GeForce 200 Series to the GeForce 4 MX Series of modern day. These are all highly competent graphics processing units that can run on both Windows XP and Linux. If you’ve noticed that the card is failing to deliver the promised performance, it’s time to get diagnosing by checking for the latest drivers relevant to that particular hardware.

Just by visiting the Nvidia website, you can download - for free - drivers that bridge the gap between hardware and operating system and get the most out of your computer. You’ll also find support for the popular Quadro range, which specializes in accelerating computer-aided design and also digital content creation. If you’re using nForce chipsets, which are compatible on both Intel and AMD based systems, you’ll be able to download the latest drivers for these too.

So how do you know when your graphics drivers are failing you? How do you tell when Nvidia hardware is dropping below the performance peak?

Most Nvidia driver problems come from attempting to upgrade to a different driver, or allowing the graphics hardware to interact with other drivers that are installed with a third party program. You may notice that an app starts to load before turning to black with the screen failing to respond. Other systems have a built in mechanism that will return the user to the desktop upon encountering a visual display failure. You’ll typically be left with an error code, but it may be as simple as an audible beep.

Alternatively, another trait of a bad Nvidia driver is the cascading graphics effect. This is where mouseover creates a visible trail, while colours clash and objects fail to render correctly. In short, it’ll look quite obvious that you have a display problem and the buffering will be all over the place.

If you believe that the Nvidia drivers have become corrupted during an upgrade, you should attempt to remove the fault DLL during Safe Mode, or with the help of a specialized driver removal app. Occasionally registry entries can become corrupt, and simply weeding through these before installing a fresh latest copy of the driver, you should be able to fix the display issue.

If you’re using Windows XP, the chkdsk utility can be used to carry out error checking on any hard drives that you may have configured with your system. Whether you realize it or now, Windows XP makes use of chkdsk every time an error occurs that forces the computer to close down. Upon the reboot, Windows runs chkdsk in an attempt to determine whether the drive volume is damaged. It is also used to test for motherboard defects or to clarify in the event that a computer has shut down due to a power cut rather than an internal problem.

Either way, whether it’s running behind the scenes or not, you should get in to a good habit of running the chkdsk tool regularly and searching out errors before they become a hindrance that affects the functionality of the system itself.

You can tell for yourself whether the chkdsk command has been called, as well as whether it has already marked the drive as damaged. Simply go to Start and then open up your command prompt. Enter the following:

fsutil dirty query c:

This should return the following message:

Volume - c: is NOT Dirty

Of course, the drive name will depend on what letter you’ve assigned to it. If the volume is not dirty, you can consider yourself in luck. The chkdsk has not found any problems with the last time it checked the computer, but that’s not to say that you should neglect it. Experts suggest that you should maintain a good habit of running chkdsk at least once a month to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your hard disk drive. Here’s how you can run chkdsk manually.

Go to Start and select Run.

Type cmd and click OK.

Write: chkdsk c: /f /r (Remember to replace the driver letter with whichever you have assigned to the hard disk drive in question, though in most cases, it will be C)

The process above does two things. Firstly the /f command ensures that during the checking process, chkdsk automatically fixes the errors that it finds - where possible. Secondly, we have the /r command which is designed to look for bad sectors and amend them appropriately. It will also locate and recover readable information that may have been comprimised over time.

Once you’ve applied your settings in the command prompt, you will probably need to restart to see any change. This is because Windows makes it necessary that you reboot so it can lock down the hard disk drive and apply its changes. Once the reboot is complete, you should notice the changes coming in to effect.

Don’t expect that to be staright away though! When Windows reloads, you will notice that it also hangs on the blue intro screen while the shkdsk changes are documented on the screen. Hold on tight because this can take up to 45 minutes.

Chkdsk can also be accessed from a graphical interface. To do this, go to My Computer, right click on the hard drive you wish to check.

Now go to the Tools tab and select Check Now. You will want to check both the boxes and select it to Start Now.