Microsoft Windows is far and away the most popular operating system in the world. It was the first mainstream desktop operating system and with Microsoft as strong as it now is, there’s no end of the Windows factory line in sight.

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!

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Javascript is the language that has grown to become just as important on the web as HTML and CSS. If HTML makes up the building blocks of a web page, and CSS makes up the presentation of that page in the user’s browser, it’s JavaScript that controls the interactivity of the page and the way that the user can interact with its various functions.

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.

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There was a time where AOL ran rampant as the number one Internet Service Provider in the United States, and by that notion, worldwide too. While the company has had to deal with the emergence of several ultra competitive rivals that have taken customers off its back, it remains a key identity in the ISP world.

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.

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Hewlett-Packard, better known as HP, in an American company that covers a broad range of computing needs. It offers everything from peripheral devices to fully fledged branded PCs. There’s a big chance that you’ve used an HP computer at some point, and it’s almost absurd to think that you haven’t come across an HP device of some sort in the past - whether it be a printer, a mouse or otherwise!

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.

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