How Can I Get Pictures on My Computer When It First Opens?

Photos that appear as your home screen or desktop background can add personality to your computer. You can set your background to be a family member or friend, object of nature, a sample photo or virtually any photo you can imagine as long as it has been uploaded to your computer.

Instructions

Step 1

If you would like to set a personal photo as your desktop background, take the photo with a digital camera or scan a photo and save it in your Pictures folder.

Step 2

Open your "pictures" folder and select the photo you want. Or from the "Start" menu select "Pictures" to open your picture program and find the photo you would like to set as your background.

Step 3

Right click on the photo and a menu will display. From this menu, select "Set as desktop background". Then close out or minimize all open applications so that the desktop appears. Your photo should be your new desktop background.

Step 4

To further personalize your desktop, right click on the photo from the desktop and choose "personalize". A list of options and choices will appear that allow you to personalize your desktop and screen saver.

How to Know Your Computer Has Been Hacked

Viral infections do not cause your computer to crash anymore. They keep you computer busy in the background while your computer is working so you do not realize anything is wrong. A key logger program attaches to your system, so they can log your keystrokes when you type your password or credit card numbers when purchasing or paying bills online. They also will use your computer for a server to mail out spam, which you may not know unless your Internet service disables your service until you call in.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Do you have pop-up ads that won't stop or go away? If you say, yes, then you may have been hacked.

Step 2

Is your computer continually slowing down? If you say, yes, then you may have been hacked.

Step 3

Are you being redirected to other websites unintentionally? Or are search results showing things you didn't type into the search bar? If you say, yes, then you may have been hacked.

Step 4

Does that sound like you are part of a joke? Well, it is not a very funny one! But it could be you've been hacked with programs sneaking into your system in the background. At this point, if you said, yes, to any or all of them, then you have been hacked.

Step 5

Now what to do about it? Fight back! It is your computer not a hackers paradise, so take it back.

* Make sure your anti-virus program is installed and up-to-date. AVG has a free edition online or you can get their trial version. There are many other programs online and you can get them at download.com for a trial period. Run the virus program and spybot if you have it.

Step 6

How do I know what information has been taken?

1 It is very hard to tell what has been taken. Not every infection steals your data. Some just serve unwanted ads.
2. Others reroute your search result to alternate Web sites you don't want to see. Others log your every keystroke.
3. The anti-virus vendors have extensive databases about what the known infections do and don't do. Check with them to see what kind of damage may have been done to your machine.

Tips & Warnings

• 
  
  If this doesn't work you will need to reformat your computer but be sure to save your documents, photos and videos before cleaning up your computer.
  
• 
  
  You can get professional help with your computer at a cost.
  
• 
  
  Make sure you clean out your temporary files and cookies regulary. (See my link below.)
  
• 
  
  If you think you've had information stolen do not go online again until it is fixed. You can easily lose your identity to a hacker, lose money in your bank, and that's only the beginning.
  

How to Create a Boot Image From a CD

Creating a disc image from a boot CD is a good way to back up your operating system recovery data in case of computer failure. This image can be stored on another computer, another flash drive, or burned onto a blank CD. It will contain all the data on the original CD so that you can boot from it in case of operating system problems. Two of the best choices for doing this are the popular Nero software and the free ISO Recorder, but most CD burning programs will allow you to create an image.

Instructions

Creating a Boot Image with Nero

Step 1

Insert the original boot CD into your disc drive.

Step 2

Download and install Nero if you have not done so already. The full version costs $59.99. For a free alternative, see the section labeled "Creating a Boot Image with ISO Recorder."

Step 3

Open Nero's SmartStart Wizard and select "Nero Express."

Step 4

Click the tab marked "Copy Entire Disc."

Step 5

Select the drive containing the CD in the next window under "Read From." This will likely be selected automatically, but you should double-check just to be safe.

Step 6

Select "Image Recorder" where it says "Write To." This tells Nero you are not copying the CD to another disc, but instead copying the data to an image file.

Step 7

Click "Copy" and select the location to which you wish to save your image. Be sure to add the image extension ".iso" to ensure later compatibility.

Creating a Boot Image with ISO Recorder

Step 1

Insert your original boot CD into your disc drive.

Step 2

Download and install ISO Recorder. This installs the application, but also inputs several new menu items into Windows Explorer to make simple basic commands like burning discs and creating disc images.

Step 3

Open "My Computer" from your desktop and right-click the CD drive containing the original boot disc. Select "Copy CD to Image File."

Step 4

Choose where you would like to save the image file. Be sure to add the image ".iso" extension to ensure compatibility.

Step 5

Close the progress window when the process completes.

Tips & Warnings

• 
  
  A PC cannot boot from a disc image itself since to access the image file Windows needs to already be running. So while an image file is an ideal way to store the booting data, if Windows is not starting you will have to burn the image to a CD and boot from there.

How to Check RAM Type Using Win XP

RAM (random access memory) refers to the total amount of memory on your computer. Memory enables your computer to read and write data. Memory is measured in megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB), with a gigabyte being a much larger unit. The more memory your computer has, the faster your computer is able to read and write data. Many programs and applications require certain amounts of RAM in order to function, so it is important to find out how much RAM is on your computer

Instructions

Step 1

Close all open programs and right-click "My Computer" on the desktop. If you do not see My Computer on the desktop, click the "Start" menu and right-click "My Computer." Scroll down the pop-up menu and click "Properties" to launch the System Properties dialog box.

Step 2

Click the "General" tab. You should see information about your computer under "Computer." The amount of RAM on your computer displayed in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). For example, 512 MB or 2 GB of RAM.

Step 3

Click "OK" to close the System Properties dialog box when you finish.

How to Check RAM Type Using Win XP

RAM (random access memory) refers to the total amount of memory on your computer. Memory enables your computer to read and write data. Memory is measured in megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB), with a gigabyte being a much larger unit. The more memory your computer has, the faster your computer is able to read and write data. Many programs and applications require certain amounts of RAM in order to function, so it is important to find out how much RAM is on your computer.

Instructions

 

Step 1

 

Close all open programs and right-click "My Computer" on the desktop. If you do not see My Computer on the desktop, click the "Start" menu and right-click "My Computer." Scroll down the pop-up menu and click "Properties" to launch the System Properties dialog box.

Step 2

 

Click the "General" tab. You should see information about your computer under "Computer." The amount of RAM on your computer displayed in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). For example, 512 MB or 2 GB of RAM.

Step 3

 

Click "OK" to close the System Properties dialog box when you finish.

 

How to reset a bios system password

You boot up your PC one day and there is a password prompt that you have never seen before. Your computer won't let you log on, but don't worry. I am going to teach you some tricks to bypass this annoying feature. If you have the manual that came with the computer, read it; there will be information specific to this setting. These step do not have to be completed in order.

Instructions

Step 1

 

First, remove the case to look at the motherboard, so we can try resetting the CMOS battery. This battery looks a shiny little disk the size of a nickel. Pry the battery free gently, and reinsert the battery after 10 minutes. If this worked and you don't see the password prompt, you don't need any more steps; the problem is fixed. In my experience, two or more additional steps might be necessary depending on the make of the BIOS. Unfortunately, they don't all respond to the same tricks.

Step 2

 

Next, now that the case is already removed, locate the jumpers near the edge of the board or near the CPU or the CMOS battery. Once located, find the label that will say clear CMOS, or clear password, etc. Place the jumper over the pins and boot. If this works, no more steps are needed. If it doesn't work, read on.

Step 3

The third step to try is to enter a password. When you receive the password prompt, try one of the following passwords. If you have an Award BIOS, try these; AWARD PW, ALFAROME, or _award. If you have Phoenix BIOS try, CMOS, PHOENIX, or BIOS.

Step 4

If none of these things have worked, as a last resort, try a software utility that resets system passwords. These utilities can be found online.

Tips & amp; Warnings

• 
  
  Ground yourself by touching the metal sides of the computer case before putting your hands inside the case to avoid damage to the motherboard.
• 
  
  This article is for IT professionals or users who forgot their passwords. The author takes no responsibility for illicit use of this information.

Removing Autorun.inf based Virus Manually

Instructions
 

Step 1

To Remove autorun.inf based virus, open command prompt (type cmd in Run found on Start Menu), type cd\ and hit enter, Now type ATTRIB -A -H -R -S autorun.inf and Hit enter
then type del autorun.inf and Hit enter
then type MD autorun.inf and Hit enter
thats it, again that virus wont be able to create autorun.inf file. similarly do it for other drives
to go to D drive type d: in cmd prompt, and repeat previous procedure,
To remove Autorun.inf totally you 've to even remove from registry, type regedit in run menu
go to-->
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Double click the NoDriveAutorun DWORD entry & type the value HEX:FF

Now Reboot

If This Method Does Work , Same Procedure Has to be followed in Recovery Console,
To Perform in RECOVERY CONSOLE, Insert Bootable Windows cd & boot into cd, After Initialization process you will be Asked to Press Enter for Setup Or R to Repair, Press R, You Will be Taken To Recovery Console Similar to Ms-Dos prompt, Then You have to follow Procedure

Step 2

1) Type 1 to select Your OS (Default C Drive)

Step 3

2) Then type admin password , if not set(default not set) Just hit enter

Then Follow Procedure Which Was Stated Above About Removing Virus from Command Prompt.

How to Know if a Laptop Battery Needs to be Changed

When buying a laptop, you should weigh processing power against portability. While desktop computers typically provide faster speeds, larger hard drives and better graphics, laptops come in smaller packages and are imminently more travel-friendly. However, if your laptop battery begins to fail, you've lost the chief benefit of your computer. Checking for battery health regularly can help you avoid losing battery powe

Instructions

Step 1

Complete a system diagnosis on your computer. Most computers come with diagnostic software that will indicate the number of battery cycles you've run on your laptop, and they'll often provide a percentage of how much battery life you have remaining. You can also download software designed for this purpose; thewwwblog.com has such an application.

Step 2

Begin to test the battery life yourself. Disconnect your laptop from your AC adapter or battery pack. On your desktop you should find an indicator showing the remaining life of your battery in terms of a percentage or actual time; you may be able to click on it to cycle through these options. Record how much time your laptop claims your battery should last.

Step 3

Wait it out. Allow your battery to drain to zero capacity and keep track of how long this takes. Depending on your battery health and the model of your laptop, draining the battery could take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

Step 4

Compare the actual draining time of your battery to the time indicated in Step 2. Consult your laptop's manual and find out what the ideal battery life should be. If the actual draining time was significantly less than either of these figures, it is likely time to replace your laptop's battery. However, if the battery life continues to meet your personal needs, there's no reason to rush and buy a replacement.

How to Reinstall a Volume Control Device Without the Disk

When you install Windows XP, the Volume Control or sound mixer sometimes does not get installed. The process for installing the volume control is not difficult, once you have the file. The problem comes from having a corrupted version of that file. If you have a Windows XP CD, fixing the corrupted file is simple. If you do not, it becomes a little more challenging, but with the right know-how, you can accomplish it.

Instructions

Step 1

Click the "Start" button and choose the "Run" option. Copy the following command into the box that opens:

mmsys.cpl

Step 2

Mark the check box that says "Place volume icon in the taskbar," if the command runs properly. If you get an error message that says Sndvol32.exe is corrupted or damaged, skip to step 4.

Step 3

Click the "OK" button and check your taskbar to make sure the volume icon is there and the volume control works properly.

Step 4

Download the sndvol32.exe program from a file sharing site like 4shared.com. Microsoft does not provide an official download for sndvol32.exe.

Step 5

Save and expand the downloaded file to the c:\windows\system32\ folder. If you have the file there already, a pop-up window asks if you want to overwrite it. Push the button that indicates you do.

Step 6

Repeat steps 1 through 3 to put the sound icon in the taskbar.

How to Make Your Computer Run Faster

Tired of you computer running slow? Before you throw it out the window, try these simple steps to get it moving again!

Instructions

 
 
 
 
 
 

Step 1

 

Run a virus scan program to make sure you don't have a virus. You can download "AVGFree" or "PCTools" for free. See the resource links below to download these programs.

Step 2

 

Run a malware program to make sure you don't have any malware. You can find a free one called "ThreatFire" in the resource links below.

Step 3

 

Remove Some Programs You Don't Need:

Go to your "Start Menu" in the bottom left hand corner of the screen. Click it, then click "Control Panel", then "Add/Remove Programs." Uninstall any programs you aren't using or don't need by clicking on the program name and clicking the "Uninstall" button at the top of the screen. Confirm that you want to uninstall and repeat for each program you can do without. I highly suggest not uninstalling anything if you don't really know what it is.

Step 4

 

Prevent Unnecessary Programs from Starting up With Windows and Running in the Background:

For Windows xp
Click on the "Start Menu", then click "Run." Type in "msconfig" and press enter. The "System Configuration Utility" will open up. Click on the "Startup" tab. Uncheck any program that you don't want to start with Windows. Once you are done, press "OK."

For Windows Vista
Once you have done this, go out to your desktop (close the "Add/Remove Programs" window). Click on the "Start Menu" at the bottom left again and click "Control Panel." In the control panel, under "Programs" choose "Startup Programs." This will open "Windows Defender" See the program list on the left and click one that you don't need to startup when you turn your computer on. Click the "Disable" button to the right. This will prevent that specific program from running on startup. Too many programs running each time you use your computer can really slow it down. Preventing multiple programs from running when you start your computer is a huge way to make your computer run faster.

Step 5

 

 

Disk Cleanup

Run "Disk Cleanup" to Get Rid of Files You Don't Need:

Open the "Start Menu" at the bottom left of your screen and click "All Programs" or "Programs." Then, click "Accessories", then "System Tools", then "Disc Cleanup." Your computer will calculate how much space you can free up on the old hard drive. Once it is done calculating, choose the files you want to delete and press "OK" This may take a few minutes.

Step 6

 

Run "Disk Defragmenter" to Organize the Files on Your Hard Drive:

Open the "Start Menu" at the bottom left of your screen and click "All Programs" or "Programs." Then, click "Accessories", then "System Tools", then "Disk Defragmenter." Click "Defragment" This could take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours or more, depending on how jumbled up your files are.

Step 7

Watch your computer go!

Tips & Warnings

• If this doesn't work, it might be time for a new computer.

How to Change All File Folder Icons

Instructions
 

Step 1

 

Double-click the "My Computer" icon to open Windows Explorer. For Windows Vista, the icon is labeled "Computer."

Step 2

Click the "View" menu item and then select "Options." In the options window, click the "Folder Types" tab. In this tab, click the "Registered file types" and then click "Edit."

Step 3

 

Click the "Change Icon" button. In the window that opens, select your own .ico file or select one of the internal Windows dll files that contain icons. The shell32.dll file located in the "windows\system32" directory contains shortcut icons.

Step 4

 

Select your icon and press the "OK" button. Reboot the machine to finalize the changes. All your windows folder icons are changed.

How to Speed Up Slow PC

Instructions

 

Step 1

 

Remove all the temporary files from the PC. The temporary files are voracious consumers of system's memory. Therefore, it is a good practice to regularly clean a PC for temporary files.

Step 2

 

Wipe off the computer memory of unnecessary programs or applications which are rarely used.

Step 3

 

Go for regaining the hard disk space in a PC. This can be best achieved with the use of "Disk Cleanup" utility, which comes as a part of Windows operating system.

Step 4

 

Turn on the automatic update feature of Windows to get the latest updates for your computer. The latest update comes with added features which can provide a better protection and support for the computer

Step 5

 

Clean system registry using any registry cleaner software, because registry is a central database for any Windows computer. The registry marks up an entry for every application which is either installed or un-installed from the computer system.

Step 6

 

It is a good practice to install any good security software and update it at regular intervals for the protection against the latest threats that can hamper the performance of computer.

Step 7

It is strongly recommended to perform a backup of your complete system before carrying out any of the steps.

 

Tips & Warnings

• By following these steps you can ensure a better performance for your computer in case it is running slow. The regular maintenance steps are the best way to prohibit and fix the computer problems.