CompuClever Blog

How to recover a lost password on a Windows PC

by

recover windows passwordIf you have a Windows computer and have ever lost your password, often the only thing you can do is reinstall Windows. There’s nothing else you can do. And if you have lost or misplaced your original install disks, it’s also going to be even more difficult to recover that lost password. 

Awesome website How-To Geek has one solution for recovering a lost password: change or reset your Windows password from a Ubuntu live CD. 

It won’t be the easiest solution to your problem, but How-To Geek at least provides a step-by-step walkthrough, complete with screenshots. An additional option is to reset your Windows password with SystemRescueCD, and this solution can be booted from USB disk or CD. 

Finally, the easiest, step-by-step process may be: 

  1. Download the pendrivelinux auto-drive maker.
  2. Download Kon-boot. This is hosted out of my dropbox b/c the zip you d/l from the site is a challenge for noobs…it’s passworded and a couple folders deep. You can download it directly if you feel more secure. This is a direct link to the ISO, it’s TINY.
  3. Stick your flash drive into a usb slot—you’re going to lose all data. Select “Kon-Boot” from the drop down menu on the pendrivelinux app.
  4. Choose your flash drive in the “drive select” box.
  5. Say OK to all the warnings.
  6. Eject disk.
  7. With netbook powered off, insert USB stick. Hammer f12 when you boot up the netbook, this should take you into the boot-select option.
  8. Choose either USB Storage or the drive, depending on the computer it may see the flash drive on the first screen. USB Storage should find it regardless.
  9. When the screen comes up that looks all weird, just press enter. If it pauses, just press enter.
  10. It will take you to the normal windows login screen.
  11. You can just click your account and it will log you in.
  12. Change password.

And that’s it.

Well, it’s a pretty complicated process, and installing different of varieties of Linux on a Windows machine is never easy. However, at least it’s a way to help regain control of your computer.

As always, be very careful when attempting more advanced PC techniques – you can damage your computer. When in doubt, seek the help of a qualified PC repair technician. For other tips and tricks to help speed up your  PC, why not try out PC TuneUp Maestro.

3 ways to speed up your PC

by

speed up pc`There are always little things you can do to speed up your PC, and help keep it running smoothly. We’re going to assume that you’re running a version of Windows 7.

Note: Some of the tools mentioned in this article require you to be logged on as an administrator. If you aren’t logged on as an administrator, you can only change settings that apply to your user account.

1. Remove spyware, protect against viruses

You’ve probably heard of the terms “spyware” and “virus”, but what are they, really? Both are malicious software programs inadvertently downloaded onto your computer from the internet. Sometimes your computer can be infected by spyware and viruses by visiting a website, and sometimes these programs can be downloaded as files. Both affect the speed of your computer. Spyware, as its name suggests, spys on your activities and personal information, such as passwords and even credit card information. Viruses are even more insidious – some wreak havoc for the sake of wreaking havoc, while other viruses may launch programs. Either way, both spyware and viruses will slow down your computer. Microsoft Security Essentials is a great tool for helping get rid of spyware and viruses.

2. Free up disk space

Free up space on your hard disk to improve the performance of your computer. Choose a tool identifies files that you can safely delete and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.

Speed up your computer by:

  • Removing temporary Internet files.
  • Deleting downloaded program files, such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets.
  • Emptying the Recycle Bin.
  • Removing Windows temporary files, such as error reports.
  • Deleting optional Windows plugins you don’t use.
  • Deleting installed programs that you no longer use.
  • Removing older restore points.

Note: The quickest way to free up disk space and improve PC performance is to get rid of temporary Internet files, which take the most amount of space.

3. Speed up access to data

Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk as a file is opened (to piece it back together). The response time can be significantly longer.

PC TuneUp Maestro’s Registry Defragmentation tool completely removes fragmentation gaps and produces a cleaner, more compact registry that takes up less disk space and consumes fewer memory resources. The result is that your computer has optimal access to its registry, so your system and application response times are improved.

When to defrag your disk:
It’s always a good idea to defrag your disk when:

  • You add a large number of files.
  • Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.
  • You install new programs or a new version of the Windows operating system.

We recommend you download PC TuneUp Maestro and conduct a free PC scan to discover PC optimization opportunities.

How to fix Active X errors

by

How to fix Active X errorsActiveX is a programming language created by Microsoft for Windows, helps software products such as Internet Explorer, Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Office become more integrated and interactive. Basically, ActiveX allows software developers reuse “code”  so that a single program component can be used by multiple Windows applications (like Internet Explore, Outlook or Word) that support the ActiveX framework. ActiveX “controls” are often used to enable Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser to view and use multimedia content embedded in web pages (for example, Flash applications). They are also used to add new functions to the browser (for example, toolbars).

While Microsoft’s Internet Explorer makes use of ActiveX, other browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Chrome do not – they use a different software “engine” to connect to the internet, render pages, and interact with content.

What causes ActiveX errors?

There are two typical reasons why you encounter ActiveX errors. The first and more common reason is because your web browser and system settings were not configured to allow ActiveX controls to be executed. This triggers ActiveX errors.

The second type of ActiveX errors are caused by programming errors originated from faulty ActiveX controls. Occasionally, incompatibility between ActiveX add-ons and host applications can also lead to ActiveX errors. Severe ActiveX errors may cause application cashes or even system crashes. The Windows system error log keeps track of system or application related crashes.

Fix ActiveX errors

Cause 1: ActiveX controls are disabled.

Your browser and system settings were misconfigured or they were manually modified to prevent any ActiveX add-ons from running on your system.

How to fix: Re-enable ActiveX to run on your PC. You can adjust browser settings and reset a system file to enable your PC to run ActiveX controls. Click to view this resolution

Cause 2: A faulty ActiveX control that generates errors or crashes.

How to fix: Identify and fix the faulty ActiveX control. Isolate the source of the errors to the faulty ActiveX control that’s causing the problem. Then either uninstall or update the ActiveX control to fix the problem. Click to view this resolution

Our recommendation: download PCTuneUp Maestro

Like JavaScript errors, your PC may have other performance or stability issues that need to be identified and addressed. We recommend you download PC TuneUp Maestro and conduct a free PC scan to discover PC optimization opportunities. Registered users of PC TuneUp Maestro also receive Professional PC Support Service, through which our Technical Support Specialists will provide you direct help with fixing JavaScript errors.

How to fix Javascript errors

by

How to fix javascript errorLast week we talked about how to fix Java errors. This week we’re going to be a little more technical and talk about Javascript.

How are Java and Javascript different?

First of all, do not confuse JavaScript with Java. They are totally different and are not related. Although Java works within all major web browsers, as does JavaScript, it is a much more advanced and sophisticated programming language than JavaScript. Java is also frequently updated, and requires the latest Java Runtime Environment, which needs a separate installation to run properly on your PC.

In contrast to Java, JavaScript is a common scripting language supported by all major web browsers, like Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and Safari. JavaScript adds flexibility and interactivity to web sites because it provides enhanced features like dynamic web content, user interactions and data validation. JavaScript is usually embedded directly into web pages, therefore, you do not have to download or install JavaScript separately.

In short, Java is essentially a platform that works with your browser, while Javascript is a programming language that is read by your web browser.

What causes Javascript errors?

There are two common causes of JavaScript errors:

1) The most common cause is actual JavaScript programming errors.

A human being actualy had to write the Javascript code (as opposed to Java, which is updated and released centrally, so errors are usually well-known and documented). So if JavaScript wasn’t implemented correctly and it contains faulty programming code. Not all browsers provide the same level of JavaScript support . This means some browsers may generate JavaScript errors because of incompatibility. This type of errors are usually referred as server-side JavaScript errors and it doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with your PC or Windows.

How to fix: Turn off JavaScript debugging requests. The most convenient and immediate solution is to turn off the JavaScript error reporting and debugging feature. More here.

2) The second type of JavaScript errors are simply caused by JavaScript not being enabled.

If you happen to visit a web page that requires JavaScript, the web browser will generate errors when it realizes that JavaScript is currently turned off.

How to fix: Re-enable JavaScript in your default browser. You can manually enable JavaScirpt for most major web browsers.

Our recommendation: download PCTuneUp Maestro

Like JavaScript errors, your PC may have other performance or stability issues that need to be identified and addressed. We recommend you download PC TuneUp Maestro and conduct a free PC scan to discover PC optimization opportunities. Registered users of PC TuneUp Maestro also receive Professional PC Support Service, through which our Technical Support Specialists will provide you direct help with fixing JavaScript errors.

 

How to fix Java errors

by

java runtime environment errorsYou’ll sometimes see things like “java error” when you try to run these applications. What causes Java errors?

Java is a programming language used by websites to help deliver online games, facilitate online chat and offer streaming audio and video. The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) makes this all happen, and has to be downloaded on your PC to run stand-alone Java applications or Java Plug-in software that runs inside your internet browsers.

Common causes of Java errors are usually related to certain aspects of the Java Runtime Environment, ranging from messed up or old Java installations to even Java being disabled. Let’s tale a look at the top 3 causes of Java errors and how to fix them.

Cause 1: Outdated or corrupt Java Runtime Environment.
You receive errors saying Java not found or not working. This indicates that your PC doesn’t have Java installed or the current installation is corrupt or outdated.

How to fix it:
Install or re-install Java Runtime Environment. Most Java applications require your PC have the latest Java version to function properly. More here
Cause 2: Older Java Versions were cached or not properly removed.
Even after you install the latest Java version, you can still encounter Java errors or requests for updating Java. This is because your PC and web browser are still using a previous version of Java instances. According to ORACLE – the company that develops the Java technology – keeping older versions of Java imposes serious security risks to your PC.

How to fix it:
Uninstall older Java versions and clear Java cache. All previous versions of Java installed on your PC need to be removed. To ensure a clean start, you should also clear the Java cache. More here

Cause 3: Java is not properly enabled.
Installing the latest Java doesn’t always guarantee that your Java environment is properly configured and thus enabled.

How to fix it:
Configure the Java and browser settings to ensure that Java is properly enabled. This includes two parts, involving both the browser and the Java Control Panel. How to fix it

In summary: Like Java errors, your PC may have other performance or stability issues that need to be identified and addressed. We recommend you download PC TuneUp Maestro and conduct a free PC scan to discover PC optimization opportunities. Registered users of PC TuneUp Maestro also receive Professional PC Support Service, through which our Technical Support Specialists will provide you direct help with fixing Java errors.