CompuClever Blog

How to recover a lost password on a Windows PC

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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.
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3 ways to speed up your PC

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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.

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How to fix Active X errors

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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. Continue reading...

How to fix Javascript errors

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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. Continue reading...

How to fix Java errors

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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.

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