Computer is slow at start up, takes too long to boot up

Posted by Allen on August 18th, 2010

Recently a friend of mine asked to help out with slow start up of the computer. It takes too long to boot the computer. It was very slow even after it boots. Though the computer had a decent hardware configuration.

This problem is not un-common. The main reason behind such problems is too many start-up tasks start when windows start. Also as we install different software or applications on computer, there are some background tasks associated with some applications which start running at start-up.

Steps to fix

Press Shift+Ctrl+Esc key together. This will open up windows task manager.
Click on Performance tab.

If your the PF usage is higher than the amount of your computer’s RAM (Physical memory), then it slows down your computer considerably. The performance becomes poor and slow.

In such case you need to disable some of your start-up tasks which are not essential for the system. See the steps below for steps to disable start-up tasks.

Startup tasks can be easily disabled with the help of a utility by Microsoft called Autoruns. You can download Autoruns from this link. After download, unzip and run Autoruns.exe

Logon tab shows all the tasks which are automatically start every time windows starts. Have a close look and disable some of the tasks which you don’t need at startup. For example, in some computers, at logon, web cam software, acrobat reader, real player up-dater, yahoo messenger , etc. applications start running while you may not be needing the all the time.

To disable un-necessary items to load at logon, simply un-check those items in the log-on tab as below. These applications can be started later when needed from start menu. After un-checking, just restart your computer and see the difference.

NOTE: Do not disable tasks which you are not very sure about, as they may stop some useful applications to stop from loading at start-up.

Once this has been done I would clear temp files and then run a defrag on the computer.  Along with this also check  any software you don’t need and make sure that your hard drive has some free space for the RAM.

Excel opens without displaying a workbook

Posted by Allen on August 10th, 2010

To resolve this problem yourself, follow the steps for your version of Microsoft Excel:

Microsoft Excel 2010

  1. Click the File tab, and then click Options.
  2. Click Advanced, and then click to clear the Ignore other applications check box in the General area.
  3. Click OK.

Microsoft Office Excel 2007

  1. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Excel Options.
  2. Click Advanced, and then click to clear the Ignore other applications check box in the General area.
  3. Click OK.

Microsoft Office Excel 2003 or earlier versions of Excel

  1. Click Options, on the Tools menu.
  2. Click the General tab.
  3. Click to clear the Ignore other applications check box, and then click OK.

The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded.

Posted by Allen on July 17th, 2010

When you log on to Windows 7 or Vista using a temporary user account, you receive this error message:
The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded.

Method 1

Try running the “Fix it” tool from this link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947215

Method 2

You may also boot the computer into safemode and then try to log-in. Safe Mode will start Windows 7 with a limited set of files and drivers. Startup programs do not run in safe mode, and only the basic drivers needed to start Windows are installed, follow the steps to boot the computer in safe mode with networking.

Restart the computer.
Start tapping F8 key.
You will get advanced boot option window.
Select the option “Safemode”.

1. Open the Start menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. If prompted, either click on Continue or enter the password for the Administrator account.
4. Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
5. There is 1 line for each profile. Crucially if a profile is bad there are 3 things worth checking
a) Ensure the key name doesn’t end in “.bad”
b) Ensure the RefCount value is 0
c) Ensure the State value is 0
5. Reboot

Microsoft Word Files Won’t Open

Posted by Allen on June 28th, 2010

Frequently, users have difficulties opening files. The files can be opened from within Word, but when clicked from Windows, they won’t open.

The problem isn’t with Word. This is most likely a problem with file associations. Windows’ file associations frequently get changed inadvertently. Fortunately, it can be remedied very easily.

In Windows XP, follow these steps:

1. Right click a Word file
2. Select Open With from the pop-up menu
3. Click Choose Program…
4. Select Word in the Programs box
5. Check Always use the selected program to open this kind of file
6. Click OK

The next time you click on a Word file, it will open correctly.

WFICA32.EXE – Application Error

Posted by Allen on June 21st, 2010

WFICA32.EXE – Application Error
Error: The instruction at “Ox77c47fd4″ referenced memory at “0×00188008. The memory could not be “read”.

The fix for this is as follows:

1. Remove network printers.
2. Rename c:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\w32x68
3. Add network printers.

Excel 2007 unable to open documents

Posted by Allen on June 14th, 2010

Excel 2007 files wont load files correctly it stays grey and wont open the file. To fix this open excel> Excel Options> Select Add-ins> Select manage: Excel Add-ins then hit go. Check Lookup wizard and hit ok.

Blackberry not received emails

Posted by Allen on May 31st, 2010

While traveling sometime users are not able to receive emails on the blackberry but still able to send. To fix this try the follwoing
Open emails
Options
Email settings – click on bb symbol
Folder redirection
Expand and change inbox

For some reason box not ticked if you select this.

Blue Screen Of Death On Windows XP NaiFiltr.sys

Posted by Allen on May 12th, 2010

I had a user who was haven some issues getting onto the computer each time was getting a blue screen NaiFiltr.sys. This file NaiFiltr.sys is a component of McAfee VirusScan. I was able to load the computer into safe mode and remove McAfee then was able to boot the computer in to normal mode and install and update McAfee again.

Calendaring Error “The operation failed. An object could not be found.”

Posted by Allen on May 4th, 2010

First thing I would try is to clean up the forms cache.

To do so, follow these steps:
1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. Click the Other tab, and then click Advanced Options.
3. Click Custom Forms.
4. Click Manage Forms.
5. Click Clear Cache.
6. Close all open windows, and then restart Outlook 2003 and 2007.

Try running the detect and repair of outlook.

How to Remove Security Certificate Flags on Internet Explorer

Posted by Allen on May 3rd, 2010

step 1 Open an Internet Explorer window. Click “Tools,” then choose “Internet Options.” This will open the Internet Options window.

Step 2 Click the “Content” tab in the Internet Options window. This will open the Content options page.

Step 3 Click the “Certificates” button on the Content options page. This will open the Certificates window.

Step 4 Click the “Untrusted Publishers” tab in the Certificates window. It may be necessary to scroll horizontally to see the tab.

Step 5 Click to highlight the security certificate that you want to trust, then click the “Remove” button. This will open a confirmation window. Click the “Yes” button in the confirmation window to complete the process.


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