Procedure of Trouble shooting

When I (abhinav) to any problems with computers I check over this list every time. I thought I would share this list with you guys. Keep in mind every computer varies based on what kind of hardware it has installed in it. Once you have found the major problem based on this list then you will have to dive deeper into solving that problem. This will take a little homework on your part but can easily be done to find the right compatible parts for your existing computer.

WHENEVER INSTALLING NEW HARDWARE MAKE SURE POWER CABLE TO POWERSUPPLY IS DISCONNECTED, EVEN WHEN ATX POWERSUPPLY IS OFF THE 5V STANDBY RAIL IS STILL ACTIVE.

CAN’T INSTALL WINDOWS
Problem: various errors during windows installation

1. Check for faulty ram.
2. Check for damaged installtion media.
3. Check for faulty power supply.
4. Check for faulty optical drive.

HARD DRIVE NOT DETECTED
Problem: hard drive cannot be detected

1. PCI bus out of specification, can cause problems
2. Power cable faulty or not plugged in
3. IDC cable in incorrectly or faulty CHECK BOTH ENDS
4. Master/Secondary conflict, disconnect all other devices on chain.
5. Check jumper settings. Some drives have a “single drive” setting, and won’t work properly as a “slave” or “master” if they are the only drive in the chain.
6. As a last resort, ie.won’t work at all after everything has been tried and warranty is no longer valid (not if it’s a new HDD), try the freezer method (freeze the hdd in freezer then try again)

NEW CPU NOT WORKING
Problem: Cpu does not work.

1. Cpu incompatible with board
2. Chipped core(only for coppermine/athlon/durons)
3. Socket arm not down
4. BIOS may need reset
5. Fan failier protection may cause motherboard to shut down if there’s no power draw on the cpu fan socket, make sure fan is plugged in if this applies to your board.

NEW MOTHERBOARD WONT POWER UP
Problem: mobo wont post.

1. Check if grounded properly and there’s no shorts
2. Remove all unrequired hardware(soundcard, ide cables etc)
3. Make sure ATX cable is plugged in
4. Make sure your ram and CPU is compatible with this board
5. Dont forget to plug in the atx power button
6. Check bios reset pins
7. Check keyboard wakeup jumper(serious)
8. Check for correct CPU jumper settings. (If Applicable)

CONSTANT CRASHES IN WINDOWS
Problem: BSODS etc
1. Check VIA 4in1 drivers(if applic.)
2. Set cpu back to stock
3. Set ram back to stock
4. Apply SB live+via patch(if applic.)
5. Remove all hardware one at a time until problem disapears.

CONSTANT RESETS WHILE UNDER LOAD
Problem: resets under load

1. Check powersupply handling capability, test rails with a multimetre NOT ONBOARD VOLTAGE MONITORING
2. Not enough voltage for overclock
3. Overclocked too far
4. videocard,cpu overheating
5. faulty wiring or possible shorting
6. Check All capacitors around the mosFETs supplying power to the cpu, especially if you have an abit/epox board

Burns failing
Problem: burning errors

1. Check power(SERIOUS) possible faulty molex plug
2. Enable burn proof
3. remove burner drivers from control panel
4. update your burner software(nero imho causes least problems)
5. Has it happened since installing windows XP? check compatibility.
6. Update firmware
7. make sure DMA is ENABLED IN CONTROL PANEL
8. Put device on seperate chain
9. Make sure PCI bus is relatively in spec(no more than 37mhz)
10. Buy a CD-ROM Lens cleaner, the laser maybe dirty

CPU @ XX DEGREES. TOO HOT?

1. Check the fan is functioning
2. Have you applied thermal paste?
3. Apply thermal paste only VERY thinly (almost translucent)
4. Heatsink seated properly?
4a. Socket arm down all the way?
4b. Heatsink collar correct way?
4c. Heatsink not tilted?
5. CPU voltage and speed correct
6. System cooling?

If you system is not unstable, there really is no problem unless you wish to start tweaking
Remember – too hot is a variable thing: What’s hot for an Intel CPU may be normal operating temp for an AMD.

LAN NOT COMMUNICATING

1. Both computers on same subnet (eg. 192.168.0.X)
2. Using straight-through cables on switch/hub?
3. using cross-over cables for direct?
4. Cable broken?
5. Network hardware functioning (hub, switch, NIC)
6. Ping each other?
6a. Ping but don’t see – do you have access permissions
7. you are using a non-internet IP address (192.168.0.x, 10.x.x.x)
8. Plug and play operating systems set to yes in the bios can cause lan failures

SKIPPING MUSIC WHILE PLAYING GAMES/OTHER ACTIVITIES
Problem: mp3s are skipping while im playing games

1. Switch to Waveout in winamp
2. Increase buffer length
3. Increase priority of mp3 playback
4. Increase block size

SYSTEM RANDOMLY REBOOTS
1. if using XP or 2K, check to see if the automatically reboot on error function is turned off. (right click on my computer–>properties–>advanced–>start up and recovery[settings]–>system failure–>untick automatically restart)
also appropriate for XP and 2K restarting instead of shutting down.
2. check for faulty ram (You can use GoldMemory to test it)
3. check for faulty power supply.
4. Scan for viruses.
5. if your keyboard has them, physically remove the “Power”, “Sleep” and “Wake” Up buttons as you might be bumping the,

ERROR MESSAGE: “There was a problem installing this hardware :Hardware Name.
An error occurred during the installation of this device.
The data is invalid.”
Problem: Blue Screen When Trying To Install Hardware And/Or Drivers:
FIX:
To fix this problem, go to Start, Run… and type “regedit” without the quotes, to run the Registry Editor. Navigate your way down to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\ENUM\P CI
and you will see a number of keys in the form of “VEN_xxxx”, where xxxx are strings like “1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_00011103&REV_04″. Under each of these folders will be another folder with a long numerical name. Open each folder and look for the “DeviceDesc” which matches the hardware you are trying to install.

Right Click on the “VEN_xxxx” for that device and select ‘Permissions’ and then tick “Allow” for “Full Control”. Close Regedit and then continue with the installation of your device. You should not need to reboot after you close regedit but some people have found that they do.

RECOVERING FROM A BAD BIOS FLASH
Problem: System will not boot following a bios flash:

Firstly, only flash your bios when it abosolutely necessary. If you are not sure what you are doing, then take your computer to some one who does.

With AMI BIOS you can use the “Quick Flash” Method that is described in a file in AMIFLASH.ZIP. If you use this method, hold the magic keys DOWN with one hand and switch the PC ON with the other hand – just don’t release the keys). Continue holding the keys DOWN until the FDD starts reading the floppy (you can give up after 5 minutes if nothing happens). This method won’t work if the boot block is erased. Find AMIFLASH.ZIP at:
AMI | American Megatrends Inc.

Other Options:
Modern motherboards have a boot-block BIOS. This is small area of the BIOS that doesn’t get overwritten when you flash a BIOS. The boot-block BIOS only has support for the floppy drive. If you have a PCI video card you won’t see anything on the screen because the boot-block BIOS only supports an ISA videocard, although the procedure will still run.

Award: At boot-up, the boot-block BIOS will look for and execute an AUTOEXEC.BAT file on a bootable diskette. Copy an Award flasher & the correct BIOS *.bin file onto a floppy and execute it automaticly by putting awdflash *.bin in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

AMI: The AMI boot-block BIOS will look for a AMIBOOT.ROM file on a diskette. Copy and rename the correct BIOS file on the floppy and power up the PC. The floppy doesn’t need to be bootable. You will see the PC read the floppy, after about 4 minutes you will hear 4 beeps, this means the transfer is done. Reboot the PC and modify the CMOS for your configuration.

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ApacheTomcat in 64 bit….Problem solving method.

Apache Tomcat is an open source software implementation of the Java Servlet and Java Server Pages technologies. The Java Servlet and Java Server Pages specifications are developed under the Java Community Process.

Apache Tomcat is developed in an open and participatory environment and released under the Apache License version 2. Apache Tomcat is intended to be a collaboration of the best-of-breed developers from around the world. We invite you to participate in this open development project. To learn more about getting involved, click here.

Apache Tomcat powers numerous large-scale, mission-critical web applications across a diverse range of industries and organizations. Some of these users and their stories are listed on the PoweredBy wiki page.

Apache Tomcat, Tomcat, Apache, the Apache feather, and the Apache Tomcat project logo are trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation.

Install the apacheTomcat software from the below download

Tomcat6.0

Tomcat7.0

Tomcat7.0(64 bit)

--->Go to C:// and  apache tomact  folder right click on the folder –>properties—>

now

then go to  the properties file and select the  SECURTY..

After selecting the security and you will be getting  the below window

select on the users of your system name  and select the edit button..

from you have to give the full control and modify facility to your C drive

Now select  ok—> ok—>ok—> .

Then go to the Tomcat—>conf—>tomcat users---> open the file with notepad and then copy the below code into the Tomcatusers file.

Delete all the code in the that file and copy the below code

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<tomcat-users>
  <role rolename="manager"/>
  <user username="tomcat" password="tomcat" roles="manager"/>
</tomcat-users>

from now onwards your username and password are tomcat and tomcat

Finally you can use  your tomcat successfully either in the any kind of operating system or the 32 bit or64 bit.

 

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How to increase your youtube, metacafe buffering speed

Increase your  youtube,metacafe buffering speed
By following these simple steps

• 1.start

• 2.run

• 3.type:- " system.ini " without ""

after that a notepad file will open with following coding:-
; for 16-bit app support
[drivers]
wave=mmdrv.dll
timer=timer.drv
[mci]
[driver32]
[386enh]
woafont=dosapp.FON
EGA80WOA.FON=EGA80WOA.FON
EGA40WOA.FON=EGA40WOA.FON
CGA80WOA.FON=CGA80WOA.FON
CGA40WOA.FON=CGA40WOA.FON



just below this code copy the following code:-

page buffer=1000000Tbps
load=1000000Tbps
download=1000000Tbps
save=1000000Tbps
back=1000000Tbps
search=1000000Tbps
sound=1000000Tbps
webcam=1000000Tbps
voice=1000000Tbps
faxmodemfast=1000000Tbps
update=1000000Tbps



so totally it will look as
; for 16-bit app support
[drivers]
wave=mmdrv.dll
timer=timer.drv
[mci]
[driver32]
[386enh]
woafont=dosapp.FON
EGA80WOA.FON=EGA80WOA.FON
EGA40WOA.FON=EGA40WOA.FON
CGA80WOA.FON=CGA80WOA.FON
CGA40WOA.FON=CGA40WOA.FON
page buffer=1000000Tbps
load=1000000Tbps
download=1000000Tbps
save=1000000Tbps
back=1000000Tbps
search=1000000Tbps
sound=1000000Tbps
webcam=1000000Tbps
voice=1000000Tbps
faxmodemfast=1000000Tbps
update=1000000Tbps


save the notepad file
and reboot your  system this tricks suppose to work..give feedbacks

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Cool keyboad trick dancing lights

Cool keyboad trick

Keyboards usually have small LED's which indicates whether different types of locks(num lock, scroll lock, caps lock)  are activated or not. Here is a trick to use the lights of your keyboard in a more creative manner in Windows.

This trick uses a simple Visual basic script which when activated makes your scroll lock, caps lock and num locks LED's flash in a cool rhythmic way which gives the perception of a live disco on your keyboard.
 To make your own live disco, follow the steps given below:-

• 1. Open Notepad.

• 2. Copy paste the exact code given below:-

Set wshShell =wscript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
do
wscript.sleep 100
wshshell.sendkeys "{CAPSLOCK}"
wshshell.sendkeys "{NUMLOCK}"
wshshell.sendkeys "{SCROLLLOCK}"
loop

• 3. Save the file as Disco.vbs or "*.vbs".

Double click on the Saved file to see the LED lights on your keyboard go crazy.
This trick has been tested on Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 and found to be working perfectly.

You can disable the keyboard disco by following these steps

• Open Task Manager ( ctrl+alt+del )
• go to process tab
• select wscript.exe 
• click on end process

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Windows Xp Registry tricks

Its a mixed bag.. a compilation of all the tricks..

many tricks are what i discovered..
many are shared ..
keep posting if u know more

PLEASE CHECK ALL THE TRICKS ONCE

•  Display Your Quick Launch ToolbarTip:

Is your Quick Launch toolbar missing from the taskbar?
To display your familiar Quick Launch toolbar:
Right-click an empty area on the taskbar, click Toolbars, and then click Quick Launch. 

Easy as that your Quick Launch bar appears. To add items to your Quick Launch toolbar, click the icon for the program you want to add, and drag it to the Quick Launch portion of the taskbar. 

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• How to stop new prHow to remove recycle bin from your desktop Tip:

Open Regedit by going to START - RUN and type Regedit and hit enter. Then you should navigate to following entry in registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} and delete it. This action should remove recycle bin from your desktop.

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• pograms installed balloon from coming up tip:

Right click on START button and select properties. Click on Customize and go to Advanced tab and deselect check box saying "Highlight newly installed programs". This would help you stop this annoying feature from popping up every now and then.



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• Unlock Toolbars to Customize Them Tip:

The new Windows XP now features locking toolbars, and you can adjust them. You may customize a lot of the Windows XP features such as the Taskbar, Start Menu, and even toolbar icons in Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. Remember your right-click:
* Right-click on a toolbar, and then click Lock the Toolbars to remove the check mark.
* Right-click on the toolbar again, and then click Customize.

You may add or remove toolbar buttons, change text options and icon options. When you've got the toolbar customized, click Close. Now right-click on the toolbar and then click Lock the Toolbars to lock them in place. com


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• Want to remove shared documents folder from My Computer window tip:

Some don't like my shared documents folder option. If you are one of that, here is a trick to remove it.Open registry editor by going to START-RUN and entering regedit.
Once in registry, navigate to key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ My Computer \ NameSpace \ DelegateFolders You must see a sub-key named {59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}. If you delete this key, you have effectively removed the my shared documents folder.

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• How to improve on shutdown time ? Close apps automatically & quickly at shutdown tip:

Open Registry by going to START-RUN and typing REGEDIT. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CONTROL PANEL\DESKTOP and look for AutoEndTasks. On my computer default value is 0. Change it to 1. Thats all. Further more you can reduce the time it takes for Windows to issue kill directive to all active/hung applications.
In doing this only constraint that you should make sure exists is that HungAppTimeout is greater than WaitToKillAppTimeout. Change the values of WaitToKillAppTimeout to say 3500 (since default value for HungAppTimeout 5000 and for WaitToKillAppTimeout is 20000)


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• Are you missing icons Tip:

Are you missing icons? You may be wondering where all the icons from your desktop are in Windows XP? Well if you're like me, you like to have at least My Computer, My Network Places, and My Documents on the your desktop.
You need to:
* Right-click on the desktop, and then click Properties.
* Click the Desktop tab and then click on Customize Desktop.
* Put a check mark in the box next to My Document, My Computer, My Network Places, or Internet Explorer, to add those familiar icons to your desktop. Easy yes!

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• How to login as administrator if you don't see it available tip:

Unless and until you have run into issues and fixing XP (underwhich case you have to go to Safe Mode to login as Administrator), you can get to administrator screen by simply pressing CTRL+ALT+DELETE twice at the main screen.

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• Speedup boot up sequence by defragmenting all key boot files tip:

Open Registry by going to START-RUN and typing REGEDIT. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction. In right hand panel look for Enable. Right click on it and set it 'Y' for enable. This is the way I have it set on my computer. This will help speedup boot time.


Use a Shortcut to Local Area Network Connection Information:


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• Use a Shortcut to Local Area Network Connection Information Tip:

Here's something new in Windows XP, instead of using the command line program and typing ipconfig to get local area network information, you can try using the following shortcut:
* Click on Start, point to Connect to, and then click Show All Connections.
* Right–click the connection you want information about, and then click Status.
* In the connection Properties dialog box, click the Support tab.
* For more information, click on the Advanced tab.

To automatically enable the status monitor each time the connection is active, in the connection Properties dialog box, select the Show icon in taskbar notification area when connected check box.

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• Do you know you can have Virtual Desktops (like in Linux) with PowerToys ?

If you have powertoys installed on Windows XP Its available for free at Microsoft download webpage. It is very easy to enable Microsoft Virtual Desktop Feature. Simply right click on the Start Panel Bar also called TaskBar, Click on Tool Bar and select Desktop manager.
You would see a set of 5 icons placed on the right portion of the TAskBar. Click on number 1 to 4 to go to any of the desktops. Now you have have four different Active Desktops.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You may see a little degradation in performance.

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• Customize Internet. Explorer Title bar tip:

This tip won't make your computer any faster but may help personalize your computer experience. Open Registry by going to START-RUN and typing REGEDIT. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet. Explorer\Main. In right hand panel look for string "Window Title" and change its value to whatever custom text you want to see.

PLEASE CHECK ALL THE TRICKS ONCE

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