Computer Tips: Troubleshooting "No Sound"

Having a Computer that does not have a sound is kinda annoying, Right? I am sure some of you have experienced it quite some time in your life with computers. And yes, I know what you feel.

Here are some Computer Tips in Troubleshooting "No Sound":

1.) Check your speaker

• If it is turned on or the cables if it is connected to the correct audio port of your tower, the audio port usually has a color green and could found at the back and front of your tower.

A. Side surround left and right / line in / retasking jack
B. Line out / retasking jack
C. Center channel and LFE (subwoofer) / retasking jack
D. Microphone in / retasking jack
E. Surround left and right / retasking jack
F. S/PDIF digital audio out

2.) Check if the you see the speaker icon on your task bar.

• If it has a red circle on it it is possible that it is only muted, if yes, just double click on it and the master volume control window will appear and just click on the box beside the "mute all" to unchecked it.
• If it has a red "x" on it or if you cannot see it, this means that your sound is disabled or has a problem with your sound driver.

3.) To Fix this you need to reinstall the driver. Here are the on How to step to reinstall the driver:

Step 1: Find the driver for your Sound or Audio Device.

• If you have the driver go to step 2,

Where to find the driver?

• You can find it on the Driver CD that came with your motherboard if you purchase it separately or if you purchase the whole computer it is on the Restore CD (for branded computer) or contact the Technical support of your OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and ask them for the Sound Driver for the model of your computer (Recommended for Branded Computers).

• If you do not have the Driver CD and/or you are using a clone computer (Non Branded Computer), you can check the brand and model or chipset of your motherboard and search for the driver in Google (recommended) or other browser and download it.

• If you purchase your sound card separately it should come with the Driver CD if not go to the website of your sound card and look for the driver of the sound card model you have.

Step 2: Go to Device Manager:

• To open Device Manager - Go to Start > Control Panel > Click on Systems > Under Hardware Tab click on Device Manager Button

Step 3: Look for Yellow Exclamation point or Question mark on your sound driver.

• If you do not see any proceed to Step 5.
• If it is working before then you can see it under [+] Sound, video and game controllers.
• If your sound card is newly installed you need to check it under [+] Other Devices.

Step 4: Updating of the Driver

1. Right click on the device that has a Yellow Exclamation point or Question mark then choose update driver.
2. Choose No, not at this time on the Hardware Update Wizard then click Next
3. Choose Install from a list or specific location
4. Choose Search for the best driver in these locations and put a check on Include this Location in the search and browse where the driver is located (if it is the CD , browse to the specific location or drive it is located)
5. Then Click on next then follow the steps on the window.
6. If the driver is installed properly then you should have a sound now.
7. 7. If not Go to step 5.

Step 5: Remove and reinstall the Sound Driver

1. On the Device Manager
2. Click on [+] Sound, video and game controllers
3. Right click on your Sound Device (usually it is Realtek or sigmatel or check the specs of your motherboard) or the one with the yellow question mark or exclamation point.
4. Choose Uninstall
5. Then Close all windows and restart your computer
6. Then repeat the from Step 2 onwards.

You should have sound right now. If not Check for Any errors and search for a possible fix on the internet or do a system restore to an earlier date.

Having a sound is one of the most essential feature of a computer. Specially if you love playing mp3, watching movies or a Gamer.

I do hope this post provides you with the answers or at least point you in the right direction where you can find answer with your sound problem. If you have any questions and suggestion please fee free to leave a comment and I would be glad to answer it for you.

Computer Maintenance Tips

With my more than 15 years in computers since High school. I already came across with not all kinds of computers but I believe I have seen and handled most of them. Let me impart to you this Computer Maintenance Tips.

The question here is "Do you want to add life on your computer?".

We may have different uses for our Computer, but as a Computer user we need to maintain it, to have a better and smooth experience not to mention if we are using it to do our work. This is where Computer Maintenance comes in.

Most Computer Users spend a fortune just to have the best computer and the top of the line peripherals. For me I consider that as an investment and I don't blame others for spending that much just to have it. Since I consider it as an investment, I have to protect and take care of my investment.

Here are some basic Computer Maintenance Tips I can share:

1.) Turn off your computer properly
One of the causes of permanent hard drive failure and defect is the the sudden power shutdown. So for your hard drives health, Never, I mean never turn off your computer by pushing the power button or by pulling the plug from the outlet. And in case it hangs, that is the only way to you push the reset button key or if the keyboard is still active just press Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys at the same time twice to restart or reboot your computer.
I would also also recommend using a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply), this will give you time to save and turn off your computer properly in case there is a power outage.
Turn off your computer before unplugging any peripherals unless it is "hot swap" enable. This will short or cause your computer to freeze.

2.) Scandisk and Defrag
Running Scandisk and Disk Defragmenter once a month is recommended. This will keep your hard drive healthy and for you monitor its health. Using some hard drive utilities would also be advisable.

3.) Update Antivirus
Install and regularly update your Anti-virus and Anti-Spyware program. This is one of the basic application or program that we must have in our computer specially if you are regularly using the Internet. We must have this application to have protection from viruses and spy wares on the net. We can use some Free Anti-virus and Anti-Spyware program or if you want a premium package your can get it with just a couple of bucks. Either of the two would be good as long as it updates and protects.

4.) Turn on your Firewall
Turning on your Firewall is also advisable specially when you are always surfing. By doing this it will protect your Computer just like Anti-virus and Anti-Spyware program did. Plus it will protect you from unwanted visitors.

5.) Backup
Always keep a backup of your files, data or pictures. This will give you a worry free life in case you computer crashes. Using a Flash Drive or a second hard drive would be recommended. Burning it to a CD /DVD using CD /DVD burner would also be advisable.

6.) Free Space
Do keep at least 100MB free hard disk space or I would recommend at least 500MB Free hard disk space on your computer. This will prevent your computer from choking or hanging when you are open or use an application. This usually happens when you are multi tasking, meaning opening a browser and playing some music or other application at the same time.

7.) Ventilation
Having an Air conditioned room for your computer is recommended, however if you do not have it, just keep or place it in a well ventilated room would be required. One of the worst enemy to your computer is heat. It causes the internal components and chips to wear out. It also lowers the performance of your system.
For most computers it needs a better cooling system. Installing some extra fan or other cooling system would also be advisable.

8.) Direct Sunlight
One of most basic health care instruction and I even read it once in a computer box. Never, put your computer where is a direct sunlight. It raises your computers temperature and may lead to overheating.

9.) Keep it clean
Always keep it clean. Remove the dust. Dust is like a blanket, which keeps the chips of your components nice and hot. The more dust, the hotter they get. The best way is to clean the outer part every day with a soft cloth and for the inside part of your tower a vacuum cleaner hose would be advisable.

Hope this Computer Maintenance Tips help you in maintaining your computer to run smoothly. Computer is one investment we do not want to go into waste. So let us take care of it. As they say "Prevention is Better than Cure".

Top Windows 7 Features

This articles targets ten greatest features of Windows 7 that should've been in Vista, and know how those ten features will make your life that much better if you're currently thinking the upgrade.

1. Reasonable System Requirements

People were very excited about upgrading their Windows to something that was prettier, more flashy and more intuitive, but they weren't banking on buying an entirely new system in order to do so. The price of Vista was tough enough to swallow, the cost of Vista plus the cost of a system capable of running Vista was too much for some. Microsoft put off a lot of potential customers by demanding such high end hardware to run its Windows, and to compound the issue, many end-users felt that the upgrade wasn't even worth it

Windows 7's requirements are almost same as Vista's. The difference? Windows 7 is coming out in late 2009, whereas Windows Vista launched in early 2007. Windows 7 allows older machines specially those strong enough to handle Vista to run beautifully on a new platform. Even netbooks and Windows XP-based machines are seeing smooth performance on Windows 7, though Vista is still sluggish. The breaking news? Windows 7 does more with what you give it, and it functions smoothly with older hardware that has less to offer it.

2. Streamlined Code Speed

The developers spent an awful lot of time cleaning up background activity in Windows 7 as compared to Vista. In Vista, it always seemed like too much was going on underneath, as if wheels were turning unnecessarily. This led to the Windows being far too resource intensive, as it couldn't do the things it needed to do in a highly efficient fashion.

Windows 7, on the other side, is buttery smooth from boot-up to shut down. Transitions are seamless, application launching is fast and everything just seems to look better. If Vista was a first or second draft, Windows 7 is the final copy after being edited four or five times over.

3. Trust

Windows Vista seemed to question your every move, and while we know its intentions were (it wouldn't want you venturing to some virus-installed website, for example), the incessant nagging grew tiresome very quickly. Vista wanted to check, double-check and sometimes triple-check every single move you made, and while Windows 7 still asks for your permission before doing an awful lot of tasks, it's not nearly as persistent.

4. Aero Peek

Vista was plenty advanced enough to include Aero Peek, but instead, the only thing Aero was good for in Vista was adding a bit of sheen to your desktop while consuming 500MB of RAM in the process. Aero Peek is a Windows 7 feature that enables users to hover over application window groupings in the task bar in order to see what's currently going on. Let's suppose you've got three IE8 windows, two Windows Explorer windows and four Adobe Reader windows open on the desktop. If you roll over the IE8 icon in the task bar, your three IE8 windows pop-up above it; hover over the one you want to maximize, and that windows automatically takes center stage over everything else. What once was chaos is now calm and understandable.

5. Aero Shake

Here comes another Windows 7 feature that sound simple almost too simple to matter yet makes a big difference in daily work. In Vista, you had to either show the desktop and then click on the window you wanted to appear alone, or you had to manually minimize each and every window except your preferred one. Aero Shake enables you grab a window, shake your mouse like a crazy person, and view all of the other windows shrink down into the task bar. It's the Windows equivalent of a stress reliever ball, but it actually increase your productivity.

6. Aero Snap

In case you didn't notice, Windows 7 puts Aero to good use. Instead of just making your windows, desktop and transitions look cooler. Aero Snap is another great feature for quickly re-arranging your desktop into how you'd like it. Using this is simple; you just select a window, move it into the left or right side, and immediately that window resizes to fill precisely half of your desktop space (on whichever side you slammed it into). Do the same process to other window on the opposite side, and bam, you've just maximized your screen space while viewing two documents/web pages/etc.

7. A Smart Task bar

The task bar in Windows Vista was simply a newer version of the task bar in Windows XP. Sure, it worked, but it didn't innovate. And look, you're paying a lot of money for this new OS--surely some innovation should come standard, right? Windows 7's task bar allows users to pin applications launchers and documents to the bar, and it even lets you pin web pages and specific shortcuts on each main icon.

8. A Windows Media Center

For casual users of Windows Media Center, the one in Windows Vista is probably good enough. But for those with multiple TV tuners, a Netflix subscription and a library of movies that runs a few hundred titles deep, there were loads of issues to deal with.

The Windows Media Center within Windows 7 works a whole lot smoother, feels a lot less like a shoe-horned addition to the OS and is actually built to handle extenders such as the Xbox 360.

Windows7's version boasts a slicker interface, faster transitions and integration with far more web content portals. Oh, and did we mention the extra long list of compatible HTPC hardware? Chances are, your TV tuner, sound card and optical drive will work without any extra drivers on Windows 7, and simplicity is always a good thing.

9. Search That Works

Microsoft really enhanced searching in Windows 7, and considering that an operating system is a big, scary world, it makes perfect sense. You'll probably find yourself search for one thing or another on a daily basis, so wouldn't it be good if your Operating system was ready at all times to help you find it?

When it comes to searching Vista was not good enough.. It oftentimes wouldn't search in the locations you needed it to, and many times it would look right over the file you were trying to find. Worst of all, it acted like it needed you to give it a head start by telling in where in the drive to search. Windows 7, on the other side, allows you to simply hit the Windows key and start typing; your text automatically goes into a search field and the gears start turning as soon as you mash the first hey. Windows 7 is far better at indexing material to search, and we've yet to type in something that it couldn't locate.

10. Multi-touch Support

We all know multi-touch wasn't popular in 2007, but it wasn't unheard of. Microsoft's own Surface paved the way for simpler, consumer-oriented multi-touch programs, so we're confident the boys and girls in Redmond know a thing or two about it. Vista simply wasn't designed for touch, which is baffling given the amount of Tablet PCs on the market and the amount of touch-panel PCs that are shipping. Windows 7 rights that wrong, however, added a deep level of multi-touch support throughout the OS.

We believe Windows 7 is an outstanding operating system, and it really improves on the areas that Vista was lacked.

Computer Tips: How to Share a Printer Over a Wireless Network?

Basically wireless networks (Checkout "Computer Tips: How Setup Your Home Wireless Network") make it easy for you to boost your productivity around the office and in the home. One neat thing you can do with a wireless router is to share a printer with other computers on the network. The setup process is easy and only takes a few minutes, and you'll enjoy immediate access to the printer from all of your network's computers.


Here are the steps on How to Share a Printer Over a Wireless Network:

1. Connect your printer to one of your network's computers.
2. Make sure the printer's drivers are up-to-date. If they're old, you can download new drivers from the printer manufacturer's website.
3. Launch the Control Panel on the main computer. The easiest way of doing this is by opening the Start Menu and clicking on its shortcut.
4. Open the "Printers" or "Printers and Other Hardware" window.
5. Right-click the printer you want to share over the network and select "Sharing..." from the drop-down menu that appears.
6. Switch to the "Sharing" tab and click on the button labeled "Change sharing options." Then, check the box next to the "Share this printer" option.
7. Create a network name for the printer, and enter it into the appropriate field. Make the name something you'll remember so you know which printer to access.
8. Click "OK" to save the changes and make the printer available over the wireless network.

This Computer Tips on How to Share a Printer Over a Wireless Network? hoped help you or at least point you on the right direction. I do hope this steps would be helpful to all of you. For any other Computer Questions you may leave a message on "Need Help On Computers?". Thanks for reading.  And for my friend bino.

Computer Tips: How to protect your wireless network

Having a Wireless networks are a great way to share files, printers, and your Internet connection to any computer in your home. With the use of wireless network adapter installed on your portable computer, you are no longer tied to your desk and have the mobility to use your computer anywhere. You can communicate with friends, read the news, and surf the Web anywhere you can receive a wireless network signal. See steps on How Setup Your Home Wireless Network.

But there are some risks. Since Wireless networks don't stop at the walls of your home. Yes, In fact, it often extend more than 300 feet from your wireless router considering some of new technologies nowadays. If you are living in an apartment, dorm, or condominium, you may have dozens of neighbors who can access your wireless network. If you live in a house, your neighbors and even people on the street or the house across the street can may be able to connect to your network.

Here are the common implications why you should consider reading this article on "Computer Tips: How to protect your wireless network"

1. Slowdown your Internet performance. Imagine you are just checking a website and and the other one on the network is downloading movies and other stuffs. It divides your bandwidth or in simple terms your Internet connection speed. A website that would load in instant will we loading for 30 seconds or more. Thats not good, right? Not to consider when you are opening more than one web pages.

2. Others can Share and access computers and spread dangerous software. Since other can access your network it is also possible that they can also access your shared files and could infect your computer also with virus and spywares. Other can also Monitor the Web sites you visit, read your e-mail and instant messages as they travel across the network, and copy your usernames and passwords. Send spam or perform illegal activities with your Internet connection.

How to protect your wireless network

Protecting your Network is like protecting your self from theft and other outside threats. You can protect your wireless network by using the same method banks use to protect your password when you log on to their Web sites: encryption. Yes, Encryption scrambles data on your wireless network so that only computers that have the encryption key can read your communications.

Here are some wireless encryption:

64-bit WEP (Wired Equivalent Protection). This is the original wireless encryption standard, it is now outdated. The main problem with it is that it can be easily "cracked." Cracking a wireless network means defeating the encryption so that you can establish a connection without being invited.

128-bit WEP. An updated, more secure version of the original WEP. However, skilled attackers can still crack 128-bit WEP in a few hours or less, giving them access to your network.

WPA-PSK (also known as WPA-Personal). A more secure alternative to WEP, but because it is newer, it is not as widely supported. Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 supports WPA, so this type of encryption is the best choice if you plan to connect only Windows XP computers to your wireless network. However, if you have wireless devices that don't support WPA, such as media extenders or wireless cameras, you'll have to use WEP on your network instead.

You might also see the security method called "WPA-Enterprise." As the name suggests, this method of network encryption is designed for business use. Setup for WPA-Enterprise is more complex than for other types of encryption, and it requires special network infrastructure.

WPA2. The newest type of wireless encryption, WPA2 provides the highest level of encryption available. WPA2 encryption should be your first choice if your wireless router and all of your wireless computers and devices support it.

Even though one type of encryption may be better than another, any type will dramatically improve your network's security by making you a more difficult target.

Can wireless encryption be "cracked"?

The short answer is, "Yes". Any encryption can be cracked. An individual with knowledge of computers and networking, and who is willing to spend a few hours researching free "hacking" tools, can crack encryption in a few hours (or less). However, most users who want to connect without authorization lack the expertise to crack wireless encryption, even relatively weak 64-bit WEP. In a crowded neighborhood with numerous unprotected networks, anyone looking for a free connection will likely choose the unprotected network rather than spend the time to crack your wireless encryption. Therefore, even WEP encryption offers better protection than not having encryption enabled at all.

Here are some Computer Tips on How to protect your wireless network and Here are some tips to keep your data safe when using wireless networks:

1. If you use WEP encryption, change your encryption key once a month. If someone manages to learn your key, they will be locked out again when you change it.

2. Don't connect to unprotected wireless networks—it's possible for someone to monitor your Internet usage and even record your passwords.

3. If you do connect to an unprotected wireless network, don't visit a Web site that requires a password unless the Web site is encrypted. To find out if it's encrypted, look for a lock symbol in the lower-right corner of your browser.

4. SSL secured Web site icon - That is when you see the pod lock on the lower right hand corner of the web browser.

5. If you use WPA-PSK to encrypt your network, set a long passphrase of at least 20 random characters. Better yet, use the full 63 characters by typing a sentence you can remember—just don't make it something that's easily guessed, like a line from a movie.


This Computer Tips on How to protect your wireless network? help you or at least point you on the right direction. I do hope this steps would be helpful to all of you. For any other Computer Questions you may leave a message on "Need Help On Computers?". Thanks for reading.

Computer Tips: How to Fix Slow Internet Connection

Having a Slow Internet Connection? Isn't it irritating when suddenly one day your Internet is slowing down or loading slowly. And you have already called your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and and they said that they have already checked your internet connection on there side and it is perfectly fine.




Here are some Computer Tips on How to Fix Slow Internet Connection that you can try before calling them:

1. Delete cookie files.
a. From the Start menu, click Internet Explorer.
b. On the toolbar, click Tools, and then click Delete Browsing History.
c. In the Delete Browsing History dialog box, click Delete Cookies.
d. In the Delete Cookies dialog box, click Yes.

2. Clear History files.
a. From the Start menu, click Internet Explorer.
b. On the toolbar, click Tools, and then click Delete Browsing History.
c. In the Delete Browsing History dialog box, click Delete History.
d. In the Internet Options dialog box, click Yes.

3. Delete Temporary Internet files.
a. From the Start menu, click Internet Explorer.
b. On the toolbar, click Tools, and then click Delete Browsing History.
c. In the Delete Browsing History dialog box, click Delete Files.
d. In the Delete Files dialog box, click Yes.

Note: You may complete all of the above steps, plus delete form data and Internet passwords, by clicking the Delete all button in the Delete Browsing History dialog box.

4. Reset Internet Explorer to the default settings.
a. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
b. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset.
c. Click Reset, and then click Close.
d. Click OK twice, and then close Internet Explorer.
e. Re-open Internet Explorer, and then try to browse the Internet.

5. Run and Update your anti-virus and anti-Spyware. Being online in the Internet could make your computer vulnerable to viruses and spywares online so make sure that your anti-virus and anti-spyware is always updated and run them always.

6. If using a dial-up connection, open Device Manager and update modem drivers.

This Computer Tips on How to Fix Slow Internet Connection is I think the some simplest steps and maybe most of us who are technically inclined knows this steps but based on my experience some of us forgot this basic steps. I do hope this steps would be helpful to all of you. For any other Computer Questions you may leave a message on "Need Help On Computers?". Thanks for reading.

Computer Tips: Troubleshooting Cannot Access Secured Websites

Isn't it irritating when suddenly or if you really cannot access a website that is secured. Cannot open your Email, Bank sites and some social networking websites..

Here are some Computer Tips in Troubleshooting "Cannot Access Secure Websites" :

1. Check and ensure your browser is secure. 

If the problem is with just one Web site, try to access another secure Web site. If there is not another secure Web site that you access on a regular basis, try this link: http://www.verisign.com/advisor/check.html.

2., Delete your Cookies, Temporary Internet Files and History. 

If the problem appears to be with one Web site

    * Windows XP:

   1. In Internet Explorer, from the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
   2. On the General tab, click Delete Cookies, and then click OK.
   3. Click Delete Files, and then click OK.
   4. Click Clear History.
   5. To save changes, click OK twice.

    * Windows Vista

   1. In Internet Explorer, from the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
   2. On the General tab, click Delete, and then click Delete Cookies.
   3. Click Yes.
   4. Click Delete History, and then click Yes.
   5. To save changes, click Close, and then click OK.

3. Add the Web site to the list of trusted sites.

1. In Internet Explorer, from the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2. Click the Security tab, and then click Trusted Sites.
3. Click Sites, and then type in the URL.
4. Click Add, click Close, and then click OK.
5. Make sure the address is not listed under Restricted Sites

4. Re-register the following DLLs used by Internet Explorer. 

For Windows XP Only 

- From Start > Click on Run > Type the following DLL files in the Run dialog box:
For Windows Vista 

- Click Start. In the Start Search dialog box, type:

    * Regsvr32 urlmon.dll
    * Regsvr32 softpub.dll
    * Regsvr32 wintrust.dll

Press ENTER. Click OK at the confirmation message.

5. Check the certificates. Check the date and time. Secure Web sites typically have certificates that expire. If the date and time are incorrect, it can cause difficulties accessing secure Web sites.

6. Check for viruses or Spy ware. The most common cause of this kind of problem is Spyware or virus infections.

7. Check for security software such as firewalls or pop-up blockers.

1. Make sure that security software was not recently installed or parameters changed. This includes Internet security packages.
2. If so, try temporarily disabling the new software. If that resolves the issue, consult the help files or documentation for a way to configure the software correctly.
3. Try temporarily disabling any other security software such as firewalls (including the Windows Firewall), anti-virus, Ghost Surf, Pre-empt or pop-up blockers.
4. To disable the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Pop-up Blocker: a.) In Internet Explorer, from the Tools menu, click Internet Options. b.) In Internet Options, click the Privacy tab, and then click to clear the Pop-up Blocker option.
5. If temporarily disabling any of these fixes the issue, try configuring them to work properly with secure Web sites.

8. Make sure that Internet Explorer settings are correctly set.

    * For Windows XP

1. Open Internet Explorer, and then from the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2. In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Security tab.
3. On the Security tab, click each of the icons at the top of the window, and then click Default Level.
4. Click the Content tab. Click ClearSSLState (if available), and then click OK.
5. If Parental Controls are enabled, click Disable.
6. Click Auto Complete. Click Clear Forms, and then click OK. Click Clear Passwords.
7. Click OK twice to save the changes.
8. In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab. Under the Security section, select Use SSL 2.0 and Use SSL 3.0.
9. Click the Connections tab. Click LAN Settings, and then click to clear everything in the Proxy Settings section.
10. Disable third party browser extensions.

    * If using Windows XP with Service Pack 2:

1. Open Internet Explorer. In Internet Explorer, from the Tools menu, click Manage Add-Ons.
2. Click to select an add-on, and then click Disable.
3. Click OK.

    * If not using Service Pack 2:

1. Open Internet Explorer. In Internet Explorer, from the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2. On the Advanced tab, click to clear Enable Third Party Browser Extensions (requires reboot).
3. Click OK, and then shut down Windows and restart the computer.

    * For Windows Vista

1. Open Internet Explorer, and then from the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2. In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Security tab.
3. On the Security tab, click each of the icons at the top of the window. Click Default Level for each.
4. Click the Content tab. Click ClearSSLState (if available), and then click OK.
5. If Parental Controls are enabled, click Parental Controls, click the account, and then click Turn Off Parental Controls.
6. In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab. Under the Security section, select Use SSL 2.0 and Use SSL 3.0.
7. Click the Connections tab. Click LAN Settings, and then uncheck the Use a Proxy server for your LAN checkbox. Click OK twice.

9. Disable third party browser extensions.

1. Open Internet Explorer. In Internet Explorer, from the Tools menu, point to Manage Add-ons, and then click Enable or Disable Add-Ons.
2. Click OK.

10. Run System Restore if the problem has just recently occurred.

11. Make sure that the cipher strength is at least 128-bit.

• Open Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer, from the Help menu, click About Internet Explorer. Check the Cipher Strength.

• If it is less than 128 bit but greater than 0, download the Internet Explorer High Encryption Pack from the Microsoft Web site.
• If the cipher strength is 0 bit, follow the instructions at this Web link on the Microsoft Web site.

12 Check if more than one user account is affected.

1. If there is another account on the computer, try accessing secure Web sites using that account. If there is not another account, create one and then try accessing secure Web sites.
2. If the other account works, then try resetting the following registry keys:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders should be set to: C:\Documents and Settings\user1\Application Data.
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders should be set to: %userprofile%\Application data.

3. Log out and then log back in.

4. If this does not fix the difficulty, copy all of the user's documents (including e-mail) to the new account and then delete the old account.

13. Re-register all of the Internet Explorer and security related DLLs that have not been already registered.

    * For Windows Vista

   1. Click Start.
   2. In the Start Search dialog box, type the following commands and press ENTER. A confirmation message appears after each one. Click OK when prompted.

    * Regsvr32 dssenh.dll
    * Regsvr32 rsaenh.dll
    * Regsvr32 mssip32.dll

    * For Windows XP

   1. From the Start menu, click Run.
   2. In the Run dialog box, type the following commands. A confirmation message appears after each one. Click OK when prompted.

    * Regsvr32 initpki.dll
    * Regsvr32 dssenh.dll
    * Regsvr32 rsaenh.dll
    * Regsvr32 gpkcsp.dll
    * Regsvr32 sccbase.dll
    * Regsvr32 slbcsp.dll
    * Regsvr32 mssip32.dll
    * Regsvr32 cryptdlg.dll

Note: If running Windows XP service pack 2, from the Start menu, click Run. In the Run dialog box, type: iexplore /rereg. Press ENTER.

14. If running Windows XP, check that the cryptographic service is running.

1. From the Start menu, click Run.
2. In the Run dialog box, type: services.msc. Press ENTER.
3. Locate the cryptographic service, right-click and then from the menu click Properties.
4. If the service is not running, change the startup type to Automatic, and then click the Start button.
5. Click Apply.
6. If prompted, click Restart Windows.

15. Check to see if FIPS compliant encryption is enabled (Windows XP Professional only). Some secure Web sites may not be accessible if this is enabled. To disable it, try the following steps.

1. Open Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, open Performance and Maintenance, and then click Administrative Tools.
3. In the Administrative Tools window, double-click Local Security Policy.
4. Expand Local Policies, and then click Security Options.
5. In the right pane, under Policy, double-click System cryptography: Use FIPS compliant algorithms for encryption, hashing, and signing, and then click Disabled.
6. Try Windows Updates from the Microsoft Web site.

16. Check for hardware difficulties. If a router is being used, try bypassing the router. If a cable/DSL modem is used, try power-cycling the modem.

I do hope that this Computer Tips in Troubleshooting Cannot Access Secured Websites help you or at least point you on the right direction. For any other Computer Questions you may leave a message on "Need Help On Computers?". Thanks for reading.

Computer Tips: CD/DVD optical drive not working properly

One of our common problems with computers that we might encounter in our daily computer like is the CD/DVD optical drive not working properly.

Basic Computer Troubleshooting Steps for CD/DVD optical drive:

1. Restart the computer. By doing this it will refresh your computer and upon booting it will try to initiate all the devices connected. You may check also if there is a light indicator on your CD/DVD optical drive that lights up upon starting again your computer.

To restart your computer :
Click Start, Shut Down, select Restart, then click OK. If the computer still does not restart:
a. Press and hold the power button (about five seconds) until the computer turns off.
b. Press the power button again to turn the computer back on.

2.Try a different disc of the same type in the drive to see if it will play. It could be the CD that has the problem since some CD's /DVD's cannot be recognize since there are some minor scratches on the CD/DVD or the media itself is defective.

3. Make sure the computer recognizes the CD and/or DVD drives. You can check it under My Computer or Devices with Removable Storage area

a. To check under My Computer: Click Start, then click My Computer. (Click on the image below for larger view).

b. Check the Devices with Removable Storage area for any optical drives. (Click on the image below for larger view).


4. Check Device Manager for the CD/DVD drives status in Device Manager.

For Windows XP:

    * To open Device Manager: Click on Start, Right-click the My Computer, select the Properties, Hardware tab, then click Device Manager.

    * Click the plus sign (+) in front of IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers or DVD/CD-ROM drives. (Click on the image below for larger view).

    * Make sure there is not a red "X" on any device. If a device has a red "X", right-click the device, then select Enable.
    * Make sure there is not an exclamation mark (yellow splat) on any device. If a device has an exclamation mark, right-click the device and uninstall, then on the top menu bar click on Scan for new hardware changes to reinstall the driver.

For Windows Vista:

    * To open Device Manager: Click the Start button. In the Start Search dialog box, type dev, then click Device Manager.

    * Locate the lDE ATA/ATAPI controllers or CD/DVD-ROM drives. (Click on the image below for larger view).
    * Click on the entry to expand the list and make sure there is not a down arrow in front of a device. If a device has a down arrow in front of it, right-click on the device, then click Enable.
    * Make sure there is not an exclamation mark (yellow splat) on the device. If a device has an exclamation mark, right-click on the device, then on the top menu bar click on Scan for new hardware changes to reinstall the driver.

5. Remove upper and lower filters. After you have uninstalled and reinstalled your CD /DVD, still unable to use your CD/DVD Optical drive, have the following problems and errors:

    * Cannot access the optical drive in My Computer.

    * Get the following error messages in Device Manager:

   1. The device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the drivers required for this device (Code 31).
   2. A driver for this device was not required, and has been disabled (Code 32 or Code 31).
   3. Your registry might be corrupted. (Code 19)

    * "error code 39" error message.
    * Windows successfully loaded the device driver for this hardware but cannot find the hardware device. (Code 41)

To Remove Upper and Lower Filters.

1. a. For Windows Vista: Click Start menu, point to All Programs, Accessories, and then click Run.
b. For Windows XP: Click on Start menu, then click on Run

2. In the Run dialog box, type: Regedit. Click OK.

3. In the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.

4. In the Registry Editor window, locate and then click to select the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Control/Class/{4d36e965-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

5. From the File menu, click Export.

6. In the File name dialog box, type: Savedkey, and then click Save. This is for Backup purposes

7. Click the REG_MULTI_SZ data type UpperFilters file, and then from the Edit menu, click Delete. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.

8. Click the REG_MULTI_SZ data type LowerFilters file, and then from the Edit menu, click Delete. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.

9. In the Registry Editor window, from the File menu, click Exit.

10. Shut down Windows and restart the computer.

6. Check if it is Detected in Bios Settings and Re seat the cables.

You may try to check the bios settings and reseat the cables or try using another IDE cable to connect your CD/DVD optical drive on your computer and try all the steps again.

If after reseating the cables and doing all the steps again, your CD/DVD optical drive is still not working.

    * I would recommend you to contact your manufacturer to have your CD/DVD optical drive replaced or for any further troubleshooting.
    * You may consider buying a new CD/DVD optical drive since it is possible that it is already defective.

I do hope this post on "Computer Tips: CD/DVD optical drive not working properly", have provided you with as much information as possible or at least point you in a right direction. For any other Computer Questions you may leave a message on "Need Help On Computers?". Thanks for reading.Thanks.

Need Help On Computers?

Way back, I think that was around the early 2007 I have watch the show that is called "Call for Help", well it is a show that very similar to my work as a call center agent...Aside from talking to persons that even the don't know where is the "Enter Key".(Sigh!!!) It also feels good when they appreciate small things like showing them how to copy and paste there pictures from one folder to the other.

Anyway...This post "Need Help On Computers?" is for those persons on the web that is looking for answers on on the web for there computer technical or non technical questions.

You can email me your question on "mtausa18@gmail.com" or post a comment on this post and I would be glad to answer or post the answer here in my blog "My Online Computer Tips", to the best of my abilities.

I am also open to all creative criticism, comments and suggestions on all my previous and future post. That way we both learn and improve our ideas because I believe that “By ignorance we mistake, and by mistakes we learn” .

Thanks for your time reading and hope to hear from you....