How to troubleshoot is a collection of some of the most common problems and their fixes for your Windows PC and/or MAC.

This page is dedicated to resolving the most common issues regarding your PC/MAC and/or accessories.

Remember, your most important tool is knowledge. Read your manual, understand what your doing. Prevention is key, use an Anti-Virus, use an anti-MalWare, do your updates regularly and keep your passwords and connections secure..

Feel free to ask me a question in the Message Board, see the link, Below Left)

Restart your computer and press F8 before Windows loads.

If you see the Windows (XP) Loading screen, start over and try again. When you see a Black & White Menu, select Safe Mode..

Safe Mode will disable many of the startup files (including some of the files we wish to remove!).

A virus is a program written to download itself onto your PC/MAC (it's a myth that there are no virus' for the MAC) and then perform actions, usually without your knowledge. Copying your files, scanning for your passwords, credit cards numbers and banking info are just some examples of what they might do. They also can cause malicious damage such as erasing your hard-drive and or spamming all the users from your ISP with junk e-mail.

You can counter these Virus by installing an Anti-Virus on your PC/MAC. There are many quality companies ready to sell you Anti-Virus protection. You can find an excellent review of the top 10 AntiVirus on the market today here (http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/).

Commercial (fee based)

• McAfee - http://www.mcafee.com/us/
• Norton - http://www.symantec.com/index.jsp
• BitDefender - BitDefender
• Kaspersky - http://www.kaspersky.com/
• Avast! - http://www.avast.com/

FREE

AVG Free - http://free.avg.com/

Keep the AntiVirus updated! Each AntiVirus has a list of virus that it looks for and protects against, since new Virus' are released daily, you need to keep this list updated so that your AntiVirus can keep you protected against the most recent infections. To do this, you can usually Right-Click or double-click on your AntiVirus' icon in the system tray (usually the bottom right, next to the clock). Look for an option called update (or something similar) and click on it, this will usually start the AntiVirus to download the most recent AntiVirus definitions (list).

Do this weekly, MINIMUM.

What if I think I'm infected?

1. Do a system update, sometimes ensuring that your have the most recent release for your Operating System (Windows or OS X) will be enough to remove any issues.
2. Run your virus-scanner,(many modern viruses can circumvent (or hide from) common anti-virus programs).
3. Download and install AVG Free (it's OK if you're already running a commercial version). Update the program's virus definitions. Don't scan for viruses yet.
4. Reboot into Safe Mode - See the Safe Mode section above
5. Run your Anti-Virus and let it remove any infections it may find.
6. When completed, reboot your PC into normal mode and update whatever AntiVirus you have installed.

IF this doesn't help, very the next section Removing Spyware, Adware and Malware.

This is asked a lot, but for some reason no one checks the Apple website. All the info you need to know is - here

Spyware, Adware and Malware usually are made up the the following types of infrection: Spyware, worms, viruses, Trojans, Adware and keystroke loggers just to name a few. "Spyware" is usually used to refer to any malicious software other than viruses. The same with AntiVirus, any Spyware application you install needs to keep it's definition lists updated. Do this weekly, MINIMUM. The Steps for removing any of the above are very similar to the steps for removing a virus. Follow #Steps 1 and 2 from the section above Download and install Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/fr/home/index.html), it is free and is an excellent Anti-Malware application. Reboot into Safe Mode - See the Safe Mode section above Update and run Spybot, let it remove any infections it may find. When completed, reboot your PC into normal mode.