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What is WGA Notifications? Genuine Microsoft Software Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications is a program that helps Microsoft fight software piracy and helps you validate that the copy of Microsoft Windows XP installed on your computer is genuine and properly licensed. By confirming that your copy of Windows XP is genuine, you can take advantage of all the capabilities, support, and continuous improvements—as well as the peace of mind—that come with using genuine Windows. If your copy is not genuine, WGA Notifications will provide periodic reminders to help you take the appropriate action. It's part of Microsoft's commitment to fight software...

A sucker buys a new PC at the first signs of a slowdown. A savvy power user gives his aged PC a fighting chance for redemption. From tweaking your OS to compressing files to overclocking your videocard or CPU, there are plenty of ways to tune up a computer, and none require a trip to Bob’s House of New PCs. Follow along this step-by-step as we show you 21 of our favorite techniques for making a PC better, stronger, and faster — for free. These essential tweaks and tune-ups range from common-sense caretaking measures to practical adjustments that you'd be...

The laptop in the house, which is currently the only computer in the house, has a bad virus/trojan/dropper that seems to have me beat. All clicks on Google are redirected to phony yellow pages. Most banner ads on normal sites are replaced with ads for a penis enlargement product (as if I need that). All communication with McAfee or attempts to download, update or reinstall McAfee fail. McAffe's instructions for disabling the virus by messing with IP address flushing do no good. I'm hesitant to completly start over on this computer. It's an HP OEM machine that didn't come with...

For some reason, when I choose the File >> New command from a WinXP folder, making a new text file is no longer listed as an option. Does anyone know how I can get it back, please? I can still make text files via word processor, but not being able to right-click and make one instantly is a major PITA.

Is there anyone that can help me out? I am not a computer tech so it's kinda like website updates for dummies. I have to install a newer updated version for security reasons. Thanks!!!

Help! Came home last night. Turned on the trusty computer and up came a long message, white on black saying: We apologize for the inconvience but Windows did not start successflly... with several option to start. None of them work. It then loops to the windows xp screen Then to an ad for the mainboard then to a scan devices screen then to some sort of listing This morning there was a listing that on each line named had a number of the programs I run at the end of each line. It has not come up this time. The...

Any experts on virus protection? I have McAfee VIRUS PROTECTION, but I also have a big time vundo virus infection which I can't get rid of. The techs at McAfee give advice and downloads which do nothing. Is there a better virus protection which will- get rid of my vundo and protect me from another attack? Help. Help. Help. Thank you.

I need help. Out of the blue, my WindowsXP (SP2) system has gone crazy. It is frequently giving me a warning message in the System Tray that says: Windows - Delayed Write Failed Windows was unable to save all the data for the file D:/$BitMap. The data has been lost. This error may be caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection. Please try to save this file elsewhere. That file is apparently hidden, but revealing hidden files doesn't show it. My WinXP volume is on C:/ and the D:/ drive volume is for data files. I've...

Okay, a question for you techies out there. I just renewed my Norton Anti-virus system and the renewal for my SpySweeper is coming up as well. Is it necessary to have SpySweeper also? If Norton Anti-Virus is sufficient then it doesn't make sense to renew SpySweeper. Some have said they might even be interfering with each other. So to renew or not to renew SpySweeper? That is the question.

A day after Adobe patched a serious security hole in its Reader and Acrobat programs, miscreants are flooding email inboxes with malware-tainted PDF files that try to remotely hijack vulnerable computers. The malware, identified by Symantec researchers as Trojan.Pidief.A, is included in PDF files attached to a "fair number of emails," according to this blog entry. The spam typically targets specific businesses or organizations. Adobe issued a patch for the vulnerability on Monday. The revelation of in-the-wild exploits underscores the importance of updating immediately. A patch for Reader is available here; an Acrobat update is available here. Emails typically arrive...

My wife just got a Windows automatic update for Windows Vista. The problem is that her machine is running XP.She tried to reject the update but the machine automatically re-started and now she's getting messages like "No operating system found". We're both just users with not a clue of what to do.

I need some input for a problem that will surely drive me mad. I have a P4V4X mobo with an Adaptec 2940UW PCI card. I have a two connection "wide" ribbon-cable that connects two Fujitsu SCSI HDD's. My problem is that when I try to make Norton images of either partions or drives, either the source or the destination drives get messed up. If I'm lucky, simple FAT table mismatch is the Howeever, I've seen occurances of FAT cross-linked entries where the files implicated have been tnings I'd not accessed in ages. I bid on replacement drives at eBay. I...

Tech help needed, browsers will not open any site but google...

Anyone know how to capture streaming audio and video? Have some items I would love to save to disk but don't how and what to use to capture them.

Lenovo Inc. recalled about 100,000 laptop computer batteries Thursday, warning that they could overheat and cause a fire. The battery recall was the second for the company in the past six months and comes as Lenovo, the world's No. 3 computer maker, tries to gain ground on its better-known competitors. The latest recall involves batteries made by Japan's Sanyo Electric Co. and follows four reports of overheating. In one case, a user suffered minor eye irritation, the company said. The Chinese PC maker, which has its world headquarters in Research Triangle Park, said consumers should stop using the recalled products...

Thursday I lost the video feed on my computer. Long story-short: The only way to get it up and running was to install a new video card and and new monitor. What kind of phenomenon would cause that? Thanx.

I need some suggestions before I reinstall the operating system. When I boot my computer I get a black screen. I can operate in safe mode.

Operating system: Windows XP (Home) How do I get this infernal Adobe Photoshop Starter Edition 3.0 from auto-starting every time I boot up? I've tried everything but regedit, and frankly I don't want to. Windows Defender gives me the opportunity to remove/disable it from start-up, but the darn thing keeps coming back. Please post any comments relating to cleaning-up the Start-up function below; I have a lot to learn.

I have an Internet-related question.I want to look up all of the domains registered to a particular registrant. Can this be done by using a WhoIS web site or through some other available search engine or other means?Thanks much for any help.

Today a new ping list is starting on FreeRepublic, called TechSupport it will be a place for Freepers to get some help on problems that ight arise on their computers. Why a list for this: Some of the freepers who run or are involved in technical ping list find themselves with a good deal of mail from people asing about problems that many freepers might be able to and have more time to help with. I have spoken to a few people who either run list or are involved on them and they fell this would accomplish three things. Firstly...