Help! I Can’t See My Files and Folders

Without our knowledge sometimes we turn on our computer system and everything looks different. Our toolbar is moved, our files are hidden, we can’t figure out where we saved a certain document. It is like we moved in the middle of the night and when we woke up everything changed. As we have said before the nice thing about computers is that they are smart but sometimes too smart and have a mind all their own.

How can I view my hidden files and folders? This is a question that most of us have asked ourselves in the past. It would be nice if the computer would just answer us, but unfortunately technology has not yet advanced to that level. It is an easy and quick fix to get back into your vision the files and folders that have seemed to hide themselves from you.

While this is a very basic problem but sometimes it’s the simple issues that cause us to spend more time figuring out than the more complex issues. Determine your operating system and follow the necessary steps to get to your hidden files and folders.

Windows XP and 2000, ME, NT, 98 and 95 Users

• Double click on My Computer
• Click Tools
• Click Folder Options
• Click View
• Under Hidden files and folders select Show hidden files and folders

Windows Vista Users

• Click on Start
• Click on Control Panel
• Click Appearance and Personalization
• Click Folder Options
• Click View
• Under Hidden files and folders select Show hidden files and folders

Windows 7 Users

• Click start
• Type Search in start search box
• Click Change to change your search options for files and folders
• Click on the View Tab
• Select the radio button labeled show hidden files folders and drives
• Remove the checkmark from the boxes labeled hide extensions for known file types and hide protected operation system files. These boxes should be unchecked.
• Click on Apply and then OK.

Does my PC Need a Memory Test?

It goes without saying that computers have a mind of their own or so it seems. There are so many factors that determine how a computer will act and function. The overall performance of a computer can be improved by determining if there is a simple internal problem that needs adjustment. Much like a human being, computer systems are complex and when they get rundown or something is out of whack the way the system functions is compromised.

The amount of memory that a computer has determines how much information can be stored and processed successfully. When the amount of information starts to exceed the amount of memory that the computer has you may start to see problems with the overall functioning of your system.

Sometimes the computer will simply let you know that you are exceeding the amount of memory you have on your system with a prompt that states “virtual memory is too low or “your system is running low on virtual memory”. You can consider yourself lucky when the system is actually telling you what the problem is and allowing you to fix it.

Other ways that you might determine that you have a memory problem is if your computer does one or more of the following:

• Opens and/or closes programs very slowly.
• The system is delayed in responding to your commands.
• The system runs slower and slower.
• Web pages are not displaying quickly.

There are ways that you can determine if your PC needs a memory test.

You can determine the amount of RAM that is needed to run your operating system and then check your system for the amount of RAM you currently have. Windows 7 is one of the largest operating systems that require 1mg of RAM; others require this amount when large gaming applications are also installed.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 offer a memory diagnostics tool that can be used to check your memory. To get to this tool go to Start, type memory in the run line and run the command following the prompts. You can restart the computer to run the memory test. Adding memory will require the assistance of a computer technician.

Memtest86 and DocMemory are both free software solutions that can test the memory on your PC. There are other solutions that may charge a small fee to use but can help you determine if your memory needs an increase. There is a difference between bad memory and not enough memory. A test will help you to determine which course of action you need to improve the functioning of your computer system.

What is a HASH Error?

The term Hash in computer language simply means an encrypted string of characters that converts large quantities of data into smaller sizes of data to streamline the process of getting to information. Hash errors are nothing more than system errors that alert the user that there is a problem with the inner workings of the computer system. A hash error generally means that there is something preventing the computer from understanding what is being asked of it. This lack of communication may be temporary or it may be require a permanent fix such as a registry repair.

There are several forms of hash error messages that may include; a system error code 15300, ERROR_HASH_NOT_SUPPORTED, ERROR_HASH_NOT_PRESENT, or “Hash generation for the specified version and hash type is not enabled on server”. A hash error is not as well known as many of the other system errors but is as easily fixable and preventable with routine computer maintenance.

Many system errors have the same common causes which include:

• Registry damage.
• Device Driver problems or conflicts.
• A virus or computer infection.
• Hardware malfunctions.
• Software file damage.

The best advice to avoid most system errors is to be proactive and ensure that your computer is always well protected and up to date with the most current versions of the applications you are using. Preventing errors in the first place saves time money and unnecessary frustration. If you are the victim of a hash error take the following steps:

• If you have just installed new software uninstall it and reinstall it.
• Make sure your system is updated with the latest applications for the software you are using and any fixes or updates to your programs should be downloaded. The best way to keep up with this is to download these when you are prompted to do so.
• Do a virus scan on your system and always ensure that your virus program is up to date.
• Never open files from unknown senders and scan all attachments prior to opening.
• Perform regular registry maintenance on your PC. Most computer errors do come from damaged or corrupted registries. Keeping your registry in good working order will eliminate many of the annoying system errors that pop up. There are many registry repair tools that can be downloaded for free.

In the event that theses steps do not work it is best to seek the assistance of a trained computer technician.

What is a NTLDR Error?

NTLDR is short for NT Loader which is a program loaded from the hard drive boot sector that helps the program load and displays the startup menu. NTLDR errors apply only to the Windows XP operating systems. Windows 7 and Vista do not utilize NTLDR.

The error will generally appear reading either “NTLDR is missing. Press any key to restart” or “NTLDR is missing. Press Ctrl Alt Del to restart”, or “Boot: Couldn’t find NTLDR. Please insert another disk”. The error usually appears after the computer is started and begins to load. The error occurs for one of the following reasons:

• The computer is trying to book from a hard or flash drive that it is not supposed to be booting from.
• The boot files or hard drive files are corrupt or not configured properly.
• There was an issue with an upgrade of the operation system.
• The BIOS is outdated.
• The IDE cables are damaged or loose.

Take the following steps in order to attempt to repair the NTLDR error.

• The first thing to do if you get an NTLDR error message is to shut down and restart your system. Sometimes the error is a fluke and restarting could be the only fix you need.
• Check all of your power cables. Ensure that they are tightly plugged in and in good working order.
• Back up all of your data and uninstall and reinstall a new installation of Windows XP. Removing Windows XP from your PC and installing it again from the beginning will be a sure fix that any issues with NTLDR will go away unless you have a hard drive issues or an outdated BIOS.

If you are uncomfortable or unfamiliar performing any of these options you should seek the expertise of a trained computer repair technician who can assist you with this process. If you continue to receive NTLDR errors after taking the steps above it may mean that your hard drive is corrupt and will need to be replaced.

iTunes Won’t Start

It seems that many people who have upgraded to Windows 7 have reported issues with installing iTunes after the upgrade. While the issue can be annoying, luckily with a few small steps this problem seems to go away, at least for most users.

If you find that you are unable to launch iTunes you first want to make sure that after you install Windows 7 you have the correct installer for iTunes. For example if you are on 64bit Windows 7 then you will need the 64bit iTunes installer. You can download the proper installer at http://support.apple.com/kb/DL925. Downloading the proper iTunes installer may be the answer to your problem.

Starting iTunes in compatibility mode may also make a difference. To get to compatibility mode take the following steps:

• Right click on the iTunes icon.
• Click on Properties.
• Go to the Compatibility Tab.
• Click Run this program in Compatibility Mode.
• Select your operating system from the dropdown field.

If this is not the answer to the problem you may be prompted to turn off compatibility mode. Follow the prompts to do so and if possible force quit iTunes by hitting CTRL + ALT + DEL at the same time.

• Click on Start Task Manager.
• Go to Applications.
• Go to the iTunes Application.
• Right Click.
• Select Go To Process and then End Process.

Once you have force quit the compatibility mode, restart your PC and see if you can now open up iTunes. Sometimes just simply restarting your PC may be the answer to the problem.
If these options don’t work you will want to try to reinstall the Apple QuickTime which is required for iTunes. You will want to have the version of QuickTime 7.6.4 or later. It is possible that QuickTime got corrupted somehow. You can download QuickTime by going to the following site: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/. Once you download the program restart your computer and attempt to open iTunes.

It is very likely that one of the above solutions will be the answer to your problem, if not you can always contact the support offered with Windows 7 or from the iTunes site to assist with any further troubleshooting.

System Error 2146697211 MSN Chat History Error

There are literally thousands of system error codes that may occur while you are installing, running or utilizing an application on your computer system. While some system error codes can be corrected or repaired by the end user; which is you, others require a different level of involvement from a programming end.

System error codes are broad generalizations that help to pinpoint a problem with the internal workings of the computer system or program. The first step when you are faced with a system error code is to write down the information about the system error. This will help you to research the specific system error and decide if it is something that you can fix from your end or if you need to call in the expertise of a help line or customer support.

Lucky for you if you received an MSN chat history error it is an easy fix from your end. The MSN chat history error may appear in a number of ways. You may receive a system error message with the system error code 2146697211, or a message that states cannot view XML input using XSL system sheet, or the chat log will just fail to display. In any of these cases it may be caused by having Internet Explorer as a default browser or you need to repair the log. Regardless of the cause, the repair can be a quick and easy fix.

To repair the MSN chat log error take the following steps:

• Locate and download a MSN chat log error repair tool. These are free to download. You may go to http://www.RepairErrorInstantly.com/ttfi to download this tool.
• Install the tool after downloading it.
• Open the MSN chat log error repair tool and scan your computer using the tool.
• Click Fix once the scan is complete.
• This should take care of any future issues with your MSN chat history log.