"How Do I Test My Hard Drive for Problems?"

Question: "How Do I Test My Hard Drive for Problems?"

There are a lot of reasons you might want to test your hard drive for problems. One of the major reasons to perform a test would be if your hard drive is making strange noises. This can often be a sign of a failing drive, something a test can point out.

Some other reasons to test your hard drive would be if a defragmentation program directed you to do so or if normal troubleshooting steps for certain problems (like error messages in Windows) are of no help. Often times the last step is to diagnose a possible hard drive issue.

So what kinds of tests do you run? How do you do that?
Answer: Test your hard drive using some of the hard drive testing software tools listed below.
Test Your Hard Drive Using Free Diagnostic Tools

Some of the best hard drive testing software programs are free! See my List of the Best Free Hard Drive Testing Tools for several that I recommend.

If you're a user of Windows XP or Windows Vista, Microsoft includes a program called Error Checking which can perform some very basic tests and can even attempt to correct errors as it finds them. Most other free hard drive testing programs are supported by the hard drive manufacturers themselves and are much more powerful. Seagate, Hitachi, and Western Digital all make very popular testing programs.
Purchase a Retail Hard Drive Testing Software Program
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/diagnosticsoftware/tp/tophddiag2.htm

If the free programs aren't feature rich enough for you, there are a number of companies that create even more powerful testing and correcting tools. Here are a few of my favorite third party hard drive tools. They might seem a little pricey but depending on the value of the data on your dead or dying hard drive, it may be worth it to take a shot.

Read more...

Top 7 Free Hard Drive Testing Tools A List of the Best Free Hard Drive Test Programs

Top 7 Free Hard Drive Testing Tools
A List of the Best Free Hard Drive Test Programs

There are many free hard drive testing tools available to help you determine what, if anything, is wrong when you suspect there may be a problem with a hard drive.

Some of these tools may be built in to your operating system already while others are available from hard drive manufacturers.

Important: Replace your hard drive if it fails any of your tests.

Note: Several excellent not-so-free hard drive testing tools are available as well.

1. Seagate SeaTools

Seagate SeaTools is free hard drive testing software that comes in two forms for home users:

• SeaTools for DOS supports Seagate or Maxtor drives and runs independent from your operating system on its own CD or disk, making it highly reliable.
  
  
• SeaTools for Windows is a program that installs on your Windows system. You can do basic and advanced testing of any kind of drive - internal or external - from any manufacturer.

For those looking for SeaTools Desktop, SeaTools Online, or Maxtor's PowerMax software, please note that the two tools above have replaced all three. Seagate now owns the Maxtor brand.

Note: You do not need to own a Seagate or Maxtor hard drive to use SeaTools.

2. Hitachi Drive Fitness Test

Hitachi Drive Fitness Test is free hard drive diagnostic software available for use on most drives available today.

The Hitachi Drive Fitness Test software is available as an ISO file which can be burned to a CD and then used to boot the computer. See the installation instructions from Hitachi in the link below for details.

Note: You do not need to own a Hitachi hard drive to use Drive Fitness Test (DFT).

Download the Free Hitachi Drive Fitness Test Software

3. Microsoft Windows Built-In Error Checking

Error Checking, sometimes referred to as scandisk, is a hard drive testing tool that comes with Microsoft Windows that can scan your hard drive in search of a wide range of errors.

This tool can also attempt to correct a number of hard drive problems.

4. Samsung HUTIL

Samsung HUTIL is a free hard drive diagnostic utility for Samsung hard drives. HUTIL is sometimes called ES-Tool.

Samsung's HUTIL tool is available as an ISO image for burning to a CD. This makes HUTIL operating system independent and a better testing tool, in general, than those designed for use within Windows. It's also possible to run HUTIL from a bootable floppy disk.

Note: HUTIL will only test Samsung hard drives. HUTIL will load and find your non-Samsung drive you will not be able to run any diagnostics on the drive.

Download Samsung's HUTIL Hard Drive Testing Tool for Free

5. Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic

Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic is free hard drive testing software designed for Western Digital branded hard drives only.

The Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic software is available in a bootable, ISO format and allows for a number of hard drive tests. See the installation instructions from Western Digital in the link below for details.

Note: Data Lifeguard Diagnostic will also run diagnostics on hard drives from other manufacturers but the primary drive in the computer must be a Western Digital drive.

Download the Free Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic Tool

6. Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool

Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool is a free hard drive testing tool designed for Fujitsu hard drives.

The Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool (FJDT) is available in both a Windows version and an operating system independent, bootable DOS version. Unfortunately, the bootable version is designed for floppy disks - a CD image is not available.

Two tests are available with Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool, a "Quick Test" (about 3 minutes) and a "Comprehensive Test" (time will vary based on hard drive size).

Note: Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool will perform hard drive tests on Fujitsu drives only. If you have any other make of hard drive, try one of the manufacturer independent tests listed toward the beginning of this list.

Download Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool for Free

7. Bart's Stuff Test

Bart's Stuff Test is a free, Windows-based hard drive stress test.

There aren't a lot of options in Bart's Stuff Test and it's not as thorough as some other tests on this list. However, it's a decent addition to your hard drive testing arsenal, especially if you're having problems testing with an ISO based tool above but want something besides Window's default tool.

Download Bart's Stuff Test for Free

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"How Do I Find My The Sims 3 Serial Number?"

Question: "How Do I Find My The Sims 3 Serial Number?"

Before you can install The Sims 3 you'll need to find the serial number that came with the game. The Sims 3 requires that you enter a unique serial number before using it.

If you've lost your serial number, there may be a way to find it as long as The Sims 3 is still installed. You might be able to find your The Sims 3 serial number if you've uninstalled the program but only if the serial number information was left in the Windows Registry.

The Sims 3 serial number is actually more of a product key than a serial number but the terms are often used interchangeably.
Answer: The best way to find your The Sims 3 serial number may be with a product key finder program.

Using a free product key finder program would certainly be the easiest way to find your unique The Sims 3 serial number. Product key finder programs automatically search your computer for the product keys and serial numbers that your software programs store in the registry.

If you knew the exact registry key that stored your The Sims 3 serial number you could find it manually but that information is usually hard to come by.

Most product key finder programs are designed to find serial numbers and product keys for operating systems like Windows XP or Windows Vista but some of them find serial numbers for several other programs too - programs like The Sims 3.

I've reviewed several product key finders but I haven't been able to personally confirm if any of them will find your The Sims 3 serial number. The best key finder programs are quick to download and completely free so feel free to try them all until you find one that will show your The Sims 3 serial.

Here are two of the more popular programs that find serial numbers and product keys:

* Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder
* Winkeyfinder

If neither of the above programs find your The Sims 3 serial number, give some of the other key finder programs a try from my Free Product Keyfinder Programs list. Be sure to let me know what programs did or did not find your The Sims 3 serial so I can keep this page updated.

Important: You may have come across The Sims 3 keygen programs or other kinds of The Sims 3 cracks but keep in mind that these are not legal ways of obtaining serial numbers or product keys. The only legal way of installing this program is by using a valid The Sims 3 serial number obtained through a legal purchase of the software.

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Repair the Master Boot Record In Windows XP

Repair the Master Boot Record In Windows XP

Repairing the master boot record on your Windows XP system is accomplished using the fixmbr command, available in Recovery Console. This is necessary when the master boot record has become corrupt due to a virus or some kind of damage.

Follow these easy steps to repair a damaged master boot record in Windows XP.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Repairing the master boot record on a Windows XP system takes less than 15 minutes
Here's How:

1.

Enter Windows XP Recovery Console.
2.

When you reach the command prompt (detailed in Step 6 in the link above), type the following and then press Enter.

fixmbr

3.

The fixmbr utility will write a master boot record to the hard drive that you're currently using to boot into Windows XP. This will repair any corruption or damage that the master boot record may have.
4.

Take out the Windows XP CD, type exit and then press Enter to restart your PC.

Assuming that a corrupt master boot record was your only issue, Windows XP should now start normally.

Read more...

Top 5 Windows System Utility Gadgets Best Windows 7 and Windows Vista Gadgets for System Monitoring

Top 5 Windows System Utility Gadgets
Best Windows 7 and Windows Vista Gadgets for System Monitoring

Gadgets in Windows 7 and Windows Vista can do more than show the weather and news. Several gadgets are available that are useful as system utilities that keep track of the resources Windows 7 or Windows Vista is using.

Gadgets have been created that can keep track of how Windows 7 or Windows Vista is using your CPU, memory, hard drive and network resources.

Below are some of the best Windows 7 and Windows Vista compatible gadgets that can be used to help keep track of system resources:

1. CPU Meter Gadget

The CPU Meter Windows gadget displays two dials - one that tracks your system's CPU usage and another that tracks physical memory usage, both in percentage format. This is a pretty basic Windows gadget in that there are no fancy options, but it does what it does well.

The CPU Meter gadget is included with Windows 7 and Windows Vista. The procedure is a bit different between Windows 7 and Windows Vista but the CPU Meter gadget should be available in the options. It will instantly be added to your Windows Vista Sidebar or your Windows 7 desktop.

If you like to keep track of how much memory and CPU is being used at any given time, give the CPU Meter gadget a try.

2. DriveInfo Gadget

The DriveInfo Windows 7/Windows Vista gadget monitors the free space available on one or more of your PC's hard drives. It displays the free space in both GB and percentage. The DriveInfo gadget is very easy to configure and is an especially attractive addition to your other Windows gadgets.

The DriveInfo gadget is available as a free download from the Windows Live Gallery. Just click Download and follow the instructions to add the gadget to your Windows Vista Sidebar or Windows 7 desktop.

If you frequently check the free space available on your hard drives, the DriveInfo gadget will definitely save you some time.

Download the DriveInfo Gadget for Windows 7/Vista

3. Memeter Gadget

The Memeter Windows Vista / Windows 7 gadget monitors all sorts of things about your CPU, RAM, and battery life. It's a great gadget to use to keep track of the major hardware resources currently being used by Windows.

The Memeter gadget is also freely available from the Windows Live Gallery. As with some of the other gadgets mentioned in this list, just click Download and follow the instructions to add the gadget to Windows.

If your memory, CPU, or battery usage is something you need (or like) to watch, the Memeter gadget will really come in handy.

Download the Memeter Gadget for Windows 7/Vista

4. Wireless Network Gadget

The Wireless Network Windows gadget is a very useful one if you connect to the world via a wireless network. It monitors both your wireless network's strength and security. The Wireless Network gadget is well designed and should be an attractive addition in Windows 7 or in Windows Vista.

The Wireless Network gadget is freely available from the Windows Live Gallery. As with the other gadgets available at the Windows Live Gallery, just click Download and follow the instructions to add the gadget to your Windows 7 desktop or Windows Vista Sidebar.

Download the Wireless Network Gadget for Windows 7/Vista

5. Uptime Gadget

The Uptime Windows gadget keeps track of how long your Windows 7 or Windows Vista system has been powered on. That's all it does. It resets every time the system is restarted.

The Uptime gadget is also available as a free download from the Windows Live Gallery.

System uptime trackers are useful to show how stable (or unstable) an operating system is since an unstable or error-prone system will usually need restarted on a regular basis.

Download the Uptime Gadget for Windows 7/Vista

Read more...

Create a Windows Vista Password Reset Disk

Creating a Windows Vista password reset disk can really come in handy if you forget your account password. With it, you can easily reset your password and get right in to Windows Vista.

While there are ways to recover lost passwords without a password reset disk, they are often complicated and time consuming.

Be proactive by creating a password reset disk today. With a password reset disk, forgetting your password is no longer a crisis.

Follow the easy steps below to create a password reset disk for your Windows Vista account:
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Creating a password reset disk for your Windows Vista logon usually takes less than five minutes
Here's How:

1.

Click on Start and then Control Panel.
2.

Click on the User Accounts and Family Safety link.

Note: If you're viewing the Classic View of Control Panel, you won't see this link. Simply double-click on the User Accounts icon and proceed to Step 4.
3.

Click on the User Accounts link.
4.

In the task pane on the left, click the Create a password reset disk link.
5.

When the Forgotten Password Wizard window appears, click Next

Note: You will need some kind of portable media before being able to create a password reset disk. This means that you will need a flash drive or a floppy disk drive and blank floppy disk.
6.

In the I want to create a password key disk in the following drive: drop down box, choose the portable media drive to create a password reset disk on.

Click Next to continue.
7.

With the disk or other media still in the drive, enter your current account password in the text box and click Next.
8.

Windows Vista will now create the password reset disk on your chosen media.

When the progress indicator shows 100% complete, click Next and then click Finish in the next window.
9.

You can now remove the flash drive or floppy disk from your computer.

Label the disk "Password Reset" and store it in a safe place.

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"I Forgot My Windows Vista Password! How Do I Find My Lost Password?

Question: "I Forgot My Windows Vista Password! How Do I Find My Lost Password?

So you forgot your Windows Vista password? Don't worry - it happens to the best of us. We're supposed to use secure passwords by making them difficult to remember but sometimes we make them so hard to remember that we forget them ourselves!
Answer: There are a several ways to find your forgotten password!
We'll start with the easy way...

Before we jump in to the high tech recovery method, try your hardest to remember what your password may have been. Most passwords, even complicated ones, are often inspired by people, places and things in your personal or professional life.

Could your password have had anything to do with:

* your name?
* the name of a friend or family member?
* a loved one's birthday?
* your home or office address?
* a pet's name?
* a favorite food?
* a frequently dialed telephone number?
* something from your childhood?
* a combination of any of the above?

For some more help remembering, check out my guide on guessing your own password.
Are there any other users on your PC?

If there are other users that have accounts on your PC, one of them may be setup with administrator access. This means that the user would be able to change your password for you from within his or her account. If there are other accounts, try logging on and giving it a try.
Now for the slightly harder way...

If you've given it your best shot but that all-important password is still hiding somewhere in your mind, then it's time for something more powerful.

Password recovery tools are software tools designed to guess your password. Many of them work by making super-fast guess after guess until the password is discovered. They can sometimes be difficult to use but if you really need in and there's no hope of remembering the password, password recovery tools are life savers.

Assuming you remember your password or get in another way, you may want to think about creating a password reset disk for Windows Vista. As long as you can keep track of the disk you'll never have to worry about forgetting your password again!
Still can't find find your password?

If you still can't locate your password, even after using the password recovery tools linked above, you will need to perform a clean install of Windows Vista which will erase everything on your PC. It's drastic and destructive but Windows Vista is serious about security.

Read more...

Missing Or Corrupt Hal.dll Error Resolution Steps to Resolve the Missing Or Corrupt Hal.dll Error in Windows XP

Missing Or Corrupt Hal.dll Error Resolution
Steps to Resolve the Missing Or Corrupt Hal.dll Error in Windows XP

Error Message

There are few different ways that the "missing or corrupt hal.dll" error may present itself, with the first listing being the most common:

* "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\system32\hal.dll.
Please re-install a copy of the above file."

* "\System32\Hal.dll missing or corrupt:
Please re-install a copy of the above file."

* "Cannot find \Windows\System32\hal.dll"

* "Cannot find hal.dll"

The "missing or corrupt hal.dll" error displays shortly after the computer is first started. Windows XP has not yet fully loaded when this error message appears.
Cause
Causes of the "missing or corrupt hal.dll" error include, naturally, a damaged hal.dll DLL file or a hal.dll file that has been deleted or moved from its intended location.

Additional causes may include a damaged or missing boot.ini file or possibly a physically damaged hard drive.
Resolution

1. Restart the PC. The hal.dll error could be a fluke.

2. Check for proper boot order in BIOS. You might see the hal.dll error if the boot order in BIOS is first looking at a hard drive other than your main hard drive.

Note: If you've recently changed your boot order or recently flashed your BIOS, this may be what's causing your problem.

3. Run Windows XP System Restore from a command prompt. If this doesn't work or you're receiving the hal.dll error message before you're able to complete this process, move on to the next step.

4. Repair or replace the boot.ini file. This will work if the cause of the problem is actually Windows XP's boot.ini file and not the hal.dll file, which is often times the case.

Note: If repairing the boot.ini does correct the hal.dll issue but the problem reappears after a reboot and you've recently installed Internet Explorer 8 in Windows XP, uninstall IE8. In this specific situation, IE8 could be the root cause of your hal.dll problem.

5. Write a new partition boot sector to the Windows XP system partition. If the partition boot sector has become corrupt or isn't properly configured, you may receive the hal.dll error.

6. Recover data from any bad sectors on your hard drive. If the physical part of your hard drive that stores any part of the hal.dll file has been damaged, you're likely to see errors like this.

7. Restore the hal.dll file from the Windows XP CD. If the hal.dll file is truly the cause of the problem, restoring it from the original Windows XP CD may do the trick.

8. Perform a repair installation of Windows XP. This type of installation should replace any missing or corrupt files. Continue troubleshooting if this does not resolve the issue.

9. Perform a clean installation of Windows XP. This type of installation will completely remove Windows XP from your PC and install it again from scratch.

Note: While this will almost certainly resolve any hal.dll errors, it is a time consuming process due to the fact that all of your data must be backed up and then later restored.

Important: If you can't gain access to your files to back them up, understand that you will lose them all if you continue with a clean installation of Windows XP.

10. Test the hard drive. If all else has failed, including the clean installation from the last step, you're most likely facing a hardware issue with your hard drive but you'll want to test it to be sure.

If the drive fails any of your tests, replace the hard drive and then install a new copy of Windows XP.

Applies To
This issue applies to the Windows XP operating system, including Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Home Edition. Windows 7 and Windows Vista do not utilize the hal.dll file.
Still Having Hal.dll Issues?
Let a community of PC support enthusiasts help out! Post the details of your problem in the PC Support Forums. Be sure to let us know what steps you've already taken to resolve the "missing or corrupt hal.dll" issue.

Read more...

Top 6 Free Product Key Finder Programs A List of the Best Free Product Key Finder Software Programs

Top 6 Free Product Key Finder Programs
A List of the Best Free Product Key Finder Software Programs

If you're preparing to reinstall an operating system (like a clean install of Windows) or reinstall another program, you will need to find your copy of the software's product key (CD key) - sometimes also referred to as a serial number.

Normally this product key is located with the original manual or CD. If you've lost your product key you can often find it in the Windows Registry but this can be very difficult to do. Luckily, there are many free key finder programs available to help.

Below are the top 6 free key finder programs.
1. Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder
"Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder v2.0.1"

The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder program is a free utility that retrieves product keys from the registry. It also has the ability to find product keys for Microsoft Office programs, along with product keys from many other non-Microsoft programs.

Advantages include very small size, ease of use, no installation required, instant display of product keys and multiple product key saving options.

Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows 98, and Windows 95.

Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, Office XP, and several non-Microsoft programs.
Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder v2.0.1 Review and Free Download
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2. Winkeyfinder
"Winkeyfinder v1.73 RC2"

The Winkeyfinder program is another free utility that retrieves product keys from the Windows registry.

Advantages include small program size, no installation required, and additional features such as a password generator, the ability to change registered user information, and activation backup capabilities.

Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, Windows ME, and Windows 98.

Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, Office XP and Office 2000 SP2, and Office 97.
Winkeyfinder v1.73 RC2 Review and Free Download
3. RockXP
""

RockXP is another free program that retrieves lost product keys from the registry.

Advantages include small program size, no installation required, and additional features such as a password generator and password retriever.

Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows XP.

Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2003 and Office 2007.
RockXP v4.0 Beta Review and Free Download
4. KeyFinder Pro
"KeyFinder Pro 2007"

Gear Box's KeyFinder Pro 2007 is another fantastic utility that can find your Windows product keys. It can also find product keys for several Microsoft Office programs.

Advantages include a very small download size, no installation required, no compressed files to extract, and nothing to run. KeyFinder Pro instantly displays product keys and allows you to save or print them for safe keeping.

Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003, and Windows Vista.

Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, and Office XP.
KeyFinder Pro 2007 v2.1.3 Review and Free Download
5. Keyfinder Thing
"Keyfinder Thing 3.1.6"

Keyfinder Thing is another free, easy to use utility that finds product keys and serial numbers hidden in the Windows registry.

Advantages include small program size, nothing to run, and support for a large list of non-Microsoft programs.

Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server, and Windows Vista.

Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, Office XP, Microsoft Money, Nero 7, Corel Suite 11, The Sims 2, and many more programs.
Keyfinder Thing v3.1.6 Review and Free Download
6. WinGuggle
"WinGuggle 1.5"

WinGuggle is a very simple key finder program. WinGuggle easily finds product keys for popular Microsoft Windows operating systems and several Microsoft Office programs.

Major advantages include a quick download size, no installation required, access to a few advanced tools, and a very simple interface. WinGuggle instantly displays your Windows and Office product keys.

Finds Keys for Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista.

Finds Keys for Other Software: Microsoft Office 2007, Office 2003, and Office XP.
WinGuggle 1.5 Review and Free Download
Important Product Key Finder Information

If your system was purchased with Microsoft Windows pre-installed, and you have not reinstalled it or upgraded it yourself, the key finders on this page may only find the generic product key that your computer manufacturer used to install Windows.

This product key may not work when attempting to reinstall Windows. In this case, you must use the unique product key that is on the sticker attached to your computer case.

Can't find that sticker? You'll need to replace your product key.

Read more...

Troubleshoot a DLL Error That's Being Caused by an Unknown Hardware Issue

Troubleshoot a DLL Error That's Being Caused by an Unknown Hardware Issue

Errors involving DLL files are most often caused by an issue in the software world - the file has been deleted, a virus has infected the file, etc.

Sometimes, however, the underlying cause of a DLL error is hardware related. If you suspect that this might be the case with your DLL issue, the cause of your problem just got a bit more difficult to find and probably more expensive to solve.

Important: These steps should only be followed after troubleshooting the DLL error as a software issue, a more likely scenario. You can find a troubleshooting guide for your specific DLL error in my Directory of Error Messages.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: Troubleshooting a DLL error with a hardware root cause could take as long as several hours
Here's How:

1.

Did you just install or uninstall a piece of hardware? If so, there's a good chance that the DLL error you're seeing is related to this hardware change.

Depending on what hardware changes you made, here are some suggested solutions:
* Undo the hardware installation or uninstallation.
* Replace the hardware component with one you know works correctly.
* Update the hardware device's firmware.
* Make sure the hardware is on the Hardware Compatibility List.
* Check with the manufacturer for support information.
2.

Test your computer's memory. One very common result of a failing memory module is the sudden appearance of one or more DLL errors.

Replace the memory in your PC if your tests show any problem whatsoever.
3.

Test your hard drive. Any DLL file located on a failing part of a hard drive will either become corrupted or completely disappear, causing DLL errors among other problems.

Replace the hard drive if your tests show a physical problem with the drive.
4.

Clear the CMOS. Clearing the BIOS memory on your motherboard will return the BIOS settings to their default levels. A misconfigured BIOS could cause problems with your hardware, causing a DLL error.

Important: If clearing the CMOS does fix the DLL error, make sure any changes you make in BIOS are completed one at a time so if the error returns, you'll know which change caused the problem.
5.

Update your BIOS. In some cases, and outdated BIOS could cause a hardware incompatibility that might generate a DLL error like the one you're seeing.
6.

Start your computer with essential hardware only. The purpose here is to remove as much hardware as possible while maintaining your ability to test for the DLL error.
* If you no longer have the DLL error with only essential hardware installed, proceed to Step 7.
* If you're still receiving the DLL error, proceed to Step 8.

Note: In general, essential hardware in this case would be the motherboard, CPU, RAM, video card, primary hard drive, monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Important: Don't skip this step. Learning what hardware is or isn't causing the DLL error will save you time and money when replacing hardware.
7.

Reinstall each piece of hardware that you removed in Step 6, one piece at a time, testing after each installation.

Since you're no longer seeing the DLL error with only the essential hardware installed, one of the hardware components you removed is causing the DLL problem. By installing each device back into your PC and testing each time, you'll eventually find the hardware that's at the source of the DLL problem.

Replace the failed hardware once you've identified it. These Hardware Installation Videos should come in handy as you're reinstalling your hardware.
8.

Replace each piece of essential hardware in your computer with an identical or equivalent spare piece of hardware (that you know is working), one component at a time, to determine which piece of hardware is causing the DLL error.

Test for the DLL error after each hardware replacement to determine which component is faulty.
9.

Finally, if all else fails, you'll probably need to seek professional help from a computer repair service or from your computer manufacturer's technical support.

Unfortunately, if you don't have working spare parts to swap in and out, you're left not knowing which piece of your essential PC hardware is faulty and causing the DLL error. In these cases you have little option than to rely on the help of individuals or companies that have these resources.

Note: See the last tip below for information on getting more help via the PC Support forum on this site.

Tips:

1.

Did I miss a troubleshooting step that helped you (or might help someone else) fix a hardware caused DLL error? Let me know and I'd be happy to include the information here.
2.

Are you still seeing the DLL error even after troubleshooting for a software and a hardware problem? Let a community of computer support enthusiasts help out! Post the details of your DLL error in the PC Support Forum. Be sure to tell us what you've already done to try to fix the problem.

Read more...

Unknown Hard Error Ntdll.dll Error Resolution Steps to Resolve Ntdll.dll Unknown Hard Error and Related Errors

Unknown Hard Error Ntdll.dll Error Resolution
Steps to Resolve Ntdll.dll Unknown Hard Error and Related Errors

Ntdll.dll Error Messages
There are many different ways that ntdll.dll errors may be displayed on your computer.

Ntdll.dll errors can be caused by a number of different things which result in many different error messages, but some of the most common are listed below:

* "STOP: 0xC0000221 unknown hard error C:\Winnt\System32\Ntdll.dll"

* "STOP: C0000221 unknown hard error \SystemRoot\System32\ntdll.dll"

* "AppName: [PROGRAM NAME] ModName: ntdll.dll"

* "[PROGRAM NAME] caused a fault in module NTDLL.DLL at [ANY ADDRESS]"

* "Crash caused in ntdll.dll!"

* "NTDLL.DLL Error!"

* "Unhandled exception at [ANY ADDRESS] (NTDLL.DLL)"

Ntdll.dll error messages might appear before or after a program is used, while a program is running, when Windows is started or shutdown, or even during a Windows installation.
Cause of Ntdll.dll Errors
The causes of ntdll.dll error messages can vary greatly. However, most ntdll.dll errors result from a corrupt or damaged version of the ntdll.dll file itself, corrupt hardware drivers, or issues between Windows and other programs.

Ntdll.dll errors can sometimes mean that a piece of hardware in your computer is malfunctioning, but this is rare.
Resolution

1. Restart your computer. The ntdll.dll error you're receiving could be due to a one-time, temporary issue and a simple reboot may resolve the problem completely.

2. Reinstall the program if the ntdll.dll error only displays when you use a specific program.

If the software program has any updates or service packs available, install them too. The software's programmers may have identified an issue with the program that caused the ntdll.dll error and then issued a patch for it.

Note: Third party software programs that have been installed on your computer are almost always the cause of ntdll.dll errors. The remainder of these troubleshooting steps resolve ntdll.dll issues only rarely.

3. Check the Windows service pack level you're running and then check Microsoft's support site to see if there is a more recent service pack available for installation. Some issues that caused ntdll.dll errors have been corrected in these service packs from Microsoft.

4. Selectively disable Internet Explorer add-ons. If your ntdll.dll error is displaying when you start, run, or close Internet Explorer, an add-on may be causing the problem. Disabling each add-on, one by one, will determine which add-on is the culprit (if any).

Note: As a workaround, assuming the ntdll.dll error really is Internet Explorer related, install and use a competing browser like Firefox.

5. Rename the NLSPATH system variable. If your Windows system does not have this environment variable, skip this step.

Note: This is a troubleshooting step for this issue only. Be sure to set this path back to its original name if this does not resolve the ntdll.dll issue.

6. Disable Data Execution Prevention for Explorer.exe. As in the previous step, this is for troubleshooting the ntdll.dll issue only. If this doesn't resolve the problem, return the Data Execution Prevention settings to their previous settings.

7. Update drivers for any hardware in your computer where updated drivers are available. Outdated drivers sometimes cause ntdll.dll errors.

8. Test your memory for damage. If you're receiving ntdll.dll messages, one possible cause could be a bad memory module in your system. Testing your memory will either identify a problem or clear your RAM of any responsibility.

Replace your memory if it fails any of your tests.

9. Ntdll.dll errors could occur if you have an Iomega Zip drive on the same IDE cable as the hard drive inside your computer. If so, move the Zip drive to a dedicated IDE controller.

10. Replace the IDE cable connecting the hard drive to the motherboard. If this cable is damaged or malfunctioning, one symptom could be the ntdll.dll error you're seeing.

11. Repair your installation of Windows. If individual software reinstallations fail to resolve the problem, a repair installation of Windows will replace the ntdll.dll file.

12. Perform a clean installation of Windows. A clean installation will completely remove Windows from your PC and install it again from scratch. I don't recommend this option unless you've exhausted all previous troubleshooting ideas and you're comfortable that the ntdll.dll error is not caused by a single program (Step #2).

Note: If a single program or plugin is causing the ntdll.dll error, reinstalling Windows and then reinstalling all of the same software may lead you right back to the same ntdll.dll error.

13. While extremely rare, if everything else has failed, including the clean installation from the last step, you could be dealing with a hardware issue with your hard drive.

If so, replace the hard drive and then perform a new installation of Windows.

Applies To
Ntdll.dll error messages can apply to nearly any Windows based software program, driver, or plugin on any of Microsoft's operating systems from Windows NT to Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.

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Fragmentation

Fragmentation

Definition: Fragmentation occurs on a hard drive, a memory module, or other media when data is not written close enough physically on the drive.

When the hard drive, for example, has to read pieces of data from multiple different areas on the drive, it can not access the whole of the data as fast as it could if it had all been written together in the same area of the drive.

As an analogy, imagine that you want to play a card game that requires an entire deck of cards. Before you can play the game, you have to retrieve the deck from wherever it might be. If the cards are spread all over a room, the time needed to gather them together and put them in order would be much greater than if they were sitting on the table, nicely organized.

A deck of cards spread all over a room can be thought of as a fragmented deck of cards, much like the fragmented data on a hard drive that when gathered together, might equal a file you're after or a particular software program.

The process of defragmenting then, would involve gathering together and organizing data, or in the deck of cards analogy, gathering together and sorting the playing cards.
Examples: "My computer was running very slow so I ran a quick scan with my defragmenting software to see how fragmented my drive was. The scan said my hard drive was significantly fragmented and that performing a defragmentation would really help speed it up."

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Chkdsk

What is the Chkdsk Command?

The chkdsk command is a Recovery Console command used to check a specified disk and repair or recover data on the drive if necessary.

Chkdsk also marks any damaged or malfunctioning sectors on the hard drive or disk as "bad" and recovers any information still intact.
Chkdsk Command Syntax

chkdsk [drive:] [/p] [/r]

drive: = This is the drive letter of the partition you want check for errors.

/p = This option instructs chkdsk to perform an extensive check of the drive and correct any errors.

/r = This option instructs chkdsk to locate bad sectors and recover any readable information from them.

Note: When using this option, the /p option is implied so it's not necessary to use it in addition to /r.
Chkdsk Command Examples

chkdsk

In the above example, since no drive or additional options were entered, chkdsk simply displays the status of the current drive.

chkdsk c: /r

In this example, the chkdsk command is used to perform an extensive check of the drive to correct any errors and to locate any recover information from bad sectors.
Chkdsk Command Availability

The chkdsk command is available from within the Recovery Console in Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

The chkdsk command is also accessible from the Command Prompt in any version of Windows but with different options and restrictions.
Chkdsk Related Commands

The chkdsk command is often used with many other Recovery Console commands.

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Top 4 Backup Software Programs A list of the top backup software titles available today.

Top 4 Backup Software Programs
A list of the top backup software titles available today.

Backing up your important files, or perhaps your entire hard drive, is one of the most valuable maintenance tasks you could possibly do on your computer. With your data backed up, a hard drive crash or accidental deletion won't be nearly as painful.

Backup software makes backing up your data automatic - a must-have feature of any successful backup plan. Here is a list of some of the most popular backup software titles available.
1. Norton Ghost 14.0

Norton Ghost 14.0 is the latest incarnation of a long time favorite PC backup program. With Norton Ghost 14.0, you can schedule automatic backups of your complete system or individual files and folders.

Easy to use configuration wizards make setup a snap for the novice and advanced options will please even the professional technician. If you want the complete backup package in one easy to use program, Norton Ghost 14.0 is an excellent choice.

Norton Ghost 14.0 is currently priced at $69.99USD and is available for Windows XP and Windows Vista.
More information on Norton Ghost 14.0

2. Acronis True Image 11 Home

Acronis True Image 11, like the other popular backup software programs profiled here, is a complete backup solution for your home computer.

The backup configuration process isn't quite as user friendly in Acronis True Image 11 as it is in some of the other programs, but it has a huge number of advanced, unique features including email notification of completed backups, a hard drive eraser tool, a pc cloning utility, and much more.

Acronis True Image 11 Home is currently priced at $49.99USD and is available for Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista.
More information on Acronis True Image 11 Home
3. Norton Save & Restore 2.0

Think of Norton Save & Restore 2.0 as Norton Ghost "Lite". Norton Save & Restore 2.0 has all the great standard features of it's more powerful sibling minus some of the extras like event-based backups, compression, and some other advanced options.

If you're looking for a backup program that's simple to use and you don't see yourself needing some of the more advanced features available in Norton Ghost, Norton Save & Restore 2.0 is probably a good choice for you.

Norton Save & Restore is currently priced at $49.99USD and is available for Windows XP and Windows Vista.
More information on Norton Save & Restore 2.0
4. Genie Backup Manager Home v8.0

Genie Backup Manager Home v8.0 is yet another excellent choice for your home backup needs. Like other backup programs, you can backup your entire system, certain files and folders, or even certain types of files like music, music, etc. - whatever is important to you.

Backup and restore wizards make it easy to keep your data safe and restore it after an emergency. Compression capabilities, email notifications, online backup options, and preconfigured backup sets make Genie Backup Manager Home v8.0 an excellent value-priced choice for advanced users.

Genie Backup Manager Home v8.0 is currently priced at $49.95USD and requires Windows 200, Windows XP, or Windows Vista.

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Locate and Recover Data From Bad Sectors Within Recovery Console in Windows XP

Locate and Recover Data From Bad Sectors Within Recovery Console in Windows XP

A sector of a hard drive is the smallest divisible unit of the physical drive, at least as far as storing data is concerned.

As a hard drive fails, one sector after another becomes unusable.

Fortunately, all the data in a sector may not be permanently lost. If a failing hard drive has prevented you from starting your computer, the damaged data that's causing the problem might be recoverable from within Recovery Console.

Follow these easy steps to use Recovery Console tools to locate and recover data from bad sectors on your hard drive.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Recovering data from bad sectors could take up to hours depending on the size of your hard drive
Here's How:

1.

Enter Windows XP Recovery Console. The Recovery Console is an advanced diagnostic mode of Windows XP with special tools that will allow you to find and recover bad sectors.
2.

When you reach the command prompt (detailed in Step 6 in the link above), type the following command and then press Enter.

chkdsk /r

3.

The chkdsk command will scan your hard drive for any damaged sectors. If any data is readable from any bad sector found, chkdsk will recover it.

Note: If you see a "CHKDSK found and fixed one or more errors on the volume" message, chkdsk did actually find and correct some unspecified problem. Otherwsie, chkdsk didn't find any problems.
4.

Take out the Windows XP CD, type exit and then press Enter to restart your PC.

Assuming bad hard drive sectors were the cause of your problem and chkdsk was able to recover data from them, Windows XP should now start normally.

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Hard Disk Drive

Hard Disk Drive

What is a Hard Disk Drive?

The hard disk drive is the main, and usually largest, data storage device in a computer. The operating system, software titles and most other files are stored in the hard disk drive.
The Hard Disk Drive is Also Known As

HDD (abbreviation), hard drive, hard disk, fixed drive, fixed disk, fixed disk drive
Important Hard Disk Drive Facts

The hard drive is sometimes referred to as the "C: drive" due to the fact that Microsoft Windows designates the "C" drive letter to the primary partition on the primary hard drive in a computer by default. While this is not a very technically correct term to use, it is still common. For example, some computers have multiple drive letters (i.e. C, D, E) representing areas across one or more hard drives.
Popular Hard Disk Drive Manufacturers

Seagate, Western Digital, Hitachi
Hard Disk Drive Description

A hard drive is usually the size of a paperback book but much heavier.

The sides of the hard drive have pre drilled, threaded holes for easy mounting in the 3.5 inch drive bay in the computer case. Mounting is also possible in a larger 5.25 inch drive bay with an adapter available at computer supply stores. The hard drive is mounted so the end with the connections faces inside the computer.

The back end of the hard drive contains a port for a cable that connects to the motherboard. The type of cable used will depend on the type of drive but is almost always included with a hard drive purchase. Also here is a connection for power from the power supply.

Most hard drives also have jumper settings on the back end that define how the motherboard is to recognize the drive when more than one is present. These settings vary from drive to drive so check with your hard drive manufacturer for details.

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How do I Replace a Hard Drive?

Question: How do I Replace a Hard Drive?

You'll need to replace the hard drive in your PC for one of two reasons - either your current drive has experienced a hardware failure and needs replaced or you want to upgrade your primary hard drive for increased speed or capacity.

Replacing a hard drive is a relatively easy task that anyone can complete with a little help. In other words, don't worry - you can do this!

Note: If you're looking to simply add hard drive capacity to your PC, consider installing a second hard drive in your computer. However, if you need more space on your primary hard drive, you'll need to replace it with a larger drive.
Answer: To replace a hard drive, you'll need to backup any data you want to keep, uninstall the old hard drive, install the new hard drive, and then restore the backed up data.

The specific steps necessary to replace a hard drive differ depending on the type of hard drive you're replacing.

Below are links to illustrated guides that will walk you through the hard drive replacement process:

* How to Replace an SATA Hard Drive

* How to Replace a PATA Hard Drive

* How to Replace a Laptop Hard Drive

Note: A PATA hard drive (formerly known as an IDE hard drive) is the older style hard drive with the 40 or 80 pin cables. An SATA hard drive is the newer style hard drive with the thin 7-pin cables.

Important: Are you replacing your primary hard drive that the operating system is installed on? I highly recommend that you start fresh on your new hard drive with a clean installation of Windows, especially if you're replacing your hard drive due to some issue you were having.

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Seagate SeaTools

Seagate SeaTools

The Bottom Line

Seagate creates two free hard drive testing software programs - SeaTools for DOS and SeaTools for Windows. While both testing tools are excellent, they are different.

SeaTools for DOS is more powerful but is a bit more difficult to use. SeaTools for Windows isn't as full featured but it's much easier to install.

Both programs are completely free and I highly recommend them. If you suspect that your hard drive may be failing, one or both of these tools from Seagate will help you determine what's wrong.

Important: You may need to replace the hard drive if it fails any of your tests.
Visit Their Website
Pros

* Two versions are available depending on needs
* Both versions are easy to use once installed and are completely FREE
* SeaTools for Windows tests hard drives no matter the manufacturer
* SeaTools for DOS contains a highly useful "acoustic test" for noise troubleshooting
* SeaTools for DOS is OS independent so it's automatically compatible with ALL operating systems

Cons

* SeaTools for DOS requires ISO image burner software that novice users may have difficulty using
* SeaTools for DOS handles a maximum of only 100 errors, at which point testing has to begin again

Description

* Seagate SeaTools is available in both a Windows version and a stand-alone, bootable version for maximum flexibility.
* Tests in both SeaTools versions are easy to understand and run.
* SeaTools for Windows can test all types of internal drives including SCSI, PATA, SATA, etc.
* SeaTools for Windows can also test external drives like those based on the USB or FireWire standards.
* SeaTools for DOS features an Acoustic Test to help you determine if a noise is from your hard drive or another component.

Guide Review - Seagate SeaTools

Seagate's SeaTools hard drive testing programs are some of the easiest to use of any I've ever worked with. The test are basic, easy to run, and generally pretty fast in my tests.

The SeaTools hard drive testing software comes in two different versions. SeaTools for Windows runs on Windows 2000, XP or Vista. SeaTools for DOS runs outside of the operating system so the tool will work on your PC no matter what OS you use.

SeaTools for Windows can perform several basic tests that can help determine the health of your hard drive. Your available hard drives and tests are easy to see when the program opens and can be ran with just a few clicks of the mouse.

You can test hard drives from any manufacturer and of any type, including PATA, SATA, and SCSI internal drives along with USB and FireWire external drives. To begin, simply download the software from Seagate's site and install in Windows.

SeaTools for DOS can also perform the several basic tests that SeaTools fro Windows can run but it can also run a very useful Acoustic Test. This test can really save you a lot of time during the troubleshooting of a noisy internal component. It will spin the drive down until it's completely idle, making the drive nearly silent. If you no longer hear the strange noise, the hard drive was the culprit!

With SeaTools for DOS, you can only test hard drives from Seagate and Maxtor. To begin, download either the Floppy Diskette Creator to make a bootable floppy disk (this is the easier option) or the ISO CD-ROM Image to burn to a CD. If you need help burning the CD, check out How to Burn an ISO Image File to a CD or DVD.

So if you're comfortable burning ISO images and you want a slightly more powerful test, use SeaTools for DOS. If you're more of a novice or you just want a quick and basic hard drive test, give SeaTools for Windows a try.

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Top 2 Third Party Hard Drive Diagnostic Tools A List of the Best For-Pay Hard Drive Testing Tools

Top 2 Third Party Hard Drive Diagnostic Tools
A List of the Best For-Pay Hard Drive Testing Tools

In addition to the many free hard drive testing tools available, some third party hard drive diagnostic software is available, for a cost, to help fix your hard drive woes.
1. SpinRite

SpinRite is one of the most powerful third party hard drive diagnostic and repair tools available today. It has been available for many years and I have used it personally with much success over my career.

SpinRite is a professional tool and is priced accordingly, currently at $89.00 USD.
More Info

2. Hard Drive Mechanic

Hard Drive Mechanic claims to "easily" repair a number of hard drive ailments that can cause all sorts of errors and other problems on a PC.

Hard Drive Mechanic is currently priced at $69.97 USD.

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Scan Your Hard Drive Using Error Checking in Windows XP

Scanning your hard drive using Error Checking can help diagnose and even correct a wide range of hard drive errors.

Error checking will check for various hard drive issues, including bad sectors. Error Checking replaces older Windows hard drive diagnostics such as "scandisk" and "chkdsk".
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours or more, depending on the size and speed of the hard drive
Here's How:

1.

Open My Computer by double-clicking on the icon on the desktop.
2.

Right-click on the drive letter that you wish to check for errors (usually C:) and click on the Properties menu item.
3.

Choose the "Tools" tab and click on the Check Now... button.
4.

Two options are available in the next window:
* Automatically fix file system errors will correct many file system errors detected. This is highly recommended.

* Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors will perform a search for areas of the hard drive that may be damaged or unusable. If found, this tool will mark those areas as "bad" and prevent your computer from using them in the future. This is a very useful feature but may extend the scan time as much as a few hours.
5.

Click Start.
6.

Allow the Error Checking program to run its course until complete.
7.

Restart the PC if prompted to do so.

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