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Posts tagged ‘Windows’

How to use Windows Registry Checker Tool

Live Tech Care When you start your computer effectively, the Windows Registry Checker tool (Scanreg.exe) creates a backup of system files and registry configuration information (including user account information, protocol bindings, software program settings, and user preferences) once daily. Files that Windows Registry Checker backs up contain System.dat, User.dat, System.ini, and Win.ini. This article describes the Windows Registry Checker tool. Windows Registry Checker routinely scans the system registry for invalid entries and empty data blocks when it is started. If invalid registry entries are detected, Windows Registry Checker automatically restores a previous day’s backup. This is equivalent to running the scanreg /autorun command from a command prompt. If no backups are available, Windows Registry Checker tries to make repairs to the registry. This is equal to running the scanreg /fix command from a command prompt. If the registry contains more than 500 KB of empty data blocks, Windows Registry Checker automatically optimizes it. Windows Setup runs the Windows Registry Checker tool to verify the reliability of the existing registry before it performs an upgrade. If it detects registry harm, it tries to fix it automatically. The protected-mode edition of the Windows Registry Checker tool (Scanregw.exe) can create a backup of the system files and scan the registry for unacceptable entries. If invalid entries are detected, it refers to the real-mode version of the Windows Registry Checker tool (Scanreg.exe) for a resolution. You can arrange Windows Registry Checker with a Scanreg.ini file. Settings that you can configure include:
• Enabling or disabling the tool
• The number of backups maintained (no more than five is recommended)
• The location of the backup folder
• Settings to add additional files to the backup set
To use the Windows Registry Checker tool with the /restore parameter, you must run the tool from a command prompt running exterior of Windows. When you do so, you can choose up to five registry backup files listed for you to restore if your registry contains an entry that references a file (such as a .vxd file) that no longer exists, it is not repaired by Windows Registry Checker. Such errors are not typically damaging, and you can manually remove the entry. The quantity of conventional memory that is required by Windows Registry Checker is determined by the size of your registry. Windows Registry Checker may require 580 KB or more of free conventional memory to complete the repair process. If you encounter an “Out of Memory” error message, optimize your free conventional memory.

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HOW TO FACE WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER PROBLEM

Live Tech CareWindows Movie Maker is the fast, easy way to convert photos and videos into good-looking movies and slide shows you can share with your friends, on the Web, or on DVDs. Turn photos and video clips into good-looking movies and photo slide shows that you can share with your friends and on the internet. Create well-polished movies in about a minute. Use the Auto Movie feature to insert transitions, soundtrack, and title in about a minute. Use artistic visual effects to insert motion, pan, zooms, and more. Prompts help you upload and share your movie on YouTube and other video-sharing websites.

YOU Might Face some problems with WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER:
PROBLEMS IMPORTING FILES INTO WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER:
Windows Movie Maker no longer supports importing video from a web camera or analog video source like a VCR. To use video from your web camera, use the program that comes with the camera to record the video to your computer, and then import the particular video file into Windows Movie Maker.
In rare cases, a file with a file type that Windows Movie Maker does not support may cause Windows Movie Maker to stop working. This may because of incompatible video filters. You can confirm what filters are installed and force Windows Movie Maker to avoid loading specific filters by simply restarting Windows Movie Maker.
To verify your video filter settings, on the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Compatibility option.
Few audio and video file formats are not supported in Windows Movie Maker and cannot be imported. However, if you have a video or audio file that is not supported, you may be able to use a non-Microsoft video cutting program to convert the file into a format that Windows Movie Maker favors’, and then import the particular audio or video file into Windows Movie Maker. Some files might also require you to install a codec before you can use the files in Windows Movie Maker.
Sometime you might get an error message displayed when you attempt to import audio or video that has been protected with digital rights management (DRM). DRM is a technology that lets content authors and publishers, such as record companies and movie studios, organize how their digital music and video files are used and distributed. Such kind of protected digital media files cannot be imported into Windows Movie Maker.

PROBLEMS WITH WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER TRANSITIONS AND EFFECTS:
If your computer or graphics card does not support certain transitions or effects, either they will not appear or they will appear shaded in Windows Movie Maker. To know more about graphics card requirements in Windows Movie Maker.
If you created a project/movie using a transition that is not currently installed on your computer, the transitions may appear as a fade transition.
If you have created a project/movie using an effect that is not currently installed or supported on your computer that effect will no longer appear in your project.

PUBLISHING A MOVIE IN WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER:
When you finish working on a project in windows movie maker, you can publish the project as a movie. A movie refers to a Windows Media file with a .wmv specific file name extension or an Audio-Video Interleaved (AVI) file with an .avi file name extension. When you publish a movie in Windows Movie Maker, you can share it with your friends in a number of ways—through your computer, on a recordable CD, on a recordable DVD, as an attachment in an e mail message, or on videotape in a DV camera.

Windows Movie Maker is the fast, easy way to convert photos and videos into good-looking movies and slide shows you can share with your friends, on the Web, or on DVDs. Turn photos and video clips into good-looking movies and photo slide shows that you can share with your friends and on the internet. Create well-polished movies in about a minute. Use the Auto Movie feature to insert transitions, soundtrack, and title in about a minute. Use artistic visual effects to insert motion, pan, zooms, and more. Prompts help you upload and share your movie on YouTube and other video-sharing websites.

YOU Might Face some problems with WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER:
PROBLEMS IMPORTING FILES INTO WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER:
Windows Movie Maker no longer supports importing video from a web camera or analog video source like a VCR. To use video from your web camera, use the program that comes with the camera to record the video to your computer, and then import the particular video file into Windows Movie Maker.
In rare cases, a file with a file type that Windows Movie Maker does not support may cause Windows Movie Maker to stop working. This may because of incompatible video filters. You can confirm what filters are installed and force Windows Movie Maker to avoid loading specific filters by simply restarting Windows Movie Maker.
To verify your video filter settings, on the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Compatibility option.
Few audio and video file formats are not supported in Windows Movie Maker and cannot be imported. However, if you have a video or audio file that is not supported, you may be able to use a non-Microsoft video cutting program to convert the file into a format that Windows Movie Maker favors’, and then import the particular audio or video file into Windows Movie Maker. Some files might also require you to install a codec before you can use the files in Windows Movie Maker.
Sometime you might get an error message displayed when you attempt to import audio or video that has been protected with digital rights management (DRM). DRM is a technology that lets content authors and publishers, such as record companies and movie studios, organize how their digital music and video files are used and distributed. Such kind of protected digital media files cannot be imported into Windows Movie Maker.

PROBLEMS WITH WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER TRANSITIONS AND EFFECTS:
If your computer or graphics card does not support certain transitions or effects, either they will not appear or they will appear shaded in Windows Movie Maker. To know more about graphics card requirements in Windows Movie Maker.
If you created a project/movie using a transition that is not currently installed on your computer, the transitions may appear as a fade transition.
If you have created a project/movie using an effect that is not currently installed or supported on your computer that effect will no longer appear in your project.

PUBLISHING A MOVIE IN WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER:
When you finish working on a project in windows movie maker, you can publish the project as a movie. A movie refers to a Windows Media file with a .wmv specific file name extension or an Audio-Video Interleaved (AVI) file with an .avi file name extension. When you publish a movie in Windows Movie Maker, you can share it with your friends in a number of ways—through your computer, on a recordable CD, on a recordable DVD, as an attachment in an e mail message, or on videotape in a DV camera.

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Windows Installer Cleanup Utility

www.livetechcare.comThe Windows Installer Clean up Utility is planned to allow you to safely remove Windows Installer settings from your computer in the event of a problem. Windows Installer may turn into damaged if
Your computer’s registry becomes corrupt. You or someone else unintentionally changes a registry setting used by the Windows Installer, resulting in a problem – The installation of a program that uses Windows Installer (for example, Microsoft Office 2000) is broken up. There are multiple examples of Setup running simultaneously, or an instance of Setup is “blocked”. The Windows Installer Cleanup Utility is designed to allow you to safely take out Windows Installer settings from your computer in the event of a difficulty. Although the Windows Installer is designed to be very robust, it is possible for Windows Installer to become damaged if:

• Your computer’s registry becomes corrupted.
• You or someone else inadvertently changes a registry setting used by the
• Windows Installer, resulting in a problem.
• The installation of a program that uses Windows Installer (for example,
• Microsoft Office 2000) is interrupted.
• There are multiple instances of Setup running simultaneously, or an
• Instance of Setup is “blocked.”

Windows Installer Cleanup Utility will eliminate all Windows Installer information associated with the selected programs; include the entries for the programs in the Add/Remove Programs control panel. Note that the Installer information for that particular program is alone removed, not their files. If you remove the settings for a program that is at present installed on your computer, the program will no longer be able to add or remove apparatus or to repair itself; to prevent problems; it is recommended that you reinstall your programs before you use them. The Windows Installer Cleanup utility (MSICUU2.exe) was a software utility for the Microsoft Windows operating system designed to resolve uninstallation problems of programs that use the Windows Installer technology. It looks up registry references and files related to Windows Installer that were installed by different programs, and forcibly wipes invalid entries out. It works in all 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows.
The utility was first released by Microsoft in 1999 to help Windows-based computers clean up installed programs that would either refuse or make up not to remove themselves from the add/remove programs feature in Microsoft Windows. The utility will just change registry values and files associated with the Windows Installer portion on the program. It will not remove many files from the computer and is only to be used as a last trough attempt when dealing with a buggy program. The utility can only be run by users who are logged in as system administrators. For developers who have problems with the Windows Installer automatically repairing their own installations on developer equipment (when the developer has manually updated some of the binaries), this utility is ideal to remove the Windows Installer information at the same time as leaving the actual installation intact.
While the Windows Installer Cleanup utility was found to a be a very useful tool by many as it resolved installation problems, it was also recently established to damage some other components of the Windows operating system, installed on the computer. Because of this reason, Microsoft has removed the Windows Installer Cleanup utility from its Download Center. Microsoft has created the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility which allows you to safely remove Windows Installer-related registry settings from your computer in the event of a problem. This utility from Microsoft allows you to clean out applications from the Microsoft Installer local file. If you ever get an app (that uses the MSI) that gets so screwed up you can’t uninstall it, can’t reinstall it, and you are preset, this application should allow you to tackle the problem. Once installed, you run the program “Windows Install Cleanup” from your Start menu. It will get a list of installed applications that use MSI. You can then eradicate any of them from the MSI database. The Windows NT description of the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility is Msicuu.exe, the Win9x and ME version is Msicu.exe

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How to recover Windows Script Host Files

Live Tech Care A Windows script host file is a file with a .vbs (VBScript) or .js (JavaScript) suffix, which can be executed by double-clicking on the script file or from the command line. Windows script host files can be used to manipulate Windows registry keys. Windows Script Host is a runtime engine for several script programming languages. Windows Script Host is distributed and installed by default on Windows 98 and later versions of Windows. It is also installed if Internet Explorer 5 (or a later version) is installed.” f you do not have WSH installed, then your Windows installation is incomplete. Perhaps it is not a full retail version. To check more thoroughly, open a command line window and enter the command: cs cript Users can install different scripting engines to enable them to script in other languages, for instance Perl Script. The language independent filename extension WSF can also be used. The advantage of the Windows Script File (.WSF) is that it allows the user to use a combination of scripting languages within a single file. WSH Engines include various implementations for the Rexx, Basic, Perl, Ruby,Tcl, PHP, JavaScript, Delphi, Python, XSLT, and other languages. Windows Script Host is distributed and installed by default on Windows 98 and later versions of Windows. It is also installed if Internet Explorer 5 (or a later version) is installed. Beginning with Windows 2000, the Windows Script Host became available for use with user login scripts.
Contents:

1. Usage
2. Examples
3. Security concerns
4. Available Scripting Engines
5. Version history
6. See also
7. References
8. External links

To Run Scripts Using the Windows-Based Script Host (Wscript.exe)
1. At a command prompt type wscript.exe, and then press ENTER.
2. Set the script host properties you want, and then click OK.
3. In Windows Explorer or My Computer, double-click the script file you want to run.

NOTE: If you double-click a script file whose extension has not yet been associated with Wscript.exe, an Open With dialog box appears, prompting you for the program that should be used to open the file. After you choose Windows Based Script Host (wscript.exe), if you select the Always use this program to open these files check box, Wscript.exe is registered as the default program for all files having the same extension as the one you double-clicked. You can also set properties for an individual script by right-clicking a script file in My Computer or Windows Explorer, clicking Properties, and then clicking the Script tab.

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How to handle Blank desktop in Windows

Live Tech Care Sometimes, when you log on to Windows, you may see a ‘blank desktop’ or ‘no desktop’. When this occurs, you need to press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to start Task Manager, but explorer.exe is not scheduled in the list of running tasks or processes. Starting a new instance of Explorer.exe does not resolve the problem. This concern can occur if there is an older version of the Shdocvw.dll file in the %SystemRoot% folder. Because Explorer.exe is placed in the %SystemRoot% folder, the search path for any called files starts in the %SystemRoot% folder before the path is searched. The default search sort always looks for a called file in the folder containing the program file before searching the path to place the file.
To resolve this issue:

• Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and then click Task Manager
• On the File menu, click New Task (Run)
• Type cmd.exe and then press ENTER
• If necessary, change to the %SystemRoot% folder
• Rename the Shdocvw.dll file by typing ren shdocvw.dll shdocvw.old
• Restart the computer

The desktop may also be blank if your computer is configured for various monitors and the icons are on a portion of the desktop that is outside the viewable range. Check the properties for the video adapter, and then click Settings. If two monitors are displayed, but only one is in use, click the first monitor, and then check the settings. If the Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor check box is chosen, click to clear the check box, and then click Apply. The icons must then reappear.
When you log on to a Windows XP-based computer, a blank desktop may appear. The desktop contains no desktop icons, and the Start button does not appear. A supported hotfix is existing from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is projected to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not relentlessly affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix. To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows XP Service Pack 2 or a later version installed. You have to resume the computer after you apply this hotfix. This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes. To use this hotfix, you do not have to create any changes to the registry.

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Benefits of Windows Defender

Live Tech CareWindows Defender is software that helps to protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unnecessary software by detecting and removing known spyware from your computer. Windows Defender features Real-Time Protection, a monitoring system that recommends action against spyware when it’s detected, minimizes interruptions, and helps you stay productive. Windows Defender features spyware scanning capabilities like other free spyware-scanning products available on the market, and includes a number of real-time security agents that monitor several common areas of Windows for changes which may be caused by spyware. It also includes the ability to easily remove ActiveX applications that are installed. Also integrated is support for Microsoft’s Spy Net network that allows users to report to Microsoft what they consider to be spyware, and what applications and device drivers they allow to be installed on their system..
The benefits of installing Windows Defender include:-
Spyware detection and removal
• Windows Defender promptly and easily finds spyware and other unwanted programs that can slow down your computer, display annoying pop-up ads, change Internet settings, or use your private information without your consent.
• Windows Defender eliminates detected spyware simply at your direction, and if you inadvertently remove programs that you actually want, it’s easy to get them back.
• Windows Defender allows you to program your scanning and removal times when it’s convenient for you, whether it’s on-demand or on a schedule that you set.

Improved Internet browsing safety
• Windows Defender helps to stop spyware before it infiltrates your computer. Windows Defender offers a continuous safeguard designed to target all the ways that spyware can infiltrate your computer.
• Windows Defender works without distracting you. It runs in the conditions and automatically handles spyware based on preferences that you set. You can use your computer with least interruption.

Protection against the latest threats
• A devoted team of Microsoft researchers continuously searches the Internet to discover new spyware and develop methods to counteract it.
• A voluntary, universal network of Windows Defender users helps Microsoft determine which guarded programs to classify as spyware. Participants help find out new threats quickly and notify Microsoft analysts, so that everyone is better protected. Anyone who uses Windows Defender can link this network and help report potential spyware to Microsoft.
• To help protect your computer from the newest threats, you can choose to have updates that counteract new spyware automatically downloaded to your computer.

Therefore, Windows Defender is built-in with all versions of Windows Vista and is available to download for genuine copies of Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later on, or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or later.

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How to turn on Windows Firewall

Live Tech CareTo turn on the firewall in Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Service Pack 3. Disable the firewall to troubleshoot applications that do not function as expected behind a firewall.

A firewall is software or hardware that checks information that comes from the Internet or from a network. Then, the firewalls either blocks the information or lets the information accept through computer. Whether information is blocked or accepted through depends on firewall settings. A firewall can help in preventing malicious software (such as worms) from gaining access to computer by a network or the Internet. A firewall can also help in stopping the computer from sending malicious software to other computers. Windows XP, Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), and Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) contain firewall software.

How to turn on windows firewall

To turn on Windows Firewall, follow these steps:

If the General tab or the on (recommended) option is not available, the system might have a policy against running the firewall. Contact the system administrator for more information about how to turn on the firewall. In addition, the system might already be running a third-party firewall (Zone Alarm or Norton Internet Security).

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Windows Media Player Problems

Live Tech CareWindows Media Player architecture is not significantly changed in its 11th version. The changes in this Windows Media Player update are related to user interface improvement and to maintain for additional online media store features. Therefore, general troubleshooting strategies that are used for Microsoft Windows Media Player 10 also be appropriate to Windows Media Player 11.

 

MORE INFORMATION

There is no license backup

Windows Media Player 11 does not offer an option to make a backup of licenses for protected media. External content providers must offer methods to do the following:

  • Back up and reinstate licenses in their media programs
  • Update the license for present content

If you have copied, or “ripped”, audio content from a CD and the Copy protect music option was enabled, you can no longer restore licenses if a difficulty occurs with the digital rights management (DRM) store on the computer. Therefore, if you have such content and the licenses are invalidated, you must re-copy the content from the unique source CD. For example, the licenses are invalidated after a clean installation of Windows or after you move the content to another computer.

You cannot transcode DRM-protected media

In some cases, Windows Media Player 11 cannot transcode DRM-protected media to fit on a transferable media device.

Cause

DRM-protected files cannot be transformed into any other format or even re-encoded in the same format by using a different bit rate. This is true even if you obtain a license from the content supplier to copy the file.

This activitiy also applies to music that has been copied from an audio CD into Windows Media Audio (WMA) by enabling the Copy protect music option.

Resolution

DRM-protected Windows Media Audio and DRM-protected Windows Media Video cannot presently be transcoded. To work around this restriction, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Disable the Copy Protect Music option, and then re-copy content

  1. Right-click on the Windows Media Player toolbar, point to Tools, and then click Options.
  2. Click on the Rip Music tab.
  3. Click to clear the Copy protect music verify box.
  4. Re-copy the music.

Method 2: Disable transcoding

You can end transcoding for a device if the device supports playback of media files in the original state. To do this, go after these steps:

  1. Right-click on the Windows Media Player toolbar, point to Tools, and then click Options.
  2. Click on the Devices tab.
  3. Select a device, and then click on Properties.
  4. Click on the Quality tab, and then click to clear the Convert music, pictures, videos, and TV shows as required verify box.

Method 3: Disable the Copy protect music selection, and then burn and re-copy content

You can burn content to an audio CD and then re-copy that audio CD to non-protected Windows Media Audio files otherwise to MP3 files. To do this, you should have the rights to burn some DRM-protected music to an audio CD. As soon you have burned and copied the media, it will be in a condition where Windows Media Player can transcode the media for your gadget.

Note When you burn content to an audio CD and then re-copy the content back to a Windows Media Audio file or to a MP3 file, you may decrease the quality of the audio compared to the unique source file. This is particularly true when you burn content at a lower bit rate.

You cannot play back DRM-protected media or obtain new licenses

You cannot play back DRM-protected media files by using Windows Media Player 11 or find new licenses for content. Additionally, you may get one of the following error messages:

The licenses for your media files are ruined. (Error code 0xC00D2754)

Windows Media Player 11 cannot play the file as the related license is either corrupted or not valid. (Error code 0xC00D11D6)

The license to play the package media is invalid

C00D277F – Secure storage protection error. Restore your licenses from a earlier backup and try again

C00D277F – Secure storage protection error. Restore your licenses from a earlier backup and try again

Cause

The DRM store on the computer is not valid or is spoiled in some way. Possible causes for this problem include the following:

  • The processor has been changed.
  • The motherboard has been changed.
  • A BIOS setting has been changed that affected hardware. (For example, you disabled hyperthreading.)
  • You moved the hard disk on which music was first downloaded from one computer to a different.
  • An application, such as the RegClean utility, changed DRM settings in a manner that caused corruption.
  • You performed a clean setting up of the operating system.

This issue occurs because DRM systems, such as Windows Product Activation, uphold an internal hardware ID. This ID is based on the hardware configuration that existed when Windows was installed or else when Windows Media Player 11 was installed. If you change the processor or other devices, the hardware ID in the DRM system does not go with the new computer configuration. In this case, DRM determines that a user has tried to shift protected content to another computer. This behavior can also occur if DRM detects that the DRM-protected storage in the registry has been changed to protect the uprightness of the DRM licenses.

Resolution

To reset the DRM store, go after these steps:

  1. Exit the  Windows Media Player 11.
  2. Find DRM folder on the hard disk. By default, this folder is %SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\All Users\DRM in Microsoft Windows XP.
  3. Delete the stuffing of the folder.
  4. Visit the subsequent Microsoft Web site:

http://drmlicense.one.microsoft.com/Indivsite/en/indivit.asp

  1. Follow the instruction on the Web site to renew the security component of Windows Media Player 11. This method should enable you to obtain new licenses for media. You should also be able to reorganize licenses for purchased content so that you can play that content on a computer.

You get an “An internal application error has occurred” error message

A number of Windows interface elements are blank. In addition, Windows Media Player 11 returns an “An internal application error has occurred” error message or does not begin.

Cause

This issue may occur if the component registration for the Jscript.dll file or for the VBScript.dll file has turn out to be damaged. This issue may also take place if the files have been unregistered.

Resolution

To resolve this matter, reregister the Jscript.dll and Vbscript.dll files. To do this, go after these steps:

  1. Click Start, click Run, type regsvr32 jscript.dll, and then click OK.
  2. Click Start, click Run, type regsvr32 vbscript.dll, and then click OK.

    Note In Microsoft Windows Vista operating system, these commands must be run from an elevated command prompt. For more information about the elevated command prompt in Windows Vista, stopover the following Microsoft Web site:

http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/00d04415-2b2f-422c-b70e-b18ff918c2811033.mspx

Video playback issues

When you play back a video file in Windows Media Player 11, you may experience one of the subsequent symptoms:

  • The video stutters or becomes uneven.
  • The video and audio are not coordinated.

Probable causes for this behavior include the following issues:

  • Inadequate system resources
  • Network resource problems
  • Software configuration problems

Insufficient system resources

The inadequate system resource could be the processor, the video card, or the hard disk.

Processor

A computer processor may not be powerful enough to process high-definition video at a fast sufficient rate to make sure that the playback is smooth and that the audio remains synchronized. Before you upgrade the processor to solve this problem, you may want to attempt one of the following methods:

  • Improve the video card.
  • If you are using a processor that can run at a slower speed for power management reasons, decide whether the same problem occurs when you run the computer on AC power.

Video card

Some video cards support offloading the video representation process to the video card. Offloading the video representation process reduces the load on the processor. Additionally, offloading video representation enables the computer to play much higher resolution video and to play video that has a much higher bit rate. This improvement is possible because the representation occurs in hardware.

Video cards that can offload the video representation process include the following:

  • NVIDIA GeForce 6 series and later version
  • ATI Xxxx series, X1xxx series, and later version

If a video card can offload video representation, but video playback is still uneven, you must confirm that offloading is going on. Offloading is supported by DirectX by using the DXVA characteristic. If DXVA is disabled, offloading does not occur, and the processor is strained to make the video.

Other troubleshooting options contain the following:

  • Improve the video card drivers.
  • Many video codecs have a “Use Hardware Acceleration” option. If that is the case for the format that you are playing, make sure that this option is enabled. Both the ATI Catalyst and the NVIDIA Forceware driver package consist of this option.

Network resource issues

If the video that is encountering the playback is being streamed over a network, the available network bandwidth may be inadequate to stream the video in real time. To quickly decide whether network bandwidth is an issue, play back the file after you copy it to the local computer. If the file plays back without harms, network bandwidth was probably insufficient.

When you use wireless networking, decide whether the wireless connection is contributing to the playback issue. If the wireless link is contributing to the playback issue, consider the following:

  • 802.11b networks do not work well for video streaming for the reason that of low bandwidth.
  • 802.11g networks offer higher bandwidth than 802.11b networks.
  • Both 802.11b and 802.11g networks are prone to interference from other household electronics.
  • 802.11a networks provide higher bandwidth and are less flat to interference from other household electronics than 802.11b or 802.11g networks.

Software configuration issues

Software configuration issues may also put in to video playback problems. For example, these harms may be caused by a codec issue or by Windows Media Player 11 configuration options that do not work with particular hardware or driver combinations.

Codec

If you have performance issues and if the video that you are playing is using a third-party codec, try the following:

  • Issues that occur with one file
    If the playback issue is going on only with one particular file or with one particular file type, contact the vendor of the codec to see whether there is an update for that codec. If an updated codec does not resolve the issue, we recommend that you contact the original content provider.
  • Issues that occur with one codec
    If the playback issue is going on only with video from one particular content provider or was created by using one particular software package, contact the software vendor or the content provider for more information. We advise this step especially if other files that were created by using the same codec have no playback issues,

Windows Media Player configuration

Windows Media Player 11 provides several options that you can use to put in order the performance settings for video and DVD playback. These settings are on the Performance tab in the Windows Media Player 11 choice.

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Windows Media Player 11

Live Tech CareWindows Media Player (abbreviated WMP) is a proprietary digital media player and media library application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing audio, video and screening images on personal computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system, as well as on Pocket PC and Windows Mobile-based devices. Editions of Windows Media Player were also on the loose for Mac OS, Mac OS X and Solaris but development of these has since been discontinued.

In addition to being a media player, Windows Media Player includes the capability to rip music from and copy music to compact discs, burn recordable discs in Audio CD format or as data discs with playlists such as an MP3 CD, synchronize content with a digital audio player (MP3 player) or other mobile devices, and allow users to purchase or rent music from a number of online music stores.

Windows Media Player replaced a previous application called Media Player, adding features beyond simple video or audio playback.

Windows Media Player 12 is the most current version of Windows Media Player as of July 2009. It was released in July 22, 2009 along with Windows 7 and has not been released for earlier versions of Windows.

Windows Media Player 11 is vacant for Windows XP and included in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. The default file formats are Windows Media Video (WMV), Windows Media Audio (WMA), and Advanced Systems Format (ASF), and chains its own XML based playlist format called Windows Playlist (WPL). The player is also able to make use of a digital rights management service in the form of Windows Media DRM.

Features new added to Windows Media Player 11

Windows Media Player 11 features a lot new changes. The Media Library no longer presents the media items (such as albums, genres and artists) in a tree-based listing. Rather, on selecting the category in the left panel, the contents will appear on the right, in a graphical mode with thumbnails featuring album art or other art depicting the item—a disappearance from textual presentation of information. The navigation pane can be tailored for each library to show the user selected media or metadata categories. Omitted album art can be added directly to the placeholders in the Library itself (though the program re-renders all album art imported this way into 1×1 pixel ratio, 200×200 resolution jpegs). There are separate Tiles, Icons, Details or Extended Tiles views for Music, Pictures, Video and Recorded TV which can be set on your own from the navigation bar. Entries for Pictures and Video display their thumbnails. Windows Media Player 11 also holds up the Windows Media Format 11 runtime which adds low bitrate support (below 128 kbit/s for WMA Pro), support for ripping music to WMA Pro 10 and updates the unique WMA to version 9.2. Other features include:

  • Instant Search – Searches and displays outcome as characters are being entered, without waiting for Enter key to be hit. Incremental search outcome are refined based on further characters that are typed.
  • Enhanced synchronization features for loading content onto PlaysForSure- compatible portable players. WMP 11 supports reverse-synchronization, by which media present on the portable device can be simulated back to the PC.
  • Support to rip audio CDs to WAV and WMA 10 Pro formats.
  • Media Sharing (via Windows Media Connect) allows content (Music, Pictures, Video) to be streamed to and from Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) AV enabled devices such as the PS3, Xbox 360, and Roku Sound Bridge. This includes DRM protected PlaysForSure substance. WMP 11 on Windows Vista can also connect to remote media libraries using this characteristic; this is not available on the Windows XP version.
  • Disc spanning splits a burn list onto multiple discs in case the fillings does not fit on one disc.
  • Portable devices have been added in the navigation pane of the library where their content can be browsed and searched.
  • Shuffle Sync to randomize content synced with the portable device, Multi PC Sync to synchronize portable device content transverse multiple PCs and Guest Sync to synchronize different content from multiple PCs with the portable device.
  • The List pane contains an option to prompt the user to remove items skipped in a playlist upon save or skip them only during playback.
  • CD BurningCD Burning now shows a graphical bar presenting how much space will be used on the disc.
  • StackingStacking allows graphical representations of how many albums are there in a definite category or folder. The pile appears larger as the group contains more albums.
  • Global StatusGlobal status shows a broad indication of what the player is doing. The information presented includes status information concerning buffering, ripping, burning and synchronization.

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How to fix local network security settings on Windows based PC

Live Tech CareMicrosoft Windows supports a broad range of network adapters and chipsets for both networks (wireless & wired). Network adapters that initially give good service may has issues later on due to software updates, new program installations or driver corruption due to lack of maintenance or malware. If you have a network adapter that is not working, there are steps you can follow that generally resolve the problems.

Instructions

1.) Click the wireless bar logo in the lower right corner of the Windows based PC desktop, then click on a wireless network from the listing displayed. Click the “Connect” button that appear, and, if prompted, enter the security pass phrase for the network and press the “Enter” key. If the computer does not connect to the wireless network, then go to the next step.

2.) Click the “Globe” start button on Windows based computer desktop, then select “Control Panel,” “Network and Internet” then “Network and Sharing Center.” Click on “Set up a new connection or network” link, choose “Manually connect to a wireless network”  and then click on “Next” button. Type the name of wireless network  which you wish to connect in “Network name” field, then select “Security type” and “Encryption type” of the network and then type network security key into the “Security key” field. Select the check boxes “Start this connection automatically” and “Connect even if the network is not broadcasting” and then click “Next” button. Click “Close’ button. If your computer does not connect to the wireless network, proceed to the next step.

3.) Click on “Globe” start button, click “Search” box, type “cmd,” right-click the command line icon which appears in the left pane and click “Run as Administrator.” Type “ipconfig /all” and then press “Enter” key. If the command line output does not show an IP address which is listed for the wireless adapter or shows an IP address that starts with “169.254,” then type “ipconfig /release” and press the “Enter” key. Then type in “ipconfig /renew” and press the “Enter” key. If still the computer does not connect to the wireless network, proceed to the next step.

4.) Click on “Globe” start button, right-click “Computer” and then click “Manage.” Click “Device Manager” in the window which appears, and click on the “Network Adapters” heading which is located in the right side pane of the “Computer Management” window. Right-click on wireless adapter icon listed under “Network Adapters” and then click on “Uninstall” in the menu that appears. Reboot the computer so that Windows 7 can automatically reinstall the network adapter drivers. Then try to connect to the wireless network. If the computer is still not connected to the wireless network, proceed to the next step.

5.) Click on the “Globe” start button, click “Search” box, type “System Restore” and press “Enter” key. The “System Restore” window will appear in front of you. Select “Choose a different restore point” radio button if it is available, and then select the “Next” button. Click on restore point from the list provided which displays a date prior to when the issue first occurred, and then click the “Next” button. Click the “Finish” button, and click the “Yes” button in the window which appears. After System Restore reboots your computer, click the “Close” button on the “System Restore” window and then connect to the wireless network.

If you need further assistance please visit http://www.livetechcare.com