Tim's Focus on PC Support Blog

It's summer in the Northern Hemisphere... and it's hot. Fortunately for us humans, it's usually easy to stay cool one way or another. For our computers, however, it's not so easy.

Keeping your computer cool is important. A computer that runs too hot can cause damage so severe that the CPU and other expensive parts might need to be replaced.

From some simple tips, to upgrading CPU cooling fans, to installing water cooling systems, my 11 Ways to Keep Your PC Cool will help you avoid an overheating disaster this summer.

No one likes to call tech support. I don't even like to call tech support and I actually am tech support for a lot of people.

The frustration with talking to a tech support person is all about communication. Either you're not explaining an issue properly or the person you talk to doesn't speak your language well or isn't asking you the right questions. Regardless, it's all about communication.

If you keep some important tips in mind, talking to tech support can be bearable. Not enjoyable - but not the nightmare that you might remember from last time.

There are a few different kinds of "error codes" that can show up on your computer, but some of the most common are called system error codes.

Unfortunately, these error codes rarely display with any helpful information. Most of the time you'll get no error message or other explanation.

There are literally thousands of these system error codes so there's no way to decipher their meanings without some kind of reference. That's where my complete list of system error codes can help.

With this list, you can figure out what the problem is - from Error Code 1 to Error Code 15299. Some of the code numbers don't exist so there aren't actually 15,299 codes but there are still plenty to drive you crazy.

In a surprising move this week, Microsoft has promised to extend support for Windows XP through 2014. Looking back at how long previous operating systems were supported, most assumed that support would last through 2011 at the latest.

This is a bit longer than they had originally planned but considering the late adoption of Windows Vista by business (and probably because of the many people that simply refuse to upgrade), it's not a crazy idea either.

Read more at InformationWeek.

I received this email a few days ago from a reader:

I have all kinds of new folders that showed up in the last few days. I'm always working around in my drives so I have a pretty good idea how many folders and files there are in certain places. A few days ago, several folders and I think some files too have appeared out of nowhere. How do I know if I need them or not? - Steven

After getting the names of a few of these files and folders from Steven, it was apparent that Windows XP was configured to show hidden files. This isn't the default setting in Windows so Steven must have made this change on accident or another program made the change without Steven's knowledge.

Either way, it's an easy fix! Just configure Windows XP to hide hidden files and folders. Steven's computer was back to normal right away. You need to avoid deleting most hidden files but you certainly don't need to see them all the time.

Lost your user account password in Windows? It only seems to happen when you have a ton of work to do and you've procrastinated until the last minute. Lost your administrator password? You'll need that password to access diagnostic tools to fix major system problems. It's really frustrating trying to guess a password you've probably never used while troubleshooting a dying computer.

Do not fear! Ophcrack is here! Ophcrack is a free (yes, you read that correctly) program that can recover just about any lost password. The LiveCD version of Ophcrack fits on a CD and does a very good job at "cracking" or "hacking" your lost password.

I've put together a step-by-step guide to using Ophcrack LiveCD to recover your password, complete with screenshots and help burning the CD, booting to the CD, etc. Using this guide, you should be able to hack your own password with Ophcrack LiveCD even if you've never tried anything like this before. It's that easy.

I also have a full review of Ophcrack that discusses some of the important features of the program.

Have you ever had so many windows open (we all do it sometimes) that Microsoft Windows "groups" similar windows together for your convenience?

It's called Taskbar Button Grouping and you'll see a situation similar to the one pictured below when it's active. In this case, eight Internet Explorer windows were automatically grouped together on the taskbar. Some people prefer this but it's usually a bother for the average user.

To me, it's one of the most annoying features in Windows. Disabling the grouping feature is really easy and may help keep your sanity while looking for that window you swear you just had open.

Safety should always be at the top of your priority list when working around electronics - this includes the inside of your computer.

Feel free to ignore my warnings when you plug in and unplug your iPod or install a new keyboard or mouse. On the other hand, if you're opening up your PC to install a hard drive or swap out a bad video card, make sure you keep this short list of very important computer repair safety tips in mind.

You didn't think you'd need that Microsoft Office CD key again, did you? Don't feel bad - few people do. It's not just Microsoft Office either. Most programs require a CD key or a product key (they're the same thing) during installation but no one ever thinks about how they might need to reinstall the program someday.

If you've lost your Microsoft Office CD key for Office 2007, Office 2003, Office XP, etc. but you still have the program installed, don't worry - there's a way out. Read more...

The boot order is just that - the order in which the "bootable" devices are checked for operating systems. If you ever need to boot from a CD or DVD, or maybe even a floppy disk (remember those?), you may need to change the boot order in your BIOS configuration utility.

Changing the boot order in BIOS will solve the number one reason why you might run into problems booting from something other than your hard drive - a boot order with the hard drive listed first. Luckily changing it is very easy once you get into BIOS.

Here are some related how-to's you might helpful too:

What is a Boot Order?
How to Boot from a CD or DVD
How to Get Into BIOS