The website All About Windows Phone says there are 40,189 apps available. More than two thirds are free and about one in ten are paid but offer a free trial. The website claims 165 apps are being added every day. Of the apps published, around 5,500 have been withdrawn or removed from the marketplace. There are more apps available in the US compared to the UK, around 33,950 to 32,332. Most of the apps available relate to gaming, books, reference, tools to enhance the phone’s experience or entertainment.

It may be an impressive figure but it is somewhat dwarfed by the numbers associated with the App Store. There are around 500,000 apps available for those with iPhones, iPads and iPods and around 18 billion downloads. Android Market has around 400,000 apps. Microsoft has ground to make up. Their App Store equivalent, the Marketplace was only launched a year ago. It may be that they have released fewer than Apple in the same amount of time since launch but it shows a renewed drive for Microsoft with Windows Phone to catch up with its rivals and the Nokia Lumia 800 is a big part of that.

The first product of the new partnership between the Finnish manufacturer and Microsoft, the Lumia 800 is seen by smartphone fans as a mark of ambition. Many had thought Windows Phone had lost too much ground to Apple and Android phones yet the Lumia with a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Scorpion processor, 3.7 inch display with 480 x 800 resolution and 8 megapixel camera more than matches its competitors. Apps, including games, media and music have become a stalwart of smartphone interaction. Nokia has always been a brand focused on offering video and audio capability which may have encouraged a push in this direction.

The growth of apps also means the sky is the limit for Windows Phone users. It attracts more developers, meaning Windows Phone becomes a more attractive prospect for those devising and designing new apps. That creates more of a buzz and raises the profile amongst smartphone users of the apps available on Windows Phone, which thus attracts more developers. Growth leads to growth.

The report suggests that by January 2012 there will be more than 50,000 apps showing this is a real area of growth for Windows Phone and Microsoft. Greater integration across Microsoft’s other software brands, like the Xbox Live App that is available on the Nokia Lumia 800 is an indication that while it may have lagged behind Apple and Android, 2012 will be there year that Windows Phone starts to catch up.

Therefore, it is recommended that in addition to taking effective precautions, every user must know how to deal with common computer errors. Here are some of the easy steps to follow when faced with computer errors:

Restart your computer

This may seem inconsequential, however at times after you restart your PC you may find the error goes away. This generally happens when the error occurs due to a temporary glitch and a simple restart fixes the issue.

Perform a malware scan

Malware programs are perhaps the biggest cause of recurring computer errors, such as error 2739. Symptoms of malware infection include a drop in computer performance and sudden occurrence of recurring errors. If you notice these symptoms on your computer, run a malware scan using reliable and advanced antivirus and antispyware tools.

Furthermore, to ensure that your computer does not become victim to harmful programs, regularly update your protective software with the latest security updates and malware definitions.

Clean your registry

Frequent PC errors can also be due to a corrupt or bloated registry. The registry stores vital information that is required to keep a Windows computer functional. Tampering with data stored in the registry or the addition of volumes of unwanted and unnecessary information into the registry may cause your registry to become bloated and corrupt. A corrupt registry not only causes various errors, such as error 0×80040702 and C++ runtime error, but may also make your system unstable.

To repair errors occurring due to registry issues, scan your registry using reliable registry cleaning software.

Ensure complete and correct installation/uninstallation of programs

If you install a program with damaged files, or if you only do a partial installation, you may receive errors when you try to run the program. If you are receiving errors related to the program you recently installed, to fix the issue uninstall and then correctly reinstall the program.

Similarly, while uninstalling a program, make sure that all files and registry entries related to the program are removed from your computer. To achieve this, you may use a reliable third-party uninstaller tool to remove unwanted programs or software from your computer.

Update your operating system, driver, and software files

The error you are getting could be due to use of outdated files. If the error is related to a Windows file, verify that you have installed the latest Windows updates. If not, then download and install the latest Windows updates. Microsoft regularly releases new updates to boost the functionality of their products and to fix any known issues in them. If you use a Windows Vista or XP computer, enable the Automatic Update feature to ensure that new updates are automatically installed on your computer.

Similarly, you may troubleshoot errors related to application or driver files by installing new updates that are released by the manufacturers of these products. To keep your driver files automatically updated, you may also opt to use an efficient third-party driver scanner tool.

To begin with, let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of DLL errors, such as the shaderapidx9.dll error.

• The concerned DLL file is missing or corrupt.
• One or more software files of the software with which you are getting the DLL error are missing or corrupt.
• Outdated software, device drivers, and Window files.
• Malware Infection.
• Registry Issues.

To resolve DLL errors, such as shaderapidx9.dll, owaauth.dll, and olmapi32.dll errors on your own perform the following, easy-to-do steps:

Reinstall the software with which you are getting the error

If the DLL error is occurring only when you run a particular application, then to fix the issue uninstall the software via the Add or Remove Programs utility and reinstall it. For instance, if you are receiving the olmapi32.dll error when you try to run Outlook 2003, uninstall and reinstall Outlook 2003 to fix the error.

Update your Windows, software, and device driver files

The next step is to update your Windows, software, and device driver files.

To install the latest Windows updates, either enable the built-in Automatic Update feature on your Windows PC or manually download and install the latest available Windows updates from the Microsoft website.

Similarly, to update your software and drivers, visit the manufacturer’s website to download new updates, if available.

Search the Microsoft Database for any available hotfix for the error

Microsoft periodically releases hotfixes to fix errors related to Windows files. So, if you are receiving a DLL error related to a Windows file, such as the owaauth.dll file, check to see if Microsoft has provided a hotfix for that particular issue.

Perform a System Restore

Roll-back your system to a previous date when the DLL error was not occurring and check to see if things are OK now.

To do a system restore in Windows 7 perform the following steps:

1. Click Start, type system restore in Search box, and then click System Restore.
2. Click the Next button in the System Restore dialog box.
3. Select the Date and Time to which you want to restore your Windows system to.
4. Click Next and then click Finish.

Perform a malware scan

Malware programs, if present on your computer, can cause various recurring errors including DLL errors.

Update your anti-malware software and then run a malware scan on your entire computer and remove any reported threats.

Clean your registry

Issues in your registry may also cause DLL error messages to appear time and again on your computer. The problem is that as the registry works in the background, the issues in the registry go unnoticed until you start noticing inconsistent behavior in your computer’s performance or your screen is flooded with random error messages.

To fix issues in the registry, seek the help of a reliable registry cleaner tool. Perform a registry scan using registry maintenance software to remove unwanted and bad entries.

With the help of this guide you can resolve and prevent DLL errors on your own.

One such problem that can be avoided to a great extent is the EXE error problem that haunts millions of computers every year. EXE errors are problems or issues associated with executable files that are used to run a program or perform a task on your computer.

Listed below are guidelines that will help you prevent exe errors from occurring on your PC.

Be careful when deleting a file

Deletion of an exe file by mistake may prove costly and you may be left staring at recurring exe error messages. Pay close attention when deleting a file.

If you suspect you have permanently deleted an exe file, such as pctspk.exe, you may use an advanced file recovery tool to recover the lost file and rectify the pctspk.exe error.

Run a virus scan

Viruses are known to change the registry settings of various files, including exe files. As a result, whenever an application tries to run an infected exe file, an exe error is generated. In fact, virus infection is the most common cause of exe errors, such as wzqkpick.exe errors.

To prevent a virus infection from causing exe errors, install a reliable antivirus tool on your system. Also, schedule regular virus scans of your entire computer and keep your antivirus tool updated with the latest security updates and virus definitions.

Install an antispyware tool

Spyware programs generally enter your system along with free software that you download from dubious websites. Processes associated with spyware programs interfere with your other legitimate exe processes and may cause various exe errors on your computer. To prevent spyware programs from causing frequent exe errors, install an advanced antispyware tool.

Maintain a fast and strong Internet connection

Not many users are aware that a slow Internet connection may also cause exe errors. When you are downloading a program, if your Internet connection is slow or breaks often, you may end up with broken or incomplete exe files. The broken, incomplete, or corrupt exe files may result in exe errors when you try to install the downloaded program.

Do not run conflicting software

At times, exe files of different legitimate applications may conflict with each other and cause exe errors. This is true especially in case of protective tools. Processes associated with different antivirus tools are known to conflict with each other and may lead to various exe errors. It is advisable that you only install and run one antispyware software on your PC.

Run a registry scan

A corrupt or bloated registry may also result in various exe errors, such as wzqkpick.exe and pctspk.exe errors. Prevent exe errors from occurring due to bad registry entries by running regular registry scans using an advanced registry cleaning tool to flush out incorrect, invalid, and corrupt registry entries.

The causes of Windows file errors

The Windows file system is enormously complicated. Therefore, do not feel unhappy if you are facing trouble managing things; the whole world is suffering from the same problem. Some of the main causes of file type errors are given below:

• Registry – The registry works in the background and keeps all the info related to file types. A corrupt registry, therefore, gives result to file type errors.
• Malware – Many types of malware and viruses specialize in affecting the filesystem. So, it is possible that your system may be having a serious infection.
• Missing applications – Not many people stop to think of it, but it is entirely possible that you don’t have the required application installed on your system.
• DLL errors – If some system DLLs have been corrupted, then you are sure to get file type errors.

Important file types

Besides the usual file extensions, there are a few important ones we should talk about so that we have a better idea when we get down to troubleshooting:

• .pgm file type – The extension PGM stands for Portable GreyMap format. This is related to image manipulation programs like Adobe Photoshop, ACD See, etc.
• .pcb file type – This is the file related to software that are designed to create maps for Printed Circuit Boards. You would need some simulation/engineering software to run this file.
• .bc! file type – This file is related to the torrent manager download program, and is created as soon as a download starts. If no download is in progress, then the existence of this file could mean that a download was halted prematurely.

Getting rid of Windows file type errors

We now come to the most important part. In order to get rid of the file type errors, just follow the below steps carefully:

• Get a good, industry-strength registry cleaner for your system, and scan the registry regularly for problems and fix issues related to file associations.
• Update your antivirus and other protective software daily. Also, make sure that it has been downloaded from a trusted source only.
• Make sure you have the required application to run the file correctly.
• Invest in a good file-repair tool to diagnose and fix related problems.

So, now you know how easy and fun it is to learn about and solve Windows errors. There is no rocket science behind it, and the very next step is for you to go ahead and give it a try.

In this article, we provide you with essential tips that will allow you to troubleshoot common pc errors that occur due missing or corrupt DLL files and as a result, increase your computer speed.

To begin with, here are a few examples of error messages that may appear on your screen if one or more essential DLL files are either corrupt or missing.

• “<DLLfilename> was not found”
• “This application failed to start as an important component :<DLLfilename> was not found. Reinstalling the application may fix the error”
• “<DLLfilename> is missing”

To troubleshoot DLL errors such as the dlcctime.dll missing entry, hcwutl32.dll, and adobelinguistic.dll errors that occur due to missing or corrupt files, perform the following steps:

Run a malware scan

A common cause of missing or corrupt DLL files is malware infection.  Let’s see why.

Malicious programs, such as virus, rootkit, worms and other variants delete DLL files or corrupt DLL files by altering the codes embedded in them. As you can guess this behavior results in a DLL error, every time programs call upon the corrupt or missing DLL file.

When besieged with recurring DLL errors, first check whether your PC is secure or not. To do this, restart Windows in the Safe Mode and perform a thorough virus/malware scan.

The steps listed below take you through on how to start Windows in Safe Mode:

1. Close all running applications, click the Start menu, and select the Restart option.
2. Press and hold the F8 key as your computer reloads.
3. In the Advanced Windows Option menu that opens, select the Safe Mode option and press Enter.

Reinstall the application that is generating errors

In case the malware scan reports the presence of malicious programs, then after removing the reported threats, uninstall and reinstall the application with which you are getting the DLL error to retrieve the missing file.

Even when no malware is found, then you should still perform this step. Because whenever you reinstall a program, all the files that the program requires are saved on your hard disk again.

Though chances are slim, you may find that the DLL file is still missing after you reinstalled the application with which you were getting the DLL error. This happens when the missing DLL was not a part of the application that you reinstalled. In such cases, you will need to either copy the missing DLL from another computer or download the file from an online DLL directory to fix the DLL error.

Clean your registry

In case no malware programs were found and the DLL file listed in the error message is present on your computer, then chances are high that your registry is corrupt.

Issues in registry are a well-known cause of application errors, such as DLL errors. To repair the issue, you will need to restore your registry’s integrity. To achieve this, clean your Windows registry using a reliable registry cleaner.

With the help of these easy-to-do steps you can easily deal with recurring DLL errors on your own.

Today’s computer printers are quite intelligent and can pretty much function seamlessly. However, like most other machines, they can also suffer from occasional glitches and issues. Fortunately, most of the common printer problems are not difficult to solve and can be resolved by the user without calling in the experts.

Before you start using your printer, you must perform the following checks to make sure the printer problems are not due to one of these:

1. Connection between the printer and power source is proper and powered ON.
2. Connection between the computer and your printer is proper.
3. Paper tray is not empty
4. The cartridge inside the printer is not empty

More than half of printer problems are due to the above simple issues which are often overlooked by users. Besides these, some other printer issues that users may encounter include:

1. Problems due to printer driver issues: Printer drivers are the programs that communicate between the printer and your computer. Any problem in the driver may cause a computer error. For example, you may encounter the following error while trying to shutdown your PC:

“The exception unknown software exception (0X0000005) occurred in the application located in 0X 760fbe16.”

This problem is caused by the hpqgpc01.exe file due to some problem in the HP printer driver. The problem can be rectified by selecting the appropriate driver in the Printer menu of the startup program.

PC Start-up Problems

Whenever you start your PC, some of the files related to your printer automatically load. The concept for these files to load at the start-up process is to reduce the time taken in the printing process later on. However, sometimes these files may interfere with the normal start-up process and cause errors like:

“Hpqthb08.exe application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000135)”

To resolve this problem, you simply need to disable the file from loading during the startup process.

High CPU usage

There are instances when the executable file spoolsv.exe which manages the printing process and lineup of printer files sequentially, gets filled up with unnecessary files. This may cause a spike in CPU consumption (as high as 100%) and even bring the system to a grinding halt. In order to rectify this problem, you need to stop the spooler process, delete all the files in the printer folder and then enable the service again.

Malware problem

It is not uncommon for virus files to disguise themselves with legitimate printer file names to avoid being detected and then cause mayhem in the system. Therefore, you must always have a good quality anti-malware program to protect you from these nasty intruders.