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Quick and Easy Fixes For Common Windows Errors

Once in a while we all get frustrated with the complicated error messages that flog our computers. The key to alleviating the computing experience is by increasing your knowledge about computers and various error messages. You must ensure that you are not completely dependent on computer experts for troubleshooting errors.

In this article, we will discuss how to fix three common errors associated with a Windows computer, namely Windows error code 39, stop 0×00000024 error and msvcr80.dll error.

Windows Error Code 39

Error Code 39 is related to device drivers and may occur when a required driver is missing or if a required binary file is corrupt. You can use the Device Manager, which is a built-in utility in Windows PCs, to view error codes related to drivers and fix the errors by performing the following steps:

1. Right-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop and select Properties.
2. Click the Hardware tab and then click the Device Manager button.
3. Double-click on any device type listed under the Device Manager window to view the devices under it. For example, double-click Network Adapters.
4. Double-click a device to view its properties dialog box

If error code 39 has been generated for a device then the following error message will be displayed in the Device Status box on the General tab:

“Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)”

Steps to Windows Error Code 39

Error Code 39 can be fixed by uninstalling and reinstalling the concerned device driver. Always remember to restart your system after you have reinstalled the device driver.

You can also fix this error using the Troubleshooting wizard. The steps listed below will guide you on how to run this wizard:

1. Double-click the faulty device in the Device Manager window to view its properties box.
2. Click on Troubleshoot button under General tab to open the Troubleshooting wizard.
3. Follow the instructions given in the wizard to identify and to fix the problem.

You can also seek the help of a good third-party driver scanner tool to help you repair driver related issues.

Fixing Stop 0×00000024 Error

The “stop 0×00000024” error message pops up when there is a problem with the Ntfs.sys file. Follow the pointers listed below to correct this error:

• Ensure that the cabling of your PC is intact and that there are no termination problems between your SCSI hard disks, other devices and their SCSI controllers.
• Update your drivers regularly and ensure they are compatible with your operating system.
• Ensure that third-party softwares that you use, such as antivirus programs, backup utilities and third-party disk managers are compatible with your operating system.
• Regularly run diagnostic tools to ensure the integrity of different volumes on your hard drive. You can follow the steps listed below to check and fix the disk volumes for errors:  Go to Start, select Run, type cmd and click OK.  Then, type chkdsk drive: /f and press Enter.

Fixing MSVCR80.dll Error

You may receive an error message related to the msvcr80.dll file similar to the one mentioned below:

“This application has failed to start because MSVCR80.dll was not found. Re-installing the application might fix the problem”.

You can fix msvcr80.dll error by deleting the corresponding file and reinstalling the application.

Many computer errors also occur due to problems in the Windows registry. This is why it is recommended that you use a good registry tool to scan and repair registry issues periodically.

Quick And Easy Fixes For EXE Problems

Most computer owners do not believe that they are up to the challenge of solving issues pertaining to their PCs. They seek external help which is often expensive and time consuming.

With the spread of information, especially due to the evolution of the Internet, many computer users are beginning to remove this mist of uncertainty that surrounds computer errors. They are beginning to realize that there are ways they can solve some of their computer problems on their own. This article will help users solve a common problem faced by computer owners which is known as EXE errors or executable file errors.

EXE files are powerful files because they are the only files that have the capability to run codes on your computer. This is the reason why when installing a new application, running it, and using its various options, EXE files are used.  This power of EXE files is often exploited by malware programs to run malicious codes on your computer. These malware programs work in two ways. First, they add malicious codes to legitimate Windows files, such as mmc.exe (Microsoft Management Console) and wdfmgr.exe (Windows Media Player) and cause them to generate errors. Second, they copy malicious EXE files, such as d.exe to your computer that enable them to spread easily and cause several problems to your PC. To combat viruses and spyware, you need to use good antivirus and antispyware tools to scan your PC, detect malware files, programs, and registry entries, and then get rid of them. To ensure complete removal, you may use a good registry tool to thoroughly scan your registry and wipe out any malicious entries from it.

Many EXE files, such as qttask.exe (QuickTime) load at system startup and feed on your system resources unnecessarily. These files are usually not essential for the related applications to function and can easily be disabled and removed you’re your startup programs. So, if you want to fix qttask.exe problems and any other such problem caused by programs that you don’t need to run at all times, use the System Configuration Utility to disable them from loading at startup. If you find this utility confusing, you may use a third-party startup programs manager utility.

The device drivers that are required by your hardware components also use EXE files extensively. If there is a physical problem with your hardware or related driver, an EXE error may occur. To keep your hardware in check, you may use a reliable PC diagnostics tool to ensure that all components are free from physical problems. To keep your device drivers up-to-date, you may use a good driver scanner tool to automatically perform these tasks for you.

Programs add entries in the Windows registry that enable them to carry out various operations. If there is some problem with these entries or if your Windows registry is damaged, you may experience EXE and other PC errors. To resolve such issues, you may use a good registry tool to thoroughly scan, clean and repair your registry.

Dealing With Computer Errors Caused By Malware

Malware or malicious software is an epidemic disease infecting millions of computers across the world every year. Malware programs come in various forms and they vary in the extent of damage they cause to the computers. They can be classified mainly into two large categories: viruses and spyware. Viruses are infectious software programs capable of reproducing and transmitting itself from one machine to another. Spyware programs are bundled with other programs and install stealthily on your computer.

Malware in early days of computing were confined to pranks created by college students for fun. Over last three decades, they have developed into sophisticated tools to commit online crime.

Unfortunately, most of the PC users today are not aware of the extent of threats caused by these programs. Therefore, they fail to equip their computers to combat this menace effectively. In fact, more than three-fourths of computer owners are at serious risk at any given point of time.

You must not wait for malware to strike your computer to start preparing a protection plan. Take the steps to deal with this problem right now.

First step that is extremely essential to combat virus infections is user vigilance. The following are some NEVERs and ALWAYS that you need to follow:

• NEVER download shareware and freeware software, media, games etc. from dubious looking Web sites. One of the common traps are the Web sites that provide cracks and keygen software that enable you to run pirated software. If you want to be able to use your PC for a long time, you must stay away from such software.
• ALWAYS scan any external media for viruses before copying data from it.
• NEVER open emails attachments that you are not sure of what they may contain—even if the attachments have come from known source. Many viruses spread by sending email with infected attachments to all people who are in the address book of the infected computer.
• NEVER forget to or postpone updating software on your computer. Several virus infections are built around the vulnerabilities detected in these products. When you update your software these lapses are patched up making the software and your PC more secure.
• ALWAYS run a full system antivirus and antispyware scan if you notice suspicious files, such as d.exe, or files similar to legitimate files, such as wscntfy.exe and smss.exe, running on your computer. As soon as a virus infection is detected, you must take your PC off the network, disconnect it from the Internet and then run the scan. To ensure that your antivirus and antispyware tools are able to scan and combat malware, you must update them regularly.
• ALWAYS scan and clean your registry after completing antivirus and antispyware scan. Malware programs need to add entries in the registry in order to carry out their malicious activity. Many of these entries are embedded entries, which are almost impossible to remove manually. To get rid of these, the best and the most efficient way is to use a reliable registry cleaner tool.