Most computers contain corrupt and redundant files, and error-ridden software,that can cause devastating damage to your computer. Although they can't always be avoided, it's important to remember that computer errors can be corrected. The key is to understand what computer errors are, understand what they mean when they show up, and understand how to minimize their occurrence in the first place. There is a glossary included at the bottom of



this article to define any words you may not be familiar with. If the glossary doesn't cover the vocabulary, simply do a search for the term on your favorite search engine. For the purpose of this article, I will use

malware to encompass all undesirable software.

Registry

The Windows Registry is an important part of your computer system. Windows stores each and every action of a user in the Windows registry. Because the registry file is accessed every time you install or remove hardware or software, create new files, read email, browse the Internet, or perform just

about any other computer activity, the file is constantly being opened, read, appended to and truncated. As a result of this, broken registry keys can make that communication difficult and slow. Over time, the Registry gets affected due to software installations, uninstallations, and malware.

Errors

Basically, computer errors are the result of a number of things that may or may not have anything to do with the way the computer is used. 99% of computer errors are caused by an error in your registry. Errors occur partly

because it's a human being who wrote the code, and partly because it's almost impossible to account for all the ways in which a software program will behave when it is at work in the machine.

Internet

If you add the internet to the mix, your computer will get malware that will

cause errors on your machine. Viruses are the main reason people have computer errors, especially if you are connected to the internet. If you use Internet Explorer, you are even more susceptible to the malware that is so prevalent on the Internet because most of it is written specifically for Internet Explorer. By using Firefox, you reduce, though not eliminate, the chance of being infected by the thousands of malware that are rampant on the Internet. Another simple measure you can use to protect yourself is to install a router on your broadband connection - this reduces the visibility of and accessibility to your machine from the Internet. Make it a practice

not to open email attachments if you do not know the sender and maybe if you're not expecting an attachment from someone you know. The reason I say that is that some viruses will send itself to everyone in an address book on an infected computer so if you do not expect an attachment, exercise caution.

If the computer does not have any internet connection, then a virus could have only gotten on their by someone inserting infected media. Errors related to the operating system can be a real pain to correct and so require tools to help you fix them. A good antivirus and registry fix program can be your best friend in a situation where you get infected with some sort of malware.

This article doesn't even begin to cover the entire gamut of computer errors - but additional information regarding how to get help with a computer issue (including computer errors) can be found at: http://www-marketingpros.com/fix_pc_errors. By beginning with a registry scan, you can detect anomalies that an anti-virus/anti-spyware may not necessarily detect.

I sincerely hope that you've found this article helpful and informative.

Glossary:

Malware:

Hardware, software, or firmware that is intentionally included or inserted in a system for a harmful purpose.

Spyware:

Any software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet.

Adware:

While not necessarily malware, adware is considered to go beyond the reasonable advertising that one might expect from freeware or shareware. Typically a separate program that is installed at the same time as a shareware or similar program, adware will usually continue to generate advertising even when the user is not running the originally desired program.

Virus:

A dangerous computer program with the characteristic feature of being able to generate copies of itself, and thereby spreading. Additionally most computer viruses have a destructive payload that is activated under certain conditions.

RootKit:

A hacker security tool that captures passwords and message traffic to and from a computer. A collection of tools that allows a hacker to provide a backdoor into a system, collect information on other systems on the network,

mask the fact that the system is compromised, and much more.