Thursday, January 23, 2014

Using Windows Device Manager To Update The Drivers

The Windows computer contains many hardware components and it needs drivers for their smooth working. In addition, it is needed to update the drivers of your hardware regularly to ensure that everything is working fine. Therefore, if the update is available, make sure that you update it properly by using the instructions given below by the Windows help team.

Instructions 
  • Start the process of updating the peripheral drivers by opening the Device Manager option. This will open a device manager window in your system screen.
  • Next, you need to click on the option named category to which your device belongs. For e.g. if you need the drivers for Network Adapter, you need to click on the option Networking Hardware.
  • Thus, find the device that you want to update and double click on it to open.
  • From there, you need to click on the tab named Driver. This will make available a driver tab dialog box and it contains many buttons needed for updating the drivers of your system peripherals. 
  • In order to update a driver, you need to click on the button named as Update Driver.
  • Do not forget to make the driver itself search for updates and update it. This option is different in different operating system. You need to select the option named as Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software in Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating system. Whereas in Windows XP, it is completely different and you need to select the option labeled as Install the Software Automatically followed by clicking on the button named Next.
  • When you choose this option, it will search your computer, followed by searching the web for the latest drivers available for your device. If a new driver is found, it will be downloaded and installed automatically. If the Windows is not able to find any new driver updates for your system, then it is sure that your machine drivers are up to date. 
  • When finished, exit by closing the Window. 
Tips 
  • When you have completed updating the drivers, restart your machine and this will make affect the changes that you have made. Close the Device properties window and restart your machine.
  • In some cases, it is better to go to the website of the device manufacturer for checking the driver updates.
These above instructions given by the Windows help team would help you update the drivers of your system using the Windows Device Manager.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Answer Techs Help Solve Queries For A Premium Fee

Microsoft recently released the AnswerDesk.com premium help service without much hype or fanfare. This is in contradiction to their many previous releases, where they’d beat their drums long before the product even started developing. This is quite strange indeed especially considering the immense potential of the premium service. Microsoft has the AnswerDesk at all its growing retail stores, and the service is similar to the Genius Bar at Apple stores. Once could argue that Microsoft gave a less arrogant sounding name as compared to Apple, but then again, Apple always likes to act cocky and supreme, a quality not lost among the Apple users as well. This service comes at a great time, when there are a growing number of online services with ever so annoying commercials about the various online PC tune-up services that these establishments offer.

A Microsoft spokesperson commented o the rather quiet and discreet launch, “Microsoft is always looking for ways to make support easier for customers to access and this is part of that commitment. We have no additional plans to share at this time; stay tuned for more information.”

Rightfully so AnswerDesk.com is not a huge service upgrade, just a service that helps customer to connect with Answer Techs. These Answer Techs are available 24/7 and are aimed at customers seeking help with Microsoft software related problems. This premium service is just a sophisticated and enhanced version of Microsoft help line. Sure there are premium services, but users also get complimentary consultation for their Microsoft related issues.

The Answer Techs are classified by their area of knowledge, and how many issues they have successfully solved in the past. This might be a drawback as new people might have trouble competing against veterans; but let’s see how things progress before we can pass judgment.

The About Us page for the premium service says, "Answer Desk Answer Techs are trained to diagnose and troubleshoot your Microsoft software related issues. Answer Techs are also knowledgeable to train you in Microsoft’s latest software, such as Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010."

However this service is not free of charge neither cheap. The Answer Techs will inspect the entire system for all types of issues like viruses and malware as well as install Microsoft Security Essentials software on the system for $99. The advanced Microsoft help line service also provides an Advanced PC Tune-Up for $99, and provides disk cleanup as well as removal of temporary Internet files. This service might gain more traction however if it were slightly cheaper.

To Get Rid Of The Yahoo Toolbar From Your Taskbar

We all depend on web browsers to explore the world of internet. You might have definitely used the Yahoo toolbar in your browser and using it, you could access anything in the Yahoo service. The toolbar is meant to avoid the hassles of looking up the utilities offered by Yahoo by visiting the website. The Yahoo toolbar also comes as a toolbar that is attached to the taskbar of Windows after the installation of Yahoo Desktop Search. This would be useful if you use Yahoo more often and also this would help you search the files in your computer quickly.
However, it is found that users who have already tried using the Yahoo Desktop Search toolbar do not want them on their web browsers again. The reason would be space that it occupies on the taskbar would make it difficult to have any other useful utilities on the taskbar of your desktop. If you are looking to remove the Yahoo toolbar, you need not contact an IT technician. Removing Yahoo toolbar is quite simple and you just need to follow these simple instructions that will help you delete the Yahoo toolbar from the taskbar of your computer.

Instructions
  • You need to click on the Start button on your desktop and click on the Control Panel. 
  • Now the window of Control Panel will appear on the screen and it will have many icons displayed.
  • Out of the different icons shown there, open the icon labeled Add/Remove Programs. If you have the Vista operating system installed, then it would be displayed as Programs and Features.
  • This will open up a new screen with all the installed programs listed. You need to scroll down to check for the Yahoo Desktop Search Entry.
  • When you locate the entry for Yahoo Desktop Search, select the Remove or Uninstall button and this will in turn open up a new dialog box.
  • You need to follow the instructions provided in the dialog box and following the prompts will help you to get Yahoo Desktop Search toolbar uninstalled completely. You need to then restart your computer to implement the changes.
The above instructions are quite easy to follow and you will find the uninstallation process quite simple. If you find that the process is not uninstalling Yahoo toolbar completely, check for the presence of any other Yahoo files in Add/Remove programs. Removing Yahoo toolbar related entries would help you to remove the toolbar completely from your computer.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Microsoft Windows 8.1 Does Not Resolve The Windows 8 problems

Microsoft, the software giant, has faced a lot of flak since its Windows 8 Operating System series did not do well as expected. Microsoft, since then, have been developing an update to Windows 8 , that promises to resolve the Windows 8 problems and even enhance the already present features and add some more. This update promises to ‘refine’ the OS. However, after seeing the preview and if it is taken as any indication of what is to come, then unfortunately these changes are not nearly enough to resolve the Windows 8 problems.
The central idea behind the launch of Windows 8 was to bring Microsoft’s flagship operating system into the post-PC era, while continuing to support the traditional PCs. The idea is great, but the situation is not as rosy as it seems. This is because it is very difficult to serve both the camps with the same software.    
The problem is not what Windows 8 wants to achieve that is to introduce a modern touch based interface. However, where it fails is, it totally disregards what the users want. The interface is difficult to absorb, as everything is new. It fails miserably as it did not consider how users might use it.
The new update is probably an attempt to address some of these issues and shortcomings. However, even this update probably leaves a lot to be desired. There are some good features like the users can choose to have their computers to load the traditional desktop interface directly when they turn them on. This is convenient, as you need not pass through the Modern interface first. Windows have also restored the beloved “Start” button.
Windows 8 allowed users to split the screen. The split is between two modern applications; however, only a quarter of the screen will be used for one of them, whereas, other got the rest. This was an inconvenience which will be will be adjusted in the latest update. Moreover, Windows 8.1 users can now see two or more than the two tabbed browser windows in Internet Explorer.
The software giant is seemingly concentrating on boosting the total number quality applications that users can choose from. There are more than 1,00,000 apps in the Windows 8 store. The company announced last month apps like FaceBook, Flipboard and the National Football League, etcetera.
These are welcome, but they do not in any way resolve the basic issues with Windows 8. Even the “Start” button is not what seems it be, as it does not bring  back the old Windows Start menu, just takes users back to the Modern home screen. Therefore, there is no actual practical use for the “Start” button here.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

How To Remove Ask Toolbar From Your Computer

Ask toolbar is one of the commonly used free browser add-ons and it is designed to help users search the Internet with the help of the Ask search engine. This toolbar can be installed in the Internet Explorer or Firefox web browsers.

Ask Toolbar Removal

There are mainly two different techniques to uninstall the Ask toolbar. Users have the option to manually remove the toolbar or make use of an automated tool that will perform the uninstall process for you. Among the two methods, the automated method is the most effective way to remove the program. The reason for this is that the automated tool is designed to scan through your computer and clean it without leaving any trace of the toolbar program.

Manual Removal Of Ask Toolbar
  • To remove the toolbar manually, click on the Start button and select Control Panel. 
  • From the Control Panel window, select Add or Remove Programs (For Windows XP OS) or Uninstall a Program (For Windows Vista and & Windows 7).
  • From the Add or Remove Program window, select Ask Toolbar. This will give you a series of instructions and you just have to follow them to get rid of the toolbar. Some of the Ask toolbar files may still be left and you may have troubles with the toolbar at a later time.
Automated Removal Of Ask Toolbar

The second method is the most suitable way to uninstall the Ask toolbar. You can make use of an automated tool like Final Uninstaller. The interface of the program is very user friendly. The steps of this removal are discussed below.
  • You can download the Final Uninstaller program from the Internet and then install it on your PC. 
  • Perform a scan of your computer by pressing the Scan button in the interface of the program.
  • A list of the programs that are installed in your computer will be shown and from the list, select Ask Toolbar.
  • Check the box on the left side of the Ask toolbar program and then press the Clean button.
  • The Ask toolbar together with all its files will be removed completely from your PC.
These are the two Ask toolbar removal methods. Users can try out the manual removal steps first, as the process is very easy. If you have any doubts, you can contact our technical help desk for further assistance.