Check Errors in the Windows Event Viewer
1. Click 'Start,' right-click 'Computer' and choose 'Manage.'
2. Click the arrow in front of 'Event Viewer,' double-click on the folder 'Windows Logs' and click on the log containing the event you wish to view, such as 'System,' or 'Application.' The 'System' log lists system errors such as driver failure while the 'Application' log lists errors that are caused by programs.

3. Double-click on an Event in the list to view detailed information about the event. Blue screen errors will typically be listed with an event type or level of 'Error.'
Check Errors when they Occur
4. Click 'Start,' type 'sysdm.cpl' into the search field and press 'Enter.' You can also click 'Start,' 'Run,' type 'sysdm.cpl' into the run field and press 'Enter.'
5. Click the 'Advanced' tab and then click 'Settings' under 'Startup and Recovery.'
6. Uncheck the box called 'Automatically restart' and click 'OK.' The next time your computer experiences a blue screen error, it will not restart automatically. This will allow you to check and record all the information on the error screen before turning off the computer and starting it back up manually.

1. Click 'Start' and right-click 'Computer' in the Start menu. Then click 'Manage.'
2. Click 'Disk Management' in the sidebar.

3. Right-click the drive that was originally drive G and click 'Change Drive Letter and Paths.'
4. Click 'Change,' click 'G' in the drop-down box and click 'OK' twice.
5. Open the registry editor by clicking 'Start,' typing 'Regedit' into the search box in the Start menu and pressing 'Enter.'
6. Navigate to the 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders' key in the registry editor.
7. Examine each registry entry's path in the 'Data' column and look for paths that start with a 'G:'. For each that does, right-click the value, type the correct drive letter into the 'Value Data' field and click 'OK.' For example, if one path reads 'G:\Documents and Settings\Administrator,' change it to 'C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator.'
8. Navigate to the following registry keys and replace each 'G:' value inside of them with the correct drive letter:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell FoldersHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersionHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell FoldersHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
9. Close the registry editor and re-run the program's installer.

1. Click 'Start,' 'Programs,' 'Accessories,' 'System Tools' and 'System Restore.'
2. Click 'Restore my computer to an earlier time.'

3. Select a date prior to the point when the registry error manifested.
4. Press 'Next' to restore your computer, fixing the registry error.

1. Download the Userenv.dll file from any free DLL download website (see the 'Resources' section of this article).
2. Right click the downloaded DLL and select 'Copy.' Click the 'Start' menu, select 'Computer,' open the 'C:' drive. Double click the 'Windows' folder and the 'System32' folder. Press the 'Ctrl' and 'V' keys at the same time to paste the file into the folder. Click on 'Yes' in the confirmation pop-up to replace the existing bad DLL (this message will come up only if the DLL is corrupt, but still present in the system.)

3. Go to the 'Start' menu, type 'run' in the 'Start Search' box and press 'Enter.' Type 'Regsvr32 'C:\Windows\System32\msxml3.dll' in the 'Run' window's search field and click 'OK' to register the DLL. Click 'Yes' in the pop-up to confirm the registration.
4. Restart your computer.

1. Close all currently running computer applications by clicking the red 'X' in the upper right-hand corner of the program's window.
2.

Press the 'Start Menu' button and click on the 'Control Panel' option. This will open a new window.

3.

Click on the text field in the upper right-hand corner of the 'Control Panel.' Type 'solution'--this will bring up one or more clickable options; click on the option labeled 'Problem Reports and Solutions.' This will open another new window.
4.

Click on 'See Problems to Check,' located on the upper left-hand side of the 'Problem Reports and Solutions' window.
5.

Scroll the list of recent computer problems to find problems associated with the specific application you're trying to fix. You can view more details about the recent errors for that application by clicking on 'View Details.' Check the boxes for any application errors that you want Windows to automatically fix. If you want to fix all recent program errors, simply click 'Select All' near the top left-hand side of the screen.
6.

Click 'Check for Solutions.' Windows will initiate an automatic search for fixes to the specific application problems you have selected---you must have an active Internet connection for this search to work. Be patient while the search is conducted; depending on the number of errors Windows needs to fix, it may take several minutes to complete. Once Windows has identified solutions to your computer's specific problems, click to install the new fixes for your PC's applications.

1.

Double Click the offending 'Validating Identity' icon in your system tray.
2.

In the Following 'Wireless Network Connection Status' Window click on Properties

3.

In the Resulting 'Wireless Connection Properties' Window click on the 'Wireless Networks Tab.' In this window then click on Properties for your preferred network.
4.

In the next window click on the 'Authentication' tab, Make sure 'Enable IEEE 802.1x....' checkbox is UN-Checked, the rest of this window should be greyed out. If your network is Encrypted go on to step 6 otherwise Click ok and try to connect to your network again.
5.

If you receive a 'Limited or No Connectivity' error for your network connection then your network is most likely encrypted and you need to repeat steps 1-3 and go on to step 6.
6.

In this window make sure you are in the 'Association' tab. You will need to enter your encryption information here in order to connect to your network. Select your encryption type from the 'Network Authentication' and 'Data Encryption' drop downs. Uncheck 'The key is provided for me automatically' and enter and confirm your Network key. Click ok to save changes and try connecting again

1. Run anti-virus and anti-spyware programs on your computer. Follow your software manufacturer's instructions for performing a full system scan. For best results, perform these scans in Windows Safe Mode (Resource 1). Reboot the computer when complete.
2. Look for errors or instability in your system. If your computer runs more smoothly after the virus/spyware scans, you likely eradicated the processes that were hijacking rundll32.exe.

3. Check for the legitimate rundll32.exe file. If you continue to have problems, you must pinpoint which programs are masquerading as rundll32. The real rundll32.exe file is located in C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe. Locate this file by performing a search. Click the 'Start' button, then 'Search.' Type 'rundll32' in the search box. In Windows Vista and 7, type 'rundll32' in the run/search box in the 'Start' menu.
4. Copy---but don't move---the legitimate rundll32.exe file from the System32 folder to your desktop. Rename it rundll32COPY.exe.
5. Delete all other rundll32.exe files that were returned in your search. Do not delete the version located in C:\Windows\System32. Empty your Recycle Bin after you have deleted the files.
6. Reboot your computer. In most cases, you should have deleted all malicious versions of rundll32.exe. If you left the legitimate file intact, Windows should function normally. If you deleted it by mistake, copy the backup version from your desktop back into the System32 folder and rename it rundll32.exe.

Enabling ActiveX
1. Launch your Internet Explorer web browser and click the 'Tools' button.
2. Scroll down and click 'Internet Options.' Click the 'Security' tab and click 'Custom Level.'

3. Click 'Prompt' under 'Download signed ActiveX controls.' Click 'Enable' under 'Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins.' Click 'Enable' under 'Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting.'
4. Click 'OK' to save the changes and 'OK' again to close the Internet Options.
Solving ActiveX Registry Errors
5. Download and install CCleaner free (see Resources).
6. Launch your program after it has installed and click the 'Registry' button on the left panel.
7. Place a check on 'ActiveX and Class Issues' and click 'Scan for Issues.' When the scan is complete, click 'Fix selected issues.' Click 'Yes' to back up and save your registry.
8. Click 'Fix all Selected Issues' and click 'OK' to repair the ActiveX errors and problems.
Uninstalling and Reinstalling ActiveX Application
9. Click the Windows 'Start' button and click the 'Control Panel.'
10. Double-click 'Add or Remove Programs' to open the applications and programs window.
11. Scroll through and click your downloaded ActiveX application. Click 'Change/Remove' and click 'Yes' to remove it from your computer.
12. Navigate to the website to which you downloaded the ActiveX application to reinstall it on your computer.

1. Check the format of the file you are trying to play. While common file types like MP3, MP4 and WMA are all supported by the Windows Media Player, less common or propriety file types like RM or M4A are not supported and will cause an error message to pop up.
2. Update your Windows Media Player/Operating System. Like any program, the Windows Media Player is constantly being updated to improve efficiency, compatibility and aesthetics. Make sure your computer is set to automatically download updates to the operating system (check the Control Panel's 'Security Center' to find this option). To update the media center itself, simply open the program (while connected to the Internet) and Windows Media Center will automatically check for updates. Alternately, you can check the Windows Media Center website (See Resources) for updates.

3. Check file path. If you receive a 'file not found' error message, check the file path. If you are using an old shortcut, the file may have been moved or deleted. Try finding the file you wish to open on your hard drive and open it directly to get rid of the error message.
4. Close other programs. Windows Media Player requires a lot of memory to run, and if you have a lot of other programs open while you are using Windows Media Player, you may receive a 'critical error' or 'lack of memory' error message. To combat this, close other resource-consuming programs, like Internet browsers.
5. Delete unauthorized add-ons. If you have downloaded unauthorized codecs or skins, they may also be causing Windows Media Player to generate errors. Delete these add-ons to restore functionality.

1. Shut down all currently running applications and restart your computer. Press 'F8' repeatedly before Windows begins to open the Windows Advanced Options Menu.
2. Scroll down and select 'Safe Mode.' Press 'Enter' to log into Windows Safe Mode. Safe Mode is used for troubleshooting and repairing system components.

3. Click the Windows 'Start' button and select the 'Control Panel.' Double-click 'Add or Remove Programs' to open the programs window. Click 'Program and Features' (Windows Vista users) and select 'Uninstall a Program' to open the programs window.
4. Click the incompatible software (e.g., Palm Desktop and Synchronization Software) and select 'Change/Remove.' Click 'Yes' to confirm and uninstall the program from your computer.
5. Restart your computer normally to complete the process.

1. Clean the CD with alcohol or a disk cleaning solution. Use a soft rag to gently rub the CD.
2. Use a different drive. If it works in that drive, check the cables to your CD or DVD drive. Unplug the cables and reseat them. If you still have a problem and it occurs with more than one disc, replace the CD or DVD drive.

3. Download software applications to copy files. DVD Decrypter allows you to copy files with advanced options like ignoring read errors. CDCheck and JfileRecovery are software applications used to copy files from damaged media. These programs skip over bad files and recover corrupt files. All these programs are free.
4. Start DVD Decrypter. Go to the I/O tab. Choose 'Tools' and 'Settings.' Turn on 'ignore read errors.' Set 'software read errors retries' to 40. Copy the files.
5. Test the files. If they won't read or give an error message, try JFileRecovery.
6. Open JFileRecovery or CDCheck. Follow the directions to specify the source and destination files and recover data. When the program is finished running, a list of bad files will be displayed. You will have options to repair the files and try to copy them again.

1. Go to a working computer with Internet access and a CD burner drive. Navigate to a site that allows you to download free Linux Live CD distributions. Knoppix is a Live CD distribution used by many IT techs when repairing Windows-based computers. Alternatively, the LiveCDList.com website has many Live CD distributions to choose from that you can use to repair Windows XP NTFS errors. Download the ISO file for the Live CD distribution and save it to your computer.
2. Insert a blank CD into the computer's CD burner drive. If the Windows XP auto-play window appears, close it.

3. Launch the CD burning application on the computer. Click the 'Burn Image' or 'Burn ISO' link in the program and follow the prompts to install the Live CD image to the blank disc. Eject the disc after the burn process finishes.
4. Power on the Windows XP computer with the NTFS errors. Insert the new CD you made into the computer's optical drive. Wait for the computer to boot from the Live CD. Some computers boot from CDs automatically while others require you to press a key to access the boot menu. If you must press a key to access the boot menu and boot from the CD, do so as soon as the initial boot screen comes up. Look for a message on the screen indicating the key you must press to access the boot menu or refer to your motherboard or system user guide.
5. Boot into the Live CD distribution and wait for the Linux operating system to load on the computer. Since the entire operating system runs from the CD, it should take less than a minute for the Linux desktop to appear on the screen. In most cases, you should not need to enter a username and password to log in.
6. Click the 'Terminal' icon on the bottom of the screen or on the Program menu. On most Linux distributions, the 'Terminal' icon resembles a small TV or monitor. A terminal window resembles the command prompt window in Windows.
7. Type 'SU' (without quotes) at the terminal window prompt and press 'Enter.' This turns your session into a 'Root User' or 'Super User' session, similar to 'Run as Administrator' in Windows.
8. Type 'cfdisk' (without quotes) and press the 'Enter' key. Record the name of the primary partition on the hard drive -- it's the largest partition on 'Disk 0' in most cases. Usually the name of the partition is 'hda0' or 'hda1.' Press the 'Q' key to exit the Cfdisk utility and return to the terminal window prompt.
9. Type the following command at the prompt:ntfsfix /dev/hda#Be sure to include the spaces as shown here. Replace the '#' value with the number from the partition list in the Cfdisk utility. For example, if the primary partition name is 'hda0' type '0' in place of the '#' value, or if the name of the partition is 'hda1,' type '1' in place of the '#.'
10. Press the 'Enter' key and wait for the utility to display a confirmation message that the repair to the NTFS partition was successful.
11. Remove the Live CD from the computer's disc drive and restart the machine. Windows XP should start and boot normally.

1. Click the 'Start' button from the desktop, then click the 'Shut Down' button. Click the 'Restart' option to restart your computer automatically.
2. Press and hold down the 'Ctrl' key as your computer restarts to access the DOS startup menu on your screen.

3. Select the 'Command prompt only' option from the list of options using your arrow keys. Press the 'Enter' key on your keyboard.
4. Enter 'scanreg /fix' into the command line of the command prompt and press the 'Enter' key on your keyboard.
5. Press the 'Enter' key again when the scan is finished. Press the power button for your computer to restart again. The registry should be fixed.

1. Start off by bookmarking the Internet Explorer page you want to print.
2. Click the 'Tools' option at the top of IE and then choose 'Internet Options.' A box will open. Click the 'Advanced' tab at the top of the box. Scroll through the options in the middle of the box and click the boxes next to 'Disable script debugging (Internet Explorer)' as well as 'Disable script debugging (other).' Then, click the 'Apply' button at the bottom of the box. Finally, click 'OK' to close the box. Close Internet Explorer and then reopen the program to save your changes.

3. Run the Windows Update. Open Internet Explorer and click the 'Safety' option that is found at the top of the program. You will then need to highlight and select the final option which is labeled 'Windows Update.' After your browser opens the update page, you will need to click the 'Express' tab in order to search for recommended Windows updates. Click the 'Install Updates' button on the very next page to download and install those recommended updates.
4. Reinstall the drivers for your printer. The easiest way to do this is to insert the CD that came with your printer into your computer. Once you do, the setup program for your printer should open. You should then be able to click a 'Repair' or 'Reinstall' option. When this finishes, you will need to restart your computer.
5. Scan your computer for infections. Viruses, adware and spyware can cause numerous problems with Internet Explorer. You should always remember to update your anti-spyware and anti-virus programs before scanning your computer.

1. Click 'Start' and click 'Computer.'
2. Right-click the hard disk with the cyclic redundancy check error under 'Hard Disk Drives' and click 'Properties.'

3. Click the 'Tools' tab at the top of the hard disk 'Properties' window.
4. Click 'Check Now' under 'Error Checking.'
5. Select 'Automatically Fix File System Errors' and 'Scan for and Attempt Recovery of Bad Sectors' in the 'Check Disk' window by clicking each option if it isn't already selected.
6. Start a disk check and repair by clicking 'Start' in the 'Check Disk' window.
7. Click 'Yes' if the 'Do you want to schedule the disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?' prompt appears. A disk can't be checked if it's in use, so you'll need to restart Windows to check it.
8. Restart your computer by clicking 'Start,' clicking the arrow icon to the right of 'Shut Down' and clicking 'Restart.'

1. Turn on the computer and repeatedly press your 'F8' keyboard key. This action stops the normal booting operating procedure and loads an Advanced Boot Options menu.
2. Select the 'Enable low-resolution video (640x480)' option by using the arrow keys on your keyboard. Press the 'Enter' key once the correct option is highlighted.

3. Click 'Start.' Type 'Device Manger' in the 'Start Search' field and press 'Enter.' This opens a new window containing a list of your hardware.
4. Expand your graphics hardware by clicking 'Display Adapters.' Windows may display an alert icon next to your adapter.
5. Right-click the adapter and click 'Disable.' Click 'Yes' if prompted to confirm, and reboot your computer as normal.
6. Go back to the Device Manager once Windows has reloaded by typing 'Device Manager' in the 'Start Search' box and pressing 'Enter.'
7. Right-click your adapter again and click 'Enable.' Click 'Yes' if prompted with a confirmation, and reboot your computer once more.
8. Right-click your desktop and click 'Personalize.' This opens a new window on the screen. Click the 'Display Settings' on the appearing window.
9. Locate the 'Resolution' slider near the bottom of the window. Click and drag the slider to a resolution supported by your monitor. Refer to your monitor's documentation if you are not familiar with the maximum or recommended operating resolution of your display.
10. Click the 'Apply' button at the bottom to confirm your resolution change. Your screen may flash briefly, and a confirmation appears asking if you would like to keep the new resolution. Click 'Keep Changes' if satisfied or 'Revert' if you are not content with the change.

1. Restart your computer and wait for the login screen to appear.
2. Select the administrator account from the list of available accounts. Note that if there is only one account, it is the administrator account.

3. Type the password if prompted and click 'OK.'
4. Right-click on the program that is generating the Runtime 75 error. A context menu appears.
5. Select 'Run as Administrator' from the context menu. The program should now run without any errors. If you continue to receive a Runtime 75 error message, consider running your anti-virus program. Sometimes, runtime errors are caused by computer viruses.

1. Download and install registry-cleaning software, such as Free Window Registry Repair, WinASO Registry Optimizer or Advanced System Optimizer.
2. Run the installer with the default options.

3. Click to select the areas to be scanned. Select only the first check box; when that section is complete, then select the next. When each scan is done, remove all errors.
4. Do one more scan with all boxes selected and remove any errors that remain.

Windows Updates Method
1. Click the 'Start' button on the lower-left side of the screen and right-click the 'My Computer' option on the Start menu. Choose 'Properties.'
2. In the Properties window, select the 'Automatic Updates' tab and click the 'Turn off automatic updates' option. Reboot the computer.

3. Go to the Windows Update site and select the 'Express' option. After installation is complete, access the Properties window and select to turn automatic updates back on.
Registry Editor Method
4. Click the Start button and select the 'Run' option. Type 'regedit' in the Run window.
5. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters.
6. Locate 'IsDomainMaster' and double-click it. Set its value to 'False.' Reboot the computer

1. Click the 'Start' button and then click the 'All Programs.'
2. Click on the 'Accessories' button and then right click on 'Command Prompt.'

3. Choose the 'Run as administrator' option from the menu and then enter your administrator password into the field that appears.
4. Type 'sfc /scannow' into the command prompt and press the 'Enter' button.
5. Wait for the scan to complete and then restart your system. The corrupted files should be replaced.

Correct Server-Side Problems
1. Close the Windows Update window.
2. Wait 15 minutes.

3. Click 'Start.' Type 'update' (without quotes) in the 'Search' text field. Click 'Windows Update.'
4. Click 'Check for updates' in the left column, and click 'Install updates.' Proceed with the next section if you receive the Windows Update 80072efd error again.
Change Firewall Settings
5. Open your firewall preferences by right-clicking on the firewall icon in your system tray and selecting 'Preferences' or 'Options.'
6. Access the 'Exceptions' or 'White list' section of the firewall's options.
7. Add the following URLs to the website 'Exceptions':http://*.update.microsoft.comhttps://*.update.microsoft.comhttp://download.windowsupdate.com
8. Allow the 'Windows Update Service' to connect via port 80 and port 443 by adding them to your 'Allowed programs' list.

1. Make sure all data on your computer is backed up. This is advised anytime you are making changes to a computer's system. It's an important precaution.
2. Shut down your computer.

3. Reboot in safe mode by holding down the F8 key when you turn the computer back on. You'll be given the option to boot in safe mode. Choose that option.
4. Open the Start menu at the bottom left corner of your screen and select 'Run.' A command prompt window will open. In the command prompt window, type 'regedit.' This will open the registry editor.
5. Back up the registry in case of error. Find the registry editor's menu. Click on 'File' and 'Export.' Under Export Range, select 'All,' and save to a folder that you can locate easily.
6. Once your registry is backed up, search the registry editor for a folder called 'wgalogon.' Delete this folder and close the registry editor.
7. Search your Windows for any other files that start with 'wga' and delete them.
8. Restart your computer normally and you'll never receive a WGA notification again.

Repair Internet-based Script Errors
1. Click on 'Start,' 'Settings' and 'Control Panel.'
2. Double-click 'Internet.'

3. Click on 'Fonts' on the default 'General' tab.
4. Select 'Western' in the 'Character Sets' section, then click on 'Set as Default.' Click 'OK.'
5. Click on the 'Delete Files' button back on the 'General' tab of the Internet Properties box. Click 'OK' twice.
6. Download and install Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1, or uninstall and reinstall if Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 is currently installed on your computer. Please see Resources.
Repair Web View-based Script Errors
7. Click on 'Start,' then 'Windows Explorer.'
8. Navigate to the folder that causes script errors to appear.
9. Click on 'View' in the menu bar. Select 'Customize This Folder,' then click 'Remove Customization.'
10. Click 'Next,' then 'Finish.'
11. Reinstall Windows 98 if you continue to receive script errors when viewing Windows folders to refresh the Windows Desktop Update feature.

Reinstall the Software
1. Note the applications that display an msvcr80.dll error message. Click “Start” and open “Control Panel.”
2. Open the “Uninstall a Program” or “Add/Remove Programs” feature. Locate the application and remove it.

3. Visit the application manufacturer's website and reinstall the software. Reinstall the application from the software disc, if you have it.
Replace and Register the File
4. Open your Internet browser and navigate to the msvcr80.dll link to download the file (see Resources).
5. Download the msvcr80.dll file to your desktop. Open the “My Computer” or “Computer” folder, depending on your system.
6. Navigate to the following folder paths, depending on your system:C >> Windows >> System32 (XP, Vista and Windows 7)C >> Windows >> SysWOW64 (64-bit Systems)C >> WINNT >> System32 (Windows 2000 or NT)
7. Drag the msvcr80.dll file to the System32 folder. Choose “Yes” to replace the file when the prompt appears.
8. Click “Start” and open “All Programs “or “Programs.” Click “Accessories” and open “System Tools.” Open “Command Prompt.' Type “regsvr32 msvcr80.dll” in the prompt. Press “Enter” to register the file.

1. Disable notifications about scripting errors. Internet Explorer contains options that can be selected and deselected to display script errors that occur on certain web pages.
2. Open Internet Explorer and then click on the 'Tools' drop down. Select 'Internet Options' and then go to the 'Advanced' tab. A list of options for the browser will be displayed, such as Browsing and Security settings.

3. Look under the Browsing section and place a check in the box for 'Disable script debugging (Internet Explorer)' and Disable script debugging (Other).' Make sure that the box for 'Display a notification about every script error' is unchecked.
4. Attempt to test a web page from another computer. If the script errors still occur, then there may be a problem with the code used on the web page. If the error does not appear, then there may be files or settings that need to be updated or changed.
5. Make sure that Internet Explorer is not blocking Active Scripting, ActiveX or Java. Web pages that use these items may not display or function correctly if they are being blocked.
6. Open Internet Explorer and click on the 'Tools' drop down. Select 'Internet Options' and then go to the 'Security' tab. Change the security level to Medium-High or click the Default level button.
7. Open a web page that was having the scripting error. If the error is still occurring, make sure the latest software updates from Microsoft have been installed.
8. Go to Microsoft's website and select 'Downloads and Tools.' Click on 'Microsoft Update' and then click the 'Express' button on the next page. Download and install any updates that are listed.

1. Power off the computer by clicking 'Start' and 'Shut Down.' Allow the computer to stay off for 10 seconds. Reboot the computer. Wait for the BIOS to prompt you to enter the setup. Press the necessary key required to enter setup, typically 'F1,' 'F12' or 'Delete.'
2. Enter BIOS and search for 'PS-2 Mouse Port' or an equivalent title. Switch this setting to 'Disable.' Press the appropriate key to save the changes. Restart the computer, and allow it to boot back into Windows.

3. Log in to the Windows system. Click 'Start' and 'Programs,' and search for 'Windows Update.' Check to see if any critical updates are available. Install those that are available, and restart when prompted. Reboot the computer, and ensure that the BIOS no longer prompts for continuation due to an 8603 error.

1. Download the latest service patches, security patches and hotfixes for your version of Windows via the Windows Update service. Click on 'Start,' 'All Programs,' 'Accessories' and 'Windows Update' in Windows XP or 'Start' and 'Windows Update' in Windows Vista and Windows 7. Select all important/critical downloads, and wait for Windows to download and to install the updates. You may have to restart the computer several times, depending on the number of updates available.
2. Download and install a newer version of the non-Microsoft software if available. Access the integrated 'Check for updates' feature, or visit the software vendor's website to install the latest version.

3. Install or turn on your firewall if it is not currently enabled. Block the ports that your potential buffer overrun exploiters will request when transmitting malicious data. Switch on the Windows Firewall by clicking 'Start,' the 'Control Panel.' Click on 'Classic View' in the left column if applicable, then double-click 'Windows Firewall.' Click on 'Turn Windows Firewall on or off' in the left column in Windows Vista and Windows 7, or click 'On' in the 'General' tab in Windows XP. Select 'On' or 'Turn on Windows Firewall' in Windows Vista and Windows 7, then click 'OK.'