Useful Troubleshooting Links

[-F7]

Here are a plethora of useful PC troubleshooting links that may help you fix your PC's problems and keep it running smooth.

Guide to Troubleshooting Windows NT-based Error Messages (http://aumha.org/win5/kbestop.htm) - This guide will help you understand why you are receiving stop errors and help you to fix them. Very useful site.

Tips Dr. (http://www.tipsdr.com/) - Very robust tips & tweaks site for all Windows based operating systems.

Windows XP from A to Z (http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm) - Great easy to navigate, no frills site featuring many tips, tweaks, and fixes for Windows XP. Have questions about your pagefile? Just click on P and scroll down. Wondering how to install and setup a VPN server? Just click on V and look for VPN.

Windows XP User (http://www.windowsxpuser.com/) - A site dedicated to Windows XP. You can find tutorials, news, hints, tips, features, how-to's, discussion forums, and generally anything related to Windows XP here.

Troubleshooting and Resource Guide for Windows 95/98/Me/XP (http://www.toejumper.net/) - Decent site with all the basic information you need to keep your PC running smoothly.

Windows Galore (http://www.windowsgalore.com/) - Good site devoted to Windows 95/98/ME. Lots of popups though so enter at your own risk.

Tom's Hardware Guide (http://www.tomshardware.com/) - The best information site for PC hardware. Thinking of building a new PC? Want to find out how that motherboard or video card you have your eye on stacks up in performance tests against other hardware? This is the place to go!


Those links should keep you folks busy for a while. :) If you have any links that you think could help people with their PCs, feel free to add them!

[Salyavin]

From my own bookmarks:

Windows:
TweakXP (http://www.tweakxp.com) - User submitted tweaks for Windows XP. I like it better than most of the other tweak sites because it's searchable.

Windows NT/2000 FAQs (http://www.ntfaq.com) - A bit outdated for the new stuff in XP, but lots of answers to Windows configuration and network questions. Also searchable.

Hardware:
AnandTech (http://www.anandtech.com) - I prefer Anandtech for reviews. Tom's Hardware Guide used to be a great site back in its heyday, but in the last few years Tom has said and done some things that damaged his credibility. (Google if you're insterested in the dirty laundry.) It's still a decent site for gathering information, but AnandTech generally has better articles, better testing practices, and less baggage. :)

ABXZone.com Forums (http://www.abxzone.com) (a.k.a. asusboards.com) - The best resource I found when putting together a new PC (well, that and newegg.com :)). Lots of very up-to-date info about processors, motherboards, BIOS versions, memory latency tweaking, troubleshooting, overclocking, benchmarking... you name it. Just lurking there is an education in computer hardware. Also home to the excellent Mr. Steveo's OS Installation Guide (http://www.abxzone.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34558).

Networking and Security
Broadband Reports.com (http://www.broadbandreports.com) - Reviews of broadband ISPs and tools for testing your connection online.

Practically Networked.com (http://www.practicallynetworked.com) - Reviews of routers, wireless, and other equipment for home networking. Guides to getting stuff to work with NAT and firewalls, especially games (http://www.practicallynetworked.com/support/gaming_help.htm).

Firewall Guide (http://www.firewallguide.com/) - Guide and reviews to firewalls, with a helpful list of software firewalls (http://www.firewallguide.com/software.htm).

ShieldsUP! (http://grc.com/default.htm) - Steve Gibson's newbie guide to internet security. IMHO, the best thing on the site is the port probe to test your firewall. Once you learn a bit beyond the basics of computer security, you may tire of Steve's dire warnings and overwrought handwringing over the littlest things. :)

PC Flank tests (http://www.pcflank.com/) - More thorough probes to test your firewall and other security precautions.

Cheers,
Salyavin

[Zinia]

Guru3D (http://www.guru3d.com) for video drivers and tweaks.

Gif works for avatar resizing (http//www.gifworks.com) (used to get asked alot where to do it)

[FiX]

Found this site looking for drivers one day. It has many quick links to major company download sites and parts info.

http://webpages.charter.net/dperr/links/techsupt.htm

[SoBeiT]

Guru3D (http://www.guru3d.com) for video drivers and tweaks.

Gif works for avatar resizing (http//www.gifworks.com) (used to get asked alot where to do it)


not found, have another?

[Salyavin]

not found, have another?
Missing a colon in the URL: http://www.gifworks.com

Cheers,
Salyavin

[SoBeiT]

Thanks Sal...I've been thinking on a new avatar, maybe :D

[Zinia]

Sorry Sobe.

Also......if a disgruntled employee locks you out of XP/NT with an admin pw (won't happen again), go here to fix 'em.

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

[SoBeiT]

cool and thanks Zinia :)

[Phanataz]

Bookmarked!

[SFT]

This is a pretty cool Hardware site and there are forums on everything.

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/

If you're buying a computer they give you weekly prices for memory and CPUs and lots of articles on new stuff. Some neat stuff here.

Check out the gaming PC buyer's guide.

[sreeja]

Thank you for the troubleshooting links.It is very useful.

[StealthDP]

Welcome to the Asylum, sreeja!