Ways to update a sound card driver in Windows XP and Vista

If there is no sound on your PC, it is definitely a serious issue as you will not be able to enjoy computing to its fullest. Various reasons could cause sound problem in Windows. If you find all the cables are properly connected and still the problem is occurring, you can try updating the sound card driver. Don’t know how to update sound card driver in Windows XP and Vista? Don’t worry! The process is very simple and easy.

Given below are the step-by-step solution to update sound card driver in Windows XP and Vista

Step 1: Click Start, and click Control Panel.

Step 2: Double-click System and click the Hardware tab.

Step 3: Expand Sound, video, and game controllers.

Step 4: Double-click the sound card, and then click the Driver tab.

Step 5: Now click Update Driver.

Step 6: You need to follow the Hardware Update Wizard in order to update the sound card driver.

In Windows Vista

Step 1: Click Start, and click Control Panel.

• Step 2: Double-click System and Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device

Step 3: You need to insert an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password and click Continue.

Step 4: Click Sound, video, and game controllers to expand.

Step 5: Select the entry for your sound card, under Sound, video, and game controllers.

Step 6: Click the Driver tab and click Update Driver Software.

Step 7: You need to follow the Update Driver Software Wizard to update the sound card driver.

Further support could be availed from an online computer repair company.

How to Disable Tablet PC Input Panel in Windows 7

If you are using a desktop computer and are a Windows 7 operating system user, you have the option to use a tablet input device for writing directly in various applications, as if the user is writing with a pen. With the Tablet PC Input Panel, it is possible for the users to use the writing pad and convert their handwriting into the typed text. When the Tablet PC Input Panel begins, it starts on the user’s screen on the left side. If you want to disable the Tablet PC Input Panel from staying on your screen, there are steps you have to follow. If you are not an expert at using computers, you can also get the help of a remote PC support service.

• Step 1: Choose the “Tools” option in the Tablet PC Input Panel and then go to “Options”.

• Step 2: Make sure you select the “Opening” tab in the “Options” window in case it’s not selected already.

• Step 3: Now uncheck the checkbox which is labeled “Use the input panel tab”.

• Step 4: Finally click on “OK” for saving the settings.

If you have problems in disabling Tablet PC Input Panel, you can seek computer repair services online for assistance.

Steps to Show Windows Side by Side in Windows 7

If you have many windows open while working at the computer system, you may choose to see them all at once without having to switch between them one by one. This is made possible for all Windows 7 users; the operating system lets you see all the windows side by side. There are some steps that you can follow for enabling this, or you may also ask for the services of a remote PC support provider.

• Step 1: Open the windows you want to view side by side and ensure that none of those windows are minimized. Only the windows that are not minimized will be open for the side by side view

• Step 2: Right click on an empty area on the Windows taskbar and select “Show windows side by side” from the many options that are made available to you

Now all the windows that were not minimized will be visible on your screen together at once side by side and they will be resized accordingly. If you change your mind and wish to return to the normal way of showing the windows, then you just have to right click on the taskbar and select the option “Undo Show side by side” from the list. You may contact online computer repair services if this problem persists or for any other problems related to computers.

Changing the Recycle Bin Size in Windows XP

If you are worried about the decreasing disk space on your Windows XP computer system, know that you can make disk space by changing the size of the Recycle Bin. Yes, you heard that right; note that the Recycle Bin takes up a lot of disk space for storing the items that are deleted and no longer required by you. When running out of disk space, try reducing the maximum size of the Recycle Bin. There are steps that you can follow for changing the Recycle Bin size or you may also contact a computer repair service for assistance in case you are not too efficient handling windows XP operating system.

• Step 1: Right click on the Recycle Bin icon that is available on your desktop and then select “Properties” from the list of options available

• Step 2: In the Properties window that opens, the user must scroll the scroller towards the left side for decreasing the size that is taken up by the Recycle Bin.

• Step 3: Now click on OK for saving the changes that you have made.

The aforementioned steps should help you in creating more empty disk space; however if you are unable to change the size of the Recycle Bin, you may ask for an online technical support provider.

Tips to Manage Check at Boot Time Using chkntfs

Windows 7 users can do a check disk at the time of booting the computer system by using the chkntfs command. This becomes necessary when your machine is shutdown not in the appropriate manner and your disk is checked for errors when you start the machine the next time by the Windows checkdisk.

Note that when a non-removable disk is accessed in Windows, its dirty flag gets turned on in the Registry. The dirty flag gets turned off with Windows being shutdown properly. At the boot time if the dirty flag is found turned on by Windows, the checkdisk process for the disk starts automatically. The chkntfs command enables you to manage the dirty flag property.

• Step 1: At the command prompt, you can give the command “chkntfs X:”, where “X:” is actually the drive letter that checks for the dirty flag.

• Step 2: Now identify the AUTOCHK timer countdown that is visible at the Windows boot up when checking any disk for errors by typing the command “chkntfs /T”. The default time is 10 seconds.

• Step 3: You will be able to change the AUTOCHK timer countdown that is visible at Windows boot up by typing the command line “chkntfs /T:time”; here time is displayed in seconds. The default time is 10 seconds.

• Step 4: You may also schedule a drive to be checked at the next reboot. The command line in this case should be “chkntfs /C X:”; here “X:” is the drive letter of the drive that you want to schedule for checking.

• Step 5: For restoring all settings to default, the command line is “chkntfs /D”.

If you are still facing problems in check management at boot time, contact a Windows repair service for remote PC support.

How to Hide a Folder in Windows XP ?

When you are working on the Windows XP operating system and have an important folder which you do not want others to see, you can choose to hide it. Hiding a folder becomes essential when you are using a computer system that is used by others in the family or in your office. When you have the option to hide a folder, you can keep lots of private documents, pictures and other stuff stored in it.

The in-built options available in Windows Explorer will help you to hide a folder. You can contact an online technical support service for assistance or follow some simple steps to achieve the task.

Step 1: Open Control Panel and go to Folder Options. Another way to open Folder Options is to open any folder and then accessing Tools for going to Folder Options.

Step 2: In the folder options, you will find the View tab and click on it for selecting it.

Step 3: In the View tab, locate the option for “Do not show hidden files and folders” and click on it.

Step 4: Now click on OK for saving the settings.

Step 5: Now right click on the folder you want to hide and choose Properties from the list of options.

Step 6: in the Properties dialog that opens, you have to check Hidden and then click on OK for closing the dialog.

This should enable you to hide the folders you want to. If there are problems, you can contact any online computer repair service.

Steps to Displaying the Windows XP Control Panel as a Menu

You may be requiring the Control Panel often and are accessing the Control Panel icon from the Start menu every time. The Windows XP user may prefer a more efficient and different way for accessing the Control Panel items. It is possible for the user to display the Control Panel as a sub-menu on the Start menu. You can do this by following some steps or may choose to contact an online computer repair service provider.

• Step 1: Right click on the Start menu and then click on “Properties”

• Step 2: The “Taskbar and Start Menu Properties” window will open and you have to click on the “Start Menu” tab.

• Step 3: Now click on “Customize” and the “Customize Start Menu” window will be opened

• Step 4: Here you have to click on the “Advanced” tab

• Step 5: In the section labeled “Start menu items”, you need to select “Display as a menu” as a “Control Panel” option

• Step 6: Now you have to click on “OK” for exiting the “Customize Start Menu” window and then click on “OK” again. The “Taskbar and Start Menu Properties” widow will be closed.

The user now has to hold the mouse over the Start menu Control Panel icon and the sub menu will be shown. You will gain access to all the Control Panel items. If there is any problem, take the help of a technical support service.