Computers are not smart and they cannot fix themselves without human interaction. A computer basically carries out an absurd number of calculations a second and if anything is incorrect, it can mess up or stop functioning altogether.
Here are some things you can look for when you need to fix Windows XP.
Run the following on a weekly basis in a proactive manner:
• Windows Disk Clean Up
• Windows Defrag
• Anti Virus
• Spyware Removal Programs
When trouble does hit, and if you don’t really know a lot about computers, your best bet is to download a program designed to help speed up and repair general Windows problems. You can find a lot of the programs on free download websites. Run these a few times a week to help keep your computer running smoothly.
If your problem is stopping you from booting up your computer, put your Windows XP disc in your drive and let your system boot from the CD. When the menu comes up you have the option to repair your Windows installation. This process goes through all your system files to see if any are damaged, missing or just messed up in general. When it finds a problem, it will fix it.
Another thing is to pay attention to your error messages. For example, if you get an error in a nvixd.dll file, and you have a video card from nVidia, you can surmise the problem is with your video card or the driver. Just head to the manufacturer’s website to get updated drivers.
If you have tried everything you can think of and you are still unable to get your PC working, call up a geek friend. We all have them and they love to fix computer problems for their less tech inclined friends.
You last ditch attempt, and it does come to this at times, is to completely re-install Windows from scratch. Some people will say doing this at least once a year is a good way to clean up the garbage we all accumulate on our PC’s from constant use. Either way, if you are still stuck after all these things, you may want to seek professional assistance.