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If you are a Mac user becoming frustrated by the rapidly depleting space on your hard drive, puzzled by just what’s occupying what was once available, this free application will give you some of the answers you’ve sought.

It’s called OmniDiskSweeper, and it quickly provides users a detailed rundown on what’s sitting on your hard drive, with a simple delineation of the exact files residing in your folders.

When starting OmniDiskSweeper, you’re prompted to select the drive you wish to review. Upon completion of the scan, you’re presented with an easily interpretable list of every folder on that drive, with their respective size defined by a color coding scheme. Using this tool, you can manage each folder, deleting files to your choosing. After each deletion, OmniDiskSweeper recalculates the available space on your computer.

This is a great tool to keep available when you think you might want to try your hand at optimizing your Mac. It’s easy to use, fast, and an excellent means of regaining all of the space that’s dwindled on your hard drive.  It’s also free, an added plus that very few of us can ignore.

This is only for Macs, and it can be obtained here.

The Blue Screen of Death is one of the most common errors you can encounter on a computer running the Microsoft Windows operating system. Unfortunately, this is also one of the most severe. The frustrating part about the menacing blue screen is that it could point to a number of different problems. Fortunately, these messages include stop error codes that are useful in troubleshooting the error, as is the case with the “Inaccessible Boot Device” stop error.

Inaccessible Boot Device: Common Causes

The inaccessible boot device message represents a blue screen error that has been known to wreak havoc on Windows computers. This particular error has several causes; however, it is typically associated with hardware upgrades and operating system reinstallations. Other common culprits include:

- A boot sector infection caused by a virus.
- Corruption in the Windows registry.
- Corrupted sectors on the hard drive.
- A failed motherboard upgrade.
- Faulty or improperly connected hard drive cable.
- A power surge or outage.
- Physical damage to the hard disk drive.

How to Stop Inaccessible Boot Device Error

Many recommend that you perform a reinstallation of Windows when encountering an inaccessible boot device error. This resolution usually works but there is one big problem: it will erase all of your data.

You should only proceed with this step when you are absolutely sure that you can do without the information contained on the drive. If you perform regular backups of your data, this shouldn’t be a problem. However, you should know that there is always a risk that your data will not be recovered after a drive is either reformatted or receives a fresh Windows installation.

When the Hard Drive Fails

If you suspect that the inaccessible boot device blue screen error is due to a hard drive failure, the most important thing you should know is that there is no need to panic. Even if this is the case, there is still a good chance that the data on the hard drive can be recovered. The first step to troubleshooting this is making sure your hard drive cables are properly connected. After doing so, you can try one of the following methods.

Disconnect the hard drive, reconnect it and try booting the machine again. If you are still presented with the inaccessible boot device error and you have another PC on the network, disconnect your hard drive from the affected machine, and then install it as the slave drive on another computer.

After booting up the alternate PC and reaching the Windows desktop, you should then be able to determine whether the hard drive is working. If it is, the drive should be detected as the drive letter “D” (i.e., if the master drive is “C”).

If it is not detected, it is very likely that your hard drive has failed. If you reach this point, I’m afraid your next course of action should be to utilize a software solution to try to recover your data, seek the aid of a professional technician or install a new hard drive altogether.

If you’re a user of Microsoft’s most recent operating systems –XP, Vista, and the recently unveiled Windows 7 – you may want to heed the latest warnings about new security updates released. According to reports, these recent security updates may be what’s precipitating a spate of system crashes that render the computer a lifeless black screen.

Coming by way of PrevX, a UK based security company, users of its security software began complaining of the problem last week. It would seem that Microsoft made significant changes to the ACL (Access Control List), which contains permissions for user accounts. This list of permissions communicates with the registry keys, making observable changes to the desktop such as the addition of a sidebar.

Unintentionally, however, the recent security patches are amending those registry keys. As a result, being unaware of those registry changes, a number of applications are responding with confusion – explaining the black screens during their use. We should note that those applications which seem  most affected are security programs.

 For those affected by this problem, PrevX has released a patch that would seem to correct the issue, bringing the registry in line with the ACL settings introduced by the security updates.

Not everyone is being affected by this problem, but if you feel as if you’re one of those unlucky users who recently suffered a black screen that may be tied to your recent download of Microsoft security updates, PrevX has released a free fix that can be downloaded here.

If you continue to experience problems, always feel free to give us a call.

At Geek Choice, we pride ourselves on being the #1 solution to your troubleshooting needs, servicing customers the nation over with our signature brand of exemplary customer service and peerless technical expertise. While our job is to assist you, we also love to keep the public informed, offering them tips that they can use when having any questions about their systems.

If your computer begins experiencing problems, resulting in error messages and the occasional system crash, the source could be any number of issues. Without some idea of what’s occurring, you’re left in the dark, with no solution to your issue.

Windows Surface Scanner is a helpful utility that might shed light on where the problems are originating. Completely free, this tool inspects your hard drive, locating any physical errors that exist. We should note that this is not a repair tool, being only a means of diagnosing what might be causing your frustration.

If problems are uncovered and you’re unclear on how to proceed, we’re here to help.

You can download Windows Surface Scanner here.

If you’ve ever used a utility included with the Windows Operating System, you know the hurdles required to even access the folder within which it’s found. If you’re suffering the fatigue of having to take an unnecessary number of steps to make your way to these tools, we have an app that offers fast access without the hassle you’re used to.

Before proceeding, we should add that this will require the installation of .NET Framework 3.5. At the end of this article, you’ll find a link to it.

Requiring no installation, all you need to do is unpack the executable, place it within the “Program Files” folder and assign it a shortcut.

Once you’ve completed the brief task of setting it up, you can start the Windows Utilities Launcher, where you’re given immediate access to the utilities you’d otherwise have to endure superfluous clicking to locate. Looking at the “Utilities” tab, users will notice all the usual helpers – Computer, Device, Disk, Performance, Display, Services, Task, System, Add/Remove, et.al.

On the “Settings” tab, you’re given the option of having the Launcher start up with Windows; you’re also able to have it start minimized, which will see it occupying your system tray whenever you boot up your computer.

This app also comes with a handy right-click menu. Including the Task Manager, you can access the Notepad and Calculator from the right-click menu.

While these utilities aren’t frequently used, they’re still very helpful in a time of need, which every user will be confronted by at some point. Its use comes with ease, finding that it’ll spare you those few extra steps that were previously required. If you have questions about how to use these utilities, or discover that whatever issue you were attempting to correct hasn’t been resolved, Geek Choice is here to help you.

This application is available or Windows XP, Windows Vista, and the recently launched Windows 7.

First, if you haven’t already done so, download .NET Framework (version 3.5 SP1) here.

Then, download Windows Utilities Launcher (version 1.1) here.

Oftentimes, through no fault of either party, our customer service representatives encounter unintended obstacles when attempting to detail exactly why a customer’s computer has ceased to properly function. One of the more frequent problems encountered by our clients is the infamous “Blue Screen of Death,” or BSOD. The “Blue Screen of Death” is an ominously nondescript blue screen alerting the user that, for any number of reasons, the computer must shut down to prevent further damage. This screen is accompanied by text, of which much is unintelligible to all but the most tech savvy.

As calls come into our office, our phone reps attempt to detail the specific problem as best they can, but their understanding of what lies at the heart of the issue goes only so far as the end user is able to articulate it. No blame can be attributed to the client, for even some of the most accomplished technicians find themselves at an immediate loss for what’s ailing a system stricken by BSOD, their answers coming after the issue has been researched.

BlueScreenView is an informative utility that operates as a interpreter of sorts, taking what many find to be incomprehensible and processing  that information in a manner that makes it a bit easier to digest. The necessity of a utility like BlueScreenView becomes obvious when observing how little time you have before the “Blue Screen of Death” proceeds with a system reboot.

With BlueScreenView, the user can access BSOD dump file, filtering that information through a report that’s just a bit easier to understand. When launching the application, it will scan for the minidump files generated by the system crash, which are usually located in C:\windows\minidump. Taking that data, it displays it in a window, with the dump file listed above and those drivers associated with the crash sorted below.

You can read even more information about the driver’s role in the crash by double-clicking on each one. Or, you can simply decide to parse the selections down to just those drivers that were directly implicated in the system crash.

It bears mentioning that this is merely the precursor to any troubleshooting that is to take place on the stricken computer. BlueScreenView translates the garbled messages from the BSOD and creates a clearer account of just what precipitated the system crash. While this utility will not solve the conflict, it will grant the user a better understanding of where the focus should be.

For those users who are interested in calling Geek Choice, this might prove handy, particularly when relating the details of what you’ve experienced to the phone representative that takes your call.

You can download BlueScreenView here.

If your system experiences a sudden crash, or if you have a question about an unrelated matter, Geek Choice is here to help.

This afternoon, Apple released a second update for Snow Leopard, the latest installment of their Mac Operating System. The most notable inclusion in Mac OS X 10.6.2 is a patch that addresses the guest account bug, fixing it along with several other issues.

This particular bug takes effect when someone logs in and out of a guest account on a machine running Snow Leopard. Once that individual logs back into their regular account, they’ll notice that it’s been cleared of all the data.

Since its discovery, Apple has been working on a fix, finally releasing one today.

In addition to this critical patch, a number of other concerns have been redressed, the following list describing just what’s been corrected:

• The deletion of data that would occur when using a guest account
• A problem that would see users randomly logged out of their account
• Exchange contacts omitting Spotlight search results
• Menu extras
• Compatibility with Hebrew and Dictionary
• The sound of a shutter when taking a screenshot
• The four-finger swipe gesture
• A problem preventing the addition of images to contacts in Address Book
• Performance issues with Front Row when watching movies
• Generating mobile accounts for Active Director users
• Stability of VPN connects
• Improved peformance for iWork, iLife, Aperture, Final Cut Studio, MobileMe, and iDisk
• Performance issues with VoiceOver performance
• Video playback and performance issues for iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) and iMac (27-inch, Late 2009) computers that are known to arise when using AirPort.

These are just the fixes that have been applied to the Operating System, with many more issues addressed elsewhere. For the complete list, visit Apple.

You can download this update here.

With the release of Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system, many of the performance issues present in past installments of this PC mainstay have been addressed, showing a measurable improvement in areas that were once headaches for even the most capable machines. Still, despite what would appear to be Microsoft’s welcome response to the chorus of complaints about XP and Vista, the onset of problems is to be expected for even the latest release. No operating system is immune from the kind of error that results from any number of issues: viruses, spyware, negligence, etc.

Despite how it’s presently running, tomorrow could usher in a set of unanticipated problems, which is to be expected with even new machines.   Windows 7 (Vista, too) includes a robust set of tools – all included within one easily accessible menu — that the frustrated user can utilize when attempting to diagnose the source of a problem.

Accessing these tools is as easy as entering a command in the search box that’s located in the Start menu. Once you’ve entered “performance info,” you’ll be greeted by a window from where you can select Advanced tools.

After those tools are available, it becomes apparent that you have at your disposal an impressive assortment of diagnostic options that will – at the very least — aid you towards determining what lies at the source of your ailing system:

• Clear all Windows Experience Index scores and re-rate system
• View performance details in Event log
• Open Performance Monitor
• Open Resource Monitor
• Open Task Manager
• View advanced system details in System Information
• Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows
• Open Disk Defragmenter
• Generate a system health report

One of the most informative tools you can use is Open Resource Monitor. Like Task Manager, Resource Monitor provides an overview of your system’s resources, allowing you to manage the available resources (RAM, storage, bandwidth) your system has to work with. Unlike Task Manager, which is somewhat vague in its detail, Resource Monitor works at the micro level – meaning, you’re given a degree of specificity that illuminates how an individual process or application figures into the overall allocation of resources.

Another helpful aid is the Generate a system health report. Akin to having a physical at the physician’s office, this will assess your system’s health, generating an analysis that may enlighten you on what areas you should address when experiencing issues with your computer’s performance.Taking just a few moments, the system analysis will return a report that details every critical facet of your system. Using this diagnostic analysis, you will be left with a clearer picture of how your computer is faring. For example, if there is a driver that’s hindering your ability to listen to sound, this report will highlight that conflict.

These are just the tools that are fairly self-explanatory in their use and interpretation. The more advanced tools – such as View performance details in Event log – are just as beneficial, but they require a level of expertise that your average user may be without.

For even the most accomplished technician, the poor performance of a system will remain a problem that never permanently subsides.  If you have questions about the use of these tools, or would like to know how to solve any problems they unearth, Geek Choice Is always on hand to provide you that assistance.

Whether you’ve just encountered a catastrophic error that results in a system crash or find yourself upgrading to the latest operating system, reformatting your hard drive is an extreme measure that’s often unavoidable over the course of your computer’s life.  When doing so, it’s of paramount concern that you’re able to retain the data stored on your computer.

While backing up certain data is as simple as transferring it to another form of storage, many of your applications will require re-installation, a process that can often be hindered by the sheer number of apps installed on your PC.

Mitigating this chore is a helpful website that keeps a tally of the applications installed on your computer, allowing you – when ready – to re-install those items with the click of your mouse.

The site is called AllMyApps.com

For now, the only issue I’ve found is that it limits applications to those which are free, excluding commercial software (Microsoft Office applications, i.e.). While understandable, given copyright concerns, this does leave you to install those programs individually. Still, despite that omission, this site logs every other free application that’s installed on your computer.

To the surprise of many, I’m sure, our computers are host to dozens of free applications that we’ve installed over time. Many of these facilitate what are now mundane activities, such as Adobe Flash or AIM. By using this site, after having reformatted your hard drive, you’re immediately returned to the previous composition of your computer – excluding, of course, those commercial applications.

The unavailability of commercial software aside, this is a novel idea that is long overdue.

Should you have any other questions related to preservation of data on your computer, especially you think your hard drive needs to be reformatted, we’re here to aid you.

Often praised for its functionality, with a feature set that has made it more popular than Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, a persistent criticism of Firefox has been its speed.  Despite its intuitive accessibility and powerfully customizable interface, the performance of this browser – even for systems on which such issues are a rarity — has been problematic.

When several tabs are opened, Firefox has become notorious for using an inordinate amount of memory.  On systems with a minimal amount of ram, being forced to quit the application altogether is not an uncommon recourse.

These issues are most prevalent on those computers that either need to be upgraded or haven’t been properly optimized.  We understand that not everyone can go out and outfit their computer with a lot of ram, particularly in this age where budgetary concerns remain paramount. Taking that into consideration, it should be noted that there does exist an effective means of improving the performance of Firefox with the use a simple utility created for just that purpose.

Coming from TotalIdea, Firetune is a quick solution for augmenting your experience with Firefox. Giving particular attention to the speed  of your internet connection and that of  your computer’s processor, Firetune adjusts several internal settings of Firefox for increased performance.

Firetune works with Mozilla Firefox versions: 1.x, 2.x, and 3.x

Firetune can be downloaded here.

Browser speed is but one of several areas of concern when taking stock of your computer’s performance. For questions on the effective optimization of a computer, we may have the answers you’re looking for.