Computer Repair Tips

Stop messages provide diagnostic information, such as Stop codes and driver names, that you can use to resolve the problem. However, this information disappears when you restart your computer. Therefore, it is important to record the information displayed for future reference.

The following are a list of the more common stop codes and potential resolutions:

1. Stop 0×0000000A or IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
   Microsoft Support article 311564
2. Stop 0×0000001E or KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
   Microsoft Support article 811014
3. Stop 0×00000024 or NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM
   Microsoft Support article 228888
4. Stop 0×0000002E or DATA_BUS_ERROR
   Microsoft Support…

I connected the Seagate / Maxtor Personal Storage device correctly. I’ve installed the latest driver, but I keep experiencing a lot of system errors and sometimes the system freezes. The problem only happens on this computer. The symptoms don’t follow the device to another known good platform.

There is a timing issue with the Universal Host Controller driver (UHCD.SYS) supplied with Windows 98SE. USB devices under Windows 98 Second Edition may not work if either an AMD processor (350 MHz or faster), or a VIA…

With some external hard drives being shipped in a FAT 32 (PC) format, it is recommended that they be formatted for Macintosh’s native format (Mac OS Extended or Mac OS Extended (Journaled)) when backing up Macintosh volumes.

When you enter Disk Utility to initialize or erase the new volume, it does not have the option to format as "Mac OS Extended".

1. To format the external hard drive for "Mac OS Extended", first select the main volume of the external hard drive in…

You can use the CONVERT.EXE file to convert a FAT32 partition to NTFS partition without the need to reformat the drive, data on the drive will be intact. Reference the Windows Help File for more information.

NOTE: We suggests that you backup any/all data before running this utility. To convert a volume to NTFS from the command prompt:

1. Open a Command Prompt by clicking on "Start" -> "Run" -> then type in cmd. Click "Ok".
2. In the new window, type:
   convert drive_letter: /fs:ntfs
   For example, typing convert D:…

Definition(s):

Cut and Paste: the act of moving files/folders from one place to another within a volume.

Copy and Paste: the facility to duplicate (copy) files/folders in a computer program and add it to another place (folder, directory, volume, etc.)

There are any ways to copy to software to your Mac; they range from File Menu/Copy & Paste, Right-Click Menu/Copy & Paste, Drag-N-Drop to keyboard commands. Please note that whatever option used, it is all controlled by the Mac OS. Please refer to…

The following will help you identify Seagate External storage power supply requirements.

FreeAgent Pro (single pin) with power switch

FreeAgent Desktop (single pin) without power switch

FreeAgent Pro and FreeAgent Desktop drives use the same power supply:

Seagate External Drive

Seagate Pushbutton External/eSATA drive (single pin) power

Seagate Pushbutton (4 Pin) Power

Seagate Portable drive (the power supply is not bundled with the drive because this drive normally derives its power from the USB Y-cable; see here for more information)

…

I receive an error when trying to format my Seagate or Maxtor external hard drive that the format failed to complete. How do I fix this?

Problem:
I receive an error when trying to format my Seagate or Maxtor external hard drive that the format failed to complete.

Cause:
The buffer on the drive may need to be cleared or background programs, such as virus-scanning software, are accessing the drive and prevent the format from completing.

Solution:

Power-cycle the system and the drive, then disable any virus scanning…

Problem:
Intermittent Problems Accessing Local Shares on a Windows XP Computer

Cause:
Possible conflicts stemming from the XP Firewall

Solution:
It is suggested that you disable the Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP.

Procedure:

1. Click Start ? Settings ? Network Connections
   
2. Right click on your Active Connection and choose Properties from the Drop-Down Menu.
   
3. Select the Advanced tab.
4. Remove the Check from the "Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet".
   
5. Click OK to complete to…

To boot to another drive (i.e. Bootable Backup) in OS X:

1.Go up to Apple and click on System Preferences.

2. Click on Startup Disk.

3. Select the drive that you would like to boot to and click Restart.

4. Click Restart.

Once, the system restarts, it should have booted to the startup disk that was selected.

Note: You can also select the startup disk in the Startup Manager by holding down the "option" key on the keyboard during boot.

…

Disk optimization is a process in which the physical locations of files on a volume are "streamlined." Files and metadata are re-arranged in order to improve data access times and minimize time moving a hard drive’s head.

Files can become "fragmented" over time as they are changed and saved and as the volume is filled, with different parts of a single file stored in different locations on a volume. The process of collecting file fragments and putting them "back together" is known…