One of the greatest improvements made to personal computers in recent years has been the use of audio drivers that have improved the sound quality that computers are able to produce. Modern computers are able to reproduce a full range of sounds, including human voices in conjunction with multimedia applications. These improvements often, but not always, include a separate sound card that handles input/output devices such as microphones and speakers for the system. Others allow the sound to be handled through the motherboard using limited internal speakers.

Advantages of Dedicated Sound Cards

It is easy to tell if a computer has a sound card installed. If there are ports for speakers, headphones, and a microphone, the computer has an active sound card, also called a dedicated sound card. The sound quality is much better with the sound card system than that run through the mother board. This is partially because the devices that produce the sound are of much better quality, and partially because the sound card is more powerful and able to handle more of the many nuances of sound.

What are Audio Drivers & Why are they Necessary?

One fact that is not changed, regardless of the type of audio output the computer generates is the need to have an audio driver to connect the operating system of the computer with the various devices used to output sound and/or accept sound input to the system.

Audio drivers are intricate pieces of software that act as a go between for the operating system and the devices that allow the system to operate the devices at peak efficiency without the system knowing exactly what brand, size, or type of devices are involved. Audio drivers have to be written to handle virtually any configuration of sound input/output devices to properly reproduce sounds.

Drivers are normally written to operate specific devices. General Purpose audio drivers work specifically with the sound card model in the computer and are more general to the end devices. Different versions of the drivers have to be written to work with different operating systems, even if they operate identical devices.

Potential Audio Driver Problems

Occasionally, audio drivers encounter devices or conditions for which they are unable to handle the entire range of sounds. When this happens, problems with sound quality are noticed that cannot be corrected until a new driver is written and downloaded. Drivers are often rewritten specifically with a patch to overcome a known problem. New versions are released periodically throughout the year. It is important to keep track of new driver releases and always have the newest driver for your system installed in order to accommodate any change in equipment or upgrade to your devices.

Computer sound reproduction quality has come a long way since desktop computers were first invented. Operating systems are faster and better. Memory availability is incredibly increased from that time. New platforms, such as surround sound and 3D sound systems have been invented that can produce multiple tracks of sound simultaneously. The one thing that pulls all these features together and makes the different devices work together properly is the audio drivers. These sophisticated software items act as a go between to allow the operating system to work with the audio devices without having all the specific details on the devices stored in memory.

Runtime errors are popping more often on Windows XP and especially Windows Vista computers. One of the more common problems is runtime error 424.

The cause of the error is generally given in the error message, which will read “Runtime Error 424 Object Needed”. This particular runtime error occurs most often when running MS Internet Explorer 6.0 and the chart wizard for MS Excel. In certain rare instances, it can pop up with MS Outlook 2000.

Troubleshooting run time error 424 is usually a fairly simple project due to the nature of the error and its cause being displayed when it occurs. It is, however, important to deal with the problem promptly to keep it from growing into a more serious problem for your system. This and other runtime errors can cause your computer to slow down dramatically and prevent some applications from loading or running properly.

How to Get Rid of Runtime Error 424

Fixing run time error 424 is usually as simple as updating your web browser. Internet Explorer 6.0 has been replaced twice now. IE 7.0 and IE 8.0, which has just been released, are available for download to computers running Windows XP and Vista. There are also other options, including Mozilla Firefox, if one wishes to avoid Internet Explorer completely.

If the Excel chart wizard is creating runtime error 424, one may wish to avoid using the wizard. It is a useful tool, but if it is generating this type of error, it is not worth the trouble it causes.

For the rare instance when this error occurs with MS Outlook, the solution is to change the format in which the email is sent to html and save this setting for future reference.

Runtime error 424 and most other runtime errors can be minimized or eliminated by periodically running a registry cleaner program to get rid of outdated, abandoned keys in the registry and make sure that files are located on the disk at the address they are supposed to occupy. Several different registry cleaning utilities are available for purchase or free download. It is important to choose one that will perform to one’s expectations and restore the system to the speed and efficiency it is supposed to operate at.

Runtime errors are occurring more and more frequently with newer operating systems and older applications that do not mesh perfectly. Runtime error 424 is a classic example of this type of error. Getting to the bottom of the problem and fixing it as soon as possible is the only way to prevent it from having a major impact on the performance of one’s system.

To conclude, solutions to runtime error 424 include updating the web browser to a newer version that does not cause the error, avoiding the use of the chart wizard in MS Excel, and setting the format of mail in MS Outlook to HTML. Prevention of runtime errors in general includes running a registry cleanup periodically to remove outdated data so that the system can run smoothly and efficiently.

As with all things in life, those that cost less tend to be taken for granted. Indeed, why spend countless days in maintaining something that can easily be bought by a day’s wage?

Hard drives are fast spinning out of the PC users’ orbit of attention. As of this month, a terabyte (yes, we’re already past the gigabyte era) of storage costs around $100, and it’s expected to slide further. That’s extremely cheap, considering that about a decade ago, a gigabyte of the said accessory would’ve easily out-priced its principal.

Just because a hard disk could easily or cheaply be bought like an ordinary item in a 7-Eleven store doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give much attention to it. While the peripheral itself can be replaced anytime at one’s whim, the contents thereof aren’t exactly disposable. For the prudent and the wise, a hard drive is like a gold mine or a vault; its contents are undeniably precious.

So before you eventually blow up your mine by your continuous inaction and lack of care, I suggest that you take into heart (and into action!) the following tips:

1.  Kick Out Idle Files

If you’re going to take a long and careful look at the contents of your hard drive, you’ll discover that about a third of it is either unused or unwanted. You may contend, though, that that shouldn’t be a problem since there’s lot of bytes to spare. However, space isn’t the problem in stuffed disks.

PC speed and performance dips when the disks are spinning with a full load. The more data that the drive carries, the longer it takes for it to locate and load a particular file. You should therefore do a little spring cleaning inside your hard drive from time to time, preferably at least once a month. Delete files or applications that you no longer need. If you’ve installed a new version of a program, make sure that you delete the old one. If you’re testing demo versions of programs that you mindlessly download over the Internet, make it a point to uninstall them if you later realize that it doesn’t suit your needs.

2.  Run Check Disk

If you haven’t experienced a sudden shut down or a system crash, then you probably haven’t seen this program in action yet. Check Disk is a Windows utility that scans hard disks for bad sectors caused by damaged platters. It marks unusable portions of the drive so that no data would be written on them.

While Check Disk runs automatically after every crash, you should make it a point to run it manually from time to time, especially if you’re disks seem to be making unusual noises whenever it is retrieving data or running applications.

3.  Don’t Ignore Disk Cleanup

Some users confuse Disk Cleanup with Check Disk. While both Windows utilities care for your hard drive, they do so in different ways. The latter examines the physical integrity of the peripheral, while the former checks its contents. Disk Cleanup scans for files that are no longer needed or should’ve already been deleted along with the program that it was associated with. You would be surprised at the amount of disk place that could be freed up after the cleanup.

The msoe.dll file is an important element of the Microsoft Outlook Express mail client. When this file experiences problems, it might generate errors on your computer and even prevent the Outlook Express application from working properly. The message that usually comes along with this error is “Outlook Express could not be started because Msoe.dll could not be loaded.” Let’s go over the causes of the msoe.dll error and work on a several resolutions to solve it.

Missing Address Book

You may encounter the msoe.dll error on a PC running Windows ME if the Address Book has been removed from the system. When this is the case, repairing the error is simple as all you have to do is restore the Address Book. To do so, follow the four steps below:

1.) Launch the “Control Panel” and select the “Add or Remove Programs” option.

2.) Click the “Windows Setup” tab and then check the “Address Book” option.

3.) Click “OK” to reinstall the Address Book.

4.) Lastly, choose “Yes” to restart the system and allow the changes to take effect

Outlook Express Conflict

The msoe.dll error may also occur if you are running two different versions of Outlook Express on your computer. So if you have both Outlook Express 5.0 and 6.0 installed, you would need to manually remove one of the applications from the system and then reinstall a new copy from the installation files. This is a multiple step process that requires you to do the following:

1.) First, backup your Outlook Express emails and Address Book.

2.) Next, launch “My Computer”, open the “Tools” menu, choose “Folder Options” and click on the “View” tab.

3.) In this window, select the “Show hidden files and folder”.

4.) Disable the checkboxes for the “Hide file extensions for known file types” and “Hide protected operating system files” options.

5.) Select “Yes” to confirm and then exit.

6.) From here, you want to open the “Windows Explorer” utility and rename the following folders:

- “C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Stationery”
- “C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Identities or C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities”
- “C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book”

* Take note that these path may vary in accordance to the version of your operating system as well as the root folder path. As an example, you might want to consider naming the folders to “Stationery_old”, “Identities_old” and “Address_Book_old”.

7.) The next step is to run the “Regedit” command to launch the Windows Registry Editor. Once inside the registry, delete the following entries:

- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WAB
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \Software \Microsoft\Active Setup \Installed Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{7790769C-0471-11D2-AF11-00C04FA 35D02}
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft \Outlook Express
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB

* Keep in mind that is advisable to backup the Windows registry before making any changes. This can be done by utilizing the “File>Export” option within the Registry Editor or a third-party registry editing tool.

8.) The last step is to rename files in both the “C:\Winnt \System32″ and “C:\Winnt \System32 \Dllcache” folders. These files are as follows:

- Setup50.exe
- Wab.exe
- Wabfind.dll
- Wabimp.dll
- Wabmig.exe
- Csapi3t1.dll
- Directdb.dll
- Wab32.dll
- Wab32res.dll
- Inetcomm.dll
- Msoeacct.dll
- Msoert2.dll
- Msoe.dll
- Msoeres.dll
- Msimn.exe
- Oeimport.dll
- Oemiglib.dll
- Oemig50.exe

Once you complete all the steps above, restart the computer, and then reinstall the version of Outlook you want to keep. After the installation is done, import your messages and Address Book from the backup. If all goes well, this should be the end of your msoe.dll errors.

It may be hard to accept, but computers just get slower with age. There are many reasons this occurs such as fragmentation on the hard disk, installing programs you rarely use, a cluttered system registry and the list goes on. Whatever the reason may be, you should be able to rest a little easier by knowing there are many ways to optimize the system and get your PC running at its peak performance. This can be done even without installing any additional software components or hardware upgrades. Here are a few tips to help you tune up your Windows Vista PC.

1.) Remove Unused Programs

If you want to improve Vista performance, it is a good rule of thumb to start by uninstalling software applications you do not plan on using. You should take a look at the programs you installed as well as those pre-installed by the manufacturer. This is especially true for utility programs as they have a habit of automatically running in the background, silently hogging resources and causing Vista to run at a sloth-like pace. It is never too late to uninstall these programs so give it shot to see if doing so restores the performance of your PC.

2.) Limit the Number of Running Programs

In some cases, simply changing the behavior of your PC can have a major impact on its performance. If you are like many computer users, you probably like to keep five desktop applications and another five browser windows open all at once. You may even prefer to do all this with your email program open while chatting on the instant message service. If this sounds like you, then you should never be surprised when encountering Vista performance issues. Having all of these activities going on at the same time consumes major resources and this bogs the system down with too much work. More than likely, there is no need to run all of these programs at once so trim them down and Windows Vista will thank you for it.

3.) Install More RAM

If your Windows Vista computer is waddling along like an Apple II from the 1980s, it may be an indication that the system doesn’t have sufficient memory to work with. Although Vista is capable of running on a machine equipped with 512 MB of RAM, it performs much better with 1 GB. If want to enjoy optimal performance, try boosting that to at least 2 GB or more. After all, if you’re going to go through the trouble of cracking open your PC case, you might as well install enough RAM to hold you over for a while. This is something you definitely want to consider if you are a multi-tasker that needs to utilize multiple applications like our example above.

4.) Disable Unused Services

Windows Vista has over a hundred services running in the background such as Network Access Protection Agent and Shell Hardware Detection. These services are typically launched when your PC is turned on and run until you close down your PC. While some of the default services can’t be disabled, others can be. Disabling those unnecessary services can help you conserve the memory and processor power needed to ensure a smooth Vista performance.

Your computer may operate very fast now but over time, it is bound to suffer a hit in the performance department. You may be stuck with a slow PC, one that constantly freezes up or crashes completely. There are a number of reasons why a Windows computer may falter in performance. It could have something do with system settings or software applications that you have installed. While there are many different causes, the root of your problem may be related to the following five instances.

1.) Lack of Storage

Hard disk drives offer robust capacities these days. However, software applications and their associated files present enough complexities to fill the gaps. As time goes on, you may accumulate a number of different programs as well as files from documents you create or music and video you downloaded from online. These files are very demanding and can eat up your available hard disk space in a heartbeat. When storage becomes scarce, you will have a slow computer as a result of all the extra weight.

2.) Registry Errors

If you have a slow PC, the Windows registry just might be the culprit. Although many users have no idea what the registry is or how to maintain it, this area is very important as it contains data that instructs your computer on how to run. Through gradual use, the registry becomes cluttered with invalid entries, missing or corrupt files and orphan keys. This often leads to a slow computer and unstable system that is likely to get worse if action is not swiftly taken.

3.) Malware Infection

You could have a slow PC if your system becomes infected with a piece of malware. Perhaps you unknowingly downloaded a malicious program from the internet or mistakenly executed a resource-hogging payload when clicking on an email attachment. Viruses, Trojans, spyware and other types of malware are infamous for making slow computers. In actuality, performance could be the least of your problems as they can also modify or delete critical system files, install more harmful programs on your computer and thieve your data and transmit it to third-party sources.

4.) Insufficient Memory

The lack of RAM could also be the reason why your slow PC is moving along like a slug. RAM becomes outdated very quickly as the software applications that require it get more demanding on a regular basis. Various components of your operating system rely on RAM to function so without enough of it, there are sure to be some performance issues. For a PC running Windows XP, any mount of RAM less than 512 MB probably isn’t enough provide a good user experience.

5.) Running of Multiple Windows Services

The Windows operating system does not need most of the applications running in the background at startup. However, many of these programs are automatically enabled and since they consume RAM, they can result in a slow PC. This is one of the biggest causes of performance issues on Windows-based PCs.

Addressing these five areas will help to speed up your PC, giving you better performance. Even if your computer is not running slow, performing tune ups (such as the ones advised above) can be quite useful in the long run.

As the day towards Snow Leopard’s release draws near, many are wondering if Apple could really steal the limelight away from Microsoft in this year’s OS parade. Mac users are optimistic that the OS X upgrade would put a dent on Windows 7’s growing reputation as the operating system to beat. However, the fact that the Snow Leopard is not intended as a full and total replacement of the current OS X may have already grounded Apple’s rocket.

Despite the media hype that accompanied every news and tidbit regarding Snow Leopard, Apple was still cautious in billing it as something that’s revolutionary for the obvious reason that it’s not an entirely new product. While the new OS promises to improve system performance, its maker downplayed expectations as to the introduction of new features.

No Contest

While the Vista tragedy may have triggered an exodus to the Mac a few years ago, many are jumping back again to the other side of the river due to compatibility problems. The Mac’s limited demographic have made it hard for its new members to adjust. Apple could have solved this problem by opening up Snow Leopard. However, it might have ended up aggravated it by limiting its new program’s operability to Macs that are Intel-based only.

Apple’s restrictive approach would definitely slow down its campaign to wrest control of the market from Windows. Take note that Windows 7 is not demanding much in terms of system specs. Microsoft assures users that its new OS would run smoothly even on old machines as long as it has at least 1GB of RAM and a GHz of power from the CPU.

Ignoring the Trend

Further aggravating Apple’s expansion plans (if they really do have one) is the proliferation of netbooks. Apple has yet to announce its intention to dip its finger in this segment of the industry. The financial crisis continuous to drive many users to buy cheap netbooks instead of expensive laptops. And since money is hard to come by these days, Mac Books are starting to accumulate dust in shelves and warehouses since they carry a hefty price tag.

$29 Come-On

The only thing going for Snow Leopard right now is its $29 tag price. Many are expected to buy the update without giving it much thought, so it might sell like burgers. But then again, you don’t see many people using Intel-based Macs. Unless Apple does something extraordinary, it won’t see many Windows turncoats this year. In fact, defections might come to a halt altogether as many are already eager to try the leaner and meaner Microsoft OS that’s slated to come out in October.

Before the release of its latest operating system’s beta version, Microsoft has been going around the globe to stir up interest in Windows 7. Many were reluctant to lend a kind and open ear on the subject. The unenthusiastic attitude of the people towards the new OS is not surprising. PC users gamely took Redmond’s sales talk on Vista a few years ago and they ended up buying a product that made them feel that they’ve been ripped off.

Bill Gates may have probably learned a lot from his mistakes on Vista. Windows’ developers now know that a lollipop approach on the upgrade of an OS will not fool people into believing that it’s a better product than its predecessor. As we all know, Vista was heavily embellished. Microsoft thought that an OS that doubles as a multimedia show would do the trick in making people believe that it’s a hundred times better than Windows XP. They were wrong.

More Practical

Heaving learned from their eye-opening experience with their last OS, Microsoft is taking on a different approach in promoting Windows 7. Instead of harking that their new operating system has better graphics and design than Vista and OS X, Gates’ wards are now telling everybody that their new product is lighter and easier to operate than its predecessors.

Microsoft’s claim that Windows 7’s vital statistics rivals that of XP’s is indeed surprising. We all know that Windows gets hungrier and greedier as it evolves. Not surprisingly, many thought that they have to overhaul their existing computers in order to accommodate Windows 7. But Microsoft’s assurance that its new product could even run on netbooks had people thinking that Gates may have probably got it right this time.

Just think. If an OS could run on a netbook, then it could definitely run on a low-end Celeron or even on a Pentium III. Instead of interring old machines, Windows 7 could probably resurrect PCs that have long been decommissioned for having failed to meet up Vista’s specs demand. This prospect would definitely attract millions of users who would want to paint a new picture on their old and slow machines that can’t run on an OS higher than XP.

Upgrade a Few Components

Many of those who have tried the release candidate version were pleased with Microsoft’s latest creation. Users themselves have claimed that their PCs did not suffer cardiac arrest even though it’s being ran by a processor that antedates dual or multi-core chips. Some even say that it seems to be lighter and performs better than the much loved Windows XP.

Windows 7 may probably be Microsoft’s redeemer. Many are already eager to try it on their old computers. However, before you try to give your old PC a workout, make sure that it’s really up to the task. A little hardware upgrade wouldn’t hurt. A RAM boost is definitely a must. You might also want to install a new video card in order to fully enjoy the multimedia features of the new OS.

The registry is a vital component of the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. If this important area is cluttered with useless data, such as invalid, corrupt or malicious keys, your computer can become damaged and eventually inoperable. A good way to avoid these problems is to regularly perform registry backups so that you may restore it to a point when everything was working fine. Unfortunately, there is no standard tool built into the Windows Vista system that allows you to perform automatic backups. For this reason, you must rely on other methods to save copies of your registry data.

The System Restore Utility

The System Restore utility is a very useful tool that can be used to rollback your Windows Vista computer to a previous working condition. It works by capturing a snapshot of your system files, configuration data and even the registry. When choosing to restore your system with this utility, all system settings and the Windows registry will be returned to the state when the snapshot was taken. What you should know is that System Restore is more like a full registry backup because you do not have the option to save portions of the registry. Therefore, when reverting back to a previous state, all minor or major changes made since the snapshot was taken will be lost. While System Restore is a great tool, it can’t always be relied on for performing a registry backup.

Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore

The Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore utility is a feature found in Business, Ultimate and Enterprise editions of Windows Vista. This tool is quite useful for helping you recover your system in various situations. Utilizing this feature can help you perform a complete backup of the Vista environment, including operating system, software applications, user preferences and data files. It can also be used to automatically perform a registry backup. However, similar to the System Restore feature, Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore only allows you to create a full backup of the Windows registry.

Manual Registry Backup

The most effective and flexible method is to manually backup your registry data is via the Registry Editor tool built into Windows Vista. To perform these actions, following the steps below:

- Click on the “Start” menu and select “Run.”

- Next, type “regedit” into the command field and click “Enter”

- Enter the name of the backup file in the “File” name field.

- In the “Export” range section, select “All.” If you only want to backup a portion of the registry, select “Selected Branch” and enter the name of the branch you want to save in the text field.

- Lastly, choose “Save” to create the backup file.

Conclusion

Now you understand the importance of backing up your registry and how it can be done. Armed with this knowledge, you should make it a priority to backup this critical area on a regular basis. Instead of just backing up the data on your local hard drive, keep a few copies on removable media such as an external hard drive, USB drive or CD/DVD media. This way, you can recover your Windows registry if the hard disk fails or is compromised in any other way.