Difficulties with Game Controllers

With the popularity of computer games comes the onslaught of game controllers. There are all kinds of available game controllers, including joysticks, flight yokes, gamepads, and others. Most of the game controllers are hooked up to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, or they can function over an infrared port if your computer is equipped with one. Generally, they work like any other peripheral.

My game controller does not work.

Cause: As with any hardware, you need to make sure that the game controller you want to use is compatible with Windows XP. If compatibility does not seem to be an issue, then Plug and Play may have a difficult time detecting the device for one reason or another or may have trouble installing the correct driver. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s setup instructions.

I am having problems with a wireless mouse & keyboard

Cause: A number of wireless mice and keyboards are available, all of which work with your computer’s infrared port. These devices are great because they allow you flexibility and a computing experience without aggravating wires. However, you can have some problems with infrared devices.

I have problems using a mouse because of a disability

Cause: The mouse is a major input device on any computer. However, if you have a disability that makes using the mouse difficult, you can check for alternative devices at your local computer store. Also, you can use the MouseKeys feature, which allows you to use the numeric keypad on your keyboard as input for the mouse movement. Finally, you may consider trying a trackball, which does the same thing as a mouse but is easier to use.

My mouse wheel makes entire pages scroll

Cause: Most mice have a scroll wheel that is located between the two keys. This makes scrolling through documents and Web pages easier. However, if the setting it too high, you may have difficulty scrolling.

My mouse pointer disappears when I am typing

Cause: Mouse pointers typically remain available when you are typing on the keyboard; however, a setting can be selected that makes the mouse pointer disappear when you are typing.

My mouse pointer moves too fast/slow

Cause: Mouse pointer speed can be a real pain if it is not configured correctly. Fortunately, if your mouse pointer moves too quickly or too slowly on the screen, you can easily fix the problem.

My mouse pointer creates a trailing effect when I move it

Cause: Your mouse pointer can be configured to trail when it is moved, which just gives it a blurring movement effect. Some people like this; others get a feeling of motion sickness. If you don’t like it, you can easily stop the behavior.

My mouse pointer is too small/large

Cause: The mouse pointers that you see on your computer screen are the pointers for the default Windows mouse pointer scheme. The scheme tells Windows the kind of pointer to display when you are moving your mouse, when the system is busy, when you are working in the background, and in a number of other situations as well. If you do not like the default Windows scheme, you can choose another one or even customize different pointer options so that the mouse pointers work well for you.

Double-clicking does not work well

Cause: The double-click response rate is determined by a setting in the Mouse Properties window. If the double-click feature is too fast or too slow, you can adjust it to meet your needs.

I am left-handed, and I find right-clicking difficult

Cause: Mouse keys provide right and left buttons; but to left-handed people, who use the mouse on the left side, it sometimes feels wrong to find the right-click features on the right side. The good news is that you can easily reverse the keys so that the left key is the primary key and the right key is the secondary key. This means that right-click features will work on the left key and left-click features will work on the right key.

My mouse keeps sticking

Cause: If your mouse pointer seems to stick on the screen when you move the mouse, there are two possible problems:

• The mouse ball has collected gunk over time and needs to be cleaned.
• The mouse ball is wearing out and is not communicating movement to the computer.

My cursor blinks too fast or slow

Cause: The cursor’s blink rate is usually set to a middle configuration between no blinking at all and fast blinking. However, you can adjust how your cursor blinks so that it works the way you want it to.

The keyboard works too slowly

Cause: Keyboard settings determine how fast keystrokes appear on your screen when you touch the keyboard. If the keyboard is working too slowly, you can adjust the keyboard stroke speed.

Note: All Control Panel instructions in this chapter assume you are using the Classic view. If you are not, just Click Start--> Control Panel--> and then click the option in the left portion of the window to use Classic view.

To adjust the keyboard speed, follow these steps:

1. Click Start--> Control Panel--> Keyboard.

2. On the Speed tab--> adjust the Repeat Delay and Repeat Rate settings so that they are longer or shorter and slower or faster, respectively. You can use the repeat box, to test the repeat rate setting:

3. Click OK when you are done.

Tip: Keep in mind that you can return to this window and adjust the settings again if you still do not like the performance.

My keyboard does not work

Cause: If your keyboard does not respond at all, there is a communication problem between the keyboard and your computer, and a few possible explanations.

Region error message when I try to use the DVD player

Cause: DVD players function by regions because many DVDs are imprinted with a code that controls which geographical region they can be played in. To make sure your DVD is using the correct region, follow the below steps.

When I try to play my DVD, the screen becomes black

Cause: In order for DVD playback to work correctly, you need to ensure that two or more programs using video overlay are not running at the same time (for example, WebTV and Microsoft NetMeeting).

Solution: Make sure all of your programs are closed, and then try running the DVD again.

Media Player keeps opening automatically when I insert a CD

Cause: Windows XP tries to guess what you want to do with an audio CD or DVD when you insert it, so it opens Windows Media Player for you to use. However, you may not want this to happen. No problem, you can change it.

To stop Windows Media Player from opening when you insert a CD, follow the steps below:

1. Click Start--> My Computer. Right-click the CD or DVD-ROM drive that you want to configure, and then click Properties.

2. Click the AutoPlay tab--> Under Actions--> you can choose the Take No Action option so that Windows Media Player will not open and Windows XP will not prompt you for any action. If you want to be prompted--> just click the Prompt Me Each Time to Choose an Action radio button at the bottom of the window and click OK.

I can’t open a floppy disk

Cause: If you followed the steps in the previous Headache but still cannot open a floppy disk, there are a few possible explanations:

• The floppy drive has failed.
• The disk is formatted for an unsupported operating system, such as for the Macintosh Operating System (Mac OS).
• The disk is corrupt.

I can’t create a new partition

Cause: If your computer has multiple hard disks or has unallocated space on the first disk, you can create additional partitions. Having partitions works like having different hard disks, by enabling you to store data in a more organized manner. Different partitions on the same disk can use different file systems and can be used for different purposes. To create a new partition, you must have unallocated space from which to create the partition, you must be logged on as an administrator, and you must use the Disk Management utility to create the partition.

All of my disks are listed as “basic.”

Cause: Windows XP Professional supports both basic and dynamic disks, however, XP Home Edition only supports basic disks. If you are using Windows XP Professional and you want to convert the disks to dynamic disks so that you can take advantage of volume management, you can easily convert them.

My hard disk reads and writes data very slowly

Cause: Over time, your hard disk may become fragmented; that is, as files are saved and opened, Windows XP may have stored pieces of the files in different places on the disk, which in turn requires more time to save and open them. Fragmentation is a normal part of excessive disk use, and the primary sign of fragmentation is slow reading and writing. For example, a file might take a little too long to open, or save. The good news is that Windows XP provides the Disk Defragmenter tool to defragment the hard disk and resolve the problem.

To defragment the drive, follow these steps:

1. Click Start--> My Computer--> Right-click the disk you want to defragment--> and then click Properties.

2. Click the Tools tab--> and click the Defragment Now button.

3. In the Disk Defragmenter window--> click the Analyze button to see if the disk needs to be defragmented.

4. A message appears telling you whether or not you should defragment the volume. Click Defragment to continue.

5. The defragmentation process begins and may take some time, depending on the size of the hard disk (possibly several hours).

Prevention: If your disk is highly fragmented, you can run the Disk Defragmenter tool several times in a row. The tool does not fix all defragmentation, so running the tool several times may give you even better results. However, do not expect your disk to become 100 percent defragmented; again, fragmentation is a normal result and not one that needs to be feared just controlled.

My hard disk makes strange noises

Cause: Hard disks make noise when they work. Normal noises include a churning sound, or maybe even a sound like a jet engine about to take off. These noises are a normal part of the disk spinning and should be ignored. However, if your disk is making clicking or popping noises, you may have a problem, especially if other read or write errors or failures seem to be occurring.

Solution: You should get in touch with technical support because you may have a hardware problem. Also, you might try using third-party disk tools, such as Norton Utilities, which may be able to resolve problems with the disk.

My hard disk seems to behave erratically, or I get error messages

Cause: A hard disk can develop a number of disk surface and file system errors that can cause you some problems. This happens during use of the disk due to “wear and tear,” so to speak. The good news is that Windows XP gives you an Error-checking tool that can solve the problems.

To run error-checking on the disk, follow these steps:

1. Click Start--> My Computer--> Right-click the disk and click Properties.

2. Click the Tools tab

3. Click the Check Now button. A dialog box appears, that allows you to automatically fix file system problems and check for and attempt repair of bad sectors. Click both check boxes, and then click Start. Error checking begins to run, and the process may take an hour or more, depending on the size of the disk.

I need to stop a device from working without uninstalling it

Cause: Windows XP gives you the option to disable a device for a period of time instead of uninstalling it. This feature gives you the chance to troubleshoot problems or make configuration changes.

To disable a device, follow these steps:

1. Log on with an administrator account.
2. Click Start--> Control Panel--> System.

3. Click the Hardware tab--> click the Device Manager button.

4. Expand the desired category--> then right-click the desired device and click Disable--> Click Yes to the message that appears. You can return to the device at any time--> rightclick it--> and then click Enable to begin using it again.

Prevention: Do not try to disable a device by removing its driver. This uninstalls the device from your computer. If you do, Plug and Play will redetect it on the next reboot, so it will end up working again anyway. Always use the Disable option.

My computer’s hard disk is running out of space

Cause: The hard disk is used to store information. The more information you store, the less extra space the disk has. Like a clothes closet, the more stuff you cram into it, the faster it runs out of room. The hard disk in your computer can hold a lot of data, but if you are storing lots of files, especially picture or video files, you can begin to run low on disk space.

My USB scanner does not work

Cause:  USB works with hubs, attachment ports to which you can attach USB devices. A USB hub can either be self-powered or bus-powered. A self-powered hub has a wall outlet that you plug in, in order to power the devices attached to the hub. Bus-powered hubs get their juice from the computer. Some devices, such as scanners and portable hard disks, need more power than the USB bus-powered hub can provide.

Devices and PC cards drain the Laptop Battery

Cause: A number of PC cards and different peripherals work very well with laptop computers. However, when the laptop is running batteries, these devices put a drain on battery power, which makes the battery run down faster than it should. The good news is that you can easily create a hardware profile to use when you are not connected to a power source. This feature allows you to disable certain devices when you are running on batteries, so that you can conserve battery power.

Internet Explorer does not let me Download a New Driver

Cause: Internet Explorer 6, which is included with Windows XP, has some security features, that wont let you download “unsigned” drivers. This is a security feature that helps prevent the downloading of viruses and other malicious code. Normally, internet Explorer will prompt you before downloading an unsigned driver, but if the setting has been configured to “block,” then you will not be able to download the driver.

I installed a new driver and the Device Wont Work

Cause: If this happens, you either installed the wrong driver, or the driver is corrupt. In either case, you want to go back to the original driver so that you can try to install it again, or try to use a different driver. Fortunately, Windows XP has a rollback feature that will make this process easy.

I don’t know how to install a new driver

Cause: If a new driver becomes available for a hardware device, Windows XP will help you install it so that you can begin using the new driver.

I can’t uninstall a device

Cause: At some point, you may want to uninstall a device from Windows XP. For example, let’s say that you replace your keyboard with a newer model. Windows XP should detect that the old keyboard is no longer attached to the system and remove it. Sometimes, though, Windows XP may not get the message that a hardware device has been removed, and the device may keep showing up on your computer.

I can’t use an older hardware device with Windows XP

Cause: In order for any hardware device to work with Windows XP, there must be a driver that will work with Windows XP. The problem with older hardware devices is that a new driver for the device may not be available. You can check out the manufacturer’s Web site and see if a new driver software is available. If not, you may simply be stuck.

Windows XP does not detect my new device

Cause:  

If you attach a new device to your computer and Windows XP does not detect and automatically install the new device, there are several different possible solutions. First, you need to carefully check the device to make sure you have plugged it into the correct port. Devices usually work with some type of port found on the back (or even the front) of your computer. Common examples are parallel ports (printers), serial ports (mice, keyboards, modems, and so on), and USB ports (for all kinds of devices). Some devices even work with infrared wireless ports (called IrDA ports), if your computer has one. The trick is simply this: 

• You have to plug the device into the right port in order for it to work, so check the device documentation to make sure you have it hooked up correctly before going any further.

• Once you are sure that the device is attached correctly, restart the computer. Even though Windows XP can usually detect devices without a reboot, the reboot may help get the device installed. If this doesn’t help, do the following:

1.  Check the device’s documentation for instructions. If a device came with a CD or floppy disk, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install it.
   
2.  Check the HCL
   
3.  If both of these options do not help, use the following Pain Killer.

I can’t connect my new device to my computer

Cause: Hardware devices attach to a computer in some way. Some devices, such as sound cards and video cards, are installed into internal slots inside of the computer’s case; most attach to ports that are available on the back (or even front) of your computer. Common ports used on Windows XP are

• ParallelParallel ports are mostly used for printers. They are wide ports with rows of pins that look like teeth.

• SerialSerial ports are small and square, with pins inside of them. Mice, keyboards, external modems, and other devices may connect to serial ports, especially if you are using older mice and keyboards.

• Keyboard and Mouse PS/2These connections are often round with small pins inside. These kinds of connections are more commonly used today instead of serial ports.

• Universal Serial Bus (USB)First used in Windows 98, USB ports are square and
flat. You can connect all kinds of devices to USB ports—everything from printers to digital cameras.

• InfraredMany computers today ship with an infrared port, which allows you to use wireless keyboards, mice, and game controllers.

• FireWire (IEEE 1394)FireWire ports work like USB ports, but they are capable of very high data transfer. Some new computers now support FireWire.

Hardware compatibility in Windows XP

Cause: Like all operating systems, most hardware works with Windows XP and some does not. Although many hardware devices are compatible with Windows, some simply are not designed for Windows XP. However, under most circumstances, the hardware devices that you purchase will be Windows compatible. Before buying hardware, you can save yourself a lot of grief if you do just a bit of homework first.

There are two main ways to determine if a device is compatible with Windows XP:

•  Look on the box while your money is still safe in your pocket. While you are at the store, read the outside of the box. It should say “Compatible with Windows XP” right on the box. If it does not, look for a “Compatible with Windows 2000” label. If you do not see either of these, try to find a device that has one of these labels. You’ll save yourself a lot of problems. If you are not sure, ask someone in the store for help.

•  Microsoft maintains a list of hardware that has been tested with Windows XP, called the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL). The HCL tells you what hardware is certain to work with XP, a good reason to check before ever upgrading a computer to Windows XP. However, this does not mean that if something is not listed on HCL that it will not work; it just means that Microsoft has not tested it. Still, the HCL is a great site to check before you buy a device. Check it out at http://www.microsoft.com/hcl. You can search by device and even brand name to see what items are listed.

Tip: If there is a device you want, but its compatibility with Windows XP is questionable, you can also try the manufacturer’s Web site for the latest information about compatibility with Windows XP.

Installing and Uninstalling Hardware

Let’s say you buy a new mouse for your computer. You open up the box, read the instructions, attach to the correct port on your computer, and begin using the mouse right away. How? Simple enough. Windows XP works with your computer hardware to detect changes. When you attached that mouse to the port on the computer.

• Windows XP detected that a new hardware device had been attached to the port.

• Understood that the device was a mouse.

• Grabbed a file, called a driver, from an internal Windows XP database that enables XP to manage and use the mouse. This driver is a generic driver designed to work with several mice. You may have better results installing the manufacturer’s driver.

• Installed the driver for the device.

To you, it looks like nothing happened. You plugged in the mouse and began using it, and that’s the way it should be. However, in some cases, Windows XP is not able to detect the hardware device you attach, or the hardware device may not work well without the correct driver. Again, a driver is a piece of software that enables Windows to communicate and manage, or drive, the device. You can think of a driver as the steering wheel in your car. The steering wheel enables you to drive the wheels so that the car goes where you want it to go. In the computer system, a driver enables Windows XP to drive the hardware so that you can use it with the operating system. With all that said, you can experience some problems installing and uninstalling hardware.

I can’t remove a program

Cause: Programs that are installed on Windows XP can be removed in two ways:

• With the program’s uninstall feature. Many programs have an “uninstall” feature, which helps you remove the program.

• With Add/Remove Programs.

To remove a program, follow these steps:

1. Log on with an administrator account.

2. Click Start--> All Programs--> Then, point to the program that you want to remove. A separate menu may appear with the option to uninstall. If it does, click the option. If not go to Step 3.

3. Click Start--> Control Panel--> Add/Remove Programs.

4. In the Program list--> select the program that you want to remove. Then, click the Remove button. Follow any instructions that appear.

I can’t install a program

Cause: If you cannot install a program, there are few possible explanations, which are

• You are not logged on with an administrator account.
• The program is not compatible with Windows XP.
• There is something wrong with the program or CD that is preventing installation from completing.

A typical program installs from a CD-ROM. Most CD-ROMs today have an auto-start file, which allows the setup program to begin automatically when you put the CD in the CD drive. This makes life easier on you. However, if this does not happen, you can try using Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel. If this does not work, check the CD-ROM drive with a different CD to make sure the CD-ROM is working. If the setup routine keeps failing and you are sure that you are logged on with an administrator account and that the software is compatible with Windows XP, it is time to call the software manufacturer’s technical support line and get help. The CD may be faulty!

Difficulties with Software in Windows XP

Windows XP comes with a number of tools, utilities, and accessories to meet your needs. However, most of us are going to install and use additional software. For example, I use Microsoft Office in order to write books and manage documents. Office is not included with Windows XP, so I have to purchase and install it separately. The same is true for all kinds of additional software, from games to antivirus programs, to spreadsheets, to photo editors you name it and you can probably find it in the software market. If you are thinking about buying software, which can range from about $20–$800, depending on what you want, there are two main things you need to consider before you ever buy the software:

• Compatibility: 

 The software should say “compatible with Windows XP” on the box. If it does not, Windows XP still may be able to run the software, but you are likely to have more problems.

• System requirements: 

Some software, especially graphics programs, require a lot of memory and system resources. Read the outside of the software box and check the system requirements, and then make sure your computer meets those minimum requirements. You can usually see how much RAM your computer has and how fast the processor is by opening Control Panel |System Properties and reading the information on the General tab

Prevention: 

Some programs cannot be installed by a limited user, but require administrative control. If you are having any problems with software, always log on with an administrator account first before trying to fix the problem.

I can’t edit an image in Paint

Cause: The Windows Paint program is a basic graphics editing program. You can open existing graphics files and make changes to them, or you can freehand your own files. In order to use Paint, you’ll need to spend some time with the Help files, which you can find on Paint’s Help menu. There are a number of options and features that you can use to edit and manage graphics files, but you’ll need to invest some time in learning about those features.

Tip: The new Paint program in Windows XP has some new features that did not exist in older versions of Windows. For example, Paint can now work with many different file types, rather than just bitmap files.

Notepad’s text runs off the screen

Cause: Notepad is a simple text editor that allows you to create plaintext files and open plaintext files. By default, Notepad often does not wrap text to the next line, which leaves you having to scroll back and forth to read text in Notepad. You can easily fix this problem.

To make Notepad use Word Wrap, follow these steps:

1. Click Start--> All Programs--> Accessories--> Notepad.

2. In Notepad--> click Format--> Word Wrap. Text will now begin wrapping to the next line and stay within in the same window.

Tip: In the past, Notepad was limited in that it could only open smaller text files, that limitation has been removed and Notepad can now open any size text file.