1. Windows performs something called write-behind caching. This feature speeds up your computer by allowing Windows to write information in memory to the disk when more resources are available.
2. There are some registry entries that Windows does not make until a shutdown is performed. If you just flip off the computer, these entries will never be made and your computer will malfunction.
3. If you are in a network and have shared resources, performing a shutdown will release those resources. Just shutting off the computer will not release them and hangs these resources indefinitely.

Animated Cursors
Do you use one of those cute little animated cursors? They are fun to watch and come in a variety of images. However, this amusement comes at a rather large cost. The computing power needed to keep that little image going can be quite extensive. If there’s a problem with your computer’s operating speed and you use an animated cursor, try turning off the cursor and see if this step improves the situation.

Backup Options
There are several options for backing up data. One is to back up everything, everyday on your computer. This option offers a high level of security, but it is very expensive for the home user. However, it is a better option for business users. Another is to have one full back up and only back up any changes. Although this option provides a high level of security, restoring backed up files can be a confusing exercise. Lastly, back up only your files. If you don’t have a magnetic tape, zip drive, or other large storage memory devices, just save your important files, e-mail, pictures, documents, databases, bookmarks, etc., to floppy disks or rewriteable CDs. Applications and operating system files can always be restored from CDs or disks. The best backup method in the long run is to save as you go. Instead of waiting until a document is complete or a project is finished, save data at every opportunity. The more often you back up information, the less risk to your work in the event of a power outage or some other unforeseen problem. WinXP Professional installs a Backup & Restore utility by default. You can find it in the Start menu by selecting All Programs, Accessories, and System Tools. Of note, WinXP Home Edition does not install this Backup Utility by default, nor can you install it by using the Add or Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel.

Backup Plan
There are several actions each computer user should consider to backup important files in the event of a major computer disaster. One suggestion is to make a copy of the keys and passwords that activate your shareware programs. You should save the e-mails with keys and passwords as plain text. A second recommendation is to browse through the folders where you keep your programs and go out on the net and download a new copy of the installers for those programs. You should make a folder for each program and save a copy of them in the same folder. A third useful step is to read over your licenses and find out which ones only allow you to install the software on one machine. You can make a note in the folders of the ones that only allow one installation. A fourth task is to burn a few CDs with all of your saved files. Finally, save and make a copy of all of your downloaded programs which you might not have wanted to retain just in the event there is a need for them.

Boot Disk
If you get caught with a computer problem and have no boot disk, find another computer, go to bootdisk.com, and download one for your operating system. At tweakxp.com you will find useful utilities, virus reports, and a host of tips and fixes for WinXP. At hardforums.com you will find forums that can offer useful insights into a wide range of troubleshooting topics as well as helpful solutions to computer problems.

Clean Boot Troubleshooting
Clean boot troubleshooting is a technique where you use the process of elimination to determine what drivers or programs might be causing Windows errors. To use this technique start WinXP in Safe Mode by holding down the Ctrl key or the F8 key as you start your computer. When the Startup Menu appears, choose Safe Mode. At the Desktop, click Start, Run, and then type msconfig. This step starts Windows’ System Configuration Utility. In the General tab, choose Selective Startup and select or deselect the system files that you want processed during startup. By deselecting one item, restarting your computer, and seeing if the error has been eliminated, you can determine which area (System.ini, Win.ini, or startup programs) is causing the problem. After narrowing the error to the right area, you click on the System Configuration Utility dialog box tab that corresponds to it and begin the process of elimination. For example, if you have determined that a startup item is the problem, choose the Startup tab, deselect all the item checkboxes except one, and restart your computer to see if the error appears. Continue the process of checking items one at a time until restarting your computer gives you the error. At this point, you have found the problem and can deal with it effectively.

With Win98 you can use the System Configuration Utility to control booting options. To start the configuration utility, click Start and Run. In the Open field, type msconfig and press Enter or OK. In the System Configuration Utility window, click the General tab to perform a diagnostic boot if you’re having system problems. The Startup tab lets you see which programs Windows loads every time it boots. To prevent an unwanted program loading, uncheck its checkbox. You can also edit the contents of the various configuration files, including Config.sys, Autoexec.bat, Win.ini, and System.ini, by selecting those tabs.

Command Line
Most computer users may never have to leave Windows to solve computer problems, thus no need to use Disk Operating System (DOS). However, there may be times when some familiarity with the command line will be necessary to solve a computer problem which can’t be resolved with Windows. For example, if something goes wrong and Windows refuses to boot this problem, it can be fixed with the command line. Generally speaking the command prompt is C:\WINDOWS. All commands are entered at the command prompt unless otherwise specified. In this example the computer is in the Windows directory of the C: drive. To see a list of files and subdirectories within the Windows directory, type dir and press Enter. The Windows directory is typically very large and probably won’t fit on the display. To display one screen of information at a time, try typing dir/p and pressing Enter. Now press any key to move to the next screen that displays files and directories found in the Windows directory. The CD (Change Directory) command moves you from one directory to another. To move to the SYSTEM subdirectory, for instance, you would type cd system and press Enter. You could then type dir/p and press Enter to see a list of files and subdirectories within the SYSTEM directory. Type ed and press Enter to move up to the parent directory. This tip illustrates that DOS may still be needed to resolve even problems with WinXP!

Defragmenting Floppies
Your Disk Defragmenter utility is often used just to reorganize the hard drive so that it can hold more information and provide better performance. You should also defragment a floppy disk if it has been recorded many times. Defragmenting the floppy can improve the time it takes to find and transmit data. Since there is a chance defragmenting the disk will damage files, you should make a backup before running the Defragmenter. You can use Windows’ own built-in utility for this purpose. It’s in the Accessories folder.

Device Manager
If you have problems with computer peripherals, the most common error is Windows not detecting an attached device. Missing or corrupt drivers usually cause the problem. First check the documentation that came with the peripheral to find instructions for uninstalling this device. This task involves disconnecting the peripheral from the computer and uninstalling drivers and other related software. Now you may have to enter Device Manager to manually remove the hardware. In Win9x/Me, right-click My Computer, click Properties, and then select the Device Manager tab. In WinXP, click Start, right-click My Computer, click Properties, select the Hardware tab, and finally click Device Manager. Device Manager lists hardware categories. You can expand the categories by clicking the plus signs next to each entry. Find the category for your peripheral, expand it, and click the name of the device to highlight it. In Win9x/Me, click Remove and follow the prompts to remove the device from the system, which also uninstalls the drivers. In WinXP, right-click the name of your device, click Uninstall, and follow the prompts. With the hardware still disconnected, reboot the computer to update the Registry and other files. Next visit the manufacturer’s Web site to see if new drivers are available for your peripheral. If so, download them, and reinstall the hardware according to the manufacturer’s instructions for your operating system.

Diagnostic Utility
BigFix is a free download diagnostic utility at <>. The BigFix solution can automatically monitor and detect a problem, proactively alert users or administrators to the problem before a failure occurs, and fix it on one or more machines at once with the click of a mouse. It also simplifies maintenance, reduces support costs, and increases user satisfaction by finding and fixing potential problems.

DLL
A DLL (Dynamic Link Library) is a bit of instruction. In Win95/98, if you're wondering what DLL a program uses, simply right click on the .exe file and select QuickView, then scroll down to the Import Table section.  There, each DLL is itemized along with additional details.  If you receive an error message indicating a missing DLL but don’t know the meaning of its file extension, go to EXTsearch . You’ll be able to find out the type of DLL file. With this information you can obtain a copy of it from another computer using your same operating system and then use it to replace the missing DLL on your machine.

There are several guidelines to use in the event you run into a computer problem. You can solve 99% of all computer problems by just pressing the machine’s reset button. Don’t repeat the same action over and over again, expecting different results. These actions only complicate your current situation. When a problem occurs, ask yourself several questions. Is your computer problem an isolated incident or does it occur every time you perform some action? Is there an error message and do you understand it? Did you install or remove any software or hardware around the time of the problem? Did you correctly read the installation/removal instructions? Are you using the latest version of the software/hardware drivers for the product? Have you researched annoyances.org to see if other users have had the same problem?