Description:
The professional's choice for PC testing, diagnostic software and network management tools. Micro2000's Micro-Scope for memory testing, RemoteScope for complete network management with hardware and software inventory, USB-Scope and POST-Probe.
Contents:
Improving Program Response Times
What do you do when the software programs seem 'unresponsive' or you have a PC that is 'freezing up'? While this can often be a Windows failure, there are times when the fault lies with the hardware - so where's the best place to start looking to establish which it is? Click on the following link for a guide to tracking down the 'culprit'!
If you know what is wrong with a PC why test any of the other components?
Answer: "Recently a client had a problem with a new graphics card they had purchased which seemed to be faulty, but thanks to using Micro 2000 we were able to not only resolve the problem and ensure the replacement card was fully operational, it also located a number of bad sectors, resolved the problem plus diagnosed a potential problem with the machine's memory. Both problems, if left undiagnosed, could have resulted in a serious loss of data at a later date." Find out just how many hardware components you can check for faults at any one time.
Can you totally erase your company's sensitive data?
Most people are aware of the fact that before getting rid of a PC, whether it was for personal or professional use, they need to ensure that the data that is still stored on the hard drive is made inaccessible to others.
However, what is not so generally known is the fact that, while there are many different options available on the market for the purpose of 'wiping data', there are different levels of 'erasure', some of which still leave the data vulnerable to exposure and at risk of being retrieved.
EraserDisk has been designed to be used successfully in all types of environments, whether personal or professional, and completely eradicates any and all data on a hard drive.
It does not just 'wipe' the drive clean, but it overwrites it several times so that anything that was on the disk is no longer 'recognizable' and consequently 'theft proof'! The only safe and secure disk drive is a sterilized drive, and EraserDisk provides simple but complete drive cleaning to the highest security standards.
Are you STILL swapping out PC hardware parts to try and fix computer faults?
Are you still going THROUGH the O/S to diagnose faults? Do you CROSS YOUR FINGERS hoping that the PC is 100% fixed? Isn't it time you found out just how easy it is to avoid all this and get straight to the route of the problem?
Take Complete Control of your Network with RemoteScope V3
Anyone who runs a network knows that the day to day management of this can be very time consuming, so the ability to centralize and automate these functions could not only save you a lot of shoe leather, but also save the company a lot of money! We've just released the latest version of our network management software, RemoteScope V3, and you can test a full working version now!
Protect yourself against data loss
If you've ever experienced a damaged or corrupted Master Boot Record (MBR), perhaps due to a virus, you will know that this can result in serious data loss - and that the ability to save and/or restore the MBR is vital. To see just how easy it is to protect against this click on the link.
Does your memory pass the test?
How you tested your memory recently? Memory problems can manifest themselves in many ways - so, if a PC isn't running 100%, ruling this out first is sometimes a good place to start!
But anyone who has used a DOS or O/S based memory tester knows that the results can be inaccurate because these testers do not communicate directly with the hardware itself, and based on this there are even certain areas that they cannot test at all.
Fortunately MemScope - our FREE MEMORY TESTER - is completely operating system independent - so it gives you the most accurate results possible! Follow the link to download. And to give you a 'head start' we have posted a 'guide' to the various types of errors, with the most likely reason for each failure, on the following link;
http://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/Memory_Tests.html
PC Troubleshooting - Intermittent Faults
How would you like to have an automated system that could track down intermittent faults on any PC? Having a utility that can run a repeating loop of tests is sometimes the only way to catch this type of problem, which by its nature will seldom perform on cue during a single run-through of a test. And with Microscope it couldn't be easier! Just put the floppy, CD or USB stick in the drive and hit 'GO'! For more info click on the link
Hardware component troubleshooting
People are often surprised at exactly how many of the hardware components can be tested by a diagnostic utility without having to open the box! Simply by slotting a CD or USB flash drive into the PC and pushing a few buttons you can find out what the problem is, without having to go looking yourself. Go to the following link to get an idea of the sorts of tests you run.
Guide to troubleshooting hardware
What would you do if you were in a foreign country and you did not speak the language and you needed to get from one place to another as quickly and as cost effectively as possible? Would you ask for directions from another tourist or would you ask someone native to that region? Well, Micro-Scope is the 'native' to the 'country' called 'hardware' - it speaks the same language and it understands all the ins and outs and 'local customs' that are specific to this area, and it doesn't even use a 'translator' to do this (ie. the resident operation system, such as Windows); so it acts as your 'guide' to the fastest and most economical route to troubleshooting problem PCs with ease.
For examples of how this affects the various hardware problems click on the link.
Are you working with any of the following: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows ME, Window XP, Windows Vista, DOS, OS2, Linux, UNIX?
Did you know that you only need one version of Microscope to troubleshoot a desktop, laptop or server using any of the above? And that you can choose between the following to trace down any hardware fault on these systems; Floppy, CD, USB Stick - so you won't even need to open up the box to find out what's wrong! All this flexibility for a low, one off cost!
A PC that won't boot up can be a time consuming and frustrating problem!
POST Probe is the tool to quickly diagnose any IBM-compatible PC that will not boot up. It's a printed circuit card that plugs into any vacant bus slot on the computer's motherboard. It can be used with the ISA bus, EISA or PCI bus. The card monitors the voltages, bus signals, and the computer's POST, or Power-On-Self-Test, and shows the results with various LED and 7-segment displays. To see how to just how easy it is to troubleshoot 'dead' PCs click on the link.
How secure is your data?
When you have to get rid of a hard drive, for whatever reason, and whether it's business or personal, do you have to 'cross your fingers' and hope that the data will not be accessed by others after the PC is no longer under your control; or are you 100% confident that the method you have used to sterilize the drive is enough?
With EraserDisk, once the information is gone, there’s no way somebody can get it back! To find out how to ensure the safe disposal of hard drives for a very competitive, one off cost click on the link.
Network Card Errors
If you have anything to do with networks chances are that you may have come across connectivity issues and of course there could be any number of causes - but how do you know if it's the network card which is faulty or something else? A good place to start is to test the card what shows up - and to get an idea of the types of errors that could be causing the problem then click on the link.
Is your memory holding up?
Slow response times, a program that won't open, (or shuts down in the middle of an operation), 'grinding noises' and laborious loading; or even the PC crashing completely; we've all seen one or more of these 'glitches' at some time or other. Most people who work with computers have experienced 'performance' issues and these could be as a result of either the software, or the hardware, but in the case of the latter it can often be the 'memory' that is at fault.
Memory issues can be deceptive as they don't necessary create problems that require immediate attention; but they can be pretty irritating nonetheless! Check your memory now with our free memory tester.
Tracking Down Intermittent PC Faults
Probably the most difficult troubleshooting to deal with are those annoying intermittent faults; those that may only happen now and then, but cause problems never the less, and need to be sorted out. So, the ability to run a repeating loop of tests is sometimes the only way to catch an this type of problem, which by its nature will seldom perform on cue during a single run-through of a test.
Hardware component troubleshooting
People are often surprised at exactly how many of the hardware components can be tested by a diagnostic utility without having to open the box! Simply by slotting a CD or USB flash drive into the PC and pushing of a few buttons you can find out what the problem is, without having to go looking yourself. Follow the link to see just how many tests you can run!
PC Hardware Diagnostics on a USB Flash Drive
How do you like the idea of being able to pop a USB flash drive into a problem PC in order to diagnose what the problem is? Well, you can - with Microscope! Not only can it be used from a floppy or CD - but it is also available in a handy USB format too - so no matter what situation you're covered! For more information on this please follow the link.
Getting the bottom of a PC that won't boot up
Troubleshooting a 'dead PC' can actually be done very quickly and easily - just by being able to 'read' the instructions executed by the BIOS - and so save a lot of guesswork, or the need to replace the PC completely. To see how to troubleshoot 'dead' PCs following the link.
Resolving fixed disk errors
Fixed disk faults can often result in the need to replace the drive, with the risk of losing data and a lot of extra work installing a new one. In other words, it's probably not something that you want to do unless it's really necessary!For some tips on tests that make it possible to avoid this problem go to.
Debugging Funtions for PC Hardware Troubleshooting
In the world of PC maintenance and troubleshooting getting to the bottom of an error can be both frustrating and time consuming. Sometimes to isolate a malfunction it is useful to pinpoint and exercise a specific Interrupt, I/O address or memory address - thus having a way to allow direct triggering or interrogation of hardware.
Securely dispose of hard drives
Most people these days are aware of the fact that before getting rid of an unwanted PC it is vital that all the data is that was stored on the hard drive is totally erased. While there are many different options available on the market for the purpose of 'wiping data', there are different levels of 'erasure', some of which still leave the data vulnerable to exposure and at risk of being retrieved. To find out how to completely eradicate any and all data on a hard drive go to the link.
What to do when software programs seem 'unresponsive'
Check Event Viewer in Windows by right clicking on My Computer and selecting Manage. If you find the errors in Event Viewer description pointing to memory addresses or block execution errors, then the problem may be RAM Memory
How to Troubleshoot Dead PCs
The power light comes on, the fan can be heard and maybe some strange beeps from inside the case, but the screen is black as night - where do you start? The beeps may provide a clue, but every BIOS has its own set of beep codes, and you won't know what BIOS version you have until you take off the case. No matter which BIOS it is though, the number of beep codes will invariably be quite small compared to the number of things that could be wrong, so getting help from that quarter is somewhat a matter of luck. To find out how to troubleshoot 'dead' PCs click on the link
A Guide to Memory Testing and Errors
Most of the time when Windows freezes up it’s the fault of Windows itself, sometimes though it’s not the software but the hardware, and in those cases the memory is almost always the culprit. Here is an overview on memory errors, giving you the most likely reason for each failure, so that you can quickly pin point a solution.
Tips on troubleshooting and refurbishing hardrives
A fairly common situation that many technicians come across is problems with hard drives, so here are some tips on how to troubleshoot and refurbish drives to give them a new lease of life for future use!
For a complete step by step guide please click on the following link -
Totally erase all data on your hard drive
One of the points that was brought up was about the different options in MicroScope for 'cleaning' hard drives; this utility is called Secure Wipe and there are three types to choice from - depending on what you plan to do with the drive afterwards.
There is a major difference between Secure Wipe's low level format as you can do a true factory low-level format on any drive type, regardless of the size, make or model, even SCSI and IDE drives. Also if track Zero is damaged it will relocate track zero and fix those drives.
CLICK the link below for a full description of the options available
Phishing for Trouble: CyberCriminals Profit Big by Thinking Small
According to security experts, Internet hackers are shifting gears and scoring big by thinking small. Instead of blasting out global virus attacks over the Internet, cyber-criminals, motivated by profit, are becoming increasingly more organized and have begun targeting their attacks on one or two companies at a time. Identity thieves who once relied on sifting through dumpsters and trash cans to find confidential, personal data have realized that it’s more worthwhile to obtain such information from companies that collect it - and the profits can be substantial.
PC Hardware Made Easy
Introducing the PC Hardware Made Easy training course. Inside this product you'll find everything you'll need to quickly gain a complete understanding of how a PC works even if you've never used a computer before. After finishing this course, you'll not only understand how a PC works, but how to build your own!
The Micro 2000 A+ Certification is a good self-paced course
The Micro 2000 A+ Certification is a good self-paced course that carefully covers computer fundamentals with or without a technical background or familiarity with computers. Upon completion, the goal of this course is to confidently pass the new CompTIA A+ certification tests.
The ULTIMATE A+ Certification Course
Not all CompTIA® A+ certification courses are created equal. Unlike other A+ courses that plunge the student into a sea of technical jargon, the Micro 2000 A+ certification course introduces all technical terms on a smooth gradient with clear definitions in plain English. Training for your A+ certification has never been easier.
Your personal and financial data could be accessed and used illegally
Many people don't realize that all the data that is stored in their PC can be accessed long after it's been sent to PC Heaven! This is because everything that you do on your PC gets stored on the hard drive. There are various ways in which people attempt to 'erase' all the data on the hard drive - but some of these methods don't necessarily have the required results, and the data can then be 'recovered' using special software.
Hardware problem severe enough to prevent the system from booting up at all
The usefulness of diagnostic software fails at the point where the hardware problem is severe enough to prevent the system from booting up at all. At this point, the only way to pinpoint the failure is with a POST-code reader. When a computer boots up, it starts by executing hard-wired instructions stored in the BIOS. These instructions do a check of the various essential machine functions, and then turn control of the system over to the boot loader routine stored on the hard drive. The series of instructions the BIOS does are called the Power-On Self Test, abbreviated POST.
MemScope Memory Tester
Testing memory is not always easy since many factors come in to play. Some tests are very short but to catch all possible errors it is often best to stress test the memory extensively. Besides time, other factors to take account of are: memory, amount to test, memory speed and CPU speed. MemScope presents an alternative algorithm to identify memory problems than those used in MicroScope.
Can you afford not to use Micro-Scope?
Let’s say you have a customer that has a bad cylinder on a hard drive and you can’t access the drive. Normally you would have to reload the customer’s software on their PC, reinstall their drives, games or whatever application programs that are on that drive. This process, if you are lucky, will take you about 45 minutes to an hour to do. With Microscope you can format a cylinder or head at a time INSTEAD of having to reload the software. This process takes about 2 seconds to do. This way you get the whole job done in about 5 minutes instead of spending an hour on it.
The Importance of OS-Independence
Many of our customers want to know what the specific advantages are to them of having diagnostic software that is operating system-independent, like MicroScope, rather than one of the many programs that run under DOS and Windows, some of which are less expensive.
Micro-Scope 2005 - Diagnostic Software
MICRO-SCOPE - is the PC diagnostic software preferred by professional technicians world-wide. The software is operating system independent, which allows the program to directly access the hardware, bypassing DOS or Windows, for the fastest and most accurate troubleshooting possible. All diagnostic tests, including hard drive and memory testing, can be run individually, or combined in a looped batch mode for burn-in testing or diagnosing intermittent problems.
Troubleshooting and Repairing Hard Drives
Let's say you'll get a bad sector on your drive and get the report - 'HDC controller error' SECTOR NOT FOUND or even BAD SECTOR ERROR. How can you test a specific sector of a hard drive if the operating system (in conjunction with the drive controller and the BIOS) decides where the data will go on the drive? And if the operation fails, how can we determine if the drive mechanism or the controller was at fault? All the application knows is that it hands data off to the OS for disk storage and then gets it back in altered form or not at all.
Rebuild Masterboot Record When Handling Viruses
There is a fixed disk sector editor in Micro-Scope that allows you to view and modify any data anywhere on the surface of the platter – even those reserved areas that are normally off limits to DOS utilities, like track Zero, for example. That is very handy if you have to do any repair or reconstruction of the Master Boot Record or Partition Tables, perhaps due to a virus contamination.
Data Recovery
Most technicians know of software that with a push of the button will automatically recover data. The problem with these types of programs is that you only get one chance to recover the data. If you run one of the automatic programs it's a 50/50 chance it will work and once it's run, that's it. If the program does not work the first time, you do not get another chance. The data is destroyed. With Micro-Scope YOU DON'T TAKE THAT RISK!
Micro2000 Solutions for System Builders and Manufacturers
Building computer systems is a competitive business to be in and the ability to get each PC build right, efficiently and cost effectively the first time, is key to your success. No matter whether you build one PC a week or thousands a month, our tools are VITAL to your business.
Free PC Network Course
This course will you a very good understanding about the basics of computer networking and how networks are put together. With this information you will be on your way to setting up your own network environment.
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