Windows has been around for years in various different version but in this present time, although some people still like Windows XP, the most commonly used household Operating System is Microsoft Windows Vista, although I feel Windows 7 will quickly take over.
When you buy your shiny new computer it will usually come with a factory install of the Operating System installed on the hard disk. At this point all the system files will be in a good condition, the programs on the unit will have all been tested to work OK together and the system will be running nice and cleanly. But from the minute you first turn the computer on it will be constantly changing with the system files getting updated with user data, internet connections downloading updates, programs adding and changing files, internal and external hardware being installed and all sorts of nastiness coming in from the internet.
At some point pretty much everybody ends up having some sort of problem with some of their programs. This is because with so many different companies and private people making software, the Operating System constantly being updated through Automatic Updates and the fact that older programs will not work on newer Operating Systems it is inevitable that there will be problems with compatibility between various mixes of programs. Going back to a shop or manufacturer after a reasonable period of use and saying they are selling poor equipment because you have ended up with software problems or because you are unable to configure your Operating System and programs is a little harsh at best.
The simple fact of the matter is that even though most hardware may come with warranties you need to take responsibility for your own software. This includes the Operating System, even if it came on a computer you have purchased, after all would you have bought the computer if it had come with no Operating System? In essence this just comes with the system and it's your job to get it configured to how you personally want to use it and to make sure that you keep it in a good working condition.
There are always ways to try to fix problems but when you have software problems sometimes the quickest and most straight forward process is to re-install the Operating System. In this section of the site you can find information on the re-installation process of Windows XP and Windows Vista for if you find that you are going to need to run through this for the first time.
You can also find basic setup information for some of the most common things people are using their computers for these days.
