Fixin’ Fridays is a once-weekly article where we reveal the trade secrets behind easy fixes for complex pc problems.
For our inaugural article we’re going to take a look at a software issue which sends shivers down the spines of pc users and technicians alike: driver problems.
Incompatible drivers can be responsible for any number of issues, sometimes causing pc problems which seem completely unrelated to the cause. On top of that, the driver installation and uninstallation process can be anything but simple, leaving most to cross their fingers and hope for the best when they click the ‘ok’ button.
Fortunately, a little known feature in windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 takes the bite out of installing an incompatible driver. Driver Rollback is a nifty function which allows the previous set of drivers to be restored without going through the rigmarole normally associated with the task.

1. Click Start and select the Control Panel.
2. Click Performance and Maintenance.
3. Click See basic information about your computer.
4. Click the Hardware tab.
5. Click the Device Manager.
6. View the list of devices. If the device driver is missing or broken, it will appear with a red X in the middle of the icon. Right click the suspect device, and select Properties.

7. Click the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver.
The best news is that Driver Rollback works even if your PC isn’t. By booting into Safe Mode, windows avoids loading all but the most important drivers, giving you the ability to uninstall drivers which may have been causing the system to freeze. Here Charlie Russel, Microsoft MVP for Windows Server and Tablet PC, explains how he used Driver Rollback to stop BSOD problems.
So next time you are suffering weird driver errors, or feel like making an upgrade you would normally avoid, rest assured that Driver Roll Back is there to help you.

For a complete guides to driver rollback in your operating system, click here.

It’s time for part two of our series of articles on finding and removing malware. Malware is the collective name for Viruses, Trojans, Worms, Adware, spyware and more - nasty programs which infect computers and cause all kinds of PC problems. Getting rid of these things can be tricky – if you can find them at all. Let’s look at Trojans: What they are, what they do, and how to protect against and get rid of them.

Trojans are very appropriately named after the large wooden horse the Greeks used to get a small band of warriors inside the walls of Troy. The armies of Troy mistook the horse to be a gift, and willingly carried it, and the warriors concealed within, inside the city walls. The computer versions of Trojans do roughly the same thing: A Trojan program will appear to be desirable and even beneficial to a computer, but actually contain a virus, worm or other malware, which is installed along with the masquerading program.

This sneaky method of entry means that user error is usually not to blame for the installation of a Trojan, though certain protocols help to reduce the risk of installing Trojan carrying programs. It also means that anti-virus programs won’t necessarily recognize a Trojan or its payload until it is installed and running – a less than optimal solution! So how do you avoid and remove them?

Protection: Avoidance of Trojans can be tricky. After all, they are designed to appear benign or even useful to PC users. The best way to avoid Trojan programs is to only download and install software from reputable retailers who you trust. The Windows Marketplace is a good example of a safe download site, where content is reviewed and scrutinized by the community.

As a secondary line of defence, a good anti-virus application like kaspersky should pick up any Malware installed by a Trojan. It may even find unpleasant applications during the installation process.

If you are unlucky enough to have installed a Trojan without virus detection flagging it, a full system scan should reveal any hidden programs installed and help you remove them.

Computer nasties come in many shapes and sizes: Viruses, Trojans, Worms, Adware, spyware and more. These various PC problem causers are collectively known as Malware, a name which roughly refers to any program which makes uninvited, unintended or covert changes to your system and data.

With more Malware about than ever, it’s reassuring to know that most PC’s are now protected by some form of antivirus software, but it is important to understand that the battle doesn’t end there. Even the best antivirus software does not catch all viruses, and only a few packages will protect against the entire spectrum of Malware. In these articles, we will look at each type of Malware in turn. What it does, how it spreads, and how to remove it! As we’ve already used much of our space for today, we’ll start with a look at the least common Malware infestation: Worms!

Perhaps the least dangerous of the usual suspects, the humble worm is designed to spread. Worms, by definition, do not seek to alter the systems they pass through (like viruses and other Malware) but they can facilitate the delivery of such programs in the form of a ‘payload’. In any case, even the most benign worm program uses up network bandwidth.

More recently, Worms have been used to create botnets. These impromptu networks are virtual constructs built on the backs of machines which have been compromised by a Worm, Virus or other Malware program. Botnets are used by spammers to distribute bulk mailings, and employed for DoS attacks.

Protection:
Worms are typically spread by exploiting vulnerabilities in computer operating systems. This is one of the key reasons to keep systems updated with the latest patches. Worms may also travel in infected e-mails which they create and send without a user’s participation – it is essential to only open email attachments from trusted contacts, no matter how tempting their content seems.