This page is designed to help you maintain your computer and learn a few things as you do so. By using the tools and information on this site you will be able to keep your system running smoothly and hopefully your computer will make fewer visits to our Helpdesk. As we find new problems (and solutions to these problems) we put them in our Knowledge Base where you can search for information on a specific problem. Our Knowledge Base is always growing and we encourage you to use it to help you keep your computer running as optimally as possible.

Here are some utilities to repair common problems found in Windows

Internet Problems

• Winsock Fix - This utility replaces key files and settings in Windows that allow you to connect to the Internet.
• Cryptographic Services Fix - The program will automatically fix the Cryptographic Service in Windows XP. If you are having trouble logging into secure websites like NIU Blackboard, this may fix your connection.

Malware

• Spybot-S&D - Spybot Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.
• Ad-Aware - This program provides you with advanced protection against spyware that secretly attaches and takes control of your computer, resulting in aggressive advertising pop-ups, sluggish computer activity, even identity theft through stolen bank details, passwords, and credit card account numbers. Once the program is installed on your computer, run a scan to clean malware off your system.
• Norton Removal Tool - If you're having trouble removing an old version of Norton AntiVirus or Internet Security, this utility will strip the application from your computer. This utility is designed for Windows 2000, XP, and Vista systems. You should always try to remove Norton through Windows Add/Remove Programs before resorting to this tool.