The worst kind of software failure you can have is when your computer refuses to start up because your operating system (Windows) refuses to work, The other type of failure you might experience is that an application refuses to run. Both of these types of failures can really stop you in your tracks and ruin your day. When a failure occurs, it's important to diagnose your disaster carefully so you don't end up wasting a lot of time and money. Here are some of the common causes of software failure that you should put on the top of your troubleshooting list:

• Registry problems:

The good news with Windows is that it has a built-in database and control system to keep track of all of the software and critical information that lives on your PC, This feature is called the Registry. You've probably heard it mentioned now and then by the tech geeks you know. Usually they make comments under their breath like "Oh, it's a Registry problem" or "Damn, the Registry is really screwed up again." The bad news is that the Registry is known to have problems from time to time, and when the Registry has a "bad hair day," your PC might not start up or an important program installed on your PC might not work. We'll show you some things that you can do if you suspect that you are having a Registry "bad hair day."

• Improper installations:

Software can be really fussy. If it isn't installed just right. it might not ever run at all or it might run inconsistently. This is why we have devoted a lot of attention to showing you how to properly install your software and how to deal with software installation issues in this chapter. If you are having problems with software, you can usually fix them by simply reinstalling your software. This is something we often put off doing because it is a pain, but it does work better than anything else.

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• A recent software installation:

It might seem that just out of the blue your operating system or an important application (like your word processor) starts acting up. The only thing you can attribute the problem to is that it is suddenly raining or the wind has picked up.The real truth is that computers aren't really that unpredictable. Usually, a problem like this occurs because you've recently done something such as install some new software, a new hardware device like a printer, or you've been attacked by a virus (as mentioned later in this list). When you install new software or hardware, internal changes are made to your operating system, and these changes can affect the balance of power on your computer. When we suspect problems like this, we like to make a list of all of the changes that we've made to our PCs over the past week or two. Then we see if we can work through the list to try to find what went wrong.

• Expired software:

Software, like hardware, doesn't always last forever. Many programs that users install on their PCs are often downloaded from the Internet. Many are trial versions. Programs like this run fine and offer all of the features of the commercial version until one day when they simply stop running. Software that needs to be activated may be fully functional for a few days and then may completely cease to funotion until you activate it. Finally, subscription-based software (such as antivirus software) may continue to work after it expires (typically one year) but not fully (it's not updated).

• Viruses:

Viruses can create havoc on a PC (especially when you have an important deadline like getting a report done for the boss a few days before your big review). Because of the importance of viruses, we've devoted an entire chapter to them.