******** This thread now closed. Please see Volume 29 ********
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=26078
In this thread you may ask any computer related question for which you need help, advice, suggestions or whatever.
Usual rules apply,
No motoring related discussion,
No politics,
No Speeding, speed cameras, traffic calming
No arguments or slanging matches
Nothing which I think is not following the spirit of the thread
Nothing that risks the future of this site (please see the small print for details www.honestjohn.co.uk/credits/index.htm )
Any of the above will be deleted. If the thread becomes difficult to maintain it will simply be removed.
There is a wealth of knowledge in here, much of which is not motoring related, but most of which is useful.
This is Volume 28. Previous Volumes will not be deleted.
A list of previous volumes can be found here:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=20892
PLEASE NOTE:
When posting a NEW question, please \"Reply to\" the first message in this thread, i.e. this one. This keeps each question in it\'s own separate segment and stops each new question from getting mixed up in amongst existing questions. Also please remember to change the subject header.
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Hope this does not show my total ignorance of computers!
My brother was given a computer. Worked well for a while but then got message "no signal input" on monitor. Has checked all connections and seem oK. Has tried monitor on another computer, works ok. Has tried another known good monitor, still gets same message. A friend of his tried a known good video card in the computer, still same message.
Is there a simple answer to the problem or are there hundreds (which I may well not understand?!!)Should ghe just go out and buy another computer (my suggested solution!!)
thanks for any help
PhilW
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given that monitor has been proven ok, and that a known good video card does not work in the duff pc then its one of two things. If its an old low spec pc then.....
If the PC makes a noise (fans) then its the motherboard thats duff - chuck it.
If the PC makes no noise its the mains lead or power supply or motherboard. If its not the mains lead then chuck it (unless you want to pay about 20 quid and get a new power supply and take the pc apart to fit it)
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How do you know the computer is coming on ? Which noises/lights do you see ?
If the machine has power to it, then its probably for the junk heap. But there's a chance the machine isn't powering up.
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Thanks - will check what you suggest and get back if necessary. If you don't hear more about it - it's gone to the tip!
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All the bases have probably been covered above, but there is one more slim possibility - does the machine display any of the startup text and then fail just before windows starts, or does it display the error message from the moment it's turned on? If the former, it may be that the windows has been set to display a resolution higher than the monitor can handle, although this is usually accompanied by a small 'squeak' from the monitor and so can be easily identified.
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Thanks for the help - brother took it to an IT savvy friend who told him exactly what you lot said and it turned out that the motherboard had gone - he has chucked it and bought another. As usual the Backroom knows its stuff!!
Cheers
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I am sure this one has whiskers on it and has been addressed before, but a forum search didn\'t turn up anything.
Why won\'t Windows shut down properly, but just hangs?
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If it\'s Windows 98 then there\'s a tool on the microsoft website that\'ll help you.
support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;2...3
If it\'s not 98, post here and I\'ll try and help further.
--
Lee
MINI adventure in progress
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If it is Windows 98 or 98SE you probably need the Shutdown patch 004756us8.exe. I had the problem at one time and this patch cured it.
Download it from Microsoft.com:
tinyurl.com/jeh
or, for instance:
www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=90
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PS
At the same time, do a WindowsUpdate scan to check what else you may require on your system..:-)
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Re: Shutdown problem with Windows: many thanks to all who sent advice and pointers, especially DVD, whose unrelated but diverting graphics calmed me down sufficiently to avoid taking a 3lb hammer to that pesky box of tricks and teaching it a lesson.
I appplied all the fixes given that I was able to, and problem appears to have gone away. I was getting backache bending over to yank the plug out of the wall every time!
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Well, able was I ere I saw elba.
Shutdown problem has returned with warning on bootup that something called "rundll32.exe" cannot be found plus another *.dll of some sort isn't there.
Yes yes, all spyware cleaned out, virus protection up to date etc etc. I think it may time for that 3lb hammer after all........
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I think that rundll32.exe is a rather important one but can't be sure why - part of toolbar/desktop or something similar?
You should be able to replace it (in windows\system folder?) from your CD if you have a CAB extractor.
I don't precisely know what I'm talking about, but everyone else seems to have gone to bed early.
Go and get that hammer.....
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For Windows 98SE, RUNDLL32.EXE should be in C:\\WINDOWS. With the Win98SE CDROM in drive D:, open a DOS window, and then type:
CD \\WINDOWS
EXTRACT /A D:\\WIN98\\CATALOG3.CAB RUNDLL32.EXE
Repeat for other missing files, but take into account that most critical files should be in the C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM folder, not C:\\WINDOWS.
Ian
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Trying again. I haven't cracked how to display backslashes (a previous suggestion of typing two backslashes doesn't work). So insert a backslash wherever I've written {bs}!
For Windows 98SE, RUNDLL32.EXE should be in C:{bs}WINDOWS. With the Win98SE CDROM in drive D:, open a DOS window, and then type:
CD {bs}WINDOWS
EXTRACT /A D:{bs}WIN98{bs}CATALOG3.CAB RUNDLL32.EXE
Repeat for other missing files, but take into account that most critical files will be in the C:{bs}WINDOWS{bs}SYSTEM folder, not C:{bs}WINDOWS.
Ian
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Ever since I re-nstalled XP home + SP2 the pestiferous Windows Messenger launches whenever I start Outlook Express. I just cannot find the appropriate option to uncheck to solve this.
Any ideas folks?
--
Roger. (Costa del Sol, España)
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Windows Messenger launches>>
Go to Start>RUN. Type in services.msc - tick OK.
Scroll down the list until you come to Messenger. Highlight it, right click and, from the drop-down menu click Disable. OK and exit.
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Just to clarify, only type services.msc
Most other services in XP can be set from Services to run in Automatic, Manual or Disabled mode as required.
But don't change anything unless you know what you are doing...:-))
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The proper way is to edit the registry, but as you may get into awful trouble if you dont know what you are doing the easier way is to log onto www.lavasoftusa.com and download "adaware personal". Look under "add ons" for messenger - control.This will do what you are looking for and Bob's your uncle (or in your case it might be Roberto !!!!)
Good luck JB
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Ever since I re-nstalled XP home + SP2 the pestiferous Windows Messenger launches whenever I start Outlook Express. I just cannot find the appropriate option to uncheck to solve this.
Any ideas folks?
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Roger. (Costa del Sol, España)
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Apologies for the double post! I was using Mozilla Firefox and when I clicked "Post this message", a pop up box told me "the document contains no data". No indication what or why this notice arrived, but the post did not appear to fly off into the ether so I re-clicked!.
Anyone using Firefox have this warning box and if so why?
--
Roger. (Costa del Sol, España)
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On the menu at the top go to Tools then Options
Look at the General Tab in the window that appears.
Uncheck "Automatically log on to windows messenger"
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Nope - that isn't it! I had already unchecked that box some days ago. All it does is to stop auto sign in to Messenger, so I get the icon in the task bar, but with the red X signifying not signed in.
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Roger. (Costa del Sol, España)
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Double click the Windows messenger icon. goto Tools>Options. Click on the General Tab and untick "Automatically run Messenger when I log on to Windows" and "Allow automatic sign in when connected to the internet"
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No - that's not it either!
I have Windows Messenger version 4.7 and there is a preferences tab, not a general tab.
The box "run when windows starts" is unchecked - there is no "Allow automatic sign in" box.
Windows messenger does NOT start with windows, that is disabled, not only on the preferences tab, but also on msconfig startup items!
Messenger only starts automatically, (with no auto sign in), when Outlook Express is run. There is IIRC an option on installation of XP +SP" to "associate" Windows Messenger with Outlook Express. What I really need to establish is how to "dissasociate" it!!
--
Roger. (Costa del Sol, España)
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malteser -
see my post above timed at 23.45
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No - that's not it either! I have Windows Messenger version 4.7
How come you're running so old a version? I'm using version 6.1, and have been prompted a couple of times that there's an update to a newer version.
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malteser -
do you mean msn messenger or windows messenger ?
either way, the links from google search will tell you what to do. eg
msn-messenger v 4.x
www.mvps.org/marksxp/WindowsXP/messenger/messenger...p
www.updatexp.com/disable-messenger-msn.html
windows-messenger
www.updatexp.com/messenger_service_spam.html
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I think this problem is about the MSN Messenger - because since getting SP2 I have the same problem - except mine starts up in the background with no icons letting me! The first I know about it is when one of my contacts sends me a message.
I think I have managed to get around it by selecting the Connection to a Poxy server or something like that and also putting in a random screen name and wrong password.
I tried the unticking of Auto Start with Windows, and Auto Log In, but it still does both of them!!!
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It's WINDOWS Messenger: 4.7 is the latest version of that.
Hmm looks a bit complicated to fix though. I'll have to think about that! Thanks for the info.
--
Roger. (Costa del Sol, España)
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Anyone using Firefox have this warning box and if so why?
Previous versions of Mozilla, and Netscape before it, have had the that warning box since time immemorial.
I suspect you got it because there was a temporary server problem with this site or one you you had open in your other tabs. It tends to happen when a connection times out, but I'm not sure of the message's exact meaning.
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There is help about this on the FireFox forums (whaterver the plural of Forum is!)
If I remember correctly you go to TOOLS > OPTIONS click the PRIVICY caegory, click the + on CACHE and click CLEAR.
Worked for me, I don't get that message any more.
Regards,
John R @ Home
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The last one from me was for MALTESERs FireFox query...
Oh yeah, I meant CATEGORY...
Regards,
John R @ Home
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Thanks to all those contributors who advised me on a wireless network.
Bought a simple USR 8054 Router and matching pccard. Works superbly and first time.
Pity about the re-install of Windows XP that took two days though!
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W98SE, IE6, brightview broadband
when i click on the dropdown arrow at the righthand end of the address bar in IE6, there is often a noticeable pause while the disk kicks into action - why is this
Also when i key in or select a new URL to visit, the connection icons show a bit of activity, then 5-10 seconds of inactivity, then bursts back into life - what is going on ?
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There could be all sorts of reasons why your computer is behaving in this way. Assuming you are running current anti-virus software, spyware and trojans spring to mind. I suggest you Google for Spybot S&D and Lavasoft Adaware. Down load both and run them and see what you get.
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>>S and D 1.3, Ad-aware SE 1.05 etc.>>
Search and Destroy 1.3 (Spybot) from www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
Ad-aware SE 1.05 (NOT Noadware!) from www.majorgeeks.com/download506.html
Don't forget SpywareBlaster (which stops most of the spybots in the first place!) from www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Install each one and configure, immediately update online, and then run a scan.
All three, especially Ad-aware SE, require updating checks two or three times a week.
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"when i click on the dropdown arrow at the righthand end of the address bar in IE6, there is often a noticeable pause while the disk kicks into action - why is this"
Any chance that your power management is set to shut down the HD after 1 minute inactivity, or summat silly like that?
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Some friends asked me to help with their W98 PC last week. It had been hijacked to direct them to a lurid porn site whenever they went on to the Internet. After removing the 67 viruses with AVG and 44 bits of spyware with Spybot order was restored.
Except that when you type an URL into the address bar beginning e.g. "www.lostmoderator.com" it no longer supplies the missing "HTTP://" bit and says the site can't be found. Typing "HTTP://www.lostmoderator.com" in full still works. A setting somewhere or reload IE6 or W98 or both?
TIA
Hawkeye
-----------------------------
Stranger in a strange land
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Some friends asked me to help with their W98 PC last week. It had been hijacked to direct them to a lurid porn site whenever they went on to the Internet.
What was the problem, then?
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Its in one of; (decreasing likelihood)
Registry
TCP/IP translation
IE settings
Most of the regfixers on the internet give you a trial where it will tell you what is wrong but y9ou have to buy it for it to fix it. Get one and run the demo and see if it tells you anything.
Reset IE Settings back to default.
Try uninstalling TCP/IP and its components and then reinstalling.
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Are the drop-down menu URL links still available after you click on the arrow?
If not, then you have probably not changed the History retain duration to a long enough period - check in Tools>Internet Options and then the History button.
You can change it from 0-99 days.
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What's for you won't pass you by
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hawkeye -
support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;2...8
" ... NOTE: If the inline AutoComplete feature is turned on for Web addresses, addresses that do not include a resource identifier prefix (for example, http:// or ftp://) are not automatically completed .... "
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hawkeye -
scrub my previous reply timed at 15.41.
you need to look at registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersi
on\\URL\\Prefixes
too much to type here. put that in to google and see what you get.
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all backslashes were deleted in above post. insert backslashes in place of *
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE * Software * Microsoft * Windows *
CurrentVersion * URL * Prefixes
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Thank you, good folk.
Stuartli - it's all available
Mark & Dalglish - looked on my own Win98 PC for Dalglish's quoted registry value and found a few entries missing on friends' PC. Tried a free registry scan with Registry Mechanic on my own PC to see what happens. At the time of writing I had 408 problems and counting ...
I'll try editing their registry tomorrow and report back.
Virtual pints for all respondents except patently who just needs a virtual slap ;-)
Hawkeye
-----------------------------
Stranger in a strange land
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patently who just needs a virtual slap ;-)
Ooooh!
[take that whatever way you want!]
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Before you start messing about in the registry why not try 98SE's equivalent of XP's System Restore and go back to, hopefully, a known "good" date?
Bootup to a Command prompt (can't remember now if you press F5 or F8!).
Another way to get there is Start>Run>type in msconfig >OK. On the General tab go to Advanced>check Enable startup menu>exit and reboot.
On the startup menu choose Number 4 command prompt. At the prompt, type:
scanreg/restore
and hit Enter
After the scan you will be given an option (with dates and times) of five prior restorable registries. Pick the most appropriate.
Highlight and choose Restore. On receiving confirmation of a successful registry restore, Reboot
You can Edit Scanreg.ini and change the MaxBackupCopies=5 to a higher figure if you wish to increase the number of registry entries.
Remember, if you use the second method, to go back to msconfig> General/Advanced and uncheck Enable startup menu so you will boot directly into Windows.
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What's for you won't pass you by
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PS
Not many people, somewhat surprisingly, are aware of earlier Windows' version of XP's "System Restore".
As I stated, you can edit scanreg.ini for more options, including up to 99 .CABs, change location and add other files such as sys.ini. Sredit.exe can be used to apply changes:
www.geocities.com/~budallen/98reski...g.Ini%20Edit...g
Command line parameters for Scanreg detailed at:
snakefoot.fateback.com/tweak/win9x/tips.html
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What's for you won't pass you by
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why not try 98SE's equivalent of XP's System Restore and go back to, hopefully, a known "good" date?
>>
yes, as long as you know when the home-page-hijacker was installed.
the registry key in question is where many such hijackers reside !
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Hawkeye,
Try the Internet Repair option.
Goto Start/Settings/Control Panel. Launch Add/Remove Progs. Scroll down until you find MS Internet Explorer ect, and highlight it. Click Add/Remove Icon. Select Repair Internet Explorer from the menu.
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Amazing what the offer of virtual beer brings out of the woodwork.
Thanks DD, I\'m not enough of a hairy-bottomed techie to enjoy editing the registry; repair would be my preferred option.
Hawkeye
-----------------------------
Stranger in a strange land
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Today has been a fruitful day in the BR. I have discovered valid excuses for:
(a) storming down a motorway at 100mph+
(b) IE forever pointing at adult site
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Thanks to all. Repair didn't; I had to add the few lines from the registry of my own Win98 PC.
Hawkeye
-----------------------------
Stranger in a strange land
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hawkeye -
glad to know that the suggested registry key did the trick.
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My son, bless him, has bought a sound card to replace the integrated sound in his Mesh, and he is gonna want my paternal help and advice (and probably let me do it for him while he watches TV...). Although I'm fairly up to scratch with PC upgrades, I do know that this is potentially not as straightforward as simple plug'n'play. I'd be grateful for advice on how to go about it - specifically, ensuring that the onboard sound is disabled in favour of the new card, and what leads, if any, I need to disconnect from the motherboard and replug to the sound card (I have replaced other PCI cards before so I'm quite happy with all the general aspects such as earthing etc.).
Thanks in advance.
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When you switch on the system press Delete or whatever means you use to get into the Bios.
Under one of the headings (depends on the make of Bios) you will find the means to Disable the onboard sound. Save the changes and exit the Bios.
Re the sound card, it will depend on what the manual says whether you install the drivers first or after the sound card has been installed. You will only need to push it carefully but firmly into a vacant PCI slot and then secure it with a screw. There will be a socket for the CD/DVD-ROM drive audio cable.
The manual again will detail the various inputs/output sockets - they are coloured for easier recognition/selection but, depending on the sound card, there will be three or more.
In the Mixer, available by double-clicking the Volume control on the Taskbar or via Control panel (Sounds and Audio Devices) you can configure to mute or enable various inputs/outputs, such as CD player, Line In, Line Out etc. Mute those that are not being used or drop the slider to zero.
If you have bought, say, an OEM version of something like the Creative SoundBlaster Live! you can download the manual quickly (pdf form) from Creative's European website:
tinyurl.com/4nbqs
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What's for you won't pass you by
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Thanks - I might have eventually remembered the cable from the DVD-ROM. I'm OK with the outputs etc, and said son has already advised me that the card driver is loaded via plug'n'play, i.e. after installation.
Guess what I shall be doing sunday?
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Guess what I shall be doing sunday?
Enjoying a glass of wine after marvelling at the ease of which XP installed the card.... ;-)
Best of luck!
--
Lee
MINI adventure in progress
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I get about 7000 (total) intrusions per day on ZA not sure how many high rated ones, doesn't seem like too many though. Is this normal? seems very high to me. I have BT broadband 512k and PC is on 24/7.
Anyone know? thanks..
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>>7000 (total) intrusions per day on ZA>>
Nothing to worry about at all - it just proves that ZA is doing its job; most of them are just run of the mill alerts.
Just go to Alerts and Log from the ZA panel and disable the Alerts Event Shown feature; ZA will still ask if you wish to Allow or Deny access to websites you visit if they have not already been approved.
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What's for you won't pass you by
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I'm using the free version of Zone Alarm (not Zone Alarm Pro) on AOL dial-up (typically online for 1 to 2 hours a day), with "Alert Events Shown = ON".
"Log Viewer, Alert Type = Firewall" usually shows no intrusions.
"Log Viewer, Alert Type = Program" typically shows a couple of messages a day on average, all of which seem to be information messages rather than intrusions.
Any explanation for the discrepancy, anyone?
Anybody prepared to believe it's because AOL is doing a wonderful job with security?
Ian
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OK - found the reason why I'm not seeing any firewall intrusions. I've got "Firewall, Main, Internet Zone Security = Medium". If I set it equal to High (which is the default) then the intrusion warnings start appearing.
I'm going to leave it set to Medium, so the PC doesn't fill up will gigantic intrusion logs. According to Zone Alarm, this setting allows other users to see me, but they can't do anything to me and the PC is still protected.
Ian
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Since re-installing xp after my disasterous liason with SP2, I have a few quirkes on the keyboard.
When I press ", I get @, and vice versa. Also the pound sign gives me the # symbol.
I have check my regional settings and they are for English UK.
Any idea's?
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Tom,
This came up recently, indeed I used the IHACQ thread to fix it on my own keyboard. As well as the regional settings you need the text services to be UK and not US.
Control panel, regional settings, languages, text services and input languages, set to EN
hth
Ian
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"""""@@@@@@££££££ Yipeee!
Thanks Stargazer.
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Often when I try to start up I get the message "K/B / Interface Error. Press F1 to resume". Pressing F1 - or Esc or Ctrl/Alt/Delete or anything else - makes no difference. The only
remedy is to switch off the power and starting again. Can anyone explain the error and say what (less drastic) to do about it please?
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Often when I try to start up I get the message "K/B / Interface Error. Press F1 to resume". Pressing F1 - or Esc or Ctrl/Alt/Delete or anything else - makes no difference. The only remedy is to switch off the power and starting again. Can anyone explain the error and say what (less drastic) to do about it please?
The BIOS is reporting that the Keyboard inferface isn't working, and thats the reason why when you press any key it doesn't work. It could be that your motherboards damaged or if your using a USB keyboard it isn't setup in the bios.
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It could also be the keyboard itself, try another keyboard and see if this solves it.
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Can anyone help me, please! I'm going grey before my time.
I run Windows98 and use Outlook 2000 to access different POP3 e-mail accounts, all with the same end address, btinternet.com. I have now just installed McAfee Internet Security Suite Version 6.0. Since installing McAfee I am now getting timeout errors from my e-mail server, regardless of timeout setting, even up to five minutes, and zero e-mails coming through.
I can still send e-mail but can't receive.
I have been through just about every setting I can think of on McAfee and Outlook to no avail, it must be a conflict between the two as if I turn off McAfee Outlook performs fine but obviously this is not a real fix as I am leaving myself vulnerable when downloading my e-mails.
I'm going to try and contact McAfee tomorrow but I can't be the only person in the world running this configuration and someone must know the answer!
I'm not normally defeated but my PC is in danger of going through the window at the moment!
Cockle
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cockle -
try the suggestions towards the end of the thread at
www.modemhelp.net/vblite/showthread.php3?threadid=...2
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Dalglish, thanks a lot, found a tip to try in amongst all the answers, and it works!!!!
Hair can now return to normal colour!
Cockle
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My laptop used to run Widows ME. This morning it failed to load windows and gave theses helpful error messages.
Cannot set the code page(s) in DISPLAY.SYS
The following file is missing or corrupted c:\windows\system\VMM32.VXD
Type the name of the windows loader etc. etc.
It will boot to DOS OK and I can see many familiar files in the DOS file recovery utility "uneraser" but I can't see anything that looks like VMM32.VXD.
Can I nick this file from another PC or will it make things worse? Reload the op sys? Any suggestions?
As before, TIA.
Hawkeye
-----------------------------
Stranger in a strange land
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www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinME/Q...l
Should help you along. I had a similar problem recently, I don\'t know if it was the same file, but I just copied another file in from the laptop and the problem went away.
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"Widows ME"
So called because of the effect using it has on your wife? :-)
Or perhaps it's just the debilitating disease that slows you down...
BTW, if the Experts Exchange site won't play ball (you usually have to register), a search on Google should supply it, especially if you include the word 'download' in the search box.
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See:
support.microsoft.com/?kbid=191874
and
www.easydesksoftware.com/news/news10.htm
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What's for you won't pass you by
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Many thanks for your advice everyone.
I have found a DOS utility on the net called Active Uneraser which can "see" the deleted VMM32.VXD and I am contemplating lashing out the $60 to get the version which will unerase it. How the blue blazes it got erased in the first place defeats me.
I haven't got a Umax scanner on the laptop and the procedure for rebuilding the VMM32 file scares the pants off me!
Hawkeye
-----------------------------
Stranger in a strange land
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>>lashing out the $60>>
What on earth for? You can use ME's version of System File Checker (SFC) to do the work.
A full description of how to do it (saves typing) is at:
www.2computerguys.com/systemfiles.html#Startup
Go to the ME section re extracting the file. Nothing to be afraid of and it will save around £40...:-)
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What's for you won't pass you by
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Thanks Stuartli but I believe that sfc assumes that you have been able to start Windows. I can only get as far as DOS from my Windows ME boot disk. Also, as the laptop was a preloaad, I've no Windows CD. Great site though.
Hawkeye
-----------------------------
Stranger in a strange land
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Step 1. Borrow someone's broadband connection.
Step 2. Download Mepis Linux from www.mepis.org
Step 3. Burn to cd as an iso image.
Step 4. Boot laptop from cd into linux desktop (takes a couple of minutes, will probably just work) without installing Mepis to HD. Check that all hardware is detected with Mepis running from cd and Windows as yet unaffected.
Step 5. Recover personal files from Windows (to a new partition using Mepis's partitioning tool). If you have fresh backups you could skip this step and just ditch them.
Step 6. Install Mepis Linux to HD using nifty Mepis Install utility on the desktop--should take about half an hour.
Step 7. Copy files to new /home directory in new Mepis Linux installation.
Step 8. Relax. No more spyware, no more ludicrous superspykilleradstopper software, no more random crashes, no more grief.
Step 9. Adopt entirely justified smug and superior attitude towards Windows users.
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I would consider lashing out on windows 98se. ME is a pile of poo. Worst thing MS made since windows v2
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I would consider lashing out on windows 98se. ME is a pile of poo. Worst thing MS made since windows v2
Windows ME is the same as 98se, all Microsoft did was cut the access to DOS, add the latest IE/patches(mainly network) and make the interface look like 2000. There were so few changes that CNET radio at the time said it should really be called 98te but it was good marketing for MS to change the name.
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All MS did with ME was screw 98se rigid.
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Better to lash out on XP if you want to stick with Windows! It's much more stable in my experience!
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Roger. (Costa del Sol, España)
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I'm hoping someone can help!
When we have a file we want to to save to CD, we currently go through the following process.
1. Save the relevant file to a location in case things go very wrong in the writing process.
2. Copy that file and paste into the D (CD/DVD) drive without a CD in the drive. This then shows up as 'Files that are waiting to be written to CD'
3. We then stick a CD-RW into the CD/DVD drive, and through Windows select write the files to CD.
Sometimes this process will work, but only after selecting the option to delete the contents of the CD (even if it is a brand new CD). Sometimes the write process will fail.
Even if it succeeds, we are not able to write anything else to that CD. We have tried saving an additional Word doc onto the CD after we have written the initial docs to the CD, but we get the error message that the folder we are trying to write to is read only, even though we have checked the properties of the files we have written and they are not read only.
I'm sure it is something we are doing wrong in the burn process, but I cannot work out for the life of me what it is.
Any help would be gratefully received. I'd even buy you a pint, if you make it oop north to Southport!!
Cheers,
Steve
DB
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Not sure, but what you describe shows that the disk is being closed after writing.
For what they cost these days, I'd just buy a spindle of 100 disks for not very much and continue as you are.
I've never really seen the point of CD-RW as I'd rather have six copies of my data on different disks (CDR) than a single point of failure in the CD-RW.
If you need to store fairly big files to transfer them or whatever, you'd be better off with a USB memory key such as a disgo. The prices of these are so low now it's embarrasing.
Another option might be to get your hands on Nero Burning ROM as this gives more control over how the burning takes place.
But for me, a disgo 512Mb and a pile of CDRs do everything I could wish to do.
hth,
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Lee
MINI adventure coming to an end
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Thanks for your reply.
Showing my ignorance here, but what is a 512Mb Disgo USB memory key?
Thanks!
DB
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Hi DB,
I've heard people call them all sorts of things. Presuming my USB pen is the same as what Citronian is on about then it's a little...well pen sort of that plugs into your USB port. That then appears as an extra "hard drive" if you like so you copy files to and from it as though it was part of your computer.
You wouldn't believe how handy they are for Uni - whack some stuff on at home - finish it at Uni.
Got to agree with Citronian yet again - Nero is, in my opinion the best one you should get. Makes everything very easy but there are a lot of options on it.
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Adam
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Hmm - I know how to spell Citroën yet I spelt Citroënian {P} wrong.
Too early!!!
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Adam
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>>You wouldn't believe how handy they are for Uni>>
I do a similar thing but, in my case, I use the Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard (SD and MMC) memory cards from my digital camera and a 7-in-1 card reader/writer; they just slip into a pocket and, with XP, no drivers are required.
But it's important, when you use the SD or MMC cards in the camera again, to reformat them IN the camera before taking any pictures.
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What's for you won't pass you by
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>>I'd even buy you a pint, if you make it oop north to Southport!!>>
I live not a million miles from that seaside resort...
The simple, easy and straightforward method of doing what you wish is to use a new CD-R in multisession form with Nero or EasyCD (a CD-R is more reliable than a CD-RW disk which has lower reflectivity levels and not all drives can read them).
I use Nero. The method is to open the main Nero panel, select Start New Multisession and enable Add Files just below. Then go on to Label and immediately type in a suitable Folder name.
Then click on the New button. The panel will then reveal the contents of your hard drive on the right and the Folder name you have chosen on the left.
Select the file(s) you wish to burn and drag and drop them into the folder name (i.e. from right to left into the Folder).
Once this has been done choose Burn from the top row of buttons. You can then select the burning speed etc and how many copies are required.
The files to be burned (now contained in image form on your HDD) will then be burned to the CD-R and, providing you have enabled Delete files (being burned) will be erased from the HDD.
You can keep adding more files to the Folder and burning them as required after choosing Continue Multission until the CD-R is almost full. Then, before the final burn of added files, select Finalise which will Close the disk after completion and no more files may be added.
You can then copy the completed multisession CD-R as a second backup if you wish; it's always a good idea in the case of important data.
One final point - make sure that Quick Copy is disabled in Nero otherwise it will not be burned in image form.
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What's for you won't pass you by
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Stuart,
I've got a phone which has a Smart Media card in so when you plug the lead into it, and then the computer, you can write directly to that.
When I got the USB pen I simply relegated the phone to...well...making calls.
Funny thing is, Edgehill don't like you using the USB ports at the back. If it has the forward ones then that's fine. If it only has them at the back, you're not allowed to use them.
Speaking of Uni, I'd best be off!
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Adam
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>>you're not allowed to use them>>
Perhaps the reason is that the pen drive might be forgotten by its owner - out of sight, out of mind?
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What's for you won't pass you by
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10.11 and just off to College...ah, I miss those days :-)
DB - Adam's right, apologies I should have been clearer.
www.mydisgo.com/shop/disgo_pro_512.php
I've left my disgo in many computers. Keep thinking it should be attached to a bit of string that is also attached to me...
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Lee
MINI adventure coming to an end
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morning folks!
trying to do a bit of work on excel, but am struggling,basically i am working in a single workbook, but need certain cells on sheet2 to reference certain cells on sheet1, but i don`t be seem to be able to get the formula right. if anyone could provide the formula for e.g cell c8 on sheet2 to = cell c8 on sheet1 i would be very gratefull.
thanks
billy.
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Enter the following in the target cell of the target sheet:
=SUM(Sheet1!A1)
where;
Sheet1 = the NAME of the source sheet you wish to refer to
A1 = the reference for the source cell you are interested in
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thankyou mark!
it was the ! i was missing.
cheers
billy.
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