Free Microsoft Vs2005 Partner Resource Dvd Mar 27 2006, 07:32 AM
Microsoft is offering a free DVD of over fifty add-ons for Visual Studio 2005. Some are full programs, others are evaluation versions. The DVD can be ordered from http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/extend/partnerdvd/.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Bargain Hunter 2215 Windows 98 Se Or 4.10? Jan 30 2006, 07:10 AM
You can download a copy of Microsoft Windows 98 for free after buying a subscription to MSDN, Microsoft's software development service program.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 909 Problem Installing System Works 2006 Jan 10 2006, 07:04 AM
Your message was not saved correctly by the forum software. Would you mind re-submitting it? Thank you.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Problem Solvers 500 Isdn Card Crash In Winxp Oct 31 2005, 10:19 AM
I download a copy of the WDXWMAC.SYS file and noticed it contains a statement which says it was written by Mathias Ellinger for Well Communications.

While it may be a long shot, you could try searching for Mr. Ellinger in your favorite search engine and see if you can find some contact information for him. He might be interested in helping resolve the problem, especially is approached politely.

Alternatively, you could consider using a different ISDN terminal adapter with your computer. It is possible an external one which connects via an Ethernet or high-speed serial port might work better than the PCI expansion card model currently in use.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 569 Damaged Hard Drive Oct 17 2005, 04:22 AM
Try jumpering the hard disk drive as master and placing it at the end of its own cable on the secondary ATA controller. Can you access it after booting from the main hard disk drive on the primary ATA controller?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 762 E-mail Issue Oct 12 2005, 07:59 AM
Is the anti-virus program on each client PC configured to scan outgoing messages for computer viruses?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Problem Solvers 837 Microsoft Mvp Awards Conference Sep 29 2005, 08:28 AM
If there are any forum members at the Microsoft MVP Awards conference this week who would like to get together for a 'birds of a feather' session on Lockergnome, please send me a private message. Thank you.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 213 Cdrom Drive Won't Refresh In Xp Aug 26 2005, 08:45 AM
Have you verified the disc drives are jumpered properly?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 23413 Gnomies At Defcon Jul 29 2005, 09:03 AM
I'm flying out to Las Vegas tomorrow for DefCon.

If any other forum members are attending and would like to get together, please let me know.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Technobabble 300 Microsoft M V P's Jul 29 2005, 09:02 AM
If you are a Microsoft MVP, would you please send me a private message?

Thank you.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Technobabble 256 A248.e.akamai.net Jul 17 2005, 10:15 AM
Akamai runs a global network of servers that host content for various companies. By spreading the content across servers around the world and intelligently routing web traffic, they speed up your access to that particular site. Basically, they function as a web hosting company, except instead of having your web site in one location, they store copies of it regionally and then direct you to the closest one.

If you contact the company directly they should be able to tell you why an akamai.net server was accessed when you went to the shopping web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Windows Fanatics 1221 Ddr Memory Speed Apr 9 2005, 07:16 AM [Original poster, please repost your message. It did not appear properly in the forum. Thank you. AG]]]> Hardware Help 690
Pinned: Where Have You Been All My Life?!?
Dec 27 2004, 07:35 AM
It has been a while since I've posted to this thread, so let me share some of the freeware programs I have started using since then:

2BrightSparks' SyncBack
Directory backup and synchronization software.

Lars Hederer's ERUNT
Registry backup and restore utility for Microsoft Windows NT, 2000, XP and 2003 Server.

SSH Communications Security's SSH Tectia Client (formerly SSH Secure Shell)
Secure shell client, free for personal, non-commercial usage

SysInternals' Process Explorer
Displays information about active processes on system.

I also use some shareware programs as well, but since this thread is primarily about freeware, I'll stick to that for now.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Software 46993
Poll: Best home theater?
Jan 20 2004, 03:52 AM
I have a Denon amp with B&W that I'm quite happy with. It is an older model and does not support DTS, though.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 383 Pdas And Memory Jan 7 2004, 07:53 AM
I have two upgraded Palm V-class computers (one is an IBM WorkPad c3) and two PCMCIA memory cards (one ATA-FLASH, the other SRAM) as well as some dot-com memorabilia for auction on eBay here.

Thank you.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Net Connections 186 Domain Registration Oct 22 2003, 03:44 AM
I have had not problems with Dotster for my domain registrar and ZoneEdit for DNS service.

Of course, if you wish to have a domain in a country code-specific top-level domain (ccTLD) you may have to deal with the appropriate registrar for that domain.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Web Developers 1669
Poll: USB Jump Drives
Oct 4 2003, 03:14 AM
Some brands and models of USB solid-state disks can be booted from, but it would be best to check with the manufacturer first to find out if it will work with your specific brand and model of laptop, as well as verify the laptop supports booting from a USB device. USB 2.0 is backwards-compatible with USB 1.1, and faster USB 2.0 devices will just operate at a slower speed when plugged into a USB 1.1 port. Unless there is a large difference in price it would probably be best to purchase a bootable USB 2.0 solid-state disk so you can take advantage of it with your next computer that comes with an USB 2.0 interface.

One thing to keep in mind is some computer manufacturers such as IBM distribute BIOS updates in the form of a self-booting diskette image with a heavily-modified or proprietary operating system. It may not be possible to write such a file to a USB solid-state disk.

It might be better to use an external floppy diskette drive with an USB interface for such updates, assuming your computer will boot from such a device and doesn't require a proprietary one. Here is an USB floppy diskette drive manufactured by TEAC and here is one manufactured by Mitsumi. I own the latter model and have used it for booting my laptop from a floppy diskette. On the other hand, the same laptop will not boot from a USB solid-state disk from which I can boot my desktop computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 5196 Laptop Accessories For Sale Sep 26 2003, 10:19 AM
I have a 256MB PC-133 SO-DIMM memory modules for an IBM ThinkPad T23and compatible computers, a 2.5" notebook hard drive external enclosure with FireWire and USB 1.1 connectors, and some other accessories for auction on eBay. For more information, click here.

Thank you.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 216 Pcmcia Network Card And A Ibm Thinkpad Sep 22 2003, 04:55 AM
I'm not particularly familiar with this model, but after looking over this page from IBM's web site, as well as this one, it appears the IBM ThinkPad 380ED only supports 16-bit PC Cards, not 32-bit CardBus cards. If your PCMCIA network interface card is a CardBus card, then it appears it will not work with this particular laptop. You'll need to use a 16-bit PC Card instead.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 417 Web Cam With Own Ip Sep 19 2003, 07:57 AM
I believe what you are looking for is an "Internet camera," which is a digital camera with a web or ftp server attached.

D-Link has several models listed on this page. Linksys has only one model to date, the WVC11B.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 445 Win2k Bsod Sep 11 2003, 11:15 PM
Could Zone Lab's ZoneAlarm be interfering with the SVCHOST.EXE program? Have you tried temporarily disabling or uninstalling ZoneAlarm to see if that makes any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 305 Pwm Overheating Sep 3 2003, 05:57 AM
Yes, I was looking at the description of JL143's motherboard on Abit's web site and glancing through the motherboard's manual, which didn't seem to mention it.

It's actually a pretty good idea to put such a monitor on the voltage regulator. I hope other motherboard manufacturers add this functionality as well.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 327 Wireless Will Not Stay Connected Sep 3 2003, 05:20 AM
Just to check is the latest firmware installed in the D-Link router and the latest device drivers installed for the Netgear MA101 wireless USB adapters?

Also, do the computers in question have any other devices plugged into their respective USB ports? If so, does removing them have any effect on the stability of the network connection?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 1048 Install.exe Error Sep 1 2003, 09:18 AM
Judging from similar error messages I was able to find, it does sound like some sort of Microsoft Visual Basic problem, perhaps caused by missing or corrupt files.

Given that Appraise-IT is a specialized, vertical-market application you may want to contact the author, SFREP, directly for assistance. I'd hate to damage your system further by recommending the wrong solution for a program I'm unfamiliar with.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 508 Driver Sep 1 2003, 09:02 AM
What brand and model of motherboard do you have? Perhaps a VIA Technologies' 82C586B device driver for Microsoft Windows 98SE can be downloaded from the motherboard manufacturer's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 277 A Silly Question? Sep 1 2003, 08:35 AM
I took a look at AOC's web site and found this article discussing how to clean their CRT and LCD monitors.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 431 Help! Sep 1 2003, 08:29 AM
It could be the CD-R disc was improperly closed on the computer upon which it was created, or perhaps the disc was damaged after it was created.

I have had good luck using Naltech's CD Data Rescue program to recovery files from such discs. I've also heard good things about IsoBuster, but have not used it myself.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 384 Usb Port Problem With Windows Me Sep 1 2003, 08:24 AM
It could be you are experiencing some sort of operating system or device driver incompatibility.

You may wish to ensure you have the latest operating system updates installed on your computer running Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, as well as any device driver updates from the manufacturer of the motherboard's chipset.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 228 Registry Entry Sep 1 2003, 07:50 AM
I believe the earlier message thread you were looking for is located here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 759 Pcmcia Network Card And A Thinkpad Sep 1 2003, 07:38 AM
You may wish to ensure you have the latest BIOS installed for your IBM ThinkPad 380ED notebook.

From my examination of this page on IBM's support web site, it sounds like the 380ED has two 16-bit PC Card (née PCMCIA) slots and not 32-bit CardBus ones.

Are you certain the card you purchased is a 16-bit PC Card? If so, that might explain why the Compaq 10/100 Ethernet card is not recognized by your system.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 324 Bios Chips Aug 30 2003, 09:27 AM
I believe EEPROM's were the first re-programmable chips to commonly be used to store motherboard BIOSes. These were chips that could be read from when powered with 5V and written to when powered by a 12V line.

I've always heard and referred to the process of updating a BIOS via software as flashing, even though FLASH memory is different than EEPROMs: EEPROMs have to be programmed serially, e.g., a single byte at a time, whereas FLASH memory can be written in "blocks," just like sectors on disks.

Atmel is a popular manufacturer of FLASH memory. Looking through their web site, I found this document (Adobe Acrobat's PDF reader required) which gives a high-level overview of how some of their FLASH chips can be reprogrammed.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 220 Overclocking Problems Aug 30 2003, 09:00 AM
I'm not particularly familiar with AMD Athlon CPUs or Asus A7N8X motherboards nor do I overclock systems, but you might want to verify you have the latest BIOS installed and also that your CPU is, in fact, the model it should be and not a slower one which has been re-badged as a faster processor.

Since the system works fine without overclocking--or, at least, I'm assuming it does, since you didn't mention any problems at baseline speed--you might just want to consider running it at the manufacturer's recommended processor frequency.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Hardware Help 289
Poll: USB Jump Drives
Aug 30 2003, 08:52 AM
I tried the neckstrap which came with my Apacer Handy Steno SL202 USB 2.0 Flash Drive, but found it too long to be practical. I have noticed other USB solid-state disk manufacturers offer a clip similar to that found on a pen, like this unit from IBM. I think that would be much more convenient, especially for transporting one in a shirt pocket. Of course, the two are not mutually-exclusive, as you can see from IBM's photo.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 5196 Msn Messenger 6.0 Upgrade Fails To Connect Aug 30 2003, 08:30 AM
Out of curiosity, have you tried bypassing your proxy server and firewall and plugging your Microsoft Windows 2000 workstation directly into your Internet connection to see if this makes any difference? If the problem persists then it may have something to do with the workstation's configuration, as opposed to the proxy server and firewall.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 2522 Dsl Vs. Cable Aug 30 2003, 08:25 AM
I recently switched my parents from SBC (née Pacific Bell)'s DSL offering to AT&T's cable offering (which then turned into Comcast.

Both services were comparable in price, however, SBC had frequent network and mail server problems which were generating additional work for me. It is very difficult to troubleshoot these types of problems with non-technical users remotely and SBC's technical support had them constantly unplugging the router and wireless bridge I had installed for sharing the Internet connection, which generated an additional support burden, especially if they forgot to mention it had been unplugged.

Since switching to AT&T/Comcast I have only had to respond to one network outage call in about five months, and Comcast technical support does not require residential customers to unplug their routers before checking Comcast's own equipment for network or mail server outages.

This happened about a half-year ago. Things could have changed since then, though. You may wish to temporarily try the DSL service to see if it meets with your requirements for speed and reliability. If it does not, then you can go back to cable service, possibly signing up as a new customer and getting some discounts or other promotions in the process.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Tech News Watch 438 Updates And Patches Aug 30 2003, 08:10 AM
You may wish to consider a daily visit to Windriver's web site at http://www.windrivers.com/. On their home page are listings of recent device drivers and BIOS updates, Microsoft security updates, new Microsoft Knowledge Base articles, anti-virus software updates and CPU and memory pricing. Sometimes the home page goes for several days without being updated, but usually there is something new daily or every other day.

A good site for updates of Windows programs is VersionTracker at http://www.versiontracker.com/windows/.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Tech News Watch 286 Audio Device Under Xp Disappeared Aug 30 2003, 07:59 AM
Out of curiosity, have you tried removing the Creative Labs SoundBlaster Audigy Gamer sound card from your computer, performing a thorough uninstall of all the drivers and software and then re-installing it in a different PCI slot on your computer? If so, did that seem to make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 449 Lost Fat32 Partition Aug 30 2003, 07:51 AM
Have you tried running a data recovery program? If so, was it able to recreate the master boot record and its partition table of data?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 268 Date And Time Aug 30 2003, 07:41 AM
Have you updated your anti-virus and spyware-blocking software and then performed a through check of your system to verify there are no malicious programs installed?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 285 Any Mcafee Virusscan Online Users? Aug 30 2003, 07:40 AM
It has been years since I've used any Network Associates software but you might want to try booting up in Safe Mode and/or logging in as the Administrator and then attempting to remove those folders. You might also want to check the Registry and Services list to see if there are still any components left on the system.

Clearing the temporary file folder and your web browser's cache might be helpful as well.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 387 Xp Automatic Update Downloading Same Patch Aug 30 2003, 07:31 AM
I believe you can download DirectX from Microsoft's web site here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 478 System Configuration Backups? Aug 30 2003, 07:27 AM
This is a rather low-tech solution, but I usually write the hardware specs down on a 3" x 5" index card which goes into a vinyl self-adhesive pocket on the side of the computer. If I ever need to know the brand and model of something inside the case I just pull the card out and look at it.

For network settings, I use a labeler to create labels with information such as the computer's name, IP address, MAC address and anything else and stick the labels on the front and/or back of the case, as needed.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 355 How To Back Up The Os Aug 30 2003, 07:06 AM
Out of curiosity, have you tried disassembling your external USB hard disk drive enclosure, removing the ATA hard disk drive from inside of it and temporarily mounting it inside your computer as a second hard disk drive?

I would think you could then use your disk imaging software to back up the first hard disk drive to the "new" second one.

Once finished, you could then reinstall the second hard disk drive into its external USB enclosure.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 311 Boot Problems Aug 30 2003, 06:55 AM
As TimFelds and Rons have suggested, it sounds like your hard disk drive may have begun to fail.

After you have backed up all of the valuable data from the hard disk drive you may want to visit the computer or hard disk drive manufacturer's web site and download a progam to test it. Keep in mind that some of the tests are destructive, i.e., they will erase the contents of the hard disk drive when run. Depending on what sort of problems are found, the manufacturer's utility may be able to fix some or all of them.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 693 Pwm Overheating Aug 30 2003, 06:49 AM
I don't know what a "PWM" is, off-hand, so I cannot say for certain what the problem might be. The fact you see a warning message indicates one of the programs running on your computer is monitoring the system's temperature.

You might want to start by identifying the system monitoring program, reviewing its documentation, and perhaps even contacting the program author for a more detailed explanation of what the error message means.

Once you know that, you'll be better able to determine which parts of your computer need additional cooling.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 327
Poll: USB Jump Drives
Aug 28 2003, 08:25 AM
I have an 128MB PQI Intelligent Stick solid-state disk that seems to work quite well with the Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP Professional systems available to me. Its small size makes it convenient to carry--about the size of half-a-stick of chewing gum--and it has a write-protect switch and LED activity light, too. However, it is a slower-speed USB 1.1 device, is not bootable and just is too small to hold either the Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 or Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1.

Earlier this evening I purchased a 256MB Apacer Handy Steno 2.0. It is much larger than the PQI device--about the size of a Bic lighter, I'd guess--and has a write-protect switch and LED as well. It is a USB 2.0 device, can be booted from and, I believe, has some other features such as password-protection.


USB solid-state disks are usually slower than the maximum-rated bus speed for their protocol. USB 1.1 devices typically transer at around 600-900KB/s, while USB 2.0 devices 5.0-6.0MB/s, so don't expect to see the same amount of throughput that you get from modern hard disk drives. These really are devices of convenience, not devices of performance. But, for casual file copying they are really quite convenient.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 5196 New User Forwindows Xp Aug 28 2003, 06:56 AM
That's really a good question, offmdan! I'd never really thought about it, but I would guess Microsoft Windows has to have some mechanism for verifying the integrity of files applied via hot fixes.

Looking at this article from Microsoft's knowledge base it does appear this was a problem under Microsoft Windows 2000 before the advent of Service Pack 4. I could not find a similar article for Windows XP and judging from this Microsoft Knowledge Base article, there may not be a problem since the System File Checker checks the cache folder first for replacement files prior to prompting for the installation disc.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 665 A Silly Question? Aug 28 2003, 06:36 AM
As DarkStar suggests, your LCD display manufacturer should be the final arbiter of what should and should not be used to clean the screen.

For dust, a micro-fibre lens-cleaning cloth available from any camera store should work just fine.

For more serious smirches, a 1:1 mixture of 100% isopropyl alcohol and distilled water used to dampen--not wet--a soft, lint-free cloth and applied in small, circular motions seems to work well. Avoid the use of alcohol containing acetone as these melt plastics such as those used in LCD displays.

Since most LCD displays are made of soft plastics, you'll want to be very careful not to put any pressure on then or use any chemicals which can damage them during cleaning. Apply the lightest possible pressure you can when starting and only gradually increase it if the dirt isn't removed.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 431 New Briefcase Aug 27 2003, 09:53 AM
This is a function of Microsoft Windows I've never used, but my understanding is that the Briefcase is used to transfer files between two computers for doing things like transferring files from a desktop to a laptop (or vice-versa) or bringing files home from your office computer to work on.

You can create a New Briefcase like creating any new file type in Windows Explorer by right-clicking in the window and selecting New -> Briefcase from the popup menu.

I just tried creating one and then deleting it. No problems were encountered.

My underlying assumption--and this may be wrong--is because Briefcases are so easy to create and because Windows does not display any dire warning messages when deleting them that they can be safely removed with minimal or no impact to the system. That is, of course, nothing more than a guess on my part, though.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 231 Tracking Down A "typhoid Mary" Aug 27 2003, 09:43 AM
The first thing I would suggest is you start documenting the problem if you have not already done so. This includes not just printouts of the emails including the complete headers, but also the amount of time and money you have spent dealing with each incident at your company and your correspondence with the ISP.

Once you have gathered that information you may wish to approach your boss, the president, the in-house counsel or whoever would be best to approach and go over the problem with them, couching it in terms they will understand, i.e., emphasize the cost to the company in both dollars and lost productivity, the fact they may be victim to some sort of concerted criminal activity and so forth. Don't try to be alarmist, but try to present the facts as clearly as you can. For example, explain this happens every day, that each time it happens it costs them a half-hour or hour or whatever of your time, that when you're dealing with this issue you aren't available for other problems, and then give the aggregate weekly and monthly costs. You could also give a breakdown on the time and cost to rebuild one of the targeted users' computers should a virus get through your defenses. If left unchecked this could very well be a more expensive problem for the company than it seems on the surface.

Once you have presented those costs, ask them how they would like you to proceed. It could be that they would rather have you performing more productive tasks for the company. Or if there is some evidence of criminal activity, it might be time to contact the police department, district attorney or other local law enforcement agency specializing in high-tech crimes.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Tech News Watch 204 Stress Reliever Aug 27 2003, 09:14 AM
There are some very nice games at Popcap Games web site. Some are web-based, others are shareware you can download and install on your computer or hand-held.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 393 Reformatting Questions Aug 27 2003, 09:11 AM
There is the possibility the problems with the computer's applications stem from, at least in part, corrupt registry entries for the applications the operating system itself. If so, simply reinstalling the applications to the existing operating environment without a fresh installation of Windows may show little or no gain on the computer's stability.

Before taking any actions, I would strongly recommend you perform a backup of your valuable data from the E: volume, just in case of any unforeseen problems in the process of rebuilding your system. If the data is extremely valuable, make more than one backup and verify the backup set can be read, preferrably on a different computer.

Unplugging your computer will be the same as turning the power off, however, it probably would be a good idea to get the power switch repaired--assuming you have a standard ATX case with a standard power switch you should be able to find an inexpensive replacement at a computer store.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 302 Ipod Help Aug 27 2003, 08:38 AM
I'm not very Mac-savvy, but it does seem Apple is heavily-invested in FireWire (IEEE-1394). USB seems to be regarded more as an interface for slower peripherals.

Out of curiosity, is there any technical issue preventing you from installing a FireWire expansion card in your PC?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> OS X Fanatics 251 Adaptec Aspi Drivers Aug 27 2003, 08:18 AM
Have you tried reinstalling the CDex v1.50 and Sony CD Extreme programs as well? If so, did that make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Web Developers 461 Norton Systemworks Aug 27 2003, 08:13 AM
It has been a while since I've used Symantec's Norton SystemWorks, but I recall with older versions one could do a custom installation and select only the utilities you wished to install, such as Norton Anti Virus.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 401 Outlook Xp Weirdness Aug 27 2003, 08:09 AM
You did not mention if the text was intelligible or not. As Wolf suggested, intelligible type could be a sign of interference from another wireless keyboard interfering with your wireless keyboard's base transmitter.

Another possibility is that Microsoft Office 2002's speech recognition engine has been enabled on your computer. This is known to cause the random insertion of text in Microsoft Word 2002, as mentioned in this knowledge base article from Microsoft's support web site. It could be you are experiencing the same problem in Outlook.

The solution would be to disable the speech recognition engine, as mentioned above. Or you could unplug or otherwise disable your computer's microphone.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 236 New Briefcase Aug 27 2003, 07:53 AM
If you are not using the Briefcase, you should be able to remove it by highlighting it and pressing the Delete key or by dragging it to the Recycle Bin.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 231 Cdr Won't Read Burned Cd's Aug 26 2003, 04:21 AM
Assuming you cannot find the appropriate firmware from here on Mitsumi's web site, you might want to try this download page from the Firmware-Flash web site, which might also have updated firmware for the TDK CD-RW drive as well.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 365 New User Forwindows Xp Aug 26 2003, 04:03 AM
If you find Microsoft Windows XP's Luna Theme difficult to navigate or wish to go back to the "old" user graphical user interface, you can do so by right-clicking on any empty part of the Desktop and selecting Properties from the popup menu to open the Display Properties window. Click on the Themes tab and change the current Theme to Windows Classic and click on OK when finished for the change to take effect.

To run the System File Checker program, click on Start -> Run from the Taskbar and enter "SFC.EXE /SCANNOW" as the name of the program to open and click on OK. To run System File Checker one time the next time the computer is started, enter "SFC.EXE /SCANONCE" instead. To run System File Checker every time the computer is started, enter "SFC.EXE /SCANBOOT" instead.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 665 Java Aug 25 2003, 08:01 AM
To determine if the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine is installed on your computer, open a Command Prompt by clicking on Start -> Run from the Taskbar, enter "CMD.EXE" as the name of the program to open, and click on the OK button. Once the Command Prompt has opened, type in "JVIEW.EXE" (sans quotes) and press the Enter key. If Microsoft's Java is present you should receive a help message for the Microsoft Command-Line Loader for Java, completely with version number. You can then type "EXIT" to close the Command Prompt.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 172 File Recovery Software? Aug 25 2003, 07:18 AM
I have used Naltech's CD Data Rescue to recover data from damaged CD-R's with great success. It is a commercial product, but a trial version is available for download.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 270 Nav And Avg Unable To Connect Aug 25 2003, 07:07 AM
The servers used to update your programs may have a different address than the respective authors' web sites. For example, Symantec's update server is liveupdate.symantec.com, not www.symantec.com. Can you access the former site with your web browser?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 184 Cdr Won't Read Burned Cd's Aug 25 2003, 07:00 AM
Just to check, do you have the latest firmware installed for your CD-RW and CD-ROM drives?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 365 Damaged Hard Drive Aug 25 2003, 06:59 AM
I take it that your external hard disk drive consists of an external drive enclosure with a regular ATA hard disk drive mounted inside of it.

If that is the case, have you tried carefully removing the hard disk drive from the enclosure and mounting it inside of your computer? If so, were you able to access the files on it?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 762 Help With A Registry Hack Aug 23 2003, 05:01 AM
Have you tried using a program to change the location of Microsoft Outlook Express, such as one of the ones mentioned in this or this message threads?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 275 Better E-mail Client Than Outlook Express Aug 23 2003, 04:56 AM
I have been very happy using Qualcomm's Eudora e-mail client, however, I've heard good things about David Harris' Pegasus Mail and RITLABS' The Bat!.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 301 Nav And Avg Unable To Connect Aug 22 2003, 10:53 AM
Could the problem possibly have something to do with those anti-virus programs' update servers being overloaded? You may wish to try them at different times to see if that makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 184 Games Freezing In Xp Aug 22 2003, 10:38 AM
Have you installed the latest version of Microsoft DirectX? If so, did that make any difference?

I am not particularly familiar with the IBM ThinkPad A30p, but I wonder if the problem might be the laptop's cooling fan(s) is not starting up during game play when the processor and video adapter are performing at their peak. If so, that might explain the game-related lockups. If that is the case, updating the BIOS and/or Embedded Controller might fix this problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 187 Can I Run Windows 9x On A Diskless Workstation Aug 22 2003, 10:30 AM
I am not sure I understand what it is exactly you are trying to do. Perhaps if you could elaborate some of the forum members could make some suggestions.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 184 Laptop Will Not Boot Aug 22 2003, 10:16 AM
I think you may be dealing with a hardware issue, but am not certain. I could not find any information about the laptop you mentioned, but there is a model from Toshiba called the Satellite 2140XCDS. Could this be the model you have?

As myob69 suggested, you might have to copy the BIOS update files onto a bootable DOS floppy diskette and run them from there. If you can still enter the laptop's BIOS you may need to change the settings so it sboots from the floppy diskette drive before the hard disk drive in order to upgrade/recovery the BIOS.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 259 Moving Files Win Me Aug 22 2003, 10:01 AM
I have not noticed any problems using Microsoft's TweakUI program to change the location of the Favorites folder to a different volume and path. I do not have any experience with the other directories and applications you mentioned.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 173 Compaq Persario Problem Aug 22 2003, 09:56 AM
I am not particularly familiar with Compaq Presario 5852s, but assuming there is no important data on its hard disk drive, have you considered wiping it using the hard disk drive manufacturer's testing disk and then using the Restoration Disc to reinstall the operating system?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 285 Blurry Monnitor Aug 22 2003, 09:50 AM
Have you tried reorienting the monitor's power and video cables to see if that makes any difference?

You may wish to verify you have the correct and current device drivers installed for the video card. Also, try resetting the monitor back to its default settings, then adjusting the settings until you have everything set up the way you prefer.

According to this document, the preferred display settings for the Compaq CV7550, MV7550 and S7550 monitors is 1,024x768 with a refresh rate of 85Hz, so this problem is rather surprising.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 319 Gnomie Props & Drops Aug 22 2003, 09:35 AM
I'd like to add a "prop" for KingWin, a manufacturer of computer accessories. I had purchased one of their USB 2.0 PCI expansion cards that turned out to be D.O.A during an out-of-state trip. Without any hassle they asked me to ship the card back to them and I received a working one about a week later.

Also, a "prop" is due to equipment manufacturer IOGear, whose sales people and support staff respond quickly and intelligently to questions about their products.

On the software side I would like to offer a "prop" to Pyrenean, maker of Internet filtering (e.g. banners and popups) software. They provide the free-for-personal-use eDexter software, and take the time to answer questions and incorporate user feedback into their various products. It's refreshing to ask a vendor about an enhancement request and be asked a few days later to try out a beta version incorporating it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Technobabble 602 Compressing Video In Emails Aug 22 2003, 09:24 AM
Have you considered burning the video file(s) to a CD-R and then mailing to your parents? While this is a very "low-tech" solution it might be simpler for them to insert a disc in their computer and view the video immediately and in their entirety, as opposed to having to deal with setting up and using specialized software or services and waiting for the video stream to download.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 271 Help With A Registry Hack Aug 22 2003, 09:03 AM
Have you tried copying (not moving) your Microsoft Outlook Express directory to the D: volume? If so, did that make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 275 Laptop Glare Aug 22 2003, 08:59 AM
3M makes some very good anti-glare filters, including this line designed for laptops.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 1403 Dvd Copyright Error Aug 22 2003, 08:51 AM
I'm not particular familiar with Cyberlink's PowerDVD, but a little searching revealed several references in articles and to people with the same problem who resolved it by updating their copies of the software and/or the device drivers for their video card.

Here and here are a couple of message threads about the problem and here is an article from a software vendor's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 2394 Int Explorer Cmd Line For Google Fix Pls! Aug 22 2003, 08:41 AM
While it's not exactly what you're looking for, Google does offer a registry tweak to set it as the default search engine for Microsoft Internet Explorer.

You can download it here from their web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 323 W2k/system Memory Aug 22 2003, 08:13 AM
If you remove all memory modules and insert only the 512MB memory module into the first memory slot, does the problem still occur? What about if you add the 256MB memory module second memory into the second slot?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 182 Power On Problem Aug 22 2003, 08:10 AM
As myob69 suggested, it would be a good idea to start with verifying the computer's internal power wiring in case something came loose.

If you have a spare power supply for your HP Pavilion 8775C, you could try installing it temporarily just to see if that one works. I'm not familiar with this particular model and am unsure if it uses a proprietary power supply or a standard ATX one.

Another possibility, although unlikley, is the power switch on the front of the case is broken. This can happen if the actuator inside the power switch fails since it is, after all, a mechanical part. Another possibility could be the switch has popped out of its bracket or has broken loose of them. This can occur on cases where the power switch is held in place on the inside with a plastic bracket. If the bracket breaks or loosens then the power button on the outside of the case will no longer make contact with the switch on the inside. I have usually been able to solve this particular problem by using a hot glue gun to secure the power switch.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 653 Best Way To Find Files On Harddrive Aug 19 2003, 12:30 AM
This is rather primitive and only a partial solution, but a quick way to check if a candidate's resume is stored on your hard disk drive would be to open a Command Prompt, change to the directory containing the resumes, and issue a "DIR *lastname*.RTF /S /P" command. That should let you see all the files containing lastname" in them.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 428 Cheap Home Networking Aug 19 2003, 12:23 AM
To add to mthompso's suggestion, this computer surplus store has a "network starter kit" here is a "network starter kit" for $16.00USD with two network interface cards. Both of the NICs are PCI, but the same company also sells a PCMCIA 10/100 Ethernet card for $20.00USD here. That brings you in at under $40.00. Unfortunately, the hub is only 10Mb/s, but that is certainly fast enough to copy files, stream video and so forth.

If you'd like to shop around this computer surplus store has a "network kit" with four PCI cards here for $30.00, which features a 10/100Mb/s hub.

There are, of course, lots of other places to buy equipment and many other types of solutions, but these are among the least expensive, and it sounds like that is a prime consideration. I'm not sure about how much it would cost to ship things to the Philippines, though. It might be less expensive if you were to buy the hardware from a store in Taiwan or Australia in order to save on shipping costs.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 303 Another Motherboard Querie Aug 18 2003, 10:30 AM
Does your computer use a regular ATX-type power supply? If not, you may need to replace that as well.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 402 Spybot S & D Aug 18 2003, 09:32 AM
Just out of curiosity, if you start your computer in Safe Mode does the program exhibit the same behavior?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 220 Usb Mouse Not Recognised In Xp Aug 18 2003, 09:30 AM
It sounds like the simplest solution would be to get a wireless mouse which comes with a USB connector.

Looking through Logitech's web site, I found a few documents such as this general one on laptop installation issues and this one on the Logitech's MouseWare software and laptop touchpads. You might want to examine this chart from their web site, which mentions which mouses work with which buses and see if any mention is made of your mouse.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 406 Msblaster, Who Is To Blame? Aug 18 2003, 09:13 AM
I've been reading the messages in this thread as well as those in the Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-026 thread with great interest.

It is interesting to note how quickly the issue of finding fault and of assigning blame came up, which, as a matter of fact, is the subject of this particular thread.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned, though, is responsibility. Not for this particular incident, but in the larger context of what responsibility does the operating system manufacturer have to its end-users, and at what point do those users have to take over responsibility for their own computing environments. Is there a limit to what steps a consumer operating system vendor can or should take? Are there boundaries beyond which security becomes the user's responsibility?

Personally, I think Microsoft has done an exceptional job of improving its response to security issues such as this RPC vulnerability. As a matter of fact, I think Microsoft has been responding in an agile and nimble way, publicizing software patches and tools, releasing informational bulletins and so forth. From the messages in the form, though, I wonder how many members have first-hand experience maintaining and supporting extremely-large, extremely-complex pieces of software, or for that matter, even working at a large corporation?

Even from working at relatively tiny companies with minuscule pieces of code, I know how hard it is to account for every possible configuration and variable during the engineering and testing of a product. Even NASA, whose complex processes and procedures employ multiple layers or redundancy and repetitive testing isn't infallible. All the testing in the world and following things like SEI best practices only reduce the likelihood of a detect, not prevent it entirely. At some point, you have to launch the rocket or ship your product. If you do not, well, you really haven't accomplished what you've set out to do, after all.

One of the hardest things to do is make a highly-technical, complex product easy for people who are not computer scientists or software engineers to use. At some point, though, they have to assume some level of literacy on the part of the end-user.

I think that we have entered an unique time in our history when devices as sophisticated and with as many varied functions as the personal computer has been available to the public as a commodity item. But there does not exist a corresponding level of computer literacy in the computer-using public. And even then, the whole issue of what level of knowledge is computer literacy is entirely open to debate: About a decade ago I was in a position which brought me into contact with computer virus writers on a regular (monthly, if not weekly) basis. One thing they all seem united in opinion of was everyone whose computers were affected by their creations had no one to blame but themselves for not knowing "enough" about how their computers worked. In their case, that meant having a rudimentary to average understanding of assembly language programming.

In the past decade, computers have grown an order of magnitude more complex than that and for many people have replaced traditional single- or limited-function devices such as telephones, answering machines, copiers, fax machines and typewriters. Many people use them solely for those functions. And there's nothing wrong with that: You shouldn't have to be a computer scientist or software engineer to reap the benefits of the information revolution.

And therein lies the crux:

People want to reap the benefits of personal computers and of the Internet, but they do not necessarily want the responsibility of maintaining the integrity of these devices. In many cases, they are completely unaware of the security considerations these devices bring. In these cases, who should take responsibility for maintaining informational integrity, and how? The computer manufacturer? The operating system vendor? The applications vendors? The end-users themselves?

Consider the case for the operating system vendor: Microsoft has made a habit of incorporating--embracing and extending, as they say--technologies from outside their purview. I'm not just referring to recent developments like web browsers, either: There used to be markets for text editors, expanded memory managers, and disk caching programs. As these products became features incorporated into the operating system, those markets disappeared. But they also improved users' experience with the software. And from a support and manageability point of view, it cuts costs and simplifies troubleshooting. A logical extension of this trend is to include security technologies such as anti-virus software (again) and software-based firewalls. There are people who need to have that security technology included because they will be unknowningly exposed to those threats. But how are others going to feel about Microsoft moving into this area? There are many folks who view each move by Microsoft with distrust and suspicion for which they have some basis, admittedly.

I am afraid with this message I seem to have provided more questions than I have answers, but I do want to share one resource: Microsoft has provided a mailing list for security issues. To learn more about it, visit this page on their web site. It is one of the methods by which they announce patches and work-arounds for vulnerabilities and has been available for at least five years, which seems to show a modicum of responsibility on their part.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 803 Error Message On Windows Xp Aug 18 2003, 06:16 AM
As suggested by bigd, there might be a problem with the computer's memory. In the course of moving perhaps one of the memory modules has become loose from its socket.

After powering down the computer and grounding yourself properly, you may wish to try opening the computer's case up, removing and then reseating the memory modules to see if that solves the problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 224 Re-installing Winme Aug 16 2003, 10:01 PM
Out of curiosity, have you considered downloading the latest versions of the device drivers for your hardware and saving them to another volume on your hard drive or a CD-R disc? While perhaps not as elegant as falliston's suggestion, it would give you a set of device drivers for the computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 130 Cd-rom Will Not Work Suddenly Aug 16 2003, 09:41 PM
I wonder if there might be a program in the CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT files which is causing this problem. If you would care to post copies of these configuration files in the forum we could look through them and see if that's the case.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 816 Net Meeting In Xp Pro? Aug 16 2003, 09:31 PM
Microsoft NetMeeting is compatible with Microsoft Windows XP and can be configured by clicking on Start -> Run from the Taskbar, entering "CONF.EXE" as the name of the program to open, and clicking on OK.

I have only run the program a couple of times under Windows XP and am unaware of any major issues. A client of mine who runs NetMeeting under Windows XP uses NetMeeting almost daily and has not reported any issues, either, so I suspect the program works as expected under Windows XP.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 264 Task Manager And Ms Config Aug 16 2003, 09:04 PM
The behavior you are experiencing might be the result of a malicious program such as a computer virus, worm or system-hijacking program.

If you have not updated your anti-virus software then you may wish to do so and see if it reports anything out of the ordinary. You may also wish to check your computer with a program such as Lavasoft's Ad-Aware, Pepi MK's Spybot Search & Destroy or Merijn Bellekom's HijackThis.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 180 Backing Up A Server Aug 15 2003, 07:53 AM
One of the problems with finding a replacement for tape is that it works quite well for what it does. The obvious solution would be speed up the existing backup system by installing a tape library with multiple tape drives. That would increase the speed of all tape operations by striping them across several tapes, just like a hard disk drive RAID array. The disadvantages, besides price, is such devices are large, might have special power requirements (e.g., 220V 3-phase) and can be expensive to maintain--get the manufacturer's support contract; it's cheaper than replacing the robotic armature because something ground itself to death.

Another possibility is to switch to another tape medium, such as AIT. AIT tapes have a RAM chip embedded in them which greatly speeds up indexing time by storing some of the catalogue information with the tape.

Another possibility would be going with optical discs of some sort. DVD-RAM would probably be a better medium for backups than DVD±R(W).

Plasmon is discussing a new optical backup technology called UDO based on Blu-Ray. I'm not sure if it's shipping yet, though.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 437 Shareware Registration Costs Aug 15 2003, 07:29 AM
An excellent source of information about marketing shareware is Euro-Share's mailing list. In spite of the name, it has discussions of interest to authors in all regions.

I'm not able to access their web site right now, but hopefully it will be back up shortly.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 239 Usb Cable Heats Up Aug 15 2003, 07:18 AM
I've never heard of a USB cable overheating like that. As Sipowicz suggested, it sounds like a short-circuit somewhere. If you have a continuity tester, perhaps you could check the pins on the cable.

The first thing I would suggest is notifying the manufacturer of the cable. If it came with the Fuji 3800 Digital Camera than Fujifilm would be the company to notify. It would also be a good idea to contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. They are the federal government agency which acts as a clearinghouse-cum-investigative agency for recalls of unsafe products. An USB cable getting hot enough to melt its jacket sounds like a potential fire hazard.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 237 Nested Empty Folders Aug 15 2003, 06:59 AM
Perhaps you are dealing with an access-control problem, e.g., somehow you lost rights to modify this directory structure. The information about which accounts have rights to given files or directories is stored in a part of the file system called the Access Control List, or ACL for short.

Have you tried changing the access permissions on this directory tree and then attempting to remove it?

This is done with Change Access Control Lists program, or CACLS for short. To run it, you would open a Command Prompt and type:
    CACLS "C:\SETUPDSK\" /T /E /G Everyone:F
That command should give the Everyone Group (literally all the groups and users on the computer) full rights to the directory tree. Once the command is done changing the ACLs, you could log in using the Administrator account and removing the strange directories.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Windows Fanatics 499 New Computer - What Utilites? Aug 15 2003, 06:34 AM
You may be interested in another message thread in the forum in which members discuss their favorite shareware programs. You can view it here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 530 Norton Versus Mcafee Aug 15 2003, 06:18 AM
The anti-virus programs you mentioned do not vary tremendously in their ability to detect viruses. They both come with update services which allow them to not only obtain new virus definitions but fix existing ones in case of a false positive-type alarm (i.e., a mistaken report of a computer virus when none is actually present). The update services also allow portions of the anti-virus programs' scanning engines to be updated, too, in case some new form of malicious software appears which cannot be handled by the current engine, or to fix a bug (that is, a defect in the software, as opposed to a "virus" or "worm").

So rather than focusing purely on detection rates, I would suggest looking at a couple of things:

On the sales and support side, look at the initial cost of the program; the annual cost of renewing the virus-signature update(s); cost of technical support (in case it is not bundled into the cost of the product and you have to pay for it separately); how long it takes to get through to a technician on the phone; amount of time to receive a response to queries sent via a web form or email, and so forth.

On the technical side, look at how well it integrates with your computing environment; how much memory they use; does it incur a performance penalty on your system due to overhead, and, if so, how much, and is that acceptable to you; does it integrate with any other programs you might use such as your email client; does it cause any problems with the operating system and other programs, and, if so, how quickly they are resolved; how easy is it to update the signatures and software, and so forth.

After comparing based on those criteria, you may find that, although detection rates are the same, one clearly edges out the other in one or more areas.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 321 Help With Overheating Issues Aug 15 2003, 05:49 AM
As falliston suggested, increasing the volume of air circulating through the case with a front-to-back flow is a good way to begin cooling down the inside of your computer.

You did not mention what type of video card you have, but new high-end video cards are power-hungry, which means they too generate waste heat which must be removed from the system. If there is a PCI card in the expansion slot next to your video card, you might want to consider moving it away from the video card. You can also install a fan card like this one next to the video card to help cool it down.

The key of getting good heat transfer between the CPU and the heat sink is having just the right amount of thermal paste between them: Too little, and microscopic air gaps prevent heat transfer. Too much, and the paste acts as an insulator, instead of conducting the heat away. A very detailed, step-by-step explanation of how to apply thermal paste is available here (Adobe Acrobat viewer required) from Arctic Silver, Inc., a manufacturer of thermal pastes. Although the document mentions Arctic Silver's products, the information applies to any type of paste.

With the thermal paste covered, the next thing to consider is the heat sink and its fan. Just replacing the existing fan on the heat sink with a faster one will usually improve cooling, although how much will vary tremendously based on the fan. The trade-off, of course, is that a faster fan means a louder fan. You can also replace the entire heat sink and fan combo with a new, aftermarket one. These include aluminum-and-copper heat sinks, all-copper heat sinks (copper conducts heat more efficiently than aluminum), heat sinks with oversize and/or multiple fans, and heat sinks with exotic forms of cooling such as Peltier units and water-cooling. There are hundreds of manufacturers and enthusiast web sites for such solutions. A good place to start learning about heat sinks is DansData, an Australian enthusiast's web site. Dan does a great job of explaining how things work, how he tests them, and gives honest opinions about the results. From there you should be able to get some ideas about whether or not replacing your fan and/or heat sink will improve things.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 373 Monitor Turns Green? No Boot Aug 14 2003, 09:12 AM
A video card can usually be purchased at a computer or electronics super store or any other place which sells PC upgrades. Depending upon the type and features they can go for around $35.00USD or so into the hundreds of dollars for the type you can buy at a store.

The battery used in most modern PCs is a CR-2032 3-volt Lithium coin cell, which you can find just about any place--super markets, drug stores, hardware and do-it-yourself stores, electronics and computer stores and so forth.

The exact type required should be mentioned in the computer's manual.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 284 Ids For Windows Aug 14 2003, 09:00 AM
A variety of tools are available from The Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS) at Purdue University.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 261 Just Got My New Pc Aug 14 2003, 08:55 AM
First off, you've just purchased a very fast, very nice computer system.

From the intended primary function and ROI point of view (e.g., how little you'll need to spend administering and upgrading the computer over its lifetime and how long that lifetime will be) I would have probably built the same system with a few small changes:

Instead of a 533MHz front side bus ((FSB) CPU and motherboard, I would probably have gone with 800MHz FSB parts, even if it meant going with a slower CPU. The reason is that the 3.06GHz is the fastest Pentium 4 that Intel makes with a 533MHz FSB. With an 800MHz FSB, there's the possibility that you will be able to upgrade to an even faster CPU, as seen on this processor roadmap from Japanese PC enthusiast site PC Watch (scroll down towards the bottom for the chart showing processor frequencies and timelines).

The other thing I might change is the video card. While nVidia.'s GeForce4 Ti4200 is a fine general-performance value card, I'd perhaps consider one of ATI's Radeon video cards, based on a 9600, 9700 or 9800 chip. The reason is these video cards provide various forms of video-in and video-out, which would be very handy for editing video. I've been leary of ATI in the past due to poor device drivers and technical support, but lately they seem to have been improving on these and I might consider one of their cards for a new computer, especially if video editing was a requirement.

If the the motherboard didn't have integrated FireWire and USB 2.0 ports, I'd install a PCI expansion card for those, just to hook up video cameras and so forth.

Other than those items, that's pretty much the same PC I'd build for video editing.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 330 System Mechanic Aug 14 2003, 08:04 AM
I have used Iolo Technologies' System Mechanic in the past. I have not had any problems with the program and tend to think of it as a faster, smaller version of Symantec's Norton SystemWorks, although the comparison really isn't apt since the two programs evolve in different directions and have different feature sets.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 296 Microsoft Security Bulletin Ms03-026 Aug 14 2003, 07:58 AM
The reason un-patched computers restart is because incoming malformed RPC requests cause the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Service to fail. Most computers are configured to reboot when this happens.

One way to prevent an un-patched computer from rebooting is to change the behavior of the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Service when it encounters an error. Here's how to do this, step-by-step:

  • Start the Services Manager by clicking on Start -> Run from the Taskbar, entering "SERVICES.MSC" as the name of the application to open and clicking on OK to start it.
  • The Services Manager window will appear.
  • Scroll-down through the list of available services until you see one named Remote Procedure Call (RPC). Double-click on it to view its Properties.
  • The Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Properties window will appear.
  • Click on the Recovery tab. From here, change the computer's response to the service failing to "Restart the Service."
  • Click on Apply, followed by OK
  • Exit the Services Manager

The computer can now be plugged back into a network connection for downloading of patches and removal tools.

Here are some links to information about the worm from Microsoft, as well as direct download links for patches:

Microsoft:
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-26: Buffer Overrun In RPC Interface Could Allow Code Execution (823980)
What You Should Know About The Blaster Worm
PSS Security Response Team Alert - New Worm: W32.Blaster.worm
Patch for Windows XP (North American-English) (direct download)
Patch for Windows 2000 (North American-English) (direct download)
Patch for Windows NT 4.0 (North American-English) (direct download)

Here are some links to anti-virus vendors' web sites, along with descriptions of the worm and direct download links to removers:

Alwil - (AVAST! antivirus):
Win32:Blaster worm - information
avast! Virus Cleaner - remover (direct download)

Computer Associates - (eTrust/InnoculateIT):
Win32.Poza worm - information
Cleaning Utility - remover (direct download)

Eset - (NOD32)
Win32/Lovsan.A Virus News - information
NOD32 for Windows NT/2000/2003/XP - Version 2.0 Evaluation Copy - remover (direct download)

Frisk Software International - (F-PROT):
Security Alert: W32/Msblast.A, W32/Msblast.B and W32/Msblast.C - information
F-Prot Antvirus for Windows V3.14a Trial Version - remover (direct download)

Kaspersky Labs - ():
Worm.Win32.Lovesan - VirusList.Com - information
{direct download unavailable}

Network Associates - (VirusScan):
W32/Lovsan.worm.a Virus Profile - information
McAfee AVERT Stinger - remover (direct download)

Sophos - (SWEEP):
W32/Blaster-A disinfection instructions and FAQ - information
RESOLVE W32/Blaster-A self-extractor - remover (direct download)

Symantec - (Norton Anti Virus):
W32.Blaster.Worm security response - information
FixBlast - remover (direct download)

Trend Micro - (PC-cillin):
WORM_MSBLAST.A - Description and solution - information
Trend Micro System Cleaner Package - remover (direct download)

Here are some links to articles and alerts from computer security agencies and organizations:

CERT:
CA-2003-20: W32/Blaster Worm advisory
W32/Blaster Recovery Tips

National Infrastructure Protection Center (USA):
ADVISORY: Potential For Significant Impact On Internet Operations Due To Vulnerability In Microsoft Operating Systems (2nd UPDATE: Worm Spreading on the Internet)

Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emegency Preparedness (Canada):
OCIPEP - ALERT - AL03-007: Blaster Worm

SANS Institute:
ISC Handlers Diary August 11th 2003: RPC DCOM WORM (MSBLASTER)

Virus Bulletin Magazine

This is an extremely non-authorative list of web sites, articles and downloads so please post links to any additional resources. Hopefully disseminating this information will reduce the spread of this worm.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 8537 Nested Empty Folders Aug 14 2003, 06:19 AM
One thing about performing file and directory operations at the Recovery Console is that they are case-sensitive, unlike operations performed from a Command Prompt in Windows or DOS Prompt at DOS. If you did not enter the directory names exactly as they appear then that may be the reason they were not removed. You may also have to change some environmental variables via the Set command in order to navigate the directories on the hard disk, as mentioned in this Microsoft knowledge base article.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 499 Recycle Bin Aug 14 2003, 06:10 AM
Do you have any system utilities software running on the computer in the background which intercepts access to the disk? If so, perhaps one of those is interfering with the Recycle Bin's operation. Examples of this would include anti-virus software, file or drive mirroring software and third-party undelete programs.

You may wish to try temporarily disabling or uninstalling any such programs to see if that makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 321 Disable Keyboard Check On A Compaq Aug 14 2003, 06:06 AM
Perhaps there is an updated BIOS which allows you to disable the keyboard check?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 255 External Hard Drive Aug 14 2003, 06:04 AM
I do not see any reason you should have a problem with configuring an external hard disk drive and using it in that fashion. You will need to use partitioning schemes and file systems compatible with all of your computers so they can all read the volumes on the external hard disk drive.

Keep in mind, though, that there is always a risk something could happen to your external drive when you move from location to location with it. It could get lost or stolen, you could drop it or any other number of things. I'm not sure how much of a problem this really would be since you didn't mention if the external hard drive was going to be used in multiple locations.

If you are only going to be using the external hard disk drive in one location, perhaps it would make better sense for you to install a removable drive rack and tray in your desktop computer and use that for backups. While it wouldn't have the advantages of "hot-plugability" and a direct connection to the laptop, it might be less expensive, require less power and will be faster than a FireWire (IEEE-1394) or USB 2.0 interface. Generally speaking, hard disk drives connected via an IEEE-1394a or Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface operate at about 66-75% the speed of a direct-cabled connection due to overhead from the protocol, competition with other devices on the PCI bus for bandwidth and so forth.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 379 Monitor Turns Green? No Boot Aug 13 2003, 06:25 AM
You may wish to bring a spare video card for testing purposes with you, just in case the problem is not with the existing monitor or a loose video video card inside the case.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 284 Deleting Msn Messenger Aug 13 2003, 06:23 AM
Another forum member had a similar problem a few months ago. You can read the message thread here to see how it was resolved. Another discussion you might find helpful here talks about the differences between the Windows Messenger Service, Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 602 Front Usb Port? Aug 13 2003, 06:15 AM
Many "break-out" panels are available which allow you to move USB, FireWire (IEEE-1394) and sound connections from the back of inside your computer to the front.

A few of the companies which make them include:
Antec
Kingmax
Thermaltake
Vantec

And you can purchase them from companies like Directron, GoogleGear or Software and Stuff if you cannot find them locally.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 276 Software To Record Streams. Aug 13 2003, 05:59 AM
Another forum member asked a similar question a short time ago, you can view the message thread here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 198 Wireless Challenge Aug 13 2003, 05:54 AM
You have a very detailed list of requirements--this is good, because you've done some planning to figure out what your needs are--but it might be a bit overwhelming to try and do everything at once.

I would suggest you break things down into smaller steps and then work on each "phase" of your network deployment. For example, you could start with getting the laptop connected to the Internet, and then getting its wireless connection set up, followed by adding wireless peripherals to it, purchasing a PDA and getting it integrated (wired) and then work on its wireless connection.

For the first part, well, as you suggested, you are going to need a router, preferably one with a wireless access point or bridge built in. Although your laptop does have an 802.11a adapter built-in it would probably be cost-prohibitive to provision your planned wireless network, so let's stick with 802.11b for the time being--or perhaps 802.11g, which is backwards-compatible with 802.11b and allows you growing room for the future.

Lots of manufacturers make wireless routers, such as Belkin, D-Link, Linksys, Netgear and so forth. I don't know if one brand is better than the other, so you may want to look at things like like warranty, support, reviews and price to determine which one is best for you. You may want to check with your campus IT department to see if there are particular products they do/do not recommend.

You would plug the router into the Ethernet jack in your dorm room via its WAN port, and then plug your IBM ThinkPad T40 into any free Ethernet jack on the back of the router. Follow the instructions that came with the router and in a few minutes you'll have a working, wired Ethernet connection.

The next step would be to set up a wireless connection between the two. For that, of course, you'd want to refer to the respective manufacturers' appropriate documentation.

As far as the wireless keyboard and mouse go, I would imagine those would plug right into the laptop and work fine after installing their software. If you're planning on unplugging the laptop and using it elsewhere more than a couple of times a week, you should probably invest in a dock or port replicator so you're not constantly plugging and unplugging things from the laptop and putting wear-and-tear on its connectors.

For other peripherals such as your printer and camera, well, you're probably going to need some sort of print server (wireless or connected to the router) to access it wirelessly. All the manufacturers I mentioned before make them. Bear in mind not all printers are designed to work with a print server, though. Some may not function unless they are connected directly to your computer. No idea about the camera, sorry.

Once you've got these first parts of your new network started, we can then investigate adding a PDA into the mix.

Personally, I'd recommend against using the computer as your telephone when you can buy an inexpensive 900MHz cordless phone with answering machine for well under $50.00USD. After all, who wants to boot up their PC just to make a phone call?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 298 Win Nt 4 Server Lockup Aug 12 2003, 08:12 AM
Is there anything in the Event Log that gives an indication of why the computer is locking up?

Could it be possible the computer locks up when it receives an RPC request (as opposed to being exploited by it)?

You might want to try blocking incoming connections from ports 135-139 and 445 at the firewall and see if that makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 165 Ebooks For Palm Aug 12 2003, 08:05 AM
Dan Jackson Software offers a program called Convert Lit which, I believe, converts books from the Microsoft Reader eBook format into the Open eBook Specification format.

From there you should be able to find a reader or perform additional conversions until it's in the format you prefer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Mobile Lifestyles 303 Shareware Registration Costs Aug 12 2003, 07:57 AM
If there is a company whose web site really bothers you in particular, I'd suggest writing [a] letter(s) to its president and/or CEO. By that, I mean an actual letter printed on paper and stuck in an envelope--not an email. Companies essentially ignore email sent to them and anyone below below an executive officer level is not going to be in a position to change anything, or, in the case of marketing, even care since they "know" the web site is properly done, due to existing product sales. The fact that they could be making incrementally more sales with a cleaner web site design with better flow is utterly lost to them.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 239 Can An Isp Kill A Router? Aug 12 2003, 07:49 AM
Some devices require you to hold down the reset button for a relatively long time (30 seconds or even a minute) or press it in conjunction with another button, such as the power button, in order for the settings to be reset back to their original default configuration.

You can also try updating or reinstalling the router's firmware since this operation usually resets all of the settings to their original configuration, too.

Your cable Internet service provider's technical support department should be able to tell you if you do need to "clone" or register your router's MAC address with them in order to connect to their network.

One thing to try after resetting things is to try using the 192.168.1.nnn range of addresses, instead of 192.168.0.nnn. I've noticed occasionally that some networking gear has trouble with 192.168.0.nnn addresses.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Net Connections 1444 Lose Internet Connection When Copying Cd Aug 12 2003, 07:37 AM
Direct Memory Access (DMA) mode refers to the method by which devices such as hard disk drives send data directly to the computer's memory without requiring the CPU to oversee the transfer of information (which is called Programmed I/O or PIO mode for short).

To check whether or not DMA mode is enabled for your drives, open the Device Manager and scroll down to the entry named IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers and expand (open) it. You should see a pair of entries named Primary IDE Channel and Secondary IDE Channel. Double-Click on the Primary IDE Channel entry to view its properties. In the Properties window, click on the Advanced Settings tab to view the advanced properties for primary IDE channel. Look for fields named Transfer Mode and make sure they are set to DMA if available. Close and repeat for the Secondary IDE Channel entry. You may need to reboot when you are finished for the changes to take effect.

As for updating the HSF modem, that's going to require a little more information. Can you tell us the brand and model of modem inside your computer? That information will be helpful in hunting down the latest device drivers for your modem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Windows Fanatics 416 Usb Mouse Not Recognised In Xp Aug 12 2003, 06:49 AM
I am a little confused, could you please explain your setup in more detail?

Do you have a Logitech cordless mouse with a USB connector which you are attempting to convert to a PS/2 mouse connector, or a Logitech cordless mouse with a PS/2 connector which you are attempting to convert to PS/2?

When you refer to serial connection, are you referring to a 9-pin D-subminiature RS-232C connector, or the round 6-pin PS/2 connector (which, of course, provides a serial connection, too, just not an RS-232C-type one).

NEC purchased Packard Bell's assets several years ago and still continues to sell the computer line, mostly in Europe and Asia, although they do have small regional sales offices in South America and Africa, too. North American sales were discontinued shortly after the acquisition (in 1998 or 1999, I think).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 406 Msn Messenger Aug 12 2003, 06:37 AM
Does your friend with the computer runnning Microsoft Windows XP which connects to the Internet via cable modem use a software-based firewall or have a router inbetween his computer and the cable modem? If so, the firewall software or the router may be preventing the packets of audio data from reaching your computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 196 Rpc Causes Windows Shut Down Aug 12 2003, 06:33 AM
More information about the RPC vulnerability and its patch can be found here on Microsoft's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 215 Nested Empty Folders Aug 12 2003, 06:30 AM
As falliston suggested earlier, you may wish to try starting your computer from the Windows Recovery Console and attempting to remove the directories from there.

More information about about the Windows Recovery Console can be found here on Microsoft's support web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 499 Unknown Ad-spy Ware? Aug 12 2003, 06:25 AM
While you're dealing with this problem through the browser-hijacking experts I do have a few minor suggestions.

You may wish to try adding a "null entry" to your hosts file to point any accesses made to srch.lop.com and related web sites back to your own computer. A hosts file is a small text file which helps your computer convert IP addresses to domain names, such as converting 69.42.68.195 into www.lockergnome.com. While this will not remove the spyware, it will prevent your computer from accessing their computers, which will might prevent reintroduction of the malicious program hijacking your web browser. Here is how to edit your hosts file, step-by-step:

  • Click on Start -> Run from the Taskbar and enter "NOTEPAD C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC\HOSTS." as the name of the program to run. Note that while the hosts file is a text file, it does not have a conventional three-letter extension like .TXT. This is why you should specify the "." at the end of the file name. Click on OK to start Notepad.
  • The hosts file will appear inside of Notepad.
  • Scroll down to the bottom of the hosts file and add the following lines at the end of it:

      127.0.0.1 lop.com
      127.0.0.1 lb.lop.com
      127.0.0.1 srch.lop.com
      127.0.0.1 www.lop.com

  • Click on File -> Save from the main menu bar in Notepad to save the changes to the hosts file, then close Notepad when done.

What we're doing is telling your computer to translate the various requests to go to lop.com's computers to instead go to the computer at the IP address of "127.0.0.1" which is a special reserved IP address used to refer to your own computer. While this doesn't prevent the requests from happening, it does prevent them from reaching their intended destination by instead re-routing them to your computer.

The other thing I would suggest is you may wish to temporarily disable the "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\SPOOL\DRIVERS\W32X86\LMPDPSRV.EXE" program running on your computer. From what I have been able to find out this is a third-party (i.e., non-Microsoft) program to provide remote printing via RPC, which is the service Microsoft has recently warned users to update because of a critical security issue.

I'm not familiar with the "C:\DOCUME~1\OWNER\APPLIC~1\HOACHSFD.EXE" program, either, but since I could not find any references to the program at all you might want to see what you can find out about it before making a decision about it. Perhaps it is some software installed by the computer manufacturer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 339 Lost Dvd Software Aug 11 2003, 07:55 AM
Perhaps you could try downloading and installing this version of InterVideo WinDVD from IBM's support web site. I am not sure if that will work but it certainly appears big enough to contain the entire program.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 208 Can An Isp Kill A Router? Aug 11 2003, 07:40 AM
Have you tried resetting the routers to their default configurations? If after resetting them you still cannot get into their internal management web (or terminal) interface, then I'd suspect they were damaged by something else, such as a power surge from a nearby lightning strike.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 1444 Shareware Registration Costs Aug 11 2003, 07:36 AM
Shareware is a method of marketing software that bypasses the traditional method of manufacturing a "boxed product" and going through distributors and resellers, advertising it and so forth in favor of distributing a product electronically to get it directly into customers' hands.

Usually this is because the product is geared towards a niche or performs a very specific function or set of functions which are required infrequently.

Or, it could be the cost to reach the intended target audience is too high via traditional channels.

Most shareware, though, starts out as a means for a developer to "scratch" (solve) a particular "itch" (problem) he or she has. Since the audience is for such a solution is so narrow, it makes more sense to release the program using the shareware marketing model then to try and sell it commercially.

As registrations and feature requests roll in, the developer then devotes increased resources to improving the product, which, in turn, broadens the user base which leads to more revenue, and the cycle repeats itself.

At some point, it can get pretty difficult to handle that all by yourself, especially if you already have a day job.

And, if you're really successful, you may even quit your day job and hire a few extra hands to help out with things.

While I agree with you that it is extremely annoying to have to navigate through pages upon pages of a shareware author's web site or documentation in order to find some crucial piece of information such as licensing costs, I do not begrudge them their success. They devoted time and money to a product and took risks to make it successful.

If they expand so far beyond their roots that their product becomes complicated to use, causes more problems than solves them, or is priced higher than its perceived value (or real value, for that matter), then, well, someone else will come with another product.

Someone always has an idea for a better mouse trap.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky



]]> Technobabble 239 Firewire Card (pci) Wanted Aug 11 2003, 07:09 AM
I've seen cards with an internal connection from ActionTek, Adaptec and Belkin. But, keep in mind, they also make adapters with only external connectors.

Here is an OEM FireWire PCI adapter card from a computer surplus store based on the Lucent chipset which has internal FireWire and power connectors (for devices which take their power from the FireWire interface). It costs ~$20.00USD, not including shipping.

Here is one from another computer surplus store which is based on the VIA chipset with an internal FireWire connector. Cost is $18.00USD, not including shipping.

Yet another computer surplus store sells one here based on the VIA chipset with both internal FireWire and power connectors. Cost is ~$20.00USD, not including shipping.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 260 Motherboard Aug 11 2003, 06:57 AM
Right now, Intel is the only company shipping chipsets which support Pentium 4 processors with an 800MHz front-side bus. A chipset is the "glue" which connects the CPU and other peripherals with the motherboard.

You can read an overview of these different chipsets here on Intel's web site.

One thing to keep in mind is that the cost differential (at least to manufacturers) for the chip with the RAID controller versus one without is only a few dollars. If you limit or give preference in your search to motherboards without RAID, you may be concentrating your search to the extreme "value end" of the market, where costs takes priority over performance and stability.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 218 16bit Subsystem: Temp File Creation Aug 11 2003, 06:24 AM
Doesn't the Disk Cleanup Wizard perform several different types of operations? I thought manually cleanning the %TEMP% directory would be quicker than running it. Was that thought incorrect?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 541 Tv On My Laptop Aug 11 2003, 06:20 AM
I did a little searching and found the following companies make USB-based TV Tuners adapters:

AME Optimedia Technology Co. Ltd. TV Explorer
ATI TV Wonder USB
AVerMedia AVerTV USB
Hauppage WinTV-USB
Pinnacle Systems PCTV Deluxe
Prolink PixelView PlayTV USB and PixelView PlayTV USB pro
StarTech USB External PC TV Tuner

I've never used one of these devices myself so and do not have any specific recommendations or suggestions by brand.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that USB 1.1 devices (which all of these are) can only tranfser 11Mbits of data a second (or 1.4MBytes/second, if you prefer bytes to bits). While this may seem like a lot of bandwidth it is slow when compared to things like Ethernet network connections or hard drives. A USB to TV adapter is going to consume most if not all of the available bandwidth on the USB bus, which may interfere with other USB devices plugged into the computer (and vice-versa) and the signal may not be as good as on your television or in a desktop computer with a PCI to TV adapter.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 586 Missing Net Meeting Aug 11 2003, 05:55 AM
You should be able to download a copy of Microsoft's Netmeeting from here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 117 Kvm Switches Aug 11 2003, 05:45 AM
I think it really depends on the brand and model of KVM switch you choose. For example, this IOGear KVM switch claims to support resolutions of up to 2,048 x 1,536 (refresh rate unmentioned), while this one from Belkin, claims to offer 1,600 x 1,200 at 65Hz. If you need something with a higher screen resolution or refresh rate, you may want to look at KVM switches from companies like Black Box, Cybex, Rose and so forth.

There's even a store named KVM Switches Online dedicated to selling various brands of KVM switches.

Another consideration is to use good quality extension cables with your KVM switch. Poor quality cables with little or no shield will provide a poorer signal than those with good shielding and ferrite beads.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 230 Windows Installation Aug 11 2003, 05:35 AM
In addition to verifying the memory modules as Wolf suggested, you may wish to check the computer's hard disk drive for problems. Most computer and hard disk drive manufacturers have programs to do this which you can download from their web sites.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 88 Linux File Server On A Floppy.... Aug 11 2003, 05:30 AM
TinyApps published a link to this page of small operating systems in their current newsletter.

Perhaps one of those will be suitable for your system.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Linux Fanatics 327 2 Cd-rw's On One Machine Aug 11 2003, 05:25 AM
There should be no technical (that is, hardware) limitations on having multiple CD-RW disc drives installed in your computer.

As others have suggested, replacing the 40-pin ribbon ATA cables with longer, perhaps even rounded, 80-pin ones might improve things slightly by providing increased signal shielding between the drives and the motherboard.

You may also want to verify you have the latest BIOS installed for your Asus CUV4X motherboard and the latest VIA chipset drivers, too.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 290 Rm To Mp3 Conversion Aug 11 2003, 05:15 AM
You might want to try High Criteria's Total Recorder. I have not used it myself, but from the description it sounds like it will capture RealAudio streams and save them to MP3 format.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 1051 Lose Internet Connection When Copying Cd Aug 11 2003, 05:10 AM
Assuming you have IDE hard disk and CD-ROM disc drives, have you made sure DMA is enabled for them in the Device Manager?

If your computer uses a HSP modem (the "so-called" WinModem) you might want to try updating its software to see if that makes any difference in your computer's ability to perform these operations simultaneously.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 416 Form Filler Aug 9 2003, 10:12 AM
Not a product recommendation, per se, but you might want to try visiting Transform Magazine's web site. They cover document managment solutions and might be a good place to start looking for forms-recognition software.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 218 Using Ipod Overseas Aug 9 2003, 10:07 AM
The signals and power put out by computer interfaces such as USB, FireWire, serial (RS-232C), parallel and so forth are standard around the world.

You should not have any trouble powering your iPod from a FireWire interface from a computer overseas that runs at 220/240V.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 1100 Firewire Card (pci) Wanted Aug 9 2003, 09:57 AM
Assuming that the FireWire (IEEE-1394) port on your front panel has a standard connector on the back of it you should be able to use any FireWire PCI adapter card with an internal connector on it.

Just plug a FireWire cable in between the adapter card and connector on the front panel and you're done.

Here's a very small and extremely incomplete list of FireWire PCI adapter card manufacturers, which, I'm sure, other forum members can add to:

Adaptec
ActionTec
AVerMedia
Bafo
Belkin
D-Link
GWC Technology
Hawking Technology
IBM
IOGear
IOMagic
Koutech
Orange Micro
Pinnacle Systems
SIIG
Soyo
StarTech
Syba
Tripp Lite
Zonet

You will also find OEM adapter cards, with FireWire chipsets from companies like Agere (formerly Lucent), ALi, NEC, Texas Instruments, and VIA.

One thing to keep in mind is that some of these companies manufacture FireWire adapter cards both with and without internal FireWire connectors, so first make sure the card you are buying has one before you pay for it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 260 Inexpensive Partition Tool For Win 98 Aug 9 2003, 09:15 AM
Acronis and Paragon also make disk partitioning/resizing software.

If you're looking for free software, you can try FIPS or PartEd. Bear in mind, though, such programs are usually not as polished as their commercial counterparts and the author(s) may only provide limited technical support.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 254 Slowness After Defrag Aug 9 2003, 08:58 AM
While disk fragmentation does cause computers to slow down, another reason for slow behavior is software which is configured to run automatically when the computer is started.

Microsoft provides a diagnostic program called the System Configuration Utility to help troubleshoot startup issues. To launch it, click on Start -> Run from the Taskbar, enter "MSCONFIG.EXE" as the name of the program to start, and click on the OK button.

Once the System Configuration Utility has started, click on the Startup tab. From here you should see a list of programs which run automatically on your computer at startup. Now, some of these will be programs which are necessary, but others may be things which you do not need to run. Or, at least, you don't always need to run.

If you can give us an idea of what's listed there, perhaps we can make some suggestions about what can be safely removed.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 308 Can't Fix Chkdsk Problems Aug 9 2003, 08:45 AM
You may wish to try booting your laptop from your Microsoft Windows XP installation disc, accessing the Recovery Console and then running the Chkdsk command. From the Recovery Console, the command is run a little differently than it normally is from Windows XP. The syntax is "CHKDSK C: /P /R" where the /P tells it to check for problems and the /R tells it to try to recover any information from damaged portions of the disk.

You may have to run the Chkdsk command several times in succession in order for it to find and fix all problems.

If, however, after several iterations of disk checking and repairing problems still persist, then there may be a problem with the hard disk drive itself.

If you believe this to be the case, you should immediately back up any and all valuable information off the hard disk drive, and then run the laptop or hard disk drive manufacturer's disk test software to see what it reports.

Some of the tests performed by disk testing software are "destructive," e.g. they erase the contents of the hard disk drive, so you should not run them until you are confident the information on it is secure elsewhere.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Windows Fanatics 335 Multi-partition Versus Multi-drive! Aug 9 2003, 08:33 AM
There is one solution which, surprisingly, I have not seen mentioned.

If one needs to work with several operating systems, for software testing, to use specific applications and so forth, why not just build a dedicated computer for each operating system?

Not only does this allow you to tune a particular system towards each environment, it also allows you to use them simultaneously. That's very handy, especially for testing networking applications where a minimum of two computers are required.

They don't even need to have their own peripherals. A KVM switch can be used to share a single keyboard, monitor and mouse between them, and they can be networked together to share other resources such as printers and Internet connectivity.

Obviously, there are some trade-offs, too, with this appoach, such as increased power requirements and space utilization. But I would think the advantages of having several separate, different systems to work with would outway those.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 400 16bit Subsystem: Temp File Creation Aug 9 2003, 08:22 AM
Perhaps the temporary file directory has become filled with so many temporary files and directories that the application installer is having trouble creating the files and directories needed to install your application?

A quick way to test this would be to empty the temporary file directory. Here's how to do that, step-by-step:

  • Click on Start -> Run from the Taskbar and enter
      C:\DOCUME~1\FRANK~1.RIS\LOCALS~1\Temp\

    as the name of the folder to open and click on OK to open it.
  • The temporary file directory will appear.
  • Select (highlight) all its contents by pressing the Ctrl and A keys together.
  • Press the Delete key to delete the highlighted files and folders.
  • Close the temporary file directory window.

Reboot the computer and then try installing the application again.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 541 Ntfs And Partition Magic 7.0 Aug 9 2003, 08:14 AM
I think it is reasonable to assume the problems which occurred during the initial re-partitioning of the IBM ThinkPad R40 with PowerQuest's PartitionMagic were due to an incompatiblity between it and the IBM Rapid Restore software. Especially since the two are documented as being incompatible on IBM's own support web site.

A quick re-reading of the first paragraph of the support document reveals it is possible to remove the IBM Rapid Restore by logging in as Administrator. One further assumes removal is done in the standard fashion of accessing the Add/Remove Programs applet from the Control Panel and, almost assuredly, a subsequent reboot to remove any tendrils which might be entwined within the computer.

Perhaps after removing the Rapid Restore software you could then try using PartitionMagic to manipulate partitions as needed?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky








]]> Windows Fanatics 723 Shareware Registration Costs Aug 9 2003, 07:43 AM
I have usually found that shareware authors keep pricing information relatively close at hand; usually in a program's documentation, license agreement, or perhaps a separate fee schedule.

On the other hand, for those individual authors grow and become succesful, their companies begin to employ more traditional means of marketing their software, which includes such things as the structure of the web site and the distribution files for the software. In these cases, things such as pricing and support information often get moved to their own dedicated areas of the web site. Or removed as neccessary, as in the case of a transition from a shareware to a commercial product.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Technobabble 239 File Names Aug 9 2003, 07:37 AM
There are many programs for performing operations on files such as renaming, moving, copying and so forth. One program I have used in the past to handle case-sensitive filename operations is Funduc Software's Directory Toolkit.

I've seen the type of filename corruption you've experienced in a couple of situations:

The first is when recovering data from damaged medium. It may not be possible for the data recovery tools to recreate the case of filenames (e.g., all-upper, all-lower or mixed-case) due to truncated, missing or otherwise garbled directory table information. In this case, it might take a "best guess" approach, prompt the operator to enter a filename (FILE0001.EXT, FILE0002.EXE and so forth) or some combination of the two.

The other situation is when files are copied to and from media with different file systems, e.g., copying from an NTFS-formatted volume to FAT-formatted volume, or ISO-9660 (CD) and UDF (DVD) file systems to a hard disk drive, and so forth. Every file system handles file and directory naming in a different fashion and, as a result, sometimes names get changed when being copied across different ones.

In the case of the former, I do not think there is too much one can really do: The prime objective of data recovery is to recover the files; things such as file names and directory paths are, of necessity, going to be of secondary consideration.

In the case of the latter there are a couple of solutions I can think of:

The first is to use the exact same file system across all media. This will ensure that file and directory naming structures are properly preserved. The problem with this approach, though, is that it greatly limits the type of media you can use to those which support the file system in question.

The second solution, and I think this might be a more realistic approach is to stop copying your files as a means of backup. Instead, use a backup program to back them up.

I know over the past several years to equate file-copying, disk-imaging and "traditional" backup software as identical means of archiving, but, as you have seen, the resultant information store can differ in unexpected ways from the original.

What backup software does is not only store copies of your files, but it stores copies of the filename and directory information, too. This allows that information, along with the files to be created properly during a restore operation, without having to worry about the vagaries of a copy command interacting in unexpected ways with the file system drivers.

Enterprise backup software vendors such as Computer Associates and Veritas understand this and provide solutions which provide this type of information integrity, however, it's not limited to them. Consumer products from companies such as Dantz and Stomp provide it as well.

Of course, there are disadvantages to this approach as well. You can no longer just mount your backup media and navigate its directory structure to find the files you wish to restore; you have to use the backup software instead. And in the case of restoring to a new computer, it might take some time for it to build a catalog or index from the backup media. So, there's some time issues as well.

On the other hand, if you're willing to forego some of the bells-and-whistles (and GUI) of a backup program, you can always use something like batch files and PKWare's PKZIP software (or similar programs) to archive your files and keep their name and directory structure intact.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 233 New Hdd On Old Laptop Aug 8 2003, 06:45 AM
As Jeber suggested, a parallel port CD-ROM drive will let you load Microsoft Windows 98 back on to your AST Ascentia J50 laptop. I've keep a MicroSolutions parallel-port CD-ROM drive around just for such scenarios. MSRP is approximately $120.00USD, with street prices being about $20.00USD less.

Another possibility would be to purchase a 2.5" to 3.5" ATA adapter, use it to install the 2.5" hard disk drive into a desktop computer, and then format and copy the files to 2.5" hard disk drive on your desktop computer. You can then reinstall the 2.5" hard disk drive into your laptop computer and run the Microsoft Windows 98 setup program from it to install the operating system. I found such an adapter on CompGeeks web site for ~$4.00USD, but you can probably find them at your local computer store.

As a bonus, instead of prompting you to insert the Microsoft Windows 98 installation disc each time Windows wants to copy system files it will instead copy them from the hard disk, which is much faster.

A couple of caveats to this approach:

  • When you use FDISK to partition the hard disk drive, be sure to set the C:\ volume as "active" to make it startable (e.g., allows an operating system to boot from it, as opposed to having to boot the computer from a floppy diskette).
  • When you use FORMAT to format the C:\ volume, be sure to use the /S switch, to make it bootable. The syntax would be "FORMAT C: /S" at the command prompt.
  • You just need to copy the files in the \WIN98\ directory to the C:\ volume, not any of the sub-directories inside it.

I normally copy the Windows 98 installation files to C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS\, but that's just because the first computer I received with a Windows 98 pre-load on it used that directory path. I figured if IBM did it that way, they probably had a reason for it.

Once the 2.5" hard disk drive is re-installed back in the laptop just change to that directory, run the SETUP.EXE program and Windows 98 will install as normal.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 513 Low Power Dvd Drive Aug 8 2003, 06:06 AM
You could try using a slim form factor (12mm-17mm high or so) laptop DVD burner. A quick look on eBay found they usually go for $300.00 and up. They do tend to have "semi-proprietary" interfaces, e.g. vendor-specific ATA interfaces, so you may need an adapter to make it work with a regular 40-pin (80-wire) ATA connector.

It might be less expensive to upgrade the power supply. I am not particularly familiar with ITX systems (I've worked on a few NLX small-form factor PCs in the past) but mini-itx.com sells a 200 watt power supply and companies like iDOT.Com and LinITX.Com have entire pages devoted to them. Directron has a page of Micro-ATX power supplies, but I'm sure if these will work with ITX form-factor systems.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 378 Cant Connect To Windows Messenger Aug 7 2003, 11:25 PM
Have you tried updating your router's and access point's firmware?

Just to check, did you enable port-forwarding in your router to forward TCP port 1863 (Microsoft Messenger's port) to your desktop computer?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 187 Change Progran Files And Path? Aug 7 2003, 11:15 PM
As RandomBox suggested, changing the value of the ProgramFilesDir string in the [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion] key of the registry will allow subsequent program installations to default to a new path.

To move pre-existing program installations to a new location you'll want to use a program like PC Magazine's Change of Address 2 (COA2) or Funduc Software's Application Mover to migrate any .INI file and registry entries to their new locations.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 321 Laserjet 5l And Win Xp Aug 7 2003, 10:49 PM
If the printer works on one computer but not another one with the same cable then the problem is neither with the cable or a memory issue.

Setting the parallel port in the BIOS to ECP/EPP and using the default settings should be fine. Having ECP enabled should not adversely affect the printer.

You might want to try temporarily uninstalling the Adobe PDF Writer and BlackIce ColorFax Lite drivers, just to see if removing them makes any difference, as well as any other programs or drivers which access the parallel port, such as scanners, removable media drives and so forth. IT could be one of these is interfering with access to the parallel port.

For a while I had an ALPS MD-1300 dye-sub printer hooked up to the same computer as a secondary printer for photographs. No problems encountered having two printers hooked up.

To create a clickable hyperlink in the forum software, preface your URL with "[URL=", close it with a "]", enter the description, and close that with a "[/URL]" tag. For example, a link to Microsoft's web site would look like:
CODE

[url=http://www.microsoft.com/]Microsoft[/url]

The tags are not case-sensitive.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 485 Laserjet 5l And Win Xp Aug 7 2003, 05:20 AM
I have a Hewlett Packard LaserJet 5MP connected to my primary system which runs Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition and it works correctly. While this is not exactly the same printer it is very close to the model you have.

As TimFeld suggested, the parallel port needs to be set up correctly in the computer's BIOS. You should also check the Windows Device Manager to see if any problems are reported there.

You may also want to try using a different parallel printer cable with your Windows XP Professional system. You'll want to use a good-quality IEEE-1284 parallel printer cable. I've experienced identical data corruption issues when not using one.

Also, if you are using a switch box, you should remove that and try connecting the printer directly to the computer.

If the printer still does not work when attached to the parallel port then you may wish to try buying a USB-to-parallel port adapter and connecting the printer to your computer via its USB port.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 485 Start Up Problem Aug 7 2003, 05:12 AM
I would think it would be in the hard drive, system or advanced settings for the BIOS. Of course, that is assuming the motherboard manufacturer implemented it in the BIOS. It is possible it might not be available in your BIOS.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 257 What Is This Tftp Stuff? Aug 7 2003, 05:08 AM
There is a worm which installed a TFTP server on computers it infects. You can read more about it here or, of course, your favorite anti-virus vendor's web site.

The latest update of your anti-virus software should detect and remove it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 301 Ntfs And Partition Magic 7.0 Aug 7 2003, 05:01 AM
According to this article from IBM's web site, PowerQuest's PartitionMagic is not compatible with IBM's Rapid Restore software.

You might want to try uninstalling or disabling Rapid Restore from your IBM ThinkPad before attempting to repartition the drive with Partition Magic.

Unfortunately, this is something I don't have have any first-hand experience since I wiped my ThinkPad's hard disk drive and installed a retail version of Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition. I never reinstalled the Rapid Recovery software, so I'm uncertain as to the steps to remove it non-destructively from the system.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 723 Boot From Usb Aug 7 2003, 04:44 AM
I have booted my laptop from an external USB floppy disk drive without problem do do things like update the BIOS, but that's a little different than what you are asking.

I would think that your operating system would need to initialize the USB interface and USB to ATA bridge drivers as part of the core (kernel) startup files. If that's the case then, well, it might work.

If you do want to try this one thing I would suggest is that you physically disconnect or remove the internal hard disk drive from your computer before attempting this, just to prevent any accidental and unwanted changes to it.

Keep in mind that operating systems such as Microsoft Windows 2000 load drivers for the computer's chipset, video card, hard disk drive controllers and other specific parts of the computer as part of the startup process. In order for you to boot other computers from the same external USB hard disk drive they'll need to use these same components. That is, of course, assuming you can boot up in this fashion.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Hardware Help 348 Nero Burning Rom V5.5917 Aug 7 2003, 04:34 AM
There still seem to be some old versions and supplemental files on ftp://ftp4.nero.com/.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 522 Nested Empty Folders Aug 7 2003, 04:24 AM
Which version of Microsoft Windows are you running? What file system is on the volume you are attempting to remove the directory entries from?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 499 Diagnostics/advice? Aug 7 2003, 04:22 AM
I replace lots of modems and motherboards during lightning season.

While consumer surge protectors are designed to handle a sudden increase in voltage it is very unlikely they are going to survive a direct or nearly-direct lightning strike on your premises. Also, the surge-absorbing technology in them loses effectiveness after repeated surges until the device loses effectiveness--at which point it just becomes an extension cable/power bar. We discussed this a while ago in the forum. You can view the message thread here.

The problems you are experiencing are consistent with this sort of damage. Damage to the motherboard's chipset is possible and the hard disk and DVD-ROM drives failing to detect sounds like they could have been in the path the surge took through the computer's power supply.

It would be a good idea to replace the motherboard, hard disk drive and DVD-ROM drive with new ones. You can certainly re-use all of the remaining working components but do be aware they will probably have a shortened life-cycle due to from the over-voltage, as TimFeld mentioned.

It is a good idea to unplug any expensive electronics from the wall sockets during an electrical storm such as computers, TVs, stereos and so forth. You might want to unplug your modem, too, since lightning can reach devices through telephone/cable/DSL lines.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 283 Start Up Problem Aug 7 2003, 04:01 AM
Have you tried replacing the ATA cable to the hard disk drive? Perhaps one of the connectors is loose.

Another possibility might be that the first hard disk drive does not initialize completely before the BIOS begins to check for installed drives. This can usually be fixed by increasing the "Hard Disk Pre-Delay" setting in the BIOS.

Detection of installed hardware like disk drives and PCI expansion cards is handled by the BIOS before any code is executed from the boot disk so it's unlikely you're dealing with a virus. There are viruses which corrupt FLASH BIOSes, but that usually results in an unusable system until the BIOS EEPROM is reprogrammed or replaced.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 257 Eudora 5.0.2 To Oe 6sp1.. Can It Be Done? Aug 6 2003, 02:14 AM
A quick look around found a list of mail conversion resources here. Perhaps one of those might be of use?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Tech News Watch 233 Please Explain Messengers Aug 5 2003, 03:33 AM
I believe the MSN.EXE file is part of the MSN Internet Software (formerly called MSN Explorer) which provides a friendly "portal-style" interface to the Internet, much like AOL's software. It is seperate from MSN Messenger, which is an instant messaging program.

Unfortunately, I am unfamiliar with this particular program as I have never used it and don't seem to have it on my computer. Looking through the MSN support web site I couldn't find anything which seemed to explain this so you may have to contact their technical support directly for help.

Sorry I cannot be of further assistance for this particular issue.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 2616 Cable Modem Pop-ups Aug 5 2003, 03:16 AM
Another forum member asked a similar question a short time ago and received several replies. You can read the message thread here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 209 Black Out Aug 5 2003, 03:11 AM
The recommendation for replacing the video card is a good idea.

You may also wish to investigate if the power supply might be failing or the computer might be overheating. Either of those could cause similar problems.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 332 Jazz Link? Aug 5 2003, 03:08 AM
Would that be Saya, who was mentioned in the July 30th issue of the LockerGnome Windows Daily newsletter?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Gnomedex 3.0 - The Aftermath. 670 Win Xp And Laserjet 5l Printer Aug 4 2003, 05:05 AM
Out of curiosity, have you verified the parallel port is set up correctly in the BIOS and in the Device Manager for the computer running Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition?

Do you have any other devices which attach to the parallel port such as image scanners or removable media drives which might be interfering with the printer?

Have you tried using a different IEEE-1284 cable to see if that makes any difference?

I have a Hewlett Packard LaserJet 5MP printer (which is very similar to your Hewlett Packard LaserJet 5L model) attached to my primary computer running Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition and it prints correctly. It is, however, connected via a Belkin Parallel to USB adapter to my computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 621 No Pics On Yahoo Web Page Aug 4 2003, 04:44 AM
Could your security software be interfering with the display of pictures? You could temporarily try disabling Zone Labs' ZoneAlarm and Trend Micro's PC-Cillin programs to see if that makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 203 Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is Aug 4 2003, 04:42 AM
Shh.... it's a secret. One of these days I might even use a smilie.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 318 Please Explain Messengers Aug 4 2003, 04:38 AM
Messenger could be referring to instant messaging programs in general or it could be referring to the Messenger service which is a part of Microsoft Windows.

A service is a program which runs in the background of the computer and requires little or no intervention from the user. Some services are started automatically when the computer is booted up, while others may be started only when needed or disabled if they are not needed by your computer. An example of a service you've probably used before is the Print Spooler service, which "spools" (buffers) documents before they are printed. Services can come from other software companies besides Microsoft. For example, your anti-virus software probably has some sort of service running in the background to intercept computer viruses.

The Messenger Service is a program which runs in the background and is normally used to send short messages to computers attached to a local area network. For example, a system administrator might send a message to all users on the LAN that a service will be offline for some maintenance or a printer connected to the LAN might send you a message to let you know that your print job is sitting at the printer by the water cooler.

Unfortunately, some people found out that the Messenger Service not only receives messages sent across a local area network but also across the Internet as well. This has lead to a new class of spam which uses the Messenger Service instead of email as its vector. This article from Microsoft's support web site offers a good explanation of how this happens, as well as ways to combat it.

Windows Messenger is the instant messaging solution Microsoft included with Windows XP. In addition to transmitting instant messages, transferring files and presence detection it provides video conferencing and integration with Windows XP's Remote Assistance technology.

MSN Messenger is Microsoft's instant messaging solution for all versions of Windows for Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP (older versions are available for Windows 95 and NT 4.0, too). It offers some additional features not available with Windows Messenger such as games, the ability to save chat transcripts and a tabbed dialog which lets you check news, stock tips and so forth.

None of these programs (or services) are required by Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition and you can disable or remove them if you like.

  • To disable the Windows Messenger service, run the Services Manager by clicking on Start -> Run from the Taskbar and enter "SERVICES.MSC" as the name of the program to start. When the Services Manager window appears scroll down through the list of services until you see the one named Messenger. Double-click on it to view its properties. Towards the bottom of the Messenger Properties window click on the Stop button to stop the Messenger Service and right above it change the Startup Type to Disabled. Click on the OK button when finished.

  • To uninstall the Windows Messenger program, click on Start -> Run from the Taskbar and copy and paste the following line in as the program to run:
      RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\INF\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove

    When you click on the OK button Windows Messenger will be removed from your computer. You may need to reboot in order for the change to take effect.

  • You can uninstall MSN Messenger through the Add/Remove Programs application located in the Control Panel.

That should take care of things.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 2616 Bogus E-mails Aug 4 2003, 03:42 AM
I would think your Internet service provider's technical support department would be a good starting point. If you are receiving bounces from spam falsely sent with your return address on them it would be a good idea to notify them. That way they are aware of the situation in case anyone complains to them about the messages.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 244 High Power Wireless Access Aug 3 2003, 10:47 AM
It sounds like you might need an external antenna to go with your 802.11b PC Card. You can usually find portable antennas with either a magnetic base for attaching to a car or a strip of Velcro on eBay.

As cat5e suggested, Cisco is a good choice. You might also want to look at Proxim's ORiNOCO line (formerly from Agere/Lucent).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 141 Why Is Windows Explorer Crashing On Me? Aug 3 2003, 10:16 AM
I have heard of this problem before and thought I had read about a workaround for it on Microsoft's support web site, but cannot seem to find a reference to it.

From what I can recall the problem occurs when Windows Explorer tries to display more detailed information about multimedia files such as the album title, artist, bit rate, dimensions (for a picture), length (for an audio or video file) and so forth. Normally this information is embedded--at least in part--in the files. If for some reason the information was corrupt Windows Explorer would respond slowly or even hang while attempting to retrieve it.

The workaround was to click on View -> Choose Details from the main menu and de-select (un-check) the various details so Windows Explorer no longer attempted to obtain that information from files.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 273 Chipsets Aug 3 2003, 09:55 AM
The best chipset is... the one which meets your friend's needs.

Instead of starting at the "hardware" end of building a new computer, trying to figure out what the best parts to use are, perhaps it might be easier if your friend deteremined what task(s) he is going to be using the computer for (primary task, secondary tasks, occasionally tertiary tasks and so forth).

Once the tasks have been determined, your friend can next look at which applications he'll need to accomplish them.

Then, once the applications have been selected your friend can determine which hardware would be best to run them on.

That way, instead of trying to perform particular tasks on a computer which might not be ideally suited for them, he'll have a computer custom-built to handle them.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 228 High Pitch Sound From Hard Drive Aug 3 2003, 09:43 AM
If you unplug all the hard disk and optical disc drives from your primary computer and then just plug in the Western Digital WD1200 drive, does the whining noise still occur?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 426 Xp And Ati Radeon Aug 3 2003, 09:40 AM
Out of curiosity, do you have the latest BIOS and chipset drivers installed for your Abit KG7 motherboard?

Assuming those are up-to-date, perhaps you are dealing with a conflict with the DirectX software on your system? It has been a while since I have used an ATI card, but I recall them being rather picky about having the latest DirectX software installed.

Another possibility could be that the video card is overheating. You might want to try freeing up the adjacent PCI slots and see if that makes any difference. Installing a fan card next to the video card to improve air flow might help as well.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 219 Re: Xp Service Packs, & Then Some Aug 3 2003, 09:27 AM
As far as I can tell, the current service pack for Microsoft Windows XP is Service Pack 1a.

Supposedly Microsoft is going to release Service Pack 2 for Windows XP before this year is over, and it will include improved support for technologies like Smart Display, but this service pack is very much a work in progress and not ready for public use.

You can tell Windows XP to format the installation partition using either the NTFS or FAT32 file systems as part of the setup process.

Windows XP comes with a program called Convert which will convert the file system on a disk from FAT32 to NTFS. The syntax would be something like:

    CONVERT D: /FS:NTFS /V

You can convert a disk any time you like, but keep in mind the conversion is one-way: Once you've converted a disk to NTFS you will not be able to convert it back unless you use a third-party utility such as PowerQuest's PartitionMagic software (about $70.00USD retail).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 222 Nero Burning Rom V5.5917 Aug 3 2003, 09:03 AM
Were you installing a "full" (retail) version of Ahead's Nero Burning-ROM or an OEM version which came with the CD-RW drive?

I believe Ahead limits OEM versions of Nero Burning-ROM to install only with CD-RW drives from the same manufacturer that the OEM version of the software was bundled with.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 522 Cd Burning - Filepath Depth Woes Aug 3 2003, 08:57 AM
CD-ROM discs follow a standard named ISO-9660 which explains how information is to stored on them. The original specification, called Level 1, required files be no longer than thirteen characters (including the period and three-character file extension), be all in upper case and have paths no more than eight-subdirectories deep. Subsequent specifications, called Level 2 and Level 3, increased filename length to thirty-two characters.

Both Microsoft and Apple have created extensions to this format. Microsoft's Joliet extension adds support for filenames up to sixty-four characters in length as well as Unicode characters (which includes lower-case letters), increased path depth for directories and so forth. The combined path and filename cannot exceed 240 characters, though.

The Apple Extensions provide similar functionality for the Macintosh operating system.

It sounds like the CD-ROM burning software may be limiting discs that you create to one of the ISO-9660 standards. See if there is an option to enable support for the Joliet format, which should eliminate the problem you are having.

If the CD-ROM burning software doesn't have an option to create discs using Joliet or doesn't tell you which path(s) or file(s) are causing a problem, you can open a Command Prompt, change to the directory you are attempting to copy and issue a "DIR /B /S > DIROFCD.TXT" command, which will create a text file named DIROFCD.TXT containing a directory listing of the files you wish to back up. Searching through that identify the culprits. Remember to delete the text file when you're done, unless you want to burn a copy of it to your CD-R disc.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 869 A Tv Tuner To Vga Converter Aug 2 2003, 09:25 AM
Both AVerMedia and ViewSonic make standalone television tuners for monitors with SVGA connectors. Here are a few models:

AVerMedia AVerTV Box
AVerMedia AVerTV Box3
AVerMedia AVerTV Hotcha

ViewSonic VB50HRTV
ViewSonic NextVision N4
ViewSonic NextVision N5
ViewSonic NextVision N6

I'm sure there are other manufacturers as well, but these were the first I came across. I have not used this type of device before so have no specific suggestions to offer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 495 Cd-rom Will Not Work Suddenly Aug 2 2003, 09:17 AM
As suggested by bigd, falliston, greengeek and others I think you are most likely dealing with a software issue than a hardware one. The fact that you can access the CD-ROM disc drive when booting a different operating system from an Emergency Boot Diskette lends credence to this theory.

Running the System File Checker and using the Add New Hardware wizard from the Control Panel are good things to try.

You may also want to try booting the computer up in Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key on startup and see if the CD-ROM disc drive is detected while the computer is running in this special diagnostic mode.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 816 Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is Aug 2 2003, 08:45 AM
Strangely enough about a half-dozen or so replies I thought I had written never appeared in the forum. I am fairly certain I had written them.

I thought it might be an issue with a crash or rollback of the message database. Or perhaps an issue with the "flood control" feature--I use the Alt and cursor keys frequently to navigate (it is more convenient for me to use them than to click on the backwards and forwards button in Microsoft Internet Explorer.) and often see warnings about flooding as a result. I have a hunch the Invision Power Board software really, really wants you to spend thirty seconds on each web page.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Technobabble 318 Task Scheduler In Winxp? Aug 2 2003, 07:11 AM
You can access the graphical user interface to the Task Scheduler in Microsoft Windows XP by clicking on Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Scheduled Tasks from the Taskbar.

To access the AT program to schedule tasks, open a Command Prompt and type "AT /?" at the prompt.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 196 High Pitch Sound From Hard Drive Aug 2 2003, 07:06 AM
As Rons suggested, it sounds like the hard disk drive has begun to fail; the high-pitched whining noise could be from the spindle motor.

According to Western Digital's support web site, you can download their Data LifeGuard v10.0 disk testing software here.

One thing to keep in mind is that the problem in question may not have reached a point where it can be isolated by the software. You may want to contact Western Digital from a telephone nearby the computer so you can let them listen in when you power up the hard disk drive.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 426 Cd Rom Aug 2 2003, 06:58 AM
Is the CD-ROM detected properly in the computer's BIOS?

Have you verified it is jumpered correctly and tried reseating its cabling?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 266 Computer Data Security Question Aug 1 2003, 07:08 PM
I would think that any port on the computer which is capable of transferring data (serial, parallel, USB, FireWire, manufacturer's proprietary expansion port for dock, PC Card, and so forth) would need to be disabled. Disabling these in the BIOS and protecting it with a password will provide some level of security if removing the CMOS battery doesn't cause the password to be reset.

Also, the laptop would need to be sealed to prevent the hard disk drive from being removed by disassembling it.

On the software side, you might want to see what can be done about securing access with password, file and user permissions and so forth.

Given that for every technical measure there is a countermeasure, it ultimately becomes an issue of trust at some point; after all, the entire data set of being shipped to someone.

Your business associate might want to consider "salting" each data set (I assume there is more than one copy of it) with information unique to that distribution, such as changing a phrase or sentence or perhaps using using certain fonts, colors and so forth. That way if a particular data set is compromised you can then determine who has had access to it and take the appropriate measures.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 270 Partition Magic Error 117 Aug 1 2003, 06:44 PM
Does the IBM ThinkPad A30 still boot off its internal hard disk? If so, you might want to try starting it as normal, connecting it to a network or another PC (via Ethernet cross-over cable) and copying your important data files to another system with a CD-RW or tape drive for backing it up.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 456 Add A Video Card? Aug 1 2003, 06:25 PM
A new video card will probably be faster than the one integrated on your motherboard.

I would think the easiest way to see if there will be any sort of performance boost would be to visit the Gateway and Visiontek's respective web sites to compare the specifications for the two video systems.

While manufacturer's specifications sometimes need to be taken with a grain of salt it should give you a rough idea of whether the VisionTek video card will out-perform the integrated video on the motherboard.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 325 Scanner "not Found" Anymore Aug 1 2003, 06:15 PM
Have you tried using a different USB cable? If so, did that make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 341 Is Xp Spyware? Jul 30 2003, 10:27 PM
You can modify the list of applications Microsoft Windows XP's error reporting handles or toggle the service on and off through the System Properties program:

  • Right-click on the My Computer icon and select Properties from the popup menu. The System Properties window will appear.
  • Click on the Advanced tab to view the advanced settings.
  • Click on the Error Reporting button located towards the bottom of the window. The Error Reporting window will appear.
  • From the Error Reporting window you can enable or disable error reporting, tell it to only report errors with the operating system and selectively choose which programs to (not) report errors from to Microsoft.

It should not make a difference where programs are installed on your hard disk drive for error reporting to work with them.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 967 Ignoring The Floppy Drive Jul 30 2003, 08:00 AM
From what I've read about FileNotes on Jamworkspro web site it sounds like the program is hard-coded to monitor all disk volumes. You may want to contact the developer to see if excluding certain volumes could be added in a future release; I'm sure they'd be interested, especially if it lead to a new customer for them.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 335 Virus On Files Backed Up To Cd-r Jul 30 2003, 07:23 AM
As gregofvt suggested, you should be able to recover the files you need from your CD-R disc with a minimum of trouble and an extremely small window of vulnerability to your system. Since you did not mention which virus(es) your CD-ROM was infected with, it's hard to give specific instructions, but the scenario would be something like this:

  • Visit the Microsoft Windows Update web site to install any new security updates which might be available for your operating system.
  • Update your anti-virus software with the latest definitions from the vendor (I believe Norton Anti Virus has an integrated program called Live Update to do this).
  • Create a temporary folder on your hard disk drive for copying the CD-R's files such as C:\TEMPDIR\.
  • Use the on-demand (the disk-scanning) component of your anti-virus software to verify which files are infected and which virus(es) are present on the CD-R.
  • Open the management program for your anti-virus software and temporarily disable the on-disk access (the memory-resident) component. In order to remember to reactivate it, I'd suggest that you leave the management program running in the background.
  • Copy the contents of the CD-R disc to the temporary folder ("C:\TEMPDIR\") you created on your hard disk drive.
  • Bring up the management program for your anti-virus software and re-enable the on-disk access component.
  • Eject the CD-R disc from your CD-ROM drive and discard.
  • Use the on-demand (disk-scanning) component of your anti-virus software to check the temporary folder ("C:\TEMPDIR\") for viruses and remove any, if found.
  • Create a new backup of the temporary folder ("C:\TEMPDIR\") to a CD-R disc.
  • Erase temporary folder ("C:\TEMPDIR\")

The only point at which your computer is vulnerable to a virus infection is while the files are being copied off the CD-R disc, and only if you were to run one of the infected files. However, since the next step immediately after copying is to re-enable it this means the window of vulnerability is extremely small--almost nil. You just have to ensure that the next step is re-activating the on-disk access (memory resident) component of the anti-virus software.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 270 Looking For A Utility Jul 30 2003, 06:23 AM
Have you tried any of SysInternal's utilities such as Diskmon, Filemon, Process Explorer or TCPView?

Depending upon what sort of activity you're trying to monitor I would think at least one of those programs would work for you.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 354 Assigning Partitions Jul 30 2003, 06:11 AM
My primary computer system has a 36GB (34.25 actual) hard disk drive in it partitioned as follows:

C:\ 4,095MB NTFS for operating system + 256MB swap file (59% used)
D:\ 4,095MB NTFS for applications (20% used)
E:\ 8,189MB FAT32 for documents (18% used)
F:\ 8,189MB FAT32 for downloaded drivers, updates and patches (95%+ used)
G:\ 8,189MB NTFS for games (52% used)
H:\ 2,047MB NTFS for "scratch" (junk files) space (95% used)

With modern operating systems capable of supporting gigabyte and terabyte-sized partitions there is little technical reason to create multiple partitions; it is more an issue of systems management.

For me, the key advantage of this methodology is I can quickly backup and/or transfer my data volume to another computer. From a systems management point of view, I've always liked keeping the operating system separate from the applications. I think it may improve system stability slightly but that's only a guess on my part--I have no anecdotal data to back up that assertion. The H: volume contains data files (music, movies and so forth) that I've downloaded, am not particularly concerned about, and, as such, does not get backed up.

For a backup strategy, the data volume regularly gets backed up to an external hard disk drive, tape and DVD-RAM. The F: volume gets backed up to an external hard drive as well, in case I need to take some of those patches, drivers and software updates I've downloaded to a client site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Windows Fanatics 423 Electrical Dual (triple?) Boot Hdd's Jul 30 2003, 05:43 AM
Would that be the TRIOS drive selector by RomTech?

I suspect it does more than just power on and off on the connected drives, since it would also have to juggle multiple master drives on the same interface.

A little searching on Price Watch found the device for as little as $50.00USD, not including shipping. If I really need to multi-boot different hard drives--as opposed to using a boot selector on the first installed hard drive--I think it would be easier to buy one of the devices than risk damaging my own power supply or hard drives.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 353 Dvd-rom Help Jul 30 2003, 05:27 AM
Do audio CDs play properly, or are they not recognized as well?

Have you tried cleaning the Samsung SD-612 DVD-ROM drive with a CD/DVD lens cleaning disc?

Does the problem occur with any type of CD-ROM disc you insert into the DVD-ROM drive or just with recordable discs using CD-R or CD-RW media? If so, it could be that the DVD-ROM disc drive does not recognize recordable media. This was a problem with early generations of DVD-ROM drives and sometimes could be solved, at least in part, with a firmware upgrade.

Looking around Samsung's web site, I was not able to find any mention of the drive at all--no technical specifications or firmware were available. I did find firmware updates available from Dell's support web site, as well as four different ones here, but I do not know if any work with your drive.

Microsoft will completely cease supporting Windows 98 Second Edition in January, 2005, according to this page on their web site, so I am surprised by HP's response that it is no longer supported. You may wish to try contacting them again to see if another technician replies differently.

If cleaning the Samsung SD-612 DVD-ROM drive and updating its firmware do not work the drive might be broken. Given the low cost of DVD-ROM drives these days ($30.00USD and up) it may be easiest to replace the drive with a new one instead of spending more time troubleshooting.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 1023 Auto Restart Problem Jul 29 2003, 12:43 AM
According to this page from the WinGuides web site, using the the following line in a batch file should force a shutdown of Microsoft Windows 98:


C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE shell32.dll,SHExitWindowsEx 4


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 307 Chk Disk On Startup Jul 29 2003, 12:21 AM
When the Chkdsk program runs on your computer at startup does it find any problems and fix them?

You may just want to try issuing a "CHKDSK C: /F /R" command at the command prompt to let Windows perform a more thorough check of drive C: on your computer the next time it restarts.

If the problem continues to persist then your hard disk drive could be failing or the computer could be improperly shutting down. Either problem could result in the problem the computer is having at startup.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 263 Partitioning A New Thinkpad Jul 28 2003, 05:29 AM
Does your IBM ThinkPad R40 have USB 2.0 or FireWire (IEEE-1394) ports? If so, you could mount the second hard disk drive in a 2.5" laptop drive enclosure which has FireWire (IEEE-1394) and/or USB 2.0 interfaces and access the drive that way.

Alternatively, you could mount the second hard drive in the R40 with an adapter in the UltraBay device bay and use an external DVD/CD-RW drive. That will probably be a bit bulkier than an external 2.5" hard drive, though.

If you just need access to both the second hard disk drive and DVD/CD-RW drive in one location, perhaps you should consider buying something like IBM's ThinkPad II Dock, which has an UltraBay 2000 device bay in it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 412 Memory Help Needed Soon. Jul 28 2003, 05:13 AM
The two empty RIMM slots on your motherboard are the second pair of memory slots and have to be the same, i.e., you could put two 128MB RIMMs in, two 256MB RIMMs in, two 512MB RIMMs in and so forth. They do not have to be the same capacity as the pair of RIMMs in the first pair of memory slots.

Just doing a quick look around, you should be able to find a pair of 256MB PC800 RIMMs for under $200.00USD.

All you should need to do is go to the web site of a company which manufactures and/or sells RIMMs and select your computer brand and model off their "memory search page." They should then be able to provide you with a list of memory modules for your computer.

Most likely, though, you will be searching for regular PC800 Rambus memory modules with chips that operate at 45ns or 40ns and do not use Error Correcting Code (ECC), which is a method of checking for memory errors used by memory for servers or high-end workstations.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 463 Ignoring The Floppy Drive Jul 27 2003, 07:14 AM
Are you running a program to report all of the available drives attached to your system? If so, isn't this the expected/correct behavior?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 335 This Ever Happen To You? Jul 27 2003, 07:09 AM
I've seen this behavior before, although not recently. This was a fairly common activity for Trojan horse programs about the time Microsoft Windows 95 started to be adopted.

Perhaps something not recently introduced to your system, but something very old you have not run in a long time?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 278 Hard Drive Temperature Jul 27 2003, 07:02 AM
Modern hard disk drives can get hot, especially the 7,200RPM and faster varieties.

You may wish to consider re-mounting the hard disk drive so one of your case fans blows across it or if a case fan isn't present in the general location, adding one.

Alternatively, you could re-mount the hard disk drive in a fan bay such as this or this to have a constant flow of air across it.

Adding additional case fans or fan bays to a system will increase its noise level, though.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 820 Memory Help Needed Soon. Jul 27 2003, 06:50 AM
As far as I know, Dell's line of desktop computers use regular PC800 RDRAM memory modules (a/k/a RIMMs). You should, however, check the various Rambus manufacturer's web sites to verify the type of RIMMs needed by your computer's motherboard.

Motherboards using Intel's Pentium 4 processor and Rambus memory modules are designed to access the RIMMs two-at-a-time. This is what's referred to as a dual channel memory architecture. Because of this, memory must be installed in pairs.

The two RIMMs making up each pair must be identical, e.g., they have to have the same capacity, bus speed and timing. You cannot mix and match them. You may not even be able to use identical-seeming memory modules made by different manufacturers as a pair because of minute internal variations in timing.

You can, however, have pairs which are different such as a first pair consisting of, say, two Samsung brand PC800 512MB RIMMs and a second pair consisting of, say, two Kingston brand PC800 256MB RIMMs.

By the way, I forgot to mention (actually, I didn't know) that Viking also manufactures RIMMs.

In the past I have purchased RDRAM from both Central Computer Systems (by walk-in) and Googlegear (over the Internet) without any problems. There are plenty of other places to buy, of course, I'm just familiar with those two.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 463 Xp Reinstall Jul 27 2003, 06:25 AM
Microsoft introduced a new licensing schema called Product Activation which collects uniquely-identifiable information [such as the processor type, motherboard and hard drive(s)] about the computing environment a product is being installed on and submits it to Microsoft as part of the process of enabling the software for use on the computer.

As long as you reinstall the software on the same computer with the same hardware Product Activation will work every time since the information being sent is the same.

Microsoft Windows XP was the first of Microsoft's operating systems to include Product Activation and it is now a feature of several of their other products as well.

For more information about Product Activation I'd suggest reading Microsoft's FAQ on the subject.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 591 Upgrade Paths For Windpws Xp Jul 27 2003, 06:11 AM
A quick look at Microsoft's online shop at http://shop.microsoft.com/ that you can purchase a full version of Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition for $199.00USD or an upgrade version of Windows XP Professional for $199.00USD.

I suspect they will both be less expensive from other online retailers or from local computer and electronics superstores but the price difference will probably be minimal.

You may wish to consider going with Windows XP Professional Edition for no other reason than having an additional two years of support from Microsoft than Windows XP Home Edition.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 228 Question About Dell Networking Card Jul 25 2003, 11:51 PM
Based on the descriptions I've read on eBay, it appears Dell resells a branded version of Proxim's ORiNOCO Gold PC Card. Dell may actually obtain the cards through Agere or Avaya, though, as I believe they both retained rights to market the ORiNOCO line to OEM partners, even after Proxim's acquisition of the line.

In any case, the Dell PC Cards should work just in any PC, although they will be listed as a "Dell" brand PC Card in the Device Manager.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 189 Modem Installation Jul 25 2003, 05:34 AM
Did you check the Add or Remove Programs applet from the Control Panel to see if there was any additional software installed for the old modem?

After verifying there is no software for the old modem on your friend's computer I'd recommend downloading the latest device drivers for the new modem from the manufacturer's web site on to your computer, unpacking/unzipping/expanding them as needed, and placing them on a floppy diskette or CD-R disc. You can then go to your friend's computer, place them someplace easy to remember on its hard drive like "C:\TEMP\MODEM\" and try installing them from that location. You may want to try even canceling the New Hardware Detection wizard when it runs and manually install the device drivers for the new modem through the Add Hardware applet in the Control Panel.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 263 Incinerating Data And *completely*deleting Windows Jul 25 2003, 05:21 AM
If you format a volume on your hard disk and it still has files on it after the format (aside from any system files like COMMAND.COM) then something is wrong with the format process--perhaps some security or information integrity software is preventing the format process from completing properly, some form of malicious program, or perhaps a bug (error--not virus) in the computer's software and/or hardware.

If you are referring to the fact that after a format it might be possible to recover files from the volume using some sort of disk repair or data recovery program then, yes, that is correct. Remember, formatting is designed to prepare a section of a disk (a partition or a volume) for storing files by placing a file system on the volume. The file system contains places to store the files as well as some sort of structure such as a table or database to keep track of what areas of the volume are in use, what they contain, how they related to each other and so forth.

During the process of formatting a volume, the format program verifies the sectors on the hard disk are capable of holding data and creates whatever logical structures are neccessary to keep track of disk utilization, such as a
File Allocation Table for FAT-formatted volumes or the Master File Table on an NTFS-formatted volume. It doesn't mean the volume is being unconditionally wiped.

If what you want to do is erase the D: volume on your hard disk drive and have "blank slate" with which to work, then go ahead and use the FORMAT command. Will there still be some remnants of old files on the hard disk afterwards? Certainly. Will you be able to recover some of them after formatting with specialized data recovery programs? Probably. But should you worry about it? Probably not. Here's why: When you format the volume all the directory table information which tells where all files are located on the disk gets erased. All the space on the volume allocated by files is freed up and you can now write new files to the volume. Eventually any "old" information will be overwritten, since they space it used to occupy is now marked as available (e.g., unallocated by the file system and available for use).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 480 Xp Home Trial? Jul 25 2003, 04:22 AM
I do not believe you can "downgrade" from Microsoft Windows XP Edition to Windows XP Home Edition.

Have you considered installing the evaluation copy of Windows XP Professional Edition to a separate partition? That way when your friend can purchase Windows XP Home Edition, she can reformat it without affecting her data. She will, of course, need to reinstall most of her applications, but it sounds like saving money and not time is the goal in this situation.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 374 Partitions Jul 25 2003, 04:18 AM
Have you tried using the FDISK program from DOS to delete the partition and create a new one?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 154 Incinerating Data And *completely*deleting Windows Jul 24 2003, 07:27 AM
Just to clarify: After formatting your D: volume with Windows (GUI, command line and so forth) or DOS, the files which were previously on it are still present, e.g., the volume has not been erased?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 480 Cd-rom Will Not Work Suddenly Jul 24 2003, 07:20 AM
If you create aWindows Startup/Emergency Boot Diskette and use it to start your computer, can you access the CD-ROM drive?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 816 Modem Installation Jul 24 2003, 07:14 AM
When you removed the old modem was there any accompanying software or device drivers which needed to be removed as well? It could be that one of these is interfering with the proper detection of the new modem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 263 Connection Go Bye Bye Jul 24 2003, 06:47 AM
Are you using the Linksys BEFW11S4 router as a DHCP server to automaticallly assign dynamic IP addresses to your computers? If so, does switching them to static IPs make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 208 Msn Messenger 6 Jul 23 2003, 06:00 AM
Perhaps it is a permissions problem? Have you tried logging in as Administrator and then trying to install the software?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 204 Dns Error... Jul 23 2003, 05:54 AM
If you run a traceroute from the command line do the results come back correctly? Can you ping either web site? Have you installed, updated or changed the settings on any security software recently, such as software-based firewalls?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 199 Cd-rom Will Not Work Suddenly Jul 23 2003, 05:38 AM
Have you installed, updated, or changed the setting on any software which accesses the CD-ROM drives directly such as CD-RW burning software?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 816 Flaw In Latest Xp Security Update? Jul 23 2003, 12:25 AM
Most, if not all, software purchased through retail these days is licensed, not sold. As such, the developer has a greater latitutude to stipulate the terms under which the software is licensed, i.e., anything that can be enforced, will. On the other hand, since it is a transaction at a retail level, there should be a "Warranty of Merchantability," implicit or otherwise, between the buyer and the seller. As a former car dealer, you've probably had lots of experience with those.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 1040 Msn Messenger 6 Jul 23 2003, 12:09 AM
As others have suggested in the message thread, it sounds like a problem with the Windows Installer service.

The first thing I would suggest is to determine which version of Windows Installer is on your computer. You can do this by clicking on Start -> Run from the Taskbar and entering "MSIEXEC.EXE /?" when prompted for the name of the program to run. For example, on my computer running Microsoft Windows XP Professional, it says I have "V 2.00.2600.1106" installed. What version do you have installed on your computer? If your version is substantially older you may want to visit the Windows Update web site and see if a newer version is available.

If your version matches (or is close to) the one I have, I'd suggest checking the list of services running on your computer to make sure the Windows Installer one is running. You can do this by by clicking on Start -> Run from the Taskbar and entering "SERVICES.MSC" when prompted for the name of the program to run. This brings up Services Manager. From there, scroll down through the list of services until you see one named Windows Installer and double-click on it to view its properties. If the Service status is stopped, click on the Start button to start it. You can also try setting the Startup Type to Manual or Automatic, so you don't have to go through this in the future. Click on the OK button when you're done to save the changes you've just made.

Hopefully, that will get your Windows Installer service up and running. If it doesn't, please let us know and we can troubleshoot it further.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 204 Looking For Power Supply Solution Jul 22 2003, 11:27 PM
PC Power & Cooling still sells AT-style power supplies, according to this page on their web site. I use the 300 watt tower case model in an 80486-based system and it works fine.

I recalled seeing an ATX to AT power supply adapter cable on Directron's web site. Sure enough, a little searching found this page. About $7.00USD, not including shipping. You can probably find them elsewhere, of course, but that's just where I recalled seeing one for sale.

One thing to keep in mind is that an ATX power supply might not fit properly in your AT-style case. If you do use an adapter cable you may have to modify the case or use Velcro to properly secure the power supply.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 197 Incinerating Data And *completely*deleting Windows Jul 22 2003, 11:14 PM
Have you tried booting up as you normally do from the C: volume, opening a Command Prompt and issuing a "FORMAT D: /U" command? Alternately, you could try formatting the volume through Windows Explorer or the Disk Management tool (filename: DISKMGMT.MSC).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 480 Power Supply Wattage Needed? Jul 22 2003, 03:02 AM
As Wolf suggests, a 400-watt-or-so power supply will meet your existing needs and give you some growing room.

Given the components you are looking at for the new computer, though, you may have to make some trade-offs on the decibel level side. As you put more devices inside the case their cumulative noise level increases.

Zalman does make a "low-noise" 400-watt power supply and radial heat sink, as well as heat-pipe systems for retro-fitting video cards, but you are going to be paying a premium for such products.

Before you purchase your motherboard and CPU heat sink, contact the respective manufacturers and verify the parts will work together. Intel's own D875BZ ("Canterwood") motherboard won't work with a radial coolers like the aformentioned Zalman because its massive (~70mm) passive-cooling heat sink gets in the way.

Also, keep in mind that the larger the case you choose to go with, the more heat can dissipate if for no other reason than you can space the drives further apart from each other and install additional case fans. It might be better to go with a full-tower case and put in four case fans with lower air volumes like Vantec's Stealth case fans then go with the higher-volume (and, thus, noisier) fans provided by the case manufacturer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 297 Acer Warplink 802.11b Pcmcia Card Problem! Jul 22 2003, 01:30 AM
What a strange problem. I've used WiFi (802.11b) PC Cards in a variety of laptops and never experienced any problems with radio-frequency interference. And some of these laptops are close to ten years old, which clearly predates 802.11b.

You might want to contact the FCC because it sounds laptop may be improperly shielded. If signals from a WiFi PC Card can leak into your notebook, then what's leaking out of it?

Looking through the Maintenance & Service Guide for your laptop it sounds like it might only be a couple of years old? Is it still under warranty? If so, you should continue to speak to HP about this.

If that goes nowhere, the only suggestion I can think of is to try taking apart the laptop and see if you can construct a "cage" out of sheet metal to better enclose the PC Card slots and then find some way to ground it to the chassis. You could also try putting ferrite beads on the speaker wires.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 620 Flaw In Latest Xp Security Update? Jul 22 2003, 01:06 AM
I have installed the Q821557 hot fix on a computer running Microsoft Windows XP Professional and not noticed any performance degradation.

According to the description the patch fixes a problem in the Windows shell, specifically with folder attributes.

Are you using any third-party programs on your computer which affect or modify the Windows shell? If so, perhaps that is the reason for the performance slow-downs you are experiencing. Disabling or uninstalling them might improve things.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 1040 Memory Test On Startup Jul 22 2003, 12:59 AM
I would imagine the level of memory testing performed during POST varies tremendously based on the manufacturer's intended use for their motherboards. One of my computers is built on a server motherboard and it takes about eight minutes just to test RAM during its POST. None of my "desktops" perform such extensive testing.

I recall older PCs would just start "counting" memory when they started up in order to size it, e.g., determine how much was present. If the amount changed, you'd receive a "CMOS MEMORY MISMATCH ERROR" (or somesuch) and be prompted to visit the BIOS to confirm the new settings.

Later, computers would cycle through their memory counts several times as they performed tests. I assume it was to check for single-bit errors by writing 0's to all locations and reading the results back, followed by the same process with 1's, and then perhaps some single-bit operations. Obviously, it might not find something elusive like some kind of cascading failure caused by a timing issue or thermal problems (overheating) but it was better than nothing and stand-alone memory testers were (and are) expensive.

Memory is a solid-state electronic device--there's no mechanical parts to wear out as time passes but they can and do fail, obviously. As the circuits inside a memory chip get smaller and closer together, they require less voltage. So getting too much voltage could damage them.

Here's a list of things I can think of which could damage memory chips:

  • electrostatic discharge (ESD) due to improper handling
  • overvoltage due to improperly regulated power supply, power surge and so forth
  • undervoltage (?)
  • short-circuit
  • mechanical defect (cold-solder joint, improper materials used for construction and so forth)
  • thermal damage (overheating)
  • worn contacts on memory module or retention bracket (possible signal degradation or loss?)

I'm certainly not an electronics engineer, though, so I suspect I may be off on some--it not all--of those. And some problems may be transient; not permanent. Can anyone give us a better idea of what might typically damage a memory chip?

Sometimes memory chips die, though, for no apparent reason: Earlier this year I needed to turn on my ten-year old 80486 computer to get some files off it. Evert tune I tried to bring the system up it crashed. I had turned the memory tests off in the BIOS in order to speed up the boot time. I re-enabled it and near the end of its memory test cycle it reported a parity error in the last bank of memory. I repeated the test, verified the results and then sat down and began running the memory modules through a tester until I found the bad one. Why a system that sits unplugged most of the time would exhibit such a problem is beyond me. While it was rather annoying and delayed me, at least the memory manufacturer was able to replace the failed memory module with a working one. Still, I'm fortunate the computer had memory testing in order to help isolate the problem.

Memory capacity has leaped in the past decade but so has its speed. I don't think it would be too much of a problem to let the computer perform a memory test on startup to detect problems. Of course, as Wolf points out, one way to greatly reduce them is to buy memory from a reputable vendor.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 338 Cant My Hardware Just Get Along? Jul 22 2003, 12:09 AM
I tried searching for information about a KSTAT.SYS file but could not find anything about it. Do you have any idea where the file is located on your hard disk and who the author is? You should be able to find this out by searching the hard drive for the file and then viewing its properties.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 305 What Happend To My Computer? Broken Beyond Repair? Jul 22 2003, 12:05 AM
When you now turn on the computer, does anything happen at all, such as the power light coming up or the power supply's fan spinning up? Or does nothing happen at all?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 380 Msn Messenger 6 Jul 22 2003, 12:03 AM
What is the complete and exact error message you received? Which version of Microsoft Windows XP are you running?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 204 Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 4 Jul 22 2003, 12:02 AM
Had you tweaked any of the system performance or memory-usage settings before applying the service pack? If so, perhaps these were reset to their default values after applying the service pack. If that is the case, re-applying those tweaks should fix things.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 278 Adsl Connection Challenge Jul 21 2003, 11:59 PM
The options for setting link speed and duplex are usually set through the network interface card's device drivers and will probably vary, based on the manufacturer. Unfortunately, I don't have a Linksys LNE100TX NIC to give you exact, step-by-step instructions, but here's how I do it on my Intel-brand NIC under Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition:


  • Right-click on My Network Places and select Properties from the pop-up menu. The Network Connections window will appear.
  • Right-click on the network interface card (mine says Intel PRO-1000CT Network Adapter, yours will probably say something like Linksys LNE100TX Network Adapter) and select Properties from the pop-up menu. The Network Adapter Properties window will appear.
  • Click on the Configure button about a third of the way down the window. The Network Connection Properties window will appear.
  • Click on the Advanced tab to view the properties for your network interface card and scroll through the Property field until you find an option named Link Speed & Duplex (or something similar). The value for this field is probably set to Auto, Auto Detect, Auto Set or something like that. Change that value to 100Mbps/Full-Duplex. Click on OK when finished.
  • You might need to reboot your computer for the changes to take effect


Assuming it is a problem with the link speed and duplex, you can repeat these steps as necessary to try different ones (100Mbps / Half-Duplex and so forth) until you find a setting which works.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Net Connections 317 Bizarre Ie Or Worldnet Clock Behavior Jul 21 2003, 11:35 PM
So the problem still occurred after removing AT&T's dialing software and using the Microsoft's provided dial up networking software.

Interesting.

Perhaps we are dealing with an interaction between dial-up networking and a third-party application.

What other programs are running on your computer when you connect to the Internet?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 736 Internet Programs Can't Connect To The Internet Jul 21 2003, 11:32 PM
Has your friend installed any security software such as a software-based firewall program recently? Perhaps it is misconfigured.

On the networking side, is the ADSL connection being made properly? Does your friend's computer get assigned a valid IP address when he attempt to connect to the Internet?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 788 Ergonomics Jul 21 2003, 11:26 PM
Have you tried raising or lowering the height of your mouse, or moving it further away or closer towards yourself?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 184 Memory Problem Jul 21 2003, 11:24 PM
Does the motherboard which you are using properly recognize 512MB PC133 SDRAM DIMMs? While it does appear to be detected properly at POST perhaps there is some sort of a chipset or BIOS limitation which prevents the motherboard from accessing all of the recognized memory.

You may wish to check with the motherboard manufacturer to see if your motherboard completely supports the particular model of DIMM of you have installed. It might be something as simple as a BIOS update to fix.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 226 Suscription Newsletter Advice Needed Jul 20 2003, 09:58 AM
If you are approaching computer resale and repair stores, you may wish to emphasize the fact that you are providing training; not computers or parts.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 295 Make Google Internet Explorer's Primary Search Eng Jul 20 2003, 09:55 AM
Try downloading and installing the following registry patch directly from Google's own website: http://www.google.com/google.reg

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 295 Laptop Hard Disk Replacement Jul 20 2003, 09:51 AM
Have you considered placing both hard disk drives into a desktop computer and copying them that way? You may need a 2.5" to 3.5" ATA hard drive adapter, which should cost around $10.00USD at your local computer store.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 672 Adsl Connection Challenge Jul 20 2003, 09:48 AM
Does the eight-port switch automatically configure the link speed and duplex for each port? If not, you may either need to adjust the link speed and duplex on the port you're plugging the desktop computer into or try adjusting these settings in the properties for the Linksys LNE100TX network interface card. I'd suggest you try starting with 100Bt and Full-Duplex, and then try 100Bt and Half-Duplex.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 317 Java In Xp Jul 20 2003, 09:41 AM
Apparently, one can still download Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine. It is just no longer linked to directly from their web site. Build 3810 can be downloaded here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 329 Partitioning A New Thinkpad Jul 20 2003, 09:27 AM
I recently purchased an IBM ThinkPad that came with the "C:" drive consisting of most of the disk and a "hidden" recovery partition of a little under a gigabyte at the end of the disk, I believe.

Before removing your recovery partition, you may wish to contact IBM EasyServe (technical support) and request a recovery CD disc for your computer; they should give one to you, especially if you've used the Hitachi Global Storage Technology (née IBM Global Storage) Drive Fitness Test program to erase the hard drive. Or told them you did.

You did not mention which other operating system(s) you intend to install. For Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP Home Edition, I would think that 4GB would be more than enough for the second operating system's partition. For that matter, 4GB is probably enough for the C: partition--especially since you are moving the swap file to its own partition.

You can always wipe the drive, use the operating system installation disc to create the first partition, install the operating system to C:\ and then use the Disk Management snap-in (filename DISKMGMT.MSC) to create the remaining partitions (assuming you are running Windows 2000 or XP).

Here's how to move the swap file (a/k/a paging file, virtual memory file, and so forth) to a different location on your computer, step-by-step:

  • Right-click on the My Computer icon. Select Properties from the pop-up menu. The System Properties window will appear.
  • In the System Properties window, click on the Advanced tab. The Advanced Properties pane will be displayed.
  • In the Performance section, click on the Settings tab to open the Performance Options window.
  • In the Performance Options window, click on the Advanced tab to view the Advanced Performance Properties pane.
  • In the Virtual Memory section, click on the Change tab. The Virtual Memory window will appear.
  • In the Virtual Memory window, click on the C:\ drive, select (check) No paging file and click on the Set button.
  • Now click on the D: drive, select (check) Custom Size, enter 2048 for the Initial size and 2048 for the Maximum size. Click on the Set button when finished.
  • Click on the OK button when done.

You may be prompted to reboot after changing the swap file settings. Do so for the changes you've made to take effect.

You may wish to consider placing your web browser's bookmarks or "favorites" folder on your E: drive underneath the the "My Documents" folder (e.g. "E:\My Documents\Favorites\") and do the same for your email program as well (e.g. "E:\My Documents\My Email\"). That way you'll have everything in one location to simplify backup and restoration of your data.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 412 Cd-rom Will Not Work Suddenly Jul 20 2003, 08:53 AM
Is the CD-ROM disc drive jumpered properly?

Is it detected by the computer's BIOS?

Does it show up in the Device Manager?

Have you tried cleaning it?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 816 Adding Usb -- Help Jul 20 2003, 08:52 AM
In no particular order, here are a few things you can try:


  • Visit the USB expansion card manufacturer's web site and downloaded the device drivers directly onto the computer.
  • Go to a second computer, copy the device drivers from the installation disc to floppy diskette, and install them from there on the first computer (this assumes the first computer has a working floppy diskette drive).
  • Same as above, but using a USB solid state disk (this assumes the computer has other USB ports which do work).
  • Using a cross-over Ethernet cable, network the first computer to a second computer with a working CD-ROM disc drive, and copy the device drivers over the first computer to the second one
  • Temporarily swap the non-working CD-ROM disc drive in the computer with one that works.
  • Obtain a portable CD-ROM disc drive, connect it to the computer, and install the device drivers from there.
  • Remove the hard disk drive from the computer in question, install it into a second computer with a working CD-ROM drive, taking care to make sure it is jumpered correctly, copy the device drivers over to hard drive and reinstall in the first computer.
  • Replace the non-working CD-ROM disc drive in the computer with one that works.


Hopefully one of those will get you up and running with your new USB expansion card.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 700 Monitor Shuts Down Jul 20 2003, 08:43 AM
Out of curiosity, does the problem still occur if you bypass the Belkin KVM switch and plug the Gateway 2000 EV900 monitor directly into the computer?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 334 Memory Help Needed Soon. Jul 20 2003, 08:39 AM
Kingston manufactures and sells Rambus (RDRAM) memory, as does Viking.
Corsair also sells RDRAM, which they OEM from Samsung. In the past, I have purchased Samsung-brand RDRAM from Googlegear.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 463 Windows 2000 And Multiple Ip Addresses Jul 19 2003, 01:04 AM
Have you considered using the NetShell command (pathspec: %windir%\SYSTEM32\NETSH.EXE) to save the network configurations and then load them as needed?

For further information, see How to Use the Netsh.exe Tool and Command-Line Switches from Microsoft's support web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 225 Stopping Mail Extractors Jul 19 2003, 12:19 AM
Have you considered restricting users' privileges so they cannot install new software on the computers?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 359 Mail Server Not Receiving Email Jul 19 2003, 12:17 AM
Have you checked with your ISP to see if they have begun blocking incoming connections to TCP ports 25 (SMTP) and 110 (POP3) on customer's computers?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 287 Monitor Stripey? Jul 19 2003, 12:05 AM
Perhaps it is radio frequency interference of some sort? Try moving the monitor's power and signal cables around and see if that makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 280 Online Gaming Jul 17 2003, 04:18 AM
Oh, I've certainly heard of the game. It has sold quite well and one all sorts of awards, I believe. But I've never supported or played with it before. So, from that point of view I'm not particularly familiar with it (i.e., I can only offer general troubleshooting recommendations).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 433 Cd-rw/dvd-rom Drive Combo Jul 17 2003, 04:09 AM
Looking at this page on SONY's support web site, it looks like no updated firmware is available for your hard disk drive.

You can use this form on SONY's support web site to contact them directly for assistance.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 190 Harddrives Jul 17 2003, 04:02 AM
Hard disk drives have truely become a commodity item, and unless you're looking for a specific feature set or to solve a specific need there probably isn't one brand that stands out from the others.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 263 Windows 2000 Server Install Error Jul 17 2003, 04:00 AM
This seems to be a rather general error message that the install failed and can occur for several different reasons. A few things to try, in no particular order, to troubleshoot the problem:


  • Clean the Microsoft Windows 2000 installation disc.
  • Clean the CD-ROM disk drive.
  • Run the hard disk drive manufacturer's utility to "low-level format" or "recertify" the hard disk drive for errors (this will erase the contents of the hard disk drive).
  • If a BIOS update is available for the video card's on-board BIOS, try installing that.
  • Go into the BIOS and load the "default" or "failsafe" settings for the motherboard.
  • Verify the hard disk drive and CD-ROM drive are jumpered correctly.
  • Replace the ATA cables to the hard disk drive and CD-ROM disk drives.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 448 Cd-wr Rom (need Some Advice) Jul 16 2003, 09:32 AM
I have been very happy with Plextor SA/NV brand CD-RW drives. You can read about some of their models here. For creating CD-R's I have been using Ahead Software AG's Nero Burning ROM software. If you're happy with Roxio's Easy CD software, you might just want to consider upgrading it to the latest version.

Usually CD-RW drives come with a basic CD creation software package. If it meets your needs you could just use that instead of purchasing a new one.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 371 "scary" Program Found On My Pc Jul 16 2003, 09:24 AM
Transferring a virus-infected program file does not automatically cause the virus to infect the host computer. It is the act of executing the infected program file which causes the viral code embedded in it to run. At least, that's the traditional way things work, before macro viruses became all the rage.

Things sort of blurred for a while since older versions of Microsoft's email software contained security holes which automatically executed macro commands (small programs embedded in documents) when documents were just viewed--not actually double-clicked on and opened, but just viewed. For a while, this generated lots and lots of so-called "Word macro" viruses which exploited these security holes until the problem was corrected with patches and new versions of the email software.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 899 Suscription Newsletter Advice Needed Jul 16 2003, 09:12 AM
I'd suggest you start advertising your web site and newsletter in places the target audience is likely to visit, as well as places like local computer stores.

You might want to try asking some of your existing clients what sort of ads catch their eye, where they see them and so forth.

Fourth-grade is about eight years old, correct? One of the issues you'll need to address is compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act ("COPPA"), assuming you are in the United States. It basically requires more stringent privacy for users under thirteen years of age on your web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Net Connections 295 "scary" Program Found On My Pc Jul 16 2003, 02:57 AM
According to this web page, Trend Micro's TrendLabs provides 7x24 support from Paris, Munich, Manila, Taipei, Tokyo, and Irvine, CA (I think they used to be in Huntington Beach or Seal Beach, though). The Phillippines office is the primary one and the others probably act as regional support centers for their respective regions.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 899 Need Advice, Usb Cable Extensions Jul 16 2003, 02:43 AM
Here are a few companies which make USB cable extensions:

GoldX (Jo-Dan Int'l) - USB Active Extension Cable
GWC Technologies - Active Repeater Cable
Icron - USB Ranger and USB Rover
Optisys - Optical USB Extension Cables

I have never used any of these products, so I do not have a recommendation for any particular one.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 270 Changing Face Plate On A Visor Deluxe Jul 16 2003, 02:26 AM
I have never bought one, but PDAParts.Com sells replacement cases for HandSpring Visors.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Mobile Lifestyles 164 Force An Oddball Video Resolution? Jul 15 2003, 06:12 AM
Perhaps your are thinking of Entech's PowerStrip program?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 228 "scary" Program Found On My Pc Jul 15 2003, 06:08 AM
Keeping a record of activities performed on your computer is a great idea.

Perhaps these three mysterious files are from the first corrupt installation of Spybot Search and Destroy?

Looking through Trend Micro's web site, I found a web-based submission form for suspicious files towards the bottom of this page. You will be prompted to provide your contact information, a description of the problem, and upload the file(s) to them for further analysis. I tried it and it appeared to be a very simple process. After the upload finished, a new window popped up with contact information and a case number.

After you've done that, you may wish to copy the program to floppy disk or CD-R and then delete it from your hard disk drive.



Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 899 Spontaneous Reboots A Hardware Issue? Jul 15 2003, 05:42 AM
Given the lack of detailed error information provided it is hard to say for certain, but it sounds like it could possibly be some sort of short circuit or perhaps a loose connection. My first suggestion would be to try removing all the expansion cards, motherboard and internal cabling, and then reinstalling them.

You may also wish to try resetting the BIOS settings to the manufacturer's default or "failsafe" settings.

Oh, you may wish to remove and reseat the processor's heat sink/fan. Perhaps it has become loose or is no longer making good contact with the processor.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 268 Win98se Mystery Jul 15 2003, 05:34 AM
It could be there is a problem with some corruption to the file system, perhaps even in the part of the disk which contains the registry.

Try booting to the Command Prompt and running "SCANDISK /ALL /AUTOFIX" to check for any problems with the file system, followed by running "SCANREG /FIX" to repair the registry. Afterwards, reboot the computer and see what happens.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 319 Strange Noise Jul 15 2003, 05:08 AM
What brand and model of mouse do you have, and how is it connected to your computer?

This is nothing more than a guess, and a weak one at that, but it sounds like the mouse is generating some sort of radio frequency interference which is picked by the sound card.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 1380 Win Xp Paging File Problem Jul 14 2003, 09:46 AM
Are you logging in with with a username of Administrator, as opposed to just an account with Administrator rights?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 398 Modem Woes Jul 14 2003, 09:44 AM
Without knowing more about the computer, it's hard to say anything for certain, but if you temporarily replace the BFG Ti4200 128 video card with your old one does the connection speed change?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 213 Motherboard/floppy Controller Clash On M571h Jul 14 2003, 09:43 AM
Have you tried updating or re-flashing the BIOS?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 287 Adding Firewire To My Pc? Jul 14 2003, 09:42 AM
You should be able to install a regular FireWire (IEEE-1394) adapter card in one of your Dell 4100's open PCI slots without problem.

Microsoft Windows XP natively supports FireWire (IEEE-1394) cards so you should not need to install any third-party device drivers in order to get your card recognized and working by the operating system.

I have not had any problems using FireWire (IEEE-1394) adapter cards with Agere (née Lucent) or Texas Instruments chipsets.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 1315 Bizarre Ie Or Worldnet Clock Behavior Jul 14 2003, 09:30 AM
Have you tried uninstalling the AT&T Worldnet dialing software and manually creating a dial-up networking connection using Microsoft Windows built-in dial-up networking? Here's how to create one, step-by-step:


  • Right-click on the My Network Places icon on your desktop and select Properties from the popup menu. The Network Connections window will appear.
  • Double-click on the New Connection Wizard to start it.
  • When prompted for the type of network connection, select Connect to the Internet and click on the Next button.
  • When prompted for how to connect to the Internet, select Setup my connection manually and click on the Next button.
  • When prompted for what type of connection, select Connect using a dial-up modem and click on the Next button.
  • When prompted for a name for the connection, enter something descriptive like "AT&T Worldnet - NY, New York." I find using the ISP's name as well as the state and city a convenient way of keeping track of different dial-up networking connections.
  • Next, you'll be prompted to enter the phone number for your modem to dial. Here are some of the ones for New York:

      Bronx NY 917-583-9010
      Brooklyn NY 718-687-0411
      Brooklyn NY 718-687-4310
      New York City NY 212-413-7997
      New York City NY 212-796-1906
      New York City NY 212-796-3899
      New York City NY 212-796-8050
      New York City NY 212-796-8060
      New York City NY 212-796-8900
      Queens NY 718-807-2910
      Staten Island NY 718-285-9010

    I got these off of AT&T Worldnet's web site here. Of course, if you are not in the Bronx (as your name would otherwise suggest) you may need to visit that web site. Click on the Next button when you have finished.
  • Now you will need to enter your User name and Password for your AT&T Worldnet dial-up networking connection. This is not the same as your email address and will probably take the form of something like 123456789@worldnet.att.net for your User name and some sort of random phrase for your Password. If you do not know these, contact AT&T Worldnet technical support to obtain them.
  • There may be some options for whom this network connection should apply, whether or not it should be the default connection, and to use Microsoft Windows XP's built-in firewall with the connection. You can leave these checked (enabled ) or not as you prefer. Click on the Next button when you have finished.
  • Click on the Finish button to conclude.


You now have manually created an AT&T Worldnet dial-up networking connection on your computer.

Now, the AT&T Worldnet DUN connection you've just created should work fine, but there's one additional little step to take just in case there's a problem, and that's to set up the DNS servers for the connection. Here's how to do that:


  • In the Network Connections window, right-click on your AT&T Worldnet - NY, New York icon (or whatever you called it) and select Properties from the popup menu. Its Properties window will appear.
  • In the Properties window, click on the Networking tab. About half-way down the window you should see a list of items used by the connection, including one named Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Double-click on it to view its properties.
  • Towards the bottom half of the window, enable (check) the Use the following DNS server addresses and enter the following for them:

      Preferred: 204.127.129.1
      Alternate: 204.127.160.1

    Click on OK when done.
  • Click on OK again to exit the Properties window.


Now the AT&T Worldnet Dial Up Networking connection should be completely set up. Try using it to access the Internet and see if that makes any difference with your horologically-challenged connection.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Tech News Watch 736 Remote Desktop Jul 14 2003, 08:50 AM
VNC was originally conceived as a research project into remote computing by Olivetti's Research Labs (which were eventually acquired by AT&T's Research Labs). As a research lab project the program was not designed with special security features in mind, such as encryption. It really was just intended to be used in the "private sandbox" of a corporate LAN (or perhaps WAN) environment.

With that in mind, there are many variants and add-ons which do provide security, such as the SecureVNC and SSHVnc implementations and with SSH programs such as OpenSSH PuTTY, amongst many, many others.

If you're going to be using VNC on a computer which has access to the Internet--especially if your intent is to use it to access another computer over the Internet--it would probably be a good idea to use a secure version or tunnel the connection using SSH.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 288 Compaq Presario 1247 Jul 14 2003, 08:12 AM
Have you tried removing the main and CMOS batteries for a few minutes, than reinserting them?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 379 Modems Jul 14 2003, 08:08 AM
My personal preference for desktop modems are external ones which connect to the computer via its serial port and have an external power supply. While more expensive than internal modems, they contain their own dedicated electronics, tend to perform better than internal modems, and are usually much easier to configure since they don't require specialized software or drivers.

USRobotics' Courier line of modems are very reliable, widely-supported and come with toll-free support.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 352 Brand New Winxp System Configuration Jul 14 2003, 08:04 AM
I recently purchased a new laptop (P3-1GHz, 768MB RAM, 30GB HDD) and partitioned it as follows:

C:\ 4GB operating system ("C:\WINDOWS\")
D:\ 8GB applications, drivers ("D:\Program Files\" and "D:\Drivers\")
E:\ 8GB data ("E:\My Documents")
F:\ 8GB downloaded drivers, updates and patches
G:\ 2GB games

I have found this works rather well for my needs. The primary use of the laptop is for typical office productivity applications and web browsing, as well as some network management utilities.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Windows Fanatics 272 Monitor Extension Causing Blurriness? Jul 14 2003, 07:53 AM
Have you checked your computer's Display settings to make sure the monitor's resolution and frequency are set properly? Running an LCD display at a frequency higher than the manufacturer's recommended refresh rate may result in a fuzzy display.

Does your 15" LCD display have a detachable SVGA cable? There may be some signal loss at the interface of the original and extension cables. If so, replacing that with one long cable might work better than using the existing cable along with an extension.

It's possible the fuzziness is caused by RF interference from any other cables it might be bundled with or run along for some distance. Have you tried reorienting the SVGA cable to see if that makes any difference?

Another way to reduce RF interference is to add ferrite beads to the cables near their ends if none are present.

Also, check to see if your LCD display has a "self-tuning" or "auto-configuring" function to optimally set itself up with your display adapter. Running that might just clear things up.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 261 "scary" Program Found On My Pc Jul 14 2003, 07:04 AM
Did the dates on the files in question match up with any recently downloaded files?

If you right-click on the files and view their Properties from the popup menu, is any additional information displayed about the program or author (this does not run the program on your computer, merely show you data about it).

Since you are using TrendMicro's security software, you may wish to forward the files to them for analysis as a suspect malicious program.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 899 Cursor Gets Stuck Jul 14 2003, 06:52 AM
Unfortunately, it is hard to troubleshoot this type of problem without knowing more about the environment it is occurring in.

Which version of Microsoft Windows are you running?

Which brand and model of mouse are you using?

How is the mouse connected to your computer?

Have you tried installing the latest device drivers for your mouse?

Knowing those will be helpful in solving the problem.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 278 Win Xp Paging File Problem Jul 14 2003, 06:45 AM
Are you logged in using the default Administrator account when attempting to change the size of the swap file?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 398 Pc Hangs Everytime! Jul 14 2003, 06:42 AM
Based on your report, it does sound like your computer is overheating. You may wish to consider replacing your existing case fans with higher volume ones or adding additional ones to your computer.

Another possibility may be the power supply is inadequate to power the computer (it too becomes less efficient when it heats up). Installing a higher-wattage power supply might solve the problem, too.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 915 Formatted Hard Drive Jul 14 2003, 06:38 AM
Is the hard disk drive detected by the computer in its BIOS settings? If not, you may wish to remove it and verify it is jumpered and cabled correctly.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 571 Removing Old Thermal Tape Off Of Heatsink Jul 14 2003, 06:36 AM
Have you tried using isopropyl alcohol (a/k/a rubbing alcohol)? You should be able to buy a bottle at any drug store or grocery. I'd suggest avoiding any alcohol which contains acetones, which can damage plastic.

If the isopropyl alcohol doesn't do the job, another possibility is to use a compound containing xylene, such as carburetor cleaner, which you can find at your local auto parts store. It is often used to clean heak sinks.

Xylene is very nasty stuff, so take precautions not to get any on your skin or clothes, and you'll probably want to give anything you've cleaned with it an isopropyl alcohol post-cleaning.

As with any solvents, use them a well-ventilated area, and give your CPU adequate time to dry before putting the new heat sink compound down.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 2031 Motherboard Make And Model Jul 14 2003, 06:15 AM
Have you tried removing the motherboard from the case so you can get a more detailed look at it? The silk-screening with the manufacturer's information might be obscured by the case, expansion cards, and so forth.

If the motherboard has a FCC ID on it, you can use their search engine to look up the manufacturer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 318 Cd Rom Ghost Images Jul 14 2003, 06:06 AM
You did not mention which version of Microsoft Windows you are running, so we cannot give any information specific to your operating system, but here are a few things to check:


  • verify the CD-ROM drive is detected properly in the BIOS
  • verify the CD-ROM drive is detected properly in the Device Manager
  • verify all ATA devices are jumpered correctly
  • as ahicktiger suggested, reseat the ATA cables
  • try replacing the ATA cables (if you are using 40-pin ATA/33 cables, you may wish to replace them with 80-pin ATA/66+ cables
  • clean the CD-ROM drive with a cleaning disc
  • update the motherboard BIOS to the latest version
  • update the motherboard chipset drivers to the latest version
  • install the latest applicable hot fixes and/or service packs for your version of Windows


Here are also a few articles from Microsoft's knowledge base on various CD-ROM issues:

Windows 95, 98 and ME
Windows Explorer Does Not Refresh Disk Drives Automatically
How to Troubleshoot CD-ROM or DVD-ROM Read Issues

Windows 2000
Troubleshooting CD-ROM Problems in Windows 2000 and Windows NT

Windows XP
How to Troubleshoot Issues with Reading CD, CD-R, CD-RW, and DVD Discs
You Cannot View the Files on a Disc After You Replace a CD-R or CD-RW Drive with a DVD or CD-ROM Drive
The AutoPlay Function Does Not Work and the Current Media Does Not Appear in My Computer When You Insert a CD or DVD

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 241 Acer Warplink 802.11b Pcmcia Card Problem! Jul 11 2003, 07:15 AM
As far as I am aware, there are only two sounds played by Microsoft Windows 98 PC Card manager: One when cards are inserted, and another when cards are ejected.

If you're hearing sounds for actions other than these, then I would suspect they are either a function of the device drivers or perhaps a third-party network monitoring application.

Have you checked with Acer's technical support department to see if their drivers play any sounds at all? Also, have you tried disabling any third-party network monitoring applications?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 620 Mouse Clicks Recorder/repeater Jul 11 2003, 05:54 AM
Although I don't use that particular function, I believe it is included in Iolo's MacroMagic software.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 254 Bizarre Ie Or Worldnet Clock Behavior Jul 11 2003, 05:49 AM
Are you using AT&T Worldnet's dialing software, or Microsoft's dial-up networking software which is included with your operating system?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 736 Backup Solutions Jul 11 2003, 05:45 AM
Have you considered creating a script which XCOPY's the files from the computers in question to the system with Iomega Zip! 750 drive? The script could then be scheduled or run manually.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 244 Office 2000 Service Pack Reccomendation Jul 11 2003, 05:29 AM
I am a casual user of Microsoft Office at best, but I have not noticed any problems after installing SP-3.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 203 Need A List Of All Valid Domain Names Jul 11 2003, 05:26 AM
This is really outside of my area of expertise, but wouldn't it be simpler to do a name server lookup on the domain name in the email address, look up its MX record(s), and attempt to verify the address through the mail server?


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 350 Converting Ntfs To Fat32 Jul 11 2003, 05:18 AM
I am assuming you wish to run Gibson Research Corp.'s Spinrite program to check a hard disk drive for problems.

Just out of curiosity, have you considered using an NTFS-aware program, perhaps a disk test program from the hard disk drive manufacturer?

If a hard disk drive has problems performing a file system conversion may not be first step to diagnose them.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 333 Is Ie 6.0 Okay These Days? Jul 11 2003, 05:10 AM
I have not experienced any significant problems with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0SP1. Then again, neither did I with Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 5.5.

If you like, you can download or order it on CD directly from Microsoft's web site here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 435 Mouse Freezing Temporarily Jul 11 2003, 05:07 AM
Are you using a keyboard with a USB or a PS/2 interface? If the former, does switching the keyboard to the PS/2 port make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 359 Cd Rom Drive Jul 11 2003, 05:01 AM
Have you verified the CD-ROM drive is jumpered correctly, the cabling is okay, and have the correct chipset (IDE) drivers installed for the motherboard?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 270 Online Gaming Jul 11 2003, 04:58 AM
I'm not familiar with the game you mentioned so it would probably be a good idea to check with the author directly for support.

With that caveat in mind, let's see if we can troubleshoot this problem.

Did the game work before you installed the upgrade?

Have you installed any operating system patches or upgrades recommended by the game author, if any, such as hot fixes, service packs, DirectX updates, and so forth?

Have you installed the latest device drivers for your sound, video and network cards?

Have you tried closing or disabling any programs which may be running on your computer before starting the game, including programs which run in the background such as utility (system monitoring) or security software (anti-virus, software-based firewalls, ad-blocking software)?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 433 Unformat Anyone? Jul 9 2003, 08:35 AM
I've had good experiences recovering data from crashed hard disk drives with Runtime Software's GetDataBack line of products. It is not free, but there is a trial version you can download which will read (but not restore) data, and a license key can be purchased over the Internet.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 598 Slow Dial-up Dialing Jul 9 2003, 08:28 AM
WinModem is the name of USRobotics' line of software-based modems, but snce USRobotics popularized them the term is now used to describe the technology, even if the modem is from another manufacturer such as Broadxent or Conexant. Other names for this type of modem technology include HSP (short for Host Signal Processing) and "controllerless" (because the modem relies on the "host" computer to function as a controller).

The subject of HSP modems has come up before on the forum, we've discussed them here and here, for example.

The general rule of thumb, though, is that these types of modems do not perform very well on slower computers because require the computer's CPU to devote so much of its time handling the modem's functions that there is not enough processing time left for it to handle the computer's other functions. The end result is a computer which responds slowly to requests and connects slower than it should to your ISP (or whatever you are dialing into). Since the manufacturer doesn't have to include the DSP chip set on the modem they can save money and charge less for a modem.

HSP modems plug into your computer in either a regular PCI slot, or in a smaller proprietary slot called an AMR or CNR slot. However, there are some PCI card modems which have DSP chips on them, and any external modem which connects to your computer through the serial port has its own DSP chips as well.

If your unsure of whether or not you have an HSP modem, look in the Device Manager on your computer to find your modem's name, and visit your computer or modem manufacturer's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 249 Ibm Monitor Jul 9 2003, 12:34 AM
If the monitor works on one computer but immediately turns off on a second one when plugged in, I would suspect the video card in the second computer has a problem of some sort.

You might want to try reseating (removing and replacing) the video card in case it is no longer making good contact with the motherboard.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 240 Acer Warplink 802.11b Pcmcia Card Problem! Jul 9 2003, 12:29 AM
Unfortunately my notebook running Microsoft Windows 98 is currently unavailable, but isn't it possible to disable the sounds in question from the Sounds applet in the Control Panel?

From what I recall, though, the sounds are only played when a PC Card is inserted or ejected from the computer. Are you hearing sounds all of the time from the computer(s) in question?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 620 Bizarre Ie Or Worldnet Clock Behavior Jul 9 2003, 12:18 AM
Try disabling the Windows Time Service and see if that makes any difference. If it doesn't, you can always re-enable it. Here's how to disable it, step-by-step:


  • Click on Start -> Run from the Taskbar. When prompted for the name of the program to run enter "SERVICES.MSC" and click on OK.
  • The Services window will appear.
  • Scroll down through the list of services in the right pane of the window until you see the Windows Time service. Double-click on it to open it. The Windows Time Properties window will appear.
  • About half-way down the Windows Time Properties window will be a setting for Startup Type. Change this to Disabled. This will prevent the Windows Time service from starting the next time the computer is turned on.
  • Towards the bottom of the the Windows Time Properties window will be the Service Status field. Click on the Stop button beneath it to disable the Windows Time service for this session.
  • Click on OK when finished and close the Services window.

The Windows Time service has now been disabled.

Now connect to the Internet using AT&T Worldnet as you normally do.

Does the problem still occur?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Tech News Watch 736 Hard Drive Cooling To Prevent Failure Jul 9 2003, 12:05 AM
With the case's drive bay fans blowing (or sucking) air over the hard disk drives I do not think you would have any problems at all with them overheating, RandomBox. After all, that's what they fans are there for.

Buster2058, so one would think, but sometimes components like U160 10K RPM SCSI hard disk drives are intended to be part of an integrated solution for which power, cooling and other environmental considerations are clearly thought out and dealt with by the assembler. On the plus side, the hard disk drive vendor replaced the drive with a same-capacity U320 model.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 271 Email Problem Jul 8 2003, 11:58 PM
It sounds like your Microsoft Outlook Express settings might not be correct for your POP3 (retrieves mail) or SMTP (sends mail) servers, or perhaps for your password. What I would suggest you do is contact your Internet service provider technical support department and go over the settings for these with them. Hopefully, that will solve the problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 337 Is The Networking Port Hot? Jul 8 2003, 09:58 AM
You might want to take a look at Fluke's line of handheld network testers and see if there is one which meets your needs.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 230 Free Installer Program Jul 8 2003, 09:47 AM
Have you looked at JR Software's InnoSetup? It is free, although you can make a donation to the author if you like it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 212 Getting Past The Password Prompt Jul 8 2003, 09:45 AM
I don't think all motherboards have a CLR CMOS jumper.

Motherboard manufacturers like to cut costs and save money just like anyone else--if they can save a fraction of cent by not including a jumper, well, they just might do that. Especiallly if it is a product intended for the "value" market.

Removing the CMOS battery might be a simpler way to go, especially if the user is unsure of whether or not they have a CLR CMOS jumper on their board or a spare jumper to use on it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Hardware Help 2086 Screen Resolution Problem In Xp Home Jul 8 2003, 09:39 AM
You may also wish to make sure you have the right device driver installed for your monitor (they can usually be downloaded from the monitor manufacturer's web site).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 250 Moving Mouse Zeros Cpu Load Jul 8 2003, 09:36 AM
After resetting the system to its default clock values, have you tried cleaning out any dust bunnies from the system with a can of compressed air and replacing the the CPU and case fans with new ones?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 349 Hard Drive Cooling To Prevent Failure Jul 8 2003, 09:33 AM
With any modern computer these days I consider it essential to have some form of cooling for the hard disk drive--not just because hard disk drives run hotter these days but because most everything else does, too, resulting in higher temperatures inside the case overall. I personally have seen a 10K RPM, U160 SCSI hard disk drive fail in under a minute when the fan on its bay wasn't rotating properly; complete with a scorch mark on the drive's logic board.

I've used many PC Power & Cooling's Bay-Cools's and have found they work very well, however, they have a price commensurate with their warranty, they don't have a pass-through connector for the power supply (requiring you to buy a molex "Y" splitter) and the fans are not user-replaceable on the one-drive unit. As long as you're inspecting the computer (and drive bay fans) regularly, you might want to go with a more inexpensively-priced unit from someone like Kingwin or Vantec. Just make sure to inspect and clean the unit regularly. For removable drive trays, I make sure the tray frame and rack are made out of aluminum (which conducts heat away from the drive better than a plastic frame) and have at least one fan.

You don't neccessarily need a drive bay cooling solution. As RandomBox mentioned, mounting your hard disk drives in locations where a case fan blows across them works perfectly fine, too.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that whenever you add more fans to your computer, you increase its noise level.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 271 Pc Will Not Boot Jul 8 2003, 08:52 AM
For troubleshooting purposes, how about unplugging all the IDE devices, jumpering the hard disk drive as master and plugging it into the end of the IDE cable? Is the drive now properly detected?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 578 Ftp Server On My Network Jul 8 2003, 08:41 AM
Have you tried using a different ftp server, such as Rhinosoft's FTPServU or JGAA's War FTP Daemon?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 192 What Xp Backup Software Do You Use? Jul 8 2003, 08:38 AM
I have been using Stomp's BackUp My PC (BUMP) to back up my data volume to tape and DVD-RAM. I also use KarenWare's Replicator to back up my data volume and a volume containing drivers, updates and patches to an external 2.5" hard disk drive. The latter can be used for distributing things like service packs to clients without broadband connections, and so forth.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 1672 *** Unknown Hard Error. Code:0000415 *** Jul 8 2003, 08:28 AM
Perhaps the video card is bad? Have you tried replacing it with a different ECS AG315T 64MB video card? If so, what were the results?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 1995 Looking For Motherboard Jul 8 2003, 08:26 AM
Have you considered an Intel brand motherboard. Both the D815EFV and D815EEA2 series come with AGP slots and support both ATA100 devices and PC-100 memory.

You should be able to find one using BizRate, PriceGrabber, PriceWatch or other price-comparison service.

If you'd like to go with a VIA chipset-based motherboard, I noticed Software and Stuff has an Asus CUV4X-LS available. It has AGP, ATA100 and PC100 support and on-board SCSI and NIC.

As always, check any vendor's support and return policies before purchasing, and check their reputation with a service like ResellerRatings before making a purchase if you have not done business with them before.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 211 Slow Xp Start Up Jul 8 2003, 08:04 AM
Out of curiosity, have you installed Microsoft's Q811493 hot fix?

Unfortunately, this patch had a bug in it which caused computers to slow down after it was installed. This has been discussed extensively in the forums.

If it is present on your computer then uninstalling it, rebooting and downloading a fresh copy from Microsoft's Windows Update site might solve the problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 294 Win Xp Home Jul 8 2003, 08:00 AM
VNC was originally developed by Olivetti Research Labs, which was merged into AT&T Research Labs (Cambridge), who subsequently dropped the project. However, because it was distributed under the GNU Public License, the program has evolved into many forms. RealVNC is the version maintained by the original researchers, TightVNC is a version optimized for low-bandwidth connections and UltraVNC is a version which combines features and functionality from several different versions.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 217 Need Scanner Advice Jul 8 2003, 07:52 AM
In particular, I was refering to Epson's 1640SU scanner. They also have a model with a 4x5" transparency adapter and another model with a 30-page document feeder.

Image scanning quality seemed fine to me, however, I'm not a photographer or graphic artist and primarily used the scanner for inputting text.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 344 Bizarre Ie Or Worldnet Clock Behavior Jul 8 2003, 07:45 AM
It sounds like your clock is getting reset possibly due to something in the AT&T Worldnet dialing software or as part of the network logon process.

Have you checked with AT&T Worldnet's tech support? If so, what did they have to say?

Have you tried temporarily disabling the Windows Time service to see if this stops the temporal anomaly?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 736 Ibm Monitor Jul 8 2003, 07:41 AM
Just to verify, you do not see any messages at all when the computer starts up, such as messages from the BIOS or a splash-screen from the computer's manufacturer?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 240 2nd Drive A Mystery! Jul 8 2003, 07:38 AM
To view the partitioning of the hard disk drives, open a Command Prompt (or boot into DOS Mode) and type:


FDISK /STATUS


at the command-line. What is reported back to you after you do this?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 933 Sssllllllloooooowww Pc Jul 8 2003, 07:33 AM
Out of curiosity, did you install Microsoft's Q811493 hot fix on your computer? If so, does uninstalling it, rebooting, and visiting Microsoft's Windows Update site to download a new instance of it make any difference in your computer's performance?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 414 How Can I Use My Game Pad And Steering Wheel, Etc? Jul 8 2003, 07:31 AM
If the computer has a slot for ISA expansion cards, you can plug something like CH Products' GameCard 3 into it which will give you two joystick ports. Thrustmaster also manufactured a similar card called the "ACM Game Card," but it is no longer mentioned on their web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 201 Restricting Pc Access To Only Ie & 1 Site Jul 8 2003, 07:18 AM
You may wish to investigate disabling Ctrl-W as well, which closes the currently open window in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 725 Digitial Video Input For New Pc Jul 8 2003, 07:13 AM
It sounds like you need a DVI-to-VGA adapter such as this or this one from Tripp Lite, or this and this one from Belkin. Belkin also makes a cable with the adapter integrated into it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 251 Ram Recognition Jul 8 2003, 07:06 AM
As chuckel head mentioned, it sounds like the motherboard is not recognizing the memory chips on both sides of the DIMM module.

Try using 16-device (e.g., eight chips on a side) 256MB memory modules and see if that makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 870 Right Click Desktop Problem Jul 5 2003, 09:14 AM
Just out of curiosity, have you tried updating the device drivers for your video card and your mouse? If so, did that make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 402 Need Scanner Advice Jul 5 2003, 09:11 AM
I have had very good luck scanning text with Epson's line of scanners and Scansoft's Pagis Pro OCR software.

If your wife is using a particular program for scanning, she might want to contact the author directly to see if there is a particular model they recommend.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 344 Pc Will Not Boot Jul 5 2003, 09:06 AM
Just to check, has the CPU been tested in another known-good computer?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 578 Power Supply Jul 5 2003, 09:02 AM
For mission-critical systems I would suggest one of PC Power & Cooling's power supplies. They are more expensive than other brands, but back up their power supplies with warranties up to five years in length. I know of no other power supply manufacturer which offers a warranty of that length.

There are other good brands of power supply, too. Antec's line of power supplies have performed favorably, as have those from EnerMax, PowMax and Sparkle (SPI). You may also want to review this and this article from Tom's Hardware web site.

Of course, it would probably be best to check with your motherboard manufacturer and see what they recommend.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 258 2nd Drive A Mystery! Jul 5 2003, 08:45 AM
Which version of Microsoft Windows were you working with?

How many hard disk drives show up in the Device Manager?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 933 Modem Driver Update For Xp Jul 5 2003, 08:43 AM
As Orare suggested, have you tried visiting the modem manufacturer's web site directly for an update? Chances are it is even newer than the one offered through Microsoft's Windows Update web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 359 Internet Monitoring Software Jul 5 2003, 08:41 AM
I have used NetNanny's eponymous NetNanny package to restrict access to the Internet. For this type of product it seems to work.

For the other side of the argument about filtering software, you might want to visit PeaceFire's or the EFF's respective web sites.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 309 Getting Past The Password Prompt Jul 5 2003, 08:32 AM
My earlier statement about waiting 30-45 minutes was just a suggestion. Earlier this year I was swapping out components on an Intel D850EMV2L motherboard, and with the CMOS battery and ATX power connector removed, the motherboard still retained its CMOS settings after 15 minutes. I then left the motherboard alone for approximately three hours and by then the CMOS was definitely discharged.

I suspect the discharge rate varies trememdously not just between motherboard models but individual motherboards as well. I've had motherboards where the CMOS settings were cleared this way in a under a minute.

Based on what I had experienced I suggested waiting 30-45 minutes after removing power before proceeding on the assumption that CMOS would certainly be drained after that time period.

I'm certainly not an electrical engineer or semiconductor physicist, though, so I don't know for certain. If there's anyone out there who is, perhaps they can contribute to the message thread.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 2086 "proper" Way To Delete Old Isp W/o Losing E-mail Jul 5 2003, 08:19 AM
My suggestion was to backup Microsoft Outlook Express' message store and address book to a CD-R disc and then uninstall Earthlink's software before trying the TrueSwitch service again.

Uninstalling Earthlink's software should, I believe, just remove any changes they have made to your system such as customized network settings or web browser settings, as well as any software applications they may have installed (custom dialer, anti-spam tools, and so forth). Uninstalling their software should not change anything with Outlook Express' message store, address book, bookmarked web sites and those sorts of things. However, it would always be a good idea to check with Earthlink's technical support department to verify that.

If you are a little uncomfortable about editing the registry then it would probably be a good idea to create a Restore Point before uninstalling Earthlink's software. In case there is some sort of problem, you can then restore your computer's settings from it. The registry is one of the things which gets saved when you create a Restore Point, but other things besides it get saved as well, such as device drivers, which are specialized programs the operating system uses to communicate with the computer's peripherals, such as video cards, printers, and so forth.

If you'd like to just back up the registry (or just learn more about it), then I would suggest reading this article from Microsoft's knowledge base.

Setting a Restore Point and backing up the registry are not mutually-exclusive operations. If you'd like you can perform both operations without them interferring with each other.

While you could search through the registry and files on your hard disk for occurrences of the word "Earthlink" it probably would not be a good idea to indiscriminately remove them, because you might remove something which is required by your computer, a document which just happens to contain that word, and so forth.

According to the instructions on Earthlink's support web site, you should only have to delete one section in the registry. If you are still feeling a little uncomfortable about editing Windows XP's system registry, I'd suggest contacting one of Earthlink's technicians and asking them to walk you through it.

After that is done, I'd suggest giving the TrueSwitch service another try to see if it works properly now. If it doesn't, you should get back in touch with AT&T and TrueSwitch respective support departments so they can get things working properly for you.

As a last resort, you can always subscribe your new AT&T WorldNet email address to the newsletters you receive and when they start coming in using that address, unsubscribe the Earthlink address. Also, you can send messages to everyone in your address book letting them know your new address. While this is far from elegant and could even be somewhat labor-intensive, at least you'll know everyone has your new email address.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 384 Syncronize Service Jul 3 2003, 10:19 AM
Does your FTP program have any sort of scripting capability? If so, perhaps you could automate the task that way.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 202 M$ Rant Jul 3 2003, 10:15 AM
I am not really familiar with all the ins-and-outs of the various methods under which Microsoft licenses its software, but would it be legal for you to provide the person with the computer they are purchasing from you the original defective disc and a working copy of an identical disc? When you receive the new disc from Microsoft Disc Replacement, you could then provide it to the person, and they could throw away the two discs you originally provided them with for the computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 263 "proper" Way To Delete Old Isp W/o Losing E-mail Jul 3 2003, 10:08 AM
Let me see if I understand things correctly.

You were using Earthlink as your Internet Service Provider.

You switched to AT&T Worldnet.

Your email client is Microsoft Outlook Express.

You tried using the TrueSwitch service provided through AT&T Worldnet, but it did not appear to send "migration" messages to people who have your Earthlink email address.

Is that correct?

Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the TrueSwitch service, so I do not know why it isn't working as you expect it to--this is something I would strongly suggest discussing with AT&T Worldnet's or Trueswitch's technical support department.

In the meantime, let's see if we can get things squared away for you.

The first thing I would suggest doing is backing up all of your old messages (What Outlook Express calls the "message store."). In order to do this you must first find out where Outlook Express stores them. Here's how to do that, step-by-step:


  • Run Outlook Express as you normally do.
  • Select Tools -> Options from the main menu. The Options window will appear.
  • Click on the Maintenance tab. The Maintenance window will appear.
  • Click on the Store Folder button. The Store Location window will appear.
  • In the Store Location window, the folder containing your Message Store will be listed. On my computer, it looks like C:\Documents and Settings\Aryeh Goretsky\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{02967363-1702-4D02-B09C-5CB3FCEE8C15}\Microsoft\Outlook Express, though it might be something different on yours (especially if your name isn't Aryeh Goretsky). Although greyed-out, you can actually click on the folder name to highlight and copy it. Here's how to do it, step-by-step:

    • Move your pointer to the beginning of the field with the folder name in it and single-click. You should now have a blinking "bar" cursor at the beginning of the field in front of the C:\.
    • If you didn't get the cursor at the beginning of the field, press the Home key on your keyboard to move it to the beginning of the field.
    • With the cursor now at the beginning of the field, press the Shift and End keys together and then let go of both of them. The entire path should now be highlighted.
    • Press the Ctrl and C keys on your keyboard together to copy the path.
    • Click on the Cancel button to exit.

  • You can now close Outlook Express as you normally do.
  • Click on the Start Menu button and select Run from the list of options.
  • When prompted to type in the name of the program or folder to open, press the Ctrl and V keys together and then let go of both of them. The path to your Outlook Express data files should now be entered into the Run dialog.
  • Click on the OK button.
  • The folder containing your Outlook Express data files will open.

Now that the folder containing your Outlook Express data files is open, you can start your CD-R application as you normally do and drag these files into it to back them up to a recordable disc.

Another file you will want to back up is your Address Book, which contains the names and email addresses used by Outlook Express. This file usually uses your name and has an extension of .WAB. For example, on my computer it is located in a directory named C:\Documents and Settings\Aryeh Goretsky\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book\Aryeh Goretsky.wab. You would also want to back this file up to the recordable disc. For more information on backing up your Outlook Express files, view this article from Microsoft's technical support web site..

Once you have finished backing up your Outlook Express and Address Book data files you can go ahead and try uninstalling the Earthlink software from your computer. If the software does not uninstall correctly or there are problems, try reading this article from Earthlink's technical support web site on how to manually uninstall the software.

Let's see if that fixes the problem with the TrueSwitch service.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky



]]> Technobabble 384 Telemarketer Revenge? Jul 3 2003, 08:39 AM
While perhaps not as satisfying as transporting a boiler room of telemarketers into the fourteenth century (nobody expects Telefonica?), wouldn't it be more practical to ask for the telemarketers name, company name and name of the company they are representing (assuming the latter two are not the same), firmly tell them to "place you in their do-not-call list," log the information, along with the date and time in a notebook kept by the phone for this purpose, and hang up?

One could periodically go through the notebook to see if anyone had continued to call, and follow-up appropriately.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 266 Cant My Hardware Just Get Along? Jul 3 2003, 08:30 AM
Could you tell us what the complete exact error message is that you are seeing on the screen when a game crashes?

Also, it would be helpful to know more information about your computer, such as the version of Windows installed, any other peripherals or expansion cards in your computer, the wattage of your power supply and so forth.

Have you installed the latest BIOS and chipset drivers for your Gigabyte motherboard, and the latest device drivers for your ATI video card? Updating those might solve the problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 305 Is Xp Spyware? Jul 3 2003, 08:21 AM
I believe an important part of the description of spyware is that these types of usage-monitoring programs do not obtain the informed consent of the computer owner or operator to report theiractivities back to the spyware author(s).

If such a program were to present a license agreement and users were to agree to it, then the users have expressly given their permission to have their activities monitored, haven't they?

Looking through the Microsoft Windows XP Professional End User License Agreement (filespec: %SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\EULA.TXT) on my computer, I found the following provisions in Section 7. Description of Other Rights and Limitations:


    * Consent to Use of Data. You agree that Microsoft and its
    affiliates may collect and use technical information
    gathered in any manner as part of the product support
    services provided to you, if any, related to the Product.
    Microsoft may use this information solely to improve
    our products or to provide customized services or
    technologies to you. Microsoft may disclose this
    information to others, but not in a form that personally
    identifies you.

    * Internet Gaming/Update Features. If you choose to utilize
    the Internet gaming or update features within the
    Product, it is necessary to use certain computer system,
    hardware, and software information to implement the
    features. By using these features, you explicitly
    authorize Microsoft or its designated agent to access
    and utilize the necessary information for Internet gaming
    and/or updating purposes. Microsoft may use this
    information solely to improve our products or to provide
    customized services or technologies to you. Microsoft
    may disclose this information to others, but not in a
    form that personally identifies you.

    * Internet-Based Services Components. The Product contains
    components that enable and facilitate the use of certain
    Internet-based services. You acknowledge and agree that
    Microsoft may automatically check the version of the
    Product and/or its components that you are utilizing
    and may provide upgrades or fixes to the Product that
    will be automatically downloaded to your Workstation
    Computer.

    * Security Updates. Content providers are using the digital
    rights management technology ("Microsoft DRM") contained
    in this Product to protect the integrity of their content
    ("Secure Content") so that their intellectual property,
    including copyright, in such content is not misappropriated. Owners of
    such Secure Content ("Secure Content Owners") may, from
    time to time, request Microsoft to provide security
    related updates to the Microsoft DRM components of the
    Product ("Security Updates") that may affect your ability
    to copy, display and/or play Secure Content through
    Microsoft software or third party applications that
    utilize Microsoft DRM. You therefore agree that, if
    you elect to download a license from the Internet which
    enables your use of Secure Content, Microsoft may, in
    conjunction with such license, also download onto your
    computer such Security Updates that a Secure Content
    Owner has requested that Microsoft distribute. Microsoft
    will not retrieve any personally identifiable
    information, or any other information, from your computer
    by downloading such Security Updates.

Since this is something I read through and agreed to when I installed the operating system, I can not consider Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition to be "spyware."

Of course, that's just my opinion.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 967 Headphone Amplifiers Jul 3 2003, 06:58 AM
Judging from the photographs on their respective web sites, it does look like Radio Shack resells the Boostaroo.

Pursuant to akersj's suggestion, you might want to check out Hello Direct's line of headset amplifiers.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 227 Centrino Jul 3 2003, 06:45 AM
Intel uses the Centrino brand name to identify notebook computers which contain three Intel-manufactured (or branded) components:

It is possible to buy notebooks which might contain the Intel Pentium M CPU, but use a different chipset, or use the Intel Pentium M CPU and 855 chipset, but not the PRO/Wireless 2100 adapter. These notebooks would contain some of the components of the Centrino brand, but because they don't have all three items, they cannot use the Centrino brand name. For example, if you wanted a laptop with the Pentium M CPU and 855 chipset, but used a faster 802.11g and/or 802.11a Mini-PCI card, it could not have the Centrino brand name on it, since it only supported the slower 802.11b standard.

Because of this, many laptop manufacturers are offering a mix of Pentium M-based notebooks with Centrino and non-Centrino branding (at least until Intel revises their wireless LAN component with a faster product).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 205 Usb Keypad Jul 3 2003, 06:27 AM
At the local Walmart I did see an IBM Numeric Access II Keypad (which is actually manufactured by Micro Innovations for IBM) on clearance for $15.00USD.

I'm not sure if these are in every store, but you might want to try visiting or contacting a nearby one to see if they have any in stock.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 170 Hard Drive Error Jul 3 2003, 05:55 AM
If there is any hardware not currently being used inside the computer (optical discs, tape drive, network card, and so forth) you might want to try unplugging the power from it and/or removing them and seeing if that reduces the 40GB Maxtor hard disk drive's temperature.

I don't think a new hard disk drive should be giving write errors. If the problem is not from overheating, then the drive may be bad. You might want to try running Maxtor's PowerMax utility against it to see if it finds any problems with the drive.

One thing you did not mention are the cooling/ventilation requirements for the new hard disk drive. Perhaps it needs to have a fan blowing air directly on it or installed in a fan bay?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 284 Telemarketer Revenge? Jul 3 2003, 05:25 AM
You may wish to check with applicable state or local laws to make sure you are not doing anything illegal wrt. to calling someone over and over. I believe in some states calling someone more than three times in a twenty-four period is considered a form of harrassment.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Technobabble 266 M$ Rant Jul 3 2003, 05:21 AM
Have you tried calling Microsoft's Disk Replacement line at +1 (800) 360-7561. I have not used the service for a few years, but when I did I had a replacement Microsoft Office 2000 installation disc on my desk a couple of business days later.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 263 Norton Antivirus Stopped Working Jul 2 2003, 11:07 PM
I am not sure if this will help, but this web page details a similar problem, as well as its solution.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 543 Headphone Amplifiers Jul 2 2003, 11:04 PM
I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but Boostaroo makes a small, in-line amplifier for use with headsets.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 227 Another Evil Windows Me ? Jul 2 2003, 11:02 PM
It sounds like some sort of USB incompatibility issue. Perhaps some updates will help?

You may wish to check with the motherboard manufacturer and verify you have the latest BIOS and chipset drivers installed for it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 211 Flying With Electronic Equipment Jul 2 2003, 10:33 PM
I wasn't aware X-ray machines were extreme sources of magnetism, at least compared to MRI machines.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Travel Arrangements 3366 Outlook Links Don't Open Avant Browser Jul 2 2003, 10:28 PM
Out of curiosity, have you tried re-enabling Microsoft Internet Explorer for testing purposes and seeing if Outlook Express will use it correctly to open clicked-upon URLs?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 456 Win Xp Delay Displaying Right-clk Menu Jul 2 2003, 10:25 PM
I'm not familiar with Active Directory so I can't offer any suggestions on how to troubleshoot things on that part of the equation. If could, however, be a networking (connectivity) issue between the computer and server. Have you investigated that angle?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 259 Xp Or 2k? Jul 2 2003, 10:18 PM
From a functional point of view there is little--if any--difference between Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP Professional.

Windows 2000 Professional and Server editions were intended to be replacements for Windows NT 4.0 Workstation and Server editions (Microsoft's desktop and server operating systems for business), while Windows XP was intended as a replacement for Microsoft's consumer-oriented operating systems (Windows 98SE, ME) as well as their business desktop operating systems (Windows NT 4.0 Workstation and Windows 2000 Professional). If nothing else, this means Windows XP support for "legacy" applications might be better than Windows 2000's. I say "might" because I do not know for certain--I do not run enough "old code" to state that one categorically handles it better than the other.

Besides the revamped user interface, Windows XP includes more recent versions of DirectX, Internet Explorer and Media Player than those provided with Windows 2000, as well as new programs such as Messenger and Movie Player and technologies such as ClearType, Fast-User Switching and so forth. While most of these can be added to the older operating system, using the newer operating system should theoretically result in less time spent downloading updates and patches. And, of course, if there's a particular "feature" you do not wish to use, you can always disable or uninstall it.

With all things being equal in terms of the functionality you need and licensing costs,it might make better sense to go with Windows XP simply because it will be supported for longer than Windows 2000. This means you'll be able to go for longer between your next operating system upgrade as well as continue to receive support from Microsoft, not to mention third-party software and hardware vendors.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 2482 Mp3 Jun 30 2003, 09:19 AM
There is a list of legal music download sites here on MusicUnited's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 280 Auto Deleting Files Unzipped By Winzip Jun 30 2003, 09:16 AM
It's hard to say for certain why the program may not be working properly. One thing to keep in mind though is this that this particular program was designed for use Microsoft MS-DOS 3.2 and earlier.

I never had any problem running the program under MS-DOS 5.0 through 6.22 or IBM PC-DOS 6.3 though 7.0 but I've not made extensive use of the program under Microsoft Windows 95 and later.

It very well could be some sort of low-level compatibility issue with the version of DOS you are using, especially if it is through some sort of emulation viz. Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 291 Hard Drive Recovery Jun 30 2003, 08:58 AM
The process I've used in the past is to stick the drive in a plastic or mylar anti-static baggie with one of those little anti-moisture packages of activated carbon and leave the hard disk drive in the freezer overnight.

The next day, the drive is removed, mounted in the computer and a data recovery program run against it to copy any accessible information off of it to another hard disk drive.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 419 "proper" Way To Delete Old Isp W/o Losing E-mail Jun 30 2003, 08:53 AM
Perhaps you could tell us who your old and new ISPs are, and what program you use to access your email? Having that information will be helpful in answering your question.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 384 Motherboard & Processor Upgrade Jun 30 2003, 08:45 AM
Since you want to recycle the memory from your previous configuration, I'd suggest you start by researching what motherboards are compatible with it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 293 Games Install But Won't Run Jun 30 2003, 08:42 AM
My initial thought would be an inadequate power supply and/or an overheating problem due to inadequate cooling inside the case.

Given the computer's specs, I suspect it may be a few years old. Perhaps it would be a good time to open the case, clear out any dust bunnies with a can of compressed air, and replace any dust-jammed fans.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 287 Problems Retriving Data On Cd Jun 30 2003, 08:38 AM
I have had good luck recovering data from CD-R discs using Naltech's CD Data Rescue. It is not free, but there is a trial version available from the developer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 307 Problems Intalling Windows 2000 Pro Jun 30 2003, 08:29 AM
As greengeek suggested, you might want to check Dell's support web site to see if there are updated SCSI host adapter drivers for the PERC2 controller, and then include them as part of the installation process by pressing F6 when prompted to do so during setup.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 240 Pc Will Not Boot Jun 30 2003, 08:26 AM
Out of curosity, has your daughter tried removing the motherboard and power supply, placing them on a nice safe surface like cardboard or paper towels, and testing them outside of the case? Perhaps there is a problem with the motherboard shorting out on the case? If so, that might help isolate the problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 578 Floppy Error Jun 30 2003, 08:24 AM
Are you logging into the computers in question using the Administrator account? Could any policies or registry tweaks have been applied which limit access to removable media such as the floppy diskette drive?

Have you checked the various computers' BIOS settings to make sure the floppy diskette drive is set correctly?

Do the floppy diskette controller and floppy disk drive show up properly in the Device Manager?

I'm assuming the problem occurs with the computers' built-in floppy diskette drives. Have you tried using an external USB floppy diskette drive to see if that makes any difference?

Have you tried accessing both the A: and the B: drives from the command prompt? If so, what was the result?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 725 Anti Virus Hell! Jun 30 2003, 08:18 AM
You did not mention which version of Windows you are running, but have you tried either starting the computer from a Windows installation boot diskette (Microsoft Windows 95, 98, and Millennium Edition) or from the installation disc to get to the Recovery Console (Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP) and attempt to manually delete the file from there?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 396 Norton Antivirus Stopped Working Jun 30 2003, 08:13 AM
It's hard to answer your question without more information.

Which version of Windows do you have? Which version of Norton Anti Virus? What type of Internet connection do you have? Do you have any other security or anti-virus software installed on the computer? What error message, if any, did you see when you attempting to install the new LiveUpdate software?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 543 Ghosting Jun 30 2003, 08:11 AM
You are planning on selling these computers, correct? If so, you might want to visit Microsoft's Partner and Reseller web site to learn more about selling Microsoft's products.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 226 Auto Deleting Files Unzipped By Winzip Jun 28 2003, 06:07 AM
I believe you can download the program from ftp://gatekeeper.dec.com/pub/micro/pc/sim...s/dirutl/no.zip, complete with documentation.

It actually consists of a pair of small programs written in assembly language and built as .COM files.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 291 Palm Emulation Software Jun 28 2003, 05:56 AM
I think the product is geared more towards developers than consumers, so Palm probably assumes they will have some prior knowledge that consumers would not neccessarily have.

Please let us know the results of your installation; I'm certainly interested in hearing about your experiences.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 550 Flying With Electronic Equipment Jun 28 2003, 05:51 AM
You will probably be asked to remove the laptop from its case and the TSA rep will place it in a plastic tub, then send it through the x-ray machine.

While the x-ray machines used for checking baggage are not safe for people, pets, or undeveloped film, they should not cause any problems for your laptop or other electronic devices.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Travel Arrangements 3366 Wep Help Jun 28 2003, 05:43 AM
Do you think you could share with us what the problem was, and the steps you took to correct it? I'm certainly interesting, and I'm sure other forum members are, too.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 143 Fat32 Becomes Raw Partition Jun 28 2003, 05:36 AM
I believe Microsoft Windows XP's disk management tools refers to any partition it does not recognize as "RAW" regardless of the actual type installed.

Assuming you have not tried formatting one of your partitions using a different file system or installing a new operating system, I'd suspect the problem was perhaps more due to something like a faulty copy-protection system, drive controller/bridge problem, or even a cabling problem than a computer virus. The types of computer virus which infect a hard disk's Master Boot Record (which contains the partition table of data) or Operating System Boot Sector are pretty much considered extinct since their preferred vector of infection--booting from an infected floppy diskette--is a much rarer occurrence these days. In any case, you can rule out the possibility of an MBR-infecting computer virus by using an anti-virus program to check the hard disk drive.

What you might want to try doing is run a data recovery program against the hard disk drive. If the corruption consists of just a few bytes in the MBR, you should be back up and running in no time. If the corruption extends throughout the disk it may take more time for the program to read through the disk. You might also want to talk with the data recovery programs' technical support department to see if they have come across any similar cases.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 468 Getting Past The Password Prompt Jun 28 2003, 05:13 AM
I'm wondering if there may be some sort of problem with the BIOS settings stored in the computer's CMOS memory.

Unplug the computer, open the case and remove the battery for the CMOS memory. On most modern motherboards this will be a CR-2032 3-volt lithium coin cell.

Unplug the wireless "bridge" devices for the Logitech mouse and keyboard and plug a PS/2 keyboard into the motherboard. Most modern motherboards use a "double-decker" color-coded pair of PS/2 connectors for the keyboard and mouse. The keyboard does into the bottom or lilac-colored connector.

Wait 30-45 minutes, replace the CMOS battery, plug the computer back in, and power up. You should now be prompted to enter the BIOS to configure the settings, which you should now be able to do using your PS/2 keyboard.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 2086 Spontaneous Disruption Jun 27 2003, 10:07 AM
Based on your description, it sounds like the hard disk drive has begun to fail. The noises and disk activity you're experiencing are the result of the hard disk drive's heads losing track of where they are above the platters, forcing it to continuous recalibrate in order to determine their position.

After backing up your valuable data off the hard disk drive--perhaps even making two separate backup sets (just in case)--and testing the backup on another computer, you should replace the hard disk drive with a new one.

There is a possibility that running the hard disk drive manufacturer's diagnostic program (which usually can be downloaded and made into a self-booting disk) might correct the problem temporarily, but it would be unadvisable to rely on that hard disk drive for storing anything important.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 386 Surge Protectors.... Jun 27 2003, 09:58 AM
Turning off a surge protector would not disable its surge protecting capabilities, I should think. After all, it is still carrying live current inside it all the way up to the power switch which, I assume, is inside the surge protector.

Most consumer-grade surge protectors use metal oxide varistors ("MOVs") to supress surges, which work by dumping excess voltage into the ground wire. Over time MOVs will degrade as they handle surges, so surge supressors using them will need to be periodically replaced. I do not know how often, but would guess probably every few years of routine surge supression or immediately after a major event like a nearby lightning strike.

Other surge supressors use technology such as gas arrestors or inductors, which have their own advantages and disadvantages.

I know there are a number of electricians and electical engineers who read the forum, hopefully they can provide more detailed information and correct any mistakes I've made.

For further reading:
11 Myths of Surge Protection by Wendell H. Laidley - interesting web site
BrickWall - (surge protector manufacturer)
Digital Tech Online: Don't forget Power Protection!
EngNet: Lightning Surge Protection - Current trends and some contentious issues - another interesting web site
ePanorama.Net: Electrical Wiring Surge Suppression
ePanorma.Net: Telephone line surge protection circuits
ExtremeTech: Surge Suppressors: Anatomy Lesson
Harris Supression Products: Surge Supression Technologies for AC Mains Compared - (surge protector manufacturer)
PowerQuality Magazine: MOV or SASD — Which Surge Suppressor is Right for You?
Sentinel Power: Glossary of Surge Protection Terms - (surge protector manufacturer)
Surgex: How to Choose a Surge Supressor - (surge protector manufacturer)
Requirements for Smart Surge Protector (paper by EE students at MI State University)

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 588 Intelligent Life On Mars Jun 27 2003, 08:39 AM
Of course, Ray Bradbury, Edgar Rice Burroughs and H. G. Wells knew there was life there long before the Mars Surveyor probe arrived. Or, at least, wrote about it.

[The joys of having gone to Percival Lowell Elementary School just rushed back to me.]

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Technobabble 707 Irq Conflicts Jun 27 2003, 04:41 AM
Can you please explain in more detail how you identified the problem as an IRQ sharing violation? I would think there'd be some sort of mention one one in the Device Manager or the Event Log, but you didn't seem to find anything?

Are you certain it is an IRQ sharing problem and not a problem with an insufficient power supply or inadequate cooling as dgiese01 suggested?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 316 Looking For Reliable And Cheap Hardware Vendors An Jun 27 2003, 04:34 AM
Checking with the company in question to find out who their distributors are might be the thing you're looking for, if you don't want to sign up for their authorized resellers program (assuming such a program exists).

You might want to take a look at Ingram Micro's web site and read up on their reseller program. They are one of the larger distributors.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 234 Unsent Messages Jun 27 2003, 04:29 AM
Is your mail client running before you start a game? If so, does closing it make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 232 Palm Emulation Software Jun 27 2003, 04:18 AM
Palm provides a software-based emulator for their various handhelds for developers. More information can be found here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 550 Laptop Choice? Jun 27 2003, 04:13 AM
A very good source of information on IBM ThinkPads is the ThinkPad Mailing List, which is not affiliated with IBM. You might want to consider subscribing or at least periodically searching the archives for any discussions on your new ThinkPad.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 401 Oem Versions Vs Retail Jun 27 2003, 04:06 AM
As pointed out earlier in this message thread, the main difference between OEM and retail versions of Microsoft's operating systems--aside from packaging--is the level of support you get, and whom you obtain it from.

While OEM versions purchased from major computer manufacturers such as Dell, HP, IBM and so forth may contain additional device drivers, computer-specific software and the manufacturer's branding (customized wallpapers, URLs to their web site and so forth) they may also be BIOS-locked, e.g., the setup program may search the computer's ROM BIOS for the manufacturer's copyright string (or other identifying information) and only install on that particular manufacturer's equipment.

Besides receiving support directly from Microsoft, purchasing a retail version may entitle you to certain upgrade benefits in the future from Microsoft, as well as possibly discounts or other deals from them. While most of those tend to be not very interesting you might find a good offer on a particular piece of software or hardware once in a while.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 7116 8x Video Card Working As 4x Card Jun 27 2003, 03:50 AM
You might want to ask the person in question if they have the latest BIOS installed for their Asus P4S8X motherboard. If not, they should be able to download it from Asus' web site.

From looking at the Asus P4S8X download matrix, it looks like it uses SIS' 648 chipset. The person in question might want to download the latest chipset drivers for it directly from SIS, in case they are newer then those provided by Asus.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 217 Difficulty In Accessing Internet Through Router. Jun 27 2003, 03:34 AM
I assume the router is set up to function as the DHCP and DNS servers for your network, as well as the gateway. Have you checked the computer's network settings to verify these are set properly to use the router?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 332 German--us__hardware Compatibility? Jun 26 2003, 04:53 AM
You may wish to see if you can get a power supply which automatically switches between 110V and 220V just in case your friend forgets to toggle it over. I know that PC Power & Cooling offers it as an option on some of their power supplies as would, I assume, other manufacturers.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 751 Freedom Of Speech Jun 26 2003, 04:41 AM
"Freedom of speech" in the United States of America refers to the Bill of Rights, a legal document ratified by America's founders to address concerns for individual citizens' rights they felt were not adequately covered by the Constitution of the United States. The Bill of Rights contains ten amendments ("additions," if you will) to the Constitution which address both citizens' and the federal government's rights under the laws of the United States. The first of these additions, the First Amendment, states:

    Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

What these means is the federal government's legislative branch, the Congress, which cannot pass laws that censor its citizens' speech.

It has been many years since I've studied the history of the United States of America, but from what I dimly remember, this really was revolutionary because it was one of the first times--if not the first time--that an individual's rights were expressly stated, as opposed to just being implied.

The issue of freedom of speech is actually a quite complex one, and is something which defined and redifined nearly every day in America's judicial system. I hope, though, I've given you a correct explanation (if not, I'm sure others will correct me) and some sources of where to go for more information.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Technobabble 232 3com Switch Jun 26 2003, 03:41 AM
In my experience, enterprise-grade hardware is usually quite loud as it is engineered more with reliability in mind than, say, case styling or noise pollution.

In all the larger data center I've been in, the HVAC system normally drowns out the noise from the computers and networking gear, so perhaps managing devices' acoustic footprint is less of a concern for manufacturers.

You could try contacting 3Com's technical support department to inquire about the noise level; it could be that you have a failing fan or an improperly installed fan or fan grill or some other part of the cooling system which is creating turbulence and, thus, noise.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 247 Scheduled Backups Jun 26 2003, 03:35 AM
Have you considered using some sort of script which runs when they log in or log out of the network?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 175 Router Clogged, Seriously? Jun 26 2003, 03:34 AM
I would suspect the problem was with your cable Internet service provider. I have had similar problems in the past when my ISP performs maintenance on their network.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 200 Hung Systems & Secure Websites Jun 26 2003, 01:30 AM
I could not find a reference on Microsoft's support web site to this, but I did find mention of the problem at several web sites, including here, here, here and here.

Apparently, the problem has to do in part with cookies which have an extremely short expiration date expiring due to elapsed time miscalculations.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Tech News Watch 165 How To Get Downloaded Game On Non-internet Pc Jun 26 2003, 01:19 AM
I believe PKWare's PKZIP program does have the ability to span .ZIP files across multiple floppy diskettes if the .ZIP file is too big to fit on a single floppy.

Another possibility is to remove the hard disk drive from the older computer, temporarily install it in your other computer, copy the program(s) over to it, and replace it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 444 Xp Spi Jun 26 2003, 01:16 AM
It is my understanding that Service Packs are not "granular" in terms of what can and cannot be installed. They are designed to provide users with a collection of all updates made to the operating system by Microsoft.

You might want to try installing just the Hot Fixes available for your operating system, as opposed to the Service Pack. However, it's possible you might miss out on an update that was only made available via the Service Pack.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 185 Auto Deleting Files Unzipped By Winzip Jun 26 2003, 01:11 AM
One quick solution I can think of is to unpack the .ZIP file to its own unique subdirectory. When you're done looking at the files you can erase the subdirectory.

Alternatively, this may not be the answer you are looking for, but have you considered using Ziff-Davis' old NO program to perform a "selective wildcard" delete? The syntax would be something like:


NO *.ZIP DEL *.*


which would delete all files except those with a .ZIP extension in the current directory. NO only accepts one file extension, but you can run it multiple times on the same command line (at least, you can under MS-DOS). So, if you wanted to prevent .ZIP and *.TXT files from being deleted, you'd type:


NO *.ZIP NO *.TXT DEL *.*


at the command prompt.

One thing to keep in mind is that this program is almost twenty years old and was written for operating systems of that era. It might not work properly under modern operating systems.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 291 Irq Conflicts Jun 26 2003, 12:48 AM
With modern computers it is possible to have several devices share the same IRQ without problem, and the IRQ's reserved for PCI IRQ steering are normal as well.

Perhaps if you could tell us the complete, exact error message(s) the computer is displaying we could offer more detailed suggestions as how to fix them?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 316 Laptop Choice? Jun 26 2003, 12:14 AM
One thing I did not see mentioned in your analysis was the length and scope of the warranty. Just out of curiosity, have you compared the two to see if one is substantially better than the other?

These days, most IBM ThinkPads come with a program called the IBM Update Connector which automatically downloads driver updates and patches for you when run.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 401 Is Me Really That Buggy? Or The Pc? Jun 26 2003, 12:04 AM
You might want to read this article from The Inquirer web site, just in case your IBM-brand computer is one of the models affected.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 344 Recovery Software Jun 25 2003, 11:58 PM
I have had good results using Runtime Software's GetDataBack line of software. It is not free, however, there is an evaluation version you can download to see if it can access your hard disk drive.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 593 How To Set Up Fax Monitor To Start Automatically Jun 25 2003, 11:56 PM
Have you tried creating a shortcut to the Fax Service Management program and placing it in the computer's Startup folder?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 227 Memory Leak Problem Jun 25 2003, 11:54 PM
You may wish to try installing a higher-wattage power supply to see if that makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 406 Can Not Print Pdf Files To Print Server Jun 25 2003, 11:51 PM
If you connect a printer directly to the computer (for testing purposes), are you then able to print PDF files? What about to a different printer on the network?

Also, have you checked with Adobe's technical support directly to see if they have any suggestions?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 238 My 1st Virus :-( Jun 25 2003, 11:47 PM

It is possible to create stand-alone Flash program files with an .EXE extension that do not require a separate viewer like their .SWF counterparts. The use of the icon does not neccessarily mean the Trojan was written in Flash, but rather the author decided it would be easier to trick people into running it using that icon.

It is possible that the Trojan horse could have been downloaded, sent as an attachment to a message sent via email, or installed via a web page (much like Comet Cursor or Gator).

When you receive messages via the standard POP3 email protocol, any attached files are usually downloaded as part of the message. This may be different if you are using a web-based email account or an IMAP server, though.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 272 Win Xp Delay Displaying Right-clk Menu Jun 25 2003, 11:33 PM
Just out of curiosity, does unplugging the network cable from the computer in question cause any change in the speed at which context menus are displayed?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 259 Cleansing Hd Jun 25 2003, 11:31 PM
Have you tried using the hard disk drive manufacturers' diagnostic programs to perform "destructive" (data-erasing) tests or to "wipe"/"low-level format"/"recertify" the hard disk drives? If so, did that have any effect on the recovery of the data?

If you are going to physically destroy a hard disk, may I suggest removing the drive platters and boiling them in salt water for several hours? This would, I believe, damage the thin coating of magnetic film on the platters beyond recovery. Of course, you could probably use something like an orbital sander, too, but I think the latter method might result in prettier platters (just in case you want to make wind chimes or a mobile).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 1978 Slowing Down The Startup... Jun 25 2003, 11:16 PM
Each major version of Microsoft Windows handles batch files differently; since you did not mention which version of Windows you're using this information may not apply, but if you are running Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP, have you considered using the CHOICE.EXE program included in the Microsoft Windows 2000 Resource Kit book?

It allows you to wait until until a key is pressed or a number of seconds have elapsed before executing the following command. So, for example, you could do something like:


CHOICE.EXE /C:YN /T:Y,10 Load Cerulean Studios' Trillian program?
IF ERRORLEVEL = 2 GOTO END
IF ERRORLEVEL = 1 GOTO NEXT
:NEXT
C:\PROGRA~1\CERULE~1\TRILLIAN\TRILLIAN.EXE {or whatever the path specification is for Trillian}
:END
EXIT


This would tell the CHOICE.EXE program to wait for a key press of either Y to load Cerulean Studios' Trillian or N to skip loading it, with the default option being to load it after ten (10) seconds.

It is certainly not very fancy, but I think that would work for your situation.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 302 Cryptic Windows Error Messages Jun 25 2003, 10:40 PM
I wonder if this problem is due to an integration issue between Microsoft Outlook Express and Windows Messenger.

Have you tried preventing Windows Messenger from interacting with Outlook Express? It can be disabled with a small change to the system registry as mentioned here on WinGuides.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 239 Looking For Reliable And Cheap Hardware Vendors An Jun 25 2003, 10:32 PM
This may be a little backwards, but have you considered contacting the manufacturers of the products you wish to sell and asking if they sell direct or have a distributor in your region?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 234 Cleansing Hd Jun 24 2003, 04:22 AM
It's probably not a bad idea to run the manufacturer's diagnostic program, if for no other reason than to ensure the drive is working before you give it away.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 1978 Installing Windows Xp On Compaq Presarion Jun 24 2003, 04:16 AM
Now that you have an error message which is displayed consistently, why not give HP (Compaq) technical support another call? Perhaps with a specific error message they can provide you with more detailed assistance.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 2068 Knowledge Management Jun 24 2003, 04:13 AM
Have you looked at DTSearch's line of search/indexing programs?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 208 Game Port--funky Question, You've Been Warned! Jun 24 2003, 04:07 AM
Can you tell us a little more about your new computer's configuration, hardware-wise?

Have you tried playing one of the .WAV files outside of the ExpressScribe transcription software with a program like Microsoft Windows Media Player? If so, did it sound okay?

Have you checked with the ExpressScribe's technical support to see if they are aware of the problem and have any solutions or workarounds?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 316 Maxtor External Firewire Hard Drive Drops Offline Jun 24 2003, 03:57 AM
Have you installed Service Pack 1 for Microsoft Windows XP? According to Microsoft's knowledge base it fixes several issues with FireWire (IEEE-1394) devices and Windows XP.

You may also want to read the following knowledge base article:

FIX: Inconsistent Gap Count Can Cause 1394 Devices to Not Enumerate

which discusses and contains a fix for disappearing FireWire (IEEE-1394) devices.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 233 Writing Batch Files And Config.sys Files Jun 24 2003, 03:48 AM
The author of 4DOS is JP Software. They are still around and their current offering, 4NT, even works with Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 650 Cleansing Hd Jun 24 2003, 03:41 AM
Hello,

Have you considered using the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic diskette to perform a "low-level format" or "recertification" of the hard disk drive? I would think that would wipe the contents of the drive quite nicely.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 1978 Kt7 Motherboard Jun 24 2003, 03:36 AM
Well, it sounds like you've determined the problem is not with the hard drives, cabling or computer's power supply so, as Rons suggested, it must be the motherboard. Please let us know if things work any better after it has been replaced.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 270 Want To Reformat My Drive Jun 24 2003, 03:33 AM
Most computer manufacturers will provide a "restore" disc for free or a minimal shipping and handling charge. You might want to contact the manufacturer to see if one is available. You could then use the disc, coupled with your installation key, to reinstall your computer's operating system.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 398 Videoconferencing Software For Xp Jun 24 2003, 03:29 AM
You can enable Microsoft NetMeeting under Windows XP by clicking on Start -> Run and entering "CONF.EXE" as the name of the program to run. This launches the NetMeeting configuration wizard and optionally creates icons for the program on your Desktop and Quick Launch toolbar.

Most SOHO or "consumer grade" routers do not support the H.323 protocol used by programs such as NetMeeting very well since connections are made on a random port between 1,024-65,535. You might want to check with your router vendor to see if they provide support for NetMeeting. Perhaps your router will let you place your computer in a DMZ, or you can plug your computer directly in your modem and bypass the router and its security features, which should allow for direct connections to your computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 272 Irq Conflicts Jun 24 2003, 03:19 AM
Can you tell us what were the exact error messages you were receiving? Also, can you describe the computer's hardware in more detail?

Plug and Play allows a computer's BIOS to automatically allocate IRQs, I/O ports and memory addresses for hardware so that users do not have to adjust them manually via jumpers or configuration programs.

All recent hardware and operating systems should provide support PnP, so the first thing you may wish to check is any old hardware which is part of the computer. Sometimes older hardware did not enumurate properly, and would use resources they had not allocated during the PnP configuration process. This caused problems with other devices which attemped to use those unallocated resources. Installing the latest firmware or BIOSes for such hardware might improve its PnP functions.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 316 Kt7 Motherboard Jun 23 2003, 06:22 AM
If the signals are degraded or otherwise malformed, perhaps the Promise controller is better able to interpret them than the on-board controller.

If swapping out the cable with another one doesn't solve the problem, at least you'll know it's not a cabling issue and be better able to investigate the problem.

Sometimes knowing what isn't the problem is just as important as know what is.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 270
Poll: X:\Program Files
Jun 22 2003, 10:27 AM
I'm afraid I cannot take credit for oftentired's excellent message thread on Google.

If I am setting up a new system for DOS, Microsoft Windows 95, 98, or Millennium Edition, I generally boot from the installation floppy diskette and use the on-disk FDISK program to create an active, primary partition, reboot, and use the on-disk FORMAT program to format it as the bootable volume.

For DOS, I usually let the setup program run with all its default values and install all of the optional programs--they are easy enough to disable if unneeded and I'd rather have them and not need them then vice-versa.

For Windows 95, 98, and ME I usually do a little housekeeping (creating a CONFIG.SYS file to load the memory manager and an AUTOEXEC.BAT file for setting environmental variables, a temporary file directory named C:\TEMP (with a corresponding SET TEMP=C:\TEMP in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file file, and so forth). Next, I run SMARTDRV.EXE and copy the installation files from the \WIN95\ or the \WIN98\ directory to a directory named C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS\ on the hard disk drive, remove the floppy diskette from the floppy diskette drive, reboot, change to the directory with the installation files and run SETUP.EXE to install Windows. I only copy the files from that directory on the disc to the hard drive, not any of the subdirectories inside it since they are not needed to install the operating system.

For Windows NT, 2000 and XP I usually let the operating system installer partition and format a volume for the operating system and install to it.

Once the operating system is installed I can then partition and format the remaining drive space from it as needed, install a tweaking program to change various settings, and visit the Windows Update site.

If I am re-partitioning the hard disk in an existing system, I normally use PowerQuest's PartitionMagic. Preferably after making a backup copy (or two) of the small, separate data volume, just in case. For upgrading to a new hard disk drive, I usually use PowerQuest's DriveImage program to copy the drive. There's no particular reason I use PowerQuest's programs instead of Symantec's or Acronis'. I have licenses for those to, and if I were to have a problem with PowerQuest's programs, I'd switch to one of those.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Windows Fanatics 573 Windows 2000 Pro Fonts? What? Jun 22 2003, 09:08 AM
Have you tried toggling font-smoothing on and off to see if that makes any difference? Here's how:


  • Right-click on any empty part of your Desktop and select Properties from the pop-up menu. The Display Properties window will appear.
  • In the Display Properties window, click on the Effects tab.
  • On the Effects panel, one of the available options is Smooth edges of screen fonts. Try toggling this option on and off to see if that makes any difference to the fonts.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 219 The Ultimate Pc "first Aid" Disk Jun 22 2003, 08:50 AM
What I take with me varies depending upon what the client wants done.

I try to find out the client's brand and model of computer before I go on site. I visit the manufacturer's web site and download all the drivers for their computer. They're also burned onto a CD-R disc which I leave with the client.

For the floppy, I like to start with a Microsoft Windows 98SE installation floppy diskette. DEBUG.EXE, EDIT.COM, EXPAND.EXE and FDISK.COM should be on it, along with any additional drivers I might need for accessing the CD-ROM drive. Microsoft's old Microsoft System Diagnostics (filename: MSD.EXE) can also be useful if dealing with older hardware. It can be downloaded here

I also take my tool kit and a portable hard drive which has utilities, drivers, and other programs I might need, plus a binder of operating system discs (never copied or left on site--for my own use should I need to boot from one from recovery purposes, copy over a damaged file, and so forth).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 328 How Long Do Cds Last Jun 22 2003, 08:11 AM
Earlier this year I had to pull some files off of some decade-old QIC-80 tapes that had been stored in my garage with a Colorado Jumbo 250 tape drive. I didn't have any trouble reading them, so they appeared to handle several years of being frozen and cooked.

On a more topical note, perhaps it would be better to use a WORM (write-once, read-many) or MO (magneto-optical) drive technology instead of CDs or DVDs? WORM discs are supposed to last for one century, and I believe MO discs approach that as well. The technologies are as old as CD-ROM (if not older) so are standardized and well-supported.

Companies such as Hewlett Packard, IBM? and Plasmon offer WORM, MO and hybrid libraries with both types of drives.

Fujitsu, Pinnacle Micro and SONY make MO drives as well.

You might want to start by contacting these companies to see if they have any reliability and/or media comparison studies available.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 315 Kt7 Motherboard Jun 22 2003, 07:45 AM
Have you tried replacing the ATA cables with good quality 80-pin cables? Perhaps the ones you are using are damaged or sub-standard.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 270
Poll: X:\Program Files
Jun 22 2003, 07:23 AM
I actually ran a system configured like the one I described in the first example. It wasn't a problem to run programs which stored information in the registry, you just had to install them once under each operating system to the same directory in order to create the appropriate registry entries.

For the second scenario, I was thinking of imaging the operating system volume periodically--for instance, after a default set of service packs, hot fixes, applications and utilities were installed, but before installing something like a service pack or a new application or utility for which you might have some concerns about introducing some instability to the operating environment. Assuming the worst--that it does cause problems--you quickly reimage your operating system volume (with its associated registry entries, configuration files, and whatever other unique information stored therein) and once finished simply delete the offending program's directory from your applications volume. I would imagine that would be quite a bit quicker than having to restore a volume containing both an operating system and applications.

In scenario number three, I was thinking about an environment where whomever administered the PC did not want to provide--or at least wanted to reduce--access to the volume containing the operating system. This can easily be done with file and user permissions, of course, but suppose they needed something more than that for regulatory and/or security purposes? There used to be a niche market for such devices, as mentioned about half-way through this decade-old article--I actually happen to have one of the ESaSS Thunderbyte PC Immunizer cards they mentioned.

As for scenario four, well, that would assume the person configuring the computer used a drive overlay program. A pretty reasonable assumption, of course, but suppose they couldn't for some reason--perhaps it interfered with the operating system or an application, or perhaps because such software is not on the approved list of programs. I'll be the first to admit that these reach from long stretch to infinitesimal, but I've seen stranger things.

I probably should have been clearer in my previous post. Sorry about that.

I've set up computers using multiple volumes to store different things, and run across programs such as your hypothetical one which like to be installed into a subdirectory in the root of C: drive or have C:\Program Files\{something-or-other} hard-coded as the installation directory (not to mention hard-coded into the application). In recent memory, I've come across those a couple of times:

One was a piece of educational software for teaching typing: I contacted the vendor to ask them about why it didn't run properly when installed to volumes other than C: and was told in a thinly-accusatory fashion that if I wanted to install the program to a networked drive I'd need to buy a site license for all the computers. This was, of course, for a single-user PC I was setting up for a family member. I solved the problem by getting another package, which, it turned out, the family member liked even more than the first one (it had more typing-practice arcade games).

The other one was some hybrid web/terminal emulation software for travel agents with all the paths hard-coded in it. Unfortunately, there was no way around that, nor was there a substitute package available. So that got installed to the C: drive.

I've created a few installation programs for 32-bit Windows applications (not the applications, just the installers, mind you) using things like InstallShield and Inno Setup and just using the standard wizards they've always prompted to install the application to the %ProgramFiles%\{application name} or %ProgramFiles%\{company name}\{application name} directory (I always changed it to the latter if it didn't). That's been fairly standard since the mid-90s, I believe. It's usually in situations when the developer wants to "lock down" applications to a specific path for things like standardizing deployment and/or reducing support costs (the application always gets installed to "Location X") that paths get hard-coded, because it's just as easy to use the global %ProgramFiles% variable for the top directory into which the application gets installed. At least, that's my understanding from the programmers who provided the files for which I had to write the installation routines.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Windows Fanatics 573 Loadqm Jun 21 2003, 08:24 AM
Which operating system are you using on the computer in question?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 339
Poll: X:\Program Files
Jun 21 2003, 08:21 AM
I can think of a few reasons for keeping the operating system(s), applications and data on separate volumes:


  • Allow multiple operating systems installed on hidden volume(s) access to the same applications and data.
  • Provide for more granular and quicker disk re-imaging by separating operating system volume from applications and data (e.g. restore an image of just the operating system volume, leaving application and data volume(s) untouched.
  • Segment operating system volume from applications and data for reasons of security.
  • Operating system constraints (e.g. an older operating system which might only recognize the first 2GB or 8GB of a larger hard disk during bootup and won't recognize the rest of the hard disk until further in the boot process.
  • Personal preference of person administering the computer.


I'm sure there are many other reasons, but those were just off the top of my head.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 573
Poll: X:\Program Files
Jun 21 2003, 05:57 AM
I install applications to my D: volume, using the following directory structure:
    D:\Program Files\{company or author's name}\{application name}
So, for example, Microsoft Office gets installed to
    D:\Program Files\Microsoft\Office
and so forth. I do not include version numbers (or other revision information) as part of the directory naming scheme.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Windows Fanatics 573 Windows Media Player 7.1 Jun 21 2003, 05:49 AM
I mis-read your original post--swapping audio for video.

Installing (or reinstalling) the latest device drivers for the video card would probably be a good idea, as would upgrading the version of DirectX on the computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 687 Loadqm Jun 21 2003, 05:32 AM
I do not actually have this file starting on any of my computers here, but I would suggest checking the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Registry keys for instances of the LOADQM.EXE program. If present, removing the entry should prevent it from starting the next time the computer is booted.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 339 Searching Lockergnome Archives Jun 20 2003, 09:42 AM
I found a program named DAMN_NFO_Viewer mentioned in this message thread on the forum.

Is that what you were thinking of?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 194 Installing Windows Xp On Compaq Presarion Jun 20 2003, 09:31 AM
Here is one more thing you might want to try: Create a DOS-bootable floppy diskette, with DEBUG.EXE on it and also a text file named WIPEMBR.DBG consisting of the following:


RAX
0301
RBX
1000
RCX
1
RDX
80
F100 L200 0
A
INT13
INT3

G


Note that the second-to-last line--the one before the G--is blank; it's just a carriage-return.

What this debug script does is erase the first sector of the first hard disk in the computer. If there is some sort of proprietary masking scheme, that should get rid of it.

To use the script, boot up from the floppy diskette as normal, then type in:


DEBUG < WIPEMBR.DBG


at the command prompt. It should just take a second or two to execute. After it's finished, remove the diskette, power down the computer, and try beginning your Microsoft Windows installation again.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Windows Fanatics 2068 Can Not Print Pdf Files To Print Server Jun 20 2003, 09:15 AM
Do other documents print correctly to the fax server from the computer in question, or is the problem limited to .PDF files?

Have you tried printing different .PDF files to see if the problem is limited to the one file you are trying to print?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 238 Need Help Jun 20 2003, 09:12 AM
If you have a mixture of DirectX versions on your computer that could explain the problem. You might want to try running the DirectX Diagnostics program by clicking on Start -> Run and entering "DXDIAG" for the program name. Does it have anything interesting to say about file versions on the DirectX Files tab?

If so, re-installing the latest version of DirectX might solve the problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 433 Monitor Power Problems Jun 20 2003, 08:56 AM
Has sufficient time elapsed yet to tell if it is the video card in the first computer?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 580 Nat And Netmeeting Jun 20 2003, 08:54 AM
I may be completely wrong about this, but I was under the impression that Microsoft NetMeeting was considered a "mature" product for which active development had ceased in favor of Greenwich, Microsoft's new unified messaging platform.

You might want to check in with Belkin's technical support about the possibility of a firmware upgrade to provide seamless Netmeeting support.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 201 Driver Trouble Jun 20 2003, 08:45 AM
One micro-caveat to wolf9545's excellent suggestions: If you are running Microsoft Windows XP (or 2000 or NT) be sure to log in using the Administrator account or one with Administrator privileges before attempting removal of hardware through the Device Manager, just in case your current account doesn't have sufficient privileges to do so.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 1316 Gnomie Bashing Jun 20 2003, 08:40 AM
People tend to behave quite differently online than in daily interactions with others. With virtual personae comes a sense of anonymity which, to some, implies a sense of power (or control) that is perhaps otherwise lacking in their lives. Free of the constraints that plague them in society and perhaps even feeling a little emboldened by the belief they cannot be identified they engage in an escalating pattern of disruptive behavior.

Fortunately, most members of the forum seem cognizant of this behavior and deal with it accordingly, politely and patiently explaining to such individuals what is and is not appropriate for this online community.

A lot of effort goes into building virtual communities, much of which is invisible to its members. Dealing with such situations is truly one of the most demanding, draining, and, frankly, thankless tasks there is.

Personally, I feel the forum Moderators and Administrators have done an outstanding job in responding to such situations when necessary with a sense of decorum and professionalism.

But, of course, that's just my opinion.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Technobabble 275 Task Bar Jun 20 2003, 08:10 AM
I believe the delay time for the Start Menu can be adjusted using Microsoft's TweakUI utility.

After installation run TweakUI from the Control Panel and click on the Mouse tab. In the Menu Speed section is a slider you can use to adjust the speed at which menu items appear.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 287 19" Crt's Jun 20 2003, 07:44 AM
I have had nothing but good experiences with SONY and NEC monitors in the past. ViewSonic's monitors are good, too, and usually less expensive.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 255 Windows Media Player 7.1 Jun 20 2003, 07:40 AM
Do other programs besides Microsoft Windows Media Player 7.1 play audio properly? Can Media Player play regular .WAV files?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 687 Vertical Text Jun 19 2003, 07:42 AM
Has your friend tried reinstalling the device drivers for the laptop's video card?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 163 Need Help Jun 19 2003, 07:39 AM
It really is quite strange that such a problem would occur just by changing the monitor. Have you tried checking with SONY technical support directly to see if they have any suggestions you might try?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 433 Dell Server Discussed In A Previous Article Jun 19 2003, 07:34 AM
That might have been a limited-time offer.

Keep reading the Lockergnome newsletters, though, you never know when they'll mention another one.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 436 An Interesting New Virus Scanner Jun 19 2003, 06:13 AM
V-Buster has actually been around for a while--at least ten years. It's an Australian anti-virus program with a following in ASEAN and has been marketed occasionally in Europe and the U.S.

It's generally done okay in tests by Virus Bulletin magazine.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 273 Command To Reboot? Jun 19 2003, 05:57 AM
Try opening a command prompt and typing "SHUTDOWN /?" at it. That should tell you what command-line options are supported by the Shutdown command on your computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 362 Agp Problems Jun 19 2003, 05:54 AM
I would think that a computer a would require more power (and, conversely, generate more waste heat) when doing something that taxes the limits of the processor and the video, but I could be wrong.

Unfortunately, I'm really not sure what else to suggest.

When you solve the problem, you could please let us know with a post in the forum? I certainly would like to know what the solution was, as I'm sure are other forum members.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 324 How To Restart Pc When Connection Lost Jun 19 2003, 05:49 AM
It seems that a root or underlying cause of the problem is that the network connection is periodically reset.

You mentioned that you are using a USB-based xDSL modem. I'm also guessing that you are using some form of Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing since you have a home LAN. I'm wondering if this may be contributing to the instability of the network connection.

Out of curiosity, have you tried using something like an xDSL modem with an Ethernet network interface coupled with one of the little router-with-integrated-switch boxes to see if that makes any difference in connection reliability?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 368 Installing Windows Xp On Compaq Presarion Jun 19 2003, 05:43 AM
I would think that an FDISK /MBR followed by running FDISK interactively from the command-line would remove any hidden partitions, but it's always possible there's some sort of proprietary function in the BIOS which keeps a partition "hidden" from FDISK. But I'm not very familiar with Compaq Presario systems so cannot answer that definitively.

As far as the QuickRestore CD goes, I would have assumed the disk would re-create or rebuild any hidden partitions if they were missing or damaged. I know that some of IBM's restore discs for their ThinkPad line of notebook computers do this. Again, though, I'm not a Compaq Presario expert. HP (neé Compaq) has a lot of different Presario models and the few that I have been inside were all radically different from each other.

Out of curiosity, have you contacted Compaq's technical support to see if they have any suggestions or tips to try? There may be something that's Compaq-specific you need to do in order to get the machine up and running.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 2068 Nat And Netmeeting Jun 19 2003, 05:34 AM
As you have found out, Microsoft Netmeeting does not work very well with network address translation. As you can see from this article from Microsoft's knowledge base, Netmeeting assigns a random port between 1,024 and 65,535 to stream data.

If your router has a DMZ, you can then place your computer in it and make the connection thusly. According to this article from Belkin's web site it seems this is possible, but I am unfamiliar with their routers so cannot offer any specific advice on how to configure it.

Another possibility is to use a different brand of router which supports Netmeeting, such as the Netopia Cayman 3300 or Nexland ISB SOHO models.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Net Connections 201 Building Pc Jun 19 2003, 05:13 AM
The plastic hood or "shroud" is just there to show you how the connection is "keyed," e.g., the "hole" in it lines up with the "bump" on the cable's connector. It does not provide any shielding nor is it used to carry a signal.

So, as Greengeek said, it shouldn't be a problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 230 Monitor Power Problems Jun 18 2003, 07:40 AM
Have you tried connecting the monitor to a different computer to see if that makes any difference? If so, it could be an issue specifically with the video card the monitor is attached to, as opposed to the monitor itself.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 580 Ddr Pc3200 Opinions Jun 18 2003, 07:15 AM
It's an Intel D875PBZ motherboard with an Intel Pentium 2.4GHz CPU.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 168 Command To Reboot? Jun 18 2003, 07:03 AM
Have you tried using the Shutdown command to restart the computer in question? The syntax is:

SHUTDOWN \\computername -R

Where "\\computername" is the name of the computer in question and the "-R" tells it to reboot, as opposed to just shutdown.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 362 Installing Windows Xp On Compaq Presarion Jun 18 2003, 06:58 AM
I'm not particularly familar with Compaq Presario 7500 (or 7450) computers, but I would think you'd want to start by going into the BIOS and telling it to reset all the options to their "default" or "failsafe" values.

Then, visit the hard disk drive manufacturer's web site and download the appropriate diagnostic program(s) to test and "re-certify" the hard disk drive for use. It is very likely this will perform the equivalent operation of a low-level format of the hard disk drive and wipe its contents, so any valuable data on the drive should be backed up before proceeding.

Once you've done that, you can use your Microsoft Windows XP installation disc to install the new operating system to your empty hard disk drive. If it is an upgrade version, you'll probably be prompted to insert an old operating system disc to show proof of ownership of an older Microsoft operating system. If your computer did not come with a Microsoft Windows 98 installation disc try using the QuickRestore disc in its place.

Here is a list of device driver, BIOS and software updates for the Compaq Presario 7450 series of desktop computers. You might want to download them, burn them onto a CD-R or otherwise have them available for installation after you finish installing Microsoft Windows XP.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 2068 Clean Install With Windows 2000 Pro? Jun 18 2003, 06:49 AM
If you want to start from scratch, so to speak, you should consider wiping the hard disk drive before beginning your Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional installation.

Although most--if not all--modern ATA hard disk drives cannot be low-level formatted, most hard drive manufacturers provide a program to "wipe" or otherwise "recertify" the drive for use, usually in the form of a self-booting diskette.

Before attempting anything, though, I would suggest you verify your backup set works, possibly by restoring it in whole or in part to another computer. That way, if there's some sort of a problem, you can be sure your valuable data hasn't been compromised. Remember: It's a lot cheaper to buy backup media than it is to recreate data.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 217 Need Help Jun 17 2003, 08:18 AM
I too have a SONY brand monitor. Mine's a CPD-20SF2, which is probably a bit older than yours--it's three or four years old now, I think.

It too is a Plug & Play device and, as such, does not require device drivers.

However, looking around on SONY's Display Support web site, I found a downloadable set of drivers for my monitor (and several other models from the same era), which I installed without incident.

You might want to check the Display Support web site, just in case there are display device drivers for your monitor, too.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 433 Xp Hotfixes. Jun 17 2003, 07:55 AM
It should be safe to remove all of them, however, why not just try starting with the Q811493 hot fix and see if that solves the problem? Some of those hot fixes are for security issues, and removing them could leave your computer open to possible vulnerabilities.

If the computer works "speedily" after removing the old Q811493 hot fix, why not try installing the updated version from Microsoft's support web site as mentioned in the previous message?

That way, you'll have the benefits of both worlds: A speedy and a secure computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 1737 Ram, Speed Vs Quantity Question Jun 17 2003, 07:40 AM
Kingston manufactures and sells RAMBUS RIMMs, and many companies such as Corsair and Googlegear sell them and/or RIMMs manufactured by Samsung.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 356 Ram, Speed Vs Quantity Question Jun 17 2003, 07:31 AM
It might be helpful if you were to tell us more about the computer's intended use(s). The more memory you have, the more information your computer can store hold in it without having to access the much-slower disk drive(s). There is, however, is sort of a "law of diminishing returns" where adding more memory is only going to improve performance incrementally (as opposed to scaling linearly), so having faster memory might be more important than having more more memory.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 356 Context Menu Jun 17 2003, 07:17 AM
Several other forum members have had similar problems. There were several different reasons, and some of them were able to solve the problem. You might want to try viewing the message threads here, here and here to see if any of the solutions apply to your situation.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 234 Remote Booting A Pc Jun 17 2003, 06:49 AM
It sounds like you're looking for a device such as this Network Power Switch from BlackBox or this line of equipment from WTI to remotely turn the computer on. They are not inexpensive, but I've used similar devices to remotely reset locked-up servers.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 1255 Cutting Off Access Jun 17 2003, 06:40 AM
Have you considered installing a third-party Internet access manager such as NetNanny? I have used this program in a similar situation with good results.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 1579 Agp Problems Jun 17 2003, 06:30 AM
Depending upon what other peripherals are installed in the computer, 235 watts may not be enough to power everything when it is attempting to run at "full capacity." Installing a higher-wattage power supply of, say, 300-350 watts (or more) might solve the problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 324 Downloading Windows Updates Jun 17 2003, 06:25 AM
You did not mention which version of Windows you are running, so this may not be relevant, but have you tried logging in to your computer using the Administrator account and then visiting the Windows Update web site?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 228 Ie 6 Service Pack? Yes Or No? Jun 17 2003, 06:17 AM
I have been using Internet Explorer 6.0SP1 with the June, 2003 Cumulative Update since it came out without incident. My web use is casual, though, visiting manufacturer's web sites, news web sites and so forth. I'm not certainly not accessing any complex web sites or designing any, so it's possible there's some latent bug I haven't exercised yet being present in the code.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 371 Going Crazy Over This One Jun 17 2003, 05:47 AM
Is this a recent problem, has it always occurred, or is it a case of not knowing since all the components are too new to give a history?

Have you tried running a memory test program such as MemTest86 to see if there are any problems with memory? If so, what did it report?

Have you tried resetting all the BIOS settings to their default options to see if that makes any difference?

Although unlikely, one possibility is the heat sink is not making good contact with the CPU. As the CPU heats up (and expands) a gap could be occurring between it and the heat sink which triggers a thermal overload and resulting shut down. Removing the existing thermal pad material (I'm assuming it's a thermal pad) and replacing it with a good thermal compound like Arctic Silver might solve the problem in such a case.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 277 Defragging Jun 17 2003, 05:37 AM
I would imagine the need to defragment, pack and/or optimize a volume depends upon what sort of file system it was formatted with and the type of files on it.

For example, I would expect a volume which contains only application programs to be relatively static. As long as none of the programs which are on it change (due to updates, reinstallation, and so forth) or are removed, there would be little opportunity for fragmentation of the files or file system data structures (e.g., the FAT or MFT).

On the other hand, a volume which contains lots and lots (say, thousands or tens of thousands) of small, frequently-changed files would tend to fragment more quickly and thus require defragmentation, et al, more frequently.

I was under the impression stiction occurred when surfaces in contact started to bond as a result of resting against each other--in effect, become welded together. I can see how this would occur on rotating media if the head parked directly on the platters when powered down or in "suspend" mode, but don't drives these days maintain an "air gap" even when parked? As long as the media is rotating this wouldn't be an issue, correct? I believe SCSI and newer SATA drives are rated for this type of 7x24x365 operation, which would greatly reduce stiction as being a factor in drive crashes. Of course, there's always "catastrophic head crashes," but I haven't seen one or had one reported to me in a long time.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 496 Record Audio From Voicemail System Jun 17 2003, 05:07 AM
Probably the easiest way to copy the voice mails would be to purchase a recording device such as one of the these, then dial into the voice mail system and record the messages to tape.

They can then be transferred to a computer for further editing and conversion, writing to disc and so forth.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 244 Ddr Pc3200 Opinions Jun 17 2003, 04:53 AM
My primary system uses a matched pair of Corsair XMS3200 512MB memory modules, model TWINX1024-3200LL which I installed about a week ago.

The computer works fine; I haven't had any memory-related problems.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 168 Display Settings Change After Nero Jun 17 2003, 04:46 AM
Have you tried obtaining the latest device drivers for your video card and installing them? If so, did that make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 296 Mp3 Jun 17 2003, 04:43 AM
Amazon.COM has some MP3s available for download. MusicMatch also has a service, though it is unclear to me if that is bona-fide downloads, or just streaming audio.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 280 Problems Installing Windows Oses Jun 17 2003, 04:39 AM
You may want to try a visual inspection of your Windows installation disc to see if it is scratched or dirty. If so, try cleaning it with some water and a soft, damp lint-free cloth. Don't use anything like paper towels or tissue since they can scratch the surface of the CD.

If you still have trouble installing Windows afterwards, you might want to try using a CD-ROM drive lens cleaner and see if that makes any difference.

If you think the problem might be with the hard drive itself, then try visiting the hard drive manufacturer's web site and download their diagnostic software. Usually it is in the form of a self-booting disk that can run a variety of tests on the hard disk drive to see if there are any problems with it. Be careful when doing so, though: Some of the tests are "destructive" and will erase the contents of the hard disk when performed.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 233 Avg Anti-virus System Jun 17 2003, 04:16 AM
It could be that the files in question were in use by the operating system and locked for exclusive access by it.

If that is the case, it may be possible to start the computer from a DOS-bootable floppy disk to check the files, depending upon the operating and file system(s) on the computer's hard disk drive. Another possibility might be to start the computer in Safe Mode and then try checking the files in question for computer viruses.

You may also want to check with AVG's technical support department; it could be this is known, documented behavior for your operating system.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 347 Ex/import Email Files To New Computer? Jun 17 2003, 04:11 AM
I'm not very familiar with Netscape Communicator, but have you tried just copying your old installation of Netscape Communicator 4.x in its entirety to the new laptop over the network, importing that into your new installation of Netscape Communicator 7.0, and then removing the directory containing the old Netscape Communicator 4.x files from the laptop?

Another possibility might be to try exporting the mail store from the old laptop into a third-party format, say Microsoft Outlook Express or Qualcomm Eudora, and then importing the resulting file(s) into the new laptop's Netscape Communicator 7.0 installation.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 332 Win95 Question Jun 17 2003, 04:02 AM
It's been a while since I've had to look into this, but what I believe you want to do is set up a System Policy to limit access to the computer using the System Policy Editor (filename: POLEDIT.EXE) including on your Windows installation disc.

Information on using System Policy Editor can be found here, here and here on Microsoft's support web site.

It would probably be a good idea to purchase a copy of the Microsoft Windows 95 Resource Kit book (or Windows 98, if you wish to use that), so you can review the sections on implementing System Policies.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 177 Two Problems Jun 17 2003, 03:49 AM
Another forum member reported having a similar problem here.

As far as I know, a solution was never reported, so you might want to try the various things mentioned there, including Option^Explicit's suggestion about a corrupt registry key.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 509 Pc Loses Time Jun 17 2003, 03:42 AM
It is not uncommon for computer's clocks to get out of sync, even by the amount you are experiencing. Although this can be due to the BIOS' CMOS memory/RTC backup battery failing, it can also be caused by software, as seen here in this knowledge base article about Microsoft Windows 95 and 98 from IBM's web site.

On recent motherboards, the CMOS/RTC backup battery is usually the ubiquitous CR-2032 3-volt lithium-ion coin cell, which can be found at computer and electronics stores, camera stores, drug stores, home improvement stores, supermarkets and so forth. In short, just about any place that is likely to sell batteries.

If replacing the battery does not solve the problem, then one of the many clock synchronization programs mentioned can be run periodically to set the computer's clock.

Although pretty unlikely, it is possible that the clock drift could be caused by a bug (programming error, not virus, that is) in the computer's BIOS. If so, upgrading the BIOS to a newer version may fix the problem. That is something you'd want to ask the computer system or motherboard vendor.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 228 Need Help Jun 17 2003, 03:19 AM
It sounds like your video card is using display settings your new monitor cannot accept.

Here's how to fix it:


  • Right-click on any empty spot on your Desktop, select Properties from the pop-up menu to open the Display Properties window.
  • In the Display Properties window click on the Settings tab and then the Advanced button to view the advanced settings for the display.
  • In the Advanced Display Settings window click on the Monitors tab and then the Properties button to view the properties for the monitor.
  • In the Monitor Properties window click on the Drivers tab and then the Update Driver button and allow Windows to automatically install the correct driver software for your monitor.


That should fix things. If it doesn't you may need to obtain new monitor drivers directly from the monitor manufacturer. Once you've done that you can repeat the process above, except you can tell Windows to install the drivers from a specific location instead of automatically finding them.

Oh, if you've run any sort of third-party program to lock you're monitor's refresh rate settings then you'll need to deactivate or uninstall that before beginning.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 433 Moving Settings Default Jun 17 2003, 03:08 AM
I don't have a complete answer to your question, but you can change the location of some files within User Profile directories by editing the [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders] registry key.

For more information, click here to view an article on WinGuides web site.

This can also be done using the popular TweakUI utility from Microsoft

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 332 Xp Hotfixes. Jun 17 2003, 03:00 AM
Microsoft released a hot-fix for Windows NT, 2000 and XP to fix a security hole which you can read about here:

MS03-013: Buffer Overrun in Windows Kernel Message Handling Could Lead to Elevated Privileges

Unforutunately, this fix introduced a problem which greatly slowed down disk access on computers, especially when running anti-virus programs which intercept file I/O operations. You can read more about the problem here:

You May Experience Performance Issues After You Install the 811493 (MS03-013) Package on Your Windows XP SP1-Based Computer

Microsoft has since fixed the problem and re-released the hot fix, which you can download from here for Microsoft Windows XP Professional and Home Editions.

Before installing this, though, you will probably want to uninstall the previous version. You can do this by opening the Control Panel and clicking on the Add or Remove Programs icon inside the Control Panel. Scroll down through the list of installed programs until you see one named Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) Q811493 (or something similar). Click on it to highlight it and display more information, and then click on the Remove button to remove it. You may need to reboot in order to finish the uninstallation process.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 1737 Need Help Jun 17 2003, 02:45 AM
Is this something which just suddenly started occurring, or has it always happened with your computer? How many DirectX-capable programs has this occurred with? Are you overclocking your CPU? If so, does restoring it to the manufacturer's rated speed make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 433 Affordable Wi-fi Pci Card? Jun 14 2003, 08:00 AM
I'm sorry about that--I should have been more clear with my question.

What I was asking for was an explanation of how your network was set up. A written diagram, if you will, of how things are connected. For example, here's mine:

My Internet connection is via a Motorola Surfboard SB4100 cable modem connected to a Linksys BEFSR41 Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port Switch router. My computer is plugged directly into router as is a Proxim ORiNOCO AP-1000 access point, which provides wireless access to the rest of my house.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Net Connections 446 Agp Problems Jun 14 2003, 07:40 AM
Perhaps the video card is overheating and/or not receiving enough power?

Do you have an adequate power supply and air-flow through the case? if not, that could be the reason the problem is occurring.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 324 E-mail Software? Jun 14 2003, 07:29 AM
Eudora does display images and HTML in messages. There is an option in it to display messages "using Microsoft's viewer" which uses Internet Explorer's engine to render them, I believe.

I myself run Eudora with this option disabled, which limits HTML support to displaying a font's typeface, color and size but not other features such as graphics, frames or background colors. Once in a while someone sends a message using a white-colored font which won't display without re-enabling the Microsoft viewer or copying-and-pasting the message into Notepad, but that's a fairly rare occurrence for me.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Tech News Watch 898 Xp - Home / Pro - Jun 13 2003, 02:49 AM
I am not particularly familiar with Dell's licensing terms, but it is very likely the copy of Microsoft Windows Home Edition which came with it is only for use on that particular computer.

OEM versions of operating system software such as Microsoft Windows generally come with more restrictive terms than their retail counterparts. OEM version are also, generally speaking, less expensive which is why computer manufacturers like Dell use them instead of providing you with full retail versions.

In any case, you may not even be able to install the operating system on the other computer: It could be the OEM version checks the computer's BIOS during installation for a copyright message or other signature which identifies the hardware as Dell's. If the hardware cannot be identified, installation will not proceed.

Probably the best thing to do would be to check the documentation which came with the computer to see what it says, if anything, about transferring the license.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 398 Windows 2000 Vs Xp Jun 13 2003, 02:29 AM
Functionally, the two operating systems are very similiar, so it may not make much of a difference.

Game support may be a tad better on Microsoft Windows XP but I don't do enough gaming on either platform to offer any sort of evidence for or against that.

One thing that may make a difference is that Microsoft will support Windows XP Professional Edition for a bit longer than Windows 2000 Professional Edition. Of course, by that time you'll probably be ready for a new computer with a new operating system.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 316 Floppy Drive Jun 13 2003, 02:22 AM
To add to TimFeld's very complete list:


  • The floppy disk drive itself may be getting flexed out of shape by incorrect installation inside the case. I've only seen this happen once, but it is possibility, albeit a small one.
  • Improper settings in the BIOS for the floppy drive.


In either case, the solution is fairly simple: For the former, remove the floppy disk drive and reinstall it correctly in the case. For the latter, change the BIOS settings so they are correct.

Another possibility is a bad floppy disk drive cable. You can try swapping that out with another one if you believe that may be the problem in order to see if it makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 260 E-mail Software? Jun 13 2003, 02:14 AM
I've been very happy with Qualcomm's Eudora email client. I have been using the Windows version since around 1995 or so without major incident.

In no particular order, here are some of the reasons I like it better than Microsoft Outlook:


  • Messages are stored in ASCII text files, which can be viewed, edited outside the mail client, if necessary. It also means email can be saved off to ZIP files for archiving without impacting the program.
  • Message attachments are saved into a separate directory, where they can be viewed (and deleted) at your leisure.
  • Setting up filters in Eudora is much simpler and quicker to do then in Outlook. They are also more powerful. At a former employer I had created an automated email response system using Eudora's filters which answered questions correctly over two-thirds of the time.
  • RFC-822 headers can be displayed by default in Eudora, instead of having to go through a complicated multi-step process to view each individual message's headers like you have to do in Outlook. Admittedly, that's something which everyone doesn't need, but for supporting customers it can often be pretty useful to see how their mail reaches you, or vice-versa.


Eudora does not, however, have any PIM functionality other than its address book, which is rather crude in comparison to Outlook's. For that I use Palm Desktop which works fine even if you don't have a Palm PDA.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 898 Xp Giu Verify On Copy? Jun 13 2003, 01:55 AM
I recall reading about a program in Lockergnome recently that allowed you to copy with verify, throttle bandwidth and so forth.

Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find it--or rather, all the searches I tried have produced too many false positives.

Looking around, I did find a program called Copy Handler which sounds like it might be a solution. Another possibility is TotalCopy, but the author's web site is down so I cannot tell for certain.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 227 Affordable Wi-fi Pci Card? Jun 13 2003, 01:33 AM
I'm not familiar with CompUSA's self-branded WiFi products, so I may not be able to help very much, but perhaps you could tell us a bit more about your network's topology? With that information perhaps we can figure out why the WLAN portion isn't working.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Net Connections 446 Convert To Pdf Jun 12 2003, 05:28 AM
It may not exactly be what you are looking for, but Adobe does offer a free trial of their online Create Adobe PDF service. The free trial provides five document "conversions" after which you can purchase unlimited monthly usage for $10.00USD a month or $100.00USD a year.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 355 Memory Leak Problem Jun 12 2003, 05:23 AM
Given the amount of time and money you have invested in the computer already the least expensive solution would probably be to do exactly what GerryC suggested, i.e., erase the hard disk and begin anew (after backing up all your valuable data, of course). Another option would be to buy a new hard disk drive, set up the computer configured as you like it, and then copy the data off of the old hard disk drive to the new one.

Have you tried approaching the original reseller to see if they would provide you with a recovery CD? Most vendors will do this for a nomimal shipping and handling fee.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 406 Issue With New Install Of Win Xp Jun 12 2003, 05:16 AM
Is the computer over-clocked? If so, does restoring it to the manufacturer's recommending settings make any difference?

Also, have you checked the BIOS to see if there is an option to load "fail safe" or "compatibility" settings? Enabling this may slow some operations down slightly, but it might also allow the installation to proceed successfully. Afterwards you can always go back and tweak any settings you like to improve performance.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 384 Here's A Peet's Deal Jun 12 2003, 05:12 AM
I was in the San Francisco Bay Area recently and I thought I saw vacuum-sealed bags of Peets at Lunardi's supermarket. I was in something of a hurry, though, so didn't investigate this any further nor did I get a chance to make another trip to the grocery store.

You could always try contacting them to see if it's available in your neighborhood.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Technobabble 511 Mobile Workstation Cart Jun 12 2003, 05:00 AM
That's an interesting approach to selling computers.

Depending upon the number, size and weight of computers you intend to bring to market you may want to go with self-assembled tables or perhaps shelving units of some sort with casters or wheels on them.

Rubbermaid sells several lines of carts such as these which might do, or you may want to consider something like one of AnthroCart's eponymous AnthroCarts.

As far as electricity goes, if there isn't an adequate feed available at the flea market, you may wish to get an LPG-, gasoline- or Diesel-powered generator to power the computers. I understand most inexpensive generators provide relative "noisy" power; they may not be the best things for a computer's power supply to be run from due to spikes, over- and under-voltages, and so forth. You might want to consider placing a UPS or line conditioner between the generator and computers in order to "shape" the electricity into something safer for the computers to use.

I'm not sure how easy it would be to move all this equipment, though. You'd probably want to have a something like a moving truck with an integrated ramp or lift to move all the equipment around.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 211 Memory Leak Problem Jun 11 2003, 09:07 AM
Usually (always?) a memory leak is caused by software. A computer program allocates (requests) memory from the operating system and does not release the memory back to the operating system when it's finished using it. By computer program I mean any sort of program which runs on the computer, such as utilities, device drivers and ever programs included with the operating system, not just applications. I suppose a faulty memory module could exacerbate the problem, but I've never heard of such a situation.

You mentioned that you have upgraded the computer's hardware with a new motherboard, CPU, memory and CD-RW. I take it you upgraded from different hardware and because you do not have some of the installation discs for the software on the computer, you did not do a reformat and reinstall? If that is the case, it's going to be tricky and time-consuming to hunt down: The problem could be with applications or utility software, or it could be an due to an incompatibility with the new hardware and any old, incompatible device drivers from or settings in the operating system for the previous hardware. And it could also be due to an interaction of two or more programs, drivers, and so forth.

The first thing I'd suggest is backing up all of your data. Any documents, email, address books, web browser bookmarks and anything else you cannot replace should be saved. If it's valuable, consider making two different back up sets and, of course, verifying they can be read, preferably on a separate computer.

Once you've got you're backups made, I'd suggest you start with running Windows Update and seeing if there are any operating system updates for Windows Millennium Edidion available. If so, try installing them and seeing if that makes any difference. If that doesn't, try visiting the support web sites for various manufacturer's of the computer's hardware to obtain the latest device drivers, followed by visiting the software vendor's web site and repeating the process.

Does the problem still occur after updating everything to their respective latest versions?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 406 Computer Access With A Floppy Jun 11 2003, 03:55 AM
It sounds like you need to secure--or at least restrict access--to a computer.

As you can see from the many excellent replies, each step to reduce access usually has a counterpart to restore or grant access.

The first thing you need to start with is the physical. If a case has side panels of plastic, it will be relatively easy to bend or cut through them in order to gain access to the system. Consider replacing the case with a an all-steel one such as this Small Tower chassis from California PC Products, or even an industrial PC chassis. Next, you'll want to secure the case with some tamper-proof screws. Companies like Bryce Fastener make tamper-proof screws, including ones with custom heads that they'll only sell to one individual. As you can imagine, the latter are rather expensive, so you may wish to go with something like Directron's CPU Security Lock, which is a screw which requires a special barrel key for removal.

Once you've locked down the outside, you can begin securing the inside. Look into various security solutions such as a key lock on the computer's power, and various physical and biometric solutions (smart cards or tokens, finger print readers, and so forth).

After you've installed your hardware and software and configured your security, remove all the removable media drives such as floppy diskette and CD-ROM disc drives, and go into the BIOS and disable booting from anything other than the hard drive, including booting from or even accessing external USB, FireWire or SCSI ports and so forth. You'll also want to prevent the BIOS from being updated (through either a jumper on the motherboard or an option in the BIOS itself to disable updating).

Another thing to consider is placing the hard disk drive in some sort of removable carrier and taking that with you when the computer is not in use. Hard drives are fragile devices so you'll want to get some sort of anti-static padded carrier for the removable drive tray, such as those used for cameras. Also, keep in mind that the connectors on removable drives are rated for a finite number of insertion/extraction cycles. Don't just get an plastic tray from the local computer store. Go with a quality all-metal solution from a company like Storcase or one of CRU.

While this won't prevent a determined individual from getting into your computer, it will greatly increase the complexity and, thus, time required to do so. If it is just someone casually snooping, then removing the easy points of entry (e.g., the "low hanging fruit") will likely frustrate them so they'll go somewhere else.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 383 Fans, Laptops And Overheating Jun 11 2003, 02:50 AM
Unfortunately, I'm not particularly familiar with this particular brand and model of laptop. Most laptops these days have a "trap door" on the bottom which covers the memory expansion slots. Removing that should let you see how many slots are free for installing additional memory.

I didn't see anything like that mentioned in the manual I looked at from Samsung's web site, but it just might not be mentioned in that one, or perhaps its located in a different location (e.g., under the keyboard).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 1450 Erd In Winxppro Jun 11 2003, 02:38 AM
While it may not exactly be what you're looking for, you can also place a sepearte installation of the Recovery Console on your hard drive, which can be useful for fixing things. To do so, insert your Windows XP Professional Edition installation disc and type "x:\I386\WINNT32.EXE /CMDCONS" at the Run Prompt, where x is your CD-ROM's drive letter.

For more information on installing and using the Recovery console, read this, this and this article from Microsoft's support web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Windows Fanatics 325 Bare Bones Setup Jun 11 2003, 02:12 AM
Let's see...
For a motherboard, CPU and RAM Googlegear has Intel D815EGEW for $61.00USD for one unit, along with Kingston 256MB PC133 DIMMs for $35.00USD and Intel 1.30A GHz Celeron CPUs for $47.00USD, all at quantity one. That's $143.00USD at single unit pricing, not including shipping and handling costs. The motherboards have on-board audio and video, but you'll still need to provide a NIC. I know it's a little less than you were looking for, CPU-wise, but it saves quite a bit more money. You could always go with an Intel Pentium III Tualatin-core 1.13GHz CPU at $105.00USD. That's only $58.00USD more per system.

Another possibility would be to go with something like an Intel D845GEBV2L motherboard for $105.00USD, which feature on-board video, sound and NIC, along with an Intel 2.2GHz Celeron for $77.00USD. A Crucial 256MB DIMM would cost $33.00USD, for a total of $225.00USD per system for the CPU, motherboard and memory. These motherboards support 533MHz CPUs and have an AGP slot, so they could be further upgraded at just an incremental cost.

For storage, Googlegear has a 40GB Maxtor hard disk drive for $54.00USD and an Asus 52X CD-RW for $50.00USD, for a total of $104.00USD. Again, with one-unit pricing and not including shipping costs.

One thing I have to ask, though: Does everyone really need a CD-RW drive, or do they just want them? That adds an additional $50.00USD or so to the cost of each system, and since the computers are being backed up over the network nightly, perhaps it is less of a necessity than a desire. Maybe you just need to purchase one or two CD-RW drives for people who need to create CDs? The saved monies could go into purchasing a higher-capacity backup solution or additional media for your existing one.

I picked Googlegear just as an example, since they're one firm I've bought things from without anything "memorable" or "eventful" happening. If they are not always the lowest-priced, but they are usually the second- or third-lowest priced, and I'm willing to pay a little premium for some peace of mind. Other companies I've purchased from and had good experiences are AccessMicro, Directron and NewEgg.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 398 View Startup Files In Dos Jun 11 2003, 01:07 AM
The exact error message you are receiving is "EXPLORER caused an invalid page fault in module EXPLORER.EXE at 0167:00401f31"?

Just out of curiosity, have you tried searching your hard disk for all occurrences of a file named COMCTL32.DLL, renaming all of them except for the newest one to something like COMCTL32.OLD or COMCTL32.BAK, and moving that latest one in to your C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 directory?

If so, did that seem to make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 453 View Startup Files In Dos Jun 11 2003, 12:53 AM
When you start the computer in Safe Mode try holding down the Shift keys as soon as the graphic user interface starts and until the Desktop appears.

This should prevent any third-party programs from running at startup.

If you are able to boot the computer from a Windows 98 installation floppy diskette and access the hard disk drive then you should be able to view the contents of the Startup Folder, as well as being able to check the SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI files for any LOAD= or RUN= lines that don't belong.

Getting into the system registry is going to be a little trickier. After doing a "SCANREG /BACKUP" you might be able to use Florian Balmer's free REGDEL program to erase the HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run keys, assuming it can be run after booting the system from a floppy. I've contacted the author to inquire about this, but have not received a reply yet.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 453 Deleting Files In Dos Jun 7 2003, 01:22 AM
I originally tried that little batch file in a Windows XP Command Prompt, not from a DOS boot disk. The results, as you noticed, were quite different.

After booting from a Windows 98SE boot disk I found the following does work, although the complete path and filename is no longer displayed:


FOR %%A IN (*.*) DO DEL %%A


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 619 Resurrected Old Laptop, Need Advice. Jun 7 2003, 12:57 AM
A dollar or so per megabyte doesn't sound too bad for what probably is a proprietary part. But you might be able to do better by shopping around or looking on eBay.

You might want to consider increasing the memory then if the software programs mentioned don't give you the performance you're looking for from your old laptop.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 230 Aniti-virus Programs Jun 7 2003, 12:38 AM
There are many different anti-virus programs out there besides the couple which dominate the retail channel.

It is actually one of the few areas in which niche players can compete against giants because purchases are often made on technical merits--not because of the size of the vendor.

Rather then recommend a specific product or products, I would suggest looking at the Virus Bulletin's web site and read up on their VB100% award, which rates anti-virus software's ability to detect a range of viruses. If you are going to use that as part of your decision making process be sure to llook at how products have performed over a year or two. Don't just make your decision based on what the current "top" product is--that title changes frequently.

As far as additional security functions go (software-based firewall, intrusion detection, spam, secure file deletion, et cetera) you might be better off going with best-of-breed programs for each product, as opposed to getting an all-encompassing suite. While the latter may be easier to update it may not offer the same level of performance as individual programs.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 487 Fans, Laptops And Overheating Jun 6 2003, 06:39 AM
Having just purchased a new laptop myself with the past few weeks I have made one observation: Modern laptops run hot. You might want to consider investing in a laptop "desk." These are plastic "wedges" of various design with elevate the laptops rear, not only improving the typing angle but increasing the flow of air beneath it. Air circulating beneath your laptop will make it run cooler, since the heat that would otherwise be trapped and reflected back into it is dispersed. I believe Lockergnome's own Randy Nieland reviewed LapWorks' laptop desk recently, and other companies such as Targus make them as well.

From what I understand of the SETI@Home client when it kicks in it runs the CPU at 100% (or as near to it as possible) while proccessing data. The more calculations a CPU performs, the more electricity it consumes. As a byproduct of all this processing the CPU radiates waste heat.

This would explain why the fan is turning on, especially if you are in the northern hemisphere where summer temperatures are beginning to escalate.

Unless you have some kind of industrial-use or MILSPEC laptop I would imagine your laptop manufacturer didn't envision the CPU's fan to be running continuously. A duty cycle of 25% or even less is probably more likely.

Now, that's just one possibility. Another possibility is that there is an error in the laptop's BIOS, which controls the power management functions, and is causing the fan to behave erratically. I've never heard of that particular problem occurring with Samsung-brand laptops, which I am unfamilar with, but have heard reports of it with other brands, such as early IBM ThinkPads. The solution is usually in the form of a BIOS upgrade which can be downloaded from the manufacturer's web site.

In any case, having the fan run continuously like that has probably shortened the life span of the fan and, thus, the notebook.

Because the laptop is new and, presumably, still under warranty it would probably be a good idea to contact Samsung's technical support, let them know the fan has been running continuously, never shuts off, is very noisy and annoying and disruptive and otherwise making such a racket as to make the notebook unusuable. That should be enough, presumably, to get the motherboard, CPU and fan (they're usually integrated) replaced. You probably don't need to mention why the fan was running continuously, though.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 1450 Network Connection Self Shut Off Jun 6 2003, 05:32 AM
Do the computers in question have dynamically assigned IP addresses which refresh from time-to-time? Perhaps when the IP address is refreshed the connection to the network is broken.

Without knowing more about the type of network connection, though, it is hard to say for certain.

Perhaps in your next message you could tell us a bit more about your network configuration.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 182 Resurrected Old Laptop, Need Advice. Jun 6 2003, 05:25 AM
Just out of curiosity, have you checked how much it would cost to bring the laptop up to full capacity, memory-wise? It is probably much less expensive today then when the laptop was first purchased.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 230 Zap Compaq Splash Screen? Jun 6 2003, 05:21 AM
Are you talking about the screen which appears as soon as the computer is powered up? If so, then it is probably handled in the BIOS. The vendor's splash screen is displayed while the computer performs its power on system test (POST), during which the comptuer checks itself for problems, sees what types of drive(s) are installed, the amount of memory and so forth.

Go into the BIOS settings and look for an option named OEM Logo, Boot Logo or something similar and try setting it to Disabled. It could also be labeled as Quick Boot or something similar-sounding.

Does that make any difference when starting the computer on subsequent boots?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 551 Acces Denied Jun 6 2003, 05:04 AM
Before attempting to copy the replacement HAL.DLL file over from your operating system installation disc, did you type "SET AllowAllPaths=TRUE" and at the Recovery Console? That has to be done in order to allow you to access other directories besides the root Windows install directory.

A good article on using the Recovery Console can be found here on Microsoft's support web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Windows Fanatics 215 What Website Jun 6 2003, 04:48 AM
I usually try to download software directly from the author's web site. If that is not possible then I try going to the author's recommend mirror site(s).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 336 Deleting Files In Dos Jun 6 2003, 04:43 AM
This is somewhat messy, but I think it will accomplish what you're trying to do:


FOR %A IN (*.*) DO ECHO Y|DEL /P %A


What it does is create a loop (FOR... DO) which reads in all of the files in the current directory (*.*) and issues a delete with confirmation/prompting (DEL /P) command to erase them with a "Y" piped into it to confirm the delete. By using the /P switch you cause the complete path and filename to be displayed on screen.

Replacing the "*.*" portion with the complete path specification of whatever you wish to delete should take care of things.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 619 Bios Settings? Jun 6 2003, 02:42 AM
You may wish to take a look at Adrian Wong's BIOS Optimization Guide which discusses various BIOS settings in detail.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 198 Turning Off Onbord Audio Jun 4 2003, 07:04 AM
Compaq has many different models of computers which use all sorts of different processors, motherboards, video cards and so forth, so let's start with trying to identify your computer: Does it have a model name and number anywhere on it? Perhaps a sticker or service tag on the back or bottom which identifies the computer? If so, what does it say?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 362 Recover Data From A Cd-r Jun 4 2003, 06:56 AM
I have had good luck recovering data from corrupt discs using Naltech's CD Data Rescue.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 222 Device Drivers Jun 4 2003, 06:52 AM
Have you considered just keeping a library of device drivers for your hardware in a separate directory or volume? That way, if you ever need particular device, you can copy it from that location instead of having to hunt around for it? If you happen to use a FAT32 volume there is the added bonus of being able to access files on it after booting from a Windows startup diskette.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 209 Dos Shell/emulator For Xp Jun 4 2003, 06:11 AM
The developer of the client's custom solution may want to grab a copy of the QFixApp from Microsoft, which helps identify code incompatible with Microsoft Windows XP. It's also included in the much-larger Application Compatibility Toolkit package, which they may want to download after trying QFixApp.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 654 Recommendations For New Drive Enclosure? Jun 4 2003, 05:55 AM
I think the problem with the faulty controller chips was confined to Fujitsu's line of desktop 3.5" ATA hard disk drives and affected neither their 3.5" SCSI hard disk drives or notebook 2.5" ATA hard disk drives.

Fujitsu still seems to own their line of storage devices. Perhaps you were thinking of IBM which merged the hard disk drive portion of its storage business with that of Hitachi? The new company is Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. whose web site can be found here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 306 Turning Off Onbord Audio Jun 4 2003, 05:45 AM
Since you didn't mention what brand and model of motherboard you have it is difficult to say for certain, but perhaps the option to toggle the motherboard's on-board audio is in a different location?

Another possibility is the currently-installed BIOS does not support disabling of the on-board audio. Upgrading to a later version of the BIOS may add this function.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 362 Sdram Bh6 Bios Upgrade Jun 3 2003, 05:27 AM
How much memory is reported if you remove one of the DIMMs? That is, assuming, memory doesn't have to be installed in pairs.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 233 Need A Nickname Between Newbie And Jun 3 2003, 05:25 AM
How do the following sound:

average
casual
intermediate
moderate
moderately-experienced
well-tempered

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 408 Recommendations For New Drive Enclosure? Jun 3 2003, 04:59 AM
Five or six years ago I used some 3.5" SCSI Fujitsu hard disk drives for an application server that had to run 7x24 and never had a problem with them.

Since then, the only other Fujitsu drive I have used is the 2.5" ATA hard disk drive I am using in the drive enclosure. I took the drive out of a notebook I had, so it wasn't that I had specifically searched for a Fujitsu hard drive--it was just what I had at hand.

I understand that Fujitsu's line of 3.5" ATA hard drives have been plagued by failures recently due to a problem with defective controller chips that had been used in manufacturing almost 5 million drives.

While I'm sure the problem has long since been resolved and the unsold drives withdrawn from market, personally I would be concerned about purchasing a hard disk drive from a manufacturer which had, well quibbled over a defective part for so long before admitting there was a problem.

At the least, I'd probably ask for "no hassle, 100% satisfaction guaranteed, accepted for any reason whatsoever" returns policy in writing. That seems a prudent thing to do, I would think.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 306 Building A Computer Jun 3 2003, 02:09 AM
Two good web sites to learn about new computer technologies are HardOCP and Ars Technica. The information on them tends to leans towards the "bleeding edge" (e.g., overclocking and the like) but that's what early adopters are interested in.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 326 3-months Old Hard Drive Failure Jun 3 2003, 02:05 AM
I believe condensation occurs upon an object when it is vastly cooler than the surrounding environment (and said environment has enough water vapor in it). I wouldn't think that a laptop computer's temperature would be different enough from the surrounding (or change rapidly enough) to have a problem with condensation. I may very well be wrong about that, though.

Peltier cooling devices can have problems with condensation. Usually they come with some sort of insulation (foam or some other material) to protect the chilled surface from water vapor condensation problems.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 2896 Speaker Hummmmm! Jun 3 2003, 01:52 AM
Have you tried muting everything in the Volume Control applet (located in the System Tray) such as Line-In, Aux, Microphone and anything other than what you need in order to hear sound from your computer?

Are the speakers and the computer plugged into the same set of outlets or power bar?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 197 Cdrom Drive Won't Refresh In Xp Jun 3 2003, 01:45 AM
It could very be a hardware problem, or it could be a software problem. Troubleshooting this may take a few steps before the problem is solved. In no particular order, I would suggest you check the following:


  • Verify the cabling to the CD-ROM drive is completely plugged-in.
  • Clean the CD-ROM drive with a CD cleaner.
  • Visit the CD-ROM drive manufacturer's web site to see if any new firmware is available.
  • Visit the Microsoft Windows Update web site to see if any new updates are available.
  • Visit the motherboard manufacturer's web site to see if any chipset driver updates are available.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 23413 Xp Home Will Not Send Break? Jun 3 2003, 01:32 AM
I am not familiar with Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, but I am guessing you are using the default telnet client (filename: TELNET.EXE).

If Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition comes with a copy of HyperTerminal (filename: HYPERTRM.EXE) you may wish to try it instead and see if that better meets your needs.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 292 Barebones System Jun 3 2003, 01:26 AM
In order to keep costs down, you may wish to consider using a KVM switch instead of purchasing a second monitor. By plugging your keyboard, monitor, and mouse into the KVM switch and then running appropriate cables to your two computers, you can use the switch to toggle between the two.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 1430 Eudora Email Attachments To Aol.com Jun 3 2003, 01:22 AM
BinHex is an older form of encoding binary data into text for attachments in email, usenet postings and so forth. It was popular on Apple Macintoshes and used for sending mail through gateways and to servers which didn't handle binary data properly.

As PCMech_Jim pointed out BinHex has pretty much been succeeded by the MIME standard, which will probably work better for your friends on AOL.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 195 Interesting Speed Increase Jun 3 2003, 01:16 AM
You may wish to try disabling the Themes service entirely and use the "classic" Windows interface to see if that provides a performance boost in window redraws, folder updates, and so forth.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 336 Screen Shot Jun 3 2003, 01:12 AM
Changing the operating system shouldn't interfere with your ability to perform print-screens of the BIOS settings. The BIOS is accessed before any part of the the operating system has a chance to load, so there's no way I can think of that switching operating system would prevent the print screen key from working.

Perhaps you changed motherboard models or updated the BIOS? If so, that is a more likely reason. Also, keep in mind that some BIOSes, such as American Megatrend's WinBIOS do not use a text-character interface but rather a mouse-driven graphic user interface. These cannot be captured via the print-screen key since only straight text screens can be sent to the printer since the BIOS will not have printer drivers to capture and translate the GUI screens into data your printer can understand and print.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 807 Screen Shot Jun 3 2003, 12:59 AM
Programs which loaded and saved CMOS settings used to be pretty common but I guess they are no longer popular, just like many other DOS-based utility programs.

A quick search of Simtel, one of the older Internet-accessible shareware/freeware repositories, revealed several such utilities, including CMOSSV29.ZIP and CMOSTOOL.ZIP.

Bear in mind some of these programs are over a decade old. I tried using a few and they all seemed to read the CMOS memory just fine, but did not test their ability to write the saved CMOS information back into memory. While I don't see why one function would work and the other wouldn't, it's a good idea to be cautious when using them just the same.

With that said and done, the quickest and most accurate thing for you to do would probably be to sit down with pen and paper and copy down the old settings of anything you change. If it doesn't work, check your notes and restore the old setting.

Likewise, motherboard manufactures have really made it difficult for end-users to change BIOS settings to the point where the computer is no longer accessible. Most times, the motherboard BIOS correctly detects and configures itself for your computer hardware. Simply resetting or restoring things to the default options fixes any "tweaking" done by end-users.

Perhaps if you could post the name, model and any other identifying information for your motherboard someone here might be able to find a copy of the manual for it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 807 Recommendations For New Drive Enclosure? May 31 2003, 10:29 AM
While it's generally considered bad form to reply directly to your own posts, in this case I shall make an exception, since I found a solution (and no one's added to the thread since my last response).

As you'll recall, I was looking for a 2.5" external hard disk drive enclosure which was rugged, compact, lightweight, inexpensive and, preferably, bus-powered and using Oxford Semiconductor's FireWire to ATA bridge chipset.

After doing some research, I narrowed my search for a new 2.5" hard disk drive enclosure down to two choices, DAT Optic's Speedzster2 drive enclosure and IOGear's Combo 2.5" ION drive enclosure.

Here's a quick rundown on the two drive enclosures' specifications:

Dat Optic Speedzter2 Model No. EFU2

  • FireWire (IEEE-1394a) and USB 2.0 compatible via Oxford and Cypress bridge chips, respectively
  • 6-pin FireWire (IEEE-1394a) connector (capable of supplying power to drive enclosure) and 5-pin Mini-B USB 2.0 connector
  • external power connector and on-off switch
  • 127x75x15 mm (or ~143 cm^3)
  • compatible with 9.5mm high 2.5" ATA hard drives
  • aluminum case
  • 5V 1.6A DC external power supply (not required if powered via FireWire)
  • comes with FireWire and USB cables and power adapter
  • not widely available (on backorder)
  • tech support via email, toll-call to manufacturer
  • no warranty information available
  • ~$120.00USD street price


IOGear 2.5" Combo ION Model No. GHE125C

  • FireWire (IEEE-1394a) and USB 2.0 compatible via Oxford and Cypress bridge chips, respectively
  • 4-pin FireWire (IEEE-1394a) connector (incapable of supplying power to drive enclosure) and 5-pin Mini-B USB 2.0 connector
  • external power connector and on-off switch
  • 165x81x17 cm (~227 cm^3)
  • compatible with 9.5mm high 2.5" ATA hard drives
  • aluminum case
  • comes with FireWire and USB cables, power adapter, soft case, driver disc, installation manual
  • 5V 2.1A DC external power supply (always required)
  • widely available from resellers
  • tech support via email, toll-free call to manufacturer
  • three-year limited warranty
  • ~$65.00USD street price


Since both models are similar in terms of functionality and chipsets, let's take a quick look at their advantages and disadvantages:

Dat Optic Speedzter2 Model No. EFU2
PRO: About a third the size of the Combo ION, uses 6-pin FireWire connector which can be used to provide power directly via FireWire interface
CON: More expensive, not available from any of the vendors who sell it, no warranty info, phone support via toll-call (long distance) only

IOGear 2.5" Combo ION Model No. GHE125C
PRO: Less expensive, readily available, 3-year limited warranty, phone support via toll-free number
CON: About 50% larger than the Speedzter2, uses 4-pin FireWire connector which prevents enclosure from being powered directly via FireWire, external power supply required at all times

After weighing the advantages and disadvantages, I chose the IOGear 2.5" Combo ION Model No. GHE125C external drive enclosure for my replacement. Since the drive enclosures used the same chipsets there was no technical merit to going with one versus the other on that basis. They are both also much smaller than my existing "no-name" Genesys Logic-equipped enclosure, so either one would be an improvement. While I was less than thrilled by the fact it requires an external power supply at all times, I was willing to put up with that since it (1) costs quite a bit less than the DAT Optic Speedzter2, and (2) was readily-available since I was on a bit of a time-crunch to get it before I went on holiday.

I received the drive enclosure about a week ago, and promptly installed a Fujitsu MHK2120AT 12GB 2.5" notebook ATA hard disk drive in it.

I have not had any problems at all with the enclosure and am very happy with it. If anyone is interested I can perform some benchmarks and post the results.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 306 Can I Use Pc133 Sdram On Mb Designated Pc100? May 31 2003, 07:22 AM
Sorry, I was running out the door and failed to completely my thoughts:

You can try installing the memory and see if it works. If it doesn't, return it. Just be sure you purchase it from a place that has an acceptable return policy.

I believe someone else (Mr. Ross?) suggested contacting Dell's technical support directly and asking them about the types of memory supported by the computer. That's a good idea, too.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 375 Very Old Laptops May 31 2003, 06:58 AM
Perhaps I should have been clearer, but the chance of seeing one of these types of viruses today borders on infinitesimal.

Any anti-virus program these days should be able to detect and remove any of these viruses, so I wouldn't be overly concerned about them. With four different anti-virus programs to say your notebooks are clean I'm sure they are quite safe.

The only reason I mentioned it is because (1) it still is a possibility,however remote, and (2) it literally just adds a couple of seconds to the prep time for the computers.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 371 Upgrade Assistance May 31 2003, 06:40 AM
I've had good luck purchasing motherboards and CPUs from NewEgg as well as Directron (a good source for "black" or otherwise "colored" peripherals and cases), GoogleGear and Insight Components (whom I used back when they were TC Computers).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 184 Rendezvous For Windows May 31 2003, 06:22 AM
Rendezvous is technology from Apple Computer which enumerates the services available on a computer for sharing them over a network. A white paper on the technology can be found here on Apple's web site.

I am involved with a company named Echogent which is developing a product like this named Kaboodle. At some point in the future I would expect Rendezvous support to be added. Right now, though, the product is very much "under construction," so it will be a bit before a production version is available.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 248 3-months Old Hard Drive Failure May 31 2003, 06:05 AM
I'm told that commodity components like hard drives fail on a "bathtub curve," e.g., the failure rate is higher at the beginning and end of the life-cycle.

Weighn's suggestion for freezing the hard drive prior to attempting data recovery is a good one: I've done this myself in the past with failing hard drives and it worked quite well, certainly long enough to copy the data off of it. Prior to freezing the drive, you may wish to put a dry silicate packet in the baggy with it to absorb any condensate.

When selecting a replacement hard drive, consider an upgrade in capacity as well as speed, as opposed to a straight swap for the same component. Even a larger and faster hard drive will probably be less expensive than the original model. Plus it will give you breathing room to expand your existing system.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 2896 W2kpro S-l-o-w Typing In Window... May 31 2003, 05:34 AM
Are you using any programs which intercepts keyboard strokes, such as text macro or security software? If so, it might be causing the slowdown with text input. Removing it or installing a newer version might fix the problem.

Another possibility is special device driver software which came with the keyboard in order to activate "special" programmable keys for functions such as opening the web browser or email client, adjusting the volume, and so forth. Again, removing or updating to a newer version compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition might fix things.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 288 Tower Starts...but May 31 2003, 05:01 AM
For the problem with posting messages, I would think there is a password issue or perhaps some sort of account corruption with the forum software. I would suggest checking in with the moderators to see if this is a known problem.

Once the problem if fixed perhaps you could post a synopsis of how it was solved?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 296 Very Old Laptops May 31 2003, 04:14 AM
One minor thing to keep in mind: Running FDISK interactively does not necessarily replace the executable code at the beginning of the master boot record, it just modifies the partition table of data which tells the operating system where volume(s) start and stop on the hard drive. This is important because this part of the hard disk can potentially contain a computer virus. Although this is very unlikely (master boot record viruses are pretty much considered extinct), these computers are old enough to have been exposed when this particular type of virus was prevalent.

Running FDISK with the /MBR option will replace the executable code portion, though. The key is to do this after cold-starting the computer from a DOS (or Windows) boot diskette in order to prevent a virus-infected master boot record from loading at startup.

If you are using batch files to prepare the computers, adding a line which reads:

FDISK /MBR

to it will remove any such computer viruses. Since it only adds a second or two to the process of refurbishing a computer it is a cheap form of insurance against a potential computer virus infection.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 371 Can I Use Pc133 Sdram On Mb Designated Pc100? May 31 2003, 02:24 AM
Usually--but not always--PC-133 memory is compatible with the older PC-100 and PC-66 specifications. I have, however, seen a PNY retail bubble pack 128MB 168-pin DIMM specified as "PC-133 only" on the packaging which did not work with a HP desktop system based on an Intel Celeron 1.30A MHz CPU (100MHz bus).

The DIMM in question was rather interesting-looking: It was barely populated with just four memory chips on it, although it had the standard amount of support circuitry (capacitors, the PROM chip which holds the SPD data, and so forth. I suspect there was something "interesting" was going on, which was why the DIMM was rated for PC-133 only.

In any case, I suggested to the client that they return the PNY stick to the local electronics superstore and try a Kingston ValueRAM stick from the local office supply store which had the standard eight devices on one side and was rated for PC-66 and PC-100 use, as well as PC-133. It was also within a dollar or two of the price of the PNY DIMM.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 375 Hot? Computer Problem May 31 2003, 02:03 AM
Very interesting! Have you contacted the manufacturer of the combination FireWire/USB 2.0 PCI expansion card? Did they offer any suggestions or a workaround?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 210 Tower Starts...but May 27 2003, 07:52 AM
Have you tried unplugging everything from the motherboard (drives, keyboard, mouse, sound card, network interface card, and everything else which can be plugged in) except the power connector, power switch, and the video card and seeing if it still takes an exceedingly long time to POST?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 296 Logoff Scripts May 26 2003, 10:58 PM
I'm not sure what level of information you would like, but here are a pair of simple batch (.CMD) files named INGRESS.CMD and EGRESS.CMD which capture the date, time, user name and domain and then save (append) that information to a file named AUDITLOG.TXT in the user's My Documents folder.

INGRESS.CMD
@ECHO OFF
ECHO On %DATE% at %TIME%, %USERNAME% logged in to %USERDOMAIN% >> "%USERPROFILE%\My Documents\AUDITLOG.TXT"


EGRESS.CMD
@ECHO OFF
ECHO On %DATE% at %TIME%, %USERNAME% logged out of %USERDOMAIN% >> "%USERPROFILE%\My Documents\AUDITLOG.TXT"


Would these meet your needs?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 222 Can U Have It All? May 26 2003, 10:34 PM
I'm glad to have been of assistance.

Actually, I had bookmarked it just last week and just needed to do a search of the Favorites folder (I use Internet Explorer) for files containing the text "japan" in order to find it.

Oh my, I had forgotten to conclude my post about external hard drive enclosures. I shall do that shortly. Thanks for the reminder!

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Technobabble 393 Aliens Communicating Through Xp Registry May 26 2003, 10:22 PM
I suppose you could try temporarily disabling or even uninstalling the virtual drive software and what difference, if any, that makes.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 1560 Cd-rom Install May 26 2003, 10:11 PM
Is the new CD-ROM disc drive jumpered in the same fashion as the old one? E.g., if the old one was set up as master, slave or cable-select, is the new one set up with the same setting?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 238 Apps (mainly Games) That Crash In Xp May 26 2003, 02:56 AM
That makes a lot more sense now that I understand what you're looking for.

Given that you have to also factor in things such as BIOS and driver revisions, not to mention those of hardware, it seems like a very daunting task. Especially when you consider that an operating system crash can be the result of a combination of these plus insufficient power or cooling and so forth.

Unfortunately, I do not play a wide variety of games myself so I don't have any crash information to contribute.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 228 Aliens Communicating Through Xp Registry May 26 2003, 01:53 AM
It could very well be a conflict between the anti-virus software and the virtual drive software. What to the developers' respective technical support departments have to say about this? Are there any known conflicts between the two?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 1560 Can U Have It All? May 26 2003, 01:49 AM
Could the missing bookmark be for either of the following sites?

Dynamism
Japan Direct

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 393 Windows 98 Rendering My Usb Ports Useless? May 26 2003, 01:37 AM
Have you downloaded and installed all of the patches and updates for your copy of Microsoft Windows 98?

Also, have you visited the scanner manufacturers' web sites to verify you have the latest software and drivers for each one?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 252 Change Drive Label ? May 26 2003, 01:10 AM
This is probably a silly question, but I'm going to ask it anyways:

Have you tried using the LABEL command from a Command Prompt to change the volume description label on the removable media?

The syntax is


    LABEL x:


where "x" is the letter of the drive in question. For example, to add or change the volume description label on a floppy diskette in my computer, I type:


    LABEL A:


at the Command Prompt.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 493 Keyboard Extra Characters? May 26 2003, 01:01 AM
If you would like to use a program to input special characters, consider using the Character Map program, which is included with any recent version of Windows.

For more information, view this message thread on the forum.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 311 Apps (mainly Games) That Crash In Xp May 26 2003, 12:19 AM
I am not sure I understand the question. Are you asking if certain programs crash under certain circumstances or in certain computing environments?

Perhaps you could rephrase the question in a different way, or give a specific example or examples of what is occurring.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 228 Heeeelp May 26 2003, 12:15 AM
Does the computer boot up in "Safe Mode" by pressing the F8 key on startup? If so, can you undelete the file from there?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 527 Illegal To Use A Firewall? May 26 2003, 12:12 AM
As I understand it, the technical definition of a firewall is a device used to monitor the network traffic which passes through it, and screen out unsuitable incoming and/or outgoing traffic, period.

This function is not be "de-legitimized," per se.

These days, though, "security appliances" do more than just block incoming and outgoing packets of data. They can route data between different networks, encrypt the connections made between computers and networks, and even perform Network Address Translation (NAT), to connect networks with private IP address ranges to public ones (e.g., the Internet). Although these are all diferent types of functions they do have one similaritY: They put a break in, mask, or otherwise interfere with the traditional end-to-end type connections we associate with the Internet.

It is my understanding some of these types of functions could then be then considered illegal, since these so-called "super-DMCA"-type laws would categorize them as unlawful "circumvention devices."

At least, I think that's what's going on. Since I am not nor have I ever been a lawyer, nor am I particularly familar with law, you'll have to make your own interpretation(s).

This issue first received widespread attention when mentioned on the Freedom To Tinker web site, which has set up a page to keep an eye on things.

This, in turn, generated come comments on the comp.risks newsgroup (see here and here for details), a lengthy discussion on Slashdot, and so forth.

If you'd like to review some of the original source material, here are copies of Michigan's and Texas's and Massachusetts' bills and laws.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 322 Icons May 25 2003, 11:09 PM
Another person in the forums had a similar problem and was able to solve it with a bit of registry-tweaking. For details, click here to read the message thread.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 164 Aliens Communicating Through Xp Registry May 24 2003, 03:45 AM
It's actually a very good question.

Unfortunately, I don't know the answer. Short of MacroVision having a client list on their web site--which would probably only list a few top-tier customers--you'd have to ask each software manufacturer what they're using for copy protection--and they are usually reticent about discussing such things.

A little searching found a list of copy-protected games here, but such things are hardly authoritative.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 1560 Usb Cable Modem Router May 24 2003, 03:28 AM
I noticed earlier in the thread I had switched the connection from cable to xDSL. Not that it made any difference, but I like to keep things technically accurate.

There are many different brands and models of USB-to-Ethernet adapters, but these are designed to interface a computer's USB port to an Ethernet one, just like a network interface card acts as a go-between for the PCI (or ISA) bus and an Ethernet port.

I suspect what you're actually looking for is a bridge, which would transparently convert the USB port on the cable modem into an Ethernet port so you could then plug it into an Ethernet switch or router. I'm not aware of a standalone device which does this, but you might want to take a look at the Vigor router Cat5e recommended, which comes with an integrated four-port 10/100 switch.

All of these solutions, though, are something of a kludge, though:

The USB 1.1 spec maxes out at 12Mbit/sec, which when we divide by eight (because there are 8 bits to a byte) works out to 1.5MByte/sec, while cable modems can download at speeds of up to 38Mbit/sec (or 4.75MByte/sec) and upload at speeds of 10Mbit/sec (or 1.25MByte/sec). Even though those numbers are theoretical maximums and it's very, very unlikely you'll see anything like that outside of a test center, it's easy to see the USB interface capping (limiting) the cable modem's maximum throughput in a real-world environment.

With 10BaseT Ethernet and 100BaseT Fast Ethernet interfaces operating at 10Mbit/sec and 100MBit/sec, respectively, the speed of the interface to the cable modem is no longer a limiting factor.

The best solution for your co-workers would be to replace the USB-only cable modem with one which has an Ethernet port. This solves all the problems with bridging the USB interface to Ethernet, using software solutions like Microsoft Windows Internet Connection Sharing, and so forth. While it may cost more up-front if they have to purchase or lease or rent a cable modem with an Ethernet port on the back, it will save them time and money in the long run, since the connection will be faster and they will not have to invest in unusual bridging solutions.

In the U.S., many--if not most--cable Internet providers allow customers to buy a cable modem and use that instead of the cable company-provided cable modem. You may want to check with the local cable company and see if this is permitted. If that's the case, you can then look for an inexpensive Ethernet-capable cable modem on eBay or wherever you like to buy broadband home networking equipment.

I suspect that in the Middle East, most cable Internet providers use equipment following the European eDOCSIS specification, as supposed to American DOCSIS specifications, but whichever equipment standard they use, be sure to get the right type of cable modem for it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Net Connections 161 Hot? Computer Problem May 24 2003, 01:23 AM
You may have a component that has begun to fail even at normal operating temperature.

One more possibility I'd like to suggest, albeit an unlikely one: Thermal expansion, a/k/a 'chip creep.'

Materials heat up they expand and contract as they cool. This applies to computer components, too.

After thousands of cycles of this, the pins on a chip can gradually loose contact with the socket as the chip "wiggles" and flexes. As expansion occurs, the contact surface area decreases causing a reduced signal flow resulting in decreased performance.

At least, I think that's how it works.

The solution, however, is pretty easy: Turn off the computer, wait for things to cool down, and gently push directly downwards on the tops of any socketed components. You can even reseat the various peripheral cards if you like--after all, they're socketed devices, too.

Before you start touching components inside the case, you'll want to ground yourself and take appropriate electostatic discharge (ESD) precautions, though. There's a great message thread on ESD here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 210 Aliens Communicating Through Xp Registry May 24 2003, 12:58 AM
SafeDisc is a copy protection mechanism for CDs from MacroVision, a company which makes copy protection technologies for video tapes, DVDs and audio as well as computer CDs.

Perhaps you installed a copy protected program at some point which uses SafeDisc such as a game? I know I have, which is why I too have a "C07ft5Y" key in my registry.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 1560 Nvidia Probs May 24 2003, 12:42 AM
The first thing I would suggest is to make sure the latest device drivers are installed for your nVidia GeForce MX 64MB video card running under Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition. As of today, Friday, May 23, 2003, that is version 44.03, which can be downloaded here from nVidia's ftp server.

The new drivers should install automatically over the old ones without any intervention on your part.

Now, if the problem continues to occur after you've installed the new drivers, then I would suspect this is the result of an actual problem with the hardware itself. In no particular order, here are my thoughts on what the problem might be:


  • The nVidia GeForce MX video card's GPU (nVidia's name for the video card's CPU) could be overheating. If the video card's GPU only has a heat sink on it, blow out the dust with a can of compressed air to remove the dust. You can use a small paint brush to remove any "stuck" dirt, too. If there is a combination fan and heat sink you can clean them in a similar fashion. However, if the fan "sticks" or doesn't move evenly, you may need to replace it as well. The video card manufacturer probably sells a replacement fan for a few dollars.
  • The video card's memory coudld be overheating. If the memory is covered by (a) heat sink(s), use the compressed air-and-brush method to remove any dust.
  • One or more of the capacitors on the video card or on the motherboard--perhaps near the AGP or PCI slot where the card is installed--has begun to fail. This particular problem has been discussed before at some length on the forum here. For the particulars, read the message threads here, here and here.
  • Even with a working fan and heat sinks the video card might still bel overheating because it is too hot inside the case. Moving other adapter cards away from the video card might help a little, but it could be the case fan(s) which allow air to flow through the computer need to be replaced or additional ones need to be added. The general rule of thumb is that fans should suck cooler air in at the front and/or bottom of the case, then expel the hotter air from the rear and/or top.
  • The video card may not be receiving enough power from the computer's power supply. Can you tell us what other hardware is installed in the computer and what the wattage is of your existing power supply? Also, how old is the power supply? Although they are solid-state devices with no moving parts, they can and do degrade over time.

Now, it could be even after you've cleaned things, shuffled around the cards, replaced or installed additional fans and upgraded the power supply that problems still occur. If that is the case, the video card itself may be faulty--perhaps one of the components like the memory overheated and failed. If that is the case, then you'll need to contact the manufacturer to obtain a replacement video card.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 153 Toshiba Tecra 8000 May 23 2003, 06:13 AM
DMA is an abbreviation for Direct Memory Access, a method which allows peripherals like hard disk drives transfer data directly into memory without requiring the computer's processor to handle all aspects of the data transfer. For a better description, click here to view WhatIs.Com's definition.

Enabling DMA on your Toshiba Tecra 8000 should not cause any problems and improve the performance of disk-intensive activities, such as when the notebook first boots up, when you defragment the hard disk drive, and so forth.

If it does cause a problem, though, you can reboot the notebook in Safe Mode mode by pressing the F8 key when the computer starts up, and toggle the DMA setting off in the Device Manager.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 200 Hot? Computer Problem May 23 2003, 06:04 AM
Although this is a very remote possibility, I'm going to bring it up: Perhaps there is a bug (defect, not virus) in the temperature monitoring software or the motherboard's BIOS? If there are upgrades available for either you may wish to try installing them and seeing if that makes any difference.

I would think the likelihood of a fault in the hardware temperature monitoring chip is remote but it is possible it has begun to fail. Are you relying on it for the temperature measurements or verifying them independently? If it is failing then it could be under-reporting the actual temperatures.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 210 Software Disable The Reset Button In Xp May 23 2003, 05:56 AM
If your computer has an unused keylock switch, you could considering wiring the reset switch through it to prevent the computer from being accidentally reset.

Another possibility would be to purchase a keylock mechanism at a computer surplus store and drill a hole in the case or an expansion bay cover to mount it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 277 Usb Cable Modem Router May 22 2003, 10:54 PM
I have noticed ADSL providers seem to charge quite a bit more for Ethernet-interfaced ADSL modems than USB ones. I'm not really sure why. Given that Ethernet and xDSL are mature--that is, older than USB--technologies I would think it would be less expensive to manufacture hardware which uses them than to create xDSL modems with only USB interfaces.

Perhaps it is vastly simpler to implement a USB "bridge" than an Ethernet one in silicon, or maybe it is less expensive because it is slower than Ethernet. Or maybe xDSL providers increase the cost of Ethernet-equipped modems since they assume you're going to be plugging it into a home LAN and thus using more bandwidth.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 161 Affordable Wi-fi Pci Card? May 22 2003, 09:12 AM
I believe you wanted a PCI card to plug into a desktop computer. Is that correct?

If you are buying the PC Card version of the Proxim ORiNOCO adapter, as opposed to the PCI card version, you'll also need to purchase a PCI to PC Card (née PCMCIA) adapter to install the card in your desktop computer since very few manufacturers include PC Card slots in their desktop models.

You can usually find inexpensive adapters on eBay by doing a keyword search for "ORINOCO PCI" on their web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 446 Timbuktu - Is There Another Solution May 22 2003, 08:22 AM
I'm curious as to why VNC doesn't meet your needs--there are versions which will run under OS 9, such as this version.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> OS X Fanatics 158 Anti-glare Screens - Which One? May 21 2003, 11:01 PM
I may have described it incorrectly--I don't know the exact name, but it's a silvery or bronze colored film which is highly reflective on one side, like sunglasses or the tint on car windows.

You may want to check with a local glazier/windows installer and see what they recommend.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 230 Usb Cable Modem Router May 21 2003, 10:54 PM
Is "Laptop A" running a Microsoft Windows operating system which supports Internet Connection Sharing? If so, you should be able to use ICS to bridge the USB cable modem and Ethernet connections.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 161 Rtfm Posts? May 21 2003, 10:39 PM
I'm curious about something:

Do you think it is a good idea to refer people to an existing message thread which describes similar or identical problem(s) to the one(s) they are experiencing?



Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 205 Connectivity Probs With Ibm Thinkpad May 21 2003, 10:32 PM
From that description it sounds like the computer is not resolving the names of the web and mail servers properly, i.e., converting http://www.google.com/ into http://216.239.37.99/.

Normally this is handled automatically by the DNS (domain name system) servers provided by your Internet Service Provider.

You may wish to check with your ISPs' technical support department to verify the DNS server settings are correct for your dial-up networking connection.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 164 Special Characters May 21 2003, 12:00 PM
Microsoft Windows comes with a program called Character Map which shows you the different characters and how to type them on your keyboard.

The Character Map program is usually located somewhere off the Accessories menu off of the Start Menu. If it's not there, you can run it by clicking on Start -> Run from the Taskbar and entering "CHARMAP.EXE" (sans quotes) as the name of the program to open.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 283 Teaching Computer To Newbies May 21 2003, 11:52 AM
One of the things I find is that people who are unfamiliar with computers are often intimidated by them or fearful they will damage them somehow by doing something wrong.

In order to increase their comfort level and make them feel more at ease with computers, one thing I like to do is open up the case, point to and explain what the major components do, describing them as simply as I possibly can, using analogies they will understand, such as, "This is the hard drive, it contains platters which are just like the records in a jukebox, except they have a magnetic coating like audiocasette tapes do, so they can can be both read and written to."

If it is small group environment--as opposed to a one-on-one session--I like to bring some dead or old parts with me and pass them around for people to touch and hold and look at up close, like an old Pentium or 486 CPU and 30-pin SIMMs.

Giving them an understanding, even if it is an incomplete or partially-flawed one, is great for reducing their anxiety so they can concentate on learning about the computer instead of being afraid of it. Then through the course you can build up their knowledge.

One of the things to keep in mind is that many concepts and ideas we take for granted are completely foreign and confusing to people who don't use computers, things like the difference between RAM memory and hard disk storage space, or volatile random access memory and non-volatile read-only memory.

If it's something where they are struggling--even becoming anxious or upset--calmly tell them that it's a technical issue and something they don't have to worry about in order to use the computer. Move on to a subject they are more comfortable with, but you can consider coming back to it in a later session when they're more comfortable, perhaps even started doing things with the computer like word processing and printing.

Remember, it's not because they are dumb, slow, stupid or otherwise trying to be confrontational.

It's because they have literally never had any exposure to these concepts before and they are struggling to put them into a framework they can understand. Sometimes it takes a while for them to make connections--to digest what they have learned. And at other times, they just don't. These are things they've never been exposed to before in their lives and if they are not accustomed to learning new things it can be hard to get back into the practice of opening their minds up to all sorts of new concepts and ideas. Just ask any person going back to college after a dozen or so years of doing the same job how hard it is to "get back into things."

The key thing is just to be calm and patient. You may have to explain something differently 100 times before they understand it on the 101st explanation.

Don't rush them, at let them learn at their own pace, if at all possible.

Encourage them to stop you and ask questions if they have any. For people who haven't been in school for a while, this can be very difficult because they're used to knowing everything in their field and not knowing something makes them feel stupid or slow or uneducated.

Explain to them that the only way you can tell if they are understanding you is by asking you questions about the subject material, and that if they don't ask any questions, you have to assume that they're not digesting it.

When someone asks a question, give them some positive feedback immediately. Say something along the lines of, "That's an excellent question, <name>. Did everyone hear that?" then repeat the question slowly so everyone can hear (and you can modify it slightly if needed). What you are trying to do is reinforce the idea that people who ask questions are smart, while those who don't are, well, not as smart. That will help get them back into the mind-set of being in the classroom.

Hopefully, that will open up all those minds to new ideas and concepts.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Technobabble 683 Connectivity Probs With Ibm Thinkpad May 21 2003, 11:18 AM
I'm sorry, but I don't understand the exact problem you are having with your IBM ThinkPad R32.

Can you tell us a little more about what you mean when you say it is "connecting to the internet fine" but "none of the software can connect out."

Which application or application(s) are you referring to, specifically, and what are the exact error messages they display, if any, when they do not connect?

Is it only the IBM On Line Assistant which is not working? If that is the case, perhaps there is a configuration issue with the software-based firewall included with Microsoft Windows XP Professional or one from a third-party vendor?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 164 Lockergnome Report - Firewalls Not Blocking Any Ip May 21 2003, 11:09 AM
I have to admit I feel rather silly.

When I read the article I just thought it was tongue-in-cheek, a warning about a potential security hole in a networking protocol which was still very much being developed--e.g., "under construction"--and neither finalized or ratified (I am unsure of the exact terminology), although the IPv6 working group has, at least, concluded its work and there is a RFC for it.

Looking through the IPv6 Information Page(s) web site would seem to indicate that this is the case, as it implies Microsoft's implementations are for research and development use only, not production networks. The Windows 2003 Server Internet Protocol Version 6 page implies that IPv6 support is still very much "in process," even for Microsoft's newest server operating system.

Is there a 'Gnomie out there with some hands-on experience who can tell us more about how widespread IPv6 deployment/usage is?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 470 Anti-glare Screens - Which One? May 21 2003, 10:39 AM
This is probably a stupid question, but I'm going to ask it anyway:

Have you considered placing curtains or blinds or some sort of anti-glare film over the windows facing the monitors?

Perhaps that would be less expensive than purchasing anti-glare screens?

The only experience I have had is with is 3M's AF100XL anti-glare screen, which worked quite well--it let me view a west-facing monitor in an office with a south-facing panoramic window (4 or 5' high, running the length of the office) in a quiet little mountain town in the Colorado Rockies. The only time I couldn't view the monitor was when the sun was low enough on the horizon that the office itself was unusable without window coverings.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 230 Hardware Problem. Please Help! May 21 2003, 10:20 AM
Rons brings up an excellent point: I didn't ask about jumper settings on the devices because I assumed you had not made any changes to their jumper settings as part of the upgrade. Was that a faulty assumption on my part?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 250 Wierless Help May 21 2003, 10:16 AM
I have been performing these tasks on an IBM ThinkPad T23, FRU: 2648-LU7 (FRU is IBM-ese for Field Replaceable Unit, which translates into English as "part number" or "model number").

The notebook computer's specifications are as follows:


  • 1.0GHz Intel Pentium III CPU
  • 768MB PC133 SDRAM (256 + 512)
  • 14" 1024x768 TFT LCD and S3 graphics chipset with 16MB RAM
  • 30GB hard disk, 8x DVD-ROM, floppy drive
  • integrated 10/100 Intel NIC and Agere/Lucent V.92 soft modem (sigh...)
  • two CardBus ports, two USB 1.1 ports, 1 serial, 1 parallel, stereo sound, built-in mic
  • IBM's usual keyboard and TrackPoint pointing stick
  • ~5lbs carry weight


I purchased the system from PC Connection for ~$900.00USD, excluding shipping.

The system came with one 256MB PC133 SODIMM and I purchased another 512MB SODIMM memory module from Kingston for about $160.00USD, which came with 2-day shipping. The notebook has two SODIMM slots for a maximum of 1GB of memory.

The laptop did not have built-in WiFi (802.11b), so I purchased a Proxim ORiNOCO 802.11a/b/g ComboCard from Micro Warehouse for about $80.00USD, not including shipping.

I also added an IBM FireWire CardBus adapter and a Mitsumi USB floppy disk drive, about $80.00USD, not including shipping, from Software and Stuff.

The notebook came with Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition preloaded, which I reformatted and installed Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition and Microsoft Office XP on. (no charge, I have a few licenses for each).

The ThinkPad has a 2-year warranty with next business day on-site service from IBM, which I hope I never have to use but is nice to have if I need it.

So, the total cost was about ~$1,220.00USD (plus a little extra for shipping on some of the components), which gives me a very usable system for running the typical suite of office/productivity applications. Built-in WiFi and a higher-resolution screen would have been nice, but at that price for the notebook I was willing to compromise. Plus I prefer IBM's notebook keyboards and pointing stick combo to others.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with any of the companies mentioned above other than as a customer with the exception of IBM, in whom I own a small amount (under 100 shares) of stock.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 336 Stand By Mode In Power Management May 21 2003, 09:44 AM
Assuming you can do so, does the problem still occur if you connect both the keyboard and the mouse to the computer's PS/2 ports?

If Blumsden's excellent suggestions do not work then this could be a bug (defect, that is, not virus) in the computer's BIOS. If so, you can try visiting the computer or motherboard manufacturer's web site and see is a BIOS upgrade is available.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 255 System Information Is Gone! May 21 2003, 09:38 AM
Although this is going to be a bit tedious, have you tried re-enabling all those services, viewing the System Information, and then disabling them again one-by-one to find the culprit(s)?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 222 Lost Ie Access To Secure Sites May 21 2003, 09:36 AM
It could be that either some of the files composing or settings used by Microsoft Internet Explorer were corrupted by the malicious email (a worm or virus of some sort, perhaps?).

Have you tried starting Internet Explorer and selecting Tools -> Internet Options -> Programs -> Reset Web Settings from the main menu to restore the web browser's settings to their defaults? If so, did this have any effect?

If that did not work, you may wish to try reinstalling your web browser. You can download the latest version of Microsoft Internet Explorer from here on Microsoft's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 343 Removing Log Off From Start Menu May 21 2003, 09:27 AM
Have you tried using the Group Policy Editor (filename GPEDIT.MSC and going to Local Computer Policy -> User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar and setting Remove Logoff on the Start Menu to Enabled? If so, did it work after the computer was restarted?

Other possibilities include the Restrict the Start Menu Log Off Option to prevent users from enabling the Log Off option, and Remove Log Off from the Start Menu registry tweaks as mentioned on the WinGuides Network web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 277 Hardware Problem. Please Help! May 20 2003, 10:35 AM
Since it occurs well after the computer starts I think this is very unlikely, but have you checked that the cabling is okay? I am wondering if this may be the result of a loose connection that looses contact due to thermal expansion as the inside of the computer heats up. If that is the case, unplugging and replugging the connectors on the drives' data and power cables might fix things.

Another possibility is that the power supply has begun to fail due to age. As it heats up, it becomes less efficient to the point where it can no longer provide enough electricity to power the additional devices. Five years might be about the median life of an average-use PCs power supply. If this is the case, the solution is to replace the power supply. Assuming it is a standard ATX power supply you should be able to buy one at any computer store, otherwise you will need to order a replacement from Gateway.

While you have the case open for maintenance, you may wish to use a light vacuum cleaner or perhaps a can of compressed air and a paint brush to remove any dirt that has accumulated, especially in/around fans, as well as replace the battery backup for the CMOS/Real Time Clock. Usually that's a 3-volt Li+ CR-2032 coin-type battery, available just about anywhere that sells batteries.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 250 Zip Drive May 20 2003, 12:00 AM
Iomega offers USB as well as FireWire versions of their Zip drives, which are probably ATAPI devices using a bridge chipset to convert them to the appropriate interface.

So, I would think that it would be just a matter of getting a drive enclosure which fits the Zip! 100 ATAPI drive. I'm assuming it is a floppy diskette drive-sized device, so getting a 3.5" or 5.25" drive enclosure (with a 3.5" to 5.25" floppy drive bay adapter) would work. You may want to go with an externally-powered drive enclosure, just in case the Zip! drive requires more amp than the USB bus can provide.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 213 Usb Mouse May 19 2003, 11:48 PM
A client of mine had a similiar problem, but on a Microsoft Windows 2000 system: Mixing PS/2 and USB human interface devices (e.g., a mouse and keyboard) caused the keyboard to lock up and the mouse pointer to become slow and jerky. Connecting both the mouse and keyboard via the PS/2 ports solved the problem.

I thought there was a Microsoft Knowledgebase article discussing this, but I could not find it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 435 2001 Space Odyssey "freaks" - Help May 19 2003, 11:17 PM
In the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey," the voice of HAL 9000 was 'played' by an actor named Douglas Rain. Even the best speech synthesis technology today does not sound as good, I'm afraid.

If you are looking for a product you can run on a PC, you may want to consider AT&T's NaturalVoices program.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 338 E-mail Conversions / Translations May 19 2003, 11:03 PM
It has been a long time since I've Microsoft Outlook myself so I am a little rusty with it, but have you tried any of the following:


  • Uninstall Microsoft Outlook from old computer, install on new computer to preserve single-user license.
  • Export Microsoft Outlook's mesage store to a different format, such as tab- or CSV-separated, then try importing into the Mozilla mail client.
  • Install a different mail client capable of importing Microsoft Outlook's message store, then export from it to Mozilla's mail client.
  • Install Mozilla mail client on old computer, perform export, and transfer to new computer.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 184 Looking For Motherboard Chart May 19 2003, 10:48 PM
If you are looking for an Intel processor-based motherboard, have you tried Intel's Motherboard Selector Guide?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 277 Backup Software May 18 2003, 04:40 AM
I use Stomp Inc.'s BackUp My PC utility for backing up, and it does perform a file verification after backing up a data set. I believe it is around $70.00USD, which puts it out of your targeted price range, though.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 265 $10 Via Paypal To The First One... May 18 2003, 04:26 AM
The first thing I would suggest doing is making a complete backup of the AOL Netscape browser's data directory or directories. I am unsure of how or where Netscape stores the data files for bookmarks, email, news and so forth, but get them backed up and then verify the backup can be read, ideally on a different computer. If the data is valuable consider making two separate backups, perhaps even on different media, such as to tape and CD-R.

I supect what has occurred is a conflict between Symantec Norton Anti-Virus mail-proxy and the AOL Netscape Mail client. Perhaps there was a connectivity problem between NAV's proxy and RoadRunner's mail servers, which caused the email client's connection to time out or otherwise close improperly, which prevented it from closing the message store (or whatever Netscape uses to store email). It sounds like the problem may have affected more than just Netscape's mail client, though.

Anyways, here's what I would do (that is, after making and verifying a backup or two):


  • Go into the Norton Anti Virus 2002 program properties and temporarily disable the mail-scanning proxy and the real-time scanning functions, e.g., the memory-resident or .VXD components.
  • Change or verify that the Netscape mail client is now using the ISP's mail servers instead of the Norton Anti Virus 2002 mail-scanning proxy.
  • Copy the INBOX.SBD file to one named INBOX.SNM, then try running the Netscape mail client and see what happens.
  • Install a different mail client such as Qualcomm Eudora or Microsoft Outlook, then try importing the Netscape mail client's message store to see if it can be converted and then read by the different mail client. If that works, then try running the Netscape mail client and importing the message store back from the other program.
  • Install (or set as default) a different web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Opera Software's Opera, then try importing the Netscape web browsers bookmarks to see if they can be converted and read by a different web browser. If that works, then try running the Netscape web browsing and importing the bookmarks back from the other program.


As for why this occurred, I really couldn't say. Given the uncountable number of computer configurations it's impossible to test software on all of them, and there is always the infintismal possibility of some sort of latent bug being exercised due to a one-in-a-million combination of operating system, third-party applications, and device drivers.

If the import-export works, I'd suggest your customer consider using a different email client. In this case, I would lean towards Qualcomm's Eudora, since it stores messages as text files and can store file attachments in a separate directory.

The client may also wish to consider a different anti-virus program, too. I'm rather fond of Sophos' Sweep anti-virus, but that's just a personal preference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 584 Insideous Hacking? May 18 2003, 03:54 AM
I was wondering if that might be the case--I believe I did say to update the anti-virus and security software before restoring the data set from the backups, but there is always a possibility of a malicious program not detected by the anti-virus/security software or it might not have been installed properly.

Contacting a local law enforcement agency (police or district attorney, perhaps?) is starting to sound like a good idea, especially if they have a computer/hi-tech crimes unit.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 266 Tape Backups May 17 2003, 02:19 AM
It has been a long time since I've used Windows NT 4.0 and Backup Exec, but I seem to recall the Backup Exec being able to generate a log file at the end of a backup session which tells the number of files and bytes backed up during the session.

Subtracting that from the manufacturer's listed capacity for the tape should give you an approximate idea of the space left.

It will only be approximate, though, since there is usually some compression done by the backup software or the tape drive to increase the available space on the media. Most manufacturers claim 2:1 compression, but in the real world I've seen closer to 1.3:1 or even 1:1 when backing up data like MP3 files.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 171 Usb Mouse May 17 2003, 02:10 AM
Did the mouse come with a USB-to-PS/2 adapter? If so, does using that to plug the mouse into the PS/2 port instead of a USB port make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 435 Insideous Hacking? May 17 2003, 01:58 AM
It sounds like some sort of malicious remote control program was installed on the computer.

Probably the safest thing to do would be to unplug the computer's Internet connection (dial-up modem, DSL, cable, whatever), reboot the computer in "Safe Mode," back up all of the data (documents, email, address books, web browser favorites, and so forth) and verify the backups are readable, then wipe the hard disk drive clean and reinstall the operating system, applications and, of course, data.

Another forum member had a similar problem. You can read the message thread here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Technobabble 266 Affordable Wi-fi Pci Card? May 16 2003, 07:00 AM
If you are looking for a particular brand and model of Wi-Fi PCI card, you could try using a price-comparison search engine such as BizRate, PriceGrabber or PriceWatch and see if they can locate it at a reasonable price.

If you decide to purchase it online from a vendor you have not done business with before, you may want to check what people have to say about them on a service such as BizRate or ResellerRatings.

If you wish to purchase the card locally, then you may just want to wait for the Sunday newspaper and check the advertisements from your local computer store(s). Usually someone is having a sale and/or rebate on Wi-Fi gear.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Net Connections 446 Identity Theft May 16 2003, 06:52 AM
I'm not sure how to proceed. The steps I gave in my earlier message should have left you with a clean computer free of any viruses, worms, Trojan horses or other malicious programs.

But apparently they did not work.

At this point, the best suggestion I have is that you contact someone locally and ask them to look at the computer. This just may be one of those situations where you have to be at the computer in order to fix the problem.

I'm sorry I cannot be of more assistance.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 433 One Cpu With Two Monitors Keyboards... May 16 2003, 12:40 AM
Perhaps you are thinking of IOGear's ShareView product? It is--or was, perhaps--a PCI add-in card that allows you to plug in a second keyboard, mouse and monitor to a computer and use them independently of the computer's primary keyboard, mouse and display.

I was unable to find any references to the product on IOGear's current web site, but apparently it is still available from a few vendors.

A review can be found here on PC Magazine's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 783 Pausing C++ Programs May 15 2003, 03:24 AM
Are you talking about a console (command-line) application? If so, try creating a .BAT (Windows 9x+) or .CMD (Windows NT+) file to run the program, followed by a PAUSE command. Here's an example:

CODE

C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\FORMAT A: /U /AUTOTEST
PAUSE


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Web Developers 213 How Do You Test Drive A Used Computer May 15 2003, 03:18 AM
Given the prices of new computers (around $400.00USD at computer and electronics superstores) are you certain you want to buy one used? It may be less costly in the long run to buy an inexpensive new computer with some upgrade potential than an older system.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 329 Is Somthing Wrong With My Memory? May 15 2003, 01:50 AM
That's very strange, I've never had or experienced such a problem myself.

Have you tried checking with the author to see if this is a known issue?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 243 Recommendations For New Drive Enclosure? May 14 2003, 06:14 PM
There are quite a few links there--it looks like I have some reading to do. It looks like I have some reading to do.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 306 Recommendations For New Drive Enclosure? May 14 2003, 02:50 AM
Thank you for your reply. That looks a little larger/heavier than my current one, but, on the other hand it does look solid. And it is very reasonably priced, too.

That's definitely one to consider.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 306 Recommendations For New Drive Enclosure? May 13 2003, 10:58 PM
Does anyone have any recommendations for a 2.5" hard disk drive enclosure?

I am looking to replace my generic 2.5" drive enclosure with one that supports both FireWire (IEEE-1394) and USB 2.0 interfaces.

In no particular order, here's what I'm looking for:

  • supports 2.5" 9mm high ATA hard disk drives
  • light-weight
  • small
  • rugged (rubberized or metal case, perhaps?)
  • prefer bus-powered, though a light-weight 100-240V power adapter is acceptable
  • prefer a Oxford 911 or 922 FireWire (USB 2.0) bridge chipset, although I'm open to suggestions
  • inexpensive

This is to replace my existing 2.5" HDD drive enclosure, which has only FireWire and USB 1.1 interfaces. It uses the Genesys Logic GL700 chipset which certainly works, but I'm not impressed overall with its performance.

Thanks in advance for your replies. I look forward to reading them.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 306 Crt Vs. Flat Screen Radiation May 13 2003, 10:42 PM
Yes. I suppose I was just a tad annoyed after doing a little tinnitus research and finding out it can be a symptom of a tumor; and tumors can be induced by radiation exposure.

I like working in front of a big monitor, too, but if it were going to cause me to be ill, I'd definitely want a radiation shield, a smaller monitor, or an LCD display or whatever it took to keep me healthy.

Oh, as far as radiation from the computer itself goes, I did find a manufacturer who makes solid-steel computer cases. I'm not sure how effective that would be, though, short of going to TEMPEST standards.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 411 Windows Xp Pro Update Site Shows No Updayes Availa May 13 2003, 10:25 PM
Are you logging in using the Administrator account or another one with Administrator-level privileges?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 266 Rdram May 13 2003, 07:51 AM
Buying memory via eBay is pretty much like buying anything else there. Consider the state of the item (new, used, "like new," broken and so forth), the seller's feedback, and pricing--including the shipping and handling costs.

With memory, I've often found it just as convenient to purchase directly from a store (web or physical), unless it's something I had difficulty finding elsewhere, e.g., a 30-pin 16MB ECC SIMM for an i80486-based system.

The last RDRAM memory I purchased online was through GoogleGear, which was inexpensive, arrived on time and worked. That was a while ago, and I noticed that more and more manufacturers like Kingston, SimpleTech and Viking now sell directly through their web sites.

You may also want to check with local computer and office superstores. Although their pricing is usually at the upper end of the spectrum, they sometimes have good rebate deals or sell non-moving items like RIMMs on clearance.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 209 Hard Disk Software May 13 2003, 05:56 AM
Only some manufacturers' programs offer to erase or "wipe" the drive as part of testing their hard disk drives, so it's one of those things you have to check before running the program. The last drive testing program I used was IBM's (now Hitachi's) Drive Fitness Test software, and it was very explicit about warning which tests were "destructive" and "non-destructive" to the data on the hard disk drive.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 283 Crt Vs. Flat Screen Radiation May 13 2003, 05:49 AM
I think my comment was taken a bit out of context. I was by no means suggesting to chastize or otherwise punish the person requesting replacement of their CRT display for an LCD display due to health reasons.


I am certainly not a physicist or a physician and have no scientific or medical training, but it seemed to me the prudent thing to do is, quite simply, limit the amount of exposure to electromagnetic fields and ionizing radiation caused by being in such close proximty to such a large monitor, especially if the amount generated by such devices follows the square-cube law (and I have no idea whatsoever if it does--this is more in the realm of scientists and physicians, not system administrators and technical support engineers).

I realize the person who was making the request is an attorney and there is a public sentiment towards villifying lawyers, but if you take a look at NARF's web site, you'll find that they are like most non-profits: This is an organization which seeks to help the members of our society who are least able to help themselves; the poor, the indigent and those who have no one else to turn to for legal assistance. They operate on a shoe-string budget, and the work they do is not the glitzy Hollywood celebrity divorces or high-profile murder cases, but rather the boring work of poring over legal documents, filing briefs and so forth. I'm vaguely familiar with Boulder--I've visited it a few times--and it is one of the wealthiest areas in the State of Colorado. The fact that an attorney who lives there would choose to work for NARF instead of making his living handling multi-million dollar divorce cases or acting as counsel to some bio/tech/science startup out of the local university is highly commendable.

Now, then, back to the question at hand.

I contacted an internist I know and asked about radiation-induced or aggravated tinnitus. He had never heard of it, but his speciality is gastroenterology (stomach), not otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat, or ENT for short). He was able to tell me that tinnitus can occur as one gets older due to the thinning of the blood vessel walls in the ears and also that it can be a symptom of carotid artery disease, which is a very serious condition.

Looking around the American Tinnitus Association's web site, I did read that tinnitus can be caused by a tumor in some rare situations. And tumors can, of course, occur by exposure to radiation.

If that's the case, altitude might be a contributing factor. The higher up you go above sea level, the greater one's exposure to ionizing radiation. A study from the University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine goes into some detail about the increased incidence of melanomas in flight crew. According to this page on the City of Boulder's official web site, the city is approximately 5,300 feet above sea level. I don't know if that's enough to contribute, though. One thing I'd be wondering about is if the person is (or was) a pilot.

All in all, it sounds like this person could potentially have some life-threatening conditions, such as carotid artery disease or a tumor in their head. If the person were my employee, I'd be very concerned about them going to see a specialist to check for these conditions, as uncomfortable and painful--not to mention expensive--as testing for them sounds. Maybe it's nothing, but I'd hate to come into work one day and find out a co-worker had expired of something they thought was innocuous.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 411 Hard Disk Software May 13 2003, 03:29 AM
Many hard disk manufacturers provide diagnostic programs in the form of a self-extracting, self-booting diskette which you can download and run to check a hard disk drive for problems.

You may wish to visit the hard disk drive manufacturer's web site and see if they have such a program available for download.

Some of the tests performed by these "drive testing" programs will erase the hard disk drive, so proceed with caution.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 283 Icons Are Being Changed May 12 2003, 03:02 AM
Another forum member had a similar problem and was able to fix it by editing the registry. To view the message thread and its resolution, click here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 310 Network And Broadband May 11 2003, 02:08 AM
I take it you are using Microsoft Windows Internet Connection Sharing to share the modem which is attached to one PC?

If you like, you can continue using this setup with the ADSL modem.

Another possibilty is to get an inexpensive Cable/DSL Modem router with built-in 10/100 Switch and use that instead. I've seen these go for as low as $10.00USD after rebates, and have the advantage of not requiring you to keep a computer turned on the for the Internet connection to be shared, and would also provide speedier connections on your internal LAN than your existing hub.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 173 Is Somthing Wrong With My Memory? May 11 2003, 02:02 AM
Did you make any changes to the system between running MemTest86, including things like changing BIOS settings or re-seating the memory?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 243 Right-click Context Menu Crash Explorer May 10 2003, 09:38 AM
Have you tried disabling the touchpad in the BIOS and uninstalling its drivers? If so, did that make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 456 Wow.. What A Trip! New Cookie? May 10 2003, 03:45 AM
That is a lot of .ZIP files.

Your computer must have been visiting many web sites with Java applets on them. As a comparison, my computer only has seven .ZIP files in the \java\packages\ directory.

I would imagine that after erasing the hard drive and reinstalling Windows things are now running very smoothly.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 227 Curious Monitor Phenomenon May 9 2003, 09:20 PM
You may wish to try reducing the screen resolution, color depth, and refresh rate to their minimums and then moving them upwards to see if the problem disappears or gets worse at any particular setting.

Also, if the switchbox has an external power supply or cable, try moving that around as well.

Ferrite beads are the little metal "doughnuts" you see on some computer cables. They are used to block or reduce electromagnetic interference. Here is a good explanation from HowStuffWorks web site of how they work.

Another possibility could be a ground loop problem. This occurs when pieces of electronic equipment which are connected to each other aren't grounded properly. The usual solution is to make sure all the equipment is plugged into the same power outlet or power bar. More information on this problem can
be found here and here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Hardware Help 227 Right-click Context Menu Crash Explorer May 9 2003, 09:06 PM
I am unsure if it is related, but here is an article from Microsoft's knowledge base about right-click problems under Windows XP:

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 819101 - Temporary Decrease in Performance Occurs When You Right-Click a File or Folder in Windows Explorer

Perhaps those instructions might help solve the problem?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky




]]> Windows Fanatics 456 Right-click Context Menu Crash Explorer May 9 2003, 06:12 AM
Unfortunately, I am not very familiar with Compaq Presario laptops.

As a guess, there might be some sort of conflict between the built-in pointing device's (pointing stick, touchpad, whatever it might be) device drivers and those used by the Logitech external mouse. I looked through Compaq's web site to try and find some information about this possibility, but could not find anything. You might want to try checking directly with their technical support and see what they recommend.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 456 Identity Theft May 9 2003, 05:10 AM
Now that we know what sort of computer you have we can take some steps to fix things.

First, you need to backup all of the data from your computer--any information that you want to keep from it, such as documents, email, address books, web browser bookmarks or favorites, and so forth. Do not backup any software programs from your computer. Any sort of executable code can potentially contain viruses, worms, Trojan horses and other malicious programs.

Once you've backed up all your data, write-protect the media if it has a write-protect tab and test the backups to by viewing them on another computer--this ensures they were written correctly to the media.

Now what you're going to need to do is check your computer's BIOS settings to ensure that it boots from the floppy diskette drive and CD-ROM before attempting to boot from the hard disk drive. Once you've saved the changes to the BIOS settings, turn the computer off.

Next, get your original operating system installation diskettes or CD, place them in the floppy and/or CD-ROM drives, and boot from them to a DOS prompt. At the DOS prompt, type "FDISK /MBR" (sans quotes) to erase the Master Boot Record from your hard disk. You will not see anything displayed on the screen, but after whirring for a second you'll be returned to the DOS prompt. Type "FDISK" by itself to enter the menu. From there, erase all of the partition(s) on your hard disk drive.


    NOTE: Running FDISK as instructed this way will erase the contents of your hard disk drive. Do this only after you have backed up your data and made sure all the backups work, preferably by testing them in a different computer.


Exit the FDISK program and reboot your computer, while leaving your operating system installation boot diskette or CD-ROM disc in the computer.

You should now be able to install a fresh, new copy of your operating system onto the now-blank hard disk drive.

When you are finished installing the operating system, go ahead and reinstall your applications from the manufacturer's original, write-protected diskettes or discs. Do not install any programs which you downloaded, were given by friends, and so forth. Those disks could contain a copy of the malicious program which is causing you so much trouble. As a matter of fact, if you have any disks like that, it would probably be a good idea to throw them out.

Now you can go online. Once you're connected go only to the various manufacturer's web sites for the software you've downloaded, and only for the purpose of downloading any updates, patches or bug fixes. Do not visit any other web sites, even this one.

If there are any programs you need which you do not have the original disks for, you'll either need to obtain new ones from the manufacturer or download it from their web sites, such as anti-virus and security software. Mr. Ross suggested several of these in a previous message, so I won't go into details about that here.

After all of the updates and patches are done, your anti-virus and security software is installed, you can now restore the data from your backup media to your computer.

Congratulations! You now should have a clean computer free of any malicious programs. Now, all you have to do is keep it clean so this does not happen again. Fortunately, that's pretty easy to do. Here's how:


  • Do not run any programs unless they are directly from the manufacturer (either on a disk or downloaded from them). Do not use any pirated software, and do not run any file-sharing applications.
  • Regularly check your computer for viruses, worms and other malicious programs with your anti-virus and security software.
  • Install all updates for your software, especially operating system, and security/anti-virus software.
  • Delete email from anyone you do not recognize. If you use an email client on your computer (as opposed to a web-based service like Hotmail or Yahoo!), consider using a program such as Eudora or Pegasus instead of Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express. These other programs seem to have fewer security issues than Microsoft's email clients.
  • Back up your data regularly, so in case you do have a problem with your computer, be it a hardware problem like a drive crash or a software problem like a virus, you can easily recover your computer.


That's it. Depending upon the amount of software you need to reinstall this should probably take no more than three or four days at the most. In fact, it might only take a day or two if you only have a little.

Once you're up and running, come back and let us know how things are going!

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Tech News Watch 433 Curious Monitor Phenomenon May 9 2003, 03:59 AM
Have you tried lowering the screen resolution, color-depth, and refresh rate to see if the problem disappears or changes? Also, are there ferrite beads installed on all the cables?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 227 Crt Vs. Flat Screen Radiation May 9 2003, 03:56 AM
I found similar questions on the Health Physics web site such as http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q2063.html and http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q1433.html though Google as well as numerous advertisements for a variety of anti-radiation devices.

The Health Physics web site indicated there was no scientific consensus on radiation damage from CRT, but I have no idea how current that information is.

Perhaps it would be be helpful to contact your attorney's physician for more information? Perhaps he has more recent papers or articles that can help guide your anti-radiation activities.

Given your location, perhaps you could contact one of the departments or research institutions at the University of Boulder? Perhaps there is someone there who can at least take a radiation assay of your offices.

I do have one immediate suggestion, though: As a precautionary measure, you should replace the attorney's monitor with the smallest possible one you can find. This will help limit his radiation exposure until a definitive solution can be found.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 411 Win 2k Shutdown May 9 2003, 03:32 AM
Have you tried disabling the power management features in the computers' BIOSes?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 266 Right-click Context Menu Crash Explorer May 9 2003, 03:22 AM
I take it you have a Logitech mouse connected to your laptop? When you did the uninstall, did you also do a manual inspection of the hard drive volume(s) and system registry to verify there were no left-over instances Logitech files of entries?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 456 Do I Need This Update? May 9 2003, 03:20 AM
I installed it on a computer which runs Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition. However, the computer is so old I do not use it for gaming.

What I can tell you, though, is that I have not observed any performance or stability issues from installing the DirectX 9.0 update.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 419 Lockergnome Personals May 9 2003, 03:18 AM
I am certainly not a judge of what is or isn't pornographic, but I did not see anything that seemed lewd, obscene or distasteful on the web site. To me, it just seemed like a place to meet someone with shared interests--an online version of a dating service. A quick check of my phone book revealed seven of these operating in my area.

Is the site for everyone? Of course not, but there are lots of things on the Internet which aren't. I suppose it's a lot like real life in that sense.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 522 Right-click Context Menu Crash Explorer May 9 2003, 02:07 AM
Perhaps this will help:

Mr. Ross, a forum regular, had a similar problem and fixed it by manually removing his mouse's device drivers and software and then reinstalling them.

You can read the message thread here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 456 Starting A Computer Repair Business May 9 2003, 02:03 AM
On the pricing side, I would suggest posting your maximum hourly rate, perhaps even prefaced with "starting at."

It's usually less troublesome to quote someone a lower rate than your posted price than a higher one.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 1530 Viruses And .exe Files May 9 2003, 01:57 AM
To answer generally, since we're not talking about a specific virus , the infection vector for file-infectors is typically where file I/O operations are performed, which include not just loading and saving files, but directory, copy, move, rename operations and so forth.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 273 Lockergnome Personals May 8 2003, 11:51 PM
I think it's important to remember that first and foremost, Lockergnome is a business, and in order for any business to thrive it has to seek out new products and new markets. While it is very generous of Chris Pirillo to provide services such as free newsletters and--ahem--forums, these are uncertain sources of revenue, especially with advertising budgets being so tight.

It is likely we are going to be seeing all sorts of new offerings from Lockergnome in the future and Chris and company strive to find the right balance of free and paid offerings.

With that said, what I really want to know is how did the Lockergnome team manage to populate it with personal advertisements so quickly. A quick F->M search in my ZIP code revealed something like four pages of hits.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 522 Pny; Kensington; Simpletech May 8 2003, 11:45 PM
I cannot recall ever having a problem with "brand-name" memory from a company such as Crucial, GoldenRAM, Kingston, PNY, Simpletech and so forth.

Most of the "unmarked" OEM memory I've purchased has been just fine, too. However, there were a couple of times I bought no-name memory from no-name computer stores and had compatibility problems (memory worked fine by itself, but had timing issues when installed with other RAM).

With memory being so inexpensive these days I generally find it more convenient to pay and extra $5-10.00USD for "brand-name" memory, as opposed to the hassle of arguing over the exchange or return of a "no-name" memory module.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 328 Do I Need This Update? May 8 2003, 11:28 PM
DirectX is a suite of Microsoft-developed technologies for boosting audiovisual performance through things like hardware acceleration. You're mostly likely to notice performance changes in things like gaming and video editing. For more information about what DirectX actually does for your computer, I'd suggest visiting the DirectX Product Information page on Microsoft's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 419
Poll: Preferred Laptop Brand
May 8 2003, 11:25 PM
Over the years I have used Grid, Toshiba, Dell and IBM notebook computers.

Since Grid is out of business and I had the Toshiba about a decade ago, I'll concentrate on the Dell and IBM notebooks.

IBM ThinkPads - If you're planning of doing a lot of typing or using a laptop sans external keyboard, then it probably would be a good idea to with an IBM ThinkPad. The notebook-sized models have full-size or nearly-full-size keyboards with respect to pitch (width of keys) and travel (how far keys can be depressed). People seem to have a love/hate relationship with the built-in TrackPoint pointing stick. Some love it, others hate it. Some new ThinkPad models come with built-in touchpads.

Screen size and resolution varies between models from industry-norm to leading edge. Upper-end models tend to have high-resolution displays as they are intended for use as mobile CAD stations and so forth. Video performance tends to poor compared to similar competitors' models due to IBM's use of chips from companies such as the late Neomagic and S3. If your primary use is going to be video gaming, go with another brand. High-end ThinkPads use ATI's Fire GL-series of chips, which are great for CAD and 3-D modelling, but lousy for gaming.

Older ThinkPads (mid-1990s and before) tended to use proprietary IBM-developed technologies, such as IBM's own MWave DSP for shared audio and modem devices. New units, however, make use of industry-standard components (Intel motherboard chipsets, ESS sound chipsets, Intel and 3Com network chipsets, Lucent/Agere/Proxim WiFi chipsets, and so forth) which makes support quite a bit easier. IBM is also very good about releasing driver and BIOS updates.

Build qualty is excellent. All the ThinkPads I've used (755CE, 770, 770X, T23) feel "solid" and did not have any problems with flexing, cracks or fractures in the casing, or broken or loose hinges or catches. On my newest one the removable drives look more fragile, but that may have more to do with the reduction in height of the removable drive bay (going from ~20mm high to 12mm high).

Technical support is good to excellent. IBM offers toll-free 7x24 support in the U.S. Technicians are always very polite, although knowledge varies--I once spoke with someone who didn't seem familiar with ThinkPads at all. Very polite, of course, but not particularly helpful. My current unit came with a next-business-day on-site service warranty, since I haven't had to make use of it (the laptop's only five days old) so I don't have any experiences to share with on-site service.

Pricing, in a word: Ouch. You pay a premium for the IBM name. On the other hand, you get a premium computer, solid construction, and post-sales support. Occasionally bargains do show up on IBM's own or other vendors sales web sites.

Dell Inspiron - From 1999 to 2001 I used a Dell Inspiron 8000. This unit had a good keyboard (full pitch but shallow travel), although it was not as "crisp" as IBM's. Kind of like the difference between typing on a membrame versus a buckling-spring keyboard. The unit had both a built-in pointing stick and a touch pad, both of which worked fine without any problems.

The display was excellent (1280x1024 with an ATI chipset, if I recall correctly). The unit I had arrived with seven (7) stuck (or "dead") pixels but that probably occurred during transit--the UPS delivery man didn't like carrying boxes up two flights of stairs to our office for some reason (the office was 8,500' above sea level). I was able to get it replaced with a minimum of fuss (asked Dell sales rep to replace, was told no, requested RMA number for new laptop, got replacement screen installed two days later).

Hardware was pretty-much industry norm. Intel chipsets, 3Com NICs and so forth. No problems with driver support or third-party compatibility issues at all. Build-quality was very good with no cracking or fracturing of the case and no flexing. However, at the end of two years the hinge was a bit looser than at time of purchase.

Technical support was excellent always excellent for me, with no long phone queues and polite, knowledgeable people at the other end. However, in the past two years I've had numerous clients with Dell laptops who've had long wait times and sometimes rather unfriendly and quite unhelpful people at the other end of the phone line.

Pricing: Excellent. You get a lot of value, hardware-wise (and possibly software-wise, for bundled software) for your Dell.

Based on the industry trends of cost-cutting over the past few years, onething I would strongly suggest when purchasing a new laptop is to get the manufacturer's extended "soup-to-nuts" warranty, which increases the coverage period and/or the number of items covered under the warranty. Seven years ago my $11,000.00USD state-of-the-art IBM ThinkPad 755CE (486DX100!) laptop came with a three-year full warranty. Nowadays, laptops cost $700 (for off-brands) and up. One of the reasons manufacturers have been able to reduce prices so significantly is because they have unbundled the cost of post-sales support, both in terms of the quality of technical support provided and warranty length and coverage. Paying an additional $200-300.00USD for the warranty (and perhaps a "priority" support phone queue) will help restore that and protect your investment.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 498 Is Somthing Wrong With My Memory? May 8 2003, 10:15 PM
There could be a problem with your memory. What were the exact error messages reported by MemTest86?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 243 Identity Theft May 7 2003, 04:49 AM
In order to attempt solving this problem, we are going to need more information about your computing environment. Can you please answer the following:


  • Which operating system are you running on your computer?
  • What type of computer do you have? Can you provide a description of its hardware (processor, memory, hard drive(s), modem, NIC and so forth)?
  • What type of Internet connection you have.


Knowing the answers to these questions will be very helpful in finding a solution to the problem you are experiencing with your computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 433 Newsletter Software May 7 2003, 03:34 AM
The X-Mailer line in the message headers reads:

    X-Mailer: Lyris ListManager Web Interface

So I'm guessing it's one of Lyris' products or services. For more information, click here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Web Developers 254 Win 2k Shutdown May 7 2003, 01:03 AM
That is an interesting question, RD1.

Here are a couple of articles from WinGuides on changing computers shutdown behavior:

Change the Log Off and Shutdown Settings

Power the Computer Off After Shutdown

Also here is an article from Microsoft's Knowledge Base on the "It's now safe to turn off your computer" screen.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 266 Start Order Of Programs May 7 2003, 12:33 AM
I take it you have placed shortcuts to all your commonly-used applications, such as Qualcomm's Eudora, in the Startup folder?

Have you tried moving the program for your 802.11g network into the Registry under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run key? If so, did that make a difference in the order of execution?

Also, have you tried telling Eudora not to check for messages when started? This option can be set by going to Tools -> Options -> Checking Mail from the menu and selecting (checking) the Don't check without a network connection option.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 402 Shopping For Cd-r's May 7 2003, 12:16 AM
This would be a good question to ask your CD-RW drive manufacturer's technical support department. Their engineers have no doubt tested their own products with a variety of media to determine which type(s) and brand(s) work best with their equipment.

As I understand it, most or all of the original CD-RW technology was developed by Taiyo Yuden so that might be a good place to start learning about the technology.

A good source of general information about CD and DVD technologies is the CDFreaks.Com web site.

Imation is actually a spin-off of 3M, it used to be their division for handling magnetic media. I've been using their media without problem in Plextor brand drives for several years.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 389 Run Programs And Apps From Cd May 6 2003, 01:50 AM
That's actually a very interesting question, Lamar.

I imagine the main reason most programs are designed to be run from a hard disk drive instead of a CD-ROM disc is because they are too big to fit uncompressed on a single CD-ROM disc.

Another reason it might be difficult to run programs directly from a CD-ROM is because the program in question may need to write information back to its installation directory, such as an .INI (initialization) file, which contains information about how the program is configured.

While it was never very common, I do seem to remember seeing programs which were designed to be run (either in whole or in part) directly from CD, such as reference titles (dictionaries, encyclopedias, thersauri and so forth) and games for MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows 3.1.

I suppose the reason programs are no longer designed to be run directly from CD is because hard disk drives are so inexpensive these days in terms of dollars-per-megabytes. Also, it's probably a lot faster.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 301 To Unplug Or Not To Unplug May 6 2003, 01:39 AM
This really is an excellent question.

I've read many articles in magazines and books over the years saying to do one or the other, to use a grounding strap or tap a metal portion of the computer's case or power supply and so forth over the years, but have never seen a definitive answer.

So, I decided to contact NEMA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the trade industry group which helps to set standards for that industry, to see if I could get an answer.

Here's part of the reply I received from Greg Winchester, NEMA's technical contact for Computers (1IS)

QUOTE

Yes, the computer should be unplugged and deenergized.  Please see the NEMA ICS 1.3 standard,  "Preventative Maintenance of Industrial Control and
Systems Equipment," which is available for free on NEMA's website (www.nema.org; click on "Find Standards").  You may also want to consult the
NFPA standard 70E, "Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces."


A quick search of NEMA's web site found the Preventative Maintenance of Industrial Control and Systems Equipment standard for download here.

I also tried looking around on the Desktop Form Factors web site, but they seem to be more geared towards manufacturers than consumers.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 459 Identity Theft May 6 2003, 01:19 AM
Somehow a key-logging and/or a remote-control program was installed on your computer. Though this, another person can see what you are typing and even take over your computer from theirs.

Usually these programs are introduced to the target system through a Trojan horse, computer virus or worm.

The easiest way for you to get rid of this program is to disconnect your computer from its Internet connection, and then back up all of your valuable data, such as documents, email, web browser bookmarks, saved games and so forth. Do not back up any executable program files, as they may be a part of this malicious program.

Once you are finished backing up your data, and have verified the tape(s) or disc(s) can be read, preferrable on a different computer, you can go ahead and reformat your computer's hard disk drive, reinstall your operating system and applications and then restore your data from the backups.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 433 Viruses And .exe Files May 6 2003, 01:01 AM
A file-infecting computer virus works by copying its own executable into the "target" host file and then modifying the program instructions ("code")
at the begining of the host file to execute the viruses' code first, which
then transfers control back to the host program after it has executed.

This is why it's not a good idea to send an executable program file if you can just send a data file in its place.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 273 Slow Surfin' May 5 2003, 04:48 AM
If the problem occurred after installing a device driver update, it's probably best to get the machine back to the previous version of the drivers.

Did you try restoring the old device driver by using the "Roll Back Driver" option in Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition? Here's how to do this, step-by-step:


  • Select Start -> Settings -> Control Panel from the Start Menu on the Taskbar to open the Control Panel.
  • Double-click on the System icon to open the System Properties Control Panel applet.
  • Click on the Hardware tab to view the Hardware options, and click on the Device Manager button to open the Device Manager window.
  • Scroll down through the list of installed hardware until you find your modem and double-click on it to view the Modem Properties window.
  • Click on the Driver tab to view the Driver options, and click on the Roll Back Driver to restore the old device driver.


Hopefully that will fix things.

Have you contacted Compaq technical support to report the problem? They might have a fix that isn't generally available yet.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 269 Powerdvd V4.0 / Gforce2 Fx 400 May 5 2003, 04:23 AM
I'm not familiar with the PowerDVD software or the GeForce2 FX400 video card, but I have seen similar problems with other video software and cards.

Are the video card and software configured to output full-screen video to the secondary television display?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 173 Hdd Partitioning May 4 2003, 11:11 AM
I found out about the deal from TechBargains on PC Connection's web site. Try doing a keyword search for T23 to see if they might have some left.

The T23 I received had Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional pre-loaded, but came with a Certificate of Authenticity/License Key for Microsoft Windows Home Edition. I suspect that may have something to do with its pricing. It has an ~800MB Recovery Partition (well, had one, in any case) and did not come with a Recovery CD. I intend to rectify that with IBM EZ Serv on Monday.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 539 Backup Program May 4 2003, 11:04 AM
If you have packet writing software installed for your CD-RW drive, have you considered using a program like Microsoft's ROBOCOPY (included in the Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Resource Kit or PixeLab's XXCOPY or KarenWare's Replicator to make differential backup's to CD-RW discs?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 1687 Yahoo Messenger May 4 2003, 09:02 AM
Are you supplementing your LAN's firewall with a software-based firewall on your computer? If so, you may need to open TCP port 5100 for bi-directional connections, according to this page on the Yahoo! Messenger support web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 251 Sound Font Transferring? May 4 2003, 04:33 AM
Sound font banks (a/k/a MIDI patch files) are, generally-speaking, specific to each sound card manufacturer's hardware.

It shouldn't hurt to try loading the old Adlib sound font files into your new sound card. You might just want to try finding a similar set for your current sound card, though, and use that instead.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 234 Hdd Partitioning May 3 2003, 09:24 AM
I ended up with a T23 with a 30GB hard disk. Not as fast as the T30, I know, but it was a steal at $900.00USD. Here are my modified plans for partitioning the hard disk drive:

4GB C: operating system, temporary and swap files (NTFS)
4GB D: installed applications, system utilities and device drivers (NTFS)
8GB E: data files (e.g., move the "My Documents" folder here) (FAT32)
8GB F: library of updates, patches, device drivers (FAT32)
6GB G: games (NTFS)

I only have about 2GB of data to place on the new laptop, so 8GB for the data volume (drive E:) will provide plenty of room to grow.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 539 Slow Dialup Connection--help May 3 2003, 09:01 AM
Oh, and to answer your other question:

Yes, having a hardware-based modem will likely help, although how much I could not say.

A hardware-based modem has its own dedicated processors on board to perform the analog-to-digital (and vice-versa) conversions, format, and encode the data being sent through the modem. Software-based modems rely on programs which run on the host computer to perform these functions. This is always going to be less efficient than using a dedicated device because your computer has to split its time between doing other screens, such as updating the screen or recognizing mouse clicks.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 228 Modem Question? Calling All Brains May 3 2003, 08:54 AM
It is very interesting to me that you can access America Online continuously throughout the day with no disconnection problems whatsoever and then consistently be unable to maintain a connection at night.

Since you are not making any changes to your computer or modem line, I suspect the problem has nothing whatsoever to do with either of them.

The problem may have something to do with either your phone lines or the local POP (Point of Presence--the bank of modems you dial into for your local access number).

If there was work being done on the phone lines or at the telco's switching center or central office I could see how that might interfere with being able to maintain an open circuit. Or another possibility is if heavy equipment (e.g., something with huge electric motors) was being operated near the phone lines. However, those are typically daytime activities.

The other possibility, a problem at the POP, could occur if there were huge numbers of dial-in connections to it, but, again, I would think that would be more likely during the day than in the evenings.

Another possibility is there is a problem with America Online's network--the one your connection goes through from the local POP to America Online's network operations center, or NOC, in Dulles, VA.

If that is the case, then troubleshooting it is going to be a little tricky, because the problem would have to be investigated at the NOC end by one of AOL's network engineers.

As Mr. Rossy suggests, it might be helpful to try using a different Internet Service Provider, in order to test your connection. If you do not have any connectivity problems with another ISP, then the problem would be on the AOL side of the connection.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 727 Slow Dialup Connection--help May 3 2003, 07:33 AM
As jwltude mentioned, it sounds like part of the problem is your phone line.

Have you contacted the local telephone company to complain?

I have not had too much like complaining to mine about modem connection speeds, they won't guarantee a connection speed about 2,400 baud.

However, I've found that complaining to them about hearing other conversations and static during voice conversations will get someone out to look at things.

You can also try telling them the phone line becomes unusable during the rain.

Hopefully, that will be enough to get a technician to check all of the phone line from the point it exits your house to the pole or junction box.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 228 Modem Question? Calling All Brains May 2 2003, 07:48 AM
I am sorry, I did not understand from your earlier message.

Let me see if I understand the problem correctly:


  • Your computer is from Gateway and has a 56K AC-Link Voice Modem installed in it.
  • The computer runs Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition.
  • Your online service provider is America Online. You have Version 8.0 of the AOL software installed on your computer.
  • You are unable to connect to AOL using the modem in the computer.


Did I get everything correct? If I did not, please me up to the point where things went astray. If I did, then I have the following questions for you:


  • Could you describe how you connect to America Online, step-by-step, for us?
  • Do you receive any error messages during this process? If so, what exactly do they say?
  • When did the problem begin to happen? E.g., has everything been working fine and all-of-a-sudden it stopped working, or has it never worked?
  • Has the modem worked correctly in the past?


As Rossy has suggested, it might be better to follow up with someone who has specialized knowledge of America Online's AOL 8.0 software and your modem, such as America Online or Gateway's technical support departments.

Since I cannot help you with the America Online side of things, I'd like to concentrate on the modem track.

According to the system report in your first message, you have a 56K AC-Link Voice Modem, which is based on a Conexant Systems chip set. This type of modem is what is referred to as a Host Signal Processing modem, also known as a soft modem, HSP modem, or winmodem (which is actually another manufacturer's model, but I digress). These types of modems actually forego the on-board processors in traditional modems and instead implement the processing in software, which runs on host computer's CPU.

It is possible that somehow this software became corrupt or damaged, which might explain why you are having a problem with the modem. Or it might be too old to work with America Online's AOL 8.0 software.

Searching through Gateway's technical support web site, I found Integrated 56K AC-Link Voice Modem device drivers for Windows XP and Windows 98/98SE/. I did not see any Windows ME-specific drivers, so am guessing the Windows 98/98SE drivers are the correct ones for your computer. They have a version number of 2.14.07.02 and were released in December, 2001, which makes them newer than the 2.14.06 drivers dating from June through August of 2000 on your computer.

You might want to try installing these and see if it makes a difference.

Now, there is another possibility that the modem is being mis-detected by America Online's AOL 8.0 software. On the Windows XP device driver download link mentioned above, it says this modem is also know as Brookings, which I assume is an internal name of some sort.

In the Gateway Support Document "How does AOL recognize the modem?" it mentions that Brookings motherboards (which, presumably, have an Integrated 56K AC-Link Voice Modem on them) should use the settings for the ActionTec DataLink 56k modem.

You may want to try this and see if it makes any difference.

I also tried going to Conexant's web site to see if they had any Windows Millennium Edition-specific device drivers or even newer device drivers for the Integrated 56K AC-Link Voice Modem. While there wasn't anything specific for this modem, they do offer a generic device drivers for a variety of modems based on their chip sets, along with utilities to help you determine which set of drivers to download and install. More information can be found here on Conexant's web site.

There are also many interesting articles about AC-Link modems here on Conexant's web site explaining how the technology works.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky



]]> Hardware Help 727 Cd Burner Opens By Itself May 2 2003, 05:11 AM
A couple of thoughts come to mind:

I'm wondering if the CD-RW drive ejecting the tray might be in response to a problem with the CD-RW drive mechanism. Sort of a "I'm broken, fix me!" call, if you will. It's the sort of thing which is probably unambiguous to engineers who design CD-RW drives for a living and bewildering to everyone else. If that is the case, a quick call to Hewlett Packard's technical support should clear things up.

The other thought that comes to mind is that your friend's computer is infected with a computer virus or worm which includes a remote control component such as the Back Orifice program to provide access to the computer. More information about Back Orifice can be found at http://www.nwinternet.com/~pchelp/bo/bobasics.htm (general overview) and http://www.iss.net/issEn/delivery/xforce/a....jsp?id=advise5 (technical description).

If it is indeed a computer virus or worm, the computer's anti-virus software should be able identify and remove it, assuming, of course, that it is up-to-date.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 275 New Windows Opening Maximised May 2 2003, 04:52 AM
Were you talking about the JavaScript code to add to an HTML page for opening a new instance of your browser in full-screen mode? If so, try looking at Google's cached copy of this message thread from Wrox's web site.

To toggle Internet Explorer windows between current and full-screen sizes, press the F11 key from within the web browser.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 188 Modem Question? Calling All Brains May 2 2003, 04:41 AM
I'm sorry, but I do not understand your question. Perhaps you could rephrase it or give a description of the problem you are experiencing.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 727 Anyone Know This Program? May 2 2003, 04:37 AM
Could you be looking for COA2 (Change of Address 2) from PC Magazine?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 383 Where Did Those Slots Go? May 1 2003, 12:51 PM
Do the bottom two PCI slots work if you remove the hard drive?

How many disk drives (including the hard drive) do you have plugged in, and what is the size (Wattage) of your power supply?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 164 I Try To Install Avg... May 1 2003, 12:44 PM
Assuming the AceHTML program is not spyware--which seems a reasonable assumption, the author's web site appears to be legitimate--then you may be the victim of nothing more than a corrupt temporary file directory. The easiest way to fix this is to erase the contents of the temporary file directory.

If you suspect that is the case, here's how to fix the problem, step-by-step:


  • If you have just installed software and need to reboot your computer, do so now before proceeding. This helps ensure the temporary file directory is not in use.
  • Save any open files and close all the applications running on your computer. Another step to ensure the temporary file directory is not in use.
  • Open a Command Prompt by selecting Start -> Run from the Start Menu on the Taskbar, enter COMMAND.COM as the name of the program to open, and click on OK or press Enter. The Command Prompt window will appear.

      NOTE: For Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP, type CMD.EXE instead.

  • Inside the Command Prompt window, type CD %TEMP% and press Enter to change to your temporary file directory.
  • Type DELTREE /Y . and press Enter to erase all of the files and subdirectories in the temporary file directory. After the "/Y" that is a single space (" ") character followed by period (".") character

      NOTE: For Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP, type RD . /S /Q instead.

  • Type EXIT and press Enter to close the Command Prompt and return to Windows.


Even though you saved all your open documents and closed their associated programs there may still be a few files or subdirectories being used in the temporary file directory; I've noticed this behavior with Microsoft ActiveSync, for example. If so, don't worry about it, the in-use files and subdirectories will not be removed by the DELTREE (or RD) command.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 241 Msn Chat May 1 2003, 07:06 AM
I can see where such an option would be useful and looked around for a method of clearing the list of sign-in addresses. Unfortunately, I couldn't seem to find one.

So I decided to try Plan B: I went to the Messenger Plus! web site, a support and download area for a free add-on for Microsoft Messenger, and posted an enhancement request for this functionality.

I know it's not the answer you were looking for, but hopefully the author will consider adding a way of clearing the sign-in list in a future release of the program. He's been very good about integrating suggestions from the user base, and the program has been very stable for me.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Tech News Watch 202 Question About A Virus Or Few Viruses? May 1 2003, 06:34 AM
From what I recall, the Bugbear is one of those mass-mailing worms that exploited security holes in old versions of Microsoft Outlook. If your friend has been keeping his operating system and anti-virus software up-to-date there's no reason it shouldn't have been handled.

The way this particular worm was designed is that it loads relatively late in the computer's boot process. The computer already has gone through its hardware tests, booted from the hard disk drive, loaded the core operating system files and device drivers before any of the worm's code even begins to run.

The problem your friend is having occurs well before any of this takes place. I am wondering if perhaps your friend did have a computer virus, but perhaps a different one: About five years ago there was a series of file-infecting viruses called CIH. They were pretty unremarkable as far as viruses goe, except for one thing, a novel payload. The virus would actually reprogram or "flash" the system motherboard's ROM BIOS chip, filling it with garbage so the computer could not longer boot up. The only way to fix this kind of damage is to replace EEPROM chip containing the BIOS code with a new one. If the BIOS chip was soldered onto the motherboard, this would mean returning it to the manufacturer for replacement. Which is expensive and time-consuming, not to mention annoying. If memory serves, the original version of the virus was set to go off on April 26th of every year, which is what made me think it might be the virus in question.

Of course, this virus is several years old now, so there's no reason it would have been missed by your friend's anti-virus software.

Perhaps the problems with starting the computer are not virus-related at all. Maybe the little backup battery which stores the computer's hardware settings in CMOS memory and powers the real-time clock has dropped below sufficient voltage to preserve them. This causes the CMOS settings to become garbled and the clock to lose time. If the settings for identifying the CPU installed in the motherboard were garbled that could prevent the computer from starting, which is the behavior displayed by your friend's computer.

The solution for this problem, though, is very simple: Replace the battery. On most modern motherboards it's a CR-2032 3-Volt Lithium coin cell, which you can get just about anywhere--electronics and computer stores, hardware stores, drug stores, supermarkets and so forth.

Other possibilities are a bad video card, power supply, or even power switch, but I'd suggest starting with swapping out the battery first, since it's a quick and inexpensive test.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 226 Mouse Gone Wonky May 1 2003, 03:59 AM
As row5is suggested, I'm wondering if you are experiencing some sort of problem with a corrupt item on context menus.

Have you recently installed, upgraded, or changed the settings on any software which adds context menu items? If so, does uninstalling the software make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 462 Audio Switchbox May 1 2003, 03:42 AM
If you'd like to integrate things even further, KVM switch manufacturers such as Belkin and IOGear offer models with built-in audio switching.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 234 Basic Equipment May 1 2003, 02:51 AM
Regular hubs and/or switches with uplink ports should do the trick.

If you want to spend the extra money you can get managed hubs or switches which you can telnet into or connect via a terminal and serial cable to monitor port usage, have MDI-MDIX detection to automatically configure ports regardless of whether a patch or cross-over cable is plugged in, and so forth.

You may want to check with (or hire) an electrician or network cabling installer, just to see if there is anything special which has to be because of local building codes.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Net Connections 172 A Strange Xp Problem May 1 2003, 02:33 AM
Do you use any third-party file transfer management software such as download accelerators? If so, does the problem still occur if you disable them?

Does the download complete successfully if you manually copy the URL out of your email client and paste it into your web browser?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 170 How Do You Store Cds? May 1 2003, 02:30 AM
I always try to place the label as close to the hub of the CD as I can, and trim the excess space at the ends. The labels I print are on 3/8" tape. While it does, no doubt, introduce some wobble into the disk I have not noticed any increased problems with reading labeled discs.

On the other hand, the fastest CD-ROM drive I have around here is a 40X. I have not tried sticking a labeled disc into a 56X CD-ROM drive to see if it fails. I would probably want to try laminating some Kevlar or carbon-fibre cloth to the bezel before doing so.

If it becomes a problem, I'd probably just go back to using a Sharpie or other permanent-marker pen. The reason I stopped that was because I had some trouble reading the serial numbers (a problem known as "lousy penmanship").

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 292 Recent Influx Of Spam. May 1 2003, 02:18 AM
Just out of curiosity, have you checked with your internet service provider's mail or security administrators to see if they have made any significant changes recently to their spam-handling techniques?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 388 Hdd Partitioning May 1 2003, 02:08 AM
I have been considering the same thing--a T30 would be a nice upgrade to my now-archaic 770X. I just hope the keyboard is comparable.

Here is how I intend to partition mine:

8GB C: operating system, temporary and swap files (NTFS)
8GB D: installed applications, system utilities and device drivers (NTFS)
8GB E: data files (e.g., move the "My Documents" folder here) (FAT32)
8GB F: library of updates, patches, device drivers (FAT32)
8GB G: "G" is for games (NTFS)

Since I suspect the hard disk drive is 40GB decimal and not binary, the partition sizes might come down a bit to account for the discrepancy (even a 6GB games partition would be more than adequate).

I've thought about placing the temporary file folders and swap files on their own partition (perhaps 4GB OS and 4GB swap), but I haven't found a need to do so yet. On the other hand, a fresh system would be a good platform on wish to try testing this approach.

The E: and F: volumes will be formatted using FAT32 just in case some situation arises (catastrophic OS failure) where I can only boot the PC from a floppy. That lets me get into the hard drive to siphon off any data, plus any needed patches or drivers required to fix things.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 539 Udram Apr 30 2003, 02:04 PM
Hmm... is there anything on the motherboard manufacturer's web site about what the mystery socket might be used for?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 364 Bad Video Card? Apr 30 2003, 01:59 PM
I am wondering if perhaps your video card has begun to fail, perhaps from overheating. The components on it are designed to work within a certain temperatures for a certain amount of time. If the video card was not cooled adequately, that would shorten the life of the components on it.

Another possiblity could be faulty capacitors on the video card or the motherboard. Here are a few articles about the problem:

Faulty Capacitors Give Rise to Motherboard Failures
Leaking Capacitors Muck Up Motherboards (article from IEEE magazine)
Low-ESR Aluminum Electrolytic Failures Linked to Taiwanese Raw Materials Problem (article from Passive Component Industry magazine)

You may want to examine the capacitors on your motherboard and video card to see if any of them have any visible symptoms of nearing a failure point.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 658 How Do You Store Cds? Apr 30 2003, 01:41 PM
I use CD binders to store software, and separate discs based on content (operating systems, applications, device drivers, games, and so forth). No particular preference for brand--I've ended up with a few CaseLogic cases because they were on sale.

All CDs which require a serial number have a label on them with it. That saves having to dig through stacks of paperwork.

When travelling, I like to use a Kensington WetSuit because it doesn't use up as much space as a regular CD case.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky



]]> Technobabble 292 Udram Apr 29 2003, 11:38 PM
Could it be a socket for a COAST (Cache-on-a-Stick) module? These were used on some Pentium-class motherboards to provide a standardized connector for L2 cache.

A more detailed description can be found here on the Webopedia web site.

Another possibility is it might be a memory socket for "unbuffered" DRAM, perhaps for installing one high-capacity SIMM or DIMM instead of using lower capacity memory in the SDRAM sockets?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 364 Kill Windows Messanger? Apr 29 2003, 11:25 PM
There are several ways to disable Microsoft Windows Messenger on a computer running Microsoft Windows XP. Here are a few:


  • Run Windows Messenger and select Tools -> Options from the menu. Click on the Preferences tab and un-check (disable) the Run this program when Windows starts and Allow this program to run in the background options. Click on the OK button to save the changes, and exit the Windows Messenger program from the System Tray.

  • Start the Group Policy Editor by selecting Start -> Run from the Taskbar and entering GPEDIT.MSC as the name of the program to run. In the Group Policy Editor's navigation tree control, go to Local Computer Policy -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Messenger and enable both the Do not allow Windows Messenger to be run and Do not automatically start Windows Messenger initially options. Exit the Group Policy Editor when done.

  • Start the Registry Editor by selecting Start -> Run from the Taskbar and entering REGEDIT.EXE as the name of the program to run. In the Registry Editor's navigation tree control, go to My Computer -> HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Software -> Microsoft -> Windows -> CurrentVersion -> Run, locate the MSMSGS string value and delete it. Exit the Registry Editor when done.

  • Locate the SYSOC.INF file on your computer (it is typically found in C:\WINDOWS\INF), and load it into your favorite text editor, such as NotePad or WordPad. Search for a line which reads:

      msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7

    and remove the "hide" entry to change it to

      msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7

    Save the file when you are finished editing it. Reboot your computer. Once it restarts, run the Add or Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel by going to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs. Click on the Add/Remove Windows Components button. The Windows Components Wizard window will appear. Scroll down through it until you see the entry for Windows Messenger. and deselect (un-check) it. Click the Next button and exit when finished.

  • The main program file for Microsoft Windows Messenger is named MSMSGS.EXE and is usually installed to a directory named C:\Program Files\Messenger\. Rename or delete the file.


Those are the four ways I'm aware of to disable Windows Messenger. If none of them seem to work, please let us know.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 2834 Me Boot Problem Apr 29 2003, 10:47 PM
The mostly likely reason for the hard disk drive not being detected, even after you have tried enabling auto-detection in the BIOS, is that the drive's electronics (the circuit board on the bottom of the hard disk drive) has failed. If that is the case, it may be possible to recover data from the hard drive, but you will need to have it examined by a company that specializes in data recovery. Keep in mind that data recovery is usually a time-consuming and expensive process.

Before you go to that extreme, though, I would strongly suggest following up with Hewlett Packard in case they have special instructions or additional troubleshooting steps for you to perform.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 305 Nvidea Apr 29 2003, 10:38 PM
Normally nVidia's Detonator device driver and software installation program removes the currently-installed version before placing the new device drivers and software on your computer.

If you're still concerned there might be "leftovers" from a previous installation or are having trouble installing the new device drivers, then you can try a program like Detonator Destroyer to completely remove the current installation of the nVidia device drivers and software from your computer.

I have never used the program myself, so I cannot tell you how well it works.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 716 Wireless Networking Apr 29 2003, 10:17 AM
Thank you for sharing your feedback.

My 802.11b WLAN network consists exclusively of Proxim's ORiNOCO line of products--parts of it are even old enough that they say Lucent on it.

One of the first things I did when setting up my WLAN was to enable 128-bit key WEP encryption. As you may recall, there were some early issues with 802.11b WEP keys being entered in ASCII versus hexadecimal notation with respect to key generation. While this wasn't an issue while I remained ORiNOCO-exclusive, I found some of Linksys' 802.11b offerings (the USB adapter and the Ethernet bridge, you'll have to excuse me for not recalling their model names) were unable to use 128-bit WEP encryption. I confirmed this with Linksys' technical support, who told me I could try using 64-bit WEP encryption and see if it then worked, or even disable WEP encryption entirely and it would work. While Linksys is generally quite good about getting firmware updates out to fix problems, it still can take a while for them to fix things, especially if its a device they OEMed from someone else, like the Ethernet bridge. On the other hand, I've had some Compaq and D-Link 802.11b gear attached to my WLAN from time-to-time, and it seemed to work fine.

So there you have it: Sometimes things work, and sometimes they require a little TLC (or a firmware update) from the vendor in order to work. But going with a single vendor seems to be a good way to avoid any issues about how a particular specification was implemented.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 197 Need Shared Email Solution Apr 29 2003, 09:56 AM
I have periodically looked at such tools myself for CRM and tech support use and have typically found them in the four-to-five digit price range for the server component, with per-seat licensing in the three-to-four digit range.

If this is within the price line your customer expects, I would suggest looking at Right Now Technologies' Email Management tools. The last time I checked pricing was on a sliding scale, but an entry-level deploy like your clients would probably be in the $25,000-50,000.00USD range, not including hardware.

Failing that, I would suggest having one technician responsible for manually routing email to the others in a round-robin fashion. I've done this myself using Qualcomm's Eudora email client without any significant problems. Statistics will have to be tabulated manually, though, and will probably be less informative than what you get from a CRM package with integrated analytics. But its a lot less expensive.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky




]]> Windows Fanatics 221 Chkdsk For Windows Xp Apr 29 2003, 09:32 AM
You mentioned in your message that you have reformatted the drive several times, so I assume you are comfortable with doing so again and have backups of all important data off the laptop's hard disk drive.

I am wondering if you may have a hard disk drive that has begun to fail.

Have you considered visiting the hard disk drive manufacturer's web site and downloading whatever diagnostic tools they offer? Specifically, a program which performs a "destructive" (disk-erasing) test of the hard disk drive and/or offers to "recertify" (low-level format) it to the manufacturer's original specification?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 629 "appearances" Tab "effects" No Longer Works Apr 29 2003, 09:24 AM
Is there more than one user account on your computer running Windows XP Professional? If so, is the "Effects" button missing from the Display Properties on all of them, or just the one you normally logon with?

I'm not knowledgeable about the two desktop skinning programs you mentioned, but have you checked with their respective technical support departments to see if this is perhaps a known issue?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 806 Post Memory Error Apr 29 2003, 09:20 AM
You may wish to check Asus' support web site and verify you have the most current BIOS installed for your computer. Downloads for your motherboard are located here.

If you are over-clocking your CPU then you might want to try running it at its rated speed to see if that makes any difference.

Also, you may wish to try a memory test program, such as Memtest86, to see if it identifies any problem with the DIMMs.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 217 Best Looking Websites Apr 29 2003, 09:13 AM
One of the web sites whose design I have always been impressed by is Nestle S.A.'s, which can be viewed at http://www.nestle.com/

The site displays properly using a variety of web browsers and at different screen resolutions, nor does it require the viewer to download any plugins. Menus and controls are laid out well and make effective use of color, which makes site navigation easy. The use of small images ensures that the site is readily-accessible to users with slow connections.

Compare that to the number of corporate sites you've seen which mandate plugins such as MacroMedia's Flash, are designed to be viewed with only one browser or at one screen resolution, use bewildering or hard-to-navigate controls, and have huge images requiring a fast Internet connection to view.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 317 Elitism Or Stubborn People? Apr 29 2003, 08:58 AM
I suspect one reason, in part, for your frustration is you not only know what the problem is and how to fix it, but that you can solve it and really want to, whatever it may be. It is very frustrating to be ignored or otherwise discounted in such situations.

I've had the same feelings myself in the past and still experience it now from time-to-time.

At some point in my career, I came to the realization that I just cannot help everybody. For some reason, I cannot communicate or explain something to them or they cannot--or will not--listen to my advice, recommendations, instructions, et cetera.

It is impossible to exit these situations with a "win-win;" that is, success for both you and the client.

The best solution I have found is to exit gracefully. Tell the client that you are sorry but you cannot help them further and recommend that they contact someone else for assistance, such as the manufacturer. While it may not be a "win," at least you can ensure the situation does not turn into a "lose" for you, and both you and the client can move on from there.

You may have to repeat this several times, and one of two things will eventually happen: Either they will stop contacting you or they will be forced to follow your advice, because you have explained to them--politely and professionally--that is the sole option available to them if they wish your assistance. And if the latter solution does not work, then the former will.

For whatever it's worth, I've often found that the sincere and earnest desire to fix things is the hallmark of a good technical support engineer, and being able to realize when you cannot is that of a great one.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 343 Display Apr 27 2003, 06:11 AM
That is, indeed, very strange-looking. It's almost as if the desktop wallpaper was getting set to that image. The garbage pixels are even visible through the icons (I'm assuming background transparency is disabled on the display).

If going the software route (operating system and driver updates) does not appear to solve the problem then you go the hardware route and arrange for a replacement video card from the manufacturer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 339 Sound Card Problem, Or What? Apr 27 2003, 06:02 AM
I'm sorry, but what exactly is the problem with the audio? Are you not hearing anything at all, or is it just coming through very faintly or distorted?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 223 Strange Beeps Apr 27 2003, 05:59 AM
Have you tried adding additional cooling to the system? If so, did that have any effect?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 336 Me Boot Problem Apr 27 2003, 05:52 AM
A "DISK BOOT FAILURE" error message is usually an error message from the computer's BIOS indicating it cannot locate any hard drive(s) connected to the computer.

As Joy suggests, this may be a problem with loose cables: Try re-cabling the drives in case the cables worked themselves loose.

Another possibility is the little backup battery which keeps the BIOS settings stored in CMOS and the computer's real-time clock ticking has begun to die. If that is the case, replacing the battery should solve the problem. Most computers manufactured in the past few years use a standard CR-2032 3-Volt lithium coin battery which can be purchased at any electronics or computer store, super market, drug store, home improvement store, hardware store, and so forth.

If the cabling and the battery are okay, then the hard drive could have failed, which would explain why the computer can no longer see it.

If that does appear to be the case, I would suggest following up directly with Hewlett Packard's technical support, as they may have special diagnostics for you to download and run from a floppy diskette to further isolate the problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 305 Changed Motherboard And Cpu Apr 27 2003, 05:42 AM
Have you installed the latest BIOS, device drivers and chipset software for your new Asus A7N8X motherboard? They are available for download from Asus' web site here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 258 Wireless Networking Apr 27 2003, 05:21 AM
While I do not have a recommendation for a specific brand, I would suggest purchasing the same brand of equipment for your WLAN.

While 802.11b is a standard, there appears to be some variation in how each manufacturer implements that standard.

By selecting equipment from one manufacturer, you are most likely going to be using it in a configuration they have tested and verified, which would reduce the chance of any WLAN interoperability issues--not to mention finger-pointing by different equipment manufacturers.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 197 Bios Problem Apr 27 2003, 05:14 AM
The web page you provided for your Gateway motherboard indicates the L2 cache is installed directly on it--presumably soldered on or in sockets, or on a daughter card. Just to check, have you verified the L2 cache is installed on your motherboard? The reason there may not be any options accessible is the L2 cache may not installed.

Have you tried contacting Gateway's technical support department directly? Perhaps they have an application note or BIOS update explaining how to enable the L2 cache which is not available from their web site.

Can you determine who manufactured the motherboard for Gateway by looking at the FCC ID or other labels on it? If so, perhaps that manufacturer has a BIOS update available on their web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 380 Video Settings Apr 26 2003, 06:49 AM
This may be a silly question, but have you tried contacting the motherboard manufacturer to see if a BIOS update is available?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 184 Usb Mouse Configuration Apr 26 2003, 06:48 AM
I did work there, but that was a long time ago.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 224 Chaintech 6aja4t Motherboard Apr 26 2003, 06:44 AM
If you cannot find or receive the loan of a Intel Pentium III Socket 370 CPU for the express purpose of just upgrading the BIOS then perhaps you could contact Chaintech and see if they can send you a replacement BIOS chip or you could send the motherboard to them to perform a BIOS upgrade?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 202 Secure Servers Apr 26 2003, 06:36 AM
Another person had the same problem a while ago. Perhaps one of the suggestions in that message thread would apply to this problem?

Click here to view that previous message thread.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Tech News Watch 228 Why Turning Off Icmp Is A Bad Idea Apr 26 2003, 06:26 AM
Have you tried asking your IT department to selectively re-enable ICMP at the network connections used just by your technicians for the express purpose of using diagnostic tools like traceroute and ping?

If that did not work, have you tried enlisting your sales department's assistance? I would think they would be interested in anything which would cause them to lose clients (and commissions).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 258 Strange Beeps Apr 26 2003, 06:21 AM
If it is an overheat alarm, the alarm may be going off before the temperature reaches a level where it interferes with the computer's operation.

I had a similar problem with a computer--the overheat alarm would go off on what appeared to be a random basis. After a little playing with the house thermostat and opening and closing of windows, I found the computer was operating right at the edge of the temperature alarm's threshold.

To solve the problem, I moved the alarm temperature up by three degrees in the BIOS, applied some nylon wire ties to the internal cabling to move them out of the way of the internal fans, replaced the front case fan with a higher performance one, and added a fan card that fit in an empty PCI card slot. The computer runs a little louder now because of the fans, but no longer beeps when it gets warmer in the house.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 336 Dead Palm Apr 26 2003, 06:10 AM
Could your Palm m105 have been damaged by static electricity? If so, have you tried contacting Palm's technical support to arrange for a replacement unit?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Mobile Lifestyles 218 Multiple Ie Windows Open Apr 26 2003, 06:03 AM
Selecting File -> New -> Window or pressing the Ctrl-N key combination in Microsoft Internet Explorer should open up a new web browser window. If that does not work, have you installed any security software which block pop-up advertisements?

Or, do you mean that multiple Internet Explorer windows are not appearing on the Taskbar? If so, is the Group similar taskbar buttons option enabled on your computer? Here's how to disable the option, step-by-step:


  • Click on Start -> Settings -> Taskbar and Start Menu from the Start button.
  • The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window will appear.
  • In the Taskbar Appearance section at the top is an option named Group similar taskbar buttons.
  • If the option is enabled (checked), click on the check box next to it to disable the option.
  • Click on the OK button when done.


Does disabling this option seem to make any difference with Internet Explorer's ability to open new windows?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 318 Sound Cards With Ram Slots Apr 25 2003, 07:12 AM
Most likely the 30-pin SIMM sockets are used to provide additional memory for storing digitized audio samples of instruments. The audio samples are used for playing back MIDI music files.

If you visit Creative Technologies' SoundBlaster sound card site at http://www.soundblaster.com/ you should be able to download manuals and software for the sound cards.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 187 Display Apr 25 2003, 06:59 AM
It is possible your video card is overheating or has begun to fail.

Symptoms of these problems include graphics artifacts such as lines or blocks appearing on the display.

You may want to try increasing the air flow through your computer with some higher-speed or additional case fans. If that does not appear to solve the problem you may wish to contact the video card manufacturer to arrange a replacement.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 339 Chaintech 6aja4t Motherboard Apr 25 2003, 06:53 AM
Do you have another CPU you can temporarily install just to perform the BIOS upgrade?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 202 Change Ip Address Apr 25 2003, 06:51 AM
The most likely reason for your computer being assigned the same IP address is because when your dynamically-assigned IP address lease "expires" your computer or router requests a new IP address and gets the same IP address previously assigned to it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Tech News Watch 477 Usb Mouse Configuration Apr 25 2003, 06:46 AM
Is there an option in the SONY VAIO PCG-500 notebook's BIOS to disable the touchpad or allow simultaneous use with an external mouse?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 224 Registry In Win 2000 Apr 25 2003, 06:44 AM
Have you tried booting from your Microsoft Windows 2000 installation disc, starting the Recovery Console, and running CHKDSK from it against your hard disk drive?

Information on using the Windows 2000 Recovery Console can be found here on Microsoft's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 270 Web Browsers Apr 25 2003, 06:30 AM
Both TUCOWS and Stroud's maintain lists of Microsoft Windows-compatible web browsers.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Tech News Watch 339 How To Clean My Finger Prints? Apr 24 2003, 07:19 AM
The TweakUI utility from from Microsoft's PowerToy collection has options to clear the saved histories for Internet Explorer, telnet, the Run item off the Start Menu and so forth. It can be downloaded from Microsoft's web site here.

I don't mean to sound flippant by asking, but if you don't mind my asking, why would you even care that your employer was monitoring your computer usage? In all the places I've worked clauses about monitoring computer and telephone usage are part of the employment contract. At a couple of places, I've even requested to have it added.

Businesses have a right to control how their equipment and resources are used. After all, they are paying the bills. Also, They are paying you for the time you do work for them as an employee.

It is pretty standard to visit computer vendors web sites, computer news web sites, or other industry-specific web sites as part of a normal business day, isn't it? If that is the case, all the employee-monitoring software is going to do is show that you're doing your job. And most employers don't care about a little lunch-hour surfing to Amazon or the Lockergnome Forums.

More importantly, though, employee-monitoring software protects you from being accused of doing something prohibited by your employee handbook, not to mention illegal. Here's the most extreme example I can think of: Let's say you're accused of visiting child pornography or hate-speech web sites during the day. The network security manager pulls the logs for your computer from that day and you're cleared. End of issue.

From my perspective, it's a win-win situation for both employers and employees.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 667 Lpt1 Printer Port Apr 24 2003, 06:48 AM
Are the LPT ports enabled in the computer's BIOS? If they are disabled or set to "auto-enable?" If so, you may have to enable them manually by selecting all the values.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 594 Windows Xp Apr 24 2003, 05:37 AM
Would that be the Buffer Overrun in Windows Kernel Message Handling could Lead to Elevated Privileges (811493) patch?

If so, here's how to remove it from Microsoft Windows XP, step-by-step:


  • Click on Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs to bring up the Add or Remove Programs program window.
  • Scroll down through the list of current installed programs until you see one named Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) Q811493 and single-click on it to select it.
  • Click on the Change/Remove button in the upper right corner of the window to uninstall this Hotfix.


At the end of uninstallation, you may be prompted to reboot. The next time your computer starts up the Hotfix will be removed.

One thing to keep in mind after uninstalling the Q811493 Hotfix is that it will now appear on the Windows Update web site when you visit there. Be sure not to install it from there again by accident..

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 329 Pen Drive Apr 23 2003, 07:13 AM
Out of curiosity, have you checked with the manufacturer of the pen drive? Perhaps they have diagnostic programs you can use to isolate the problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 195 Server Considerations Apr 23 2003, 07:07 AM
The largest advantage to using a brand-name manufacturer for your mission-critical computers is that you can buy a support contract for them with a specific response time. In the event of a problem there is only one vendor to deal with, as opposed to a different one for each component.

Also, the servers you are purchasing are built using components which have been tested and integrated by the manufacturer for compatibility.

When a former employer of mine--a dot com--started up, they based their server purchases on two factors: Price and speed of delivery. We used the least-expensive vendor we could find that would ship us systems the same day or next day. Did we save money? Certainly we saved some up-front costs. But the result was we received systems that were either built improperly or not even finished with assembly, sometimes with wrong, missing or substituted hardware (memory mostly, but also things like SCSI cards and hard drives), and not tested at all. Every time a computer arrived we would have to open the case and physically inspect it to ensure all the parts we ordered had arrived. Once we were sent a server which had none of the internal cabling connected. Often, servers would fail within the first week or two of operation. Uptime was typically around 95%. In other words, we'd have about 8-10 hours out of each 168 hour week where our servers weren't all up and running. Oh, and there was essentially no tech support from the vendor as each system was essentially a custom build and a great deal of arguing with our sales person when servers arrived with the wrong parts. But we saved money. All it cost us was reliability and our reputation.

As the company grew, we started replacing our computers (desktop and servers) with Dell PowerEdge tower and pedestal servers and Dimension desktops. We did not purchase add-on support contracts, so we had whatever the standard level of support was, but the effect was noticeable. All the equipment that started coming in worked right out of the box, had current device drivers loaded for the hardware, and were even packed properly to reduce damage in transit. Part failures were very rare, and when something did fail--mostly hard drives--a replacement was only a phone call and a day away. The Dell computers cost a only a little bit more than our previous vendor and server uptime went into the 99.9% range--I doubt if we had an hour of downtime a week.

As the server farm grew, the company switched to Compaq Proliant DL-series rackmount servers. These were much expensive than the Dells, and we purchased same-day support contracts with them which were a significant amount of the cost. The Compaqs were great. They came pre-installed in racks with integrated KVM management and we could pre-configure the software configuration. As far as reliability goes, I think we had one server (out of about a dozen racks) go down in a year's time. It was very, very expensive, but we essentially had 100% uptime.

So... that was my experience.

Here are a few considerations to help focus your requirements:


  • How important is it that you have 100% uptime? Is it acceptable to have, say, an hour's worth of downtime? What about four? What about twenty-four?
  • Do you need 7x24x365 support?
  • What sort of inventory are you going to need to keep the computers running? Are you just going to keep spares for parts which commonly fail, such as fans and hard disk drives? Or keep entire spare system(s) available?
  • The developer for your e-commerce solution gave, I assume a minimum set of system requirements for their product. What are the recommended or preferred requirements?
  • It probably would be a good idea to separate your various Internet services onto separate computers, especially the proprietary e-commerce software. This gives you some continuity for business operations, e.g., even if the mail server is down customers can still visit your web server and place orders.
  • Microsoft's currently-shipping server operating system is Windows 2000 Server (and Advanced Server and Datacenter Edition). This OS has the benefit of being out for about three years--long enough for it to be stable and well-supported by independent software and hardware developers. Windows Server 2003 is new, although derived from previous operating systems. If you don't mind the occasional problems that fielding any new operating system offers, go for it. Otherwise, consider waiting until it has been out for a while or has specific features needed at the business.


In no particular order, here are some things which are useful for a server room: Equipment racks, a good-quality labeller, KVM switches, UPSes, a high-volume HVAC system, a toolkit, cable testers and plenty of spare cables.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 228 Windows 98 Apr 23 2003, 03:07 AM
If the computer is set to automatically log the former employee in when turned on, try holding down the shift key once the GUI appears for Microsoft Windows 98.

You should be prompted to enter a user name and password to logon. At this point, press the escape key and Windows should continue to load as normal.

Once Windows has started, click on Start -> Run and type in POLEDIT.EXE to run the System Policy Editor.

From there you should be able to restore the Control Panel.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 258 Winxp Phone Problem Apr 23 2003, 02:51 AM
I am guessing at least one of your computers has a modem which is plugged into the same phone line as your telephone.

The simplest solution would be to unplug the phone line from the modem.

If that isn't practical, try disabling the modem's auto-answer function.

Depending upon the brand and model of the modem changing a DIP switch or a jumper setting may disable auto-answer.

If the modem does not have any junpers or DIP switches, you can disable auto-answering from within Microsoft Windows. Here's how to do it, step-by-step:


  • Click on Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Phone and Modem Options to open the Phone and Modem Options window.
  • Click on the Modems tab. A list of all the installed modems will appear.
  • Highlight the modem which is plugged into the phone line and click on the Properties button. The Properties window for the modem will appear.
  • Click on the Advanced tab. The Extra Settings pane will appear.
  • In the Extra initialization commands: field, enter:

      ATS0=0

    and click on the OK button to exit the Preferences window. NOTE: That is the number zero ("0"), not the letter O, in the command.


The ATS0=0 command is a universal (or close to universal) command which disables a modem's auto-answer functionality. What we've done is told Windows to send this command to the modem each time the computer is started.

The next time the computer boots up, auto-answer should be disabled on the modem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Hardware Help 203 Unable To Access Windowsupdate Apr 23 2003, 02:17 AM
Are you using a web browser other than Microsoft Internet Explorer? It could be your web browser is returning a user-agent string which is not recognized by the Windows Update web site.

If you are using Internet Explorer, another possibility is its user-agent string has become corrupted or blocked by security software on your PC.

Here is a link to a page on WinGuide.Com explaining how to view and edit Internet Explorer's user-agent string: http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/799/.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 328 Adding A Pci Modem Apr 22 2003, 08:10 AM
Have you verified all of the software and device drivers for the IBM MWave combination modem and sound ISA card have been removed?

According to the MWave Dumping Zone web site, the software and device drivers often have to be manually removed by editing files, renaming files and directories, and so forth.

Is the new PCI modem a hardware- or software-based modem?

Quick background: Modem is actually short for modulator-demodulator, a device which converts analog signals to digital ones. In this case, a modem converts the analog signals sent over the phone line into digital ones your computer can understand.

All of these signal conversions, along with the protocols (formulas) for how information should be transmitted have traditionally been handled by a dedicated set of chips on the modem's cicruit board with names like DSP (digital signal processor), data pump, controller, UART (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter) and so forth. These types of modems are usually referred to as hardware or DSP modems.

As computers became faster and faster it was possible to move the functions performed by the modem's dedicated hardware and write them into software (device driver ) which could run on the computer. Because the computer (the "host") handles signal processing, these types of modems are usually referred to as host signal processing (HSP), software or even winmodems, which was the name of one vendor's model and has entered the vernacular much like kleenex and xerox.

Also, by using HSP technology the price of modems could come down because they be can manufactured using fewer components, saving labor and parts costs.

The problem, of course, with offloading the modem's processing to the computer is that the modem's device driver software now has to compete with the rest of the computer for memory and processor resources and is subject to resouce and software conflicts.

If a computer is not fast enough or have enough memory to handle signal processing, odd behavior may result, ranging from slower performance to, well, system crashes like the one you are experiencing.

As Joy points out, replacing the internal HSP PCI card modem with an external hardware-based DSP modem on a serial port will solve the problem. Also, several manufacturers offer internal PCI card modems which use a hardware-based DSP. You can check the packaging or the vendor's web site to determine if an internal PCI card modem uses HSP or DSP techniques.

Here are some links to web sites which may be of interest:

HowStuffWorks.Com on modems
Modem Central's report on winmodems
Vee90.Net - Your 56K Modem Resource


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 480 Novell Client, What The Heck? Apr 22 2003, 06:54 AM
Unless you have direct access to the Novell Netware server(s) your data is stored on, it appears you will need to use the Novell Client.

The latest version of the Novell Client can be downloaded directly from Novell here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 241 Windows Debugging Apr 22 2003, 03:15 AM
Gizmoitus' suggestion for the O'Reilly & Associates Press line of Annoyances books is right on target. Their In a Nutshell and Pocket Guides series are also good sources of information.

Another good source of information about Microsoft Windows is Microsoft Press. Their Resource Kit series of books is usually quite informative.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 219 Opml Apr 22 2003, 03:06 AM
It appears that OPML is an outlining markup language based on XML developed by UserLand Software.

The web site for the OPML working group and specification is http://www.opml.org/, and more information about outlining software can be found at http://www.outliners.com.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 174 New Pc Apr 21 2003, 08:51 AM
Assuming there is room inside your new computer--which is very likely, unless the new one is some sort of small form-factor PC--you should be able to install the hard disk drive from your old Gateway computer in your new Dell computer and copy any files you need off of it onto the new computer.

The Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition operating system on your Dell should have no trouble reading the hard disk drive with Windows Millennium Edition from your Gateway.

The only real caveat is to make sure both hard disk drives are properly jumpered before plugging the old hard disk drive in to the new computer.

If you are plugging both hard drives into the same ribbon cable, the new hard disk drive in your Dell should be jumpered as the 'master' and the old hard disk drive from your Gateway should be jumpered as the 'slave.'

If you are plugging the old hard disk drive from your Gateway into its own ribbon cable with no other devices plugged into it, then it should be jumpered as the 'master.'

Your new Dell computer will boot off of its hard disk drive as normal and will detect the new "old" hard disk drive and assign it a drive letter. From there you can copy all the files you need off of it to the new computer's hard disk drive.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 504 Sdram For Motherboards Apr 21 2003, 04:51 AM
I understand your desire to economize on your system upgrades, but have you considered making the transition to a motherboard using DDR memory?

While it might mean more costs upfront, you would be able to use a system built on a newer DDR-capable motherboard for a longer time, allowing you to perform less-expensive incremental upgrades.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 199 Keyboard Problem Apr 21 2003, 04:41 AM
As silly as this sounds, could you have plugged the keyboard and mouse into the wrong connectors on the new motherboard?

On all ATX motherboards, the top PS/2 port is used for the mouse, and the bottom PS/2 port is used for the keyboard.

It is possible with some motherboards you may be able to switch devices and still have a working connection, but it is always best to plug devices into their proper ports.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 163 Nobody Move......this Is A Raid!...problem Apr 21 2003, 04:35 AM
I am unfamiliar with this particular motherboard and RAID controller combination, but have you verified the latest BIOSes for the motherboard and RAID controller are installed?

If the BIOS is a "unified" BIOS which contains the ROM images for both the network interface and RAID controller, have you tried using the latest RAID controller drivers available from Asus' web site, as opposed to Promise Technologies' web site?

If the unified BIOS contains an older version of the Promise Technologies BIOS than the one currently available on Promise Technologies' web site, you may need to use older device drivers from Asus' web site--assuming, of course, they are older than the one's available on Promise Technologies web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Hardware Help 278 Security Risk Apr 21 2003, 04:25 AM
Depending upon the version of Microsoft Windows your computer is running, you should be able to disable the NetBIOS option from the section of the Network Properties window where your advanced TCP/IP options are configured.

Installing a software-based firewall such as Jeber mentioned will greatly reduce your computer's vulnerability "footprint" on the Internet. If you use a DSL or Cable modem which plugs directly into your computer's Ethernet interface, consider installing a router.

A router is a device which acts as an "intermediary" between networks, allowing your local network of computers to transmit data to the network on the other side of the device which, in this case, would be the Internet. Since a router sits between your computer(s) and the Internet it can be used to block undesired incoming connections.

I've seen routers for as low as $9.99USD after rebates at various electronics and computer superstores with prices of $40 to $200 or more, depending upon the brand and additional features.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 194 Nyb Virus Apr 20 2003, 09:53 AM
The NYB virus is, if memory serves, a modified version of the Michelangelo virus which infects the boot sector on floppy disks and the master boot record on hard drives. The virus was unremarkable and named after the location it was originally found in, New York.

The virus is--or was, at least--fairly rare.

You may want to contact your anti-virus software vendor's technical support department just to verify that it is an actual computer virus infection and not a "false positive" report of a virus that is not there.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 7393 Force Dma Access To Pio Access. Apr 20 2003, 09:41 AM
If the firmware update is meant to be run from a bootable floppy disk perhaps it would be better to change the DMA setting to PIO in the computer's BIOS?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 968 Upgrading Cpu Apr 20 2003, 09:38 AM
Does the motherboard still work if you reinstall the original Intel Celeron 266MHz processor?

I am unfamiliar with a PB880 motherboard but perhaps it does not need to be jumpered for the BIOS Maintenance Menu with the new CPU? Perhaps it will work fine with the new CPU with the jumper in the default setting.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 196 Complete System Freeze Apr 20 2003, 09:16 AM
To view which hardware resources are being used on your computer, go into the Device Manager and select View -> Resources by type from the menu. You can then expand the various trees to look for shared IRQs, for example.

In the default view (Devices by type) any devices which are not working properly should be listed, too.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 3981 How To Change Windows XP Default Fonts? Apr 20 2003, 09:08 AM
Have you tried logging in using the Administrator account, and then trying to change the font sizes?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 655 Voice Over Msn Messenger Apr 20 2003, 09:06 AM
I am unfamiliar with the brand of wireless router you mentioned, but according to this page from the online help for MSN Messenger, your network address translator (the router) needs to have Universal Plug'n'Play (UPnP) enabled.

A somewhat more technical overview of which ports are used by Windows Messenger can be found on Microsoft's web site here.

Probably the best place to start troubleshooting would be to contact Netgear directly for assistance. You can send their technical support department email at support@netgear.com or go to this link for a list of their support phone numbers.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 229 Atapi Inconpatable Apr 20 2003, 08:49 AM
Have you verified that all the IDE devices are properly jumpered in your computer?

If the devices in the computer are jumpered for "cable-select" why not try changing everything to a "master and slave" configuration and see if that makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 228 Newly Built Pc Not Working Apr 20 2003, 08:46 AM
Have you tried using a different CPU in the motherboard? Perhaps the CPU is faulty.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 352 Windows 98 Apr 20 2003, 08:40 AM
I typically create a directory named C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS\ and copy the files from the \WIN98 directory on the CD into it. Note that I I only copy the files from the \WIN98 directory, not any of the subdirectories.

The reason I use that particular directory was because I've seen that path used on notebooks I've bought fro Dell and IBM to store the .CAB files. I'd merely assumed they were copying some instructions Microsoft gave to system builders.

Once that is done, I run RegEdit, go to the \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current\Version\Setup\ key, and edit the SourcePath string to point to the new path for the .CAB files.

That is what I do on a computer which already has Microsoft Windows 98 installed.

If I'm installing from scratch on a computer I create the directory path first, copy the files into it from the CD, and run the setup program from the hard drive. This just saves me the step of copying the .CAB files and editing the registry later.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 356 Parallel Port Switch Box Apr 20 2003, 08:26 AM
A mechanical parallel port switch box works by physically switching the thirty-six pins between parallel ports. The knob used to switch between ports functions as a mechanical relay to select the active printer port.

I once took apart a mechanical serial port switch box and it turned out to have a mass of spaghetti-wiring inside.

An electric parallel port switch box appears to work differently. I just took apart an old Belkin Bitronics Dataswitch, Model F1U123, which is a two-port switch, and it's composed of eight surface mount devices, a couple of LEDs for indicating the active port, a SPST switch (momentarily on?) and the DB-25 connectors for the printers and computer.

Making a guess, I'd say one of the devices looks for incoming signals and then routes it automatically, with the switch being used to manually select the port.

There is no power connector, so the device must be able to draw enough electricity to power itself through the parallel ports.

By today's standards the device doesn't appear to be very complex.

I've seen more expensive devices which have additional ports and memory inside to buffer documents. These require an external power source. I would imagine a "smart" device like that has a rudimentary computer inside to manage switching and keep track of what's in the buffer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Hardware Help 305 Software Trial Periods Apr 20 2003, 07:37 AM
The methods used by a software developer to make trial or demonstration versions of software varies by the developer and even the individual applications.

Some developers use third-party toolkits to add time- and/or usage-based limiters to their software. Others write their own code.

Here's a very incomplete list of ways to limit access to a demonstration version of a program:


  • Create a registry key during installation or initial run of program to store date and/or number of program executions and check/increment the registry key on subsequent executions.
  • Create file at installation or initial run of program to store date and/or number of program executions and check/increment file on subsequent executions. Common locations for files include application directory (or subdirectories), Windows directory, Windows System Directory, the Common Files directory of the Program Files directory, root directory of the operating system drive or the root directory of the drive to which the application was installed.
  • Write date and/or number of program executions into an unused sector on the hard drive, then, if needed, mark as bad in the file allocation table, master file table or appropriate disk structure, then check on subsequent executions. NOTE: This is a very bad way to do copy protection, since it can simulate the effects of a disk error or even corrupt areas of the disk containing boot code.
  • Include a "dongle" which plugs into a serial, parallel, keyboard, USB or some other port containing an EEPROM. The application checks the date and/or number of executions and increments that value until the usage limit has been reached.
  • The application "phones home" by either dialing into an automated computer system to check its date/usage, or, these days, connecting via the Internet. Date and/or usage is authenticated against a database at the developer's end.


I'm sure there are many other ways to limit the limit the time or number of executions for a program, but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

This subject periodically comes up on software developers' mailing lists, especially those used by shareware authors. When your a solo author or even a small company with a niche product, an individual sale might be the difference between staying in business and not.

Fortunately for all of us, there is a simple, fool-proof, and 100% effective way to disable any sort of time- or usage-stamping demonstration routines:

Purchase a license for the software.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 849 Users Connected To Computer (?) Apr 20 2003, 06:51 AM
At some point a connection was established between your computer and another one. Connections such as these are done all the time, usually for the purpose of sharing disks, printers, and so forth.

If this is occurring without your consent, it would probably be a good idea to disable file and printer sharing on your computer. Here's how to do it, step-by-step:


  • Right click on the Network Neighborhood icon on your Desktop and select Properties from the popup menu.
  • The Network Properties window will appear, open to the Configuration tab.
  • About two-thirds of the way down is a button labeled File and Print Sharing. Click on this button to bring up the File and Print Sharing window.
  • Disable (uncheck) the I want to be able to give others access to my files and I want to be able to allow others to print to my printer(s) options.
  • Click on OK when finished.


You may need to reboot your computer for the changes to take affect. Afterwards, no one should be able to access your files or printer.

Given the particular environment you are operating in, you may want to consider installing--and keeping updated--additional security software on your computer such as a software-based firewall and anti-virus software. They will help reduce the chance of an unwanted intrusion to your computer in the future.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 413 Windows Debugging Apr 20 2003, 06:35 AM
Although I do not own it, I have heard good things about Scott Mueller's Upgrading and Repairing PCs from QUE Press, ISBN 0789727455.

The author's web site is http://www.upgradingandrepairingpcs.com/.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 219 Ps2 Loopback Plugs Apr 20 2003, 06:29 AM
Assuming that your computer has no setting in its BIOS to boot sans keyboard, you can use a product such as Black Box's GHOST Emulators, which not only allow you to boot a computer without a keyboard or mouse attached, but allow you to hot-plug them as necessary.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 250 Windows Installer Problem Apr 20 2003, 06:19 AM
Microsoft's Knowledge Base has several articles about this problem. Here are links to them:

Error Message When You Try to Install a Program

"Error 1719. The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" Error Message When You Add or Remove Program

Perhaps one of the suggestions from the articles will be of help.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 839 Strange Beeps Apr 20 2003, 06:13 AM
On some computer systems the speaker will start beeping if the motherboard temperature exceeds a safe threshold. That function is more common in newer computers which have on-board temperature sensors, but there is no reason a manufacturer could not have included such a feature in an older system. For that matter, companies like PC Power & Cooling sell third-party temperature sensors like this device which plugs onto an empty 5.25" Molex connector and warns you if the case starts to overheat.

Given the age of your system, though, I suspect the mostly likely cause for your computer's random beeping is the CMOS/RTC backup battery has begun to fail. Almost all recently-manufactured systems use a CR-2032 3-Volt Lithium coin-type cell, available from just about any electronics or computer store, not to mention groceries, drug stores, hobby shops, and so forth.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 336 Auto Arrange Contents In Folders Apr 18 2003, 10:03 AM
If you open the Windows Explorer, select Tools -> Folder Options from the main menu to bring up the Folder Options window and click on the View tab, is the Advanced Setting for Remember each folder's view settings enabled (checked)?

I believe that option has to be enabled for Windows to save the folder view preferences for individual windows in Windows Explorer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 266 How To Change Windows XP Default Fonts? Apr 18 2003, 09:59 AM
Have you tried going back into the Appearance tab of the Display Properties window and clicking on the Advanced button? This brings up the Advanced Appearance window and from there you should be able to manually adjust the font typefaces and sizes.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 655 Dialup Vs Lan Vs Fax Apr 18 2003, 09:55 AM
The computers should be more than powerful enough to use their modem and network connections simultaneously.

It is possible you may be dealing with a hardware or software incompatibility on the pair of computers.

Have you updated the operating system and applications used on the computers? If so, did that make any difference in terms of stability?

If updating the software did not seem to make any difference, have you tried updating the device drivers for the hardware as well as the motherboard BIOS?



Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Net Connections 198 Complete System Freeze Apr 18 2003, 09:48 AM
Is there any additional hardware being used with the laptop, such as Mini-PCI or PCMCIA cards?

Have you checked to see if there are any resource conflicts (IRQ, I/O ports, memory addresses) with the installed hardware?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 3981 How To Make A Rar Files? Apr 18 2003, 09:41 AM
RAR is a file-compression format similar to ZIP or HQX. RAR compression and decompression programs are available for several operating systems including Microsoft Windows, DOS and Linux.

The developer of the RAR compression format is a company called Rarlab. Their web site is available at http://www.rarlab.com/. From there you can download the various versions of the RAR program.

Sales, support and marketing are done by a separate company, Win.Rar GmbH. Their web site is available at http://www.win-rar.com/.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 218
Poll: Broadband
Apr 17 2003, 11:29 PM
I noticed there are two entries for DSL and ADSL.

Wouldn't it be easier to concatenate the two? Or add entries for HDSL, IDSL, SDSL and so forth?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 384 Windows Temp Internet And Temp Apr 17 2003, 09:31 AM
A "quick-and-dirty" way of emptying out the Windows temporary file directory (not the temporary Internet files directory) is to open a Command Prompt, type "CD %TEMP%" to change to the temporary file directory and erase the files inside it.

As always, take caution to ensure you do not accidentally remove any files needed by your computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 378 Printer Reccomendations Apr 17 2003, 09:25 AM
Inkjet printers use ink in liquid form stored in a cartridge. Eventually the ink will dry out from exposure to air and even heat from the printer itself, I would imagine.

This may be a silly question, but have you considered removing the ink cartridges from your printer, placing them in a sandwich baggy and storing them in your refrigerator until you need to print a page?

I rarely use my printer, too. For everyday use (so to speak) I use an Hewlett Packard LaserJet 5MP black-and-white laser printer which I think I purchased in 1995 or 1996,. It still has the original toner cartridge in it and seems to work fine.

For color printing I have an ALPS MD-1300 printer. This printer uses CYMK color cartridges, but instead of being filled with ink they contain dye-sublimated film; the print head heats the film which releases the ink onto the paper. A better explanation can be found here.

Although it's a little old, some reviews of dye-sub printers can be found at http://www.dye-sub-printer-review.org/.

ALPS discontinued its MD line of dye-sub printers several years ago, but
Olympus still seems to make them.

One thing to keep in mind is that dye-sub cartridges can be expensive--more so than inkjet cartridges. The trade-off may be that they last much longer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 641 Ati 9000 Pro Problems Apr 17 2003, 09:08 AM
You may wish to try installing a higher-wattage power supply and see if that makes any difference.

Another thing you may wish to check is that all your fans are clear of dust and operating properly. You may need to replace them with higher volume fans or add more fans to remove the additional waste heat generated by the new video card.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 242 Wireless Ap From A Wired Switch Apr 17 2003, 04:33 AM
In a nutshell: Absolutely.

The wireless access points should be able to act as bridges between your wired (Ethernet, I presume) and wireless (802.11b?) networks.

Depending upon the needs of your office--and the budget--you may want to consider purchasing business-grade wireless access points from companies such as Cisco or Proxim with additional security and remote management features.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 216 Asus Pci Scsi Bus Controller Apr 17 2003, 04:19 AM
According to Asus' web site, drivers, BIOS updates and manuals for the Asus P55T2P4 motherboard can be downloaded from http://www.asus.com/support/download/item....ame=P/I-P55T2P4.

Looking at the motherboard manual from http://www.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/sock7/430h...p55t2p4-311.pdf, it appears the board was shipped with two different models of SCSI host adapters, the PCI-SC200 and the PCI-SC860.

Strangely enough, there do not seem to be any downloads for the PCI-SC860 card on Asus' web site, but the manual and drivers for the PCI-SC200 can be downloaded from http://www.asus.com/support/download/item....lName=PCI-SC200.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 380 Windows Nt Problem Apr 17 2003, 03:44 AM
Is the computer part of a domain? If so, where does the domain controller reside?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 177 Klez Apr 17 2003, 03:41 AM
The Klez virus (or worm, if you wish) replicates (spreads) via mass-mailing itself to the people in the address book on a compromised system. It also spreads by searching for open file shares on a network, but since it arrived in your email I'm assuming it reached you via the former method.

The message sent by the worm is usually just a single sentence, plus the attachment containing the executable worm code.

All you should need to do to remove it is empty or purge your anti-virus software's quarrantine folder.

The concept of booting a known-to-be-virus-free operating system bootable floppy diskette such as the ones manufacturers used to provide with computers dates back to the DOS days when computer viruses spread by infecting the areas of disks used to load the operating system or files used by the operating system such as the command interpreter (e.g., COMMAND.COM).

Because the computer virus was executed before the operating system loaded it was necessary to cold-boot the computer from an uninfected source--the MS-DOS boot disk which came with the computer.

These days, the viruses which infected boot sectors and master boot records are practically extinct, and the old file-infecting viruses which spread under DOS (files ending in .COM, .EXE and so forth) were unable to successfully infect executable files under 32-bit versions of Microsoft Windows, such as Windows 95 and later versions, because they were internally structured differently than their DOS counterparts. This pretty much meant the end of computer viruses using those vectors for infection and replication.

Of course, executable file-infectors for 32-bit versions of Windows do exist, but they are a little more difficult to create than their DOS counterparts. The majority of them which do exist spread tricking the operating system into running them as part of the Windows normal startup by adding themselves to the Startup folder or sections of the system registry or .INI files used to start services or programs. Directly modifying the operating system kernel files is usually a good way to crash the host system. And crashed hosts make for lousy replication.

Because most newer computer viruses start later in the boot process after the core operating system has loaded, done its housekeeping, and started loading third-party drivers, services programs and so forth, starting the computer in Safe Mode may prevent the virus from loading into memory. On the other hand, if the virus has already infected the kernel files, booting in Safe Mode is still going to load the computer virus into memory. These days booting from a virus-free copy of the operating system is bit problematic since Microsoft's current offerings cannot easily be accessed if booting a computer from a floppy diskette without third-party tools such as Systernals NTFSDOS or various Linux-on-a-floppy distros with NTFS support.

Before I start sounding too alarmist, though, let's put things in perspective: The vast majority of computer viruses (or worms) spreading these days are things like script or macro viruses or worms that use e-mail and network shares as their vector. It is a lot easier for virus writers to create viruses or worms that use a scripting language. Using Notepad to write a Visual Basic script requires a lot less skill than using MASM to write one in assembly. The other half of the equation is if you do receive a computer virus, chances are it is an established or well-known computer virus for which removal procedures are well-known. While new computer viruses appear every day the overwhelming majority of them do not spread very far, if at all. The fraction-of-a-percent which do are usually dealt with quickly by anti-virus vendors.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 190 Broadband Apr 17 2003, 01:45 AM
Broadband connection pricing is an area I avoided because it can be so variable:

Cable and DSL companies offer all sorts of promotions all the time. For example, my cable company offers television, Internet, and long-distance telephone service. Signing up for multiple services entitles you to a discount. Likewise, my incumbent telephone company offers discounts if I purchase local telephone, DSL and long-distance service from them. And, of course, both companies regularly offer new subscribers services like free installation, reduced or free service for anywhere from one to three months, and so forth. Sometimes free equipment is part of the deal, too.

In many cases, cable Internet service is available only from the local cable company (although I've seen places where it is available from three different companies). DSL service, though, can often be had from the local phone company as well as through several local ISPs. The latter may be more expensive, but offer additional services unavailable from the phone company.

Another area of consideration is customer service and technical support: When is it available? Obviously, 24x7 service is best, but that may unavailable, or only available by purchasing a support contract for additional fees. Another question is whether or not onsite service calls are free or if they are billed, and, if so, at what rate and is there a cap?

Just last week, a client moved into a new location where satellite is the only available broadband solution. In this case, they are using a Hughes DirecWay two-way connection.

This service is about one-and-a-half times the cost of a cable or DSL connection (~$60.00USD versus ~$40.00USD a month ) and requires the purchase and installation of the satellite dish and modem. Due to the nature of the equipment, it must be installed by a professional. I suppose if someone were familiar with satellite systems and had proper test equipment they could do the installation themselves, but that would probably be a small minority of customers.

The brick-sized modem is a USB-only device, which means it cannot be used with inexpensive home broadband router-switch combo devices, but must instead be plugged directly into the computer and the connection can then be shared using something like Microsoft Windows Internet Connection Sharing service. Oh, the modem seems to run quite hot.

Connection speed seems much slower than cable and DSL connection, if for no other reason than the fact they are terrestrial wired connections and satellite signals must go to and from geosynchronous orbit. You can expect much higher latency with a satellite connection.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 229
Pinned: Where Have You Been All My Life?!?
Apr 15 2003, 11:32 PM
Some freeware programs I am quite happy with are:

Angus Johnson's Resource Hacker
A resource-extraction and editing program for Windows PE-format files.

KarenWare's Replicator
A scheduled file synchronization and copying program.

Patchou's Messenger Plus! Extension
An add-on to Microsoft MSN Messenger which provides logging, text macros, and a host of other features.

Pyrenean Software's eDexter
Ad banner-blocking software, replaces them with locally-stored images.

RealVNC's VNC
Remote desktop software for Windows, Mac, Unix and others.

I also like James Schopp's Copy Path to Clipboard Shell Extension, but do not have the current address for the author. As soon as I find that out I shall post a message here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Software 46993 Computer Boots Into Dos Mode Apr 15 2003, 11:02 PM
It sounds like there is not enough conventional memory available for the operating system stub required to switch the computer over to protected mode.

The most likely reason I can think of for this to occur is that a TSR, device driver or other memory-resident program is loading in the computer's CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

Inspection of these files might prove illuminating.

As a general suggestion, I would also recommend checking the hard disk for errors with SCANDISK or a similar program, since Windows may have been improperly shut down on the computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 751 Lockergnome Newsletter Apr 15 2003, 07:27 PM
Have you contacted your Internet service provider to find out if they are inadvertently blocking mail from Lockergnome as spam?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 214 Simple Macro Tool Apr 15 2003, 07:22 PM
This may be overkill for what you are looking for, but Iolo Technologies' MacroMagic will perform text substitution operations.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 262 I Need Marketing Advice Apr 15 2003, 07:15 PM
A good source of information on marketing via the web is Dr. Ralph Wilson's Web Marketing & E-Commerce site at http://www.wilsonweb.com/.

The information is provided is usually general interest information geared towards small businesses and is not specifically geared towards computer hardware and software manufacturers, as is a lot of marketing information.

There are also some free mailing lists you can sign up for.

Although not everything I've read applies to me, I've found most of the information provided to be interesting and useful.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 343 Broadband Apr 15 2003, 07:08 PM
Selecting a broadband connection is a lot like selecting a vehicle. What works best for one person may not work very well for another.

In order to figure out what's best for you, I'd suggest asking yourself the following:

What is the intended primary use for the broadband connection?

For bandwidth- and latency-sensitive applications like gaming, a cable modem connection might be a better choice than DSL. Cable usually offers a faster download speed than DSL, but slower upload speed(s). If you're planning on using a broadband connection to connecting to an office with a VPN to work from home, than a DSL connection with a fast upload speed might be more important.

Are you primarily going to be downloading, uploading, or a mixture of the two?

Cable typically offers faster (1.1Mbps+) download speeds than DSL, but slower upload speeds (~100Kbps). Also, cable bandwidth is typically shared with neighbors. That means if they are using their cable connection, your speed will suffer.

DSL, on the other hand, usually offers fixed speeds for transmitting data, as well as higher upload speeds. This is useful for things like telecommuting or running your own web servers where you may send more data than you receive.

Do you require a static IP address?

If you are planning on running servers or connecting to an office, it may be better for you to have a static (unchanging) IP address, as opposed to a dynamic IP address which can change every few hours. If your IP address does not change, you can more easily run servers with fully-qualified domain names and make it easier for your IT department to set up a VPN connection for you.

Do you need multiple IP addresses?

If you have multiple computers at home and/or wish to run your own servers for things like http, ftp, mail, and so forth, then you may want to get a connection which provides each computer with its own unique IP address.

Do you need to run your own servers?

Check the Terms of Service from your broadband provider. Some do not allow you to run any servers at all. This includes not only web and mail servers, but things like game or IRC servers as well.


Once you've asked yourself (and answered) some of those questions, you will be in a better position to determine which type of broadband connection would be best for your particular computing environment.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Tech News Watch 229 Internet Connection Is Being El Wacky! Apr 15 2003, 12:41 AM
Just to make sure I understand this correctly, both your computer and your PlayStation 2 are assigned routable IP addresses by your ISP, e.g., there is no network address translation being used on your computer's network connections?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 237 Scan Disk At Startup Apr 15 2003, 12:37 AM
In order to make SCANDISK run automatically when an error is encountered at boot-up, you will need to make changes to the MSDOS.SYS file. Here's how:


  • Open a Command Prompt by selecting Start -> Run and typing in "COMMAND" and clicking on OK.
  • The Command Prompt will appear.
  • At the Command Prompt, type "CD \" and press Enter to change to the root directory of your C:\ drive.
  • At the Command Prompt, type "ATTRIB -R -S -H C:\MSDOS.SYS" and press Enter to remove the Real-Only, System and Hidden file attributes from the MSDOS.SYS file.
  • At the Command Prompt, type "EDIT C:\MSDOS.SYS" and press Enter to load the MSDOS.SYS file into the EDIT command.
  • Scroll down through the MSDOS.SYS file until you find a section named [Options].
  • Add a new line to the [Options] section which reads "AutoScan=2" to tell Windows to automatically run SCANDISK if an error is found.
  • Save the MSDOS.SYS file and exit the EDIT command by selecting File -> Save and File -> Exit from the editor's menu.
  • At the Command Prompt, type "ATTRIB +R +S +H C:\MSDOS.SYS" and press Enter to restore the Real-Only, System and Hidden file attributes to the MSDOS.SYS file.
  • At the Command Prompt, type "EXIT" and press Enter to return to Windows.


The next time the computer boots it will be configured to automatically run SCANDISK if the system was improperly shut down. You will still be prompted to fix any problems found by SCANDISK.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 260 Pc Reboots While Surfing Apr 15 2003, 12:15 AM
A 230 watt power supply is probably the smallest-sized power supply you can get today for an ATX system.

I can definitely see how it might be the limiting factor, especially if you have additional disk drives installed.

At the minimum, you might want to consider a 350 watt power supply.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 305 Trouble Shutting Down A Laptop Apr 14 2003, 09:28 AM
Asus makes several different laptop computers. Do you know the model, by any chance?

A list of Asus' currently-shipping laptops can be found on their web site here.

For older models you will need to look through their support web site here.

If you can identify the model, we can then look at the manual to determine where the power switch and batteries are located.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 248 Pc Reboots While Surfing Apr 14 2003, 09:22 AM
It certainly could be a problem with the video card not being able to get enough power because of the additional load on the power supply from the other hardware.

What wattage is the current power supply?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 305 Losing Sound... Apr 14 2003, 09:14 AM
You may wish to ensure you have the latest device drivers installed for your sound card and the latest patches for the game(s) in question with which the problem is occurring.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 200 Software Inventory Apr 14 2003, 09:06 AM
I am not certain it is exactly what you are looking for, but have you tried Enterprise Configuration Manager from ConfigureSoft?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 347 Hd Install/ibm Thinkpad 600e Apr 14 2003, 09:01 AM
I am not aware of any special software used to sysprep or initialize hard drives in IBM ThinkPad 600E series computers prior to loading an operating system.

I have seen Compaq servers that created a hidden partition for extended BIOS or system diagnostics but have not seen a similar function for IBM ThinkPads.

I believe pressing the F1 key while turning the power on brings one into the BIOS on an IBM ThinkPad 600.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 376 Attrition? Apr 14 2003, 08:51 AM
If you are in an area which is subject to electrical storms you may want to consider installing a lightning arrestor to prevent damage to your network.

Several years ago, I worked at a company with a similar network topology (two buildings next to each other linked by Cat5e in PVC) and a nearby lightning strike grounded into the building. There was physical damage to the cable, a switch lost a couple of ports, and a couple of fried NICs had to be replaced.

Here are some links to lightning arrestor products:

A1 Datacom
APC
BlackBox
Electronic Specialists
Hyper Link Tech.
Peak Networks
Tripp Lite

After the lightning strike our network administrator installed devices from APC and Black Box, I believe. I never installed or used the devices myself, and we never had another strike ground itself on that part of the building, either.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Net Connections 202 Data Cd Recovery Apr 14 2003, 08:20 AM
That is strange. I have never had a problem with Naltech CD Data Recovery crashing or locking up. Of course, I have only run it on two computers, though, which is hardly a large enough sampling to say it works on different configurations.

You may wish to contact their technical support department and let them know about the problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 353 Windows Xp Home Difficulties Apr 14 2003, 08:05 AM
Have you considered using Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition on the computer, but disabling the Luna (Windows XP) Theme and using the "Classic" Theme, instead? This will give you the Windows 2000 user interface on top of the Windows XP operating system.

Here's how to change the Theme, step-by-step:


  • Right-clicking on any empty portion of the desktop and select Properties from the popup menu.
  • The Display Properties window will appear.
  • Click on the Appearance tab to change Windows appearance.
  • In the Windows and buttons: field, make sure Windows Classic Style is selected.
  • If you wish, you can also disable "transition" and other video-intensive functions by clicking on the Effects button.


Reducing the overhead required to handle the video operations may improve system stability.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 239 Floppy Drive A Won't Read 3-1/2"disk Apr 14 2003, 07:31 AM
Have you tried removing the floppy drive cable and re-installing or replacing it with a different cable?

Can the floppy disk you made for testing purposes be read in any other computers?

Do you have a disk edititing program available? If so, does the boot sector on the floppy disk appear to be similar to ones on other known-to-be-good floppies?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 516 Internet Connection Is Being El Wacky! Apr 14 2003, 07:26 AM
I take it you are using a cable/DSL modem router with built-in switch between your computer and the DSL modem. Is that correct? If so, have you tried updating its firmware?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 237 Trouble Shutting Down A Laptop Apr 14 2003, 07:24 AM
In order to tell you where the power switch is, and suggest any possible data recovery options, it would be helpful if you could answer the following questions:

What brand and model is the lecturer's laptop?

What operating system does it run?

Knowing that information will be helpful in suggesting a fix for the problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 248 Pop-up Problem Apr 14 2003, 07:22 AM
Because the problem occurs only when popups or multiple browser windows are open my initial suspicions are:


  • a damaged installation of the browser or one of its components (Java, Flash, and so forth)
  • a resource problem with the computer (not enough memory, conflict with video drivers, and so forth)
  • conflict with misbehaving Internet security software


Which versions of Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer and Java are used on the computer?

What brand and model of video card is installed in the computer?

Are any third-party Internet security software such as firewall, cookie-blocking, or other anti-malware programs installed on the computer?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 300 Data Cd Recovery Apr 11 2003, 11:52 PM
It sounds like you have a CD-R with an improperly-closed session, or perhaps an incompatibility between the file system originally used with the CD-R and the one being using now for CD-Rs.

I have used Naltech's CD Data Rescue program to recover files from CD-Rs with improperly-closed sessions.

Naltech offers a trial version which can be used to read--but not recover--data from corrupt CD-Rs and CD-RWs. The full version is $40.00USD, which may seem like expensive but is still cheapter than most competing products.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky



]]> Hardware Help 353 Drive Cloning Apr 11 2003, 03:32 AM
I have used PowerQuest's DriveCopy and DriveImage without problem to copy and image hard disk drives, respectively.

Keep in mind that many retail hard disk drive kits come with software that not only partitions and formats the new hard disk drive but also copies your old hard drive's contents to the new one.

Of course, you could also install the new hard disk drive, partition it and install your applications as you like, and then copy all the data over from your old hard disk drive to the new one. That might take a bit longer than simply copying/imaging the old hard drive to the new one, but it would give you a fresh install of Windows and your applications.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 247 Ata Raid Apr 11 2003, 03:19 AM
For inexpensive data redundancy I have used ATA RAID controller cards in computers to perform hardware RAID-1 (mirroring) of hard disk drives. This was so I could share a large (~65GB+) data set between two geographically-dispersed computers.

Keeping in mind that the "R" in RAID stands for Redundant and not Backup it works fairly well, but keep in mind there are some limitations: If you accidentally erase (a) file(s) or experience data corruption due to a software or hardware conflict, computer virus, failing RAID controller and so forth then the problem is going to affect both mirrored drives.

If you periodically mirrored your hard drive, broke the mirror set, and then stored the second drive in a safe place you would have a snapshot of your hard drive from that moment in time. Keep in mind, though, the RAID contoller will need to rebuild the mirror set each time you re-insert the second drive. This may take aan hour or two of time, depending upon the capacity of your hard drive(s).

Figuring out where the valuable data on your computer is and periodically backing it up to tape or optical media might be a quicker solution.

I have used both HighPoint Technologies and Promise Technology PCI add-in ATA RAID controllers. They are more or less identical in terms of cost and performance. Between the two, though, I prefer the HighPoint ATA RAID controller since it lets you mirror larger hard drive to a smaller one as long as all the volumes on the larger drive will fit on the smaller drive.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 157 Trouble With Memory Apr 11 2003, 02:48 AM
Does swapping the memory modules seem to make any difference?

It is always possible that one of the memory modules is bad. You may want to try a RAM-testing program like MemTest86 to see if the problem can be isolated. MemTest86 can be downloaded from http://www.memtest86.com/.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 186 Vm Update To V. 3810 Apr 11 2003, 02:38 AM
According to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle...er/default.mspx Microsoft will not be providing further upgrades for Microsoft Windows 95 as the operating system is no longer supported.

Adding to the complexity of the problem, Microsoft has been enjoined from distributing their own Java VM after January 2, 2004, even if it is to fix a security hole, like this one. A detailed explanation can be found on Microsoft's web site at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/eva...on/news/jre.asp.

Probably the easiest solution for you would be to install Sun's Java Runtime Environment (JRE), which provides a Java Virtual Machine for your computer. Sun's JRE can be downloaded from http://java.sun.com/getjava/.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 289 Fan Cable Adapter Apr 11 2003, 02:27 AM
From looking at a 3-pin fan connector to 4-pin Molex connector cable in my parts bin, you should just be able to splice together the red and the black wires from each cable to create an adapter.

The third or "yellow" wire on the fan connector can be snipped--it just sends the tachometer data for measuring RPMs to the motherboard and has no where to go.

Here is a picture of an already-built cable from retailer's web site:

http://store.yahoo.com/directron/3to4adapter.html

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Hardware Help 276 All-in-wonder Radeon 7500 Problems Apr 10 2003, 12:04 AM
My thought was that you might be running up against the 2GB file size limitation of FAT32, but since you're capturing to an NTFS-formatted volume that problem would not apply.

The problem may be a conflict between ATI's video capture drivers and those of another device, or a hardware conflict which only manifests at certain times.

For the latter, you might want to try contacting Compaq technical support to determine which of the BIOS upgrades is the correct one for your system.

You may also wish to contact ATI technical support and see what suggestions they might have for troubleshooting.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 294 Winxp Apr 9 2003, 06:23 PM
As GreenGeek points out, removing the hard drive from the old computer, re-jumpering it and installing it in the new PC would provide the fastest data transfers.

Another possibility is to network the two computers together with a cross-over cable or by connecting them to a hub or switch, sharing the hard drive on the old computer and copying the files over to the new computer.

This will be slightly slower than copying the files directly from one hard drive to another, but will require less time opening the computers and moving drives around.

If your old computer does not have a network interface card in it then you will need to buy one--they typically run $30.00USD or less at computer or electronics superstores.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 256 Norton Systemworks Pro 2003 For $20 ? Apr 9 2003, 06:13 PM
They could be OEM versions of the software for which the reseller--not Symantec--provides the support or they could be pirated.

Checking two large retailers web sites, Amazon.Com and CompUSA.Com, I found a legitimate, retail copy of Symantec Norton SystemWorks 2003 Professional Edition costs about $99.00USD, excluding rebates which can drop the price by $30.00 to 60.00. Even with all the rebates applied, though, it is still $10.00 more expensive than the copies you are seeing.

If you are in doubt as to whether a copy is legitimate ask the vendor or contact Symantec at http://www.symantec.com/corporate/antipiracy.html on their web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 188 All-in-wonder Radeon 7500 Problems Apr 9 2003, 03:56 AM
Out of curiosity, are you saving captured video to an NTFS or FAT32 formatted volume, and what is the exact size of the saved file when it finally "stops growing" in bytes?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 294 Winxp Desktop Refresh (redraw) Apr 9 2003, 03:52 AM
Although it specifically states it is for Windows 9x and Millennium Edition only, perhaps the following registry tweak will help:

Automatic Windows Refresh

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 238 Scandisk Error In Windows 95 Apr 9 2003, 03:42 AM
This is rather hazy, but if memory serves, pressing the F8 key at boot-up will present you with the boot menu. From there you can select Command Prompt-Only, which will load the command prompt along with HIMEM.SYS, the high memory manager.

Once you are at a DOS prompt, type:

SCANDISK /ALL /AUTOFIX

and press Enter. That should check all the drives for problems and fix any it found.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 246 Frequent Disconnects Apr 9 2003, 03:23 AM
You might want to verify you have the latest firmware installed on the D-Link DI 614+ router. Apparently, Version 2.18 was released about three weeks ago: http://support.dlink.com/Products/view.asp...oductid=DI-614+.

You can also download the manual from the same page in order to verify the router is configured correctly for use with your home LAN and cable ISP.

If problems persist, you might want to try contacting D-Link's technical support and your cable ISP's technical support to verify the configuration.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 225 Best Computer Case? Apr 9 2003, 03:00 AM
Cases come in several different form-factors, such as regular desktop and tower cases for ATX motherboards, small and low-profile cases for ITX, NLX, microATX and SFX motherboards, oversized pedestal, jumbo-tower and rack-mount cases for EATX and WTX motherboards, and so forth.

Cases are also manufactured using different materials. Some are made almost entirely out of aluminum, others out of steel, some use a mixture of the two, some have plastic side panels, and so forth.

Going with an all-aluminum case will save you weight--an important decision if your computer is going to be moving around frequently. On the other hand, it costs the most and brushed aluminum scratches easily.

An all-steel case will weigh than the others, however, if you are concerned about ruggedness a steel case is probably the best way to go.

A plastic-and-steel case weighs less than an all-steel one, and minor scratches can be buffed out on the plastic surfaces.

If a case you're thinking about has casters as an option, get them. Even if you are not going to be moving the case around that much having casters on a heavy case will make it much easier to swing around for plugging in cables, opening the case, and so forth.

Judging from your initial comment, you're looking for a tower case for an ATX form-factor motherboard. If that is correct, here are a few vendors:

AMS Electronics
Antec
California PC Products - seems to be down at the moment
ChiefTec
Cooler Master
Enermax
Lian Li
PC Power & Cooling

My own main computer use a PC Power & Cooling Solid-Steel Tower with an Antec EasyUSB drive bay to mount the floppy drive in and provide two USB ports at the front of the computer. It is big and ungainly and certainly difficult to move around, but it meets my needs.

For clients who want a new case, I typically recommend Antec cases because they are well-built, readily-available and not terribly expensive. Antec and ChiefTec's cases are very similar to the Thermaltake case you mentioned.

Normally, I try to avoid buying cases via mail-order because they tend to be expensive to ship, but if mail-order is the way to go I've had good luck purchasing cases from Directron and EMS Computing. The latter usually has slightly-lower prices, although it takes them longer to process orders.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 348 What Modem Do You Recommend? Apr 8 2003, 06:28 PM
In the past I have used USRobotics (neé 3Com) modems almost exclusively and been very happy with the results. USRobotics was very good about offering discounts to sysops, special purchases at trade shows, toll-free support for Courier customers and so forth.

After their acquisition by 3Com, though, customer service and technical support seemed to wane. Device driver (.INF file) updates for Windows and firmware upgrades to provide new functionality seemed to cease or were scaled back.

The only vendor I found with a comparable level of support and service was AT&T Paradyne with their COMSPHERE series of modems, but as far as I know, they never released a 56Kbps (V.90) modem, just 33.6Kbps (v.34) models.

Although the specifications for modem connections are standardized, there is usually some "wriggle-room" in how the specification is implemented used by each vendor. For this reason it is best to use the same brand and model of modem (if applicable) used by your ISP.

If your ISP's technical support department does not know the brand and model of modems used, ask to speak to someone in their Network Operations Center, or NOC, for short. They are the folks who are typically responsible for maintaining the dial-up modem pools (also known Points of Presence, or POPs), and should be able to answer technical questions about modems.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 247 No Downloads While Uploads In Progress Apr 8 2003, 06:50 AM
It could be this is an inherent limitation of using this type of asymmetrical connection. I wonder if changing the maximum number of HTTP and/or TCP connections would have a positive effect.

Here are links to pages on WinGuides explaning how to do this:

Change the Number of Simultaneous HTTP Sessions
Specify the Maximum Number of TCP/IP Connections

It would probably be a good idea to check with the provider of the satellite connection, though. This might be a problem they are aware of and have a patch or suggestion on how to fix the slow-down problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 249 Hd Install/ibm Thinkpad 600e Apr 8 2003, 01:07 AM
Assuming the IBM ThinkPad 600E's BIOS recognizes the hard drive you should just be able to install it and then load an operating system onto it as normal.

You can download all the drivers and BIOS updates for your ThinkPad 600E from IBM's web site here.

Enter the FRU (part number) for your ThinkPad 600E in the field on the right side of that page in order to view the downloads specific to your model.

There should be a sticker on the bottom of the ThinkPad with the FRU on it. For more information on identifying your ThinkPad, click
here.

A very good source of information about ThinkPads it the ThinkPad Mailing-List, available at http://stderr.org/pipermail/thinkpad/.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 376 New Motherboard For Win2k Server Apr 8 2003, 12:40 AM
Depending upon how important your existing server is to your organization and your budget, you may wish to build or purchase a new server, migrate the data from the old server to it, and keep the old server as a backup server.

A good web site for information and reviews of dual-CPU systems and their accessories is http://www.2cpu.com/.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 187 Thoughts On Emachines Apr 8 2003, 12:36 AM
A friend's brother used to work as a service technician at Best Buy told us eMachines had the lowest return rate of the mass-market computers they sold. That was several years ago, though, before the Hewlett Packard-Compaq merger and before they started selling AlienWare, SONY VAIO, or their own Matrix VPR brand of computers.

I have been recommending eMachines to clients who need an inexpensive general-purpose PC for this reason.

The ones I have worked on had Intel Celeron CPUs, what appeared to be an Intel-manufactured motherboards, and I did not see any proprietary parts in the case. The CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives had custom bezels to match the case design, but the drive bays accepted regular 5.25" devices.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 358 Floppy Drive Wont Work Apr 8 2003, 12:06 AM
Are the floppy disk drives identified properly in the computers' BIOS settings?

Is there anything unusual about the floppy disk drives, their cabling, or, for that matter, the floppy diskettes you are trying to use?

Can you access the A: drive while in Safe Mode?

Can you access the A: drive from a Command Prompt?

Can you boot any of the computers in question from their floppy disk drives with a DOS boot diskette?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 424 Missing System Tray & Start Button In Xp Apr 7 2003, 11:59 PM
The first thing I would suggest is to make sure the Windows Taskbar is set to display properly on your computer.

  • From the Start menu, click on Settings -> Taskbar and Start Menu.
  • The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window will appear.
  • In the Taskbar appearance section make sure the following items are selected (enabled with a checkmark next to them):

    • Keep the taskbar on top of other windows
    • Show Quick Launch

    Make sure the following items are disabled (no checkmark next to them):

    • Lock the taskbar
    • Auto-hide the taskbar


In the Notification Area, make sure the Hide inactive icons item is disabled as well.

That should fix the problems with the Taskbar.

As far as the Windows key on the keyboard goes there could be a mechanical problem with the keyboard. Have you tried holding your laptop computer upside-down and gently shaking it to empty out any "keyboard crumbs" or using a can of compressed air to blow out debris from beneath the keyboard?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 261 Building A Pc Apr 7 2003, 11:40 PM
It's good that you have decided on what type of applications you will use and the types of activities you will be performing. Too many people start with the hardware first and try to "shoehorn" their operating requirements onto it.

You have already stated you do not wish to use an Asus motherboard. Here are a few questions to help focus things down further:


  • What is most important to you: Performance or Stability?
  • As far as hardware goes, is there a specific processor, motherboard chipsets, type of memory or video card you wish to use?
  • Do you have any components you are "recycling" from your old PC, or will you be buying new parts for an entire system--in other words, what don't you need?
  • Are there any other hardware vendors besides Asus you do not wish to use?
  • What is your budget?


Answering those will give forum members more information to better answer your questions.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 355 All-in-wonder Radeon 7500 Problems Apr 7 2003, 11:30 PM
Given the complexity of your environment, it might be less time-consuming to make one (or more) backup sets of your data, verify they can be read, then reformat the hard disk and reinstall your operating system, applications and data.

Before reformatting the system you may want to update the BIOS on your motherboard and any other devices with an upgradeable BIOS such as your video card, ATAPI controller, and so forth. Also, it might be convenient to download the all the device drivers for things like the motherboard chipset, the video card, the hard drive controller and have them handy on floppy disks or a CD-R.

I also have a computer with an ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 7500 AGP SVGA adapter in it. One of the things I had to do before installing the device drivers for the card was upgrade DirectX. This was on a computer running Windows Millennium Edition, though. The card's device drivers will probably install without problem under Windows XP.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 294 Upgrade Or Full Version Apr 7 2003, 11:21 PM
Upgrade versions of Microsoft operating systems require proof-of-ownership of an earlier Microsoft operating system in order to install.

The installation program verifies this by either installing over an older operating system on a computer, or by prompting you to insert the installation disc for the older operating system during installation.

The type of license purchased (retail versus OEM, upgrade versus full-install, and so forth) also makes a difference as to what types of subsequent upgrades you can purchase, too. For example, if you purchase an OEM license you may not be able to buy additional license packs direct from Microsoft--you'll have to purchase them directly from the OEM who sold the original license.

If you are going to be doing many operating system installations it will be less time-consuming to go with the full version. For four or five computers, though, this doesn't sound like it will be a problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 358 E-mail Without Internet Apr 5 2003, 12:34 AM
If you do not have access to a BBS or a public access UNIX system, you might want to consider using a program like NetNanny to restrict your brother's Internet access to just email.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 646 Dual-boot Problem Apr 5 2003, 12:22 AM
Promise Technologies makes a line of ATA RAID controllers named FastTrack.

Asus sells a version of their A7V333 motherboard with an optional on-board FastTrack ATA RAID controller.

Perhaps there is an IRQ conflict with other hardware in the computer?

I would recommend going into the computer's BIOS and verifying the IRQs assigned to the RAID controller are correct.

The latest manual, BIOS updates and drivers for the A7V333 motherboard can be found on Asus web site at http://www.asus.com/support/download/item....odelName=A7V333.

More information on the FastTrack ATA RAID controller line can be found on Promise Technologies web site at http://www.promise.com/product/product_lis....asp?familyId=2.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 252 Perplexing Problem Apr 5 2003, 12:10 AM
An IRQ conflict, perhaps?

The Cinemaster DVD Decoder makes use of hardware acceleration if available, doesn't it? Perhaps the video card's hardware acceleration or DVD decoder board makes use of the same IRQ as the USB interface?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 219 Fan Won't Shut Off After Xp Upgrade Apr 5 2003, 12:06 AM
It may be a power management issue with the computer's BIOS. You may wish to contact the manufacturer of your computer to see if an updated BIOS is available.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 319 Installing New Hard Drives Apr 5 2003, 12:03 AM
Do you wish to just add additional storage space to your exising installation, or did you want to replace your old hard drive with the new ones?

If the former, you should just need to jumper the drives properly install them in your computer, and Disk Management component of the Microsoft Management Console to partition and format the disks.

If the latter, have you considered using a program such as Acronis MigrateEasy, Symantec Norton Ghost or PowerQuest DriveCopy to transfer the contents of your old hard disk to one of the new ones?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 266 Ddr Memory Tester Apr 4 2003, 08:18 AM
Have you tried MemTest?

It is available for download from http://www.memtest86.com/.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 374 E-mail Without Internet Apr 4 2003, 08:05 AM
At some level you have to connect to the Internet in order to access your email. This is because your messages need to be transmitted to and from other computers. Remember there are varying levels of access to the Internet, ranging from high-speed connections attached to fast computers with giant monitors displaying a web browser to devices like two-way pagers capable of displaying only a line of text and prompting you to answer yes or no.

A Bulletin Board System is a computer with one or more modems attached that can be dialed into from other computers with modems using terminal software. Once connected, you usually enter your name and password (or sign up as a new user) and then are presented with text menus from which you can select options to do things like read and write messages, download software, chat and so forth. Usually these operations are done locally on the BBS itself, but some of them have connections to allow you to perform them on the Internet.

BBSes are still around, although they are certainly not as common as they once were.

A good starting point for finding a local BBS is the US BBS listing at http://www.usbbs.org/. From there you hopefully will be able to find a BBS which provides Internet access.

A shell account is an account on a publicly-accessible system like a BBS. Instead of running specialized BBS software which displays menus, though, you are connected to a command prompt (or shell) on that computer. From there you can run programs to transmit email or files, chat, edit text files or even write a computer program and run it remotely on that computer.

Of course, these days a public access system is just as likely to run Linux, Solaris, BSD or some other operating system as UNIX, but they are similar in use to each other, especially for things like email and ftp.

Some public-access UNIX systems are free and some charge a fee. As an example, PANIX is a publicly-accessible UNIX system which offers local dial-up numbers all over the country. Their web site is http://www.panix.com/.

When you run your terminal software, you dial into the BBS or public access UNIX system and issue commands view your email, transfer files, and so forth. The BBS or public access UNIX system then performs those operations and you see the results.

Computers running Microsoft Windows 95 and later come with a program named HyperTerminal which performs dial-up connections. You can run it by clicking on Start -> Run... from the Taskbar and entering HYPERTRM.EXE as the name of the program you wish to run.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 646 No Downloads While Uploads In Progress Apr 4 2003, 06:58 AM
Does the problem occur with all computers on the network, including the one with the satellite connection, or just the computers accessing it via ICS?

Have you checked with the satellite vendor's technical support?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Tech News Watch 249 E-mail Without Internet Apr 3 2003, 07:48 PM
Have you tried looking around for a local Bulletin Board System (BBS) or public access UNIX system? They can provide dial-up access and a shell account to transmit email.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 646 Tech Support Phone Number Apr 3 2003, 07:41 PM
It may not be exactly what you are looking for, but here is the contact information for the EA.COM domain:


Electronic Arts Hostmaster (EH149-ORG) Hostmaster2@EA.COM
Electronic Arts
209 Redwood Shores Parkway
Redwood City, Ca 94065
US
650-628-5981
Fax- - - - 650-628-5972


The EAGAMES.COM domain lists different telephone and fax numbers for the Technical Contact:


650 628 7618 fax: 650 628 1331


And here is the contact info for the MAXIS.COM domain name:


Administrative Contact:
Futa, Darren (DFV128) dfuta@MAXIS.COM
Maxis
2121 N. California Blvd. Suite 600
Walnut Creek , CA 94596
925-933-5630 (FAX) 925-927-3736
Technical Contact:
Templin, Mark (MTO218) mtemplin@MAXIS.COM
Maxis
2121 N California BlvdSuite 600
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925-927-3507 (FAX) 925-927-3504


If nothing else, perhaps they can investigate the problem you reported with registering for technical support.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 528 Usb Detection Apr 2 2003, 08:39 PM
The USB Implementors Forum offers a program called USBReady which tells if your computer supports USB 1.1. It can be downloaded here from their web site.

Adaptec provides a programs called USBControl which supports this functionality, but it only works with their USB adapter cards and hubs. More information can be found here on their web site.

USB 2.0 devices are backwards-compatible with USB 1.1 interfaces, they fall back to the older specification's 12Mbps speed.

Probably the easiest way to check if a motherboard or add-in card provides USB 2.0 is to visit the manufacturer's web site or contact their technical support department.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 195 Pci Sound Cards Apr 2 2003, 05:47 PM
M-Audio makes a variety of sound cards for for studio and musician use with up to 10 in/10 out lines.

You can check out their professional product line here on their web site.

I have never used an M-Audio card myself, so I do not have any experiences to relate.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 146 Keyboard Failure On Startup Apr 2 2003, 08:27 AM
Is the keyboard plugged into USB or PS/2 (keyboard) port on your computer?

If you have a USB keyboard and a PS/2 adapter for it, try unplugging the keyboard from the USB port, connecting the USB to PS/2 adapter to the keyboard and plugging it into the PS/2 keyboard port. Power up your computer and see if the keyboard is now recognized at startup.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 320 Xp Shut Down (almost) Hangs Apr 2 2003, 08:22 AM
My initial guess would be that one or more programs running in the background which is causing the delay while Windows waits for them to close.

Since you did not mention which program(s), if any, are running at shut down, it is hard to say what the culprit might be, but the usual suspects are utility programs (disk defragmentation or repair programs, anti-virus software and the like) or perhaps an email client such as Microsoft Outlook.

Another likely culprit would be an anti-virus program which is trying to check the floppy disk drive for computer viruses before shutting down. This can greatly slow a laptop down if it does not have a floppy drive attached (the anti-virus program basically hangs until it times out).

To fix the former, close all programs before shutting down, including any running in the System Tray.

You may also want to consider changing the amount of time Windows waits before closing applications. This can be done by editing the Registry. For more information, look at this tip and this tip from WinGuides.Com.

To fix the latter, disable checking the floppy disk on shutdown in the anti-virus program.

Since there are some disk activities going on at shutdown--the "saving settings" seen on the laptop--it is also possible the slow-down is due to excessive fragmentation on the volume. If that is the case, using the built-in disk defragmentor will help speed things up.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 207 Command Line Editing Apr 2 2003, 08:08 AM
You can change the command-line properties for a shortcut by right-clicking on it and selecting Properties from the context (popup) menu.

Is the problem that the Properties item is not appearing on the context menu? If so, perhaps you are not logged in using the Administrator account.

If you are not logged in using the Administrator account then log off, log on as Administrator and then try changing the shortcut's properties.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 204 Can't Connect To Secure Web Sites Using Apr 2 2003, 08:04 AM
What is the name and version of the web browser is your client is using?

Your client may be trying to visit a site which uses a higher level of encryption than is supported by the web browser. For example, a site might use 128-bit encryption and your client's web browser only supports 56-bit or 40-bit encryption (or doesn't support encryption at all).

In Internet Explorer, the type of encryption support (e.g., 56-bit or 128-bit ciphers) is listed with the product name and version information which can be found by selecting Help -> About Internet Explorer from the web browser's main menu.

If the cipher-strength listed is less than 128-bits, I would suggest reinstalling the web browser to re-enable encryption.

Interestingly enough, I had a client with the exact same problem. He was using Microsoft Windows 98SE with Internet Explorer 6.0 (128-bit encryption) and a dial-up CompuServe connection. When he upgraded to cable Internet service, the cable technician installed their software which downgraded him to Internet Explorer 5.5 sans encryption.

The solution was to re-upgrade him to Internet Explorer 6.0, which restored 128-bit encryption as part of the upgrade process.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 SP-1 can be downloaded here from Microsoft's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Tech News Watch 408 Win98 Startup Apr 2 2003, 05:23 AM
I posted a copy of my "standard" Microsoft Windows 98SE CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files here in an earlier message thread.

Is that what you are looking for?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 244 Administrative Rights Apr 2 2003, 05:16 AM
That is an excellent point!

I'm somewhat embarrassed to say it did not occur to me that someone could be running Windows 2000 (or XP) with a FAT32 file system on the boot volume. The capability is certainly there--Windows even prompts for it during installation--but unless you have a very specialized need, (dual-booting, compatibility with a specific application, and so forth) why bother?

Under Microsoft Windows NT, 2000 and XP Access Control Lists work in conjunction with the file system, which stores the actual ACL data. NTFS was designed from the ground up to use ACLs, while Microsoft's FAT file systems have no equivalent functionality built in to them.

This is why, for example, the files on a computer running Microsoft Windows 95, 98 or Millenium Edition can be accessed by booting the computer from a floppy disk. There's no security structure in the hard drive's file system to prevent files from being accessed.

I found two short descriptions of what Access Control Lists do here on TechTarget's and Wikipedia's web sites.

Microsoft provides a white paper on their web site explaining what the default access control settings are for Windows 2000 here on their web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 310 Directx Drivers Apr 1 2003, 10:29 PM
Have you contacted the games' manufacturers to see if any updates are available to address the problem?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 167 Default Search Engine Apr 1 2003, 10:28 PM
On Google's web site there are instructions on how to set Google as your default home page and/or your default search engine.

For more information, visit Google's web site here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 189 Pc Reboots While Surfing Apr 1 2003, 08:05 PM
I'd suggest adding an additional case fan to see if that makes any difference; it could still be an overheating problem.

But let's look at the software side of things in the meantime.

Does the reboot problem occur consistently when you visit certain web sites? If so, then perhaps it is a problem with either the web browser or the video drivers.

Reinstalling the web browser might solve the problem. You can download a copy of Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 SP-1 from Microsoft's web site here.

If you change (lower) your display's resolution and screen depth, say going from 1,024 x 768 x 24bpp to 800 x 600 x 16bpp does that make any difference?

Have you contacted Matrox for tech support yet? If so, what did they say? Contact information for Matrox Tech Support is available here on their web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 305 Xp Licence Apr 1 2003, 07:55 PM
To check what sort of additional licenses your copy of Windows XP qualifies for (e.g., upgrade or full-installation licenses) visit Microsoft's web site here.

To order an additional Windows XP Professional license directly from Microsoft, click here

Or call Microsoft's Windows Product Activation Center in North America at +1 (888) 571-2048 for more information.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 911 How To Boot Xp Automatialy Apr 1 2003, 09:39 AM
Under Windows XP Professional you can set the number of seconds the boot loader will wait before loading the operating system from the System Properties Control Panel applet.

Here's how:


  • Right-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
  • The System Properties window will appear.
  • Click on the Advanced tab.
  • Under Startup and Recover click on Settings.
  • Enable (check) the Time to display list of operating systems item and enter the number of seconds you wish the boot loader to pause.
  • Exit when you are finished.

The next time your computer boots it will pause and count-down the number of seconds you specified before loading the operating system.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 319 Microsoft Virus? Apr 1 2003, 09:11 AM
It is a hoax--a malicious program of some sort such as a computer virus,
worm, or Trojan horse. Were you able to view the header on the message to determine from where the message was sent?

Aside from technical issues, such as determining where a message came from there are other ways to gauge the probability of a hoax or otherwise fake message.

How to tell with such things? Well, aside from the fact Microsoft does not bulk-mail out security updates, there's the message itself.

There seem to be some capitalization and grammar errors--albeit small ones--in the message. Also, the syntax seems a bit odd--notice how if you read it out loud, you try to fill in dropped articles such as the words "of" and "the." The document appears to be written by someone who is not a native English speaker.

Lastly, take note of the closing salutation. I don't think I've ever seen one in a Microsoft security bulletin. "With Friendly Greetings" is, as I understand it, a standard informal close for letters written in Germanic languages such as Germany German, Dutch and Swiss-German ("Mit freundlichen Grüßen" I think?). This is not the type of thing normally seen in a letter from a U.S. company.

Microsoft tends to use quite a bit of 'boilerplate' in its security announcements, i.e., the parts that explain how to contact Microsoft, how to install the patch, and so forth. If an announcement looks substantially different from others, it would be a good idea to verify the source.

All of Microsoft's security bulletins can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/security/.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 378 Data Recovery Apr 1 2003, 08:40 AM
I have used Runtime Software's GetDataBack line of software to recover data from a crashed hard drive.

The programs are not free--a suite of NTFS and FAT data-recovery tools costs about $120.00USD, but there is read-only evaluation version you can try.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 445 Pc Reboots While Surfing Apr 1 2003, 08:33 AM
An interesting problem.

Was that the video card or motherboard BIOS that you updated?

One possible culprit I can think of is heat. I do not recall if the Matrox Millennium G400-series of video cards has a fan. If so, it could be time to replace it. Or it might be one of the other fans inside the computer needs replacing.

Also, have you checked your computer for viruses or ad programs? As unlikely as it sounds, perhaps the problem is do to some sort unwanted program.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 305 Pci Card Opening In Case Apr 1 2003, 08:12 AM
An expansion card bracket, perhaps?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 229 Shopping For A Laptop Apr 1 2003, 08:06 AM
Unless it is already covered under your purchase, you may want to consider getting an extended warranty. This might be a few hundred dollars more, but typically will extend the warranty an additional two to three years and add coverage for things like broken LCDs and drowned keyboards.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 298 Random Question Apr 1 2003, 08:00 AM
In 1995, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing ran off a bunch of $2.00 bills--I believe it was because of the anniversary of something but cannot remember the exact details.

Any main branch back should have plenty in stock and they love to get rid of them, since their drawers typically don't have slots for $2.00 bills.

Every so often I get a few from the local bank to use for tips, paying for coffee, et cetera. It's a great conversation starter.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 233 Administrative Rights Apr 1 2003, 07:49 AM
I believe selecting Tools -> Internet Options from Microsoft Internet Explorer's main menu just launches the Internet Properties applet from the Control Panel.

Can you access the Internet Properties applet from the Control Panel using both of the Administrator accounts? If so, then the problem may be Internet Explorer has somehow become damaged. Reinstalling the web browser may solve the problem. You can download a new installation from Microsoft's web site here.

If the Internet Properties applet does not run from the Control Panel under the second Administrator account the problem may be a permissions (Access Control List) issue--the second Administrator account somehow lost its privileges to the INETCPL.CPL file.

Beginning with Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft introduced Access Control Lists--the idea that certain programs could only be run by privileged users and/or groups. A feature I understand is borrowed from Digital Equipment Corp.'s VMS operating system.

Inspecting and changing the ACL for a file is done with a program named CACLS--short for Change Access Control ListS, I suspect. CACLS.EXE is typically located in the %windir%\SYSTEM32\ directory, e.g., C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\ under Microsoft Windows NT and 2000 and C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ under Microsoft Windows XP.

To check if this is an ACL problem, log in to your computer using the working Administrator account, open a Command Prompt, and type:

CACLS C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\INETCPL.CPL

and press Enter. On my computer running Windows 2000 Professional, the INETCPL.CPL file has the following permissions:

BUILTIN\Users:R
BUILTIN\Power Users:R
BUILTIN\Administrators:F
NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:F
Everyone:R

If your permissions do not match this, you can change them by typing:

CACLS C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\INETCPL.CPL /G Users:R "Power Users":R Administrators:F SYSTEM:F Everyone:R

at the Command Prompt.

Log out and log back in using the second Administrator account to see if you can access the Internet Options setting in your web browser.

I could not find a good general description of CACLS on Microsoft's support web site, but Windows 2000's online help gives a brief overview of the program, or you can run the program with the /? switch.

Finally, one thing to keep in mind is using CACLS is like using the Registry Editor. It is a powerful program and can make your system inoperable if used improperly.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 310 Video Card Fans Apr 1 2003, 06:53 AM
I have seen laptops which have fans which come on intermittently, and desktop computers with power supplies that have the same feature, but I've never heard of a video card with a selectively-on fan.

It might be a good idea for your friend to check with the manufacturer of the video card to determine if this is the proper behavior.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 389 Laptop Battery Mar 23 2003, 07:33 AM
I believe the charging circuitry for the battery is controlled, in part, by the ThinkPad's BIOS. You may wish to try upgrading the BIOS to see if this makes any difference in the ThinkPad's ability to charge the battery.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 223 Notebook Dvd Drive? Mar 20 2003, 04:47 AM
Now that you know the drive's manufacturer and, I assume, the exact model number, you can try searching places like PriceWatch and TechBargains for a replacement DVD drive.

Of course, there's always eBay, too.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 329 Missing *.dll (?) Mar 20 2003, 04:44 AM
Is there an MFC42.DLL file on the installation disk(s) for the game? If so, try copying it to the game's installation directory on your hard drive.

Does that make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 264 Various Hardware Problems Mar 20 2003, 04:10 AM
The IDE controller is on the motherboard and if it is failing that could cause the problems you are experiencing. That does not mean that it is, just that it could be the problem.

IDE controllers are a solid-state devices and should, in theory, work forever (no mechanical parts to wear out), however, there is always the possibility it has been damaged by electricity or heat.

I have a client (actually, a client of a client) who had a similar problem with her SONY VAIO desktop computer. The drive was recognized by the system and opened and closed just fine, but did not recognize disks. It turned out the drive cable had partially worked its way free.

Since you report that is not the case, though, the only similar problem I can think of is the drive cable might be bad. Perhaps an intermittent short or bad crimp-job. You might want to try replacing the drive cable and see if that makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 288 Serial Problem Mar 20 2003, 03:57 AM
Do you have another PS/2 to serial adapter you can try using with the various mouses?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 226 Notebook Dvd Drive? Mar 18 2003, 07:06 AM
First off, have you sent a message to Carly Fiorina's office, the CEO of HP? While this may not resolve the problem it will let the office of the CEO know it exists. A convenient web-form can be found here.

I am assuming the DVD drive is a removable one? If so, why not remove it from its mounting shell and see if you can identify the actual manufacturer. It might be a company like TEAC or Toshiba. Once you know who makes it, you can visit their web site and look around for a replacement part.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 329 Computer Wont Boot Mar 18 2003, 06:57 AM
Bingo!

The Houston Tech HT12888A is the part containing the CMOS/RTC battery backup which has failed.

However, this may not be as much of a problem as it could be, since it looks like this motherboard may have another connector to power the CMOS and RTC in the event the on-board battery fails.

A scanned copy of the Matsonic 5010 motherboard can be found here. Looking at page 14 it refers to a three-pin jumper labeled JP10 - RTC Chip Select with the default option being pins 1 & 2.

Although it is not mentioned elsewhere in the online manual, to me that indicates the CMOS/RTC can be powered either internally from the HT12888A or from an external power source.

If you look around on the motherboard, perhaps you will find a four-pin connector (possibly near JP10) labeled BATT, EXT BATT or something equally illuminating.

By setting JP10 to pins 2 & 3 and plugging an external battery in to the motherboard you should be able to get the computer up and running.

Now, if there is no external battery connector, you're still not lost, but things become a little trickier: The HT12888A needs to be repaired or replaced.

According to an article on Resource800.Com's web site it is possible to either perform surgery on the HT12888A CMOS/RTC device and install a new battery inside of it or replace it with a Dallas Semiconductor part.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 521 Antivirus And Firewalls Mar 18 2003, 05:57 AM
Many anti-virus vendors offer *nix-based versions of their anti-virus products, but they are usually sold through the corporate or enterprise sales side of the company.

So, in other words, pick your favorite anti-virus vendor and snoop around on their web site. If that fails you can always contact their sale department.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Linux Fanatics 267 Various Hardware Problems Mar 18 2003, 05:53 AM
According to SONY's web site, the SONY VAIO PCV-RX360DS shipped with Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition for the operating system.

Is that still the operating system being used on the computer?

If you go into the Device Manager for the computer, does it display any
errors of any of the devices, such as the disks or the ATAPI controllers?

Does the SONY CD-R CRX140E drive read normal CD-ROM discs?

SONY does not seem to offer an online manual for this computer, so you may have to check the printed documentation which came with it in order to find out how to get into the BIOS.

My initial thought would be loose cabling, but if all the cabling was reseated then the problem could possibly be the power supply or the motherboard.

You might want to try contacting SONY technical support or the store you bought it from for further assistance getting into the BIOS and troubleshooting suggestions.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 288 Lotus Organizer Help File Mar 17 2003, 08:38 AM
An interesting problem.

Perhaps it would be easier to purchase book on Lotus Organizer instead of extracting the internally-stored online help?

A quick check of Amazon found a book named 10 Minute Guide to Lotus Organizer 97 for Windows 95 by Jennifer Fulton and Sherry Willard Kinkoph from Que Press. The ASIN is 0789705605.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 327 Easy Backup Mar 17 2003, 08:29 AM
I have been using Stomp, Inc.'s BackUp My PC for backups to tape and DVD.

For smaller sets of files or sets that change rapidly I have been using Ahead Software's Nero Burning ROM.

Lastly, I use KarenWare's Replicator to copy file sets from my internal hard drive to an external hard drive.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 344 Search And Replace In Batches Mar 17 2003, 08:20 AM
I have been using Funduc Software's Search and Replace for making bulk changes to HTML files.

It is shareware ($25.00USD) and not free, though. If performing bulk changes is going to be a daily--or even weekly--occurrence then you might want to consider it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 214 Autoexec.bat & Config.sys Mar 17 2003, 08:10 AM
Glad to be of assistance.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 490 Computer Wont Boot Mar 17 2003, 08:04 AM
The "Non-System Disk or Disk Error. Replace and Strike Any Key When Ready." error message occurs when the operating system's boot sector cannot find the system files which load the operating system.

The most likely reasons for this are that the operating system files are not on the disk (deleted perhaps?) or they cannot be found on the disk due to the corrupt disk geometry in the CMOS settings.

If the latter, replacing the CMOS battery should fix the problem. If the motherboard does use a Dallas Semiconductor integrated CMOS/RTC device, though, all is not lost. A few motherboards which used these also had pins for hooking up a backup battery after the internal one failed.

Is there any discernable silkscreening or labels on the motherboard that identify it such a manufacturer, model number, or FCC ID? Does the BIOS display any type of product or serial number? Any of those would be helpful in identifying the motherboard.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 521 The Bbs Games Site Mar 16 2003, 04:53 AM
Starting with Microsoft Windows 95, all version of Windows should come with a barebones Telnet client.

Try searching your hard drive for a file named TELNET.EXE and using that to establish your telnet connection.

For a telnet client with more features, try Softronics' Softerm or Hilgraeve's HyperAccess.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 142 Win 98 Se Monitor Auto Turnoff Difficulties Mar 16 2003, 04:33 AM
In your computer's BIOS settings, do you have any options for power management (APM or ACPI)? If they are disabled, you might want to try enabling them to see if that makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 226 Who's Using My Wireless Network? Mar 16 2003, 04:31 AM
It sounds like you want to build a map of your network, showing you what
devices and computers are attached to it.

Northwest Performance Software's NetScanTools and NetScanTools Pro allow you to build a map of your network, as does Ipswitch's WhatsUp Gold and Echogent Systems's Kaboodle.

I am involved with the latter company, so please keep that in mind when making a decision.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 620 Computer Room Mar 16 2003, 04:24 AM
Five computers are going to consume a bit of power. It would be a good idea to ensure the room has an adequate electrical supply and is on a separate breaker to prevent any accidental power losses.

The other thing to consider is the HVAC system. The room won't need any heating (five computer packed together will provide that nicely) but venting and air conditioning will be needed to remove the waste heat from the room.

Racking is definitely the way to go. Although the initial costs will definitely be higher, having equipment racks will allow for a higher density of computers/equipment in the room. Most racks have a cable-management system integrated or available as an add-on.

One other suggestion for the room is a labeler. Get a good one so you can create labels for the computers with their names, MAC IDs, and IP addresses, as well be able to label the other hardware and cables in the room.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 236 Swat It? Mar 16 2003, 04:11 AM country. They're now back in Iceland where they belong. Thanks Esaladuane.]

Hello,

F-PROT is written by Fridrik "Frisk" Skulason, an anti-virus researcher from Reykjavik, Iceland who has been in the field for a long time and is well-known and respected by his colleagues.

F-PROT, his anti-virus program, is marketed by FRISK Software International (FSI) in Iceland and around the world. Much like its author, F-PROT has been around for a long time and is well-known and respected in the A-V community.

Supposedly, FSI is responsible for 17% of Iceland's GNP.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Tech News Watch 225 4 Monitors... Mar 16 2003, 04:02 AM
Both Matrox's Matrox G200 Multi-Monitor Series and Matrox G450 Multi-Monitor Series support four displays, as does Appian's Rushmore and AppianX lines of video cards.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 226 Case Fans Mar 13 2003, 07:23 AM
On the side of most case fans is a diagram showing the direction in which the fan blades spin and the air moves. It is usually just stamped or molded into the plastic which sometimes can make it hard to see.

The general rule of thumb is that you want air to move in your computer from front to back, and from bottom to top.

By going from front-to-back, cool air from outside the case blows across the hot components before exiting from the back of the case. Likewise for going from the bottom to top, since heat rises.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 267 Usb Hub Mar 13 2003, 07:05 AM
After having two Belkin USB hubs blow out on me in a three week period I decided to purchase a Pertech seven-port USB hub.

At $60.00 it is more expensive than other brands, however, it has worked flawlessly for me since I purchased it about two years ago. Also, when I have had questions about USB devices and power and compatibility issues their technical support staff has been top-notch.

More informatoin can be found on Pertech's web site at http://www.pertech.net/products.htm.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 207 Connection Of Power Led Mar 13 2003, 06:59 AM
You might want to try wiring up the the SPD-LED pins on PANEL2 to the power LED on your case to see if that works.

In the past, I have used a jeweler's screwdriver to gently pry apart the 3-pin power LED connector on ATX cases and then re-seat the wires next to each other to provide a connection to motherboards with a 2-pin power LED connector.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 327 Ricochet Wireless Network Mar 11 2003, 08:23 AM
Ricochet Networks, Inc. is a wholly-owned subdiary of Aerie Networks, Inc., according to their web site.

If I had to make a guess, I would say Aerie owns the IP (intellectual property, in this case), technical assets and handles the legal issues like right-of-way while Ricochet handles sales, marketing, advertising, customer service, technical support and related issues.

But that's just a guess on my part.

Since they are just rolling out the service there are bound to be a few snags, just like any other new ISP starting up a business.

What you might want to do is document the problems you had (lack of support information, trouble contacting support, and so forth) with recommendations or suggestions for how you wish it had been handled (big flashing button labeled "support" on web site, having to spend too much time on the phone, and so forth) and mail it to the president or CEO of the company. That will help ensure your experience gets some attention.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 170 Computer Stops During 3d Games Mar 11 2003, 07:55 AM
All of the suggestions you have received so far are very good for troubleshooting a software problem. Since the problem still seems to be occurring perhaps it has something to do with the hardware?

Can you tell us a little more about the computer you are using, such as the brand and model motherboard, type and speed of CPU, amount of memory, the expansion cards installed in your PC, type and number of drives, and wattage of your power supply?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 270 Text-console Irc Program ? Mar 10 2003, 09:43 PM
I'm not very familiar with IRC clients. but there seems to be an extensive list of them at http://www.valinor.sorcery.net/clients/pla...forms-unix.html.

Another possibility might be one of the Unix shell clients listed at http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/ircii/.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Linux Fanatics 128 Ricochet Wireless Network Mar 10 2003, 09:36 PM
Actually, the speed of the 16-bit PC Card interface is 20MB/sec, which should be provide more than enough bandwidth for the Riccochet PCMCIA modem.

Perhaps there is another limitation such as the modem using a serial interface internally which limits the speed, or perhaps Aerie is throttling connection speeds back in order to ensure adequate bandwidth for all users.

You might want to give Aerie Networks' technical support a call/email and see what light they can shed on the subject.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 170 Talk Via Internet Mar 10 2003, 07:49 PM
Could you be looking for Speak Freely by John Walker, the founder of AutoDesk? It performs IP telephony.

I don't know how well it will perform on a 56Kbps modem connection, though.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 249 Ricochet Wireless Network Mar 10 2003, 07:37 PM
I used the Riccochet service from Metricom when it originally came out in California around the mid-90s (1995?). At the time, it offered a connection speed about that of a 14.4Kbps modem. Adequate for BBS and email access.

After Metricom went bankrupt, most of their assets were purchased by Aerie Networks. It looks like Aerie Networks is slowly rolling the service back out.

At $100.00USD for an external or PC Card modem plus $45.00 per month for service it seems reasonable, especially for people who cannot get broadband connections via cable or xDSL.

However, the lack of an Ethernet port on the external modem may make it more difficult to share the connection on a home LAN.

I take it you are using the external modem and it is connected to your computer via the serial port? If so, that is probably the limiting factor. Most serial ports integrated on motherboards only support a maximum connection speed of 115,200 Kbps. Installing a high-speed serial card which supports 230.4Kbps connections might speed things up, or connecting the external modem via the USB port on your laptop.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 170 What Did I Do Wrong? Mar 10 2003, 07:17 PM
I am assuming you restarted the computer in MS-DOS mode in order to run the DOS-based game?

If so, it sounds like the computer got 'stuck' restarting in MS-DOS mode

You might want to take a look at the following articles from Microsoft's Knowledge Base:

Description of Restarting Computer in MS-DOS Mode
Computer Restarts When Exiting MS-DOS Mode

The solution may be solved with some judicious editing of the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 245 Ram Mar 7 2003, 02:15 AM
Judging from the photos on Mushkin's web site, they are reselling Samsung-manufactured RIMMs.

I have been using Samsung RIMMs in a variety of computers with no problems whatsoever.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 216 Download Streaming Audio To Hard Drive Mar 7 2003, 02:05 AM
Total Recorder from High Criteria, Inc. will save streaming audio to disk.

More information can be found on their web site at http://www.highcriteria.com/.

I have never used the program myself so have no first-hand experience to report.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 299 Flash Bios Glitch Mar 6 2003, 08:35 AM
Arg...

I have just re-read the original message. I had mis-read it, thinking the BIOS update program was asking for HIMEM.SYS to be loaded, not the other way around.

Simple solution:

On the floppy diskette is a text file named CONFIG.SYS. Open this file using your favorite text editor, such as Notepad,
and look for a line which reads:


DEVICE=A:\HIMEM.SYS


Change it to read:


REM DEVICE=A:\HIMEM.SYS


and save the file back to the diskette.

The HIMEM.SYS extended memory manager will no longer load when the diskette is booted from, and you will be free to update your BIOS.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky





]]> Windows Fanatics 396 Flash Bios Glitch Mar 5 2003, 09:03 AM
As strange as it sounds, it appears in this case the BIOS update program wants a high memory manager loaded. Maybe whoever wrote the flashing utility program compiled it using a DOS extender which requires access to XMS?

I know--that seems contradictory to me, too. But the reported error message points to that.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 396 Flash Bios Glitch Mar 5 2003, 08:12 AM
In order for your computer to boot from the floppy diskette, the diskette needs to have an operating system on it, such as MS-DOS.

Under Windows XP, it is not possible to make a boot diskette from the command-line using the FORMAT command, but you can make one through the GUI using Windows Explorer. Here's how:


  • Place an empty diskette in your floppy disk drive.
  • Double-click on the My Computer icon on your Desktop. The My Computer window (Windows Explorer) will open.
  • In the My Computer window you should see an icon named 3 1/2 Floppy (A:).
  • Right-click on the 3 1/2 Floppy (A:) icon. A pop-up (context) menu will appear.
  • From the pop-up menu, select Format. The Format 3 1/2 Floppy (A:) window will appear.
  • Under Format Options: make sure Create an MS-DOS startup disk is selected.
  • Click on the Start button to create a DOS boot diskette.


Once the format is finished, you will have a DOS boot diskette containing the version of DOS included in Windows Millennium Edition.

Although the diskette does not contain a HIMEM.SYS file, it will contain the COMMAND.COM, IO.SYS and MSDOS.SYS files used to load DOS. I was under the impression the IO.SYS file provided some level of extended memory support even if HIMEM.SYS was not present, but that may not be the case.

If the boot disk you have created does not work (perhaps the BIOS update program specifically looks for the presence of the HIMEM.SYS file on the disk or in memory before running) you will need to do one of the following:


  • Obtain a copy of the HIMEM.SYS file from a computer running Windows Millennium.
  • Use a DOS boot diskette created with an earlier version of DOS or of Windows, such as Windows 95, 98 or Millennium Edition
  • Obtain a newer version of the BIOS update program from your motherboard manufacturer which does not require HIMEM.SYS.


I have sent a message to Microsoft technical support inquiring about HIMEM.SYS support for DOS boot disks created with Windows XP Professional, but I do not expect a reply soon.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 396 Vnc Acting Strange Mar 5 2003, 05:50 AM
AT&T stopped funding development of VNC at its Cambridge Research Labs in the UK and transferred ownership of the product to its former developers, who set up a private company to maintain it named RealVNC.

The latest version of "regular" VNC can be found on their web site at http://www.realvnc.com/.

You might want to try that version and see if it makes any difference.

Does your ZoneAlarm log tell you what IP address(es) your VNC server tried to connect to? It could be something as innocuous as trying to connect to localhost.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 193 Sunlight-friendly Notebook? Mar 5 2003, 05:44 AM
Has your friend considered a "ruggedized" laptop? Companies such as Dolch, Itronix, Microslate (formerly Melard) and Panasonic all make heavy-duty laptops for use in the field. Many of these will have transflective or other "sunlight-readable" displays.

One thing to keep in mind is that ruggedized laptops typically are one to two generations behind current "state of the art" models, since there are much longer lead times involved in designing such devices, and they tend to have longer lifetimes than regular consumer-grade laptops. They also can cost about three to seven times as much as a comparable consumer-grade laptop--which may place a new one (but not a used one or an older model) out of your friend's budget.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky



]]> Hardware Help 230 Shortcut Arrow Removal? Mar 5 2003, 05:29 AM
Numerous "tweak" type programs, such as Microsoft's own TweakUI can be used to remove or replace the shortcut icon for Microsoft Windows XP. The Windows XP version of TweakUI can be downloaded from here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 279 Xp Dos Mar 3 2003, 08:03 AM
MS-DOS v5.00 and 6.2 are both "good" versions of DOS in that they support FAT12 and FAT16 volumes, come with a standard set of utilities for memory management, disk and file operations, and support a broad range of third-party DOS applications.

A few things come to mind:

The Microsoft Anti Virus program (MSAV) included with MS-DOS 5.00 is obsolete--don't bother installing it.

If that is actually MS-DOS 6.20 or 6.21 you have there, you should download the 6.22 updates available from Microsoft's ftp server at ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/peropsys/msdos/public/. They provide some updates and bug fixes.

IBM's version of MS-DOS, known as IBM-DOS and PC-DOS, is also very good as well with respect to compatibility and comes with a similar set of utilities as MS-DOS 6.x, although licensed from different parties. The last version, IBM PC DOS 2000, can be purchased here on IBM's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 522 Xp Dos Mar 3 2003, 06:39 AM
Under Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 and Windows XP the Command Interpreter [filename CMD.EXE] is very handy. For one thing, it lets you execute batch files, which end with a .CMD three-character file extension. It is probably in earlier versions of Windows NT, too, but I don't have any of them installed.

On my computer running Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1, it is located in the %windir%/system32 directory.

There is also a DOS Command Interpreter Emulator [filename COMMAND.COM] located in the same directory on my system. It lets me run batch files with a .BAT extension.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 522 Quiet! Mar 3 2003, 06:13 AM
You may wish to read this article How to Silence a Computer on QuietPC's web site.

Besides advice and tips on how to reduce computer noise, they also sell a variety of noise-reducing products ( fans, enclosures, sound-dampening foam, etc.).

I have never purchased anything from them, so I cannot comment specifically on how any of the items work.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 235 Boot Virus Question Mar 3 2003, 06:03 AM
There has occasionally been talk in the anti-virus community about disabling checking for older "extinct" viruses--at least as an option--but as far as I know no one has actually done this, probably out of fear that it would generate a competitive disadvantage or negative reviews/press coverage.

Most anti-virus programs I have seen have checking of master boot records and boot sectors as options, with the default behavior for them being enabled.

Since you didn't mention which anti-virus program(s) you were concerned about, it might be best to directly contact their technical support staff to find out what sort of checks their anti-virus software performs.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 212 Ati Video Mar 3 2003, 05:32 AM
I have an ATI A-I-W RADEON 7500 64MB AGP SVGA adapter in use in my home theater PC running under Windows ME.

It does work as a Cable TV tuner and displays the computer's screen on my TV at lower resolutions. As far as using the PVR functionality, I was able to record video but no audio. I suspect this was a very simple configuration error on my part, however, before I could troubleshoot it I received a visit from my local cable company, who asked me to remove the Cable TV connection since it was interfering with reception in my neighborhood.

Since then I have not used its PVR functionality.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 224 Upgrading Bios - Can It Fry Mb? Mar 3 2003, 05:17 AM
BIOS upgrades are usually performed to add support for additional hardware such as faster CPUs, larger-capacity hard drives, to fix compatibility issues with operating systems or PCI/AGP cards released subsequent to the motherboard's manufacture, and so forth.

The process is usually straight-forward: You start the computer in question from a DOS-bootable floppy diskette containing the BIOS update utility and the BIOS update file, and then run the update program to "flash" (reprogram) the motherboard's BIOS with the new update. When done, you power-down or reboot the computer.

Normally they are pretty uneventful.

There are a few caveats, though: If the computer is accidentally powered-down during the BIOS upgrade procedure, it may be rendered inoperable. This is because during the upgrade process the old BIOS is erased before the new one is installed. If the process is interrupted. then there is no functional BIOS left to start the computer.

For a laptop computer, this means don't do the BIOS upgrade unless it has a fully-charged battery and is plugged into a wall-outlet.

For a desktop computer, don't perform the BIOS upgrade at a time when the computer might lose power (e.g., during an electrical storm). It is also is a good idea to have the computer in question plugged into a UPS.

In the event that a BIOS upgrade fails, recovery can take several forms.

Some BIOSes have a "boot block" that is not changed during the BIOS update process. In the event the BIOS upgrade fails, the boot block lets you perform the BIOS upgrade again from a floppy or CD.

Also, some motherboards have two BIOSes, which can be switched between via jumpers on the motherboard when the system is turned off. If the upgrade fails with BIOS, power-down, re-jumper, and boot up with the other BIOS active.

If the motherboard in question has the chip containing BIOS installed in a socket, then it can be removed from the socket and a replacement obtained from the manufacturer or from a third-party vendor like BadFlash.

On the other hand, if the BIOS is soldered directly to the motherboard, then it must be sent back to the manufacturer for replacement.

In about a dozen years of working with computers, I have had two incidents where BIOS upgrades failed:

One was with an out-of-warranty Supermicro desktop motherboard which had the BIOS soldered to it. I returned it to the manufacturer with a check for $25.00 and had it back in about a week.

The other incident was with an under-warranty Dell laptop computer, and this was a little more problematic: We were preparing to upgrade the laptop to Windows XP, and had downloaded all the driver updates and the upgraded BIOS per the instructions on Dell's support web site. The laptop appeared to upgrade correctly and prompted to reboot. After that, it would not power up.
We called Dell's phone support and they initially refused to honor the warranty and claimed that BIOS upgrades were only to be done when one of their technicians recommended it and walked the user through the procedure over the telephone. In a hurry to get the laptop up and running, we paid a tad over $900.00 USD to get a replacement motherboard installed on site. After it was installed, we then spent a day on the phone arguing with them, but finally got reimbursed for the "warranted repairs which we were accidentally charged for," but it was a hassle I would not want to go through again.

Two failed BIOS ugprades out of dozens (hundreds?) of successful ones doesn't seem like bad odds. The big difference, though, was how the manufacturer handled it.

If you are concerned about performing the BIOS upgrade yourself, I would suggest getting everything prepared (downloading the files, making the boot disk and so forth) and then calling Micron's technical support and asking them to walk you through the process. If something does happen during the upgrade, that should ensure your warranty remains intact.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 231 Ide Controller Drivers Feb 27 2003, 09:56 AM
Based on your description, it sounds like you have a motherboard based on Intel's 440BX chipset.

To double-check this, Intel provides software to identify the chipset your upon which your motherboard is based called the "Intel Chipset Identification Utility." You can read about it and download it from Intel's web sitehere.

Once you've determined for certain what chipset your motherboard is based on you should be able to find drivers for it on the manufacturer's or Intel's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 262 Upgrade Or Fresh Install Feb 27 2003, 09:47 AM
You pose an intereresting question.

I think the core issue of upgrading versus a fresh install is whether or not you want to preserve your settings and, of course, your installed software.

When performing an upgrade the Windows Setup program is not just keeping things like your desktop settings but copying en masse settings from your old Windows registry to the new one. The question I see is if some of these settings are not optimal for the new operating system (e.g., tweaking TCP packet sizes) or may not even apply (Windows 95/98/Me memory allocation versus Windows 2000/XP), what, then, happens in the new environment? Are the settings preserved, in which case your PC is not running as efficiently as it should, or are the customizations wiped out and replaced with the default settings used by the new operating system?

There is also the issue of compatibility with third-party programs. Some types of systems software (disk utilities, anti-virus, programs that alter the appearance or behavior of the shell or desktop, and so forth) use functions which are specific to the original operating system. Running these types of programs under a new operating system may cause problems.

While the Windows Setup does an admirable job of checking for and removing potential conflicts, it may not be able to detect all of them.

And, there is also the issue of any outstanding file system, operating system or application problems which may not be resolved by the upgrade.

There are some other considerations as well: Over time, the performance of a system will degrade due to disk fragmentation, registry bloat from removed applications, mis-matched DLLs and the like. While it is possible to manage these problems, usually with the help of third-party utilities, there may be issues which they are unable to resolve.

As much as it sounds like overkill, reformatting the drive may be the solution to these problems.

I also subscribe to the "multiple partitions" school of thought, which places the operating system, the applications (including drivers and utilities) and the data all on separate volumes. Aside from making backups a lot easier (I just have to back up the data volume), it also allows me to erase the operating system and/or application volumes with little concern for losing data. Not that I'd do either without a full backup (or two) of the data volume.

As far as re-formatting versus deleting the operating system directory, well, that gets a little more complex.

As far as the FAT file system goes, erasing a file doesn't actually wipe the file from the disk. It just removes the file's listing from the Directory Entry Table and changes the File Allocation Table to mark the clusters it previously used as available. This is one of the reasons that file recovery programs work so well--the information they are recovering was never wiped from the disk, only the record of its presence.

What does this mean, overall? Well, there still will be some fragmentation of the file allocation and directory entry tables (e.g., incongruous entries in the tables). Whether or not this would even cause a performance penalty I couldn't say. In any case, a good disk optimization/packing/defragmentation program should take of it.

What you are missing, though, is an opportunity to perform an additional check on the volume before starting the installation. While the FORMAT command does not perform an exhaustive check of a volume when formatting, it does do some basic checking for things such as bad sectors. If you have ever tried to format a failing disk you may have seen some messages about attempting to recover bad blocks or marking cluster(s) as bad. That's one of the things FORMAT checks--whether or not a disk is usable. Of course, thoses tests are nowhere as exhaustive as those found in CHKDSK, SCANDISK or third-party programs like Symantec's Norton Disk Doctor or Gibson Research Corporation's SpinRite. That's because FORMAT is designed to place a file system onto a volume, not to perform exhaustive checks of it.

Also, formatting will remove a boot sector virus if it is done properly, e.g., cold-booting the infected PC from a write-protected virus-free operating system boot diskette. But as a class, boot sector and master boot record viruses are pretty much extinct. It's worms and Word macros that are de rigeuer these days.

What's the downside of this? Well, time, for one thing. A large volume might take a while to format. If you are in a hurry, it might be quicker to erase the operating system directory and reinstall the OS to it.

Well, there you have the pros and cons as I see them. As you can see I subscribe to the "scorched earth" or "R&R" (reformat and reinstall) school of thought.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 321 Utility Needed To Start Ie / Oe In Offline Mode Feb 27 2003, 08:02 AM
My first suggestion would be to check with the author of the program you mentioned. Perhaps the problem has been fixed in a newer release or they have a patch for the problem?

If you go into Internet Explorer and select Tools -> Internet Options -> Connections and select (check) "Never dial a connection" does that make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 99 Autoexec.bat & Config.sys Feb 26 2003, 04:33 AM
Unzipping a ZIP file is done with the PKUNZIP program which comes bundled with the PKZIP program. To extract a specific file, you would
type:


PKUNZIP {name of .ZIP file} {file(s) to extract} {destination directory}


So, for example, if I had a file named UTILITIES.ZIP containing files named PROGRAM1.EXE and PROGRAM2.EXE that I wanted to extract to my RAM disk (which, we'll call drive "R:"), I would type:


PKUNZIP UTILITIES.ZIP PROGRAM1.EXE PROGRAM2.EXE R:


Of course, I could also enter "PROGRAM?.EXE" or "PROGRAM*.EXE" since PKUNZIP recognizes those wildcard characters.

If you had multiple files you wanted to extract, you could create an ASCII text file with their filenames instead of specifying them on the command-line.

For example, if PROGRAM1.EXE and PROGRAM2.EXE were two files in a set you wanted to extract you could create an ASCII text file that says:


PROGRAM1.EXE
PROGRAM2.EXE


in it. Save the file with a memorable name like PROGRAMS.TXT and run PKUNZIP by typing:


PKUNZIP UTILITIES.ZIP @PROGRAMS.TXT R:


This would cause PKUNZIP to extract the two files listed in PROGRAMS.TXT from the UTILITIES.ZIP file to drive R:, your RAM disk.

As far as creating a menu goes, you might want to consider using the DOS CHOICE command, which comes with MS-DOS 7.0 (Windows 95) and later, and also with IBM PC DOS 6.3 and higher, if memory serves.

You might not be able to create the prettiest menus, but it would be functional and should run without any problems from a CD-ROM.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 490 Restart = No Keyboard Or Mouse Feb 26 2003, 03:44 AM
Unless Micron's technical support engineer specifically said not to update the BIOS, why not give it a try?

A BIOS update might help.

One caveat, though: If the computer is still under warranty, you might want to have Micron's technical support walk you through the BIOS update process.

I had a client update the BIOS on a 10-month old Dell laptop prior to installing Windows XP and it failed, leaving the laptop non-usable. Dell claimed that upgrading the BIOS without a technician over the phone voided the warranty on the laptop, in spite of the fact their web site tells users to upgrade the BIOS on a computer before installing Windows XP.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 253 On-board Video Motherboard Feb 26 2003, 03:33 AM
It probably depends greatly on the motherboard in question. On some motherboards, the on-board video controller cannot be disabled and is always the primary video card.

You might, however, be able to install another video card in one of the PCI slots and use it as a secondary display. Then move all menus, center application windows and so forth so they show up on the secondary display.

If the motherboard has some value, you might want to contact the manufacturer and see if it can be repaired.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 282 No Serial Port Feb 26 2003, 03:25 AM
Socket Communications makes a variety of CompactFlash and PCMCIA cards to RS-232 adapters.

I have used their single and dual serial port PCMCIA cards in a variety of laptops (Dell, IBM, Ricoh) without problems.

More details can be found on Socket Communications web site here.

Quatech Data Communications also makes PCMCIA to serial adapters. I have never used from them myself, though. More information can be found on their web site here.

As far as pricing goes, I suspect they may be more than $32.00USD new. You may want to look on eBay for a used one.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 283 Corrupted Cd/dvd Drivers In Xp Feb 26 2003, 03:07 AM
Perhaps some of the files associated with the drivers for your ATA controller are corrupt?

Depending upon what type of motherboard you have, you should be able to download the latest ones from the motherboard or chipset vendor's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 467 Autoexec.bat & Config.sys Feb 25 2003, 03:20 AM
An interesting problem.

Have you considered creating a .ZIP file containing all of the files you need, creating listfiles for the different sets you need and then just unzipping them to the RAM disk as needed?

While not quite as elegant as David's solution it might be easier to implement.

One thing to keep in mind is that RAM disks created by Microsoft's RAMDRIVE.SYS have some limitations. They can be no larger than 32MB and can contain no more than 1,024 files in the root directory. The latter might not be a problem, but 32MB may not be enough space for all of the programs you wish to run from the RAM disk.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 490 Monitor Bandwidth On A Specific Port Feb 25 2003, 02:58 AM
Winternals has a program named TDImon which monitors the TCP/IP stack for TCP and UDP activity.

It does not seem to provide a real-time graph, but I would imagine you could save a log and then run the resulting data through a spreadsheet.

More information is available here on Winternal's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 182 Raid 1 Help Feb 24 2003, 09:31 AM
Is the mirroring done in hardware or software? If it is done in hardware by the SCSI host adapter the new 120GB hard drives must be SCSI, too.

If the mirroring is done though software than you should be able to mix SCSI and IDE drives.

The first thing I would suggest you do is to make a complete backup of all important data on the hard drive and verify that is restores correctly. If you want an extra level of security, create two independent backups.

After migrating to the first new 120GB hard drive, you might want to extend the volumes to use the entire disk using the Disk Administrator or a third-party program like PowerQuest's PartitionMagic. Once the usable space on the new hard drive has been assigned, you can recreate the mirror to the second 120GB hard drive.

Here are some Microsoft KnowledgeBase articles you may wish to read to get some background on using RAID in the Windows 2000 environment:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;313061
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;329707
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;308209
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;298155
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;302969

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 197 Dos Feb 24 2003, 08:40 AM
IBM PC DOS 2.11 is a very old version of DOS. Before upgrading your PC to a newer version, you should verify that your hardware will work with it.

Software and Stuff is selling a bundled package of Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and MS-DOS 6.22 for $60.

It looks like it comes on 3.5" floppy disks, so if you do not have a 3.5" floppy disk drive you will need to purchase one for your computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 252 Autoexec.bat & Config.sys Feb 24 2003, 08:26 AM
On a computer running Microsoft MS-DOS or Windows 98, I usually include the following in my CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

For the CONFIG.SYS file:

CONFIG.SYS

DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE FRAME=NONE NOEMS RAM
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS
DOS=HIGH,UMB
SHELL=C:\COMMAND.COM /E:512 /P


Here's what that does, line-by-line:

  • Loads the high memory manager, which manages access to the High Memory Area (HMA) and Extended Memory (XMS)
  • Loads the Expanded Memory Manager (EMS) with no 64KB page frame set aside, disabling support for the older EMS 3.2 specification, and reserving space in the upper memory area for loading programs high
  • Loads the keyboard/character set handler, so I can create a colored prompts in DOS or Command Prompts within Windows.
  • Loads a portion of DOS into the high memory and allows access to upper memory blocks.
  • Specifies COMMAND.COM as the shell, sets environmental variable space to 512 characters, makes the shell permanently reside in memory (e.g., prevents it from being unloaded).


And here's a sample AUTOEXEC.BAT file:

AUTOEXEC.BAT

@ECHO OFF
CLS
VER /R
C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MEM.EXE
LOADHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\DOSKEY.COM /INSERT
SET DIRCMD=/A
SET PATH=C:\;C:\WINDOWS\;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\;
SET PROMPT=$p$g
SET TEMP=C:\TEMP
SET TMP=C:\TEMP
SET WINPMT=$p»


Now, let's take a look at what that AUTOEXEC.BAT file does:

  • Sets ECHO to off (prevents display of commands on screen).
  • Clears the screen.
  • Displays version of operating system.
  • Displays amount of memory available at startup.
  • Loads DOSKEY to provide editing of the command line when at a DOS prompt.
  • Tells DOS to display all files and folders when a DIR command is issued, including those marked as System or Hidden.
  • Tells DOS where to look on disk for execuable files.
  • Sets the DOS prompt to the familiar path-followed-by-a-greater-than symbol.
  • Tells DOS what directory to use for temporary files
  • Tells DOS what directory to use for temporary files (alternate spelling, since some programs seem to use TMP instead of TEMP)
  • Sets the dos prompt for Command Prompts within Windows to use the path followed by a double-greater-than symbol (handy if you are in a full-screen session and unsure of whether you are in Real-Mode DOS or a Windows Command prompt). The "»" symbol is made by pressing and holding the Alt-key, typing "175" on the number pad of the keyboard and letting go of the Alt-key.

Well, there you go, a sample CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Bear in mind, though, that's just a sample. The actual commands could vary depending upon the intended use for the computer in question.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 490 Help Please Feb 23 2003, 02:37 AM
The LNE100TX network interface card is manufactured by Linksys. You can download device drivers for it from Linksys' web site at http://www.linksys.com/download/driver.asp...p?dlid=2&osid=2.

There are several different versions of the card, so be sure to download the correct set of drivers for your version. Linksys provides some photos on the download page to help you identify which version you have.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 172 Restart = No Keyboard Or Mouse Feb 23 2003, 02:25 AM
Sometimes keyboard and mouse problems can be the result of BIOS problems. At reboot, the BIOS might be skipping checks used to detect the hardware. Normally this would not be a problem, since all the hardware would be detected when the computer was first started.

In the case of this computer hardware detection does not seem to be working properly. Why this is occuring, though, I couldn't say.

What I would suggest is that you try updating the computer's BIOS with the latest one from the manufacturer's web site and see if that makes any difference. If the problem is, indeed, one of hardware detection than perhaps it was solved in a later version of the BIOS.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Windows Fanatics 253 Network Connection Problem Feb 23 2003, 02:14 AM
The one unvarying element in your troubleshooting seems to be the Ethernet hub. Have you tried swapping out a different hub to see if that makes any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 166 Icons For Files And Folders Feb 22 2003, 02:47 AM
Unfortunately, I do not have Microsoft Windows 98SE installed on any computers I have access to while I'm away, so I cannot check for references to the file in the Registry for that operating system.

On a computer running Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional there are no references to ShellIconCache. Whether that is just for this computer or all of them I cannot say.

Have you installed any third-party "tweaking" programs like Microsoft's TweakUI? If so, does uninstalling them make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 482 Gaming problem with XP Feb 22 2003, 02:35 AM
What brand and model of video card are you using? By any chance, are you overclocking it?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 904 5.25 Inch Floppys And Drives Feb 22 2003, 02:28 AM
I have an 80486 PC with a 5.25" floppy diskette drive in it. I also have at least one 5.25" diskette drive in my parts bin.

For floppy diskette drive cleaners, try checking office supply stores, either locally or on the web.

A quick eBay search turned up a 5.25" floppy disk drive cleaner here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 322 Icons For Files And Folders Feb 21 2003, 03:10 AM
I am not certain under what circumstances the ShellIconCache file would disappear, but perhaps creating a 0-byte one in your C:\WINDOWS directory as a "placeholder" will let Windows rebuild one on top of it.

To do so, open a Command Prompt, change to the C:\WINDOWS directory, and type "SET ASDF > ShellIconCache" (without the quotations) and press Enter. The command prompt will respond with an error message, but you should now see a 0-byte file named ShellIconCache in the directory.

When finished, reboot the computer. Does this make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 482 Icons For Files And Folders Feb 20 2003, 02:19 AM
Perhaps the directory entry information for the file became damaged or truncated. Try searching for a file named SHELLI~1 instead.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 482 Win2k Disables Nic Feb 19 2003, 08:45 AM
Conversely, have you tried using the computer in another location with a known-good cable?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 218 Icons For Files And Folders Feb 19 2003, 08:30 AM
Perhaps the ShellIconCache file on your computer is corrupt?

As the name implies, ShellIconCache stores copies of the icons used for objects on your system.

To test this, locate the ShellIconCache file on your computer, delete it, and reboot your computer. Because the file is marked with a hidden attribute (and possible others under Windows 98SE) you will have to remove those attributes before erasing the file. Here is one way to do it from a command prompt:


  • Open a Command Prompt.
  • Change to drive C: by typing C: and pressing Enter.
  • Change to the root directory typing CD \ and pressing Enter.
  • Type DIR SHELLICONCACHE /A /S and press Enter to locate the directory the ShellIconCache file is stored in, such as C:\WINDOWS.
  • Change to the directory with the ShellIconCache file by typing CD {directory name} and pressing Enter.
  • Turning off all the attributes on the ShellIconCache file by typing ATTRIB -R -A -S -H SHELLICONCACHE and press Enter.
  • Erase the ShellIconCache file by typing DEL SHELLICONCACHE and pressing Enter.


Now exit the Command Prompt and reboot the computer.

Are the icons on your Desktop now correctly displayed?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 482 Msn Messenger Feb 19 2003, 08:16 AM
If I reading things properly that is a Netvision cable connection, correct?

There is not a lot of troubleshooting available for their service in English, but as near as I can tell they do not do anything unusual with proxying connections or other network address translation methods

Have you tried uninstalling the AnalogX Proxy and Zone Labs ZoneAlarm software to see if that makes any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 233 Msn Messenger Feb 19 2003, 04:46 AM
What sort of Internet connection do you have? Also, when you connect to the Internet, is your computer assigned a "non-routable" IP address (e.g., one that begins with a 10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x, 169.254.x.x, or 192.168.x.x)?

You can determine your IP address by going to a Command Prompt and typing "IPCONFIG /ALL" and pressing Enter after you have connected to the Internet.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 233 Ram Feb 19 2003, 04:40 AM
In my experience such programs have offered no performance gain and have, in fact, reduced system stability.

With memory so cheap these days, wouldn't it make sense just to add more RAM to your computer?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 213 Win2k Disables Nic Feb 19 2003, 04:35 AM
Could you have a bad cable run?

If you move another computer to the same location and plug it in to the network jack does it work properly?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 218 Cmos/gpnv Checksum Bad Feb 19 2003, 04:33 AM
Some motherboard manufacturers offer a Windows-based program to flash (reprogram) the BIOS with an updated version, however, with most manufacturers flashing the BIOS must be done after booting from a DOS diskette.

If you visit the motherboard manufacturer's web site you should be able to download the latest BIOS update and software to install it.

In my experience, the most likely reason for CMOS checksum errors is that the battery on the motherboard has worn out. All modern motherboards have a tiny battery on them which powers the real-time clock and sends a trickle of current to the CMOS memory, which is where the settings for the BIOS are stored, while the computer is turned off.

Once the battery starts to lose its charge the CMOS memory doesn't get enough electricity to preserve its contents, causing the types of errors you have been experiencing.

On all the modern motherboards I have seen this battery is a CR-2032 type battery used by clocks, calculators, PDAs and so forth. However, it would be a good idea to check this by a visual inspection of the motherboard, reading the manual which came with your motherboard, downloading it if neccessary from the manufacturer's web site.

One of these can be usually be purchased at a supermarket, drug store, electronics store or any other place that sells batteries for a few dollars.

Like any other electronic device, be sure the computer is turned off before replacing the battery.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 910 Can't Install Windows Xp Feb 18 2003, 07:12 AM
Does the BIOS have a "Failsafe Settings" or "Compatibility Settings" mode to load the "safest" (read: lowest-performing) settings?

If so, does enabling this and then trying to reinstall Windows XP make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 694 Undelete From Cd-rw Feb 18 2003, 07:00 AM
I have used CD Data Rescue from Naltech to recover files from damaged CD-Rs. It also supports recovery from CD-RWs, although I have not had the opportunity to test this myself.

At $40.00USD it is not free, but it is relatively inexpensive compared to other solutions.

Naltech's web site it <http://www.naltech.com/>.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 219 Buying Rdram Feb 18 2003, 06:54 AM
It would be very interesting if one purchased RDRAM from Crucial.

The web page at <http://support.crucial.com/scripts/crucial.exe/solution?11=010914-0003&130=001000477446&14=&2715=&15=&2716=&57=search&58=&2900=iENhyjZ9d9&25=6&3=rambus> seems to indicate they do not currently produce RDRAM.

Other RDRAM manufacturers include Infineon, Kingston and Samsung.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 193 P$ Motherboard Feb 18 2003, 04:44 AM
I do not have much experience with motherboards based on Intel's 845 series of chipsets, but you might want to look at a board based on the 845GE or 845PE chipsets. These appear to offer more features and better performance than the 845/E/G/GL/GV chipsets, so you will be future-proofing yourself by buying a motherboard based on the 845GE or 845PE chipsets.

Intel has a page on their web site which explains the differences between the various chipsets at <http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/chipsets/index.htm?iid=ipp_home+desk_chip&> as well as a guide to selecting motherboards at <http://appzone.intel.com/boards/index.asp>. Between the two of those I think you'll find the motherboard which best suits your needs.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 344 Buying Rdram Feb 18 2003, 04:02 AM
Rambus RIMMs are a commodity component and should be standardized.

The only real thing to check is whether they are ECC or not and the speed, 40 or 45ns.

40ns modules are for systems with a 533MHz bus, and 45ns modules are for systems with a 400MHz bus.

If you're concerned about getting the wrong memory, then it would be a good idea to check your system's documentation and perhaps even contact Dell's tech support to verify the type of memory used by your computer.

Once you've verified the memory you need, use Pricewatch to find companies based on price, then use Reseller Ratings <http://www.resellerratings.com/> to check the company's reputation. It's worth an extra dollar or two (or more) to buy products from a company who has products in inventory, ships things promptly, offers no-hassle returns, and so forth.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 193 P$ Motherboard Feb 18 2003, 12:58 AM
As far as I know, Intel has not released a retail motherboard which uses the i850E chipset and has on-board video. However, some versions of their their i845E and i845G chipset-based motherboards do. These boards use DDR RAM, not RDRAM.

For a complete listing of Intel's retail desktop boards, see their support web site at <http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/>.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 344 What Makes Good Web Sites? Feb 17 2003, 09:59 AM
I suppose the fundamental question here is, how do you define "successful" and "good?"

In no particular order, here are some attributes of web sites that I like:


  • Information, as applicable, should be updated frequently.
  • Pages should load quickly, especially encrypted ones.
  • URLs should follow a consistent naming scheme and be short enough to remember, type, tell someone over the phone.
  • No popups.
  • Unless absolutely necessary or required for some reason, no background music, animated GIFs or Flash animation.
  • Contact information, as applicable, should be available in relevant locations, e.g., a general contact page with email addresses or forms for publicly-accessible parts fo the company, links to the sales department on the sales pages, links to technical support on the technical support pages, and so forth.
  • No dead links.
  • Unless necessary, minimal use of font colors, sizes and typefaces. Let the user determine what the web site should look like via their own web browser's preferences.
  • Should work be usable at a variety of screen resolutions.
  • Images should have ALT tags with meaningful descriptions.
  • Web site should be navigable by blind, low-visual accuity, and other handicapped users.


In no particular order, here are some of the things I dislike about web sites:


  • Hard-to-read text due to font size, text and background colors or font choice.
  • Flash-only web sites for things other than games or movies.
  • Slow-loading pages.
  • Background music (unless, of course, the site has something to do with a musician or symphony or such).
  • Web pages that are too small to read on a 20" monitor.
  • Web pages that are too big to read on a 3" PDA screen.
  • Dead links.
  • Web sites where contact information for the company/owner/creator cannot be found.
  • Web sites with long URLs that are impossible to remember or tell someone easily.


As far as e-commerce goes, I have never had to work on that particular aspect of a web site, but I found the Shopping Cart article on Dack.Com useful reading: <http://www.dack.com/web/shopping_cart.html>

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Web Developers 195 Quick Launch Icons Moving After Every Boot Feb 17 2003, 06:47 AM
When you open the Quick Launch folder using Windows Explorer, how are the files sorted? Alphabetically? If so, this might be the reason they are sorting into the particular order you are seeing them in.

You might want to consider sorting the folder by date and then using a 'touch' utiilty to change the creation dates on the shortcuts in the Quick Launch folder to from oldest for the first icon you wish displayed to newest for the last. Then restart the system and see if they are ordered by the creation date in the Quick Launch bar.


Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 222 Dos Help Feb 17 2003, 03:40 AM
When you talk about debugging DOS programs, do you mean the batch files (.BAT) written to call DOS executables, or the actual executable program files themselves with extensions such as .COM and .EXE.

Programs for DOS are usually written in a language such as C or assembly language (or FORTH or Pascal or whatever the author feels like using) and then debugged and compiled using that programming languages developer tools.

Batch files, on the other hand, can be "debugged" by judicious ERRORLEVEL checking and use of the PAUSE command, or by having the command processor (e.g., COMMAND.COM ) step through the batch file one step at a time. With COMMAND.COM this is done with /C and /Y switches, if memory serves.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 269 P$ Motherboard Feb 17 2003, 03:27 AM
Rambus, the company which invented the RDRAM technology, has been around for over a decade. However, it is only within the past few years that their technology has become more popular and less expensive and trickled down from the high(er) priced world of workstations and servers to personal computers.

Memory modules incorporating Rambus' memory technology are called Rambus Inline Memory Modules (RIMMs) are similar to the SDRAM and DDR-RAM DIMMs you see today.

In most Pentium 4 systems, such as the D850EMV2-series we have been talking about, there are four sockets to install memory modules, and the RIMMs themselves have to be installed in matched (that is, identical) pairs. So, if you want 256MB of memory, you have to install two 128MB RIMMs or four 64MB RIMMs.

RIMM modules tend to be more expensive than DDR RAM modules of the same capacity, however, they may offer slightly better performance because they have a higher bandwidth or throughput than other forms of memory.

As far as pricing goes, I really couldn't say. You might want to take a look at the PriceWatch <http://www.pricewatch.com/> and Reseller Ratings <http://www.resellerratings.com/> web sites to see if the price you have is competitive and if the company you are purchasing from has a good rating.

I would suggest figuring out how much memory you want to install in your system and then look at the cost of the new memory coupled with the cost of the motherboard plus any other upgrades you need to purchase (CPU, new video card, and so forth).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 344 Floppy Drive Activation Feb 17 2003, 03:12 AM
Internet Explorer is a web browser, so I am guessing you are referring to an email client such as Outlook Express.

Could it be at some point that an attachment was loaded or saved from a floppy disk? If so, the email client might have the path to the floppy disk still in its most-recently used (MRU) list of files (a/k/a the "history").

An easy way to clear the MRU is to use a third-party "tweaking tool" such as Microsoft's TweakUI or counter-spyware program like PepiMK's SpyBot - Search and Destroy to remove the MRU lists associated with the various applications installed on your computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 182 Quick Launch Icons Moving After Every Boot Feb 17 2003, 03:06 AM
Which Microsoft operating system and service pack level are you running? Also, which version of Microsoft Internet Explorer is installed on your computer?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 222 Memory Ram Feb 17 2003, 03:03 AM
An acquaintance of mine works at Rambus so I've looked around on their web site a few times to learn what they do.

Rambus is the name of the company which developed their eponymous memory technology, RDRAM (Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory) as well as several other, less-well-known, products such as RaSer and Yellowstone. Rambus designs and then licenses their memory technology to other companies, such as Intel, Samsung, Toshiba and so forth.

Like many other chip designers they are "fabless," that is, they do not manufacture their technology en masse but instead license it to other companies which, in turn, handle manufacturing. Other "fabless" companies include MIPS and nVidia.

For more information, visit Rambus' web site at <http://www.rambus.com/>.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 168 Windows Xp Sound Feb 16 2003, 09:17 AM
If you go into the Device Manager on your computer and view the Properties for the DVD-ROM, is the digital audio setting enabled or disabled?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 214 Compaq Motherboard In Aftermarket Case Feb 16 2003, 09:11 AM
There is a manual for the Compaq Presario 7400-series of computers at <ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/supportinformation/consumerdocs/MaintServcGd/7400.pdf> on Compaq's ftp site.

Is this what you are looking for?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 433 Virus Kills Drive? Feb 16 2003, 09:00 AM
The problem certainly could be virus-related. Or it could be the result of missing, damaged, or incorrectly-installed device drivers.

In order to test this, I would suggest the following steps to troubleshoot the problem:


  • Power down the PC.
  • Unplug the PC from the LAN.
  • Power up, enter the BIOS, and change the settings so the PC boots from the floppy disk drive first.
  • Power down the PC again.
  • Insert a known-good (e.g., virus-free) bootable DOS or Windows Startup installation diskette into the floppy disk drive.
  • Turn the PC on.
  • Once the PC has booted from the floppy disk and a DOS prompt is available type "FDISK /MBR" and press Enter to replace the master boot record code.
  • Run FDISK again interactively (e.g., with no command-line options) to erase the existing partitions and create (a) new one(s).
  • Power down the PC again.
  • Install Windows from a known-good source (e.g., the original Microsoft installation discs.
  • After the inital OS load and prompt to reboot, re-enter the BIOS and change the boot order settings to it boots from the hard disk drive only.
  • If possible, connect the PC to the Internet, but on a different network than the one with the suspect PCs. This could be a physically-separate network, or even unplugging the other PCs so only this one is "online."
  • Download and install the various device drivers from the hardware manufacturers and operating system updates from Microsoft, as needed. Be sure you are downloading directly from the various manufacturer's web sites, and only downloading production (not beta-test) versions of device drivers.
  • Download and/or install the latest version of your favorite anti-virus manufacturer's anti-virus software (and update if necessary).


The end result should be a working PC. If it is reconnected to the original network and problems re-occur, or the anti-virus software reports a virus or virus-like behavior, then the problems are the result fo a computer virus, worm, or other malicious program.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 183 P$ Motherboard Feb 16 2003, 08:38 AM
I am using a sibling of your intended motherboard, an Intel D850EMV2L, in my primary computer. It is essentially the same motherboard, but with the addition of an integrated Intel PRO/100 VE network interface card and subtraction of the CNR slot.

The D850EMV2L motherboard is based on Intel's i850E chipset, which does not support DDR-RAM. It uses Rambus RIMMs in place of DDR-RAM.

Motherboards based on Intel's i845 chipset work with DDR memory.

If you are still interested in the D850EMV2L, check with the seller to verify it supports the faster PC-1066 RIMMs. Not all i850E chipset-based motherboards do, so it is a good idea to check beforehand.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 344
Poll: Best Instant Messanger?
Feb 15 2003, 05:11 AM
My personal favorite was Tribal Voice's PowWow instant messaging/community chat software, but since that is no longer available I have been using Microsoft's MSN Messenger coupled with Patchou Software's Messenger Plus! Extension as my primary instant messaging platform.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 452 Writing Batch Files And Config.sys Files Feb 15 2003, 04:33 AM
A good reference book for you might be Van Wolverton's "Running MS-DOS, 20th Anniversary Edition" from Microsoft Press. The ISBN number is 0-7356-1812-7.

I have not read this edition, but the older version I have is very useful. Another closely-related book which might be of use is Van Wolverton's "Supercharging MS-DOS," however, it is unclear to me if this is now included in the above-mentioned book.

It is probably going to be a special order from your favorite bookstore, unless they make an effort to stock DOS titles.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky



]]> Windows Fanatics 650 Power Supplies And Motherboards Feb 15 2003, 04:15 AM
The wattage for a power supply refers to the maximum number of watts which can be drawn from that power supply, not the amount it continuously puts out to all of the devices plugged into it. The device(s) plugged into the power supply "take" the amount they need and nothing more.

Probably the best place to find out about which power supplies work best with your motherboard is the motherboard manufacturer's web site. Usually they have a list of power supplies tested to work with their particular motherboards. If they don't, or you don't see a particular model listed, try contacting their technical support department to see what they recommend--sometimes there is a gap between the information available to the public on the web site and the information available to the technical support department.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 264 Help With Stopping Sound Somehow Feb 15 2003, 03:39 AM
Given the specialized nature of the software you are using, it would probably be best to check with the developer to find out how to flush the speech synthesizer's text buffer. From my own experience, this is something which is handled in the Text-to-Speech engine's code.

If the developer is unable to help, you might want to consider a different product.

A little Google searching came up with a list of resources for blind and low-visual accuity use at <http://www.hicom.net/~oedipus/blind.html>. Perhaps one of the products mentioned there would be a better fit for your needs.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 197 Help With Windows Backup Software Feb 15 2003, 03:33 AM
The two names that usually come up first when discussing Windows-based network backups are Computer Associates' ARCserve and Veritas' Backup Exec. Both are enterprise products, with all of the flexibility, complexity and pricing that implies.

Other players in the networked backup space include Legato <http://www.legato.com/> and NovaStor <http://www.novastor.com/>. You might want to check their products out as well, too, during your evaluation.

Personally, I use STOMP Inc.'s BackUp My PC to backup my computer at home. That product, though, is not specifically geared for LAN use.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 299 Mp3s...the Legality Or Illegality In A Company Feb 15 2003, 03:14 AM
Given the amount of news generated by illicit pirating of music it is surprising your Director is unfamiliar with the situation.

A similar situation popped up at a former employer's office. Since the company in question was not in the music business, it was determined there was no need for people to have MP3 files on the network and the system administrator erased all of them and also blocked the TCP ports used by popular file sharing applications.

The system administrator then sent out an email explaining why they had been removed (using up too much space, excessive time for backups, concerns about legal liability, and so forth).

To help establish your argument, you might want to make a directory listing showing the number and size of the MP3 files on your network and give that to your Director.

I would imagine you could obtain further information about the legality of MP3s, licensing issues, and so forth from both the Recording Industry Assocation of America's web site <http://www.riaa.org/> and the Harry Fox Agency <http://www.harryfox.com/>, which serves as a licensing agency for the music industry.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 321 Can't Install Windows Xp Feb 15 2003, 03:03 AM
Since the problem does not occur immediately but takes a while to appear I am wondering if it might be thermal-related.

In your description of the computer's hardware, you did not mention if you had installed additional fans in the case. If memory serves, the Antec SX1040BII case you mentioned will hold four 80mm fans, two in front and two in the back.

You might want to try fully-populating the case with fans and see if that makes any difference. Bear in mind, this will make the system noisier, although using "stealth" or "temperature-sensitive" fans will mitigate some of the additional noise.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 694 Motherboards Feb 15 2003, 02:55 AM
I have used both Asus and Intel motherboards in the past without major problems.

Asus' motherboards tend to offer more integrated features from third parties, while Intel-brand boards tend to integrate technology developed by Intel for things like networking and video. This is not always the case, of course, some Asus motherboards feature Intel-based network interfaces, and many Intel boards come with ATI-manufactured video chips and sound codecs/chip sets from third parties.

Asus' motherboard BIOSes tend to offer more options for "tweaking" or tuning the performance of the system, allowing you to adjust things like memory timings, bus speeds, and so forth. With retail Intel motherboards such options are usually not accessible in this BIOS.

On the other hand, there is less opportunity to make a system "non-bootable" by entering non-working settings.

If a client wants a custom-built system (as opposed to buying a pre-built system) I tend to recommend Intel's motherboards on the basis that having the motherboard and CPU designed and manufactured by the same company will result in better integration and less compatibility issues than a CPU and motherboard from different manufacturers.

Of course, the trade-off for that stability may mean less performance and features than you'd get with a motherboard manufactured by a third-party.

I suppose the real question is, what do you want to use the computer for?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 298 My Documents Folder Feb 15 2003, 02:37 AM
Changing the location of the "My Documents" folder can be done through Microsoft's TweakUI utility, which can be downloaded from Microsoft's web site at <http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/downloads/PowerToys/Networking/NTTweakUI.asp>.

Here's how to do so:


  • Start the TweakUI applet from the Control Panel
  • Click on the "My Computers" tab.
  • Under "Special Folders" select 'My Documents' from the drop-down list.
  • Click on the "Change Location" button.
  • Browse to the new location you wish to use for the "My Documents" folder.
  • Click on OK when done.
  • Reboot your computer for the changes to take effect.


The TweakUI program lets you change many other settings as well.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 201 Boot Record Not Found Feb 15 2003, 02:31 AM
A client of mine had a similar problem. It turned out the battery that backed up the CMOS settings and RTC had died. Replacing the battery solved the problem. If you have not replaced the battery within the past three years or so, you might want to try doing so and see if that makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 240 Directory Display Problem Feb 15 2003, 02:27 AM
Can you tell us a little bit more about your computer's hardware? Type and speed of CPU, amount of RAM, and so forth?

You mentioned the problem started a couple of weeks ago. What changes, if any, have you made to your system?

What other programs are running on the computer? Be sure to mention utilities like system restore and anti-virus programs which may not place an icon in the System Tray.

If you go into the Device Manager, are there any problems reported with your computer's hardware?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 175 Wired Problem Feb 8 2003, 02:15 AM
I have used rounded ATA and floppy cables in computers before.

No performance increase (or decrease) was noted, and it does make it easier to work inside the case, which was my primary reason for installing them.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 217 Scsi Host Adopter? Feb 8 2003, 02:13 AM
What brand and model are the SCSI host adapter cards? Or, failing any identifiable brand and model, what SCSI controller chips do they use?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 120 How Good Is Cheap Memory Feb 7 2003, 07:57 AM
The quality of generic versus "name-brand" memory can vary greatly, depending upon who manufactured the memory modules, and what standards and QC they go through during that process.

A memory module really consists of three things, the DRAM chips themselves, the circuit board they go on, and the assembly process which solders the chips to the board.

With generic solution, the memory usually comes from place, the boards from another, and the labor to manufacture them from a third.

With a name-brand vendor (Crucial, Kingston, Samsung, Infineon, etc.) the number of companies involved usually drops down to two or even one. This should, at least in theory, result in a better product, since all the people involved from design to manufacture work together at the same company. Of course, there are also companies like Mushkin and GoldenRAM who start with DRAM manufactured by another company and then design circuit boards to go with it to meet or exceed the DRAM manufacturer's specifications.

I have used both generic and "name brand" memory--and even purchased them from Frys when in California. While I cannot recall ever having a problem with either when bought from Frys, I would still hate to lose an afternoon in the return line, only to find out they didn't have a replacement in stock or were unable to honor their warranty for some reason.

With the rise of the Internet, it is easier to find name-brand memory inexpensively. Vendors such as Crucial, Kingston and Mushkin all sell direct, and often have specials, coupons or rebates which reduce the price even further.

If you don't feel comfortable buying over the Internet, one place you might want to check are office-supply superstores, such as OfficeDepot and OfficeMax. From time to time I have picked up some very good deals on "name brand" memory at their stores.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 370 Wired Problem Feb 7 2003, 07:07 AM
Have you considered just plugging the 5.25" diskette drive, making the appropriate changes to your BIOS, and then copying the files on them to your hard drive? When finished, you can then remove the 5.25" diskette drive and reinstall your 3.5" diskette drive.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 217 Video Card Question. Feb 6 2003, 08:39 AM
Unless you need to upgrade now, have you considered waiting a few weeks before purchasing a new video card?

The GeForce FX video card will be out soon and its possible manufacturers will reduce prices on GeForce4-based video cards in order to make "room" for the new model.

You might be able to pick up a GeForce4 Ti4400 or even a Ti4600 for the same price you were planning to pay on a Ti4200-based video card.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 178 Cleaning The Mouse Feb 6 2003, 08:36 AM
If your mouse can be taken apart (e.g., has screws on the bottom side) you might want to consider disassembling it.

You can usually remove the electronics and ball mechanism, inspect and clean them of dirt and residue, and wash the plastic shell in warm, soapy water. Just be sure to let any parts dry after cleaning them before reassembly.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 220 Win Xp Pro Powerdown Problem Feb 6 2003, 08:31 AM
While researching a completely separate problem, I came across a reference to the behavior you have reported with Windows XP Professional whilst powering down.

On Tyan's web site at <http://www.tyan.com/support/html/f_tg_mp.html> there is a reference (FAQ entry #13) to reboots occurring at power-down with their motherboards due to spurrious Power Management Events being sent by an expansion card to the motherboard.

This article actually leads to another article on Adaptec's support web site discussing how to troubleshoot the problem, but since the page on Adaptec's web site is dynamically-generated, is is best to start from Tyan's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 293 Laptop Feb 6 2003, 08:21 AM
There are many web sites which track "deals, bargains, and steals" on computer hardware. Two I am fond of are Techbargains <http://www.techbargains.com/> and DealPC <http://www.dealpc.com/>.

If I am not familiar with the company offering the deal in question, I like to check out their "reputation" through Reseller Ratings <http://www.resellerrattings.com/> and USENET (via Google) <http://groups.google.com/>.

With that in mind, I have two follow-up questions for you:

1. That was $1,000.00USD (dollars U.S.) right? Your options for Canadian Dollars or Hong Kong Dollars might be more limited.

2. What do you want to do with your notebook computer? You'll have a different focus, for example, if you intend to use your notebook primarily for writing a novel than, say, playing video games or performing financial modeling.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 181 Msn Chat On Hp Jornado Models? Feb 5 2003, 09:29 AM
Oops, I didn't realize which version of the HP Jornada you had. A quick search revealed most third-party MSN Messenger-compatible programs are written for PDAs using the ARM processor, not Hitachi's SH3.

I did find a version of Yahoo! Messenger which should run on your PDA at

http://messenger.yahoo.com/messenger/ce/do...ds_ce_msgr.html

on the Internet.

Perhaps if your friends are capable of using Yahoo! Messenger they can talk to you via this.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Mobile Lifestyles 294 Directx 9.0 Feb 5 2003, 09:14 AM
I installed Microsoft DirectX 9.0 on five PCs, two running Windows XP Professional, one running Windows 2000 Professional, one running Windows ME and one running Windows 98SE. The computer's ranged from a Pentium 266MMX notebook with on-board video to a Pentium 4 2.4GHz desktop with a GeForce4 video card.

No problems were noted, however, none of the computers are being used for anything that is particularly graphics-intensive, such as games.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 290 Where Is My Scandisk? Feb 5 2003, 09:00 AM
The equivalent command to SCANDISK under Windows XP is the CHKDSK command, which, like the CHKDSK command of yore, is a command line-only program.

To use CHKDSK to find and fix disk problems open a command prompt and type:

CHKDSK x: /F /R

where "x:" is the letter of the drive you wish to check. The /F tells CHKDSK to fix errors and the /R also tells it to look for bad sectors and attempt to recovery the information stored in them.

Depending upon your installation of Windows XP the CHKDSK command may not be able to run on the drive you wish to check while the operating system is running. If this is the case, you will be prompted to dismount the volume and/or run the check the next time the computer boots up.

Dismounting a volume means the operating system will close and lose access to all files on that drive volume while the CHKDSK is running. Unless you are absolutely certain your computer will run with access to that particular drive cut off, it is a good idea to answer "no" to this and "yes" to check the disk when the computer is restarted. Then go ahead and restart the computer.

Don't be surprised if the CHKDSK takes a while to complete, especially if you have not run it before, have a large volume, do not defragment your hard drive periodically and so forth.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 211 Microsoft Optical Trackball Mouse Feb 4 2003, 01:19 AM
I visited Shuttle's web site at <http://www.spacewalker.com/> and downloaded the manual for the HOT-591 motherboard.

According to the manual, the motherboard does come with one PS2-style connector that supports both a keyboard and a mouse if a splitter (a "Y cable") is attached.

Also, there is a five-pin connector on the motherboard next to the keyboard PS2 connector to which you can attach a second PS2 port, which probably would sit on an expansion card bracket.

I would suggest contacting whomever you bought the motherboard from, or perhaps Shuttle directly, and see if they can provide you with the second PS2 port expansion card for the mouse.

That should get you up and running, without the problems of the mouse on the USB port.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 655 Msn Chat On Hp Jornado Models? Feb 4 2003, 01:02 AM
You can download MSN Messenger for the PocketPC 2002 operating system running on ARM processors from <http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/downloads/messenger/default.asp> on Microsoft's web site.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Mobile Lifestyles 294
Poll: Outgoing Mail Format
Feb 3 2003, 09:42 AM
I have been using Qualcomm's Eudora for Windows and have been
very happy with it.

Among the features I find useful are:

Filters - I find it much easier to create filters in Eudora, it is certainly quicker than having to go though Outlook's wizard-based interface.

Speed - Eudora is an email client. There is an address book which can keep track of more than just email addresses, but it does not try to be a PIM, meetings manager or any of the other things which Outlook attempts to do. As a result, it is smaller and faster than Outlook.

Headers - As someone who does a lot of technical support, it is particularly useful for me to see the full RFC-822 message headers from email in order for me to determine where email is coming from, what type of mail server was used to send it, the email client used, and so forth. Outlook does not show the header automatically. You have to view the "properties" for each message. This adds unnecessary steps to troubleshooting clients' problems.

Message Store - Eudora stores all messages in ASCII text files and saves
attachments to a separate directory. Aside from a smaller message store, this means things like viruses don't get embedded in it (Ever have an anti-virus program quarrantine your OUTLOOK.PST file? It isn't fun.) and in the event it does get corrupted somehow, you don't have to rely on special utilities to fix the binary PST or DBX file. You edit it with Notepad.

On the other hand, there are some things I don't like:

In particular, I was disappointed by Qualcomm's licensing decisions. It used to be if you bought a particular version (Version 3.x, Version 4.x, etc.) you were entitled to all "point" updates in that major version. Beginning with Version 5.2.0, Qualcomm started charging all users who hadn't bought the last version within the previous twelve months for the new version. Since Version 5.1.0 was release over a year before 5.2.0, this was a slap in the face (not to mention the wallet) to many long-time users who felt they were, in effect, being punished for being loyal customers.

Given Qualcomm's stock performance I can certainly understand why this was done, and if they wanted to switch to a yearly fee-based support model I would certainly go for that, but the minor amount of revenue it will generate and the thoughtless way in which it was handled disappoint me.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 205 Microsoft Optical Trackball Mouse Feb 3 2003, 09:07 AM
I was wondering what model of motherboard you have in your computer? You mentioned it was a Shuttle and you were running Windows Millennium Edition, correct?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 655 Windows Me Feb 3 2003, 09:02 AM
I have to say I have not found Windows Millennium Edition to be significantly worse--or better--than its predecessor, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition.

When Windows ME came out, many utility programs (anti-virus, backup and recovery software, etc.) were "broken" and drivers for devices were unavailable.

However, this is the norm for any type of software which interfaces with the operating system at a low level. When the OS changes significantly, those programs no longer work.

With a little patience, though, vendors will ship patches or updates which fix these incompatibility problems.

Occasionally, something odd pops up. I was once beta-testing a program which worked fine under Microsoft Windows 98 and Windows 2000 but not under Windows ME. I notified the developer and they fixed it in the next release. But that is to be expected.

As with any other operating system, I think the key to having a stable environment is to be very selective (read: careful, picky, or even anal-retentive) when choosing your hardware and software. Choosing mainstream manufacturers who provide de-facto standard or reference products is usually a good way to go.

A while ago I made the decision to give up a little bit of performance in exchange for stability and follow that path. I haven't regretted it at all.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 289 Bios ( Setup Screen ) & Usb Keyboards Feb 3 2003, 08:45 AM
Have you considered keeping a USB-to-PS2 adapter in your tool kit? That would be useful if you wish to use a USB keyboard with a real mode OS such as DOS.

USBStuff sells adapters on their web site at <http://usbstuff.com/ps2.html>. They tend to be a little pricey, though. You might want to shop around to see if you can find them for less money.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 180 Weird Power Connector To Mainboard Feb 1 2003, 03:56 AM
The Intel SE7500CW2 motherboard is a dual-Xeon motherboard. You're either building a server or a workstation, perhaps?

It uses a modified form of the ATX power supply with twenty-four pins (versus the normal twenty pins) called an ATX/EPS12V. You can find an pin-out of the wiring on PC Power & Cooling's web site at <http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/power_supplies/highperformance_d/turbocools/index_hp_atx.htm>.

The EPS12V standard adds an additional four-pin or eight-pin connector which supplies additional power to the motherboard, much like the additional four-pin connector used to power Pentium 4 CPUs.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Hardware Help 249 Annoying Mouse Problem In Xp - Help? Jan 31 2003, 07:56 PM
It sounds like the Microsoft IntelliPoint device drivers might have become mis-matched or perhaps even damaged.

When you reinstalled the device drivers, did you download the latest version from Microsoft's web site, or use your original driver installation disc? If the latter, you may wish to download current drivers from Microsoft's web site at <http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouse/download.asp>.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 558 Need Badly..drivers For Ct6610 Jan 31 2003, 03:17 AM
This is the Creative Technologies CT6610 video card based on 3DLabs Permedia2 chip, correct?

If that is the card you are inquiring about, you can download drivers for it from 3DLabs web site at <http://www.3dlabs.com/support/drivers/permedia_drivers.htm>. Bear in mind this is an older video card, so driver support is somewhat limited.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 251 Microsoft Optical Trackball Mouse Jan 30 2003, 04:37 AM
I have used the Microsoft Trackball Optical 1.0 PS2/USB trackball on several
computers running Windows 2000 and XP Professional without any problems
such as lag or skipping.

Aside from the operating system the only difference between configurations is
that you are using it on a USB port. On these computers the trackball has been
plugged into the mouse PS/2 port using the USB-to-PS2 adapter which came with the trackball.

You might want to try switching the trackball to the PS2 port and see if this makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Windows Fanatics 655 Is Going Online Using A Pda Worth It? Jan 29 2003, 08:54 AM
The only real suggestion I have is with regard to purchasing. If you are not certain you are going to want to use a modem, network card or external keyboard with your PDA, be sure to purchase the item(s) from a place that gives you a full refund.

If you purchase the item(s) locally, you will have the opportunity to take them home
and test them overnight before you start your travels--that way if things do not work out you can return the items the next day.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Mobile Lifestyles 349 Need Opinion About Windows Files Jan 29 2003, 12:58 AM
If you would just like to prevent the files from loading at startup, add the following lines to your MSDOS.SYS file in the [Options] section:

DBLSpace=0
DRVSpace=0

For more information about what changes you can make to your MSDOS.SYS file, see Microsoft KnowledgeBase article #118579 <http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;118579>.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 272 Diagnose Lockups Jan 28 2003, 03:39 AM
It probably would be a good idea to verify that you have the latest device drivers and BIOS (where applicable) installed for all of your hardware. BIOS updates are not just limited to the motherboard. Video cards, and add-on disk controllers (SCSI, RAID, and so forth) can all have BIOSes which can be updated.

61Dynamic's suggestion to check the temperature is a good one. Installing additional fans to improve air flow inside the case might help as well.

While you have the case open, it probably would be a good idea to clean it out with a can of compressed air and a small paint brush to loosen any "dust bunnies." Be sure to ground yourself and use a brush that is not going to generate any static electricity.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 238 Usb 2.0 <-> Firewire Adapter? Jan 28 2003, 03:31 AM
Have you checked to see if the Apple iPod will work over a non-FireWire interface such as your USB 2.0 card? It could be that the file transfer software works only with a FireWire interface.

AlbertDS's suggestion that you invest in a USB 2.0-FireWire combination card might
be the solution you are looking for. Adaptec also makes a PCI card called the DuoConnect with both USB 2.0 and FireWire ports. I have not used it myself, but I have used their FireWire card and been happy with the results.

Another possibility is for you to obtain a sound card with a FireWire port on it. Begining with the Audigy line, all Creative Labs' PCI sound cards come with a FireWire port, which would solve the problem if you have a replaceable sound card in your computer. I have used the FireWire ports on Audigy sound cards without any problems in computers running Windows 2000 and XP Professional.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 312 System 2.0 Draft 3.1 Jan 27 2003, 06:49 PM
Considering the size of the case and the hardware, you might want to install case fans in all the mounting points for them as well as a fan card that sits on an expansion bracket, if you have a free slot left over after installing everything.

This might make the computer a bit louder, but it will improve air circulation inside the case.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 264 Is Going Online Using A Pda Worth It? Jan 27 2003, 06:24 PM
I have both a Palm V with Earthlink (nee Omnisky) CDPD Cradle and a Compaq iPaq H3600 with the PC Card Expansion Sled I use with WiFi and Ethernet PC Cards.

While both devices are good for casual use the small screen and inability to enter text quickly is a definite drawback for me.

Since you do not have a laptop, you might want to try adding a modem and perhaps an external keyboard and seeing how usable this combination is for you while on the road. Of course, you might want to test it while at home.

You may also want to check with the hotels you are staying at to see what type of Internet access they provide in their rooms.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Mobile Lifestyles 349 Ms Internet Explorer Jan 22 2003, 11:23 AM
Which version of Microsoft Windows are you running?

Are you using a customized version of Internet Explorer (some ISPs provide this)?

What is the exact version of Microsoft Internet Explorer? Does it say anything besides "6.2800.1106" in the version information?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 263 Backup Program Jan 22 2003, 05:40 AM
I have been using STOMP, Inc.'s BackUp My PC to backup data from my hard drive
to tape and disc. I just recently restored some data from a tape I made a couple
of months ago, so I am quite certain it works.

I started using the program around 1995, when it was sold under the name
"Backup Exec" by Arcadia Software (followed by Seagate Software and Veritas
Software) to back up files to a 2GB 4mm DAT tape. Today I use it with a Travan
NS20 QIC drive (20GB compressed, 10GB native) and a first-generation Panasonic
2.6GB DVD-RAM drive.

I also use KarenWare's Replicator to copy various documents and files I'm working
with to an external 2.5" hard drive, mostly for portability purposes (it is much lighter
to carry than a laptop). I also use Ahead Software's Nero Burning Rom to make back up files to CD-R.

URLS:
Ahead Software - <http://www.ahead.de/>
KarenWare - <http://www.karenware/>
STOMP, Inc. - <http://www.stompinc.com/>

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 1687 Parity Error Jan 22 2003, 05:17 AM
I seem to recall that it was possible to simulate a parity error on old (pre-PnP)
hardware by mis-mapping memory address spaces and sharing interrupts,
however, on a computer new enough to run Windows XP I do not think that would
be an issue.

You might want to try the freeware MemTest86 program, available from
<http://www.memtest86.com/> to see if it detects any problems with your
computer's memory.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 147 I Lost All Of My System Tools Jan 22 2003, 05:00 AM
It sounds like the programs are still on your computer, but you accidentally deleted
the shortcuts to them.

Try creating a new System Tools folder and recreate the shortcuts as follows:

NAME: Activate Windows
TARGET: %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /A

NAME: Backup
TARGET: %SystemRoot%\system32\ntbackup.exe

NAME: Character Map
TARGET: %SystemRoot%\System32\charmap.exe

NAME: Disk Cleanup
TARGET: %SystemRoot%\System32\cleanmgr.exe

NAME: Disk Defragmenter
TARGET: %SystemRoot%\System32\dfrg.msc

NAME: Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
TARGET: %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\usmt\migwiz.exe

NAME: Scheduled Tasks
TARGET: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe ::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}

NAME: System Info
TARGET: "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo\msinfo32.exe"

NAME: System Restore
TARGET: %SystemRoot%\System32\restore\rstrui.exe

That should allow you to recreate the shortcuts, assuming a standard, vanilla
installation of Windows XP Professonal.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 397 Window 98 Jan 22 2003, 04:52 AM
It could be that you have missing, corrupt, or outdated device drivers for your
hard disk controller. Installing the most recent ones from the manufacturer's
web site may solve the problem.

What brand and model of computer do you have? If possible, do you know
what chipset is used on ther motherboard (it may be in the sales literature or
technical specs for your computer)? That will be helpful in locating the correct
device drivers.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 282 Computers Moving House. Jan 16 2003, 07:11 AM
A hard drive is a mechanical device and, like any other mechanical device, can be damaged if moved about roughly.

I suppose the real question is, how far is your computer being moved and how is it being transported?

If it is going just across town and you're hand-carrying it, then it is probably reasonable to leave the hard drive in.

If, on the other hand, you are moving cross-country and using a shipping company which is unfamilar with moving computers or electronics, it might make sense to remove the hard drive before having the computer transported.



Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Technobabble 289 Building One Jan 16 2003, 06:27 AM
Using rounded floppy and hard drive cables will improve air-flow inside the case.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 287 Dos Cd Driver Jan 16 2003, 06:12 AM
You are looking for two lines in your startup files, one in your CONFIG.SYS which loads the device driver for the CD-ROM and one in your AUTOEXEC.BAT which loads the Microsoft CD-ROM extensions manager.

Since the device driver for the CD-ROM varies, we'll start with the easy one first in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

Look for a line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file which reads something like:

MSCDEX /D:mscd001

or

C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001

or something similar to that. The path may vary, but the Microsoft CD-ROM extensions manager is named MSCDEX.EXE, so look for a line referencing that file.

The part after the driver name, the "/D:mscd001" can vary as well. Write down whatever this is on a piece of paper. You'll need this later.

Comment out the line running the MSCDEX by putting a REM (remark) statement at the beginning of the line, so it looks something like this:

REM C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001

Now save the AUTOEXEC.BAT file back to disk, and open up the CONFIG.SYS file.

In the CONFIG.SYS file, look for a line which reads something like:

DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\CDROM.SYS /D:mscd001

The path, filename of the device driver, and part after the driver name will vary as well, but look through the CONFIG.SYS file for a line loading a driver which mentions the same name you wrote down on the piece of paper.

That's the line loading the device driver for your old CD-ROM drive.

Remark it out like the earlier line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT by putting "REM " at the beginning and save it.

You can now reboot the computer and the new CD-ROM drive should be detected.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 167 Transfer Files From Win98 Hd To Winxp Ntfs Hd Jan 16 2003, 05:58 AM
If you have a second IDE cable in your computer (attached to a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, for example), you could unplug the CD-ROM drive(s) from it, set the old Windows 98 FAT-32-formatted hard disk to master and plug it in to the cable, just to get the files off of it to your new Windows XP Professional NTFS-formatted hard disk drive.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 218 How to discourage emails Jan 16 2003, 05:53 AM
I had a similar problem like this a few years ago when setting up the technical support department for a software company. The company's web site was rather "organic" (i.e., it had grown with the company) and had all sorts of references to all sorts of employees (programmers, database engineers, QA testers, the company founder, etc.) on it.

The solution to this consisted of several parts:

The first was to remove references to email addresses except from clearly-defined parts of the web site, such as the "tech support," "sales," and "contact information" sections. We also removed employee's names and direct contact information and replaced them with the job titles, so instead of contacting joe@company.com and bob@company.com, etc., you sent email to webmaster@company.com, support@company.com, sales@company.com, and so forth.

While the reduction in email from "casual" to "serious inquiries" was negligible, it did allow us to identify what sort of messages were coming in and where they needed to go.

In other words, we improved the routing of email.

On the support side, the majority--above 50%--of the questions being received by email were the same questions, over and over. Detailed answers were written for these, which were cut-and-pasted into replies.

Using Qualcomm's Eudora email client, this process eventually became automated by creating filters to examine the bodies of email messages for specific phrases such as error messages from the software, and send out a message with the answer.

Automated replies like this also contained a statement at the top of the message that it was an automated reply, and to re-send the message with the words "NO AUTOREPLY" in the subject field to bypass it and re-send the message if the person's question was not answered. A filter was put in place to redirect messages with that subject to a person.

Once a library of detailed responses had been built, these were put both into the FAQ for the product, which had concise answers to problems, and the product documentation, which expanded on step-by-step explanations to explain theory, give tutorials, and so forth.

Where appropriate, developers, the web development team, marketing, sales, and anyone else was notified if a bug, or procedural error or work-flow problem was found in their respective areas.

As the company grew, messages to technical support were forwarded "round robin" to individual technical support staff, who would then answer the messages which could not be responded to with an automatic reply.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Net Connections 279 System Locks Up When Playing Games Jan 16 2003, 05:09 AM
Just to check, are you over-clocking either the CPU or the video card? If so, does returning to the manufacturer's spec make any difference?

There are some reports of various Gainward cards (Ti4200, Ti4600) having lock-up issues due to a bad capacitor or heat sink.

<http://www.excessivehardware.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=249&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0>
<http://www.orionfaction.com/comm/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3514>
<http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=5144>

On the other hand, I have built computers using both the Gainward GeForce4 Ti4600 and Ti4200 video cards and not noticed any problems with crashes or instability whilst gaming.

Since the problem only occurs during gaming it is possibly heat-related, since the GPU will be performing more calculations which means using more electricity with means more waste heat radiated as a result. Increasing the air flow inside your case by judicious placement of cable and switching to rounded cables (if applicable) and replacing or adding new fans might help.

Generally speaking, air-flow should go from front to back, and from bottom to top. This lets cool(er) air be pulled in from the front and bottom, while hot air is ejected from the rear and top of the case. That is just a "rule of thumb," though. You might also want to consider a fan bracket which sits on top of the cards to circulate air on the video card.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Game Invasion 510 Onboard Video Jan 16 2003, 04:43 AM
I have used motherboards with integrated video for file servers and other
computers which do not require accelerated graphics and not noticed any problems.

On the other hand, I have one client who purchased an eMachines T1742, which uses an Intel 845GL chipset with integrated "Intel Extreme Graphics" video, which shares 32MB of the system's memory. While this works fine for web browsing and email, it is perceptibly slow when viewing or editing largish 2-D graphic images.

I would imagine other graphics-intensive applications fare worse.

As long as your oldest sister is not planning on doing any graphics design on the computer, it should be fine.

If, however, image editing becomes an issue even installing an inexpensive video card in the AGP slot ,such as an nVidia Riva TNT or ATI Radeon 7500, would greatly improve performance.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 288 Random Reboot Jan 15 2003, 01:36 AM
I had this problem occur several years ago when running Windows 98SE with an
ATI Rage 128 video card. Apparently, viewing images in Internet Explorer with
the display set to certain resolutions and color depths caused the computer to restart. The work-around was to reduce the resolution or color-depth, until the problem was eventually fixed in an updated video driver for the card.

You might want to try decreasing the resolution or color depth of your display and/or updating your video card drivers to see if this makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Tech News Watch 178 Clearing The Boot Sector Jan 15 2003, 01:31 AM
Oops... I see several people, including yourself, provided a reply echoing my comments. I guess I should have read down through the entire thread before replying.

The /MBR switch is documented now, however, in earlier versions of DOS it was a "hidden" option.

I believe the FDISK command included with PowerQuest's PartitionMagic and DriveCopy programs is actually a part of Caldera's DR-DOS distribution.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 387 Clearing The Boot Sector Jan 14 2003, 08:44 AM
You can try booting your PC from a DOS (or Windows 9x) boot disk and running FDISK with the undocumented /MBR switch.

This reads the first sector of the hard disk (Cylinder 0, Track 0, Sector 1), stores the partition table of data at the end of the sector, and then rewrites the master boot record code with the partition table it just read in.

Once you've done this, you can run FDISK without any command-line options and erase and create new partitions for your hard disk.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 387 Advice Buying A Power Supply Jan 14 2003, 08:36 AM
It sounds like the fan in your power supply is failing. Like any other mechanical device, fans will eventually wear out and fail.

While the least-expensive option is to replace the fan, this means voiding the power supply's warranty (probably not a big concern at this point) and potentially exposing yourself to a nasty shock, unless you wait long enough for the capacitors in the power supply to drain of their residual electricity.

On the other hand, given the number of devices in your computer drawing a load from that power supply, it is probably a good idea to install a new power supply with a higher wattage.

If price is no option, I would suggest a power supply from PC Power & Cooling <http://www.pcpowercooling.com/>. They are much more expensive than other brands, however, they do offer things like five (5) year warranties on their higher-end power supplies, which I've not seen from other manufacturers.

I have not had any "bad" experiences with a particular brand of power supply. In the past, I have used power supplies from Antec, PowMax, Sparkle, and SuperMicro (a re-badged Sparkle, I believe) without any problems.

One thing you might want to do is check your motherboard manufacturer's web site and see what power supplies they recommend for use with your particular motherboard. That would probably be a good starting point for determining the brand and model for replacing your existing power supply.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

]]> Hardware Help 196 Hard Drive Recovery? Jan 7 2003, 11:08 PM
I'd just like to add another word of support for Runtime Software's GetDataBack line of programs.

I have used these in the past to successfully recover data from a client's Dell laptop shortly before the drive failed completely.

Also, the software is very reasonably priced compared to other data-recovery solutions.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 231 What have you got on your keyring? Jan 7 2003, 11:02 PM
It is not particularly heavy--the Swiss-Tech Utili-Key is about the size and weight of a regular key, and the flashlight probably weighs about the same (it is, after all, mostly plastic, with some wiring and a CR-2032 battery thrown in). According to Leatherman's web site, the Micra is 1.75oz, or 50g.

I don't have a lot of keys on the keychain, just house and car, so that probably helps, too.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky


]]> Technobabble 400 Upgrading video card, and seeking advice... Jan 7 2003, 09:31 AM
Since you are going through a PC upgrade process, would you consider using your existing video card with your system until it is finished. Or at least until you've upgraded the motherboard?

Unless you have an absolute need now to have a faster video card, by the time you have reached that part of your upgrade cycle you should be able to buy a much more powerful video card for your dollars.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 229 Ebook Reader? Jan 7 2003, 09:12 AM
Perhaps this might be backwards, but if there is a particular series of e-books you wish to read or a site from which you wish to download e-books, it would be best to ask the author or webmaster and see which e-book reader(s) they prefer?

That might be a better way to do things, especially if you buy a specific e-book reader and shortly thereafter the site you primarily use drops support for it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Hardware Help 189 Drive A: being overwreitten by files from prior di Jan 7 2003, 08:48 AM
As Gunner8225 pointed it, it sounds like a problem with the Disk Change signal not being recognized, causing Windows to display the old directory information.

While it could be the floppy drive cable is loose there could also be a problem with the floppy disk drive itself.

If re-seating/replacing the floppy drive cable does not work try swapping the disk drive from the computer in question with a known good floppy drive from another PC and seeing if that makes any difference.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
]]> Windows Fanatics 182 What have you got on your keyring? Jan 7 2003, 08:39 AM
Aside from keys... I have a Leatherman Micra mini-tool, a Swiss-Tech Utili-Key mini-tool, and a Photon Micro Light (white LED) flashlight. These are on a titanium mini-caribiner key chain I got ages ago from The Sharper Image.

When I travel the Leatherman Micra and Swiss-Tech Utili-Key get packed in the check-through luggage in a "Zip Loc" bag. Most airport security personnel take a dim view of trying to take knives on-board....

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Leatherman - <http://www.leatherman.com/>
Photon - <http://www.photonlight.com/>
Swiss-Tech - <http://www.swisstechtools.com/> ]]> Technobabble 400 Which MB would you go for? Jan 7 2003, 08:28 AM
I would go with an Intel-brand motherboard with the Intel Pentium 4 CPU, perhaps even one using an Intel 850E chipset which supports Rambus--if memory cost is not a major issue.

Although it may not have as many features or settings to tweak as the other motherboards--and for that matter may not even be the fastest motherboard out there--it will likely be much more stable than third-party motherboards because it was designed and manufactured by the same company which made the CPU.

This is the road I've taken with my system, and I recommend to clients for "important" machines used in production, for servers, and so forth.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 250 Time To Upgrade Jan 7 2003, 08:13 AM
Do you plan on doing your upgrade in stages or in one fell swoop? If you want
to pace things, it might be best to install memory first, then upgrade the CPU.

Using Dell's support web site at <http://support.dell.com/> you can enter the service tag from your PC to determine the maximum amount of memory and fastest CPU your system can handle. A BIOS upgrade may be required, as well, if you do not have the latest one installed in your computer.

Keep in mind that your operating system, Windows 98SE, might not not recognize or might not work properly with the maximum amount of memory. I seem to recall 512MB being a limit for recognizable RAM with Windows 98, but could be wrong.

Dell computers typically use a proprietary wiring scheme on their power supplies. The connector is a regular ATX one, but it is wired differently than a standard ATX-compliant power supply. If Dell does not stock a higher-wattage power supply for your computer, it is possible you might be able to build an 'adapter' cable to use a regular power supply with your Dell PC.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 251 locked up ThinkPad Jan 4 2003, 10:12 AM
I'd say more information is needed. A few questions come to mind:

First off, what exactly does your friend mean by "lock up?" Does the screen freeze? Go black? Do the keyboard and/or mouse (TrackPoint) still respond?

Does the problem occur only on AC power, on the battery, or doesn't seem to matter?

Can the lock-up be consistently reproduced? If so, what are the steps to do so?

How much memory does the TP600 have?

What device(s) are installed in the ThinkPad (including the PC Card and UltraBay slots)?

What programs are running in the background (including programs which may not place an icon in the System Tray, like anti-virus and utility software)?

Oh, and just to confirm, your friend is running the latest and greatest version of his anti-virus software?

Are the latest Windows Updates installed on the ThinkPad?

Does your friend have all the latest device drivers installed? IBM's PC web site (including ThinkPad notebooks) is at <http://www.pc.ibm.com/>. The model number will be on a sticker on the bottom of the ThinkPad and look something like "7549-7AU."

A great source of information about IBM ThinkPads is the ThinkPad mailing list at Mhttp://stderr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thinkpad>.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 212 question about the running of a server and antivirus software Jan 2 2003, 04:51 AM
Most anti-virus software runs as a service in the background; it should continue to operate and check for viruses while the console on the server is locked. It is possible, though, that some operations will not run (updates) unless there is a user logged in at the console.

Since there are so many different anti-virus programs out there, I would think the best thing to do would be to check with your anti-virus company's technical support department to find out what the specifics are for your package.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Net Connections 202 Old 486 not recognising RAM? Jan 1 2003, 12:09 PM
Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) has been around for a long time and is a well-known manufacturer of motherboards.

I've never used one of their motherboards, so I am unsure of how to update the BIOS. I visited their web site at <http://www.ecsusa.com/>, did a search and the only result was the BIOS you mentioned.

After downloading and unzipping it, I looked through the file with a hex editor and found a copyright string for Phoenix Technologies <http://www.phoenix.com/>. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a BIOS update program on Phoenix's web site.

My best suggestion would be to try contacting ECS and see if they can send you the BIOS update program and a manual, or direct you to a location on their web site to download them.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 181 Formatting Hard Drive Jan 1 2003, 11:35 AM
I am unfamiliar with Advansys SCSI host adapters so I cannot give any specific suggestions, but it looks like you can download the manuals for the various models from <http://www.advansys.com/support/index.htm> and device drivers from <http://www.advansys.com/support/index-download.htm>.

If there is no access via the BIOS for low-level formatting, I would suspect the drivers include a DOS utility to perform that function.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 234 Upgrading video card, and seeking advice... Dec 31 2002, 10:46 PM
Have you looked on surplus or auction web sites for an nVidia GeForce3 Ti500 card? They provide very good performance and may, in fact, be in your budget.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 229 Problems with shortcut arrows and TweakUI in Windows 98SE Dec 31 2002, 10:42 PM
Try making a backup copy of your SHELL32.DLL file, than replacing it with the one from your original Windows 98SE installation disc.

Does that make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 454 Formatting Hard Drive Dec 31 2002, 10:37 PM
It sounds like your SCSI hard disk drive is out of alignment.

Did you try performing a low-level format of the hard disk through the SCSI host adapter before performing the high-level (OS) format?

Performing a low-level format, followed by partitioning and high-level formatting of the drive should get you up and running.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 234 Easiest backup? Dec 31 2002, 07:00 AM
Using a drive imaging program is definitely one way to go--I was just thinking it might be more convenient to be able to "recover" a system by plugging the old hard drive back into the computer without having to spend time reloading a backup.

Of course, it is a good idea to regularly perform back ups. The "hard drive on a shelf" approach was strictly for convenience.

Plus, justification for buying a newer, bigger hard drive.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 309 A nightmare... Any suggestions?? Dec 31 2002, 06:41 AM
You can use the Registry Editor to export your registry to a file, and a disk editor to save your master boot record to a file.

If, however, you are planning on reinstalling things like operating systems and applications, it is less important to back these up because they can alwasy be reinstalled.

So, it sounds like what the most important thing for you is to back up your data.

You mentioned that you have an external hard drive. If you want, you could write a short script file to XCOPY the contents of your internal hard drive to your external one. Not exactly the most elegant thing in the world, but it certainly works.

Another possibility is to use a program like the ROBOCOPY utility from the Windows NT Resource Kit or KarenWare's Replicator to periodically copy data to the external hard drive.

If you want to back up your data to CD or DVD discs, than a program like Ahead's Nero Burning Rom or Roxio Easy CD Creator should do the trick.

Or, if you're looking for a 'traditional' backup program to back things up to tape, there are programs like Stomp's BackUp My PC, Dantz Retrospect, NovaStor's NovaBackup, and so forth.

Typically, backup sets created with such a backup program cannot be read by a different one unless they use a common format, so make sure you have access to that backup program on the PC to whcih you're recovering the data.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 506 Mouse Feet Dec 31 2002, 06:19 AM
I believe what you are looking for is Teflon tape that is sticky on one side--as opposed to the stuff without adhesive used when screwing pipes together.

I am not sure where you would find this in a small quantity--a quick search for "teflon tape adhesive" on Google revealed many hits, but most of them seemed to be for cases of tape.

You might try some sort of a plumbing or hardware store (Home Depot or Ace Hardware, and so forth) and see if they can order you an individual role.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 251 Computing for the blind Dec 31 2002, 05:34 AM
Have you checked with both the American Bar Association <http://www.abanet.org/> and the National Federation for the Blind <http://www.nfb.org/>?

I would think those would be good places to start looking for enabling technologies for computers.

You might also want to take a look at an earlier thread on the forum at <http://help.lockergnome.com/showthread.php...s=&threadid=291> which discusses some vendors of accessibility products.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 184 Finding out who actually makes a product? Dec 31 2002, 05:17 AM
If the product in question has a FCC ID on it, you can try using the FCC ID search page on the FCC's web site to determine the manufacturer.

The URL is <http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid/>.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Technobabble 202 Easiest backup? Dec 31 2002, 05:16 AM
This may not be very cost-effective, but have you considered getting a new hard drive, installing the operating system and your applications to it, and then copying the data from your old hard drive to your new hard drive? You can then keep the old hard drive on a shelf as a backup .

The advantage to this is that if you do not like the new environment, you can immediately go back to the previous one by installing the older hard drive.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 309 Windows IM Dec 31 2002, 05:10 AM
There are several different ways to prevent Microsoft Messenger 4.x from running on startup:

  • Run MSN Messenger, click on Tools->Options->Preferences and uncheck "Run this program when Windows starts"
  • Edit the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrent VersionRun and erase the path to MSMSGS.EXE in the 'MSMSGS' key so it is blank
  • Run the Group Policy Editor and go to Local Computer Policy->Administrative Templates->Windows Components->Windows Messenger and Enable the 'Do not automatically start Windows Messenger initially' Policy.
  • Open the 'C:Program FilesMessenger' directory on your computer and rename the MSMSGS.EXE file to something else, such as M.EXE

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 206 Old 486 not recognising RAM? Dec 31 2002, 04:59 AM
That is an interesting problem.

Have you been able to determine the motherboard's manufacturer?

I looked at both Phoenix Technologies' and Wim's BIOS <http://www.wimsbios.com/> web sites and it seems Phoenix has not released a list of OEMs. If the motherboard has an FCC ID on it, you might be able to locate the manufacturer through the FCC ID search page at <http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid/>

Once you have found out the manufacturer, perhaps you can download a BIOS update to allow the additional memory to be recognized or a manual which will explain the order in which memory needs to be installed (if any).

In the meantime, you may wish to try experimenting with the order in which the memory is installed. Remove all memory modules, locate the first memory slot (which may be labeled Slot 0, Slot 1, Slot A, and so forth) and try installing an 8MB module in it. Does the system POST and recognize the 8MB?

Next try putting the other 8MB memory module in the second slot. If it is not recognized, try moving it into the third and then the fourth slots.

If you can get the motherboard to recognize 16MB of memory with the two 8MB memory modules, try installing two of the remaining 4MB memory modules to see if it recognizes them.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 181 Linksys Router problems using fixed IP's Dec 20 2002, 01:36 AM
I am using a Linksys BEFSR41 Cable/DSL Router with 4-port switch with DHCP disabled without any problems.

Here's what I did to set things up:

In the router's web configuration:

  • On the 'Setup' tab, have "LAN IP Address:" set to "192.168.1.1"
  • On the 'Setup' tab, have WAN Connection Type:" set to "Obtain an IP automatically"
  • On the 'DHCP' tab, have "DHCP Server:" set to 'disable'


On the computers attached to the LAN:

  • Set IP their address to 192.168.1.xxx.
  • Set their gateway to 192.168.1.1.
  • Set their DNS servers to my ISP's DNS servers--not the Linksys router's IP address.


That seems to work on my LAN. One suggestion I have for you is to not use the 192.168.0.xxx range but instead use 192.168.1.xxx or higher. I've noticed somtimes networking gear does does not handle zeros well as part of their IP addresses.

Oh, I am also using the latest available firmware on the router (v1.44). If you haven't upgraded yours you might want to try doing this as well.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Net Connections 708 Remote access to Win2k PC Dec 19 2002, 02:02 AM
Have you tried using VNC (Virtual Network Computing)? It allows you to remotely access another computer's desktop using your local keyboard, monitor and mouse.

VNC is available for a wide variety of operating systems, including Windows, Linux, Solaris, MacIntosh, PalmOS, and so forth.

Although it is not inherently secure (data exchanged between computers is not encrypted) it can be run over a secure connection to "tunnel" the data.

Originally developed by Olivetti Research Labs, it was picked by AT&T Research Labs who accquired ORL and subsequently closed the project down. The original authors then formed a company to distribute and maintain the program.

Also, its distributed under the GPL.

More information can be found at the authors' web site, <http://www.realvnc.com/>.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Net Connections 198 How much mp3s do you have ?? Dec 19 2002, 01:56 AM
I have approximately 13,900 MP3 files occupying approximately 63GB of disk space. This is in my "Home Theater" computer, which also has a DVD-ROM drive and ATI RADEON (TV Capture) video card in it.

This is the result of 14 months of encoding my CD collection (~1,200 discs) to MP3 files.

The files are stored on an 80GB hard drive that is mirrored for data protection. I can split the mirror set and keep one hard drive off-line for safe-keeping.

I originally started out with backing up the disk to tape, but it was very time-consuming to do this with a 20GB (10GB native) tape drive, taking approximately 20-24 hours to perform a full backup.

Perhaps one of the biggest changes in my life after doing this is that I now very rarely buy CDs. With such a large library of music readily available at my fingertips I find it hard to justify purchasing new CDs.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Technobabble 250 2 Optical Drives Dec 16 2002, 08:15 AM
Directron sells a "Y" splitter cable that allows you to plug the 4-pin audio (MPC2) connectors into one sound card. Cost is $10.00 plus shipping.

Here is a URL to the product:

http://www.directron.com/1200270.html

I have not used one of these myself, so I can not say how well it works.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 219 Ideal Folder Hierarchy Dec 11 2002, 06:08 AM
I have been using KarenWare's Power Replicator myself for a while to back up my F: volume (which contains patches, updates
and shareware/freeware programs I use) to an external hard
drive for portability.

It's a very good program, but it would be nice if it ran as a service. I haven't have any luck getting it to run with the Resource Kit SRV_ANY utility.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 822 Please Poll us for the preferred Virus Protection Dec 10 2002, 08:35 AM
Wow! That's a lot of junk to leave behind. It kind of makes you long for the days when everything was configured through an editable ASCII-text .INI file that say in the directory as the application.

It was a computer running Windows 2000 Professional with SP3 installed on it.

I do not think I've ever installed Symantec Norton Anti Virus on a computer running Windows XP.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 1925 Ideal Folder Hierarchy Dec 10 2002, 08:29 AM
That's a great approach!

I'm wondering, you mentioned you use the I: volume on your second hard disk for daily backups. Do you perform backups to other media (tape, optical, and so forth)?

If so, how often and software are you using?

I have been using Stomp's BackUp My PC (a/k/a Arcadia/Seagate/Veritas BackUp Exec) to back up my data to tape or optical about once a week (or sooner if needed).

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 822 Please Poll us for the preferred Virus Protection Dec 10 2002, 08:20 AM
Were you trying to re-install Symantec's Norton Anti Virus, or remove it in it's entirety from your system?

In my case, I was helping a friend get it installed on his computer, and using the RNAV tool, along with the other steps, seemed to work: After that, the program installed completely, updated itself, and started detecting viruses in the email folder right away!

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 1925 Ideal Folder Hierarchy Dec 10 2002, 08:13 AM
I have been doing this for a while so when I installed the hard drive I originally created multiple volumes. As a rule of thumb I have found a 2GB volume seems to work well for Windows 98SE, ME, and NT 4.0, and a 3-4GB volume for Windows 2000 Professional and XP Professional.

In the past I have just used FDISK to manually partition a drive, then format and load software onto the respective volumes. However, both PowerQuest's Partition Magic and Drive Image programs have come in handy--especially when moving to a larger hard disk.

Here is how my current 36GB (34GB using 1,024 bytes = 1KB) hard disk drive is partititioned:

C: - 4GB (~75% full)
D: - 4GB (~37.5% full)
E: - 8GB (~50% full)
F: - 8GB (~87.5% full)
G: - 8GB (~75% full)
H: - 2GB (~87.5% full)

I had a little free space left after setting up the drive, so I created the H: volume which contains mostly e-books (PDF and LIT) and music (MP3, WMA, and Liquid Audio) files.

While the volumes may appear full, keep in mind those drive space usage figures include temporary files, Internet Explorer's Favorites folder (each URL is a separate file, with its own overhead for the file system), and so forth.

If you are planning on using the "multiple volumes" approach, I would strongly suggest you consider buying a new hard drive and setting it up from scratch.

Once you have installed your operating system and applications and gotten everything updated to the way you like it, you can then plug your old hard disk drive in and copy all the old data from it to the new "data volume" on your hard disk.

The advantages of doing this are two-fold: You now have a complete backup of your entire computer sitting on a shelf (e.g., the old hard disk drive); also, in the event you have a problem with the new drive (accidentally erase data files or an entire volume, and so forth) you can always get the information restored from the old hard disk.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 822 Please Poll us for the preferred Virus Protection Dec 10 2002, 07:36 AM
I have seen similar problems installing Symantec's Norton Anti Virus.

Try visiting their support web site and searching their knowledge base for the RNAV tool, which performs a full uninstallation of Norton Anti Virus.

After it is finished, try running Windows Update (just in case some updates are available which make affect software installation), emptying the TEMP directory on your computer, and then copying the contents of the Norton Anti Virus CD to your local hard drive and running the installing program from there.

Once it has been successfully installed you can remove the installation files.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 1925 Ideal Folder Hierarchy Dec 10 2002, 02:07 AM
While this probably slows things down, I create multiple partitions and use each drive volume for a separate function:

C: - Operating System, Web Browser, and swap file
D: - Programs
E: - Data
F: - patches, updates, drives, and downloaded freeware/shareware
G: - Games

On the D: volume, I create a folder named "Program Files" and then install applications to it by company name and product name.

As examples, Adobe Acrobat gets installed to "D:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat\" and Microsoft Office gets installed to "D:\Program Files\Microsoft\Office\".

For the G: ("Games") volume, I follow the same procedure.

The E: volume is where the "My Documents" folder is, having used Microsoft TweakUI to change this from the default location. For the few applications which do not adhere to the Microsoft guidelines for using the "My Documents" directory, some simple scripting and task scheduling copies their data into it.

Besides greatly reducing 'clutter' it makes is very easy to find things if I know all applications are installed on D:, all data is saved on E: and so forth.

Since my data is in one location on one volume ("E:\My Documents\") I concentrate on backing this up religiously. Anything else (operating system, applications, and so forth) can always be reinstalled.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky]]> Windows Fanatics 822 Client to Client VPN Dec 10 2002, 01:42 AM
A company I have been working with, Echogent Systems, is creating a program with secure VPN functionality called Kaboodle for web, ftp, and remote access.

Kaboodle is currently very much an "under construction" program, but the goal is to provide a simple GUI interface while minimizing the amount of work needed to configure the individual tools.

Echogent has released Kaboodle under the GPL, so if there's something that doesn't work exactly the way you want it to, you can tweak it.

Echogent's web site can be found at <http://www.echogent.com/>.

The Kaboodle Project Page can be found at <http://www.kaboodle.org/>.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

DISCLAIMER: As previously stated , I have a working relationship with Echogent Systems. Please take that into consideration when reading my reply. ]]> Net Connections 181 Please Poll us for the preferred Virus Protection Dec 10 2002, 01:30 AM
I have been very happy with Sophos Anti-Virus on my computers.

It is fast, does not consume a lot of resources, has an easy-to-use GUI which does not change, is updated regularly, and provides good technical support.

On the minus side, it is difficult to find resellers who stock it and it is not cheap, since the product is intended for the business sector and the cost of support is bundled into the license.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 1925 Ram not shown as installed HELP!! Dec 10 2002, 01:23 AM
What brand and model of computer do you have, and what is thr brand and part number of the new memory you purchased? Knowing that will help narrow down the problem.

In the meantime, try the following steps to help troubleshoot the problem:

After powering the computer down and grounding yourself by
touching the computer's case, try removing both SIMMs and then installing the newly-purchased one in the first SIMM slot.

Turn on the computer, and see if it goes through the power-on system test (POST). If it does POST successfully, the RAM works with your computer. You can now turn it off, install the old SIMM in the second SIMM slot on the motherboard and turn the computer on again.

If the computer just beeps when booted or does not start up at all, turn off the power and double-check to ensure the RAM is installed properly.

If the problem still occurs after re-seating the RAM, it could be an incompatibility issue with the BIOS, which can sometimes be solved by updating the BIOS. Remove one of the SIMMs once more, then turn the computer on and visit the computer or motherboard manufacturer's web site to see if a BIOS update is available. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for installing the BIOS update, and then try inserting the SIMM again.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 273 Deleting Setup Programs? Dec 8 2002, 08:36 AM
Oops. I had a complete brain shutdown when replying to Kat.

I thought Kat was talking about the programs in the startup folder , not the setup programs for applications.

I place downloaded files (drivers, software updates and patches, shareware and freeware, and so forth) on a separate partition, and group by OS, Company Name, Product Name, and Version.

I started out with doing this, so it wasn't a big problem to maintain it, but if Kat has bunches of setup files floating around organizing them like this could be very tedious.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 477 Deleting Setup Programs? Dec 8 2002, 08:07 AM
Most "programs" in the Startup Folder on a computer are not
the actual executable program files themselves, but shortcuts which point to the actual program.

To check this, you can try right-clicking on the Startup Folder under Programs from your Start Menu and selecting Open from the popup menu, which opens the Startup Folder in a separate window.

Most, if not all, of the programs displayed should have the shortcut overlay on their icons. Removing these shortcuts will not affect the operation of the programs, other then preventing them from running at startup.

One thing I do to reduce the clutter that inevitably gets installed in the Startup Folder is to create another folder named "Startup - Optional" and move all of the unwanted shortcuts into it from the Startup Folder.

This allows me to run only the programs I want when my computer starts, and gives me some flexibility if I want to run a program I had previously removed.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Windows Fanatics 477 handicapped hardware devices Dec 8 2002, 07:55 AM
Without knowing the particulars it is hard to say what technologies would work best for your father, but here are the addresses for some web sites which might be helpful:

Assistive Technology for CAP Sites - <http://cap.ic.gc.ca/english/mobility.html> - Candian government page on accessibility guidelines and resources

Dolphin Computer Access - <http://www.dolphinusa.com/> - manufacturer of accessibility software

Ergonomic Resources - <http://www.ergo-2000.com> - reseller of ergonomic keyboards and mouses

Freedom Scientific - <http://www.freedomscientific.com/> - manufacturer of accessibility hardware and software

IBM Accessibility Center - <http://www-3.ibm.com/able/index.html> - products and services offered by IBM

KeyAlt.Com - <http://www.keyalt.com/> - reseller of accessibility hardware and software

Kinesis - <http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/> - reseller of ergonomic keyboards and mouses

Microsoft Accessibility - <http://www.microsoft.com/enable/> - information on accessibility features in Microsoft products

Section 508 - <http://www.section508.gov> - US government page on accessibility guidelines and resources

I hope these are of help to you and your father.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky ]]> Hardware Help 268