Ask a computer question and I will answer it. THREAD #2

[cheezus]

This thread seems to have been a success: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=957826&mesg_id=957826

I got an answer to everybody's question, I think. Time to start over again.

Special thanks to Papa for answering some of the questions for me!

[SaveElmer]

1. How do I get rid of WhenU pop up ads

The method WhenU says to use does not work...I hate those frickin ads.

[cheezus]

3. you need to block popups

If you are married to Internet Explorer, get the Google Toolbar (http://toolbar.google.com/) - among other cool features it blocks popups.

I'd recomment using mozilla firefox as your default browser. It's fast, open source, has tabbed browsing (awesome!) and a built in popup ad blocker.

good luck!

[alfredo]

43. Command - T will open a new tab.

fireFox is excellent, and Thunderbird is a fine e-mail application.

[adriennel]

2. I got one for you...

why the heck does my PC spontaneously reboot itself? I am running Windows XP, I caught "the worm" last year that exploited the remote call function, I updated my virus software, got rid of the worm, applied 2 or more pataches from Microsoft, and all was well for a few months, then it started rebooting itself again! Most recently when I was queued to buy concert tickets the damn thing rebooted (no message) and I almost threw it out the window. So I updated my virus software again, but it says my PC is clean. But it still occassionally spontaneously reboots. Help!?!?

[cheezus]

5. Okay, if you're SURE it's not a virus/worm

it sounds like a hardware problem if it's just SUDDENLY rebooting (no warning).

Could be:

Overheating - make sure your computer isn't in an enclosed area and has adequate ventilation room. You might google for a CPU temperate monitoring program.

Power supply going bad - I've had this happen to me before. There's a pin on an ATX power supply called powr_good - if it drops below a certain voltage your computer reboots as a safety measure.

check overheating first. if that's fine I can help you figure out how big of a replacement PS you need.

[adriennel]

18. ok, thanks!

I have a crappy old UPS that should be replaced...I didn't think of this because my peripherals are all working OK. The running PC is also surrounded by a number of older, less glamorous PCs and parts--I should probably clean out this corner.

PS you're GOOD!! Congrats on your degree and good luck working IT!

[cheezus]

24. The UPS could have something to do with it, yes

I was thinking the system power supply, but if the power comming in is in flux, the same stuff would happen.

bypas the UPS and see if the problems persist. If they do, it's the UPS. If not, replace your computer's power supply.

[revcarol]

4. How do I listen to AA.

I listened the other day to Portland, now today ;I can't.

So I get a chance to download something or other and this screen comes up...Do I 'save' 'play' or cancel. CANCEL is what I keep doing because I can't get anything to load and then I can't get anything to play, and this happens almost everytime I get one of these screen thingies.

Computer dummy out in the middle of noplace wants real live news and liberal radio. Have Windows Media and WinAmp.

what the hell do ;you do when one of those screens comes on? ALL I WANT TO DO IS LISTEN...

[cheezus]

8. I've had the best luck with the official realplayer stream

from airamericaradio.com

you need to download realplayer for your system.

go to www.real.com

you want to download "Free Realone player" - they try to trick you into downloading the not free one. the free one will be a smaller link.

then just run the installer, hit aa's website, listen to Randi Rhodes :)

[revcarol]

16. I installed it the other day, I think.

Plus, now I can't get the site to do anything. I clicked on the install thingie...have I been bumped off the net(dial-up?) New posts are appearing and I can post, so what's the deal?

[cheezus]

21. which site?

real or airamerica?

the install thingie will run an installer.... you need to follow the steps in the installer.

[LTR]

54. RealOne is terrible. Get RP10

Version 10 is the new one on the Real's site. Seems to be free of the junk, and best yet, they finally squashed that tkbell.exe problem, which kept adding it to the startup menu.

You can actually opt out of that nonsense.

RP still sucks, but if you must have it, then get version 10.

[OneBlueSky]

6. why does my dialer try to engage . . .

after I sign off the net, or even when I'm resetting the computer? . . . just starts dialing for no reason at all any time it feels like it . . . I've checked all the settings, and everything seems to be in order . . . I'm running Windows ME on a Dell 4300, 1.8 Ghz, 256 memory, 40 gig hard drive, browser is Windows IE 6.0 updated with all of the Microsoft fixes . . . any thoughts? . . .

[cheezus]

11. what setting did you check

There's an option in somewhere like internet settings (sorry, at work in front of my mac right now so I can't check exactly) that you can access through IE. You need to make sure connect to network when needed (or something worded like that) is turned off.

[OneBlueSky]

46. yeah, that was taken care of . . .

I also tried any combination of settings, just to see what would happen . . . the only way I can keep this from happening is to set things so that a log-on screen pops every time I want to go online . . . as opposed to just clicking the earthlink icon . . . do-able, but one extra step that I'd just as soon avoid . . . thanks . . .

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. Why does my homepage not stay at what I set it on?

I set it. Click Apply and then okay, and everytime I turn off my computer it resets to stupid MSN. I am on Windows XP.

[cheezus]

12. I gave up on Internet Explorer long ago

because of stuff like this. I'm sure there's a way to fix it... but I just use mozilla firefox

it's awesome. you'll love tabbed browsing and popup blocking. and it's fast.

mozilla.org/firefox

[cheezus]

15. another thought: using msn messenger/ windows messenger?

if so look in the preferences for that program. it might be automacially mucking with the homepage in IE everytime you start up.

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. Nope! I'm still too freaked out by the thought of mozilla, but I'll try it

Thanks!

[cheezus]

22. mozilla's gotten way better than IE and

firefox is just a fast version of mozilla (browser only, as opposed to mozilla's integrated mail, web, irc, etc etc). I think you'll like it.

The only problem you may run into is the need to install plugins (flash, shockwave, maybe java). but on windows it's just a matter of downloading the plugin and running the installer.

[F.Gordon]

9. Why is XP so slow?

I have three computers. Main computer I run ME, Secondary I run XP, and Laptop I run 98. ME and 98 run MUCH faster than XP even though they "spec" out slower (Processor speed, ram, etc).

I'm thinking of re-formating XP computer with ME or 98. Or is there a simple fix.

[cheezus]

13. it's a different beast

Me and 98 are from the old win32 codebase - XP is from the windows NT codebase. XP does a lot more stuff and is bigger and better, but needs more resources.

What are the specs on the XP box? how long since xp was installed on it? Also try running spyware removal like adaware

[F.Gordon]

17. Thanks

Not sure how many "versions" of XP there are. Mine might be the original version. Will take a look at specs...not sure off top of my head. So, it may be that the XP box isn't big/fast enough to handle XP?

Where do I send the "consulting fee"? Thanks much!!!!

[cheezus]

consulting fee

send some $ to Kerry for me :)

[BarbaRosa]

10. OK here's one

I've just acquired a Gateway Performance 450. I know, but at the price, or lack of price I thought it would be good to experiment with and not lose anything if I really screw it up.

My question is, how do I do a clean reinstall of the original software. I have all the disks, but haven't found a restore program similar to my Compaq. I want to start over as it came from the factory.

Thanks

[cheezus]

14. if it doesn't have a restore disc, you probably can't restore to factory

...settings

sometimes the windows disc bundled with a computer is actually a system restore disc. try that.

otherwise you'll need to install windows, then install your software.

[BarbaRosa]

19. thanks

I sorta thought that might be the case, but thought I'd ask.

[matcom]

23. where do i put the CDROM?

there isn't any more places to put it! i have my floppy drive, my coffee cup holder.....

:shrug:

[cheezus]

25. Back from lunch. Thanks for waiting.

Yum. Taco Bell has replentished my computer fixing superpowers. :)

[cheezus]

27. kick it for the afternoon computer problems

[matcom]

28. BUT YOU NEVER ANSWERED MINE FROM ABOVE!!

cant figure out why :shrug:

[cheezus]

29. oh, sorry about that

you can't use the cupholder and the cdrom at the same time, sorry,

it's a feature, not a bug

[rog]

26. .hlp files in XP not working

I hope you have some ideas about this.

I'm running XP Home, sp 1, 1.8GHz Pentium 4, 512 Mb RAM, big HD.

None of the .hlp files seem to work, whether I access help from within the program, or when I click directly on the .hlp file from Explorer. I just did a search on *.hlp, and this is true for all .hlp files.

I shoule make it clear that programs that use other forms of help files, like .dll or .chm files, appear to work fine.

Any ideas about where I should start to look?

Thanks in advance ...

.rog.

[patriotvoice]

41. M$ is evil

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&threadm=OpKJ87gwCHA.2904%40TK2MSFTNGP09&rnum=1&prev=/groups%3Fq%3Dhlp%2Bfiles%2Bin%2BXP%2Bnot%2Bworking%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Doff%26selm%3DOpKJ87gwCHA.2904%2540TK2MSFTNGP09%26rnum%3D1

Maybe.

[rog]

58. Thanks for the link to that discussion!

re: no response from .hlp files under XP

Unfortunately, it seems like the guy who had the problem wasn't able to clear it up. But I'm going to follow up on the idea that the wrong winhlp32 files are installed when you apply sp1. That was done when I bought the computer ... XP was an OEM installation ... and I don't think the .hlp files have worked since then.

Thanks! If anyone else has some thoughts about this .hlp file problem in the post above, please share!

.rog.

[Mick Knox]

30. Home Page Reset

Every time I reboot my home page is reset to a new Home Page I did not select. Furthermore, if I allow that page to load, it freezes my computer, so on every boot I must hit stop when opening the browser and go to Settings and reset my home page. I use Spybot and PCCillin .. neither have corrected/found the problem. I am on MS XP. It is obviously some type of spy ware or whatever... but I have been unable to solve the problem. Thanks.

[Mick Knox]

31. Oops .. Just read the other thread like this...

I'm not switching from I.E. .. if you don't know how to solve the problem I understand, but I like I.E. Thanks anyway.

[LTR]

56. You have a 'hosts' file hijack

What happened is that some web site/program/script changed your 'hosts' file, redirecting traffic to a startup page of it's choosing, and also changing a few site addresses around.

Find out more about it here:

http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/hijacked/

Look for a program called "cwshredder" as well (Google). It is designed to get rid of browser hijacks.

And you can modify your HOSTS file to block this kind of crap. It's also a neat little way of blocking some of the more annoying banner ads/pop-ups as well.

Go here:

http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/how_to_use_hosts.html

And stop using IE. Get Avant or Mozilla.

[DS1]

32. Answer my first one, then I'll ask you another

:hi:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=957826#959437

[BlueJazz]

33. This is kind of a question.....

...Or maybe just to prove that I'm not nuts!

I'm a MCSE and A+...and all that crap...
Anyway, I went to a customers house a week ago.
Computer was a fairly new Dell running XP home edition.
The man's son had "cleaned up the drive" (God, I hate to hear that).
The Son had deleted several system files and made a real mess of everything. On top of it all the computer was infested with tons of viruses. (Kazza)
I tried to restore the system but finally concluded that since the Father didn't have anything on the drive that he wanted to save, that it would be easier to just wipe the disk and start over.
I wiped the disk (even the Boot sec.)..reinstalled XP...everything worked fine for a good amount of time.
I hooked up to his DSL (Verizon) and immediately got virus warnings up the ying-yang.
I thought "Well, maybe I missed something" ...but didn't see how.
SO...I thought would I do an experiment.
I had a Seagate drive that was the same size as the Dell so I explained that I'd just swap it out....and did.
Everything worked fine until (you guessed it) I hooked up the Verizon DSL. Boom...Viruses.
After calling Verizon and was assured that the problem was at my end I told the Father to change to Cable. (He didn't mind)

Did I do the right thing??

[BlueJazz]

34. Boy..I can kill a thread faster than Anyone!!

Geez

[rog]

35. You may have killed it, but ...

... I think I "stunned" it first, with the question about .hlp files, above!

:hi:

.rog.

[RainDog]

36. I want to switch to a dsl

and I have a computer which does not have a phone-line outlet on the back...

what kind of port do you need for a dsl line on your computer?

if you want to be able to have more than one computer online at a time with dsl, is that possible, and what else do you need to have to do this...

[RainDog]

37. oh, and another thing...

I also need to upgrade to OS X-2.

Can I buy one OS to use on a g-4 tower, an iBook, and an old iMac?

And another one...I have an extended keyboard which I want to use with a computer which only has usb ports, not those round ones...I forget what they're called...is there some way to be able to run an old extended keyboard off a computer with only usb ports for keyboards without spending lots of money?

[JPJones]

51. Oh yeah, and you need to say

if you have Macs or PCs.

This is what you need.



http://www.typematrix.com/ps2_usb/?key=j7261Wzx7vjpAVR70xdF

[BlueJazz]

38. You don't need a phone (modem) Jack..

..for DSL....Just a network card.
It looks like a phone jack but is larger and has 8 lines instead of 4
(even though only 4 are used)
Even if you don't have one, they're dirt cheap.

You can run more that one computer on DSL.
You neeed a router. ...That's another story.

[JPJones]

50. Modems are for saps

You need an ethernet port (RJ-45). It looks like a big phone plug. I would be shocked if you computers didn't already have them installed, however, it's very easy to put in an ethernet card and they are cheap.

For home networking, it depends on how many computers are desktops and how many are laptops. How new are the laptops (do they have built-in wireless cards)?

A wireless network is cheap and easy to set up. You will plug your DSL modem into the wireless router (about $100). The computer next to the wireless router plugs into the wireless router by an ethernet cable. However, all the other computers would then require wireless cards, which are about $50. For laptops w/o wireless built in, the best option is a PC card (the things that are a little bigger than a credit card; most if not all laptops have a slot for PC cards). They are about $80 dollars. What's nice is that the wireless routers have built in firewalls.

If you have desktops and you don't mind running some cable between them, you could also buy a normal router and run etherent cable through your house. However, wireless with DSL is so fast that it is pretty much the way to go.

What you want to do is say how many computers you have, desktop or laptop, and how far away they are from each other, and if you don't mind running cables between them.

[BlueJazz]

39. a kick

because being a threadkiller is an awful, discouraging load to have to haul around.

[Nevernose]

40. Why did the case on my Apple II+ and IIe...

...turn yellow so fast? What weird yellowing thing did that case have that the plastics used in the IIc, IIg, and "Classic" Mac not have?

And why did my next door neighbor's dad buy a frigging Lisa?

Answer these two questions, cheezus, and you will relieve me of questions that've been nagging me for two decades...

[POed_Ex_Repub]

42. 001001111001100111011101110001011011

(my computer's question) *ducks*

[BlueJazz]

45. Tell your Computer this:

Hex 2799DDC5B

Octal 117147356133

Dec 10630323291

:)

[JPJones]

52. Does your computer speak

big endian or little endian?

[alfredo]

44. My external firewire drive won't mount.

It has in the past, but now it won't

forgot to add that I am running OSX Panther.

[imax2268]

47. Ok...

Internet Explorer...newest version...why is my status bar not staying up when I open IE...I have to go to view everytime I start IE to see it...

What gives...?

[Nomad559]

48. Status bar not staying up

I found this link with a google search.

http://www.anetforums.com/posts.aspx?ThreadIndex=3467

[Barad Simith]

49. an XP/IE question

I use Windows ME, but am always being asked to help my computer-illiterate friend with her computer. She uses XP.

Every damn time I look at her IE browser (which is every few days), the view has been messed with. The address bar will be gone, or the buttons will be gone, or the links will be added.

She doesn't even know how to change this stuff, and she lives alone. To further complicate matters, I always use the "lock the toolbars" option! I actually have to unlock the toolbars to fix things, then lock them again.

How do these settings keep getting changed, and more importantly, how can I prevent the unwanted changes?

[JPJones]

53. IE is for saps

Use Netscape.



http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/default.jsp

The pop-up blocker alone is worth the price (free).

[LTR]

55. Avant Browser is a great substitute

It's IE compatible, and is pretty nice if you wnt the functionality of Mozilla or Opera, but are too used to IE. Blocks poop-ups very well.

Get it here:

http://www.avantbrowser.com

[BlueCollar]

57. jpg to bitmap?

A few days ago my computer decided to default to bitmap when saving jpg images. Why did it do this and how do I reset it to jpg as the default setting?

[mdmc]

59. How can I find the physical location of an IP?

[NewHampster]

61. use dns stuff then

http://www.dnsstuff.com/

visualtraceroute http://visualroute.visualware.com/

[mdmc]

79. thanks... lets see if it works

:kick:

[Don_G]

60. Win XP/USB 2.0 Question

Why am I losing the drivers every time I shut off my notebook? The USB works fine until I shut it off and subsequently lose both my printer and scanner the next time I power up.

[holeinboatoutatsea]

62. I am still having a problem

there is a website that places a cookie no matter which site I go to. I go to DU, and poof! there's the damn thing again.

I looked through the entire registry and couldn't find anything, though that doesn't mean much.

I hate having this cookie automatically set itself every time I open the browser.

Help?

[NewHampster]

64. Cookies are your friends

without them you'd have to log in every visit and all sorts of other pain stuff.

go into internet options and allow cookies should be on or checked.

you can limit them to known domains etc. but it gets complicated.

[holeinboatoutatsea]

66. tell me about it!

I use Mozilla. I have the cookie manager set to not accept cookies from that site (and dozens of others), but it pops up no matter what. Someone (sorry, can't remember who) suggested that it may be internal, but I can't locate anything out of the ordinary.

uuuggghhh.

[NewHampster]

68. might be time for an upgrade to 1.7

or better yet Firefox http://www.mozilla.org/

[NewHampster]

69. mozilla help page

http://mozilla.gunnars.net/mozilla_privacy_and_security_tutorial.html

[Sheila Samples]

63. Help, please

How do I imbed a link within the body of a message form? I have an article ready to send out, and it looks messy with URL links in the middle of sentences...

Thanks,

Ish

[NewHampster]

65. what software

or do you mean du

[Sheila Samples]

72. TO NewHampster

No I mean to underline a word that, when clicked, will take you to the original article. I need to know if this can be done within the body of a regular email message form.

Go Yanks...

Ish

[NewHampster]

76. If using Outlook, Eudora or similar email client

then you have to activate "send as HTML" or whatever your tool allows. it should convert automatically.

[Sheila Samples]

78. To NewHampster

Thanks. I'll try that.

Ish

[neverborn]

67. Why do people

insist on using WinXP or WinME when Win2k is clearly better? :shrug:

[NewHampster]

70. Because Win XP is the best Windows OS

I have not had one single driver issue since going to XP

XP is Win 2K without the bloat but still on steroids

[neverborn]

71. Heh...

WinXP on TWO occasions forced a reinstall due to drivers. One was a MicroSoft driver for a Bluetooth keyboard, and one was an (admittedly, these guys are god-awful with drivers -- don't buy them!!) ATI Radeon 9800XT video card.

[NewHampster]

73. it could be the hardware

or not enough memory

[neverborn]

74. The hardware? Memory?

How's it that Win2K does both of them fine, but not WinXP? I didn't add more memory going to Win2K.

I know ATI's drivers suck.

I have 1GB of Corsair, the memory's fine ;x

[NewHampster]

77. got me

stumped, glad its not my thread

:evilgrin:

[neverborn]

75. Linux.

I'm a self-proclaimed computer geek, not as big of one as some, however.

Some people insist I should dual-boot Linux -- use Linux for normal mundane stuff that I do most of the time -- DU, forums, Internet use, etc. and just boot Windows for games.

My question -- Why?

What's Linux offer that Win2K doesn't that I need? :x

[strategery blunder]

80. Can I get AIM without actually subscribing to AOL?

I have Windows Messenger but DU doesn't support it.

[neoteric lefty]

81. yes

http://aimfilez.com/?id=aimversions

you can download different version of AOL Instant Messenger. You have to sign up for SN at AOL.com but you never need to use AOL again.

[Shanty Oilish]

82. The 'open with...' trap

I did it again. I found some old .cam things from one of the kid's games, tried to look at them. Window comes up asking what program I want to use. Like I would know. So I picked "Paint" and now every icon in the .cam files, all the dot cams, have paint icons and paint won't read them, and Windows no longer asks what else I want to try. How do I get them to change back into stuff I can read?

[neoteric lefty]

83. what windows version?

n/t

[Shanty Oilish]

84. 98

I have another with xp pro but everything I do is wrong in there :( so I stick with the older one. Less bugs!
Why, why does it ask you to pick from all those programs? How would a person know what can read .cams and what can't?

[neoteric lefty]

86. I will try to help

its been awhile since I have used 98. I use win2k which has similar menu structure. Do this and see if it works:

1) open up Windows Explorer. Should be

Start -> Programs -> Windows Explorer or
Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Windows Explorer

2) go to the TOOLS menu and click on folder options

3) go to the FILE TYPES tab and scroll down the list for CAM (or whatever extension you are looking for)

4) you can selelct the CHANGE button and change the program which open that file type

hopefully that works for 98.

[Insider]

85. Internet Explorer 6.0

it failed about 4-5 weeks ago and all i get is an error message. i used free aol for a while. now, i use mozilla firefox. but i need to fix that IE for updates and stuff.

i tried to download it and install, but it says i already have that program and it won't load. even tried it from a disk. no luck.

what to do?

[TrogL]

87. Why would Windows 2000 keep crashing and burning?

I eliminated all other variables by replacing components - it's not hardware. Neither is it a virus - I ran three different scanners against it. There's 512 MB RAM, lots of drive space.

[neoteric lefty]

88. i dont know

I have had win2k for over 3 years now, and I have had it crash twice on me. Though, I do regularly reformat my computer and put a fresh install every 4-6 months. Probably some bad software on your machine conflicting with the operating system.