Technically Speaking

[Laurie]

I have a technical question, and at the same time thought I'd start a thread for people who may have questions regarding technical issues. Any and all questions could be posted here, and in that way those questions can be searched easily in the future, if needed. :)

Also, if you find an interesting article regarding anything technical (like the thread I started about Internet 2003, which I'll now be merging), post it here. Sort of an "encyclopedia-ask-bressler" sorta thingy going on.


Here's my question.......

Does anyone know the MS-DOS command with which you restore your hard drive back to a date in which it was operable (or functioning with all the correct files?) :hehe: I've done this a few times in the past, and could have sworn the command was "restore." I was sadly mistaken when I attempted to fix a problem on a friends computer over the holidays. I now know of 2 computers where this little command would come in handy.

[Laurie]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=1093&ncid=738&e=7&u=/pcworld/20021231/tc_pcworld/108343


What's Up for the Internet in 2003?
Tue Dec 31, 4:00 PM ET

Tom Spring, PCWorld.com

Eat your heart out, Miss Cleo. Our forecast for the Internet in 2003 is based on much more than psychic insight or a crystal ball.

Among the predictions: faster, more reliable service, both wired and wireless; monthly dial-up charges that go up as the volume of spam goes down; and gadgets like a wristwatch through which your spouse reminds you to pick up a quart of milk on your way home.

Clearly, the Internet has more in store for us than spy-camera pop-up ads and tribute Web sites to rapper Eminem (news - web sites).

Bandwidth's Long Boom

Broadband Internet access into the home will continue to drive Internet adoption in 2003, says Jed Kolko, senior analyst at Forrester. Whether in search of faster Web browsing or the capability to link a growing cadre of entertainment devices, more of us will sign up for high-speed Net access at home in 2003.

By this time next year, 23.3 million households will have broadband connections, according to an EMarketer report. That's a 38 percent jump from the 16.8 million broadband-equipped households in the United States today.

Give it another year, and broadband users will overtake the number of dial-up customers in 2004, Kolko says.

If you haven't switched by then, you'll get a financial push to do so: Dial-up access will jump as high as $40 monthly in 2004, says Vernon Keenan, Internet analyst with Keenan Vision.

"The real cost of bandwidth is going to start to hit the wallets of dial-up users," Keenan says. Higher dial-up cost won't impact broadband users, who already pay a premium for higher speeds, he says.

Why higher dial-up prices? The telecom meltdown that drove dozens of Internet backbone providers out of business and into bankruptcy will finally be billed to consumers, Keenan says. Also, broadband may become more inviting when it bans spam; as backbone providers start skimping on bandwidth, they may be motivated to block the massive amounts of junk e-mail that sap much of their network capacity.

Something in the Air

Also, Internet access will take flight, whether from your living room or a city block. Wireless technology--Wi-Fi, or 802.11--is among the most promising for 2003, according to analysts.

Soon you'll be able to connect wirelessly in many more places, thanks to Wi-Fi companies like Cometa Networks and Vivato.

AT&T, IBM, and Intel recently jointly launched Cometa, hoping in 2003 to make wireless Internet access as commonplace as Starbucks in Seattle (which, incidentally, is also a hotbed of hot spots).

By the end of 2003, Cometa expects to have about half-completed its network, rolling out 5000 Wi-Fi hot spots in 50 U.S. metropolitan areas, says Steve Harris, Cometa's vice president of corporate affairs. By 2004, the company wants hot spots to be so common in those 50 markets that you will never be more than a five-minute walk from wireless Internet access.

Meanwhile, a start-up named Vivato is working on 802.11 antenna technology that boosts the range of a Wi-Fi hot spot from the current 300 feet to as far as 4 miles.

Couple Vivato technology with Cometa and a number of burgeoning Wi-Fi initiatives like service provider Boingo Wireless, and the result resembles a cellular network, says Howard Locker, chief architect for IBM client systems.

On the device side, semiconductor giant Intel plans to unveil in 2003 a wireless-enabled chip, code-named Banias, that integrates Wi-Fi capability into notebooks and other mobile devices. Within three years, as many as 30 million laptops and gadgets could be wired for Wi-Fi, Intel estimates.

Locker says 2003 will be the year of trial hot-spot business models, as many new services test consumers' appetite for fee services. Airports, for example, will charge their captive customers. Meanwhile, a cafe might offer free access as an extra lure.

The Net Begets the Gadget

Thanks to faster, more reliable wireless Internet access, whether next-generation cellular or Wi-Fi, networks will handle more sophisticated tasks.

Cometa's Harris expects such applications as fast-food restaurants accepting orders placed through Wi-Fi-enabled PDAs instead of the drive-through intercom. Or when you hear a song you like on the car radio and you're in a Cometa Wi-Fi hot spot, you can download the entire CD to a digital media player in the car.

"Devices will evolve and so will the applications on those devices," says John Ankcorn, principal research scientist at Hewlett-Packard Labs. Devices will be location-aware, bandwidth-smart, and able to adapt to your needs, he says.

The next killer app for the wireless Internet is the location-based community, says Hank Nothhaft, chief executive officer of device-maker Danger. In 2003, new services will let you rate your neighborhood pizza parlor the same way you rate a seller on EBay or a product on Amazon.com, Nothhaft says.

"If the pizza stinks, a location-based service will allow you to rate the food so anyone walking by will be forewarned," Nothhaft says.

Promoting these new functions will be wireless prices that come down from the stratosphere. Look for wireless data plans to debut in 2003 priced about $15 monthly for 10MB of data, Nothhaft predicts. Monthly fees today run about $40.

"Wireless Internet only becomes ubiquitous when service plans are affordable," agrees Michael Gartenberg, research director at Jupiter Research.

Keeping Things in Context

Once wireless-data prices drift down, we will see a proliferation of location-based services married with relevant data, Gartenberg says. He envisions a car device that provides voice-enabled driving directions by pulling data from the Net, a PDA that offers automobile price comparisons because you're at a car dealership, or a cell phone that links to your bank account so you can tell whether you can afford that new projection screen TV.

Wristwatch maker Fossil is working on a PDA wristwatch that can connect to a cellular network. Along with PDA functions, the Fossil wristwatch will support text messaging so you can receive a message anytime, anywhere, via your wrist--no clunky PDA required, says Donald Brewer, Fossil's vice president of technology.

Microsoft has been tight-lipped about its network technology called Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT). However, at a recent technology conference, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates (news - web sites) teased the audience with a few hints.

In 2003, Microsoft will push SPOT technology that uses a wireless Internet connection to automatically update everything from keychains to refrigerator magnets to wristwatches with contextually relevant information, according to Gates. For example, Microsoft describes an alarm clock with an online link to an atomic clock and weather feeds so you know exactly what the time and weather are before you get out of bed. Gartenberg goes further, saying that by 2004 our daily routine will be filled with "smart objects" that have been enhanced with contextually relevant information.

In 2003 we may still be decades away from creating the kind of interaction between computers, the Internet, and people that is portrayed every summer by Hollywood. The ubiquitous Internet may not yet be real, but the new technology won't be boring.

[Pistol Pete]

Laurie, there are "go back" and "restore" commands for some MS versions but that's a Windows function. I've never known af a DOS command that resets the date and brings back the ".ini" files like before, but I got into DOS at the end of its everyday usage.

[shotglass]

In Win2K, go into the options while Windows is starting, one of the choices is 'Last Known Good'. If your friend has W98, reformat the hard drive and install Win2K, SuSE Linux, or buy a Mac.

[shotglass]

Hey Laurie, how did you date that post 02-02-03? JB?

[Laurie]

Thanks JB for setting it right. :)

And one of these comps has Win98 while the other comp has W2K. Shotty, I'll try doing the options thing on the comp that has W2K. I think I'll leave it to Sally to figure out her Win98 problem.


And hmmmmmm, don't know how that post skipped through to Feb 2?

[Laurie]

As laptops go, this one looks pretty cool.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apple Unveils Widescreen Laptop, New Web Browser



http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030107/wr_nm/tech_apple_dc_2


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. (NasdaqNM:AAPL - news) unveiled on Tuesday its biggest screen laptop yet, a faster wireless technology and a Web browser to compete with Microsoft Corp. as it tried to jumpstart sales by gaining new converts to its computer line.


The announcements, made at its semi-annual Macworld (news - web sites) exhibition, marked an extension of its strategy of winning over Microsoft Windows users by offering an array of software and technology dedicated to link music, video and other electronic gadgets.


Apple unveiled an aluminum alloy-clad notebook computer with a 17-inch screen, its biggest portable yet, as well as an Internet browser called Safari that will compete with Microsoft Corp's (NasdaqNM:MSFT - news) Internet Explorer.


The company also showcased fast wireless networking gear that works with the current WiFi standard, widely used in homes and in burgeoning public networks.


Apple has staked its strategy of building a "digital hub" for computers and other electronics in part on the success of its new operating system, and Chief Executive Steve Jobs (news - web sites) said the software, OS X, was running on more than 5 million Macs.


The Macworld conference is the company's preferred venue for introducing new products and its most cutting edge technology.


Jobs rolled out the 17-inch PowerBook laptop computer, which will hit retail shelves next month and cost $3,299, as well as a small PowerBook with a 12-inch screen for $1,799.


He said the 17-inch screen was big enough so that Apple users could give up their desktop computers, a comment reflecting a broad move toward portable computers noted by the computer industry at large.


Apple failed to deliver on hopes for a souped up iPod music player with video or mobile phone capabilities, but legions of Apple users gathered in San Francisco enthusiastically applauded new hardware and software releases.


"I read some of the rumor sites that said this is going to be the most boring Macworld in history," Jobs told the audience. "I guess you shouldn't believe everything you read."

[Laurie]

Music, Tech Groups OK Copyright Plans
By TED BRIDIS, Associated Press Writer

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20030114/ap_on_hi_te/downloading_music&e=1

WASHINGTON - The leading trade associations for the music and technology industries, which have been at loggerheads over consumers downloading songs on the Internet, have negotiated a compromise they contend will protect copyrights on movies and music without new government involvement.

Lobbyists for some of the nation's largest technology companies will argue under the new agreement against efforts in Congress to amend U.S. laws to broaden the rights of consumers, such as explicitly permitting viewers to make backup copies of DVDs for personal use or copy songs onto handheld listening devices.

"How companies satisfy consumer expectations is a business decision that should be driven by the dynamics of the marketplace and should not be legislated and regulated," the agreement said, according to one person who read parts of it to The Associated Press.

These companies, including Microsoft Corp., IBM, Intel Corp. and Dell Computer Corp., also will announce support for aggressive enforcement against digital pirates.

In exchange, the Recording Industry Association of America (news - web sites) will argue against government requirements to build locking controls into future generations of entertainment devices to make it more difficult for consumers to share music and movies. Technology companies have complained that the controls are too expensive and complex.

The agreement, expected to be announced Tuesday in Washington, attempts to head off government intervention in the rising debate over what consumers can do with copyrighted material they have purchased. The battle over copyrights, pitting Hollywood against Silicon Valley, has emerged as a central policy question for this Congress.

The agreement was negotiated among the RIAA, the Business Software Alliance and the Computer Systems Policy Project. The software alliance's members include Microsoft, Apple Computer Inc. and Adobe Systems Inc.; the policy project is made up of chief executives from IBM, Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Dell.

Officials with those organizations declined to discuss the agreement Monday in any detail, saying only that they had achieved "landmark consensus." Industry executives and others familiar with the agreement described its provisions on condition of anonymity for the AP.

The agreement politically isolates the powerful Motion Picture Association of America, which was noticeably absent from the deal's participants. The MPAA has aggressively supported new government requirements for built-in locking controls on new devices, such as DVD recorders. A spokesman for the group declined to comment.

The agreement could affect a proposal by Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., that would prohibit the manufacture or distribution of "digital media devices" — such as handheld music players — unless they include government-approved copy restriction technology. His bill's passage has been in doubt since the 2002 election, because Republican John McCain of Arizona replaced Hollings as chairman of the Commerce Committee when the GOP won the majority in the Senate.

The agreement also could affect fledgling efforts such as those by Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Rick Boucher, R-Va., to further define consumers' rights under U.S. laws affecting copyrights. Lofgren, for example, wants it made clear that consumers would be allowed to resell or give away music or movies they purchase, and would be protected if they deliberately broke anti-piracy controls that interfere with these rights.

Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., praised the agreement for helping to overcome what he said was the "growing rift" between the music and technology industries.

"I hope the rest of the creative and technological communities get on board with a unifying message and ... we can tone down the divisive rhetoric that has otherwise predominated many copyright and technology debates," Berman said in a statement.

[Freak]

Hmm..I have a question...

Say you have to use IE and are at a website looking at..oh..say...cars. There comes to be a page with say 20 pictures of "cars". Rather than open a picture, then hitting back all the time, you wish to open in a new window. How the hell in IE can you make it open the new window maximized? I hate it when I open in a new window and only see part of the "car's" lovely shape until I resize. What pisses me off more though is not being able to use Mozilla when I want instead of IE.

ANy clues? I have searched for a while, but I found nothing.

[Laurie]

Click the maximize button? :rolleyes:

[Laurie]

Orrrrrrr, right click the pic and choose "open link in new window?"

[Freak]

Originally posted by Laurie
Orrrrrrr, right click the pic and choose "open link in new window?"

thats what i mean...it wont open in a maximized window. Sure I can hit the maximize button...its just annoying to keep hitting it, lol

[JBMoney]

Originally posted by Freak
thats what i mean...it wont open in a maximized window. Sure I can hit the maximize button...its just annoying to keep hitting it, lol

There's something very distressing about this. :(

[Rguess21]

Me too, cause I don't find a key on my typewriter thingy labelled right click. :confused:

[Laurie]

Originally posted by Freak
thats what i mean...it wont open in a maximized window. Sure I can hit the maximize button...its just annoying to keep hitting it, lol


Find a porn site that's more user-friendly. :cool:

[Kimmy]

Originally posted by Laurie
Find a porn site that's more user-friendly. :cool:

now THAT'S funny:hehe: :hehe: :hehe:

[Freak]

smartasses....every last one of you! ;)

[Kimmy]

damn straight, Freak!

[shotglass]

Freak, there is a way to do that, but I don't remember offhand how it is done. I think it might be in the Tools>Internet Options area, something about remembering window size.

[Eagle3]

Originally posted by Freak
Hmm..I have a question...
What pisses me off more though is not being able to use Mozilla when I want instead of IE.

Freak, get the latest Netscape 7.01 build. Close enough to Mozilla. Get's you tabs, popup blocking and more. I only use IE when I absolutely have to.

[Freak]

thanks guys...
shotglass, i just found out that if you resize the new window, then open a new window from that window, then close the original ie windo, it remembers the new resize. pretty fuckin' cool of ms to do that. any it works good for me now.

Eagle, I have the latest build of mozilla, doesnt come with aol and real and all the extras. I am like you and mainly use ie when i have to, at work, and home playing that silly monkeylander game...seems netscape/mozilla is very jittery when i play it.

[Laurie]

Originally posted by Freak
smartasses....every last one of you! ;)



Better than being a DUMBass. :hehe:

[Freak]

OK...here is something I was wondering, and JB$ would be the one to answer I guess. With 48500+ posts, plus all the stuff on Bressler.org, how big is the server you own/lease? It must be pretty big. Other forums delete the real old stuff, but I can find some old stuff here. I was tooling around in the statistics page, but didnt see anything on how much stuff is actually stored. Just curious...

[JBMoney]

I am an internet packrat. For the most part, everything is still here. I rarely delete threads. Ocassionally I will go back and hack off a page full of completely useless stuff, but not enough to make a dent in the storage. When Stibroker's posts start getting really dated, maybe we'll start seeing some real savings.

I have two servers, Bressler.org and Bushwhacked.net (.org). In total I have 4GB of storage, and 40GB of traffic between the two. Bressler.org is Windows with a SQL database. Bushwhacked.net is Unix with a MySQL database.

On a regular basis, I don't really pay too much attention to how much I am using. I just wait for them to shut it off, and then deal with it. I've only ran over traffic on a couple of occassions back when the 'Page O' Hate' was a big deal. I was moving files all over the place to balance out traffic, even moving stuff to one of my client's servers (I have pretty much unlimited access to store stuff on five other servers, but I try to avoid it).

I almost ran into trouble last month for Bushwhacked. Some idiot pasted the attachment code for 32 pictures from the "Bush and Saddam" thread into a single email and sent it to probably a few thousand people. Every time someone opened the email, it opened 32 connections to the database (you might have noticed in early december that the board was returning a lot of errors). This created about 8MB of traffic in two days, and really fucked up the board stats because every attachment opened counted as a page view and a visitor. If you look at the country stats you'll see tons of arab cuntries. This is sorely innacurate, as none of those folks actually visited the board, and I may reset the whole thing.

As a result of that mess, you now have to be registered to see attachments in the Photoshop Forum and I may be adding some additional code to prevent future 'leeching'.

[Freak]

Originally posted by JBMoney
As a result of that mess, you now have to be registered to see attachments in the Photoshop Forum...

Actually, That is what sparked my curiosity. The other day I was on the wife's computer, looking at photoshop threads and thought "Wow, you have to download the attachments now?" before I realized I wasn't logged in.

Thanks for the info, keep up the good work.:thumbsup:
hmm...now where's that ass kisser icon?

[Laurie]

ISP Ordered To Reveal File-Swapper's Identity

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=75&ncid=738&e=6&u=/nf/20030122/tc_nf/20539

Keith Regan, www.EcommerceTimes.com

In a ruling hailed by some as a major victory in the recording industry's epic battle against online piracy -- but decried by others as a threat to Web privacy -- a judge has ordered an Internet service provider to turn over the identity of a voracious file-swapper to an industry group.

• Why We Need an Anti-DMCA Law
• Russian Firm Acquitted in Landmark DMCA Case
• Movie Industry Suffers Blow in DVD Court Ruling

U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates ruled that Verizon Internet Services must disclose the name of the individual, who used the Kazaa file-swapping service to download as many as 600 songs.

The Recording Industry Association of America (news - web sites) had asked the judge to force Verizon to honor a subpoena it served on the ISP seeking the swapper's identity.


Friendly Reminder

The RIAA has not said whether it will pursue criminal charges or civil action against the individual once it obtains his or her identity.

"We look forward to contacting the account holder whose identity we were seeking so we can let them know that what they are doing is illegal," RIAA president Cary Sherman said.


Big Chill

But the group may not have to pursue a case in order to have the desired effect, according to some legal experts, who predict that the ruling, even if it is overturned on appeal, may have a chilling effect on file-swapping.

"I think file-swappers operated under two assumptions, one being that they couldn't be identified, the other that no one would ever pursue them for what they were doing," University of Pennsylvania marketing professor Peter S. Fader told the E-Commerce Times. "At least one of those illusions has been wiped out, and potentially both of them."

Whereas many casual file-swappers had ceased the practice after the demise of Napster (news - web sites), Kazaa and other alternatives have been gaining more attention lately, and another wave of public adoption seemed possible before the ruling, Fader said.


Vowing To Fight

Verizon spokesperson Susan Cavender Butta told the E-Commerce Times that Verizon plans to appeal the decision, citing the need to protect consumer privacy and a potential "chilling effect" on other Internet uses, including exchanges of private e-mail.

In his ruling against Verizon, the judge set aside the ISP's interpretation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (news - web sites) (DMCA), which the RIAA had sought to use to gain access to the user's identity.


DMCA Battle Lines

The DMCA, long a point of contention for online privacy (news - web sites) experts and copyright holders such as music and movie studios, has been the subject of several major court rulings in recent months.

In November, the first-ever criminal prosecution under the law ended with the acquittal of a Russian software firm accused of publishing code to enable free downloads of Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE - news) eBooks (news - web sites). The movie industry also lost a battle when a court ruled it could not sue residents of other states in a case involving a Texas man who reportedly posted code for unlocking anti-copying software on DVDs.

[Pistol Pete]

I installed XP last night and cannot figure how to get the rest of the family hooked up to the internet on their names. Mine is the only one that has the same settings as before, but there wasn't this "separate account" stuff before I upgraded.

How can I copy or drag and drop my settings, and start menu, to their accounts. XP seems to have a lot of security things and no paperwork to explain them. All I want to do is setup their XP accounts like mine. It set me up as administrator, but there are several things we will all use the same.

Also, how can I make the folder views show details with one command that will do them all. I also noticed that XP doesn't show the little preview of pictures next to the file details in the folders. It seems to be either thumbnails with no details, or details with no thumbnails. ME had both :what:

[shotglass]

I am not familiar with XP, but I would think that while logged into your accout, you can change the privileges for the other accounts to Admin or Power User or something like that.

[Pistol Pete]

Well, I got the XP internet stuff all figured out but now need to setup the security for file-locking (got to keep the kiddies out of "special" files, ya know ;) ) The thing is, the "lacking" of instructions for doing so, sucks big time. The box for locking doesn't highlight. You'd think an administrator could just click and get the show on the road. But NOOOOOO, that's to easy.
Anybody know how to do file-locking in XP?

[shotglass]

Pete, your kids will get to that stuff no matter what you do. The thing I would suggest is for you to write it to CD and then delete it from your computer. Or encrypt them.

Hide the CD somewhere they won't look, like under the vacuum cleaner.

[JBMoney]

Originally posted by Pistol Pete
Anybody know how to do file-locking in XP?

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,687070,00.asp

[Pistol Pete]

Thanks loads, JB. I downloaded the zip file and will hash this thing out tomorrow. :)

[Pistol Pete]

I went ahead and installed that file-locking program and it works GREAT! That was just too simple. I don't know how XP's packaged locking system works, but I don't need it now.

Thanks:D

[Laurie]

Does anyone know how to reconfigure a router? As a matter of fact, does one need a router? We have a hub with 2 comps on the network.

[JBMoney]

If you are talking about your home set-up, it's likely you need the router (as long as it has at least two nodes), but not the hub.

[Laurie]

It is home. I'm having problems making a direct connection and was told it was my freakin' router.

[JBMoney]

ah... did you dangle the dongle?

[Laurie]

Ah, no. Can you show me?

[JBMoney]

I was kidding.

[Laurie]

So was I.

Blonde day?

[Laurie]

Does anyone know the MS-DOS command for restoring your system? I've done it a few times in the past, but for the life of me, I cannot remember. :what:

[Pistol Pete]

Originally posted by Laurie
Does anyone know the MS-DOS command for restoring your system? I've done it a few times in the past, but for the life of me, I cannot remember. :what:

sys c:

[shotglass]

No no no, Pete, it's

format c:

[Pistol Pete]

Originally posted by shotglass
No no no, Pete, it's

format c:

:evil:

[Laurie]

Format C ??

Cool, I'll try it. Thanks! :thumbsup:

[JBMoney]

format deletes everything... i'm just sayin'

[Laurie]

:rolleyes:

[Laurie]

Yeah, I know. I found the command searching PC World. I was just typing that in when I noticed Shotty's smartass post. So I thought I'd play with him a bit. ;)


it's scanreg, btw :)

[Laurie]

I was wrong. It's not scanreg, it's scanreg restore. As if it matters anyway. It only goes back 5 fucking days.

At any rate, it seems to have fixed itself. Amazing from a MS product. :what: :nuts:

[Kimmy]

I've gotten 2 emails in the past 24 hrs with this message:

file attachment: height.pif

This e-mail in its original form contained one or more attached files that were infected with the W32.Klez.H@mm virus or worm. They have been removed.
For more information on Road Runner's virus filtering initiative, visit our Help & Member Services pages at http://help.rr.com, or the virus filtering information page directly at http://help.rr.com/faqs/e_mgsp.html.


My question is, who has the virus? Is it mine or someone that happens to have my email address in their system? I found a common link with the first one I got. I haven't found it with the second one.

[Eagle3]

I have the hardest time explaining Klez to users, but I think you're already close to understanding it.

When someone is infected with klez the virus will e-mail itself to users in the infected computers address book. The trick with klez is, instead of using the infected computer's e-mail address as the sender, it picks names from the address book.

Basically, your name and the sender's name are in someone's address book that is infected. The second e-mail very well could have come from the same person as the first. Who do you know that has all three addresses in their address book?

[Kimmy]

I don't know about the third.. but I can find a couple of common links between the first email and my address at work\

thanks, Eagle

[shotglass]

This is funny. To me it is, anyway....

http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/99aug/9908elements.htm

[Laurie]

FYI-Internet Worm Targets Microsoft Windows (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/washpost/20030812/ts_washpost/a46233_2003aug11)

[Texan]

Within the past 2-3 weeks I had dl'd some security updates from microsoft and I guess it gave me the protection I needed from this worm because when I went to the MS site tonight to check for updates it said there are no critical updates I need.

Has anyone else tried to install the "patch" for this worm from the MS website? If so, what was your experience?

[Freak]

my friend got hit, and i installed the patch after removing the worm. so far it seems to be ok. he has to do other windows updates, but he is on dial up and it is a pain to get the other updates now...

[Bucko]

Originally posted by Kimmy


My question is, who has the virus? Is it mine or someone that happens to have my email address in their system? I found a common link with the first one I got. I haven't found it with the second one.

Kimmy, they have the virus. Your email server caught it before delivery and removed it. What your seeing is the message the email server is sending you saying that it was removed and who it was from.

[Bucko]

Originally posted by Texan
Within the past 2-3 weeks I had dl'd some security updates from microsoft and I guess it gave me the protection I needed from this worm because when I went to the MS site tonight to check for updates it said there are no critical updates I need.

Has anyone else tried to install the "patch" for this worm from the MS website? If so, what was your experience?

I have it installed and didn't have any problems. I'm using XP Pro.

[Texan]

Originally posted by Bucko
I have it installed and didn't have any problems. I'm using XP Pro.


Me too....XP Pro.
Guess it was worth it to dl that stuff a couple of weeks ago. :)

[Eagle3]

Here's an excellent removal and patch all in one tool from Purdue. I've added it to our login script at work and fixed/protected 300 user workstations in one morning. :)

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~johnso04/rpccleanup.htm

[Texan]

Thank you, eagle. (I have saved the link)

You were like one big giant condom protecting 300 people, eh?;)

[shotglass]

Anybody else ever had this problem?

Using IE6, and if I right click a link and try to open it in a new window, all I get is the frame of the new window, nothing else. Worked fine yesterday. Regular surfing is fine still, but any new window is acting up.
Maybe one of the updates I got from Microsquish did this? :shrug:

Netscape is not having this problem. Guess I'll keep using it.

[Peckable]

Originally posted by shotglass
Netscape is not having this problem. Guess I'll keep using it. Sounds like gremlins to me. Have you installed the SP1 cumulative patch for IE6 that came up a day or so ago? I did this morning, no problems with it so far... can't say that's always been the case though :mad:

[Princess PeiPei]

Does anyone know if there is a way to change the color of the folders in Windows?

[Freak]

There used to be a registry hack in windows to allow you to change folder icons, but I can't find it anywhere. I even looked on my HDD back up last night. There are some programs you can buy that will do it. NeSoft has one I think. I did find this last night though:

How to Change the Default Icons for Folders in Windows XP

SUMMARY
You cannot customize the default icon for a folder in Windows; however, you can make a shortcut to a folder and change the look of the shortcut icon.
MORE INFORMATION
To make a shortcut to a folder and change the look of the shortcut icon:
Open My Computer and browse to the folder that you want.
Right-click the folder, and then click Create Shortcut. If you are prompted to place the shortcut on the desktop, click Yes.
Right-click the shortcut you created, click Properties, and then click Change Icon.
Click the picture of the icon you would like the shortcut to use, click OK, and then click OK.
No Icons Available
If you click Change Icon, and there are no icons available, use the Browse button to find Shell32.dll:
Right-click the shortcut you created, click Properties, and then click Change Icon.
Click Browse, type %systemroot%\system32\shell32.dll in the File name box, click Open, click the icon you want to use, click OK, and then click OK.

[Princess PeiPei]

Thanks Freak. I'll give it a try.

[shotglass]

Find the folder icon and Photoshop it to the color you want, leaving it named folder.ico or whatever it is.

[Freak]

Originally posted by shotglass
Find the folder icon and Photoshop it to the color you want, leaving it named folder.ico or whatever it is.

Actually, i think the folder icon is some dll type file. additionally, i don't think photoshop will change *.ico files, you need something like microangelo to do that.
:nerd:

[shotglass]

I need to reformat a hard drive from NTFS to FAT32.

[Freak]

do you need to save data? if so, the easiest way is use partition magic. if you dont need to save data, just use fdisk or windows s/u discs and you can choose fat32.

[Pistol Pete]

While doing things on the computer, I've become an avid fan of listening to AOL Radio, in particular, "Movie Scores".
Do any of you know how I can record the scores as they are being played? The music is already "in" the computer, so I figure there must be a way to send that same signal to making a file. I'm running XP. Is there a second-party program for doing that? Does XP already have the ability?

[Kimmy]

Does anyone know what these exe files are? My computer acts like it's sick when they're running, but is fine when I shut them down. I've run adaware and spybot, both updated, and they don't find it. I deleted #1-6 and rebooted... then it created 7 and 8 and I was having trouble again. Any suggestions?

[Kimmy]

Ok, I've found out it's a Trojan. Barb gave me a link to a program that Eagle recommended. It's still going through it's paces, but I think it's gonna fix it. Thanks, guys.

Stinger (http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/)

[Eagle3]

Stinger's a good tool and they update it often.

Completely unrelated.... does anyone have an internal DVD/RW drive in their computer? If so, which one and how do you like it?

[shotglass]

I have an HP Pavilion a330n, came with the DVD+R/RW CDRW combo drive. Do I like it? ;) Damn right I do. I have made back-ups of my DVDs, so that I can leave the good discs here at home when I go on vacation or something like that. If you're going to get one, and you're going to back up your DVD movies, get DVD X Copy Platinum, well worth the money. :thumbsup:

One of my DVD players has a little trouble reading some of the discs I make, but the other one reads them fine. I don't know if that's because I use the rewriteable discs or what.

[WARTHOG]

Originally posted by Laurie
I have a technical question, and at the same time thought I'd start a thread for people who may have questions regarding technical issues. Any and all questions could be posted here, and in that way those questions can be searched easily in the future, if needed. :)

Also, if you find an interesting article regarding anything technical (like the thread I started about Internet 2003, which I'll now be merging), post it here. Sort of an "encyclopedia-ask-bressler" sorta thingy going on.


Here's my question.......

Does anyone know the MS-DOS command with which you restore your hard drive back to a date in which it was operable (or functioning with all the correct files?) :hehe: I've done this a few times in the past, and could have sworn the command was "restore." I was sadly mistaken when I attempted to fix a problem on a friends computer over the holidays. I now know of 2 computers where this little command would come in handy.

I don't know if someone got to this for you or not, but the way to set your registry back is to restart and immediately push F8. Then you want to go to command prompt, then enter scanreg restore and set your drive back a couple days, that should fix you right up.

of course, now that I have read further into this thread, I see you figured that out for yourself, so just continue to ignore me as I seem to be a bit behind.

[shotglass]

Saw a news blurb this morning, but can't find a story anywhere. 321 Studios had a judgement against them, so DVD X Copy could wind up off the market soon. 321 Sudios is going to appeal under fair use laws, but it looks like the Hollywood crowd has bought them another judge.

Get your DVD X Copy while you can.

[shotglass]

Has anyone installed SP2 for WinXP yet? I'm getting reboots since I had to start from scratch a few weeks ago (with CDs I got from HP, the system didn't do that before). I've checked for Blaster, among other things, but so far as I can tell it's not virus/worm/Trojan related.

[JBMoney]

Did you check the event viewer for error messages?

[shotglass]

Sent you an email with screen caps.

[JBMoney]

Originally posted by shotglass
Sent you an email with screen caps.

Good luck with that. :cry:

Send it to the contact email for the forum (bottom of page).

[shotglass]

Got the email, JB. Thanks a bunch, I'll follow the instructions when I get home and give you an update.

[STIBROKER]

OK ....this is starting to piss me off.....there are some site's that my comp will not load the grafic's....I have cleaned out everything and have run window washer, scan disc , defrag....shut down and reboot...sometime's it work's sometime's it don't....here recently more than less......SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT'S GOING DOWN.....I hate red X's.....

[Sideout]

Dude, I know you like windows 3.1, but I think it's time for an upgrade... :laugh: :Poke:

[STIBROKER]

Originally posted by Sideout
Dude, I know you like windows 3.1, but I think it's time for an upgrade... :laugh: :Poke:

thanks for your help.....dickhed

[Sideout]

Is it always the same site that does it? Without knowing the speed of your connection or the speed of your machine and stuff like RAM it's hard to tell. It's possible that a site like that is on a slow connection itself or is taking more traffic than it can handle and times out before all your graphics load. Other Micro$oft apps display red x's when they don't have enough memory availble to display the graphic itself, but I would think that IE uses them as placeholders for graphics that it hasn't downloaded.

[STIBROKER]

OK...now were talking....some site's yes ,some no.....like mel's site X's, some e~mail's x's......but bressler's no....klbj no....

cable connect....

[STIBROKER]

and.......

[Sideout]

well...92mb is cutting it pretty close for RAM - if you have anything else running while you're browsing, you could easily run into problems there. My experience with Win98 machines is this - first, you've got to be running 98 SE (second edition) or you're gonna have troubles (I don't remember which your's said) and second, even a 98 SE install starts out running really well, but over time starts to develop lots of little problems. It always got to a point where we had to reformat/reinstall to get things running again. If your machine can't handle XP, 2000 is a nice way to go - a whole lot more stable, but you'd want some more RAM either way.

[STIBROKER]

well I put in an additional 128 of ram along with the 90 that is already in and the damn thing is still spitting out red X's on most site....(but not this one) as well as some e~mail's.....JB.......any tip's on fixing this pain in the ass.......

[Sideout]

Now you've got the RAM, you can upgrade! Put Win2K or XP on that puppy :cool:

[JBMoney]

Originally posted by Sideout
Put Win2K or XP on that puppy :cool:

yup

[Freak]

One often overlooked thing with the red x's is IE's security settings. Maybe yours are set a little too high for some sites? I had this problem at work and when I lowered the settings, no more red x's. Not sure if it will help you but just a thought.

[STIBROKER]

Originally posted by Freak
One often overlooked thing with the red x's is IE's security settings. Maybe yours are set a little too high for some sites? I had this problem at work and when I lowered the settings, no more red x's. Not sure if it will help you but just a thought.

man ....I have everything set to low......I think it is time to upgrade 98.....but do not think this old MB can handle XP....


IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO HAS A WINDOW'S SE OR 2000 THEY DO NOT WANT ANYMORE....CAN NOT SEEM TO BUY IT AT BESTBUY.....

[JBMoney]

Originally posted by STIBROKER
WINDOW'S SE

:sure:

[Freak]

I *think* I can hook you up with a 2000 pro. I'd have to check. I know I have 98SE around, but why would you want SE? Or do you mean Me, which I also have. ME sucks though.

[STIBROKER]

I think if I run an upgrade on this system it will fix some error's that I have on this old ass system....will prob. buy a new compaq next week and will give this one to the wife to type invoce's on and check e~mail....CAN YA HELP A BROTHER OUT.....

[JasmineDreamz]

Originally posted by Freak
I *think* I can hook you up with a 2000 pro. I'd have to check. I know I have 98SE around, nut why would you want an SE? Or do you mean Me, which I also have. ME sucks though.

ME is the Devil!!!
:evil:

[Freak]

Yeah JD, it is evil. Tru dat as my homies would say.

Stib, let me know what you want, that way I can know what to look for.

[STIBROKER]

Originally posted by Freak
Yeah JD, it is evil. Tru dat as my homies would say.

Stib, let me know what you want, that way I can know what to look for.

2000......ifn' ya got it.......

[shotglass]

http://www.johnkerry.com/videos/console.php?video=050204_lifetimead#050204_lifetim ead

This is an ad from the John Kerry website, and I want to get some screen captures from it. Can anyone tell me how to do it? Gadwin doesn't pick up the video part.

[STIBROKER]

http://www.johnkerry.com/videos/console.php?video=050204_lifetimead#050204_lifetim ead

This is an ad from the John Kerry website, and I want to get some screen captures from it. Can anyone tell me how to do it? Gadwin doesn't pick up the video part.

do you mean like this.....

[shotglass]

do you mean like this.....
Yes, and that's about the exact scene I'm looking for. How do ya do it?

[Sideout]

pause and screen cap - too bad it's streaming, the quality of the still sucks pretty bad.

[shotglass]

Tried that. Gadwin print screen utility is what I use, and it didn't work.

[Freak]

Just pause and hit the "Print Screen" key, then paste into your local photo editing program. That worked for me. Don't use the Gadwin thing for it. :what:

[STIBROKER]

hit prt scrn......now from there you have two option's .....I keep my photo manage program open and it auto pop's up ...OR you can open your photoshop program hit print scrn and then hit the paste tab in there.

[shotglass]

OK, thanks y'all. I'll give that a try.

[STIBROKER]

OK....looking to buy this system....what do you guy's think....or should be added......

[robb]

OK....looking to buy this system....what do you guy's think....or should be added......

To much money for that system. Watch slickdeals.net for an HP or Dell with a 17" flat screen. eMachines are the suck.

[shotglass]

I've got an HP a330n with a DVD+RW drive that will no longer read DVD or CD discs. I've tried Restore back to a time when I knew it was working, so it doesn't seem to be my settings. Anybody got any ideas? Good diagnostic programs? I will call Tech Support if I have no other choice, and when should I decide my drive simply gave up the ghost?

[Smeeagain]

I've got an HP a330n with a DVD+RW drive that will no longer read DVD or CD discs. I've tried Restore back to a time when I knew it was working, so it doesn't seem to be my settings. Anybody got any ideas? Good diagnostic programs? I will call Tech Support if I have no other choice, and when should I decide my drive simply gave up the ghost?


Had a similar prob years ago. Turned out to be a quarter that "Nobody" put in my drive. If you're faced with installing a new drive, it's not that difficult, check out newegg.com. I find that they ALWAYS have the best prices and great reviews. :)

Heres a list of current dvd+rw's listed by BEST RATING (http://www.newegg.com/app/searchProductResult.asp?DEPA=0&bop=and&submit=Go&description=DVD%2BRW&Range=1&InnerCata=5&Order=rating)

[Freak]

OK...I have wasted about 5 hours on this one tonight. :nolike:

Anyone know the basic connection for a cable modem, lynksys hub, with 2 computers? Crossover cable or no? Seemes like whichever computer powers up first, that's the one that connects, the other doesn't. Any clues?

[KrzDefKat]

Is this what you're looking for, Freak? Hope it helps. :)

Step-by-step Networking (http://www.wown.info/j_helmig/guide.htm)

Some FAQs about LinkSys. (http://www.dslreports.com/faq/linksys)

[Freak]

Thanks KDK. Turns out that the setup my provider uses, along with my set up. requires an additional IP. Go figure :nolike:

Anyway, I bought a router and it will work, rather than pay the provider an additional $5.95 a month for another IP.

[KrzDefKat]

I'm having a problem with Windows Media Player. Installed the latest version, but my system claims I'm not connected to the 'net. I uninstalled, then re-installed, but I get the same message. Must be something I'm overlooking.

RealOne and QuickTime work fine. Any suggestions? :)

[shotglass]

Do you have a firewall installed, like Zone Alarm?

[KrzDefKat]

Not at the present time, just Norton. Windows 98SE, IE 6.0.

[Pistol Pete]

Not at the present time, just Norton. Windows 98SE, IE 6.0.

It's entirely probable that the latest Media Player won't work with 98SE. Microsoft wants you to get the most recent operating system for their plug-ins. I've got Media Player 9 and it's intended for Windows XP. The registers (thoughts) are different between the systems.

[KrzDefKat]

Hmm, never thought of that. Funny it would let me install it at all, then, without saying I'd need something better than 98SE.
An upgrade is out of the question at this point, so I guess I'll see if I can dig up an earlier version of Media Player.
Thanks Pete. :cool:

[Pistol Pete]

No problemo. I hate change for the sake of change, but sometimes the bastards won't give an inch.

[Mando]

Question? I have one of those HP all in one office printer, scanner, fax, copier thingy ma bobs. On a new machine I built a few months ago I keep on getting an error message stating that the media card reader can’t be found. Thing is, the computer reads it fine? I have uninstalled the drivers and re-installed them to no avail. Any other ideas?

[Pistol Pete]

Question? I have one of those HP all in one office printer, scanner, fax, copier thingy ma bobs. On a new machine I built a few months ago I keep on getting an error message stating that the media card reader can’t be found. Thing is, the computer reads it fine? I have uninstalled the drivers and re-installed them to no avail. Any other ideas?

Go to Microsoft and download the latest drivers for your thingy. I've had to do that.

[shotglass]

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp

You can get WMP 7 there, KDK.

[KrzDefKat]

:D Why, thank you, kind sir. *curtsies*

[Freak]

Does anyone have a program they use to find duplicate files on their computer? There are tons out there, I can find many. Any one stand out in particular? Any one to avoid?

[STIBROKER]

sorry I posted this in the ipod thread my bad....SO..........is there a way to burn all your e~mail's to cd.....looked for it but could not find the file......

[robb]

sorry I posted this in the ipod thread my bad....SO..........is there a way to burn all your e~mail's to cd.....looked for it but could not find the file......

What program are you using for email? If it is MS Outlook, look for a file ending in .pst usually it stores your emails in there.

[STIBROKER]

What program are you using for email? If it is MS Outlook, look for a file ending in .pst usually it stores your emails in there.

outlook yes.....all I see is DLL AND TMP FILE....

[JBMoney]

^
||
Outlook Express (Not Outlook)

[STIBROKER]

is that not outlook express...........

[Bucko]

yes it is.

Do a drive search for *.pst Like Robb said that should be your mail.
From the picture it looks like your just looking in that directory for it.
I can't remember off the top where the default location is for outlooks (or expresses) pst so you need to do a search.

[RicardoHead]

Does anyone have a program they use to find duplicate files on their computer? There are tons out there, I can find many. Any one stand out in particular? Any one to avoid?
Freak, don't know any software, but you can search for common extensions that you normally use (say *.jpg) and then sort the results by file name and look for dupes to delete. Most files created are jpg, xls, doc, mp3, bmp, mpg, avi, etc.

It's what I would do.

[JBMoney]

is that not outlook express...........

http://bushwhacked.net/bits/wof.jpg

[KrzDefKat]

Freak, I usually go to CNET and read their reviews. Found this while there; free trial. Hope that helps. :)

http://noclone.net

[robb]

STI, I don't have Outlook Express on my PC, but here is a good Microsoft article on how to backup your mail files:

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;270670&spid=2578&sid=78

[Freak]

Thanks RH and KDK, i'll try both suggestions. probably a mix of both would do what I want to accomplish. Thanks!

[STIBROKER]

ok....I have been holding off on up dateing xp's serv. pack 2 because of many horror story's Ive heard....has anyone not had problems......

[cuda]

Firewall or no firewall? What's the deal with Firewalls these days? Does it slow down the computer or just the connection? Will it ruin my online gaming? Does anyone here run a firewall and have any problems gaming or connecting on the web?

There's a free version of Zone Alarm I was thinking of installing, if all went OK, I would drop the money to buy the full version. Any input? Should I bother?


:shrug:

[cuda]

Anyone but STI can feel free to reply... :p

[JBMoney]

Firewall or no firewall? What's the deal with Firewalls these days? Does it slow down the computer or just the connection? Will it ruin my online gaming? Does anyone here run a firewall and have any problems gaming or connecting on the web?

There's a free version of Zone Alarm I was thinking of installing, if all went OK, I would drop the money to buy the full version. Any input? Should I bother?


:shrug:

Yes. I dunno maybe $50. No. No. Yes and no/no.

Yes.

Safest (and most cost effective) thing to do would be to get a router (get wireless for expandability) and a software firewall (like Norton, Zone, etc).

[cuda]

Yes. I dunno maybe $50. No. No. Yes and no/no.

Yes.

Safest (and most cost effective) thing to do would be to get a router (get wireless for expandability) and a software firewall (like Norton, Zone, etc).


okee-dokee. :thumbsup:

[Peckable]

okee-dokee. :thumbsup:If you're not firewalled, you're butt-neked in cyberspace. Run this utility by Steve Gibson (https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2) to see how vulnerable you might be at this moment. I've been using Zone Alarm for years (the free-bee version). In addition to the hardware firewall my router provides, it's good enuf. I still run that ShieldsUp site once in a while for the hellofit.

[JBMoney]

Not to have a router OR firewall these days is just plain nuts. Firewall would be the priority.

[Sideout]

That's right....even XP SP2's built-in firewall works quite well, though it can be a pain in the ass if you're not a local admin on your box. If you're on cable or DSL, you've gotta have that router out there to hide your machines behind. Your machines get non-routable IP's that can't be accessed from outside unless you specifically set up the router to do it. They're so cheap now, even as low as $30 and you get the added bonus of plugging multiple machines in and sharing your internet connection with no hassle. But, please do yourself a big favor and when you get that router all hooked up....change your admin password on the router ;)

[robb]

If you are not behind a router and do not have a firewall installed. You have about 10 minutes of online time before you get hit by a worm.

If you are on broadband:

1. Get a router
2. Install antivirus and keep it up to date
3. Keep your patches up to date.
4. Think about a personal firewall (I do not run these at home, but I do on my work laptop)

If you are on dial-up:
1. Install antivirus and keep it up to date
2. Install a firewall such as the free version of zone alarm
3. Keep your patches up to date.

I have only been infected by a worm once (and my wife did that through email) in 8 years of broadband connectivity. An easy way to see if you are infected by a worm is to see what your computer is connected to. From a DOS window or command prompt type 'netstat' you should see less than twenty or so connections. If you see hundreds to all kinds of addresses, chances are you have a worm on your computer, and it is attempting to infect others.

[Pistol Pete]

This isn't a "help" question, just a curiosity. JB, do you use a DSL, cable, or T1 line for your site? I'm curious since you get so much business and the site trucks right along.

[JBMoney]

This isn't a "help" question, just a curiosity. JB, do you use a DSL, cable, or T1 line for your site? I'm curious since you get so much business and the site trucks right along.

You realize it's not sitting here next to me, don't you?

The reason it probably does so well is that it's one dedicated server with this site, Eagle's site, a Cigar shop, and Barb's images. Your average personal site is probably sharing a server with a hundred or more other sites.

[Pistol Pete]

Thanks for clearing that up for me, JB. I did think you had the server at your home.

Next: How many of you computer geniuses out there know XP in and out? My computer has been corrupted to the point where even the Diskclean doesn't work anymore. I put in the XP disk and looked at the various options but don't know if the 'Update' option is what I need to fix the problems, since it says it won't delete personal files and settings. I have trouble believing that claim. I originally did a clean install with XP Home Edition from a zeroed-out HD. I don't want to have to move shitloads of personal files and settings to my secondary disk and then try to put them back where they belong. (which doesn't always work with settings the way you'd like them to if you don't know exactly where they were to begin with)
I have Norton Firewall & Antivirus.

My kids have done things on here that I have no idea how they did it, and neither do they.
Please help.

[Seaman Stains]

The best way to to keep any puter running well is not to let kids anywhere near the bloody thing! :laugh: When was last time you manualy defraged it? Just because it's set to defrag itself on auto doesn't mean it gets done, impatient kids and others often cancel 'boring' maintianence opperations like defrag or even anivirus download so as not to slow down their game or internet surfing! Is you anivirus updated every day or just every fortnight (2 weeks) You should be running both anti-spyware and anti-adware especialy if kids use it, your puter is probably chock full of crap!
I reckon ya gunna have to save all ya stuff n' start again.
You should set up an administrator/ user system where by only you (admin) have the password to change things or access files that could damage the system

[Pistol Pete]

I already have all those things including the password protect. I need to know if there is anything I can do with the XP disk to fix things without starting over.

[Seaman Stains]

I already have all those things including the password protect. I need to know if there is anything I can do with the XP disk to fix things without starting over.
Well I reckon the quickest n' easiest thing to do is blow it's brains out (reformat) n' reinstall XP then go out n'buy a second puter for the bloody kids to wreck! :laugh:

[Ty]

Next: How many of you computer geniuses out there know XP in and out? My computer has been corrupted to the point where even the Diskclean doesn't work anymore. I put in the XP disk and looked at the various options but don't know if the 'Update' option is what I need to fix the problems, since it says it won't delete personal files and settings. I have trouble believing that claim. I originally did a clean install with XP Home Edition from a zeroed-out HD. I don't want to have to move shitloads of personal files and settings to my secondary disk and then try to put them back where they belong. (which doesn't always work with settings the way you'd like them to if you don't know exactly where they were to begin with)
I have Norton Firewall & Antivirus.


First of all, get rid of norton, always screws my puters up, slows them down a lot, course thats just my opinion. Next do a spyware scan, I suggest ad-aware.
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5
And have you tried something like TuneUp Utilities 2004? Can work wonders and they have a 30 day free trial download.
http://www.tune-up.com/

Then if you still have problems, start uninstalling programs, if you don't know what they are then use google, helps a bunch. If you have any of those add-on eplorer bars, like yahoo search bar and others, get rid of them also, at least I would, can cause significant computer instability, especially if you have more than one bar installed, they tend to try to be the dominant one and fight for power. Of course nothing can beat a full format and reinstall and it might just be easier. :what:

[Eagle3]

Try Microsoft's AntiSpyware Beta (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx) I've used it on a few PC's in the office and it's found a lot of stuff Adaware and Spybot miss. It stops working after another 186 days, but hey, if it get's you clean today who cares.

[Pistol Pete]

Thanks guys. I believe I'm going to move all wanted files to D-drive and do a clean reinstall. I've tried all kinds of things but nothing works to fix the problems. I know the boys have deleted program folders they didn't want anymore instead of uninstalling the programs. I'm sure that has something to do with it. I tried using the XP disk to fix the registries but got a looping black screen of DOS death for a while. Then I had to put the original lame video card back in because the monitor would shut down after 20 seconds because, according to a screen messege, it was out of frequency.
After I get it all back to normal I'm burning a ghost DVD of the system for any future problems.

[d41]

I had to format my C drive. Works great now. :D

[shotglass]

New Scientist.com (http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18524846.200) - RIPPERS and burners with an eye for design have a new way to smarten their image. Disc writers that can print images onto the label sides of the discs will hit the market next month.

Burning movies, songs and images onto CDs and DVDs is easy, but labelling the discs is still a fiddly business. Writing on them with a felt-tip pen or chinagraph pencil is simple but looks scruffy. You can print an image onto a circular label with a normal printer and stick it to the disc, but these labels can come unstuck and jam in a disc drive. More recently, special printers that print directly onto a disc's label side have come onto the market, but the process isn't very user-friendly.

The new system, called LightScribe, aims to change that. It uses discs whose label sides are coated with a light-sensitive dye that darkens when exposed to the laser beam in a specially designed disc burner. The make-up of the dye is a closely guarded secret, says LightScribe launch manager Kevin Jefcoate.

Once you have burnt your music or video onto the blank disc in the usual way, you create your label design on your computer using a graphics program supplied by LightScribe. Then you flip the disc over, and the recording laser burns the image onto the blank label side as the disc rotates. The result is a high-quality monochrome image on a coloured background. The first discs will produce a black image on a gold background.

The rest of the story. (http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18524846.200)

[jillamanda]

Why, why, why?????? :cry:
Why is it that all of a sudden, I can only save images as bitmaps??? It doesn't matter what sort of image it is, the only choice I get is a bitmap!!! Have I done something to my settings? :sure:

[Barb101]

Jilly, go to this link. That should help. :)

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810978

[jillamanda]

Thanks Barb - your diagnosis was spot on!!! It's fixed :)

[STIBROKER]

little help here please.....mozzilla will not show jpg's on this site and this site only....other sites the grafics work but not on bressler's........IE works on bressler's but mozzilla....what do I need to clear......

[JBMoney]

God Bless You Mozilla :thumbsup:

[Sideout]

God Bless You Mozilla :thumbsup:

JB, he said he doesn't see them...we still have to :rolleyes:

:Poke:

[JBMoney]

JB, he said he doesn't see them...we still have to :rolleyes:

:Poke:

You must not have gotten the new Stibroker Plugin for Firefox yet.

[Sideout]

You must not have gotten the new Stibroker Plugin for Firefox yet.

Crap...I'm behind the times again :what:

*Googles*

[STIBROKER]

ok.....its cool.......first and fore most sti says to himself... don't ask anyone here......some how you ended up in a blocked httl whateva file......

[JBMoney]

Under: Tools | Options | Web-features:

Load images <- check this
for the originating website only <- uncheck this

[DirrtyDevilDog]

JB, I just wanted to say that I have been an avid viewer of you website for quite some time now. I find both informative and highly funny at the same time. Others at my command, just don't see the news in your website since it's not a brand name. So I've had to secretly look at it during working hours. I must say that it's always worth the risk and can always be something to look forward to during the day. So thanks.

[JBMoney]

Thanks. I was starting to think no one was watching. :thumbsup:

[Eagle3]

FYI

Microsoft AntiSpyware To Remain Free

.....
One item of interest was Microsoft's first foray into fighting spyware, Windows AntiSpyware. Since the beta release, many have wondered whether or not the tool will remain a free utility, or is Microsoft going to start charging for it. Thanks to Geek.com, the concern about AntiSpyware remaining free has ceased.

According to their article, Bill Gates announced at RSA that Windows AntiSpyware would remain a free tool. Because of the surprising effectiveness of WAS and Microsoft's newfound passion for eliminating spyware, allowing their tool to remain free is an effective step in reducing the amount of malicious code contracted by numerous users.

"Customers are concerned about the risk malware poses to their personal information, and frustrated by its impact on the reliability and performance of their computers," Gates said. "We are responding by making security easier and more cost-effective for Windows customers, helping to protect millions of people who are vulnerable today."

......

Article (http://www.webpronews.com/news/ebusinessnews/wpn-45-20050217MicrosoftAntiSpywareToRemainFree.html)

[Pistol Pete]

I want to capture a goofy web page on e-bay but haven't had much luck. I selected all and then pasted in Word as a web page layout but there are broken sections to the graphics and other odd things like, icons that look like little paper scrolls and gray lines separating various sections. It looks like a template.
What do I need to do to get a clean copy just like it looks on e-bay? Screen capture isn't an option because those are just multiple JPGs without scrolling ability.

[STIBROKER]

I want to capture a goofy web page on e-bay but haven't had much luck. I selected all and then pasted in Word as a web page layout but there are broken sections to the graphics and other odd things like, icons that look like little paper scrolls and gray lines separating various sections. It looks like a template.
What do I need to do to get a clean copy just like it looks on e-bay? Screen capture isn't an option because those are just multiple JPGs without scrolling ability.

whats the link to the site.......

[Pistol Pete]

whats the link to the site


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=324&item=5559365386&rd=1

[STIBROKER]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=324&item=5559365386&rd=1


is this big enough for ya......or were you wanting the whole top to bottom thing....could be done with a seiries of jpg's......

http://s2.excoboard.com/forums/4859/user/34264/132112.jpg

[Pistol Pete]

is this big enough for ya......or were you wanting the whole top to bottom thing....could be done with a seiries of jpg's......

I don't want JPGs. Those I can do myself. I want a copy of the full screen just as it looks on e-bay. I'm sure it's a formatting problem. What I did get into Word acts like a website because the buttons work. My Word file for this is an HTM.
I know e-bay will pull it as soon as they figure out it's a joke.

JB! Help!

[STIBROKER]

I don't want JPGs. Those I can do myself. I want a copy of the full screen just as it looks on e-bay. I'm sure it's a formatting problem. What I did get into Word acts like a website because the buttons work. My Word file for this is an HTM.
I know e-bay will pull it as soon as they figure out it's a joke.

JB! Help!


man yer on yer own...

[JBMoney]

right click - view source - copy and paste to an html editor (or notepad and save it with an html extension)

or get this..

http://www.httrack.com/

[RicardoHead]

Okay, maybe I'm an effin idiot, but I just clicked the link to open it in IE, then did a file-save as, saved it on my desktop, then to be sure I unplugged my ethernet cable and double-clicked the html file on my desktop, and there was Pete's webpage in all it's full glory without web access.

I can easily convert the page and directory on my desktop to work on my personal site if I want too.

So what am I missing in this request?

[Pistol Pete]

Thanks folks.

Sti, I didn't meant to sound ungratefull. I don't know squat about some of these things.

Thanks, JB. That's a help.

RH, it's not my webpage, unless you got the picture from my HD.

And Barb, thanks for the e-mail.

[JBMoney]

RH is right. In IE if you save as a "web page, complete" it saves the html page and then places all the images into a separate folder on your hard drive. This will display all of the images when you pull up the local copy of the page, plus or minus any banners pulled from other sites using a random script (may or may not work).

If you do my copy and past thingy, any images that have a relative link instead of an absolute link, will not display when you pull up your local copy of the page. You would have to edit the link to the image (if you planned on leeching).

[Pistol Pete]

OK, here's another perplexing thing. When I go out to get the Java Virtual Machine, I get this page no matter where I try. Microsoft.com is a wash, also. I recently reloaded XP and apparently there's no Java with XP and I need it for various things to work on-line.
If the dang kids hadn't corrupted my computer I wouldn't be going through this.

[shotglass]

Bill Gates is stealing someone else's ideas again....

New York Post online. (http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/42431.htm) - Parents may be able to use a bit of magic in the future to locate their loved ones, all thanks to Microsoft and an unlikely inspiration — Harry Potter.
Researchers from Microsoft's Cambridge office in Britain are designing a "clock" that, instead of telling time, uses global-positioning-satellite technology to pinpoint the location of family members.

They've got a few possible designs for the Family Awareness Clock, including one that has a "hand" for each person and points to places like "home" or "work" to show each person's location.

[Pistol Pete]

What are the formats that CD players read? I've got music files that are 'wav', 'mp3', 'wmf'. I've got converters for some others also but don't know which ones work with the players.

I want to compile CDs that will play in my players.

[Freak]

Pete, you mean a plain ol' CD player? I believe it is *.cda

[shotglass]

Pete, you mean a plain ol' CD player? I believe it is *.cda

Yep. Unless you have a newer player that will read multiple formats like .mp3, .wav, etc.

[Pistol Pete]

Pete, you mean a plain ol' CD player? I believe it is *.cda

Yeah, just a plain ol' CD player. Like in your house or car. What's 'cda' associated with?

[robb]

What are the formats that CD players read? I've got music files that are 'wav', 'mp3', 'wmf'. I've got converters for some others also but don't know which ones work with the players.

I want to compile CDs that will play in my players.

Most of the CD Burner programs like Nero and Roxio have options to burn an audio CD. The burner software will do the conversion from MP3 and WAV to uncompressed CD format. Don't know about WMF formats.

It you just convert the songs to CDA and burnthem to a disk, I don't know if it will work.

[Pistol Pete]

Thanks guys. I think I'll go with the Roxio. I've had two burners that came with Nero and both of them quit burning. Besides, the Nero that comes with a burner doesn't have many options. I believe Roxio has a package that has a good editor. I sure need one that will let me tweak each channel separately before I make a finished copy. The Nero I have makes you do both channels at once. These are old recordings on tape that I need to clean up and make digital. If you've had any experience with Roxio, let me know.

P.S. I mentioned a 'wmf'. I meant a 'wma'.

[Pistol Pete]

Here's a tip for when certain things happen with your computer.

Twice, my computer has gone through a series of not booting up and then, for a long spell, looping the boot. The standard info would sometimes come up in the top-left corner but then the screen would go black. Sometimes it would make it to the Windows screen or even to the 'Sign In' screen. Finally, it went black and stayed there. The first time it happened I didn't know what was going on. I then discovered several power capacitors had blown due to a loose main power cable connection. I replaced them through carefull removal and the computer worked fine for many months.

A couple of days ago I had the same problem again, though not from a loose connection. Actually, I don't know what this latest occurrence was from. At first I thought the power supply had gone south, but that wasn't it. I found that one of the capacitors that I hadn't replaced before was 'bulged' on the top as were the previous ones. Capacitors should be flat on top. The bulging shows a capacitor has blown. I replaced it this morning and now everything is working again. The problem could have been from a spike during a thunderstorm or one of my cats farting, I really don't know. Around here, a storm can pop up and you don't know about it until you hear the 'BOOM!'

Anyway, look for bulged capacitors when this problem occurs. It saved me from buying a new computer. The cost for repair: About 30 cents and a tiny amount of solder.

[Pistol Pete]

DSL was installed today. And, after a long and laborious endeavor, it's working.
The disk sent with the installation kit didn't work for shit. However, a friend brought over his 3-year old disk and I got connected. Go figure.

What I found afterwards was, my sound files and the audio on movie files, SUCK! They sound like a small spaceship in a bucket: Very tinny with low volume. I checked my sound settings and they weren't changed from before and the Sound Blaster card still shows as the only one installed. Nothing that I can imagine by installing DSL should have messed with my unrelated files.

What could have caused the sound change by installing DSL? Something had to have made the change. The files were fine 2 days ago and I have several old sound files to redo.

And, how do I make that internet button on the keyboard go directly to AOL like it did before for the change? Now it goes to Yahoo.

This sure is a pain in the ass for just a change in speed. :fbomb:

[shotglass]

Not sure about your sound files, but your keyboard buttons should be easy. Go into the Control Panel and select Keyboard. Then choose the Buttons tab, and make changes to the individual buttons as desired.

[Pistol Pete]

Not sure about your sound files, but your keyboard buttons should be easy. Go into the Control Panel and select Keyboard. Then choose the Buttons tab, and make changes to the individual buttons as desired.

Thanks for the info.

Now: My wife had to sign onto my Windows name in order to access the internet and then, when she went to Bressler, it was under Pistol Pete. She couldn't get on under her name. I created a sub-account on SBC-Yahoo for her but don't know if that will work for her since I did the creating. We want the internet to go directly to AOL instead of Yahoo but so far that hasn't happened. I have to click on a Yahoo 'Connect Manager' and then close Yahoo and go somewhere else. This is becoming a four-star mess and I've still got three people to get up and running. I just want everyone to be able to get on the internet and do their shit without any problems.

[RicardoHead]

Okay I've had this happen before and fixed it, but am drawing a blank. I know it's easy, but XP's helpscreen is useless for me on it too.

My Start Button/Quicklaunch/Clock bar was at the bottom of my screen. Somehow I inadvertantly dragged it to appear on the left vertical. I want it back on the bottom. No can do for some reason.

Please HELP.

[shotglass]

Click on a blank area of the taskbar and drag it down to the bottom. Should be a .7 second operation.

Left click on the Start button and choose Properties. Click the Taskbar tab and make sure you didn't check the 'lock taskbar' button.

[RicardoHead]

Thanks Shotty. I actually did it in .6318 seconds. Funny, I did that maybe 10 times before and got nowhere, so I tried other things and gave up baffled because dragging/dropping is what I thought I did before. Sometimes I don't trust the mousepad part of this laptop.

[Kimmy]

My boss is wanting to buy a laptop for his daughter and asked me to find a deal. I know nothing. He asked about a Centrino chip. I know nothing. Point me somewhere helpful, please

[JDub]

Centrinos came out in 2003 I believe, so they are already becoming dated. You need a Celeron. There's a few numbers here at Dell (http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/notebooks?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn) that should fit the bill. Some of them can be had for $6-700 after rebate. I'd be tempted to pick one up myself, but good ole eBay keeps my mobile computing needs satisfied. ;)

If that's still a bit high price wise, you can always look at Dell's refurbs, they are generally dependable machines. Worst case, you can always check eBay and keep me in a job. :D

[Kimmy]

thanks :Peck:

[robb]

Even before I became associated with them, I always thought the IBM Laptops were by far the best available. I have had many of them, and they are very durable. They used to be a little more expensive, but if I was spending my own money I still would buy one.

The Apple iBooks are also nice and I am thinking about getting one for my wife.

By all means, make sure you get a name brand tier 1 company like IBM, Dell or HP. It really makes a difference in a laptop. As far as speed, in my opinion on a laptop, anything over 1Ghz is fast enough. Try and get as much memory and as nice a screen as you can afford.

[shotglass]

What about a Toshiba?

[RicardoHead]

Senores y senoritas, I have a question.

I routinely (like every day or two) am in my cookie directory deleting all the bullshit cookies that appear, leaving a stash of about 100 cookies that I think should stay because they are for newspapers or whatever. I don't wander too much anymore from the sites I normally visit, but still I get shitloads of cookies dumped onto my machine for a wide variety of sites that I've never been to (like MTV for example) and will never go to. I believe a lot of these come from all those shit ads that appear on some sites.

Is there a way to block all the ad cookies but allow the necessary ones that belong there because they are for sites I visit enthusiastically (like Bushwhacked/Bressler, Yahoo, Foxnews, TeenTwats.com, Mensa)? Justa wondering.

[Ojive]

TeenTwats.com?
Wow that is a cookie I'd like to eat, Yum Yum RH :thumbsup:

[Sideout]

Most modern browsers have three levels of cookie settings: Don't accept any - Accept all - Accept only from the originating site. The last one is the setting you want to avoid getting the ad cookies set. If you're still using internet exploder...I'm sorry...there's probably a way to do something like that with internet zones or something harder than it should be :cool: (it's under Internet Options/Privacy)

Also, some browsers such as Firefox have exception lists where you can add your favorite sites to be exempt from the cookie restrictions.

[JBMoney]

Just add the sites you want as trusted sites in IE.

[Pistol Pete]

I need to add my phone number to a foreign business site. What is the number formula for USA phone numbers? ie:011-?-?-?-? I'm not even sure '011' goes with the USA. My local phone book only gives number systems for other countries.

Thanks.

[RicardoHead]

USA and Canada are 001-areacode-XXX-XXXX

[Pistol Pete]

Thank you very much. Now I can order that talking rubber dog shit. :p

[RicardoHead]

Thank you very much. Now I can order that talking rubber dog shit. :p
Those are made in China you know, Pete.

[Pistol Pete]

Today:6/23/05, we have been pounded by 'Yield Manager' ads even with no browser going. They stack up 5 to 6 deep. I have cleaned the cookies and temp files. I ran Ad-Aware and looked for any illegal programs that might have been installed but they keep popping up. I've had a dozen while writing this. I also keep getting a Norton warning about 'winlogon.exe'. It wants me to permit.

Does anybody know WTF is going on here and how I can fix it?

[bodean]

Yet, another question. I have tried to install xpsp2... no success... I have tried disabling my anti-virus, adware-spyware blocker. I have tried going into safe mode with the phone line dis-connected. I have tried everything that I can think of... There has to be a setting somewhere that doesn't allow me to download it. I have the cd from MS. I always get the same result... "Access Denied". I am running microsoft xp home...1.80ghz W/celeron cpu verson 2002 SP1... 512 mb of RAM. Oh yeah, it's a Dell. Any ideas or thoughts? or am I just fucked? :( Help me, help me please.

[shotglass]

Are you logged in as Administrator?

[bodean]

yep, I am the one and only person using this computer.

[RicardoHead]

Someone please help me turn this idiot feature off. When I am looking for a file in a directory Windows produces this annoying "bubble" that tells me information about the file that is either highlighted or that my stupid mouse might be hovering over. I rarely read this shit, but it covers up the other files so when I want to look for something, I'm constantly having to keep my mouse and cursor in motion. It's another idiot feature that that buttass Gates and monopolistic henchmen decided everyone needs, but I don't, like that shitheaded paper clip. There's gotta be a way to turn it off but I can't find it because I don't even know what it's called. I hope to God I don't have to do this directory by directory.

Below is an example.

[RicardoHead]

Nevermind, idiot boy found it on his own. Thanks.

[Pistol Pete]

We were given a new Dell 17" LCD monitor, E173FP, and I need some tech advice.

The viewing is con-cave from all 4 directions, the alaising really stands out, the on-screen adjustments don't function (it just comes up and stays for about 10 seconds and then goes away) and at 1024X768 it has the clarity of 800X600. I tried it at 1280X1024 and it still sucks. No curved lines are smoothe, like a CRT is. Even vertical and horizontal lines have shadows. I downloaded the latest driver from Dell but nothing has changed. Is it a MHz scan problem or what? It looks about like an old DOS screen.

Do all LCDs look this lame and, what can I do, if anything, to fix the appearance?

[Peckable]

Well, at least you now know why it was given to you. :idiot:

Bhaddump-Bump

Seriously though, have you tried hooking it up with another system? See if it behaves the same way?

[Pistol Pete]

No, it was given in good faith. An anniversary present.

I don't have another system to hook it up to. My video card is a killer-diller. I'm guessing this is the way LCDs perform. At least, this is what they look like on other people's computers I've seen. Our company 'Network Nazi' told me LCDs will never be as sharp as CRTs. I think he's correct.

Here's a screen-shot of this. I have no idea what it looks like to you but I'll check on my work monitor to see if it's jagged.

[Peckable]

It don't look bad from this end... but I overall agree with your network nazi about LCD appearance... more or less why I've never gone with a LCD (other than what's on my notebook PC). At least for graphics work. But you might try this ClearType tool from Big F'n Bill
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearTypeInfo.mspx
It might help improve the appearance of text on screen for you...

Oh and... Happy Anniversary PP :thumbsup:

[shotglass]

Maybe you can get an HD LCD for your computer. Bressler.org oughta look pretty good in HD on a 42" screen. :p

[Pistol Pete]

Peck, that did make the fonts a bit better. Thanks.

And thanks for the congratulations.

[Freak]

My company says that I need a PDA. Maybe it is because my desk has about a thousand sticky notes in the drawers, who knows? I have no idea about them, although I know I would use it if I did have one. We use Dell for PDA's. The ones they use are here. (http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/compare.aspx/handhelds?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz&~ck=mn)

I was told to pick one and we'll order it. The one that that seems to be more common is the 624Mhz version of the X30.

Since the guys here like their own for various reasons, I thought I would check here. Anybody use any of the Axims?

[Pistol Pete]

OK, Im stumped on this one.

Last week my Quicktime just quit working. I uninstalled it and re-installed (3 times), and when it gets to the "Finish" button, I get an MS error messege that says whatever I had going is now shit and didn't work. I installed the "latest" version, 7, but of course it's really 6. Each time, I get the same MS error and can't view anything on Quicktime/iTunes.

Any ideas? Anything?

[Ether_Elemental]

i get the same problem with my computer and personally i think its just quicktime being a little shit and not wanting to work with firefox. has anything been changed recently? un/installed or something like that?

[RicardoHead]

About a week ago every time I log into my MyYahoo! homepage or hit home to the MyYahoo! page it returns the following message:

We've detected that the My Yahoo! page cached on your machine is out of date.
Click here (http://my.yahoo.com/) to continue to My Yahoo! with a fresh page.
Click here (http://login.yahoo.com/) to sign in as a different user.
At first I figured whatever and refreshed the cache but it does it every time, regardless of if I change usernames or not, and it just started doing it. Anyone know why or what setting somehow became hosed?

[RicardoHead]

PC World's 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time (http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,125772,pg,1,00.asp). Had to laugh at the one that topped the list ... :thumbsup:


The Complete List of Losers
America Online (1989-2006)
RealNetworks RealPlayer (1999)
Syncronys SoftRAM (1995)
Microsoft Windows Millennium (2000)
Sony BMG Music CDs (2005)
Disney The Lion King CD-ROM (1994)
Microsoft Bob (1995)
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 (2001)
Pressplay and Musicnet (2002)
dBASE IV (1988)
Priceline Groceries and Gas (2000)
PointCast (1996)
IBM PCjr. (1984)
Gateway 2000 10th Anniversary PC (1995)
Iomega Zip Drive (1998)
Comet Cursor (1997)
Apple Macintosh Portable (1989)
IBM Deskstar 75GXP (2000)
OQO Model 1 (2004)
CueCat (2000)
Eyetop Wearable DVD Player (2004)
Apple Pippin @World (1996)
Free PCs (1999)
DigiScents iSmell (2001)
Sharp RD3D Notebook (2004)

[Pistol Pete]

I can vouch for #1 & #4. They both suck. My computer came with Millenium and it would dump itself at any time for no reason. AOL does the same thing and I don't intend to pay for another year of it. I used to fly a piece of shit Cessna 150 that would fall out of its own propwash during a turn. They all have something in common.

[Pistol Pete]

One of my kids really screwed up this computer about a week ago. He loaded (without my permission) FireFox and now the machine bails out after 30-seconds of video. I un-installed the damn FireFox. I ran Spybot and Ad-Aware and two other tracing programs 4-times. They found lots of shit and deleted them but nothing has changed in performance. It still reboots without warning. I found multiple shit in various places. The Windows Media Player now reboots the computer. When I do a Disk Clean the number is always 31,081 even on a reboot after the cleaning. It's obviously been hacked and I was told today two network Nazis that FireFox has some bugs that allow hackers in. I found that the Windows Firewall & Anti-virus notifications were turned off even though they show to be on. The System Restore doesn't work!

So, here's the $64 question: can I use the XP disk to fix the bad parts only, without deleting the settings of the IE favorites, my internet connections, Office, Autocad, etc?

This thing reboots by clicking just about anything. I can't even use my Photoshop! :cry:

JB, I need input.

[JBMoney]

Sounds like you have pretty regular problems with that rig, and the best action possible, short of a new PC, is to wipe it all and start from scratch (or swap the hard disks, do it, and save the other as back-up).

I seriously doubt Firefox has anything specific to do with your problems.

I found that