URLs from 7/25/06

Windows Media components for Mac Quicktime

URLs from 7/18/06

Troubleshooting Windows XP Shutdown issues

Mac OS X: Viruses and Security

Here is an interesting post on Macs and Viruses from Symantec's site. The most salient point I want people to get:

"Simply put, at the time of writing this article, there are no file-infecting viruses that can infect Mac OS X."

That's a pretty amazing track record considering OS X was initially released in March of 2001. We often debate on the show about the state of Mac virus and malware threats. In my not so humble opinion, the only reason to have antivirus software at this time on a Mac OS X machine is to prevent spreading them to Windows users (and even then, it would have to be done manually by the user!).

URLs from 7/11/06

Invalid System Disk error help
---more help

Stand-alone installer of Windows XP Service Pack 2

Error Loading Operating System Message When You Restart Your Computer During Setup

PC Anywhere preventing Welcome Screen in Windows XP

Even Microsoft loves the new Macs ;)

Listeners may remember me saying the only computer to buy for a new student is an Intel based Mac because it can run Windows and the Mac OS. This picture show even Microsoft agrees with me. :)



This picture is a demo of Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 running on a Macbook Prop. Now THAT'S a ringing endorsement. More info can be found here.

Everyone, please have a safe and happy Independence Day!

URLs from 6/27/06

Windows 16 bit subsystem error: Microsoft Knowledge Base Article

Java download: Click Here

French iTunes update

Adding markers to MP3- Search for "adding markers tp MP3" on Google or Go to go to www.versiontracker.com and search for "mp3 editor"

PageOverCommit error with Windows 3.1- This error only occurs when you have over 256 Meg of RAM. It is related to virtual memory and swap file space. Below are some sites that talk about the problem:

• http://kb.iu.edu/data/abqq.html
• http://kb.iu.edu/data/abpe.html
  
• http://www.windowswarrior.com/winsys.htm
• http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MMER-3XRMZG
• http://miataru.computing.net/windows31/wwwboard/forum/11742.html
  

MPC laptop screen backlight intermittent- Check your warranty as it's probably a loose cable- MPC Support

New variant of beagle virus

USB flash drive not being read on Mac with 10.2.8
--Try reformatting the flash drive on a windows computer
--Newer versions of the OS solved some compatibilities

Windows XP performance on a Macintosh using Parallels Workstation

Try Office 2007 on the web, without installing it on your machine

Microsoft has made available a web based "test drive" of Office 2007. It is radically different in terms of interface, so if you use it you may want to check it out this way- no fuss, no muss, no installation of beta software!

You can check it out here.

URLs from 6/20/06

How much performance gain is there having matching memory modules on a MacBook Pro?
--Look below the charts about 3/4 down the page.

Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close

Ebay Acquires Skype (last fall)
--http://www.skype.com/

Moqvo is a provider of RSS based social media technology.

Stumble Upon: Helps you find web sites

iMac power LED colors

Keeping favorites from AOL

XP's No-Reformat, Nondestructive, Total-Rebuild Option

This is a great article from Techweb that describes how to rebuild, repair, or refresh an existing XP installation without destroying anything. Oddly, Microsoft has kept this somewhat under wraps. It is a wonderful complement to our earlier post about fixing XP in eight easy steps.

The article can be found at this link. I recommmend printing this out and keeping it for future use (use the "Print This Story" option at the bottom).

URLs from 6/13/06

Safari Debug make Mac Safari act like Windows Internet Explorer

Limewire - Is it safe? Is it legal?
--Other possible sites:
--Pandora - Neat music web site
--Myspace.com
--Download.com

Windows Vista System Requirements

We discussed this on the show to day and I was too low on the processor requirements. I mentioned the bare minimum requirements. Here are the main specs you need to it to run Windows Vista capably:

• 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor.


• 1 GB of system memory.


• A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero (direct X 9 capable)


• 128 MB of graphics memory.


• 40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space.


• DVD-ROM Drive.


• Audio output capability.


• Internet access capability.

Here are the bare minimum requirements:

• A modern processor (at least 800MHz).


• 512 MB of system memory.


• A graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable.

There is more information at this link.

Windows Vista Beta now open to the public

Microsoft has made the beta version of Windows Vista available to the general public. You can find information by clicking here for the 32-bit version. If you want the 64 bit version, click here.


Please make sure you back up your data before installing! It's a BETA for a reason!

URLs from 6/6/06

Parallels Desktop for Macs - allows you to run Windows on your intel based Mac
--UPDATE: the final price is $79.99, but $39.99 if you pre order.

Apple II introduced June 5, 2006

Bandwidth speed test

People stuck in glass elevator in the new New York Apple store

Turning off Java Script in Windows Internet Explorer:
From the menu, choose: Tools -> Options -> Advanced then uncheck the debugging option

Repairing windows XP with 8 commands

Macromedia Breeze: on behalf of a listener, we'd like to hear from anyone with experience working with this software in a University setting.

QT: an alternative to Apple's Quicktime for Windows

Apple offering free iPod Nano to students with the purchase of a new Mac

If you purchase a new Mac and a 2 gig iPod Nano, you can get a $179.00 rebate (the cost of a 2 gig Nano from the Apple Education Store). Other iPods are eligible too, but the maximum value of the rebate is $179.00 According to the rebate form, faculty members and staff are eligible too!

More information can be found here.

URLs from 5/30/06

Corrected URL: Repairing Windows XP with just 8 commands

Windows Vista/Office 2007 Beta signup

Missing hal.dll file help:
--from Microsoft
--from PCSupport
--from Computerhope.com
--from 5starsupport.com
--from compphix.com

OTAP Website is now back up!

VLC Player for multimedia

Windows Defender anti-spyware

Dayton Microcomputer Assocation Linux SIG InstallFest this weekend

Where to buy or inspect Mac products:
--Mac Depot in Kettering
--Weingarten Gallery in Fairborn
--Kenwood Apple Store
--Easton Town Center
--also CompUsa and MicroCenter have some Apple products, though sales staff deal more often with PCs

Snakes on a Plane

URLs from 5/23/06

Dell Laptop Backlight/Screen repair:
--fonerbooks.com
--laptops.home
--daileyint.com

Slow downloading of emails in Windows 98:
--bandwidth speed test
--check system requirements with what you have

Getting rid of old computers:
--donate to schools
--Goodwill
--Otap community recycling programs
--Butler County programs

Removing Norton

New Apple Store

New Apple Laptop

URLs from 5/16/06

Disabling Search indexing in Windows -- choose #41

Microsoft Office Service Pack 2

iPod Battery level indicator

New Lithium iPod Battery packs

Aurora removal tool

Stinger Virus removal

Switching to Linux:
Linux users group at Dayton Microcomputer Association
Reasons to switch to Linux:
--ReallyLinux.com
--TuxMagazine.com
--Oreillynet.com

ISASS Virus removal:
--This is such a complicated topic that we hve prepared a separate post on it.

ISASS Virus Removal/LSASS.EXE

A caller on 5/16/06 described a Windows problem which may (or may not) be the ISASS virus, a/k/a or related to the Sasser worm. He kept getting a 'file missing' message.

Note that there is a real, needed Windows program spelled "lsass.exe". The first letter of the genuine program is a lowercase 'L'.

The virus uses an uppercase 'i' and is written "Isass.exe". The confusion is undoubtedly deliberate on the part of the virus writers.

So we're not certain if the caller has the virus, or is actually missing a used resource.

See the other comments below. Here is Guy Moore's analysis:

Tips on this virus

Another source

Also after removing the Sasser worm users need to do Windows updates. There was a Windows patch that protected computers from this problem.

Using Stinger to remove viruses on Windows based computers:

1. Download the Stinger removal tool using another computer

2. Put Stinger on a floppy then write protect the floppy.

3. Boot in safe mode and choosing the DOS option which I hope will boot OK.

4. Switch to drive A: by typing:
a:
then hit the return/enter key

5. Run Stinger by typing:
stng260
and hitting the return/enter key
Note: In this case "stng260" is the name of the Stinger application. This name may change so look to see what its name is when you download it.

6. Let it scan and clean up the problems

7. Remove the floppy

8. Re-boot hopefully it will boot properly

9. Check for Windows updates right away. Some of these things have had security updates that protect you from them.

Also -- here is a message sent too late for inclusion in the show, from Shawn M.:

"For the lass.exe missing file. I would use the XP installation disc and use the "Repair" windows option. This should reinstall the corrupt or missing file, without losing current files on the HD, , , Great ShoW!!!!"

Finally, we heard from the original caller, Mike O., who had the 'file missing' message:

"I found what I was doing wrong when I could not create the 6 XP boot disks. I now have the 6 disks. My error was that I thought the download from windows would create the disks. That was wrong. A program is downloaded which when executed creates the 6 disks. Got the answer via my son who is kinda a nerd, and he asked me a simple question. (What are you trying to load -- the download program or the program output?) God Bless the American school system."

URLs from 5/9/06

Email Quota exceeded on Road Runner account

LCD Monitor reviews for a Macintosh
--23-inch
--30-inch

Spyware: "theguardservices hijacked my default web page":
--Afterdawn.com
--Spywareinfo.com
--Castlecops.com

Reset Open Firmware in Mac OS X:

1. Start up into Open Firmware by pressing and holding the Command-Option-O-F key combination during startup.

2. At the Open Firmware prompt, type: reset-nvram

3. Press Return.

4. When prompted for your password, enter it and press the Return key.

5. It responds OK.

6. At the Open Firmware prompt, type: reset-all

7. Press Return.

Use PC Hell for problem

Removing learned words from the Microsoft Word dictionary:
--In recent versions of Word buttons there's a Modify... button when you click on the Custom.dic in Tools | Options | Spelling and Grammar | Custom Dictionaries.

URLs from 5/2/06

iTunes pricing resolved it will stay 99 cents

Napster.com is free again with a web based player

Bogus virus article- It was a trojan and was not in the wild (carried by lots of sources)

Hijacked web page

Choosing a wireless card

Setting up a wireless home network
PCmag.com
PCstats.com
Microsoft.com

Mac OS X Apple Mail deleting mail from server:
--Go to the "Mail" menu and choose "Preferences"
--Click on the "Accounts" icon and click on your

Deleting words from a custom dictionary in Microsoft Word for Windows:
You can go the official route: Tools > Options > Spelling & Grammar > Custom
Dictionaries > Modify.
Highligh and delete the words you want to remove