URLs from 1/31/06

Many questions about basic video editing in Windows XP this week:

• PC Magazine review
• Two callers recommended Pinnacle Studio
• Check recommendations at VersionTracker and VideoGuys
  
• A writer recommended Adobe Premiere Elements (smaller cousin of Premiere Pro)
• Windows XP SP2 has a free basic movie editor, MovieMaker
  
• Recommended: a very big, fast hard drive; at least 1 gig of memory; FireWire on your camera and PC
  

URLs from 1/24/06

Problems copying video DVD: listing of software that will copy DVDs

A reported LSASS error is probably the "sasser" virus (worm).
The LSASS application is a legitimate part of Windows
Description of the sasser worm
Sasser worm removal tools: Stinger; Symantec
WMUB's information about viruses and spyware

Windows 2000 will not shutdown it restarts instead

Playing Windows video files on the Macintosh:
Flip for Mac replaces Windows Media Player for the Macintosh

Mplayer

VLC Player

URLs from 1/17/06

New Apple Laptop with Intel processor

New iMac with Intel processor

Troubleshooting Windows XP Wireless Networking Problems

Microsoft stops developing Windows Media Player for the Mac. See alternative below.

Alternative for Windows Media Player for the Mac (Flip for Mac). Plays windows media files in Quicktime.

Floppy not working in Windows XP.
Try booting from a floppy to make sure that the disk drive is still working.

HPOSM Fatal Error: solution 1; solution 2
-- Also, try reinstalling drivers for any HP products that you have

URLs from 1/10/06

CNet's commentary on the new federal law against 'annoying' anonymous email

Microsoft's patch on its newly-identified security vulnerability

Flash and animated adds on web sites

Scenes from San Francisco's MacWorld convention

Zoo Tycoon and Empire of the Ages cursor problems

Finding drivers for old S3 video card

WMF Graphics Vulnerability Windows 2000, XP & 2003 Server

URLs from 1/3/06

UPDATE: Microsoft has released a patch for its recently announced security vulnerabilty. Find it here.

A 'severe' security flaw was discovered in Microsoft's Windows in late December, 2005.

Problems opening an AVI file in Windows -- from Bryan Powell
Another approach -- from Guy Moore

Mac running slow working with audio files; another source

New Windows security hole called 'extremely critical'

UPDATE: microsoft has released a patch for the vulnerability described below. Find it here.


URGENT: December 31, 2005: a 'severe' security flaw has recently been discovered in Microsoft's Windows operating system. Microsoft has not yet released a patch. According to the Washington Post,

"A previously unknown flaw in Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system is leaving computer users vulnerable to spyware, viruses and other programs that could overtake their machines and has sent the company scrambling to come up with a fix.

"Microsoft said in a statement yesterday that it is investigating the vulnerability and plans to issue a software patch to fix the problem. The company could not say how soon that patch would be available."

Find out more in this Washington Post article from December 30, 2005, and a similar article in PC World.

URLs from 12/27/05

Here is a link for a tutorial to install the Sony Cybershot driver (to allow mounting of camera on desktop):
Also, to check to see if the machine has not been assigned a drive letter, do the following:
1. Right click "My Computer."
2. Select "Manage."
3. Click on "Drive Management."
4. Look in the local drive list and see if it is showing up and has a drive letter. If it is showing up but has no letter assigned to it, right click it and select "assign drive letter."

Uninstalling Norton 2004

Problems importing CDs into iTunes

Worst computer related ideas of 2005:
New security ID law
CNet's Top 10 Worst Ideas
PC Magazine's 10 Worst Products
And let's not forget Sony's disastrous CD encryption scheme

Aspi corrupt in Windows XP

Earthlink SMTP Server #1
Earthlink SMTP Server #2

URLs from 12/20/05

Happy Holidays from the Help Desk!

Quicktime to fix the Mac OS 9 Classic Mode Quicktime:
If the computer will boot in OS 9 and has a broadband connection. I would boot into OS 9 and run the software update control panel. If that does not work I would try downloading Quicktime from this URL.

If this does not work send us an email: helpradio-AT-wmub.org -- Guy Moore

Mac OS X 10.3.9, the following message comes up when booting

"The volume for 'Serial Port Monitor' cannot be found"

The Serial Port Monitor is part of the Palm desktop in Classic mode. Probably is coming from Classic mode that is starting when booting. Try turning classic off using classic System Preference and make it so that it does not start when you boot. If that makes the problem go away when you boot then we know it is coming from classic mode. If you are not using the Palm software I would just remove it. Here is the URL for removing the Palm software.

Finding help via user groups

Users groups are great to help you with your computer. Here are some in WMUB's listening area:

1. Cincinnati PC users
2. Dayton MicroComputer Association
3. AppleSiders

URLs from 12/13/05

Christmas Lights display in Mason (now inactive)

BandwidthSpeedTest and InternetFrog.com speed test

Firewall information for OS X

Users groups are great to help you with your computer. Here are some in our area:

1. Cincinnati PC users
2. Dayton MicroComputer Association
3. AppleSiders

Spyware error message concerning DSO Exploit (from Bryan Powell):

What is DSO Exploit?
If you use Spybot Search and Destroy or another spyware removal tool, it may find an item called DSO Exploit. This exploit is a bug in Internet Explorer that under certain circumstances would allow untrusted software to run on the computer. In other words, its a hole in Internet Explorer that hackers could use to gain access to your system.

However, if you are running the latest version of Internet Explorer and have all your Windows Updates installed, the bug has been patched and is not a threat to your computer system. Even though Spybot may still show it as a threat.

How do I Remove DSO Exploit?

If you have the latest Internet Explorer version and all your Windows Updates, you can safely ignore the DSO Exploit as a potential problem when Spybot Search and Destroy or other spyware removal tools discover it. However if you would rather fix the exploit so it does not show up again, follow these steps to edit your Windows Registry. Please be careful however, incorrect changes to the Windows Registry can cause Windows to not boot.

1) Make a note of the location of the exploit shown in Spybot, something similar to:

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1614895754-73586283-725345543-500\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0\1004!=W=3

2) Click on Start, Run, and type REGEDIT and Press Enter to open the Windows Registry Editor

3) Find the location of the exploit above in the registry by clicking on the pluses(+) next to each title

4) After opening the Zones section and clicking on '0' look to the right window, under 'name' is the key '1004' and the type is REG_SZ simply right click and delete this REG_SZ value.Then right click and create new>DWORD Value, name it 1004, then right click on that and goto modify, give it the Hex Value of 3, Click ok.

If there is only a DWORD Value for the key (in this case 1004), then double click on the key and change the HEX value to 3 and click Ok.

5) Close the Registry Editor and Reboot your computer

6) The DSO Exploit should now be removed and it should no longer appear in the Spybot Search and Destroy log as a problem.

URLs from 12/6/05

Dapsol dialer

Review of eight different anti-spyware products

Computer certification glossary

Grape iMac (and finding out how it is configured)

Memory for Old Grape iMac

Installing RAM in old Grape iMac- select which speed model you have

Anthony.zip -- Virus Mass mailing worm - w32.beagle.cq

URLs from 11/29/05

Apple Broadband Tuner

Testing your network speed

Programs that allow you to securely delet files and securely erase the hard drive
--Listeener Steven from Dublin, IN had this followup: "There is a free program called "Darik's Boot and Nuke" available from sourceforge.net. I am not an expert but have been told this is very good. . . it is available in versions that boot from either floppy or CD-ROM. One problem with this type of program is that a doing a complete erase takes a long time. Normally this is not an issue unless there is a need to get rid of the PC immediately."

Used Macintoshes for sale

Used Mac prices

'Gifts for Geeks and Others' + URLs from 11/22/05

Bryan Powell's suggestions for holiday gifts:
X-Box 360
Moto Razr V3i (RAZR with iTunes software)

Wayne Stone's suggestions:
1) TiVo video recorder for your TV or cable
2) Upgrade your TiVo with a much bigger hard drive; they even tell you how to find your model -- pretty cool
3) Build your own PC! -- or a gift certificate
4) CNet's holiday gift site is a favorite

Cleve Callison's suggestions:
1) Mini flash memory drives by Cruzer and other makers
2) Recommend Canon cameras, Pixma series printers, and camcorders for quality & value
3) iSkin protective coverings for the iPod line (also other manufacturers)
4) Multi-format (memory stick, Compact Flash, etc.) USB card reader for under $10
5) Westinghouse digital big screen (DVI interface only) for around $229 (recommended by MacWorld). Note Bryan Powell's suggestion to buy a DVI monitor even if your computer has the older VGA output; you can buy a VGA-to-DVI converter, and your monitor will still work when and if you upgrade your computer.
6) iTrip LCD FM converter for iPod -- broadcast iPod tunes to your car radio
7) EyeTV EZ USB 2.0 TV receiver -- convert cable TV signals to your Mac
8) Stocking stuffer: can of compressed air to keep keyboards clean
8) QX5 Computer Microscope -- USB interface to your computer to view and control images ($80, recommended by MacWorld)

From Guy Moore:

Finding the right memory:
http://www.ramjet.com/
http://www.techworks.com/
http://www.crucial.com/

Recording your cassettes and LPs:
http://aroundcny.com/technofile/texts/tec060803.html
MAC - http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,116507,00.asp
Windows - http://www.cyberwalker.net/columns/feb02/150202.html

DVD Regional Coding

Countries that use PAL

Geek Gifts
Portable XM Satellite Radio
Sandisk Cruzer USB Flash Drive

Lots of stuff at the following URLS:
http://www.extremetech.com/category2/0,3971,720064,00.asp
http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,4148,11182,00.asp
http://www.computergear.com/
http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2004Dec/fea20041217028321.htm

Question about how to play European (French) DVDs on an American computer or DVD player: region-free software DVD player for your computer, or hardware-based for your TV

Recommended by John from Cincinnati: SIMA CT-200 converts NTSC to PAL and vice versa for video and DVD incompatibilities between North American and European standards.

Herbert from Oxford says: Most of Europe used PAL, but France has a different standard called SECAM. One way to play European DVDs is to buy a region free DVD players. You can find some them on the internet in the $20-$200 range. Those units also have PAL/SECAM to NTSC converters built in, so you can play the DVDs on a regular American TV.

World's smallest XP computer

WMUB podcasts

WMUB is now podcasting! The Help Desk podcast as well as podcasts of our other talk shows are now available, generally within 24 hours of first airing. For more information, visit our Podcasting page.

You could click on the Help Desk XML link -- however, not all browsers display XML properly.

If you have a podcast aggregator (Apple's iTunes, for one, is free for Windows and Mac -- you need 4.9 or above), copy and paste the following link in the podcast address field: http://www.wmub.org/rss/HelpDesk.xml

We'd like your comments as we roll this out, so go to our Feedback page.

URLs from 11/15/05

(Windows) What are the processes that are running on my computer

Words to the Teddy Bear Picnic song

Setting the default media player in FireFox

Upgrading Blue & white G3 to OS X?
One solution
Another solution

Backweb server problem: Download Stinger and use it to clean out your virus

URLs from 11/8/05

Pumpkin computer

Butler Rural Electric Internet service

WildBlue through Butler Rural Electric

Shellcon

Component Level mother board repair

Password Generation Technique

Protecting your self from identity theft:

NPR

FTC

Identity Theft Org

Printer Spooler not working

URLs from 11/1/05

1) Photos of a pumpkin computer

2) Outlook Express can't save attachments

3) Outlook 2000 Error- "the message interface has returned an unknown error"

4) Can't delete outlook email

URLs from 10/25/05

Backup and restore Outlook Express Mail

Outlook Express Backup and Restore link 2

Phone inteference with wireless access point

Wireless in Dayton #1

Wireless in Dayton #2

irq driver is nt less or equal

URLs from 10/18/05

IRQL_NOT_LESS_THAN_OR_EQUAL Stop Error in Windows:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/ or

http://www.techspot.com/

RealPlayer: you can get the free version from Download.com

URLs from 10/11/05

What is the difference between DVD-R and DVD+R?

Can't get into safe mode when I boot; how can I get into safe mode?

Backup Software reviews


NEW! Visit WMUB's Podcasting page for information on downloading our daily talk shows.