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

URLs from 4/25/06

setting up Disk Defragmenting in the background

Older Mac OS 10.3 cds
megamacs.com
macsales.com

URLs from 4/18/06

Using MSCONFIG

DVD Shelf Life

Merlin network setup

Electronics Entertainment Exposition - EEE or E3

URLs from 4/11/06

AOL Email problems
Try the unified inbox check box or increasing the number of messages per page
AOl email general help pages

Transparent desktops

Macintosh file sharing

ABC Video- need flash 7 or higher!

Will there be an iTod in your kids' future?

URLs from 3/28/06

RDRAM for a Dell laptop:
--You will probably have to update the BIOS on your dell before the memory will work.
Places to get RDRAM:
--memorysuppliers.com
--ramjet.com

URLs from 3/21/06

Music Match Jukebox
Problem with cdl.dll and Musicmatch Jukebox 7

Backup Registry

Possible Replacement for Cardfile
http://www.azzcardfile.com/
http://www.azzcardfile.com/cardfile/cardfile.html

Macintosh G5 out of Sync error
Try the following things to fix the problem
1. Turn off computer
2. Press the power button.
3. Immediately hold down the following key combination:
Command-Option-P-R (reset parameter memory--PRAM)
4. Keep holding down the keys until the computer restarts at-least 4 times

First try booting in safe mode and setting the video settings
How you Start Up in Safe Mode:

1. Turn off Computer
2. Press the power button.
3. Just after you hear the startup tone (NOT BEFORE), press and hold the down the shift key.
4. Release the shift key when you see the start up screen with the gray background with the Apple logo and the progress indicator.
5. During the startup, you will see "Safe Boot" on the Mac OS X startup screen.
6. Now try to change the video settings

If that does not work try resetting the Open Firmware
1. Turn off the computer
2. Hold down command-option-o-f while pressing the power button
3. Keep holding the keys down until you see a text screen
4. type the following:
reset-nvram
Press Return
reset-all
Press Return. The computer will reboot after this command

URLs from 3/14/06

Pictures from Guy Moore's Habitat for Humanity trip to New Orleans

Habitat web site where you can volunteer

A security breach at CitiBank has compromised PIN numbers for debit card users. It has been called "The worst hack ever".

Sources for Mac memory modules:

• www.crucial.com
• www.ramjet.com
• www.memory2go.com
  

Last Friday McAfee realeased an update to its anti-virus software which had the effect of disabling or removing Microsoft Excel. The problem has since been fixed. Here is more information from Miami University's IT department:

• On Friday, March 10, McAfee released definition file 4715 for VirusScan (versions 8.0i and 7). This definition file incorrectly identified the W95/CTX virus in valid files, including .exe files. On the same day, McAfee released definition file 4716 to correct the error.
  
  McAfee has published a complete list of files that are incorrectly identified by definition file 4715 on the following web page.
  
  This page also lists the most common files incorrectly identified, which include
  
  • Microsoft Excel (excel.exe)
  • Google Toolbar Installer (gbt2k1033.exe)
  • Windows XP File (userid.exe)
  • Adobe update manager (adobeupdatemanager.exe)
  
  If VirusScan is configured to quarantine infected files, you can restore files from the quarantine folder. If VirusScan is configured to delete infected files, you can use the Windows XP System Restore or restore the files from backup. You of course can also reinstall any application that may have been impacted.
  
  IT Services is still recommending that VirusScan be configured to delete infected files. Quarantining allows an infected file to be stored on the computer hard drive. To delete a quarantined file, you must first disable On-Access scan - disabling VirusScan has never been a good idea, especially when you are working with infected files.
  
  If you are using ePO to manage VirusScan on your Windows machines, you may want to run the DAT/Definition Deployment Summary. This report lists machines based on definition file. Currently there are 84 managed computers with the 4715 definition file.
  

Here is more: How to fix quarantine files in virusscan

McAfee Excel.exe, Graph.exe and AdobeUpdateManager.exe

Apple comments or recent Macintosh security concerns

Beginners guide to copying Windows XP to a new hard drive

Refreshing Windows XP Ip address

URLs from 3/7/06

"Double click starts a search" fix in Windows XP

Error 1606 fix -- but exercise CAUTION when working in the registry!
--MORE

Removing Norton when Add-Remove does not work

Norton removal tool
--Look further down the page for:
To download and run Rnav2003.exe
Open the link and download and run it to remove all the Norton pieces on
your computer

URLs from 2/28/06

Microsoft anti-spyware is now called Windows Defender

Macintosh browser vulnerability found
Safari Vulnerability found: - Executing code in zip files that are downloaded
--according to sources at Earlham college, this "Zero Day" vulnerability may affect only the Safari browser and not others. Here's Earlham's resource.
--Background: Macintosh OS X- Virus-Worms-Security:
--There is not much Apple could do to stop the worm from causing damage on a Mac because most worms do not exploit holes in an operating system, but rather "exploit bugs in people's brains by relying on humans to do something dumb and install viruses."
--Old Virus that never really got into the wild-Proof of concept
Renepo or Opener worm - Not in the wild- Needed root access- Root is disabled by default
--OSX/Leap-A or OSX/Oompa-A- Instant messaging iChat/AIM - sends file called "latestpics.tgz" to Buddies in your chat list; see securemac.com and symantec.com
---OSX.Inqtana.A - Proof of concept- The worm spreads to computers using three OBEX Push requests

Sophos Virus Protection - Update could delete Microsoft Office 2004 and Adobe Acrobat Reader

How to setup Windows XP file sharing

MacStumbler

How to make an Image of a Macintosh hard disk

Imaging and backing up a Macintosh - Use Carbon Copy Cloner

URLs from 2/14/06

Neo Office for OS X

Bandwidth Speed Tests: Bandwidthplace.com and InternetFrog.com

War Driving Tools

Java not working with www.Pogo.com: Solution 1 and Solution 2

Use GraphicConverter to open or convert Freehand documents

Windows Task Manager information

Windows Process Information: Solution 1 and Solution 2

URLs from 2/7/06

How to setup Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection

How to setup Windows file sharing

How to add a second hard drive

Remote desktop using linksys router:

• You need to go into the linksys router and configure it to port forward the following ports to your computer at home: TCP Ports 5900, 3283, and 5988
• Ports used by Apple products
• How to setup Port Forwarding on a Linksys Router
  --In the service port fields enter 5900, 3283, and 5988 each in its own field.
  --In each the IP address fields to the right of the service port fields that you used put in the IP address for the computer you want to control
  
  

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