Ray Shaw's  Questions  &  Answers  ---  Page 34 18-5-09: Question: Since Christmas my ADSL connection has become unreliable with frequent drop outs. My modem is a Netcomm NB1300 which is now a few years old. Would changing it to a newer, more powerful modem help? Answer: Changing a modem will not compensate for line quality issues and you should pursue your ISP to get them to request a line quality check (from whichever company provides the copper to your house). You should however go to www.netcomm.com.au and download the latest drivers and firmware which may assist. Also check that you have line micro-filters/splitters on all phone points and disconnect any older phones or devices that are no longer in use. Question: I want to transfer music from cassette tapes to the computer hard drive so that I can burn CD's.  Alternatively how do I bring it into iTunes? Answer: Just run a sound cable from the cassette player to the PC line in jack. Then you need a sound recorder (lets assume that you don't want to edit and clean up the sound too much) like Audacity from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ . It can also burn .wav files to CD. Once it is on your PC you can import it into iTunes so it will load on to an iPod. Question: There have been late night ads on Foxtel for Finallyfast.com.au with the promise to speed up your computer and get rid of unwanted nasties. Have you heard of them and if so is the site safe? Answer: I am aware of them. I am extremely concerned that this is a scam - see the reputable forum Whirlpool for details. http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/1120779.html. Question: I have Vista and when I look at Task Manager I have about 60 processes or services showing. I know that this is too many but I don't know which ones to stop or safely delete. Answer: I have used The Ultimate Trouble shooter (TUT) from www.answersthatwork.com in the past on XP systems with a lot of success. Their new version supports Vista x32 and provides you with an easy way to tune your system. The price is USD 29.95 which is a lot cheaper than a technician. Question: Internet Explorer 8 is now available. I have an XP system with 512Mb ram and 1Ghz processor. Should I install it? Answer: It appears that IE8 will require more memory than IE7 but it is mainly due to the fact that it can do more, open more windows etc. If IE7 is running OK then by all means go to IE8. If you are running IE6 then stick with it for a while until we get more user reports. IE8 has a number of new features - you can read about these at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/features/overview.aspx?tabid=1&catid=1 Question: I know that you said that you do not tend to use "fix it" programs, but in looking for software for my video camera I came across DriverCure. On initial running of the program it claims that I have 30 outdated drivers and 7 outdated software but have hesitated to buy the full version (which would be needed apparently). I ask the question because a number of problems that I have had have indeed been fixed by the Asus support team emailing me 'necessary' updates on drivers. All the reviews I found were positive but would like your opinion. Answer: Updates and patches are something that any conscientious PC owner should do annually if they have the technical ability to download and apply same. For the great majority however they never need worry. DriverCure is a classic bait and switch program that identifies large numbers of supposedly "Critical" problems that can only be cured by purchasing the full version of the product (and no where on its site does it tell you the cost until you have registered with them). Question: We have trouble with receiving windows mail and access to internet. It is terribly slow or just freezes. We get error message Ox.800CCCOF. I have looked at this error message on the web and it is recommended that a free programme called RegCure will fix the problem. Answer: Do not use RegCure (like DriverCure above) is a bait and switch program that tells you it can cure things but then charges you to do so. The issue is probably due to your antivirus software and or some corruption in Windows. A qualified tech could sort this out easily for under $100 and give you a better result than snake oil programs. Question: I have been trying to access your website www.rayshaw.com.au without success. Are your previous Q's & A's still available in some other way? Answer: My site was hacked and every time I get it on-line a bot attacks it again. I can't afford to pay for a new site at present so its down for a while. http://www.silverpeers.com/computers.html  has most of my recent Q&A's on it and you can search the Courier Mail for Q&A or Ray Shaw. Question: I want to transfer VCR tapes to DVD. One of the options is to buy a Panasonic DMREZ48-REC/VCR Combo-DVB Tuner. I have a Sony LCD Digital Colour TV KDL-46X3100 & an early model Sony DVD player. Answer: If you have access to a functioning VCR and a reasonably late model PC with a DVD burner you can use the Belkin F5U228 cable to convert the signal from analogue to digital and burn to a DVD using a computer. http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=137940 cost about $120 and it includes software to do everything. The Panasonic you mentioned http://panasonic.com.au/products/details.cfm?objectID=4292 looks like an option too but it only has an SD tuner (not HD and no HDD). It's designed to be idiot proof. If it were me I would wait at least until early next year when Freeview phase two cuts in - don't rush out now and buy gear that may be obsolete in 6 months. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27-5-09: Question: I have a program that will not uninstall using Add/Remove programs in Windows Control Panel. I was told to "edit the registry" but haven't a clue what this means. Answer: The registry is Window's "roadmap" that tells the PC what to do, where to find files etc. Editing the registry is extremely risky. There is a free program called Revo Uninstaller www.revouninstaller.com however that seems to be able to perform miracles in removing stubborn programs. It first tries to use the Add/Remove Program Uninstaller but if that does not work it analyses the program and does the work for you removing registry entries and files and folders. It also has some nice tools including a Start Up Manager, disk cleaner and more. It works on Vista and earlier (but not x64 just yet). This may be the most useful free software tool I have ever used. Question: My name brand Vista home premium notebook has become sluggish and I need a strong laxative to free it up. It loads about 90 processes at start up and uses 76% of the 2 GB memory. I don't know what is safe to disable either from the start up menu or running processes. Answer: This is a recurrent problem and unfortunately there are not many free tools to help you to decide what to disable. Revo Uninstaller www.revouninstaller.com has a good Start Up Manager - use this to switch off all start up items (it can switch them back on if you have issues). XP-Antispy www.xp-antispy.org (also for Vista x32/64) has an easy to use interface to switch on/off dozens of Windows "features". The most common Services to set to Manual (instead of Automatic) using Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services are: TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper; Secondary Logon; ReadyBoost ; Program Compatibility Assistant Service; Offline Files (unless you're using Offline File Sync); Tablet PC Input Service (unless you have a tablet PC); Terminal Services (unless you use TS); Windows Search (If you have already disabled indexing); Fax (unless you're using a fax modem), Windows Time (set it manually) and Windows Update (run it manually). The most common Windows Features you can disable are: (go to Control Panel (not Classic View), Programs, Programs and Features, Turn Windows Features on or off): Games; Indexing Service; Remote Differential Compression; Tablet PC Optional Components; Windows DFS Replication Service; Windows Fax & Scan (unless you use a modem for faxing); Windows Meeting Space (unless you use the Live Meeting Service). These are all safe things to do and very easy to restart if required. Question: Help, my family chews through a fortune in batteries - AA, AAA and C, D for their various music players, wireless keyboards, mice, remote controls, clocks and cameras. I tried testing spent batteries using a multimeter but that only gave me a voltage reading and I have no way of knowing if the battery had any "punch" left. I have always bought the best alkaline brands assuming they will last longer but I am not so sure. Answer: The average home has more than a dozen battery powered devices and batteries seem to be a constant purchase. I bought a battery tester (tests AAA to D sizes plus most other domestic and camera battery types for around $25 at Jaycar) which places a resistive load on the battery (Volts = Current mA x Resistance Ohms and the load depends on the size of the battery tested). It gives a readout of good (80-100%), inefficient (50-80%) or bad (0-50%). What I found was that batteries previously used in a camera were perfectly fine to use for many, many more months in a remote control or clock. The tester has saved me many dollars by better battery management. Whether one brand is better than another - battery life is rated in milli-Amp hours (mAh) but few manufacturers print this on the package or reveal it on their web site to enable you to make a real comparison. If two different brands of battery have the same rated life then regardless of price they should last about the same time. For example alkaline batteries (based on AA size) vary from around 1600 to 3,000 mAh. Varta High Energy (lesser known and lower cost brand) have 2950 mAh whilst some really well know brands have 2500 mAh or less. Reader Comment: Saving Vista Updates so that you don't have to download them again. You can change Vista up-date settings to 'Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them.' When updates are offered, from the View Available Updates box, right click on an update, choose view details and click on the link to take you to the KB article or Security Bulletin about it. Some, not all updates have a download link and allow you save it to your hard disk. Then you can apply it and keep it for future use. Question: About 3 years ago I bought a cheap PC from a local computer store with XP Pro and Office 2003 installed. It has been fine and it has been automatically installing Microsoft Updates. About a month ago it said that my XP and Office were not genuine. The PC store refuses to assist. Answer: Unless you have the original install disks and/or the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) with a serial number you don't legally own the software (Note that Office 2007 may not come with disks but you will have a COA sticker). Microsoft recently added more pirated serial numbers to its Genuine Advantage checking program and this has impacted on a lot of people. If your invoice shows that you purchased the software go back to the PC store and request disks. In all likelihood they will refuse claiming you must have lost them and frankly there is not much you can do apart from report them to Microsoft Piracy Hotline 1800 639 963. You can still buy XP Pro but you cannot buy Office 2003 so you may need to update to Office 2007 - it has a very different look and feel so be aware you will have to relearn how to use it. If you buy software second hand through the classifieds or eBay make sure that you are getting a genuine product with the original disk, COA and manuals but frankly this is a risky option. Question: My son used a pirate music download program and one of the songs appears to have installed spyware on my PC. It now won't do anything and won't load Spybot or other anti-malware programs - it is useless. The local PC shop says it will require a full clean install of XP and I will have to reinstall all my programs which is beyond me. Their quote is about $400 to do the lot and whilst I don't begrudge that I don't know if it is fair or if I am being taken advantage of. Answer: I have seen this issue many times before and the spyware installs an undetectable root kit and other spyware disabling your antivirus and anti-spyware programs. The problem is that most people don't have the expertise to edit the registry to regain control of the PC and even a really good technician could spend many more hours only to find that there are still remnants of the malware in the system. In my experience it take about 4-5 hours to do a clean install, update drivers and then there is the process of downloading hundreds of MB of patches and updates etc., so the fee is fair. A good technician will also be able to back up your data and reinstate mail etc afterwards. I have to comment that Vista is a more secure operating system and less prone to this type of attack. If it does happen Vista is much more end-user friendly for reinstalls - you simply put the install disk in and it does 90% of the work in about half the time. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to: HOME       Back to: Computers       Back to: Ray Shaw (33)     Forward to: Ray Shaw (35)