Ray Shaw's  Questions  &  Answers  ---  Page 42 16-12-09: Question: I have a particularly annoying problem. I cannot update my Windows and it has never been updated. When Windows tries to update, an error code (8024402f) appears. Windows trouble-shooting suggests turning off any security devices but this doesn't work. Answer: A known issue that can be caused by installing security patches. Check out http://support.microsoft.com/kb/281679 and if that does not work search for "cannot update Windows (your version) 8024402f" Question: How do I transfer or copy a floppy disk to a CD or send it to another computer? Answer: It depends on the operating system. XP and later had a build in CD burning program that was accessed via Windows Explorer. Simply copy the file off the Floppy and paste it back on CD-R/RW and it should copy. Otherwise it may be easier to use a USB Memory stick and draw and drop the file to there instead of wasting a CD-R/RW blank. Question: Using Internet Explorer I am having a problem with Adobe Flash Player. I have tried deleting the Adobe program and reinstalling it, but it fails to download. I am now using Opera as my browser and it is OK but I much prefer Explorer. Answer: This is a common problem and there is a help article at http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/191/tn_19166.html. Question: I am currently running Windows XP Pro on my home computer and it now takes several minutes to start shutting down. The computer boots up OK and appears to run normally. I have not downloaded or installed any new programs for several months. It is probably a coincidence but this problem started after I installed a new power supply. Could that be to blame? Answer: For XP only I suggest that you run cleanup (standard mode) free from www.stevengould.org and then Ccleaner (clean the registry) free from www.ccleaner.com. This should make the machine run better. Do not be alarmed if the programs find thousands of files to delete or registry entries to remove. Also use Windows disk defragmenter to rearrange the disk. If these do not work then it is probably a program that is not shutting down and you need to search for "force shutdown XP". I doubt it's the power supply. Question: My modem keeps flickering and can't connect to the internet about 4 times out of 10. Sometimes I am unable to proceed for days at a time. What could be the problem? Answer: I presume you mean a dial up 56K modem. If so then either the modem is on its way out and it is a good excuse to go to ADSL or Cable or the phone line you are using is not up to specification. Your phone provider can test the line to see if there are any issues - be persistent as many times the operator does not know what you mean. There is an evaluation software test at http://www.passmark.com.au/products/modemtst.htm and more information at http://www.netro.com.au/support/modem/. You should also update your modem drivers from the manufacturer's web site - it is easy. Question: My motherboard is a Gigabyte S-Series and the computer uses Windows XP SP3. On start-up, sometimes it reaches the memory test part of the boot-up and freezes. I have to push the restart button. Is this memory test necessary and, if not, can this be disabled in the BIOS? Answer: The memory test is desirable but not mandatory and can usually be turned off in the BIOS. But if you are having issues it may be due to faulty memory and there are memory testing programs - see http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp or Memtest 4 from http://www.memtest.org/ . You should also flash the BIOS with the latest version - see the previous answer. Question: My computer has a C drive with 12MB free and a D drive with 225GB free. I moved a lot of files to the D drive but it must have copied them as C drive doesn't have any free space. I am running Vista on an ASUS computer with an Intel Core 2 Quad processor. Answer: The best cure is to resize the C: partition. Vista can do this. See http://www.vistarewired.com/2007/02/16/how-to-resize-a-partition-in-windows-vista or search for "Vista resize partition". Question: I am running Spybot, Avast and PC Firewall. Do I need any additional protection for my laptop? Answer: It depends on what you do with the laptop. These free programs are all fine but they are not integrated so virus and spyware can and does slip between the cracks between each program. My tip for 2010 is that everyone needs to buy a fully integrated suite like AVG 9.0 Internet security suite or Norton Internet Security. In my opinion the risks are now too great to rely on free ware security if you plan to do internet banking or payment of bills. Question: I have been using AVG 8, Spybot, CleanUp and, occasionally, CCleaner without problems.  I took my tower in for a clean and service and the company removed AVG8 and installed Avast anti-virus. They also reinstalled Spybot, deleting Tea Timer. Their reasoning for the AVG8 change was that "it hasn't been any good since December and doesn't remove all the viruses". Is there any truth to this? Answer: There are so many myths out there and most are based on personal preference or bias, not experience. Please refer to the previous question on freeware virus and spyware. I think AVG 9 is one of the best and the free version is certainly more fully featured than most other free programs but its not enough to cover all contingencies. Question: My wife and I are about to embark on a caravan trip around Australia and would like your advice on the cheapest and most efficient means of keeping in touch via email. Public libraries are useful but are often booked out. Answer: The best answer (but not the cheapest) is to get a Tesltra NextG Smart Phone that allows tethering (connection to a PC or Note/netbook via USB) and buy a data pack from Telstra. You can get 150Mb per month for $10 and it will work in most places and should cover monthly email (unless you are sending lots of photos in which case get a higher plan). Smart phones come from LG, Samsung, HTC and you don't need to spend on a top end model to get tethering. If you have wi-fi in your notebook you can also use it at internet cafes but please ensure you have a full internet security suite like AVG 9 to protect you. Question: I'm using Vista Basic on my PC. Lately when I receive emails they feature images in cryptic form. Is there any way I can decrypt them? Answer: Vista Basic does not have in-built encryption so this is most peculiar. I suggest you contact the sender and ask if they are using encryption - probably not. It could be something as simple as the character set the emails are being displayed in - check your options and select Arial or Times Roman for the font although you do refer to the images, not font. Try sending the email to your self and see if that fixes it.  Question: I have a Dell XPS420 running Windows Vista Ultimate and despite installing a Creative SB-X-Fi sound card and setting it to "What-u-hear" I am still unable to record streaming audio or even line-in audio. Is there a way around this? Answer: The XPS 420 was released late in 2007 and it may be as simple as the operating system being corrupted in some way, or drivers needing to be updated etc. I doubt it is the Creative card (can you try it in another PC?) but you should download and install the latest drivers just in case. You can contact Creative Support via their web site (select Oceania) and under support can log an email support request. Question: All websites I visit open in a minimised size. I have tried stretching the windows to the borders of the monitor but they continue to open in a small form. I use Windows Vista and Internet Explorer 8. Answer: Try resetting all of Internet Explorers features - see http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en/InternetExplorer/thread/e09da3f8-478c-4f11-b42c-835df7b59b01. The resizing (dragging a border) only works if the Window is not maximised already i.e. the little Square beside the "X" at the top right should show as a single box, not two boxes overlaid on each other. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to: HOME      Back to: Computers     Back to: Ray Shaw (41)     Forward to: Ray Shaw (43)