9:32 PM December 8, 2009
Just recently had to recover a neighbour's computer where their system would start up to the Windows logo and then restart. I decided to boot up from the Windows CD and go into the recovery console. There I tried to access the files on the drive by using the DIR command - just to see if they where accessible.
But I couldn't get a listing of the files, can't remember the exact message but it couldn't access the files. So my first choice was to try to fix the boot record FIXBOOT and FIXMBR - neither worked so I tried CHKDSK - it got to 71% done the it dropped down to 50% - then it happened a second time...I thought I was dealing with a seriously damaged drive. It finally finished and the computer rebooted. Problem solved.
Spent a day trying to set up a DSL internet connection for a neighbour. They had just placed an order for the internet from the phone company and where told they could use their old Siemens modem, which can also act as a Wireless Router.
One of the problems was that Windows indicated there was a Network connection but there was no Internet connection. Problem number two - the modem/router was password protected and the password wouldn't go through.
After trying various things and even talking to someone from the phone company - they where going to send out a technician to look at it - I figured that if I could reset the modem/router I might be able to clear things out. I forgot to ask the tech person about how to reset, so I decided to do a search on my own computer.
Apparently, with a Siemens Gigaset SE567, you have to press and hold the button on the bottom of the modem/router until the lights start flashing. (by the way, the so called button looks more like just a hole in the bottom of the modem/router.) I pushed on it with a pen until all the lights started flashing - it didn't solve my problem right away but it did erase the password so I could access the modem/router settings.
After fooling around with the settings a bit and still not able to get it to work I decided to reset the modem/router again this time from within the software modem/router settings from the left hand side menu.
After that I had no problem setting up the DSL.
Same neighbour's different problem - they decided to put a new hard drive in one of their computers but it wouldn't register in the BIOS - tried two different ones but same results.
I tried switching cables, power plug-ins etc, but no dice. Finally, I decided to go into the BIOS - hit DEL on boot up - and went to the...I believe it was called the basic setup - the first option.
The Primary Drive was listed as Not Installed so I just highlighted it and hit Enter - and then the drive info was automatically filled in. Only a matter now of re-installing Windows.
Same neighbours....did not have any sound. I had to take the sound card out to get the name of the card. Then I had to search online for the drivers. Found them and downloaded them and then ran the setup program. But the system froze up. Restarted...but same thing again. I noticed there where a lot of programs automatically starting up. So at the next start up I opened taskmanger (by right-clicking on the taskbar and choosing Task Manger), and started clicking on processes to end, as quick as possible. Then I clicked on Run and typed in msconfig. Clicked on the startup tab and disabled everything not needed at startup.
Windows was then able to finish installing the sound drivers.
Same neighbours still....They had another computer that couldn't pick up the wireless router - when I tried to connect it said something about Windows didn't control this connection. To change this I had to click on Start - go to the control panel - double-click to open Administrative Tools then Services. Then I had to double-click and open Wireless Zero Configuration. It was disabled, so I clicked on the Start button. then I clicked on the Startup type: and set that to Automatic.
I'm not really a gamer but there are a few games I like to play Abuse, Dogfighter, and QuakeI, QuakeII, QuakeIII.
Abuse - side-scrolling action game. You move your character around shooting Aliens and can shoot in any direction using your mouse. MS-DOS based game that can be downloaded here: http://dosgames.com/g_act.php
Dogfighter - Dogfights with toy airplanes.
QuakeI, QuakeII, QuakeIII - a first-person shooter video game by id Software.
I only recently started fooling around a bit with hooking my Computer to my TV. I can't watch tv on my computer, but I can use my tv as a monitor. Reading small type from the tv is out but movies running on my computer are usually dark and greenish but they display a lot plainer by using the tv as a monitor.
You need a video card with a SuperVHS out jack and/or RCA type connector. Mine is listed in Windows as NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420
So....what does this have to do with Quake??
Well...to watch movies through my computer on my tv I had to change the Video Acceleration - Right-click on your desktop, click on properties, click on the settings tab across the top, then the Advanced button towards the bottom. Then click on the Troubleshoot tab you will see the Hardware acceleration slider. I have to turn it off (set to none) to see movies on the tv - otherwise I just see a black box where the video is supposed to play.
I didn't give it a second thought until I tried to play Quake3 and the game wouldn't start - the error message being displayed was the following:
Q3 1.11 win-x86 Nov 24 1999
----- FS_Startup -----
Current search path:
E:\Quake III Arena\baseq3\simpsons.pk3 (592 files)
E:\Quake III Arena\baseq3\prison_ta.pk3 (37 files)
E:\Quake III Arena\baseq3\pak0.pk3 (3539 files)
E:\Quake III Arena/baseq3
----------------------
execing default.cfg
couldn't exec q3config.cfg
couldn't exec autoexec.cfg
...detecting CPU, found Intel Pentium III
------- Input Initialization -------
Initializing DirectInput...
Couldn't set DI coop level
Falling back to Win32 mouse support...
Joystick is not active.
------------------------------------
----- Client Initialization -----
----- Initializing Renderer ----
-------------------------------
----- Client Initialization Complete -----
--- Common Initialization Complete ---
Winsock Initialized
Opening IP socket: localhost:27960
Hostname: third
IP: 192.168.2.3
Working directory: E:\Quake III Arena
----- R_Init -----
Initializing OpenGL subsystem
...initializing QGL
...calling LoadLibrary( 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\opengl32.dll' ): succeeded
...setting mode 3: 640 480 FS
...using desktop display depth of 16
...calling CDS: ok
...registered window class
...created window@0,0 (640x480)
Initializing OpenGL driver
...getting DC: succeeded
...GLW_ChoosePFD( 16, 16, 0 )
...0 PFDs found
...MCD acceleration found
...PIXELFORMAT 1 selected
...creating GL context: failed
...failed hard
...restoring display settings
...WARNING: could not set the given mode (3)
...setting mode 3: 640 480 FS
...using colorsbits of 16
...calling CDS: ok
...created window@0,0 (640x480)
Initializing OpenGL driver
----- CL_Shutdown -----
RE_Shutdown( 1 )
Shutting down OpenGL subsystem
...wglMakeCurrent( NULL, NULL ): failed
...releasing DC: failed
...destroying window
...resetting display
...shutting down QGL
...unloading OpenGL DLL
-----------------------
Q_strncpyz: NULL src
It seems I have to turn it up to play Quake but turn it down to watch movies.
I also recently had to set up a similar connection - computer to tv - for a neighbour....same ones...if you have the right card you'll probably need the manufacturers drivers since the Windows versions will not give you the proper controls to set it up. Look for the option to Clone your monitor.
Had two instances for different neighbours where I had to get rid of Fake Antivirus programs. These are fake programs that get on your system and try to convince you that your system is highly infected when in fact the only infection is that fake program itself.
Fake Ones Include: Cyber Security, Braviax, Alpha Antivirus, Green AV, Windows Protection Suite, Total Security 2009, Windows System Suite, Personal Antivirus, Anti-Virus-1, Spyware Guard 2008, System Guard 2009, Antivirus 2009, System Security, Antivirus 2010, Antivirus Pro 2009, Antivirus 360, MS Antispyware 2009, Malware Doctor, AntivirusBEST, System Security 2009, Antivirus System Pro, WinPC Defender. AntiVirus Live.
They keep interfering with the operation of your computer in an attempt to bully (extort) you to buy their full version to get rid of virus that isn't even on your system.
If you did pay for the product; first of all you gave your credit card number to a bunch of thiefs so don't be to surprised to find a much larger charge on your credit card statement; secondly, the program you buy will probably put more adware/spyware/malware/virus than it takes off.
My procedure for getting rid of such an infection:
First I start up the computer in Safe Mode with Networking. Restart your computer and keep pressing the F8 key on your keyboard. It's a bit tricky but when done right you will be taken to a screen that has a menu with a number of options like safe mode, safe mode with networking, safe mode command prompt, and so on.
Safe mode with networking gives you internet access in safe mode, comes in handy for updating anti-virus and anti-malware programs.
Download theses 2 programs. I have them burned on CD and just copy them over in safe mode.
I like to use RemoveFakeAntivirus first. After it's finished it will request you to restart. Don't! Not Yet! Then Install, Update and Run Malwarebytes. Do a Fullscan rather than a quick one.
I also like to take notice of the name of the fake program and do some research online to find out make sure all associated files are removed.
Just a note: I also like to check what's working in the background using a program called HijackThis http://majorgeeks.com/download3155.html
Read the description on the download site - it's not for everybody.