4:01 PM October 19, 2007
Yesterday I had another call about a non-functioning MSN Messenger program. Turns out I came across this problem before. (check previous post) The problem was simple. The date was set for the year 2000. If your calendar is of to far, MSN will not connect. I don't know why, but that's the way it is.
Then, later on another call, same guy, MSN problem again. This time the error message indicated there was a error with the username and/or password. After retyping it in a couple of time he realized he had left one letter out of his email address. One mistyped character, sometimes that is all it takes.
Tried to open a movie clip in Media Player version 9, only to get the following error: An internal application error has occurred.
Found the solution at:
http://www.opentechsupport.net/forums/archive/topic/31657-1.html
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I'm the guy people call when there computer gets screwy. Because of this, I've downloaded a lot of utilities, programs, etc., to help fix computers. I also acquired a few bootable CDROMs.
That is CDs that are designed to be booted of the CDROM drive. OK, unless you have an older system like mine that cannot boot of a CDROM. I have to use a good old floppy drive.
The first time I had the opportunity to use a bootable CD, I honestly didn't have a clue what to do. The problem with booting of a CDROM is that the CDROM becomes the main boot drive and the main operating system for your computer. The utilities on this CD seemed to be trying to fix the CD loaded system rather than the Hard Drive based one.
Unless I just didn't understand to use it properly, it was completely worthless.
Not having a newer system that can boot of CDROM, meant that I could not test the CD first. So I didn't know what to expect. I still have my older system, and can't afford to get a newer one, so I was wondering if there was a way to boot a bootable CD through a floppy drive.
I assumed there was and eventually I discovered how. Found the info at:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=180656
First you need to download an image file -
http://bootcd.narod.ru/bcdl150z.zip
Download and unzip anywhere on your hard drive. Then you need a program to write the info properly to the floppy, just copying it will not work.
So download rarwrite for Windows -
http://www.chrysocome.net/rawwrite . Uncompress to your hard drive.
It only takes a few seconds, and the end results, you can now boot of a bootable CD even if your system is to old to support such an option. No guarantees that it will work for all CDs.
Make sure that your computer is set to boot of a floppy disk. Unfortunately, there are to many setups to list the instructions here but I will give my own boot setup has an example.
My computer: IBM 300PL
Changing your boot sequence involves going into the BIOS. On my computer it means pressing DEL when starting up and then going into Startup Options then Startup Sequence.
The people at IBM must of been high on something when they worded this - Disketteless Operation - I have to Enable this to boot of a floppy. Remember to save your settings before exiting. And....REBOOT!
These links offer more info on changing boot sequences.
booting of a CDROM -(examples)
http://www.hiren.info/pages/bios-boot-cdrom
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_enable_cdrom_support_i.htm
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/articles/bios/