P C Advice

[MechanicalMethod]

You're probably right about that relay. Thanks, it's good to know what actually was wrong with it.

[lostcowboy]

Hi machanicalMethod, There likely are manual pots on the in side of the monitor, However I do not recommend going inside unless you are used to working around high voltage (around 10,000 volts. These are the rough alinment pots, If you decide to adjust them you realy need the test equpment and a alinment manual. The buttons do not move pots, what they do is select diffrent resisters on a voltage divider, which is built into a chip.

What I think happened was that when you changed the screen size you knocked some dirt off of the pins of the relay that control screen size.
Note: If one of your buttons is a degauss funtion that may have helped.
Glad to see you got it working!

[jackvance]

MechanicalMethod: On fix for Monitor

Thanks for the fix. My brother bought himself a new flat screen monitor and gave the flickering unit to his grandson. Eye will pass on the fix to Him, as he has been using the monitor with it flickering for over a year. Knowledge shared is Knowledge put to use. LOL

[MechanicalMethod]

While on the subject of monitors I remembered one that had some problem I can't recall but the fix involved pushing on the bottom left corner of it's plastic case. Eventually I wedged a plastic bic pen between the monitor case and it's circuit board that tweaked the board just enough to give it the contact it was losing. I think the problem with that one was it lost color and went to black and white or the entire screen went blank.

[MechanicalMethod]

Here's an update on my monitor problem. It was suggested I check for pots and particularly ones labeled horizontal adjustments with the idea in mind that the pots had dust inside and working them back and forth would clean them. Since this monitor has push buttons for on screen adjustment of horizontal size and position I simply worked them back and forth from one extreme to another several times and it's fixed.

I'm familiar with potentiometers and variable rheostats but don't know much about how these relatively new electronic circuits vary resistance ... or why this technique also works with circuits but it's a common trick that works with most anything. I remember reading a guide about how to purchase cameras that suggested rotating the lens and all dials completely through their ranges while paying close attention to any sticky spots or clunks. Ideally it should be smooth throughout the range of operation.

Another thing that helped the jumpy monitor screen was bumping the screen size from 1600X1200 to 1920x1440 and leaving it there for awhile.

[WTMHouston]

Makes sense now. Thanks.

Troy

[lostcowboy]

Troy, DO NOT TRY TO COPY ANYTHING ELSE TO YOUR SERVER HARD DISK 1!!!!!!! Every time you do you lose more data. HD1 will have to go to a data recovery business now!

Step one disconnect the first computer from the network, If you don't it will try to re-infect the network!

Step two, I believe you said that hd2 was a mirror of hd1 it should be 90% up to date.

Step three, you need at least one new hard drive, maybe two. One for the new mirror drive, and one for drive three.
Drive three may not have data on it due to software glitch, or a hard drive defect.

Step four run anti virus software with latest updates on all your computers and the server.
Note anti virus software should be running on all computers and servers all the time. It should be updated at least once a week. Windows update site should be checked for security patches every week. They have had some very important updates to internet explorer recently, and I believe to your server also!! Just this week!

Here is what I believe happened, The virus attacked the boot file on both the first computer and the network server HD1, it then went on to delete every file on the network server, and maybe the first computer. It probably tried to plant it self on all other computers connected to the network, that way it can attack you again when you get the system up and running again.
If the virus used the dos(windows) delete command there is a good chance you can have the data recovered by a data recovery company. Now that you have copied new data from hd3 on top of data already on hd1 your chances of recovery are much lower than before, but you still have a chance.
Note you may want to remove the delete command, or rename it.
Wish I could give you better news.

[jackvance]

Floppy boot with only HD1 installed

The reason for trying this, is to see if your files on HD1 are still accessible by "dos" from a dos prompt.

type C:\, and press the enter key.

If your Computer tells you that there is no Hard Drive present, try your bootable recovery discs from your antivirus program.

You might be able to use the floppy recovery discs from your antivirus program to "clean" the HD1 of any viruses. If so you can then set the HD1 to slave and copy any files that have not been corrupted to your "new" HD.

Try the bootable Antivirus floppy first, and run an inspection of HD1.

The reason for the "new" hard drive is so that you do not lose what files you have on HD2. Due to the virus that is presently in your system. A "new" hard drive will of course be virus free.

Your main concern should be the recovery of the files on HD1.

With HD2 you can be operational on Tuesday, but you will have lost over 80% of your files.

[WTMHouston]

<<On your server, can you get a floppy boot with HD1 only in place? (with HD2 and HD3 out of the server.)>>

I have not tried this, but I will.

<<Assuming you have a virus scanning programs, have you tried the emergency boot disks from the program?>>

We do have virus software, but since I did not personally install it I do not have the emergency boot disks. I will have to wait until Tuesday for those.

<<Setup your Network from the new Hard Drive so that you are operational for business on Tuesday morning.>.

We are currently operational by using HD2 (the RAID mirrored drive with limited files copied from HD3).

However, unless we can recover some or all of the data from HD1, we will have lost about 80% of the last two years worth of work.

Thanks for the response and for passing it on.


Troy

[jackvance]

WTMHouston: Questions

On your server, can you get a floppy boot with HD1 only in place? (with HD2 and HD3 out of the server.)

Assuming you have a virus scanning programs, have you tried the emergency boot disks from the program?

Have posted your Post to Raging Bull PCAdvice board, there are several Network savy guys who post there, but it is a Holiday weekend, may not get any response until Tuesday.

Right now your job is to go buy a new Hard Drive, put it in the server by itself, and install your OS on the Hard Drive.
Setup your Network from the new Hard Drive so that you are operational for business on Tuesday morning.

Do this even though HD2 will boot.

Further advice will arrive soon.

[WTMHouston]

I have a mega problem and hope someone can provide some possible clues.

My office server runs Win2000 Server with a P-III 1.0. It serves about 10 workstations (all running Win98). On Thursday, a non-employee was at one of the machines. She downloaded and then installed what I am told was VPN software. I do not know the specifics. During the installation (which she told me (not much credibility) was to the local c drive and not to any of the network drives) two very bad things happened. First, the machine she was at crapped out -- it shut down and would not reboot. I created a boot disk on another machine and was able to get it to boot to an a prompt, but could never get it to a c prompt. The BIOS recognizes that the hard drive exists, but that is as far as it goes. My gut guess is that whatever she was doing destroyed the FAT. But, there is virtually nothing on this machine that is not easily replaceable.

The more important problem is the server. At the same time that the local PC was crapping out, every file on the server (on all of the partitioned drives) disappeared. The file structure remained, but the files were gone. In case this is not clear, all of the directories and subdirectories in all of the partitioned drives still exist, but there are no files in any of the directories or subdirectories.

The server is set up with 3 hard disks (I will call them 1, 2 and 3). The first two are mirrored with a RAID controller. The third was for manual backups. Each disk is partitioned into multiple drives.

After the problem arose, I eventually attempted to reboot the server without making any physical changes to the disk alignment without any success. I was ultimately able to get the server to reboot by removing HD 1 and moving HD 2 into the HD 1 bay (they are all removable hard drives which makes the process much easier).

In the course of attempting to recover all of our data from HD 3, we learned that there had been a glitch in the software used to copy from HD1 to HD3 and that only about 20% of our data from the last two years had been copied to HD3.

Thus, it is now very critical that we try and understand what happened to HD 1 and 2 so that we can hopefully recover at least the majority of our data from it.

Once I moved HD 2 into HD 1 bay and got the network back up, I copied what was on HD 3 onto HD 1 so that we at least had some data -- albeit only about 20%.

Later, I ran an undelete program on HD 2 and found nothing. While this could have been caused (in part) by the overwriting taking place when I copied data from HD 3 to HD 2, I think it is unlikely that nothing on HD 2 would have remained.

I have tried to reinsert HD 1 into bays 2 and 3 and have not been able to get the machine to complete a boot up with HD 1 in the machine.

I am at a loss to understand the cause of what has happened and am out of idea on how to proceed to potentially fix it.

We have lost 80% of our data for the past two years -- business and financial. All help is appreciated in advance.

Troy

[jonthezman]

Jack - thanks much! I'll let you know how I do.

[jackvance]

jonthezman, upgrade

The upgrade might work, and again it might not.

Eye assume you installed the Windows2000Pro using the NT format of the hard drive. If you used Fat32 the upgrade will not work at all.

The Windows2000Pro is a very stable system, it has much to recommend it. The WindowsXP is a Media type system, and it still has several gliches in it. Mostly to do with the Media programs.

All in all, Eye would recommend that you wait until the next version of WindowsXP comes out.

You have your recovery disk from Dell, Eye would recommend that you do a "total" recovery from them. This will restore your original OS without the upgrades you installed.

You will lose all files you have stored on the PC and you will lose all passwords to the various sites you go to. Both the cookie type and the type in password type.

Then install, in order, SP2, Virtual Machine, and Java. This will get you into the chat sites.

Do not install the upgrade for Internet Explorer, use the version that comes with your OS, and you should have no problems.

[jonthezman]

Jack- would an upgrade to XP pro do any good? I saw something about MS coming out w/ some fixes in the near future, don't know if it will do the job. TIA

[jackvance]

MechanicaMethod: Monitor

Yep it is dying. My Brother had the same problem with his 17" Monitor. The Monitor is still useable, if the flickering does not bother you too badly. However at today's Labor prices it is not worth fixing.

So you can put up with the flickering, or buy a New Monitor. The Monitor that you have will still have years of service life left.

Today Monitors are shielded so well that there should be no problem with using them side by side.

[MechanicalMethod]

I have a monitor screen that's started sporadically jumping sideways slightly. I've confirmed it's not the video card. Is the monitor dying or is there something that can save it? Is this what the Degauss button is supposed to fix? Is it ok to have monitors side by side without any space between them?

TIA, MM

[jackvance]

Jdbgmgr.exe Virus Hoax

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/jdbgmgr.exe.file.hoax.html

Jdbgmgr.exe file hoax
Reported on: April 12, 2002
Last Updated on: May 16, 2002 at 10:25:02 AM PDT




Symantec Security Response encourages you to ignore any messages regarding this hoax. It is harmless and is intended only to cause unwarranted concern.


Type: Hoax




This is a hoax that, like the SULFNBK.EXE Warning hoax, tries to persuade you to delete a legitimate Windows file from your computer. The file that the hoax refers to, Jdbgmgr.exe, is a Java Debugger Manager. It is a Microsoft file that is installed when you install Windows.

It has a teddy bear icon as described in the hoax:



CAUTION: Jdbgmgr.exe, like any file, can become infected by a virus. One virus in particular, W32.Efortune.31384@mm, targets this file. Norton AntiVirus has provided protection against W32.Efortune.31384@mm since May 11, 2001.

NOTE: If you have already deleted the Jdbgmgr.exe file, some Java applets may not run correctly. This is not a critical system file. The file version may vary with your operating system and version of Internet Explorer. If you want to restore the file, read the instructions in the How to restore the Jdbgmgr.exefile section at the end of this document.


Hoax message
This hoax has appeared in several languages. Some are as follows:

English
I found the little bear in my machine because of that I am sending this message in order for you to find it in your machine. The procedure is very simple:

The objective of this e-mail is to warn all Hotmail users about a new virus that is spreading by MSN Messenger. The name of this virus is jdbgmgr.exe and it is sent automatically by the Messenger and by the address book too. The virus is not detected by McAfee or Norton and it stays quiet for 14 days before damaging the system.

The virus can be cleaned before it deletes the files from your system. In order to eliminate it, it is just necessary to do the following steps:
1. Go to Start, click "Search"
2.- In the "Files or Folders option" write the name jdbgmgr.exe
3.- Be sure that you are searching in the drive "C"
4.- Click "find now"
5.- If the virus is there (it has a little bear-like icon with the name of jdbgmgr.exe DO NOT OPEN IT FOR ANY REASON
6.- Right click and delete it (it will go to the Recycle bin)
7.- Go to the recycle bin and delete it or empty the recycle bin.

IF YOU FIND THE VIRUS IN ALL OF YOUR SYSTEMS SEND THIS MESSAGE TO ALL OF YOUR CONTACTS LOCATED IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK BEFORE IT CAN CAUSE ANY DAMAGE.


French
JE VIENS D'ETRE INFECTE PAR UN DE MES FOURNISSEUR
FAITES CE QU'IL Y A D'ECRIT EN DESSOUS ET TOUT SE PASSERA BIEN LE NOM DU VIRUS EST jdbgmgr.exe L'ICONE EST UN PETIT OURSON.IL EST TRANSMIS AUTOMATIQUEMENT PAR LE CARNET D'ADRESSES.
LE VIRUS N'EST PAS DETECTE PAR VOTRE ANTIVIRUS ET RESTE EN SOMMEIL PENDANT 14 JOURS AVANT DE S'ATTAQUER AU DISQUE DUR. IL PEUT DETRUIRE TOUT= LE SYSTEME !!!
JE VIENS MOI MEME DE LE TROUVER SUR MON DISQUE DUR !!!AGISSEZ DONC TRES V=ITE POUR L' ELIMINER COMME SUIT:
1. Aller dans DEMARRER, faire "RECHERCHER"
2. dans la fenetre FICHIERS-DOSSIERS taper le nom du virus: jdbgmgr.exe
3. Assurez vous de faire la recherche sur votre disque dur "C"
4. Appuyer sur "RECHERCHER MAINTENANT"
5. Si vous trouvez le virus L'ICONE EST UN PETIT OURSON son nom "jdbgmgr.exe " ---< NE L'OUVREZ SURTOUT PAS!!!!!
6. Appuyer sur le bouton droit de la souris pour l'=E9liminer aller la CORBEILLE) vous pouvez aussi l'effacer en appuyant sur SHIFT DELETE afin qu'il ne reste pas dans la corbeille.
7. aller la CORBEILLE et l'effacer d=E9finitivement ou bien vider la corbeille. Mais SURTOUT NE L'OUVREZ PAS , SUPPRIMER-LE DIRECTEMENT !!!!=!

SI VOUS TROUVEZ LE VIRUS SUR VOTRE DISQUE DUR ENVOYEZ CE MESSAGE A TOUS VOS CORRESPONDANTS FIGURANT SUR VOTRE CARNET D'ADRESSES CAR CE VIRUS PASSE VRAIMENT PARTOUT ET TRES VITE !!! !!! !!! .


DESOLE POUR CET INCIDENT MAIS, MOI AUSSI, JE ME SUIS FAIT AVOIR !!! !!!
ET MERCI D'AGIR VITE.

Italian
Abbiamo ricevuto un virus che si trasmette automaticamente a tutti gli indirizzi di posta elettronica. Se si eseguono le seguenti istruzioni si cancella senza causare danni.


FARE LA VERIFICA DESCRITTA PER ELIMINARE IL VIRUS.

Il virus si chiama jdbgmgr.exe e si trasmette automaticamente tramite Messenger ed anche attraverso la rubrica degli indirizzi. Il virus NON E'RILEVATO da McAfee o Norton e rimane in letargo 14 giorni prima di recare
dei danni al sistema .Per eliminarlo basta eseguire le seguenti operazioni:

1) Cliccare sullo schermo in basso a destra "Avvio o Start"
2) Cliccare su "Trova", andare da "Files o Cartelle" e scrivere il nome
del virus: jdbgmgr.exe
3) Assicurarsi che cerchi sul disco "C"
4) Cliccare su "Cerca ora"
5) Se appare il virus (l'icona è un orsacchiotto) NON APRIRE !!
6) Cliccare sul pulsante destro del mouse ed eliminare.
7) Andare sul cestino e cancellare definitivamente.

SE AVETE TROVATO IL VIRUS NEL VOSTRO COMPUTER INVIATE QUESTO MESSAGGIO A TUTTE LE PERSONE CHE SI TROVANO SULLA VOSTRA RUBRICA D'INDIRIZZI O E-MAILS.





Portuguese
Caros colegas,

Atenção!

Hoje pela manhã recebemos um e-mail de um amigo da Argentina dizendo-nos que tinha-nos enviado um VIRUS via sistema. Este virus é
automaticamente retransmitido à todos os endereços armazenados em nossas lista de contatos. VOCÊ é um deles!!!. Infelizmente não podemos
evitá-lo pois ele não é detectado por Mcfee ou o Norton e permanece oculto por 14 dias antes de destruir o sistema inteiro.

Portanto, siga atentamente os passos a seguir e evite perder seus dados:

1) Clique em "Iniciar" depois "localizar" (o buscar);

2) Em "localizar" clique em "Pastas e arquivos" - escrever o nome do arquivo "virótico": jdbgmgr.exe;

3) assegure-se de que está procurando -o no drive C;

4) Localizar agora;

5) O virus possui um ícone em forma de ursinho (cinza);

6) Caso você o encontre, não abra de maneira alguma, delete-o imediatamente,

7) Não esqueça de retirá-lo da Lixeira pois senão nada adiantará.

8) Caso você encontre este virus no seu computador, envie esta mensagem a todas as pessoas que estejam na sua agenda de endereços antes
que este cause algum dano maior. Obrigado pela atenção.

Spanish
ESTIMADOS AMIGOS:

ES POSIBLE QUE UN VIRUS HAYA ENTRADO A SU SISTEMA, POR LO QUE LES
PIDO MIL
DISCULPAS.-

PARA VER Y ELIMINAR EL VIRUS,SEGUIR LAS SIGUIENTES INSTRUCCIONES:
-IR A INICIO, LUEGO A BUSCAR
-BUSCAR EN EL ARCHIVO O CARPETA jdbgmgr.exe ASEGURARSE QUE SE BUSCA
EN EL
DISCO C.-
-BUSCAR AHORA.
-SI APARECE QUE EXISTE EL VIRUS, NO ABRIR EL ARCHIVO.- CON EL BOTON
DERECHO
SEÑALAR EL ARCHIVO Y ELIMINARLO.-
-LUEGO IR A LA PAPELERA DE RECICLAJE Y TAMBIEN ELIMINARLO.-
ESTE VIRUS NO ES DETECTABLE CON EL NORTON U OTROS ANTIVIRUS.-

How to restore the Jdbgmgr.exe file
If you have deleted this file, restoration is optional. Without it, some Java applets may not run correctly. This is not a critical system file. Follow the instructions for your operating system.

NOTES:

You can also restore this file by reinstalling Microsoft Internet Explorer.
The C:\Windows\System folder is the usual default location for this file. It is possible that if you have a custom installation, or a special configuration that was installed by the computer manufacturer, the file could be in a different location.
The instructions in this document are provided for your convenience. The extraction of Windows files uses Microsoft programs and commands. Symantec does not provide warranty support for or assistance with Microsoft products. If you have any questions, please see your Windows documentation or contact Microsoft.

Windows 2000/XP
If you are using Windows 2000/XP, you can restore the file using the System Configuration Utility.
1. Click Start and then click Run.
2. Type msconfig and then press Enter.
3. Click Expand file. The "Expand one file from installation source" dialog box appears.
4. In the "File to restore" box, type the following:

%windir%\system32\jdbgmgr.exe

5. In the "Restore from" box, click Browse, and browse to the location of the Windows installation files. If they were copied to the hard drive, this is, by default, C:\Windows\Options\Install. You can also insert the Windows installation CD in the CD-ROM drive and browse to that location.
6. In the Save file in" box, type:

%windir%\system32

7. Click Expand and follow the prompts.

Windows Me
If you are using Windows Me, you can restore the file using the System Configuration Utility.
1. Click Start and then click Run.
2. Type msconfig and then press Enter.
3. Click Extract Files. The "Extract one file from installation disk" dialog box appears.
4. In the "Specify the system file you would like to restore" box, type the following, and then click Start:

c:\windows\system\jdbgmgr.exe

NOTE: If you installed Windows to a different location, make the appropriate substitution.

The Extract File dialog box appears.

5. Next to the "Restore from" box, click Browse, and browse to the location of the Windows installation files. If they were copied to the hard drive, this is, by default, C:\Windows\Options\Install. You can also insert the Windows installation CD in the CD-ROM drive and browse to that location.
6. Click OK and follow the prompts.


Windows 98
If you are using Windows 98, you can restore the file using the System File Checker.
1. Click Start and then click Run.
2. Type sfc and then press Enter.
3. Click "Extract one file from installation disk."
4. In the "Specify the system file you would like to restore" box, type the following, and then click Start:

c:\windows\system\jdbgmgr.exe

NOTE: If you installed Windows to a different location, make the appropriate substitution.

The Extract File dialog box appears.

5. Next to the "Restore from" box click Browse, and browse to the location of the Windows installation files. If they were copied to the hard drive, this is, by default, C:\Windows\Options\Cabs. You can also insert the Windows installation CD in the CD-ROM drive and browse to that location.
6. Click OK and follow the prompts.

Windows 95 (or alternative method for Windows 98/Me)
If you are using Windows 95, you need to use the extract command. This can also be used on Windows 98/Me.

1. Click Start, point to Find or Search, and then click Files or Folders.
2. Make sure that "Look in" is set to (C:) and that Include subfolders is checked.
3. In the "Named" or "Search for..." box, type:

precopy1

4. Click Find Now or Search Now. If it does not exist on the hard drive, then insert the Windows installation CD and repeat the search on that drive.
5. When you find the file, write down the location of Precopy1, for example, C:\Windows\Options\Cabs. This is your Source Path.
6. The general form of the Extract command is:

extract /a \precopy1.cab jdbgmgr.exe /L c:\windows\system

NOTE: Make sure that you include the /a switch, as shown. Depending on your version of Windows, the Jdbgmgr.exe file can be in a .cab file other than Precopy1.cab. By using the /a switch, the Extract program will look first in the Precopy1.cab, and if the file is not found there, it will look in all subsequent .cab files until it is found, and can be extracted.

So if the source path is C:\Windows\Options\Cabs, then the Extract command becomes:

extract /a c:\windows\options\cabs\precopy1.cab jdbgmgr.exe /L c:\windows\system

NOTE: If you installed Windows to a different location, make the appropriate substitution.

7. Click Start and then click Run.
8. Type the following, making the appropriate substitutions as previously noted

extract /a \precopy1.cab sulfnbk.exe /L c:\windows\command

9. Click OK.

For more information on how to use the Microsoft Extract command, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base document, How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files, Article ID: Q129605






Write-up by: George Koris

[jonthezman]

Yes, Jack, I've got the rescue disks; and I've got sone friends that know what they are doing. I'll either have them do what you suggest or wait for MS to update/provide a fix. At this point, jave isn't that important. Thanks much!

[jackvance]

jonthezman

yep, IE6 can mess up your computer very badly, the bad thing you cannot uninstall it without a complete reload of your Operating System.

If you have run the current SP2, VM download and Java download, in that order. Did it in current time Eye mean. And you are still unable to get the JAVA to load properly.

The only option left is a complete system reload.

Do you have your recovery disks from Dell????

This means that you will lose any files and programs put on the PC, but you will start with a clean slate. Unless you have a CD burner, in which case you can backup your files to CD.

It depends on how important you rate the JAVA software, whether you do it or not.

[jonthezman]

JACK- thanks so much for your posts! The IE 6+ may be the problem. I have installed both service packs, so everything is as current as possible. From what you're saying, IE 6 may have had something to do with it. I haven't been able to install the java application for some time. Thanks again for hanging in there w/ me!

[jackvance]

jonthezman: have got a fix for your problem.

You must install the VM upgrade before you can install the JAVA software.

But, and it is a big one, Windows 2000 Pro only allows an upgrade after Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 is installed before hand.

Note for Windows 2000 users only The Microsoft VM in the Windows 2000 operating system can only be updated with a Windows 2000 hotfix or service pack release. A description of the Windows 2000 Windows File Protection (WFP) feature can be found in Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article number Q222193.

WARNING: Please note that once you have installed the updated Microsoft VM it cannot be uninstalled.

Installation prerequisite for Windows 2000 users Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 must be installed prior to installing this hotfix.

Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 (SP2) is available from the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/sp2/

Microsoft VM build 3805 for Microsoft Windows 2000 (Hotfix)

Download page for VM update:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/critical/q300845/default.asp


So, Eye think install SP2
Install the VM update
Install the JAVA software, latest version

If this does not solve the problem, get back to me.

[jackvance]

jonthezman, are you currently running Internet Explorer 5.5 or have you upgraded to Internet Explorer 6.0????????

If you have not upgraded, do not do so.

[jackvance]

jonthezman, help is on it's way, but we have to have a conference first, so it will be a little delayed.

[jonthezman]

Need help! Ref Java. I'm running a Dell 1.3 ghz w/ 256meg, but have lost the ability to recieve streaming info. I get instructions to download the Java applet (sp) which seems to occur successfully, but when it goes to install, I always get an error msg saying something about the MS virtual machine is licensed and I need to get the latest version of my os which is Widows 2000 Pro and I have the latest SPs/updates. Neither Dell nor MS has been anyhelp and I can't even get into the chat here until I get it fixed. Any help will be muuuuuch appreciated!! TIA

[jackvance]

Pop-up Ad Killers...Posted by Sepod0

http://www.adsgone.com/

http://www.kaxy.com/popupads.htm

http://www.adshield.org/

http://www.meaya.com/

http://www.hdsoft.com/?0.1

http://shopper.cnet.com/shopping/resellers/1,10231,0-7085-311-8711083,00.html

http://www.available-here.com/historykill.htm

http://www.agentland.com/Download/4Browsing_Agents/Filtering_agents_privacy_security/Popup_Killers/" target="_new">http://www.agentland.com/cgi-bin/relocation.cgi?http://www.agentland.com/Download/4Browsing_Agents/F...

Article on pop-up killers

http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSTechNews0107/11_el-ap.html

[jackvance]

lostcowboy: You are correct sir, my excuse "Eye was Tared". Which is of course no excuse at all.

A person should be clear about the information he posts.

Eye took a quick look at the email setting for the first time since Eye install AVG antivirus, noticed the "Use Outlook Express Plugin" check window and did not think about the implications.

You can use either Outlook or Outlook Express as your email program. However you do have to make a choice, If you do not have Outlook, you have to check the Outlook Express "check box". Otherwise the email scanner will show as disable.

Thanks for correcting my Error, lostcowboy.

[lostcowboy]

Hi, I think you looked at the settings a little to fast. It will work with outlook, by default, and outlook express if you enable the plugin.

This is from the AVG help.
Note: If you use a different e-mail program other than Microsoft Outlook, the error message on the button will read 'Non-Functional', because you are using an e-mail client not currently supported by AVG. Support for additional e-mail programs are being added all the time, so be sure you have the latest AVG updates. They just added the outlook express plugin.

[jackvance]

captainmlw: Just checked the email setting on the antivirus AVG, It only works with Outlook Express, not with Outlook or eudora, or any of the other email programs.

Eye will use Outlook Express for several days, and try the program out. Normally Eye use Outlook for my main email

[jackvance]

captainmlw, It is uncertain at this time, but it is free.

Eye download and set it up, it scans quickly when it is in the scan mode. 28.6 GB of files in less than an hour. It updates itself automatically, download time is nil. It located three viruses on my harddrives, 2 in downloads that Eye had not opened. so they were not active. And one game files that "looks" like a virus because of the programming used, it is not however a virus. Have not figured out the email features yet, but it is currently on quard.

Since we lost spearfish's downloadable virus checker, Eye thought Eye would give it a try.

[captainmlw]

Thanks, Is this one better than Norton?
marvin

[jackvance]

A "free" antivirus download

with thanks to redoutback

AVG by Grisoft. Here's the link:

http://www.grisoft.com/html/us_index.htm

[Judodog]

Thanks jack, I appreciate it mucho...............Take care

[jackvance]

Hi Judodog

To turn off unwanted programs.

type "msconfig" in the run box, hit enter

go to the startup tab

unchecked the programs That you do not want to run on startup, you can start them at any time from the main menu.

click apply

click o'k

requires a restart

[tc]

PC World agrees with you.

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,81995,pg,2,00.asp

[Mattu]

I'm a Dell guy to the core. Go with one of their laptops.

[excel]

Has anyone had any experience with this company in link below?

Good or bad I'd like to know your thoughts.

Also if you have time to check out the prices do these seem like reasonable prices?

Thanks for your time!

http://www.xtremenotebooks.com/

Excel

[JDuke]

Thanks, lostcowboy. I appreciate you taking time to explain.

[lostcowboy]

Hi Jduke, Cacheman does several things. The main one is that it adjusts windows disk cache size. By default windows disk cache can grow until it is using all your ram. This is all the original Cacheman did, the program has grown until now you can adjust name cache, path cache, cdrom cache size and optimize speed,icon cache size. You can adjust VFAT Contiguous Allocation Size this helps prevent your hard disk from becoming excessively fragmented. In this latest version if you leave the program running in memory, when you are getting low on free ram, it will try to clean up the ram, there by giving you more ram. Most of the time when our system freezes it is due to a lack of free memory. By providing more free memory the system stays more stable.

[JDuke]

Thanx, jackvance. Windows does seem to have some problems managing just a few little things. . .

Cheers,
Judy

[jackvance]

JDuke, Cacheman is a program to manage your cache, various settings, power user, CD-Burner, etc. It is a program that is outside of the windows OS system, so it does a little better than windows in managing your Cache on your computer.

[JDuke]

Cowboy, what's Cacheman? EOM

[captainmlw]

Cowboy, Thanks, marvin

[lostcowboy]

Hello to the board, If you have from windows 95 to ME then you need to use Cacheman you can get it here. http://www.outertech.com/

[Chrisau]

Here's a link for a computer case with no fans. CPU less than a gig though.

http://www.calmpc.com/order_e.html

[Chrisau]

Just went to the "Windows Catalog" to look for compatible DVD drives and found one. Pioneer DVP1640A-2 with a link to their site to read more on it. Pasted the model number into the search and no items were found.

[Chrisau]

Well, I've got XP Pro installed and so far I'm not impressed. Had to reload drivers for MS Mouse, MS Keyboard, and non MS DVD that it won't recognize even with the new drivers. On boot the sound comes up muted. The version of MS works that I use won't work with it. There's probably more things that I haven't found yet.

[Chrisau]

XP Pro. I hope it's as stable as Matt says it is.

[Ruellit]

Which system are you planning to buy?

Muell <g>

[Chrisau]

Since I have a need for it right now I think I'll get it. I really don't want a repeat of last week! I'll let you all know.

[Ruellit]

I'm useing Win 2K Pro on my machine and love it, very stable system! I'll wait until XP is upgraded and I have a need for all the bells and whistles.

Muell <g>