ABC ~ All 'Bout Computers
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Question submitted by Ray Carroll:

Is there any problem in running defrag in safe mode. Thanks

Answer from Linda Johnson:

Hi Ray. No, there is certainly no "problem" running defrag in safe mode. As a matter of fact, if you have Windows 95/98/ME, it will probably run BETTER in safe mode because anything running in the background will halt defrag, so many people prefer to run defrag in safe mode with those versions of Windows (since nothing is running in the background in safe mode). Windows XP doesn't require that all things running in the background are disabled before you run defrag so it really isn't an issue anymore ... but even in XP, if you want to run defrag in safe mode, there's certainly no problem doing that.

Question submitted by Joe in Tasmania:

One of our Senior Group has a Pioneer DVD Player/Burner installed and he uses this for watching his DVD's, some of which are sent from the US to him here in Tasmania. His problem now is that the auto region set has defaulted to Region 1 and he now cannot view any DVD in Region 4 (Australia) Is there any way that it can be reset to give him the option of using Region 4 or alternatively is there anyway that this can be overridden. Your help would be appreciated as usual.

Answer from Vic Ferri:

Yes, you can do this by using region free software. I would recommend either AnyDVD or DVD Region+CSS Free. Both very easy to use. More info:
AnyDvd
http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvd.html

DVD Region+CSS Free.
http://www.dvdidle.com/dvd-region-free.htm

Question submitted by LilianG:

Using Windows 98SE. Sometimes my computer freezes when I am shutting down and stays on the "Windows is now shutting down" What can I do other than pulling the plug?

Answer from Linda Johnson:

Hi Lilian. This is a known issue with Windows 98SE. Microsoft made a patch to fix it and some people say it works and some don't. I'm hoping it will work for you. Here's the download page and instructions from Microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q239887/

Question submitted by Ray Carroll:

Installed new Cd-ROM Computer won't start asked for startup disk. Run startup disk get into set on Win98SE CD Last message reads Cannot create a tempporary dirctory. If you have HPFS or NTFS installed on your hard drive you will need to create an MS-boot partion to set up windows
Ran MS-DOS FDISK
FDISK Options
Choose one of the following
1.Create DOS partition or Logical DOS drive
2.Set Active Partition
3.Delete partition or Logical DOS Drive
4.Display Partition information.

Enter choice 1

What option do I take for MS-DOS Boot Partion to set up Windows. This is my first attempt at doing this sort of thing. Thanks
 

Answer from Hal Cardona:

I'm not exactly sure what the problem is. I suspect that you have the Master/Slave settings done incorrectly or have inadvertently disconnected a cable inside your PC.  First make sure that there is a 40 or 80 pin cable between your hard drive and the motherboard and that the hard drive has a 4 pin power connector attached. You should take a look in the BIOS to make sure the correct devices (and all of them) are being detected. Next, you need to understand that each device (up to 2) on an IDE/EIDE/ATA cable must have unique setting of Master or Slave, so if your hard drive is the Master on a cable and you connect a CD-ROM to that cable you need make the CD drive the Slave. If your motherboard supports the Cable select setting then the end connector is for the Master device the middle connector is for the Slave device.

If the above isn't enough to get you going, please reply with the physical layout of your devices and types of connections they are using. I.e.: HD1 (boot) and CDRW on the primary IDE connector.

Reply from Ray Carroll:

Hi Hal. This all came about because I unknowingly bought a CD-Rom for OS Win98SE not Win98 So I am installing Win98SE . I get as far creating a boot partion using FDISK . Nothing that I do there helps. The Old CD-ROM Drive had trouble reading disks for a long time and finally quit , so I sure all the cables are connected properly. So my problem is getting Win98SE on my Win98 computer which seems to be quite a task.

Answer from Hal Cardona:

If CD-ROM works with 98SE it will work with 98. Again I think it has to do with your master/slave relationships, cabling or the BIOS. Did you check to make sure that the correct devices are being detected in the BIOS?

Reply from Ray Carroll:

Sorry Hal It Doesn't.
Ray
Specifications
Part # CDU5215
Supported format CD-DA, CD-ROM, Photo CD, Mixed Mode CD-ROM, CD-I, CD-Extra,
CD-Text, Video CD Read Speed 52x Buffer Size 128KB Interface ATAPI / E-IDE
Random Access Time 95ms Data Transfer Rate 7800KB/S Form Factor 5"
OS Requirements Windows XP/ 2000/ ME/ 98SE

Answer from Hal Cardona:

I agree that System Requirements may not state 98 but I am willing to bet it will work with 98. Again check your cabling and the BIOS.

Reply from Ray Carroll:

Hal. I am glad that I didn't bet with you. I took the new CD-ROM out and looked at the jumper setting . It was set to Master probably why it was unable to start. I set it to slave and away it went. Thanks for sticking with me. I am 77 years old and some times a little stubborn.

Question submitted by Bobbie:

I "lost" a program in my All Programs from the start menu. I still have it on the desktop, and it is in the Accessories folder on Explore all Users. I would like to put it back where it also belongs. Are you able to guide me?
 

Answer from Linda Johnson:

Hi Bobbie. I'm confused. Are you responding to the question that was answered by Hal Cardona in this issue? Are you saying you have a program in your Accessories folder that does not belong there and instead, you want it to show in your list of programs?  If that IS what you are saying, click on Accessories in the left pane of your Explore All Users view, then right click on the file in the right pane and choose Copy ... then click on the Programs folder on the left so you show the contents of that on the right ... then right click on a blank spot in the right pane and select Paste. Check your All Programs list from your Start button to be sure it's there .. then go back to the Accessories folder and delete the old one.  If that is NOT what you are saying, please let me know exactly what program you are referring to and where it used to be before it ended up in your Accessories folder.

Reply from Bobbie:

Linda: Thank you very much for your quick response and I am sorry I left you confused. After more playing around, I did get your solution to work and I really appreciate your help. I think I tried to work too quickly. Happy Spring!

Question submitted by Aasi from Pk:

I had many text files prepared in Wordstar program. It was the DOS based program. But I cannot convert these files into Windows MS-word format, like MS-Word Dos can be easily converted. I have used the converters that came with MS-Word of windows but it didn't work. I have learnt that these text files can be easily converted into word for windows. Please tell me how to convert the dos base text files into MS word Windows based.

Answer from Hal Cardona:

I located a utility that will convert WordStar files to rich text format (*.rtf) which can be opened by Word and then saved in Word's native doc format.  The utility is available here:
http://www.wordstar.org/wsdos/pages/downloads.htm#WSCONEN

Question submitted by Rich from Farmington:

I have a Lexmark X83 Printer/ Scanner and a HP photosmart printer. My question is can I hook up both printers with a USB cord. Every time I use one or the other printer I have to select which one so I would not be using more than on one at a time. Thank you

Answer from Hal Cardona:

That should be fairly easy. Jjust use a separate USB cable for each and install the printer drivers. If you are low on USB ports buy a powered hub to add more ports.

Question submitted by arthurx1234 from a very cool England:

hi. i have a normal pc set up ie pc/usb broadband modem. How do i "go wireless"? I want to connect to the internet without physically having my pc connected to the phone socket, how do i do it---so do i buy a "wireless card" and a "router"? as i already have a adsl modem can i save money by buying a router without a modem? help

Answer from Hal Cardona:

You will need to buy a wireless router and perhaps need a new DSL "modem". The router to modem connection is usually done with and Ethernet cable, not USB. You need a wireless card that fits your PC and matches the wireless protocol used by the router.

Answer from William Warren:

There are a few routers that can hanlde usb but they could be $$$. Look into a wireless router than can use USB .. but Hal's idea is the most practical and least $$$ consuming.  Also check your dsl modem and see if it has an Ethernet jack. If it does just go get yourself a wireless router and a matching card.

Question submitted by Joe in Tasmania:

One of our Senior Members is having this problem and as I have never used Windows 2000 I am unable to offer any suggestions.

"userinit.exe Entry point not found. The procedure entry point LeaveCriticalSektion could not be located in the dynamic link library Kernell32.dll. I press Restart and it is mostly alright, sometimes the computer freezes and if i press Ctrl Alt Delete the note comes up and won't go away"

At first I thought that it may be a Trojan or Hijacker but on reading some pages I'm not so sure now. Can anyone assist please?

Answer from William Warren:

What needs to be done is userinit.exe and kernel32.dll need to be
restored. Which sp version is installed on the machine?

Reply from Joe in Tasmania:

I am advised that she has Service Pack 4. I hope this helps

Answer from William Warren:

You will need to restore kernel32.dll using a windows 2000 cd in
the repair console.

Question submitted by vijay_mehta_chd @ rediffmail.com:

i want to know about the procedure how to change winxp logo screen with the personal one.please dont tell me about any software which can do this i want to know the manual procedure.

Answer from Hal Cardona:

Changing the Windows XP boot logo is not for the faint of heart. It requires modifying ntoskrnl.exe. If you make a mistake and haven't backed the file up you will have to reinstall XP to make it bootable You can find the instructions you are seeking here:
http://www.geocities.com/thejjoelc/XPbootcolors.html

Question submitted by Scott:

All I need to know is, how do I change the setting for the search box on any search engine? Every time I type anything in; let's say the letter "r", automatically anything that I've ever searched for previously starting with the letter "r" shows up. I do not want that to happen anymore. I've asked around if anyone knew how to stop that from happening, and no one can help. I would think that it can't be that hard, so I hope you are able to give me an answer. Thank you.

Answer from Mike Baynes:

Hi Scott.  if you are using Internet Explorer with IE open go to Tools> Internet Options> History> Clear History

Question submitted by Thue from Minnesota:

We've tried to implement your suggestions from your "Deleting Temp Files 101 tutorial" without success -- we got no files at all in the search for tmp and chk files. This machine has been used for a long time with no previous effort made to remove these particular types of files. So why no results? Please advise. Thank you.

Answer from Linda Johnson:

You must not have your hidden files showing .... go to Advanced Options in the search box and put checks beside "Search hidden files and folders" and "Search System Folders"

Question submitted byGiza:

can anyone tell me how to check my power supply if it is broken or not. thnx

Answer from Hal Cardona:

I use an AT or ATX power supply tester. Similar to the ATX one available
from here: http://www.pcpowerandcooling.com/products/cooling/
tester/index.htm

Question submitted by Joe from Tasmania:

A friend has asked me if there is a way that he can save pics from a .pps file so that he can have them individually to keep email etc. He is using Windows 98 Can you help please.

Answer from Vic Ferri:

Yes, very simple. Rename your pps presentation with a ppt extension. Open the ppt and right click any picture you want to save and choose "Save as Picture". You will then have the option to save it your hard drive
as a jpg or other image format.  If you want to save a full slide or all the slides to image formats, click File > Save As and choose an image format as the type to save as. A box will then pop up asking if you want to save just the current slide or all the slides.

Question submitted by Russ from Sugarland Tx:

Hello,My question concerns my sound. All of a sudden yesterday my sound volume came on the screen and turned itself completely off. I have been to control panel and tried to bring the sound back up, but when I move the slide for the volume control from min to max, it just slides down to min again. The on screen green sound indicator stays on and will not go away from my screen. Can someone help me please I am at loss as what it could be. Is this a hardware breakdown or is it software related?

Answer from Hal Cardona:

This sounds like it could be a problem in one of three areas:
1. Bad keyboard volume control --> try a different keyboard.
2. Corrupted Keyboard enhanced features software -- Remove and reinstall the software
3. Sound card driver problem, reinstall the drivers for your sound card.

Question submitted by Samara Mcloughlin:

i cannot get the cd rom drive to open. how do i get the cd rom drive open?

Answer from Linda Johnson:

Get a paper clip and straighten it out. Now, look on the front of your CD Rom drive and you will see a small pin-hole ... GENTLY and SLOWLY push the straightened paper clip into that hole until the CD drive pops open.

Question submitted by Becky:

Hi Linda. I use your instructions to save the delete temp files search and do it every day. Also I did it on my Mom's computer at Easter and found she had over 3000 temp files. No wonder her computer was slow!! I shared the link to your site for the deleting temp files with my LVS class.

My question today is when I downloaded netscape it changed all my gif and jpg icons to netscape ones. I only use Netscape for cross-browser compatibility. My main browser is Firefox. I want to set them all back to the default icons for jpg and gif so that I can open them without having to take them into a program and look at them. When I go to change it there is no other icon available. Somehow they are gone. This is how I get there: Start/settings/folder options/ ...... In folder options I go to the tab file types/under file types I scroll down to jpg and then to edit. When I click on change icon there is no other icon in there except netscape's. I'm not sure what else to do. I am in a few graphics classes and it's driving me crazy! Thanks for the tips and tricks you give out every day!

Answer from Linda Johnson:

I assume you're using a version of Windows other than XP? If so, just click once on one of your jpeg files (don't double click) ... then hold
down your shift key and RIGHT click on the file and choose "Open WITH" ... choose the program you want the file to open with and put a check in the box at the bottom that says "Always use this program to open files of this type" and click OK ..... now all your jpgs will open with that program. Then find a gif file and repeat the process.

Reply from Becky:

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you I chose open with iexplore and now all the jpgs and gifs are changed back to what they were and they all will open in their own little window.  Thank you so very very much!

Question submitted by Kat:

I am having a problem with Microsoft Word 2000, every time i open up word the screen resolution changes to a poor quality, i can change the screen resolution back to 800 by 600 and 32 bit colour quality, and confirm that i want these settings etc, but every time i open word i have the same problem again. this only happens when i open word, it does not happen in any other programs or Microsoft programs.

Answer from Hal Cardona:

The problem may be with some compatibility settings that you are using when start Word. Locate the file Winword.exe and right click on it then select Properties and then select the Compatibility tab. Make sure that NOTHING is checked on the Compatibility tab, click OK. Try starting Word from your normal shortcut. If the problem still exists, try starting Word by doubling clicking on the file Winword.exe. If that works you will need to recreate your normal shortcut to Word.

If there is still no joy, you will need to try disabling things that start with Word. To do that you will need to locate the Word startup the folder, on my PC it is located here:
C:\Documents and Settings\ %username%\ Application Data\ Microsoft\ Word\ STARTUP.
If you have modified the location of the file you can locate it by opening Word and selecting Tools --> Options and the File Locations Tab. After you find the Word start-up folder, try moving the items it contains to a temporary location. If Word is now working correctly, try adding the items back to Word's start-up folder one at time (starting Word between each addition) to locate the culprit.

Thanks to all who submitted questions.  If you submitted a question and did not get an answer, and the problem still persists, try going here and submitting it again.  Just remember that we cannot guarantee that we will answer every question, though I think the Fleet did a bang-up job!  Thanks to all of the Fleet for your expert advice and your valuable time :-)