The Official Computer Technical Help Thread

So, I shouldn't reformat unless I know about this driver business?

 

You can reformat, and everything will probably work depending on what you have installed. YOu might want to investigate at least your network driver so you can get on the internet to download the rest.

 

network driver? [face_stupid]

 

Windexed
I have used Aladdin Expander for many years now and have had no problems with this software at all. However, the version I use is getting on a little, version 5.1 where as the company are on version 8.something that is no longer free. However I have found this site that allows you to download version 5.1, not to sure if anything else will come with it.

expander

 

Ok, this is driving me to distraction.

You know the old "This page can not be displayed" message? Well whenever my PC gets to that, it automatically forwards to

nav.startnow.com/?q=http://URL I originally entered/&e=se

This brings up StartNow's closest link. These are not amusing. They are never what I want and often really unpleasant. A friend was round here looking at some random harmless site and when one page didn't come up, it redirected him to hardcore porn. Plus you have to use the drop down list to go back due to the automatic forwarding.

Does anyone know how to disable it?

 

Valyn: Depending on what you have installed inside your machine, video card, sound card, USB/Firewire card, TV card, etc, XP should be able to pick those up and install the necessary default drivers for them. A default driver means they should work, however, I always recommend installing the manufacturers drivers if you have them. Check to see if you have any CD-ROMs for your PC and verify if the hardware is installed. If you don't have any CD-ROMs you can always visit the manufacturer's website to get the latest drivers. Don't sweat the drivers, you'll be fine.

If you have any very old devices that are no longer supported, you may not be able to get drivers for those. Just a heads up.

More importantly, get your data backed-up before you format.

This brings up StartNow's closest link. These are not amusing. They are never what I want and often really unpleasant. A friend was round here looking at some random harmless site and when one page didn't come up, it redirected him to hardcore porn. Plus you have to use the drop down list to go back due to the automatic forwarding.

Does anyone know how to disable it?

This sounds like a trojan to me. Go to google and research StartNow to see how to remove it.

 

What about my problem? No-one knows how I sort this out?

I can't pop-up anything on my PC. I can't even "open link in a new window" - I have to copy/paste the shortcut in a new browser. Anyone else has this problem? I have Windows XP Professional.

 

I have an InterDVD Software Question...

See, I am beginning to learn graphic design...I am getting Photoshop 7.0 tomorrow. The problem is I would like to start making stuff out of some screen shots from my DVD's.....how do I do that? I have the common software InterDVD on my computer, is there an option there that allows me to take screen caps?

Thank you,

 

Lord Fett, a user here at work had a similar problem and our systems guy was stumped. He spent the best part of two days playing with her machine and decided to either a) Fresh install of XP or b) install a new browser, i.e. Mozilla Firebird. He went for option two and the user can now browse the web. Sorry this aint much help.

 

Could you not just use the print-screen option while the DVD is playing, or does that not record a still of the DVD itself?

 

Print Screen most likely won't work because of frame rates. If you have XP, download the latest version (v2 I think) of Windows Movie Maker, it's free. It will let you take screen caps, create movies, import image files, the whole 9. This is a very good program for beginners and everyday users alike.

To download this, run Windows Update, and check the non-critical area, Movie Maker 2 should be there, unless you've already downloaded it.

 

I probably already downloaded it. I would be on my laptop (I am at work) so I will check when I get home. But I download all the latest updates usually so I don't see myself not having it....thanks.

So how would I get files to the Movie Maker, print screen?

 

Thanks, Sabre.

 

ObiWan: I misread your thread a bit. You want to play a DVD on your machine and take a snapshot, right? I have done this with InterActual. I think once you're watching the movie, right-click on the movie and look for an option to take a screen cap. I believe it will store the cap in a folder under interactual or it may prompt you for a location. Once you've done this you can take the screen caps into PS7.

In this case, Movie Maker is not relevant, unless you want to make movies, with the screen caps. Capturing video from the DVD is a bit different. You'll need a TV card of some sort, but I'm not sure if the protection on the DVD will let you view the piece you've copied, I've never tried it.

 

Lightsabre, I actually have InterVideo WinDVD...I didn't see an option there or anything to take a screen cap.

 

Thanks Lightsabre. I found another board completely devoted to removing spyware, adware and things exactly like that. Ta.

Obi-Wan, WinDVD does have a capture option. On my own copy of it, there's a button for it or you can use the "p" key. Images are then saved in My Pictures/WinDVD capture, or something like that.

 

Grand, I tried pushing "P"...but nothing.

I don't know...

 

Hmmm. What version do you have? Mine is version 3.

Alternatively, use Media Player Classic. It's a great wee program.

 

There's info on InterVideo's website on how to do this. Go there and make sure your version is up to snuff.

 

I bought a new PC today. I got an HP pavilion for about $1064. It includes a CDRW and DVDR drive, 144GB of space, a 17" flat screen monitor, a color printer, and a $300 rebate offer.

EDIT:

I'm having a problem with Ad-aware, however. Spybot works fine (and it's detected so many things ALREADY), but Ad-aware stalls and doesn't respond. Any ideas as to why?

Also, since I deleted all of the stuff Spybot found, I got a Runtime error. Should I be concerned?

 

HOLY CRAP!!! There's no diskette drive!!!!!

What can I do when I need to use diskettes for school?!?!

 

Valyn: Is the new PC XP Pro or Home? Are you running Spybot 1.3? If so turn off the resident part and try installing Adaware again. Make sure it's Adaware v6.181. Do you have any anti-virus or firewall software?

Almost all new PC's come without a floppy drive. If you still need it, you can buy an internal and install it, assuming you have a bay, or buy an external drive the connects via USB.

Do yourself a favor and buy a router, if you don't already have one. Make a home network with your old PC (wiped and reinstalled) and new PC. Use the old PC as a file server to backup files from the new one.

 

It's XP Home. I downloaded Ad-aware 6.0. Where can I download the version you mentioned?

I have a 60-day trial with Norton antivirus.

 

ever since I ran Spybot and eliminated what turned out to be a LOT of spyware, whenever I start up my PC now I get a Runner Error...what does that mean?

 

All of my favourites in Mozilla Firefox have just dissapeared. Why has it done that?