Date: 09/18/07     Keywords: software, browser, google

I have a problem installing the latest version of Flash, or rather, I have no problem with the actual installing  (the adobe site says it's installed, I see it in the add/remove software list and so on) but it wont play. I've googled a bit and I'm not alone with this issue, but the solution offered doesn't work for me (i.e. close all browser windows, uninstall flash, re-install flash from adobe site/ download software and install manually). Does anyone know of another solution or reason as to why it wont play? More and more sites are using the latest version and it's getting annoying.

(I use Windows XP btw)

Thanks!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/818865.html

Date: 09/16/07     Keywords: no keywords

My computer recently crashed and I brought it into a local place to be fixed. While there the guy working on it told me that my video card was going out (despite that it was working fine before the crash) and so he replaced it, but now everything I listen to sounds like the chipmunks are singing it, and when I try to watch videos on youtube they're all high-pitched sounding and in fast forward. I'd really rather fix this myself if possible, so I'd appreciate any kind of help you guys can give me <3 Thank you!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/818218.html

Date: 09/16/07     Keywords: software, web

Hi, people! I've tried calling our ISP (Cox), tried calling the support line for the manfacturer of the products we use (Belkin), basically tried everything except a full factory restore (a last resort). Hopefully I won't have to execute that last option.

Anyway, here's the scoop on what's bringing me and my computer down:

The Hard Facts

I use an eMachines computer (I think from 2005?) - it runs on Windows XP. I DON'T think this is a memory issue, but just in case, it's a 120 GB drive.

The computer I'm using now, my parents' computer, is, I believe, a Dell.

Now, I connect to the internet via a wireless connection - basically, my parents' computer is the one that really does all the connecting, and my computer is content to enjoy this by extension. Therefore, if their connection goes down, mine follows. Sometimes theirs remains fine while mine refuses to work - such as now.

Additional Vital Hardware Mentions:

We both employ a Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter. Mine is currently plugged into the computer, as is theirs. Mine is displaying a blue icon in the lower-right corner, indicating that I should be connected and free to roam. In addition, the computer monitor icon in the lower-right of both desktop toolbars is on and, on both computers, indicates connection. The problem is that on my computer, in spite of the icons and messages indicating that by all means, I should be able to use the internet, it doesn't load or connect (every website displays an "Internet Explorer cannot display the page" message).

Other software worth noting is attached to the host computer (or, in one case, plugged separately into a nearby outlet) and is actually vital to ensuring continued internet through the host computer (aka the computer that currently does have working internet connection). This software is comprised of:

Motorola SB5120 SURFboard cable modem. It's currently up and running - the POWER, RECIEVE, SEND, and ONLINE buttons are all a steady green, and the PC ACTIVITY button is a steady orange. Good.

BELKIN Wireless G router, model F5D7230-4, version 5000. It's also currently on and running. Power and Modem lights are on and blinking a vibrant green, as well as the Wireless and Internet buttons. In addition, a green 1 is lit. I'm assuming this may refer to my computer. Also of note:

In the back of the cable modem are three plugs, I suppose you'd call them. The bottom plug is inserted into its slot and the other end is plugged into the wall behind it. There's also an Ethernet cable, I believe it's called, plugged into its socket. The other end is plugged into the Router, in the green section marked "Connection to Modem." The other plug is kind of.,.. don't know what to call it, but iot's like one of those cables you screw and unscrew from various plugs on TVs and VCRs and such. Sorry, the proper term's slipped my mind at the moment. Anyway, it's plugged in and runs into the wall behind it, and all is connected there too.

Now for the router set-up. As mentioned before, one end of an Ethernet cable is planted into the "Connection to Modem/WAN" plug with the other end in the cable modem. The main plug is in, and the other end is plugged tightly into the power strip. The final plug is kind of like the REthernet cable only smaller. It's plugged into a terminal marked "1" under a blue section marked "connection to computers". The other end is plugged into its proper spot on the computer terminal.

The final bit of hardware to mention is a Linksys Wireless G Range Expander, model number WRE54G, version 2-US. When plugged in, it usually shows two vertically-parallel blue lights. More often than not (within the last 24 hours, that is), it shows the bottom light blue and the top light red.

Okay, now that that's all out of the way, time to proceed on through the whole thing.

The Story And What I've Tried

A few days ago, Windows did the automatic update thing for my computer. Having tasks on hand, I put off restarting for a day or two. Not sure if that or the updating may have caused problems. My internet was working fine before I restarted the computer. In addition, so was the range expander.

After restarting, the Network Adapter icon was flashing blue as it should, and the Wireless Network Connection Icon looked fine - no red X or yellow triangle with a black exclamation point in the middle. It said "Status: Connected" and semeed to be okay. But when I went to Internet Explorer? "Page cannot be displayed" is what shows.

Now here's the confusing part - I've tried many things: Uninstalling and reinstalling the adapter on my computer (like, as completely as I can); tried using the "Repair" option for the wireless network (at times it seems to finish and tells me it's been repaired. Other times it seems to get stuck on renewing the IP address, or doesn't finish on some other part, or something); tried checking my available wireless networks (at times it displays belkin54g and underworld. Other times it says none can be found; when they do display the two options, I sometimes must manually connect, other times must disconnect and reconnect. And usually it finishes and says I'm connected yet still gives me a "Page cannot be displayed" message). I've done unplugging, shutting down, re-plugging, re-starting (all of my adapter) unplugging and replugging and resetting the router and range expander and cable modem - nothing works. I tried running a few programs (can't remember which) when I called Belkin support. I also fudged around with the options a bit (as did my dad, who's better with computers than I am). No go whatsoever - no internet loading for me at all.

Basically, I feel like I've run out of options known to me. So I'm turning to you guys.

Any advice, suggestions, any help at all is greatly appreciated (if need be, dumb it down for me - as I stated before, I'm not quite so technologically proficient). If you need any more information, just ask and I'll do my best to provide you with what you need, because I have a feeling I forgot to mention something possibly vital. Hopefully this problem can be fixed, and hopefully it can be achieved without resorting to a factory restore (or buying new hardware, something I can't currently afford). So thanks in advance, and I look forward to any advice.

(Cross-posted to computersupport)

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/818172.html

Date: 09/16/07     Keywords: no keywords

#1: I HATE the new look and feel of Windows Live Hotmail. Any way of changing back to the old version of Hotmail? (without the Windows Live part)

#2: How do you make your name black and unclickable by everyone (except friends) on Facebook? For example with some people you search their name and they show up but their name is black, whereas with mine, I've changed all the settings to 'friends only' but searching for my name still brings up the blue and clickable name.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/817832.html

Date: 09/15/07     Keywords: software, ebay

I need to update my computer and I was wondering if I could get some suggestions on the best way to do that.

Basically, I just started editing videos on it, and it runs pretty slow during it.

Do I need to get additional RAM, or, what would be best? I don't need it super fast, but I want to give it a boost so that the editing software runs better and stops freezing up.

I don't have a whole lot of money to spend, but I plan to check eBay, etc.

This is what I have right now.

AMD 64 Athlon Processor 3800+
2.4GHz+ 448 MB RAM
60 GB free hard drive space

What would you suggest I upgrade to?

Thanks!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/817627.html

Date: 09/11/07     Keywords: no keywords

How do I make it so that CDs I play on the computer automatically start in Windows Media Player instead of WinAmp? Moreover, how do I make it so that they start automatically in WMP for me, but not my brother, who prefers WinAmp? Or will the fact that he has a different desktop (same computer) make a difference?

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/816745.html

Date: 09/10/07     Keywords: google

I'm making a poster that I need some greek letters for, and I went to use the character map only to find that apparently I don't have one on my computer at all. I tried to find it through Start -> Run: charmap AND under the accessories where it usually is in Windows XP, no luck. I tried to google the issue and maybe find somewhere to install it but I'm still confused.

I need to finish the poster by Friday and I'm desperate for help, even if this is a stupid question. I thought all computers had the Char Map function but I guess not...
Thanks in advance!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/816544.html

Date: 09/10/07     Keywords: no keywords

Do I have to unstall windows media player 10 to get windows media player 11 because widows media player 11 won't install for me

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/816205.html

Date: 09/09/07     Keywords: linux

I'm sitting on my dad's Linux/Suse... eh, operation system and the thing is that I'd like very much to install it on my own computer back home. The installation is not a problem in itself (at the moment since he has all the Cds and stuff) but what I'd really like to be able to is to see video clips and stuff. Like .avi etc. but the problem is that no media player works and we've tried to download players such as Mplayer, VLC etc. but it doesn't work!

Which drives me a little bit insane.

What player should work to watch things in? Do I need codecs? If so, how do I install it when nothing seems to work of what we've tried so far.

We've tried going through the root user and just click on the installation icon, but that doesn't work. We've tried being on a non root user, but that doesn't work. We've tried going through the Installtion Source thing but that doesn't work either.

What are we doing wrong? Do you have an suggestions? I'd REALLY like to be able to use Suse/Linux but if I can't watch video files, I might just die.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/816069.html

Date: 09/09/07     Keywords: web

Had Windows re-installed.
All drivers were updated.
Windows said I needed updates - I updated them.
Sound is not working.

I found a RealTek HD Audio Driver on the RealTek website and downloaded it, unzipped the folder, and double-clicked set-up. It installed and then restarted the comp. Still no sound. When I go to Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager, all the devices say they're working properly and I can't update any of the drivers. If I go to Control Panel -> Sound and Audio Device, it says "No audio device". But if I click on the "Hardware" tab, it lists all the hardware and says that they're all installed properly.

What can be going on?

The computer worked find Wednesday night until Thursday night. Then after I did the Windows update, the sound stopped working.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/815171.html

Date: 09/08/07     Keywords: no keywords

I have a sony vaio desktop running XP. All of a sudden it decides that it won't load windows. I get the black screen that says "start in safe mode" "start last known good bla bla bla" etc.... but no matter what option I choose it keeps bringing me back to the same screen!!!

I tried running my recovery discs, but after the Startup disc an error message pops up that says the disc is in the wrong volume or something, and insert disc into drive F.

No, I don't have the actual Windows disc....pretty much all I have are the recovery discs I created myself.


Can someone tell me what the hell is going on and how to fix it please?

thanks in advance! it's been like this for almost two months now!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/814857.html

Date: 09/08/07     Keywords: software

Hey all, curious to see if anyone has a solution to a disc-reading problem I'm having:

My computer is an HP Pavilion a1104x (desktop) running on Windows XP. The drive is DVD +/- Writer and CD Writer drive. If anyone looking to help needs any additional info I'm happy to provide it.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/814829.html

Date: 09/06/07     Keywords: virus, google

I recently had a serious virus infection and after running AVG, Spybot, and Ad-Aware in both regular and safe mode about 300,000 times, I finally managed to get rid of it. The only problem is that my control panel is now missing and I can't do anything even though from what I can tell, I'm still logged on as System Administrator. If I double click the time in the system tray or even go to Start/Set Program Access and Defaults, it says, "This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator."

From what I've googled, Spybot can change some of these things if ran in advanced mode. The only problem is that I never ran it in advanced mode until after my control panel went missing and I've learned the quirky things that Spybot can do.

Does anyone know how I can get my control panel back and what, if anything, I can do in Spybot's advanced mode to change these locked settings?

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/814559.html

Date: 09/06/07     Keywords: asp

I just bought a new monitor and the optimum resolution is 1440x900. However, that's just not an option in the settings and thus I can't change it to that. I have it at 1024x768 but the aspect ratio is so out of whack that it's doing my head in. It's usable but everything is just blurry and not cool. Anyway, not being a computer whizz, I did a bit of googling and read something about drivers and video cards that doesn't really make sense to me. I think I updated my video card (to the best of my knowledge it's DirectX) but after restarting, no change there. Any help would be enormously... helpful. Thanks.

eta: ah wait, my videocard is SiS (yeah, I used my brain and actually checked that one out) so I'm just downloading something that should work but I'll update here if it doesn't.

eta 2: that's really just not working. it keeps bringing errors. and i try to uninstall and reinstall and THAT won't work either. it asks me if i want to uninstall and i click yes and nothing happens. i assume that it's done it automatically and go back to install and it says the old version is still installed. GAH.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/814124.html

Date: 09/06/07     Keywords: no keywords

This heatsink/fan combo arrived in the mail today. I cleaned off the old thermal grease (it was almost 3 years old), applied a small amount of new grease (about the size of a grain of rice, maybe a little bigger), and snapped in the heatsink. My computer only idles about 2 C cooler now than with the stock heatsink and fan, though. (It used to idle around 49 in the summer, whereas now it idles around 47.) Shouldn't there be a bigger improvement? Reviewers on the site reported much bigger drops in temperature (like 7-10 degrees lower at idle than with stock fans). I cleaned the processor with Q-tips and a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution. Should I try cleaning it with better materials?

My processor is an Athlon 64 3200+, and it might also be worth mentioning that my case has atrocious airflow and that the ambient temperature, if my sensors can be trusted, is about 45 C. I can't seem to get it below that, no matter what I try.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/813836.html

Date: 09/03/07     Keywords: no keywords

Hi there, need some help!

I just recently got a HP Pavilion dv9417ca laptop and I am having trouble with making the recovery discs.

What happens is this : The recovery disc space required is 2 DVD-/+R discs. It managed to create the first disc, but it fails when writing the second. The message that pops up reads as follows :

Recovery manager

The PC Revocery Disc Creator was not able to create the discs. We suggest you select a different type of disc to create the set of recovery discs for your PC.

Reccomended actions : 
- Always use discs that support the maximum writing speed of your writer
- Use DVD+R id DVD-R writing failed and vise versa
- Use CD-R if DVD writing failed
- Choose a different, high quality brand of discs

The Recovery disc creation will start with the first memory the nest time you start the program.

Despite the ending sentence, the program does infact start off with the second disc.

I've used two different types of Memorex DVD-R. For the first type I only had the two discs that were supplied with the laptop. One of those worked for the first writing of the recovery disc, but when came time to write the second it failed. I tried using the DVD-Rs I had already but those ones also failed, coming up with the same message above. 

I've already messed up several discs trying to do this. So, I'm basically left with one successful recovery disc of the two needed and a small pile of messed up DVD-R discs. Please help!!!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/813622.html

Date: 09/03/07     Keywords: software, virus

I have a Compaq Presario Sr1214nx running Windows XP-Home Edition.

I have a Samsung Writemaster DVD burner and have a Sony DVD ROM CD writer.

But this is the problem; I have already killed 2 DVD players, the original I think Toshiba and the DYNEX crap my Best Buy warranty provided when the first one died.
Both of those worked fine for a year or less, then they would not recognize specific DVDs. As time progressed I could view less and less of my DVDs until they would not read any at all.

Now my Samsung Writemaster is not recognizing the code or whatever of specific DVDs, DVDs that is has played before. If I take the DVD out and stick it in the Sony, it plays with no problem.

My question: Is there some sort of virus that can effect my DVD player? I don't illegally download movies or play any that have been, and I don't install any suspect software.

What is going on?

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/813407.html

Date: 09/02/07     Keywords: google

I did the dumbest thing! I got mad at my boyfriend and said, "You can't use my computer anymore!" and put a password for Windows. Unfortunately, that was over a week ago and I never turned the computer off and it completely slipped my mind. I turned the computer off last night and when I went to turn it back on today, I found that the password was there. I tried, literally, about 120 different things, I'm coming up with nothing. I have no idea what I made it!


I Googled and something said if I do a system restore to a date when the password wasn't there, I should be fine. But how do I do that without being able to get into Windows?


And I don't have a copy of Windows, my computer came with it with no reboot/back-up disk (and I never got the disks to make a backup disk) - so I don't know what to do.


Is there any way around the password?

And, the strangest request of them all, can you text me tips to 401-952-7036? I obviously don't have computer access now (thankfully my brother asked me to babysit tonight, so that's good) - but I do have my cell. You can text me for free at virginmobileusa.com. Or, if you're super smart, you can just call that number, ask for Dave (but we work 3-11 every day), and walk him through fixing it.


Thanks in Advance!!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/813177.html

Date: 08/30/07     Keywords: web, linux, spam

Greetings and Salutations!
I have an interesting issue.

I am running a mail / domain controller on SELinux.
There is a webmin interface installed.
There is webmail.
The mail service is a variation of sendmail called SquirrelMail.
The mail server is also running ClamAV and SpamAssassin.

Tuesday a problem appeared around 11AM where the outbound mail service just stalls.
I starting looking at the queue and I noticed an inordinate amount of replies to bad addresses from the Mailer Daemon that are timing out. On peeking in on them I discovered that they are bouncebacks on emails sent to bad addresses here and that they are spam (no surprise there). Many of these messages are stalling in the queue and I suspected that this was the problem. Clearing the queue did not fix the issue, but restarting sendmail did and still does make the outbound process work.

So, last night, I updated ClamAV (no update needed), sendmail (update completed) and SA (update completed).
I hoped that the problem would go away but it did not. In fact, it is now worse. The frequency that I must manually restart the sendmail service has gone up.

In an effort to provide less overall interruption to my users I created a cron task to do this for me.
Here is the script:
#/bin/bash
#this is to restart sendmail
date >>/etc/mailcron.log
service sendmail stop>>/etc/mailcron.log
service sendmail start>>/etc/mailcron.log
echo "mailtab1 process done
">>/etc/mailcron.log

Now, here is the interesting part.
The cron is set to run every 10 minutes (minutes ending in 3)
It runs.
The output put into the log file when it runs automatically is incomplete:
Thu Aug 30 11:23:01 EDT 2007
mailtab1 process done

So, obviously the script it running, but it is only time-stamping and informing me that it is done.

The more interesting part is that when I run the task manually it works:
Thu Aug 30 11:25:19 EDT 2007
Shutting down sm-client: [ OK ]
Shutting down sendmail: [ OK ]
Starting sendmail: [ OK ]
Starting sm-client: [ OK ]
mailtab1 process done

WHY?

I need a solution to one (or, preferably, both) of these problems. I also have a second script that does the mailreload command.

My current plan, based on some of the mail server logs showing errors with the ClamAV milter, is to uninstall and reinstall clamav tonight afterhours. Thoughts?


Cross-posted all over the place

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/812585.html

Date: 08/29/07     Keywords: no keywords

I'm looking to get a laptop, but the options for ones that still have Windows XP on them are limited. The university also doesn't offer the full os anymore, but they still offer the "upgrade". I heard someone tell me that it is possible to downgrade from Vista to XP with this CD, but I'm unsure on that.

Is it even possible?

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/812488.html