Date: 02/25/07     Keywords: spyware, google

My in-laws are running WinXP with a 56k modem. Both IE and Firefox will attempt to load a page for a split-second and then frequently return the error message that the page cannot be found. Even fast sites like Google will fail to load; or rather, the system fails to even attempt to look for them.

Formerly you had to re-attempt to load the page several times to get it to load. After cleaning up spyware and all that the computer will now load one page with no problem, but attempting to load two at once results in the second page not being found. Ditto if you're downloading something and attempt to load a page.

What causes this? Is there some data-transmission timeout I can adjust? Is there a problem with the DNS server, not that I know much about that? How can it be stopped?

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/750397.html

Date: 02/22/07     Keywords: browser, spyware

The other evening at about 3:20 I decided to go to sleep for a while, so I turned off the monitor to my computer.

When I woke up, I turned on my monitor, and my computer was frozen. So I restarted.

After the restart, Norton came up. Which it doesn't usually do. And it starts getting all active in what I'm doing. 'Allow Internet Explorer to access the Internet?' and all that. Well I can't say I was displeased with that, until I tried to get rid of the icon, which was annoying me.

Anyway, I don't remember what the sequence of events was exactly, but, I ran Ad-Adware, Hijack This, and Spybot Search & Destroy, and got rid of a lot of spyware and stuff. My Internet wasn't connecting, so I restarted, and it wouldn't connect and I tried to fix it, and I restarted again, and blah blah, eventually it connected BUT..

..now nothing will come up in Firefox. Only Internet Explorer.

Any ideas?

Things I have already tried, NONE of which have worked:

1. Downloading another alternate browser (Avant).
2. Checking for and downloading all new Windows updates.
3. Reinstalling Firefox.
4. Checking firewall settings. Firefox and Avant were checked on the Exceptions list.

I really have no idea what to do. And I found out that my torrent program isn't connecting me to any torrents, either. =/

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/749571.html

Date: 02/21/07     Keywords: no keywords

I think I know the answer, but I'm hoping...

I have a 250GB USB hard drive. LaCie or WD, don't remember which offhand. I had an animal-caused power outage a few weeks ago that ended up blowing one of my power strips. Ever since then, when I turn on the external drive, the red power light comes on as normal, but the blue access light just blinks, and the light on my USB hub where the drive is connected doesn't light, so it's not seeing the device.

So, uh, is it dead?

And if that question is answered the way I think it is, does anyone know what the data recovery rate on such a drive is? It's about 3/4 full, and it took me well over a year to get to that point. I'd rather not do it all again...

thanks.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/749335.html

Date: 02/21/07     Keywords: no keywords

This is probably a bit disjointed, because I don't have all the information, but here's everything I know about The Internet Problem That Ate Floor 3...


I live in a uni hall. In everyone's room there's a place to plug an ethernet cable. The idea is that you just plug it in and away you go, but from the beginning of the month, for seemingly no reason, the internet's stopped working. No-one can access it. We can, however, see each other's shared files.

More info:

-floors 3 and 4 are apparently on the same router: we're the only ones with no internet.

-BT engineers have come round several times and apparently they say nothing's wrong with it. They've replaced the router once: after that it worked for about a day and then went down again.

-I am told by the folk in the downstairs office that the floor 3/4 router is kept in a box with no ventilation holes, unlike the other router for the other floors. At first they thought the router was overheating, but apparently the BT people said that wasn't so. They never replaced the box, though.

-whenever someone reboots the router, it works for a bit and then a few hours later the internet promptly goes down again.


And.......that's all I know. But man is it annoying. Any ideas?

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/749198.html

Date: 02/21/07     Keywords: spyware

Ok, for some reason I had a pop up. It was a System Doctor pop up, it closed my firefox tabs windows.
I closed the pop up and then my Tabs came back.

Do I have Spywares or something?

Thanks!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/748898.html

Date: 02/21/07     Keywords: no keywords

So I bought an ipod a few months ago when i bought my car because it didnt have a cd player. I recently noticed that when ever I am using it with a fm transmitter and I have my lights on in my car, it makes this incredibly bad buzzing noise. I rarely use my ipod so i didnt notice it until recently. Why does it do this? Is there any way to fix it? Thanks.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/748629.html

Date: 02/21/07     Keywords: virus, spyware

Last year I got my fan replaced in my computer, since then I have had nothing but problems. They hooked it up to their network and I got tons of viruses, spyware and headaches.

I spent so much time removing things with every imaginable program but it is still slow and completely annoying.

So I have all my files on a jump drive and I need to know how to start over from scratch. I will need details, so whoever is kind enough to type it all out for me (or provide a link) is my new best friend!

x-posted

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/748485.html

Date: 02/19/07     Keywords: web, yahoo

OK, since there seems to be some very able minded contributors that are kind enough to help, I thought I would give this a try.

Im unable, for some reason to view YAHOO webcams. I dont have a cam myself, and have been able to view in the past. I suspect the problems answers are contained in my wireless router ( d-link, DI 524 ).

Ive reinstalled yahoo IM, and no luck. Called d-link healp desk, no luck. Called my ISP, no luck.

Remember, if you decide to undertake this mission, pretend you are talking to a 5 year old.

Thanks in advance to all that are willing!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/748016.html

Date: 02/19/07     Keywords: software

I've been having an annoying issue with my mouse for the last month or so. It will randomly stop moving until I hit any key on my keyboard. When I do hit a key on my keyboard, any movement I've done with my mouse when it was frozen will be applied and the cursor will move straight to where it should be. I thought it was a software issue, but after reformatting yesterday it's still happening. I even updated the firmware on the mouse itself to no avail. I tried plugging into different USB ports, but it doesn't change anything. Has anyone dealt with anything like this before? I haven't even had my mouse for half a year, so I'd hate to think that it's crapping out on me already. It's a Logitech G5 USB laser mouse, and I'm running Windows XP SP2. I'm not sure if it would matter, but the keyboard is a Saitek Eclipse.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/747668.html

Date: 02/17/07     Keywords: browser, java, security, web, linux

This applies to any platform that runs Java, be it Mac, PC Windows or PC Linux. This also applies to any browser that supports Javascript, including all versions of IE, Firefox and Safari.

If you own or buy a Linksys, DLink or Netgear wired or wireless router/firewall box to allow you to share your broadband throughout your household, make sure you change the administrator password on that unit from the factory default. It doesn't matter if your router does not accept administrative connections from the outside - this attack comes from the inside of your network. (Most routers now ship with external admin access turned off, although you can turn it on if you need to get to your router remotely . . . but again, make sure you set a STRONG admin password if you turn that option on for any reason.)

A new exploit uses JavaScript and can access the routers settings from inside your network when you allow that script to run on your computer. The malicious code can be embedded within Javascript that you might want to trust, like - for example - a game applet. Simply surfing a compromised site and allowing Java to run in your browser is enough to get hacked. It may not trigger your browsers security settings, as it never attempts to access or change local files on your computer.

In the background, out of your sight, the script looks up your networks internal gateway address. It then attempts to logon to your routers admin panel using that IP. It can guess the password from one of about five typical login combinations that are widely used by almost all home router manufacturers as their factory setting. It takes advantage of the fact that many owners never change that password.

Once it has control, it changes the DNS settings on your router to point at a hackers "poisoned" DNS server. The idea is that when you browse to your bank (for example) using the correct URL or bookmark, the router looks at the compromised DNS server and sends you off to a phishing site that could look exactly like your banks login site. From there they capture your user ID, password, and of course your bank account.

Simply logging into your routers panel and changing the Admin password to your own unique password will stop this attack.



1) Open your network settings, and look at the Status of your LAN connection. In Windows click on the Support tab. (Not sure how to get this on a Mac, anyone that knows feel free to chime in.) You should see a gateway IP address listed.

2) Enter that IP address into the URL field in any web browser. That's the address for your routers administration panel.

3) You will see a request to login. Try these combinations (or refer to your routers owners manual):

User: (blank)
Password: password

User: (blank)
Password: admin

User: (blank)
Password: (blank)

User: admin
Password: password

User: admin
Password: admin

Once you log in successfully, you will see your routers control panel.

4) Refer to your owners manual, or surf the control panel (usually under Setup, or Password, or Administrative Settings) for the Administrators Password reset. Enter in the old password (factory default) in the first field, and your new password twice in the second and third fields, then save or apply your settings.

5) Close your browser, and re-open it to the same gateway IP address, and test the login with your new password. Do NOT check any box that offers the option to remember your password.

Voila, you will not be vulnerable to this particular attack.

-- X-posted from my own Livejournal --

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/747016.html

Date: 02/17/07     Keywords: no keywords

is there any way to turn off the wireless capability on a wireless router? most of them have 4+ wired ports in the back and i'm not crazy about the idea of having a wireless router (and i don't really need one) but they are soooooooo much cheaper than wired ones right now. thanks for any advice!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/746853.html

Date: 02/16/07     Keywords: no keywords

Is there a way to get Editpad Lite to display japanese characters?

Windows Notepad & Wordpad displays and saves japanese text just fine, but Editpad just displays japanese/asian characters as ?????

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/746635.html

Date: 02/15/07     Keywords: no keywords

Hello. I'm having serious issues with my computer. My monitor decided to go out on me, so I finally got a new one. I plugged it in and turned it on. When you first turn it on, it has the message OFF IN 5 SECONDS appears, then the monitor goes into Powersave mode. The directions said to turn the monitor on then the tower, but after turning the tower I cannot get a picture. To compound this situation, I brought a brand new keyboard today and it won't work. When I turn the tower on after plugging in the keyboard the Number, Caps, and Scroll lock buttons flashed so I know it's plugged in correctly. After that first flash, if I hit the Caps Lock button, it wouldn't light up at all. The weird things is, if I plug my iPod up to the tower my iPod charges with no problem. So, I was wondering if anyone has any ideas at all for what's wrong? The stats for the monitor and computer are below. Thanks!

Monitor:
ViewSonic
Optiquest Q71
Model Number - VCDTS22355 - 8M
Serial Number - P0A040504144
Power Rating - 100-240V-50/60 Hz 2.5A
Date of Manufacture - January 2004

Computer:
HP Pavilion a220n
Product Number - DK218A
Serial Number - MXK3340GNP
AMD Athlon XP Processor
2600+ @ 2.08GHz
120GB
512 DDR
CDRW - 48x12x48
DVD-ROM - 16x
NVIDIA GeForce 4MX Graphics 64 MB DDR

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/746484.html

Date: 02/15/07     Keywords: virus

I got Vista Ultimate for my birthday, and upon installing it(yes my system met requirements) I notice that I had
not turned off the virus, so I backed out, it hadnt gotten that far in the install and now when I boot this is what happens, this is a cut and paste from an email plea

I was installing it, I forgot to disable my anti virus, I clicked out of it, agreeing that I didnt want to continue set up and so on. I hadnt really gotten that far(I was installing 64 bit)
I goto reboot the laptop (mine not the one you worked on LOL) And a scary error came up.

It said file \system32\hal.dll is missing and that I needed to reinstall that file.
O.K. so I find my windows disk that came with the laptop. I go through booting from that and it comes to WIndow Set up: File \i386\ha laacpi.dll could not be loaded. The error code is 7
Set pu cannot continue, Press any key to exit.

Also when I put the Vista cd in and try and redo that, I get to the part where I choose where to install, and it wont let me choose, I click on a partition and the "next" button doesnt "light"

I was installing on a HP notebook v5000 series. HP Pavillion

Xposted
Thanks!

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/746058.html

Date: 02/13/07     Keywords: no keywords

I've always noticed that when I'm using my laptop (which uses the router wirelessly), and I have my desktop computer (connected directly to the router) off, the router goes off - as in, the lights turn orange - within a few minutes, especially when a page is loading, and I have to go all the way downstairs to unplug it and plug it back in so it'll come back on. The signal strength always says "excellent," even right before it goes off.

When I have my desktop computer on, however, this does not happen.

Anyone happen to know why it happens, and/or any way to fix it? I can't just leave my desktop on all the time...

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/745510.html

Date: 02/12/07     Keywords: software, web

I need serious help, guys. I'm completely clueless about what to do.

Less than a year ago I purchased a Packard Bell Platinum XI, with the Windows '98 program installed on it.

The woman who sold it to me threw in everything that she used with it, including a webcam. The webcam is nondescript. It's about an inch to 1 1/2 inch long, with a little black screen on the front and the Packard Bell symbol on the top. On the bottom is a sticker with some identification numbers or something of the like.

The thing plugs in just fine into the back of the tower...I just have no idea how to turn it on! There's no on/off switch on the actual webcam. Any search I make on my computer to figure out how to activate it comes up empty. There's no program for it, no indication that it has been used on this computer before.

Please help! Is there a software program that I need or something?

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/745410.html

Date: 02/12/07     Keywords: no keywords

If I wanted to rip streaming audio from a site like PureVolume, is there any freeware available that will let me do this? I use Windows XP.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/745197.html

Date: 02/07/07     Keywords: no keywords

Hi,
Recently the internet on my computer has started to go strange, and I am currently using a different computer.
My computer can turn on and load and stuff, but when I want to go onto the internet it comes up with an error screen saying that my computer isn't logged onto the internet, or that the site address is wrong and something else that I can't remember. The little connectivity computer for the internet always has the little blue screen which means that the internet is connected, but I can't get onto anything that involves the internet.  It also makes two other computers connected to mine via a wireless connection go really really slow when I have it turned on. I don't know what's causing this, because a few days ago it was working fine.. any ideas on why this could be happening? and how i can fix it?
Thanks in advance.

Mel.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/744436.html

Date: 02/06/07     Keywords: no keywords

This is driving me nuts. I got IE7, and I can't find the place where it lets you select to always load the newest version of a page. I *hate* having to refresh to see new forum entries and such. Can anyone help me out? ^^;

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/743776.html

Date: 02/06/07     Keywords: web

So, I want to upgrade my compy by getting a new motherboard...

I have researched all around the web all night, and I have discovered I still don't know what to buy or what to do. I want to make sure I get a case that the motherboard fits, and I am not sure about the processor chips and ect. Is there any place I can buy those all together, pre-assembled, or would that just be to easy?

I want to use my computer has a gaming rig, and I want to stick with most of the components I have now, without having to reinstall Windows or anything, and I want to make sure it has the PCI 16x slots.

Source: http://community.livejournal.com/computer_help/743643.html