FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  340 (19/11/02)

Q

I have a Compaq computer with an early Pentium processor and Windows 98.  When booting up and after arriving at Desktop the computer goes on opening files for 2 to 3 minutes.  On Ctrl+Alt+Del I find the following files:  Explorer, Realplay, Qagent, Mrtmngr, Gpstart, Imgicon, Systray, Qwdllo, Dtsc and Aoltray. How many of these do I need to run the computer and how do I get rid of the others?
Tony Butter

A

The only two that Windows actually needs are Explorer and Systray, the others are mostly ‘service’ programs, for initiating automatic updates or configuring programs that open with Windows. You can thin them out by typing ‘msconfig’ in Run on the Start menu and selecting the Start-up tab. Be ruthless and deselect all of the programs that you no longer use, or need to start with Windows. Click OK and restart and you should see a significant improvement in boot up speed.

Q

I have recently installed, following your article on shareware July 23, the AVG freeware virus scanner. On its first run it detected a virus EICAR-text in C:\IMAGES\Fprot4.54sp2\SE but it did not remove it or tell me how to do it myself. Can you give me any help or advice please?

Ian Fleming,

A

AVG is doing its job but EICAR.txt is not actually a virus. It stands for European Institute for Computer Anti-Virus Research and is a test file, designed to check anti-virus software. Quite how it got onto your machine is a mystery – from a previous virus scanner perhaps – but the file itself is small and harmless and you can safely remove it using Windows Explorer.

Q

I would like to be able to copy some of my video collection to DVDs, using my new laptop, which is capable of making audio files and copying them to CDs. Is there any software or hardware available for this purpose? I do not want to have to buy a DVD recorder at the moment.

Hendrik Woolf

A

Unfortunately you must have a DVD recorder or DVD writer drive on your PC or laptop in order to make DVDs, but you should be able to make Video CDs (VCDs), which are playable on most recent DVD homedecks. The only points to watch out for is that picture quality is not as good as DVD – it’s comparable with VHS tape -- and a disc will only hold around 70 minutes worth of video. You may already have the software if you’ve a reasonably up to date copy of Roxio’s Easy CD Creator, which is bundled with a lot of CD writers, otherwise visit: http://www.roxio.com/en/support/ roxio_support/ecdc/video_cd.html

Your laptop will also need some form of video input, so you can connect your camcorder or VCR to it. The Pinnacle Linx, which plugs into your PC’s USB socket, works well; Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk) is currently selling it for £39 (including postage).

Q

I'm trying to down load a critical upgrade for Windows XP from the Microsoft official site. The download itself is OK but the installation time is given as 157 minutes and FreeServe tells me every 20 minutes it will cut off the service if I don't indicate that I wish to stay connected, in any case at the end of 2 hours it cuts me off without choice.

When I eventually log back onto the Windows site the installation procedure starts from scratch and tells me it still needs 157 minutes to install with same cut-off result as before!! I would really appreciate your help to solve this frustrating problem.

Roy Holliday

A

You need a download manager, this is a utility that makes the most efficient use of a dial-up connection and will allow you to resume a download from where you left off, if the connection is broken. Have a look at Paraben, a trial version can be downloaded from: http://www.paraben.com/html/download.html

Alternatively, you can order a copy of SP-1 from Microsoft on CD-ROM, go to: http://www.microsoft.com/

uk/windowsxp/servicepacks/sp1.asp

Q

Every so often after operating my PC on the web for 15 to 20 minutes the screen goes blank. When I try to restart it the words "Frequency Over Range" come up. What causes it and how can I get rid of it?

Maurie Williams

A

The monitor generates this message, which for some reason is unable to process the video signals coming from your PC. Incorrect display settings or a corrupt driver for your monitor or display adaptor usually causes this. Try updating them using the driver discs that came with your PC. Right-click on My Computer then select Properties and the Device Manager tab. Double click Display adaptors and select Properties, then the Driver tab and click Update driver and follow the prompts. If that doesn’t work try the same routine with the Monitor entry in Device Manager. Failing that make a note of your display adaptor and monitor make and model numbers and check the relevant manufacturer’s web sites for updated drivers.

Q

I was considering moving to broadband to cut down on phone bills.  NTL are pushing it at a low price in our area and all looked like a good idea until they said that I could only get email that was addressed to myname@ntl.com I have had several email addresses based on a domain name I own for several years now and do not want to change. Is there a way round this problem?
Sue Cross

A

It shouldn’t be a problem, most domain name hosting companies provide an email forwarding service – often free of charge -- so that any email sent to your normal domain name address is automatically sent on to your new NTL address.

Q

I am trying to use Easy CD Creator 4 to back up my files. At the end of the process I receive a 'power calibration area error’ message. I have tried a number of CD manufacturers with same result.
Keith Dando

A

This almost always indicates a hardware problem but first you should try a CD-ROM cleaning kit, to make sure there’s no contamination on the optical pickup. After than you should visit the manufacturer’s web site to see if there’s a firmware update available (there is a known problem with some Philips drives). Otherwise I’m afraid it will need expert attention though nowadays with CD-R/W drives selling for less than £50 the chances are it will just be replaced.

Q

I have an oldish Viglen notebook and use it to download data from my digital camera via a Compact Flash unit of 64Mb capacity using the PCMCIA port, which the computer calls drive E. The system works well and my query is, can I put data from, say, My Documents back into the compact flash and then transfer it to another notebook provided of course it is set up accordingly? 64Mb is a useful size for such a task especially when dealing with text and jpeg picture files.

Jon Raynes-Wharton

A

Yes you can, your PCs will treat the cards like a disc drive; you can drag and drop, or copy and paste files in exactly the same way as you would with any of your other drives. It’s a very convenient way of transporting data or making ‘off-site’ backups.