FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  509 (18/04/06)

Q. I am running Windows 98 and I have installed Norton, SpySweeper, AdAware and Spybot.  A few weeks ago, whilst on the net, there was a rushing/crunching noise and I found that all my Desktop Settings had been altered. I also found that I could no longer use Defragmenter, which to my limited knowledge might indicate a program running in the background. On boot up it takes the Computer about 5 minutes before it will accept any keystrokes. I managed to reset my settings but the computer has slowed, even seizing for about 15 seconds at a time when on line. I suspect a worm or virus and wonder if there is any easy way of getting rid of it.
Mel Barratt, Cheshire, via email

A. Providing all of those security programs have been kept up to date, and used regularly, then I doubt that a virus would have made it past your defences but there’s no hard running a full scan. If you get the all clear should check to see if it’s a software problem using the System and System Resources Monitor utility (Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools). These will show how hard the CPU is working. Anything above 50 - 70 percent when the PC is idle suggests there may be something going on. If so the first step is to check the programs that launch with Windows. Type ‘msconfig’ in Run on the Start menu and select the Startup tab.

If system resources are mostly free then there may be a problem with the filing system. The crunching noise worries me. If it was mechanical in nature -- rather than coming from the speakers -- then it could have been something to do with the cooling fan. If a hard drive crunches then it’s probably the last noise it will ever make… 

If it was the fan them the CPU may have overheated, which can be bad and the filing system may be damaged. After making sure the fan is free of obstructions and working properly try running the CheckDisk utility. Right-click drive icon in Windows Explorer or My Computer and select Properties, Tools Tab and under Error Checking Status click Check Now and run a ‘Thorough’ test. If that doesn’t do the trick then rather than waste time chasing your tail I would back up all irreplaceable data re-format the drive and reinstall Windows. 

Q. I have just purchased a new XP computer and thanks to your articles have managed to switch all of the necessary data my old Windows 98 SE PC to the new one. I have a niggling problem though and when I access a website that previously had sounds, they no longer play on the new PC.

One particular website (http://www.activebass.com/). has guitar tutorials and an online tuner. Despite all of my efforts I am unable to get any sounds from the site. I have checked the sound settings on the PC and everything seems to be okay so I am at a loss to know what to do next. .

Pete Fincher, via email

A. That’s quite a sophisticated site but all of the audio content is MIDI based and has been optimised for Internet Explorer, so don’t try accessing it with other browsers. Try the site’s ‘Test My Sound Setup’ link at the top of the page; this will test your audio settings. In IE make sure that ‘Play Sounds in web pages’ is enabled by going to Tools > Internet Options, Advanced tab and scroll down to Multimedia. Java must also be enabled (also on the Internet Options Advanced tab).

Q.I am constantly receiving messages ‘Internal error 2329.32 Msi\if930.rbf’. There is obviously a serious fault somewhere, any ideas?

Jeff Aldren, via email

A. Most error messages are usually just so much gobbledegook and although this one doesn’t look very promising we can tell quite a lot from it. The first clue is the letters Msi, which points to Microsoft Installer (now Windows Installer), an application installation and configuration utility used by a lot of Windows programs. If we look up the Internal error code 2329 it translates as ‘Error Deleting File’. The file extension ‘rbf’ indicates a ‘rollback file’, which is data Windows Installer would normally delete at the end of a successful installation, but in this case it was unable to do so.

In plain English it all adds up to a failed installation so think back to when it first occurred. If it started after you were trying to load a program see if you can uninstall it. Otherwise I would try Windows XP System Restore and use it to return Windows to a date before the problem started. You’ll find System Restore by going to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools, and there’s more about what it does and how to use it in Boot Camp 334.

Q. My husband sent me an email with a video of our friends on it. Unfortunately I am unable to play it. Every time I try it says an illegal operation has taken place. He used a Microsoft program, the file type is wmv. Can you give me any advice on how to open it?

Robin Kidby, via email

A. It’s a standard Windows media video file so either it is corrupt or there’s a problem with Windows Media Player. You can test for the latter by going to the Media Test Page; right click on ‘WMV File Transformer, select ‘Save Target Ad (Internet Explorer) or ‘Save Link As’ (Firefox) and when it has finished loading double click the file and it should open and play. If you still see the same error message then there’s a good chance Media Player is on the blink and the simplest thing to do is download and install the latest version for Windows 2000 (WMP9) from Microsoft.

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© R. Maybury 2006, 2803