FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  578 (14/08/07)

Q. I run SpyBot Search & Destroy every day on my Windows XP SP2 system. Recently it identified the following problem: Win32.OnLineGames (C\Windows\System32\PFMAP116.DLL). However, it gives the following message: ‘Some problems could not be fixed; the reason could be that the associated files are still in use. This could be fixed after a restart’.

I allowed it to do so and even after restart it gave the same message. What kind of problem is it? What could have caused it?  How can I get rid of it? I have never played any games on my computer and never downloaded any games programs.

V. Aswani, Wilmslow

A. Win32OnLineGames is a Trojan that can allow hackers to steal information from your PC. It is specifically designed to look for game passwords and PINs, game server addresses and other info related to a number of well-known on-line games. You or someone in your family probably picked it up after visiting a game-related website or it came in on the back of a pop-up advert.

SpyBot S&D is good but it can’t tackle every known item of malware, which is why I always recommend running at two or three cleaner programs on a regular basis. So without more ado download and scan your PC with at least one or more of the following: AdAware, A-Squared and Windows Defender (they are all free and you will find links to them all on the PCTopTips Software page). If that doesn’t do the trick then there are manual removal instructions on the Virulist website.

Q. I am in the process of transferring data from floppies to CD’s. My problem is that when I close and remove one floppy and load a second, the first one’s data remains on the screen and the second cannot be read. I can only clear the first by re-booting the system. Can you help?

Tony Taylor, via email

A. From the sound of it using the floppy drive is causing your PC to hang. If so the most likely cause is a resource conflict. This can happen if the drive is rarely used and some new hardware device is interfering with its settings. The simplest way to find out is open Device Manager (Winkey + Break > Hardware > Device Manager), click on the plus sign next to the Floppy Drive entry, right click on it and select Properties, then the Resources tab and make a note of the IRQ number. Now open System Information (Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information) and click on the plus sign next to Hardware Resources. Next click on Conflict/Sharing and make sure the Floppy drive IRQ isn’t being used by something else. If so go back into Device Manager and manually change the IRQ (uncheck Use Automatic Setting).

Q. Recently you helped someone who needed to show the ‘Common Tasks’ pane in Windows Explorer.  I want to do that too, but that item in the dialogue is greyed-out.  My fault, I'm sure: I've been tweaking and twiddling, and can't figure where to go to reinstate the item.  Help would be hugely appreciated.

Chris, Bridlington

A. This is caused by a ‘Policy’ change in Windows, which is not the sort of thing you are likely to do accidentally on a home PC since it involves changes to the Windows Registry, or in the case of XP Pro, using the Group Policy Editor, so it is most likely a glitch of some sort. There is a downloadable Registry fix from the ever-reliable Kelly’s Corner, or if you don’t mind fiddling with the Registry (and this is not something complete novices should try!) open the Registry Editor by typing ‘Regedit’ in Run on the Start menu and make your way to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer

Double Click on ClassicShell and change its ValueData to 0. Now repeat the exercise for:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer

Q. I want to uninstall Thunderbird but every time I go to Add/Remove Programs from the Control Panel and click on Remove, it freezes on Thunderbird and I have to restart the computer to get rid of the program. I have been told to install msicuu2 but that in itself does nothing. Are there other steps to follow?

Bill Ryan, via email

A. Msicuu2 is the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility and this can be used to fix some program installation and configuration problems but I don’t think it has any relevance in this case. There are two things you can try, the first is to download and install the latest version of Thunderbird, and if successful this may allow you to uninstall it normally from Add/Remove Programs. The section option is the ‘brute force’ method and if you want to retain any of your Thunderbird data and settings make a backup of your ‘Profiles’ – there’s detailed instructions on the Mozillazine website. Once that’s done set a new System Restore point and delete the Mozilla Thunderbird folder in C:\Program Files. I suggest that you tidy up by running RegSeeker, to remove the last vestiges of the program form the Registry.

Q. I often get the message that ‘Money encountered error processing the downloaded file (SMRTINET.INI)’, when I try to update my share prices. This is a new, intermittent problem and I would like to know if it could be remedied?

John Capel

A. The good news is that it appears to be a benign programming bug that’s not doing any harm and you can safely ignore it. I have come across a number of solutions, the most successful one seems to be to empty your Temporary Internet Files folder (in IE go to Tools > Options General and click the Delete File s button), then update twice (Tools > Internet Updates > Update Now).

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© R. Maybury 2007 0708