FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  597 (22/01/08)

Q. I am running Windows Vista and from time to time the monitor display goes black, recovers and the following message appears: ‘. My daughter has encountered the same problem on her computer. Is there a remedy?

Michael Jones, via email

A. This fault can affect PCs with Nvidia video adaptors. The first thing to do is install the latest Vista driver. The easiest way to do that is open Device Manager (Winkey + Break), select Device Manager, double-click on Display Adapters, right-click the entry for your adaptor select Update Driver Software and let Windows search for an updated driver. If it can’t find one note down the make and model of the adaptor and download and install the latest driver from the support section of the manufacturer’s website.

I have also seen this fault attributed to rogue memory modules, though this is more likely to happen on a laptop where system memory may be shared with the video adaptor. Some motherboards have also been implicated and the fix involves updating the BIOS but I suspect that in your case a driver update is all that is required.

Q. As a direct result of removing pre-installed Norton Anti Virus from my XP Media Centre system, I now get the "Windows - No Disk" message whenever I try to close the Media Centre. I have followed your earlier advice and find that the problem lies with a file called csrss.exe. Google reveals that this might be a true Microsoft file or it may be a worm. Is there any safe method of distinguishing between them?

Peter Evans, via email

A. This error message is quite common on PCs made by HP and is due to a known bug. You could try re-installing Norton Antivirus, follow the procedure to activate it then uninstall it completely. Otherwise a patch called ‘sp26704.exe’ is available from HP Support that should make it go away. The HP support site can be difficult to navigate so if you have trouble finding it try searching for by name.

I am not sure how or why csrss.exe got involved, but to answer your question, the Microsoft Client/Server Runtime Server Subsystem is a critical system file. A worm called Ahlem.A has been known to infect it. There’s an easy way to find out if your copy is legitimate. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Del) then the Processes tab, right-click on csrss.exe and select End Process. If it is okay Windows will respond that it ‘Cannot end this process’.

Q. The motherboard that was recommended in your 2006 Boot Camp series on building the DT Mk II PC has now been discontinued. Would you please recommend a replacement?

Graham Jones, via email

A. Components like motherboards and CPUs do have an unfortunate tendency to become obsolete rather quickly but that’s the price of progress. However, as I pointed out in the article, the parts mentioned were only a suggestion and provided you make sure the motherboard and CPU are compatible and you use the right type of memory modules and hard drive very little can go wrong.

If you want to stick to the original design then you need a Vista capable, ATX motherboard with integral sound and graphics, with a socket 775 CPU socket and support for DDR2 memory and SATA hard disc drives, in which case the Asus P5KPL-VM (around £45) fits the bill nicely.

Q. My daughter recently completed her University course and returned home with the laptop. Now I find that every time I start up, there is a window called ‘Blueyonder Installer’ asking me to insert a CD. I cancel the window and carry on. Four months later it is beginning to get on my nerves. I have tried the remove software from Control Panel, and it is not in the start-up program folder. Any help would be very welcome

Alan Ager, via email

A. My guess this is due to a rogue entry on the Startup list, rather than the Startup folder, and this can cause some confusion.

The Startup folder is on the All Programs list and if you place a program shortcut in it, it will launch automatically after Windows has finished loading.

The Startup list also launches programs and utilities with Windows but it is controlled from the Windows Registry but entries are usually created automatically when programs are installed so you have little or no control over what’s put there. You can easily disable unwanted or unused entries, though, which can be left behind when an installation is aborted or a program is uninstalled. Open the Windows configuration utility, which, as old hands will know, involves typing ‘msconfig’ in Run on the Start menu (XP and Vista). Select the Startup tab and deselect the Blueyonder entry. You will be asked to reboot and when Windows restarts a dialogue box appears check the ‘Do not show again…’ box and everything should be back to normal.

Incidentally there are probably quite a few other things you can get rid of on the Startup list, which are often unnecessary and slow your PC down by sapping its resources. If you are uncertain about anything check the Startup Applications lists at Sysinfo.org and TechSpot. If for any reason disabling an entry causes problems simply open msconfig/Startup again and recheck the box.

Q. I have had a fully operational CD drive on my computer from purchase, but suddenly, when I put a disk in or click on the CD icon I get the message: ‘The drive or network connection that the shortcut… refers to is unavailable’. Can you suggest a remedy?

Ken Ginn, via email

A. It sounds like a hardware problems since this message specifically mentions the CD drive. Check the data and power cables plugged into the back of the drive and on the motherboard, one of them may have come adrift of become intermittent. Other possibilities are fault with the drive or the BIOS, but the quickest way to isolate the fault is to temporarily substitute a known good drive and cable from another PC.

If you have a computer problem write to: fff@telegraph.co.uk

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© R. Maybury 2007 1812