Posts Tagged: restore

Riding Shotgun with Adam — 10 Comments
29
Sep 07

Now I remember what I don’t like about Apple and Macs

Apple products are beautiful and functional. Many people brag about their iPod or Mac’s stability, but there is a good reason that Macs are so stable. Apple is very restrictive as to what others are allowed to do with their systems.

For example, if you have a iPod, you can only use iTunes if you want to sync music to it. If you have another brand of media player, it will not work with iTunes.

Most standard hardware such as keyboards, mice and printers are compatable with both Macs and PCs, but when it comes to software, Apple has some very strict standards that developers must meet and money must exchange hands to apply for Apple approval.

This week, Apple pulled the biggest “Apple move” of all, they released an update that rendered $500 iPhones unusable because people had changed the devices to run on cell networks other than those approved by Apple.

The iPhone was designed to run on AT&T here in the States and it could only run software that had been approved by Apple. Resourceful hackers found a way around these restrictions and released a few small software patches for free that would allow users to customize their iPhones more and run them on whatever cell network they were currently subscribed to.

Apple could have allowed the changes and sold more iPhones, but their relationship with AT&T was more valuable than the relationship with those who had paid $500 for the device.

So, they released an update to fix some functional issues with the phone and along with it, they broke the phone and voided the warranty for anyone who had installed theses unapproved patches.

Now, many iPhone users who bought the iPhone because they wanted to be one of the cool kids and conform to the hype are learning their first lesson in the drawbacks of Apple products.

Apple products are beautiful, they are easy to use, they are sexy, and they are cool, but like other cliques, they don’t like to play with anyone outside of their circle.

Even for Apple though, this is the biggest bully move they have ever made. I wouldn’t be fix is released in a few days or weeks that will restore the broken iPhones to factory standards but with updates that prevent the previous hacks from working.

This is an important business technology story to follow. If they get away with it, it could set a new precedent for other companies. If they get trampled and their reputation becomes tainted, it could mean that Apple loosens their restrictions more in future products.

Internet Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 16 Comments
29
Aug 07

Internet Explorer prints only HTML

Today I ran into a problem that I hadn’t seen before. A customer’s MSN and Internet Explorer browser (including MSN email and web mail) would only print the HTML coding of a web page or email.

HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language and is the programming that is used to present web pages to us and the coding behind text color, bold, etc. in email. We had cleaned some spyware from this users computer earlier in the day, and even printed out some pictures, but a few hours later I received a call about this strange symptom. At first, I thought it was just a forwarded email gone awry, but after arriving on the scene and seeing that word processing documents, test pages, pictures, and spreadsheets all printed fine, the culprit was definitely in Internet Explorer 7.

Deleting temp files, using the IE 7 reset settings button, and changing printers didn’t work. After a few minutes of searching the web for an answer, I came across this jewel of a solution that worked!

  1. Close any open programs
  2. Click Start –> Run
  3. Type: regsvr32 /i mshtml.dll
  4. Press Enter on your keyboard
  5. Click Start –> Run Type: regsvr32 /i shdocvw.dll
  6. Press Enter on your keyboard

That did it! If your Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, MSN, or AOL browser prints only HTML coding, which usually starts with the following text, use the above six steps to restore sanity to your Internet and email printing.

DOCTYPE html PUBLIC “-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN” “http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd”>
<html xmlns=“http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml” lang=“en” xml:lang=“en”

Internet Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
27
Aug 07

How to Remove the Greeting Card Virus

Adam and I first mentioned this nasty little virus earlier this spring on our radio show. The email that spreads it poses as an electronic greeting card from your friend or relative. Because the email is so poorly constructed, is never from a known address, and the link it displays in the body of the message is a number (NEVER, EVER Click a link that is constructed of a number, ex: http://91.188.176.15/) we didn’t put much credence in how much damage it could do.

Unfortunately, we underestimated the sentimentality of many computer users. Many saw the words “greeting card”, “friend”, and/or “relative” and common sense and computer safety went out the window. They clicked on the link which then installs the virus, and a greeting card never is seen. If you have done this, and your Internet and computer seem much slower than normal, you have the greeting card virus infection. One reason for the slowness is that part of the infection involves using your computer to send out thousands of spam messages!

Here’s how to remove the virus and restore order to your computer:

  1. Download either CCleaner or CleanUp 
  2. Update your anti-virus program (hopefully you are using AVG Antivirus) 
  3. Disconnect from the Internet
  4. Run which ever tool you downloaded in Step 1 
  5. Disable System Restore  
  6. Restart the computer in Safe Mode
  7. Search for and delete the tcpip.sys file found in the Windows folder (usually C:\Windows\System32\Drivers)
  8. Search for another tcpip.sys file on your computer (usually there is at least one backup somewhere)
  9. Copy and paste this file back into:  C:\Windows\System32\Drivers
  10. Search for and delete spooldr.exe and spooldr.sys (usually found in the Windows folder or sometimes the desktop)
  11. Run which ever tool you downloaded in Step 1 AGAIN
  12. Run a full system scan with your antivirus program
  13. Restart your computer normally
  14. Connect back to the Internet
  15. Update and run an anti-spyware program like AVG Anti-spyware, Super Anti-Spyware, SpyBot Search & Destory, etc. All these tools can be found in our Links & Resources section
  16. After all scans have finished, turn System Restore back on again.
  17. STOP Clicking on links in goofy emails…pay attention and be more discerning.

 

Riding Shotgun with Rick — 1 Comment
17
Aug 07

Busy weekend

My work week isn’t over. I have five computers/hard drives that I’m working on this weekend. My most exciting task is to setup an older XP HP machine with Ubuntu Linux. My customer had a huge XP problem and couldn’t use her restore CD’s to get it going. After some discussion of her options, costs, and time involved, she decided to give Ubuntu a try. This customer is retired, but is writing a book, uses a digital camera, is an AOL user, and emails a bunch. However, she loves here computer and has been using one for many years and has no qualms about trying something new.

My task with her computer is to set it up so she can get up and running as quickly as possible. This will be my first big test at taking Ubuntu out of the “lab” and putting into the hands of one of my customers. I think it can work and work well and she is probably a great first candidate to use Ubuntu.

I’ve already got Ubuntu installed, customized and almost ready to go and it has been a blast getting it ready. Of course I will report back with the actual installation and training session next week.

Almost one computer down…four more to go!

Riding Shotgun with Rick / Windows Tips — 7 Comments
24
May 07

How to use System Restore

system restoreI don't know how we missed posting this tip, but somehow we did so now I'm rectifying the situation.

One of the best features of Windows XP (and now Vista) is the ability to undo many problems that we may cause ourself or the system causes through updates or other unknown situations. It is called System Restore and it allows you to roll back your system to a previous time when all was blissful without losing any valuable data like email, pictures, and other documents.

The safest way to perform a System Restore is:

  1. Shut the computer off
  2. Turn the computer back on and immediately start pressing F8 on your keyboard until a menu of choices appear.
  3. Use the arrows on your keyboard to highlight the first "Safe Mode" option
  4. Press Enter on your keyboard
  5. On the next screen, press Enter again.
  6. A black screen with lots of messages will roll across your screen. Don't panic this is normal.
  7. When the Safe Mode log in screen appears, click the Administrator icon
  8. On the next screen, click the NO option
  9. You will no be transported to the System Restore utility, click Next on its first screen.
  10. Now a calendar will appear with some bold dates, click on a bold date two or more days before your problem started happening
  11. Click Next
  12. Click OK
  13. Your system will no perform the roll back (takes from 5-20 minutes) and will restart automatically.
  14. Click OK on the System Restore that appears after reboot.

Keep these instructions handy, and you will find that it comes in handy from time-to-time.

Riding Shotgun with Adam — 4 Comments
29
Jan 07

Windows Vista: Is it worse than we thought?

I have not made any secret of the fact that I am afraid of Windows Vista. Tomorrow Vista hits shelves and I an dreading the rush of calls from people who don't read our website and newsletter.

Here is a short list of what I know about Windows Vista so far.

Please use the link at the bottom to email this article to anyone you know who may be considering the move to Vista who doesn't read our website and newsletter.

PROS (If you can call them that):

  • Vista is prettier
  • Better security – but not necessarily more secure than Windows XP running updated security software.
  • It's prettier
  • Has more fluff, bells and whistles
  • And, it's prettier

CONS:

  • Don't bother running Vista on a machine with less than 1 gig of RAM and a dedicated 128MB video card. For best results your computer should have 2 gigs of RAM and a 256MB video card.
  • No clean installs will be allowed form the upgrade disk. This means that you can only upgrade with an upgrade disk. Previous versions have let you install from scratch with an upgrade disk and you would only have to insert an older version disk at a certain point of the install to prove you owned it.
  • Vista won't upgrade from Windows 98. Only Windows XP and 2000.
  • There are six general versions of Vista available in the US and even more if you count special custom versions that Microsoft is building for markets outside the US. In case you are wondering those versions are: Starter Edition (not available in US), Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Small Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate. Which version is right for you?
  • If you send faxes from your computer you will need to buy one of the Business editions or Ultimate edition.
  • Dial-up users can expect a mess of new problems when trying to connect to the Internet. It will work, but it may not work smoothly.
  • Still confused? This handy chart should make it all clear as mud .

Problems I expect to see very soon:

I am only about 13 percent psychic, but here are a few of the problems that I expect to see with Windows Vista very soon.

While attempting to upgrade the process will lock up and the install will get corrupted. In order to finish the job the user will have to reformat, re-install Windows XP them upgrade it to Vista. If the problem was caused by a program that came on the computer and the reformat was done using a restore disk then the process may have to be attempted more than once before the offending program is discovered.

Many people will find it is easier to buy a new copy of Windows XP so that they can use their upgrade disk. Don't bother trying to borrow a neighbor's disk to do the upgrade. The Vista upgrade can only upgrade a validated version of XP.

Scanners and some older hardware will not be compatible.

Some users of AOL or similar Internet services will have problems connecting via dial-up and tech support will not be able to help.

Why do I expect these problems? Because they are the same problems we see every time Microsoft releases a new versions of Windows. Only the list of possible problems with Vista is much longer.

A few tips to help you, should you decide to do it:

The safest way to get Vista up and running it to buy a new computer with it already installed, but make sure it has the Home Premium edition on it as well as the other specs mentioned at the top of this article.

If you want to upgrade, don't buy the upgrade disk, but the full version or the OEM version, erase the hard drive and install everything from scratch.

Put it off as long as possible. No version of Windows has ever run smoothly the first year of its release. Buying into Vista now is like signing up for experimental medical treatment. The side effects are unknown and the benefits are minor.

Don't buy a budget system:

I read the ads this Sunday and there are some new Vista systems for under $500, but they are way underpowered and the need to upgrade will be immediate. I predicted that the price of computers would go up about $300 when Vista comes out. Was I wrong? let's to the math…

For $600 or less you get a system with 512MB RAM, 128MB shared video memory and Windows Vista Home Basic (a version of Vista that shouldn't even be a version since it has about 1/5 of the features in the other versions).

In order to run Vista smoothly, you will need to add at least one gigabyte of RAM. Most systems are now using DDR2 which runs about $150 for 1 gig. Don't add less than 1 gig to a system with 512MB.

That 128MB of shared RAM won't be hefty enough to run the pretty features of Windows Vista so you will need to add a 256MB dedicated video card, Those run $100 or more.

Windows Vista Home Basic is extremely limited in that it does not support many of the features that make Vista even slightly worth the upgrade, it also is lacking many of the features that XP Home has. If you do digital photography, watch movies, use an MP3player, run your computer on a network or play the occasional game, then you will want to upgrade to Vista Home Premium soon. That will run $150 for the upgrade version and $199 for the full version – which we recommend to avoid problems.

Hmmm… What do you know, it looks like a system that would have run XP Home just fine, now costs about $300 more to run Vista smoothly.

General Computer Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — No Comments
22
Jan 07

Learn how to check your backups

I'm glad to see so many of my customers really starting to take backing up seriously. As we start storing more and more crucial or even irreplaceable data on our computers, it is absolutely imperative that you learn to backup your data properly. 

Once you start backing up, you may start to wonder, "Hmmm, does that disk really have the information that I need on it?" If you are backing up by simple using the Send To function or copying data straight to a flash drive or CD/DVD, then the easy way to check your backup is by double-clicking the drive in My Computer. This will open the drive and let you peer at its contents. If nothing shows up, then your backup method is failing, and you need to adjust. If the data is there, then pat yourself on the back and enjoy the feeling of seeing that your data is safely located on a disk other than your computer's hard drive.

If you use a program's internal backup system (i.e. Quicken, genealogy programs, etc),  you still want to employ the method I described above to make sure the data exists on the drive you used during the backup. However, most of these backups create a single proprietary backup format that you won't necessarily recognize or be able to click and open. Just look at the date of the backup (Right Click the file and choose Properties) to ensure the backup is current. To restore this type of backup, you need to open the original program and use the "Restore" option it contains. It can be found in the same spot where you found the Backup function.

Riding Shotgun with Rick — 1 Comment
9
Jan 07

Remember to feed your mouse

Interestingly, I received two phone calls and another email today all regarding the same subject. Upon starting their computers, these users could not move their cursor around the screen…despite repeated attempts. It turns out that in all three cases, they were using cordless mice. Cordless mice talk to the computer via radio waves to a receiver attached to the computer. Since they are cordless, they can't get power from the computer (like corded mice do) so they get power from batteries. Some mice use AAA batteries, others use AA. In all cases, these batteries need to be replaced from time-to-time. In these three cases, replacing the batteries restored order to their computing lives. Batteries can last up to four or five months in some cases, but two to three months is the norm.

OnAir Solutions — No Comments
7
Oct 06

Turning off system restore

There are two ways to turn off System Restore (probably more).

Way number 1:

1. Right Click on My Computer

2. Choose Properties from the menu

3. A window will come up

4. Choose the System Restore tab at the top

5. Check the box to turn off System Restore

6. Click Apply and OK

 

Way number 2:

1. Click on Start -> (All) Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore

2. Click on System Restore Settings link

3. Check the Turn off System Restore box

4. Click Apply and OK

Riding Shotgun with Rick / Windows Tips — 357 Comments
6
Oct 06

Solution for computer that can’t change desktop wallpaper / background

This solution WILL fix your problem, but don’t run away afterwards and forget about us.

HelpMeRick.com contains hundreds of tips (and video tips) that YOU can use as a reference for yourself and
especially as a reference to send links to your friends/family so you don’t have to write out or explain the steps yourself!

I ran into this problem earlier this week and found the solution. The customer could not change his desktop background to any of the stock photos in Windows or his own photos…something that any Windows user should be able to do. Turns out that the root cause of the problem is spyware. Even after removing the spyware a registry (skeleton of Windows) entry gets left behind disabling the users ability to change the background. Deleting this entry restores the ability for the user to again have a normal functioning desktop.



WARNING: THIS SOLUTION IS ONLY FOR COMPUTERS THAT HAVE THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. AND IT IS INTENDED TO ONLY BE CARRIED OUT BY AN EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN OR COMPUTER USER WITH REGISTRY EXPERIENCE.

  1. Click Start
  2. Click Run
  3. Type: regedit
  4. Navigate to the following registry entry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

    “Wallpaper”=SZ:C:\WINDOWS\desktop.html (yours might be slightly different)

  5. Click one time on the entry
  6. Push Delete on the keyboard
  7. Click Yes
  8. Close the Registry editor

HOW TO MAKE YOUR ICON TEXT TRANSPARENT:

1. Open the Control Panel

2. Click System

3. Click the Advanced tab

4. Click Settings in the Performance section

5. Check the “Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop” check box

6. Click OK until you close the windows

Please consider donating any amount to our cause by clicking the donate link on the right. Thanks.

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