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spyware

Fix those LSP problems with Winsock repair tool

I searched all over our site for this tool and I couldn’t find it, so I decided to do a Shotgun on it so that it would show up in a search on our page.

Some spyware is nastier than others. Some of my least favorite spyware goes in and corrupts the way your computer connects to the Internet. Essentially it routes your Internect connection through a special path so that the creator of the spyware can watch what you are doing online.

It does then by changing a feature of Windows called Winsock. Winsock is the method that your computer uses to talk to other computers on the Internet and elsewhere. If Winsock gets corrupted, you lose your Internet connection.

The computer glitch fairy is back on duty

I mentioned in one of my articles last week that my calls had slowed way down. Whether is was due to JUCO (Junior College World Series) or the holiday or just a lack of computer problems, I don’t know.

Whatever the reason was, it seems like people’s computers are going nutz in full force. The number of calls today from people needing me to come by their home and fix their computers was in the double digits.

I am writing this just to let everyone know that the computer glitch fairy is out there and she is placing her wand on systems wherever she goes.

She can be thwarted though. I have found that she avoids computers that are running antivirus and antispyware programs. She also avoids systems that are keep cool with plenty of air circulation. She seems to fear computers that are using Mozilla Firefox but she loves computers with Norton Antivirus and AOL.

sTRanGe Occurence

A client’s adult daughter had a problem where the ONLY site that she couldn’t pull up on the Internet was her bank. After thoroughly checking her computer for viruses and spyware, making sure firewalls were set properly, checking Internet settings and trying the site with multiple browsers, I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. She is a cable Internet user and was sharing the connection via a Linksys wireless router. Nothing I could think of made a difference.

Today, she called me and was gleeful about her computer…she could get to her bank’s web site, log in normally. Turns out that after she unplugged the router and connected straight to her computer, the site became available. I have never heard of a router blocking just a single site (routers do act as firewalls as well). I told her how to reset the router to its factory settings in case someone may have ‘tweaked’ the router to block the banking site. If the factory reset didn’t work, she would have to get another router in order to share the Internet again.

Fix Winsock Problem

Lost of spyware and networking problems can cause things to go screwy with the way your computer plays well with others. This is primarily a problem with broadband users but it can also prevent dialup users from connecting to the Internet.

Try this little tool if you have problems getting your computer can’t connect to the web.

WinsockXPfix 

I always have my tools with me

Most computer problems have nothing to do with the mechanics of the computer. It is rare that I see a motherboard die, RAM go bad, a video card burn out or a power supply fail.

Almost all computer problems are software related. Among the hundreds of millions of lines of programming code, a few 1s and 0s crash together and things go screwy.

Whether it is a programming glitch or the problem is caused by an intentionally designed virus, the majority of computer problems must be solved by tweaking the software.

Twice today I had people comment on my lack of tools. I walk into a home or office with nothing under my arm. Everything I need is on my person.

Dude, where’s my shotgun?

Rick pointed out to me tonight that I haven’t put up any shotgun articles for a few days. It was at that exact moment that I realized that I hadn’t written any shotgun articles for a few days.

I have some catching up to do so consider this article one of the most important articles I have written for several days.

When I fix a computer I try to always approach the computer and the situation as if it were my own. I work hard at using techniques that allow me to get the best job done in the least amount of time. I ask myself three questions to determine the approach that I want to take.

Go west young man

I visited a couple of customers today who live in a remote part of Western Colorado. Although their homes were less than 20 miles away from Grand Junction, they had no option for high speed Internet other than satellite. Unlike the Eastern United States, broadband Internet is slow to roll out in smaller communities out West.
 
Satellite Internet is an OK option for some people who can’t get DSL, cable or wireless high speed, but the cost is prohibitive for many. Installation can cost nearly $500 and monthly charges start at $50. Two major satellite providers are

Get rid of Atwola

Atwola is a nasty little spyware cookie. Here is how to delete it if you get it.

You can follow these steps to block this cookie from your computer:

  1. Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel > Internet Options.
  2. Click the Privacy tab, click the Website button or Edit button in Website group box.
  3. In the Website box, enter Atwola.com and click Reject button to add this website to block lists.
  4. Click Ok button to save the changes.
  5. Open the file "%WinDir%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts" with a text editor program.
  6. Add the following lines to the end of the text file.

    127.0.0.1 ar1. atwola .com
    127.0.0.1 ar2. atwola .com
    127.0.0.1 ar3. atwola .com
    127.0.0.1 ar4. atwola .com
    127.0.0.1 ar5. atwola .com
    127.0.0.1 ar6. atwola .com
    127.0.0.1 ar7. atwola .com
    127.0.0.1 ar8. atwola .com
    127.0.0.1 ar9. atwola .com

Be careful using multiple accounts

Windows XP has a unique ability to act like multiple computers on a single machine. This feature was created so that the computer could be used in a business environment allowing each user to have his or her own programs, desktop, passwords and My Documents.

Although setting up multiple user accounts allows for a lot of customization, it has some pretty screwy side effects.

If you have more than one user account set up in Windows XP, many programs allow you to install programs into only one account. This is a nice feature if you only want to install a program into one account, but it can be a real pain when it comes to spyware and viruses.

Upgrade or repair?

If I had a dime for every time this question comes up….

I actually had this happen with two of my cutomers today. My answer, the last couple of years, is a definite ‘it depends’. Wishy, washy, I know, but it really does have to be thought out. First, the proper diagnosis has to be made. What is the estimate of the repair parts and labor and how does the user use the computer factor in together. Next, a comparison of that number to what is available in the market for new computers. Last week, as an example, Office Depot had a decent little system on sale for $198 after rebates!!

Unfortunately, the market is making so much of the technology we buy disposable…economically speaking. When looking at individual situations, however, the repair costs usually are a little under a new system. And with the exception of the hard drive that died, or the spyware and viruses that must be removed, the system is still very usable. So it comes down to how the computer is used.