IT Queries: Computer problems answered

Where the deleted matter goes after deleting a file? i know it goes in the recycle bin but even after deleting from there where does that file goes. is there any software incorporated in the system which receives the file or whatever the reason is please clear the doubts.

When you empty the recycle bin on a Windows computer the files don’t actually go anywhere. Instead Windows adds a character, usually shown as the “$” sign, to the beginning of the file’s name. This marks it as unreadable to the computer.

Because the computer doesn’t see those files it thinks the space on the hard drive is empty and eventually the files are overwritten by newer information.

The problem is that leaves a period where they can be recovered. A good tool for doing this is the Restoration program which we’ve discussed previously in our Recovering Deleted Files post.

If you are concerned about fully removing deleted files, then you’ll need a “shredder” program such as Eraser which we looked at in our Clearing Out a Computer post.

Eraser is a very powerful tool which will clean up deleted files but be careful because if you click the wrong button, you may wipe the entire computer.

We have just received an AVG pop-up informing us that as from 1 December 2009 this will be superseded by AVG 9, which we will have to pay for, approx $50 for one year. With the prices/costs of everything increasing, as aged pensioners we cannot afford this. Do you have an alternative suggestion?

You’ll find there is a free AVG 9, the link is just hidden away in the small print where it asks you to upgrade for $50.

The direct link to the AVG Free homepage is a http://free.avg.com/au-en/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition and you can download it from there.

Keep in mind $50 for the full AVG protection suite and $35 for the anti virus is good value compared to some of the better known security patches so the full priced program is not a bad deal.

I am running windows XP business on a network @ work thru a server environment. Recently we experienced a problem with the server sending out spam, and I was told that my work station may have been the problem because I had several web sites that I was on and left open overnight. My question is that a problem? I have done this for years.

The short answer is “no” and this sounds like either a misunderstanding or a tech who is making up stories.

While it is possible to get a malware infection from an open browser window, having a web page open all night makes no difference one way or another.

If your network is sending out spam then one of your computers is infected with malware. If it’s the server then you have a serious problem.

You’ll need to engage a competent technician to audit your network, determine exactly where the spam is coming from and remove any virus infections.

It is good practice though to turn your computer off at night, if only to save money, reduce your energy consumption and minimise your carbon footprint.

I have Windows Vista Home Premium I am trying to tidy up my PC before passing it on to a friend. I am unable to clear certain websites I have visited. I am using Internet Options, Delete Browser History etc and it is leaving certain visited sites in the history.  Can you help please.

The simplest thing is to create a new user account then delete yours.

We have the instructions on creating a new account in our Creating a New User post.

So create a new user profile for your friend, back up anything important from your old profile, log on in the Administrator profile and delete your user profile.

With your profile deleted, all your old settings and history will have been wiped.

Is it safe to pack a laptop with checked-in luggage instead of with the cabin luggage?

The short answer is “no”. Once that checked baggage leaves your sight, anything can happen and even baggage marked “fragile” can be thrown around and otherwise manhandled.

Along with the risk of being damaged, it could also get lost somewhere in the trip.

Then there’s the risks of the baggage carousel. Our guess is anything that looks vaguely like a portable computer would be picked up by someone else in seconds.

So play it safe and take anything valuable in cabin baggage. Even if you are with an airline that will charge extra for more than one piece of baggage, it’s money well spent.

It seems that I have been infected with a rootkit as my internet download amount was used in just under 2 weeks (last month). I have changed my password, and redone my computer several times in the last month.

My operating system is Microsoft Vista and I’ve been taking all measures that I can think of to try and clean my system, but I think that it has returned again. Any suggestions on cleaning this type of type of problem (Rootkit)?

Rootkits are the worst possible type of infection and can be difficult, if not impossible to remove. If you do have a rootkit infection, then we’d suggest calling a computer technician and being prepared to reformat your system.

We’d also recommend you disconnect the computer from the Internet and backup all your important data.

If you’d like to try it yourself, then you can follow our removing a Trojan instructions. Be warned, rootkits are notorious at appearing to have been removed and then reappearing a short time later.

I have Norton 360 V.3 on my PC running on Windows XP.

For the last month the Norton 360 Live Updates have not been working. I’ve contacted the Norton people and had them manually updated but this hasn’t fixed the problem as the automatic update still doesn’t work.  They uninstalled and reinstalled the programme twice but this made no difference.

They’ve now told me that I have a ctfmon.exe virus which will have to be fixed by Microsoft.  How can I have a virus when I have Norton 360 running all the time and how do I have it fixed?

First the ctfmon.exe file may not be a virus. This is a normal Microsoft Office file, so you shouldn’t assume you have an infection.

The first thing is to check you don’t have a virus and you should do this by following the instructions in our removing a Trojan page.

Once you’re happy you’ve cleared any possible virus infection, you’ll need to clean up your computer.

The next step is to update your Windows Scripting Host as Norton 360 relies on this to work properly.

With your computer now cleaned and up to date, download the latest Norton 360 update and install this.

After rebooting, check Norton 360 is updating. If not, follow the Troubleshooting Live Update instructions on the Symantec website.

The Windows Scripting Host is an important part of all Windows versions later than the first version of Windows 95. It automates various functions and it’s critical to operation of various Windows features like Automatic Updates.

It does have some problems however and using it to infect Windows computers through “drive by downloads” has been a favourite trick of virus and spyware writers in recent years.

While it does create security problems for Windows users, it is an essential part of the system so you need the latest updates for it.

Microsoft have a number of updates for Windows Scripting;

• Windows XP and Server 2003 users should download Version 5.7
• Windows 2000, 98 and ME users should use Version 5.6.
• Vista users should use Windows PowerShell

It’s best to download and install the appropriate package and then run the Windows Update program.

I read in one of your  advice pages that I should regularly check for updates with my Norton Symantec 360 and keep checking over and over until the system advises that it is up to date.

Each time I run the check through, it does in fact advise that the system is up to date but when I run it again it still manages to find more updates!

I have, this afternoon run it through at least 7-8 times and it still manages to find more updates! I did the same thing last week and gave up after about fifteen minutes because it was still producing more updates!  Am I THAT far out of date or what is going on?

I would appreciate your comment  - I am not a computer whiz but enjoy my computer and learn more everyday.

Great to hear you’re enjoying learning about getting more from your computer every day. It’s an area of great opportunity.

Unfortunately, you’ll need to keep running the updates until Norton 360 is happy there’s no more to download.

The problem is Norton 360 is a complex program that does many things, so one update leads to another and so on.

So keep doing it until Norton is happy that it is fully up to date.

I use two User Accounts, one as a Computer Administrator and one as a Limited Account. Recently a ran the programme Easy Cleaner to do a Registry check on the Limited Account.

It came back with 581 entries to be considered for deletion. Not surprisingly, I could not remove those entries while in the Limited Account mode. I then changed that account to a Computer Administrator and ran Easy Cleaner again.

It then only found one possible entry for deletion. When I changed it back to a Limited Account and ran Easy Cleaner again, surprise surprise, 581 entries once again.

I find that a bit of a puzzle.

It’s a good question and not a puzzle at all.

The registry checker looks at your computer’s settings then checks the files referred to in the registry actually exist.

As a Limited User you can’t access critical system files so the registry checker reports errors as can’t find the files shown in the registry.

The is the reason we like Limited User mode for Windows users, it makes life harder for viruses and other malware.

Running the registry checker is good, but make sure you’ve made a backup before making changes to your registry as you can lock yourself out of your system if the program makes a mistake.