IT Queries: Computer problems answered

During the past week I changed from Ozemail to Bigpond. Besides other problems with bigpond, I find they will not support Thunderbird. The result is that my extra mail box must be accessed via the Web.  Could you please help to set up Thunderbird?

The Thunderbird setup process is straightforward. Open Thunderbird, click File, New and then Account.

In the Account setup box choose Email Account and click Next.

For identity, you should put the name you want to appear on the emails in the Your Name box and your email address in the Email Address box.

Next is the Server Information page this is where you put in the incoming server settings.  For Bigpond you need to enter mail.bigpond.com in the Incoming Server box. Leave the POP button and the use global inbox options selected. Click Next

The next box is the User Names page. Enter your ISP username in the Incoming User Name box. For Bigpond users this is your email address. Click Next to continue.

In the following box you’re asked to name the account. You can put in anything you’d like to call it; Tony’s account, work email, whatever suits you.

That’s it! When you first go to check email, you’ll be asked for your password. Enter it and tick the box asking to remember your password and you are up and running.

I have Publisher 2000 and have received an email attachment which is showing in it’s properties that it is Publisher 2000 as well.  However, repeated attempts to open it result in “Publisher cannot open files from a different version”.

The problem is that the attachment has the .pub suffix so the computer recognizes it as a Publisher file but because it’s been created in a different version your machine can’t actually read it.

Microsoft have never got around to creating a Publisher reader tool or converter pack like they have with Office applications which makes it difficult in these situations.

All I can suggest is to ask the sender to save the document into a different format, say .jpg or .pdf  and send it again.

I have an HP Compaq nx6330 notebook running XP Pro SP2. The hard disk is 50GB in size. When I check the free space it says 3GB; however when I run WinDirStat there is an “Unknown” file of 25GB. I have run chkdsk /F/X on startup but this does not fix the problem. How can I recover this space from the “Unknown” file.

First, check this is not related to the System Restore process. Make sure you have a recent backup of your system then right-click My Computer and select Properties. Click the System Restore tab and tick Turn off System Restore on all drives.

When you reboot the computer check the file has gone. Turn system restore back on and restart the computer.

If the file is still there, check you don’t have a compressed files, a third party backup or file protection system as these can create these hidden files. You need to be very careful in deleting as they can be something very important.

If you do have one of these programs use the application settings to change the file sizes or to disable the program.

How can I deal with 2 dialogue boxes? one must be answered before the programs start going. One is called Win Messenger. “A new version is available you must install….etc….yes or no.. later.”

I never use messenger. I wondered if the box is suspicious. I can’t even dload it properly if I answer yes. Can I remove it?

Secondly is a check if a camera is connected. I set out to remove that camera as a hardware item but it always returns.
I did a restore but it didn’t go back before the messenger arrived.

Both of these problems are related to startup programs, they are starting with the system so the first step is to stop them doing this.

Open the Microsoft System Configuration tool and look in the startup tab for Windows Messenger and any camera or imaging software. Take the ticks off any relevant programs you find.

Removing messenger is a pain. PC Hell has the full instructions on removing it and stopping it from slowing your machine.

when i start my CPU there is a message always appearing on my screen

how can i set that on my bios to continued booting and not to press F1 before it continues?

What’s  happening is your BIOS, the part of the system that remembers all your settings and handles the initial start up of the computer, keeps forgetting the computer settings.

This is almost certainly a flat battery on the motherboard. Most motherboards use a watch battery to keep the BIOS chip charged while the power is off. When the battery goes flat, the BIOS resets.

It’s probably best to take the system to a computer tech who can replace the battery and check your BIOS settings.

System: Windows XP.  On start up I’m getting a message “C:\WINDOWS\system32\igghxjtd.dll

The specified module could not be found”.

This is since my PC was cleaned up after being infected by PC Cleaner. On the other hand it is also after my son removed some old games.

The problem is some remains of the spyware is still around on your system. In this case, the reference to some of it in the startup processes. When the computer starts it looks for the igghxjtd.dll file, can’t find it and so warns you.

To fix this, you need to run the Microsoft System Configuration tool (msconfig), choose the startup tab and take the tick off the igghxjtd item.

It’s worthwhile also giving the system another scan for viruses and Trojans as well.

I reformatted my desktop yesterday, but my problem is i lost my CD for the motherboard drivers and now when I check on the internet I’m having a hard time finding my board driver. Anyone can help me to find my board driver? My motherboard is V6DU. thanks.

The downloads for your motherboard can be found at the Jetway website. Download the chipset drivers along with the video and sound drivers as this will give your computer a major speed boot.

In future, before reformatting make sure you have all the drivers and other important software before starting. Also make sure you have all your critical passwords.

We’re running XP and cannot open Internet Explorer.  The window opens momentarily and then we get the generic windows error message where the choices are debug, send, and don’t send.

Any help on how to get Explorer back running again would be appreciated.

First of all it sounds like you are infected with malware. The access violation indicates something is seriously wrong with Internet Explorer. You must give your computer a full scan  for viruses and spyware before doing anything else.

Next, check you don’t have a hard drive problem by running chkdsk, we’ve previously covered how to do this.  It is possible a hard drive problem could be causing the access violation.

Finally, reinstall Internet Explorer. This is another question we’ve answered previously.

We’ve also covered random shut downs in Internet Explorer in an early post and we have further information there.

My computer makes a noise like an engine and regularly blacks out. What could be the problem?

It sounds like it is a heat related problem. The noise is a defective fan and because heat isn’t being dragged off important components, the computer overheats and shuts down.

You must get this seen to by a computer technician as keeping a computer overheating will eventually damage it and you might lose data. Depending on the age of the computer and the damage already done this will cost between $50 and several hundred dollars.

If the computer’s more than five years you may want to replace it.

Hi !, when I attempt to send or recieve an e-mail I get the following message x800ccc90 

We’ve answered part of that question previously. What the error message means is the computer can’t find your ISPs email server.

If you can surf the net then you need to check your firewall isn’t blocking your email program. If it isn’t, then there is a problem with the email program.

For Sympatico the settings are pophm.sympatico.ca for the incoming email and smtphm.sympatico.ca for the outgoing mail. Sympatico have step by step instructions on their website.