IT Queries: Computer problems answered

How do you recover details of visited sites on the internet after you’ve deleted your browsing history?

One way is to run System Restore tool which we’ve described in a previous post.

This doesn’t always work and there are commercial tools that allow you to recover histories.

Internet Explorer history is kept in the index.dat file, it is possible to search the hard drive to find older copies of index.dat and then run a Dat file viewer.

It is a bit harder to recover Firefox history if the system restore doesn’t work. In that case, we’d recommend running a file recovery tool across the user’s profile, but this is a task which requires a trained computer tech.

Win XP SP 2(I think). I tried to get a program to open in another way and somehow accidently changed all Prog (exe.) to open in Adobe Photoshop. Clk open and all progs seem to go to adobe. I couldn’t get the system restore to undo this error. Have used up all my restore points which could have been of assistance.Please help if you can, after all tis the season…….and I don’t feel too jolly !!
Cheers Colin

This is a nasty problem we used to see in with bad spyware infections. It is a real pain and requires a number of changes to the registry.

Luckily someone’s done this already for you. Visit the excellent Doug Knox file associations page and download the EXE file association fix. The page also has instructions on how to open Regedit when the associations have been trashed.

Once you’ve opened Regedit, click File and Import then select where you’ve saved the inf file. Once you finish the merge, exit Regedit and reboot the problem should be fixed.

Merging the inf can be tricky using the command prompt and is certainly not something we’d recommend if you aren’t an experienced computer user. If you are stuck it’s important you call a computer tech.

The computer just closed to a blank screen with the message no signal detected. We are running XP. I updated Norton Antivirus and then tried to scan in case of a virus and the computer just goes to the blank screen with no signal detected

The “No Signal Detected” message means exactly that; the computer monitor isn’t getting a signal from the computer. Basically it means the computer is off or the cable to the monitor is disconnected.

Sometimes it means the computer’s graphic card has failed.

In your case, it means the computer is shutting down when you run Norton. This is serious.

Either Windows is crashing due to a memory problem or, more likely, you have an extremely serious spyware infection.

We’d strongly suggest you call out a service technician to have a look at your system.

I’m having difficulty with Office2007. C= vista D= XP Pro both C&D both have the Office 2007. Can I safely delete O7 from “D” then re-install Office XP in that partition? I have the original CD.

You certainly can although we’d be reluctant to advise you to wipe the Office 2007 folder given the potential problems it can create.

We’d recommend you uninstall Office 2007 from both versions of Windows through the Control Panel as we’ve discussed previously. Note that uninstalling from one will affect the other.

It’s probably best to uninstall all versions of MS Office, then run a registry cleaner and finally reinstall Office XP.

Keep in mind that deleting folders and changing registry settings can cause problems for your computer. If you have any problems you should contact a technician for proper advice and service.

I was listening to your ABC program the other day, and you were helping someone who could not open Outlook Express. Now. lo and behold, I cannot either. The blue box “Outlook Express 6″ appears on the screen, then disappears to the small icon at the bottom of the page. When clicked, it just gets bigger then goes back into the bar, and Outlook Express will not open at all. Can you help me please?

This is an irritating little problem with a simple solution.

Open Outlook Express, on the taskbar across the bottom of the screen, right click on the Outlook Express box and the click “Maximize”. Outlook Express will then reappear.

There seems to be a bug in OE where some emails force it into minimising. Outlook Express then remembers these settings for subsequent restarts.

I can’t open Ebay or Hotmail websites. Other sites open fine. What can be causing this

There’s a couple of problems that can be causing this. We’ll start with the obvious.

Clear the cache
Web browsers store a copy of websites they visit to speed up subsequent visits. The idea is that many features of a website don’t change between visits so saving the site will save downloading information already on the computer.

Sometimes, one of those downloaded files gets damaged and messes up that website. To fix this, we clear the cache.

In Internet Explorer, click Tools, Internet Options and in the General tab, click the Delete Files button under “Temporary Internet Files”. When the confirmation box appears, click tick the “delete Offline files” button and click okay.

Check for spyware
These problems can be spyware related, follow our above advice to Sharon in clearing a spyware infection.

Test your security software
This sort of problem can be caused by an enthusiastic firewall, antivirus program or spyware program. Try disabling your security programs for a minute and try connecting without them running. If you can access the pages, then you’ll need to contact the program vendor to add the websites to the program’s trusted list.

Download the latest Java engine
Sometimes these problems are caused by a damaged Java installation. This can be fixed by downloading and installing the latest Java installation. When you download it, choose not to bother with unnecessary extras like the Google toolbar.

Update the Windows Scripting Host
The Windows Scripting Host is another program that can mess up. To fix this, download and install the latest Windows Scripting Host. You’ll need to restart the computer after running the installation program.

We also had a problem some time back where the Internet Explorer phishing filter affected MSN in a similar way. It may be worthwhile checking this problem.

If the problem continues, you may have to contact a computer tech to check your system.

The following appears on my screen each time I start up – I have searched can not find and answer – I have limited computer skills. “Application fail to utilize: 0X800106ba. A problem caused Window Defender to stop. To start the service, restart your computer or Search Help & Support on how to start a service manually.

The problem is due to the old version of Windows Defender being on your computer. Rather than politely telling you it’s out of date, it gives you an obnoxious message on start up. It’s just a matter of removing it.

To remove it, open the Control Panel by clicking the Start button then Settings, then Control Panel.

Once in the Control Panel, open Add/Remove Programs, go down the list and highlight Windows Defender, click the remove button.

Once it’s removed you’ll have to restart.

You can install the latest Windows Defender from the Microsoft website. Generally though, we find Defender a bit erratic and unreliable and would suggest alternative products.

Every time I start my pc it comes up with. “16 bit window subsystem. The system file is not suitable for running MS-Dos and microsoft windows application close ignore”

I also get Kodak easy share wanting to know if I want to send an error report

It sounds like the Kodak Easy Share software has become damaged. The best solution is to reinstall the Easy Share software. If it still continues to give problems, you should remove it.

It may also be that some of your system files are damaged. This sort of error appears when the Config.nt, Autoexec.nt or Command.com files have a problem.

To fix those, try running the System File Checker utility.

If that fails, you can manually reinstall these files by following Microsoft’s instructions. This is a complex and awkward task, so we’d recommend you call a tech if this is required.

Nearly every time I try to copy & paste, I have to perform the action twice to get a result. It doesn’t matter whether I use the right-click method or go the long way around, I nearly always have to do it twice. I am running Windows XP SP 2. Can you help me please?

This problem could be due to a number of causes. The obvious one is you have a spyware infection. To check this, follow our previously posted instructions on removing a Trojan.

It is has been known for software installations to cause this problem so it’s worthwhile thinking about when this problem started and what software and hardware was installed around this time. Uninstall those programs or restore your computer to an earlier System Restore Point.

It is also possible some system files are damaged. This can be fixed by running the System File Checker.

If none of this works, you may need to get a computer tech in to look at the system.

I’ve received an email claiming to be from Bpay. Is it legitimate?

By inquiry about 11/8/2007 you or your family member had been made request of check verifivation.
According agreement and application form we send you a copy of the check for verification of the holder address.
We recommend to unpack the check, make on it corrections, put the signature and send it back!

This is a scam and you should not open the attachment on the email. The attachment is a Zip file that, when opened, tries to run a DOS command. While we don’t know what it is trying to do, it safe to assume this is what we call a Trojan horse.

Under no circumstances should you open this email’s attachments.