IT Queries: Computer problems answered

Hi, I recently got a 2nd hand IBM Thinkpad, it sort of works, but if you want to open a program you need to right click and start,if you try any other option the next message appears ” This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the folder options control panel”.

I can’t access the individual modules of the control panel even with a right click. same message appears. Have tried to format the hard drive to install a clean version of Windows XP but nothing happens. Almost all CD’s or DVD’s are returned with a message of “corrupted disk, can’t read” message so can’t do an installation from DVD drive.

Help. Can’t access System info but it is a Pentium 3 with Windows XP Professional installed. Unfortunately lot of pirate software as well which I have deleted and was able to get Ad-Aware 6 and Spybot Search and Destroy installed from disk drive (Yaaay). Found loads of bad bits now quarantined or deleted but have not been able to insatll any anti virus. Tried over the internet but would again do nothing. Click on Download and nothing happens.

Nikki

Hi Nikki, you’ve illustrated why we don’t like second hand computers as there’s always a risk you’ll inherit a whole pile of trouble. Which is exactly what happened to you.

The first thing you need to check is that the hard drive is okay. To do this, follow our instructions checking a hard drive for errors. If a message appears that chkdsk has detected bad blocks then the hard drive is dying and it’s probably going to be best to write the system off.

Next, you’ll need to fix the file association problem, we discuss how to do this on our How to Remove Playitall page. This should fix the problems with opening files and the Control Panel.

Repairing the associations may also fix the problem with reading the optical drive, if it doesn’t then the device is probably damaged. You can pick up a cheap USB external DVD reader/burner if you really need one, however many people are finding they download software or use cloud services so an optical drive really isn’t essential.

Once you have everything running, it’s essential you give the system a good scan for malware. We show how to do this in our removing a trojan page. Make sure you do this before using the computer for any password protected sites or online transactions.

All of this sounds like it’s hard work and it is. If you need to get in a computer tech to do all of this you’ll probably spend more than a cheap netbook would cost which is why we recommend avoiding second hard Windows systems.

“Paypal” is sending out emails to get all your info at the moment. I am not sure how common it is. I have received 2 different ones from them. The first opened a page asking for all my details including
drivers licence address and bank details and the second opens up a paypal page which is identical to the real one. although I didn’t enter in any details I knew it was suspicious because it wasn’t my Paypal email
address.

Just thought I would let you know.

Thanks very much that. It’s a worthwhile reminder that Phishing scams are still alive and well.

Phishing is where crooks make an almost identical replica of a legitimate organisation’s webpage – common organisations are financial ones like Paypal, eBay and banks – and ask you for your essential details.

In most cases they try to capture account details, user names and passwords but they sometimes also try to capture personal information like drivers licence details or social security numbers so they carry out identity fraud.

You should never give any details out in reply to an email even if it does look like the site and the message is valid.

If you think the message might be genuine, then contact the organisation yourself to confirm they are legitimate. Don’t use any links, email addresses or phone numbers given on the suspicious message as these are often fake as well.

Everytime I open an internet site I get a box with the following dialogue:

Line 11
Char 56
Error Object does not support this properly or method
Code  0
URL   http/www.google.com.au/search?
sourceid = navclient&ie=UTF
&&rlz=IT4TSAU_enAU354AU354&q=

When I connect my iPod the error message I receive is “an iPod has been detected but cannot be identified properly, please disconnect and re connect it”

The first thing to try is to reset your iPod. Open Settings, then General and scroll to the bottom of the list and select Reset.

In the Reset screen select Reset All Settings, confirm you want to reset and then restart the iPod.

If this doesn’t work, it could be another device connected to the computer that is hogging all the power. Try disconnecting all USB devices except for the iPod, restart the computer and see if it works once you restart.

When I start my computer a warning appears saying “update manager an error occurred”. It’s something to do with Installshield but I can’t get rid of it”

You’ll need to remove Installshield with the Remove Programs functions on the computer. To do this, follow our instructions on Adding and Removing software.

In many situations it doesn’t appear in the Add/Remove programs box and you’ll need to go into your drive and uninstall it manually by running unwise.exe from the file C:\WINDOWS\IsUninst.

To do this, click the Vista Start Button and in the search box at the bottom of the menu that appears type in C:\WINDOWS\IsUninst. This will open the folder for the Installshield remover.

Then double click the Unwise.exe program and the removal of Installshield will begin.

With Windows 7 and Vista system you may get the User Access Control messages warning you that this might be unsafe and asking if you want to go ahead with it. The answer is you do and you should click Yes to continue with the uninstall.

When complete, restart your computer and the problem will be gone.

“I’m selling an expensive item, a horse float, that a lady in Malaysia is keen to buy through Paypal. She’s really eager for the purchase, hasn’t bartered and will pay for delivery. Can I trust this?”

No, when you’re selling an expensive item you need to take care. This particular scam is a variation on the various check frauds where you’ll find yourself out of pocket from unexpected expenses that arise, a dispute over delivery or a reversed transaction into a hacked PayPal or eBay account.

The fact the buyer isn’t concerned about the amount is a give away, along with the fact they are prepared to pay for freight to Malaysia.

Some articles on this particular scam can be found at the following sites;

• Cyberhorse Forum on the Malaysian scam
• Horse Directory Australia warning on over-eager foreign buyers
• WA Government warning on fake overseas car sales

In situations like this you need to follow your senses; if something doesn’t smell or feel right then you shouldn’t go ahead with the deal.

Remember – if something is too good to be true, it probably is.

I’ve seen the Gawker website has given away over a hundred thousand user passwords. Should I trust passwords to these sites?

Passwords are a difficult issue and given we are required to use them for many purposes – from adding comment on websites like Gawker through to accessing our work computers and bank accounts – we need to be careful with how we use them.

It’s best to take a layered approach to passwords with a complex password for your critical accounts, a mildly difficult one for sensitive sites and a “disposable” one for sites that don’t really matter.

Disposable sites
These are sites like Gawker that don’t really matter. If you have to create a password protected account to make a comment or access a page, something trivial like 123456 is fine.

Just keep in mind it’s probably best not to use your real name on the account unless you’re happy for some idiot to post blog comments under your name.

Sensitive sites
If you aren’t posting anonymously, then you should treat the site a little more carefully. Sensitive sites include sites where you are logged in under your own name and services like Gmail, Yahoo! Mail and social media platforms where you would be embarrassed should your account be hacked.

These sites should have stronger passwords which have a combination of words and numbers.

Critical sites
Sites considered critical and those which would have serious consequences should they be compromised. These include your bank accounts, work computer and administrative accounts for business activities.

These should be a strong combination of words, letters and symbols mixed with upper and lower case changes.

Password Ideas
Here are some ways you can develop stronger passwords;

• Use your street number, followed by suburb or street name, followed by post code. For instance 700Harris2007.
• Choose the date and location of your last, or next, holiday. Eg; 25May03Surfers
• Use your grandmother maiden initials followed by her birthyear, followed by your mothers maiden initials and her birthyear followed by yours (e.g. db21ds43sw66).
• You could substitute numbers for letters. You substitute 3 for e, 0 or o, 1 for i or l, etc. So the password Doris becomes D0r1s.
• Another technique is to use a phrase or rhyme you’ll remember. It could be the initials of your school motto with the year you left. You could use years your football team won the premiership and initials of the captains.

There are all sorts of possibilities. Be creative, and keep in mind you have to remember them.

The most secure way is to use a randomly generated password. We’ve put some links to password generating sites below. But be warned, you have to remember them!

• PC Tools random password generator
• Strong password generator
• GRC perfect password generator (very strong)

Once you’ve created a strong password you’ll need to save it somewhere. Remember that the secure passwords are very valuable and should be treated accordingly.

I am operating on Windows XP.

Whilst installing the latest version of AVG Free and after re-booting a dialog box appeared with the following message:- ‘The software you are installing for this hardware Non-Plug and Play Drivers has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatability with Windows XP”.

It recommends not continuing,which I did.

What does it all mean ? should I have carried on or not.

The Windows Logo testing refers to Microsoft’s program of certifying that devices and software is compatible with the current version of Windows. The aim is to let consumers know what products are guaranteed to work on their computers.

While the program is a good idea, it involves quite a bit of cost for vendors and Microsoft so not all equipment is certified. Also older products won’t be certified for newer Windows versions and manufacturers rarely bother certifying new products for the older versions of Windows.

So generally you can ignore the warnings and proceed with the installation, just note that running uncertified products on your system might increase the chances of the computer being slowed down or becoming unstable.

How do I safely download a printer driver for Vista for an older printer without having my computer scanned. I do not trust the “let me scan your computer” scam.

You’re right in not trusting services that ask to “scan your computer” before allowing you to download software. Most of them are a scam and you should avoid them.

One of the barriers to using a Windows Vista system was that many manufacturers dropped support for even comparatively recent hardware like printers and scanners, which meant many people reverted to Windows XP when they found their often recently purchased hardware wouldn’t work.

A way around this is to run your printer in “Emulation Mode”. Printer emulation is where the computer pretends the printer is a different, usually older, model.

Running a printer in emulation usually means you’ll lose some features that the older printer doesn’t support and if you’re running a multifunction device with a scanner and fax built in, you will probably find those aspects don’t work on the computer.

Microsoft have a detailed description of how to set a system up in emulation mode at their website. While these instructions are aimed at Windows XP 64 bit users, the instructions largely hold for Windows Vista and 7 systems.

Some printers, particularly the multifunction systems, don’t have an emulation mode and will only work on the systems they have software for so you may have to search the manufacturer’s website for the right drivers.

In many cases the printer manufacturers never released Windows Vista software, this was disgraceful behaviour by printer manufacturers and if you find this is the case with your printer, you may want to consider a different brand for your next device.

How can I use system restore option. It is in “off” mode in my computer?

On your computer click the Start button, usually found in the bottom left corner then right-click My Computer, and  click Properties.

The System Properties box will open, then click the System Restore tab.

Either take the tick off the Turn off System Restore check box or click the Turn off System Restore on all drives box to turn it back on. Click the OK button and system restore will be back when you restart the computer.

If you haven’t turned system restore off, you should also check your computer for viruses as a common trick for malware is to turn of Windows’ System Restore function.