computersupport

AOL/AIM Help

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:32:51 GMT

I know most of you would say the best way to help my computer would be to get AOL OFF it. Trust me, I am thinking about it.

I use AOL at the moment, and AIM to IM when I don't have AOL open. But lately, whether or not I'm signed on with the same name in both spots or different names (such as my fiance on AIM and myself on AOL), when I sign on AOL I get IMs in both spots from AOL System Msg telling me my screen name is signed on in multiple locations. Again, even when it's DIFFERENT screen names that are signed on. It gets better. When I sign OFF AOL, AIM kicks off like it was depending on AOL for its connection (it's not, I have a cable connection), then when it signs back on I get ANOTHER AOL System Msg telling me I am signed ON in different locations.

It's a minor annoyance, but getting added to a list that is making me strongly consider uninstalling the AOL Software. AOL is free and AOLMail on the web is getting closer and closer to emulating the program itself. Between AIM and AOLMail, I don't see a real need for the program. BUT, for the time being, anyone know a way to fix this?

Thanks,
Sean

Crossposted to other computer help comms.

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:38:58 GMT

Facebook won't let me log in all of a sudden. Every time I ry to log in, it gives me an error page that says "Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete. This problem can sometimes be caused by disabling or refusing to accept cookies."
I checked, and my cookies are enabled, so I don't know what the problem could be. Any ideas?

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:06:27 GMT

My laptop will run on electricity when I plug the cord in but the battery won't charge without some effort of jiggling the cord around. What could be the cause of this?

usenet...

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:30:22 GMT

How can I get a usenet account? For a long time now I haven't read news groups because they've been dead. But just recently two of my old haunts suddenly became active again. I HATE google groups... it was nice getting emails from them to see when my groups were active or not, but as far as replying to individual posts it sucks.

I downloaded Thunderbird. Tried to access cybermesa's news server but it wouldn't accept my name/password. What are my other options? Keep in mind I'm on dialup, so I just want a simple tree-thread graphical view of my groups.

Help with wireless router

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:21:41 GMT

I have an Acer Aspire M1100 with AMD Athalon 64x2 Dual Core with 2 GB RAM running Vista Home Premium. Last night, I needed to unhook my Belkin G+ MIMO wireless router to move it and now my computer will not connect to the internet if I run the connection through the router (the note tells me it is local only). If the connection is run through my cable modem, I can hook up as normal. When I ran a diagnostic, the 'solution' popped up as Windows Firewall was permanently blocking and something about a User Query.

Did I completely mess it up or is it fixable?

Thanks for any help.

Sound and Buring Images Issues

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:18:09 GMT

I'm having a bit of a problem with my laptop. It's about eight months old and is a DELL. The issue started about a month ago, after I returned from a trip. I had gone to my grandmother's with the laptop, but I didn't go online. When I returned home I found that when I play music or go to streaming sites (such as youtube)something happens about 40% of the time: the sound is full of static and the music/video tends to stop and start in a jagged manner; the issue is really bad when I'm downloading something.

I did an update on the sound card via a download from the DELL site, but it did not fix the issue. Honestly, I do not know what it could be. I did install a new anti-virus software the same month the issue started, but I don't see how the two are linked. However I have noticed another issue: I cannot seem to burn images (icons, pictures, etc) onto CDs anymore; this issue started toward the end of May. I do believe the two issues could be linked.

Any help with either issue would be helpful and I would be grateful.

Some info:

I am on Windows Vista Home
I have 73.4GB of 136GB free
The laptop is A DELL, Inspiron 1520
I am using AVG Internet security 8.0, though it seems to mostly find cookies and spyware, it has found three torjans, which are currently in the virus vault (they were found after the issue started)

Wireless N router

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:03:19 GMT

Can anyone suggest a good reasonably priced wireless 802.11n router.
My router shit the bed last night and I'm looking for a new one.
I'm not looking to do anything crazy with the wireless, just browses the internet and be able to use instant messaging.
Looking in the paper and online today I came across a Linksys Ultra RangePlus Wireless N Router for $70.
Does anyone have this router and can tell me how it works, or any other wireless n router they have.
The router that died on me is a Wired Linksys Cable/DSL 4port router Model NR041, its some years old and has been not the best, I'm a little worried about going with another Linksys router after dealing with this one.

This is the one I'm looking at and thinking about
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8639967&st=wrt160n&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1194054018722

Any help would be super, thanks.

display problem

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:17:56 GMT

I was playing doom 2 on an hp laptop running XP. there was a glitch and it fragged the display! it rotated the display 90 degrees so now the screen appears sideways. does anyone know how to rotate the display back?

Vostro 1500; Overheating Query

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:36:50 GMT

I am currently in the midst of a petty, petty fight (the best sort) about my laptop. I refuse to budge my opinion - unless of course, otherwsie corrected by y'all here. There is not so much a problem with my laptop, more than the way I treat it.

Thus, I present ye olde spec details:
Current OS is the intruiging Windows Vista (Home, Basic)
Intel Core 2 Duo
Essentially a 2GB RAM
It's a lovely wee Vostro 1500, which is blessedly silent. Worringly silent at times, the most quiet laptop/computer/piece of tech I have owned. Ever. Which isn't a very long lifetime, but in any case, it's fully functional and all that jazz.

Now then, the argument is that I often put said laptop on -- wait for it -- my LAP. Not some computer anagram, just an ordinary lap.
Granted, I have not had the best track record with laptops (but in my defence the previous one was reaching a ripe old age of 4 years old) but I'd like to think I have learned from my previous mistakes. The Vostro has two ventillator-types beneath it, and another to its left side. When I do sit down with it, without a desk I always make sure that both lower fans/whatever aren't blocked by any thighage. Of course, my own body temp presumeably affects the laptop's exterior, but I shouldn't think that would be too much of an increase? Oh, and by god, the heating of my home is almost never on, so that isn't a factor. Anyway, I am a decent carer for my Vostro: I use firefox in place of IE, never play games on it (like some friends do, big CPU-destroying types with shiny graphics cards). I do like to keep open a fair few tabs in firefox, anywhere from 1-15 at a time, but the only whirr I get then is barely audible.

Anyway, this person I am arguing with got a fright when hot air was coming from the side fan/ventillator. I am no expert on the Vostro's anatomy, but I presumed this was its way of expelling hot air from within the body, and therefore was nothing to worry about. Having felt the underside, which yes was pretty warm, but nothing too alarming in my experience, I proceeded to keep it on my lap, but keep an eye on the two bottom fans being totally free to breathe. This other person went ballistic and is intent I never use the laptop on my lap again.

Essentially my question is: can I use this Vostro sur le lap without overheating it to the extent of damaging the inside? I guess another one would be, is there some kind of thing I can use to monitor the heat? (I have recently discovered Vista's nifty gadgets side bar, which i was hoping might have something for this..?)

Congrats to anyone who read (and survived) my sprawling spiel, and of course, a thanks in advance for any kindly worded opinions and/or sagely advice.

Network vs non-network plus media stuff

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:59:51 GMT

I normally consider a network something where lots of computers connect to each other via a server and interact with each other. When reading info on devices about what I’m going to ask, I’m not sure I can figure this out easily without help.

My ISP comes on cable, it goes through the cable modem, into a router. I have a few computers that are connected to the router but don’t go through any thing like a server. They all just SHARE the internet connect but don’t interact between each other.

I want to put on a NAS or Wired/wireless media player which I seen a video and should be able to hook that up in general. It would be hooked into the router via cat 5/6 or wireless. Can all the computers that are connected to the router interact with the NAS or media player via the router, even though it’s not a true network with a server?

I’m using win95 on my main hardwired computer, but the others all use 95 or vista.

Uploading a Non-Local URL?

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:57:33 GMT

Hello, all. Newbie here. I have Windows XP and use Mozilla Foxfire. Every time I try to open it, it says "Trying to Load A Non-Local URI" (yes URI, not URL). It's been doing this for about a week....I thought maybe it would fix itself, but sadly, it hasn't. I haven't installed or upload anything recently....any ideas as to how to fix this problem? Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

Can I completely clear out my iBook if I don't have the startup discs?

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:06:54 GMT

Hi, this is my first time posting; please bear with me if I'm not giving enough info.

My problem is this: I left my ibook G4 (10.4.11 Tiger)'s startup disks (or whatever they're called - the two white cds that come with it) at home. Home being three states away, and me being unable to go back for at least four or five months.

As far as I know, the only way to completely restore the laptop to default - and delete ALL data on it - is to use those discs and restore. I did it once before, years ago, when my mac was having some errors.

Right now, my laptop has no problems, but after years of use it's gotten cluttered with all the junk I've installed, uninstalled, tried-to-uninstall-but-didn't-do-it-right, can't-remember-how-to-uninstall, probably-don't-even-remember-it-existing, etc.

I've already backed up the few things I truly need. Is there any way that I can delete EVERYTHING from my mac without use of the start up discs?

I would prefer not to download a pirated version of OS X, but I'll do it if that's the only way.

And I do know of an Apple store nearby, and I plan to ask there next. Do you guys know whether they might be willing to clear everything/restore to default for me if I take my laptop to them? I don't have a warrantee with me.

My last resort is to somehow persuade my parents to dig through my messy room and find those discs and mail them to me, but I thought I'd check other methods first.

Again, my goal is to clear everything off of my computer, everything that has been installed, downloaded, or put on it since the beginning. I'm hoping that there is a program or a method to do this. I don't have any problems with how my computer is running, it's not lagging or anything. It's simply getting on my nerves to have leftover stuff on my computer.

Thank you for your help! :)

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:09:07 GMT

basically, i upload my own videos from dvds and convert them manually to ipod format. i have been doing this for about three months on this computer now, and everything has gone fine until recently..

now, every time i open an ipod video converter (i've tried cucusoft, jodix, and videora) and as soon as i open the program and choose a file in which the video is longer than 8 minutes, the "This program has encountered an error and needs to close" dialog box pops up. i have no idea why or how this began to happen, but i've tried various programs and nothing will let me convert videos.

i've also noticed that my computer won't let me play the videos. as in, whenever i open them in any kind of program, it the error dialog pops up and it closes. i know it's not the videos, because i tried it with videos that have worked in the recent past and they won't play or convert either.

everything else on my computer, other than this, has been working fine. it's confusing the hell out of me. any advice? :[

i have an xp, and i've ran avg, superantispyware, spybot, and spyware doctor and deleted everything that i found so i have no idea what's happening. if you need anymore information, i'll try my best to help.

Unable to access various sites...

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:35:53 GMT

Does anyone happen to know of a virus that causes various websites (such as facebook, myspace, hotmail, and many news articles linked to from the msn.com page, to name a few) to be unaccessible? I am running Windows, and have done the AVG scan several times now, getting rid of everything that pops up in the scan, but it doesn't seem to fix the problem. Thanks for any help that you can give! :)

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:12:57 GMT

Hello!
This is my first post here - I hope you can help me :)

I have a three-year-old Compaq Presario laptop running Windows XP. When I turned it on today, logged on etc, it started making this really loud whirring noise that I'd never heard before. I'm not sure how to explain it, but it cuts in and out at random and seems unrelated to the hard drive/CPU. I tried running a virus scan - something which normally gets the... CPU?... working - and the noise isn't related to that. I thought it might be the fans, but I'm not sure. It's not constant - 10 seconds or so, then it'll cut out and happen again a little afterwards.

I can access all my files, my computer isn't running any slower than normal, or crashing - it's just that this noise is really worrying me and I'd love any advice you can give me. I know it's a bit vague but if anyone has any ideas I'd really appreciate it. Thank you!

X-posted to computer_help

spy/ad/shareware? virus? worm?

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:46:06 GMT

I'm posting this via my cell phone as my internet access has suddenly vanished today.

There are so many symptoms. I've posted them all at my own lj in the main entry and in some comments:
http://grygon.livejournal.com/351226.html

I hope you don't mind popping over and giving some advice. It's just been a chore doing all this research and typing via a cellphone internet browser tonight. Else I'd do an lj cut here and do a more organized post, ofcourse. :(

IE memory touble?

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:05:42 GMT

For about a month now I get this message multiple times while using IE:
"out of memory at line: 1"

Google has been less than helpful, all the web sites that pop up when I input that quote are either foreign, or like me and trying to figure out what that means and what to do. I've cleared IE cache, history, cookies, etc. every week since that message started but it doesn't seem to help.

What is it?

No laptop internet

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:45:32 GMT

Hello, I am having problems with my laptop.
Specs: Gateway MX3228 Intel Celeron M 1.50MHz 448MB RAM
XP Media Center Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2
Connected to a Linksys4 port router. The Ethernet port on the lap top was broken when I got it, some I have a USB Ethernet connector, Belkin USB 10/100 Ethernet Adapter.

Alright so yesterday I was downloading with Azureus on a desktop computer connected to the router. The laptop said there was Windows updates available so like the good like MicroShaft zombie I am I updated, that was some time after 2pm yesterday. Closer to 3pm I restarted as the computer needed to for updates to take effect, once I restarted the computer is fine it says I'm connected to the network its sending and receiving packets but aim and firefox do not connect. I think it might have been the windows updates since thats really the only change there has been. I was wonderign if this happened to anyone else, and if there is a way to roll back windows updates.
Any help would be swell thanks.
Also posting on computer_help and anyone one I'm a member of.

WinXP WTF

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:51:52 GMT

WinXP help needed ._.

One of my local cybercafe's desktops doesn't list my USB drive among the usual C:-etc. letters anymore, from Windows Explorer (it should be F:, after the two CD-drive letters), but I can reach it okay from [Open File] in Firefox.

I can't right-click-and-Explore either - any attempt to reach my USB via Windows Explorer doesn't work at all.

It was fine this morning. How the hell did this happen?

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:13:29 GMT

Hey. I need some help.

I just bought a My Book because I was downloading so many movies my laptop was about to crash. So, I take this thing out of the box and hook it up using a USB, and nothing happens. NOTHING. Usually an External Hard Drive will show up next to the C drive under the My Computer file, just like a regular USB file. But theres nothing for this thing and I can't figure it out. Is there anyone who knows what I could do?

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:43:17 GMT

Hi everyone, I have been trying to download videos from these sites:

http://www.themoreyouknow.com

http://www.tv.com

I use Firefox and I have add-ons where I have been able to download videos from other sites, but for these sites it doesn't let me. Can someone help?Thanks in advance.

Flash Player

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:58:51 GMT

I don't know what happened, but I am being told (by YouTube and MyCokeRewards thus far) that I do not have Flash. I have gone through the steps to download macromedia flash to no avail.

I was able to use these sites in the past; I don't know what happened.

Any ideas?

help with my POS powerbook g4

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:42:14 GMT

so, my computer can somehow delete programs off of itself. I had the Microsoft office suite (excel, word, powerpoint etc) and it deleted word off of itself. I've never had to uninstall programs on a mac, so I'm not entirely sure how to do it, so obviously it wasn't my doing. I of course used my back up disk to reinstall it. when it happened, the word icon on my bar at the bottom became transparent instead of opaque, and when i clicked it nothing happened. So, I clicked and dragged it to remove it from the bar, assuming I could go to finder then applications and re-insert it to the bar.
now, it has deleted firefox. the exact same thing happened. but this time, I am more annoyed because all of my bookmarks went with it.
two questions:
1.what is so fatally wrong with my computer that it is able to do this?
2. is there a way to recover my lost bookmarks?

ps. I have not yet reinstalled firefox.
pss. i have had so many problems with my mac (even the pros at support and in the store couldn't fix some of its problems) that once this one goes, I'm reverting to PC land.

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:51:14 GMT

Any of you have had or heard of the spyware spyware.possible_website_hijack ? I ran spyware doctor and it found it, i tried to clean it by running hijackthis but it will not get rid of it, i read on softe.org on how to clean it, they say to run spybot on safe mode, how do i enter safe mode with windows xp?
i read you have to press F8 but i do and nothing happens, hmmmmm anyone please.
thanks

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:14:36 GMT

My question's sort of general, but I just wanted to know if there's a way to back up a harddrive. I think there is, but I'm not sure. My laptop's sort of old, and while it's in good shape for the time being I'm afraid that at some point in the future (I'm taking it to college next year) it's going to finally stutter to a halt. The problem is, I have so much important stuff on it (music, school information, work, pictures, etc.) that I really don't want to lose all that when it finally dies. Is there a way to make a back-up other than just buying a bunch of blank CD's and filling them all up? Thanks!