December 2011 Q&A
64-bit Vista installation disc
Q: I have a laptop with a 64-bit version of Vista. The recovery partition disappeared because of a virus. How can I get an installation CD?
A: We can provide one for you. The discs are ubiquitous. You can exchange them or borrow them. The 25-charcter certificate of authenticity or key code is the key to the installation. If you don't have that, you're out of luck. Never share the key code with anyone.
Michael Shalkey: If you have a laptop, look at the sticker on the bottom, write the number down and put it in a safe place. Those numbers disappear because of the heat from the laptop and liquids soaking the sticker.
Toby Scott: Some manufacturers are putting the sticker in the bottom of the battery holder, where there is little heat. If the number is gone, we can not replace it, and you'll have to buy a new version of Windows.
Do not download Windows from a torrent website. Those are usually pirated versions with a built in COA aimed at Third World nations. The downloads often include malware.
XP Pro64-bit
Q: Is the 64-bit pro version built in to XP?
A: There are installation discs with the 64-bit version, but you really have to search for them. If you have one, don't lose it. The 64-bit pro versions of Windows 7 and Vista are included on the installation discs.
If you buy a laptop today, you're pretty much limited to the 64-bit version of the operating system.
MSCONFIG
Q: I'm trying to find the equivalent of the system configuration utility in Windows 7.
A: Michael: Go to Start and type msconfig in the search box. Click on it, and you'll get the program, which has General, Boot, Services, Startup and Tools tabs. As he looked at the startup items, Michael found one called pflset.dll, and Toby said he thought it was a virus. After the meeting, Michael said he had searched for the file and run a scan and found no infestation.
Toby: You want to be careful in here because you can disable your machine if you disable the wrong program or service. The purposes of some items are not always clear from their names, but if they control a video card and you disable them, you'll be in trouble. If you don't know what something is, Google is your friend. Some items are generic to your computer brand.
CTFMON.exe
Q: In my XP, the only item checked in Startup is CTFMON
A: It's OK. I've forgotten exactly what it does, but it's not malicious. . (It's related to Microsoft Office; see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/282599. -- Editor) Windows 7 generally has more startup items checked than XP does.
Restoring items that were unchecked
(This related question was placed here although it was asked later in the session. - Editor)
Q: If you uncheck something can't you restore it by just rechecking it?
A: Normally, yes, but there are some services, such as software for video cards, that are difficult to fix. If your video card doesn't work, you won't be able to see anything on your monitor.
Michael Shalkey: That's generally not a problem if you use the MSCONFIG option to hide Microsoft programs.
Toby Scott: That's true, but there can still be problems. If you're not sure what something is for, find out before you disable it.
Thunderbird address books
Q: I use Thunderbird for email and I'm locked in to one of the address books. How do I get out?
A: I don't use Thunderbird, so I don't know. Try to create a new address book and see if that gives you a list of the exiting ones. If it doesn't, you might have to reinstall it. Before you do that, get the MozBackup (http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com), which backs up bookmarks, mail, contacts, history, extensions, passwords, cache etc. in the various Mozilla programs. It's primarily used when you're moving to a new computer, but it will also work for a reinstallation of the programs. It does not make automatic backups; you have to run it manually.
Q: I'm having trouble with my wireless network on my Kindle. I've been able to connect to email on the computer so I know the router is working. I've unplugged it, let it sit and powered it back on, and then it has worked. I have a Linksys and a Time Warner modem.
A: If you have the separate items, turn them both off. Turn the modem back on first and wait for the lights to go solid. They should blink slowly, then fast and finally go solid. If the lights blink slowly, speed up and start blinking slowly again, your Internet connection is down. If you get a solid green light, turn on the router. If that works, you should be good to go. If you're not, you have to log in to the router (you'll need name and password), to the administrative tools and ping an IP address. Use 8.8.8.8 because it's the easiest one to type. It's a DNS router at Google so should be up and running. You should get four replies that say it arrived. If you can't get to the router at 192.168.1.1, the default IP address for a Linksys router, it's time for a new router. Don't get the cheapest one. Get one of the brand names like Netgear, D-Link, Linksys or SMC. If you have a large house, get one with three antennas, which have more ability to get through walls and other obstacles. I like the WRVS440N by Cisco, which runs $170-$180. The more antennas you have, the stronger signal you have. If you're in a small apartment, a router with one antenna is fine.
Internet problems
Q: For the past few weeks I've had trouble with the Internet connection. I've had to power off the modem and the router regularly to get the connection work. I'm blaming Time Warner for that. Am I right?
A: It's more than likely the router. It could be power issues or a bad socket. You can plug one computer into the modem without turning the modem off to see if you can get to the Internet. If you can get to the Internet straight through the modem, the problem is with your router. Look for diagnostic tools, router status, connection status or something similar - different routers put it in different places - and look for check connections or ping. Try that to see if you can connect. I think all the high-end routers now support VPN (Virtual Private Networks). It's not something you can split out.
Access points
Q: What do you recommend for an access point?
A: First, check to be sure that your router has the capability to be an access point. It will say on the box. Some do, some don't. Almost all Belkin routers will act as an Access Point. Let's say you're in a large house or office and your DSL is connected to one computer and your network, but you want to get the signal to a point far away, such as the picnic table in the backyard. You can run Ethernet cable to a point near the backyard and plug another router in or you could use the router as an access point. If you use it as a router, you can only get to the Internet from the backyard. If you use it as an Access Point, you'll be able to see the other computers on the inside network, so you could print or access shared data from outside. If use it as a router make sure they have different IP addresses. The main router would be 192.168.1.x (this number can change); the second router could be given the IP address 192.168.11.x. If you are using it as an Access Point, it will have an IP address like 192.168.1.2 with a Gateway of 192.168.1.1, which will be the IP address of the primary router.
The difference between this and a wireless bridge is that the bridge generally connects you to another network; it's generally a one-to-one.
Roku
Q: A while ago, I bought a Roku 2 box and it has Angry Birds on it. I've forgotten how to play the game. Is there a manual or something?
A: Michael Shalkey: It can be addicting. Angry Birds is also a Chrome plug-in. The object is that the birds are angry because the pigs stole their eggs. The only way to kill the pigs is to the use birds' own bodies and a slingshot.
FIOS
Q: My Verizon FiOS wireless on Windows 7 is usually fast, but it's been slowing down recently. Is there some way to check to see if someone else is using my network when it slows down?
A: Make sure that you're using WPA or WPA2 selected for your security protocol for wireless security. As Michael can tell you, it's easy to break through WEP. (Michael said he had moved and it took 31 days to get DSL hooked up; he managed to break into a neighbor's network in 2.5 minutes.)
Michael: Be sure you're not using "none" because then anybody can get in.
Toby: Some older laptops might not have WPA2. If you have all new equipment use WPA2, but I wouldn't upgrade old equipment just to use WPA2.
Michael: I'm guessing, but I think my neighbor is using WEP because he has an X-box or old gaming console that doesn't support WPA2 and he's playing on the Internet.
Toby: If you have such devices, I recommend connecting them to the network by wires so you can use WPA2.
You need to know your IP address, which you can find by going to a DOS box and typing ipconfig. It will give you the IP address and gateway address. Type the gateway address into your browser and it will take you to the router (you'll need your username and password). Usually the username is "Admin" with a password of "admin" or "password." If you have a modem/router combo, the serial number on the bottom of the box might be your password.
From audience: Slowness could also be a problem with the DNS servers, especially with Time Warner and Roadrunner.
Toby: True. You can use OpenDNS or the old GTE servers at 4.2.2.1 (or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5). The default OpenDNS (opendns.com) will probably block you from porn sites.
Windows 7 SP1
Q: I'm using Windows 7 and want to hide the Service Pack 1 update because it won't install.
A: Hiding the update is not a good idea because viruses and spyware are the No. 1 reason that updates fail. I would not ignore the update or the problem, and I wouldn't hide the update.
You need critical updates for your browser, Windows and scripting languages because they're fixing holes that make it easier for malware to get in. There is a fix-it tool available from Microsoft (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2530477). Estimates are that 30 percent of the world's computers are infected, so it's not surprising that many people are reporting similar problems, but SP 1 has been out long enough now that any bugs in it have been fixed.
