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Free PC Help Forum is a community to get free computer help for all. Whether a novice or an expert everyone is welcome.

  1. Guest honkers
    Started by Guest honkers,

    Hi, guys. I'm really frustrated. I can play dvds and cds on my CD-ROM drive, (WIN XP) and I can save files to the disk direct from, say, Word and Photoshop, but when I try and copy files from explorer to the dsk, keeps telling me there is no disk in the drive even though this is the same disk I have saved a word file to from word. Device manager and other bits tell em that the drive and its driver ae working correctly. the drive is a Philips DVD+RW DO1. I have had trouble with one disk which locked itself in and I had to use the papeer clip to open it up, but apart from that I can think of no reason why it is happening. HELPPPP! Cheers Steve -- Steve

    • 3 replies
    • 428 views
  2. Guest Lythandra
    Started by Guest Lythandra,

    Hi there, Is there any way to get a folders Thumbnail View to work on what would normally be a non-supported (non-supported to Thumbnail View) file type? For instance I work in a millwork industry setting and we use several large millwork machines that get programmed via .mpr files. Now the .mpr file is kinda like an autocad file but with instructions for the machine to slice and dice the piece of material. If you were to open the file with the correct program (which is on each computer), you would get a picture of the piece. If the Thumbnail View would work on this file type then it would be very easy for the machine user to choose which .mpr to r…

    • 1 reply
    • 570 views
  3. Guest Lythandra
    Started by Guest Lythandra,

    Hi there, Is there any way to get a folders Thumbnail View to work on what would normally be a non-supported (non-supported to Thumbnail View) file type? For instance I work in a millwork industry setting and we use several large millwork machines that get programmed via .mpr files. Now the .mpr file is kinda like an autocad file but with instructions for the machine to slice and dice the piece of material. If you were to open the file with the correct program (which is on each computer), you would get a picture of the piece. If the Thumbnail View would work on this file type then it would be very easy for the machine user to choose which .mpr to run. …

    • 1 reply
    • 161 views
  4. Guest Barry Karas
    Started by Guest Barry Karas,

    I get this message time I start Outlook Express for newsgroups: "There are new newsgroups. Do you want to read them now?" How would I turn this message off permanently? Thank you, Barry Karas

    • 3 replies
    • 165 views
  5. Guest Jamie-M
    Started by Guest Jamie-M,

    Hi, When I play a midi the SW Synth volume always goes to max. I use the volume control to turn it down, and that works, until I playback another different midi. The volume goes to max again. No other volume is changing, only SW Synth. Any suggestions? :-)

    • 1 reply
    • 591 views
  6. Guest Jamie-M
    Started by Guest Jamie-M,

    Hi, When I play a midi the SW Synth volume always goes to max. I use the volume control to turn it down, and that works, until I playback another different midi. The volume goes to max again. No other volume is changing, only SW Synth. Any suggestions? :-)

    • 1 reply
    • 114 views
  7. Guest pspring
    Started by Guest pspring,

    Hi, I've just bought a laptop with Vista Home Premium installed, so I don't have the actual installation disks for Vista Home Premium, just a Recovery Partition on my laptop that supposedly contains it. My boss is buying the installation CD's for Vista Business, and he'd like us to install that if we use our laptops for work, as I do. But Vista Business doesn't include Media Center, which is something I really use on my laptop. Is it possible, using the installation cd's for Vista Business, to selectively just add the components I need (like Fax Center) to my Vista Home Premium installation? Or do I need to do a full install of Vista Business whi…

    • 1 reply
    • 661 views
  8. Guest OM
    Started by Guest OM,

    Hi, I have a stand-alone 2003 server that shares a access database on the network. The backup job for the database fails once in awhile because end user left their database open during the night. I am trying to schedule the net stop server command to disconnect the user from the server during the backup schedule. However, the command will prompt for confirmation if it sees any connection made to the server. This happens when I use net session /delete. Can someone advice if I can force the disconnection without any prompting? Or is there any better approach for this problem? Thanks

    • 1 reply
    • 606 views
  9. Guest Gene Gus Conn
    Started by Guest Gene Gus Conn,

    When my computer starts up and the desktop is first visible, just for a second, a window with frames flashes for just a second. No content at all just the frames. I'm wondering how I find out exactly what program is starting? Anyone know? Thanks.

    • 1 reply
    • 718 views
  10. Guest BBran
    Started by Guest BBran,

    Hello, I am using XP Pro SP2 with all updates. I have a wireless connection managed by other software and I have it disabled unless I am where I can connect to a network. However, there is always a Windows Network icon in the taskbar showing disabled status even though, under the networks properties, I do not have the box checked for notification when the network has limited or no connectivity. How do I get this icon out of my taskbar without using Windows to disable the network? Bob

    • 6 replies
    • 197 views
  11. Guest Susan
    Started by Guest Susan,

    I've had computer for 7yrs. and upgraded from original windows me to XP pro SP2 5 yrs ago by a "professional" (though states my copy is not genuine every time I log on). However, it works great with automatic updates etc., until I accidentally hit the lock computer tab after using task manager. I still sign on every day but am locked out of using task manager or escaping by using Ctrl/Alt/Del. since it has been locked by me, (the administrator and only user), and I have no idea what I used for the password 5 yrs ago. I've read the threads etc. but am hesitant because I am only blocked from using the Task manager. Best Buy, (geek squad), says they can fix it …

    • 6 replies
    • 164 views
  12. Guest Hugh Janus
    Started by Guest Hugh Janus,

    Hi all, I have a Win2K3 domain with XP clients. I use the folder redirection GPO to redirect %APPDATA% to a network share, this config was not chosen by me i just inherited it :-( All works fine except for when a user takes his laptop home and connects via VPN. Because of the slow network link, it takes around 5 minutes for applications that use %APPDATA% to open. For example, the MS Word templates are there so it takes a long time to open the app and it often hangs. I could just remove the policy and put the content back into the user profile however, in their infinite wisdom, the packaging team has hard coded the path of the %APPDATA% variable into the…

    • 3 replies
    • 578 views
  13. Guest GordonLiq
    Started by Guest GordonLiq,

    Hi , I have noticed that folder C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download used 1G and keep increasing. I have turn off the auto update service and set to use WSUS. why it still keeps increasing? Can I delete it? Also there is lots of $NTunisntallKB91333 on c:\windows, Can I remove it to other driver and just move it back if I want to uninstall it? Thanks for you kind considerate. -- Gordon

    • 1 reply
    • 494 views
  14. Guest steve
    Started by Guest steve,

    Hi, I have a Win2003 R2 SP2 box on which I have just installed WINS and DHCP. As expected, it asked me for the windows CD so I popped it in and it carried on and installed the tools. However, immediately after it finished I got the following message: "Windows File Protection: Files that are required for Windows to run properly have been replaced by unrecognized versions. To maintain system stability, Windows must restore the original versions of these files. Insert your Service Pack 2 CD-ROM now." I assume this is because SP2 updated some files that WINS/DHCP uses and I've just overwritten them with files from the original, older (SP1) installation CD. …

    • 1 reply
    • 485 views
  15. Guest Michael Shergold
    Started by Guest Michael Shergold,

    My XP Desktop fails to recognise this phone (H/W install Wizard etc.) despite installing the supplied software as suggested etc.. Both phone and software work fine on my XP Laptop PC.. Any sensible suggestions welcome. Michael

    • 5 replies
    • 174 views
  16. Guest Michelle
    Started by Guest Michelle,

    When I try to shut down Vista, it tells me that it can't shut down because a document is open in acrobat reader. The application is not visible, but does show up in the Task Manager as a process. Why does this happen? can I stop it? how? Thanks M

    • 3 replies
    • 808 views
  17. Guest Matt H
    Started by Guest Matt H,

    during startup I get the following message. Isass.exe - Application Error The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000096). Click ok to terminate application I click ok and the message goes away however all I get is a black screen with my arrow for my mouse. This also happens in safe mode only once I click ok and close the message I can see safemode in all 4 corners. andy ideas. THanks in advance. -Matt

    • 8 replies
    • 250 views
  18. Guest Peter

    Hi for monyjs I have been happily uploading photograps using a usb lead from my camera. Aboput a month it go it stopped workink. Initially I thought it might be my camera but it works on other PC's. I have also purchased a card reader but whist it lights up no recondition happens and no transfers take place. Help please? Peter

    • 2 replies
    • 156 views
  19. Guest ctcmptrdr@gmail.com
    Started by Guest ctcmptrdr@gmail.com,

    Hi, I'm attempting to install XP SP2 on a Dell Dimension 2400 running XP Home. It fails during the 'cleanup' phase. It generates an Event ID:1000 log entry - Faulting application update.exe, version 5.5.1005.0, faulting module ntdll.dll, v5.1.2600.2180, fault address 0x00029116. This is followed by an Event ID: 1001 - Fault bucket 293121430. It generates an appcomp.txt file - ?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?> <DATABASE> <EXE NAME="update.exe" FILTER="GRABMI_FILTER_PRIVACY"> <MATCHING_FILE NAME="fixccs.exe" SIZE="4608" CHECKSUM="0xC6EC1EEE" BIN_FILE_VERSION="5.1.2600.2180" BIN_PRODUCT_VERSION="5.1.2600.2180" PRODUCT_VERSION="5.1.…

    • 3 replies
    • 231 views
  20. Guest StarDuster
    Started by Guest StarDuster,

    My Windows XP Professional start bar, including the task bar and clock, has stopped responding to any actions. I am unable to click on any items located there to open, close, or otherwise interact with them. When I do try to click (left or right click) on anything there I get the windows error "boop" sound. This is causing many headaches as I have to alt-tab though windows and use the windows key and arrow through the start menu taking up much more time than usual. Other than this issue, my pc is performing as it should. Thanks in advance for any help.

    • 4 replies
    • 834 views
  21. Guest StarDuster
    Started by Guest StarDuster,

    My Windows XP Professional start bar, including the task bar and clock, has stopped responding to any actions. I am unable to click on any items located there to open, close, or otherwise interact with them. When I do try to click (left or right click) on anything there I get the windows error "boop" sound. This is causing many headaches as I have to alt-tab though windows and use the windows key and arrow through the start menu taking up much more time than usual. Other than this issue, my pc is performing as it should. Thanks in advance for any help.

    • 4 replies
    • 177 views
  22. Guest Helpless and Confused
    Started by Guest Helpless and Confused,

    Recently my computer crashed and now it seems it got a lot slower, missing files here and there. When i checked my hardware devices i found two processors highlighted. Should there be two processors highlighted or just one?

    • 8 replies
    • 185 views
  23. Guest Thomi
    Started by Guest Thomi,

    I'm about to give my old comuter to a niece. I want to clean out ALL personal data and as I was having sporadic crashes in my old installation I want to do a clean install. I have both my original OEM Windows XP home Edition CD plus I have a Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD that I ordered from Microsoft. Two Questions: 1. Can I do the clean install using only the Service Pack 2 CD using the OEM product Key that is on my CoA Sticker from my original installation or do I need to install the original Win XP first then to updates? 2. Do I need to format my 'C' drive and wil the Service pack 2 CD do this for me or is it sufficient to just install to the C drive …

    • 4 replies
    • 169 views
  24. Guest Brian K
    Started by Guest Brian K,

    I recently purchased a new computer with vista, and since I have already transfered all my files and settings I don't need the old compuer with xp anymore. I'm thinking of selling it, but i want to remove everything, including personal files, programs, data, etc. Should I format the drive and reinstall xp, or is that too drastic? Also, should I reinstall sp1 and sp2? Thanks for any advice, suggestions!

    • 10 replies
    • 275 views
  25. Guest Lily
    Started by Guest Lily,

    I am running XP with SP2 and have all the latest updates. I am having problems installing a new Maxtor hard drive. XP recognises it as a Maxtor 3200 but having searched for drivers, a message comes back 'Cannot Install this Hardware' There was a problem installing this hardware: Maxtor 3200. An error occured during the installation of the deveice. The data is invalid. I had the same problem when trying to install a new Samsung phone a few days ago and restored the system back to an earlier date - that seemed to have cured the problem for the Samsung phone. However, this has now happened with the new Maxtor drive that I am trying to install. However,…

    • 1 reply
    • 137 views