| PEEVES
Isn't this special?
Take a look
MS WORKS
NERO
Older windows programs on the new machine?
Updates repeatedly failing
XP stuck on SP2
Problems and Solutions that don't go away
Some thoughts
This may not really be a peeve, but a M$ 'feature' in
excel.
VISTA (& newer) won't
'see' SD cards larger than 1gb
HP printer won't install
in VISTA
Computer extremely slow or locked up?
CPU at 100% in task manager?
This isn't a M$ only fault. But a fault of the
industry
rushing to 'connect everything. Smart TV's, Smart refrigerators,
'connected' homes and the like. If it's connected to the
internet, it's vulnerable.
Hackers use connected home appliances to launch global cyberattack
Another feature to be exploited with these 'connected'
devices: ads.
RETURN To Computer Tips
Computer extremely slow or locked up?
CPU at 100% in task manager?
Wuauclt.exe and/or svchost.exe being overly active and pegging CPU
activity at near 100%.
It's so bad, usually right at start-up, that the computer is unusable
for up to 30 min. or more
One solution found has only been a temporary fix. Works fine for a week
or so, then it's back
to the CPU being near 100%
The other is to disable automatic updates.
Right click on My Computer
Select: Properties. Then the Automatic Updates tab.
Click: Turn off automatic updates check box.
or
Right click on My Computer
select: Manage - Services
Shut down "Automatic Updates"
Change it's start-up to Disabled.
You can manually do the updates every couple of months or so.
Start >> All Programs >> Windows Update
Install all Important updates.
Then check to see if Automatic Updates setting changed.
Set to Disabled if so.
It's not the 'prettiest' work-around, but it's worked for me on a
couple of occasions.
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MS WORKSI
I've had some
old Microsoft Works files saved for some time. When the computer
that they were created on died, I did not think that there would be a
problem, as the new computer also had Works.
How
wrong I was. Microsoft changed how Works worked. And, in their ultimate
wisdom, Microsoft decided to NOT enable opening of the files in the new
versions.
They also have never released a "work around" or tool to convert the
files to something that can be opened.
Now, the files I have, are important to me. But after
a year of searching for a solution, and a further years of thinking
it's fruitless, I've stumbled upon a solution.
I say stumble because I wasn't looking for it. I was searching for
something else.
This solution will convert your Microsoft Works .wks
files to Excel files (,xls)
It does REQUIRE Excel be installed. Many have it installed at the OEM
level.
Once converted to .xls, OpenOffice and many other open
source office suites can open and modify them. YIPPIE!
I'm happy again. Thanks for nothing Microsoft
MS Works Converter @ download.cnet.com
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NERO
I uninstalled Nero and use their 'clean tool' to correct any possible
errors. Now when I insert an audio CD the autoplay options appear with
four options which say Error: Unknown Resource ID using Nero Burning
ROM, Nero SoundTrax, Nero Express & Nero ShowTime . Does anyone know how
I can stop this from happening?
YES, There is a FIX. It required editing the REGISTRY, so care is
required.
I removed a dozen NERO entries. Must be done one at a time.
TOP
UPDATES that fail, time after time:
Here's an example of MS and how messed up their OS is.
There's unnecessary updates being downloaded because of entries,
somewhere
on users machines, that says the update is needed. Yet, in
actuality, they are not.
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_other-windows_update/xp-kb951338-fails-due-to-not-having-powerpoint/e37640df-572c-4528-be20-df859a6eb2f8
I've had an update for powerpointviewer2003 failing for the last year.
It's installed. But trying to decipher the KB about the failed update is
no help in resolving it.
Today I've uninstalled it and installed PowerpointViewer2007.
Let's see what happens now.
Yeah, I know I could have told MSUpdate to not offer the update any
longer.
But I'm game to see what this does.
UPDATE: The last round of updates failed the update for the newer
version also.
I guess the only alternative is to check the box, Do not offer this
update. TOP XP (stuck at)
SP2 on an AMD Processor?
BEFORE installing SP3, Run this tool and disable the
driver it finds
msinfluentials.com...does-your-amd-based-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3
I ran into an XP machine that's only updated to SP2. Took a look at
Window Update and the page failed. A search for the cause lead to
a missing M$ KB update. installed and still failed.
Checked installed updates. None installed since SP2 was rolled out .
Auto Updates is ON, WTF? Oh, OK, SP3 installs updates to the
updating software. That's missing
M$ Fixit Center fails - that requires SP3 and Netframework3.
Here come the trouble: installed SP3 manually. Rebooting machine fails.
M$'s built in boot failure diagnostics fails.
HA! more shortcoming of M$sof. XP SP3. Yeah, their security
pack for XP.
It's NOT compatible with some computers running on AMD processors.
Seems they install some software that will crash the computer if SP3 is
installed.
The solution was to start in Safe Mode, Restore to before SP3
installation.
And search some more. Found the above solution.
UPDATE: THAT PAGE, AND TOOL, ARE GONE. SEE
THIS
SUGGEST DISABLING THE INTEL DRIVER, THEN INSTALL SP3.
BO GUARANTEES - YMMV
TOP
HELP
In an older windows program run on a new
machine may get nothing but this:
The Help for this program was created in Windows Help format,
which was used in previous versions of Windows and it is not
supported in Windows Vista., 7 or 8
Find the 'fix' for it here :http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607
NOTE: needs Genuine check.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Some other problems including it not
starting at all
may be solved with
ONE
Right click on the shortcut for the program,
(That's what you double click to start it)
click on Properties
Then on Find Target location.
Right click on this file and again on Properties.
Find and change Compatibility Mode to a previous version.
One should get you going again.
But you may still have to fix the HELP function(above)
TWO
Microsoft
FixIt Center. Might work, no guarantees.
THREE
Maybe
this is what to do?
TOP
Some thoughts and observations M$ Vi$TA SUX at being a user friendly OS.
M$ may have made it more secure from outside attacks (is that true, I
don't think so considering all the 'updates' on that platform) but it is
sooooo unfriendly to the user. Asking "Do you want to run a program You
installed, time after time. Marking the program as "run as
administrator" and you still get the warning.
WIN7 is no better. What's WIN6 going to be like??? WIN7 and WIN8 "Eye Candy"?
Going to buy a new computer with WIN7 just because you like the 'eye
candy'
Buy a MAC, They've had the 'eye candy' desktop for years, and know how
to do it.
Win7 'eye candy" is a resource hog, meaning most of the hardware is
needed just to turn the damn machine on. It's not there for your
needs. Advanced users: many programs will have to be purchased again.
Your old SP versions are prone to not being 'compatible', sorry.
Programmed obsolescence?
Most of your existing external hardware has a good chance of not working
on your new computer.
Get a MAC for the 'eye candy' fancy display.
If all you do is some web surfing, email, and photos, There's no need
for a new computer.
Do some maintenance on your XP machine, and maybe a memory upgrade, and
it will serve you well for many more years. If you're skeptical of your ability to
maintain or upgrade, you can have me do it for you.
I can also walk you through it so you can perform maintenance confidently in the future.
My rates are very competitive.
TOP
Problems and Solutions (VISTA)
Got 'Problems and Solutions' bothering you?
They don't clear if/when you click on Report Problems.
Yet, every now and then they keep popping up. and want you to report
them again.
They're older than the hills and you can't delete them?
(Right click on the problem-Delete)
Here's what to do -
To clear out your Problems and Solutions history the manual way go to
"C:\ProgamData\Microsoft\Windows\WER"
If you don't see the ProgramData folder, Click on Folder Options found
under Tools in the C: window or in Control Panel.
Then the VIEW tab. Check Show Hidden files and folders. Then OK.
- - After Deleting the files, return that setting to Do not show - - -
Inside you will see two folders - i delete the contents in both.
Don't delete the folders, just their contents. TOP
Excel Feature?
M$ Security? Yeah right
Excel - How to Unprotect an excel sheet without password
http://excel-formula.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-unprotect-excel-sheet-without.html TOP |