Tips for the average person
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Ray's Computer Tips
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Super Win Software, Inc.
July 2008 - Issue #33
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Issue #32

Bad link on RegVac
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1190907597/
  • Hoopa - I just went into RegVac to do a Novice clean and thought to look at Help. Clicking on Help I found a link to update so I clicked on it. A blurb came up that said RegVac must close to update. I clicked yes to close and this site came up: http://www.computersimplicityu4.com/ Any ideas on why this site would come up?
  • Ray - That version of RegVac calls the website by its IP number. A month or so ago, our website changed its IP number. That is why you get the wrong website. The latest version does not have that problem. Please use this link to update the registered version of RegVac - http://superwin.westhost.whsites.net/cgi-bin/registered.cgi?DESCRIPTION=RegVac


backing up the registry
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1189794470/
  • donniema - Can i back up my registry by just burning it on a CD? How would i re-install the backup after i format? Do I finding the new registry - drag and drop the back-up over it to replace? Wouldn't I carry over registry problems also? I thought alot of PC problems are in the registry. It's those darn game keys I dont want to lose. Of course I'm assuming they are in the registry.
  • dlwolff0 - Take a look at this Microsoft article. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756 Any existing problems with your computer will be carried along with the registry backup, so try to back it up when the computer is operating well. All game keys should be in the registry.
  • Ray - There is no reason to back up the registry to a CD. You can just back it up to the harddrive. If Windows crashes, the backup will still be on the harddrive.
            The only case when a backup on the harddrive would not work is if the hard drive crashed in which case a registry backup on the CD would be of no use either because you would have to restore much more than just the registry.
            If Windows crashes to the extent that it will not start, you will need a way to restore the backup outside of Windows. We have a program which will make a boot CD for Windows XP to do that. It is called XP Recovery CD Maker at http://xp-recovery-cd.com. For Windows 9x, ME, our program, WinRescue, makes a boot diskette. WinRescue is at http://superwin.com/rescuemenu.htm.
            With newer versions of Windows, a complete Windows crash where Windows will not start is rare but registry backups are still important to recover from times that Windows or installed software get messed up. Our program, WinRescue, makes registry backups.
            No, you cannot backup and restore the registry in Windows XP or Vista, just by copying the registry files. The registry files cannot be copied. You will need a backup program to do that.


Can I Delete Old Updates?
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1189605736/
  • babe - I was wondering if I can delete updates that were installed one or two years ago. There are so many and I'm sure that they are obsolete by now because new updates keep coming up. They all begin with the letter 'K' and continue with a long number. If anyone know I would appreciate an answer....delete or not to delete.
  • Ray - Our program, A1Click Ultra PC Cleaner, removes updates that are older than 2 months old. I haven't heard of it causing any problems. Just make sure that you don't remove the wrong thing.
            You can find out more about A1Click at http://superwin.com/a1clean.htm


Codes in emails
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1190388824/
  • alanturk - I occasionally receive emails containing what I imagine to be HTML codes, such as these:

    <html><div style='background-color:'><DIV class=RTE> <DIV class=RTE>HOORAH!&nbsp;&nbsp;I AM HERE!&nbsp;&nbsp;MY TRIP HAS FINALLY BEGUN!</DIV> <DIV class=RTE>WOW! </CODE>

    The text of the message is visible in amongst it all, but quite tricky to read. Is there a way of extracting the text to make it readable? I can guess at some of it, but I don't fancy ploughing through a long message, using Word for example, to see what it is all about!
  • Ray - Yes, it is HTML.
            My suggestion as to how to view it would be to right click on the text of the message, click on Select All from the popup menu. Then right click again on it and select Copy from the popup menu.
            Open Notepad (or any other text editor) and select Paste from the Edit menu. This will put all of the email text in Notepad. Now save the file and give it a filename that ends with .htm
            Go to where you saved it and double click on the file.


Removing Norton
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1191269891/
  • jsj54 - Error messages started after the geek squad at best buy had to restore my computer. They tried to remove Norton's to replace with another and all hell broke loose on my computer. My wife likes to play solitare on bell south and now it will not load either. Needless to say, I am not happy about these problems. After I get back next week I will pay another visit to Best Buy.
  • dlwolff0 - Norton provides a free removal tool that you can download from their web site that does an excellent job of completely removing it from the computer. http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039?OpenDocument I would say the reason you are getting all the error messages is that Norton is only partially uninstalled. I have heard a lot about the geek squad. The main thing being that they are hired as salesmen, not for their knowledge of computers.


low virtual memory
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1191771753/
  • imabowler68 - Can anyone tell me why my computer keeps coming up with a sign - vitual memory very low , windows is increasing, why is it very low and what can i do about it please. is it anything to do with the ram as i think that is low also- (computer is 6 years old .) but still working !
  • Ray - The book marks in Favorites are kept on your drive in different places. I would suggest that you do a Search on your computer (go to Start and then to Search) for Favorites and look in the folders that it finds for that link. When you find it, try deleting it. If it still comes back, something is adding it back in.
  • dlwolff0 - Virtual memory is the space set aside on your hard drive where Windows stores things to transfer in and out of the RAM.
            More RAM would be a plus [very cheap now, if you can find what your computer requires-6 years is an eternity in the computer world].
            The hard drive available space may be getting tight, that's why you keep getting the message. A larger drive or a second drive would alleviate that problem.
  • Ray - Another reason is that you may have too many programs open. The more programs you keep open, the more virtual memory is needed. A temporary fix may be to close programs when you are not using them, but you should look into the things that dlwolff0 suggests above as more permanent fixes.


Password in BIOS
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1192042211/
  • Harry - I bought a PC from a firm that does not exist anymore. Te BIOS is protected by a password, so i can't change anything. How can i install Windos XP (now it is Linux). I already removed the barrety to reset evrything, but the BIOS-pasword is still needed.
  • dlwolff0 - Take a look at this page. One of the methods should work for you. http://www.tech-faq.com/reset-bios-password.shtml


Can't see scroll bar
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1168876592/
  • marinell42 - Screen size is too big. How do I reduce it where I can see scroll bar?
  • dlwolff0 - Look under view on your toolbar and see if full screen is checked, if it is uncheck it. This should enable you to see the scroll bars.
  • Ray - Another possibility is that somehow the wrong drivers are installed for your monitor and so your computer thinks that the screen is bigger or smaller than it actually is. This can happen if a different monitor was used with your computer previously and Windows installed the drivers for it. To resolve this, get the installation disk that came with your monitor and run it.


seiko printer driver
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1191632665/
  • drplunk - I'm looking for a driver for a Seiko Printer the model is CH-4104C. Its is an older thermal printer. I've searched with google and I've checked with Seiko and they can't help. I'm would like the driver to work with Window XP or at least Windows 98 SE.
  • Ray - I would look at Seiko's website and see if they have drivers for it. If not, there are websites of drivers out there. They have been referenced before on this board. Maybe someone else will suggest one.
  • dickiesam - You might try a search at http://www.driverguide.com/ . I have found several 'difficult-to-source' drivers here.
  • drplunk - Thanks for the info. I was able to get the problem resolved.


Missing Drives
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1192384062/
  • onemaddude - I have a CD-ROM and a DVD drive but, all at once, Windows doesn't see them anymore in "My Computer" and "Explorer". When I boot Windows, they are shown in the start-up window and, if I check Device manager, it says that they are working properly. I think that this happened after I switched from XP Pro to XP PRO 64 bit because they HAD to be working for the install. And, if the drives need XP PRO 64 bit drivers, I would think that Device Manager would tell me so.
  • dlwolff0 - In several Microsoft kb articles, two registry entries keep showing up for causing missing drives. Apparently these can become corrupted and cause this problem. This is one concerning CD and DVD drives. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060/
  • onemaddude - Thanks for the help guys. You have done it again. I tried the Microsoft "Registry Edit" and, after rebooting, my CD & DVD drives are now both listed in Windows Explorer & Device Manager. I'm saving a copy of the fix to my files just in case it happens again. Happy As A Clam!!!


How to See and Delete Websites I've been To
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1193064662/
  • joeleo - can i view all web sites my computer has been to and can they be pemanetly removed
  • Ray - Your computer keeps a few lists associated with the websites that you have been to but the main list is Internet Explorer's History list. You can delete items there by opening the History list, selecting the items that you want to delete, and pressing the Delete key.
            Your computer also keeps a copy of all of the pages and elements of the pages that you have been to in the Temporary Internet Files folder. If you just delete the items in the History list the actual files will still exist in the Temporary Internet Files folder so that anyone who knows about that can still view where you have been on the internet. So be sure to also empty the Temporary Internet Files folder if that is a concern of yours.
            Our program, A1Click Ultra PC Cleaner (http://superwin.com/a1clean.htm), cleans these and other lists and files.


What is best way to Back up and reformat HD
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1193710601/
  • markv000 - What is the best method to backup a hard drive. I have about 150 gig HD. I want to weed out my unwanted programs and reformat my pc hd which runs xp and put the needed programs back again when finished. My point is to start over again with just the apps I need. Any other suggestions are welcomed.
  • Ray - Types of Backup
            There are two basic types of backups that can be performed: backing up the disk image and backing up the files.
            What you don't want to do is make a backup of the disk image and then restore that entire image back to the reformated drive because that would put everything back on the drive that you want to get rid of. It would just put the reformatted drive back to the way it was before you reformatted it. If the program that backs up the drive image allows you to restore individual files, you could go that route.
            The other type of backup is a backup of files. Our program, WinRescue (http://superwin.com/rescuemenu.htm) does that (you have to set it up to back up all of the files on the drive in Backup Properties). WinRescue puts the files in a zip file which saves you space if space is an issue.
            If space is not an issue, you can just open Windows Explorer and copy all of the files to a destination drive (by selecting all and either dragging and dropping them to the destination while holding down on the Ctrl key or by right clicking, selecting Copy, then right clicking on the destination and selecting Paste).

    Installation Disks and Files
            If at all possible, find the installation disks or files of the program that you want to keep. For example when you purchase a program at the store, you receive an installation disk. When you purchase a program online, you receive a file (this is the installation file).
            When you run that installation disk or file, it puts a lot of files in a folder on your computer and installs the program. You will back up that folder because it probably also has data files in it but it is best to also have and know where the installation file is.
            Use the installation disk or file to install the wanted programs on the new drive and then add in the backed up data files. This way all of the needed registry entries and drivers will be put where they should be.
            If you just restore from a backup without installing the program, the program may not work.

    Destination
            Since you have about 150 gig to back up, you will need to back it up to another drive. Any other way (to floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, or thumb drives) will be too much of a hassle and will not be reliable. If you don't have a 150 gig HD, go out and buy one. Either back everything up to the new drive or just start out with it being the drive that you reformat and don't reformat your old drives.
            Hook up the new drive, repartition and reformat it, then rehook it up so that it is in the C drive position (with it in this position you will have to use the Windows CD to start your computer).

    Reformat and Restore
            Basically the process will be to repartition and reformat the drive (if you don't understand what I just said, don't do it, let the computer repair shop do it), install Windows, install your programs, and add in the data files. If possible just restore back the data files from the backup and not the program files. If not possible, you can restore the whole folder from the backup of that installed program to its new location.


What is Onestepsearch.net/b.cgi?
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1194271915/
  • cargbrn - With each search, I get http://www.onestepsearch....then I can't really get where I need to be. When I am looking at my e-mail account and try to go to an actual mail or write an e-mail, my screen automatically goes to http://www.onestep etc. This is driving me crazy. > I don't know how to get rid of it. Does anyone else have this problem? If so, what can I do to stay away from ONESTEP?
  • Ray - That sounds like a virus or spyware. An anti-virus program should remove it.
  • dlwolff0 - This is caused by a BHO [browser helper object]. The site, you are being redirected to, is one of many possible. A complete list is included on this page, which also gives details on how to remove the BHO. http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/grayware/ve_graywareDetails.asp?GNAME=SPYW%5FNAVEXCEL%2EB


IP Address
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1195137852/
  • mgioia - can someone explain IP segments to me.
  • Ray - I don't think that it is that easy to understand or explain. There is an article about IP addresses on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ip_address.

            Here is my take on IP addresses - IP addresses are used on the internet to point to websites/servers (for example, the IP address of http://216.92.125.42 is the same as http://superwin.com) and on networks to specify the devices connected to it, like a computer, a printer or a router.
            An IP address is made up of four numbers separated by periods, for example, 0.0.0.0. I don't know that each specific segment has a specific meaning or use. I always looked at them combined making up one number.
            When used on the internet, different parts of the world, countries, and host servers are assigned ranges of IP addresses, so that if you have an IP address, you can tell using a directory where the website is hosted (the American directory is at http://www.arin.net).


Burn home videos to disk
Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1195367350/
  • benno - Do hope someone can help as its driving me nuts. Downloaded home videos from Canon camera to computer and copied them to disk which will play back on my laptop but not on my DVD player. Some angel please help me - what am I doing wrong.....going nuts trying to get it to work.
  • Ray - It all has to do with the format or type of file that the movie is in. A computer can display a lot of different types of files because it has many different programs to run the different types of files, but a DVD player is not a computer. It only plays a few types of files, so if you have the wrong type of file on the DVD, the DVD player will not be able to play it. I would think that even if you have the correct type of files on the DVD but do not have them in the correct place or format, that the DVD player still would not be able to play them. Think of the DVD player as being stupid and only able to do one thing in one way.
            If you want to burn movies to a DVD to play in a DVD player, you need to use software that is specifically made for that purpose. You can't just burn files to a DVD (unless you have found instructions on how to do that and have followed those instructions) and expect them to play on a DVD player.


Questions on our Discussion Board


Thanks for reading,
Ray Geide


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