• Ray, what do you use
  
• open windows
  explorer
  
• printer problems
  
• How to find Free
  Space
  
• How to make Firefox
  the default browser
  
• Safely Remove USB
  Sticks
  
• How to save a draft
  message
  
• Radio on my speakers
  
• print spooler crashed
  
• Spyware Advice
  
• removing windows
  vista
  
• Question about
  "Restricted Posting"
  
• reset windows xp
  laptop
  
• Add/Remove Programs
  won't open
  
• Change bitmap to
  JPEG or GIF
  
• Questions on our
  Discussion Board
  

Ray, what do you use

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1202662573/

---

• Saint Satin Stain - I asked once which programs you used. You replied that you were careful and did not use an antivirus etc. But which other programs, other categories, do you use or don't advise using. For instance, do you use an instant messenger, email client, browser, of course, and programming editors?
• Ray - My uses may be a letdown, but I am a simple man. If something works, I use it. If I have a need for something, I usually end up writing a program to meet that need.
  
  
  • Instant Messengers - I have tried different instant messengers and they all seem to have similar features. Yahoo Messenger is the most popular and is the one that I use.
  • Email Clients - I use Outlook Express.
  • Browsers - I use Internet Explorer 7
  • Programming - I use Delphi 6
  
          If others have other preferences feel free to post them here.
• Bob Crawford - PC World magazine recommended Avast as the best free antivirus program out there about 8 months ago. I've been using it effectively ever since without problems on both XP and Vista computers. It's available free for home use at: http://www.avast.com/eng/programs.html
• onemaddude - I've used (Free for home use) AVG 7.5 for along while now and have had NO problems. It comes with a great firewall and other security features too.
  

open windows explorer

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1203850642/

---

• a1batman - Is there any way on Win XP Pro that when windows explorer is opened that the initial screen can have all folders unexpanded. I find that it is always starting with my documents expanded.
• Ray - You can make a link to Windows Explorer and set up the link to open Windows Explorer wherever you want to. I explain how to do this in the following article of our newsletter - http://superwin.com/RaysComputerTips/Issue8.htm#tech.
• a1batman - Thanks Ray I didn't realise it could be as simple as that.
  

printer problems

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1204176957/

---

• cindy11859 - I had a compaq presario computer with windows ME and I brought a compaq IJ600 printer. It was working fine until I upgraded to windows XP Professional. Do I need another printer that is compatible with windows XP professional or is there a printer driver to upgrade to. My printer would not print anything but a test page.
• biguglyman - You could try the Windows 2000 drivers from here - http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?lc=en&cc=us&product=217389&dlc=tr&lang=tr&.
• Snakeyes - Try the following URL - http://www.printer-drivers.com/drivers/138/138146.htm
  

How to find Free Space

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1204557523/

---

• 30something - I was trying to re-install the OS on my son's computer, due a virus, and it said that there was no hard drive space available. This computer was running fine until this Virus was downloaded, how do I know if that is so or not? I'm no expert, just a curious, self taught mom.
• Ray - One way to check the amount of free space on a drive is to look in Windows Explorer. You can open Windows Explorer by right clicking on Start and selecting Explore from the popup menu. In Windows Explorer, select a drive and the amount of free space should be shown at the bottom of Windows Explorer. Or you can right click on the drive in Windows Explorer and select Properties from the popup menu.
          Most viruses will not be removed by just reinstalling Windows. You should remove the virus first using an antivirus program. The article at http://www.superwin.com/RaysComputerTips/#qa2 and the post here at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1174167785/ (both article and post are the same content) tells of a couple of good free antivirus programs.
  

How to make Firefox the default browser

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1204740794/

---

• triuno - Hello, old man forgets. How to make Firefox the default browser in win2k??? I dont like the IEX6. Anyone know the easy way??? or any way???
• Snakeyes - In Firefox Tools/Options/General tab. Click on Check now for default browser.
• triuno - After some help from friends I found this and it works!!!:
          Try a freeware utility called SetBrowser to force your system to use Netscape, IE, or Opera. From the web site:
          " [SetBrowser is] a very simple program that lets you set the default web browser in Windows. Select the browser you want, and the program will modify the required registry settings. Can now also automatically locate the browser. A valuable tool for anybody who uses more than one web browser on their system (e.g. if you switch between Netscape Navigator / Communicator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Opera and others). Warning: Since most web browsers have the ability to make themselves default (and automatically set all the proper registry settings), only use SetBrowser in situations where browsers don't recognize the current settings. 'Forcing' the default browser, as SetBrowser does, is really a last resort. "
          http://www.pc-tools.net/win32/freeware/setbrowser/
          the latest version of Firefox dont have that tab you refer to!!! in general.
  

Safely Remove USB Sticks

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1204391985/

---

• Diego - I have got a problem to safely remove my USB sticks from the operating system Win 98 SE. The reason is that the "safe hardware removal" icon disappeared from the task bar and I can’t rember when and why it may have happened.
• Ray - Try going to Run and typing regedit
          In RegEdit find the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad key. The SysTray value must be in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad key of the registry. If it is not there, try adding a string value to ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad (right click on it and select New then String Value) with a value name of SysTray and value data of {35CEC8A3-2BE6-11D2-8773-92E220524153}
• Snakeyes - An alternative less elegant method is to create the following shortcut on the desktop - rundll32.exe shell32.dll Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll SW_SHOW. This will execute the safe removal process
• quinland - An even less elegant method is to Start|Run|systray.exe. This problem had occurred to me, and I created a desktop icon pointing to the systray program. I then put systray into the startup lineup, and it has been working ever since.
  

How to save a draft message

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1204278473/

---

• Lowlander - I use Outlook Express 7 and today for the first day in years I was attempting to save an unfinished email in the Draft folder - I realised I had not a clue how to do this when the uncompleted email zoomed off to intended recipient. Can someone explain how to save an unfinished email into the draft's folder.
• biguglyman - At the top of the unfinished message, click file, then "copy to folder". Expand folder list and select "drafts". Then you can go back and close the message and when it says "save changes" say no. It will already be saved in the drafts folde.
• Bob Crawford - In Outlook Express, all that is necessary is to close the message in progress and you will be asked if you want to save it. Clicking yes yields the message that it has been saved in your Drafts Folder without having to specify anything.
  

Radio on my speakers

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1205169603/

---

• Yots - How do i get rid of the radio station that my speakers are picking up?
• k4ges - Assuming you are using amplified speaker system and the radio transmitter location is close to you. Make sure all of your audio inputs are using shielded cable inputs. Unshielded cables will act like a antenna and pick up strong radio signals.
  

print spooler crashed

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1205934397/

---

• alan1004 - I have a laptop running vista. All my printers are gone, and I get a printer spooler eror at start up. I can't install printers as well. How do I repair the spooler?
• Snakeyes - Here you go. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324757
• rarrows - Try disconnecting the printer cable at both the printer and computer, then reconnect making sure to connect fully. now reboot and see if the problem is solved. A poor connection can cause this problem, however it can also be a bad cable. There are also other things that can cause the problem as noted by others. On my computers it was the cables.
  

Spyware Advice

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1206057408/

---

• haroldbld - Has anyone on the forum had any experience with the Software Tool Spyware Pro.
• Saint Satin Stain - I would be very careful about the program Spyware Pro; it's home cite is evaluated by McaFee SiteAdvisor as "In our tests, we found downloads on this site that some people consider adware, spyware or other potentially unwanted programs." I would heed its admonition. There are better places to buy security programs; there are places to download freeware security programs. I would not buy Spyware Pro and would not use it if were free.
          Check companies like Eset, Avira, Kaspersky, Avast!, AVG, Trend Micro, McAfee, and Symantec (Norton).
          There are companies that produce good freeware too like Javacool, which produces SpywareBlaster (take care to only download the program from Javacool, there is a rogue program named Spyware Blaster; SpywareBlaster should be one word, not separated as in Spyware Blaster.) SpywareBlaster uses very few resources; it immunizes your system from many spyware programs. It is free and reliable.
          There is Spybot Search & Destroy http://www.spybot.info/en/home/index.html Which has been around for a long time and it freeware. Check their site.
          There is SUPERantispyware from http://www.superantispyware.com/ which has a Pro (paid) version and a free version. I use the free version.
          I only have three realtime security programs, a software firewall Tallemu's Online Armor, Eset's NOD32, an antivirus and antispyware program, and Sandboxie, a sandbox-virtualization program that prevents any malware from getting in and they have a free and paid version-both effective, the remainder of my programs are ondemand antispyware, anti-Trojan, and anti-rootkit programs. My computer is behind a router since I connect broadband. Another note about Sandboxie: it is effective, but because it creates a sandbox, a virtual space, it may confuse some people. You have to know when a program is running in the sandbox and when it's not.
          I recommend that you check these sites for security programs:
          http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/main-nf.htm
          http://www.nonags.com/ - a freeware site
          http://www.freedecentdownloads.com/ -freeware sites
          http://www.avira.com/en/solutions/home_home_office.html (a commercial site for antivirus and antispyware. Their free antivirus has better detection than over half of the commerical antiviruses.)
          Spyware Warrior (see above) is a very good and reliable source, especially the Privacy and Security section.
          You did a good thing to ask about a program at a forum. I repeat, please don't use Spyware Pro; it is suspect. There are tried and true programs. I have given you my some of my favorites, but at Spyware warrior you can make your own choices with the information you receive there.
          I hope this helps. Do your own research. Spyware Warrior is a good place to begin. There is a post in the Websites of Interest section here (mine) "Optimize XP, and Vista if you bougt that dog" (in which I misspelled 'bought' about an optimization site for XP and Vista; there is a section there about utilities. I haven't but I suggest that you do a search here to find any other discussions of security programs. I also consider backup and maintenance programs security programs. You are in the right place for maintenance programs. An unstable system is a vulnerable system.
          Read the "free anti-virus and anti-spyware programs" thread (http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1174167785/) started by robert in the forum for more information; note the comments by Ray, things to do to fix a major weakness in any operating system - human behavior.
  

removing windows vista

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1205265319/

---

• faust6 - i have a brand new laptop with (regrettably) windows vista home premium that , just as i was warned, is now giving nothing but problems with compatibility to software download drivers. i have been advised to simply replace vistas with windows xp. i have the windows xp disc but need info on removing the vista operating system.
• Ray - You should be able to put the XP CD in the CD drive, start your computer, watch for your computer to ask if you want to boot from the CD (answer yes), and follow the instructions given to install XP. If it allows you to install to the same directory where Vista is (which should be C:\Windows) and you want to replace Vista, do so. If you install to a different directory, Windows will set up a dual boot option where you will be prompted each time Windows starts whether you want to use XP or Vista. Be sure to keep a backup of Vista, just in case XP does not work.
• hans - I recently replaced Vista with XP on a fairly new Gateway MT6452 laptop. I did this because two of the programs that I most wanted to use don't run on Vista. A serious problem that I encountered was that XP did not have drivers for some of the hardware, particularly the sound chip. I eventually found all of the drivers by searching on the internet. ( I found the sound chip driver on the Gateway website though they didn't indicate that it would work in my laptop. They apparently have no interest in helping people to use anything but Vista in their new computers.) Also, though installing Vista on a different drive will leave XP intact, installing XP on a different drive made it impossible to use Vista
• TCHAPAIEV - The problems of double boot between Vista and XP are well known and there is a lot of literature about that ; installing XP (on a separate partition) with vista already working and installed is risky ,complicated and there is a lot of warnings everywhere on the web ; the book from microsoft press : vista inside out , which is MUCH less complete and satisfactory than its predecesor "WINDOWS XP inside out" comments at length without giving a secure procedure ; if only the MBR has to be repaired after the install of XP that's fine but there may happen a lot of other problems preventing the PC to boot at all ; in cdse as is mine that vista comes preinstalled the idea of going through a nightmare prevented me to try a double boot ; moreoever the driver problem is a very severe one ; if Vista came preinstalled, it may happen that NO compatible drivers are to be found for XP relative to the corresponding hardware ; asus tech service prevenetd me about this severe problem also .
  

Question about "Restricted Posting"

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1206975257/

---

• TCHAPAIEV - I experienced the same jumping cursor problem than aother members ; why is this a "restricted posting" ,I do not understand ; also from this thread I am not allowed to answer or post anything (the thread about cursor jumps ) ; this is strange ; many of us meet the same problem , so , why prevent posting there ?
• Ray - When a question no longer has any activity, I wait for six months. Then I either delete it or move it to the Answers section of this forum. Once in the Answers section, no responses are allowed.
          I do this because some people have posted additional questions in a thread and additional comments that ignore the original question.
          If you want to post a comment to a question in the Answers section, please post it here (in the Questions section) and tell the URL of the question that you want to comment on. If I think your comment has merit, I will add it to the thread you want to comment on.
  

reset windows xp laptop

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1207025779/

---

• pud1960 - how can I reset my laptop back to its original out of the box setting?
• Ray - The only way you can do that is if your laptop came with Recovery CDs. If it did, put the first one in the CD drive and follow the instructions that it gives.
  

Add/Remove Programs won't open

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1207002191/

---

• suzjackson - I can't get the add/remove programs to open so I can remove unwanted programs. What can I do?
• SUNDANCE - Your are on the verge of a major corruption from spyware. There are two things to try. Both are based on a procedure to confirm that you have a full set of the original Win files.
          The best is to use the Windows program disk and the first R function you come to. This R function will provide you with a black screen and a c prompt. type in check disk as "chkdsk"/
          You will be asked for the pass word to the administrator account - if you don't have it the chkdsk progam will not run - in XP Pro. Maybe so in XP Home.
          The next procedure is to use the windows "SFC" program. Log into window and at the run command type: sfc /scandisk Your will need the Win XP CD in the drive as it most probably will ask fpr it.
          If these do not work you will need to wipe the HD clean and reinstall the windows program. This procedur is almost inevitable (?) As I said, you most probably have major corruption and need a major overhaul
• Ray - There are other things besides a "major corruption from spyware" that can be causing that. If you suspect spyware, run a spyware cleaner. I would not suggest wiping the HD clean. I would more suspect a virus doing that than spyware. If it is a virus, you can run an antivirus program to clean it. Or find out which virus it is and then find how to remove that virus online.
          Another possibility is that you somehow deleted the appwiz.cpl file in the Windows/system32 folder.
          Here are some suggestions to remedy or work around the problem:
• Find the appwiz.cpl file online and put it in the Windows/system32 folder
• Use our free Add/Remove Pro program or the Add/Remove Editor part of RegVac (for more information on RegVac Registry Cleaner go to http://www.superwin.com/regvac.htm to see what is in Add/Remove Programs and remove or uninstall the items you want.
• Another way to uninstall a program is to go to that programs folder in Start - All Programs or in Windows Explorer and run the uninstall link.
  

Change bitmap to JPEG or GIF

---

Find this on our board at http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1207282873/

---

• Bree855 - I use to have a program on my desktop, that would change a bitmap into a jpeg or gif. Does anyone have the download for this or address where I can find it ? It was so simple and neat.
• SUNDANCE - Log into google and ask that question - bet you get a lot of free help
• Bree855 - ok, thanks. didn't know you could ask a questiion.
• Ray - MS Paint that comes with Windows XP and Vista will do that. Just load the bitmap in Paint and Save it as a JPG or GIF.
• Bree855 - Thank you very much !
  

Questions on our Discussion Board

---

• PC Optimizer - How Can You See Changes Made?
  
• XP Recovery CD did it
  
• enough of vista
  
• What is causing my PC problem(s)
  
• emails w/"file does not have program..."
  
• Installing Updates
  
• DirectX
  
• AV 2009
  
• AVG FREE
  
• free virus & firewall protection??
  
• Windows Installer
  
• Sound
  
• 64 bit vista windows
  
• winrescue ran out
  
• Versions of Java?
  
• downloads
  
• notepad
  
• Loss of wireless connection
  
• No items in Startup Lineup
  
• Disappearing System Icons
  
• cant read Jap letters on PC
  
• email music
  
• unable to install firewall in XP
  
• Old registry not found
  
• regvac (registry cleaner)
  
• Replacing G operating system with XP
  
• Background Program
  
• My harddisk drives and CD drives keep disappearing
  
• MISSING TASKBAR ICONS
  
• uncontrollable volume
  
• Tenacious Virus
  
• network printer
  
• Generic11 virus
  
• Problems with Windows Explorer
  
• speed startup Q
  
• Speed Startup
  
• Icon shadows
  
• Locked out
  
• Java
  
• Deinstallation Cyberlink PowerDVD
  
• Outlook Express_Best way to Save messages
  
• Virtual Memory
  
• soffice6
  
• can't start ez file transplanter
  
• Removing SP3
  
• Outlook Express
  
• Speed Startup password
  
• Work Offline Pop-Up Box
  
• Older Dell Laptop
  
• need serious help with wireless connection
  
• WinRescue XP is out of sorts
  
• XP crashes
  
• Speed Startup
  
• Safe mode
  
• dvd43
  
• Keeps finding the same keys?
  
• PROBLEM WATCHING FILMS/VIDEOS
  

Thanks for reading,
Ray Geide