Webuser Forums: RHR - General PC (15)

Hi, Every time I boot up my PC the date reverts to January 1980, despite being set to the current date every time. Any ideas?
Steve Wells - Ickenham - Mon Jan 27 18:36 2003
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Could be that the CR2032 battery needs to be changed. How old is the computer? Hopefully you know the golden rule when changing it - DISCHARGE ALL STATIC ELECTRICITY FROM YOURSELF.
Maurice - Croydon - Mon Jan 27 19:40 2003
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Hello everyone, I have some problems i hope youcould help me with. Ive just upgraded my HP Pavillion 8540 (curently 500mhz, 318mb ram, 8GB + 11mb graphics)from windows 98 (FAT32) to windows 2000 (NFTS) and use use zone alram. 1.Why do I get the option at start-up of running 'windows 2000' or 'windows' when i chose clean instal. if I click on windows it goes to a blank screen, how do i remove this? (i think its the way I partitioned). 2.How do I remove the sign on screen whch make me change username to administrator. 3.while surfing the internet, why is it that sometimes when I click on a link it brings up a blank page with the intending page loading underneath? (i use aol v7) 4.finally, if anything goes wrong or I just want to change my file system back (to reinstall windows 98) to FAT32 how would I do it. I have a hp recovery for my pc which, when used, says along the lines of make sure its connected and shows fdisk but I dont know how to use it. Thank you very much in advandce for reading my message and possibly helping me out!
Tony - London - Mon Jan 27 05:59 2003
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Hello everybody.I've just installed a Zip drive (external/parallel) which seems to work fine until I run either defrag, scandisc or AVG anti-virus on the disk. When I run one of these tools my mouse pointer becomes very slow and erratic and the computer slows down as well. I've looked at the Iomega troubleshooting guide but there's no mention of this problem. Any ideas??? (running Win95)
John - Stockport - Mon Jan 27 05:45 2003
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When I type a "@" on my keyboard it displays a ". To get an @ I need to key shift and 2. I can't use shift and 3 either to get a pound sign, I get a # sign. I have removed keyboard from Device Manager and rebooted but the same happens again when it finds keyboard. I am using XP Any ideas ?
Darren - Chesterfield - Sun Jan 26 19:47 2003
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At the moment your keyboard is set to US layout
Go to Start | Control Panel | Regional and Language Options
Click the Languages tab,
In the Text services and Input languages section, click Details
In the Default Input Language section, change to English (United Kingdom),

If, in the Installed Services Window, the keyboard language showing is not English (United Kingdom), click Add

You will need to restart your computer
Iain Wolstencroft - Accrington - Sun Jan 26 20:00 2003
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prob an easy one this - i have MS Office 2000 - when i last re-loaded it in full 6 discs worth !! - due to a reformat disc job - everything loaded except the MS Access program - how can i load this programme just on its own - and which disc is it on?
paul - manchester - Sun Jan 26 17:45 2003
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Go to Start | (Settings) | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs
Highlight Office 2000 and click Change. You should then be given the options to Add or Remove Features

Follow the wizard
Iain Wolstencroft - Accrington - Sun Jan 26 18:36 2003
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Morning! Getting fed up now; every time I close a Window using the x in the top right corner I run the risk of getting a Runtime error. (I can note the number next time if you'd like.) It doesn't happen every time but it is becoming more common, and as a result I have to reboot using ctrl/alt/del. I'm running W98 SE on a P3 450 mhz. Anyone got ideas? Cheers.
Midou - London - Sun Jan 26 01:50 2003
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Hi All,I am looking for some technical info. I want to install an additional HDD, so that I can have a dual boot system. One running Win XP, and one running Win 98SE. I went to purchase the HDD, and was told by the salesman that, if I install Win 98SE on the additional HD,this will override the default O/P system XP. He said that I would have to reinstall XP back on the C: drive.. He said that by istalling 98 on the additional drive it installs a boot file called win.ini ( or something like that) and this would cause 98 to boot as the default O/S. The other option is to create a partion on my HDD. The problem with this is that, I haven't got any back up CD's for my system. All the programs and drivers WinXP etc are in a hidden partition on my C Drive. and if I lose the info in the hidden partition, I have lost everything. The second HDD seemed the easy answer.. Any help or suggestion gratefully welcomed. Thanks Iain in anticipation :)
M Westwood - Sat Jan 25 23:22 2003
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I hate this damn forum format sometimes. Webmaster, Delete everything below, Mark, go to This page
Somebody inform me when they get a sensible format, I'm off to virtual dr,
Iain Wolstencroft - Accrington - Sun Jan 26 07:55 2003
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Thanks for such a quick response Iain, unfortunately, the link to the Brinkster Web sites wouldn't let Me in. www22.brinkster.com/putasolutions/Windows/9X&ME/98/Dualboot http error 404 - file not found.. www22.brinkster.com home page error 403 - not authorized to view web page :( Cheers M
M Westwood - Sun Jan 26 17:38 2003
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try now
Iain Wolstencroft - Accrington - Sun Jan 26 18:27 2003
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links working OK now Thanks again Iain M
M Westwood - Sun Jan 26 20:24 2003
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Technically, your salesperson (must be pc here ;^)), is correct, the correct way to install a dual boot system is to install the oldest operating system first. However, it is possible, if a little technical, and is in 2 Stages, Installing Windows 98 and Changing the Boot Loader

Firstly, format the second Hard drive as normal, then follow these instructions exactly

NOTE:

This will only work if your XP is installed to aFAT32 partition
Make sure that you have a working copy of the Windows 98 Startup Disk
Make sure that Debug.exe is on your Startup disk
Make sure that you do not install Windows 98 to your C:\ Drive as this is not recommended
If this goes wrong, don't blame me!!
Ok, With all the warnings out of the way, lets make a start

Use a Windows 98 Startup disk (with CD support) to boot your computer.

Insert your Win 98 CD into the CD Rom drive.

At the A: prompt type X:\Win98\Setup.exe (for Win98) where X: is your CD-ROM drive.

Proceed with the install. When prompted for the install location, you'll see C:\Windows.000. Choose Other directory and change this to the drive you wish to install 98 to and name the folder Windows (or something else if you prefer).

Complete the Win98 install. Allow the computer to boot into Win98.
That's the easy part out of the way

If you haven't already done so, create a Win98Startup Disk

Create a Notepad file with the following entries, exactly as shown:

L 100 2 0 1
N C:\BOOTSECT.DOS
R BX
0
R CX
200
W
Q

Save the file to the Win98 Startup Disk as READ.SCR

Boot the computer with the Win98 Startup Disk and at the A: prompt type
DEBUG
Steps 1 - 4 create the BOOTSECT.DOS file needed to boot Win98. You may need to use the

ATTRIB C:\BOOTSECT.DOS -S -H -R

command if BOOTSECT.DOS already exists and you get an error when trying to recreate it.

Configure your computer to boot from the CD drive. This is done in the BIOS, or your computer may offer the option at startup if it detects a bootable CD. Consult your computer's manual for more information. If your computer does not support booting from CD-Rom, you should also be able to boot with a 98 Startup disk, and run WINNT.EXE from the I386 folder of your XP CD.

Insert your XP CD and boot from it.

You'll see some files being copied, then you'll be presented with a choice of installing or
repairing an existing installation. Choose Repair.

You'll be asked which XP installation you want to log into. Enter 1. There is usually only
one installation.

You'll be prompted for the Administrator password. For Home, the default password is blank, so just hit Enter. For Pro, enter the same password you did during setup for the Administrator account (this is not the same as the password for an Admin level account. It must be the Administrator account password).

At the C:\Windows prompt, type FIXBOOT. You'll be prompted to confirm. Do so.

When FIXBOOT is finished, remove the XP CD and type EXIT and the machine will reboot.
Reconfigure your computer to boot from the hard drive if necessary.

You will now get the XP Boot loader with your choice of operating systems.

Iain Wolstencroft - Accrington - Sun Jan 26 07:47 2003
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Wow!! absolutely brilliant.
George - Choppington - Sun Jan 26 11:18 2003
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Just picked up my new copy of Web-User and ran Seagate Disk and File check (Page 58)- Disk AOK - Files!! - 'File structure errors - Run chdsk/f or other repair utility'?? Whats that and were is it?? and please speak slowly (I'm a Newbie and very Old)TIA John Gilby.
John Gilby - North Thoresby, Nr. Cleethorpes, Lincs. - Sat Jan 25 21:21 2003
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John
The fact that you get asked to undertake chkdsk /f suggests to me that you are running either Windows 2000 or XP. I'm going to plump for XP as, to be fair, Win 2000 seems to have become a specialists' Operating System.
It appears that you have got some 'minor' file integrity issues.

chkdsk /f fixes errors on the disk. The disk must be locked for this to happen. However, I would imagine that the errors occur on your C:\ drive, ie your main drive.

Go to Start | Run

type in chkdsk /f
Note the space

A message will appear that will ask you if you want to check the drive the next time you restart the computer. Click Yes
Reboot your computer and allow the checkdisk to take it's course
Iain Wolstencroft - Accrington - Mon Jan 27 20:26 2003
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web user issue 48, page 32 - spring cleaning - has anyone used this tool http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/index.php for cleaning up registry entries?, if so do you recommend it?, is it worthwhile? which one are you supposed to use? - web user says use Reg-Cleaner but the website says use JV16 Power Tools? as Reg-Cleaner is "ready" but may have bugs? and may not be supported anymore. Any honest advice on this tool pros, cons, use or avoid? would be appreciated. It would have been better updated in Web-User. thanks in anticipation of your advice
paul - manchester - Sat Jan 25 16:52 2003
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Hi can anyone help me or shed some light at least. When I turn on my computer an alarm sounding noise comes from my floppy disc drive area of my computer. I can not understand why? What follows this is a black screen on the monitor on which a thin white band appears across the bottom with what can only be discribed as a barcode acrooss it as that is what it looks like a barcode. The only way I can get it off is to keep pressing the escape key & the the barcode counts down from left to right for a bit then goes completely white before it clears and the alarm sound stops,my computer starts up as normal. I have no problems with my computer from there on in & can connect to the net, play games, type etc. But once I try to restart my computer again for another session the whole alarm thing starts again etc. Now I am totally at my wits end & dont know how to solve this problem. I must also add that I am a regular computer user mainly for letters, flyers & the net & not very up to speed with tec talk so keep it simple for me please people. I am using windows xp & my I also add that I have never ever used the floppy disc drive from the date I bought my computer as I have not had a reason. Please someone help! Barry West Yorkshire
Barry Roach - Bingley - Sat Jan 25 15:23 2003
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hi. a while back i turned off my automatic updates as i use my pc for online motor racing and need my connection to be strong without anything running in the background. today i have tried to turn the auto updates back on but i am getting a message saying the windows update service is unavailable and all check boxes and help links in the box are greyed out/dead. i am running windows xp home. any ideas? thank's in advance.
graeme paul - fife - Sat Jan 25 12:19 2003
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Which Version of Windows, Graeme?
Iain Wolstencroft - Accrington - Sat Jan 25 12:54 2003
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xp home iain. i said so in my first post . or do you mean something else?
graeme paul - fife - Sat Jan 25 19:45 2003
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Sorry, going blind in my old age, try this:
Clear out temporary storage locations.

Click on Start, then Control Panel. Double-click on Internet Options
On the General tab, in the Temporary Internet Files section, click on
Delete Files. Check the box to 'Delete all Offline Content' and click OK.
Close the Internet Options window.
Clear Windows Update folder.

Click on Start, then My Computer. (Or on Windows 2000 machines, just open the desktop icon)
Open the C drive
Open the Program Files folder
Open the WindowsUpdate folder
Delete everything you find in this folder, including subfolders.
Close this window
Check WUTemp folder.

Click on Start, then My Computer
Open the C drive
Delete the WUTemp folder and all of its contents.
Remove current control files on machine.

Click on Start, then Run.
Type in 'regsvr32 iuctl.dll /u' (without the quotes) and click OK.
You should get a successful message, click OK on that as well.
Click on Start, then Search, then choose All Files and Folders.
Click on Advanced Options, and check the first three boxes listed there.
Type in the file name IUCTL.DLL and click Search Now. Delete every copy of this file that you find.
Run the search again for the file IUENGINE.DLL. Delete every copy of this file you find.
Try accessing the Windows Update Site again.

Iain Wolstencroft - Accrington - Sat Jan 25 21:43 2003
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ok iain. i'm starting to think i've lost a file somewhere. in program files i don't have a folder called windows update. my wutemp folder was empty, i have deleted it though. and i found 2 copies of each of the files IUCTL.DLL and IUENGINE.DLL and i deleted them but the automatic updates screen is still the same. just to make myself clear i can still update my pc manually from the windows update site. it is just the auto updates i cannot switch on. your closing line "Try accessing the Windows Update Site" had me wondering if you thought i couldn't update at all. if you can't shed any light on this mystery then thank's for your efforts anyway.
graeme paul - fife - Sun Jan 26 02:12 2003
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No, eliminating all possibilities that's all! try this
Go to Start | Run
type in Regedit
Find the following key in the Left pane:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Software\ Policies\ Microsoft\ Windows\ WindowsUpdate\ AU

In the right hand pane, look for the following Dwords in the right pane and set to your requirements

Value: NoAutoUpdate

0 - Enable Automatic Updates (Default)
1 - Disable Automatic Updates
Value: AUOptions

2 - Notify for download and notify for install
3 - Auto download and notify for install
4 - Auto download and schedule the install
Value: ScheduledInstallDay

0 - Install every day
1 to 7 - Install on specific day of the week from Sunday (1) to Saturday (7).
Value: ScheduledInstallTime

0 to 23 - Install time of day in 24-hour format
Restart Windows for the changes

IF, in the left pane, you have nothing in the left pane past

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Software\ Policies\ Microsoft\ Windows

then you will need too create them:

highlight the

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Software\ Policies\ Microsoft\ Windows

then right Click and click New
Click Key
Name it WindowsUpdate
Highlight this key and right click and click New
Click Key
Right Name it AU

Now right click the AU file and click New
Click DWord Value
Give it the name of one of the four DWord Values above, and then double click on it to specify the required value.

Once you have closed the regedit, restart your computerto take effect.

Iain Wolstencroft - Accrington - Sun Jan 26 19:07 2003
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hi iain. still no joy i'm afraid. i did have nothing in the right pane as you said and i created the files trying a variety of different ways in case the caps or spaces were wrong but auto update is still unavailable.
graeme paul - fife - Thu Jan 30 10:34 2003
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My PC runs Win 2k. It used to shut down perfectly using Alt F4, Enter, it would then shut down. It has recently started to shut down & got as far as a white underscore cursor, flashing in the top left hand corner of the screen, it then goes no further & does not shut down completely until I press and hold the on off button. How do I return my system to the normal (complete) shut down?
Mike Appelqvist - Guernsey - Sat Jan 25 00:50 2003
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Hi All, On several occasions I have inadvertantly struck the 'Caps Lock'so that I have had to re-type that which had been done. I understand that there may be a small programme which will sound an alarm when the 'Caps Lock' is accidentally struck. Has anyone any info. on this please? I am running Win 98SE and O.E.6. Many thanks, Dennis
Dennis Leighton - Telford - Fri Jan 24 21:40 2003
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Windows 98 has such a feature inbuilt.
Go to Start | Settings | Control Panel | Accessibilty Options | Keyboard Tab
Click Use Togglekeys

If Accessibility Options is not installed, click Add/Remove Progams | Windows Setup tab and look for the Accessibility Options checkbox.
Iain Wolstencroft - Accrington - Fri Jan 24 22:18 2003
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Hi Iain, Wow!!! What service!! I wonder if you ever go to bed! Once again your expertise has helped me. Very many thanks. Dennis
Dennis Leighton - Telford - Sat Jan 25 09:28 2003
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You're welcome! (not sure about the expertise bit. I'll tell you when I acquire some)
Iain Wolstencroft - Accrington - Sat Jan 25 09:46 2003
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im having trouble enabling auto protect in norton antivirus message says c:\program files\norton antivirus\ navapsvc exe. is missing i have xp installed. can any one help.
steve - liverpool - Fri Jan 24 20:51 2003
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Try re-installing Norton
Iain Wolstencroft - Accrington - Fri Jan 24 21:26 2003
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IF BEEN TOLD THAT A DOWNLOAD WHICH OPENS UP YOUR GRAPHIC CARD TO XP IS AVAILIBLE(ABOUT16MB)THIS COULD BE THE ANSWER TO MY PRAYERS AS MINE IS TITS !!! STILL CANT PLAT MOHAA,HAS ANYONE HEARD OF IT AND WHERE CAN I GET IT ???
SEAN - EVESHAM - Fri Jan 24 15:18 2003

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