computerhelp, posts by tag: advice - LiveJournal

Question/Problem: This morning a scan with Sophos revealed that my computer is infected with the Mal/Generic-L virus. However, Sophos wasn't able to fix the problem or rid me of this infection. I need to know how I can get rid of this, i.e., is there any reliable freeware program that can do this? I hesitate to poke around in the registry as most computer forums suggest. I basically need an idiot-proof way to remove this thing.

Operating System, Version and Service Pack: Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 Bit, Service Pack 1.

Web Browser and Version: I use AOL software, and AFAIK AOL uses something called "AOL Explorer". I wasn't able to find out any more details than that, sorry.

Your level of experience (we simplify or explain instructions based on how you answer): Beginner, I'd say.

When did the problem start? I first noticed it this morning, when, upon replying to a mail, windows and pop-ups suddenly began to open for no apparent reason.

Any steps you've taken to troubleshoot? Scanned with Avast and Spybot (nothing found), then downloaded Sophos and scanned with that, which was the only tool that found the infection. However, removal wasn't successful - so here I am. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Question/Problem: When using Word type programs (including Microsoft Office Word and OpenOffice), if I attempt to use my touch pad to scroll up and down the page it seriously distorts the display to the point that it becomes impossible to read. I can correct it by minimising and then maximising the screen, which puts everything back together, but that is a very irritating process to have to do constantly. If I remember and use the scroll bar at the side of the screen and the actual mouse buttons then it doesn't happen, but using the scroll on the touch pad is automatic and I often forget!

This does not happen when I use the touch pad scroll on web pages.

Operating System, Version and Service Pack: Windows 7 Home Premium, Service Pack 1

Web Browser and Version: NA (I think!)

Your level of experience: Beginner doesn't even really come close...!

When did the problem start? Has it been going on constantly since then? It's been happening on and off since I got this laptop several months ago (Acer Aspire 5750), only now it happens every time I try to use Word or Openoffice.

Any steps you've taken to troubleshoot? I did some google searches using terms I thought might help me stumble upon where others have had the same problem, but to no avail. I did find where people indicated that they may have had similar problems with Excel but these were all questions asked in 2004(ish) and the answers weren't helpful. I tried disabling the Live Preview in Word as this was the suggestion made re. the Excel problem, but it didn't change anything. I am officially at a loss...!

OTHER INFORMATION: I have had two trojan viruses on my computer recently (in the last month). One of which was not picked up by MacAfee and did some damage. I can't recall what it was called, however it mimicked Windows, hid my real screen and files, and attempted to convince me to purchase a system restore kit. Needless to say, I'm a beginner, but I'm not DUMB! Google had all the answers I needed and I (think I) mostly fixed it. This problem was happening before then also anyway... so it may not be relevant.

Any and all help would be much appreciated!!

 xposted to computer_help/computerhelp/tech_support

I want to avoid buying something if I don't need it.

What's the difference in the Windows 7 speech recognition software and Dragon Naturally Speaking?
Is one better than the other?
Does one have more features than the other?
Is one more accurate than the other?

If this isn't the right place to post, please direct me elsewhere. Thank You

I am looking for a RSS feed reader with a particular functionality, and all of my attempts at googling and testing individual programs have come to nothing, so I hope someone here might be able to help me.

Basically, I'd like to have a feed reader (web-based or not, standalone app or in-browser doesn't really matter) that displays (or can be set up to display) a read item as unread again if it's edited later. To give an example: If I watch the RSS feed of an LJ account, view a particular entry in the feed and mark it as read, I'd like the program to mark the entry as unread again if the entry is edited at a later point.

For a long time, I was using FeedDemon, which did exactly what I'm describing, until I noticed that some of the feeds I was watching weren't updating even though I knew items had been edited. After some digging around in their help forums, I found that they had disabled that functionality because most users didn't like it. So, I went looking for another option. So far, the only program I found that did what I'd like it to do is the NewsFox Firefox add-on, and that's what I'm using now. But now I'm seriously considering switching from Firefox to Chrome, so I need a new solution.


I have Windows 7, and I'd like something that goes with Chrome - as I said, it can be a standalone program or an extension, but not FF add-on, which I have now. Something with web synchronisation would be nice, as I could use it on both my netbook and desktop, but that would be an added bonus. I'm a somewhat advanced end user, so a program with many options and functions wouldn't scare me away.


I've already tried a number of programs and services I found on Google and various freeware recommendation sites: Google Reader, FeedDemon, FeedReader and some others, I think. So, I'm not really looking for general feed reader recommendations, but for a reader that does what I've described above.

I need some advice on laptops. I want to purchase one for casual use, maybe some light gaming. I have narrowed it down to these two eMachine and the Dell 15n. Both are within my price range but which is the better deal?

I live in my Uni's student hosing. We get a very week WIFI signal there. Is there anything I can do to make it stronger? The Uni controls the main system. I have a Linksys WIFI adapter kit for my computer. Also, I discontected my cable DLS with the cabe comp because of money issues.


Thanks!

Hey there, I'm new around here, and while this isn't exactly help, I'm looking for advice. I've had my laptop computer for around a year now and I'm looking to buy an external hard drive. It needs to be relatively large, and I was looking at some 500 GB ones. It runs on Windows Vista, if that makes a difference. I was just wondering, in your experience, what brand you'd recommend, or if there are any specific ones that have worked well for you.

Also, looking for a solution to a small problem, that's not really much of a problem but more of an annoyance. I have wireless internet and occasionally if I have the computer running for a while, the browser will stop working? I've tried restarting the router, and it is connecting, as AIM is still working, but none of the browsers I've tried will work (I use Firefox mainly, but I tried IE and that doesn't work either). I'll restart the computer, and then it will work fine. If you have any ideas as to why that might be happening, I'd appreciate it

Question/Problem: I had a crazy virus that went and bluescreened my computer. Started the computer back up after disconnecting it from wireless, got a new antivirus installed (AVG Free) as the virus had so thoughtfully disabled System Mechanic's antivirus, and also ran the Malicious Software removal from Windows. Computer seems to be okay, acts a bit slower than it used to, and the virus (I think) deleted MSCFT.dlls from programs like google Talk and System Mechanic (the dlls I reinstalled/downloaded). That was all in the past week. About ten minutes ago, my DVD drive starts acting up. It spins, stops, spins, stops, and won't respond to anything. I find a paperclip, pop it open, and it continues. The cycle stops only when I shut my computer down. Is this something I should be concerned about, or just random computer glitch? So far this is the first time it's happened, but given that I do all my schoolwork on this machine, I get pretty paranoid about damaging my machine.

The DVD drive in question is a Slimtype DVDRW SSM-8515S

Operating System and VERSION: Windows XP SP2

Your level of experience: Beginner to intermediate

Duration of problem: ten minutes?

Any steps you've taken to troubleshoot? Pop it open, turn off my computer, and restart? My google fu was weak, so I'm assuming it's not a terrible problem.

This should hopefully be an easy answer for somebody. I need to know where to buy something called a "power supply board" for my monitor. Unless they are expensive and it would be cheaper to replace the whole thing.

Background:

I have a hp pavilion f1503 monitor. It had been doing the blacking out thing for a while, and eventually just stopped coming back on. The f1703 (which is just larger than the 1503) had a recall because of the same problem, but not the one I have. Mine is no longer covered on warranty. I found several websites online that said the problem was pretty easily fixed if you knew how to cold solder (which I do not,) but my bf's brother does all that stuff for a living. I printed all the pages for him (about the f1503 and f1703 issues) and asked him to take a look. He told me the problem was actually the power supply board. He said he can still fix it, but I need a new one. I tried googling "power supply board" with my monitor name, but did not come up with anything that made sense.

Any suggestions? Is it even possible to buy just this one part?

Thank you!!!

So I may buy my own computer in a few months... Is Dell any good compaired to the other companies or are they all about the same?

And is it possible not to have to get Vista on it? Ugh