Mahesh Naik
You probably have a damaged Memory Stick Duo card. Try and use the phone with a different Memory Stick to verify that the problem is with the Memory Stick and not with the phone itself. If your phone is under warranty, take it to the reseller from whom you bought it; remember that the Memory Stick is covered by the warranty, so if that’s where the fault lies, you will get a replacement.
The Sound Of Silence
I’m facing problems after having installed Red Hat Linux Enterprise WS v3 (Taroon). Everything runs fine, but sound doesn’t seem to work. I have an Intel Pentium 4 2.4 GHz processor on an Intel 865GBF motherboard with 256 MB RAM.
Dipayan Samanta
The Red Had Linux Enterprise WS v3 (Taroon) has inbuilt support for onboard audio devices based on the AC97 codec. Since the Intel 865GBF motherboard has such an audio device onboard, it is, of course, supported by this flavour of Linux. Download the open source ALSA drivers from www.alsa-project.org and install them. These drivers support most sound devices.
It Works Both Ways
Is there paid or free software to convert DVD movies to XviD (not DivX)?
Runeet Saraf
SimpleDivX is a good and easy-to-use freeware application that can convert DVD movies to DivX as well as Xvid. It is available from www.simpledivx.org.
A Burning Issue
I have a Pentium 4 1.6 GHz, 256 MB of RAM, an 80 GB hard disk running Windows XP Pro, and a Samsung CD-Writer with Nero burning software. When I try to burn a video compilation or even just data, I get a message saying “Burn process failed, power calibration error”. I cannot burn even at 4x. What can I do?
Sunil Malhotra
There are sevral points to mention when it comes to the “Power Calibration Error”:
1. The first and easiest method to deal with the problem is to download the latest firmware for your CD-Writer and flash it. You can get the latest firmware from the Samsung Web site (www.samsungodd.com).
2. Try changing the brand of the media you are using to see if the problem goes away.
3. Power consumption can also be an issue. To check if this is the case, disconnect the power connectors of all the devices that are not necessary for the burning process.
4. The error could be because of the accumulation of dust on the lens. Use a lens-cleaning CD, or if you are comfortable with the idea, you can also open the unit and clean it. Remember, this voids your warranty.
5. If the writer is under warranty, avail of it: if your dealer finds that he cannot burn a disc using the writer and the bundled software, he will probably be willing to replace the writer.
“Sony NS-11”: Beware
I bought an MP3 player with pen drive (256 MB) with a “5 in 1” option. The model number printed on the drive is “Sony NS-11”. After I formatted the drive, the capacity changed to 120 MB. Is it possible to recover the lost memory?
M D Kishore
You’ve been taken for a ride by your dealer. This MP3 player is not from Sony, and it has been reported that while it may display a capacity of 256 MB, it decreases to 120 MB the first time you format it. There is no way to recover the lost space-simply because the drive does not have 256 MB of space! The “NS-11” is a fake MP3 player that has swamped our markets.
A Question Of Voltages
Can an AGP 8x card work in an AGP 4x slot?
Joe
Yes, all AGP 8x cards are backwards-compatible, and can work with motherboards that have AGP 4x slots-provided the voltage of the slot is 0.8 V. AGP 8x cards can work in AGP 4x slots with 1.5 V voltages, but may not function properly. Some cards, though, can tolerate the extra voltage. Remember, these cards cannot work with motherboards that have AGP 1x or 2x slots, which generally have 3.3 V.
Conflicting Codecs
I have an Intel 3 GHz processor with 256 MB of RAM running Windows XP SP2. A few days ago, I installed K-Lite Codec Pack from your DVD. I also have Windows Media Player 10. The problem is, whenever I play a movie file in WMP10 or the Media Player Classic software that comes with K-Lite codec pack, it hangs, but the sound continues. After I finish my work, when I try to shut down the PC, a pop-up tells me that WMP10 or MP Classic (whichever I used first) is still running, and if I choose “End now”, the PC hangs with a beep. I have no option but to restart and then shut down again. What should I do?
Mandar
As you might know, K-Lite Codec Pack is a collection of different codecs and related tools. The problem you described can occur if you installed certain codecs and then installed the K-Lite codecs on top of them, thus improperly overwriting the previous versions of those codecs without properly uninstalling them.
Uninstall K-Lite Codec Pack and also uninstall all other previously installed codecs. Then install the latest version of K-Lite Codec Pack from our CD, or download it from www.free-codecs.com/K_Lite_Codec_Pack_download.htm.
While installing the Pack, click Next a few times and do not change the default settings of the installation. At the end, you will be presented with “Additional Tasks”. If you do not want to make Media Player Classic the default for a number of file types, be sure to uncheck the boxes. Leave the rest of the options untouched and finalise the installation process.
We Aren’t There Yet
I’ve heard that Bungie studios will soon release the PC version of Halo 2, and I’m worried that my current PC won’t run it with all the eye-candy. Can you tell me what configuration will let me run Halo 2 in all its glory (when the PC version arrives)?
Boney Joseph
Halo 2 will require Windows Vista, and will not run on older operating systems. One of the system requirements of Halo 2 is a graphics card that supports DirectX 10. As you may be aware, DirectX 10 has not yet been released, and graphics cards compliant with this version of DirectX are still a few months away. Also, Vista is slated to be released in early 2007, and will ship with DirectX 10 inbuilt. So there’s little you can do but wait and watch!
I’m Left With No Option...
I have an Intel 865GBF motherboard, a 2.4 GHz Celeron processor, and 256 MB of RAM. Recently, I downloaded and installed a BIOS setup from the Intel site for the 865GBF motherboard. And now, when I shut down the system, it shuts down perfectly, and I switch off the main power. However, when I switch on the main power again, the PC starts automatically, without waiting for me to press the power button on the cabinet. What’s wrong?
Siril B Barot
Your PC has been set to go to “power on” state while booting. You can configure this option in the BIOS: go to the power options and look for the option that says “After Power Failure” (or something like that). This option determines the mode of operation of the PC if a power loss occurs. It can be set to:
Stay Off-The PC will remain off once power is restored Power On-The PC boots after power is restored Last State-The PC is restored to the power state it was in when the power loss occurred You’ll want to select the Stay Off option.
It’s Whipping The CPU’s A**!
I have a Pentium 4 2.8 GHz, an original Intel D945GTP motherboard, 512 MB of DDR2 RAM, a 160 GB Seagate SATA, an 80 GB Hitachi ATA, and Windows XP with SP2. This system is too slow and it feels like I’m using a Pentium III, particularly when I play an MP3 using Winamp: the CPU usage shoots up to 100 per cent. What’s the problem?
Aman Jamwal
to use no DSP plugins-some of them are CPU hogs.
Access @Home
I have a broadband connection from Dish Antenna, with a static IP. I would like to know how I can connect to my server at JNPT, Navi Mumbai, from my residence at Ghatkopar (in Mumbai). I also want to access my hard disk and the software loaded on the server.
Mehul Meruwalla
We shall assume that you have Windows 2000/XP/2003 installed on both computers. The operating systems on the computers need not be the same. You need to do the following on the PC in your office: open System Properties from the Control Panel. Click on the Remote tab. Under Remote Desktop, check the box next to “Allow users to connect remotely to this computer”. Once this is done, you can remotely log into this PC from your home PC. To do this, at your home computer, go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Communications > Remote Desktop Connection. The Remote Desktop Connection application will open. Type in the IP address of your office computer in the dialog box next to “Computer”. Click on Options, and in the expanded window, enter the username, password, and domain of the office computer. Click on Connect to log into the remote computer.
You can go one step further by clicking on the Local Resources tab. Here, click on Disk Drives, Printers, and Serial Ports, according to what you want.
When you select one of these (Disk Drives, for example), you will be able to view your local disk drives as additional drives on the remote computer after you have logged into that computer. You can transfer files between the remote PC’s hard drive and your local hard drive.
Just In Case…
I have a Pentium IV machine with Windows XP SP 2 running. I log into Windows using a password. But if I ever forget my password, how can I log into Windows?
Nirmalya Chakrabarty
Download the file “cd060213.zip” from http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ ntpasswd/cd060213.zip. Extract the ISO file that is in this Zip file, and burn this image to a CD; this is a bootable Linux kernel image. Note that you need to burn it as an image of a CD rather than an ISO file on a CD. Set your computer to boot from the CD/DVD drive, insert the CD in the drive and reboot your computer. You will now boot from this CD, and all you need to do is follow the easy instructions to reset your Windows XP password.
Spaced Out
I have a Celeron 1.1 GHz processor and 128 MB of RAM. We use Windows XP, but after having installed AutoPatcher from the Digit July DVD, when I run any application, after a few minutes, a “denied instruction” box pops up and asks if it is OK to terminate the running application. I also get a message in the System Tray: “Windows – virtual memory minimum too low; your system is low on virtual memory. Windows is increasing the size of your virtual memory paging file. During this process, memory requests for some application may be denied.”
Kapil Agarwal
This error appears when the hard drive does not have enough space to accommodate the Windows swap file. The swap file is usually present on the drive where Windows is installed (usually the C: drive). You should free up disk space on the drive by deleting unwanted files and uninstalling unnecessary programs. Alternatively, you can set the location of the swap file to a drive that has more free space.
To do this, open the Control Panel and double-click the System icon. In the Advanced tab, click on the Settings button under Performance. Click on the Advanced tab where you will see the Virtual memory heading. Click on Change, and in the window that opens, you can set the paging file to any location.
If your Windows is not starting up due to a driver conflict and the programs are all fine, you can first replace just the “system” file and check if Windows starts up. If this does not work, then replace the “software” file as well.
Do Not Disturb
When I try to hibernate my computer after using my TV-Tuner card, it goes into hibernation, but when I turn on the computer, an error is displayed: “Attention: Out of Range”, and the computer stops responding. I have to restart after that.
HarSachin Singh
Your TV-Tuner sets the refresh rate of your monitor to a value that it cannot handle, hence the problem. First, download the latest drivers for your TV-Tuner from the manufacturer’s Web site, and get the latest version of DirectX available for your OS (from the Digit CD/DVD). To fix the problem, you need to know the refresh rate that is normally used by your monitor. To find this, open Display Properties, click on the Advanced tab, click Settings, select the Monitor tab, and note down the refresh rate that has been chosen under the “Monitor settings” section. Now go to Start > Run, type in “DXDIAG” and press [Enter]. In the window that appears, click on the “More Help” tab and click the Override button. Select the “Override Value” radio button and enter, in the adjacent box, the refresh rate you noted down earlier. Click OK and then Exit for the changes to take effect. The problem you described should go away.