A> You can use Windows’ inbuilt encryption for encrypting / decrypting your files. The “cipher” command is used for this purpose. The syntax for encrypting files is as follows, with X as the drive letter (use this command at a command prompt): cipher “X:Path /E /A”
This will prevent all users-other than the one who encrypted the file or folder-from accessing it. The command for decrypting files encrypted this way is: cipher “X:Path /D /A”
If you need more flexibility in methods and speeds of encryption, we suggest FineCrypt from www.finecrypt.net. It will allow you to choose from up to 10 different algorithms, and is freeware.
Seeing Red
Q> I have a Pentium 4 3.0 GHz HP 7540 branded system, 82915C/GV/910GL Express chipset family, 80 GB HDD, 256 MB DDR RAM. My display shows red vertical lines all over. This happens even when I change the monitor.
Muzafar Ahmad Ahanger
A> Do the red lines appear even during POST (Power On Self Test) before Windows starts? If not, then you need to update your video card drivers to the latest available in order to eliminate any driver issues. Refer to your video card manufacturer’s Web site for information on downloading the latest drivers. If the red lines appear even during POST, it’s time to check your computer’s insides. Go through the following checklist to narrow down your problem.
If your video card is not onboard, then remove the card and re-insert it in the slot.
It’s also possible that the power supplied to your card might be fluctuating, especially if it uses a connector from your PSU to provide power. If it does, remove it and plug it in again- or use another connector if your PSU has similar connectors. You can also try your display card on another PC to see if the PSU is the cause of the problem.
To eliminate any overheating issues, place a portable fan right next to your open cabinet, directly facing the video card. If the problem disappears, then you know your PC needs more efficient cooling. For tips, take a look at Going With The Flow, Digit, January 2007. Try another video card altogether, even if you have an onboard card. If everything seems fine, then the problem lies with the onboard video. You can then either look to using another video card or changing your motherboard.
We Don’t Like No Pirates!
Q> I downloaded the setup of Windows Media Player 11, but upon running it, I encounter an error message saying setup was unable to validate that my copy of Windows is genuine. Is there a way to solve this problem?
Atin Bansal
A> While there are ways to get WMP11 to work in your situation, we can’t assist you in this case-it would be aiding piracy. The only suggestion we can provide is for you to get a legal copy of Windows XP.
When Memory Doesn’t Serve
Q> I have an Intel 915GAV motherboard with an Intel Pentium 4 2.8 GHz processor, 256 MB of DDR RAM, and an 80 GB SATA HDD running Windows XP Media Center Edition. My computer is on 24/7. My problem is that after a couple of hours, it becomes very sluggish, taking more than a minute to start Firefox! I’ve tried using some memory clearing programs to free up memory, but nothing seems to work.
It was the same when I had XP with SP2 installed, so I tried changing the OS to Win XP Media Center. I’ve downloaded and installed all the new drivers for this OS. I also have ZoneAlarm, Avast!, and Microsoft AntiSpyware running in the background all the time. Will increasing the RAM work? If so, what amount would be sufficient? I’m not an avid gamer, but the system seems too slow to work with.
Arun Shanker Prasad
A> Firefox taking a long time to start could be due to a large amount of cache stored; clear the cache. Keep it at 50 MB or so.
Your system turning sluggish after a couple of hours could be due to a program malfunctioning over a period of time and using up too much memory and/or CPU time. Look for this in the Task Manager. Memory usage should be in the range of 50 to 100 MB, and CPU usage should be above 50 per cent for the errant program.
More memory always helps in speeding up a computer. 256 MB is too little to work with nowadays, even if you are not an avid gamer. 512 MB will be decent, and 1 GB will help you forget your memory problems for good.
Q> The configuration of my system is AMD Athlon XP 2200 with 256 MB RAM. I was running XP SP1, which I upgraded to SP2, and I installed IE Beta version 7.0 from your CD. It did not function properly, so I tried to uninstall it, but I couldn’t do so. I then used System Restore and rolled back to IE6. After this I’ve been facing a new problem-every time I boot my system, I get a warning: ieplore.exe-Entry Point Not Found
The procedure entry point InternetGetSecurity InfoByURLS could not be located in the dynamic link library WININET.dll
Once I press OK, the system reboots. I’m not able to install IE Beta Version 7.0 again because I get a message stating that it is already installed. More importantly, I’m not able to open any .html or .htm files. Whenever I try to open these I get the above message. In addition to this, even Windows Explorer is sometimes unable to open some files. What do I do?
Saravanan K
A> The problem stems from the fact that IE7 Beta is known to have these problems; the full release of IE7 should fix them all. We suggest you use an alternative browser, going to the Microsoft Web site, searching for “Internet Explorer 7” (without the quotes), and downloading the full released version of IE7. Installing this should get rid of the problems you’ve mentioned, and if you uninstall it at a later stage, your system will roll back to IE6
Q> I have a Pentium 4 1.5 GHz, 256 MB RAM with Windows 98 SE, and a Samsung SyncMaster 17-inch monitor with Intel (R) 82845 G/GL Graphics Controller running at 1024 x 768. One day, my screen suddenly blacked out and my PC stopped responding. On restarting, my screen showed two thick black strips on either side, and the actual picture shrank to the middle of the screen. I tried to get the monitor to work properly by changing resolutions and by using the OSD for functions like horizontal and vertical resize, but without success.
Nilesh
A> It pretty much appears that your monitor has given up on you. We suggest you try running your PC using a different monitor to confirm if it’s the monitor that’s the cause of the problem.
If the problem continues even after replacing the monitor, try running on another video card. If it’s the monitor, you’re left with no choice but to look for a replacement. If it turns out to be the video card-of which the probability is very low-then your PC can still function with an external video card.
Op-Errant!
Q> I run Windows 98 on a 2.4 GHz Athlon XP processor, 128 MB of RAM, and a 40 GB hard drive. I use Opera, and it often hangs; the following message comes up.
Opera executed an invalid instruction in module OPERA.DLL at 016f:67e2eae8.
Registers: EAX=0065f094 CS=016f EIP=67e2eae8 EFLGS=00010246
What could be the problem?
Manu Nair
Set Opera’s cache size to something smaller to speed it up and prevent crashes
A> First, make sure you have the latest version of Opera installed; you can find it on the Digit CDs. If that’s already the case, then make sure that the drive where Opera stores its cache has enough free space (at least 200 MB). Next, clear your cache and set it to a small amount (like 50 MB). You can set this by going to Tools > Preferences, clicking on the Advanced tab, and then clicking on History in the left pane. If none of the above work, you’ll have to reinstall Opera.
Resident Evil
Q> The path “C:Documents and SettingsOwner” shows a folder called “Recent”, inside which resides a file called GIF89a with a size of 3.39 GB, modified on 10/31/2077! I am sure this is a malicious entry, and I cannot remove it. Help!
A> Excellent detective work soldier, this is a malicious entry. You haven’t mentioned which OS you use, but if you are using Win2K / XP, then restart your PC, press [F8] before Windows starts, and choose “Safe mode with networking”; stay in normal mode if you’re using Win 9x.
Update your anti-virus and run a full scan on all drives. Also install Spybot Search & Destroy (it’s on the Digit CD), update its libraries, run a full spyware scan, and fix any malicious entries.
If the scans are unable to detect or remove the file, use software such as Unlocker (on the Digit CD) to remove the file.
Second Things First
Q> I recently downloaded Prince of Persia 3D patch v1.1. But ever since I installed it, Prince of Persia 3D gives an error message saying “Insert the 2nd CD-ROM into the drive” even when the second CD is sitting in the drive. What’s up?
Nikhil Vemula
A> If you have taken a backup of your original discs and are running the game using the backup discs, we suggest you use the original discs to start the game. If you still encounter the problem, go through this diagnostic checklist:
If you have two or more CD drives, insert the Prince of Persia disc in the drive that has an earlier drive letter than the others.
Again, if you are using two or more CD drives, disconnect all but one drive, insert the CD, and play.
Uninstall any third-party CD-ROM emulation software like Daemon tools or Alcohol; they can sometimes cause problems with certain CD protection systems (SecuROM in this case).
If this doesn’t help, you are left with no choice but to perform a reinstall of the game. And this time, don’t apply the patch!
Q>I use Windows XP Professional. The Welcome Screen has changed to that in older versions of Windows. How do I get rid of this and get the standard Windows XP Welcome Screen back?
N K R Vivek
A> The Windows XP Welcome Screen is only available on computers that aren’t members of a domain. If your computer is a standalone, then, under User Accounts in the Control Panel, click on “Change the way users log on or off”. Select “Use the Welcome Screen”. You should now see the Windows XP Welcome Screen at startup.
No COMfort
Q> I have an HP Pavilion 6506 with an AMD K6 processor running 450 MHz, a 20 GB HDD, 256 MB of SDRAM, and Win98 SE multi-booting with Windows XP Professional, to which I upgraded recently. I noticed that there is no COM port in the Device Manager. Checking in Add/Remove Hardware also did not show up anything, and there is no Communication Wizard. Because of this, I can’t use my dial-up modem. I want to know why the COM port vanished after I installed XP. All other drivers-for display, sound, etc.-work fine.
Rajesh Sharma
A>First update your motherboard and modem drivers to the latest versions available. Also, install Windows XP Service Pack 2. If this doesn’t fix the problem, then in the BIOS, disable all your COM ports, boot into XP, restart, re-enable the ports, and again boot into XP. This should take care of the problem.
Out Of Control
Q>After installing Windows Vista customizing pack v3 from the Digit CD, my system lost the Volume icon in the notification area. When I try to fix this problem using the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties and try to check “Place volume icon in the taskbar”, I get the following error:
“Windows cannot display the volume control on the taskbar because the volume control program has not been installed. To install it use Add/Remove programs in the Control Panel”.
Under the Audio tab, when I press the Volume button, I get this error:
“Windows cannot execute SndVol32.exe. Use Add/Remove programs in the Control Panel to install it”.
Vismay Badiani
A>You just need to extract the sndvol32.exe file from the Windows XP CD. At a command prompt, enter these commands without the quotes, where X is your CD drive letter:
“X:”
“CD i386”
“expand -r sndvol32.ex_ C:windowssystem32”
(The path “C:windows” means the path to where you installed XP; change this if you installed Windows elsewhere)
You should now be able to enable the volume control.