The FTP command requires that either the file FTP.EXE be present in the folder from where the command is run or that the path to that file is present in the PATH environment variable. FTP.EXE is installed by default with every Windows XP installation to the System32 folder in the Windows directory. The reason for the FTP command not working on your computer could be due to this file being corrupt or the file may have been deleted. You can copy this file from any Windows XP PC from the location mentioned earlier to the Syetem32 directory of your machine, and the FTP command will start working again.
What Is My Server Type?
Q. I have a problem with Outlook Express. When I create an account, it asks for the type of server. I don’t know what type my server is. What should I enter?
Bapi Roy
The incoming and outgoing mail server to be specified in Outlook Express depends on the mail provider and your Internet Service Provider (ISP). While the incoming mail server depends on the mail service provider that has provided your e-mail ID, the outgoing mail server depends on your ISP. Since you have not provided your e-mail ID, we advise you to contact your ISP for your outgoing server, which is also known as POP (Post Office Protocol) server and if your e-mail provider is different from your ISP, you will have to contact that provider for the incoming server which is also known as the SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server.
Live Update Led To Deletion
Q. I own a Compaq Presario M2000 Series laptop. I have been using Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2. I am using the CMD Command Prompt (DOS-based). Till recently, all my DOS applications were working fine. However, after a Live Update operation, a file named AUTOEXEC.NT in C:WindowsSystem32 folder, was deleted automatically. Now, I had to copy this file from C:WindowsSystem32Dllcache.
However, whenever I restarted the laptop, it always deleted the AUTOEXEC.NT. I have also tried the ‘System Restore’ option from HP but to no avail.
Dipak Sheth
You do not need to set the environment variables in Autoexec.NT and Config.NT. There is an easier way to set the environment variables in Windows XP/2000/2003. Open the ‘Control Panel’ and open the ‘System Properties’. Alternatively, you can bring up the ‘System Properties’ by pressing the ‘Pause’/ ‘Break’ key while keeping the Windows key pressed. Now, navigate to the ‘Advanced’ tab and click the ‘Environment Variables’ button near the bottom of the window.
Here, at the top, you can set user variables for the current user only by clicking on ‘New’, entering the variable name and value and clicking ‘OK’. To modify a variable, click on the variable and click ‘Edit’ and modify the name(s) or value(s). To delete a variable, click on the variable and then hit ‘Delete’.
At the bottom, you can set global environment variables, which are applicable to any user who logs into Windows. You must belong to the Administrator group in order to be able to set new variables or modify any variable. As always, you need to restart Windows for the changes to take effect.
The Space Saga
Q. I have a Celeron 1.7, Windows 2003 Server with Exchange Server 2003 installed. Problem is, when my PC restarts, its root partition C: has around 400 MB free space. But, as I run any applications, the space gets filled and after some time, it is “0 Bytes”. I also checked for any Log or .tmp files, viruses, but everything seems OK. What could be the cause and what is the solution?
Prasad Thombre
Windows 2003 Server requires a page file, which is nothing but a swap file located in the root partition-usually the C: drive, in order to function smoothly. The page file is utilised as virtual memory, an extension to the amount of physical RAM available in the system, when the amount of physical RAM is insufficient for certain applications. The size of the page file depends on the amount of RAM and generally ranges from 1 to 1.5 times that amount.
You have mentioned at the start of Windows, the C: drive has around 400 MB free space. For Window 2003 Server, this amount of space is too low and hence the page file expands and occupies all the available space after some time and you are left with almost no space on your C drive.
The solution is to move some of your data and applications to another drive to free up as much space as possible on your C: drive. Once you do this, you will find Windows 2003 Server perform much better.
I want to know how to write the installer package in two different CDs so that when I install it on my computer, the PC detects that the installation is not complete and there is more on a second CD.
Secondly, for the last few days, whenever I start my machine, it emits a whirring sound as if something is getting scratched. I think the sound is from the fan of the SMPS, but I am not sure. After running for sometime, it either stops or reduces to a minimum. What is happening?
Udayan Misra
Writing a 766 MB file to a CD is not a problem these days, as 800 MB CD-R media are available. All you need to do is start Nero, click on File > Preferences, click the ‘Expert Features’ tab and check the ‘Enable Disc-at-once CD overburning’ as well as ‘Enable generation of short lead-out’ and click ‘OK’.
Insert the media and start burning the file to it. When prompted, choose to overburn and the CD will be created. Remember, some older CD writers might not support overburning and hence, you won’t be able to create a CD using those CD writers.
If that’s the case, then you may use a compression utility such as WinRAR to create an archive that can be split into volumes of 700 MB. You can later burn these archive files to CDs.
Your second problem strongly points to one of the fans in your computer being obstructed. Open the cabinet and see if the CPU fan, graphics card fan or any other fan is obstructed by cables or wires.
If so, relocate the wires to a location away from the fan blades. If the SMPS fan seems to be making the noise, then you are advised not to open the SMPS yourselves as there is risk of an electrical shock. Call a hardware engineer to solve the problem.
I Want To Play DAT File, Now!
Q. I have SuSE Linux 9.1, Mandrake 10, ELX 4.0 and Knoppix 3.3. I want to write a VCD with Linux. I tried doing this with the K3B software by Linux, but it asks for package VCDIMAGER from vcdimager.org. I downloaded it from the Internet. It contains some ‘C’ files and others but no .rpm files. I tried those, but in vain. How can I install this package? The Linux versions I have can’t play the .DAT files except ELX; the rest play only .MPEG files. Is there any package that plays these files?
Amit Pawar
The files that you downloaded from vcdimager.org are tar.gz files which you must extract using a file extraction utility such as GZIP from www.gzip.com. Since these are source files, you will have to compile them and then install the package.
Alternatively, you can install NeroLINUX which is nothing but Nero Burning ROM for Linux. Download it from http://snipurl.com/flb5. You can use this to create VCDs just like you use Nero for Windows. You can download and install MPlayer from www.mplayerhq.hu. It will let you play a host of file formats including .DAT files.
Avid For Viewing
Q. I have Windows XP SP2 installed on my computer. I had installed AutoPatcher from the Digit DVD and disabled previewing of .AVI files. Please tell me how I can enable this again. When I turn on my PC, a warning in displayed that reads: “Your Firewall is turned OFF”. When I try to turn it ‘ON’, an error message is displayed, “Cannot Turn ON Firewall”.
Param Partap
In order to enable the preview of AVI files in Windows Explorer, open the registry editor. Navigate to the following branch, HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.aviShellEx. Right-click in the right pane and select New > Key. Name this key as {BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}. Include the brackets too.
Next, double-click in the default string inside this key and set its value to {c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}. Again, you must include the brackets. After you log off and log on again, the AVI preview in Windows Explorer will be enabled.
To enable firewall in Windows XP SP2, follow these steps: Right-click on the ‘Internet Connection’ icon in the ‘Network Connection’, which is in the ‘Control Panel’ and click ‘Properties’.
Next, click the ‘Windows Firewall’ tab and select the ‘ON (recommended)’ radio-button. Click ‘OK’. Your firewall should now be enabled. If this doesn’t work, your Service Pack 2 installation is probably corrupt, and you will have to re-install Service Pack 2.
A better option would be to install a third-party firewall such as Sygate Personal Firewall, which is free and can be downloaded from http://snipurl.com/24pi. It’s much better than the firewall that comes free with Windows XP SP2.
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I have also tried copying the boot.ini file but that does not seem to work. I have a few music files with the extension .ram downloaded from Internet.
While trying to find a player for it on the Web, it refers to the ‘Real Audio Media Player’, which I later installed from the Digit DVD, but it could not play the above file. In its supported file list, .rm is present. I have many Hindi movie DVDs. Please suggest software to cut songs from the VOB files.
Soumyadeep Mitra
As for your first question regarding multiple operating systems, refer to the answer provided in the Q&A section of the June 2005 issue of Digit.
The files with extension .RM and .RAM are Real Media files and can be played using RealPlayer basic version, which can be downloaded from www.real.com or using Real Alternative, which was carried in the June 2005 DVD of Digit. If you are still not able to play the file, chances are the file you have is corrupt.
There is a lot of software available to cut VOB files and save as AVI. Dr. DivX is one such software and can be downloaded from www.divx.com, and it’s shareware. Another software, a freeware known as Vidomi can be downloaded from www.vidomi.com.