Monthly Archives: April 2010

Cloning hard drive fails: how to fix it

Computer Aid Posted on by

I was upgrading a PC, and everything was proceeding normally.

I get to the point where I clone the old hard drive to the new drive (after which I usually need to do a repair install of windows XP)… but I couldn’t clone the drive.

The target drive was a 250Gb Seagate sata drive… not large by todays standards… and nothing unusual about it.

The source drive was an 80Gb Samsung drive… also nothing unusual about it.

I thought that maybe my old version of ghost somehow couldn’t cope with the newer drive configurations, so I tried the latest acronis true image 2010, but it also failed with an error something like: “the clone failed, reason unknown”.

So: I look more closely at the source drive (I will assume, for now, that the new target drive is not at fault).

A check-disk reveals no errors. But I try acronis true image again, but with a slightly different configuration… but no go… I adjust the partitions a few different ways… but still no go.

OK, I decide to look at the contents of the source drive: I can see lots of temp windows files, and the drive is slightly fragmented.

So I clear out:

  • windowstemp,
  • windows$ntuninstallKB{long number}
  • windowsKB*.log,
  • documents and settings{user}local settingstemp,
  • documents and settings{user}local settingsTemporary internet files,
  • Anything directly in the folder that looks like a log file

I then defragment the drive.

I don’t know why I’m bothering with all this work… it probably won’t make any difference.

I then try the clone again: and this time it works perfectly… and very quickly as well!

I wouldn’t have thought that something like fragmentation or an excessive number of temp files would have caused a problem with a clone… but there it is!

Lenovo 3000 N100 will not boot

Computer Aid Posted on by

I just saw a lenovo 3000 N100 laptop that refused to start.

The owner thought that something had gone wrong with windows, since it froze after a microsoft update.

The customer was also good enough to take out the battery, and unplug the power… but after being left unpowered overnight, it still didn’t start.

So I started it, and it showed the lenovo logo, and after a few flashed of the HDD light… it froze.

The caps-lock light wouldn’t work, and pressing F1 or the “lenovo help” buttons did not do anything.

Its always worrying when a PC locks up before it gets  past the bios tests… so this didn’t look good.

So: booting from a CD or USB drive also wouldn’t work.

All I could do, was check the hardware.

First step: remove the RAM… it has 2 sticks of 512Mb, so I tried each one… but no go.

Next: check the CPU fan… see if there is an overheating issue: I cleaned the fan and cooling fins, but still no go.

Next step: the only “hatch” I hadn’t looked into was the HDD enclosure.

I didn’t expect to see much, since a failed HDD usually doesn’t show any signs of the problem.

The HDD was a Sata drive from Toshiba… nothing unusual… it was clean.

So I tried starting the PC without the HDD, and it started… and went to trying a network boot.

At this stage its looking like a corrupted drive at best… or a complete failure at worst.

I plug the drive back in, start the PC (expecting to see the usual boot failure), but to my complete surprise, the laptop started Vista… as if nothing had gone wrong…

Vista completed the Microsoft update, and then the laptop was back to normal.

All I can guess, is that dust or corrosion on the SATA contacts had caused an intermittent connection… which was fixed by removing and re-inserting the drive.

Complete Keyfinder

Computer Aid Posted on by

My colleague, Mike Hansell, has developed another superb utility for the technical people out there:

Complete Keyfinder

The demo lets you view your current windows and office product key. Thats not very different from other keyfinders out there (like magic jellybean).

But the really cool part is that by registering the full version, it will also show your product key (again of windows and office) of any external drive connected to the PC.

Where this is very useful for people like me is: Customer has a failed PC (usually motherboard failure). Customer doesn’t have the original office / windows CD (or didn’t do the “create a recovery disk” when they purchased the PC/laptop… and there is no product key sticker). The hard drive is still in good condition… but how do you get the code from the registry key without the original motherboard?

Well, thats where Complete Keyfinder works its best.

It can automatically detect external drives (so you plug the HDD from the failed PC into a working PC), and Complete Keyfinder will automatically detect the drive, look for the windows registry, and then show your office and windows codes.

TomTom Start GPS (major flaw: usb device not recognized)

Computer Aid Posted on by

I finally got sick of my 3 year old Navman GPS satnav.

Around Easter, I saw a TV ad for a Tomtom unit for $150.

Given that I like the way Tomtom do their map updates over the internet, and also allow you to get map corrections for free, then I decided to upgrade to something more modern.

After having used it for a few weeks, I can now report on the good (and not-so-good) aspects of the tomtom.

Given that this is an upgrade from my older Navman ICN320, I should find it significantly better than my old unit.

Anyway, the screen is big and clear, and after exploring the various touch-screen options, I could find most of the essentials.

There are no useless extras like bluetooth and MP3 players built in… so I like that.

One problem I had initially, was adjusting the volume of the spoken directions. Its not intuitive to touch the speed indicator (bottom left-hand corner), to adjust the volume. After a lot of searching, it seems that thats the only way to do it.

Another annoying problem, is finding a street, without knowing the suburb… I often know the street, but the suburb might not be correct.

The Start will always insist on a suburb… and if the street doesn’t exist in that suburb, then you have to trial-and-error some surrounding suburbs, until you find the correct one… Once I was in a hurry, so I had to look in the “paper” map book, to find the suburb, so I could enter the @$!% street.

And this gets even more confusing if a “new” suburb is formed. At one point, I wanted to go to a street in Scarborough. I knew the street was there, but the satnav said it didn’t exist. Only after exploring the “browse maps” section, I noticed (accidentally), that part of Scarborough is now called Newport… Grrr

An obvious solution is to offer to search nearby suburbs for the street.

Anyway, the voice directions are very clear, and there is a huge range of voices to choose from (and if you are a Doctor Who fan, you can even download the “Dalek Tom” voice… its really cool).

It doesn’t have “lane guidance”… but I found the directions clear enough, that I doubt I’ll be wishing for that feature.

The routing is good… it gives you an alternative if you don’t like its initial suggestion, and it usually finds the quickest way to your destination.

After having done the “school run” for a few weeks, I notice it always tries to take me a particular way (which I know takes longer)… I usually go “my” way… it is quicker. But it would be nice if someone could develop “smart” software that learns from the routes taken, and then uses the information it gathers to figure out better routes (ie software that learns as you drive”. I guess the technology just isn’t there yet.

The on-screen display is a bit slow to update when you go around a sharp corner, but not enough to be a problem.

It has a lot of potential to customise (eg you can customise the startup and shutdown screen, the day and night map colours, voices, etc)

The unit is incredibly small and light, so it doesn’t block your vision in the same way that a larger one would.

The windscreen mount feels solid and secure… but only time will tell how well it holds up against a Queensland summer.

And speaking of summer, I’m curious how long the LiIon battery will last in the heat.

It also changes the colour of the indicated speed, if it thinks you are going faster than the speed limit.

I’d say the best feature is being able to connect the Start to the computer, so that I can download internet updates via tomtoms map share software.

After a week I did have a problem with actual unit: it would no longer be recognised by any computer (but the navigation still worked well). After trying all sorts of ways around the problem (including a factory reset), I eventually took it back to the store and had it exchanged.

Something that some people will not like (particularly with left-hand drive countries like Australia, great Britain, and South Africa), is that the power button is behind the unit… top right-hand side. Since I like attaching it to the far Right-hand side of my window, near the door pillar, I can’t reach the power button without reaching up behind the unit, from below… quite awkward. Its obviously been designed with right-hand drive countries in mind!

In conclusion: Satnav units will probably never be perfect, but its pleasing to see just how far this technology has evolved in the last 3 years.

Update: my second unit has now developed the same problem as my first unit. The error is: “USB device not recognized”. It seems like the TomTom start has a serious flaw. I assume that having the problem happen to 2 devices signifies a significant problem with these devices.

Since the main reason for buying a TomTom is so that I can do web updates, then its looking like I’ll have to pick a more expensive model… I’m not happy!

Causes And Solutions To DLL Errors

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According to a famous computer journal, DLL errors are among the most frequently encountered application errors on Windows computers. However, only 5% of users are aware of what the term DLL stands for and have absolutely no idea how these errors crop up. Therefore, it is not surprising that a majority of users do not have any solutions to these problems.

The truth is that DLL errors are one of the easiest computer errors to solve and there is no need to get intimidated by them. This article will help you understand DLL files, the root causes behind these errors and finally simple solutions to get rid of them.

What is a DLL file?

A DLL file contains codes that allow it to perform specific functions. A single DLL file can be used by multiple applications that need to perform the same functions. On a single PC there are an innumerable number of DLLs present. Therefore, it is not surprising that every now and then a DLL error surfaces on your computer.

Causes and Solutions to DLL Errors

Listed below are common causes of DLL errors, such as the msvcr80.dll, msvbvm60.dll, and msvcp71.dll errors and their solutions.

Missing DLL file

The majority of DLL errors occur when a DLL file is missing from your computer. Discussed below are reasons due to which a DLL file may go missing and the steps you can follow to rectify the issue.

  • Removal of the DLL file by mistake

    If you have removed a DLL file, such as the msvbvm60.dll file by mistake, check the contents of your Recycle Bin and restore the file from there. If you have also removed the DLL file from the Recycle Bin, use a reliable third-party recovery tool to restore the DLL file.

  • Removal of the DLL file during unisntallation of a program

    Incorrect unisntallation of a program may cause a shared DLL to go missing. If this is the case, reinstall the removed program and then uninstall it again. You should always use either the built-in Add or Remove Programs utility or a third-party tool to uninstall programs from your computer.

    If the reason for the missing DLL is other than the two reasons discussed above, you may download the missing DLL file from a reliable online free DLL Directory and copy it to its location on the hard disk.

  • Overwriting of a current version of a DLL file by an older version

    When you install an old version of software, a current version of the DLL file may get overwritten with an older version. This results in DLL errors due to a compatibility issue. To rectify the issue, either install the latest version of the software or download the latest version of the DLL from the Internet.

  • Usage of outdated drivers

    Outdated driver files may also lead to DLL errors. Update your drivers regularly to avoid DLL errors occurring due to driver problems. You may use a reliable driver scanner tool to ensure that all your drivers are up-to-date.

  • Malware infection

    Malware programs corrupt your DLL files and cause recurring DLL errors, such as msvcr80.dll and msvcp71.dll errors. Run a malware scan on your computer, using advanced antivirus and antispyware tools to fix DLL issues occurring due to these malicious programs.

  • Corrupt and unhealthy registry

    It is no secret that a corrupt registry causes various system errors, including DLL errors. It is imperative that you keep your registry clean and healthy. You can achieve this by scheduling regular registry scans using efficient registry cleaning software.

wordpress: changing the menu order of static pages

Computer Aid Posted on by

I’ve had this problem twice now, so I thought I’d better write it down before I do it again.

You might want to create a set of static pages for wordpress, if you want to have a “home” page, an “about us” page, a “contact us” page, a “blog” page, etc.

The problem is that many templates will order the pages links alphabetically.

I normally like having the home page showing as the first link, and the blog link near the bottom.

The solution is quite easy.

Go to the pages -> edit menu, lets pick the home page, and you will see a screen like this:

Change the number in the order box to 1

Change the other pages using different numbers (eg 10, 20, etc)… I often place the blog page at number 90… and with a good numerical gap between pages, you can insert new pages “in between” existing pages without having to renumber all the pages.

Naturally, the next question becomes: how do I make the blog page a “static page”

Create and publish a blank static page (give it a title, but don’t write anything in the body.

Next, go to settings -> reading, and change the “front page displays” section to “static page”… then select your home page and your blog page from the drop down list.

And hey presto!

You now have a “normal” website based on wordpress… where the blog “seems to be” as a part of the overall website.

Best Ways To Handle Recurring EXE Errors

Computer Aid Posted on by

Recurring errors not only cause frustration but also result in a huge loss of productivity.

An odd computer error here or there is nothing to worry over. However, the issue of recurring errors needs to be dealt with immediately.

To resolve recurring computer errors, you can incorporate either one of two strategies – seek a computer expert’s help or take the job on yourself and attempt to resolve the errors on your own. The second strategy is not only favorable to your pocket, but also helps you increase your computer knowledge and ability to deal with PC errors in the future.

The purpose of this article is to teach you how to handle recurring exe errors, such as the sprtsvc.exe error, sprtcmd.exe error, and the svchost.exe error.

Run a malware scan

Malware programs, such as viruses, spyware, trojans, and adware are often found to be the root cause of exe errors, such as the sprtsvc.exe error or svchost.exe error. Malicious programs are known to modify registry settings of exe files, and as a result, an exe error may occur whenever the infected file is executed.

The first thing you need to do when you encounter an exe error is to run a malware scan using robust antimalware software. Also, to avoid exe errors in the future, it is imperative that you keep your PC protected from the latest malware. To achieve this, regularly update your security program with the latest malware definitions and security updates.

Install any hotfixes available

In case the exe file mentioned in the error message is a Windows file, it will be prudent for you to visit the Microsoft database to see if Microsoft provides a hotfix for the error you are facing.

Update your software

If the exe file listed in the error message is a non-Windows file, then you may begin the troubleshooting process by first checking to see if any new updates are available for the third-party application that is generating the error. Outdated program files are a major cause of exe errors. To check for and download new updates, visit the application manufacturer’s website and download new updates, if available.

If you find you are using the latest software version, uninstall the program and reinstall it. Exe errors may occur if one or more files of an application are missing or damaged. This issue can be resolved when you reinstall the application because when you reinstall the application all files related to it are re-installed on your computer.

Also check to see if the exe file that is generating the error is associated with an essential program or not. In case you find that the program is non-essential, you may choose to uninstall it to get rid of the exe error. For instance, the sprtcmd.exe file is associated with programs, such as “DSL Help Center” or “SupportSoft Online Help Tool”, which are non-essential programs. So, if you are facing recurring sprtcmd.exe issues, you may opt to uninstall these programs to resolve the issue.

Run a registry scan

If the exe error still persists, turn to the registry for answers. An unhealthy or bloated registry may cause recurring exe issues on your computer. Clean your registry using a reliable and easy to use registry cleaning tool to fix exe errors that are occurring due to registry issues.

Cannot start Microsoft office outlook. Outlook cannot open the outlook window

Computer Aid Posted on by

Yes, Microsoft Outlook has actually devolved.

This PC suddenly refused to start outlook.

The window would pop up, but before you could click on anything, it would vanish within about 10 seconds.

I had a quick look at Microsofts suggestions:

  • disable compatibility settings (no compatibility settings had been set, so thats not the problem)
  • delete the registry setting for the outlook profile… but it meant re-entering a profile… and I could see some risk of losing the original email file (with old emails that must not be lost).

OK, after some reading, it seems that the outlook profile must have gotten corrupted somehow, and need to be re-created.

Before doing anything else, I decide to backup the existing outlook database.

Since this is Vista, the outlook profile is not where you would expect it with XP.

I navigate to:

c:users{yourUser}appdatalocalmicrosoftoutlook

Then copy the contents of this folder to a backup folder.

There are some suggestions that running this (from a command prompt), will fix the problem:

outlook.exe /resetnavpane

It didn’t work for me, so the next step was:

control panel -> mail -> show profiles -> add -> enter a new profile name (eg something like outlook2) -> OK -> under “always use this profile”, select outlook2 -> OK

Start outlook, and enter your email details (sorry, but you will need to re-enter the details for your email account).

Now look at file -> data file management… make a note of where, and the name of the new outlook pst file (lets say its called outlook2.pst).

Fully shutdown outlook (check with task manager).

Now rename the original outlook.pst to outlook2.pst.

When you start outlook again, you will find outlook has all your old emails, and can send/receive like it once did.

For the curious: I use a similar method for transferring outlook to a new PC, without losing any emails… all the emails and folders, appointments, etc, are stored in the single outlook.pst file.

Dell Dimension 5150 mouse & keyboard

Computer Aid Posted on by

Sometimes progress can happen too fast.

Dell must have realised this when they released the Dell Dimension 5150.

It must have seemed to be ultra-modern, and the the way PCs would be like in the future: They eliminated those really ancient PS2 ports for the mouse and keyboard (ie the round green and purple plugs at the back of your PC).

A Dell engineer must have thought: its about time we went fully USB, and stop wasting time on PS2.

Great in theory, but the reality is very different… as I found out when I had to fix one.

When I take a PC back to my office, I usually just take the tower… no keyboard/mouse/monitor… I’ve got plenty, so I minimise the risk of misplacing a customers equipment.

But once I started the Dimension 5150, the usual XP found new hardware wizard would popup. It would find either a new USB keyboard, or a new USB mouse… and it would ask you to click “next” to continue installing the hardware….

Hmmm… how do I click “next” when its the mouse/keyboard that is being detected?

I tried a few different mice, and tried them in all the USB ports… but to no avail.

One solution would be to use a PS2 to USB adapter like this: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/62620 … but I’m not sure it will work… after all, it still plugs into a USB port, so XP still needs to detect the hardware and so we are back to the beginning again…

Grrr.

Another solution is to use remote desktop… but remote desktop seems to be disabled on on this PC…

So what did I do?

I took it back to the customer, plugged the mouse into a USB port, start PC… XP though it was new hardware… shutdown the PC, plug mouse into next USB port, start PC… repeat process until I find which port the mouse was originally plugged into !!!

How crazy is that!

Anyway, the next time I see one of these monsters, I’ll be sure to plug in my own USB mouse (remembering which USB port I used, and making sure the hardware is detected properly), before I take it away!

If the mouse happens to fail, then at least the keyboard can be used to help the new hardware wizard find a new mouse.

Remove XP Defender

Computer Aid Posted on by

Just found a new nasty infection: XP Defender.

It looks similar to infections like “win antivirus 2007” and “win antivirus 2008” etc.

I tried to remove it by booting my UBCD4win CD, updating superantispyware, but the scan revealed nothing wrong with the infected PC.

Next, I started in safe mode (with networking)… by pressing F8 when the PC is starting, and I was able to install (and update) malwarebytes, and it fixed the PC very quickly.