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Sometimes, we get heaps of emails concerning the same
topic, so we will be placing them here.
Q. Why is it that most of my emails have trojans attached lately? I run Vet anti-virus , Spysweeper,
and Registry Mechanic daily, but they pick up nothing.
A . Keep
updating and running those programs daily. The problem is not with you, but somebody you know who has your address in their
address book. They have the virus.
Q. I copied
all my old work onto a floppy last year. When I placed the disk into the drive the computer asked me to format it, so I did.
Why, now have I just lost all my work?
A. Formatting
basically is wiping the disk clean. Sometimes when you use one computer to save your work, your new computer cannot recognize
the format it was saved on. It is therefore better to have several backups just in case..
Q
What does the Windows key do?
A. These keys can be used for shortcuts such as:
· Pressing the Windows key and E will launch Explorer
· Windows +
F will launch the Find File program
· Windows + R will open the Run dialogue
window
· Windows + M will minimize all open programs
· Shift + Windows + M will undo the minimize all
· Windows + Pause/Break
will show the System Properties
· Windows + L will log off or switch the
current user (Windows XP only)
Q. Hi, One of my friends sent me a file. (sundae.pps) I can't open this file and
never seen a pps file before. Can you tell me what kind of file this is and how I can open it?
A. It's a Power Point Presentation file. To open it you need the PPS viewer program that
you can obtain from Microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/. The file name is ppview97.exe
Q. How do I
change the resolution of my screen?
A. 1. Right-click the desktop.
2. Choose
Properties from the shortcut menu.
3. At the Display Properties
dialog box, select the Settings tab.
4. Change the resolution by
changing the Colors setting and the Screen area setting.
5. Click
Apply.
6. Click OK to close the Display Properties dialog box.
Q. What is DLL file and what is INI file? There are so many of them in my hard disk. What do they do in my system?
May I delete/edit them? With kind regards.
A. DLL means Dynamic Link Library. These files are used by various programs in Windows
to perform common tasks. It is definitely *not* okay to delete or edit the DLL files in the windowssystem directory since
those are used by multiple programs. It's only safe to delete DLL files that are in same directory of a program you want to
delete. INI files are files used to store settings for programs. They usually stay in the same directory as the program they
belong to, but some programs like to put them in the windows directory. These can be viewed and edited with any text editor,
but it is highly recommended you back up any INI files before editing them. Some INI files in the windows directory are orphaned
from the programs that created them. Only delete these if you are certain you won't need them anymore.
Q. Why can't I finish defragging
my computer?
A.
Defrag won’t be able to complete if you have background tasks
accessing the hard drive while it is running. Press the key combination <CTRL> <ALT> <DELETE> and, for Windows
9x versions, ‘End Task’ everything except systray and
explorer. Then run defrag and it will run without
interruptions. Reboot when it’s finished to enable all your programs again.
Same deal with Windows XP! End
task all the running applications, and defrag will do a much better job. Close down anything still running in the Notification
area as well.
Also, make sure you have no screensaver running. It it cuts in whilst
defrag is running, defrag will start over, and over, and over...
I have been asked by several people of late how do you do a particular task.
So here it is.
HOW TO:
1.Protect your computer a) use a internet firewall.
b) keep your computer updated
c) use up to date anti virus software
d) use a registry cleaner
e) add a program that removes spyware/adware
f) use a pop up killer
2.RemoveVirus found in the Java™ Runtime Environment,
Standard Edition (JRE) cache directory
Malicious applets may be detected in the JRE cache directory
by your CA antivirus solution. The default installation path for this directory can be seen below:
C:Documents and Settings<username>Application DataSunJavaDeploymentcachejavapiv1.
0jar
These malicious applets are designed to exploit vulnerabilities in the
Microsoft VM (for more information on this vulnerability, please see Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-011).
For more information on these malicious applets and their use,
please visit the Sun Microsystems Java Technology Help Knowledgebase here: http://java.com/en/download/help/cache_virus.jsp
Examples of malware/exploits detected:
Java.ByteVerify.exploit
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/virus.aspx?ID=36725
Java.Shinwow
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/virus.aspx?ID=36651
Here are the instructions on how to manually remove these malicious applets
from the JRE cache directory:
1. From the Start button, click Settings > Control
Panel
2. In the Control Panel, open the "Java Plug-in Control Panel"
3. Select the Cache Tab
4.
Click the Clear button inside the Cache Tab, which will clear your JRE cache directory
3. Disabling System Restore on Windows ME and
XP
When using Vet on Windows ME or XP, after scanning and cleaning an infection,
you may still receive a message that files in the _RestoreTemp or the _RestoreArchive folders are infected. Due
to the security settings associated with the System Restore feature, Vet may not have the system access required to clean
these files.
What is System Restore?
The System Restore feature on Windows ME and XP installations securely
stores data that can then be utilized to 'rollback' your system to a previous state when it was known to function correctly.
In conceptual terms, it's like a backup of critical system information that can be used to fix your machine if things
go wrong. Unfortunately, this feature is so effective that it may at times, also backup copies of viruses, trojans or
worms that occupy system-critical files and locations on your system - although please note that the files in the data
store are inactive and can be used only by the System Restore feature.
Due to the importance of protecting the integrity of
this data, Windows prevents external applications, (including antivirus) from modifying data stored by System Restore. There
may be times when this feature must be temporarily disabled, or turned off, in order to completely remove an infection
from your computer.
Warning:
Disabling or turning off the System Restore feature will remove all existing restore points, and you will not be able to undo
changes to your computer. When System Restore is subsequently re-enabled it will create new restore points and continue to
monitor changes to your system.
Follow these instructions to disable or enable the System Restore Feature:
Windows
ME Users:
The System Restore feature is enabled on default installations
of Windows ME.
To disable System Restore:
-
Right-click on My Computer and select Properties
-
Select the Performance tab and click File System
-
Select the Troubleshooting tab and click to
check the box for Disable System Restore
-
Click Ok twice, and Yes when
prompted to restart your computer
Note: To re-enable System
Restore, follow these steps again, although at step 3, click to clear the box for Disable System
Restore
Microsoft have provided additional information on disabling and
enabling the System Restore Feature in Windows ME. Please visit Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 264887 "How to Enable and Disable System Restore" or Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 263455 "Antivirus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore Folder" for further information.
Windows XP Users:
The System Restore feature is enabled on default installations of Windows
XP.
To turn off System Restore:
-
Click Start, right-click My Computer
and select Properties
-
Select the System Restore tab
-
Click to check the Turn off System Restore or
Turn off System Restore on all drives box
-
The System Restore feature is enabled on default installations of Windows XP.
To turn off System Restore:
-
Click Start, right-click My Computer
and select Properties
-
Select the System Restore tab
-
Click to check the Turn off System Restore or
Turn off System Restore on all drives box
-
Click Yes when prompted
To enable System Restore:
-
Click Start, right-click My Computer
and select Properties
-
Select the System Restore tab
-
Click to uncheck the Turn off System Restore box
Microsoft have provided additional information on disabling and
enabling the System Restore Feature in Windows XP. Please visit Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 310405 "How to Turn On and Turn Off System Restore in Windows XP" for further information.
After disabling the System Restore feature, run a full scan of your
computer with Vet. Infected files that could previously not be cleaned in the _RestoreTemp or the _RestoreArchive folders should
have been removed.
After ensuring that your computer is free of infections, re-enable the
System Restore feature using the instructions above.
Q: What are adware and spyware?
A: In some instances, what you may think of as a free download actually contains
advertisements that are served to your desktop while you're running the program. These types of downloads are known by a variety
of names, among them "ad-supported software," "spyware," and "adware." Some people prefer using ad-supported software because
it is usually free. Others feel that adware is intrusive, or worse, that it compromises their privacy because it monitors
aspects of their behavior on the Web and transmits that information back to advertisers.
For more information on adware
and spyware, as well as recommendations on how to remove them, visit our Spyware Center.
Q: How do I know if the software that I'm about to download contains adware
or spyware?
A: Though we do allow ad-supported products in our library, we do our best
to clearly mark titles that include adware with a red editor's note listing the bundled components included with the download.
We also require our publishers to fully disclose the details of bundled adware, not only in their product description but
also in the installation process. We recommend that you read the end-user license agreement (EULA) very carefully when you
are installing the program.
Q: What's the difference between "free" and "free to try" downloads?
A: Two types of software are available on this site: free downloads
and free to try downloads.
Free downloads are copyrighted, 100 percent fully functional software
that you can download and use as often as you like, with no requirement to pay. But, although free downloads do not carry
traditional registration fees, they may include ad-serving components that display banner advertisements, initiate pop-up ads and even track user data.
Donation-ware also falls within this category, because users are never required to pay for the product and there are no limitations
or disabled features.
Free to try, trial or shareware downloads can be categorized into two
types of software: demo versions of programs sold through retail channels, and "try before you buy" software packages that
include free downloads with functionality limitations, trial periods or disabled features. In the case of "try before you
buy" software, you can download it freely and try it out within the limitations of the trial. However, if you want to remove
the functionality limitations, or if the trial period has ended, you are expected to register and pay for it or eventually
delete it from your system.
Regardless of software license, we strongly suggest that you carefully read
the download's license agreement before installing the software on your computer. Q: I can't download because I'm behind a firewall. What can I do?
A: Download.com is a library of software downloads, but we do not actually
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links.
Q: How can I get in touch with a developer who has software listed on your site?
A: You will find the developer's contact information at the top of the product's
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To find out more about how to download software from Download.com, see our Ultimate Guide to Download.com, a quick one-page primer for new downloaders.
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Try our Advanced Search page if you want to get more specific with your searches.
If you are unable
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We suggest trying the following:
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Due to
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