Posts categorized “Computer Repair”.

I just found out today that Windows 7 has some sort of soft cap of 70 items on the Windows Start Menu.   I don’t exactly understand how it works yet but when certain installers install applications in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs the newly installed shortcuts will only instantly show up if you had less than 70 items in that folder prior to installing the new app.  However if you restart explorer these new shortcuts will display.

Computer Repair Tech now offers a free support utility created by the same guy that made the D7 program that’s becoming more and more popular with computer repair technicians.  I must admit he is obviously no artist but the utility is quite handy!  Now everyone can fix common internet problems with the push of a button as well as run routine maintenance on their computer.  This new support utility will also grab the newest version of the CRT Remote so that I can connect to your computer. (Note: No one not even me will be able to connect to your computer unless you accept a connection or provide the randomly generated password)

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I really see no reason not to increase the size of the Start Menu Width since you have plenty of room to spare and it will allow you to see extra text.   The easiest way to do that is to visit http://szerokosc-menustart.pl/ and download the Start Menu Width app.

Reverse text works on file names so be on the look out for any files that have exe BEFORE the dot.   For example dXeXe.doc may look like a document but it could also be partially reverted text dXcod.eXe might be the real file name.  If you right click such a file and click properties windows will tell you that it is in fact an application.  Keep a sharp eye out for this trick as I am sure you will run into it one day!

I have always recommended Google Chrome as the safest web browser for several reasons.  However a recent combination of customer situations has had me searching for something to protect them even further.  I have found Web of Trust’s Google Chrome extension to be a very strong addition to Google’s built in protection.  Web of Trust works primarily on user feedback.  Usually stuff like this doesn’t work out but apparently there is so many Web of Trust users out there that it’s actually very effective.  As you would imagine it is not as effective on brand new fraudulent websites as they need to be up long enough for users to provide feedback on them.  Even with the limited effect on fresh fraudulent websites I still consider Web of Trust to be a very useful addition to Google Chrome.

Links:

Google Chrome: http://www.google.com/chrome

Web of Trust: http://www.mywot.com/
*Make sure you are visiting the download area with the browser you want to install it on.  So if you download it while using internet explorer it will download the internet explorer version, not google chrome.

For advance users that want custom speed dials on Google Chrome, I recommend the Speeddial 2 extension.

Update 8/18/2011:
It was brought to my attention that a recent study says newer versions of IE are safer against malware sites by a massive margin.  I believe these results are taking into account IE’s download process which makes it a hassle to run any unsigned file.  There are far more legit pieces of software that are not signed than there is malware out there.  With that in mind I can not agree with that study as labeling legit software as potentially dangerous and hassling the users when they try to open legit software is not an acceptable method of protection.

There are quite a few e-mail providers out there.  One important feature that some companies offer is to add your mobile phone as an additional security step.   Some use it to verify login… some use it to verify password reset etc.  It is definitely a feature everyone should look into as getting your email compromised is no joke.  It’s not just about you but also the people you know that may be fooled by someone pretending to be you.

Gmail is a very popular service and they have a 2-step verification process that you can read about here http://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/static.py?page=guide.cs&guide=1056283&topic=1056284 you will need to generate application specific passwords for some things like android phones, outlook, etc.  In the end this is a very important feature to have enabled and you owe it to yourself to look into it.

Error:

Faulting application name: YAHOOM~1.EXE, version: 11.0.0.1751, time stamp: 0x4cd38198
Faulting module name: d2d1.dll, version: 6.1.7601.17514, time stamp: 0x4d5f61cb
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x0003669d
Faulting process id: 0x13bc
Faulting application start time: 0x01cc2019ca9c0f05
Faulting application path: C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\MESSEN~1\YAHOOM~1.EXE
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\system32\d2d1.dll

The above yahoo messenger error is caused by an outdated d2d1.dll.  To update your d2d1.dll simply go to windows update and install the optional compatibility updates.  I do not recall which exact one includes the d2d1.dll update but it’s one of those.  I hope this helps someone.

Update (8/6/2011): There may be more to this error than a d2d1.dll update.  However I have not seen it continue after doing all the optional compatibility updates.  If you have all the optional updates and are still experiencing this problem then please post a comment.

Ninite.com is getting more and more popular these days but there are still plenty of people out there that aren’t familiar with it.  Since I recently got a bunch of facebook “Likes” I thought I would write a useful blog post that almost everyone can benefit from.  Ninite.com can detect if you already have a program installed or not.  It will also automatically say no to anything annoying the free app may come with such as browser toolbars etc.  Here is a list from top to bottom of apps I recommend you grab from ninite.com.

  1. Google Chrome (Probably safest web browser)
  2. Skype (Internet Phone)
  3. Pidgin (If you use several instant messengers get this)
  4. VLC (Video player that plays almost anything)
  5. All the Runtimes (Flash, Flash IE, Java, .NET, Silverlight, AIR, Shockwave)
  6. IrfanView (Image viewer thats fast and views almost everything)
  7. Open Office (Office alternative) (*Note: Only if you don’t already have microsoft office)
  8. Foxit Reader (Light PDF (acrobat) viewer)
  9. Essentials (Antivirus) (*Note: Only if you don’t already have an anti-virus installed)
10. Malware Bytes (AntiMalware)
11. uTorrent (if you use bittorrent get this)
12. Google Earth (View the earth)
13. ImgBurn (CD/DVD burning software)
14. CCleaner (Frees up hard drive space, for more advance users)
15. Defraggler (Alternative to windows defragment)
16. 7-Zip (File extractor that supports almost every format)

Ninite.com

I hope this list of useful free software helps you guys.  I appreciate all the Facebook “Likes”,  thank you very much.

Mikko Hypponen on TEDtalk:  http://www.ted.com/talks/mikko_hypponen_fighting_viruses_defending_the_net.html

I have already mentioned Mikko Hypponen in a previous blog post mikko hypponen gives a basic summary of computer viruses.  This particular video goes into more detail.  Interestingly enough he used the wmf virus I sent him back in 2005 in this presentation.   The portion of the video containing the wmf virus I submitted starts at the 10:00 minute mark on the video.

If you are going to use the same password for everything regardless of how many people tell you it’s a bad idea then please at least make your email password unique.   When someone has your email password they can often get their hands on other passwords that may be in old emails or may be easily retrieved by lost password retrieval systems.  Email passwords are also commonly stored some where on computers in spots often targeted by viruses.  Some email providers such as gmail has a section of the website that will let you see where you last logged in from.  When you log in to gmail it is on the far bottom right corner labeled “Details”.