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BYTEBACK
Fatal exception errors
My Win98 gives a fatal exception OE error and forces any running programs to terminate, causing my system to freeze. Eventually, I have to restart it. How can I fix this problem?
FAROOQ SARWAR
Kohat
Editor’s reply: Fatal exception errors are codes that are returned by your processor to your OS in the following cases:
— Access to an illegal instruction has been encountered;
— Invalid data or code has been accessed;
— The privilege level of an operation is invalid;
In most cases, after the exception has occured, the OS goes in irrecoverable state and it must either be restarted or shut down, depending upon the severity of the error.
These problem are usually caused by conflicting drivers, terminate-and-stay-resident programs (TSRs), and other background applications that are loaded when your computer starts. Hardware problems specially Memory related may also the reason for this problem.
It is suggested that you have your computer checked by an expert technician.
Multiple problems
Please help me with the following problems:
1. My Win98 display appears in a maximum of 16-bit colours. After installing Radeon 9000 graphics card, when I tried installing its driver it failed, with a message to install the standard graphics driver first. What is the standard driver and where do I get it?
2. While watching a movie in full-screen in Windows Media Player 9, after about 10-15 minutes, the screen automatically exits the full screen mode. Why?
3. I have heard the PS2 emulator, Bleem 2 is out but it requires a DVD ROM, it is true?
ZOHAIR ABBASI
Islamabad
Editor’s reply: Your queries are answered in the order they are mentioned above:
1. The standard graphics driver are those that came with your motherboard CD. For instance, if you have an Intel motherboard, you require to install the driver that came with the package CD. In your case, it appears you need to update the display driver.
2. This problem can occur if the browser window is open and the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) changes, or if the screensaver is activated during a playback session while Windows Media Player is in fullscreen mode. Also, any programs or events, such as mouse movement, can interrupt WMP and cause it to exit from full-screen mode. To work around this problem, disable or close other applications that are running in the background.
3. Yes, indeed, you need a DVD-ROM for it.
Always-on HD light
The hard disk light on my PC always remains on even if there is no activity. Besides it continuously hums. When I referesh the system the light goes off for a couple of munutes and again it comes on.
SHAHID ALI
Karachi
Editor’s reply: Rest assure there is nothing wrong with your hard drive. Most probably, some program running in the background is occupying your hard disk consistently. It can range from your antivirus system to some other software that you use. Technically, the hard disk never stops spinning. If it does, the computer may freeze or stops giving display.
Internet Explorer error
Whenever I start Internet Explorer for browsing an illegal operation message pops up after which all programs stop working. What should I do to fix this problem?
NAIMA SIDDIQUI
Karachi
Editor’s reply: Any virus or damaged file may be causing this problem. To start with, scan your system with updated antivirus application. Then try to fix your Internet Explorer by using “Add/Remove programs” utility in Control Panel, and “fix” Internet Explorer. Make sure you have the Setup CD of whatever version of Windows you are using. This problem may also result from older version of IE, in that case, you might want to try to update your Internet Explorer to a higher version. Still if the problem pesists, then you may have to redo your OS.
Format conversion
How can I convert “*.bmp” files into “*.sys” file? Do we need any specific software? Also is it possible to bind a “*.exe” file with a “*.Mpeg” or “*.dat” (any movie format) using any program?
SHAHARYAR ANWAR ANSARI
Hyderabad
Editor’s reply: Perhaps you need to rephrase your query or explicitly mention the problem or purpose you want your image file to serve. As a bitmap which is an image format file “.bmp” has no association in any way to a “.sys” (system files extension for a code written specifically for the OS to behave in a certain manner) format in any way.
IP addresses
What is an IP address? Is there any way one can find out other’s IP addresses on MSN Messenger, and consequently geographical location?
MUHAMMAD OMAR
Lahore
Editor’s reply: Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the most popular network protocol, and the basis for the internet. Its routing capabilities is what makes the internet work. TCP/IP depends on numbers like 192.168.0.1 to understand how to get from one computer, for example, in USA to another, for instance, in Pakistan since computers cannot understand English like
2. Send a file transfer request to the user. Go into Run, type command and then on the prompt, type “netstat”.
3. You can use a software such as “Visual Route”
Adaware/spyware
My IE 6 home page is automatically set to to Alfa search.com. How should I remove it?
ALI MURTAZA AZIM
Karachi
Editor’s reply: Download the latest version of ‘Adaware’ from
