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BYTEBACK
Farzana Panhwar
NOTE: Ms. Farzana Panhwar’s phone number in the previous issue may be read as 021-5830816; cell: 0300-2477243.
Linux issues
On a Linux OS I can’t play videos, hear songs or connect to internet. How do I fix these problems?
Muhammad Raees Lateef
Karachi
Editor’s reply: The default Multimedia Player in Linux 9.0 is XMMS. It stands for X MultiMedia System and can play media files such as MP3, MOD’s, WAV and others with the use of Input plugins. The Player is installed directly if you choose the Sound Option when Installing Linux. If you haven’t installed it, find it on your CD or go to
1. As root, run /usr/sbin/sndconfig.Click OK. If all goes well, it should probe for your sound card and tell you which model it found. If not, you will be able to choose from a list of supported cards. If the file /etc/isapnp.conf exists, it will warn you the original file will be renamed /etc/isapnp.conf.bak and a new file will be written.
If the file /etc/conf.modules exists, it will warn you the original file will be renamed /etc/conf.modules.bak and a new file will be written. A sample sound will be played to test your sound configuration. Choose ‘Yes’ if you hear it. A sample MIDI sound will then be played. Choose Yes if you hear the sample midi. “sndconfig” will then close and your sound card will be configured. There are also other players you can use, if XMMS is not supporting your needs.
You can also VLC Media Player. VLC (VideoLAN Client) is a highly portable multimedia player for various audio and video formats (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, mp3, ogg, etc.) as well as DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. It can also be used as a server to stream in unicast or multicast in IPv4 or IPv6 on a high-bandwidth network. Download it from
For internet connectivity, visit
Normal.dot template
In Microsoft Word, often I have to use new stylesheets but for some reason these only work for the document for which it was created. Although I save the stylesheets in the global template, the normal.dot. What should I do in order to make the stylesheet available in all documents?
Aasim
aasim989@yahoo.com
Editor’s reply: Templates are a special type of Word document that can hold text, styles, macros, keyboard shortcuts, custom toolbars and autotext entries. A document created using a template will have access to all of these features and a large part of your job in creating a new document will be done for you if your templates are well thought out. You don’t need to use all (or even any) of these features for templates to help you and those with whom you work.
You can make a document into a template from within Word using “Save As...” under the File menu. With Word versions prior to Word 2002, you can’t directly change a template into a document. You can create a new document based upon a template and save that document. For more information on how to work with or creating your own templates read this:
Lost files
How can I recover my lost files or directories. I have tried many data recovery softwares but have not been able to find the files I needed. These files got deleted a few days. How can I get my necessary deleted files?
Subhani
Lahore
Editor’s reply: I would recommend that you install Ontrack Data Recovery 6.0 and go for a Raw Recovery. This will mean that your system will be finding files for at least two days and you will have to ensure that nothing interrupts the system. This however at the end will recover all your files.
PC disconnects
During accessing internet, my PC disconnects quite frequently. Sometimes it disconnects every other minute. What would be the problem with WindowsXp system?
Nawid
Karachi
Editor’s reply: There could be several causes for the problem, from incorrect modem settings to faulty modems to corrupt browser setup or even SpamWare on your computer.
First, make sure that your telephone line is free of static and noise.
Second, unplug the phone line from all of your cordless phones. Cordless phones can create line noise on the phone lines that will cause you connection and/or disconnection problems.
Third, phone line splitters and surge protectors that have a phone jack should be removed to be sure that one of them are not causing the problem. Each ancillary item added to the telephone line chain contributes noise to the telephone line. If you add an answering machine and a couple of extension phones and a Fax machine, you are increasing the likelihood of noise.
Fourth, sometimes modem drivers become corrupt and have to be reinstalled. Some modem software allows you to “flash” the modem driver to fix or reset the driver if it becomes sluggish or hung up. Please check the vendor’s website and try to update your drivers from there or flush your modem.
Fifth, the modem has a disconnect setting that tells it to disconnect if found idle or inactive for certain time, it could be few secs to minutes to hours.
On Windows machines this dialogue box is located under my computer/settings/modem. Please make sure this is set correctly. This is perhaps the cause of 50 per cent of the disconnections.
Sixth, check your computer for Viruses and SpamWare. These progrms try to connect to the net on their own. When that happens, they will cause your system to disconnect. Use Ad-Aware (www.download.com) and secondly, install a firewall on your system (Try ZoneAlarm from www.download.com). Seventh, change your ISP.
