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Byteback
RPC websites
Question: I am an architect and I use 3-dimensional animations to make designs. For this, I need rich photorealistic content (RPC) that make the animations more useful. Please suggest a few sites from where I may download RPC for free.
Umer Sohaib
sohaibchaudhary@hotmail.com
Editor’s reply: To the best of my knowledge, no website offers free RPC.
Display picture
I am using Yahoo Messenger, and my Messenger friend wants to see my picture. But if I mail it to her, she will probably save it and I do not want that to happen. Can you kindly suggest a way that she may see my picture but not be able to save it? I have heard that people can save pictures displayed in the Messenger window. Is this true?
Annupama Sethi
sweet_annu84@yahoo.com
Please download the latest version of Yahoo Messenger from http://messenger.yahoo.com. Once the Yahoo Messenger is running, open a chat dialogue with the person who wants to see your picture. Right next to the chat box is a display picture box. Click on the arrow and select Change Display Image. Select Share my Picture and click Select. Select one of the existing pictures or click Browse to use one of your own. This way she will view your picture without downloading it.
Regarding your second query, this is possible in the MSN window. But I am not sure if such a utility exists for Yahoo Messenger as well.
Virus
When I download an application program, it runs well initially but after a week or so when I try to reinstall it, the system says it is not a valid Win32 application. Is this because of some fault in my computer?
Hassan Iftikhar
buddyspiked@gmail.com
You either have a virus in your system or your hard disk is about to crash. If it is the former, then I suggest you do a complete system format and then install McAfee 8.0 or AVG. If it is the latter, then you better seek professional help.
Updating MSN
I deleted the cookies from my Internet Explorer and added some emoticons in my MSN Messenger. But when I send any of the new or even old emoticons to anyone while chatting, all I see are the symbols and not the emoticons themselves, even though the person I send them to is able to. What can I do to solve this problem?
Kamran Quraishi
kamran_quraishi1@hotmail.com
I don’t know about the version of Messenger you are using, but I am assuming that you are using rather an old one. Please visit http://messenger.microsoft.com to upgrade the version to 7.5. This will fix your problem.
Low-level format
What is meant by low-level formatting of the hard drive? Is it possible for LLF to get rid of bad sectors, even if they are temporary? How can I do it on my hard drive and is there any way of finding through LLF the bad sectors that are hidden?
Faisal Hussain
smfaisalhussain@hotmail.com
Low-level formatting is the process of outlining the positions of the tracks and sectors on the hard disk, and writing the control structures that define where the tracks and sectors are. This is often called a ‘true’ formatting operation, because it actually creates the physical format that defines where the data is stored on the disk.
In the latest hard disks, there are many complex internal structures, including zoned bit recording to put more sectors on the outer tracks than the inner ones, and embedded servo data that controls the head actuator.
Modern disks transparently map out bad sectors as well. Due to this complexity, all modern hard disks are low-level formatted at the factory for the life of the drive. There is no way for a PC to do an LLF on an IDE/ATA or SCSI hard disk.
However, hard drive manufacturers have created zero-fill and diagnostic utility, often called “low-level format utility”. This software works on the drive at a low level and usually includes the following functions:
1. It lets you test whether the software can ‘see’ the drive. This is the first step in ensuring that the drive is properly installed and connected.
2. It gives you detailed information about the drive, such as its exact model number, firmware revision level and date of manufacture.
3. It analyses the entire surface of the hard disk, looking for bad sectors, and instructing the integrated drive controller to remap them.
4. It wipes off all data on the drive by filling every sector with zeroes. Normally a test for errors is done at the same time.
The zero-fill procedure will restore a functional drive (one without mechanical problems) to the condition it was in when received from the factory. There are occasions when a modern hard disk can become so badly corrupted that the operating system cannot recover it, and zero-fill helps in this situation.
This type of utility can also be used to ‘hide’ bad sectors by telling the drive to remap them to its collection of spares. Just make sure that you only use a low-level zero-fill or diagnostic utility designed for your particular hard disk. You can download one for free from your drive manufacturer’s web site.
Also, please remember, bad sectors on a hard disk are almost always an indication of further problems with the disk. For existing hard disks, in a majority of cases a single bad sector will soon be accompanied by others.
MS Frontpage
Please suggest a website that provides an immediate response to computer-related questions. Also, what are the preliminary steps in designing a website using MS Frontpage?
M. Wasiq Soomro
mwasiqsoomro@hotmail.com
Try www.experts-exchange.com if you are prepared to dole out some serious money. For the second query, you will be required to learn HTML, for which you can visit www.webmonkey.com. The HTML course also has a tutorial for learning MS Frontpage.
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