April 21, 2007

Programming Problem
QUESTION: Sometimes, while working on Visual C++, the program doesn't run successfully and gives a strange runtime error. Why does this happen and what should I do to fix it?
Ajmal Abbasi
Ayubia
 

EDITOR’S REPLY: You'll have to be more specific regarding the runtime error, since there are literally hundreds of causes – from bad stack access to error in the code. However, to help you, please get Insure++. It's a plugin for Visual C++ that is very useful for finding runtime errors before compilation. You can get it from www.parasoft.com/jsp/products/home.jsp?product=Insure&itemId=63.
 

Select mode
When I switch on the computer and the select mode of Windows appears, two select modes of Windows XP appear. What could be the reason and how can I make sure that I have just one select mode?
Faizan Iftikhar
Karachi

This happens when XP is installed to two different partitions. To remove one, edit the boot.ini file. Ensure that you can see all your hidden files (Open any folder in XP>Folder options>View System Files) and then go to the root of the partition on which your primary OS is located (usually C:\). Here, you'll notice a file by the name Boot.ini. Open it in Notepad and where you see a line ending with “\Microsoft Windows”, delete that.

Be very careful when you are doing this. Any other changes and your computer will not run. So I suggest you make a backup copy of this file on your desktop with another name. After deleting the line, click on save. Once this is done, you will have no more options to choose from.
 

Downloading speed
I am using uTorrent for downloading movies and am experiencing speed problem with it. It takes a lot of time to download files – about four to five days. I have 64K cable net and if I download files through Download Accelerator Plus, it downloads at about 10Kb/s. Also a red-coloured mark appears at the bottom which says that I am not connected to the internet.
Waqas Ahmad
waqas_dhillon@yahoo.com

That red mark, until it goes away is going to create problems. This means that that your ports are not being forwarded properly and till that happens, you won't get the green light. The red indicates that you most likely have a NAT problem (assuming you have properly opened the port in the firewall. If not, then go to www.utorrent.com/setup_guide.php to learn more about it).

For the most part, NAT problems are caused by the ISP/server’s router blocking traffic to unauthorised ports. Generally, this is a safety measure. On occasion, this protection interferes with legitimate traffic. This is not a µTorrent problem since this will occur with any BitTorrent client.

Go to Options>Preferences> BitTorrent. Set “outgoing under protocol encryption” to enable it. Check "Allow incoming legacy connections". This might work. Alternatively, visit http://paperkingdoms.wordpress.com/2006/08/22/utorrent-speed-problems/ for a hack which will let you speed up your downloads.
 

Rapid share account
I want to create a premium account on rapidshare. Please tell me the process.
Sara Munir
Karachi

Please visit http://rapidshare.com/en/premium.html for complete information including the cost for buying a premium account. You'll need to transfer the money to their account through a wire transfer. You can get this information through your bank.
 

Windows validation
Recently, I unintentionally ran a Windows update program on the PC and the validation failed because of piracy. The problem is that when I turn on the computer on, a message box pops up saying that I may be victim of counterfeiting. It is only by clicking on the option that I am able to get GUI. Also, in the task bar, there is always an icon conveying this message. Please advise.
Hamza Humayun
mhhumayun01@gmail.com

Microsoft has finally activated the most aggressive part of their Windows Genuine Advantage program (WGA) — active notifications. After downloading the latest Windows updates, if your Windows CD key doesn't validate against Microsoft's online database of CD keys, you may be greeted with this unpleasant five-second mandatory delay dialog at the login page. On top of that, you get a repeating balloon notification that nags you periodically while you use the operating system. Microsoft offers five options to resolve this issue:

1. Purchase a valid Windows XP CD key online from Microsoft.
2. If you can produce high-quality counterfeit media, along with a proof of purchase, you can get a free replacement key from Microsoft.
3. Contact your reseller for redress.
4. Purchase Windows XP from a local OEM reseller.
5. Purchase Windows XP at a retail location.

Notice the word “purchase” appears in three of those five options. There’s almost no way to finagle a free CD key out of this. This isn't just a service you can disable or a process you can kill in the task manager either.
 

Antivirus problems
I installed Kaspersky antivirus software. However, after installation, I cannot receive data from the internet. What should I do?
Bijjar Qadir Baloch
Karachi

If you have the Kaspersky Internet Suite, you'll need to learn how to configure it properly. Go through the ReadMe file to learn more.
 

Windows vulnerabilities
Whenever I turn on my PC, a window appears which says "the system DLL user32.dll was relocated in memory. The applications will not run properly. The relocation occurred because the DLl C:\WINDOWS\system32\HHCTRL.OCX occupied an address range reserved for windows system DLLs. The vendor supplying the DLL should be contracted for a new DLL."
Moreover, whenever the computer starts, a window stating that the Windows copy is pirated appears. Can the problem be fixed without me buying an original Windows suite?
Asad ur Rahman
Lahore

Unfortunately, the Microsoft Security Bulletin MS07-017 Vulnerabilities in GDI’s “Could allow remote code execution” (925902) (read up at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=925902) is the culprit. This problem occurs after you install the security update 925902 (MS07-017) and security update 928843 (MS07-008). The Hhctrl.ocx file which is included in security update 928843 and the User32.dll file that is included in the security update 925902 have conflicting base addresses. This problem occurs if the program loads the Hhctrl.ocx file before it loads the User32.dll file. To resolve it, visit www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=74AD4188-3131-429C-8FCB-F7B3B0FD3D86 . There's no way around it, except to purchase Windows.
 

CD Rom problem
Some times, when I insert a disk in the DVD ROM, it doesn't read anything from the disk. On double clicking the CD drive icon from my computer it shows an error which says "I/O error". Please help.
Asim Majeed Chaudhry
see.video@gmail.com

Check at your Bios settings and device manager IDE settings. Also check jumpers on the back of the drive.
 

Software for music
Please tell me which software is good for using converting music formats.
Syed Asad Mahmood
Karachi

The best software is Super which supports WMA, AAC, MP3 and even the mobile formats.

You can get it from www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html#Down.
 

Linux
As per the URL you gave, (linux-iso.com), I downloaded Linux Whax. The download is a single file named Whax-3.0-170705.iso. I am using XP right now and when I try to open the file, the message that “Windows can’t open the file” appears. What should I do?
Secondly, when I install any software, I get the message that it will expire after 10 days. Please help.
Muhammad Aamir
Islamabad

ISO files need to be burned to CDs before they're used. Use a software like Nero Burning Rom or EZ CD Creator to burn the ISO. After this, boot your system with this file and Linux will hopefully start installing on your system.

As for your second question, these are registry files and even some system files that remain after uninstalling of the software. Deleting them usually works but not always.
 

Multiple Queries
1. When I go to “My Computer” and double-click on the any local drive such as C:\, an “Open with” dialog box appears. Similarly, when I right-click any local drive, an unknown language is displayed. I can only access the contents of my local drives by using the address bar or using Windows explorer. I have already installed Symantec antivirus and upgrade the virus definition files daily. Please tell me why this is happening.
2. My task manager has been disabled on my taskbar. When I press ALT+ CTRL+DEL, a dialog box appears on screen with the following message: “Task Manager has been disabled by your administrator.” The same thing occurs when I login as the administrator. Please tell me what the problem is and the solution as my updated Symantec does not detect any threat or worm.
Aftab Ahmed
Islamabad

1. For your first question:

— Go to Start>Run>. Write "Gpedit.msc" and press Enter.
— Navigate to User configuration>Administrative templates>System>Ctrl+Alt+Del Options.
— In the right side of the screen, verify that the “Remove Task Manager” option is set to “disable” or “not configured”.
— Close “Gpedit.msc” MMC.
— Go to Start>Run. Write "gpupdate/force" and press Enter button.

2. To verify correct registry settings:

— Go to Start>Run. Write "regedit" and press Enter.
— Navigate the following registry keys and verify that the following settings are set to default:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System] "DisableTaskMgr"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy Objects\ LocalUser\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]

"DisableTaskMgr"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system\]

"DisableTaskMgr"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]

"DisableCAD"=dword:00000000.

Reboot the computer.