Monday, September 3, 2001		Dr Tribune

Q. I have a Compaq Presario 5000, P III 667, 64 MB RAM, 15 GB HDD (presently half utilised) Windows ’98 and DVD ROM PC. I have installed a game. Whenever I open my C: drive by double clicking, the game main page is displayed instead. It has play, setup, install, uninstall.readme, cancel buttons. The game can be played by clicking play button but I am not able to uninstall the game through uninstall button of the main page. The game is not found in the program list when traced through the start button. The game cannot be removed through control panel — add/remove program button because it is not being detailed in this add/remove program window. I have noticed that the C: drive icon has been changed to standard MS Window type icon (with coloured bricks) instead of normal box type icon. On right clicking and giving open command the C: drive opens and displays all its contents, but not by double clicking, as mentioned in the beginning.

1. Please advise how to trace the game entry in computer and uninstall it.

2. Why the icon of C: drive has changed and how to solve it?

A. In order to solve your problem, we would require details of the game you have installed on your PC. It appears that the game installed by you has changed your system files, because of which the problems have come up in your system. You must uninstall this software in order to solve this problem. First of all explore the directory where this game is installed for any uninstallation file. If you find any file related to uninstallation, then try using it. However, if you do not find any such file, then you can try some third party uninstallation utilities like Uninstall Manager available at www.umhome.cjb.net and many other programs like CleanSweep PowerCleaner, Remove-It UnInstaller 4, WinDelete etc. Using this program you can attempt to remove any unwanted program from your computer. Once you uninstall the program from your PC, you will find that the original setting restored on your PC.

Q. I have a TX-100 motherboard, Cyrix MII processor with 56 KBPS Motorola internal modem. Earlier, I had 32 MB RAM and whenever I logged on to the Net, the system used to hang. After I increased my RAM to 96 MB, the computer stopped hanging. But now it gives a message: "Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer. Press any key to continue," and the computer shuts down. How can I sort out this problem?

A. The details of your operating system are most important for troubleshooting. It becomes even more important when your problem is related to the operating system only. In your case you have problems related to your operating system, but unfortunately you have forgot to mention even the name of it. So, in this situation it is difficult to troubleshoot your problem exactly. However I can attempt to troubleshoot it in general perspective. Assuming that you are using Windows ’98 the Windows Protection error could occur when your computer loads or unloads a virtual device driver (VxD). In many cases, the VxD that did not load or unload is mentioned in the error message. In other cases, you may not be able to determine which VxD caused the behavior. This error can be caused by under many circumstances. For example, if a real-mode driver and a protected-mode driver are in conflict, the registry is damaged, there is a RAM address conflict, the Plug and Play feature of the computer’s basic input/output system (BIOS) is not working correctly, the computer has a malfunctioning cache or malfunctioning memory, or even some problem in your motherboard can also cause this problem. In order to troubleshoot this problem, the easiest way out is to reinstall the Windows by using the setup /p I command. However, you can also take into consideration removing the Novell Client 32 software, remove it, and then install Microsoft Client for Novell Networks, if you are using the Microsoft Office ’97. You can also check the CMOS settings for a possible solution to this problem and load either the default or the optimised settings.

Q. I have a 486 DX2 computer from Tata Unisys. It was working without any problem, but since the past two months or so I am facing a problem with my computer. I had Win ’95 as my operating system and 540 MB HDD. Whenever I boot my system, it gives the following error - "Unable to control line A20." The himem.sys is not loaded and I am not able to run my Windows. I tried it on DOS environment also. Please tell me the remedy to this problem.

A. The error message ‘Unable to control A20’ line is generated when the device driver HIMEM.SYS is being loaded and doesn’t have a machine handler chosen. Now in order to solve this problem add the switch DEVICE=C:\ DOS\ HIMEM.SYS /M:X to the HIMEM.SYS line in CONFIG.SYS file. Here the value of X would be anything from 1-14 and 16. This will solve your problem. There is another possible cause of this problem, if you have Norton utilities or anti-virus installed on your system. Uninstall them and then restart the computer.

Q. I have an assembled P III, 650 MHz, 128 MB RAM, and 20 GB HDD with CD RW. I purchased it about four months ago. Now I have a problem — sometimes when I start my computer it shows hard disk error, boot record failure, insert boot disk and press any key. When I restart it three or four times the same windows start working. I am unable to know what it is? Is it harmful for my hard disk? I have Win Me on my PC.

A. In order to solve this problem, first go to the CMOS setup utility and auto detect your hard disk. If it detects your hard disk correctly, then save and exit setup and restart your computer. Now if this solves your problem, then you are through. However, if it does not solve your problem, then you must boot your system to the DOS prompt. This you can do by holding down the Ctrl key while you reboot your system. This will automatically take you to the Dos prompt. Now give the command sys C: and press enter. This will also help in solving your problem.

Q. The configuration of my computer is IBM, P II 450 MHz, 32 MB RAM , 1.44 MB FDD, 4 GB HDD, 52X CD Samsung CD drive, Windows ’98 operating system, Multiteck 19 KBPS External modem. i91 Internet connection. My problem is that whenever I open the Internet site rediffmail.com and view my mails every this goes OK, but when I try to delete any of my mails from my Inbox, the following error message comes on the screen: "Explorer caused an invalid page fault in module Kernel.Dll at 015F:6ff9d709." When I close the window, all open sites close by themselves. This happens only at Rediffmail.com site. Please note that there is no problem in my rediffmail ID as I have checked that I can access and delete my mails on any other computer. Also please note that there is no problem accessing any other Web site. I reloaded Windows ’98 from IBM recovery disk and checked my connection and Internet settings but it did not help

A. From the conditions mentioned by you it appears that you have not deleted the *.tmp files in the Temp folder and also you have not cleared the cache and disk memory. In order to troubleshoot this problem, please clean your browser completely as you have clearly insisted in your mail, that this problem is only related to rediffmail and rest every other site is working fine. Cleaning your browser off the cache and disk memory will solve your problem.

Q. I have P III 733 MHz, 128 MB RAM, Windows ME OS, 20 GB Ultra DMA HDD. Last month, I installed "system mechanic software" on my PC. It was a 30-day trial program. It is over now, but after that when I uninstalled this software and downloaded and installed this software again from the Internet (iolo.com), my PC gives the message: ‘Your 30 day period is over.’ Please tell me how can I install this software again on my pc? Is the problem related to the registry editor? If this is not possible then please tell me how can I purchase the full version of this software? Is it easily available in the market and at what price?

A. Normally, when you install a shareware program, it adds its entry in the registry. Therefore after the trial period, when you uninstall and try to install the software again, it reads from the registry the instance of previous installation and gives you the message of completion of trial period. Now, you can revisit the site from where you downloaded this software and place your enquiry for buying it. This software is available at http://softwarestation.buyonet.com/s/b?id=4.53.48
&design=softwarestation_design&crecord=1&co_id=1051&
page=product_info_short&product_id=5263 and is being offered at this site for $51.95.

Q. I have P III 800MHz, 128 MB RAM, Mercury 815e motherboard, 20 GB Hard disk, Windows ’98 SE operating system. I want to confirm the details of the hardware installed on my system as these are not shown when I start my computer. Also in the system information under accessories I was not able to find the details. Kindly tell the method by which I can confirm my hardware details and its genuinity.

Yogesh, Rohtak

A. You can check the details of the hardware installed from the device manager in Systems under control panel. Here you can get a comprehensive list of the hardware.

Q. I have an assembled desktop PC (Celeron 766, 810e, 20 GB, 64 MB, Windows Me OS, 56 KBPS internal modem). I want to use Microsoft Outlook on my PC by using e-mail address hapgur@usa.net. My problem is that I don’t know the incoming or outgoing settings in account etc. As I am also having a BSNL Internet connection and it’s settings, I know they are pop=61.0.64.33 & SMTP=61.0.0.33. Also please guide me on how can I see my mail by using BSNL e-mail facility as my user id is hadoll and perhaps my e-mail address will be hadoll@sancharnet.in. I do not know about password. It may be an administrative or a contract one. Kindly guide me about usa.net address settings for Outlook and on checking e-mails on BSNL.

A. As you would be aware that the usa.net is a paid service now and in order to use it, you will have to subscribe it. On taking the subscription, you will also be given the SMTP and pop addresses, which you would be able to use in the e-mail client of your choice. Without subscribing it the services would not be available. Now regarding the BSNL services, you can configure Outlook Express, Netscape Mail, Eudora, Pegasus or any other email client of your choice. You should use the SMTP mail address for the outgoing mail server and pop address in the incoming mail server. Use your Login name wherever asked and your e-mail client would be configured. However, you will need password for using this e-mail as both on sending as well as receiving, you will be prompted to enter your password.