Computer Questions Not Worth Their Own Thread

[lndm]

Even worse are those that infect the BIOS. Nearly impossible to repair without replacing the hardware. But they're ultra-rare, and I think you have to be messing around with it.

BIOS viruses are not that common, especially as BIOSes are now getting harder to infect.

It is possible for a virus to flash down code and then hook into the OS install process to push it back up.

Two things you can have are a BIOS that can be jumper locked against flashing, or that requires a signed image before flashing.

Early BIOS viruses tended to limit themselves to general mayhem (wiping the BIOS). They would use the power management and control interface of the BIOS to allow OS/BIOS interaction.

Another thing that makes this rare is the fact that it is so relatively difficult for a person to achieve, and Windows is relatively easy to infect (repeatedly, if necessary).

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Okay, something weird happened. I was playing Civ IV, and I brought up the Save dialog. At that moment, I alt+tab'd out of the window to do something. When I returned, the dialog was still there, but everything underneath was black.

So I saved, waited a few minutes, and it was still black. So I tried alt+tab'ing out of the window, but it didn't work (although when I ran my mouse along the bottom, I could see the regular cursor.) I also tried using the Windows key and CTRL+ALT+DEL. Ended up doing a hard reboot.

Any idea what might of caused this?

 

[Cutlass]

Your video driver problem.

 

[Ulyaoth]

Malwarebytes' AntiMalware is pretty good at getting rid of infections. It's gotten rid of things for me that Spybot and AdAware couldn't. Might want to those that before reformatting.

Hey that worked, thanks, yay for simple solutions. The results came up as trojans so I thought they'd have been found by the anti-virus programs but whatever, I thought the mcafee was a spyware remover too but guess it's useless.

 

[Turner]

McAfee's useless. I've had much better results with free antispyware and anti-virus software.

 

[lndm]

Okay, something weird happened. I was playing Civ IV,

Inserting a screen refresh around a save dialogue and an alt+tab probably wasn't a priority for the programmers (if that's what it was). I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Thanks.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

McAfee's useless. I've had much better results with free antispyware and anti-virus software.

Try telling that to my mom.

I'm still removing viruses from her machines.

Even worse, she calls herself an "expert."

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Okay, so I'm trying to remove a bunch of Context Menu entries for File Folders. I used the method here (go down a bit to the part about files):
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,1838906,00.asp

However, when I go into the thing, the "Remove" button is grayed out. What should I do now?

p.s. I tried both Folder and File Folder. Googling brings up a bunch of dodgy-sounding shareware programs.

 

[Atticus]

If you have several RAM-chips (what are they called) in computer, should all of them be as fast as others?

 

[Cutlass]

Best practice is to have all of your RAM sticks of the same type. Otherwise you waste the performance of the better ones.

 

[Fifty]

whats the best free antivirus? I've used Avast in the past but the spinning icon is too graphically demanding for my computer at times (seriously). While I'm getting a new computer soon, I still don't want to use Avast because I hate that stupid spinning icon.

So whats another good antivirus. I have heard AVG, but are there any others????

 

[Onionsoilder]

I use AVG, mostly as a peace of mind. I run Firefox with NoScript, so that's my real anti-virus.

 

[Gelion]

Help!!!! Need to connect to internet using wireless adapter plugged into a router. Did wireless setup, connection works on my conputer. Friends computer gives either no connection or "limited connectivity" (no internet). Both use Vista.

 

[Turner]

Kinda hard to troubleshoot that. I'd make sure that the wireless router doesn't have mac address filtering on it. Or if it does, make sure that it's allowing the mac for your wireless device. I'd also make sure you're not trying to statically set up the wireless connection on the device. Check the DHCP as well, see if it needs a reservation.

Fifty: I don't know what's 'best', but I've had a lot of good luck with both Avast and AVG. AVG doesn't have the spinning icons, either.

 

[Zelig]

whats the best free antivirus? I've used Avast in the past but the spinning icon is too graphically demanding for my computer at times (seriously). While I'm getting a new computer soon, I still don't want to use Avast because I hate that stupid spinning icon.

So whats another good antivirus. I have heard AVG, but are there any others????

Avast really is the best free antivirus.

IIRC disabling the animation when scanning (under appearances) doesn't actually disable all animation... probably the best move after this is simply disabling the icon completely.

 

[Gelion]

Fifty, AVG never failed me yet.

Turner, thank you, however I need more detailed information (help). If you could tell me where to look or what to read, that would be great. The problem is definetly friends PC as I can use his internet with no problem. I just updated the firmware.... no result.

 

[Turner]

You'll need to find the router's address and open up the router page from his computer. Without being familiar with his router (I have a 2wire, and only know that one) I really can't give you more specific information on what to look for. But I can tell you in general what to look for. So see if you can find out on his router about mac filtering, dchp setup, and see if the laptop is trying to use a static IP. A static IP with a router is not always a bad thing, as long as both the router and the device are expecting it. DHCP gives you more flexibility, as you can control from one point the various aspects of your network, instead of having to touch each machine individually.

But I can tell you how to check and see if the laptop/wireless device is trying to use DHCP or Static. Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections, and find the wireless network connection. Right Click and select properties. Find the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in the box that's near the middle of the dialog. You may need to scroll to find it. Select that and click on "Properties". If see "Obtain an IP address automatically", you're on DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) and need to figure out why your device is not talking to the DHCP server in the router.

Without putting hands on the machine, it's not very easy to tell you what to look for.

 

[Gelion]

Done!!!! It only took me 5 hours Thank you Turner!
I am now capable to update my own network at home.

 

[lndm]

If you have several RAM-chips (what are they called) in computer, should all of them be as fast as others?

A chain is only as (fast) as its weakest link. In the days of RAM chips, you'd run your buss (motherboard) to suit the slowest. Now that the chips are on sticks (SIMMs and DIMMs), they are typically auto detected but some older boards require you to insert them in order of speed so they are treated correctly.

FWIW, the first one gets used the heavyest so you'll get best value out of using the fastest one there.