Troubleshooting

What’s This Desktop (or Desktop.ini) File on my Windows 7 Desktop?

By terry Leave a Comment

One of the strange changes that came with Windows 7, at least for those of us who previously used Windows XP, is that some of the operating system options don’t work the same way.

Advanced Windows users often want to display all the hidden files and folders, including protected operating system files(which is a separate option).

You can make these changes in the same place where you tell Windows not to hide filename extensions of known file types.

Tech Tip
Where’s that? http://www.terryscomputertips.com/computers/hidden-file-extensions-in-windows/

That was all well and good in Windows XP. But, if you elect to show protected operating system files in Windows 7, you’ll eventually notice that you have one or two new desktop icons labelled Desktop or Desktop.ini .

No, you can’t delete those icons — they’re not shortcuts. They are links to the Desktop configuration file(s).

Tech Tip
Everyone should display the filename extensions — hiding those is one of the stupidest things that Windows designers ever did, and which creates a "social engineering" security hole that’s often abused by the bad guys.

If you uncheck the Windows 7 "Folder Options" (Windows Explorer > Tools > Folder Options > View) selection "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)", it will show the Desktop.ini shortcut on the Windows desktop. If you have "Hide extensions for known file types" checked, you won’t see the ".ini" part of the file name.

Note that this is different than the way Windows XP worked/works. If Windows XP has the Desktop.ini file in the Desktop folder, it doesn’t show the icon on the Windows Desktop.

To make the changes, you have to use the menu bar in Windows Explorer. If you can’t see the menu bar in Windows Explorer, you probably have it hidden (which is the default).

To access Windows Explorer’s Tools menu option:

right-click on the Windows Orb (formerly known as the Start Button)…

Filed Under: System Control, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting, Upgrades, Windows 7, Windows XP Tagged With: advanced windows, desktop, desktop icon, desktop ini, desktops, file types, graphical user interface, hidden files, microsoft windows, operating system, start menu, windows 7, windows explorer, windows xp

Connecting to the Wrong Wireless Network

By terry Leave a Comment

When you have a wireless notebook, or even a wireless desktop computer, you need to make sure you’re connecting to the correct router.

Most often, you want to connect to your own router in your house or apartment. Other times, it might be the wireless router in a coffee shop.

Our first type of accidental connection is an automatic connection to an unsecured network. Sometimes, you might want to do that because you’re at the coffee shop and want to use the wireless service they provide.

But, suppose you’re at home and turned on your notebook computer — configured just as it was when you went to the coffee shop?

You’ll probably connect to one of the unsecured routers in your neighborhood. And, you’ll wonder why your connection is so slow, why you can’t print, why you can’t …

Continue reading Accidental Wireless Connections

Filed Under: Networking, System Control, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting, Wireless Tagged With: accidental, coffee shops, computer network security, connections, linksys, local area networks, networking hardware, router, routers, wireless connection, wireless connections, wireless lan security, wireless network, wireless networking, wireless router, wireless service

Windows Live Mail Freezing When Opening Attachments

By terry Leave a Comment

Windows Live Mail crashes were giving long-time subsriber Raman problems, so he wrote to me to ask:

Hello Terry

When I try to open any attachments to my mail, the Windows Live Mail freezes. I checked on line and found many people have the same problem. Apparently this started after downloading Microsoft’s recent 11 updates.
Can you help?

Thank you
Raman

I wrote back to Raman to remind him that I don’t use Windows Live Mail. Unfortunately, that means I can’t give him any direct help as I have no idea what might be happening with it.

By checking online, he’s using the best approach for finding an answer to a problem caused by a new software release or new Windows updates. Searching Google or another search engine should point you to either a direct answer or a forum that has other users who likely have the same problem.

As he is aware from my newsletters, I’m using Thunderbird for my email program — and I like it a lot.

Continue reading Windows Live Mail Freezing When Opening Attachments

Filed Under: Email, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting, Usability, Windows Repair Tagged With: attachments, e mail, email client, freeze, freezing, hotmail, live mail, mailing, mozilla thunderbird, new windows, open attachments, opening attachments, outlook express, search engines, used windows, web 2.0, window live, windows live, windows live mail, windows update, yahoo! mail

Router Encryption — Increasing Wireless Security

By terry Leave a Comment

I answered a question recently from someone who was using WEP (the so-called “Wired Equivalent Privacy”) encryption on their wireless network. They were considering changing to WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access). The real answer is that they need to change to the second generation of WPA — WPA2.

The biggest question in their mind was whether they’d have to change the wireless passphrases on all their computers (quick answer: yes).

Why change? WEP is old, way, way old in computer terms. When it was first released, it was effective.

But, by 2004, second-generation WEP-cracking tools were widely available. In an article, SmallNetBuilder reports on a 2005 demonstration by a team of FBI agents who were able to crack a 128 bit WEP key in about three minutes.

Continue reading Router Encryption — Increasing Wireless Security

Filed Under: Broadband, Networking, Notebook computer, Security, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting, Wireless, Wireless Security

Problem Sending Email Using Outlook Express

By terry Leave a Comment

Subscriber Terry Millburg wrote recently with a queestion about sending email with Outlook Express.

I have an issue with Outlook Express in XP Home on a dell. Do you have any recommendations on a unit that can receive but not send in Outlook Express? I have tried the usual, uninstall & reinstall the OE from within Windows, removed & recreated the account, but still no luck. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, Terry

I wrote back to Terry to say that I suspect that there’s something wrong in his SMTP (outbound) mailserver setting, perhaps a transposed number or a different subdomain should be used. I told him to check with his ISP to make sure what he’s supposed to be using.

If he’s trying to use your Outlook Express to send outbound via a third-party’s SMTP server instead of the ISP through which he’s connecting, then he’s probably being blocked by the ISP. They do this routinely to block the sending of spam from within their network.

If he’s really trying to connect to an outside SMTP mailserver to send outbound emails, then that server might have an alternate TCP port that they also use. The normal SMTP port is TCP port 25.

Alternate ports are usually either…

Continue reading Problem Sending Email Using Outlook Express

Filed Under: Email, PC Repairs, Stability, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting, Windows Repair, Windows XP

ReImage for Windows XP

By terry Leave a Comment

I received a question from Adam, a Terry’s Computer Tips web site visitor recently, who was having problems with two of his computers:

Hey Terry, just read your XP SP3 woes, got another one two for you. i have a small home network running with shared internet connection. When SP3 came out both computers immidiately downloaded the update. on PC1 the same happen to as did to your previous writer with the dvd-rom issue (gave up and bought another) on PC2 my onboard network adaptor, uh, mulfunctioned and my computer no longer registers any outside computers from my network port. i do not want to use system restore point. is there a way of repairing online? SP2 cd does not work

I wrote back to Adam to tell that there is a new online service about which I have been reading, that might be what he was looking for. InformationWeek, NetworkWorld and eWeek had very interesting articles about it. I also advised him that I have not tried ReImage yet.

Continue reading ReImage for Windows XP

Filed Under: Registry Repair, System Control, System Repair, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting, Windows Repair, Windows XP

Computer Problems Opening Zip Files

By terry Leave a Comment

Long-time subscriber Irving wrote to ask:

I have XP SP2. I downloaded a zip file to my desktop. I then clicked the icon and ran into a problem. The screen started to “blink” and I couldn’t do anything. CTR-ALT-DEL couldn’t do anything. I had to shut down with power switch. Tried again…..same problem. This has also occurred on other downloads and blinking screens when trying to install with a click on icon on desktop. What can cause this?? Irv

I wrote back to Irving to suggest some possibilities.

1) a malware program in the zip file – did you scan it after downloading? what did you scan it with?

2) a program that attempted to change your graphics card resolution or other setting, and couldn’t do it right – or didn’ want to…

Continue reading Problems Opening Zip Files

Filed Under: Hard drive, HowTo, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting

XP Service Pack 3 Feedback

By terry Leave a Comment

In my August 31st online Terry’s Computer Tips newsletter, I wrote about my experience trying to install Windows XP Service
Pack 3 on my notebook computer. Service Pack 3 didn’t like me.

This week, I got some feedback from Bob in South Africa on his experiences:

Terry, Microsoft’s auto update of SP 3 on my XP Home SP 2 OS was an unmitigated DISASTER (!) and required me to do a format and reinstall of XP SP 2. Then I saw that TechRepublic was kindly offering an ISO download of SP 3 of which I took advantage and burned myself an SP 3 install CD (with install wizard). After disconnecting from the Internet and shutting down everything in my notification area, I ran …

Continue reading XP Service Pack 3 Feedback

Filed Under: Stability, System Control, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting, Updates, Windows XP

More on Windows XP Service Pack 3

By terry Leave a Comment

For the first time in a few weeks, I think the last week went by without any new reports from subscribers about problems installing XP Service Pack 3. That probably means that the rest of us are waiting for reports that Microsoft has solved and updated it to fix some of the incompatibility problems. Notice that I said “us” — I haven’t installed it yet, either.

I received an email recently from reader Claire who asked:

Hi Terry, Did XP Service Pack 3 come in as an Automatic Update
or do you have to retrieve it separately? I thought service packs included all important updates in one package. Does the Service Pack have more than what is normally sent out in the Automatic Updates? Thanks.

Continue reading More on Windows XP Service Pack 3

Filed Under: Stability, System Control, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting, Upgrades, Windows XP

Which Program Has Locked My File?

By terry 1 Comment