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Computer help needed!

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20:42 / 23.06.08

Hello hello, I have more computer problems: I have a bad thing on my mac that redirects me all over the place whenever I click on links and stops the back button from working and other less specific mayhem. I got a little free virus checker thingy that went bonkers with virus alerts but wouldn't fix anything without enormous expenditure on my part, so are there any good virus getting-rid-of things for Mac OS X.4 that require less or no such expenditure??

Essential Dazzler

18:52 / 24.06.08

I am perplexed. I just tried to use rapidshare.com's RapidUploader tool, it's just a simple .exe it doesn't require installation or anything, but it keeps telling me it "is not a valid Win32 application". What does that mean and how can I stop it?

I'm on an XP system, but that shouldn't be a problem, my other PC is all XP'd up and that runs it fine.

20:50 / 24.06.08

Presumably you downloaded the app from t'internet onto your second machine there? I ask because that error usually just means that the file you've got is corrupt or shoddy in some way (if you take a text file and change the file extension to .exe then try to run it you'll get the same error for instance) so I'd try just deleting it and re-downloading it again.

13:00 / 25.06.08

I have a bad thing on my mac that redirects me all over the place whenever I click on links and stops the back button from working and other less specific mayhem. I got a little free virus checker thingy that went bonkers with virus alerts but wouldn't fix anything without enormous expenditure on my part, so are there any good virus getting-rid-of things for Mac OS X.4 that require less or no such expenditure??

Actually, the amount of true viruses on OS X is pretty low, but it sounds as if you have somehow have gotten a very shifty browser plugin or suchlike on your system. Also, the "free virus checker thingy" sounds suspicious, too. I know Symantec, for instance, sell antivirus for the Mac, but the first thing I would do is to install another web browser and see if you have similar problems in that one. For instance, if you are currently using Safari, try downloading Firefox 3 and see if the problems persist. If they go away in that browser, you might only have a shifty browser plugin to get rid of. If not, I would recommend reinstalling OS X from scratch (as is always a good idea in case of a virus infestation).

You could also check the Activity Monitor program for suspicious processes and google their names.

ONLY NICE THINGS

13:29 / 25.06.08

To be fair, it could be a Mac running Windows XP, in which case get an antivirus program - Avast or AVG are free. The "free virus checker" does indeed sound like balls - online scanners often identify lots of processes as _potentially_ virusy because they do not recognise them (also, they tend to use ActiveX controls...), but it sounds like what you have there is scumware, which is trying to scare you into buying a program you don't need and which may itself be virus-carrying.

If you want to check for viruses for free, there's a free Mac OS X virus scanner called ClamXav. As above, though, it's pretty unlikely that you actually have a virus, unless you have been to some very dodgy sites and you downloaded, ran and gave admin rights to a program from one of them...

10:56 / 27.06.08

Kind soldiers, thanks for your suggestions. I downloaded ClamXav and it said no viruses, but the problem persists.

I use Firefox usually but Safari came with as default so I opened it up, and the same thing happenes. There be no Windows on the machine, I hasten to add.

Is the best option probably to just reinstall everything? Or if it's not a virus, reinstall the browsers...?

btw the free virus checker was a free trial of Intego VirusBarrier X5, whatever that is when it's at home.

12:46 / 27.06.08

Before you go reinstalling everything, might it be worth trying a spyware/adware scanner? Not everything that messes up your computer is actually a virus, obviously.

I'm not sure what's good, but a quick Google comes up with MacScan, which looks decent enough to me.

ONLY NICE THINGS

13:10 / 27.06.08

Intego's not bad, as a product. However, remember that reinstalling operating systems on a Mac is really pretty simple. Before doing that, try removing all plug-ins from Firefox and Safari, and uninstalling and reinstalling Firefox (you can't really uninstall Safari, or rather once uninstallled it's tricky to reinstall, which is a bit of a pain). See if that sorts it.

All Acting Regiment

15:56 / 29.06.08

So, some elderly neighbours understandably want to ditch AOL and have asked me if I know of a simple, not-shit ISP that they could move over to. I don't. Do any of you? Emphasis on easiness and that it works.

19:02 / 29.06.08

It was a plugin, it was a plugin! Not a plugin plugged into Firefox, but a weird plugin concealed elsewhere - a plugin purge and fresh shiny new Firefox mean that all is now well. Thanks!

04:15 / 30.06.08

Glad to hear that you got around the problem, doozy floop. I know I'm late to the party, but there are some other things you can take a look at too.

Head into the preferences folder located in the library folder of your user and dump the file associated with your program (there may be more than one). I believe that programs like Onyx can help you in this process. You can also use that utility to reset prebinding, run daily, weekly and monthly cron scripts and repair disk permissions.

If that doesn't help and it wasn't a dodgy plugin, then a reinstall is usually in order.

02:41 / 01.07.08

sorry about the repost from the ?'s thread, i just realized i'd probably get more responses here.
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I recently "upgraded" to Firefox3, and now when I leave a website I'm automatically logged out. I've adjusted the preferences so that it remembers my passwords, but I still need to log-in each time I come back. Can anyone advise me on how to stay signed in to Barbelith permanently like I used to be?

17:25 / 05.07.08

I had to reinstall Windows XP (on a different drive) and then all my programs and settings were gone or wiped. For example, I could use Opera but none of the bookmarks are there!

How can I retrieve my bookmarks?

How can I get Win XP to be the way it was before? For example, the antivirus software used to start automatically, now it doesn´t.

09:00 / 07.07.08

I recently "upgraded" to Firefox3, and now when I leave a website I'm automatically logged out. I've adjusted the preferences so that it remembers my passwords, but I still need to log-in each time I come back. Can anyone advise me on how to stay signed in to Barbelith permanently like I used to be?

Have you checked Preferences/Security? There should be options there allowing you to save your password.

Happy Dave Has Left

11:52 / 07.07.08

On Firefox 3, you may have set to reject all or some cookies, which is how the site knows you've visited before. Again, under security preferences.

12:47 / 11.07.08

Since the recent XP "update" (on Tuesday) my PC won't access the internet. The wireless connection is fine. I can ping other computers no bother but it won't open any webpages I try to view. At the moment I've used system restore to get online, but does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? Alternatively does anyone know how to turn off the automatic updates as at the moment it keeps updating and I have to keep running system restore.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

13:15 / 11.07.08

I just had the exact same problem- are you using ZoneAlarm? Apparently the new XP update won't work with it. I had to get Ignatius to talk me through it over the phone, but essentially you have to shut down ZoneAlarm, preferably make sure you still have a firewall of some kind and then you should be okay. Apparently there's a patched version of ZA now which should work, but obviously you have to go online to get it.

13:55 / 11.07.08

I managed to get it working by putting the "Internet" zone on ZA down from "High" to "Medium" security. It drove our household crazy trying to find out what happened, though.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

14:01 / 11.07.08

Ah, that's interesting.

I totally freaked out- I only got my broadband back on yesterday, then today it wasn't working! And to think, only an hour previously I'd been good-naturedly taking Ignatius to task for his love of Linux and having to actually work to make software run ("I like my games to play straight out of the box" I was saying, all strident and self-righteous)... he said "what about that new XP update that fucks ZoneAlarm then?" Of course, I was all like "no, I've had no problem with that..."- forgetting that I'd only been online since yesterday and the new updates hadn't been applied yet...

Then I had to call him and be all embarrassed and grovelling.

14:31 / 11.07.08

I had the same. Fixed by uninstalling windows update number (KB951748)in Add/Remove programs (remember to tick box for Show Updates in order to see it.

Zone Alarm say there is a new version that doesn't conflict but I couldn't find it yesterday. Once I have that I will update Windows again.

Thank goodness for my internet iPod so I could access the web to learn about this. I knew there was a real use for it after all.

Conspiracy>Are MS fucking with us to get us to swap to Vista?

15:18 / 11.07.08

Well when I went onto the MS website to see if I could sort it out I did notice a big fuck off advert saying "Why you should upgrade to Vista" on the trouble-shooting page. I'm not saying that's proof but.... Now excuse me while I adjust my tinfoil helmet.

Thanks for the help guys.

16:05 / 11.07.08

Looks like that was the problem. I updated Zonealarm (you can find the download here) and updated Windows and it all seems to work now.

17:11 / 12.07.08

Im looking for a printer to print out some of the photos Ive taken. I had a Epson Stylus Photo 820 and it did make very nice prints. The only problem I had with it was the need to print something every week off so to ensure the the printheads didnt dry out and muck up prints.
What I need suggestions for it a good quality photoprinter that I can leave for a month or two without using and still have great prints when I do decide to use it.
Preferably below 500$

17:16 / 24.07.08

I just installed Firefox and what I need to know is if there is any way to import bookmarks from Internet Explorer and not have them reorganized by Firefox? Im spending more time looking for the bookmarks than I am using them.

15:00 / 06.08.08

(Can't find any job-related threads on Barbelith, so sorry for the OTness...)

Can anyone recommend any websites which are good for searching for IT jobs? Ideally programming related, and preferably permanant positions.

18:23 / 06.08.08

Check the jobs thread/forum on 43 Folders.

14:12 / 16.10.08

Does anyone know what the descriptive text that appears below a search result (in, say, Google) is called? I've been fannying about with HTML and CSS for a year now and I haven't got a bloody clue. Also, does anyone know how you can set it in stone (I appreciate that with Wordpress.com this might involve some sort of fudge, but once I know how it's generated I can work on that)? Do I use title tags, meta tags, what?

Good God this is fucking me off.

14:17 / 16.10.08

Ah, just found something on Google. I'll come back if it doesn't help

Whisky Priestess

19:34 / 25.10.08

OK, here's one for you.

How do you open that stupid bloody .docx format people keep sending things to me in in the mistaken belief that it's a normal way to behave, and that .rtf or inline text wouldn't be infinitely better? (No offence .docx aficionados ... but my heart always sinks when I see the buggers).

I'm using OpenOffice and have tried to download Wordviewer, but it won't let me.

Please help?

20:22 / 25.10.08

I've not used it, but there's this, as a possibility.

ONLY NICE THINGS

10:25 / 26.10.08

Microsoft have now released a compatibility pack for this, having burned a lot of goodwill - here.

As an emergency fix, it's also worth noting that, hilariously, the latest release of Pages, the Mac Word equivalent, can read .docx files and save them as regular.doc files.

Whisky Priestess

11:15 / 27.10.08

Thanks both. I was entertained to see on the front page of the first link, the following para:

"In Office 2007 Microsoft introduced a new file format called the Microsoft Open Office XML Format (.docx). This format is not compatible with older versions of Microsoft Word or with alternative operating systems like Linux or Mac OS X. Nor is it compatible with other word processing applications like OpenOffice, Lotus 123, or NeoOffice."

(Posted without comment, naturally, though any comment would surely be along the lines of "But ... but why did they do that?")

08:45 / 04.11.08

Anyone know how to convert .FLV files to .MP4/.M4V format files? Usually I used the freeware conversion software from Jodix which works fine with .AVI, .MPG, .WMV and .RM, but just can't handle flash video.

Anyone any ideas?

16:22 / 04.11.08

Well, I'd try using something that grabs the audio off the soundcard - there are a few recorders that do this (Hijack was an old Mac one).

At home, my PC has a volume->recording control for "Stereo In" (I think it's called - the slider on the far right) which, if selected, will make any audio recorder record anything you can hear over the speakers.

17:27 / 04.11.08

Hmmm. Not sure that helps, FLV are video files, so just capturing the audio doesn't help a great deal. But thanks regardless.

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