waldwolf

A few of the more recent "hacking" books are:

Addison-Wesley - Wi-Foo. The Secrets of Wireless Hacking - eBook

Syngress - Wireless Hacking. Projects for Wi-Fi Enthusiasts - eBook

John Wiley & Sons - Hacking For Dummies - eBook

Put one or more on your reading list, to learn the tricks-of-the-trade and how to protect yourself.

Your best defense is knowledge.

cheers

opalhort - I suspect there may be a problem with either your Power Supply (PS), a ground on the motherboard or the power lead/connector from the PS to your motherboard, but first, try this as the problem you report can also occur in XP with some 3D Screen Savers.

a. Right click on your desktop window and select "Properties".

b. Click the "ScreenSaver" tab

c. Set screen saver to "None"

d. Click OK to close window.

If that doesn't solve the problem, and if your comfortable with opening the tower, unplug unit from mains and remove tower cover, and check the following:

1) All connectors from the powersupply to motherboard are firmly seated.

2) All connectors running from motherboard to hard drive(s) and CD or DVD-ROM's are firmly seated.

3) Plug unit back into mains and turn on. (Leave cover off)

4) Check visually that all cooling fans are working.

5) Post back your findings.

cheers

In upper left corner, highlight MyComputer, then click "Registry" button.

I can hilight my computer, but after that, there is no registry button to click. There's all the files on the left hand side and then a blank right hand side...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

OK, then lets do this.

1) Click START>RUN and type "Regedit" (without quotes) in window.

2) Right click mouse on HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (in left hand window)

3) Select and click on "Find"

4) In new window type "SystemFileAssociations" (all one word, without quotes) and click Find button. (The name you entered should appear, highlighted, in the left window after a few moments)

5) When you see the "SystemFileAssociations" appear (highlighted) right click on the name and then click "Export" in the new window.

6) When the new "Export Registry File" window appears, click the arrow next to "Save in" and select "Desktop"

7) Type a name in the "File Name" window (ie: SFA) and click "Save" (This will save a copy of that registry entry to your desktop, for reinstallation, if necessary)

8) Now, using you mouse's left button, double click on the "SystemFileAssociations" in left window or the + box next to name. (This will open that link.)

9) In left window, scroll down until you see .avi and click it once

10) In right window, double click on the name, "Default" .

11)In the new window (named Edit String), delete any entry you see.

12) Now close all windows, and do your normal routine to see if you are now able to view your picures.

Post back your results, or any questions.

cheers

Thanks for the info. Before I do this, you say that it should help with .avi files, but these files are all jpeg. Am I missing something?

Also, if I reformat the hard drive, I lose everything right? So what do I do about this? also, I would have to re-install all the software on my computer right? Thanks!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We're not talking about or suggesting you reformat your hard drive. By following the above instructions, all your doing is (1) saving a copy of your current registry, then (2) editing one line of the registry currently in use.

Think of the registry as the index of a book. In that books index there is an error. The index says such-and-such information can be found on page 155, however the actual information is on page 255. All you will be doing with the suggested edit, would be like your taking a pencil and changing 155 to 255. By first saving a copy of the original registry, should we later determine the index was correct, we can erase the change and return it to its original condition.

The above edit reportedly help with all forms of video (jpg, jpeg, bmp, avi, etc) which are causing explorer.exe to crash. It gets a little technical, but basically this registry entry continually changes depending on various codecs (compression forms) utilized by various video types. (When I say video, I'm including still pictures, as well as moving pictures.)

Again, if your concerned you may unknowningly mess-up you system, then do not do this editing, until you can find some trusted help.

cheers

(PS - Forgot in my earlier post to recommend you also try tywais's suggestion, as the situation he points out, can also cause similar problems to what you experiencing.)

ChiangMaiThai - From a little research, it appears your problem is quite common among XP users. What your apparently seeing is a "crash" of EXPLORER.EXE, not your whole system.

First, I doubt it is due to lack of RAM, although 256 is about the minimum for good basic XP operations. 512-1000 would be preferable and faster when dealing with ram hogs like Photoshop or other video software. However windows virtual memory should, in most cases, be able to handle the RAM problem, provided of course your not short on HDD storage space. There is of course the possibility one of the RAM chips is defective, however if that were the case, you should also see problems with other programs.

First, try slimdog's suggestion re: SpySweeper if you have it installed.

If that doesn't help, then we need to do a little Registry surgery. First, if you are not completely comfortable working in the Registry, you will need to find a friend, co-worker or trusted individual knowledgeable on the subject. What needs to be done, is not for the "faint of heart", but will be a good learning experience, and hopefully give one confidence to attack future problems.

Should you decide to go ahead, proceed as follows:

1) Click on START>RUN and type in window "regedit" (without quotes) and click OK

2) In upper left corner, highlight MyComputer, then click "Registry" button.

3) Click on "Export Registry File" and in new window enter a name, like OldRegistry23-JUN-05 and save to a folder on your desktop.

4) Now either double-click HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT or click the + in front of name, to open.

5)Scroll down list until you find SystemFileAssociations, then click + sign.

6) Next to .avi

7) Next to shellex

8) Next to PropertyHandler

9) Now delete the "Default" value, and close window

This will hopefully solve your problem, at least as far as .avi files are concerned. If not, then restore your original Registery (the one you first saved) by double-clicking on the file and answering Yes. The original registry will be restored.

Post back your findings.

cheers

.....However,every time I phone Acer help line they say they are too busy to take calls!!!.....

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A little bit of history. Acer is a Taiwanese company. 7-8 years ago, Acer were amoung the top 3 computer manufacturers/suppliers in the USA. 5 years ago their quality control and support went to he*l. It became so bad that they finally withdrew from the US market. (Nobody would buy their products.) Within last 6 months, Acer is again attempting to re-enter the US market with a line of inexpensive laptops. (Quality appears well below average with very poor quality LCD screens, unconventional keyboards and an overall "cheap" look.) A number of display models I have seen in retail stores were dead and, according to store sales personnel, the returns on Acer units is very high.

Would suggest you contact the Chairman or President of Acer and describe your experiences with their UK support personnel. Company contact info is as follows:

Acer Incorporated

8F, 88, Sec.1, Hsin Tai Wu Rd., Hsichih,

Taipei Hsien 221, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Tel: 886-2-8691-3204/1046

Fax: 886-2-8691-3262

Email: (name)@acer.com.tw

J.T. Wang, Chairman & CEO

Gianfranco Lanci, President

Good luck and post back your experiences.

cheers

Elliot - I would suggest you write a short, polite letter to the President of Fujitsu in Japan, describing your dealings with their BKK operations, your financial loss and the "loss of face" you suffered with your customers, as a result of their BKK facilities failure to honor their service committment, despite several re-confirmations.

If you have any paperwork covering the repair, enclose a photocopy and reference it in your communication.

Fijitsu's World Headquarters address is:

Hiroaki Kurokawa, President

Fujitsu Limited

Shiodome City Center

1-5-2 Higashi-Shimbashi

Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-7123, Japan

A couple of years ago I had multi-failures with many Samsung computer products. Discovered Samsung had no factory repair facilities in USA. Sent email of complaint to the President-CEO of Samsung detailing my disappointment with their support and the loss of face he and all of Samsung were gaining from poor quality and poor support management.

Within hours I received over a dozen emails and 8 telephone calls, 3 direct from Korea, including one from the President and every executive down to and including the President of US Operations and his VP of Service & Support. All my problems were resolved within 24 hours, at no charge and with a formal invitation to visit their Headquarters in Korea, as the personal guest of the President.

As the old saying goes, "when you file a complaint, start at the top, not the bottom".

Good luck.

(PS - If you go the Lady Godiva route, as some have suggested, make sure the horse is very docile and you take a broom and shovel with you to gather up the "horse apples". You wouldn't want to be arrested for........."littering". )

RDN - As your USB backup drive is a HDD, you may want to look at one of the backup programs like Second Copy 2000.

These programs will automatically backup your data (all or portions thereof) either in real-time or on a scheduled. Faster, more reliable than Ghost or True Image, in the event of a HDD crash.

cheers

I use Barclays, the most secure online banking facility.

They NEVER send emails to you, but once after using a cafe in a tourist part of Bkk, I got an email the next day from 'Baclays' (see the spelling?)

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DJ Pat, my bank is Barclays and it was their famously secure site that somebody managed to get into!!! Mind you they have been excellent at following up and by locking out my account and changing all pass codes and issuing new details within minutes of the incident.

For everyones info, i have been informed that there is a programme that is readily available that can record every key pressed on a selected PC, which is bloody scary!

Stay Safe!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

:They can't record on a touch screen"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry, but the data from either regular keypads or touch screens is still transmitted the same old fashion way, via ethernet cables, and is recordable.

6. Deceptive URLs. Only enter your EarthLink password on EarthLink pages. These begin with https://www.earthlink.net/, ...my.earthlink.net, ...webmail.earthlink.net, etc.

- Even if a URL contains the word "EarthLink," it may not be an EarthLink site. Examples of deceptive URLs include: www.earthlinksupport.com, www.earth1ink.com, www.accounts-earthlink.com, and www.earthlinkcom.net.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

8. Unsafe sites. The term "https" should always precede any website address where you enter personal information. The "s" stands for secure. If you don't see "https," you're not in a secure web session, and you should not enter data.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If one uses a computer on any type of internet connection, one must assume as with a telephone comunication, someone else is "listening". If someone can hack into and record a phone conversation between the White House and Presidential Air Force One (which occured several years ago), or the FBI and Atomic Energy Commission computers, your "swiss-cheese" Windows system should be a piece-of-cake.

As the popularity of mobile systems grows, so do the vunerability factors. In recognition of this, Microsoft and other government contractors have joined forces to develop stronger and safer mobile communication software for the military, which should, in time, filter down to the general public. (More here)

We all hear about Routers and software Firewalls, but are they really effective? The answer is yes and no. Like most "locks", they're really designed to keep honest people out. Take for example your broadband router and the firewall incorporated into Windows XP. Both are oneway streets, so to speak. They only stop malware from entering your sytem. They do not monitor nor prevent data from exiting your system. So, if by chance you open an infected email or view an infected picture on some website, you system can become compromised and immediately begin transmitting data to an outside source. It is unlikely you will be aware this is happening, until the damage has already been done.

It's easy and relatively inexpensive to protect yourself. Study your options. Ask questions. Be pro-active.

Lecture is now over for the day.

cheers

^^^ I erred in crediting vSkype to Skype Technologies. The developer of the aformentioned plug-in is Santa Cruz Networks.

Sorry for any confusion.

cheers

Just wondering what speed connection you need for skype to work.    I have tried to download the software many times and it has timed out when the download is about half way through.  I am connected to the internet at between 28kbs and 31 kbs.  Is this fast enough for skype to work or do you need broadband.

Any help appreciated

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you have trouble downloading, try one of the download managers like Go!Zilla, GetRight, etc. which will allow you to resume the download at the point you lost the connection. No need to start over again.

As to your connection speed, Skype states:

What kind of Internet connection do I need to use Skype?

The minimum internet requirements to use Skype are a dial-up connection with at least a 33.6Kbps modem. However, to get the best results out of Skype we suggest that you have a broadband internet connection (cable, DSL, etc). GPRS is not supported for voice calls and results using satellite internet connections may vary.

Even though you may not quite reach 33.6Kbps, give it a try. Might just work.

Good luck

For info:

Skype Technologies has released vSkype (beta) which allows you to add video to your calls.

Getting started is simple. Just connect a camera, download our free vSkype plug-in, and invite up to 200 buddies to a video call - even if they don't have a camera. But wait, there's more! You can also share anything you see on your screen, even your entire desktop! Whether you use Skype for business or to connect with family and friends, now you can show a presentation, work on a spreadsheet, or share photos of your weekend fun while seeing everyone on the call!

System Requirements:

- 450 Mhz CPU or greater

- Windows 2000 or XP

- Internet Explorer 5.0+

- Skype

Homepage: http://www.vskype.com/

Download Link: http://www.vskype.com/download/setup.exe

cheers

For info:

Skype Technologies recently (18-Jun-05) released an updated version 1.3.0.48 of this freeware program.

Changes in v1.3.0.48:

BUG FIX - If email field was empty in profile, Skype generated excessive traffic under some circumstances .

Homepage:here

Download Link here

cheers

.......You guessed right...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Guessed right!........Guessed right!

What do you mean 'guessed right'?

I'll have you know, everyone here is a techno-expert, with years of knowledge, training and expertise. We never guess.

Just because we may occassionally be confused by an incomplete question, doesn't mean we didn't have the answer right at our fingertips.

cheers

....I have emailed Bumrungrad and they don't do it so I don't have high hopes that anyone else will.....

ChiangMaiThai - I, for one, wouldn't want to be "a learning experience" for any LOS surgeon. Should you decide to proceed with this method, I would attempt to find the country and doctors who have performed the most proceedures.

I recently had laser eye surgery for a detached retna. Basically it involved spot-welding 3 concentric circles (about 300 zaps total) around a retina tear. Minimal pain (like someone punched you in the eye). Lost sight in the eye for about 1 hour. 'Uncomfortable' for about 3 days.

As the laser method described actually involves burning away tissue, I would question their statements of 'minimal' postoperative pain and recovery time.

One other question comes to mind. In many cases of tonsillitis an adenoidectomy may also be necessary, or recommended. Have any of your doctors mentioned this? I wonder if the same laser proceedure can be used for that condition?

I think you need to get a lot more questions answered. Answered by experienced authorities on the sujbect.

Good luck which ever way your decide to proceed.

cheers

After reading the "Audit", I think I'd go for the old fashioned knife, like some of the patients who tried the laser it in the beginning.

The "Overview" report doesn't give one much confidence. (And these were surgeons in UK who had several years on-the-job practice.)

Besides, I can't hold my breath for 20 minutes and I gave up smoking 10 years ago.

....This  all took about 5 hours (can't be sure as I was down the pub while it was restoring )....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Strange isn't it. I've experienced exactly the same problem after a few pints in the local brewery. In my case, I usually end up dropping a whole bunch of disks while trying to find the one needed.

I'm convinced it has something to do with the smokey atmosphere in these pubs, temporarly effecting ones eyesight.

devel_dog - As Crossy stated, the card processing company was CardSystems Solutions of Atlanta, Georga, however, the computers hacked were in their Tucson, Arizona facility.

I don't believe you could track your card slips, unless you can actually get hold of the original charge slip that was processed. I don't believe those are returned to anyone these days, certainly not by Amex, Visa or MasterCharge. In most instances they don't even return your payment check . (They just electronically deduct the funds from your bank account.)

In most cases, Error 999 translates as:

"Sorry, cannot process your request at this time, Check back later"

(Used by Yahoo and a number of other email providers.)

cheers

...How safe is it to make online purchases?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It would depend on your credit cards policy. Many card issuers indemnify the holder, in the event their card is lost, stolen or fraudently used, provided the card holder notifys the issuer within a reasonable period of time.

Some cards (ie: American Express) will issue you a special "card number" valid only for one transaction at a designated price. That number can not be used for any additional purchases.

Does it depend on the integrity of the vendor?

Can I be hacked whilst doing it?

Yes. It would be possible, even easy, depending on a number of factors. The worse condition would be your entering personal financial information on a website that is not encrypted (https), using a WiFi connection (data from which can be caught and recorded up to several miles from the source), or utilizing a public access computer such as those found in internet cafes or public libraries.

- - - - -

Keep in mind that over 300 new viri and trojans appear each week. In addition, as was apparently in the above case, a "backdoor" trojan was planted on the credit card processors computers, which continually feed data for weeks, to an as yet unnamed source.

Now, if you think that is bad, it has recently been discovered there are viri/backdoor trojans which are undetectable by any current antivirus software. Further, these new viri implant themselves, move around and "hide" so effectively, the only way to get rid of them is to do a complete reformat and reinstall. Thus far, these new-type viri appear aimed at servers, but I would imagine we'll see them on most other computers before too long.

As with life itself, there are no guarantees.

cheers

Thetyim - To my eye, it appears to be corrosion probably caused by minute scratches on the top surface, which opened the reflector (probably silver) to corrosive atmospheric conditions compounded by local heat and humidity.

This problem was discussed in detail a few weeks ago in this thread http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...34&hl=corrosion

If possible, also try the disk in another CD-ROM drive or on another computer. Sometimes a different drive can read it.

There are an number of utilities which may be able to recover the data (ie: Isobuster as monty suggested). A google search will lead you to several with free trial downloads.

With CD's, CD-RW's and DVD's, the critical surface to protect from scratches is the top, not the bottom surface. If your data is critical, best to make several backups or preferably, use a media with reflectors which are non-corrosive, such as gold.

Good luck, and I hope you're able to recover your pictures.

cheers

Welshman - Check your folder options to make sure the "Click Items as Follows" is set to double click, not single click.

More details here.

cheers

If you think your computer is safe from hackers, think again.

Late today, in what is believed to be the largest breach of computer security, it was discovered hackers had planted a "backdoor" trojan on the computers belonging to one of the largest credit card data processing companies in the US.

It is estimated over 40 million credit card numbers as well as personal data, may have been stolen. MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover and other cards are effected.

A MasterCard representative said over 68,000 accounts have already had fraudulent charges posted to MasterCard customers accounts.

ThaiVisa members who carry one of the above branded cards, are advised to check their credit card account(s) frequently between billing dates, to insure no unauthorized charges have been posted.

This is once again, proof positive, you cannot be too cautious when it comes to using a computer/internet connection for personal or business financial transactions. You are hackable!

OK, now we know the email reportedly from your ISP, was a "ruse de guerre".

Now back to your original enquiry about the email "kickback". Was that also a ruse or did it actually originate from your account?

As one member suggested earlier, check the header for origination details.

cheers