welo

All good advise given so far.

If you run remote desktop sharing or terminal services, then someone may, in fact, be logged into a separate session on your computer. This typically requires Windows 2000 or 2003 server for true simultaneous multiple sessions. [note: this article dates back to Windows XP times (2006), I guess some versions of Vista and Windows 7 do allow multiple user sessions]

Fast user switching is another case where more than one person can be "logged in" to your machine at the same time. Only one logged in user can actually be seen and used, but the other remains logged in in the background. In Windows, if you select "Switch User" when you Log Off, you're not actually logging off; instead, you're simply putting the current user into the background and logging in as a second user. Fast User Switching must be enabled for this feature to work.

In both of the cases above, if you attempt to shut down your machine, you'll get the warning "There is another user logged onto your computer" because there is. Either the remote desktop user, or the account that you switched away from. Naturally shutting down the machine will force them to be logged off as well.

The other common cause of this message is Windows file sharing on a local area network.

If you create a file share on your system such that another machine can copy file from, or possibly to, your machine, that creates a type of remote login. Depending on your network and security settings, among other things, if machine 'B' is connected to a file share on machine 'A', then it is, in a sense "logged in" to machine A. It's a different type of login, but many of the same concepts apply. Perhaps most importantly, much of the same security infrastructure applies.

The net result is that if another machine on your network is accessing files on your machine, then "There is another user logged onto your computer" may result if you attempt to shut down your computer.

source: http://ask-leo.com/why_do_i_get_there_is_a..._shut_down.html

Make sure you run Malwarebytes', that's a reputable Anti-Malware scanner and an excellent addition to any antivirus program. The free version doesn't come with a real-time shield and therefore has null impact on system performance when not actually running a scan. Just install, then it will automatically update and do a full system scan.

For future scans (maybe once or twice a month) you'll have to trigger the update manually, then run the scan.

Hitman is another on-demand scanner that uses 5 major antivirus engines to scan suspicious files. It uses a cloud-based technique - the actual antivirus engines are not running on your computer but suspicious files are uploaded to computer network where the scan takes place.

The scan on your computer is very fast and lightweight on resources, but it's good to have a proper internet connection so the uploads don't take forever.

Btw AVG is not as good anymore as it used to be.

welo

DrDave,

To come back to your original question..

which anti-virus product did they install for you?

It is hard to tell whether the virus infection came with the system install or with some of the software installed afterwards (maybe by your daughter).

Some trojan infections will first not affect the system but install a backdoor. Later this backdoor is used to download and install all kind of different viruses/malware.

If your first scan found infections I recommend running at least one additional anti-virus/malware program to clean out infections that the first program missed.

Recommended (run both)

Malwarebytes Installer

Hitman Pro Installer

Alternatives

Eset Free Online Scanner Installer

Kaspersky Free Virus Removal Tool Installer

I also recommend securing any thumb drive that you or your daughter is using.

Securing Your Thumb Drive

Another thing that nobody has mentioned is how to prevent infections via your thumb drive.

I recommend disabling the Autorun/Autoplay feature completely. This will prevent viruses infecting your system just by plugging in an infected thumb drive (or external harddisk or cd-rom). Just google for a tutorial (http://www.google.com/search?q=disable+autorun+thumb+drives).

To avoid infections of your thumb drive (or any other drive) you can create a read-only autorun.inf folder at the root of your drive and place an empty txt file in it. This will prevent viruses from creating an autorun.inf file on your drive, the file will make it harder for the virus to delete the folder. The virus will still infect your thumb drive with an infected .exe file (or whatsoever) but will not be able to automatically run this program as part of the autorun process.

Of course this does not avoid viruses infecting or destroying existing files on your thumb drive, it just prevents the infection of your (or other) systems by means of autorun.

Google: http://www.google.com/search?q=autorun.inf+folder

welo

However, I'd like to have a driver package not for slipstreaming but for 'normal' installation.

Can you elaborate? I'm not exactly sure what you mean by this.

Just a collection of drivers that come with their own setup/install or can be installed through the Device Manager -> Update Driver. Probably organized by manufacturer/model.

When it comes to Windows XP distros I followed 2 strategies in the past.

• Use the MS install CDs with the latests service pack integrated (as published by MS) and use WSUS Offline Update to apply all updates after installation in one go (without downloading).
  
• Use the skz distro that is updated about 4 times a year and comes in a modified eye-candy version and an 'original' version that only includes security updates.
  

I guess nowadays with the availability of virtual machines it is much easier to create and test your own customized windows install CD. Still, can't be bothered to do it myself

welo

One more word on modified versions of Windows XP.

It is very common in Thailand to disable the Automatic Update feature by default. This is because those versions usually ship with a pirated Windows XP key and people are afraid that they get busted.

Another reason might be that every now and then (once a year) Microsoft issues an update to the Windows Genuine check which caused troubles with pirated Windows versions in the past, so the strategy is to avoid any of those troubles by disabling the updates.

I talked to a friend once (who admittedly has only very limited IT knowledge) and he was quite paranoid about NOT enabling the Automatic Updates. I pointed out that this makes the PC very vulnerable to attacks ('Virus! Virus!') but he explained that he didn't bother and would just re-install Windows when his PC would become too slow due to virus/malware infections.

However, if you use Internet Explorer then enabling Automatic Updates is an absolute MUST since it uses Windows' Automatic Updates service to retrieve browser (security) updates. Internet Explorer is a time bomb without security updates! ('Virus! Virus!').

If you run an alternative web browser which uses its own update service you might get away with it if you use a firewall and know what you are doing.

However, I do NOT recommend disabling Windows Updates for security reasons. Keeping your OS and your software updated is the number one rule of IT security.

welo

(Goto Control Panel / Automatic Updates to check your settings)

Supernova, do you have experience with driver packages in general and driverpacks.net in particular?

However, I'd like to have a driver package not for slipstreaming but for 'normal' installation. driverpacks.net is for mainly for slipstreaming. They point this out on the website and forums again and again. There is an option to create a driver CD but it didn't work for me (I created the CD but it was not usable as standalone driver CD). I'm also very confused finding which drivers are included in the package and which not.

I found a directory once on an installed computer with a large number of drivers, obviously a leftover of an install by a Thai shop, but couldn't find a source on the internet for it.

I do know that those packages mostly contain the bare drivers without additional tools or even an installer, and I know how to install them from the device manager.

I personally never bothered to create a slipstream CD on my own, way too much work I'm not a professional administrator, but people do approach me frequently for fixing their PC issues, and those integrated install CDs definitely help.

welo

Since Firefox has had quite a bit of bad press on this forum lately, I'd like to point out that Firefox allows font attributes configured per language! So one can easily increase the font size for Thai text.

I'm surprised that Opera doesn't have that feature... what is behind the 'international fonts' button on the screenshot that Supernova provided?

welo

It all started with slipstreaming Windows updates (published after the release of Windows XP) into the original Windows XP install CDs to ease and speed up the installation process on new PCs.

In computer jargon, to slipstream updates, patches or service packs means to integrate them into the installation files of their original software, so that the resulting files will allow a direct installation of the updated software.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slipstream_%28computing%29

Originally this was done mainly by administrators of larger companies that had to maintain a large number of computers, but with knowledge and experience spreading and the availability of tools that make the process easier, slipstreaming became popular with geeks and non-professional administrators to create 'their own version' of Windows.

The process does not only allow to integrate system updates, but also drivers, additional software, themes and other (non-official) patches as well as include configuration or optimization settings or even exclude certain components to shrink 'Windows' and/or make it 'faster'.

Main disadvantage of downloading modified versions of Windows XP

• license issues - AFAIK MS does not allow to distribute modified versions of Windows XP (however, it is not forbidden to create your own slipstreamed version of Windows from your original Windows XP install CD). Furthermore, these distros usually come with a pre-configured (pirated) license key and sometimes activation hacks in place.
  
• security concerns - of course it is possible to integrate trojans into the install CD
  
• stability issues - some 'distributions' exclude system components that might cause system instabilities on some systems/in some setups
  

Main advantages

• Time Savings - latest security updates, hardware drivers and common tools (e.g. tweakUI) and settings/configuration might already be included/applies.
  
• Geek and Coolness factor - many 'distributions' popular in Thailand include Vista-like or other themes and Explorer modifications that give Windows XP a more modern look - of course this aspect is always subject to personal taste...
  

I had to work on 2 computers with Trufaster installed (by another person) and found that the wireless zero config service that comes with Windows and manages wireless connections was disabled and completely messed up (couldn't get it going at all) on both systems. I had to use the software provided by the wireless card vendor to get it going, but still had major troubles (>30sec startup delay for the wireless network stack).

One computer had also a rogue/fake antivirus installed (System Defend Antivirus 2010) and was heavily infected with viruses. However, I think this was NOT part of the trufaster install CD, but it might say something either about the expertise of the IT guy setting up the computer or his/her intentions.

Not sure I would trust this particular 'distribution'.

However, I do see the benefit of custom Windows install CDs with latest updates and drivers integrated - it can save a lot of time when setting up a new system.

welo

Well it turned out to be my GFX card that was dead. After buying a new HD 5870 and installing that everything works fine (My gawd its a 'long' card - struggled to get it in the box!)

The PC boots first time every time, Windows shows the login screen without a glitch and the PC is alive again!

As a side note, my old 9800 GX2 used to run really hot, this card doesn't seem to run as hot, even under pressure

I assume that you tested the old card in a 2nd PC - just to make sure it is really dead and not just some problem with the power supply or overheating in your box...

Agreed the chances are low but it's worth a try...

welo

if your laptop get worst by mr.virus

CHECK this out

try this website

it may help

<a href="http://xxxx/">User Protection</a>

Mods! I would consider this a spam. 1st post, then not really related to the topic (what the heck is 'User Protection'), and referencing a website that has very poor rating on WOT - http://www.mywot.com/scorecard/spyware-review.net

welo

Perhaps is't not Firefox but the system itself because also some graphic editor has it now.

If your not a browser-addon addict I would suggest trying google chrome. So much faster than firefox and works very well.

?

I have a similar problem, and it seems to occur more frequently recently. Mostly it's just Firefox, but the other day another program stalled just when Firefox did. Before I suspected a Firefox addon, and actually the Lazarus Form Recovery plugin brought me some weird messages recently. I disabled it for now.

Disabling all plugins is always a good idea for troubleshooting Firefox. Start Firefox in 'Safe Mode' (use the link in the start menu), then choose 'Disable all addons' and 'Make changes and restart'.

However, I suspect my antivirus/malware software to cause the stalls (ThreatFire). All antivirus/anti-malware solutions with real-time guard/shield can theoretically stall any program by blocking access to the filesystem. Those real-time components scan every file when a program tries to access a file (read or write). This is implemented with a low level system driver. In case this real-time components freezes or has a slow response the accessing program cannot proceed. I guess antivirus software implement measures to avoid such behavior.

Last time when Firefox and other programs stalled I tried to disable real-time protection in ThreatFire but the program, too, didn't respond. Not sure if it was just another 'victim' or the culprit though.

welo

For those of us who want to switch the user interface language of Firefox between 2 or more languages (e.g. for you and your Misses), there is a really nice plugin called 'Quick Locale Switcher'

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1333

This allows you to quickly change the language in Firefox (both user interface and browser locale) from the tools menu, the statusbar, or your Toolbar.

Important: this plugin does not automatically install the UI language packs, just choose the desired language(s) from this page:

ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/fir....6.2/win32/xpi/

Direct link for Thai

Changing the language will trigger a Firefox restart and all currently opened web pages will be reloaded. All standard Firefox menus will then appear in the selected language.

More experienced users can assign a language to a Firefox profile, explained here: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Language_packs

welo

LOL, this is getting a bit too gross for me.

Found the response below on Google answers.

Cuban, I'm sure the OP values your effort and enthusiasm, but there was no need for bothering Google to get your findings. Just reading the current thread would have yielded the same result.

Just in my last post (which was actually a direct response to you) I pointed out the common usage of CTRL-SHIFT to switch input languages and keyboard layouts.

... based on the fact that SHIFT-CONTROL is the default shortcut for switching input languages or keyboard layouts on Windows.

And the exact link that you have referenced has already been posted here two weeks ago.

This guy here actually has no shortcuts assigned and the layout is still changing, unfortunately he didn't find any solution...

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/414358.html

I have experienced screwy typing that I isolated to a shortage of memory, PC RAM over stretched for the tasks it was doing/trying to do.

OK, I see. I would still assume that the PC rather crashes every now and then rather than showing consistent erroneous behavior like switching the keyboard layout. But I don't claim to know all the 'wonders' of Windows and hardware failures

Furthermore this is just an assumption on my part (that the keyboard layout switches) based on the fact that SHIFT-CONTROL is the default shortcut for switching input languages or keyboard layouts on Windows.

But the OP never responded to my suggestion of checking the settings for these shortcuts on his system. He seems to be satisfied knowing how to work around the issue and not interested in fixing the cause.

welo

www.filehippo.com will give you the english version, mozilla sees you are in Thailand and by default gives you the Thai Language download

Or click the 'Other Systems and Languages' link below the download button on the official mozilla page which will lead you to this page:

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all.html

Direct Download:

en-US: http://www.mozilla.com/products/download.h...〈=en-US

en-GB: http://www.mozilla.com/products/download.h...〈=en-GB

welo

Impressive theory. A memory corruption fault causes the keyboard layout or some other very distinctive Windows setting to switch on its own. That would imply that the program code related to this setting is always loaded at the exactly same memory location that fails. I'd say nothing is impossible on Windows but my guess is that your therory is a bit unlikely.

And IF somebody has a faulty memory I would recommend to change the affected memory module rather than to minimize the memory usage of the system and hope that no data will be written to the faulty memory location.

My experience is that faulty memory is sometimes hard to diagnose, but often will give you a nice (and mostly random) system crash/blue screen.

Are you sure this theory didn't come up after a discussion with the lizard from the other night - oh well, I forgot he is dead already

peace,

welo

What about the Problem with IE ?

I dont like all of the ad-on's, I just like to Keep it Simple but every time you up date FF you get more add-on's.

IE supports addons/plugins as well, though they are not as common as on Firefox. Toolbars (Google, Playcity, ask.com) can usually be disabled in the plugins section.

Tutorial for IE 6 and 7: http://antivirus.about.com/od/securitytips/ht/ieaddons.htm

Maybe a toolbar or some other browser addon for both Firefox and IE got installed and causes these issues - sometimes free programs will include browser addons such as the ask toolbar so the company/programer can make some money. Of course this is just one of various possible reasons.

Firefox doesn't install addons on its own. After upgrading the browser core to a new version it will check all installed addons for compatibility and search for updates to this addons. It doesn't install additional addons.

Chrome is a good choice if you don't need the flexibility of Firefox' addons. Nothing wrong with switching.

The reason why I posted was that I suspect that one of the Firefox addons is causing the issues. And I pointed out a simple way howto 'fix' your Firefox install instead of abandoning a good web browser.

welo

That's what a simple Google search brings up and what I have used in the past.

http://www.thaisubtitle.com/

Can't comment on quality of the translation though.

Often had to tweak subtitles to match timing of the downloaded movie which can be a pain in the a** if you can't read the subtitles yourself LOL

welo

LOL. oh well, never mind, too much fuss about nothing for my taste

However, you have my respect for acknowledging your mistake, this is a very noble character attribute in my opinion.

welo

Check the settings of your Touchpad for the option 'Tap off when Typing'. This disables the Touchpad temporarily while hitting the keys on the keyboard, lessening the risk for accidentally 'brushing' over the Touchpad and moving your mouse pointer.

The settings dialog can be accessed from the Control Panel (Mouse Settings) or from the icon in the system tray.

If you can't find that option you probably don't have the latest drivers installed. The standard Windows XP drivers don't offer this feature.

Synaptics Drivers: http://www.synaptics.com/support/drivers

ALPS Drivers: http://download.cnet.com/Alps-Pointing-dev....html?tag=mncol

welo

Why uninstall Firefox? Just disable all addons via Safe-Mode (start Safe-Mode, then in the dialog window choose the option to disable all plugins upon next start), takes 5-10 seconds, and you're done. Enjoy your refreshed and lightning-fast surf experience.

During the next hours/days, when you miss any feature that one of your addons has previously provided, I mean if you REALLY miss it and can't live without it, re-enable that addon.

If you can live with Google Chrome you can surely live with Firefox and a reduced set of addons.

I agree that Firefox' selling point as well as maybe its downfall is the number of addons that make Firefox both feature-rich but sometimes also unstable and sluggish.

So it's up to the user to no go crazy on installing addons.

I don't have any problem with Chrome, and it's Javascript engine is surely superior to Firefox right now, but comparing a Firefox bloated with addons with a (nearl) non-expandable Chrome is not fair.

Of course that assumes that your Firefox troubles were really due to a large number of addons.

welo

Comments in blue.

Linux needs the package managers because it never got the "any installer will just install the software" to work technically. I don't know if they've even tried. The Linux mentality is that you can compile your stuff yourself. Nevermind that that's very inconvenient, and that this is 2010, not 1974.

Yeah, that's my point. Why it doesn't work or why did they never try? I've come across only a view .bin installers in my life, sometimes they worked but more often they didn't. I guess it's all about the dependency management, because there is not really a set of 'core components' and from a programmer's point of view APIs probably change often and break backwards compatibility. To me seems to bit a 'dll hel_l' of its own.

I guess this is why an installer cannot just copy the files somewhere and make minor configuration work based on the environment. It would have to check a hel_l lot of dependencies and program versions it depends on. Of course this differs from software to software.

Wanna install a Java plug-in - how about spending a few hours debugging make files? Err... right. No thanks. They'll say but it's so easy, you just type make install foobar, and off it goes! Except that more often than not, that doesn't work and you have to go in and find what's wrong and basically debug the software before even running it once. Stupid.

One other aspect of Linux and its community is the various fractions within the community having different opinions on where Linux should go and what is important. The compile-from-source fraction does not care about usability or ease-of-use and usability for non-technical users, I guess. Or will just conclude that those users require an administrator to take care for their computer system and that way close the discussion.

But obviously there are many Linux programmers/advocates/etc out there nowadays who do want Linux to be easy to use and attract non-technical users.

Maybe the difference is that on Windows there is no distinct line between non-technical users and 'administrator' like users, rather a smooth transition with all kind of different 'shadings'.

But besides that discussion on users vs. administrators there is still those kind of technically-skilled users (like me and you) that despite having the skill-set to accomplish such tasks as recompiling a package from source still don't think of it as a desirable way to administer their system.

This is a weakness in Linux. I think the Ubuntu foundation would do well addressing this ASAP. How hard can it be to create a universal linux installer methodology? I think all you'd need is a clearly defined standard, and an implementation for the 3 or 4 biggest Linux desktop distributions. Maybe a test environment where you can automatically test all distributions that care about it.

Like I mentioned above, I guess the problem is the dependency management and 'volatile' APIs of Linux software which IMHO is a management issue.

OS X proves that you don't need a DLL hel_l in order to get installers working. It also shows how you can manage having multiple versions of frameworks on your system. It's all out there. DLLs should in any case be a thing of the past - any software should install all that is required in its own directory, so it can be cleanly installed / uninstalled / moved. This is working on OS X for the most part. On the iPhone/iPad it's enforced. Sharing code in order to save disk space is an idea from 30 years ago, and I am not even sure it was a very good idea back then.

Are there relevant technical differences between BSD-based OSX and Linux that makes it easier or possible on Mac OSX compared to Linux. My guess it is more a management issue, and Apple controlling the OS and its APIs.

Btw isn't DLL sharing intended to share memory not disk space?

"Generally speaking, heeding the advice you receive in anonymous forwarded emails is not an effective way of coping with Internet security issues."

All true, however, if somebody writes you who has a rich relative that just recently passed away, and he/she needs to bring his money out of the country, don't be rude and cold and offer your help!!! You will make tons of money, trust me!

http://www.419eater.com

(I know a bit off-topic, but somehow related, category 'don't believe everything you read')

I would like to hear an expert comment on the concept of Linux package managers versus Windows' DLL hel_l.

I mean I see pros and cons of both systems, but as far as freedom of choice goes, which seems to be so important to the Linux community, I'd name Windows the winner. Download and run the installer of any program you find on the internet.

Knowing that you can compile any open source Linux software from the source or install RPMs/packages that are not explicitly hosted in your distro's package repository, I still consider this not applicable for the average user (my neighbor, my kids, my non-techie friend, my uncle, my mom, etc).

I do see many advantages of the repository concept - tested compatibility and safety, ease of install - but doesn't it favor established software and weaken competition?

I don't want to get into a Windows vs. Linux fight, please no! I would like to hear a summary of the two concepts as if they had not the 'Microsoft' or 'Linux' sticker attached.

It's just that the example of the Java plug-in gave me something to think. You cannot blame a vendor to not offer install packages for all available (major) distros. On the other hand why not? Instead of testing your software on multiple Windows systems, why not work together with Distro maintainers to get your software into those repositories. But I guess it might be sometimes hard shipping updates for your own applications when you are depending on somebody else, also because there often seems to be some kind of 'politics' involved in the Linux world. You see that I go back and forth, would like to hear more experienced users commenting on this.

welo