Last night, I purchased the download version of WinDVD 2010. I had tried to install it several times but every time I had tried to install it, the first installation window popped up and then it closed, and my hard drive activity light was lit constantly. After it went off, the only window that opened was from Microsoft, "This program might not have been installed correctly". Running the program as administrator didn't work and running it under compatibility mode didn't help either.
I then proceeded to call Corel's technical phone support.
After waiting 1 hour and 8 minutes on hold, I had decided to hang up.
So then I was again forced to make another attempt to solve the problem myself.
I extracted the files from the installer file into a directory and there were 4 files in there:
default.ini
default.rge
Installer.exe
setup.exe
I first tried to run installer.exe and I got the same results. Gee, does this program run at all?
When I ran setup.exe, guess what? It worked!
The next day, I called Corel and they told me that they have never heard of this problem before so as far as they know, I was the only one that has had to deal with this problem.
They decided to be nice to me and send me a copy of the pro version to my e-mail.
Now they have knowledge of a new peoblem and how to solve it.
If anyone else has this problem, they now know how to solve it. They will probably save a lot of money because of me so I guess that's why they decided to give me the pro version.
Maybe I should work for a software company.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Windows 2000 Incompatibility problem.
Once in a while, I go to this certain parking lot in my neighborhood to look for discarded computers and parts.
Recently, I found a Compaq 8000Z. It came with an AthlonXP 1900+ CPU. The motherboard supports DDR Memory, and so on.
One of my friends is still using an old computer, Abit BP6 motherboard, 300Mhz dual processor, Windows 2000, you get the idea.
I thought it would be a good idea for him to start using this new computer, but he wanted to install Windows 2000 on this Compaq 8000Z.
The installation process did not go well at first, the computer gave me a blue screen error, "kmode-exception_not_handled".
I had a hunch that disabling APIC in the BIOS would fix the problem, and it did.
I then tried installing Windows XP on this computer with APIC enabled in the BIOS and there were no blue screens.
I guess Compaq wasn't kidding when they put a sticker on the case that says "Designed for Windows XP".
Recently, I found a Compaq 8000Z. It came with an AthlonXP 1900+ CPU. The motherboard supports DDR Memory, and so on.
One of my friends is still using an old computer, Abit BP6 motherboard, 300Mhz dual processor, Windows 2000, you get the idea.
I thought it would be a good idea for him to start using this new computer, but he wanted to install Windows 2000 on this Compaq 8000Z.
The installation process did not go well at first, the computer gave me a blue screen error, "kmode-exception_not_handled".
I had a hunch that disabling APIC in the BIOS would fix the problem, and it did.
I then tried installing Windows XP on this computer with APIC enabled in the BIOS and there were no blue screens.
I guess Compaq wasn't kidding when they put a sticker on the case that says "Designed for Windows XP".
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Windows Steadystate reboot loop problem
Recently, I got myself one of those solid state disks for my laptop to increase it's performance.
But since it's got a jmicron chip in it and since it's a first generation MLC SSD, you need to apply tweaks under Windows XP and Vista to get the full performance out of the disk because those operating systems are not designed for this type of disk.
Without those tweaks the disk will slow down to a crawl.
Among the many tweaks you can do is to install a program called "Windows Steadystate". It's a free program from Microsoft. You can take a look at it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/sharedaccess/whatis/default.mspx
With this program installed and when you turn on the "windows disk protection", the performance improvement is quite noticable.
After a while, I had this problem when I had set the program to "retain all changes".
The computer would have a reboot loop where it would say something similar to, "Windows disk protection is committing changes" .
Then the computer would restart, and it would say the same thing over and over resulting in an endless loop.
To stop the loop, I booted the computer into safe mode, and that fixed the problem for a while but the reboot loop would happen all the time or frequently.
So, to get rid of this problem, I decided to uninstall Windows Steadystate and remove all registry settings having the keywords, "Steadystate", "vcfsvc" and "vcfservice". Some of the registry settings could not be removed until I changed the permissions. To learn how to do this, read my blog entry "Windows Vista Upgrade Problem" dated April 10, 2007.
Afterwards, I installed and ran "ccleaner" which has a registry cleaning option. You can check out this program here:
http://www.ccleaner.com
I finally reinstalled the program and finally the reboot loop problem was mostly solved.
After reinstalling Windows XP SP3, the reboot loop problem has not returned, even after several reboots.
So finally this annoying problem has been solved.
So far, my experiences with Windows Steadystate has not been that great, but as long as I can fix it, I am willing to live with it.
But since it's got a jmicron chip in it and since it's a first generation MLC SSD, you need to apply tweaks under Windows XP and Vista to get the full performance out of the disk because those operating systems are not designed for this type of disk.
Without those tweaks the disk will slow down to a crawl.
Among the many tweaks you can do is to install a program called "Windows Steadystate". It's a free program from Microsoft. You can take a look at it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/sharedaccess/whatis/default.mspx
With this program installed and when you turn on the "windows disk protection", the performance improvement is quite noticable.
After a while, I had this problem when I had set the program to "retain all changes".
The computer would have a reboot loop where it would say something similar to, "Windows disk protection is committing changes" .
Then the computer would restart, and it would say the same thing over and over resulting in an endless loop.
To stop the loop, I booted the computer into safe mode, and that fixed the problem for a while but the reboot loop would happen all the time or frequently.
So, to get rid of this problem, I decided to uninstall Windows Steadystate and remove all registry settings having the keywords, "Steadystate", "vcfsvc" and "vcfservice". Some of the registry settings could not be removed until I changed the permissions. To learn how to do this, read my blog entry "Windows Vista Upgrade Problem" dated April 10, 2007.
Afterwards, I installed and ran "ccleaner" which has a registry cleaning option. You can check out this program here:
http://www.ccleaner.com
I finally reinstalled the program and finally the reboot loop problem was mostly solved.
After reinstalling Windows XP SP3, the reboot loop problem has not returned, even after several reboots.
So finally this annoying problem has been solved.
So far, my experiences with Windows Steadystate has not been that great, but as long as I can fix it, I am willing to live with it.
Monday, November 17, 2008
"Antivirus 2009" spyware problem
On Saturday I went to fix a computer that had this "antivirus 2009" problem.
This program would say that the computer had a spyware infection, then it would launch another program and then it would repeat.
During this time, the program that I needed to run would not run but the process itself was taking the CPU resources up to 99%. I had no choice but to terminate the process to get the computer working properly until I found a way to get rid of this troublesome "antivirus 2009" program.
I tried using Spysweeper and HijackThis to get rid of this program but I was not successful.
Eventually, I found the solution to this problem on this forum post:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=5178
This experience has made me aware of the fact that this "Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware" program is worth taking a look at to get rid of spyware.
This program would say that the computer had a spyware infection, then it would launch another program and then it would repeat.
During this time, the program that I needed to run would not run but the process itself was taking the CPU resources up to 99%. I had no choice but to terminate the process to get the computer working properly until I found a way to get rid of this troublesome "antivirus 2009" program.
I tried using Spysweeper and HijackThis to get rid of this program but I was not successful.
Eventually, I found the solution to this problem on this forum post:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=5178
This experience has made me aware of the fact that this "Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware" program is worth taking a look at to get rid of spyware.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
FINALLY!
Recently, I have found a solution to a problem that I have had for over a year now.
Every once in a while, when I started my computer, the hard drive indicator light would turn into a solid red color even though a computer program was not using the hard drive, and while the light was constantly on, my computer would freeze completely. My mouse pointer would not move and none of the keys on my keyboard would work. This would happen every few seconds and then everything would work fine again, until the problem returned and eventually the computer would freeze and never work again until I reboot.
At first, I thought it was a software problem until I looked at the event viewer and it had this "controller error".
I then assumed that the problem was coming from the motherboard and I had plans to replace it.
A few months later at the salvation army, I saw a buckling spring keyboard I wanted to buy. I then disconnected the keyboard I had on my computer and connected this other keyboard to my computer and then, the problem disppeared.
I wanted to make sure the problem went away so I left my computer like that for a few months and finally I confirmed that the problem had finally disappeared.
So I took the keyboard that was causing the problem and hooked it up to an adapter that converts a PS/2 keyboard into a USB keyboard, and the problem has not come back since.
It's always these intermittent problems that are the hardest to fix, but I finally figured out what the cause of the problem was.
FINALLY!
Every once in a while, when I started my computer, the hard drive indicator light would turn into a solid red color even though a computer program was not using the hard drive, and while the light was constantly on, my computer would freeze completely. My mouse pointer would not move and none of the keys on my keyboard would work. This would happen every few seconds and then everything would work fine again, until the problem returned and eventually the computer would freeze and never work again until I reboot.
At first, I thought it was a software problem until I looked at the event viewer and it had this "controller error".
I then assumed that the problem was coming from the motherboard and I had plans to replace it.
A few months later at the salvation army, I saw a buckling spring keyboard I wanted to buy. I then disconnected the keyboard I had on my computer and connected this other keyboard to my computer and then, the problem disppeared.
I wanted to make sure the problem went away so I left my computer like that for a few months and finally I confirmed that the problem had finally disappeared.
So I took the keyboard that was causing the problem and hooked it up to an adapter that converts a PS/2 keyboard into a USB keyboard, and the problem has not come back since.
It's always these intermittent problems that are the hardest to fix, but I finally figured out what the cause of the problem was.
FINALLY!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
It's been a while.
It has been a while since I have updated this blog.
I have fixed a lot of different computer problems since that time and it is difficult to remember them all.
One of them is of particular interest.
I have always suspected that the program that comes with the driver for my Epson printer would tell me that I need to replace the ink cartridges much earlier than it should.
Only recently did I find something that would prove me right.
There is this nice little program I came across called, "SSC Service Utility". Anyone who uses an Epson printer should have this program.
You can download it here:
http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml
It has the capability to reset the ink counter back to full.
As soon as I did that, BOOM! My printer is a happy camper again. There were no nozzles clogged or anything.
This program also fixed another problem I had.
Sometimes, when you have clogged nozzles, you only have clogged color nozzles or clogged black nozzles. The SSC Service Utility can clean only the nozzles that you need to clean and you can avoid having excessive ink cleaning nozzles that do not really need to be cleaned.
My Epson printer has always been more reliable than my Lexmark printer which is why I spent a lot of money having them fixed.
Also, you can really save on printer ink by using another program called, "Ink Saver".
This program is a big money saver. You can save up to 75% of your printer ink.
Check it out here:
http://www.inksaver.com
I have fixed a lot of different computer problems since that time and it is difficult to remember them all.
One of them is of particular interest.
I have always suspected that the program that comes with the driver for my Epson printer would tell me that I need to replace the ink cartridges much earlier than it should.
Only recently did I find something that would prove me right.
There is this nice little program I came across called, "SSC Service Utility". Anyone who uses an Epson printer should have this program.
You can download it here:
http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml
It has the capability to reset the ink counter back to full.
As soon as I did that, BOOM! My printer is a happy camper again. There were no nozzles clogged or anything.
This program also fixed another problem I had.
Sometimes, when you have clogged nozzles, you only have clogged color nozzles or clogged black nozzles. The SSC Service Utility can clean only the nozzles that you need to clean and you can avoid having excessive ink cleaning nozzles that do not really need to be cleaned.
My Epson printer has always been more reliable than my Lexmark printer which is why I spent a lot of money having them fixed.
Also, you can really save on printer ink by using another program called, "Ink Saver".
This program is a big money saver. You can save up to 75% of your printer ink.
Check it out here:
http://www.inksaver.com
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Vista SP1 windows update problem
It has been a while since I updated this blog. I have fixed many problems since my last post but none of them I thought were worth mentioning.
Today, I have solved a problem that IS worth mentioning.
Yesterday, Microsoft began offering Vista SP1 on Windows update.
I am planning to install Vista SP1 on my laptop, so before doing this, I did some research and I came across this on microsoft.com: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948343
That article lists the possible reasons why SP1 won't show up when you run Windows Update.
Unfortunately for me, one of the device drivers mentioned on that link is installed on my Sony Vaio VGN-FE770G laptop. That driver was for the sound chip, particularly the file Stwrt.sys.
To make matters worse, on the Sony website, the latest driver offered is still version 6.10.0.5286, well below version 6.10.5511.0.
I tried right clicking on the driver in the device manager to update the driver but it told me that the latest driver was already installed.
Of course, pure logic seemed to contradict this, since Microsoft already mentioned that there is a higher version number on that same link.
I did a search on Google when I came across this post on a forum: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3127524
The last post listed there mentioned a link for an updated driver here: ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/VAIO/ORIGINAL/AR6_AUDIO_DRIVER_2.ZIP
After installing the driver, getting Windows Update to give me the option to install SP1 was not a problem anymore.
Today, I have solved a problem that IS worth mentioning.
Yesterday, Microsoft began offering Vista SP1 on Windows update.
I am planning to install Vista SP1 on my laptop, so before doing this, I did some research and I came across this on microsoft.com: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948343
That article lists the possible reasons why SP1 won't show up when you run Windows Update.
Unfortunately for me, one of the device drivers mentioned on that link is installed on my Sony Vaio VGN-FE770G laptop. That driver was for the sound chip, particularly the file Stwrt.sys.
To make matters worse, on the Sony website, the latest driver offered is still version 6.10.0.5286, well below version 6.10.5511.0.
I tried right clicking on the driver in the device manager to update the driver but it told me that the latest driver was already installed.
Of course, pure logic seemed to contradict this, since Microsoft already mentioned that there is a higher version number on that same link.
I did a search on Google when I came across this post on a forum: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3127524
The last post listed there mentioned a link for an updated driver here: ftp://ftp.vaio-link.com/PUB/VAIO/ORIGINAL/AR6_AUDIO_DRIVER_2.ZIP
After installing the driver, getting Windows Update to give me the option to install SP1 was not a problem anymore.
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