XP Professional has elaborate security with which you can encrypt files from prying eyes and control who can access what files and programmes
Windows license
q+aRecently, a warning has started appearing on my computer screen saying, “This copy of Windows is not genuine”. But when I click on the option “Purchase a genuine Windows license”, it is asking me to pay Rs 6,495. But your previous article said that Windows XP Service Pack 2 was available for only about Rs 3,500. What is the difference between the two? I am using Windows XP Professional, Version 2002, Service Pack 2.
Arnab Roy
You are being asked to pay Rs 6,495 because you are using a pirated copy of Windows XP Professional. The Home version costs around Rs 3,500. If you are using it at home, I suggest you go for the cheaper version. The Professional version has some extra features which are unlikely to be of great benefit to you at home. These include the ability to host your own web site and Remote Desktop with which you can access your PC from another place through the Internet or a private network. XP Professional also has more elaborate security with which you can encrypt files from prying eyes and control who can access what files and programmes. Also included is Roaming user profiles which basically allows you to access your files and programmes no matter which PC you log into. Most of these features are only of use to offices.
Way to install
q+aI am not able to install Windows Media Player 11, which I bought from the market, even though I am using a genuine copy of Windows XP Service Pack 2. While installing it, I get a message saying that it is not a Win32 application. Please help me.
Arijit Ghosh
Windows Media Player 11 is currently available only as a trial version (Beta 2). This is not a final release by Microsoft. So the version that you bought is most likely a corrupted version. Why don’t you download the Beta 2 version from the Microsoft site instead? Remember that before installing it you must have all the updates to Service Pack 2. Also, you must be connected to the Internet when you are installing Windows Media Player 11 Beta 2. Check that your computer has the minimum system requirements for Media Player 11. You can check this at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/11/readme.aspx.
Missing icon
q+aI recently lost the ‘My Computer’ icon from the desktop of my Windows XP computer. How can I get it back?
Aditya Saraf
Right-click on an empty area of your desktop and choose “Properties”. Next click on the Desktop tab under “Display Properties”. When you do that, you will find a button for “Customise Desktop”. Clicking on this will show you a dialog box called “Desktop Items”. Select “My Computer” and click on Restore Default. This will get you back your lost icon. You can use this method to restore other lost icons from your desktop as well.
Speed up
q+aWhenever I attach any mass storage device to my USB port, the computer says, “The device can perform faster with a 2.0 USB port”. I have tried with all 6 USB ports in my computer but it shows the same message. I want to increase the speed of transferring files. How will I do it?
Debopam
You need to get another USB 2.0 card fitted into your computer. This will have an extra four slots. Attach your device to this and then transfer the files. This card is available in the market for around Rs 400 or Rs 450.
Virus woes
q+aMy computer is infected with a virus that is only detected by expensive anti-virus software. What can I do now to protect my PC?
Pratip Biswas
My PC is infected by win32.askyaya. I keep getting it several times though I have tried to remove it permanently through the registry editor. Please help me get rid of it.
Gourab De
Both of you should try out this open source free anti-virus software called ClamWin which has a good detection rate. The latest version of ClamWin Free Antivirus is 0.88.4. Just remember, this programme does not include an on-access real-time scanner. You need to manually scan a file in order to detect a virus or spyware. It is available from www.clamwin.com.
Restricting Net usage
q+aI have several computers at my work place with BSNL broadband Internet connection. The computers are frequently being used by many people for unnecessary downloading of files. Please advise me how I can restrict and prevent misuse of Internet connectivity.
Ranjeeta Swain
For around a little less than Rs 1,000 you can buy a software called iNet Protector 2.7. With this you can restrict access to the web, enable or disable Internet on demand and also control the access to the Internet for a specified period of time. You can also limit the connection to work for programmes you specify. This will keep your staff focussed on their work. The tool is available from http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Network_and_Internet/Misc__Networking_Tools/iNet_Protector.html.
Error message
q+aI am having a problem with the Internet for the past two years at home. Sometimes in the middle of surfing, an error message appears stating that “svchost.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows. You need to restart the program”. After that, a few hyperlinks refuse to work and I am forced to disconnect my modem manually as the connection refuses to stop normally.
Arnab Dasgupta
You have not mentioned the operating system you are using at home. If it is Windows XP first, make sure you are not infected by the Blaster worm. If you are, you need to remove it and apply all the patches for Windows from the Microsoft Update site. To remove Blaster follow the instructions laid out at http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/w32_blaster.html. If you are not infected by Blaster and are using Windows 2000, get this hotfix available at http://hotfixv4.microsoft.com/Windows%202000/sp5/Fix116958/2195/free/191819_ENU_i386_zip.exe
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