Sunday, January 8, 2006
Tech News
11a-Noon
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QRon in Orange County - my router loses its connection
This does happen sometimes with a bad router, but in this case he also still has the SBC dialer software on his PC. Uninstall all the SBC stuff, tell your computer to get its IP address automatically (using DHCP) and then use the router to do the PPPoE dialing. Open the router’s configuration, select PPPoE as the connection type, and enter your login and password. The router will be responsible for establishing the connection with SBC and will automatically assign a local IP address to the PC. You can play with the Stay Alive setting in the router to keep it online.
Jon in Ohio Writes:
In relation to this user’s problems with Windows Rebooting, it does reboot automatically if you have downloaded updates and are running SP2. You have to disable this by going into the Windows Security Center, and choosing to either download and not install the updates, or to only notify you that they are available. I have dealt with this many times, and it can be a big pain in the butt.
David in Ohio:
It might be that the DSL provider uses (or requires) “Connect on Demand”. Those setting should be in the PPPoE tab in the router settings. The DSL provider in my area will not allow a solid connection and after 10 minutes the connection drops untill you browse or check email again. Once that connection drops a remote connection to the idle machine is not possible.
A simple one line script to ping a remote ip (schedule the script to run every 10 minutes) would keep that connection alive.
John in WI:
If you can’t fix it any other way, put the router on a timer. Have it turn off and then back on before you need to connect.
Joe in Georgia:
One of my users had a similar problem. He is using Windows Media Center OS and we discovered that there is a service that shuts down access to the router after a certain period of no activity. Once you cycle the router, everthing is fine. Hope this helps.
Jim in Madison,WI:
I too had problem with my Linksys wired router and SBC DSL. No matter what settings I used, the router lost connection to the modem (dialer on modem). Now running Smoothwall with zero problems.
QRichard in Fullerton - using cell phone for emergency
Many companies offer low cost plans with no minutes, usually for around $20/month. I bought my son a Verizonwireless Migo. Since we already have a family plan it only costs me $10/month.
QBob in Valencia - Recommendations for DVD/VCR
Panasonic makes good DVD recorder VCR combos.
QJamie in Oak Creek, WI - video extraction for Tivo
He is extracting video from his DirecTivo. He then uses two DOS program, HDmux and Mplex, to convert the files into playable files. He wants to automate the steps.
Until someone (maybe you) writes a GUI interface for the DOS commands you can stich them together using the DOS batch file pipe commands, < and >.
hdmux inputfile outputfile >temp
mplex <temp
Noon-1p
QJared in Northridge - His Windows laptop finds “new hardware” on every boot
He’s getting a message about installing SPBBSVC each time. He thinks it’s connected to Symantec’s Norton AV 2005. Uninstall the A/V program and see. It sounds like a service the AV is installing.
QGreg in Atlanta - seamless Macintosh into Windows
We’ll see Tuesday, but both Microsoft and Apple would both benefit from the ability to run Windows inside OS X.
QLisa in Glendale - is Springoo safe
Springdoo.com is a New Zealand company that offers an interesting voice mail service, but it requires allowing Flash access to your mic and webcam. I don’t think that’s inherently unsafe but do read their privacy policy.
QLynette in Torrance - Gateway laptops ok?
Sure. Make sure to get 512MB RAM and a CD-RW for backups.
There are 2 different tiers of Gateway products. One is the Retail Store products, and one is Gateway Direct Products.
In general, the retail store products manufactured by e-Machines division.
Avoid getting the budget processors such as Celeron, and shared video RAM.
QLynella in Los Angeles - hack my AM/FM Radio
She wants better AM reception. This is going to take some cutting and soldering but there’s an excellent article on AM antennas at Hard-Core-DX.com.
QRobert in Simi Valley - removed spyware and can’t get online
This is a common problem because spyware attaches to or modifies key system files. Try Winsock XP Fix - it repairs connectivity after deleting spyware.
1–2p
QJim in Mission Viejo - Garage Band info
Can you export Garage Band mixes to Pro Tools? Nope. Just the audio. You’ll have to remix in Pro-Tools
The band, Nine Inch Nails, has released the tracks of it’s songs ‘Only’ and ‘The Hand That Feeds’ in Garageband format. Very cool!
QSteve in Havertown, PA - CD is jamming
Turn the machine off, unplug it, and open it up. You may have to remove the CD drive to unjam it.
Tim in Ontario, Canada - Since it is a tower machine there should be a small hole in the front of the drive. With the power to the tower off, take a stiff paper clip and unbend it and shove it into that hole. It will take some pressure but it will force the tray mechanism and manually eject it. Had to do this a couple of times.
QRick in Los Angeles - Micosoft Remote Desktop doesn’t work
It used to but then the network guys came in and it won’t. It’s likely a firewall issue. Follow the steps in this Microsoft article - and pay particular attention to the router and firewall configuration information.
That’s why services like GoToMyPC work better - your remote connection goes through their servers so there’s no firewall configuration necessary. www.Logmein.com is a similar service (although not nearly as good).
QDana in Orange - choosing an HDTV
I have a 56-inch Samsung DLP (model HL-R5667) and I’ve been very happy with it. I have the TV in a corner in the south end of my family room and we sit about 10–12 feet away. Behind where we sit is a large window facing East that gets a lot of light in the day and it never has an impact.
The colors are crisp and clear and I have not seen the rainbow effect or the screen door effect many have spoken about.
To me, it’s best for live action programs. I love watching football, golf and hockey on it.
QPete in West Hollywood - SP-2 upgrade not working
Even with a clean install of Windows. Sounds like it’s the video card. Try choosing a generic VGA driver and running the SP update. It’s important to keep trying to install it. It’s a critical security update.
Chat Logs and Show Audio
Listener Comments
08 January 2006
My DLINK Router did the same thing so i got a new lynksys and it did the same thing so we changed the modem and it still did it so the ISP must have an upstream Problem this is a 1.5 meg down and 320 up ADSL line >>UPDATE<< My ISP Did have the problem ?? But they wont tell me WHAT or WHY Now i am back up FULL TIME.
Leo your first caller. Router and PC rebooting, are they both on a UPS? A momentary power drop out could cause this problem.
10 cent per minute Pay as you go CELL PHONE go to
net10.com a recon nokia 1100 phone is $29.95 and 10 cents per minute. there;re nothing cheaper for low usage!
12:05 by anonymous.
for emergancy use only use 7 elevens cell service. It piggybacks on cingular’s network and minutes dont expire for a year..seems like a good deal. Prepaid is definatly the way to go
I staway from linksys. Mostly junk.
Check with linksys for any updates. Could be running problem firmware.
I thought any old cellphone .. even without a contract or service would still dial 911 ?
Yup.
tracfone.com has a recon nokia 1100 with 40 minutes of airtime for a total of $19.95 A 1 year phone card for 250 minutes is $90.00 this is even a better deal!
JjUST COPIED THIS FROM ESETS HOME PAGE
Jan 4, 2006- ESET Protects Against Microsoft Media File Vulnerability & Offers Free Proactive Protection to Non-Customers
Note: ESET has removed the previously available patch, which was provided by ESET partner Paolo Monti of FutureTime
Nightwing -
I have Charter cable, 3mb down, 256 up. I had a Linksys router WRT54G and a lot of intermittent disconnects. Sometimes during online gaming but especially when downloading large files (upward of 50 MB). I’m an IT professional, so I strive to keep all my SW/Firmware updated. I thought the problem was with the ISP but as it turned out, it was with the quality of the router. I bought a WRV54G and the problem completely went away. I guess you get what you pay for.
Several AM radio antenna solutions can be found at C.C. Crane (www.ccrane.com/antennas/am-antennas/) but I recommend listening to the streaming audio on the internet with an FM transmitter connected to the PC to rebroadcast the signal. The sound quality is better.
We recently purchased a DVD/VCR from Best Buy. It’s the Samsung Progressive-Scan DVD-R/-RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo - Silver (about $270). So far, we’re very impressed with it. You can record from tape to DVD or vice-versa. The only problem so far is that not all DVD players will take -R/-RW format, but for us, this has been a great intro to recording on DVD. And with the RW’s, you can edit out commericials. We were SO surprised that recording 8 hours on a DVD in super-slow mode is still better than recording on video tape with extended play.
Leo, why don’t you go on XM Radio like Bill Handle does? Then everyone can get the show.
The Benny Hill theme is “Yakety Sax” by Boots Randolph.
Re: 1st caller and router problems ==> As I remember there was an old problem with Win XP that was suppose to be fixed by SP2 that caused XP to periodically force all routers to be manually rebooted after a few hours. Found this problem researching the purchase of wireless routers on Amazon’s product critiques. XP problem not router’s.
My Linksys router never rebooted while running XP… until it started going bad and I had to reboot it manually everyday but it finally failed. New one has never rebooted. I do have to reset the cable modem a lot though since Mediacom cable is not very reliable.
Jim in Mission Viejo - Garage Band info:
All tracks should be contiguous and all start at the exact same time. I mentioned the 2pop because it is a backup of having everything lined up. When recording the tracks if the 2pop is recorded exactly 2 seconds before bar 1 then you will be able to see everthing lined up perfectly when opened in Pro Tools. It is much easier to re-cut the regions in Pro Tools then it is to document and place everything where it was.
22:35 by anonymous.
I’m using Virgin Mobile Pay as you go for emergency cell phone service. In Canada, $15 lasts you 120 days if you don’t talk too much. In the United States, $20 lasts you 90 days if you don’t talk too much. There’s no hidden fees or anything like that, it’s just 25 cents per minute. So if you are only making calls for emergencies, $45 will get you a year of service in Canada and $80 gets you a year of service in the United States.
09 January 2006
Steve, Did you get the CD un Jamed? if not on the front there is a small hole next to the door, Stick a straight pin in the hole and it should release the CD Drawer.
12 January 2006
Totally off subject: Why is the TWiT site down?
Computers poke stick at TWiT. TWiT fight or flight rxn. TWiT site fold like cheap tent. Leo keeping site in drug-induced coma until sharks in water fewer and farther between then see if site regain conciousness…just speculation. Why its down so much isn’t really the question to ask; rather, why isn’t it up all the time? AND why is my cat addicted to my ear wax straight from the tap?
15 January 2006
18:43 by anonymous.
Bless you Al the Tec, you made me laugh until I fell on the floor. Please continue your comments. Love, Andi
17 January 2006
Concerning Sony’s EULA and Best Buy, Walmart, etc. Most of the big CD retailers won’t take an opened CD back for a return, but don’t you have to open it to be notified of the EULA? Maybe the first step with Sony is to have customers demand refunds after refusing the EULA. Of course Best Buy won’t allow this, and therein lies one of Sony’s illegal strong-arm tactics. Let’s demand returns after reading the EULA. This might force smaller simpler EULA’s on the outside of the package and expose Sony’s sleazy tactics to the everyday shopper!!
30 January 2006
Instead of beefing up your am antenna, why not use wireless headphones. A lttle transmitter plugs into your earphone jack and transmitts the audio wirelessly to your headphones. You would have more freedom by not having to carry the radio around. You also are able to put your radio where it gets the best signal.
31 January 2006
Spyware caller…only way I could get rid of my trojans was to use the message boards (free) on geekstogo.com. Took a few days but my computer is clean without reinstalling XP.
01 February 2006
If you’re still having trouble getting sp2 installed, try slipstreaming sp2 onto your xp install disc. Just google slipstream xp.
07 February 2006
The new hardware problem with Symantec is probably that he has a virus. The Blackmal.E virus specifically targets symantec and deletes files and registry keys. I’ve seen that virus do a very simliar thing to what he described. The best thing would be to download the latest virus definitions, scan, then uninstall/reinstall symantec. If it doesn’t uninstall successfully (which I bet it won’t) do a google search for “manually uninstall symantec antivirus”. That will get to to a page on symantec that describes how to remove it via regedit.
08 February 2006
For Lynella she might want to consider wireless headphones instead of carrying the radio around. Then the radio would be stationary and postioned for best reception.
