Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
January 25, 2009

Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter
http://www.terryscomputertips.com
A computer tips newsletter for users of PC's.

Volume 4, Number 33 — Sunday, January 25, 2009

IN THIS ON-LINE ISSUE:

   1.   IExplorer.EXE Application Error
   2.   The Lighter Side of Technology
   3.   Solving Runtime Errors and Debug Errors
   4.   Why Uninstall Acronis True Image Home?
   5.   Saving an Animated GIF File, part 2
   6.   My Computer Security Software Recommendations
   7.   Recommend my Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter to Your Friends

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1.  IExplorer.EXE Application Error Messages

Longtime subscriber John Petruska wrote to ask for help solving an Internet Explorer problem:

Terry I keep getting this "IExplorer.EXE Application Error" message/pop-up when I close down a web page I am viewing..?? How do I get rid of this..? Any suggestions..? Thanks

I wrote back to John to provide a couple of suggestions, and a priority for trying them...

John, A couple of suggestions based on research - please try the first one, reboot, start IE and visit a web page, then exit IE. IF that solves it, great - and let me know what you did.

If that doesn't solve it, do the other, reboot and similarly test. and let me know.

First suggestion:

1. Tools » Internet Options » General Tab
2. In the Browsing History section, click on the "Delete..." button.
3. In the resulting Delete Browsing History, click Delete Files, Delete Cookies, Delete History and Delete Forms. You might want to Delete Passwords, too, but maybe not.
4. Click Close and then OK.

Second suggestion:

1. Tools » Manage Addons » Add or Remove Addons...
2. I assume you have some toolbars added. Disable them one (you pick the order) and then exit IE, restart. If that didn't solve itt, try disabling another, repeat as necessary. Note that it will show you that you can Delete ActiveX controls (MS' misleading name for ActiveX Programs) — but you can disable ActiveX controls, too.

By the way, also let me know which version of IE you're using - ie6, ie7 or ie8beta. If you don't know which you're using, you can find it at
Help » About Internet Explorer

John wrote back to report success:

Terry I did the first option you suggested below and as of now it seems to have eliminated my problem..! Beautiful, I can't believe it. I am using IE 7.

I don't have any toolbars anymore except what came with IE. I accidentally downloaded the Yahoo Toolbar when I was downloading something else, you know how some programs try to sneak the darn toolbar in and I uninstalled it as soon as I saw it...I believe that is when my problem started.

I've printed out your suggestions for future use, if needed.

Thank you Terry, this was much appreciated, to say the least.

John Petruska

2.  The Lighter Side of Technology

This week's computer/technology cartoon at Terry's Computer Tips!

Silicon needs to be in the right form if it's in hard drives... Chips for the integrated controller in the drive are ok. Sand isn't...

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3.  Solving Runtime Errors and Debug Errors

New subscriber Joy wrote to ask:

i have the unpaid version of aol 9.1 on an hp xp.

aol provides mcafee as part of their service, however i have run into a lot of "bugs" "errors" and the like which dont go away. i have purchased regcure and registry mechanic which really dont address the runtime and debugging errors... would a good software program such as mcafee handle these problems??

i understand you cant have two different versions of security software (such as nortons, mcafee) loaded on the same computer....BUT can i purchase a box mcafee security pack to enhance what aol already gives to us...or would that cause problems.

thanks in advance. (p.s. as indicated by my newbie name, i dont understand a lot about this stuff)

joy

I really can't comment on AOL's programs. I haven't used them and am not about to install them on my computers. They're relatively friendly for novices (or, at least used to be, and may still be) but AOL has often been accused of messing up other networking or dialup settings for users who installed AOL software but who did not use their dialup system for Internet access.

If you're having errors that are reported as runtime and/or debugging errors, those really are not the type of errors that are solved by security programs like McAfee or, usually, by the registry-repair programs.

If you know which program(s) are having problems, check the publisher's web sites and make sure you have all the patches and updates available for them.

Those problems are in the actual coding of the program you're running or script handling programs in your web browser ,e.g., programs like JavaScript and ActiveScript (Microsoft's name for its implementation of JavaScript in Internet Explorer). Make sure you're using the latest version of your web browser of choice.

If the program or web site uses Java, you might have an old version of Java installed (update at www.java.com, it's free).

The program may use some coding libraries that are provided by Microsoft that are called Microsoft's .NET Framework. Make sure you have the latest version of them installed.

Make sure you have done all your Windows Updates or Microsoft Updates, too. Those are bug fixes as well as security fixes. I strongly recommend that you manually run Windows Updates, check the Windows Updates home page and select Microsoft Updates instead. Microsoft Updates will address other Microsoft programs, too, while Windows Updates only updates the operating system.

Even if Windows Updates or Microsoft Updates are set to be done automatically, you should run them manually occasionally, as some updates are only offered when you run them manually.

Finally, on the subject of multiple security software, the key is that you do not have multiple types running Simultaneously. For example, you don't want Windows Firewall + another firewall. You don't want two antivirus programs running in "always running — monitoring the system" mode at the same time. You CAN have one antivirus program in the always running/monitoring mode and run another brand in "scan on request" mode. Similar rules apply to antispyware software.

By the way, my recommendations for firewall, antivirus and antispyware are the ones I use for my computers and those of my family — Sunbelt Personal Firewall and VIPRE Antivirus+Antispyware.

4.  Why Uninstall Acronis True Image Home?

Subscriber Chet Norris wrote this week with an unusual request about Acronis True Image Home 11.

Hi Terry
I have the true image version 11 and I'm trying to make a copy to a cd of the acronis program itself but I have been all over their site and can't find the proper way to do that. They list data and files but not programs..so I am confused which ain't hard to do. lol
Any help would be greatly apppreciated..
ps I want to uninstall it until i get around to buying an external hardrive. Hence the need to have a copy.
Thanks,
Chet Norris

I wrote back to Chet to suggest that he copy the downloaded install program (the .exe file) to CD so he can have a copy of it to install later. If he doesn't have the exe file any more (you should always keep a copy of any install program), he can go to acronis.com and log in (register his copy, if he hasn't already) and he will be able to download the latest version of ATIH 11.

The very important step is to make the bootable rescue media and test it on your computer. It will let you boot to restore. In the mean time, you should run from the installed copy.

Let's say that again. Be sure to try booting the rescue media to make sure it works on your computer.

I also suggested that he might want to check with their Tech Support to see if there are other options, but what you wrote that he wanted to do really didn't make sense to me. I asked him why he would want to uninstall it until he gets an external hard drive?

Chet responded

Thanks Terry for the quick reply and in answer to your question I have a 60gb hard drive and it's almost full..I am also trying to install hp software to activate my scanner in my hp 6210 all in one office jet and its over 230megs!!.. I need the room.

I wrote back to Chet again to explain my thoughts — that my best recommendation is —Get a bigger hard drive — they're cheap. Then use acronis to move the contents to the new drive. Depending on whether your computer can connect another hard drive, you can do this by getting a cheap external enclosure or hard drive adapter to temporariy use the new drive as an external drive (for the migration) and then install the new drive in your computer.

That way, not only does Chet need more space and the new drives are so much faster, there'a another issue. Hard drives can be much less efficient (slower) if he's pushing so close to the capacity so much that removing the program makes a significant change in his available space.

Chet wrote back to say "THANKS AGAIN! Good info and I shall consider your suggestions."

 

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5.  Saving an Animated GIF File, part 2

I've written about saving an animated GIF file in my article How can I Save an Animated GIF?. Unfortunately, it really depends upon the capabilities of the web browser or email program you're using at the timem. Subscriber Chris wrote recently to offer another way to do it:

Saw this question on your page and found an answer. You can save animated gifs received in Outlook by replying to the message leave the message window open. Open FrontPage create a blank normal page then drag & drop the image from the reply window onto the blank page viewed on the design tab. It will not animate but if you click the preview tab it will animate. Name the page and save it and close FrontPage. FrontPage will then create a folder in the my documents\\my web sites directory named (your saved file name here) Files. Open that directory and in it you will find your animated gif. Save it wherever you want and the other files and the web page file can be deleted. Enjoy

Thanks, Chris.

Chris' suggestion seems limited to Outlook users who also have Microsoft FrontPage installed.

However, I'm not sure that it's that limited. If I wanted to save one and used a different email program or if I didn't have FrontPage, I'd download the free WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) web design package called KompoZer from http://www.kompozer.net/ (NOTICE THAT THIS IS A .net, not a .com or .org).

Perhaps with your email program and KompoZer, you can do the same thing.

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6.  My Computer Security Software Recommendations

Anti-Virus

I'm often asked about several other popular anti-virus or anti-virus combination packages. Yes, I realize that they are not in my recommendation list. "Enough said..."

For the last five years, until very recently, my personal choice has been ESET's small, fast NOD32 anti-virus program, which offers a FREE 30-day evaluation license. I consider NOD32 one of the best in anti-virus protection. Unlike some of its competitors, ESET offers multiple-year licenses also, and includes program updates in the multiple-year license.

Now, I've changed from my long-time programs NOD32 (antivirus) and CounterSpy (antispyware) to Sunbelt's new VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware.

I've found that VIPRE puts even less load on my computer than the speedy combination of NOD32 and CounterSpy. I've also been impressed with the way its "deep scan" has found and eliminated risks that were stored in zip files, which is one of the latest malware email tricks.

Read more about anti-virus programs on my web site.

Related articles:

• Anti-Virus Programs and Online Scanners
• Free Online Antivirus Scan
• NOD32 Anti-Virus Review - A Look at NOD32
• VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Review

Click here for more information about VIPRE.

Firewall Software

While the Windows XP firewall is much better than no firewall at all, don't count on the Windows XP firewall to meet your needs. You need a two-way firewall, which the Windows XP firewall is not!. Microsoft woke up and supplied a two-way firewall with Windows Vista.

The Windows XP firewall does not control outbound communications originating from your computer — and you should want to have control if adware/trojans/spyware or even commercial products want to talk to the Internet. Whether they are calling home or spewing spam, you want to be able to control your computer.

Do you want Windows Media Player to call home every time you play something? It does! Do you use the Search function in Windows Explorer to find things on your hard drive? Did you know that every time you search, Windows Explorer talks to Microsoft?

I didn't know that when I ran ZoneAlarm, but the Sunbelt Personal Firewall flags that to me, and I can stop it or allow it to happen. Many other programs try to call home when you run them, too.

I recommend my choice for a firewall program, which is Sunbelt Personal Firewall.

You can try the full-featured "paid version" of Sunbelt Personal Firewall free for 30 days — after that, you can register it or, if you're using it on a home non-business computer, you can let it revert to the free, lesser-function license.

Sunbelt Personal Firewall is regularly $19.95 (with discounts for multiple computers and/or multiple years!) for a non-expiring license for the program and includes one year of their updates subscription.

Related articles:

• The Internet Versus You
• Do I Need a Firewall Program?
• My Sunbelt Personal Firewall Review

Anti-Spyware / Anti-Adware Software

CounterSpy, from Sunbelt Software, has received many kudos from the computer press for its always-running and periodic full system scans. It has been my personal choice for my PC's and my family's PC's.

Sunbelt's CounterSpy v2.5, both improved CounterSpy's performance against malware and reduced its impact on system resources and responsiveness when its scanning.

Sunbelt continues to release updated program versions — the current version is v3.1. Nicely, they do NOT install the updated programs automatically. You have to use the Update process in the program, which means that you'll know that something significant has changed.

Now, I've changed from my long-time programs NOD32 (antivirus) and CounterSpy (antispyware) to Sunbelt's new VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware.

I've found that VIPRE puts even less load on my computer than the speedy combination of NOD32 and CounterSpy. My computer seems to have much more pep and power than it had previously. I've also been impressed with the way its "deep scan" has found and eliminated risks that were stored in zip files, which is one of the latest malware email tricks.

Related articles:

• Fighting Against Spyware & Malware
• My CounterSpy Review
• My VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Review

Anti-spam Software

In today's Internet world, the question is not "if" you will get spam, but "how much will you get?"

I use and now I recommend POPFile as my first choice for handling spam. POPFile sits on your computer, between your email program and your ISP mailbox, and handles emial as it downloads.

POPFile uses a different approach to handle spam than some other programs do — it does nothing to reduce spam. It is designed as an email classification tool — you train it to recognize spam and any other type of email that you want to classify. These classifications can help you sort your emails into appropriate folders in your email program.

Sunbelt Software, who makes the anti-spyware program CounterSpy (which I use and recommend) and the firewall that I use and recommend (Sunbelt Personal Firewall) also has a well-regarded, award-winning anti-spam program called iHateSpam for Outlook and Outlook Express. Since I don't use Outlook or Outlook Express for email, I haven't tried iHateSpam.

Mailwasher Pro would be my first choice to handle spam before it ever gets into your computer's Inbox. Mailwasher Pro uses on-line Realtime Black Lists mail servers sending spam recently, "training" by you of what you think is spam, and your own "friends" and "blacklist" lists. Note: I found that PopFile generally meets my needs and stopped using Mailwasher Pro, even though PopFile works AFTER the emails have been downloaded. If I used a dialup connection, I would be more interested in Mailwasher Pro.

Mailwasher Pro can even bounce spam messages, as if your email address was not valid, although the usefulness and appropriateness of this is questionable. There is a free version called "Mailwasher," but it omits the functions that I consider critical for this purpose -- such as safely previewing the emails safely before they ever get to your email inbox.

Related articles:

• Spam Filtering
• Keeping spam out of your Inbox
• Getting Control of Your Inbox
• How Can I Prevent spam?

Cable/DSL Router

If you have a cable modem or a DSL modem, you need to have another layer of inexpensive protection between you and the Internet. A cable/DSL router isolates your computer from direct connection to the Internet. Your computer can easily request your email, web pages, etc. through the router. The responses come back to the router and are smoothly routed to your computer. But, someone on the Internet side of the router can not initiate a connection to your computer — they can only respond to your request.

Even if you only have one computer to connect to your cable or DSL modem, I recommend that you purchase and use a cable/DSL router because of the protection it can give you against attempts to attack through some flaws in Windows itself.

A router isolates your local network, whether it is only one computer or several, from the Internet by actually making it a separate network. The router gets the "public" IP address and handles all your outbound communications and the responses to them. But, it blocks computers on the Internet side from being able to initiate communications with your computer! This will prevent you from falling prey to many worms that try to attack security holes in Windows itself.

For a wireless router, I recommend the Linksys WRT54G wireless router. I'm using the relatively new version 6 of this router.

If you don't want wireless, I recommend the Linksys BEFSR41 wired router, which I also use. Either way, based on my experience, I recommend Linksys routers for price, reliability and Linksys' habit of releasing updated firmware for their products..

See these related articles:

• Wireless Security
• Wi-Fi Hotspots and Computer Security
• Wireless Networking Problems & Wireless Networking Security

7.  Recommend my Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter to Your Friends

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