The following MyAnswers solution 2196 is now available:
When I search using Google (www.google.com.au) with Windows XP and Internet Explorer 8 I no longer have the option to select pages from Australia. There are no options on the left. The page has the blue old design and not the new black menu across the top. How do I fix this?
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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)
The following MyAnswers solution 2195 is now available:
How to unlock a Huawei X1-U8180 locked to Optus network. (This is not a hack but follows Optus' procedures.)
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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)
This week was an interesting week in terms of computer support and repairs. What stood out was the need to fix three computers from different clients, one day after the other. Each computer was running Windows XP and would start to the Desktop and only show the Desktop background. No icons, no toolbar and no way to do anything useful. Often the window titled “Explorer.EXE – Unable To Locate Component”, with the message “The application has failed to start because iertutil.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix the problem” would be displayed.
I fixed each computer and whilst after the first I thought the second and third would be much quicker. As it turned out, whilst the solution was basically the same, each computer needed to have the solution applied differently. The computers were returned to clients fixed and cleaned up. Most computers I repair have a number of infections and many have toolbars installed in their browsers which hijack the search feature of the browser. After the initial fix it was also sometimes necessary to fix other programs.
What was concerning was I haven’t been able to isolate what caused the problem. I’m not sure if it was a malware infection damaging the computer, or perhaps an update to the operating system. I suspect malware, but can’t be sure. What is important is it was possible to fix the issue without having to resort to a reinstall of the operating system.
I’d like to remind people they should have a backup copy of all their important data, their photos and their music. This was a tricky repair and for many the easiest solution may be to reinstall the operating system. I prefer to fix the problem and retain users data where possible.
If you live in Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Eltham, Lower Plenty, Montmorency, or the surrounding area and experience this problem, give me a call on 0415 910 703.
Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
The following MyAnswers solution 2194 is now available:
How do I delete a service in Windows XP? E.g. I'd like to delete My Web Search Service.
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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)
The following MyAnswers solution 2192 is now available:
I receive emails from eBay. How do I unsubscribe?
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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)
The following MyAnswers solution 2190 is now available:
I decided to test connecting an Android Tablet (Toshiba and Acer) to an iPhone 3GS using Bluetooth tethering to connect to the internet and was surprised by the result.
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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)
A number of people have asked me whether or not they should buy a new computer as their Windows XP computer is getting old. I ask, “is the computer doing what you want to do and is there anything it can’t do?” The answer is generally, “it is doing everything they want and there isn’t anything it can’t do”. So I answer, “only buy a new computer if you want to”.
Many people get concerned because they hear support for Windows XP has finished. I saw one press release from Microsoft that concerned me which said Windows XP support had finished, but when I investigated, it was for an earlier service pack. Windows XP SP3 (service pack 3) is still supported until April 8, 2014.
In terms of the timeline I’d suggest if you’re not in a rush to purchase a new computer, then consider that Windows 8 will be released possibly in the third quarter of 2012 and if I were to guess, there would probably even be a service pack released before Windows XP SP3 reaches end-of-life from a Microsoft support perspective.
If your computer is doing what you need and the hardware lasts, waiting until after Windows 8 is released means you’ll have the latest operating system which will last you many years into the future.
Many people find their computer is a bit slow. Once I clean up the computer they are surprised at how fast the computer is, and are more than happy to continue using the computer rather than buying a new computer.
My advice is change your computer when you need to or want to, not when the Microsoft marketing machine or a salesperson convinces you need to do something you don’t have to.
I would also suggest that even though Windows XP SP3 will continue to run after April 8, 2014, that you should consider moving to a newer operating system by that time. The security updates required in this day and age of online access will cease, at which time your exposure will increase. I would not advise clients to continue using Windows XP SP3 past this date except for specific purposes and with knowledge of the potential exposure.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support in Templestowe, Doncaster,
Doncaster East, Montmorency, Lower Plenty, Eltham area.