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No68- -What is a fatal exception error?
Windows generates an exception code when a program violates certain rules, such as when a program tries to get more memory than is currently available. Windows then sends this exception code back to the program that caused it. The program should then recognize the exception code and try to work with it. A fatal exception error occurs when the program fails to recognize or respond to the exception code.
Typical fatal exception error messages appear in white text on a blue background and state something similar to the following:
A Fatal Exception 06 has occurred at 0000:00000026
The first two numbers/letters, in this case 06, represent the type of exception that Windows sent back to a program.
The first four numbers/letters of the long number, in this case 0000, represent the instruction pointer.
The last set of eight numbers/letters is the actual memory address where the exception happened.
In summary, a fatal exception error is just an error being caused when a program does not respond after Windows tells the program it has done something wrong.
What is an invalid page fault?
Software programs have to set aside space within the computer's memory. Sometimes, they tell Windows exactly what memory addresses they want by using something called a pointer. When this pointer points to a section of memory that is not supposed to be used, then an invalid page fault occurs.
What is an illegal operation?
An illegal operation is a bad instruction sent to the computer's microprocessor. When a program does this, Windows brings up a screen that tells where the bad instruction occurred in the program's instruction list and what program committed the bad instruction.
What to do when an error occurs
1. If a CD or DVD was recently removed from a drive, then place it back in the drive it was removed from and close the drive door. Wait about 10 seconds.
2. Press ENTER to try to clear the error message. The program that was running should close automatically, and the system will return to the main screen.
3. If Windows reappears, then save any of your work that may still be open.
4. Close all other open programs if possible. If you are not sure if programs are open, do the following:
a. Press ALT + TAB. If a program is running, a window will appear briefly displaying the program name, and the program will open.
b. To close the program, click the X in the upper-right corner. A message may appear asking if you would like to save changes. Click Yes to save your work, or click No to close the program without saving your work.
c. Repeat this procedure until the system returns to the main screen. If you press ALT + TAB again, and a window does not appear, then all the programs are closed.
5. Click Start in the lower-left corner of the screen, then click Shut Down. Select Restart, and click OK. If this does not work, then wait one minute and press down on the computer's power button for five seconds or until it shuts off.
6. Windows should operate normally once the computer is started.

No69- -Preventing or reducing these system errors
There are many different causes for these errors.
o When running a program from the CD-ROM, make sure the compact disc is clean and unscratched. A dirty or scratched CD can cause errors.
o Increase the computer's system resources. System resources are how much memory, hard drive space, and processing power a computer has to work with. Use this HP support document on how to increase your computer's system resources <http://www.hp.com/cposupport/personal_computing/support_doc/bph06569.html> to reduce the chance of having system errors occur.
o Run a virus scan to find and remove viruses. Computer viruses can cause system errors.
o Remove or reinstall any programs recently installed. Some of the dynamic link library (.DLL) files may be damaged or corrupted.
o Verify that Windows is managing the virtual memory:
1. Click Start, Settings, and Control Panel.
2. Double-click the System icon.
3. On the Performance tab, click Virtual Memory.
4. If the setting Let Windows Manage My Virtual Memory is not checked, check it, and click OK.
o Verify that enough memory is available to run the program. To check the memory available on a computer, follow these instructions:
4. On the main screen, right-click My Computer (Figure 1), then select Properties to open a System Properties window.

Figure 1: Right-clicking the My Computer icon

2. Click the Performance tab. The information on this tab varies by computer model.
3. Under Performance Status, the amount of memory installed on the computer and the percentage of free memory is displayed.
4. If the amount of free memory is less than 30 percent, you may need to free system resources by closing open programs (including programs running in the background) on the system.
o If you determine that a particular program is causing the error, make sure the computer meets the minimum requirements to run the program. Computer specifications are found printed on the packaging, on the computer case, or can be found by right-clicking the My Computer icon on the Windows desktop and selecting Properties.
o Outdated and incompatible software may also cause error messages to appear. Software designed for Windows 95 may appear to run correctly in Windows Me but can give occasional system errors. Older software may no longer recognize the new codes and features that Windows Me may pass to the program.
Upgrade or replace the software. This also includes drivers for older hardware. Consult the manufacturers of these products for available upgrades or replacements.
o If the error message appears while reading from a CD-ROM drive, try turning off the CD-ROM drive cache. This may make the drive more reliable but may reduce performance. To turn off the CD-ROM drive cache, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, Settings, and Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel window, double-click the System icon.
3. Click the Performance tab, and click File System.
4. Click the CD-ROM tab. In the Optimize Access Pattern For list, click No Read-Ahead.
5. Drag the Supplemental Cache Size slider to the left position (the "Small" setting), and click OK.
Figure 2: CD-ROM optimization screen

o The random access memory (RAM) module may be faulty. Replace the memory module (see the product's User's Guide for more information).

I think this is a VCR but
Someone told me they think
this is a small car. What do
you think??

No70- -Fatal exception errors caused by program incompatibility
Installed programsSuggested solution3D game program, Accton Network card and Riptide Modem/Sound.Update the Riptide combo card's driver.SIIG CyberParallel port card and Windows 98Remove and reinstall the port card with updated software. Visit SIIG's Web site <http://www.siig.com/> for the software update and more information.Late 90s non-removable Zip drives and Windows 95Always make sure that a tape is in the drive when performing any features on the drive.Missing MFC42.DLL error
Possible causeSuggested solutionAn incorrect version of the MFC42.DLL file is installed, or the MFC42.DLL file is missing or damaged.To resolve this issue, download and install the Windows Libraries Update. To do this, follow these instructions: 1. Visit the following Microsoft(R) Web site: <http://www.microsoft.com/windows/default.asp> 2. In the "More product and special interest sites" box, click the appropriate operating system. 3. In the "Enter a search phrase" box, type libraries update and click Search. 4. Click the link that is returned, and follow the instructions on the screen to install the Microsoft Libraries Update.Kernel32.DLL error
CAUTION: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require reinstalling the operating system. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
Possible causeSuggested solutionThe registry is corrupted.Windows can restore the registry using a backup copy. To perform the restoration procedure, follow these steps: 1. Click Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and System Information. 2. On the Tools menu, click Registry Checker. If an error message appears, proceed to Step 3. If not, the registry is okay. 3. To restart the computer, click OK. 4. Press ENTER when the Windows 98 Startup Menu appears. 3. At the command prompt, type Scanreg, and press ENTER. 4. In the "Check Your Registry" dialog box, press ENTER. A message should appear stating that Windows restored the registry with a backup copy. 5. Press ENTER to restart the computer.You attempted to install a product with Direct Memory Access (DMA) enabled.1. Click Start, Settings, and Control Panel. 2. Double-click the System icon, then the Device Manager tab. 3. Select View Devices By Type, and click the plus sign to the left of CD-ROM. 4. Click the CD-ROM drive to change, and click Properties. 5. In the CD-ROM Drive Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab. 6. In Settings, clear the DMA check box. Click OK. 7. Close the System Properties window, and restart the computer.The Windows swap file may be corrupted.To create a new swap file, follow these instructions: 1. Click Start, and Shut Down. 2. Click Restart in MS-DOS(R) mode, and click OK (in Windows Me, you will have to restart with Recovery Disc 1 in the top drive and select DOS from the Advanced menu). 3. At the MS-DOS prompt, change to the Windows folder by typing CD C:\WINDOWS then press ENTER. 4. To delete the swap file, type DEL WIN386.SWP then press ENTER. 5. After deleting the swap file, restart the computer.Rundll32 error
Possible causeSuggested solutionThe following line is missing from the [BOOT] section of the SYSTEM.INI file: drivers = mmsystem.dllTo correct this problem, follow these steps: 1. Click Start, Search, then Files or Folders. 2. Type SYSTEM.INI into the search line and make sure that the main hard drive (C:\) is selected. 3. Click OK. 4. Double-click the System.ini icon when it appears. If more than one file is found, then double-click the file residing in C:\Windows. 5. The file should open in a text editor (usually Notepad). If it does not, then a window will appear titled Open With. Select Windows Notepad and click OK to continue. 6. Type in the following new line to the [boot] section of the file (see figure below for guidance): drivers=mmsystem.dll 8. Click File, then Save from the text editor. 9. Close the text editor and the Find Files and Folders tool. 10. Restart the computer. OE, VXD, and/or VMM

errors
Possible causeSuggested solutionWhen using the Copy Disk command in My Computer or Windows Explorer, the following error message may appear after inserting the destination disk and clicking OK: Fatal Exception 0D has occurred at <address> in VxD V86MMGR (01)+ The HSFLOP.PDR file may be missing or damaged.To work around this behavior, type the following command at a command prompt, and press ENTER diskcopy <source drive>: <destination drive>: (where <source drive> is the drive from which to copy files, and <destination drive> is the drive to which to copy files).Fatal exception OE when forcing standby mode while an audio program is playing on the computer.Quit the program playing digital audio before selecting Standby Mode in the Shut Down Windows dialog box.

No71- -To delete or change your Wallpaper.- - Double left click on my-computer then double left click on C Drive then left click on windows then left click on web then left click on wallpaper. You will see everything you have in your wallpaper. Left click on the one you want to delete and then left click on delete. You can drag and drop new wallpaper in there to

No72- -To delete or change your Screensavers- - Double left click on my-computer then double left click on C: drive then left click on Windows then left click on System in there you will see all your screensavers. To delete any of them you right click on it and then left click on delete. You can drag and drop for new screensavers.

This page was last updated
on 10/07/2001 at 11:15 AM
EST by Mr Boots

No73- -To get ride of Nimda Virus
Download and run this tool to remove infections of the W32.Nimda.A@mm (Nimda) virus. If you are running Windows Me, then disable System Restore. Please refer to the section System Restore option in Windows Me for additional details.
If you are on a network or you have a full-time connection to the Internet, disconnect the computer from the network and the Internet. Disable or password-protect file sharing before you reconnect computers to the network or to the Internet. Because this worm spreads by using shared folders on networked computers, to ensure that the worm does not reinfect the computer after it has been removed, Symantec suggests sharing with read-only access or using password protection. Once a computer has been attacked by W32.Nimda.A@mm, it is very difficult to determine what security settings have been compromised. Unless, by reading the logs, you can be absolutely sure that nothing else malicious has been done to the computer, it may be best to backup all data files, reformat the hard drive, and then completely reinstall the operating system and all programs. This is the only way that you can be 100 percent certain that the computer is clean.
Note: Some systems running Windows NT 4.0 may require an additional file, Psapi.dll, to allow the tool to run. The file may be downloaded and unzipped here. (Save the file to the same location as Fixnimd.com, and unzip it before you run the tool.) For more information on using this tool, please see Symantec's Security Response page

No74- -Does RAM Go Bad? By Darci WoodOctober 1, 2001
Have your RAM modules been hanging out on the wrong side of the tracks lately? Are they so much less cooperative and friendly than they were in the beginning? Well, I'm about to explain all about RAM, and how you should care for it. What is RAM? Random access memory, or RAM, are modules comprised of small circuit boards that have silicon memory chips soldered on to one or both banks (sides). These chips are seated into SIMM or DIMM (single or dual-inline memory module) slots on the motherboard, and the CPU uses this memory as an "overflow" from the L1, L2, and/or L3 cache memory to store program instructions and data for faster access. There is no easier or more inexpensive way to give your system a performance boost than by increasing its memory to as close to the motherboard RAM limits as possible. This is especially true if you're running operating systems such as Windows 2000 or XP, which are able to utilize RAM in excess of 512MB more efficiently than Windows 9x or Me. Once the processor has filled the L1 and L2 cache (L3 cache is found on the motherboard, not on the CPU, and doesn't apply to all motherboards), it then routes the remaining program instructions and data to the banks of RAM chips. This RAM manipulates data at the speed of the front-side bus (FSB). The speed of the FSB, the maximum RAM capacity, and the number of banks that can be utilized are all determined by the motherboard chipset designer/manufacturer.

NO75- -Today we're going to talk about defragmenting your hard drive. But first, what is defragmentation?
As you use your computer, files get spread out all over your hard-disk drive. That slows it down because it takes longer to find the data it needs. When you defragment, you optimize your disk, which puts all the files in one place and speeds up disk access.
If you're using a Macintosh, you'll have to buy a defragmentation program -- something like Norton Utilities. But Windows 98 users already have one on their hard drives.

This page was last
updated on 10/8/01
at 6:10PM RST by
Mr BOOTS

No76- -Processor Temperatures

By Yoshi DeHerreraOctober 4, 2001

Video Highlight Cool Down Your CPU
You think your new CPU is "hot." Well, you might want to make sure it isn't too hot -- literally. One of the fastest ways to accelerate the wear of your computer is too much heat. If you can keep your processor and other parts nice and cool, you will help them handle heavy loads and last longer. There's a reason the big servers that run our precious Internet sites or power our business databases sit in nice, chilly, air-conditioned rooms. Colder is better. Most people don't need to worry about heat. However, if you want to monitor your temperature, try Hmonitor, a shareware program that will monitor your processor and motherboard temperature. (If you need a utility to identify your processor, try Wcpuid V3.) Some motherboards don't offer the onboard sensors to monitor temperature, so consult your motherboard manufacturer or computer builder's website for technical specs.

No77- -Protect Yourself From Hackers
Here are some hacker-deterrent tips from a hacker.
By "Abe," the Anonymous HackerOctober 9, 2001
It's easy to cut the risk of getting hacked by following these simple rules: Windows users 1. Turn off file sharing. 2. Turn off scripting support in Outlook. 3. Go to Windows Update and patch your computer regularly.Unix/Linux users 1. Turn off all services you don't use (e.g. lpd, portmapper, and nfs). 2. Try to use root only for things that require root access. Don't run X windows and IRC as root. 3. Patch your computer regularly. Check the OS vendor's website. It should have information regarding security alerts and patches.Generic computer users 1. Don't run programs or attachments from anyone you don't know, and try not to run attachments at all. Know where you are getting the programs from on the Internet. Ask yourself if the place you are downloading it from or person you are getting it from is trustworthy. 2. Don't store credit card information or online bank account information on your computer. 3. Don't use the "save password" option on accounts that are important (e.g. E*trade and email). These passwords can be read off of the hard drive. 4. Change your passwords often and choose good passwords.

No78- -Windows Tip: Quick Desktop Close
By Michelle Von WaldOctober 1, 2001 Video Highlight Quickly Close Your Desktop
Most of you know that you can close the active window with the key strokes ALT + F4. But don't forget the desktop is also a window. Use this shortcut to quickly shut down Windows: 1. Click any open space on the desktop, and make sure no icons are selected. 2. Press ALT + F4. 3. Release both. 4. When the shutdown dialog box pops up, press enter.The option that was selected the last time you shut down should already be selected. Simply confirm you are not rebooting again. Thanks to Dennis from Playa del Rey, California, for this great tip

This page was last updated
on 10/16/2001 at 10:20 PM
EST By Mr BOOTS

No79- -Windows Tip: Turn Off Delete Confirmation
This can be an annoying feature. We show you how to get rid of it.
By Michelle VonWaldOctober 9, 2001
When you drag an item to the Recycle Bin, a pop-up window appears asking you to confirm the delete. This can be a great feature for those of us who accidentally delete items, but if you don't suffer from mistaken deletes, get rid of it. Here's how to disable the delete confirmation:
1. Open your Desktop. 2. Right-click on the Recycle Bin.
3. Select Properties. 4. Select the Global Tab. 5.Uncheck the "Display delete confirmation dialog box." Remember that if you accidentally delete something, you can always go into the Recycle Bin and undelete it there. Simply highlight the deleted item, go up to File, and select Restore.

No80- -PC-to-Stereo Connections
You can explore new audio worlds by hooking your PC to your stereo.
By Mark KlatteOctober 17, 2001
Q: How do I hook up my PC to my home stereo system? On my computer I have the output for the computer speakers. I also have another that says Output and looks like this ((+)), except the center is a circle. The plug coming out of it looks like a small headphone jack. My stereo has Video/Aux input. -- Sean, Bakersfield, California A: It's easy to hook your PC into your stereo. For a standard PC, you'll need a stereo cable with a single 1/8-inch jack on one end and dual RCA jacks on the other end. Of course, the length you need will depend on the distance from your PC to your stereo. Radio Shack, stereo shops, and basic electronic stores will carry these cables. The 1/8-inch part plugs into the Audio Out on your PC. The RCA parts plug into the Auxiliary (or any available RCA stereo) input on your stereo receiver. That's it. If you have a decent sound card such as the Sound Blaster Live Platinum 5.1, or professional-type 24/96 cards, you can hook your PC into your stereo completely. Your PC-to-stereo configuration will change depending on the sound card. This type of setup is useful for making digital files of live DJ mixes, phonographic records, analog tapes, and more. Once these files are brought into the digital domain, they can be remixed, run through effects, chopped into samples for looping programs such as Sonic Foundry's Acid, and infinite other fun things. If you're really into digital audio, a high-quality sound card is a good investment -- you'll have infinite hours of fun working and playing on your morphable trip toy.

PC- -HELP#6