Computer/Technical Help

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Originally posted by NVWC2006 i've looked around online, and saw some software, was wondering if these were good or if there's something better. Activity Monitor, Net Spy Pro, SpectorCNE.

Sorry, but I'm not very familiar with network monitoring software, so I would recommend trying each one out and seeing which has the best and most complete logs to suit the needs of the business.

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also, since we're restricting accounts, i figured some registry edits were in order. I'm thinking disabling Run, regedit, any system modification for anyone that isn't administrator. i know how to do some of these from within a user's account, but it'd be prefered if there was a way to do it from administrator so that whenever a new user was made, they automatically received these settings.

The Group Policy Editor should be just what you're looking for.

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any ideas that you have for more restrictions or similar ideas would be sweet.

If the business has internet access, it might be a good idea to prevent some browser settings from being changed. The policy editor takes care of that for IE, but for Firefox/SeaMonkey/Mozilla, see this guide.

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and i was wondering myself, if i want to put the company logo somewhere during the computer's startup.. maybe the boot screen, or the windows Welcome screen or while logging on... how do i go about that?

The boot logo is pretty easy to edit. This guide has instructions on how to edit the boot.ini file, or you could use a utility such as BootSkin.

My anti-virus has detected some spyware in my system volume information folder and I can't get rid of it. I've been asking around about what to do and I've been getting the following responses:

1. You should disable system restore to delete all your restore points and get rid of the spyware.

2. You should just leave it alone because it can't do anything bad unless you use the infected restore point. It will go away on its own as Windows creates more restore points.

What's your opinion on this?

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Originally posted by paul1290 My anti-virus has detected some spyware in my system volume information folder and I can't get rid of it. I've been asking around about what to do and I've been getting the following responses: 1. You should disable system restore to delete all your restore points and get rid of the spyware. 2. You should just leave it alone because it can't do anything bad unless you use the infected restore point. It will go away on its own as Windows creates more restore points. What's your opinion on this?

I'd do choice number one. Turn off System Restore, then get rid of the spyware that is causing problems. After getting rid of it, you can enable the System Restore again if you wish. Personally, I never use System Restore, so I always have it disabled. That's just my preference, though.

Is there a way to modify or install onto Windows XP Home edition, the software found in Pro/Media Center to Remote Access another computer? I haven't found a solution thus far. I've heard of software one can install that simulates Remote Access but it requires installation on multiple computers... I just want to modify my own to act like a Pro or Media Center machine and access others' computers. It makes it easier to help people that way.

According to this article, any version of XP should already be able to use Remote Assistance. Here's another document that should help with setting it up.

Ok another question for a client.


She ran a 'sweeper' program to clean out her laptop. Then reinstalled XP. Now for some reason she can't get online.

That's all the details I have ATM. Theories as to why this might be, and how to correct it?

No drivers, perhaps? I installed XP on a friend's computer and there were no ethernet drivers installed so he couldn't get on the school network. Usually a quick fix, most manufacturers put drivers on their websites and you can download them on a computer with internet. OR, you can try the CDs the computer originally came with.

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Originally posted by Krang According to this article, any version of XP should already be able to use Remote Assistance. Here's another document that should help with setting it up.

Here lies the problem.. THAT is remote assistance... and requires users on both computers to have Windows Messenger or MSN Messenger w/a plugin, installed. I've seen others do Remote Access, where all they do is run a program, enter in an IP address, and it connects to the other computer. I'm told that that controlled computer locks, and that only an administrator there or the controlling computer can end the session.

That sounds like Remote Desktop. If so, the computer being controlled is the one that needs to be running XP Pro. The one controlling the other one can be running almost any Windows OS, but you'll need this software. If you would like to help people that don't necessarily have XP Pro, you might want to try something else such as GoToMyPC or pcAnywhere.

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Originally posted by Dude Love No drivers, perhaps? I installed XP on a friend's computer and there were no ethernet drivers installed so he couldn't get on the school network. Usually a quick fix, most manufacturers put drivers on their websites and you can download them on a computer with internet. OR, you can try the CDs the computer originally came with.

Cool sounds like the most likely cause. Thanks DL.

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Originally posted by Krang That sounds like Remote Desktop. If so, the computer being controlled is the one that needs to be running XP Pro. The one controlling the other one can be running almost any Windows OS, but you'll need this software. If you would like to help people that don't necessarily have XP Pro, you might want to try something else such as GoToMyPC or pcAnywhere.

I guess I had the name wrong, it IS Remote Desktop that I've been looking for, but I keep getting different stories from people. I have XP Home. Some say I can control a Pro PC but can't be controlled, others say the opposite. Either way, I do have the Remote Desktop connection application, and while I set a port on my router to go to the computer, I have not been successful in a connection in either direction with this computer yet.

I decided I wanted to partition my HD. I want to install Linux (kubuntu) along side Windows XP. I'm not 100% how to go about this.
1) defrag the hard drive
2) that's about as far as i've gotten thought-wise.

does partitioning require i reinstall windows? i'm sure i've heard that it can be done w/a HD already being used. but how? do i need to download a program to do it or is there a windows utility?

once all is said in done, will it will appear like another drive on the computer, and so when i run off a live cd of kubuntu and tell it to install, i can pick the partition and it will install to it?

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Originally posted by NVWC2006 I decided I wanted to partition my HD. I want to install Linux (kubuntu) along side Windows XP. I'm not 100% how to go about this. 1) defrag the hard drive 2) that's about as far as i've gotten thought-wise. does partitioning require i reinstall windows? i'm sure i've heard that it can be done w/a HD already being used. but how? do i need to download a program to do it or is there a windows utility? once all is said in done, will it will appear like another drive on the computer, and so when i run off a live cd of kubuntu and tell it to install, i can pick the partition and it will install to it?

Making a new partition does not require you to reformat Windows XP. However, you will most likely have to adjust the HD space that Windows consume so that your Linux distro (Kubuntu) will be able to install alongside Windows. Kubuntu should have a disk manager program that can do this. However, if it doesn't work, SystemRescueCD using QtParted should be able to do it.

When you lanuch the LiveCD, it will have an install icon. After filling in the info, you have the option of telling it where to place the OS (it should find free space automatically). After that, install the system, and when you boot up your computer, you should be able to select the OS through GRUB.

It's possible to have Windows detect the Kubuntu "hard drive". You'll have to download this program to access the hard drive through Windows, though. Kubuntu should detect and access the Windows "hard drive" as well.

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Originally posted by Asirt Making a new partition does not require you to reformat Windows XP. However, you will most likely have to adjust the HD space that Windows consume so that your Linux distro (Kubuntu) will be able to install alongside Windows. Kubuntu should have a disk manager program that can do this. However, if it doesn't work, SystemRescueCD using QtParted should be able to do it. When you lanuch the LiveCD, it will have an install icon. After filling in the info, you have the option of telling it where to place the OS (it should find free space automatically). After that, install the system, and when you boot up your computer, you should be able to select the OS through GRUB. It's possible to have Windows detect the Kubuntu "hard drive". You'll have to download this program to access the hard drive through Windows, though. Kubuntu should detect and access the Windows "hard drive" as well.

Okay, I went through this... defragged (finally, and it went by fairly quick, too), and partitioned using the QtParted on my live cd for kubuntu. i installed, and now i can run both. YES. also, i installed that last program, i can access the main linux partition, and decided, since windows doesn't really understand the swap partition, not to show it.. I tried mounting the Windows partition in Linux, though, and i get the error "Could not mount device. The reported error was: mount: can't find /dev/hda1 in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab/"

My main question now is, how to make a simple dual boot interface. If possible, I would like something similar to machines that have Windows 2000 and XP, where before either OS starts, it just stops and asks you to pick one. I believe I hit SOMETHING installing Linux, because I currently get this kinda thing when i boot:

code: 1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: GNU GRUB ubuntu, kernal 2.6.15-26-386 ubuntu, kernal 2.6.15-26-386 (Recovery) ubuntu, memtest86+ Other operating systems Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Is there a way to make this more like the dual Windows boot? There is a timer that ticks down and if I don't select something, it boots kubuntu, can I make Windows default? I don't know how to modify this stuff.

Also, because I know so little about Linux... Is it possible to have file/printer sharing over a network w/other Windows XP computers? Any recommended programs to download or are the ones that come with KDE good enough to start with? Anything else I should know, or a good website to educate myself from?

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Originally posted by NVWC2006 Okay, I went through this... defragged (finally, and it went by fairly quick, too), and partitioned using the QtParted on my live cd for kubuntu. i installed, and now i can run both. YES. also, i installed that last program, i can access the main linux partition, and decided, since windows doesn't really understand the swap partition, not to show it.. I tried mounting the Windows partition in Linux, though, and i get the error "Could not mount device. The reported error was: mount: can't find /dev/hda1 in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab/"

Try mounting the NTFS paritition under System --> Administration --> Disks (could be different for Kubuntu). You should have some sort of image like this:



Note that I'm using Ubuntu, so it may be different in Kubuntu. Will it let you mount the partition? What error does it give if it doesn't work?

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My main question now is, how to make a simple dual boot interface. If possible, I would like something similar to machines that have Windows 2000 and XP, where before either OS starts, it just stops and asks you to pick one. I believe I hit SOMETHING installing Linux, because I currently get this kinda thing when i boot: code: 1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: GNU GRUB ubuntu, kernal 2.6.15-26-386 ubuntu, kernal 2.6.15-26-386 (Recovery) ubuntu, memtest86+ Other operating systems Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Is there a way to make this more like the dual Windows boot? There is a timer that ticks down and if I don't select something, it boots kubuntu, can I make Windows default? I don't know how to modify this stuff.

I don't think there's a way to make a simple dual boot interface. Try this, though.

Go to the terminal and type this in:

code: 1: sudo kwrite /boot/grub/menu.lst

Now, look for this entry:

code: 1: default 0

Change the number to the entry Windows is in. For example, if Windows XP is the fifth entry in the file, type the number 4 in so that GRUB will boot Windows XP by default.

Example of what I mean:

code: 1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: 8: 9: 10: 11: 12: 13: 14: 15: 16: 17: 18: 19: 20: 21: 22: 23: 24: 25: 26: 27: 28: 29: 30: title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-27-386 root (hd0,0) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-27-386 root=/dev/hda1 ro quiet splash initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-27-386 savedefault boot title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-27-386 (recovery mode) root (hd0,0) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-27-386 root=/dev/hda1 ro single initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-27-386 boot title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-23-386 root (hd0,0) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-23-386 root=/dev/hda1 ro quiet splash initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-23-386 savedefault boot title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.15-23-386 (recovery mode) root (hd0,0) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.15-23-386 root=/dev/hda1 ro single initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.15-23-386 boot title Ubuntu, memtest86+ root (hd0,0) kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin boot

I have the latest Ubuntu kernel as entry 0. If I wanted to change to the older Ubuntu kernel, I would type in the number 2 (third entry), and GRUB will boot the older kernel instead. Also, try removing the entries you feel you don't need. It's possible to have only Windows and Ubuntu on the GRUB menu. Note that I haven't really played too much with GRUB, so make a backup of menu.lst before messing around.

code: 1: sudo cp /boot/grub/menu.lst /home/insertusernamehere/menu.lst.backup

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Also, because I know so little about Linux... Is it possible to have file/printer sharing over a network w/other Windows XP computers? Any recommended programs to download or are the ones that come with KDE good enough to start with? Anything else I should know, or a good website to educate myself from?

Yes. Try installing Samba by tying this code in:

code: 1: sudo apt-get install samba

Look at this thread from Ubuntu Forums for more details.

When I tried going to kubuntu's File and Disk Managemant, there were my 3 partitions, XP, Swap, and Linux, the last two being enabled. i couldn't modify the XP one to be enabled, so i clicked Administrator and that applet froze. i could go back and do other stuff but whenever i went back to Disk Managament, it was just frozen.

the error i get if i try mounting it in konquerer is "Could not mount device. The reported error was: mount: can't find /dev/hda1 in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab/"

All right... I got GRUB in a format that is more tolerable. But now I've also heard that there IS a way to boot using the Windows style way and GRUB together... something about copying the grub or linux files to the Windows partition and modifying boot.ini, but it says you must first "restore the windows boot loader" which i don't know how to do.

installation of samba went well, though i haven't tested it's ability to share files or printers yet.

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Originally posted by NVWC2006 When I tried going to kubuntu's File and Disk Managemant, there were my 3 partitions, XP, Swap, and Linux, the last two being enabled. i couldn't modify the XP one to be enabled, so i clicked Administrator and that applet froze. i could go back and do other stuff but whenever i went back to Disk Managament, it was just frozen. the error i get if i try mounting it in konquerer is "Could not mount device. The reported error was: mount: can't find /dev/hda1 in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab/"

Hm. Try following these directions and see if that works. Note that you won't be able to write to the NTFS drive for safety reasons.

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All right... I got GRUB in a format that is more tolerable. But now I've also heard that there IS a way to boot using the Windows style way and GRUB together... something about copying the grub or linux files to the Windows partition and modifying boot.ini, but it says you must first "restore the windows boot loader" which i don't know how to do.

This program claims to add other operating systems to the boot.ini file. Be sure to make a backup in case something goes wrong. As for restoring the Windows Boot Loader, make a startup disk in Windows XP.

After that, reboot the computer with the floppy disk in the computer. It should boot the disk instead. If not, change your BIOS so that the computer will read the floppy disk before the hard drive.

Type this in when in the DOS terminal:

code: 1: fixmbr

You shouldn't have to specify a device name (it will fix the MBR to the default HD, but just in case:

code: 1: fixmbr \Device\InsertHardDisk0Here

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installation of samba went well, though i haven't tested it's ability to share files or printers yet.

That's good. Be sure to check out Ubuntu Forums for more answers. There's quite a few resources there that are useful for learning how to use Ubuntu as well as Kubuntu and Xubuntu.

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Originally posted by Asirt Hm. Try following these directions and see if that works. Note that you won't be able to write to the NTFS drive for safety reasons.

It didn't work right off the bat, but the instructions said to reboot if they don't. I haven't done that yet so we'll see how it works out.

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As for restoring the Windows Boot Loader, make a startup disk in Windows XP. After that, reboot the computer with the floppy disk in the computer. It should boot the disk instead. If not, change your BIOS so that the computer will read the floppy disk before the hard drive. Type this in when in the DOS terminal: code: 1: fixmbr You shouldn't have to specify a device name (it will fix the MBR to the default HD, but just in case: code: 1: fixmbr \Device\InsertHardDisk0Here

Maybe I did something wrong, as this didn't work. I booted off the Floppy. Ok. Got a DOS prompt. Okay. ran fixmbr. Bad Command or File Name. wasn't sure what to replace 'insertharddisk' with so i ran DIR to see what was on the floppy. nothing named fixmbr at all. i'm either entering the commands wrong, or this floppy doesn't have a fixmbr on it.

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This program claims to add other operating systems to the boot.ini file. Be sure to make a backup in case something goes wrong.

I downloaded this, and when I ran it, a command window popped up and disappeared. So I opened a cmd prompt myself and ran it, it detected my partitions but I couldn't figure out how to use it.

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It didn't work right off the bat, but the instructions said to reboot if they don't. I haven't done that yet so we'll see how it works out.

When I still had my NTFS partition, Ubuntu was able to detect it with ease. I can't see why it wouldn't work, but NTFS has always been a hit or miss on linux, since there's not much support for it.

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Maybe I did something wrong, as this didn't work. I booted off the Floppy. Ok. Got a DOS prompt. Okay. ran fixmbr. Bad Command or File Name. wasn't sure what to replace 'insertharddisk' with so i ran DIR to see what was on the floppy. nothing named fixmbr at all. i'm either entering the commands wrong, or this floppy doesn't have a fixmbr on it.

My mistake. Seems the "fixmbr" program is only available through the original Windows XP cd in the "Recovery console" mode.

If you still have the DOS disk, try this command:

code: 1: FDISK /MBR

That will remove GRUB and boot Windows XP by default.

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I downloaded this, and when I ran it, a command window popped up and disappeared. So I opened a cmd prompt myself and ran it, it detected my partitions but I couldn't figure out how to use it.

I didn't bother messing with boot.ini since GRUB is pretty much all I need. Can you give me the output message? I think what you must do is to specify what "entry" to add to the file.

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Originally posted by Asirt When I still had my NTFS partition, Ubuntu was able to detect it with ease. I can't see why it wouldn't work, but NTFS has always been a hit or miss on linux, since there's not much support for it.

It's working now, kinda. Instructions I followed have it so while I can't just open the partition, I have a folder called Windows which IS the partition, so that is good.

Searching around the partition made me realize I might need some audio/video codecs for Linux... WMVs don't play at all, mp3s have no sound, mpgs have no sound....

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If you still have the DOS disk, try this command: code: 1: FDISK /MBR That will remove GRUB and boot Windows XP by default.

Ha, it still didn't work. So I whipped out my WinXP installation CD and did fixmbr off of that and it worked, it boots straight to windows.

I found out what I was doing wrong in bootpart and am using it. I've yet to test the results.

Once that is working though, all I'll have left to do is fix the can't-play-my-media problem and we're good!

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Originally posted by NVWC2006 It's working now, kinda. Instructions I followed have it so while I can't just open the partition, I have a folder called Windows which IS the partition, so that is good.

That's good. Like I said before, NTFS support is a hit or miss on Linux, so it's good that you got it to work somewhat.

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Searching around the partition made me realize I might need some audio/video codecs for Linux... WMVs don't play at all, mp3s have no sound, mpgs have no sound....

Bookmark this page. It will tell you how to make the most of Kubuntu. (even thought it's for Ubuntu, it should work in Kubuntu as well.) Due to legal issues, formats such as MP3 or WMA are not installed by default. You'll have to do this manually.

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Ha, it still didn't work. So I whipped out my WinXP installation CD and did fixmbr off of that and it worked, it boots straight to windows. I found out what I was doing wrong in bootpart and am using it. I've yet to test the results.

That's good. I hope things work out for you.