Computer Info – January 17, 2001
This Week’s Program
Hugh will demonstrate Picture
Window and then will do a question and answer session dealing with photo
editing topics.
Picture Window 2.5
Picture Window 2.5 is a software
package from Digital Light and Color designed for the amateur photographer’s
use for enhancing and editing photos.
You can read about it at
this web address http://www.dl-c.com/
With this program, you can
-----
Crop pictures
Combine elements from different images
Adjust brightness and contrast
Hand color black and white photos
Eliminate red eye
and many other photo editing
tasks
The cost is $49.00.
MTX Virus
This is a very troublesome virus
to remove from your computer. This virus alters system files and on some
systems these files cannot be repaired. Part of this virus will send itself
as an attachment to the people that you send email to. It is sent as a
second message – therefore, you are usually not aware that you have the
virus or are sending it on to someone else. While you are on the internet,
it goes to a specific Web site where plug-ins for the virus are downloaded
and executed.
One of the unique features
of this virus is it’s ability to stop you from visiting any of the virus
manufacture sites – therefore you cannot update your DAT files (your Virus
Definition Files). If you do not have this virus yet and you are running
Norton AntiVirus, be sure to get your DAT files updated immediately. If
the date for your DAT files for Norton AntiVirus software is before September
5, 2000 --- then you are not protected against this virus.
Determine if you have
the virus --- If you do a FIND-FILES & FOLDERS --- and search for
ie_pack.exe
and you locate that file, then you KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE VIRUS. The big
secret to locating this file is to be sure that you are displaying ALL
FILES. You do this by going to MY COMPUTER. From the top menu, choose OPTIONS
(or FOLDER OPTIONS) – VIEW – and be sure that it is allowing you to view
all files.
If you have the virus and
you are running Norton AntiVirus – then you cannot update your DAT files
by visiting their web site; but here is a way you can update your DAT files.
Visit Tucows at http://www.tucows.com
In the search – enter Norton dat (notice that it is two separate
words – a space between). This will bring up a list – and you will probably
choose the first one (for Windows 98). Download this file and then run
it. It will update your DAT files and possibly be able to help you determine
that you have the virus.
After you have done this,
then turn the computer off. Wait about 30 seconds then turn it back on
– and hold down the F8 key – this should take you to a menu where you will
want to choose COMMAND PROMPT. This will take you to a black screen (DOS).
Type these lines and follow each of them by hitting the ENTER key.
set path=c:\windows\command;%path%
cd\windows
attrib –r –s –h *.*
del ie_pack.exe
del win32.dll
del mtx_.exe
(If after entering any of
these commands, you see a message such as "Files not found" – type the
line again to make sure that it was typed correctly).
Next type this line – also
followed by hitting the ENTER key.
cd\progra~1\norton~1
Then type this line – also
followed by hitting the ENTER key.
navdx /a /doallfiles /repair /delete
This will run the DOS version
of Norton AntiVirus. This could take several hours. Do not stop the scan
once it has started. When it has finished then we need to see where your
cab files are stored. On newer computers, they are stored on your hard
drive under the Windows\Options\Cabs folder. Hopefully, that’s where they
are. Let’s try it.
Type this line followed
by hitting the ENTER key.
cd\windows\options\cabs
For Windows 98, type these
lines (again followed by the ENTER key)
extract /a precopy1.cab wsock32.dll /l c:\windows\system
extract /a win98_41.cab explorer.exe /l c:\windows
extract /a win98_42.cab rundll32.exe /l c:\windows
When that is finished, turn
off the computer. Wait 30 seconds and then turn it back on.
Now you have to edit the
registry --- be very careful doing this – and only delete the items that
we refer to. To do this, from the START button – choose RUN. Type in REGEDIT
and click OK. From the top menu, under EDIT – choose FIND. In the Find
What box, type mtx and then click FIND NEXT. If any entries are
found and they refer to MTX_.EXE, you should delete the entry (right click
and choose DELETE). To continue the search if an entry is found, press
F3. Keep doing this until no more entries are found. Now repeat the FIND
and search for [MATRIX]. Delete any entries that are found. Click
the Registry menu, and then click Exit to save the changes and close the
Registry Editor.
Restart the computer.
Good Web Sites
All Movie Guide
Extensive information about
movies, actors and directors. Search by movie title, name or even a plotline
keyword to find the information.
http://www.allmovie.com
ScrapBook
A wealth of knowledge about
scrapbooking which includes thousands of scrapbook layouts.
http://www.scrapnetwork.com
Cancer
Virtually anything you need
to know about cancer treatment and prevention.
http://www.canceroption.com
Free Software
This site has no-cost software
including graphics, database and finance software and games.
http://www.tudogs.com
Dinosaurs
Explore this site which
is filled with facts, timelines and even some dinosaur games.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dinosaurs
Africa
This site shows 52 countries
of Africia with news, a clickable map, informative articles and medical
information.
http://www.africaguide.com