Computer
Info – January 23, 2002
This Week’s Program
Well, we didn’t get Trillian loaded
last week, so we will do it this week.
Also I would like to show you the directory structure of a VideoCd I
made. Also discuss some of the topics
in this handout.
VideoCD’s (VCD)
VideoCDs (VCDs) are simply MPEG-1
data (at a specific resolution/data rate) burned onto CDs using a special CD
writing format. You don't need special CD-Rs to make a VCD (any blank CD-R will
do), but you'll
need a CD
writer tool that supports VCD burning. The .mpg files will then appear as .dat
files on the VCD. VCDs can also feature limited interaction (VCD version 2.0),
and one popular use for VCDs is for Karaoke. The best thing about VCDs is that
they are playable in almost all standalone DVD players (that supports CD-R or
CD-R/W reading).
I have just started experimenting
with writing a VideoCD and I thought maybe some of you would be interested in
the directory system that is created on one.
These are the folders that were placed on the CD.
CDDA
CDI
KARAOKE
MPEGAV
This folder
contains DAT files – which are the video and audio clips
SEGMENT
VCD
This folder
contained the following files --- Entries.vcd info.vcd lot.vcd psd.vcd
This is what I have learned so far
about VideoCDs. They do not play on
everyone’s DVD player. And it doesn’t
have anything to do with when the DVD player was purchased. I tried the one I created on my daughter’s
player (she bought hers about a year and a half ago) and the one my brother
purchased a couple of months ago. In
both cases, the message from the player was “Disc Error”. I didn’t know what that meant – did I create
it wrong or did we need a different type of player?? We just purchased a DVD player and the VideoCD plays on
ours. As far as I can understand – it
will play on any DVD player that is capable of playing CD-Rs – CD-RWs – MP3s –
and it will usually tell you that it will play a VideoCD.
Prescriptions Online
Many people mentioned the price
difference between having your prescription filled by an American pharmacy and
a Canadian pharmacy – and it looks like for many prescriptions it can be a
great deal of money. I don’t know
anything about any of these sites, but we do have some of the members of this
group using these sites. So I have
listed a few for you.
Canadian
Drugstore
We can fill prescriptions written by
American Physicians, After review by our Canadian Physicians. All our prescriptions are filled by Point
Douglas Pharmacy (license # 857)
Canadian Drugstore
http://www.thecanadiandrugstore.com/default.asp
Canadian Drugstore
Canadian
Prescription Drugs
Also, it was mentioned that Merck
had an online pharmacy – and this could be of great benefits to those who
travel and still need to get there prescriptions refilled.
Prescriptions
filled by Merck
http://www.merck-medco.com/medco/index.jsp?ak=on
Msgsrv32 error
Msgsrv32 is short for 32-bit Message
Server, which is a utility Windows 95/98 uses to track a variety of files and
drivers. Because this program loads and
disables drivers when Windows is booted, hardware is enabled, and Windows shuts
down, many errors seem to be the fault of Msgsrv32. In fact, the errors are the result of malfunctioning hardware or
outdated and incompatible drivers.
If your computer reports an
Msgsrv32.exe related error and subsequently locks up, Microsoft says usually
the screen saver software is to blame.
Right-click your Desktop, select Properties, and then click the Screen
Saver tab. Use the drop-down list and
click NONE before clicking Apply to make the change permanent.
If the error message pops up each
time you exit Windows, any number of hardware errors could be to blame, but
usually Windows’ built-in power management utilities are at fault. Try disabling the power management. Click, Start, Settings and Control
Panel. Double-click Power
Management. Set all of the drop-down
boxes in the Power Schemes tab to Never.
Don’t forget to click Apply when you are finished and reboot your
computer.
Windows ME and Network Associates Programs
This was an interesting one – but
not for the person whose computer locks up.
It seems that there can be a
conflict between Windows ME and many of the Network Associates products. To those who don’t recognize the name
Network Associates – that is the company that makes McAfee. The products that seem to cause this problem
are Cybermedia’s Oil Change – Uninstaller version 5 and earlier – Guard Dog
version 2.5 and earlier – Internet Guard Dog 2.5 and earlier - First Aid 97, 98
and 2000 – McAfee Utilities 3.0 – McAfee Office version 2 – McAfee Office 2000
(version 3.0) – The Help Spot.
These programs contain a file named
Cmapieng.vxd that seems to corrupt the Windows files User32.dll – Gdi32.dll –
Winmm.dll.
This is the problem that will
arise. After using the Disk
Defragmenter tool (or even a third-party defragmenting tool) to defrag your
hard drive, your computer will continue to run correctly until you restart your
computer. Then you will receive any or
all of the following error messages:
Scandskw caused Fatal exception 03H
in module user32.dll
Mprexe caused an exception 03H in
module user32.dll
Statemgr caused an exception 03H in
module user32.dll
Rundll32 caused an exception 03H in
modeul user32.dll
Mstask caused an exception 03H in
module user32.dll
or error messages from a long list
of sources that point to Gdi32.dll or Winmm.dll
Partition Magic
Had a chance to run this software a
week ago. We were very impressed with
it.
Partition Magic is a software
program for removing partitions on your hard drive without having to reformat
your hard drive and then reinstall Windows and all of your programs – and you
didn’t have to backup your data files and all of your settings to floppies or a
CD.