Alert: iertutil.dll was not found. Computer repairs in Templestowe, Templestowe Lower and Wonga Park

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  

MyAnswers: How do I delete a service in Windows XP? E.g. My Web Search Service

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.)

MyAnswers: I receive emails from eBay. How do I unsubscribe?

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.)

Lakes Entrance detour via Scrivener Road

Leaving Lakes Entrance this morning around 9:30am found the road out was blocked with traffic at a standstill. Took Scrivener Road out. Police are directing Lakes Entrance traffic to Scrivener Road. Pretty worrying. Dirt track. Wet muddy and slippery with large trucks trying to get through with little room to move. If you're visiting Lakes Entrance this morning perhaps have a stop earlier and hope whatever the problem is, it clears. Noticed CFA vehicle and ambulance with lights and siren this morning in Lakes Entrance when leaving. Kelvin Eldridge www.OnlineConnections.com.au Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer. No problem too small.

MyAnswers: Using iPhone 3GS Bluetooth to connect Android tablet to the internet

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.)

Alert: Mates Rates (AU) - Sell your products & services on our website

I’ve been receiving quite a few spam emails from Image Marketing Group under the banner of Mates Rates.

I’d advise that if you receive a spam email from a company you should consider not dealing with that company. Remember if they’re spamming you then they’re spamming others. You should use businesses which are respectful of the laws of the country.

If you receive these emails delete them and don’t be tempted to deal with them.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Hailstones in Templestowe

Certainly is a wild and woolly day weather wise in Templestowe. The power is still off and now we've just had a hailstone shower. Kelvin Eldridge www.OnlineConnections.com.au Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer. No problem too small.

Alert: Action Required : Upgrade to Latest Acrobat Reader for Windows?

I received a number of these emails just now so it looks like a mass sending of emails is under way to most likely trick people in some way. If you receive any unsolicited emails regarding Acrobat Reader software you should delete the emails.

Don’t click on links in unsolicited emails. Open your browser and go to the Adobe site if you require an updated version of Adobe Reader or other products.

All other emails will undoubtedly by fake with malicious intent. This email has links to a web site which has name servers ending in .ru which indicates Russia. The web site was registered supposedly by someone with an address in London in the UK.

I often wonder why if these emails lead to a valid web site address the site can’t be taken down immediately so no harm is done. The domain registrars should take more responsibility and act quickly to minimise harm to the community. They are after all making money from providing the domains so people can get ripped off so they should take more responsibility for their services.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.JustLocal.com.au

 

Red Energy increases electricity Service To Property charge by 25%

When I received the letter from Red Energy regarding electricity price increases it is never a good omen. However when I looked at the Service To Property charge, I was floored. A staggering 25% increase and this is before we see the flow on from the Carbon Tax which will add hundreds of dollars a year to most people’s energy bills.

The problem is I feel we’re being conned by the government. As people install low energy lights, solar panels and other government initiatives, the cost of those initiatives will be put back onto us through our energy bills. We are in effect being taxed indirectly and we can’t see the taxes. The government schemes are not cost effective. Each low energy light which can be purchased for a dollar or two is worth $10 as part of the scheme and we all end up paying for that.

I decided to pay for my own low energy lights, reduce my electricity usage rather than putting in solar panels which would put a cost on myself and neighbours, but now, even though we use under 40% of the average household, that effort is being eroded as the government cost is being put on the Service To Property, which is a cost I can’t reduce.

The irony is those who installed solar panels will soon find their savings completely eroded by the energy credits they now have to pay for via their increased energy bills. A group of 11 neighbours got together and found their saving from installing solar panels to be only around $200 a year. Now with this increase, a significant portion of that saving will have been further eroded. They’re unlikely to ever recover the cost of installing the panels.

What can we do about it? Unfortunately I’m at a loss as to what we can do about. For the government this is about raising taxes indirectly. They know we don’t have any real choices when it comes to power and gas.

When you are reviewing electricity retailers, a very important figure to consider is their Service To Property charge. Don’t just look at the kWh rate. I’ve found some retailers with lower kWh rates to end up being more expensive because of their Service To Property charge. A good technique is to enter your usage for the last 12 months and then compare both the rate and the service to property charges across electricity and gas retailers.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.JustLocal.com.au

 

MyAnswers: Google Samsung Nexus S available online for $269.

The following MyAnswers solution 2188 is now available:

Google Nexus S available online for $269.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

Many thanks to Anthony Osborne for his articles during 2011.

For those living in the Rowville/Lysterfield area you may wish to keep an eye on the JustLocal blog maintained by Anthony Osborne (www.AnthonyOsborne.com). A big thanks to Anthony for the articles helping to keep the community of Rowville and Lysterfield updated with happenings in their area.

You can read the Rowville/Lysterfield blog at www.AnthonyOsborne.com and also http://justlocal3178.blogspot.com.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.JustLocal.com.au

MyAnswers: Brother all-in-one unit MFC-885CW shows NO CARTRIDGE.

The following MyAnswers solution 2187 is now available:

Brother all-in-one unit MFC-885CW shows NO CARTRIDGE on the display even though there is a cartridge installed.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

Do you know who you're dealing with?

I recently wrote a blog post for Credit Matters to provide atip to help business people check out new businesses they may be dealing with. The blog post is republished here for JustLocal readers.

Have you ever received an email out of the blue and thought you’d be interested in the services of the business. Dealing with a complete stranger is potentially a recipe for a disaster. One technique to gain more information, which I find very useful, is to use the government’s ABN site. You can check out the person’s business details by entering their ABN number or their business name. Whilst this doesn’t mean they’ll be good to deal with, at least you’ve started the review process and the information you gather can be very useful.

For example I met a person who promoted themselves as being very successful in a networking group. When I checked their details they weren’t registered for GST, which meant at the time their business turnover was less than $50,000 a year. I have no problems dealing with other small businesses, but I do feel a little cautious when people try to portray themselves as different from what they are. With another business in Eltham, I wanted to purchase a dishwasher, but since I couldn’t find their business name in the register I didn’t feel confident in using their business.

I check out businesses a number of times a week and going to the government web site, and then through their pages, I found was a bit slow. To speed things up I created a search engine I could add to Internet Explorer. The search engine is the field in the top right of Internet Explorer versions 7 and 8, and in Internet Explorer 9 the search engine has been combined with the field where you enter a web site address. A lot of people don’t even know the search engine feature is there but I find it a very useful feature. I can now enter the ABN number or the company name, select the ABN search by number or name, and presto, I have their details.

If you regularly check ABN details for businesses and would like to install the ABN search engines in Internet Explorer, visit the “Fun With Search” page I created (http://www.justlocal.com.au/clients/search-fun/), scroll down to the Australian Business Number section and click on each of the links to install the search engines. (Don’t set the search engine as the default as more than likely you don’t want the ABN search engine as the default.)

Once the search engine is installed you can search the ABN register by number or name. For example, in the search box in Internet Explorer type “Online Connections” (without the quotes), click on the drop down arrow next to the search field, select “JustLocal ABN (Name)” and you’ll go direct to the ABN site. There you’ll see the first two entries which are for my business.

This is where it gets exciting. You can see the postcode so you know where I’m located. You’ll see two entries so you can see how my business structure has changed over time. You can see the business is registered for GST. Most importantly you’ve confirmed the business is a registered entity.

Checking that a business is registered is just one of the steps you can take to check out a business you may wish to deal with. By adding an ABN search engine to the Internet Explorer browser the task of checking the ABN details becomes very quick and easy. I trust you’ll find using the search engine as convenient as I do.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Alert: Daily Deal - APPLE IPHONE 4S BLACK 64GB 24CT GOLD PLATED

I received a number of copies of an email with the subject Daily Deal - APPLE IPHONE 4S BLACK 64GB 24CT GOLD PLATED.  These emails are fake and should be deleted.

What is interesting about this fake email is that nearly all the links in the email are links to eBay. If you check links before visiting the site to see if the advertisement is legitimate this could trick some people. You need to check all the links and in particular the link you use. The email is well formed and looks like and eBay email which could trick a number of people.

The emails were sent from Italy and the suspect links resolve to an Italian domain.

Take care in the run up to Christmas and the subsequent sales period. A bargain too good to be true probably is.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

"Flash Player Upgrade required" message when in Facebook. - MyAnswers

The following MyAnswers solution 2186 is now available:

"Flash Player Upgrade required" message when in Facebook. I've installed the Flash upgrade. Every time I restart the computer I have to upgrade Flash again as I get the same message. I'm using Windows Vista.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

Dodo Buddy Box. Low cost landline too good to believe.

I’ve now completed my trials of the Dodo Buddy Box over a period of a couple of months. Those interested in purchasing a Dodo Buddy Box would benefit from reading MyAnswers solution 2168.

The Dodo Buddy Box offers the promise of a low cost landline for home users and at $9.90 a month including $10 worth of calls it really is a great offer. But the question is, “is it too good to be true?”

I purchased the Dodo Buddy Box and decided to share my experiences and my testing. A landline for $9.90 a month would suit many young people and could save them a great deal of money compared to using a mobile phone as the Dodo Buddy Box provides fixed cost local calls.

For those interested check out MyAnswers solution 2168.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Backup programs for Online Connections and JustLocal clients

Backup programs used to be popular software packages, but now there doesn’t seem to be an easy low cost method for people to backup their data from their computer. I’ve reviewed a lot of mainstream programs and frankly I haven’t found them to be very good. One program I did find to be good, but the supplier isn’t’ actively promoting the program so I don’t expect it will have a long term life.

Windows used to have an excellent backup program built into Windows XP, but since Vista and Windows 7 were released, the backup program included with Windows is adequate.

I decided there had to be a better way to perform the relatively simple task of performing a backup by copying the desired folders from a computer to an external drive. I wanted the files to be copied and not amalgamated into a single big backup file because if a restore is required, a person can easily copy the file from the external drive back to their computer. I wanted each backup to be separate as a single backup is easily overwritten by corrupted data. I wanted a program to check the files copied matched in number and total bytes to ensure the backup completed successfully.

As part of my consulting and support service I’m now able to install a simple backup approach for clients as part of the service call with no cost for software.

One of the biggest problems I have is when I arrive at a new client’s premises, is invariably they haven’t done a backup and that can add hundreds of dollars in time to their support cost. To start working on a computer without having a current copy of the main files is not best practice. Whilst in many cases you can fix a problem, there is always the risk of losing data and people will be very unhappy if they lose their important data, emails and photos.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support in Templestowe and the surrounding suburbs.
No call-out fee or minimum charge for local customers.
Satisfaction guaranteed.

 

Alert: Mercury Exposure. DONT TAKE THIS LIGHTLY

I received an email from a family member who had received the email from another family member. The subject was Mercury Exposure and the email contained two PDF files (Mercury Exposure.pdf and Health & Safety Warning – energy saving bulbs.pdf).

The email is a hoax designed to trick people to send it on.

Before sending on emails like this it is a good idea to search the internet to check whether it is a hoax or not. The problem is people receive this information from a trusted friend and believe it to be true. You owe it to the people you know to check the validity of the information before sending it on. It only takes a moment with a Google search on key phrases in the email to determine it is a hoax.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

MyAnswers: Woolworths Homeshop, Coles Online prices compared to Coles supermarket.

The following MyAnswers solution 2185 is now available:

How does Woolworths Homeshop and Coles Online prices compare with going to the Coles supermarket?

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

Alert: Decrapifier mentioned on radio recently caused computer to stop working and constantly reboot.

I recently attended a client who had heard on a radio station about a decrapifier program which could clean up their computer. They downloaded and ran their computer. As a result, when the computer restarted it would constantly reboot. There was no way to run Safe mode because selecting any option would reboot the computer.

I’d highly recommend that you do not risk using one of these programs. It is very easy to clean up your computer manually and there is less risk of a problem.

It took many hours to get this computer up and running again. I use techniques not generally known by an average user. I prefer to fix a computer if I can, because often there is important data on the computer the person would prefer to save such as their photographs, data and documents. In this situation the cost effective approach would normally be to reinstall the operating system but that could mean loss of data.

Do keep in mind when you’re listening to radio, watching TV, or reading newspaper articles, those presenting the information have a job to present the information and in most cases won’t be running a computer support business. It is very easy to read and report on information and new programs, but working with and living with those programs is where you find out what works and what doesn’t work.

As another example, one of my clients heard on radio about a site which they visited. They ended up infecting their computer with malware which displayed pornographic material. That wasn’t a good outcome for the office and took a number of hours to fix.

Be careful of the advice you receive from the general media. In general it is good information and I believe no harm would ever be intended, but well meaning advice doesn’t always end up with a good outcome.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au