Podnutz Daily #148 - What a Week!

Listen Here: pnd148.mp3

Bad week at the shop - I am always angry
- HP Vista could not open icons on desktop
- new mouse required
- Steve falls for a phishing scheme
- Windows Live Mail saved him from himself
- How Steve sets up Skype for the Podcast
- Virtual Audio Cable - mixer software
- YellowBook double charged me for my ad
- Free Internet Faxing via faxZERO
- You will see an advertisement on your cover page - works great
- Virus is tearing through the shop (the bastad)
- Norton 2009 spotted it: w32.virut.cf
- Internet Connectivity Issues


Two Year Old Maxtor External Hard Drive
- MFT the NTFS Master File Table is corrupt
- No physical issues with the HD
- Drive has minimal free space available
- Maxtor was Seagate (interesting) Same Company


Replacing a Motherboard
- Windows will no longer boot from the HD
- Do a repair installation. Keeps files intact


Dell Inspiron Laptop with Water Spill
- New Dell keyboards really resist keyboard spills
- How to react properly to a water spill
- Worse Case Scenario replace the keyboard and not the System Board


New HD camera that records to flash memory
- and saves in avchd format
- Serious machines are required for editing HD footage


Dell Optiplex via Ebay
- Capacitor issues
- Dell Capacitor Issues



Voice Mail from Andrew:
- Infected machines of customers
- Symptoms / Solutions
- Trend Micro version 14
- Flash Player install issues
- Removal Tool

Podnutz Daily #147 - Full Scan > Quick Scan

Listen Here: pnd147.mp3


MalwareBytes Quick Scan vs Full Scan
- Always do a full scan for a customer
- Running a registry cleaner first for a faster Full Scan


Trend Micro PC Security 14
- Blocks internet access via Halt Internet Traffic Setting


iTunes was not recognizing iPhone
- Computer saw it as a video source device
- Reinstall iTunes after a thorough removal


Dell Computer (Vostro) with Internet Connectivity Issues
- Troubleshooting an on board ethernet port
- How to test for hardware vs software failure
- Chatroom tips


Motherboard replacement disables System Recovery Disks
- Replacing the motherboard changes the manufacturer
- Customer is getting an error


Ask.com loaded as a default search engine and Fire Fox Toolbar
- Problems finding the setting to set it back to Google
- Tweeking FireFox via about:config


Via the new Asus ePC (the new skype machine)
Voice Mail from Door To Door Geek:
- Advice on deleting multiple entries in the registry
- Try the free Auto HotKey
- Keep your software updated for security reasons
- Secunia is a vulnerability scanner that manages your software updates
- Uninstall Java before updating it


Voice Mail from William:
- Vista Testing mode is for 64 bit drivers


Email from Mike:
- Show #146 mentioned infected thumb drives
- All of my clean up utilities are on my SD card
- I use a usb to sd card reader and set the card to Read Only
- Secunia online scanner mentioned again



Email from Ray:
- recommends Revo Uninstaller
- Glary Utilities vs CCLeaner


Email from Roger:
- Fans running in Stand By Mode
- Set bios to S3 STR (suspend to RAM)


Email from Brad:
- Laptop with power jack issues
- Power Jack physically looks fine
- HP DV4000 and DV5000 notorious issues
- Tips on repairing these power jacks


Email from Joel:
- Troubleshooting a broken power button on an eMachine


Email from Andrew:
- Advice on buying a new desktop


Email from Russ:
- How to easily find bad links on your site
- Xenu's Link Sleuth crawls your site for bad links.

Podnutz Daily #146 - MSAS2009.exe

Listen Here: pnd146.mp3

The quad core PC that replaced my MAC is handling the processes
required to do the show much better than the Mac.
- using Many Cam to handle the green screen


My least favorite security software is Verizon Internet Security Suite
- plugging in a usb drive caused Windows to bluescreen
- uninstalled the Verizon Security and it solved the issue.


New Virus Alert! Microsoft AntiSpyware 2009
- watch for MSAS2009
- Norton 2009 detects it but could not fix it
- It attaches itself to every exe file on your computer
- even if you kill the virus the system is corrupted
- signs/symptoms of MSAS 2009 and what to look for
- this virus infected my flash drive


Computer will not wake up from standby mode
- PS2 mouse had keyboard no issues
- this is only happening with a usb mouse/keyboard
- case fans are still running in standby mode (should not be)
- Everest
- the sound driver may be creating this issue



Pentium 4 PC with 1g RAM wanting to install 2g of RAM
- Installed the additional stick and the computer kept rebooting
- Took out the additional RAM it would give 3 beeps and no video
- Troubleshot the RAM. It was not a bad stick
- Troubleshot the Video Card. It was not the video card
- Troubleshot the processor. No changes
- Must be the motherboard. WiIll upgrade the processor as well.


Latest laptop repairs
- replacing hinges
- replacing screen inverters
- how to search Ebay for these parts


Ebay Seller info
- I always go my screens from dvdsuper999
- Newest find screensfast sent a great name brand screen for cheap



Voice mail from Door To Door Geek
- Tips on case airflow and proper direction
- How to set up case fans
- He got a great deal on a Sansa mp3 player via WOOT
- Advice to install RockBox firmware on the Sansa for functionality
- Orb allows you or your friends to access your media remotely. Still free.


Voice mail from William:
- Foxmarks plug-in for IE Get it Here


Email from listener:
- Removing text from bookmarks leaving only icons
- You can fit about 45 icons in the links toolbar in FF


Email from Todd:
- Contemplating Mac purchase


Email from Ray:
- Tips on cleaning a pc
- Beating the 2009 virus feels good



Live call from Timster:
- Comment on Door To Door Geeks airflow suggestion
- Airflow varies from chipset to chipset
- How Steve is editing his laptop videos
- Vista Movie Maker rocks!


Live call from Nebben:
- Testing mode in Vista allows you to test drivers
- In command prompt type: bcdedit / set testsinging on
- driver error messages
- Ben"s Tech Show BTS Live Wed 7pm and Sat 2pm

Podnutz Daily #145 - Got a New PC

Listen Here: pnd145.mp3

System Recovery Partitions
- a reinstall of an operating system can change how this partition is accessed
- you need to make this partition ACTIVE
- mbrwiz is on the UBCD and can make the partition active


Data Execution Prevention or DEP
- DEP was preventing the DHCP from starting
- DEP settings are found in System/Advanced/Performance


Huge malware removal job caused system to be unstable
- Malware will attach itself to critical Windows files and if you remove the malware/virus sometimes the Windows files are removed with the malware
- Had to reinstall Windows


Malwarebytes vs SuperAntiSpyware
- These two cleaning tools compliment each other
- Run both of these programs for a thorough cleaning of your PC
- What one does not catch the other usually will


Customer could not send attachments through gmail.
- Kept getting a server error
- He was using IE7 so I reset his browser (new feature of 7)
- How to reset IE instructions


Signs that your hard drive is about to die
- slowness even though you have enough memory
- hard drive indicator light is always active
- processor activity is low
- hard drive has available space on it (not full to capacity)


New PC is running Windows 7
- Sansa Clip My mp3 player
- I use Spiral Frog & Rhapsody for music
- Rhapsody does not work with Windows 7


Voice mail from Timster:
- Noticing an increase of PCs infected with Vundo virus via Java
- signs of Vundo and what to look for
- Vundo fix
- Keep your Java updated for security reasons
- How to update Java
Steve's Clean Up Routine
- utilize Kelly's Korner for XP registry tweeks for specific problems


Email from Mitch:
- Virtual Audio Cable software will do what a mixer does
- discharging capacitors
- Mitch has a tech show on Fridays at 8pm Geek Talk With Mitch


Email from Wendy:
- HP DV6000 laptops have several models with early failure of the wireless cards & MB
- HP is only covering models with AMD processors and nvidia cards
- Inquirer Charlie DeMerjian has several great articles on the subject
- www.tinyurl.com/charliedemerjian


Email from Ron:
- Sleep mode issues in Windows XP
- Maximum PC August 2007 had a great article on the subject


Email from Bob:
- Revo Uninstaller innovative freeware uninstall utility


Click Here to See Chat Log.

Podnutz Daily #144 - Remove Multiple Registry Items

Listen Here: pnd144.mp3

Philly Tech Guys this Saturday February 14th at 2pm

IBM Think Pad work PC needed files removed and cleaned
before turning it back over to the company
- File Shredder Shred unwanted files beyond recovery
- Registry Crawler Delete multiple registry entries at one time


Did a virus removal job for a customer and he brought it back in
the next day complaining that it had virus/pop up issues again.
- Where has this person been on the internet since he took it home?
- Super Winspy tells you the computing history
- Super Winspy proves to the customer their unsafe internet habits caused re-infection



Dell Power Adapter broke at the power brick
- Repair tips using hot glue
- Video resolution fix via a bios settings


Doctor Watson starts on its own and utilizes the majority of memory
- Tried turning off all instances of Dr Watson in the registry
- There was still corruption in Windows. Reinstalled Windows



Vista with critical error "Windows will shut down in one minute"
- stop the auto shutdown via command: shutdown -a
- used msconfig to turn off all start up items and all non microsoft services
- Service Pack 1 install was causing the issue. Reinstalled SP1


When smart malware will not allow you to run Malwarebytes
- RENAME the malwarebytes exe file to something different and then it will run



Outlook stores all of its files in one large .pst file
- if this pst file becomes corrupted you lose all of your data
- Windows offers a Inbox Repair Tool called Scanpst.exe


Email from Tommy:
- Tom states all of the laptops he has worked on
had the harddrive installed upside down
- Do-It-Yourself malware and virus creator


Warnings on 809 area code
- it is a toll number and you will incur charges if you call it


Received a solicitation for "managed antivirus" to offer to my customers
- monitor the antivirus from your home base
- I am happy selling Norton 2009


Click Here to See Chat Log.

Podnutz Daily #142 - I Hate Verizon Internet Security Suite

Listen Here: pnd142.mp3

More issues with malware not allowing malwarebytes to run:
- Repair permissions using Dial-A-Fix
- More on the use of Trojan Remover to assist in getting malwarebytes to run


Installing fans and getting good air flow:
- An Intel Pentium 4 with Hyper-Threading runs HOT
- Learn how that lead to core duo processor
- Airflow should be in -- over the CPU -- and out again


Thumbs Down: Verizon Internet Security Suite
- It crashes the boot process on Windows
- Error STOP c000021a Fatal System Error
- This was one customers 3rd simultaneous running AV
- If you are handed a wonky computer and see this running...
just uninstall it. Root cause of dumb issues.


Announcement:
- The next episode of PodNutz is going to be about UBCD
.. sifting through its many programs/tools
- Registry Repair Wizard simplified rebuilding the Registry by hand.
- Fabs Auto Backup


TIP: Dell Factory Settings Backup revealed by hitting F11


[Cringe] Sony Vaio Guy walks in with crushed laptop
- both fists out of anger DOWN on the keyboard
- he crushed his HD
- replaced HD .. good to go.


Where to get the best drivers?
Sometimes you have to go to Acer Europe to get the best drivers
Sony drivers : thumb on the pulse as well as HP/Dell/Lonovo


Computer would not come out of standby:
Uncheck the "require password box" ?


Personal Tech News:
- I got a sansa clip mp3 player 2 gig @ $40
- getting new earbuds to replace the default
- Mention: SpiralFrog for music dwnlds
- Network Storage Buffalo NAS Link Station Live! (Read: "Remote access, Baby!")


Voice Mail from Paul from San Antonio:
- Scott Mueller vs Scott Moulton & podnutz.com
- Tip for Barbra on nlite for slipstreaming and automating Windows installs. Orly?
- XBOX 360 & RedRingsODeath? Call Carey Holzman?
- What is Acronis Universal Install?
- Windows 7 bootable from USB?


Email from Roger:
- DrWebCureIt to assist in running malwarebytes?


Email from Rick:
- How to get Windows to boot after a mother board replacement
- Carey *again* mentioned for solution
- Acronis True Image with Universal Restore
- Listen for the nlite breakdown


Email from Bryce:
- Check out the Computer Repair Utility Kit


Email from Roger:
More on removing stubborn Anti Virus Programs


Email from AcidBurn:
More on solving the 360 red rings of death


Click Here to See Chat Log.

Podnutz Daily #141 - Crazy People

Listen Here: pnd141.mp3

New Podnutz Daily Schedule!
Mondays and Wednesdays only
Live Call Day on Wednesday!


Crazy customer story from the shop.
TIP: Crazy customers drive away the sane customers.


Dell desktop with noisy fan:
- CPU fan is mounted on the side of the case
with a green plastic tunnel over it for air flow to the processor.
- Using hot glue to silence a vibrating fan

Tip:
Save the foam that ships with motherboards
Put these under laptops you are repairing to prevent scratches.



Craigslist scammers are getting better.
Which means the buying is getting riskier.
- a few tips on how to spot them


Motherboard replacements:
When computers do not boot after a motherboard replacement
- Looking for solutions
How to install a motherboard without reinstalling Windows-
(she is completely aware this link is not kosher.
cool 404 though -- it stands.)


Voice mail from Barbra:
No, she was not yelling! She was thanking Steve.
He saved her lots of time this week on jobs
due to the knowledge gained from this podcast.
regarding the use of OEM disks for reinstalling Windows.


Email from Ray:
Product Key issues on reinstall
(The Product Key on the sticker did not work)
No image of the drive made (admitted: cardinal rule)
MS would not give a new key
since he did not have an original disk.


Email from new listener Brad:
What ever happened to the laptop videos?
-- They are a work in progress.
-- Rendering a video in HD takes a lot of time
Repairing vs Replacing a MoBo
What are some good ways to learn how to repair MoBos?
-- Steve talks about replacing capacitors
-- Motherboards are cheap. Why repair?


Email from Bob:
Netbook question - Cloning the OS and putting it on a thumbdrive?
-- It's not cloning. You are copying your Windows Disk to a thumbrive.



Email from David:
BluRay disk drive with Media Center 3rd party plug-in
-- I went with a blu-ray drive and bought ArcSoft TotalMedia Theater
-- It works very well with Vista Media center
-- Amazing picture!
-- More on the Samsung 6 series LCD TV


Email from Jason:
- More on the Vista Product Key
64 vs 32 bit via the product key
- Check your default power settings to increase your speed
- Under Power Settings choose "High Preformance" over default.
- How to get your oem and sell copies!


Email from Mark on Yellow Page advertising:
- He was partly successful with his ads.
- Size matters with ads


Email from Roger:
How to easily repair the registry
Registry Restore Wizard from the UBCD


Steve admits to watching Cars by Pixar in blu-ray .. more than once.


Email from Terry:
What do YOU do?
When you realize via attempting to update the computer
that the customer is running a bootleg version of Windows?
-- Sometimes Genuine Advantage is wrong -- call MS
-- If it is bootleg? Offer to sell a Genuine Copy

Click Here to See Chat Log.