More to come!
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Q: Windows or Mac?
A: My biggest philosophy about the computer is that you have about a 98% probability of finding a program on the net that does exactly what you want for completely free (and by free I mean no cost, no adware, no spyware, no malware, no essential add-ons that have a cost), if you know where to look and have a little patience. To date there were only two programs I haven�t been able to find completely free were audio looping programs (with loops), and something else just as abstract that I can�t remember anymore. This however is not true for the Mac. The PC community is 100 fold more expansive and diverse. A PC system is often much cheaper than a Mac system and is infinitely more customizable and upgradeable. Finally of course PC�s are also more prevalent in the market.
The Mac on the other hand offers a lot of programs built in for free (though you are stuck with the mediocre quality they produce), is usually more stable, and its programs often interact better with each other. The Mac is also now on the verge of offering the capability of a truly compatible cross-platform dual boot system, which, which minus the customizing argument seems to be a Rosetta stone, as there�s no reason why a system like that couldn�t run a Unix based system as well.
So, which way should you go with your system? Honestly, I don�t care. It�s your system; you know more than anyone else what it is going to be used for. You know the direction you want to head in, the research and reviews are all out there. You need to figure it out for yourself. I�m not being crass here, but I can only tell you my personal preferences and needs. I can�t tell you what you want and how to use it.
One other thought is if there are some special programs that are specifically for one system or another. Final Cut Pro for example is Mac only, so if you want to learn FCP, there�s absolutely no reason why you should get a PC.
As a final help in your decision, I�m going to list which system is better for different categories. I will not explain anything, and these categories are very general, remember that there are always exceptions, so don�t come writing to me arguing my every point here. Just run through the list, hope fully this will help you narrow down your opinions.
�And the Winner is:
Price: PC
Ease of Learning: Mac
Sheik: Mac
Resolution/Multi-monitor: Mac
Expandability: PC
Customization: PC
Upgradibility: PC
Games: PC
Applications: PC
Support: tie
Quiet: Mac
Speed: PC
Dual Boot: Mac
Ease of maintenance: Mac
Business: PC
Multimedia: tie
Q. What video editing system should I learn or use?
A. Depends. If you want a system that generally dominates the broadcast market, is the industry standard and is by far the easiest to use (once you learn it), then get/learn Avid. If on the other hand you want to work in the low end pro world, making mostly independent films and documentaries, Final Cut Pro is the way to go. I�m not calling one system out over the other; it�s just that that is how the business is divided right now. While it is possible to �finish� on a FCP system, it�s 10 times harder and takes many more button pushes.
I have worked on both systems extensively and must admit that while FCP is an extremely competent and capable system, I still like Avid better by far. FCP is like editing with one hand behind your back. I know it�s used in the professional market, but I still don�t even consider it in the same ballpark as Avid.
Avid is more expensive than FCP in all its iterations (not counting the free learning version) but once you learn one you learn one, you learn them all. And when you learn to become an editor (which I must stress quite harshly is vastly different than learning an edit system and/or taking a class and becoming �certified� � get out of my business you posers!), you can instantly move into the professional systems with full knowledge of what you are doing. Avid ultimately also has the best media handling system by far.
Well what about the other �pro� and pro-sumer systems out there? Well the true professional systems that are not Avid usually appear in niche markets and companies, and are not widespread. The Pro-sumer edit systems are fine for wedding videos and the event market, but really have limitations and many do not even approach the market of a Final Cut Pro. That�s OK though because they are actually easier than the more professional systems for those types of productions in many ways.
Finally, we come to the consumer market. The best advice I can tell you here is if you want to do anything truly serious then spring for more money. If you are just interested in piecing together your home videos and putting up simple titles then there�s some decent programs here, however be careful of new editions 9.0, 10.0 etc. they can often be full of bugs. Wait until the intermittent updates are released before you buy. If you�re looking for cheap or free�well there are some free editors our there, but you get what you pay for, especially in this market.
So let�s break it down into some general categories. I�ll leave it up to you which one to choose ultimately, however my choices at each level are in bold. Note that I have not personally tried every system, though I have read enough to have an idea of most of their capabilities. Note also that these are my personal categories and may not reflect the classifications of the advertising of certain products, or the world at large. Though as a professional editor, I�m telling you this is the way it is:
Professional & Broadcast:
Media Composer Adrenaline, Quantel, Symphony Nitris, Newscutter, etc.
Independent, Documentary [minor] broadcast:
Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, Media 100, Matrox, Avid Xpress DV Pro, Video Toaster, etc.
Event and Pro-sumer market:
Liquid, Edius, Casablanca, Xpress DV, etc.
Consumer Market:
Studio, Vegas, Final Cut Express, etc.
Simple Consumer market:
Windows Media Editor, Nero editor, Internet available editors, etc.
*Note that since writing this, Avid has released a software only version of Media composer. I am both thrilled and hesitant about this and will hold off judgement until I get my hands on it, and see what it can do for myself.
Q. Should I get a Hi-definition TV? Should it be plasma or LCD?
A. If you�re asking me this, then chances are you�ve already made up your mind haven�t you. Well my answer is a firm �no�. Let�s face it, for the price; I have rarely seen a hi-def consumer screen I like. Most stations have yet to provide much hi-def content beyond sports, and current digital rights management issues may reduce the quality of most of your images anyway, or even make your TV incompatible with the next generation Hi Def DVD�s. The prices, like I said are too high, and most people don�t have a good enough cable signal to support provide a good enough picture. I have been to many a friends house who is very proud to show off their super large hi-def televisions and the picture quality on all of them suck! They are low in contrast, poor in color, and annoying to watch at any sort of an angle. Many of these issues by the way are not necessarily because of the TV itself, but are because the industry is still divided on many issues, and will continue to be for a while to come. Even the FCC can�t firmly make any decisions on the issue.
To top it all off, in a year or two we will see the rollout of Oled televisions. They will ultimately be cheaper, brighter in color, able to be viewed at virtually any angle, and will enable even bigger screens. So that said, you decide if you really want to get a Hi definition television now. Oh, and one last note�those super high quality video cables that you bought from the store with the hi Def TV you went out and purchased while I was writing this�. Meaningless. You just paid a super amount of extra money for an improvement in picture you will never notice, and some extra plastic reinforcement.
Q. Should I buy a Blue Ray DVD or an HD DVD?
A. Once again neither. We are still paying the price for the failure of the corporations to come up with a standard for regular DVD�s, now you want to go out and support their choice to screw us again? I can�t tell you the hassles I have at work on a regular basis because of the incompatibility and inconsistency of the DVD standard. Brands of disks that don�t work with certain players or burners for no reason at all. +R and �R formats that can�t transfer data between each other. The list goes on.
Now lets couple that with the fact that they want to set DRM at such a high level they might as well still own the disk you purchase and bring home. Many machines will dumb down your picture and/or only allow you to play the video on their machines, or not allow you to play your video on certain televisions. Further, most systems (at least at the outset) will not even play regular DVD's. There�s even still in-fighting among the consortiums that back each of the technologies, and one of them has already hit the market. That�s how uncertain they are with the formats.
My firm advice to you is to skip this iteration of media altogether. You�ll not only be sending a message to the corporations (do I sound like a hippie?), but you will be saving yourself a ton of money. Is your current DVD player that bad? Let�s face it; the majority of the population didn�t notice the quality difference between analog and digital cable. You�re telling me they can�t wait to get their better picture on their blue-ray DVD�s over their regular DVD�s? Consumer level holographic storage is less than 5-7 years away, which will once again require everyone to go out and buy newer systems with the latest and greatest, and re-purchase all the boxed sets they got with DVD�s and Blue ray DVD�s (in whatever iteration). My advice is to save up your money until then.
Q. I need a program that does X, any ideas?
A. Nonags.com, Cnet.com, Sourceforge.net. These are good places to start. Be sure to have an updated virus scanner and regularly check for adware, spyware and the like. These sites are trustworthy in and of themselves, and usually provide great and trustworthy content, but every once in a while something isn�t what it seems.
Q. Where can I get vintage computer games to play?
A. Home of the Underdogs is a good place to start. They carry a vast assortment of �Abondonware�, or software that was once commercially available, but has since had its copyrights expire or go lax. Be aware though that many of these games used to run on 8-bit compatible systems, so you need Windows ME or earlier. You can also try to do a search for emulators. There are great Atari 5200 and Commodore emulators out there, each with a huge world of vintage programs available. Again, be sure you have an antivirus and spyware scanner installed before delving into this area.
Q. Do I need to run a firewall?
A. How much personal information do you allow to be stored on your system? Do you care about any of it? My answer is a resounding yes�.and no. You don�t necessarily need a software firewall; I personally hate them as they are constantly giving me as many pop-up windows as a porn site as it tries to configure itself. If you have the proper router that provides the proper levels of protection, and it is configured properly, then that in conjunction with the Built-in Windows XP firewall should leave you pretty secure.
The question is do you have the right router? Check out ozcableguy.com for the most in-depth and diverse set of reviews I have ever seen, and a summary of what features to look for. As a general rule, if your router is over 5 years old, you should probably get a new one.
Q. Should I go wireless?
A. Sure it�s all the rage right? And it�s secure right? Well if you know what you are doing, and have every last bit configured exactly correctly, then you can be rest assured that you are very minorly protected at best.
If you really want to go wireless understand these points: 1) Even if you are 100% configured correctly, your computer will be an open book to any hacker who really knows his stuff, which is okay because you are already smart enough to not have any personal information on your laptop to begin with, right? 2) Don�t believe what any ads say, 802.11g is nowhere near as fast as a cable connection. However most of the stuff the average person does will not see a difference anyway. 3) Say what you want, and follow all the instruction manuals to the letter, I still doubt you will have your wireless security set up properly.
That said, sure do it, it�s great freedom. But if you�re only going wireless so you can sit in your bed or on your couch and check emails, you�re better off just installing another jack in those rooms.
The Best of the Best:
Well here�s an updated list of what I feel are the best programs out there for various tasks. I�m going to list them for now and not talk about them much. You can do your own research. I�m also expanding the list to include all programs free and pay. By the way, note how little the list has changed from last time. Virtually all of the old winners are still on the list.
Photo Editing & Manipulation (Pay � Professional level)
Adobe Photoshop
This program dominates probably 98% of the professional video, advertising, etc. you-name-it world. No more needs to be said.
Photo Editing & Manipulation (Pay � Advanced consumer level)
PaintShop Pro
This program is severely user friendly and almost as powerful as Photoshop. Plus it�s less than half the price.
Photo Editing & Manipulation (Free � Advanced consumer)
Gimp
This program has many features of Photoshop or Paintshop Pro, however I feel it�s cumbersome and lacking in user-friendliness. Still I think this program is phenomenal for advanced editing with no budget.
Photo Editing & Manipulation (Free � Simple Consumer)
Picassa 2
Has many intermediate manipulation tools as well. This program�s primary function is for quickly and simply cleaning up photos for printing. This it does really well.
File Compression and Unzipping utility (Free)
ICEOWS
Adds unzipping to your right-click menu. I highly prefer this method to XP�s built-in system. It features many advanced formats. This program makes compression very simple and thought free without ads or promotions or whining about upgrading, three things that Win-Zip completely fails to realize.
CD/DVD Burning Software (Pay)
Nero
This program is all but great for the beginner and advanced user. Add to it all the advanced features and capabilities the package gives you and you�ve got an essential program.
CD/DVD Burning Software (Free)
CD XP Burner Pro
Great for what it is, but there are many advanced features for creating disks that are not explained well enough, and it doesn�t have most of the extended features of Nero.
Media Players (Free & Pay)
(I have yet to find one I truly like in all aspects yet, currently I�m using Nero media player, and Windows Media Player 10. QuickTime has fallen out of favor due to the mandatory inclusion of iTunes piggybacked onto its installation. Many issues I have with media players are due to the inability to play all formats, an issue that should be fixed at the OS level. Still there�s a free media player out there that will play most formats. Check out VLC Media Player. Incidentally for those of you who despise RealPlayer as much as I do, do a search for �Real Alternative� if you want to play Realplayer files.
DVD creation Software (Pay � Professional)
DVD Studio Pro 2, Encore (neither will do everything you will ever want, for that you have to go for the $20,000 hardware systems
DVD creation Software (Pay � consumer)
Nero
Quickly becoming the Swiss Army Knife of most systems. Some programs find a successful way to cater to both the amateur and expert user perfectly at the same time. This is Nero.
DVD creation Software (free)
None (Nero is $100 or less and is such a valuable program I see no reason not to pay for it. It�s worth more than $100 in my opinion. There are others out there that are cheaper and quite decent. There�s no reason to skimp in this area, but do your research and read many reviews before making your decision.)
PDF reader (free)
Foxit (finally get rid of that bloated and annoying Acrobat from your system)
PDF creator (free)
Tie (if you can get an older version of PDF 995 then do it (or just pay the miniscule $9.95 dammit. However if you really need free, the new version of 995 has a delay built into it that is annoying. As an alternative there�s PDF Creator, but it�s still in early development and lacking some functionality still. Watch for it in the future to really come alive).
Office Suite (Pay)
Microsoft Office (They are so convinced that this is the ultimate set of programs, and have such a big market share that they consistently fail to fix all the bugs, quirks and limitations in many of their programs (*cough, Powerpoint, *cough). Anyway, if you don�t ever try to use any of the advanced features, or try anything really cool with the programs, or use any of the little add-ons for business or the like, then the programs are pretty good. However if OpenOffice were slightly more interface friendly I�d switch and not look back.)
Office Suite (Free)
OpenOffice
In constant development for over 10 years now (under one name or another). Honestly my biggest gripe here is the way it looks when you first open it. It�s �large� interface looks amateurish. This program has most of the advanced features that MS Office has. What it lacks is significant, but what it has actually works and it�s more customizable than MS Office.
Best Antivirus (Pay)
Norton
Look people you can pretty much get any antivrius program you want and it will be good for you. Just get one and keep it up to date. I would add that unless you�re asking for headaches, stick with the more popular ones. Panda, McAfee, AVG, Norton, any one of these will do a good job for you. Some of the lesser or unknown ones out there can even be detrimental to your computer.
Best Antivirus (Free)
AVG
A free virus scanner will be fine for most people. However you should definitely check into the advanced features a pay program can offer. Plus these guys all work hard to bring you a quality product, and the prices are very reasonable. Let�s give support where it�s due.
Best Spyware Sweeper (Pay)
Why are you paying for this? There are too many good free programs.
Best Spyware Sweeper (Free)
Ad-Aware
Spybot Search & Destroy
(Note that these are the ones that I use personally. There are other good ones out there as well. However none are perfect. It is recommended by many magazines, websites, and myself that you regularly use at least two separate programs on a regular basis.
Best Internet Browser:
Firefox (Are you still using Internet Explorer? You fool! Perhaps the new version will be better, but man, ditch the hole-ridden, in-flexible antiquity already.) Firefox�s only real flaw is that some sites insist on using IE only code extensions. So once in a blue moon I have to open up IE just for a single feature on one site. Note that you can get around this with extensions for Firefox as well, but something like this should be built-in.
Best Email Client:
Thunderbird (You don�t hear it as often but Outlook is as outdated as IE. It�s also severely bloated and slow in loading. Everything from its calendar to its appearance is very inflexible.) Thunderbird is safer, more reliable, and more customizable than Outlook. Plus I like the idea that you can choose to add things like a calendar extension or not with a simple plug-in.
Essential Programs:
Okay, so you got a new system, or just re-installed your old one. What are the essential tidbits you need to become fully functional? Use this list as a guide to remind yourself on all the little programs you will need, and install them all now so you don�t have to do them later when you�re pressed for time.
What to install (listed in a good general order of installation):
Raid Driver (as needed)
OS
Provided or backed up drivers (to get up and running.)
Internet connection
Latest OS updates and patches
Latest Drivers of all components (Raid [if necessary], video, audio, add-on cards, network, printer, scanner, etc.)
Latest BIOS (only if you are having trouble with your old one)
Antivirus Program
UPS controller (if you have a UPS)
Spyware Sweepers (2)
Firefox
Thunderbird
Word Processor & Spreadsheet programs (or office suite)
Java
Flash / Shockwave Player
QuickTime
DivX codecs
Ogg Codecs
Real Alternative (or if you must, Realplayer)
PDF Reader
PDF Printer extension (creator)
Import Address Book
Import Bookmarks
Password and Activation key storage program (or keep somewhere off the computer)
CD/DVD Burning software (or are you really going to try to use Win XP�s interface?)
Photo viewer / manipulator
Recommended Additional programs:
I also recommend you seriously install the following. Of course if you don�t do something like backup your DVD�s, you wouldn�t need DVD Decryptor, so use your discretion.
System Monitoring/Maintenance:
Belarc Advisor (Free)
Sysoft Sandra (Lite version is free)
Tweak XP (Free - Windows XP Power tools)
CD/DVD:
Nero 6.6 Ultra or higher (Pay � all your burning and 90% of your media needs)
DVD Decryptor (Free � No longer in development) &/or DVD Shrink (Free)
Multimedia:
??? - Tells you what codecs, etc. you need to play a specific video.
VLC Media Player � (Free - plays virtually anything)
Internet:
Search engine selector � (Free - Firefox Plug-in to quick-select a search engine to use)
Filezilla (Free - FTP fileserver)
Misc:
Windows Theme (every computer needs its own unique personality)
Useful additions:
If you ever need a program that does something specific, consider the following for use:
3d Animation:
Blender 3D � (Free � free online tutorials, free program, reads most other programs formats. A great system to get into 3D animation with and has many advanced & expert tools too.)
Installer creator:
??? ___________� (Free - Distributing your own programs? Installer Vise is the benchmark, but this one is free and still extremely good.)
Game Creation:
Read my book. Available soon[er or later]
Abstract Troubleshooting Guide:
Having a weird problem with your system that you just can�t pin down? Here�s what to do. I�m going to assume that you�ve covered all the basics already. And that nothing has worked. These solutions represent some of the more strange problems I�ve found. As usual I feel the need to say while I have done all the solutions listed with no issue, I am not responsible for any damages to you or your system. Use at your own risk.
Q. USB device is not working.
A. Check the other USB devices on the system. I once had a brand new Dell 3in1 printer that suddenly wouldn�t work for anything; it did however make a copy if you pressed the button on the scanner itself. The problem occurred because a USB extension wire in another USB port had something heavy on it (the printer) and was being crushed, apparently causing a short on the whole USB interface controller. I picked up the printer, the wire slid out and everything started working fine.
Q. Microphone (other audio input device) not working.
A. Did you know there�s a control panel for audio input as well as output? As with most really useful items in XP, It�s annoyingly buried. You first bring up the output control panel then have to go under file and properties. Then select �Recording�. You then have to check the box labeled �Select� and bring the level up at least half way. Make sure the device is not muted. Finally, if it is a mic, hit the advanced button and check the �Mic Boost� button if you do not have a powered microphone or one with a pre-amp.
Q. Printer cue will not clear an item I have selected to cancel and delete.
A. Printers are very simple systems and have been around for so long, so why is this still such an issue for the makers to fix? Anyway, you need to either re-start, disconnect the printer from the computer, or turn the printer off. Sometimes you may need to unplug it as well. I suspect it is because the print buffer in the printer is not being flushed properly and the document is sort of getting hung in limbo between the computer and printer. If you have trouble with printing after doing this, see the next question.
Q. USB Printer not printing.
A. Did you turn the printer on after your computer? Is there a question mark over the printer monitor on the lower right of your taskbar? If there is a document in cue, turn your printer off; unplug the USB jack from the back of the printer (don�t worry, if it�s not printing it means the computer is not currently communicating with the printer anyway.) Turn the printer on again and let it post. Then plug the USB cable back in. The computer should recognize the printer now and start printing.
Q. Zip disk won�t eject when the button is pressed.
A. Yeah that�s weird isn�t it? Go to �my computer� right-click the zip drive and select �eject�. If you find yourself needing to do this often, simply create a shortcut for the drive on your desktop. Then you can right-click that and hit eject.
Q. Weird characters on screen, bay display problems. Constant errors, programs shutting down by themselves. Computer turns off by itself or won�t turn on, etc. Hard drive spins up and down often, general system crankiness.
A. More than one of these things happening might be an indication of a failing power supply or overheating. Then again, it may just be a virus, or a failing hard drive. Check the vents on your case for dust build-up and blockages. Did you know the main vent is not the one on the sides, but in the front on the bottom? Have a cat? I bet it�s clogged. Listen to your system, does it sound different than usual? Clean your case fans. Did you install new ram recently? Maybe it�s bad. It�s very unlikely that working ram will go bad though to if all else fails, try a new power supply. In all, the most important thing in troubleshooting is to know your system inside and out. There�s a reason many people and programs refer to a �system doctor�. Because that�s what you must be to keep your computer healthy. Some systems are known for issues with certain components. Computer sales companies often offer custom software updates specific to their systems. Pay attention to your machine when it�s working properly. If you don�t know what your system sounds like when it�s healthy, how are you to know when it sounds bad. How warm does it normally run, etc.? Knowing things like this will help you fix any problem in no time.
Q. Error on startup, system displays a �missing hal.dll� error message.
A. Well this was an extremely hard one to fix, even with all the information online about it. The problem I found is that there is no one location that gives you all the exact information you need. Since the information you need is out there, I will not describe all the processes to fix this issue but I will clarify some of them. Note that whichever fix you use; you will most likely need a bootable Windows XP install disk. I tried using a DOS boot disk but it didn�t work.
First off, this is a major issue because your computer won�t even see your hard drive In my case, I couldn�t even get it to show up in DOS for some reason, even though it is supposedly a windows installed file. There are two reasons for this problem. The first is that somehow (virus, hard drive corruption, aligning of the planets) the boot.ini file has suddenly become corrupted. The second is that the hal.dll file is actually missing or corrupted. In my case I knew it was the latter. I had used the search tool to find the file because I was making a DOS boot disk for a friend who was having the problem (which I now know wouldn�t have worked anyway) upon copying the file using drag and drop, windows decided to cut instead, and I rebooted before I realized the mistake.
Anyway, if you go online and do a search for �hal.dll fix� (I used Google) you will first come across how to rebuild the boot.ini file. Now if this solution works for you, you may get back Windows only to realize that each time it starts you need to select which operating system you want to boot from, even if you only have one. To fix this you will have to set the default startup OS option in Windows XP. I believe it is found in the advanced tab under my computer. A second and more preferable option is to delete the extra unnecessary lines in the boot.ini file. I would only recommend this for advanced users though. Note too that this file can�t be modified while Windows in running.
The second and less known solution for the Hal.dll error is to install a new copy of the file. Upon finding the solution you should follow the steps exactly and make sure you use the file off the Windows XP disk. I had originally tried the fix using a copy of the file off another computer. It didn�t work. This is because this file may get modified over time through service packs and the like and become incompatible with other machines. Anyway, you will need to extract the archived file on the XP disk. Now here�s what the other guys didn�t tell you; In my case I couldn�t copy over the good version of the file until I had deleted the bad one from my system32 folder first. Also the command line they typed didn�t work for me, so here�s the one you should use:
Extract i386\hal.dll C:\windows\system32
Make sure you type it exactly with the spaces exactly right too, DOS is very unforgiving. The difference between my command and theirs is the extra \hal.dll at the end. Theoretically it shouldn�t make a difference, but for me it did. If the file copies successfully and you can type �exit� and boot into windows normally (remove the CD upon rebooting). Upon rebooting, you will notice XP re-acquainting itself with all your hardware; this is normal and just let it do its thing.
Regardless of which solution you use you may also encounter a situation where upon powering down windows will not automatically turn off your computer, and will tell you to push the button manually. This is an easy fix though and solutions are all over the net. Just be aware that you may encounter this.
So why did I get into all this for an issue that is very rare, especially when there are other sites that give the answers? Well perhaps it�s because all the other sites only give half the information they should, and I don�t like half-assed answers for technical fixes. Perhaps it�s because I want to gloat about my troubleshooting prowess. Or perhaps it�s because every other site that talks about this issue has as their final solution, �if none of the above works you should re-install Windows XP (losing anything on your hard drive)�. I find this a cop-out answer from a novice troubleshooter, and a solution that�s all too easily recommended. It�s the tech geek way of saying, �I don�t know, can�t help you�, and I find it lazy and often irresponsibly recommended. Take for instance all the sites that only have the boot.ini fix on it. If you followed their advice you�d be losing all your data without even knowing that there may be other solutions that have a better chance of success. Reinstalling windows is a way past final option, not the next one in line. If you�ve read every info site on the net, gone to a computer repair store, tested every piece of hardware, asked the people at work, called India, let it sit and wait for three weeks to see if it fixes itself, searched the net again with 3 other engines, gotten a new machine, and copied all the files off, end of the world happened yesterday and somehow I still have power solution. Then and only then should you re-install windows. Learn here people, the Internet is a great source for technical problems but remember the following:
1) 99% of all sites will only have the solutions that worked for them; because once they found the answer that fixed the problem for them they stopped looking. But there�s more than one cause for most problems.
2) Most solutions on the web are typed from memory and not tested exactly as posted after they are put up. There are typing mistakes and information that is slightly off many times. As above the DOS command won�t work if it is not typed exactly, and one version that should help didn�t. Learn how to experiment with fixes and modify them to your own needs. Someone�s answer might be the right one but they may very easily leave out a step or mis-type when trying to tell you about it.