If any of your your security or Windows Update software isn't functioning properly, or if you can't reach security-related web sites, you might want to read into the Conficker/Downadup worm; it's a nasty one. If you're not showing any problems, you may want to disable Windows File Sharing (or leave it on at your own risk if certain programs need it).

You know it's bad when the NY Times writes a lengthy article about it. But the attention is warranted:

( Blah, blah, blah. )

Computer security researchers expect that within days or weeks the bot-herder who controls the programs will send out commands to force the botnet [possibly including your computer] to perform some as yet unknown illegal activity.

Several computer security firms said that although Conficker appeared to have been written from scratch, it had parallels to the work of a suspected Eastern European criminal gang that has profited by sending programs known as "scareware" to personal computers that seem to warn users of an infection and ask for credit card numbers to pay for bogus antivirus software that actually further infects their computer.

Microsoft has released a security update for it, so check Windows Update and install your updates! You should also update your antivirus software and run a full system scan.

If you're already infected and your antivirus software won't run, check Microsoft's (lengthy) support page about it.

I love the enV2 already. I had had the phone for maybe 10 hours before I had uploaded my first custom ringtones. It's actually very easy once the sound clips are ringtone-ready, but the ones that aren't require some software. Luckily, I have free software that does everything I need.

WARNING: I have the LG enV2 (LG VX9100) for Verizon Wireless. I don't know how this may apply to other phones on other networks, as I am not an expert, so don't try this at home if you don't know what you're doing.

Update 3/23/2009: I have confirmed that this process works for a variety of LG phones on the Verizon network that use MP3 ringtones and MicroSD memory cards. I have also successfully sent the tones to other phones on other networks, but with less consistent success.

Step 1: Prepare the sound clip.
First thing's first: get the (legally obtained) music ready. There are three requirements:
    File type: MP3
    File size: less than 500 KB
    Duration: less than 30 seconds

I recommend a 128 Kbps MP3, because a 30-second MP3 encoded at 128 Kbps is right at 500 KB. If you want higher quality, your clip will have to be shorter to meet the 500 KB limit. But you don't need that quality for the puny speakers on a cell phone.

( MP3 Trimming Trickery... )

Step 2: Send the sound clip to your phone.
Your phone may not work exactly like mine, so just follow along and see if your phone behaves in a similar manner.

( Step by step, day by day... )

I have a game called Snood. (There are several Snood games here, but I just have Snood for Windows. It's fun. Much better than FreeCell!) Upon first installing it, Catie and I played it a few times, and we set a list of high scores. But upon restarting the computer and playing again, no new high scores could be saved.

I threw an occasional tantrum about it for weeks, but tonight I got to the bottom of it: Windows Vista protects the preferences file, because it is stored in the Snood folder under Program Files on the hard drive. (And Windows Vista is very protective of the Program Files folder, so it won't let just any program save to it, and Snood is not on the VIP list.)

Luckily, Snood allows you to change where that file is saved in its "Game Preferences" menu, and it will write a new preferences file in the location you choose when you close the program. Vista has a "saved games" folder under each user's default folder, so that's where I told Snood to save its preferences file. Presto! I can save my settings now, and it remembers them!

(Alternatively, you can change the permissions or security settings on that file or folder, allowing Windows Vista to save changes to it. The instructions to do this are out there. Programs designed with Vista in mind have already done this for you.)

I only write this here because it should work for pretty much any program with a protected settings file, as long as the program allows you to change that file's location.

For the first time since activating this Cox High Speed Internet account over seven years ago, I had to replace the modem. I initially overlooked some simple networking rules, so I had difficulty connecting through my router at first, so I'm sharing my step-by-step guide to make it simpler for someone else.

Before you begin...

The old modem can be disconnected and removed. If a router was used, turn it off and disconnect one computer. This computer will be used to setup the new modem via ethernet cable, so its wireless connection (if it had been using one) should be disabled until the setup process is complete.

Part 1: Setting up the Modem

(1) Plug the coaxial cable (the, uh, "cable" cable) from your internet service provider into the modem.

(2) Power on the modem and wait for the initialization process to complete. Typically it is complete when the internet light is solid.

(3) Connect the computer directly to the modem with an ethernet cable.

(4) Attempt to access the internet. (Any browser should work, in theory. If you have trouble here, you may need to consult the manual or software included with the modem. Otherwise, I would leave that stuff sealed.)

(5) If things are working properly, the install.cox.net web site will load and prompt you to enter your Cox High Speed Internet account information to verify that you are a paying customer eligible to use their network. Once this is completed, your internet will be activated.

If you are not using a router and there are no other computers on the network, you're finished!

Part 2: Restoring the Home Network

(6) Turn on the router.

(7) Connect your computer (the one you just used with the modem) to the router with a wired connection. If a wireless connection is connecting by default, then disable the computer's wireless connection so that the wired connection takes over.

(8) Access your router's options interface and use the "Clone MAC Address" function to clone your computer's MAC address. It is important that the connection is a wired connection (not wireless!), since you just used that same connection with the modem. This MAC address is how Cox knows who is connecting to its service, which is why you must clone the legitimate address to your router in order for the router to receive the internet service.

(9) Once the MAC address is cloned, save the router settings, and allow the router a few seconds to accept the change.

(10) Turn off the router, disconnect all computers from the router, and connect the cable modem to the router.

(11) Then turn the router back on. Its internet light should indicate that it is receiving the internet signal via the modem.

(12) Restore all previous connections to the router, wired and wireless, and your network should be functional again.

This whole process might takes less than 10 minutes, or it could take half an hour.

Equipment:
Linksys WRT54G v2.2 router (recently upgraded firmware to current version)
Gateway laptop with Windows Vista Home Premium
Realtek RTL8187 Wireless 802.11g 54Mbps USB 2.0 network adapter

Problem?
After a few minutes of considerable network traffic originating from my computer, I would lose my wireless internet connection. Sometimes, just a web page or two would do it.

At first, I was impatient and tried some old tricks. I tried to use Windows' "repair" feature to repair the connection, and it usually told me to fix one thing or another, but it would disconnect a few minutes later and then tell me to fix it back.

Eventually I began to wonder if it was the router. I had never had problems with any other laptops, but the router is about six years old now, and it is sitting under a desk rather than on top of it.

Then I went to my dad's house and noticed that my laptop was doing the same thing on his home network (which uses the same router brand and version). Okay, it's not the router, unless mine is just going bad, so I restored my router's settings and looked deeper into the problem.

Solution?
It remains to be seen whether my problem is really fixed, but as of this morning, I have downloaded some huge files and I haven't had a single disconnect. Things are still downloading now at a good clip, so this is a good sign. Here's what I did:

(1) Open Control Panel
(2) Open Device Manager
(3) Open Network Adapters
(4) FOR EACH item under "Network Adapters, do the following:
        (a) Right-click and select "Properties"
        (b) Select the "Power Management" tab
        (c) UNCHECK "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."

I had already done this for my wireless network card weeks ago through the wireless internet settings, but it turns out (so far this morning) that it was the other network adapter that was repeatedly shutting off. Device Manager is the quickest way to get to both of them, so -- done.

Unfortunately, I can't remember whether I have changed any of the router settings off of their default values, but it's working now so I don't want to mess with it. I'll let you know if I experience problems again.

For many months, I have clinched my fist in anger at Windows Vista (not punching or anything, since I like my laptop) because its native data CD burning process does not work the same as Windows XP's, and as a result MP3 CDs burned in Windows Vista do not work in my car's MP3 CD player. All I wanted out of Vista was a sensible upgrade over XP that simply kept its most useful features -- improvements are a welcome bonus, but downgrades are unexpected.

Enter CDBurnerXP. I had hoped to avoid installing third-party software, especially since everything I've found so far seems to require some sort of payment. Well, this one burns MP3 CDs with their folder structure intact, so it's okay with me.

Complaint #1 about Windows Vista, resolved with a workaround.

An instructor where I work has Powerpoint presentations with hyperlinks, mostly to local files like AVI or WMV videos, or occasionally PDF documents. At home and in her office, the links behave as expected: Windows opens the linked file as if someone had clicked on it from an Explorer window.

On the classroom computer, however, we first get a warning message about potentially harmful information asking for confirmation to proceed. After clicking "OK", we get:

Error:
No program is registered to open this file.

She has Office 2003 at home and it works. She has Office 2007 in her office and it works. She has Office 2007 in the classroom and it does not work. The computer is much older, so there's no telling what tiny little bit of configuration is causing this problem, but it's nothing to do with file associations or missing programs, because everything needed to run the files is installed and functioning properly. They just won't open from a link in a Powerpoint presentation.

Any ideas?

(Keep in mind that this is a classroom computer, and ditching this and/or that Microsoft product might be your knee-jerk suggestion, it isn't feasible.)

I don't have an iPod and haven't used an iPod. I have barely used iTunes on my own, so my exposure to the hardware or software is very limited. However, my sister has a dilemma, and I'm putting my tech-savvy friends to the test to help her. Here goes:

I had a bunch of mp3 files on my hard drive, and I imported them into my iTunes. So I then had them in two locations. So when I needed to free up space on my hard drive, I deleted the original files, knowing that I still had them duplicated in my iTunes library. Unfortunately, I evidently should've converted them to AAC first, because now they won't play and I'm getting a message that says the files are lost.

So what I need to know is how to recover them (I've emptied my Recycle Bin). And/or, how does one restore one's computer to a previous day/time, and, would that restore the lost files? I've done it before, but I can't figure out how to now.

Any advice would be most appreciated.

Also, for all you iTunes aficionados: because I don't want to wipe out anything that's currently on my iPod that's no longer on my computer, how do I change the settings from sync to manual without first plugging in my iPod and erasing stuff?? Is there no other way to change the settings BEFORE plugging my iPod into my computer? And/or is there a way to get music from my iPod BACK onto my computer?

Thanks for any and all help anyone could offer!

The laptop was new in December 2005, and because I inherited it from my dad, it's a Toshiba laptop fitted with a 1.6 GHz Celeron running Windows XP Home -- yeesh. But it's been a good laptop, just good enough that I never bothered to wipe it with a fresh installation of XP Pro. But now may be the time. Before I go through with that, though, I'm wondering if anyone knows of any tricks to revive XP Home after it suddenly chokes under its own weight, passes out, and barely functions when it comes back to...

Everything was working great Monday morning. I attempted to burn a CD, and the first attempt kicked back an error. I re-inserted the CD (because it hadn't been touched) and tried again, but during this time it decided to slow its processing speed to a crawl, so by my estimation it would have taken an hour just to write the data to the image before burning, and I had to leave for work in about 10, so I had to stop the process.

It didn't like that very much, but I didn't realize it was choking until after I did it.

When I booted up after work, several hours later, it took about 7 minutes to get to the desktop (it had taken about 90 seconds for the last 15 months). My first thought was virus/worm/trojan, but after a few cleanup operations, nothing was found or fixed.

Now it's Tuesday morning, and the touchpad stopped loading for a moment, but I fixed that using my selective startup options... but now wireless connectivity has stopped.

So... I haven't had time to really look yet since I actually go to work during the week, but if anyone has seen something like this before and has any suggestions that might keep the laptop functional long enough for me to extract a few gigabites of data (hopefully in fewer than a couple of hours, rather than several days at current processing speeds). I'll be using KNOPPIX tonight

I hope the hard drive isn't failing, but that seems to be a possibility. I like to think that the combination of Celeron and XP Home means the hard drive is fine, though, and I just need to get my data to another machine as quickly as possible so I can format what's left.

KNOPPIX is next...

College students with Microsoft Word (or with Word Perfect and a USB thumb/flash drive), never again be stuck with a Word Perfect (.WPS) file that can't be opened in Word! If you have Word on your computer, download and install the Works 6.0 Converter for Works and Word Users from Microsoft.com.

If you have Word Perfect, then download that file and save it to your USB thumb/flash drive if you have one, and you can install the converter onto any omputer with Word if you ever run into that problem again (assuming someone with administrator privileges is logged in at the time).

(Working at a college that's using XP computers for a couple more months, I see this a few times a month, so I thought I'd pass on the good word just in case people who aren't me might benefit from it.)

I'm looking for a USB female to female coupler to work with my USB extension cable. The cable itself has the default USB tip (type A male, I think) on both ends, so I need the female plug (the receiving end like the ones on your computer) on both ends of the adapter/coupler, one for the device and one for the extension cable.

Where can find one for under $5 without ordering it online? (It isn't worth the shipping charge)

What is the easiest and most cost-effective way to transfer video from VHS to DVD if I don't have the equipment to do it myself?

What's the best way to access messenger networks (AIM, MSN, Yahoo) from a flash drive on computers that don't allow you to install the usual software?

Solution so far: Easy Message! Here's a 229KB zip file of version 2.3.663 (it expands to about 560KB) that can be extracted anywhere, including a USB drive.

Once extracted, run em2.exe. (If it's on your computer, you might want to add a shortcut to em2.exe on your Start Menu. The first time Easy Message runs, it will prompt you to setup a local password (security feature!), and then it will prompt you for your messenger account information. The first time it connects, a web ad will popup, but it is easily disabled from the "Options" dialog on the "Tools" menu: just uncheck the "Start Web Panel when application starts" option, and it's gone. (Take note of the other options while you're there.)

Its memory footprint is small, and it's feature-rich for such a small program. And for those unaware of AIM's "Appear Offline" feature, Easy Message lets you use it.

Okay font gurus, here's one for you.

On every computer I have used and taken the time to notice, the stars above are displayed fine, except my laptop. In fact, all of HTML's special characters display perfectly well except those two stars. Why? What am I missing?

I'm running Windows XP Pro with Office 2003 and gobs of other applications installed. This is really a minor annoyance, but it is still an annoyance, and I'd love to know how to fix it.

Edit: Could not having Wingding fonts installed be it? Edit: Nope, they're there. I bet I know what it is: my system is set to ClearType instead of TrueType, because ClearType renders much better than TrueType on an LCD screen. Edit: Thank goodness that wasn't it, because I like ClearType! It turns out that I didn't have international support turned on in my Office 2003 settings, so I didn't have a proper Unicode font installed. Fixed: So I just changed my install options to add international support, and voila, the proper Unicode fonts are installed ... and I see stars!

Thanks to armelle and all who responded to her post at thequestionclub, and to everyone who responded here!