Computer Quandaries
by DaLe aTchiSon
Tampa Bay Computer Society


Here are questions from some of my clients and TBCS members, along with the best answers I could give them; most of my answers were arrived at by searching the Internet using Google.   In those cases where I say things nice or otherwise about a particular program, please note that I'm expressing only my opinion, and not necessarily that of TBCS, its members, or its board of directors.

I can't open the attached file, "Keep It Lit.email".  In fact, I can't open ANY file attachments from this one friend.  Can you tell me how to open it?   Is there a special program I need?

The attachment extension is the giveaway.  Your friend is forwarding email messages as attachments (I don't know which email program uses the extension ".email", but that's the case).  If Outlook Express won't open the attachment as received, you'll need to save it to your hard drive before you can work with it.

If you're using the Preview Pane, and its associated Preview Pane Header (the horizontal panel between the Preview Pane and the message list), there should be a paperclip graphic at the right-hand side of the Preview Pane Header.  So...

  • Click on the paper clip »
  • click Save Attachments »
  • Browse to the Desktop »
  • and click Save.
  • Click the saved file »
  • click F2 to rename the file, and change the file extension to .EML so Outlook Express can read it --- Say Yes when Windows asks if you really want to change the file extension.
  • Right-click the file, and scan it for viruses.
  • Then just double-click the saved file --- Outlook Express will open it and show you its contents.  If you want to save the file after you've looked at it or forwarded it, move it off the desktop.

If you're not using the Preview Pane, and you have to double-click a message to view its contents, the attachment(s) will show up in a mini-window just below the Subject: line at the top of the message; the mini-window will be labeled ATTACH: .

  • Right-click the attachment »
  • select Save As
  • Browse to the Desktop »
  • and click Save.
  • Click the saved file »
  • click F2 to rename the file, and change the file extension to .EML so Outlook Express can read it --- Say Yes when Windows asks if you really want to change the file extension.
  • Right-click the file, and scan it for viruses.
  • Then just double-click the saved file --- Outlook Express will open it and show you its contents.  If you want to save the file after you've looked at it or forwarded it, move it off the desktop.

Hope this helps.

BTW:   this particular email is a chain letter.  This message and those like it are one reason the Internet doesn't run as fast as it could --- it's bogged down with millions of messages all saying "Pass this on..."

My husband got me Acronis TrueImage.  He said it makes a mirror image of my hard drive.  And it seems to do that.  Only ... well, I don't seem to be able to figure out how to restore stuff with it if I have to go back to an earlier image for some reason.  Do you know ... do people use both an image program and a backup program like "BackUpMyPC", so they can find stuff?

In Windows Explorer (My Computer), right-click the saved disk image, then left-click Explore.  Now you can navigate the contents of the TruImage backup or image file just as if it was indeed a separate hard drive connected to your computer.  When you find the files you want to restore, just Copy and Paste them back to wherever you need them.

If you've been trying it this way, and getting 'less than satisfactory' results, check out the TruImage FAQ at www.acronis.com/products/trueimage/faq.html.
If the answer you seek isn't there, go to http://www.acronis.com/support for Acronis' suggestions on the matter.
And if all else fails, email Acronis tech support at support@acronis.com.

And no, there's no reason to use a drive mirror program AND a backup program - they're doing the same thing.  The mirror program does a more thorough job of it, that's all.  And the program you already have, Acronis TrueImage, actually performs both functions for you, depending on what you tell it when you create the backup.

I was going to defrag my system, but found that disabling virtual memory doesn't work like it did in the instructions you wrote for me when I was using Windows 98.  What are the steps with Windows XP?

The steps for temporarily disabling virtual memory follow this answer, but only because you asked, not because I still recommend it.  The Defrag utility that comes with Windows XP isn't nearly as good at cleaning up the hard drive as that which came with Windows 98 or ME, at least according to the animated chart it shows you as it works.  Luckily, the NTFS filesystem used by Windows XP (and Vista) doesn't require as much defragging as the older FAT32 filesystem used in Win 9x.  Windows Xp only needs to get defragged every four to six months, and turning off virtual memory won't make enough of a difference to be worth the time it takes to do it --- so just run Defrag in Safe Mode every six months, with virtual memory left alone.

But, just because you asked:

  • Right-click My Computer  »  left-click Properties;
  • Click the Advanced tab;
  • Under Performance, click Settings;
  • Under Performance Options, click the Advanced tab;
  • Click Change;
  • Click the 'radio button' next to No Paging File;
  • Click Set  »  OK  »  OK  »  OK;
  • Reboot for the change to take effect.
To restore virtual memory, after you've done whatever you needed to do with it turned off:
  • Right-click My Computer  »  left-click Properties;
  • Click the Advanced tab;
  • Under Performance, click Settings;
  • Under Performance Options, click the Advanced tab;
  • Click Change;
  • Click the 'radio button' next to System Managed Size;
  • Click Set  »  OK  »  OK  »  OK;
  • Reboot for the change to take effect.

When my computer awakens from it's nap, I get the following warning:  Virus Trojan horse BackDoor.VB.9.M is found in C:\System Volume Information\_restore {C3A256EC-F74E-4D1B-B627-49321DAD0241}\RP191\A0016160.exe.  I'm kinda curious... is the "RP191" in the long set of numbers possibly a number for a restore point?

Yes, the System Volume Information folder is where Windows XP stores its System Restore Points. Restore Points are actually archives of system files and the user registry --- rolling the system back to a previous point unpacks the files and overwrites the current set.

This message tells you a file stored in Restore Point RP191 is infected; if you restore using that archive, your computer will be infected, too.  If your computer is working well except for the virus warning you're seeing, I suggest you remove all but the most recent restore points.

First, set a new restore point:
Start  »  All Programs  »  Accessories  »  System Tools  »  System Restrore  »  Create a Restore Point.

Then, run Disk Cleanup:
Start  »  All Programs  »  Accessories  »  System Tools  »  Disk Cleanup  »  More Options  »  System Restore Cleanup.

There's no need to let Disc Cleanup finish at this point --- it already deleted all the old Restore Points.  If you just feel the need to do a little more housekeeping, be sure and un-check Compress Old Files before you continue.  Either way, now the restore point you just made is the only one left on the computer, and you can't 'shoot yourself in the foot' by restoring an infected file.


Thanks for Asking!

That's all for this month.   I welcome questions on any computer-related problems you might have.   Please email your questions to Dale@ComputerRepairShop.biz.



I send these guys a few dollars every month... sure wish you would join me.
And 100% of your labor charges go to this rescue, too.