Every now and then when I am sitting at my Windows XP system, an annoying error message just pops up out of nowhere. The title bar is a seemingly random four-digit hexadecimal value followed by “qttask.exe - No Disk”. The text of the message says “There is no disk in the drive. Please insert a [...]
DOS Beer
Requires you to use your own can opener, and that you read the directions carefully before opening the can. Originally only came in an 8oz can, but now comes in a 16oz can. The can is divided into eight compartments of 2oz each, which have to be accessed separately. Soon to be discontinued, although [...]
I couldn’t pass up a story that I read on an Australian online newspaper website called The Courier-Mail.
Apparently another fast-spreading computer virus has attacked computer networks just one week after the MSBlaster virus caused chaos for thousands of Microsoft Windows users. The new virus is a variation of the original MSBlaster virus that popped up [...]
Next time I write a check to buy any Microsoft products, I think I’ll attach this little note:
By cashing this check, you indicate your acceptance of my License Agreement. This is a legal Agreement between you, the SOFTWARE COMPANY, and me, the END USER. The paid-for SOFTWARE is no longer restricted by any prior [...]
It seems that I am forever deleting those THUMBS.DB files that Windows XP creates automatically, whether I want the file created or not. I delete the file, look in the directory some time later, and — POW! — there it is again! If you’re like me, you’re probably shouting to yourself, “I never want to [...]
I can never remember the method to use to enable Windows to transmit plain text passwords when connecting to a third-party Samba server (such as my Linux file servers!), so, once and for all, I decided to finally write it down!
Windows Vista:
Go to Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Local Security Policy > [...]
Are you tired of seeing MSN Messenger pop up on your Windows XP system? As usual, in an effort to continue its course towards domination of everything, Microsoft has made it difficult to remove. But it is possible! The following method works in Windows XP Professional, but has not been tested on a system with [...]
You can customize the icon that appears on your Windows Welcome screen and on your start menu.
To change your Windows XP user icon, click on your Start menu, then click the icon beside your name.
A new window will pop up prompting you to “Pick a new picture for your account”. Several icons should appear, giving [...]
Well, since I covered a few computer stupidities, I guess I should give equal space to software stupidities…
Microsoft Word (somewhere around 1999) - “Word cannot edit the unknown.”
If you typed in ‘God’ at the prompt on an ICL mainframe running the VME operating system, and assuming an appropriately named program was not installed, you’d receive [...]
You receive message that says “Manifest Parse error: Invalid at top level of document” when installing a new copy of Windows XP, and the installation stops because it cannot parse CONTROLS.MAN. What do you do?
