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Solutions: Video card doesn't support standby mode
By JOHN TORRO Q. I have a problem when I try to put my computer on standby. I upgraded my Windows 98 SE to Windows XP Home Edition. I find it very satisfactory except for the standby order. When I click the standby button, I get this warning: "The device driver for the ATI Technologies Inc. 3-D Rage Pro AGP EX is preventing the machine from entering standby. Please close all applications and try again. If the problem persists, you may need to update this driver." I am not very versed in computer things and don't know what to do. A. Sorry, but according to Microsoft, Windows XP does not provide power management support for this video adapter, which means it won't allow the system to enter standby mode. There does not appear to be an updated driver for this card on ATI's Web site. It recommends using the built-in Windows XP driver, which is what you are currently using. The only solution may be to buy a newer video adapter. Bogus e-mail signals virusQ. Many of our school staff members and some families are getting bogus e-mails that have written in the "From" section the e-mail address of someone else associated with our school. In some cases, these e-mails contain X-rated material. My husband can obtain an e-mail header using Outlook, but is unsure how to get this info if the recipient is using AOL, which many of the recipients are using. My attempt to reach a human at AOL has been unsuccessful. I hope you can provide us with the steps needed to get to the real sender of these e-mails. A. It sounds like the Klez virus. Forget trying to track it down and concentrate on getting those PCs updated with antivirus protection. If you have antivirus software, it's most likely out of date. This is a site where you can get AVG, a free antivirus program that some people I know have recommended: www.thefreesite.com/Free_Software/Anti_virus_freeware/. Or go to securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/tools.list.html for a tool to specifically remove the Klez virus. Changing type colorQ. Sit back and relax John. I want to take you back in PC time. Clear your mind. The heck with Windows XP. However, you may get a little misty-eyed. Under the DOS version (6?) that came with Windows 3.1, you could include an escape sequence command in .BAT files to change the text and background colors. As an example, Prompt $e[44;37m would give you white font on a blue background. I've tried that under Windows 95 Rev. B using the same set of numbers previously associated with making foreground/background color changes and gotten some weird results. Is there some way that this can still be done, or was that capability lost in the progression of Windows/DOS development? A. No misty eyes here. I say good riddance to DOS and all the problems its limitations brought with it. And before anyone accuses me of being some fancy Windows boy, let me just say I started out in this business programming Assembler language on punch cards, so I know what the real world was like before all those sissy mouse clicks and icons came about. I just like making things as simple and as easy as possible -- meaning I'd rather click than type. Lucky for you, your addiction to DOS can still be preserved. Click Start, Programs, Accessories, then right-click Command Prompt and choose Properties. You'll see tabs where you'll be able to select colors, fonts and layout (among others). You should now be able to customize your DOS environment more to your liking. P.S. I haven't been able to clear my mind since the third grade.
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