Errors indicate virus; critical Windows updates needed
By JOHN TORRO
Published March 29, 2004
Q. I run Windows XP Home Edition and have MSN as Internet and e-mail provider. When I log onto the Internet, I get two messages: System Shut Down states, "This system is shutting down. Please save all work in progress and log off. Any unsaved changes will be lost. This shutdown was initiated by NT authority. Time before shutdown (time then counts down to 60 seconds and machine shuts off)," and "Windows now must restart because the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service terminated unexpectedly." MSN has not been able to correct the problem.
This sounds like the MSBlaster virus. To stop the countdown, click Start, Run, type in CMD and click OK. From the Command prompt type: Shutdown -A and then hit enter. This will abort the shutdown.
You need to get to the Windows update site (www.windowsupdate.com) and install all the critical updates for your machine - now!
Scan into text
Q. I want to scan a form into Word and fill it out. But I can't type on it. I only get a four-headed arrow. Window's help doesn't help.
When you scan a document, it is by default scanned as a image, or picture. For what you want to do, you'll need to use an OCR, or Optical Character Recognition program, in conjunction with the scanner. Most scanners come with OCR software.
The OCR program will convert the scanned image into the alphabetic text equivalent as best it can. Most OCR programs will get most of the document correct, but never 100 percent correct. Check your scanner's documentation for the OCR capabilities.
What are cookies?
Q. What is so sacred about cookies? I'd like to delete them all, but I get a dire warning that some programs may not operate without them. What gives?
Cookies are small files left on your PC that contain saved information identifying attributes of your Internet connection and other information that you may have typed into a form (name, address, e-mail address, site passwords, etc.) on the Web. Many sites use them to remember bits of information about you.
There is nothing sacred about them, and they are harmless. For people who do a lot of interaction or transactions over the Internet, they are a major convenience, saving you the time of typing information over and over again.
The fact to remember is that only the Web site that issued the cookie can read the cookie. There are things called "third-party" cookies that are an exception to this rule. However, they still are controlled and allowed only by the main site where they were issued.
You can find out more about cookies and the options you can set to control them, including third-party cookies, by going to Tools, Internet Options, Security Tab within Internet Explorer. If you delete your cookies, the worst that will happen is that you will be prompted to retype some information at various Web sites you have visited and perhaps saved some preferences or identifying information (user ID, password, etc.).
Deleting them will not save you much space.
Fresh Java needed
Q. I use Windows Me and MSN Explorer. When I try to shut down, I get this message: "JAVAW has caused an error in Kernel32.DLL, JAVAW will now close." I am unable to close this message or shut down my computer. I have to push the button. This in turn causes a ScanDisk when I reboot.
Try updating your Java Runtime Environment, or JRE. Go to www.java.com and click the "Get It Now" button and follow the directions.
