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Removing downloading tool eliminates error messages

By JOHN TORRO
Published July 19, 2004

Q. After running Spybot, I now get a small window with the following message whenever I start my computer: Runner error. Invalid backweb application id 137903. What does this mean and how do I get rid of it?

BackWeb is a generic downloading tool used by various software companies that incorporate it to download data such as product updates. BackWeb is capable of collecting information from your PC and delivering it to the collection site. Whenever you connect to the Internet, BackWeb also connects to retrieve advertisements, which are then displayed on your browser as popups. Here's how to get rid of it: Try uninstalling using Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel. If there does not appear to be an uninstall program, try C:\program files\BackWeb\ and remove this directory. Run MSCONFIG (Start, Run, type MSCONFIG), check the Startup tab and disable anything related to BackWeb. Look for any .EXE file starting with BackWeb and delete it.

Q. My CD-ROM tray opens unexpectedly. Sometimes in the middle of playing a game it opens while the CD disk is spinning. It also will open while I'm online or even trying to shut down the computer. Do I need a new CD drive? If so, should I get a DVD/CD-ROM combo unit?

It could be faulty hardware. However, a new tactic of virus/spyware is to open the CD-ROM drive. Sometimes it will be accompanied by a message that says "If your CD-ROM drive is open you need to buy . . ." I first would make sure your antivirus is updated and run a full scan. Next run both Ad-aware and Spybot one at a time. You can download these free programs from www.lavasoft.de and www.safer-networking.org respectively. If the problem persists, try removing the device through Device Manager (right-click My Computer, Hardware tab, Device Manager button). Find the CD-ROM drive and right-click and select Uninstall. Once it is removed, right-click again anywhere and click "Scan for hardware changes." It will then reinstall. I would exhaust all these possibilities before buying a new drive. However, if you do, a DVD-R/DVD-RW would make the most sense.

Q. When you say delete e-mails (spam) without opening (May 24), I have a problem (Windows 98 and Juno). When I click Get New Mail, the list comes up on the screen. To delete a message, I click on it, and there it is, message and all. So it's already opened before I can delete it. Is that why my spam is increasing every day?

If you are using Outlook Express, you need to turn off the Preview Pane. From within the Outlook Express menu bar, click View, Layout. The bottom half of the dialogue window that now displays will be labeled Preview Pane. There will be a check box next to the words "Show Preview Pane." Make sure this check box is not checked and is empty. Click OK to save the setting and close the window. If you are reading your mail directly on the Web using a browser, make sure there are no options to display the e-mail content automatically. Most browser-based clients will have a Delete check box next to the e-mail where you can select it to delete without opening.

Q. I have a group set up of members of our photo club. However, occasionally when I send them a notice, I receive back a message that tells me one of them could not be delivered. The weird thing is that I do not have anyone with the e-mail address. I have gone over my list, both hard copy and computer, and can find no one with that address. Why do I get told someone I did not send to is undeliverable? This is extremely frustrating. What can I do about it and why am I getting it in the first place?

This was addressed recently, and a reader wrote in with another possible explanation: A spammer may be using your e-mail address as the return address for some of his junk e-mail, so when one is undeliverable a notice is sent back to you. Ignore them and delete without opening.

- Send hardware and software questions to personaltech@sptimes.com or Personal Tech, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. Questions will be answered only in the column. John Torro is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and Microsoft Certified Solution Developer. He has been writing for Personal Tech since 1997.

[Last modified July 19, 2004, 12:06:43]