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Solutions

Missing Content tab could indicate presence of malware

By JOHN TORRO
Published September 12, 2005

Q. I have Internet Explorer 6 with all updates on Windows XP Professional. When I click on Tools, Internet Options, I do not have a Content tab. I want to remove old information from the auto fill/forms cache. Where might I find it? Even in IE's own Help menu, it refers to the Content tab. None of the tabs inthat window has Personal Information anywhere.

A. The absence of the Content tab in Internet Explorer could be indicative of malware. Make sure your spyware is updated and run a scan. If you don't already have it, download and install Microsoft AntiSpyware beta. Also try running the System File Checker: From the Start menu, click Run, type sfc /scannow and click OK. Follow the prompts throughout the System File Checker process. Reboot the computer when System File Checker completes. Another method that can be used to repair or reinstall Internet Explorer: Search for the file ie.inf in the Windows\Inf folder. Right-click the ie.inf file and click Install on the context menu. Reboot the computer when the file copy process is complete.

Q. In old Lotus, I was able to convert data/numbers obtained by formulas into alphanumeric numbers. In Excel, I haven't been able to find the same way to do it. Is there such an availability in Excel as in Lotus?

A. Highlight the cells and then click Format, Cell and then the Number tab. Under Category, select Text and then click OK.

Q. Our organization requires all employees to completely sign out of Microsoft every night. On occasion, employees forget. Does Microsoft have a feature that will automatically turn off all computers that are on our server (Microsoft Server 2003 version)?

A. There are several management tools that can do this, such as Microsoft's SMS System Management Server and some third-party software such as ActiveExit (www.winability.com) You also can enter a command at each PC using the Windows scheduler (AT command). From a command prompt enter: at 20:00 every:m,t,w,th,f,s,su /interactive cmd /c "shutdown -s -f'

Using this code will schedule an automatic shutdown every day at 8 p.m.

Q. About 10 minutes after typing a letter(Windows XP, Word 2002), this window pops up: MS Visual C ++ runtime Library runtime Error Prog:C\Program Files\MS Office\office 10\WINWORD.EXE Abnormal program termination. When I click either OK or the red X, the window disappears, as well as the letter I am typing.

A. There could be several causes. First, try deleting the Normal.dot file and restart Word. This is the default template for Word. It will be re-created by Word if it doesn't exist. It is also known to occur if you have the Word Suite Add-in in Microsoft Works installed. In that case, uninstall it from Control Panel, Add/Remove programs. There is also a known problem with Symantec's Norton Antivirus having to do with the file OfficeAV.DLL that may cause this problem. Go to its support Web site, search on that file name and follow the directions.

Q. Several times a week, a box pops up on my screen (Windows 2000 Professional with latest updates). It is a Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library Box with this message: "Runtime Error!Program: c:\Program1\Norton1\Norton2\NAVW32.exeR6025 -Pure Virtual function call." I click on OK and everything seems okay.I have been unable to get a person at Norton, and the Norton automated help is of no help.What does this message mean? What should I do?

A. This sounds like a known problem with the Norton Antivirus Office plug-in. The solution is too long to include here, so go to support.microsoft.com/ and search for article 329820.

[Last modified September 9, 2005, 11:00:05]