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Personal Tech

Solutions: Read a book, join user group to learn Windows XP Home

By JOHN TORRO
Published May 29, 2006

What publication should a big dummy use to help understand Windows XP Home?

Why, Windows XP Home for Dummies, of course! Just kidding. I suggest going to a bookstore and taking several books for a test drive. Everyone has a different technical understanding level, and various writing styles will appeal to different people. You need to find a book that makes sense to you. Browse through as many as you can. Keep in mind that books on computer technology tend to have varying amounts of their text made obsolete as things change so rapidly. Another thought: Check out a local computer user group.

Uninstall Backweb, a form of spyware

When I start my computer Win-dows XP Home minus Service Pack 2, I receive a message: "Runner Error. Invalid Backweb Application ID 1940576." I close the message window (not replying OK) and the machine continues on its merry way with no apparent problem. Any idea what would cause this message?

Backweb is a program used by various third-party vendors to help keep your PC updated with their products/messages. It can be considered "semispyware." You can usually uninstall it from the Control Panel in Add/Remove Programs. When you say minus Service Pack, do you mean that you do not have SP2 installed? Unless you have a specific compelling reason not to install SP2, it is highly recommended that you update to it. There are many security-related additions in SP2 that are vital to a good-running, safe system.

USB is best option for PC data transfer

I bought a Lenovo/IBM ThinkPad T40 Series laptop with Windows XP Professional. Several weeks ago I was going to use it to access some equipment via direct access using the 9 pin serial access. To my surprise, there is no 9 pin serial access. Is it possible to use the parallel port in place of the serial port? I have several 25 pin to 9 pin cables.

Nine pin serial access is akin to using two cans and a string for communications. That is why you're not likely to find it on newer PCs. You didn't specify which equipment you're trying to communicate with, but programs exist that will allow you to communicate through a parallel connection. But that, too, is becoming obsolete and may be tough to find. Portable wireless USB network adapters are a good (and inexpensive) solution when there is a need to transfer data between PCs.

Send questions to personaltech @sptimes.com or Personal Tech, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. Selected questions will be answered only in the column. John Torro is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and a Microsoft Certified Solution Developer.

[Last modified May 29, 2006, 06:13:53]