InBox

By DON McALLISTER

Welcome to InBox, where we attempt to answer your internet questions.

Q. Murray's new 2400MHz Compaq with 128MB of memory runs like a slug. "Rather than running like a rocket, the new system appears to be running even slower than the old 166MHz system. Is Ram memory the problem or is it something else?"

A. Yes, Ram is your problem, Murray. Most name-brand manufacturers market machines with minimal memory, relying on the salesperson to suggest upgrades to suit your needs.

Windows XP runs like a dog with 128MB memory as soon as you try to run any programs and it gets worse with each subsequent virus checker or utility that starts. The commonly regarded minimum is 256MB, but 512MB or more really cuts the cake.

Negotiate with your supplier. He or she has a responsibility to make sure the machine does what it's claimed it would do.

Q. After removing excess programs, Mick is haunted by an "MSOE.dll" error message. "Can this file be retrieved and loaded?" he asks. There are two ways, Mick. Use System File Checker to extract that file from your Windows setup CD. Go to Start/Run and type in sfc, then press enter. Or download MSOE.dll.

Q. Andrea just arrived from Britain equipped with a laptop. She writes that the Clearnet account is virtually dead. "It takes forever to download my mail and feels as if it is still going through the UK. Is this possible?

A. That's exactly what's going on, Andrea. Download Internet Explorer from Microsoft's site and install it over the present one. That version you have is probably programmed to go via the supplier's site. The Microsoft version will free up those settings.

Q. "I have been advised by a mail 'office' that email I have sent has failed to be delivered," says Don. "I did not send email to the three addresses it says I did. Is it a virus? I have an up-to-date Norton."

A. I doubt that you are infected, Don. You're probably getting fallout from the Mydoom worm that attacked a few weeks ago. As stated on www.trendmicro.com: "This mass-mailing worm selects from a list of email subjects, message bodies and attachment file names for its email messages.

It spoofs the sender name of its messages so that they appear to have been sent by different users instead of the actual users on infected machines."

So it's actually one of your contacts who is the true source. Mail servers auto-respond to return addresses and many viruses capitalise on this by searching an infected machine's contact list for a bogus return address to use.


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