I can copy some movie files as mpegs but if I copy them to a CD, my friends can't play them; when they try, media player goes looking for a codec. How do I know which codecs they need to have? (Peter Davis... Maryborough High)
How do I forward an attachment from an e-mail I received? (Don Ray)
2.
There are so many media players...
If you want a really good multi-media player that will handle most media you encounter on the internet, choose from RealPlayer, Windows Media Player or Yahoo Media Player. Quicktime, the Macromedia Players (Flash & Shockwave) and
Hyperstudio are required for more specialized media. If you encounter media that will not play, your browser will prompt you to download the required player. Go back to Dave's Faves main page to vote for the
media player you think is best!
3. Dave, do I need to shut off my computer...
While it is not a problem to leave your computer running much of the time, it is a good idea to switch it off once in a while. After running programs on your computer, fragments of those programs are left open even after you close the
programs. If you multi-task (run many programs at the same time) or open a few programs many times, your computer RAM stores many little fragments of programs that you are not actually running anymore. The computer may get
"confused" by the "build-up" of command strings left in RAM (and, of course, this stuff takes up space in RAM). You can clear this material from RAM by switching off the computer and restarting. I love screen saver
programs (they help to prevent "ghost images" from being burned into your screen) but, the more I use my computer, the more often I turn it off between uses.
4. I want to install a new version of IE 5.01...
You have the option to do a custom installation of IE 5.01. In other words, you could download the browser without downloading or installing a new copy of Outlook Express. However, you can safely install a new version of IE 5.01,
including Outlook Express, and your folders will not be affected at all (ie. Sent Items, Drafts, items saved in Deleted Files, your address book... none of these will be affected... they will all still be there in the same place after you complete
the full download or IE 5.01, including Outlook Express).
5. Do I have to delete old browsers...
Unless you are very limited in terms of space on your hard drive (which is not likely to be a problem if your computer is fairly new as browsers are not large in terms of total hard drive capacity), you should not delete old browsers before
updating or installing new versions. In most instances, the updates are compatible with the old versions and will simply update them. If, however, you have to do a complete browser download (because your version is not compatible with an
update), wait until you have downloaded your new browser and made sure it is working to your satisfaction before deleting your old browser.
6. I have a friend who will sell me his 486 computer...
No, not a good deal. While you can still network on a 486 computer, the computer will run pathetically slowly, will have severe memory limitations and will not be compatible with current technologies (ie. you will not be able to upgrade a
486 with anything other than obsolete equipment). Save your money and buy something much more current. Unless, of course, the monitor that comes with the 486 is a fairly new 17" super VGA monitor, in which case, take the $100 package
deal, save the monitor, and appropriately dispose of the 486.
7. ...what kind of drives should I get...
First, you will likely have to get a 3.5" drive... they are standard with many computers and you may have no choice. I have a 3.5" drive in my brand new computer, although I have not used a 3.5" drive in over 2
years.
Second, you must have a writable CD drive; most of the operating and basic software programs that will be installed in your new computer will be loaded from CD's. Once you buy your computer, you own all of those CD's and should keep them in
case you ever have to have any of those programs re-installed. The CD drive is the current standard for most commercial software... consider a high speed, writable CD drive. You can use your writable CD drive to back up websites and some
programs, but also for some general use (for example, I have some "working documents" on CD disks... blank CD's are inexpensive and each holds a lot of information. Now, for the DVD drive... I don't have one, although I have a DVD
player in the living room... DVD is quite likely to become the standard for movies, but it is not currently the standard for computer programs... so unless you want to watch some expensive movies on your computer... I would not invest in a DVD at
this time... Ask your computer dealer if the computer they are building you can have a DVD player added later without having to dismantle any of the other drives and without having to buy a new tower case.
8. How come when I use one browser, say Netscape, and switch to another...
You've just asked the million dollar question that is so frustrating to web developers who work so hard to get their pages to look the same on, at least, the two major browsers, Netscape and Explorer! When you visit a page on the internet,
all of the coding that is downloaded into your computer from the server is identical no matter which browser you are using, and yet the same coding for the same page looks different when you jump from browser to browser. As you know, the two
major browsers are created by different divisions of different companies. The two groups we are talking about here are highly competitive with one another. That leads to two results: 1) each company tries to introduce "new"
dynamic HTML or other special effects that the other browser has never seen, and 2) the browser developers continuously make subtle upgrades to the browsers to give you a better page view... the end result is that, when you visit websites with
different browsers they look a little different (although with some websites, the differences may be so subtle that you do not even notice them). If you have already downloaded Netscape 6 beta, you will have noticed that it presents pages more
like IE 5.01. These differences are actually good, and they will continue; they reflect the ongoing competition to develop cutting edge browser products. While this competition is somewhat frustrating to web developers, it is definitely
beneficial to those of us surfing the net!
9.
Dave, I don't know if I need to update my browsers, how do I know what versions I have?
To find which version of Netscape Communicator or Internet Explorer you have, you do exactly the same thing. Open either of the browsers, just as if you were getting on the internet. Now, go to "HELP" in the browser menu bar
across the top of the screen. From the "HELP" menu, scroll down and select "about Internet Explorer" (for Internet Explorer) or "about Communicator." (for Netscape Communicator). If you are using an older
version of Netscape, the option that will appear in the help menu will be "about Navigator" (and you will know you are very out-dated without going any further). When you click on any of these options ("about Internet
Explorer," or "about Communicator," a window will open that will show you the version of the browser you are using.
10.
Do I really need to get the latest of everything? I now have Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0...
Oh, BB, that is the kind of question that could put Dave's Faves Update Center right out of business! You're right; it is not necessary to update browsers very often (the major browsers are not updated very often as each update is intended to
introduce significantly improved features). To be perfectly honest, your Internet Explorer 4.0 should get you around the internet perfectly well and it is compatible with both "dynamic HTML" (DHTML) and "cascading style
sheets" (CSS) that web developers use to make their websites a little more "active" and a little more pleasing to the eye! However, there is a big jump in "convenience" features when you step up from IE 4.0 to IE
5.01. (note that there is a 5.5 beta version of IE but Dave's Faves has not recommended it yet because Dave has received too many reports of trouble with the beta version). IE 5.01 is compatible with expanded DHTML and CSS features and,
in addition, you can customize the toolbars. IE 5.01 has revamped the "history," "add favorites," and the "search" features, making them all easier to find, easier to understand and easier to use! Finally, IE
5.01 has a packet of added "Intellisense Auto-Tools" that will help you remember all of the different passwords you use at sites that you visit regularly, will help you complete forms and will help you auto-configure proxy settings if you
change internet service providers (ISP) or set up new e-mail accounts. These auto features are really nice... and IE 5.01 always asks you if you want it to help or remember, so you can quickly turn off any auto-feature that kicks in on the
screen! I would definitely make the upgrade from IE 4.0 to IE 5.01. To check to see which browser version you have, follow the steps outlined in the response to question #9 above. As far as media players are concerned, there are the
four I just have to have... #1) WinAmp to play MP3's... WinAmp is the best MP3 player and has a built in equalizer to optimize the music to your personal taste... #2) RealPlayer to play news and entertainment video vignettes... whether you want to
watch snipettes from a George Bush, Jr. interview or clips from Comedy Central... you'll need RealPlayer's video channel selection features... #3) Yahoo! Media Player... if you like Internet Radio stations... this is the easiest player to find and
save stations... you can find all the stations and build folders with all your favorite stations in them (country folder, bluegrass folder, polka folder, etc)... #4) Macromedia's ShockWave & FlashPlayer... have to have these to enjoy the latest
in website graphics technology and to play games and watch cartoons built with Macromedia technology!
11.
I noticed that you don't have a link to download Internet Explorer 5.5 beta version... (the IE 5.5 final version is now available... click here)
Does anyone really use browsers other than IE or Netscape... yes, and don't be fooled, Dave is testing additional browsers and developing internet systems which are growing in popularity but have not yet been selected for listing at Dave's Faves.
12. What screen resolution is best and how do I set screen resolution?
Sit at the computer with your husband and show him how to do this as you go through the steps... so the next time he messes up your computer screen, he can fix it on his own! Click on
start in the bottom left corner of your screen... select
settings from the pop-up menu... select
control panel... from the control panel options, double click on
display... the display properties window will pop open; select the
settings tab in the display properties window... use the slider near the bottom right to set the screen resolution to
800 X 600... you may also want to set your screen to 256 colors or more (some people playing high speed games like to choose 16 colors for marginally enhanced speed)... click on
apply in the bottom right corner... now click on
OK... turn your computer off and restart it! You are set to go! If your computer screen looks awful when you restart the computer, don't panic... you may have missed a step... go back and repeat the steps above and restart the
computer again!
13. If I order textbooks online... how long will it take me to get them?
I generally receive texts and software through the mail within 4-6 working days (weekdays) of the time I order them; always make sure that the company from which you are ordering has the book in stock before you order
it! Ask them in plain English, do you have the book in stock... if they say anything other than yes, then they do not have the book in stock.
14. I use GSView to view ps (postscript files)... can IE be configured to use GSView to open ps files in an IE window?
Wow, Stephen, you have hit on an interesting problem; which is a drawback with IE for advanced users. As you have mentioned, Netscape makes it convenient to select default programs within browser
preferences to open various downloaded file types, IE doesn't.
During installation of GSView, there should be an opportunity to accept GSView as the default Windows viewer for files with the extension .ps and .pdf. This option pops up during the installation process,
right after you accept the option to allow GSView to update the printer list. If you accept GSView as the default Windows viewer for files with the extension .ps, it should open any file with a .ps extension in a new window within the IE
browser when you double click on the .ps file name (well, let me put it this way... it is supposed to!). As installation of subsequent programs (eg. Illustrator) might have interfered with the default selections you made when installing GSView,
we would recommend that you try to re-install GSView and select it as your default .ps file viewer within Windows (hopefully, this will over-ride the Illustrator problem when running IE, which may have been caused by installation of programs after
installation of GSView). You may be able to make this change directly in the Windows setup by clicking on "Start," then choose "settings," then "folder options," then
"file types."
In the meantime, we will continue trying to determine if it is possible to set GSview as the default program to open post-script printer files directly within IE (ie. without re-installing GSView).
15. I keep getting script error messages!
Ooohhh, them ole networkin' blues! I take it that you are getting "script error" messages on your IE browser when you are trying to visit your favorite music download site! Try
the suggestion below... if it doesn't help, send us some more specifics about which browser you are running and exactly what you are doing when you get the script error message. Click on the start button in the bottom left and select
"settings." Now, select "Control Panel." From the Control Panel, select "Internet Options." Under Internet Options, select the "Advanced" tab. Now, on the advanced folder, find a square
marked "disable script debugging." Make sure that square is checked - then click on "OK," - don't click on the button to reset the defaults! Now, repeat the process with your browser; click on your browser icon with
your right mouse button; select properties from the pull down menu; then, select the "advanced" tab; you will see a bunch of squares appear in a list, some with check marks and some without - find the box labeled "disable script
debugging and make sure it has a checkmark - next, find the box marked "display a notification about every script error" and make sure there is no check mark in it! Then, click OK to close
(do not click on the button marked "restore defaults.")
16. I recently upgraded to Windows Media Player 7.0...
Excellent question. We'll break it down into a few parts because we ran into this same question in our department last week. First, Media Player does support MIDI files (as well as asx, wav, avi,
mpeg, vod, au, aiff, rmi, mp3, quicktime, realvideo and realaudio). Second, Media Player 7 will only work if you are running Windows 98 or 2000 (if you are running Windows 95 or Windows NT4, forget it, the headaches you encounter will be
enormous!). We don't know the specific cause of the problem you are having, but may be able to offer a fix! We assume you are running Windows 98 or 2000. Here are 2 options: 1) try re-installing Media Player 7.0 and be sure to
select it as your default player for the types of media it will support... if you already selected it as your default player... - before re-installing, you might want to try selecting Media Player 7.0 as your default player for various media by
opening Media Player, then clicking on "view," then select "options," then select "formats," then select all of the forms of media you want Media Player to handle, then click on "apply," and finally click on
"close"... 2) instead of downloading Media Player 7.0 independently, download it along with Internet Explorer 5.5. During the process, you may receive a message saying, "you have all of the selected components"... select
"proceed to re-install all components anyway." We did an independent download of Media Player in the spring (it was version 6.4) on a computer to be used for a presentation and Media Player would not play any of the media we wanted it
to play. We then downloaded it again as part of an Internet Explorer download and it worked! The mysteries of computing!!!
17. How do I get rid of my Yahoo! Player?...
You can delete your Yahoo! Player by clicking on the Yahoo icon with your right mouse button and selecting "delete" from the pop-up menu. To make sure that Yahoo! is deleted, click on the start
button in the lower left hand corner, select programs, then select Yahoo! (if it is still listed as being present on your computer), click on Yahoo! with your right mouse button and select "delete." To make sure the program will not
re-install itself from within your hard drive, select "start," then "settings," then "control panel," then "add/remove programs," then select the program to be removed from the list that will appear, then click
on "add/remove," then select "yes" when asked if you want to completely remove the selected application. You will then have to reboot your computer. If you had problems with Yahoo, let us know... we will use the
information to help make decisions regarding future ratings!
18. How do I burn MP3 files on my new HP CD writer?...
Think of your writeable CD drive as nothing more than a drive - just a place where you need to save files, just like a 3.5" floppy drive or a zip drive (it is really no different). In order to record
music files as MP3 files, you need to have software that will interface with your CD drive and download MP3 files onto your CD's. No problem; we recommend that you try Jet Audio, which allows you to save MP3's as MP3's! In addition, the
Jet Audio website has tutorials on handling audio files - they claim they will have you saving true audio files on CD, in MP3 format, within one hour! Consider downloading and trying Jet Audio... there is a free adware version and a $29 version
that allows you to bypass all of the advertising.
CLICK HERE!
(you may also wish to consider Media Wizard software - although it costs $50)
19. How do I reset my easy access button...
This specific problem is incompletely addressed by Compaq on one of their technical support pages - they recommend that you call
1-800-652-6672 for technical support (however, see comments to follow). Just out of curiosity, did you run Compaq's "Quick Restore" program on your 5600 series Compaq computer - if you
did, the program sets your default browser to IE 4.0 (as the program only runs with IE 4.0 as browser). You can restore the default browser to anything you like by re-installing browsers or finding the "internet options" setting in
the browsers and setting AOL as your default browser. However, as the AOL browser is vastly inferior to Internet Explorer 5.5, we would recommend that you simply install Internet Explorer 5.5! (IE 4.0 is long since outdated - but once you
surf the net with IE 5.5, it is unlikely that you will ever be tempted to go back to the AOL browser).
20. How do I get my speakers to work with my players...
This depends a little bit on which version of Windows you are running and how you set it up, but should not be difficult to fix. Your CD player has an independent mechanical volume control (for playing
music CD's) and may play louder than stuff you play using internet media players. OK, first, look in the bottom right corner of your screen and see if there is a picture of a speaker there (among the tiny icons to the left of the time
display). If there is, click on the speaker with your right mouse button and select "open volume controls" from the pop up menu. If there is not a picture of a speaker there, click on the start button in the bottom left corner
of your screen, then select control panel, then select multimedia, and adjust the volume within the multimedia menus (under audio, you will also find an option to "show volume control on the taskbar").
21. I am using AOL to browse...
We recommend that you download and use either Internet Explorer or Netscape Communicator to eliminate problems you are experiencing with the AOL browser. The file types you mention do not need to be
converted to text or other formats in order to download them. If you like the AOL browser, you might find that changing to Netscape Communicator will make for a more comfortable transition to these more powerful browsers. Netscape and AOL
have merged.
22. Can I clear the Windows Media Player file play list...
Sorry about taking so long to respond to this question that has now been submitted by several people. Strangely enough, there is no edit function in Windows Media Player that lets you clear the played file
list - at least not that we can find. You should be able to clear the played file list by clicking on Start in the bottom left corner of your screen, then click on "Settings," then click on "Taskbar & Start Menu."
Now select the "Start Menu" menu tab and click on "Clear" contents of documents and other personal history lists. If you want to remove an old version of Media Player or any other program prior to re-installing the program,
again, click on "Start," then select "Control Panel," then select "add/remove programs." Select the program you wish to remove from the list of available programs; as the program is already in the computer, the
operating system will know that you want to remove it and will do so.
24. How do I burn the songs I have downloaded with Napster onto a cd?
There are several programs available with which you can do this - but we would recommend that you try JetAudio first (as you can download it
for free) and if you are not satisfied with JetAudio, then try Media Wizard (although it costs $50)
25. Are the features of AOL 6.0 and Netscape 6.0 identical...
No, the two browsers and their features are not identical, even though AOL and Netscape have merged - they are most similar in their "communications" features. Note that Dave's Faves does not
list the AOL browser among its recommended browsers. The AOL browser was actually based on design principles closer to those used by Internet Explorer than to Netscape; however, the AOL browser has traditionally had some severe limitations (see
our response to question 21, above) that were not experienced by Internet Explorer or Netscape users. Recognize that most site developers do not concern themselves with how their sites appear or operate when viewed with the AOL browser; of
course, this is not true of developers putting sites on AOL servers. Remember, just because AOL is your internet service provider, you do not have to use their browser. The AOL browser still has some Javascript limitations and may have
some advanced HTML limitations. In addition, some internet capable media programs simply will not operate from within the AOL browser - Hyperstudio is an example. While I continue to believe that Netscape is a more "secure"
browser than Internet Explorer, particularly if you disable cookies, I am not personally convinced that Internet security is an issue of concern for AOL (although I may be wrong). I admire the fact that AOL has expanded to take the Internet to
the people, but the AOL browser seems to me to have been designed to direct (and thus indirectly keep) AOL users within a framework of sites posted only by AOL customers and AOL supporters. This perceived framework probably results from AOL's
major emphasis on developing a communication net, rather than an information net. Finally, the size of the AOL browser download package is 45 megs - meanwhile Netscape 6.0 (more powerful than the AOL browser) has been streamlined to 9.5 megs
(so it is no surprise that one of the 4 major complaints I repeatedly receive about AOL is that the AOL browser frequently locks up computers).
26. Unable to open PDF files using IE 5.5...
A couple simple things first... don't get angry... remember that PDF files cannot be displayed in IE if your monitor is set for 256 colors or less or if you have less than 24 MB or RAM... I assume that neither
of these problems is an issue here. Make sure you have properly installed and configured the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader,
which I believe is (at this time) version 4.05c. When using IE, save PDF files to your hard drive by right mouse clicking on the link to the PDF file and selecting Save Link as...
27. Where can I download the full version of IE 5.5?
Microsoft fairly jealously guards their download sites, so you are really stuck using the download link at the
microsoft download center unless you can find someone with a copy of IE 5.5 on disk. The quick internet setup file (498K) is just a startup program that you use to accept the license agreement and initiate the download procedure - ie.
you have to download the internet setup file (IE5setup.exe) in order to download and install IE 5.5 Right now, the download center is indicating that there were some incompatibilities between Windows 2000 and the download version select option
- and the only versions downloadable over the internet at the current time are minimal and typical (typical installation is about 12 megs). After you install the internet setup file, and accept the license agreement, you will be asked which
version you wish to download.
28. How can I put Windows Media Player on my site?
You can apply to Microsoft for permission to operate a site which will directly download the media player - you would have to install the necessary programs to do this on your server - otherwise, you can provide
a link to the appropriate Microsoft download location. I just use the following graphic (from Microsoft) and link to their Media Player download site. On the appropriate page of your site, recommend that visitors download Media Player to
view your media (the link is www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/download/default.asp )
29. How do I use a CDDAE program without any instructions?
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you on this! We downloaded the specific program called CDDAE.EXE - it was available in zipped format - after we downloaded the program, we tried to unzip it - but we
were told we had to have a password to unzip the program - and where does one get such a password? - we were never able to find out! We found another site that let us download another program called CDDAE.EXE in a format that we were able to
unzip... here is what we have to say.... forget about CDDAE.EXE! If you want a program that you can use to convert your digital music files into formats that you can save on CD's, we recommend JetAudio... they have a comprehensive website with plenty of instructions, plenty of FAQ's and plenty of technical help if you need it.
30. Do they need an MPEG player or is there a way to format the CD to play without any Media Players?
Your relatives will need to use a media player that will handle MPEG (and, of course, most media players will do that). Chances are, your relatives already have a media player associated with their
browser that will handle MPEG's, but if not, why not tell them to download RealPlayer and set it as their default player. It was number one among Dave's Fave's visitors in a survey last year, there is a free version available which is powerful,
and, when they install it, they will be asked if they would like to use it as their default media player (in other words, they don't have to do anything technically difficult to make it their default player)... which is what you want (ie. you want
their media player to fire up automatically so they don't have to do anything special when they visit your site, right?... nothing is worse than getting an e-mail from a Aunt Tilley in Minneapolis telling you that your website doesn't work!
31. Why not recommend Windows Media Player for MP3's?
We do recommend Windows Media Player and you will find that we give it a "two horns up" rating on our
media player page. It is a great general media player, it ranks up there pretty close to RealPlayer among our visitor surveys and it handles MP3's reliably (and just about any other type of media format you are likely to run into on the
internet). While it is convenient to be able to download Windows Media Player along with Internet Explorer, we don't accept the tenet that this is just cause to give Media Player special status over other media players that are more highly
specialized for dealing with particular media formats. This is particularly true where certain players have a more highly specialized user interface for dealing with specialized media. The bottom line is that we need more than one media
player. For example, I have not seen any recent online survey that has rated any MP3 player above WinAmp...
32. How do I get rid of my old home pages?
First off, let me say that I think it is great that you are trying to get rid of the old pages... old leftover pages that are no longer tended are a problem for people seeking information on the internet... I
have been in this situation and know of many people who have been in the same situation. In hindsight, always remove or transfer pages before closing out your account with an ISP. Once your account is closed and your password access is
removed, you are powerless to remove old pages on your own. Herein lies the crux of the internet; it is impossible to own any piece of the internet... you can only rent space there. If you no longer have account access (ie. you cannot
delete pages through FTP, FrontPage or other means), you need to request your old ISP to remove the pages. Generally, the most successful method of doing this is by telephone call to your old ISP's technical help line... while you are on the
phone, they should be able to determine that your account is no longer active and to delete the folder that contains your pages. There is no reason for them to refuse to delete the pages... if for some strange reason, they will not delete the
pages, inform them that you are contacting the Better Business Bureau immediately... and then do it! Those old pages will come offline real fast.
33. Does AOL block download of Napster... and where is the best place to get music?
Hey, John, how exciting to hear from someone who graduated from my Alma Mater! On a more serious note... if AOL is blocking the download of Napster, I have not heard anything about it... I will send out a
note tonight (Feb 6th) to my online students using AOL and find out if any of them have been able to download Napster (
John, I have heard back from a couple students using AOL who have successfully downloaded Napster)... I cannot find anything on any of the AOL pages that implies that AOL is blocking the download of Napster... although I suspect that AOL, like
other ISP's, is not thrilled with the extra load encountered when customers use home computers as music servers (although we say "power to you"). As far as finding music goes... you are facing the same battle all of us are... there
are just endless places to look... so what is best? Make a recommendation and we will add it here at Dave's Faves... in fact... if you will give us a few recommendations, we will start a page of links to great places to download music... in the
meantime, a good starting point would be...
34. Windows Media Player is not working with my Windows Millenium Edition.
As you already know, Microsoft has not addressed the particular error message you are getting on their ME support page (although they currently list 7 other error messages received when using Media Player with Windows ME). Your error
message implies that there is a problem with a specific driver file (.dll) in your Media Player. You have already re-installed Windows ME and I assume the install included Windows Media Player... it sounds like the copy of Windows Media Player
that you are installing may be corrupt. I would suggest trying this... click on your start button, scroll up the pop-up menu to "settings," and then select "control panel." Open the control panel and select
"add/remove programs." Scroll down through the list of programs and select Windows Media Player... then delete it by clicking on the "add/remove" button at the bottom of the add/remove panel. If you have any Windows
Media Player icons remaining on your main screen, drag them into the trash. Now, re-boot your computer, head to Microsoft and download Windows Media Player only. Do not try to re-install Media Player from a disk... download it only from
the Microsoft Download site. After completing the installation, re-boot your computer and see if Media Player works... if not, then there is probably an error in your Windows ME software that is preventing your copy of Windows from recognizing
one of the Media Player driver files. If this is the case, tell Microsoft you need another copy of Windows ME.
35. Can I convert ASX files to WAV files?
ASX files are text based files which link to streaming resource media and open Windows Media Player so that Media Player can then play the appropriate streaming media files. ASX files cannot be converted to WAV files.
36. Why is the music or sound skipping and volume changing when I play my CD's or listen to other music?
The bad news is that this could cost you some money if your computer is no longer under warranty. It sounds like you have established that you are having sound problems no matter what media format you are
playing. That is a pretty sure indicator of one of two things... i) the connections in your sound system are bad somewhere, or ii) your sound card is "kaput." If you are satisfied that all of the connections in your sound system
are working, you probably need a new "sound card." Sound cards are reasonably priced but must be installed and configured in your computer - if you have not installed "cards" in your computer before, call around and find a
dealer who will sell you a good sound card and include installation with the price of the card (don't get discouraged if the first one or two places you call wants to charge you to install the sound card - with just a bit of patience, you will find a
dealer who will install one for only the cost of the card).
37. Why does the radio keep stopping and buffering?
I know exactly how annoying this can be! But it is not the fault of your Window's Media Player. The speed of buffering has to do primarily with compression of the signal being relayed to your computer (you have
no control over that) and the speed of your internet modem. I live in the country and must use a telephone (56k/sec) modem - if I am listening to a radio station, and my computer tries to perform any large task at the same time (for example,
downloading a bunch of e-mail), I will experience periodic gaps in the music. If you live in town and can get hooked up with a cable modem, the problem will be almost entirely eliminated other than at times when your ISP is phenomenally
busy. We use ethernet connections at work (which run at roughly the same speed as the average cable modem), and we still experience occasional buffering delays, especially at peak internet hours.
38. "I bought a DVD/CD ROM player at ubid.com for $39.00..." (followed by a depressing horror story...)
First of all, thank you for sending information about this problem to Dave's Faves. I think that people should be forewarned about problems with purchasing second party auction items online. Ubid.com
makes it clear on their site that they take no responsibility for problems with products sold over their site or for fraudulent activity by sellers using their site (in hindsight, this should make it clear that there are many dissatisfied Ubid.com
customers who have been stung the way you have been - unfortunately, while you are a Ubid patron, it was not Ubid that stung you... it was a seller using the Ubid system that stung you)... in my opinion, and in the opinion of a number of colleagues
with whom I have consulted, unless there was a clear statement that a piece of electronic hardware which requires software and cables "is not accompanied by software and cables," then you have been defrauded by the seller of the item.
Quite frankly, if I received a new piece of electronic hardware not accompanied by any manuals or cables, I would immediately assume that I was in receipt of stolen goods (even toasters come with manuals now). Ubid.com does have an
"exchange rating system" that allows you to rate the level of satisfaction with a particular seller - they also recommend that if you have been defrauded, that you contact the Better Business Bureau and a number of other business watchdog
organizations that they have listed at their site... follow this link to start complaining... (by the way, the best way to sting the stinger is to report them to the Better Business Bureau).
Now, if you are satisfied that the item you have received does not represent stolen goods and you want to get the item working, I would recommend that you take the item to a Rex electronics store, a Radio Shack store, or find out where the nearest
Panasonic Dealer in your area is... follow this link to find a local Panasonic Dealer. In the meantime, I will try to contact the good people at Panasonic (I use some of their electronics
and they are great) and ask them if anything goes out of their factory without cables and booklets.
39. How do I view mpg, avi or listen to audio in newsgroups using Microsoft Outlook Express?
You need to install a Windows compatible media player such as
Windows Media Player - be sure to select "run program from current location" if asked during the download procedure. During installation, be sure to select Windows Media Player as the default media player when prompted.
When running other Microsoft programs (like Outlook), when a media player is required, Windows Media Player (your default media player) will be opened.
40. "Windows Media Player unable to access this media, you may not be connected to the network."
First, it is obvious from your e-mail that you have a good deal of technical expertise... so you may not like my approach to solving the problem you are having with streaming media, but hear me out on
this. I take it that you are a "died in the wool" Netscape user (I used to be one too so I can't say too much). But remember, you are running Netscape with a Microsoft media player. I would try downloading and installing
Internet Explorer together with the Windows Media Player, making Windows Media Player my default media player for all internet-based media. See if this works for you... if it does work, then at least you know that the problem is not with your
operating system, and you can continue to play bitstreaming media (using IE) while you try to figure out what the problem is with Netscape. Windows media player will work in combination with Netscape, but I don't know how reliably it will do
so... most problems that I hear related to Netscape are problems people have with the 6.0 version. If you really prefer Netscape over Internet Explorer (and for a long time, I did), you might enjoy getting back to the real heart of Netscape
with the Mozilla browser. (OK, at this point you are saying, "Hey, this guy is not solving my problem, he is just working around it." OK, guilty as charged). To get back to your original question, if you are going to try
to run WMP with your netscape browser, you need to re-install the browser... I run Netscape 4.73 and it works with WMP... you may want to check your Netscape properties and make sure that Windows Media Player Plug-in Dynamic Link is enabled (which it
should be). Look under help in the browser, then select "about plug-ins."
41. How Can I Configure Outlook Express for Hotmail...
Open your e-mail program and select "tools" from the menu bar... then select "accounts" from the pull down menu.... next, select the "mail" tab from the accounts menu... now click
on the "Add" button... the internet e-mail wizard will open and ask you for the e-mail address from which you wish to retrieve mail... type in your correct hotmail e-mail address and the wizard will pretty much do everything else for you...
Outlook Express has been made very user friendly for Hotmail users! When you set up a hotmail account using Outlook Express, and select either "I'd like to set up a new account with Hotmail, or type in a Hotmail address, Outlook Express
has a wizard which will automatically complete the required connect information (http://services.msn.com/svcs/hotmail/httpmail.asp) ... you should not have to type in a POP3 or SMTP address. If you want to know what the POP3 and SMTP address
are for your default e-mail account with your ISP, click on Tools, select accounts, select mail, click on properties, select server... and the information will be displayed.
42.
Why won't Flashplayer come up on my computer?
Flashplayer is a browser plug-in... it will operate automatically when required.
43. Why does Media Player open Internet Explorer?
As you know, an ASX file is intended to tell Media Player what type of file it needs to play and where to find it... when I use Media Player and click on stations listed under "radio," I find some dead
(or offline) links, some short, medium and long adds that play once and shut down, some musical singles available for purchase on CD and some streaming radio stations. Many of the asx files tell Media Player to open web pages or open companion
web pages as media files play; in these cases, Media Player calls on Internet Explorer to open the accompanying web pages. I find that when I perform searches for actual streaming internet radio stations, I have more luck with the Yahoo!
Player... that is, more of the radio station links I find with Yahoo! Player are actually streaming internet radio stations as opposed to finite files.
44. MPG files burned on my CD's are not running at continuous speed...
First of all, Mike, let me apologize for not getting to this sooner... I am falling way behind during the summer break... I don't think the problem is with your CD player (if it is, you will have the same
problem with other CD's... for example, any music CD). As you are playing the files directly from your CD player... as opposed to receiving them as bitstreaming files from the internet, there is no buffering involved... your computer is playing
them directly from the CD drive. Have you tried playing the CD's on another computer... I'll bet they do the same thing on another computer, which would indicate that the problem is with the files on the CD, and not with the CD or the CD
player.
45. An intriguing problem with WMP and Netscape...
Hi Patrick... OK, you continue to stump us with this one... the Windows Media Services and Windows Media Player Plug-Ins have to be enabled in your Netscape Browser. The only way I know to enable the
plug-ins is to successfully download the WMP program with a compatible version of Netscape... if you look through your list of Netscape Plug-ins and do not find the Media Player plug-ins or do not find them enabled... then you need to download WMP
with Netscape. Let me ask you this... does your WMP play streaming media independently of your browsers or does your problem only occur when you try to play streaming media through a website you have found using Netscape? Can you receive
bitstreaming media with other media players... like Yahoo!? - send me an e-mail at currie@etsu.edu
46. Where can I find Netscape Enterprise?
As you probably already know, Netscape's own Enterprise Download Page no longer exists, although links to it can be found in the original (non-AOL) Netscape download pages.
http://www.qualityimage.com/everything/11105.html - 3.5 and 3.5.1 demo downloads
http://www.iplanet.com/downloads/download/index.html - for new iPlanet Enterprise server downloads
47. How do I get better sound quality when I am listening to music on the Internet?
Kelly, you have just asked the multi-million dollar question that the top of the line media software developers ask themselves everyday when they wake up! You get the best sound quality by using the best media players...
based on e-mails I receive, our readers cannot agree on which media player that is... but for music lovers, one thing most people agree with is that the media player you choose to download and use should have the following attributes... it should
have a great equalizer (so you can adjust the sound to your own preferences; the more frequency ranges on the equalizer the better), it should be small, it should bitstream really quickly and preferably begin to play as it receives, you should be
able to optimize it for your connection speed so that it will bitstream more efficiently and with fewer sound breaks... and it should look great with customizable skins so you can change the appearance once in a while or change the appearance to
something you like and leave it... that narrows the playing field quite a bit... a year ago, a reader poll at Dave's Faves found RealPlayer to be the best overall media player (by a huge margin)... for MP3's though, most of our readers would choose
WinAmp... for radio and news, a lot of people also like Windows Media Player (although it is not as popular as RealPlayer - at least among visitors to this site). Then for Midi files you run into on a lot of sites, the most popular player (and
a great sounding player at that, is Crescendo). Try out different players, try out their features and listen to how well they play different files, how easily you can adjust sound quality and how easy they are to use... then use the properties
feature for each program to set it to play the default files you want it to play (for example, in Windows Media Player, select Tools, Options, Formats... to choose which types of files you want MediaPlayer to play automatically upon download).
It is a good idea to use each player for several days to give it a fair chance... it is human nature to avoid change and each time you try a new player you may feel that it is not as good as the previous one you tried... finally, don't get stuck on
using one player and one player only!!!
48. How do I play my Napster files after removing a wrong version?
Immediately head back to Napster.com and download the latest version of Napster at http://www.napster.com/win/download/ - if the newest download has problems playing any of
your older files (Napster says many of the bugs with the most recent version have been worked out), check out Napster's "play my files" help page at http://www.napster.com/help/win/manual/myfiles.html.
49. My WMP is locking up...
Alejandra, you may not be too impressed with my suggestions... but here goes. If your 6.4 is working, but your 7.1 is not, I would consider re-installing 7.1 from scratch. Your ADSL connection should not present a
problem... but be sure to select default DSL download speeds using tools -> options -> performance and set your modem speed to the correct DSL receiving speed (remember, you are receiving a lot faster than you are sending, select your receiving
speed here)... make sure you have used tools->options->formats to select all of the default types of media you want WMP to play. OK, I tried to get my WMP to "lock up" and I was
able to do it... what mine did was it locked in place and kept repeating a few words over and over while the video frame was totally locked. I had to reboot in order to escape. Now, here's how I achieved the lockup... I opened and began
running FrontPage, Copernic, IE, Netscape Communicator, Outlook (by the way, I currently have over 13,000 e-mails in my Outlook folders) and WMP (in other words, I multi-tasked my way to a lockup). So that raises a number of possibilities...
are you multi-tasking while using Media Player... if so, try closing a few programs... are you re-booting your computer occasionally to close out hidden execute and driver files... if not, re-boot before putting on those headphones and setting sail
on the internet... ... if none of this helps, and assuming your processor and any additional sound or video cards you have are pretty recent, consider sending an e-mail to your ISP technical people and ask them what they would recommend as the ideal
RAM/cache setup for the ADSL hookup they are providing and spend a few dollars on an upgrade if necessary (you may have more than enough hardware already, but if not, a few dollars would be well spent to enjoy the optimize the benefits of the DSL
connection)...
50. Why do I keep getting expired security certificates?
The problem is not with your browser... the problem is with the sites you are accessing... internet security certificates may be obtained by persons setting up websites... a second party "certificate authority"
verifies to your browser that this is indeed the real certified site (and prevents you from being "taken to the cleaners" by a fraudulent mirror site - recently, for example, all of the government sites in Malaysia were mirrored
illegally). Obtaining security certificates was very popular and many sites which probably did not need them obtained them... it is not uncommon for such sites to have allowed the certificate to expire (that is, the contract for verification by
the second party "certificate authority" was not renewed). You may want to contact the sites you deal with to ask them if they are working on a secure server... that is, your personal and credit card information is encrypted and only
the people you send it to can decipher it!
51. How do I play my Napster files after removing a wrong version?
Go to http://de.etsu.edu/hsci3022/publicweb/browsers.htm and click on the icon for the browser you wish to download. You will be taken to the download page
for the browser you select. Once there, click wherever you see links to download the latest version of the appropriate browser. During the process, you may be asked if you would like to "save the file" or "install from
current location." If you are asked this question, select, "install from current location." This selection will cause the browser to be properly installed by the computer from which you are downloading the browser... and
will make the process a lot easier for you!
52. Windows Media Player not working following switch to Windows 2000!
Hi Tanya, you are not the first person I've heard from with this problem... a complete deletion and re-installation of WMP solved the other individual's problem and hopefully will do the same for you. When you upgrade to
Windows 2000, there are some problems with driver file compatibilities. Rather than just re-installing WMP (which may save components already installed), start by deleting WMP from your computer... do this by clicking on "start," then
"settings," then "control panel." From the control panel, select "add/remove programs." Scroll down and highlight Windows Media Player 7.1 and then click on the "add/remove" button. Go back to
the main computer screen and if you see the Windows Media Player icon there, drag it into the recycle bin. Now, shut down and restart your computer. You are ready to re-install WMP... use this link...
GET WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER 7!
53. In need of an mp43 video decompressor!
Hi Billy, I am hoping that you can find all the compressor/decompressors (codecs) you require here...
http://w1.463.telia.com/~u46307158/extfaq/codecs.html.
54. Unable to copy files from internet sites!
Sounds like you have run into a site which has set up some code to prevent people from copying files... usually, messages on sites where copying has been blocked say things like, "right mouse button functions have
been disabled," or something like the messages you found. While it is easy to get around such blocks, decide if you really want to copy the file. If you do, contact the webmaster at the site from which you are trying to copy the
file.
55. Can my friends use playlists I send them by e-mail?
Hi Hope, I know we sent several e-mails back and forth regarding this question. Once your friends receive your playlist, they need to save the playlist somewhere on their computer... then open their windows media
player and select
file, then
import playlist. Now, they just tell the computer where the playlist is... the playlist will play as long as it is a list of i) media available online, ii) radio presets, or iii) song files they have already downloaded into their
computer (with exactly the same file names the songs have in your computer). While the best playlists are probably those that play songs that bitstream from the internet, remember that many of those songs will eventually disappear from the
internet locations specified in the playlists (recognizing this, Windows has tried to make it easy to add and delete songs from playlists).
56. How do I know which codecs my friends need to play videos I send them?
Start by making your friends update their media players... this way, they will be able to play all of the same media you can play with your updated media player. If you are keeping your media player up-to-date
and find that you require a codec to play a file, they will need the same codec you need... remember, you can probably find the codec you need at
http://w1.463.telia.com/~u46307158/extfaq/codecs.html.
57. How do I forward e-mail attachments?
Just open the e-mail with the attached file you wish to forward... when you click on "forward" in the top bar menu, the attachment will be forwarded along with the text in the original e-mail you
received. If you wish to send the attachment on your own original e-mail, just save the attachment, then attach the saved file to your new e-mail.
58. How do I remove Netscape from the Startup Menu?
Hi John... I am not certain that this is the info you are looking for... but click on your start button, then select "settings," then "taskbar and start menu," and then "start
menu," and then "remove," and then select whichever programs you wish to remove from the start menu.
59. Please don't tell me I can't convert WMP files to AVI...
Hi Rebecca... the Media Player ASX files are specific text files to tell WMP where files are located and what type of media they are... they cannot be converted to AVI... the playlists are just links to
addtional bitstreaming media sources and also cannot be converted to AVI. In general, the WMP files act as an interface between you and the media and are not specifically media files of themselves.
60.
Want to get new skins for my Windows Media Player...
Hi Jordy... You can use the skins selector button on the Windows 7.0 or 7.1 versions of WMP to choose skins already saved in your computer (default download skins) or, after clicking on the Skins button, choose the "more skins" option
which will take you to the WMP skins gallery at Skins Gallery on WindowsMedia.com. Then you can select new skins which will auto-download and be added to your WMP list of
available skins when you click on the main skins button in the main menu list in your WMP interface. It sounds like you are also wanting to find a way to import skins from other programs into WMP... quite frankly, that sounds like a great idea,
but as far as I know it can't be done... I don't know what would happen if someone developed a program that could lift skins from one program and adapt them to other programs... it would be a popular program with users but very unpopular with
software developers (even though skins are generally free). I don't think you can use skins with WMP versions preceding 7.0 and you can't download the 7 series WMP's on computers running Windows 95 or Windows NT OS's.
61. Wanting to get rid of that AOL browser...
Hi Startraveler. If you are still an AOL user (which I take it you aren't), you have to keep the AOL browser to link to the Internet... after which you can minimize the AOL browser and then open your
preferred browser (but closing the AOL browser will break your internet link). To remove the AOL browser, or any program, click on your start button, then select "settings" from the pop-up menu. Under settings, select
"control panel." In the control panel, select the "add/remove programs" icon. Double click on the add/remove programs icon and scroll down and remove anything you find with the term "AOL" in it. Be sure
to drag any AOL icons on your main screen into the recycle bin. Next, click on your start button again and this time select "taskbar and start menu." Select the "start menu" tab and then click on the "remove"
button. You will be given a list of programs that appear in your start menu. Delete anything related to AOL. Now, shut down and restart your computer and you should be set to go (assuming that you have all of your new ISP settings
have been entered).
62. Why am I getting red "X's" when downloading web pages...
Hi Golliwog. The problem is most likely with your browser settings or internet connection. Let's tackle the browser problem first. The little red x's are elements which are not downloading
properly, possibly because of your browser settings. I will assume you are using IE. Click on your IE icon with your right mouse button... select "properties" from the pop-up menu. Select the advanced folder tab.
Scroll down to the "multimedia" section and make sure that the "show pictures" square is checked and that the "show image download placeholders" square is NOT checked. Alternately, just click on the "restore
defaults" button at the bottom of the advanced menu screen and then select OK. Shut down and re-start the computer. If the problem is not solved, then the next most likely problem is your connection speed. When packets are
being received too slowly, some Microsoft program (especially FrontPage but sometimes IE) will place "image placeholders" (squares with red X's) where images are supposed to appear. You may need to get a faster modem, change ISP's if
you find that all downloads are miserably slow... or, if you find the problem is only with some websites, the problem may be that you are visiting sites that are utilizing obsolete servers which are miserably slow. If the problem is not with
your browser, contact the technical help line at your ISP, tell them your modem speed and what is happening and get their suggestions. If you have a fast modem, there is always a possibility that you have a modem problem; generally modems do
not transmit slowly when they burn up... they just quit... and most modems are pretty reliable... they rarely burn up!
63. How do I know which codec my friends need to play MPEG's I send them?
Hi Peter. You won't know which codec they need unless your computer asks you do download the same codec because it can't play the MPEG either. If your computer is not asking for the codec, that means
your system has the codec already. Get your friends to update to the same version operating system, browser and media player that you are using and the problem should take care of itself. In the meantime, if they are looking for codecs
(compression, decompression software), look at
http://w1.463.telia.com/~u46307158/extfaq/codecs.html.
64. I need the plug-in to view PPS files.
Hi Lorraine... those are PowerPoint Slide shows you can open with the free Power Point Viewer (or you can purchase PowerPoint or MS-Office with PowerPoint). The viewer is available at http://office.microsoft.com/downloads/2000/Ppview97.aspx. It's about 2.8 megs.
65. Getting my media player to play selected media types by default...
Hi Rich. I will assume that you are running
Windows Media Player... probably 6.4 as it was the most recent version that was compatible with your previous OS (W'95) and you mentioned that you re-installed the same player you had previously. OK... open your WMP... click on
"view,"... then select "options,"... then click on the "formats" tab... you can select all of the types of media you would like WMP to be the default player for or just click on the "select all" button and then
the "apply" button and then "OK." In theory, you should be set to go.
If you are using
RealPlayer... the idea is the same... open RealPlayer, select "view,"... click on "preferences,"... select the "upgrade" tab... then click on the "re-associate" button and then check all of the boxes for
the types of media you want RealPlayer to play by default. When finished, just keep clicking on "OK" until you are back to the player interface.
66. Some Windows programs don't recognize sound card...
Hi Jim. OK, you know your physical installation is OK, because the card would not work at all if it was not installed correctly... do you have the correct driver files installed? If you need
to download the sound driver file, you can find it here... http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10117-100-1758174.html. Assuming you have the correct driver files
installed, I would shut off the computer, reboot and re-run the the hardware installation sequence... ie. click on "start," then select "settings," then select "control panel," then select "add new
hardware," and let the operating system run its own search for the new hardware. Shut down and re-boot the system and see if it runs. I am also puzzled why the sound card would run with the browser, but not with WMP (which is
especially puzzling if you are running IE as your browser)... but I have seen some very puzzling incompatibilities this week with regard to some Microsoft programs.
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David Currie
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Revised: February 05, 2002