This is the home page of John Brock Computing Services.
If you need help on any of the hardware or software provided by me at
any time in the past, please click support.
Here you will find all the relevant details regarding my services
provided to clients.
If you need to purchase or want to discuss any of my products, please
click on products.
Or if you would really like to read my blog, it ishere.
Just a few of the things we deal with every day.
Click a photo on the left to view full size.
Windows Updates Fail!
[Error 0x8DDD0018 - services not the same as M$ would like...]
So today is "Patch Tuesday", er Friday, But the update on my 'veteran' XP PC failed. When I tried to run the update manually, the web page checking the services failed with error 0x8DDD0018. It gives instructions on how to check on the services and to reset them to working condition. Funny thing, mine were alll 'started' and running. But they were not necessarily automatic or manual. The 'checker' failed with the above error code. So I checked on the web pages given on the 'help' page... nothing found. It does not 'know' the error code and fails to tell you anything about 'your problem'...
Warning this XP update/patch is 250MB and will take you closer to the 'cap' on your Internet connection. As it is halfway through the month it might take you over your 'cap'.
Don't put the update/patch off. These are mostly security patches and are mandatory for the ongoing security of your PC. Unless you are going to change to Ubuntu or disconnect from the Internet right now, pay (or lobby) your isp for more Megabytes!
This weekend has been informative, instructive and wet!
A relatively peaceful weekend from Friday but with another 'incident' in Windows XP. My friend Roy, came to me with a "Scareware Virus" called MS Removal Tool. (My first thought was - what a good idea - maybe Ubuntu...) But no, this turned into a 'major mission' to remove and recover control of his PC. It would not allow him to use any of the standard anti-virus measures nor run any diagnostic software like 'Task Manager'.
How did he get it?
Very simple, he went to a web site that had been 'click-jacked' and without him knowing, the 'virus' was installed on his PC. He was using Internet Explorer and he has Microsoft's Security Essentials. Unfortunately both are side-tracked and bypassed by this rogue software.
This is the same category of malware that disrupted another client's PC recently. There it was called 'AntiVir'. It would not allow the user to remove the virus without going into 'safe mode'. This is not the easiest of methods for an inexperienced user who may have never seen 'Press F8 to enter safe mode.'
Tools of the trade
Various web sites offer software 'tools' that will 'get rid of' this malware. One is:
Spyware doctor
http://www.spyware-experts.com/ms-removal-tool/
another is:
MalwareBytes Anti-malware
http://www.malwarebytes.org/
There are a lot of others, too numerous to go into here. Some give manual methods for removal. But state that this will be limited in effectiveness as the 'virus' changes the file names and registry entries on a daily basis. This also confirms the conclusion that I had come to, that no single anti-malware product is going to be 100% effective.
What did I use?
I used the latest 'Hiren's Boot CD' to boot his PC into mini Windows XP. [You can download it from: http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/] Then I ran three of the malware removal tools on that CD. All ran and said that they had completed a 'removal' or 'clean'. We then rebooted into his Windows XP and ran 'msert'.
That is Microsoft's Safety Scanner tool that you can download from:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-za/default.aspx
This 'tool' runs, scans and removes with an up to date malware table. It 'expires' in 10 days so that you will always need to download the latest version.
When we rebooted his PC into Windows, we found no trace of the virus. Thank goodness.
Change your browser now!
So the WebChecker was giving some terrible load times for several web sites. I checked and found that in one case the browser version was 'crashing' the web site!
Quite a few sites have a 'diversion' page that tells you to change the browser to a 'modern' browser. This causes a substantial delay in loading.
As I could not update my browser from IE6 to 7 on the WebChecker PC. (No updates exist for Windows 2000.)
I had to put in place another PC. A 'broken' XP laptop. It has IE7 on it and the WebChecker is checking the sites as usual.
Of course subject to a connection to the Internet. Most afternoons recently I have had to unplug the ADSL router because of the lightning.
The lightning on the West Rand.
Now Its the cell phone browsers that don't display this page correctly!
The picture gallery (above) does not display nicely on Chrome or on my new n97. Ho hum.
Then not all browsers run the same functions. Just take a look at the prototype Clock page
I am still working on my 'blogging' page.
Coming soon (to a web page near you), I shall have an intermittent blog operating on this page. The database is constructed and the entry program is functional.
If you are thinking of becoming a programmer, don't! (Until you have read this)
I despair sometimes at the obstacles a young programmer now has to overcome in taking up a programming language.
It used to be so easy! Sure there is much more choice of language nowadays. But the programmer will have some preferences about the language.
Not all 'youngsters' are masochists like me, choosing to take up assembler first and then moving to 'mixed language' programming.
In this article I tried to explain my 'path' to programming satisfaction...
Programming guidance from a veteran programmer. [updated]
Lightning damage!
Friday afternoon [the 19th October 2007] the 150 metre television tower on the top of the hill was struck twice by lightning.
All network cards and switches connected to the network were destroyed.
Normal service has been resumed. But then Sunday before last, lightning got the business phone line!
Should you wish to watch the weather developing around Gauteng, take a browser tab over to the new SA Weather site;SA Weather
This has happened before.
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