Dealing with the Blue Screen of Death

The “Blue Screen of Death.” *shudders* It’s a rather humorous name for a really, REALLY lousy event– it means your computer has crashed. Sometimes it may just mean that your computer is having a really bad day (it happened to me when I was trying to uninstall an old anti-virus program and reinstall another– duh!!). Other times it could means your computer is having severe software problems, or hardware problems. It could really mean anything– either your CPU fan is not working and the CPU is overheating, or it could mean that your hard drive is about to die, taking all your important family records and photos with it.

You do not necessarily have to throw out your computer and spend the big bucks getting a new one. Sometimes it’s an easy fix, or maybe just a replacement piece is needed (like a new stick of RAM). Here are a few simple diagnostic tests that you can run if you get the BSOD consistently:

The BSOD, when it shows, will list what file was causing the problem (if indeed it was a file, and not a hardware problem). There will also be error codes that may help you detect what is wrong. Write these down. Try to get to a working computer and do a search for these words. I can’t guarantee you will find anything relevant, as there seem to be billions of error codes in the universe! But you may find that someone, somewhere, before you has encountered the same issue. The goal here is to first find out if it is a software problem (such as, a new program you recently installed) or a hardware problem (a failing hard drive or fan).

If you can boot into Safe Mode and the computer does not crash, your problem is most likely a software problem. If the BSOD appears while you are in Safe Mode, it’s most likely a hardware problem. Just figuring this out is a huge step in the right direction. To get into Safe Mode on your computer:

1. Restart your computer.
2. As the computer is JUST staring to boot up, on your keyboard press F8 repeatedly.
3. A black screen will appear, giving you many choices. Choose “Safe Mode.”
4. You can read more about Safe Mode and the other choices at the Microsoft website.

There are instructions on how to do this at the Microsoft website. Basically, you download the software, and install it on your computer (I just installed it onto my Desktop, for easy access). The install file is an ISO file– an image file that you can easily burn onto a disc, and that will start up when you boot up your computer. You must use a CD-burning software program to burn the ISO image onto a CD. (I use Ashampoo Burning Studio. It’s free and it’s the easiest CD burning program I’ve ever used. I reviewed the product here.). Once you have the ISO image burned onto a CD, you pop it into your computer’s CD drive, and reboot the computer. Most computers are set to boot up by an inserted disc, which is necessary to run the Windows Diagnostics Tool. If your computer is not, you must go into the BIOS settings to make your computer bootable. There are some good instructions here.

Vista comes with this program already installed in the operating system. There’s a good tutorial about it here. My XP computers didn’t have it, and I had to download the program.

This checks the health and condition of your hard drive. It isn’t a foolproof way of telling if your hard drive is damaged, but it is a good early diagnostics tool. You can find Error CheckDisk:
1. Go to and open My Computer (XP) or Computer (Vista).
2. Look for your hard drive, usually C disk. Right-click. In the menu that appears, choose “Properties.”
3. Click the “Tools” Tab.
4. See the button that says “Error Checking”? Click that.
6. You can choose to have the program correct errors automatically and repair bad files/sectors.
7. Your computer will need to restart. When it reboots, the program will run immediately. It may take an hour or more.
8. The results will show up after the test. The computer will reboot itself when it’s done, restarting the computer normally. If you missed seeing the test results when the test finished, don’t worry– it will show up again at start-up.

If you are completely baffled and need to get some tech help, you can gather some information for this:
1. Go to Control Panel
2. Go to “Administrative Tools.”
3. Click on “Event Viewer.”

Here is a record of all the events and system errors of your computer. Most of the information is in technical gobbledegook, but your technician (hopefully) can read it. You may also find something useful in here for you to search.

Other warning signs of a dying computer may be sounds of grinding or clicking (a failing hard drive); no fan sounds or air coming through the vents (your CPU fan died, causing your CPU to overheat. This can cause critical damage to the CPU).

Finally, remember that the Blue Screen of Death can strike anywhere, at anytime….. to ANYONE!!

Finding Help Online

This post isn’t about finding help online– it’s about finding help online! haha! I’m not talking about finding technical help online, but emotional and mental support online– the ability of online communities to enrich our lives and help us overcome problems and obstacles. Social networking is hot right now (I do a lot of it as a professional blogger), but a good deal of social networking is filled with incessant blabber about meaningless things like celebrities, amusements, and other drivel. But some folks have taken it on themselves to use social networking as a service to help people. How cool is it that?? Social networking is amazing– through it we can meet new people from all around the world, get advice or support, and receive and give the accountability we need.

The “wiki” is a unique form of social networking. A wiki is simply defined as “the simplest online database that could possibly work.” It’s basically a website where users can create and edit pages using their browser. Wikipedia is probably the most well-known wiki, but there are loads of others.

One such community wiki is InTheRooms. This is an online, editable database of meetings. Right now, the InTheRooms Meetings database includes current Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Overeaters Anonymous (OA), and Gamblers Anonymous (GA) meetings, and they expect to add more. The goal is to help users help each other, and notify users of particular groups of meetings and updates. Consider it an adaptable, malleable encyclopedia or phone book of meetings! Information is up-to-date and current, and all information submitted is moderated. InTheRooms is currently adding more groups to their wiki, so it’s a great one to monitor.

Social networking has come of age!

Ashampoo Burning Studio Software

I’ve used a whole lot of CD burning software programs in my day. I recently download the Ashampoo Burning Studio Free software program, and I’m extremely happy with it! Moreover, it’s free!

It can be downloaded from Download.com here. Once installed, the program starts right up. I have Vista x64, and have had no problems with it at all. I am a busy lady, and honestly– I don’t want to spend a lot of time reading detailed instructions or figuring configuration settings or trying to adjust preferences. I just want to burn the disc and get it over with. I have a life! (Doing dishes and laying ceramic tile, woohoo).

Anyway, Ashampoo is easy. I’m really, really impressed with the program (and they are not paying me to say that, either!).

Upon opening the program, the choices are simple:

Burn files or Folders
Backup or restore files or folders
Burn or rip music
Burn movies
Copy a disc
Create/burn disc images (such as ISO files, which I do a lot)
Erase data on disc

It’s very versatile, and it’s free! Thumbs up for Ashampoo Burning Studio Free software!

Top-Rated Anti-Virus Program

Continuing my series on various anti-virus programs, here’s another I’ve found, newly released: VIPRE Antivirus Software. This one caught me by surprise; I hadn’t heard of it until the good folks at Sunbelt asked me to take a look at it. I’m familiar with Sunbelt programs, having the old Kerio/Sunbelt Firewall on one of my other computers. (Kerio was going to discontinue the firewall, but Sunbelt snatched it a few years ago and renamed it Sunbelt Personal Firewall).Sunbelt has been busy, chugging out some high quality software recently.

The VIPRE software is a suite– a combination anti-virus/anti-spyware. Such combos are becoming more popular, but not every company can get it right. Judging by Sunbelt’s record of reliable software, I’d say VIPRE scores big. There’s a free 15-day trial, and then the software is about $30. VIPRE promises not to slow down or bog down your PC (like the notorious Norton and McAfee programs do). And it was rated 5 out of 5 stars by Download.com (my primary software-download website). Very impressive!

Go to the Sunbelt website; there you’ll see a plethora of screenshots, FAQs, lots of other information, and the link to download your free trial.

CallWave Internet Answering Machine

I wrote about discovering Phone Tray (which I will soon be reviewing), and in so doing, I was reminded of another, similar program called CallWave. I used this program extensively for several years when I had dialup Internet service. It was free (but I think either it eventually became a paid-for service, or perhaps I upgraded, I can’t remember now), and extremely convenient.

As you dialup users know, unless you have a separate phone line with a separate number, you cannot receive normal telephone calls when you are online. Your callers get a busy signal or are directed to voice mail (if your phone service offers it). For us, this was a great inconvenience. CallWave is a program that is installed on your computer, and is like an answering machine through your computer. It also came with Caller ID (a very nice feature) and voicemail that you can control right off your computer desktop.

I checked out the CallWave website, and the software has changed a bit since I stopped using it three years ago (we got DSL at that time). Apparently, there’s a 30-day free trial, but after that the charge is $7.95. I think that’s a little steep. I mean, if you were going to pay $8 more a month, you may as well spend that $8 and upgrade to DSL service, and free up your phone line plus get the high speed of DSL. But CallWave may be a God send for you folks out in rural areas, where the only thing available to you is dialup.

Anyway, it’s a neat little program. And there just may be a free version in there somewhere. Be sure to do a little digging before you make that choice to pay for it.

Finding Good Construction Equipment

Tis the season! Construction season! Are you a business or individual in need of some quality, affordable, leased construction equipment. Al Asher.com is the place to check out. Al Asher and Sons have been in the construction equipment leasing business since 1914. The company is based in Los Angeles, California, but the beauty of the internet is that you can check out AlAsher.com to see their selection, and do a search for locations in the Unitd States. And Al Asher will deliver to any location in the United States!

So if you have been searching for affordable leasing prices on:

• Vactor Trucks
• Digger Derricks
• boom and bucket trucks
• cranes
• cable scrappers
• cable trailers
• and more…

…then Al Asher is the place to go. Al Asher stocks an inventory of over 250 new and used construction trucks and specialized equipment. I know that when the day comes for us (we are renovating our 1855 home here in New York State) to rent some construction equipment, we’re checking out Al Asher! See the website for more details, or call 1-800-896-2480.

Phone Tray- The Answer to Telemarketing Hassles?

A friend passed along this website when I complained about my incessant telemarketing calls- Phone Tray. Oh my word, this looks like an amazing software program! I wanted to post about it right away, so that you’d have the chance to see it, too. (Scroll all the way down and look for Phone Tray Free 1.34). I have not downloaded it yet (I have to order Call Waiting at my local telephone provider first, in order for Phone Tray to work). This looks like a spectacular program. I have been PLAGUED by telemarketing calls. I mean, hey, it’s great to know that I have a Rochester personal injury lawyer or a new credit card waiting at my disposal, but if I need it, I’ll call you guys, k?

Basically, Phone Tray installs on your computer. Your computer is then hooked up to your telephone line. When a call comes in, the phone call is routed through your computer (through Phone Tray) and a Caller ID information window pops up. The nice thing about Phone Tray is that you can BLOCK telephone calls! Which means, when I get a telemarketer, I can, through the Caller ID, get the number and then block that number from ever calling my phone again. I LOVE this idea!! So as soon as I have the Caller ID feature enabled on my phone, I’m going to download Phone Tray and give it a thorough run-through. I’ll post my review with all my findings. I’m really looking forward to this, hoping that this will solve my telemarketer problems. P.S. Phone Tray is a free program! Stay tuned.

Portable Offices

Need some portable office space? Here’s a company to keep in mind, with locations all across the United States: Acton Mobile Industries, based in Baltimore, Maryland. They have locations in Jackson, Austin, Philadelphia, Chicago, Ft. Myers, and even a nice Tampa mobile office available! Acton Mobile Industries is one of the leaders in the field, providing short-term, quality office solutions. This is a great solution for those of us who have businesses or home offices under construction (like my home office and home will be, soon!). The selections are amazing– 8′ to 14′ trailers are available, as well as multi-sectionals, and more. Trailers can come with very nice features, such as security system packages, heat and/or air conditioning, built-in desks and plan tables, restrooms (yes!!), and handicapped ramps. Check out the website if you’re in need of some safe, clean portable office space.

New Site For Downloading Software

The folks at DownloadSoftwareHere.com (also know as Softry.com) wanted me to let you know about their new website offering tens of thousands of free software downloads to quickly find and download software you want. I’ve been puttering around the site quite a bit, testing out what they have to offer. A lot of the downloads are for web developers (database management, website development tools like chat rooms, etc), although they have stuff for the “average” computer user (like games, network chat and chat programs, some educational programs like typing, dictionaries, and languages programs). The website is extremely well-organized: There is a long list of basic topics in the left-hand side, and when you click a topic, you’re taken to a page with more defined topics. From there, you can click to see available downloads for the specific thing you’re looking for.

The search feature is very impressive. I’ve been looking for a LAN Network chat program for a looong time, and when I typed it in the search bar, I got a page of software titles and very descriptive paragraphs. This is so helpful, because I don’t have to click and click and click just to see if the software is what I want. I was able to determine from the descriptions whether the software suited my needs or not. (Unfortunately, I didn’t find a suitable chat program, so my quest continues).

Anyway, if you are a web developer, you might want to check out the site. DownloadSoftwareHere.com promises that they use anti-virus tools to check all software (as any good download site would). With ANY website, please do your homework when downloading any software from the Internet. Be sure you have an updated anti-virus and firewall program. Check out the program thoroughly, do a search for reliability, bugs, etc.

Too Lijit to Quit!

I’ve been using the Lijit Search Engine widget for a few of my blogs for a few months now, and I have to say: I LOVE IT!

Lijit is a plugin for Wordpress, Typepad, and Blogger blogs. Any blogger who writes informatively really should have this widget– Lijit is so impressive and so powerful that a blog would seem empty without it. I have Lijit installed on several of my blogs (including this one), and it is perhaps the most effective on my travel blog, New York Traveler.net. That blog is filled with information, photos, videos, tips, and links to thousands and thousands of bits of information that I could not otherwise organize. Lijit gives visitors the ability to thoroughly search that blog for even the smallest bit of information (everything from pet supplements to hurricanes!).

The Lijit widget is 100% customizable. And you can see from the screenshot above that I have included the ability for readers to search not only my travel blog, but all my Flickr photos, my YouTube videos, and mo other blogs as well. And when the Lijit window pops up with search results, there is the ability for readers to search my blog for relevant information, for content (photos, videos, etc), my network (other blogs in my blogroll) and etc. And lijit includes small screenshots with the search results, too. It’s a really professional look. Here are some screenshots showing a quick search I did on “erie canal.”

I’m extremely impressed with Lijit. Moreover, the plugin does a LOT more than show search stuff for your visitors. Your Lijit account (you must create an account in order to use the plugin for your blog) allows you to get very detailed information about page views, your search information, and visitors. It’s just amazing. It’s a lot like Google Analytics, but I think Lijit is better because it’s more user friendly AND it comes with that nifty search engine plugin for the blog.

And like I said, the blog widget is customizable. It’s a pretty amazing piece of software! It’s also amazing that it’s entirely free.

I also have speciall affection in my heart for Lijit thanks to the unswerving efforts of Grace Boyle, who works on business development with the Lijit dudes, and whose cheerful and insistent nagging to try Lijit finally proved successful. And when I procrastinated and had questions, Grace was right there to offer loads of suggestions and even tweak a few things on her end. I’m glad she was so patient with me– I just LOVE Lijit!

The Wordpress plugin page for Lijit is here. There are some short video tutorials about Lijit here. Check out Lijit. Mrs. Mecomber gives it a hearty THUMBS UP!