Ask Leo!: Windows Oddities en-us 2008 Leo A. Notenboom and Puget Sound Software, LLC Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:53:19 -08:00 Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:53:19 -08:00 720 http://img.askleomedia.com/altile144.jpg Ask Leo! http://ask-leo.com 140 140 Tech Questions? Get Answers! Ask Leo! What's the difference between a DLL and an EXE, and why is it important that I know? http://ask-leo.com/whats_the_difference_between_a_dll_and_an_exe_and_why_is_it_important_that_i_know.html DLL or EXE? Now, I'm beginning to get confused. I heard from one site that .dll and .exe files are two different things. But I've also heard about explorer.dll.exe. I've read from a site discussing about dll exe that dlls cannot be directly executed. So how's that work?

]]> The difference shouldn't matter to most Windows users. In general, this is something that should be one of those hidden details that you never need to worry about.

Unfortunately, that's not the case.

I'll describe what DLLs and EXEs are and how they relate to each other.

And I'll also tell you why the folks who write malware make it important to know that there's a difference.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:53:19 -08:00 Technology How do I print a .prn file? http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_print_a_prn_file.html To save time, I printed canceled check images (from BofA online) "to file". However, I have been unable to open and print the images from these files *.prn. None of the listed programs (Menu of to Open With list) to open these files work. Word show a bunch of pages of "text gibberish". What program will open these files? I am running Windows Vista 64 Home and Office 2007. My printer is a Canon iP 1600.

]]> Don't use print to file.

I'll be honest and say that saving as .prn was probably a bad idea. I'll explain why in a moment.

If you have the same printer as you did when you printed to .prn there's a possibility you can print them. I'll show you what to try.

Then I'll also show you what I strongly suggest you do instead.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Sat, 19 Nov 2011 09:17:12 -08:00 Technology Why, when I'm doing nothing at all, will my hard disk suddenly start thrashing? http://ask-leo.com/why_when_im_doing_nothing_at_all_will_my_hard_disk_suddenly_start_thrashing.html Why, when I'm doing nothing at all, will my hard disk suddenly start thrashing?

]]> It could be for many reasons. The most common are antivirus tools or the system indexing service, if it's enabled.

To find out what's happening on your system, we'll use fairly powerful system monitoring tool called Procmon.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:00:00 -08:00 Technology How do I fix "The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed"? http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_fix_the_windows_installer_service_could_not_be_accessed_.html My OS is Windows Vista. Every time when installing a program that uses Windows Installer, I receive a message like this: “The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance. ” Do you know any reason why this is happening and what have to be done?

]]> Unfortunately, the situation can occur for several different reasons - some of which are understood and some of which are not.

As a result, I don't have the answer, but...

I do have something to try. Something that I have heard that can help get past the situation in many cases and should work in Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:05:05 -08:00 Technology Why do I have two desktop.ini files on my desktop? http://ask-leo.com/why_do_i_have_two_desktopini_files_on_my_desktop.html All of a sudden my desktop has two icons that I never sent there. Both are called desktop.ini. When I try to delete one of these shortcuts, a message appears, saying, "If you remove this file, Windows or another program may no longer work correctly." I've been looking at my desktop every day. The date was modified on the file back about the 21st of July and I am writing you on August 2nd. The only things that I've done differently today are: 1) to change my desktop display to Windows 7 (the plain one, without aero peek outlines) and 2.) to take Leo's advice about "Folder Options" in terms of checking or unchecking items. I also notice that after I changed by folder options (including the one not to hide any hidden folders), some of these new ones say "Access denied" when I click them. Could you provide any explanation for these things?

]]> I can. Those files are displayed because you followed my advice. Smile

Let's take a look at why that is, what I do, and what you might like to do if it bothers you.

]]> leo@pugetsoundsoftware (Leo A. Notenboom) Sun, 21 Aug 2011 16:11:44 -08:00 Technology