Checking for corrupt files | Bangkok Post: tech

HELP Desk

Once again the highlight of the Bangkok Post week is the Database insert. It's always very interesting and up to date. You are all to be congratulated.

I think I have a problem which I wonder if you can help me with. I live in the UK four months and Thailand eight months each year and while back in the UK last year I purchased a three-license version of Windows 7 Home Premium. I installed one copy in my PC there and another in my laptop and I brought the disk over here to install in my PC here. Unfortunately when I went to install it here I found out that I had brought the 64-bit disk with me rather than the 32-bit one. My PC here is too old for the 64-bit version so I went to Pantip and invested 150 baht in a pirated copy and loaded the Home Premium version on that and then registered it using my proper license code and this was accepted.

I've not had any problems (so far) with Microsoft and indeed I wrote to them telling them what I had done, but as usual the silence was deafening. I am, however, having a few PC niggles in that if I switch off I lose my BIOS information so I need to keep my PC in Hibernation Mode.

I have changed the BIOS battery which was my first thought, but that has made no difference unless, of course, I bought a dodgy battery.

My other thinking is that the pirated version has altered a few date files in order to work and bypassed Microsoft Security and this may be causing the problem. I did notice today when downloading five updates that it didn't want to install the fifth, which turns out to be a Microsoft test for pirated copies, but I eventually installed it manually and so far I'm not getting any warnings from Microsoft.

Is there any way you can think of that I might check to see if I have corrupt files in my system or am I stuck with this problem until such time as I return to the UK later in the year and return with the proper disk?

GORDON

Database replies: Wanda Sloan replies: Right up front I have to say this: It's really difficult to try to solve some of the Windows problems, but it is far worse when a "Pantip Windows" version slips into the mix. I'll try to give some guidelines, but I really can't be certain about what any given, non-official Windows might have done.

In general, the 64-bit Windows doesn't do anything strange compared with the 32-bit version. I can agree with you that the pirated Windows could have done some date-altering, but in general this is unlikely.

I am sceptical that your Windows is the root cause of losing the BIOS information. (And losing the BIOS information is a very serious issue, indeed.) My first guess would be that the combination of a new Windows and an older computer might be the source of the problem, but my suspicion would be on the computer itself - especially since everything else is humming along so smoothly. There have been no general complaints about such a problem with Windows 7, pirated or regular editions.

You don't give any info about the hardware, but my first action would be to get with the laptop maker and look for a BIOS update. It is likely that one is available, and the maker can tell you how to safely install it.

Finally, and this is just a general recommendation, I think that since you have invested in a legal version of Windows 7, that you should work to get the 64-bit version corrected to a 32-bit one.

Of course, the damage may already have been done in this particular problem. But wiping your hard drive clean and installing a nice, "real" Windows 7 is still recommended. Legal Windows are just going to be more reliable and provide less stress. I can't say how much help Microsoft Thailand could provide, but either Microsoft or the dealer who sold you the disk back in the UK should certainly be able to take care of you.

Mobile Excel

I'm using MS Office 2000 on my Acer laptop and also Windows Mobile 6.1 on my HP 612 iPAQ Business Navigator.

Is it possible to have an Excel file on my laptop and load it to my HP 612 iPAQ Business Navigator and view and edit the file there, and vice versa?

DAVID

Database replies: Wanda Sloan replies: Well, an Excel file is simply a special file made by the Excel program. In order to read it properly, you need either Excel itself, or a reader that can interpret it correctly. The answer, really, is "yes, if you have an Excel reader on your PDA."

Microsoft Windows Mobile has an Excel program. While it does not support all of the detailed features of the main Excel, it certainly can read, edit and save spreadsheets.

The Mobile Excel seems to be widely available on the Internet at least, so I assume it is fairly easy to obtain.