Today my Toshiba laptop (Satellite A105-S2071) ran a Windows update and promptly displayed a new error message when the system rebooted.

Usually I rush to write down any error message so I can track down a solution later. Today I decided to try a screen capture instead. I use a great screen capture program called TNT that loads on startup. I usually have it set to capture a free region at 75% of the displayed size so I can grab any part of the screen from my browser or other applications. If needed I can reduce the size later.

The above image was reduced to 400 x 100 for this blog article.

Microsoft doesn’t offer much help to anyone who gets error messages like this. The system doesn’t give any option to print or save the error message or search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for a solution. Users are pretty much on their own to find out what happened, why it happened, and how to stop it from happening again. In other words — good luck, you are on your own.

I usually search Google for the file names (without extensions) and get enough information to proceed. Today’s error was a tricky one. Way to much information from sources I was quite willing to trust.

I finally found out the error referred to the Realtek HD Audio Sound Effect Manager. So I searched Google for: Realtek HD Audio Sound Effect Manager Toshiba. The top search result was forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com — what I would consider a trusted source of information. Unfortunately, the information was not directly related, so I searched the forum for hhctrl. The first item was on target. Reading the message thread I found that cypriano,one of the forum users, had already tracked down a fix on the Microsoft support site.

In case you run into the same problem, the solution that cypriano found was http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935448/en-us. The title of the page is: The Realtek HD Audio Control Panel may not start, and you receive an error message when you start the computer: “Illegal System DLL Relocation”.

I downloaded and ran the fix from Microsoft, rebooted, and the error message was gone.

I think that Microsoft should offer better help for this kind of situation. I tried searching for both rthdcpl and hhctrl on the support.microsoft.com site and didn’t find any helpful information.

Back to capturing error messages: I think it’s useful to keep copies of the error messages because you might see the same or similar errors later. Although almost any screen capture program will work, I’m a big fan of TNT Screen Capture which is very flexible and easy to use Windows program. An evaluation version can be downloaded from the same site.

If you need a sturdy and easy-to-assemble and cheap bookcase, look no further. Target is selling a great bookcase for only $24.99 plus $6.99 for shipping. Here’s the Target page description:

• Store books and showcase knickknacks and pictures with understated modern style
• Sturdy plywood shelves with rugged stainless steel poles
• Black laminate shelf coverings
• Easy assembly, no tools required
• 33.63H x 31.5W x 11.5D Source: Target: 3-Tier Bookshelf - Black

There are no tools needed or included. You won’t need a hammer, screw driver, or pliers to put this bookcase together. You won’t find any odd little tools in the package either. Just follow the pictures in the directions and the bookcase can be put together in less than 30 minutes.

I bought one for a storage area but it would look good in almost any room. It doesn’t look cheap even though it was a real bargain.

Google’s new version of Blogger may be great but I could not get to the old Dashboard using Internet Explorer 6.0. If you are using IE you can login and then you get a “Click here to continue” message. You can click til the cows come home and you won’t get to the Blogger Dashboard.

I know that Google is pushing Firefox, so I tried logging in using Firefox and I got the Dashboard immediately.

How many users are going to switch browsers just to bypass a problem with a Beta release that’s screwing up the entire system?

I’ve got nothing against Firefox but I hate it when it’s pushed down my throat by sites this way.

I test my sites with both Internet Explorer and Firefox. Why doesn’t Google do the same?

BTW Blogger Beta glitches may explain the problems I had using Windows Live Writer with accounts on Blogspot.

When Windows Live Writer, a desktop client for blogs, was released, I ignored it until I read the summary post at ProBlogger. The feedback from other blogs was mostly positive (which is unusual given the techie bias against Microsoft), so I downloaded and installed the software.

What I like about Windows Live Writer:

• The Web Preview is outstanding.
• The software installs quickly and flawlessly.
• The interface is clean and uncluttered.
• The WYSIWYG editor and spell checker work - what more could you ask!
• The program works with LiveSpaces, Typepad, WordPress and Blogger.
• Adding images and maps is a snap and there are lots of ways to customize them.

Things I don’t like about Windows Live Writer:

• Uploading images failed but the program gave me the option to setup FTP.
• The program creates a Windows Live Writer sub-directory within my image directory.
• Each new post opens in a new window.
• Selecting Close from the File menu closes the application not the post.
• The Post Properties gizmo shows Link and Keywords, but I don’t know what these boxes actually do in WordPress.

I ran into a few glitches when I tried to post this draft to the Infomaven Notes blog. Uploading images wasn’t supported until I set-up image FTP. Even then the program still reported that it couldn’t upload the images, but it actually did upload them.

The post properties options aren’t real clear. I don’t really know what Link or Keywords refers to, so I’m hesitant to use them.

Windows Live Writer and Blogger

I’ve always liked Blogger. It’s free, easy to use, and has pretty nice templates. However, I’m not a fan of the built-in editor. Because of this I’ve tested various desktop programs like W.bloggar, but I’ve found that they are not a whole lot better.

I tested the Windows Live Writer with two different Blogger blogs and found one interesting difference. Windows Live Writer downloaded the template and previous posts for the blog that has its own hosting. It wasn’t able to do either with the blog that uses Blogspot hosting.

The bottom line: I’ll stick with Blogdesk for my WordPress blogs, but use Windows Live Writer for Blogger accounts.

Setting up a new laptop can be time consuming and frustrating. Since I’ve done it before I knew what steps had to be taken.

Take out the trash

Every new computer comes with special offers (read ads), trial software (more ads), useful utilities, and junk. The Toshiba Satellite® Notebook PC (A105-S2071) was no exception. Here’s what I did with the included software bundle:

• Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition - replaced with WinXP Pro
• Office Student Teacher Edition (60-day trial) - replaced with Microsoft Office 2000 Professional
• Works 8.5 - deleted
• Office OneNote™ 2003 - deleted
• Quicken® New User Edition 2005 - deleted

I kept the following utilities and applications.

• InterVideo® WinDVD™ 5
• Sonic Solutions® RecordNow!™ Basic and Drive Letter Access™
• McAfee® VirusScan® (30-day trial) - keeping for now but will probably replace with Norton AntiVirus
• Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®
• Sun® Java™ 2 Runtime Environment
• Windows Media Player 10
• Yahoo! Music Engine - keeping for now

I expected that transferring WinXP Pro and Office 2000 to a new computer would require permission from Microsoft. It didn’t. Insert disk — load software. Next I ran Windows / Office update to bring the laptop up to speed.

Using the File and Transfer Wizard

This utility is great in small doses — it’s a nightmare if you use it to transfer every application and data file from one PC to another. I used it to transfer a few essentials:

1. My Outlook Express mailboxes (I don’t like Outlook.)
2. My desktop with links to special applications and folders
3. Internet Explore settings and favorites

That’s it. Everything fit on my SanDisk Cruzer Mini 1GB USB flash drive with room to spare.

Hiding Distractions

I created a desktop folder called Toshiba. I moved all the Toshiba shortcuts from the desktop to this folder.

The laptop creates a bunch of tray icons that I use infrequently. I’m not even sure what some of them do, so I hide them. Right click on the tray next to the clock and select properties. On the Taskbar check Hid inactive icons and click customize. Most of the application notifications will be set for Hide when inactive. Some, like the modem, can be changed to Always hide.

Heavy lifting ahead - call the movers

Moving from one computer to another is fairly easy if you have a good backup system. If most of your applications are on original disks or backup cds, you just have to take the time to install each one.

Once installed I open the application on both computers and make the changes necessary to make the laptop version match the old version.

I keep all software, manuals, and receipts in zip lock storage bags. The bags are stored in plastic magazine boxes.

Receipts for software I buy online are kept in a special folder in Outlook Express. This way I can find the registration codes that I will need to install the software on a new system.

I bought a cheap external DVD burner from CompUSA a short time ago and it was handy for copying folders to the laptop. The burner is slow and noisy, so I would set it up and then go watch TV or read.

Moving from one computer to another gives you the opportunity to re-think how your file system is organized. Make good use of it.

Useful Utilities

I use a bunch of little applications to make life easier: AD-Aware SE Personal, dclean, xenu, etc. I pretty cheap so I don’t buy a lot of utilities when I can get a similar one for free. One utility that’s worth paying for is TuneUp Utilities 2006. I own TuneUp 2004 and love it. I downloaded the 30 day free-trial version of the latest version and its great too.

TuneUp lets you fine tune and optimize just about every aspect of Windows easily. Give it a try.

Final thoughts

I really like my new Toshiba Satellite® Notebook PC (A105-S2071). It’s the quietest computer I’ve ever used — even burning a DVD was whisper quiet. BTW burning a DVD was very easy with the Sonic RecordNow utility. There’s lengthy tutorial that I discovered after starting a backup project. I wish the fan vent was in back instead on the left side — my notes get a tad warm. But the fan is quiet and seems to work well.

Altogether I’m very pleased with my purchase.