Even so, here’s a list of websites where I’ve encountered Broken Flash Flowers. Sometimes they’re on the front page, sometimes they’re not. I’ll continually add sites as I find them.

Last updated on 04/03/2010

• http://www.gonintendo.com
  • Error #2044: Unhandled IOErrorEvent:. text=Error #2035: URL Not Found.
  • Error #2044: Unhandled ioError:. text=Error #2032: Stream Error. URL: http://speed.pointroll.com/PointRoll/Media/Panels/Ford/669876/Knockout_300x250_banner.xml at offerTemplate_Knockout_fla::MainTimeline/frame1()
  • TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference.
    at mx.managers::FocusManager/activate()[C:\autobuild\galaga\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\managers\FocusManager.at mx.managers::SystemManager/activateForm()[C:\autobuild\galaga\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\managers\SystemManager.as:2493]at mx.managers::SystemManager/activate()[C:\autobuild\galaga\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\managers\SystemManager.as:2451]at mx.core::Application/initManagers()[C:\autobuild\galaga\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\core\Application.as:1152]at mx.core::Application/initialize()[C:\autobuild\galaga\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\core\Application.as:834]at AgeGate/initialize()[/Users/einnocen/1uptech/workspaces/HEAD-flash-builder/AgeGate/src/AgeGate.mxml:0]at mx.managers::SystemManager/http://www.adobe.com/2006/flex/mx/internal::childAdded()[C:\autobuild\galaga\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\managers\SystemManager.as:2127]at mx.managers::SystemManager/initializeTopLevelWindow()[C:\autobuild\galaga\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\managers\SystemManager.as:3396]at mx.managers::SystemManager/http://www.adobe.com/2006/flex/mx/internal::docFrameHandler()[C:\autobuild\galaga\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\managers\SystemManager.as:3219]at mx.managers::SystemManager/docFrameListener()[C:\autobuild\galaga\frameworks\projects\framework\src\mx\managers\SystemManager.as:3065]
• http://www.nytimes.com
  • VerifyError: Error #1033: Cpool entry 18 is wrong type.
  • ReferenceError: Error #1065: Variable mcBannerAd_2 is not defined.
  • ReferenceError: Error #1065: Variable MainTimeline is not defined.
• http://www.wired.com
  • Error: videoComponent.traceMessages.durationMetaDataMissing at com.doubleclick.studio.video::ProgressivePlayer/metaDataTimeoutCheck() at flash.utils::Timer/_timerDispatch() at flash.utils::Timer/tick()
• http://www.livemocha.com
  • Error #2044: Unhandled IOErrorEvent:. text=Error #2036: Load Never Completed.
• http://www.funnyordie.com
  • Error: Error #2101: The String passed to URLVariables.decode() must be a URL-encoded query string containing name/value pairs.
    at Error$/throwError()
    at flash.net::URLVariables/decode()
    at flash.net::URLVariables()
    at flash.net::URLLoader/onComplete()
• http://www.youtube.com
  • Error #2044: Unhandled IOErrorEvent:. text=Error #2036: Load Never Completed.
• http://www.capcom.com/monster/
  • SecurityError: Error #2122: Security sandbox violation: SoundMixer.computeSpectrum: http://www.capcom.com/monster/index.swf cannot access http://static.capcom.com/_site/www.capcom.com/monsterhunter/_flv/welcome.flv. A policy file is required, but the checkPolicyFile flag was not set when this media was loaded.
    at flash.media::SoundMixer$/computeSpectrum()
    at br.components.sound::Equalizer/update()
    at flash.utils::Timer/_timerDispatch()
    at flash.utils::Timer/tick()
  • SecurityError: Error #2122: Security sandbox violation: SoundMixer.computeSpectrum: http://www.capcom.com/monster/index.swf cannot access http://static.capcom.com/_site/www.capcom.com/monsterhunter/_flv/welcome.flv. A policy file is required, but the checkPolicyFile flag was not set when this media was loaded.
    at flash.media::SoundMixer$/computeSpectrum()
    at br.components.sound::Equalizer/update()
    at flash.utils::Timer/_timerDispatch()
    at flash.utils::Timer/tick()
• http://www.tvshack.net
  • Error #2044: Unhandled IOErrorEvent:. text=Error #2036: Load Never Completed.
• http://www.ign.com
  • TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference at com::loadFilePolite/completeHandler()

Slow Internet connection speeds means that there is a lot of traffic going on in your network. If you’re experiencing slower-than-normal speeds, here are some things you should check.

1. Check any file-sharing programs. Some can be big bandwidth hogs without you knowing it. There is usually a setting in “Preferences” that you can set the upload and download limits. If you have no limits set, especially for uploading, then you have a problem. In some cases, you cannot change the settings (Opera’s built in torrent program) and will have to stop transfers.
2. Check for streaming music or video being played on your network. The more music and videos that are being streamed to computers on your network, the less bandwidth you will have, making for a slower connection.
3. How many programs are you running? This doesn’t directly affect bandwidth, but too many programs running- or even open- can cause your computer to operate at a seemingly slow pace.
4. Have you done a check for viruses or other malware? Some malicious programs are written to utilize your computer and network resources without you knowing. This can definitely have an affect on your Internet connection speeds. And, it’s always good to surf the Internet virus-free.

I spent the better part of my day fixing my sister’s computer problems. First it was a virus that disguised itself as an anti-virus solution with constant warnings of the laptop being at critical risk. Then, after successfully completing her installation of Norton Antivirus- which always came up at log in to remind her to finish it, but she didn’t- the Internet connection was killed. (Norton did it.) After disabling Norton, the Internet roads were open again.

From there, I was able to download Avira Antivir, PC Tools Spyware Doctor, and Ad-Aware to begin cleaning. Antivir did most of the cleaning, but after restarting the machine as instructed by the anti-virus program, the laptop would not let me log in. I logged in, and it would log me off. I tried again, and got the same result. Repeat a few more times and you get the picture. Microsoft has documented the problem, here.

Using another computer I searched for the problem and the solution was to get a live CD, preferably BartPE. After downloading an image and burning it to a CD, I was able to boot from the CD and go into the registry settings using ‘regedit’. Here are the instructions I used: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/peboot.htm

The link says to only change one key, but check to make sure that these two keys are correct. This will save you time if you have the annoying “Can’t find logon.exe” error message that pops up after you disinfect your computer. Navigate to the following keys and make sure that their values are as indicated below.

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell
Value: Explorer.exe

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\UserInit
Value: C:\Windows\System32\Userinit.exe

Restart your computer and log in as normal.

While researching this problem, I found a large number of forum threads and posts about it. The best post that contained the problem and solution was here. It provides an additional solution.

After that, I still had some cleaning to do. (First, I uninstalled Norton. I’ve had bad experiences with Norton.) In my experience, one anti-virus program doesn’t always find everything. The second anti-virus program I used was the Spyware Doctor. It was able to pick up some of the overlooked crumbs. To be on the safe side, I’ve installed Ad-Aware and will be running it now. When that’s done, we should be back to normal.

Or for me, on to the next computer-related problem. All of this started when I woke up this morning and was greeted outside my bedroom door with my sister saying, “Can you fix my iPhone? All my contacts are deleted. I tried hooking it up to my computer but my computer doesn’t recognize it…”

It’s never just one problem in the world of IT.

And this isn’t just the next city over… My errors have landed me in places I have never been to- but I would like to.

I guess I should thank them for the hint?

I’ve decided to start keeping track of where Google “sends me”.

November 26, 2009
Sent from Drechterland, North Holland, The Netherlands
Sent from Staten Island, New York, United States

“It’s so fast… I had to stop using it so much because I’m afraid of running out of ‘the fast’.”

He was right. Google Chrome is fast, compared to Firefox’s memory-hogging standards. With that, I made the jump and was pleasantly please by “the fast” that I had gained in web browsing. However, when I first opened it, I noticed something-

“Hey! That’s Opera’s Speed-Dial!”

Even though it doesn’t exactly mimic Speed-Dial to the letter, it does look very similar. I guess it’s a new browser “standard”, just like Mozilla’s tabbed browsing. In honesty, it took some getting use to. The part that took time to get use to- as my sister also echoed- is the stalker-ish feeling that it emits. Yes, we had History, but this is technology in your face. Next thing you know, it’ll start making recommendations. You know it’s coming.

With all the simplicity and “fast” that was evident in Google’s Chrome browser, you knew that something was bound to pop up and bite at your ankles like an angry chinchilla. Here it is, folks; the bane of my existence.

It’s not as cute as when Dan Forden [Updated with thanks to MK_Fan] does it in Mortal Kombat.

When Dan Forden comes out in Mortal Kombat, it’s funny. When Google Chrome does it sporadically- and frequently- when you type in a valid web address, it’s irritating. The simple solution is to hit Refresh in the browser, and your website shows up.

As a result, I’ve gone back to Opera. But then I used docs.google.com to edit a spreadsheet and Google Docs was just not as friendly in that enviornment.

Now… I switch between Chrome and Opera.

There’s just no winning this.

Disable USB Autorun in Windows XP

This will disable CD autorun, as well, but adding an additional one or two clicks is a small price to pay for protecting your computer from viruses. Every university computer lab or Internet cafe should do this. If the link above does not work, then follow the word-for-word steps below (minus the picture).

1. Click the Start button, then Run and enter “gpedit.msc” without the quotes
2. Go to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System
3. Scroll down to “Turn off Autoplay” and double click on it
4. Click on the “Enabled” radio button, then for “Turn off Autoplay on” select “All drives”

Step 2

Automatically conduct a malware scan of USB hard drives upon being plugged in.

‘Still searching for a solid solution. This may not be ideal for everyone, or in every case. For example, what if you have a 200GB external hard drive? That’s going to take a long time to scan, assuming that you do not use the USB drive until the scan is finished. Not to say that you can’t use it while it is simultaneously being scanned, but that sort of defeats the purpose of an auto-scan. This is going to be a tough cookie to crack. Unless, you only scan thumbdrives, or drives in which you specify a size limit because even thumbdrives are getting higher and higher capacity. What would that limit be? 1GB? 2GB? 4GB? 16GB?

1. Using a non-optical mouse that is unresponsive due to the buildup of dirt on the horizontal and vertical rollers
2. Using a mouse without a scroll-wheel or a second button (unless you’re a Mac user)
3. A “slow” internet connection

May God be with us in our darkest hour… (when the power cuts out, leaving us… stranded.)

Another Saturday has been spent fixing another computer.

Again, it’s the same problem I encounter 90% of the time when working on computers: viruses.

Cleaning them takes so long because you not only have to clean them, but also install proper software to detect future viruses and set up the software to properly scan and update itself.

In addition to this, users are most likely using one account to log in- the administrator account. This is a big no-no in computer security. Viruses and malware are able to spread and infect a system only when they have administrative rights to do so. If you are logged on as an administrator and get a virus, that virus will use the account’s privileges to access settings and wreck havoc on your machine.

I hate clean-up jobs… but I hate letting an unsecured system remain unsecured…