www.BlackViper.com: Ask BV ~ Frequently Asked Questions

This is a collection of questions that I receive via E-Mail often. Please read through them to see if yours is here. Kind words sent to my inbox are always welcome.

Quick FAQ links

• BV and www.blackviper.com
• Technical
• Windows 95/98/Me
• Windows 2000
• Windows 7
• Windows XP
• Windows Vista
• Hacks, Cracks and Cheats

BV and www.blackviper.com FAQ

Personal

• Who are you, anyway? Where do you live? What's your vitals?
• How did you come up with the name "Black Viper"?
• Can I ask you a technical question?
• What is with this site? What is the purpose? Seems as though you are pretty stuck on yourself.
• Are you in the "IT" field? Are you a Web Developer? Are you a Programmer?
• How do you know so much about stuff on your site?
• Why is your grammar / spelling so pathetic?!?
• Why do you have your picture plastered on every page?!?

General

• I hate the color Black! Change the color scheme! I cannot read it!
• Why can't I view any images on your domain?
• Why don't you add a "forum" for technical support?
• Why am I banned from your forums?
• How did you take those cool screen shots for your guides?
• Will you play a game with me online?
• Why am I "forbidden" (403 error) from synchronizing the domain offline?
• Why do I need a user name and password to download your files?
• Why am I "forbidden" (403 error) from downloading your files?
• Will you send me any hacks, cracks, cheats or CD Key information?
• What are the Browser issues with this site?
• Any Legal, Copyright, Privacy, and Disclaimer information?

Contacting me

• Can I ask you a technical question?
• You have not replied to my E-Mail! Why not?!?
• I would like to send you a file, can I?
• Why is your replies via E-Mail "so short" with sometimes, just a URL back to your site or a "yes or no" answer?
• Do you have any instant messengers or IRC? Can I add you to my list?

Technical FAQ

Technical Support

• Can I ask you a technical question?
• I am getting these strange popup messages, even if I am not surfing the web. How can I get rid of them?
• Why is Remote Procedure Call shutting down my computer after 60 seconds?
• Why is lsass.exe shutting down my computer after 60 seconds?
• Why is svchost.exe crashing my computer?
• Why is dllhost.exe taking 100% of my CPU time?
• Why can't my Windows XP Home computer see my Windows XP Pro system over the network?
• Why can't I access/check my Hotmail or Yahoo account using my DSL connection?
• Are you in the "IT" field? Are you a Web Developer? Are you a Programmer?
• What is "Generic Host Process for Win32 Services?!?"
• What is "C-Dilla?" Is it spyware? Trojan? What installed it?
• I am having a problem with my computer, can you help me?
• How can I filter my E-Mail to avoid spam and virus's without using an additional program?
• I just purchased a brand new (insert company here) computer and... Can you help?
• I have a computer with a VIA chipset and... What do I do?
• (Insert software here) does not work. Can you help? Is there a patch?
• The manufacture of my hardware does not have a driver for me, do you?
• I have a strange process called "wink???.exe" taking up CPU and memory... What do I do?
• My system performance is slow. Should I upgrade?
• Why does this game (software) not work?
• I have AOL (Earthlink, MSN) and...?
• My internet is slow. What can I do?
• My computer crashes. What is wrong?
• Do I need these particular files (insert list of files here)? Can I "safely" delete them?
• What security measures do you take for your network, web site, and / or computer systems?
• I cannot remember what tweak I applied 3 months ago from a different web site to break my system, but can you tell me how to fix it?
• I have a 1500 node network, 2000 users, and numerous server and advanced server systems. Why can't I log in to the domain controllers on a few of them?
• I have searched google.com, scoured forums, mined news groups, and asked everyone I know, including the neighbor kid for an answer to my problem. Can you help?

Advice

• What kind of computer system should I buy? What company? Should I build one?
• How much memory for my computer do I need?
• How did you take those cool screen shots for your guides?

General

• How do you know so much about stuff on your site?
• (Insert software package here) no longer works after I used your tweaking tips, what do I do?
• You have not replied to my E-Mail! Why not?!?

Windows 95/98/Me FAQ

Services

• I have Windows 95/98/Me and I cannot find any services. Is there something I am doing wrong?
• I would like to Tweak Windows Me. Do you have any information?

Windows 2000 FAQ

Services

• How do I change the Automatic/Manual/Disable function?!?
• What does all of these services do?
• I disabled Remote Procedure Call (before I read your advice) and I my computer is broke! What do I do?
• Can I take your services information and redistribute it / post it on forums?
• I would like to optimize my system but I do not "share" an internet connection, nor do I do any sort of gaming. What do I do?

Technical

• Why is Remote Procedure Call shutting down my computer after 60 seconds?
• Why is svchost.exe crashing my computer?
• I am having a problem with my computer, can you help me?
• (Insert software package here) does not work. Can you help? Is there a patch?
• (Insert software package here) no longer works after I used your tweaking tips, what do I do?
• I have a strange process called "wink???.exe" taking up CPU and memory... What do I do?

Windows 7 FAQ

Services

• How do I change the Automatic/Manual/Disable function?!?
• What does all of these services do?
• Any Windows 7 Service Configurations already tested?
• Why are some services missing from the Custom Registry File Tool?
• How can I install or uninstall a service?
• Can I create service (hardware) profiles like you recommend in XP?
• Why can't I use msconfig to change my services?

Windows XP FAQ

Service Packs

• So, what about Service Pack 1, 2 and 3?
• Is there a way to change a Windows XP's Serial number without reinstalling the whole thing?
• I just attempted to install Windows XP Service Pack 1 and it says I have a pirated copy! What do I do?

Services

• Does an easy method of creating multiple Service Configurations exist?
• How do I change the Automatic/Manual/Disable function?!?
• What does all of these services do?
• Any Windows XP Service Configurations already tested?
• I disabled Remote Procedure Call (before I read your advice) and I my computer is broke! What do I do?
• Why can't I use msconfig to change my services?
• How do I know if these configurations are going to work for me?
• I have a "Strange" service or process running that is not listed, what do I do?
• I have a strange process called "wink???.exe" taking up CPU and memory... What do I do?
• I have Windows 95/98/Me and I cannot find any services. Is there something I am doing wrong?
• I would like to optimize my system but I do not "share" an internet connection, nor do I do any sort of gaming... What do I do?
• Do I need these tips even though I am running WinXP Home? Are they the same services?

Technical

• What is "Generic Host Process for Win32 Services?!?"
• Why is Remote Procedure Call shutting down my computer after 60 seconds?
• Why is svchost.exe crashing my computer?
• How can I Compress Files or Folders to use less disk space?
• I am experiencing a delay of around 30 seconds or more when I load up Outlook before I can do anything. What is wrong?
• I disabled Remote Procedure Call (before I read your advice) and I my computer is broke! What do I do?
• How can I filter my E-Mail to avoid spam and virus's without using an additional program?
• Upon boot, I am experiencing a delay of around 60 seconds before I can do anything. I am using a PPoE DSL account. What is wrong?
• How can I get NetMeeting to work in Windows XP? Where is it?
• Will you support Windows 2000 Server, Advanced Server, .NET, 2003?
• I am having a problem with my computer, can you help me?
• (Insert software here) does not work. Can you help? Is there a patch?
• Why can't my Windows XP Home computer see my Windows XP Pro system over the network?

Tweaking

• How do I disable the "Automatic Update Service?"
• How do I disable the "Indexing Service?"
• How do I disable the "System Restore Service?"
• How do I turn off "Remote Assistance and Desktop Sharing?"
• How can I adjust the "Page File" or "Virtual Memory" settings?
• How can I adjust the Windows XP Themes for more performance or disable it totally?
• Do I need QoS?
• Do I need the Event Log? How about Windows Management Interface?
• What is the bare minimum I need to connect to the internet?
• What is the bare minimum I need to run "bootvis?"
• My internet connection no longer works after I used your tweaking tips, what do I do?

General

• You have not E-Mailed me back! Why not?!?
• How can I filter my E-Mail to avoid spam and virus's without using an additional program?
• (Insert software package here) no longer works after I used your tweaking tips, what do I do?

Windows Vista FAQ

Service Packs

• So, what about Service Pack 1 and 2?

Services

• How do I change the Automatic/Manual/Disable function?!?
• What does all of these services do?
• Any Windows Vista Service Configurations already tested?
• Why are some services missing from the Custom Registry File Tool?
• Can I create service (hardware) profiles like you recommend in XP?

Technical

• How do I know if I am using 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows Vista?

Hacks, Cracks, and Cheats FAQ

XP Service Pack 1, 2 and 3

• Is there a way to change a Windows XP's Serial number without reinstalling the whole thing?
• I just attempted to install Windows XP Service Pack 1 and it says I have a pirated copy! What do I do?

CD Keys and Serial Numbers

• (Insert sob story here). Will you send me a CD Key, (insert multiple promises not to distribute it here)?
• I copied this CD key from a forum post and I can't play on Battle.net. Can you help?
• I purchased this game but my CD key has become unreadable, can you help me?
• My Mommy threw my CD case away. Can you E-Mail me one of your CD keys? I really do not want to pay for the game again.
• I purchased a legit copy of WinXP and the CD Key does not work. Can I have one of yours?

CD Cracks

• I am really tired of swapping CD's to change games. Will you give me a Crack to not have to play with the CD's in the drive?
• My Mommy takes my CD's away when I stay home sick from school. Can you tell me of a way to play without the CD?
• You see, I have this friend and we want to play on a network but we do not want to spend the money on two copies, could you help us?
• I only want to copy a CD 12 times for our LAN party players and then they will be destroyed, could you please help?
• Really, I read your information, but could you make an exception for me?
• You see, I purchased a legit copy of (insert name here) on Ebay and the disc(s) are all scratched up and I cannot install it. Can you send me a copy of yours?
• I downloaded this game from a Warez site and I seem to not be able to get it to work, could you help me?

Battle.net

• My Battle.net account is disabled for "some reason." Can you help?
• My Battle.net account has been "cracked" and my "legit" CD Key no longer works. Can you help?
• My Battle.net account was deleted or password has been changed by someone. Can you help?

General Stuff

• Do you like Microsoft's new Windows Product Activation (WPA)?
• Could you tell me how to avoid WPA?
• Are you a programmer?
• I only crack because I was tired of online cheaters. What do you think?
• What is your favorite hacks/cracks site?

Role Playing Game Characters I have Created

• You have some great RPG characters, will you send me your character files?
• I know that you said that you would not give out your character files, but could you e-mail them to me?
• I was wandering around your site and I could not figure out how to download any of your characters you have on display! Could you E-Mail them to me?

Password Cracks

• I think (insert person here) is (insert crappy thing to do to others) because (insert reason here). Do you have information on how to crack their passwords?
• I am a worried parent that thinks (insert family member here) is (insert crazy things that children and spouses do) because (insert all kinds of evidence to support the story here). Do you have information on how to crack their passwords?
• A family member has passed away and I took over their computer. They had Windows XP Pro. I try to sign on but I don't know the passwords for administrator. Can you help?
• A young family member "accidentally" changed the password on my computer. How can I fix it?

The most lame question that I have received over, and over, and over, and over:

• Ok, I have read all of your information and I am asking nicely... Can you...