Thread: HEAVEN: Ancient Geek - the computer thread Board: Limbo / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
I thought I'd start this, as there have been rather geeky things going on e.g. here , on the Q&A thread.

Can't keep us geeks from infiltrating profoundly reasonable and helpful down-to-earth threads? Now you can!

I suggest posting here, on Ancient Geek - The Computer Thread, with questions great and small, comments, observations, and of course as much (or as little!) geeky outbursts as ever you like.

Should be interesting. - Have fun.

[ 01. January 2011, 09:40: Message edited by: Firenze ]
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Ok, I best start myself here.

Somebody on the general Q&A wanted to get a new Logitech keyboard, and I then proudly (and geekily, let it be noted ) stated that I was the happy owner of a Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard.

It comes with cable (less chance of losing it...), is extremly sturdy and robust and undoubtedly the best keyboard I've ever had.

I'm not really into gaming, but the G15 has 3 times 18 freely programmable macro keys. I've put shortcuts of lots of programmes I regularly need on there, and it's still got space left! Certainly haven't yet used it to the max, and wonder if I ever will - but for me, that's the beauty of it.

Another feature are the blue backlit keys , which are fabulous. You can turn the light off, and so the keys look a bit similar to the blank ones on 'Das Keyboard', mentioned on the other thread.

But that's not all. The G15 also has a small, programmable LCD screen that shows time and date, CPU and RAM usage, track played on some media software etc - whatever you want. You can play around with the stuff you want to put on there and program your own thingies, if you like.

So, over to you. More from me later - on my Logitech G5 Gaming Mouse - that too the best I've ever used.
 

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Posted by dogwonderer (# 12169) on :
 
Does anyone happen to know anything about those filter thingys which you plug your broadband modem and telephone into? Mine seems to be shite, as I get loads of noise on my land line when the internet is connected, and my phone seems to break my connection when it automatically dials into my voicemail . Can I get myself a Better Filter, or are they all equally shite, and I just have to put up with it?
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Nope, a friend on mine had that - best thing is to get another filter. And, BTW, you'll need one for each and every connection in your house/flat!

Every phoneline needs one. If not, you'll have just the interference problems you describe.

They're not very expensive in any case.
 

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Posted by ecumaniac (# 376) on :
 
Mine were bundled with the modem when I signed up the broadband. Maybe you can complain to your ISP and request a replacement?

Since I got my shiny lovely Macbook last year I haven't acquired any new techy toys.
 

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Posted by Garfield (# 1567) on :
 
Ah, wondered how long it would take to get onto the computer-company-that-fell-from-a-tree here... I myself am a proud 'switcher' and couldn't be happier with my shiny iMac (specially since the student discount included a £100 rebate on my equally shiny iPod Nano ).
 

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Posted by Jimmy B (# 220) on :
 
Ah, fantastic idea - a dedicated thread for hardware! I am still tapping on my $10 kbd job, but hoping to get the time soon to acquire the too sexy by arf, Logitech MX5000 desktop.

Speaking of best of ever owned things: I am just gazing across at my Canon MP830 which is a beauteous thing to behold - I want for nothing more in terms of printer, scanner, copier and fax. It is so well put together, scanning direct to .pdf etc from the auto doc feeder with a full duplex scan and print. The interface is a joy (LCD display and menu driven) and it even prints CDs.

I may lose a little enthusiasm when I have to change the ink cartridges but we shall see!
 

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Posted by Henry Troup (# 3722) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Wesley J:
Nope, a friend on mine had that - best thing is to get another filter.

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I organized my phone line that has the high-speed with all of the house connections coming to one filter, and a splitter to the modem. It's been more satisfactory since I did it that way.
 

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Posted by aj (# 1383) on :
 
I like my 20" Dell widescreen LCD monitor running at proper resolution in dual display mode via DVI from my 12" Powerbook. Very slick. I thought the dual screen would be good for multimedia work (toolbars on the small screen, work on the big screen), but lately I've just been doing it all on the big screen.

Not having a new MacIntel with the built-in webcam, using a USB webcam with a slightly older Mac is a bit of a bumpy ride. I'm using Macam software and a Logitech Communicator STX webcam and it's a little flakey on OS 10.4.9

We've got cable broadband and a Linksys wireless router, and I must say, after fiddling around a bit initially to get the network to see the internet, a copy of MAC Address 101 wouldn't go astray in the broadband set up guide.
 

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Posted by fnk (# 10377) on :
 
Another Mac user clocking in here

I have been a Mac User since 1993, and I'm a Macaholic. I'm pretty sure I could go for several days in a row without having to open the laptop - just to prove I can do it you see...

Hasn't OS X made life unbelievably easy?
 

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Posted by Jahlove (# 10290) on :
 
Does anyone use Appleworks 6? If so, does anyone have any idea how to make the text colour palette a floating palette? I can't pull it off like I could in the old ClarisWorks - it just snaps back to the toolbar. I tried Squiggle + drag, alt + drag but no joy. It would be so handy to be able to do this.

Thanks!

[Deleted duplicate post -- Mamacita, Heavenly Host]

[ 31. May 2007, 05:11: Message edited by: Mamacita ]
 

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Posted by aj (# 1383) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by fnk:
Another Mac user clocking in here

I'm pretty sure I could go for several days in a row without having to open the laptop - just to prove I can do it you see...

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quote:

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Originally posted by fnk:
I'm pretty sure I could go for several days in a row without having to open the laptop - just to prove I can do it you see...

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quote:

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Originally posted by aj:
My Pismo died a few months ago, and after much angst I repaired it by replacing the PSU board (under the trackpad). Much rejoicing - it's the nicest computer I've had, although it's getting on in years now.

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I know how you feel. Some computers are just nice to have around.

We seem to be accumulating Macs at my place - I have a MB Pro for work, which is a speedy machine, we also have a 12" Powerbook G4 (still my favourite powerbook model), a Tang iMac, a 17" iMac flat panel, a Mac Plus for playing Fool's Errand, a IIcx for nostalgia reasons, and an Apple IIc (a family heirloom). I'm not really allowed to buy any more, but if a nice SE/30 came up then I would have to risk it

I would have to think pretty seriously if someone gave me a choice between losing my leg, or my laptop. All my cool stuff is on my computer...
 

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Posted by Late Paul (# 37) on :
 
My G4 PowerBook sort of died last November (4 days into NaNoWriMo!) and so I replaced it with a SOny Vaio (running Fedora Core 6) because I fancied a change and couldn't quite afford the new Intel PowerBooks. It's since semi-ressurected but tends to hang/crash at random moments (I think the harddrive is knackered and when it hits a bad part of the disk it crashes). I keep saying I'll take it to an Apple shop and see if they can repair/replace the drive. But I've got my car's service tomorrow so not flush with cash right now.

Anyhow I hardly miss it. I know that's heresy but the thing I liked most about it was that it was shiny and well-designed as far as the hardware goes and that OS X allowed me to run lots of open source software. I was using Firefox for web browsing. I did use Mail.app but it was all coming through popfile for spam filtering. I used tin and leafnode for usenet. NeoOffice for office stuff. Mplayer and VLC for playing media files.

So on Linux I use basically the same programs. Things I do miss include backlit keys, easy wireless network setup (got that working now but a kernel upgrade tends to kill it) and being able to play media on my TV via the TV-out. (I can do this on my Vaio too but the quality is not quite as good (though the Linux drivers are much better than Windows))

My current project though is my MythTV box which is changing the way I watch TV. Although I could really do with much more disk space, but that's more money so I'm waiting for the price of 750Gb Sata drive to fall to £100 or less, which I reckon it will by the end of the year.
 

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Posted by Jimmy B (# 220) on :
 
Mm. After telling all how fab and fantastic was the MP830, I find that it does not work... and it appears to be because of a faulty ink tank! Hmmmmm. There is a recognition chip in the ink tanks apparently which aids correct setting up (and use of original Canon consumables) and there have been problems with faulty chips.

So I currently have a half-full Magenta tank with the printer giving me a variety of error messages as to why this Magenta tank is evil lol and refusing to work - thwarting the scanning functions is a bit poor just because of an ink prob. Canon customer service have been good with other ppl reporting this prob I've heard, so I have sent them off a report. They better do the right thing or I shall have to sever the allegiance of a lifetime!!

I am peeved at the chipped ink tank though I suppose there is a work around to use 3rd party tanks, or to refill the orig tanks (I can see what looks like a vent hole or bladder thru the plastic); since name brand consumables are quite pricey and I do not need the 100 yr guaranteed colour fast inks for photo printing that Canon provide!
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Hey, that sucks!

AFAIK, there's ways of refilling original ink tanks with non-original ink (but still of decent quality). Some use little syringes for it. You might check the web on that.

I've got two Canon inkjet printers myself, and that was a conscious decision: I've always thought that as handy and potentially fast an all-in-one machine could be, once it ain't working, well - it ain't working, and then you're done. No more printing, scanning and copying. In my experience, single machines work better and are less expensive to replace.

Jimmy B, you could google and see what solutions others have come up with. From what I know, electronic cartridge tagging is widespread, though I didn't know Canon are doing it as well!

I've been using alternative inks for my machines for a long time now, and all works very smoothly. For the rare very important document, I still use an original Canon black cartridge, as its ink doesn't smear or stain at all, which the cheaper inks might do (but to a minor extent only).

My machines are a 5-year-old Canon S600 and a rather recent Canon Pixma iP 4000. The former went bust some time ago, so I got the new one, but after replacing the printhead, it started working again, which was a nice surprise! And as it uses the same black cartridge as the new printer, I can use those on both.

The iP 4000 has this very posh double-sided printing feature and so saves quite a lot of paper too, not to mention the general Canon policy (?) of indiviual ink cartridges which can be changed separately. I quite like my machines, and never really had a problem with any of them. Luckily.

Hope you can sort out your problem soon, Jimmy! That chip thing is a real bore, I find.

[ 03. June 2007, 11:03: Message edited by: Wesley J ]
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Jahlove:
Does anyone use Appleworks 6? If so, does anyone have any idea how to make the text colour palette a floating palette? I can't pull it off like I could in the old ClarisWorks - it just snaps back to the toolbar. I tried Squiggle + drag, alt + drag but no joy. It would be so handy to be able to do this.

Thanks!

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Thought I'd post that again, Ladies and Gents. Any takers, please?

Thank you.

(Afraid I'm an evil Windows person myself, so can't help - but might switch to Linux one day, rest assured. )
 

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Posted by Jimmy B (# 220) on :
 
Yes, I've always refilled my tanks in the past. I buy the Calidad kits: never had any probs with the ink quality in my last Canon, and they also do colour refills. The kits come with a sort of butterfly screw that you work into the vent hole and make it large enough to insert the syringe that is attached to the kit.

I was thinking of going original Canon for the new printer, but they are $$$ for unnecessary features. I will prolly refill the originals; will see though. If I find someone doing the origs for a good price I will go that route.
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
This is showing my strange take on computers. I know Chat has existed forever, but in the UK the University networks often banned it to stop unnecessary use of band width.

I have had little interest in it what so ever until now. I have two friends who are deaf both of whom I would quite appreciate the occasional chat with. Phoning is hopeless although with the one who has a mobile phone I have occasionally managed a text conversation.

If this is to happen I need to make the running as neither of the other two are as computer literate as I happen to be.

Requirements are a bit specialised:
1)Works on both PCs and Apple Macs
2)Does not require a camera, the Mac user has a camera, I may get one but the third will not.
3)VoIP can be clearly switched off or made unavailable to those who may wish to contact you via it. We want to talk through text medium as it levels the playing field.
4)Needs some degree of privacy i.e. these are close friends of mine, not the world in general.

3 is there because of the deafness of my friends. They both get frustrated with people trying to contact them by phone as there is very little chance of them hearing what is going on. VoIP would be worse than the phone.

I am just bewildered by what is out there.
Any suggestions where to begin?

Jengie
 

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Posted by Duke A (# 12669) on :
 
I happen to like Yahoo! messenger myself, but it's a little evil in of itself. Keeps starting itself when my 'puter boots up, but that was easy to fix. Even then, it didn't take as much cpu time as AIM did. Startup is completely internet free, and only connects when you want it too. Privacy is good, cause you are totally invisible to the outside world if you want to be, and you can appear invisible while logged in too. The Mac version is a little behind the Windows version, but that's quite alright. About the only thing is that someone can call at anytime, but you have to accept it in order for them to talk to you. Denial is just a click away. It works exactly like regular phones actually. Call, it rings on the other end, and the person can pick up, or end the call whenever they wish. It even offers a voicemail option if the person on the other end doesn't pick up.

It's not the best, but it's pretty damn good.
 

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Posted by duchess (# 2764) on :
 
Keeps evil aunts out.

 

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Posted by Amorya (# 2652) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Wesley J:

quote:

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Originally posted by Jahlove:
Does anyone use Appleworks 6? If so, does anyone have any idea how to make the text colour palette a floating palette? I can't pull it off like I could in the old ClarisWorks - it just snaps back to the toolbar. I tried Squiggle + drag, alt + drag but no joy. It would be so handy to be able to do this.

Thanks!

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Thought I'd post that again, Ladies and Gents. Any takers, please?

Thank you.

(Afraid I'm an evil Windows person myself, so can't help - but might switch to Linux one day, rest assured. )

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quote:

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Originally posted by Duke A:
The Mac version is a little behind the Windows version, but that's quite alright.

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On the Mac side, just use Adium -- it doesn't even support voice chat so you'd be using text only whatever

BTW, even with a program that does support voice chat, you get an onscreen alert when someone tries to use it, and from there you can always click Deny.

Amorya
 

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Posted by IngoB (# 8700) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by dogwonderer:
Does anyone happen to know anything about those filter thingys which you plug your broadband modem and telephone into? Mine seems to be shite, as I get loads of noise on my land line when the internet is connected, and my phone seems to break my connection when it automatically dials into my voicemail.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Amorya:

quote:

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Originally posted by Duke A:
The Mac version is a little behind the Windows version, but that's quite alright.

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On the Mac side, just use Adium -- it doesn't even support voice chat so you'd be using text only whatever

BTW, even with a program that does support voice chat, you get an onscreen alert when someone tries to use it, and from there you can always click Deny.

Amorya

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quote:

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Originally posted by Gwai:
As far as instant messengers go, I recommend Gaim, now renamed Pidgin. It interfaces with all the well known messengers (msn, yahoo, aol, icq, and something else) and it has no interest in taking over your computer.

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Yes, but meebo runs entirely off the web browser. It installs NOTHING. Nada. So NOTHING to download.

It is truly wonderfully! It also keeps a history of all your conversations! It runs all the various chat clients all in one web browser -- (ICQ/AOL/MSN/YAHOO/GMAIL/and IT's OWN WIDGET for myspace). I am in love with it!

And no, I don't work for them, I am just excited about this chat thang.

I can surely run it in Linux when I go to Linux and give back the loaner mac to my brother. It runs in windows of course too.

[eta: convert my peeps! Join us! ]

[ 04. June 2007, 19:57: Message edited by: duchess ]
 

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Posted by ecumaniac (# 376) on :
 
I have winxp running on Parallels. It's a bit sluggish but works ok enough. Possibly because I only give it 256mb ram. I tried giving it more but then the mac part slowed down unacceptably.
 

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Posted by Lowly Worm (# 11663) on :
 
Does anyone write macros in Visual Basic (VBA) for Excel? If so, can you recommend any really basic (hahaha... pun sort of intended ) resources to get me started?

I have some macros that someone else wrote and am trying to modify them. I need to understand what I'm doing first.

ty muchly,

lowly programmer
 

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Posted by Jahlove (# 10290) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Amorya:

quote:

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Originally posted by Wesley J:

quote:

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Originally posted by Jahlove:
Does anyone use Appleworks 6? If so, does anyone have any idea how to make the text colour palette a floating palette? I can't pull it off like I could in the old ClarisWorks - it just snaps back to the toolbar. I tried Squiggle + drag, alt + drag but no joy. It would be so handy to be able to do this.

Thanks!

---

Thought I'd post that again, Ladies and Gents. Any takers, please?

Thank you.

(Afraid I'm an evil Windows person myself, so can't help - but might switch to Linux one day, rest assured. )

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From memory, it's something like Show Accents from the Windows menu... but I've not used it for years so may be wrong!

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Amorya, may the Holy Choir Invisible sing thy praises &c. It Works!! YAY Thanks so much.
 

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Posted by fnk (# 10377) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Garfield:
I use Microsoft Messenger for Mac, but only because I'm a long-term MSN Messenger user so just wanted the easiest thing for me when I switched.

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quote:

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Originally posted by fnk:
We have been trying CrossTalk at work - it's even more seamless than Parallels. You just double-click a windows app and it runs in OS X like a Mac app. Bets anyone on how long before Apple buy it and integrate it into OS X?

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quote:

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Originally posted by dogwonderer:
Does anyone happen to know anything about those filter thingys which you plug your broadband modem and telephone into? Mine seems to be shite,

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quote:

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[Hosts: if this counts as 'homework', my apologies and please delete: I'm just at my wits' end and I hope someone here can help]

A few issues with our new website at work. As IT person, even though I wasn't involved with the new website, now the consultants have gone it's up to me to follow it up. And I, simple DBA/DB Developer I am, am stuck when it comes to the Internet and networking. Any help appreciated.

The issue: people at work cannot register using their work e-mail addresses, and the e-mails that are supposed to be sent from the website to a work e-mail address [such as when a customer fills in a contact form] are not reaching us. And I am getting a different story from each person I call.

One fellow, who is with the company that holds our domain registration is telling me he needs "A" records, but no-one else I call can give it to me. The people who developed it tell me they can't. The people who host the server our new website sits on tell me they can't give "A" record and that I need "MX" records, but no-one seems to be able to give those to me. The people who used to host our (old) website can't tell me anything. The people who look after our network say the issue is not at their end.

To make matter complicated, and I don't know if this has anything to do with it [as I can register with my web-based mail [yahoo] but not my work e-mail]: say my work e-mail is iclimacus@abc.com.au : our network support added the domain @def.com.au to our server, so if you send an e-mail to iclimacus@def.com.au it reaches iclimacus@abc.com.au The reason they did this was that our website is www.def.com.au, and the e-mail we set up was helpdesk@def.com.au -- but any e-mail sent from the website to helpdesk@def.com.au doesn't get through. Though if I sent an e-mail from ian_climacus@yahoo.com.au to helpdesk@def.com.au it does get through. Also, the website adds a dummy from address, so any mail sent from the website says it comes from noreply@def.com.au [which does not exist] and it sent to helpdesk@def.com.au

Hope this makes some sense: as those in the know can probably tell, I'm way out of my depth. But try telling the CEO that. And the consultants have move on.

Again, sorry if this comes under 'homework'.

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Beats me. - Any takers?

[ 09. June 2007, 12:22: Message edited by: Wesley J ]
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by wesleyswig:
[...] Wondering what to do at the moment really... I'm on a crummy PC which I tried to install Ubuntu on but it wasn't having any of it.

Regards
John

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I have been wondering about Ubuntu too, just as my dear namesake.

Does anyone here have any experience with Linux and/or Ubuntu?

How practical are they?

I'm not likely to switch in the near future, but might do at some time. My main concern is the many lovely programmes and gadgets and documents that work perfectly (?) well under Win XP. I would not want to give up on those, if ever possible... - Comments?
 

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Posted by aj (# 1383) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Amorya:

quote:

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Originally posted by fnk:
We have been trying CrossTalk at work - it's even more seamless than Parallels. You just double-click a windows app and it runs in OS X like a Mac app. Bets anyone on how long before Apple buy it and integrate it into OS X?

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I doubt they will. If one can run Windows software seamlessly, what incentive is there to write Mac specific software?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Wesley J:

quote:

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Originally posted by wesleyswig:
[...] Wondering what to do at the moment really... I'm on a crummy PC which I tried to install Ubuntu on but it wasn't having any of it.

Regards
John

---

I have been wondering about Ubuntu too, just as my dear namesake.

Does anyone here have any experience with Linux and/or Ubuntu?

How practical are they?

I'm not likely to switch in the near future, but might do at some time. My main concern is the many lovely programmes and gadgets and documents that work perfectly (?) well under Win XP. I would not want to give up on those, if ever possible... - Comments?

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quote:

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Originally posted by aj:
Reasonable point, but remember, lots of people seem to like using and writing Mac programs.

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True -- I like it myself. But big businesses like Adobe wouldn't see it that way
 

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Posted by Lumpy da Moose (# 9038) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Wesley J:

quote:

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Originally posted by wesleyswig:
[...] Wondering what to do at the moment really... I'm on a crummy PC which I tried to install Ubuntu on but it wasn't having any of it.

Regards
John

---

I have been wondering about Ubuntu too, just as my dear namesake.

Does anyone here have any experience with Linux and/or Ubuntu?

How practical are they?

I'm not likely to switch in the near future, but might do at some time. My main concern is the many lovely programmes and gadgets and documents that work perfectly (?) well under Win XP. I would not want to give up on those, if ever possible... - Comments?

---

I, too, have a very little Linux experience, and like Karl, I'd second his advice-- don't change for the sake of change.

Most of the software I use isn't readily available, if at all, for Linux. As for "Office" type stuff, you can use Open Office and it will both open and save as MS Office compatible files, though I'm not sure about the Access/MySQL database part of it.

As for Ubuntu, I found that the install was very simple and the interface was friendly. But, the 64-Bit version really didn't care for the hardware I have in the machine. The 32-bit version worked fine. If you have a spare old machine that you can play with and try the different distros, have at it. I am NOT a Linux geek and if I have to go in and reconfigure stuff, I'm way over my head.

In the course of my job, we have 2 machines at work that use an older version of Linux, and we had to have out-of-town pros set them up-- this was not for the lame of heart. We run some proprietary coloration and printing software on these, and fortunately they do work fairly well and have maybe crashed twice in 3 years and that was because I did something stupid.

A lot of Linux can be fun and it works well. Getting software installed can be tricky and the people in help forums will not help you unless you've made at least some effort to research the problem and find a solution. My biggest gripe is that I just don't know the software catalog that well, what works, what doesn't. It can be a briarpatch.

In our workplace, I don't think Linux is even close to replacing Windows. People are unhappy with change, and even though it can look a lot like Windows, it ain't the same. Just don't expect it to replace XP.

Ubuntu isn't any fonder of crummy old 486 computers than is Windows XP. You still need a decent platform to run a modern Linux distro.

That's my 5¢ (my advice is usually 2¢, except when I'm wearing my IT hat)
 

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Posted by aj (# 1383) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Amorya:

quote:

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Originally posted by aj:
Reasonable point, but remember, lots of people seem to like using and writing Mac programs.

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True -- I like it myself. But big businesses like Adobe wouldn't see it that way

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Not sure, really. Sooner or later - when the marketing spin becomes impotent and people have chosen a side - companies have to give the users what they want, not necessarily what Bill Gates says we need, so two-platform support appears to remain sensible. Adobe have maintained OS X support in their line-up of [former] Macromedia stuff, anyway.

Anyway...it's Adobe's peril.

I am attracted to the slightly subversive idea of running designed-for-Windows applications independently of Windows OS, though. Virtual PC can be such a dog on my PPC machine.
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Many thanks to Karl: Liberal Backslider and Lumpy Da Moose for your advice about switching (or not, as the case may be) from Windows to Linux.

You got some very helpful points there. I guess I'll better really wait until I'll be ready for a bit of experimenting. I'm not in any hurry anyway. Sounds interesting. Good food for thought. - Thank you!
 

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Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 
Help needed with an audio recording question.

I have recently been transferring all my CDs onto my PC so that I can carry my favourite tracks around with me on my MP3 player. Having done that successfully I now want to copy all my old cassettes. I have all the necessary hardware and have set it up successfully - cable with one end plugged into the microphone socket on the stereo, other end plugged into the blue line-in on the computer. Using the free Audacity software to record. I can record successfully - the only problem is that no sound comes out of the PC speakers so I have no way of telling when I get to the end of one track so I can stop the recording and save the track. The speakers work normally all the rest of the time. Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong?
 

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Posted by babybear (# 34) on :
 
With Audacity you can trim sound file very easily. If you still have the insert card that has the timings of the songs on the tape then you could record for a bit longer than the song lasts, stop the recording, and then trim the excess. Then rewind the cassette and start the process again.
 

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Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 
Yes, I thought of that but I hoped there was an easier way of doing it? Surely it ought to be possible to listen to the tracks at the same time as you record them.
 

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Posted by aj (# 1383) on :
 
Sparrow - some sound cards don't let you record in and monitor the audio at the same time, or you may need to select a `thru' setting in the sound control panel. I run Audacity on a Mac and it's not always happy playing back the input while recording it.

But, going on what Babybear suggests, just hit record, play the tape and let the computer run until the tape gets to the end, then stop recording. Then you can go through and trim. With the complete sound file now on your screen you can listen and move the cursor to various points in the file, listening to what is going on.

Visually, the bits between songs will be the very thin lines between the blobs on the sound file you're looking at. Locate the cursor at the start of a song, hit Ctrl-B (I think), and hey presto, it puts in a marker for the start of the song. Continue this for each song, trim the start and end of the entire file (like a cassette `leader'), and then select `Export Multiple' and Audacity will divide the whole file up into the tracks you've marked for you to then import into iTunes or whatever.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
I regularly turn PDFs into Word texts by printing them into MicroSoft Image Writer, performing an OCR and sending the text to Word. For some reason, the function has stopped wanting to do this, telling me that Word is not installed properly. Does anyone have any ideas what's going on?

[ 25. June 2007, 10:01: Message edited by: Eutychus ]
 

---

Posted by Petaflop (# 9804) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
Don't change for change's sake.

---

quote:

---

Linux is brilliant, wonderful, superb, technically massively superior to Windows, etc. etc. However, it will not supplant Windows in the near future, and it's not just the issue of applications - name an application and a Linux bod will be able to tell you a superior Linux version of it.

The difference is this. If you take your nice new home version of MS Office back home, and put it on your XP or Vista PC, it will work. If you have a problem, it's almost certain to have happened before, and a quick Google search will find you a solution that you can understand and implement.

On Linux, IME, there is a much greater chance that a given piece of software will not like one component of your particular distro version. You can google the problem, and come up with a solution. However, it is likely that unless you are a Linux geek, you will not be able to understand the explanation or understand how to implement the solution.

You're likely to get something like this:

(much techono-babble here)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:
I have been wondering about Ubuntu too, just as my dear namesake.

Does anyone here have any experience with Linux and/or Ubuntu?

How practical are they?

I'm not likely to switch in the near future, but might do at some time. My main concern is the many lovely programmes and gadgets and documents that work perfectly (?) well under Win XP. I would not want to give up on those, if ever possible... - Comments?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by andreas1984:
How many people here are using Safari? What do you think? I think I love it... Great piece of software (I have used its Mac version).

---

Took me awhile to learn Firefox, so I'm not ready for a new browser. People still aren't making websites to standards, so something other than the Big Blue E still won't work right. Tried Opera, . . . why?

If I had an Apple product, I might use Safari, beyond that . . .

(I may one day be forced into the Mac O/S on one of the big G4 workstations since all the better video editing software seems tailor-made for such things; Windows runs it, but not well unless you're running a cotton-pickin' $6000 workstation.)
 

---

Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by andreas1984:

Now, a question to fellow Ancient Geeks... How many people here are using Safari? What do you think? I think I love it... Great piece of software (I have used its Mac version).

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
I regularly turn PDFs into Word texts by printing them into MicroSoft Image Writer, performing an OCR and sending the text to Word. For some reason, the function has stopped wanting to do this, telling me that Word is not installed properly. Does anyone have any ideas what's going on?

---

Dunno. But for Windows users there is a littl free utility called CutePDF which installs like a printer driver and makes PDFs from anything that can print.
 

---

Posted by Jahlove (# 10290) on :
 
Oh dear, I just tried to put a different photo on my profile page from my flickr site but it has just turned into a ?
 

---

Posted by Pearl B4 Swine (# 11451) on :
 
A complaint: After just a few minutes running a screen saver, my computer freezes up. Nothing will un-stick it. I have to push the little green light/button to stop the whole thing.

No, I have not imported some wacky screen savers; I only have the ones that came along with the puter originally.

Yes, I use the dreaded Internet Explorer.

I used to (long long ago when Earth was only swampland & volcanos) have one called "Mowing Man" that I loved; you looked down on a guy riding his lawn tractor, and cutting down the grass & weeds, and you could change the speed. But I no longer have that. And another I liked that showed trees (you could pick & choose what kind), through the seasonal changes. Leaves turning red & yellow, then falling in Fall, snow piling up in Winter; leafing out in Spring, and in full glory in Summer. Anyone else have or know that one?

Any ideas why my screen savers turn me to ice cubes? Pearl
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by ecumaniac:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
I regularly turn PDFs into Word texts by printing them into MicroSoft Image Writer, performing an OCR and sending the text to Word. For some reason, the function has stopped wanting to do this, telling me that Word is not installed properly. Does anyone have any ideas what's going on?

---

Dunno. But for Windows users there is a littl free utility called CutePDF which installs like a printer driver and makes PDFs from anything that can print.

---

Thanks. However, the problem is not that I can't make PDFs, but that I can't turn PDFs into MSWord documents via Image Writer. I think there is a software conflict with another app. I need to know if there's any way (or place I can look) to re-install the Word component that's apparently been stomped on.

 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Just wondering something a bit strange but have you by any chance installed a new version of Word recently.

There are significant changes with the latest edition and it might just be that there is something wrong with the connection.

I run into something like this when dealing with statistical packages talking to each other.

I have reinstall the package I am sending from so it knows where the right files are to open the other package.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Thanks, but I don't think it's that. It's much more likely to be a conflict with another recently-installed voice-recognition app, but either way I need to try and get just the missing component. I've tried a complete Office reinstall but nothing doing so far.
 

---

Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by aj:
Sparrow -

But, going on what Babybear suggests, just hit record, play the tape and let the computer run until the tape gets to the end, then stop recording. Then you can go through and trim. With the complete sound file now on your screen you can listen and move the cursor to various points in the file, listening to what is going on.

Visually, the bits between songs will be the very thin lines between the blobs on the sound file you're looking at. Locate the cursor at the start of a song, hit Ctrl-B (I think), and hey presto, it puts in a marker for the start of the song. Continue this for each song, trim the start and end of the entire file (like a cassette `leader'), and then select `Export Multiple' and Audacity will divide the whole file up into the tracks you've marked for you to then import into iTunes or whatever.

---

Thanks aj, I just tried this and it worked!


 

---

Posted by aj (# 1383) on :
 
Excellent! I just transferred The Muppet Alphabet Album from vinyl to CD using this method (came out the headphone jack on the stereo and into the computer).
 

---

Posted by aj (# 1383) on :
 
Oops...sorry to double-post, but when putting in track labels onto a sound file in Audacity, you don't need to trim the beginning, as the track exporting commences after the first marker - but this is probably clear enough.
Trimming the beginning after marking tracks can make the file slide out of line with the labels, so double check that they line-up with the relevant points on the sound file before exporting the lot.
 

---

Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 
Okay, another question.

Can anyone tell me where on the net I can download Microsoft Photo Editor? I find it simple and easy to use compared with more modern applications.

I don't have a disk with it on, so I need to get it off the net somewhere.
 

---

Posted by Late Paul (# 37) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:
Can anyone tell me where on the net I can download Microsoft Photo Editor? I find it simple and easy to use compared with more modern applications.

I don't have a disk with it on, so I need to get it off the net somewhere.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:

quote:

---

Originally posted by ecumaniac:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
I regularly turn PDFs into Word texts by printing them into MicroSoft Image Writer, performing an OCR and sending the text to Word. For some reason, the function has stopped wanting to do this, telling me that Word is not installed properly. Does anyone have any ideas what's going on?

---

Dunno. But for Windows users there is a littl free utility called CutePDF which installs like a printer driver and makes PDFs from anything that can print.

---

Thanks. However, the problem is not that I can't make PDFs, but that I can't turn PDFs into MSWord documents via Image Writer. I think there is a software conflict with another app. I need to know if there's any way (or place I can look) to re-install the Word component that's apparently been stomped on.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pearl B4 Swine:
A complaint: After just a few minutes running a screen saver, my computer freezes up. Nothing will un-stick it. I have to push the little green light/button to stop the whole thing.

No, I have not imported some wacky screen savers; I only have the ones that came along with the puter originally.

Yes, I use the dreaded Internet Explorer.

Any ideas why my screen savers turn me to ice cubes? Pearl

---

Sounds like the power saving settings, its probably turning itself off after 10mins, and the screensaver is kicking in at 5mins.
 

---

Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 
I have a whine about the calendar in Microsoft Outlook. I've had Outlook for about a year but never bothered with the calendar until now. What I need to know is, how can I get the day of the week to show in the headings alongside the date? I like the layout of the weekly calendar but I need it to show Monday, Tuesday etc instead of just 20 August, 20 August which is pretty useless. Help!
 

---

Posted by Gracious rebel (# 3523) on :
 
Got a new PC arrived from Dell today for No 2 son, who is expecting GCSE results tomorrow (yes its an early 'exam results' present). Of course its running Vista which we know nothing about. Connected to the network cable (I'm running an ADSL internet connection via a 4-port router) and it did connect up and do some things (like this little 'news gadget' thing over on the right side of the screen shows current headlines) but if you open Internet Explorer, it can't get to any websites. Any clues as to what the problem could be? There was an option to diagnose the network connection, and the conclusion was that it was OK. Puzzled.
 

---

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
Turn the firewall off.
 

---

Posted by Gracious rebel (# 3523) on :
 
You mean the firewall built into Vista? Where would I find that? (haven't got a clue about Vista, and all the documentation for everything seems to be online.... )
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 
Go to the network and sharing centre and make sure the connection is configured for "local and internet".

I wouldn't turn the firewall off; this only blocks incoming connection attempts by default.
 

---

Posted by Gracious rebel (# 3523) on :
 
Problem is solved - it was McAffee, which came bundled with the PC, but was only half installed or something - it kept popping up, with options to fully install it, or remove it, and when my son removed it, the internet now works fine (he'd already installed a free antivirus from Avast which his brother downloaded from another computer, so no worries about ditching McAffee).
 

---

Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 
I put this on the question thread, but this might be a better place for it, so:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hazey*Jane:
Having just had a nasty incident in which I thought I'd lost everything on my hard drive (be cautious if you're thinking about using CCleaner) may I ask:

• How does one back up internet favourites?
• What's the best way to back up emails that you've moved from net based accounts to be stored on your hard drive (I use Outlook as a way of accessing Hotmail and a couple of other accounts - some of the messages have been moved to other folders.)

Thanks

Hazey (whose blood pressure is gradually returning to normal)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hazey*Jane:
I put this on the question thread, but this might be a better place for it, so:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hazey*Jane:
Having just had a nasty incident in which I thought I'd lost everything on my hard drive (be cautious if you're thinking about using CCleaner) may I ask:

• How does one back up internet favourites?
• What's the best way to back up emails that you've moved from net based accounts to be stored on your hard drive (I use Outlook as a way of accessing Hotmail and a couple of other accounts - some of the messages have been moved to other folders.)

Thanks

Hazey (whose blood pressure is gradually returning to normal)

---

---

The favorites folder is pretty easy to find. If you're using the Big Blue E (Internet Explorer), in Windows Exporer, look for a folder called documents and settings. Once there, click on the + to show the folder list. Find one with your name on it (it might even be called "user") and again click the +. You should see a folder marked Favorties, which often has a star in front of it. Save that folder and its contents.

If you're using Firefox, under Documents and Settings, go to Application Date, then to the Mozilla folder, then the Firefox folder, then Profiles folder. Inside that folder will be another folder with what looks like a jumble of odd characters (e.g-- icykrv72.default), and inside that folder look for a file called bookmarks.html those are the Firefox bookmarks. Save that file as a backup.

As for your webmail now stored locally in Outlook, someone better at Outlook (or LOOK OUT!! as we call it at work) will have to help you there. There is a way to export your mail and settings, but the version I'm familiar with is Outlook 98, about 10 years behind what's current. It's fairly simple to do but I don't know where to tell you to look for the utility to do the save. Sorry.

And as a cautionary note, which I'm sure you don't need, saving personal irreplaceable stuff onto CD/DVD/memory stick or portable hard drive is just good practice and good sense. Especially before you make major changes or add new software. I've got about 3 gig of MP3s plus some priceless digital photos of my former family. Yes, they're on the hard drive, but there are copies of everything on at least one DVD, likely two or more.
 

---

Posted by Thurible (# 3206) on :
 
I don't really qualify for geek status, I'm afraid, so I hope you won't mind my jumping in on your thread too much!

I understand how to make things work quite well but don't necessarily understand what I'm doing or the jargon that would go with it.

I already have a monitor which is enormous and several years old but works very well so I see little reason to get a new one. I have all the cables and things so I assume I'll be able to simply plug it into a new CPU-thing (that's the box with everything in, isn't it?). Is that right?

Secondly, in my googling, I came across a guide to what you need in a new computer written in 2004. It says that you ideally want your processor to have about 2.8GHz, with two-thirds of that as an absolute minimum. Is this true? Looking at pcworld's website they don't have many pcs with 2.8GHz and it's now 2007. Was the chap who wrote the article exaggerating a bit?

If I want to check e-mails, surf the internet, watch things on youtube without waiting seven hours for things to load, edit photos, download the occasional piece of music, watch films, etc. (i.e., no gaming, basically), what would you say I need?

After much googling and reading of things, the list that I've compiled is as follows. Would this be at all feasible for £300 (without monitor)? I'd be quite happy with a refurbished CPU. :

2 GHz min
64 Bit*
DDR 400 MHz
1024 MB RAM min
120 GB harddrive min
7200 rpm*
Separate graphics card*

* Haven't got a clue what these mean but various things have told me I need them.

I'd be ever so grateful for your advice.

Thurible

[ 08. September 2007, 16:49: Message edited by: Thurible ]
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
64 bit

Lets see. At the very basic level computers have switches that are either on or off. I think these are called bytes, and eight of them make one bit. A bit is the basic character like a letter in English. However a string of justlettersveryquickly gets difficult to interpret. So you need dividers, unfortunately there is not the equivalent of a space. So what computer geeks decided was to make words of a standard length. I think the early processors worked with 8 bit words. Then they realised they needed more words for smarter machines so went to 16 bit, then 32 bit and today they are on 64 bit.

The reason you *need* a 64 bit processor is that latest version of programmes are designed to work with 64 bit words. They do not run on machines that are only 32 bit. However a 32 bit programme can run on 64 bit in 32 bit emulation.

This is all very simplified and relies on bits and pieces I picked up at work but I hope it helps.

Jengie

p.s. windows 3.1 was 16 bit, Windows 95 being the first Microsoft Os that was 32 bit. I believe that IBMs OS2 was 32 bit earlier.
 

---

Posted by Amorya (# 2652) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
The reason you *need* a 64 bit processor is that latest version of programmes are designed to work with 64 bit words. They do not run on machines that are only 32 bit. However a 32 bit programme can run on 64 bit in 32 bit emulation.

---

quote:

---

p.s. windows 3.1 was 16 bit, Windows 95 being the first Microsoft Os that was 32 bit. I believe that IBMs OS2 was 32 bit earlier.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Thurible:
Secondly, in my googling, I came across a guide to what you need in a new computer written in 2004. It says that you ideally want your processor to have about 2.8GHz, with two-thirds of that as an absolute minimum. Is this true? Looking at pcworld's website they don't have many pcs with 2.8GHz and it's now 2007. Was the chap who wrote the article exaggerating a bit?

---

quote:

---

If I want to check e-mails, surf the internet, watch things on youtube without waiting seven hours for things to load, edit photos, download the occasional piece of music, watch films, etc. (i.e., no gaming, basically), what would you say I need?

After much googling and reading of things, the list that I've compiled is as follows. Would this be at all feasible for £300 (without monitor)?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Custard.:
Knowing roughly where you live, a trip to Staples in town might be in order. A couple of weeks ago, they had a very adequate new computer (which does everything you asked for) for £275 sans monitor.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Amorya:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
[qb] T Apple had a fully 32 bit clean operating system in June 1991, OS/2 in April 1992, and Microsoft in August 1995. Anyone want to beat that?

---

Well, some of the mainframe systems I used to run in the 1980s were 32 bit
 

---

Posted by Mamacita (# 3659) on :
 
Hey folks, Qestia has posed this question on another thread. Can anyone lend a hand? Thanks.

Mamacita, Heavenly Host

quote:

---

In an effort to improve myself, I'd like to bring my internet surfing under control. I thought it might be helpful if there was some software I could download that showed exactly how much time I spend on-line. Does anyone know of something like that?

Thanks!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by cqg:
All the Linksys support tools are Windows-based (download a zip file and tftp it to the router) so I'll have to wait and bring my work laptop home to update the firmware.

---

quote:

---

Help! A couple of weeks ago I installed Automatic Updates. Since then, about once a day my computer freezes when I open Internet Explorer. The only way I have found to deal with it is to turn off the power, wait a minute or two, and try again.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Thurible:
Qestia,

I take it you're on broadband. Certainly when I was on (unlimited) dial-up, I could simply click on the internet-icon thing and it would tell me!

Thurible

---

Actually it's my connection at work i want to monitor, not exactly sure what that kind of connection is called. I guess I'm connected to the network at all times, so if something could just tell me exactly how long I've got IE open that would be perfect.
 

---

Posted by Thurible (# 3206) on :
 
In the bottom right of the screen (where the clock is), one of your icons will be two screens next to each other, with one of them flashing every so often. If you click that, it'll tell you!

Thurible
 

---

Posted by cqg (# 777) on :
 
re: IE freezing now and then.

My mom's computer started exhibiting that behavior. I tried upgrading her IE and that didn't fix it.

Ultimately, I had to install firefox and teach her how to use it.

I suppose I could have installed windows from scratch again and selectively applied updates but that would have been mucho tedious.
 

---

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
Thanks, Jimmy B & cqg. I really don't want to change browsers at this point. Will turning off the automatic updates repair the damage they already seem to have done? Do I need to take my computer to the shop and live without it for several days?

(I'll have to live at my office so that I can keep up with the Ship!)
 

---

Posted by SusanDoris (# 12618) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Thurible:
In the bottom right of the screen (where the clock is), one of your icons will be two screens next to each other, with one of them flashing every so often. If you click that, it'll tell you!

Thurible

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by SusanDoris:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Thurible:
In the bottom right of the screen (where the clock is), one of your icons will be two screens next to each other, with one of them flashing every so often. If you click that, it'll tell you!

Thurible

---

Well, how clever - I never knew that! Mind you, I'm not going to look at it very often as it might tell me that the amount of time I sppend at the computer is just too shocking!

---

I don't think I have this feature. The things next to my clock are: Outlook, "connected DataProtector", "Intel Media Graphics accelerator", ThinkVantage Access Connections, and Sygate Security agent.
The data protector and thinkvantage thingy both look like screens.



Sorry if I'm being dense.
 

---

Posted by Thurible (# 3206) on :
 
The Access Connections thing doesn't tell you?

If I rest the cursor over mine, it says "Local Area Connection. Speed 100.0 Mbps" Do you not have anything similar?

Thurible
 

---

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
Thanks, Jimmy B & cqg. I really don't want to change browsers at this point. Will turning off the automatic updates repair the damage they already seem to have done?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Qestia:

quote:

---

Originally posted by SusanDoris:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Thurible:
In the bottom right of the screen (where the clock is), one of your icons will be two screens next to each other, with one of them flashing every so often. If you click that, it'll tell you!

Thurible

---

Well, how clever - I never knew that! Mind you, I'm not going to look at it very often as it might tell me that the amount of time I sppend at the computer is just too shocking!

---

I don't think I have this feature. The things next to my clock are: Outlook, "connected DataProtector", "Intel Media Graphics accelerator", ThinkVantage Access Connections, and Sygate Security agent.
The data protector and thinkvantage thingy both look like screens.



Sorry if I'm being dense.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
By default it's only present if disconnected, in the case of ethernet connections. Right click the connection in the Network Connections Control Panel applet and choose "display in taskbar when connected"

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Thurible:
I hadn't realised it was only there if you made it be such: I've never known any computer without it. Mind you, I haven't always looked but, whenever I have, it's been there.

Thurible

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
Will turning off the automatic updates repair the damage they already seem to have done?

---

Won't repair it, no. Like Jimmy B says, turning it off is the first step.

You can look at the patches that have been applied in Control Panel->Add/Remove Programs... but it's doubtful that you'd be able to easily ID the patch that gummed up the works.

IE is so intrinsic to Windows and the desktop, there's no easy way that I know of to remove it and re-install. That's why I simply installed another browser for my mom.

And as for the network icon in the systray, I do like my blinky lights telling me that *something* is going on.
 

---

Posted by Pheonix (# 2782) on :
 
There were a few dodgy patches released in May/June time that were linked in with Automatic updates that clogged up the system (caused the SVChost.exe process to go into CPU hogg mode).

If its still running slow despite having all the windows updates on and it is the SVChost process using up all CPU (look in task manager) then the best fix is to hunt on MS website for the latest WindowsUpdate Agent 3.0 and install that... Should help... I'll try and dig out link later if have time.
 

---

Posted by cqg (# 777) on :
 
re: the venerable Linksys router/wireless access point

I bit the bullet and bought a reconditioned WRT54GX2 (802.11g support with some kind of speed booster thingamabob that likely doesn't work unless there's a linksys adapter at the other end).

I cloned the MAC and it came up just fine. I set the WEP key and I'm happily chugging along on my work laptop from upstairs.

The BEFWS11 goes to Craigslist, I think.
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 
Move to WPA as soon as you can. WEP is about as secure as a piece of string round a safe door.
 

---

Posted by cqg (# 777) on :
 
I tried and failed

I will turn off the SSID broadcast which will help. I'm using the 128-bit key for a bit more strength.

It's just that the WPA options in the linksys router admin page (WPA personal, WPA enterprise, WPA2, etc.) don't match the kinds of options provided in the wireless connection properties on my windows laptop. My first attempt to come up with a compatible set of settings and keys yielded no joy.

Will do a bit more reading and poking around before making second attempt.
 

---

Posted by Chapelhead (# 21) on :
 
I’ve tried Micro$oft’s knowledgebase for this, but with no success.

Some people, when sending e-mails, get “Read” receipts sent back to them. In Outlook (2000), as the recipient is there any straightforward way to prevent these “Read by recipient”, “Deleted without being read” etc notices being sent back?
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by cqg:
I tried and failed

I will turn off the SSID broadcast which will help. I'm using the 128-bit key for a bit more strength.

It's just that the WPA options in the linksys router admin page (WPA personal, WPA enterprise, WPA2, etc.) don't match the kinds of options provided in the wireless connection properties on my windows laptop. My first attempt to come up with a compatible set of settings and keys yielded no joy.

Will do a bit more reading and poking around before making second attempt.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chapelhead:
I’ve tried Micro$oft’s knowledgebase for this, but with no success.

Some people, when sending e-mails, get “Read” receipts sent back to them. In Outlook (2000), as the recipient is there any straightforward way to prevent these “Read by recipient”, “Deleted without being read” etc notices being sent back?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by babybear:
IPv4 addresses are sometimes known as dotted quads. Is there any similar term for IPv6 addresses?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
Hideous strings of Hex.

---

Now you are just making that up.

 

---

Posted by Thurible (# 3206) on :
 
The laptop I finally ordered has now arrived. I can't find the Just Starting Up leaflet it says should be included at the moment so I may be missing something but:

Why doesn't it work?

I've put the battery in, I've plugged it into the wall, I've left it for a couple of hours to charge up (I guessed I needed to do that - perhaps I don't!). The connexion's recognised and when I press the on button, there are signs of life with it sounding as if it's starting to turn on but then there's silence and nothing comes on the screen at all.

Advice, please!

Thurible
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 
Send it back. It sounds like a duff one.
 

---

Posted by Thurible (# 3206) on :
 
Having spoken to the suppliers, that's what I'm doing. Thanks. Such a shame.

Thurible
 

---

Posted by Leetle Masha (# 8209) on :
 
Pheonix,

quote:

---

WindowsUpdate Agent 3.0 and install that

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ian Climacus:
May an IMac be part of a network with a PC running XP? And can it use the PC's internet connection?

---

At home I can connect and browse to files on Mr. Otter's desktop running MS-Win from my Mac Book Pro (OSX 10.4-or-mumble). I think his machine runs XP. I don't think he can go the other way, but I can't remember if that's because of incompatibility, or laziness in doing the setup - if I need him to look at something on the iFruit I can either push the file over to his machine, or spin mine computer around to face him.

As Basso said, for the two (actually 3 in our house) machines to share an internet connection, they run through a router. Mr. Otter's connection is wired, I'm pretty sure The Otter Pup's is also, and my connection is wireless.

[clarity]

[ 28. September 2007, 14:51: Message edited by: Otter ]
 

---

Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Otter:
At home I can connect and browse to files on Mr. Otter's desktop running MS-Win from my Mac Book Pro (OSX 10.4-or-mumble). I think his machine runs XP. I don't think he can go the other way, but I can't remember if that's because of incompatibility, or laziness in doing the setup

---

You need to turn sharing on on your Mac (Apple Menu -> System Preferences -> Sharing and click Windows Sharing).
 

---

Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Thank you basso and Otter
[from me and my friend who is now looking for routers before he buys his IMac ]
 

---

Posted by mountainsnowtiger (# 11152) on :
 
In MS Word a/o Word Processor, where you have a table, how do you write things across a row, ignoring the column boundaries between the row's cells?
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
select cells you want to write across, go to tables, and select merge cells.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by mountainsnowtiger (# 11152) on :
 
Thank you, I knew there must be a way to do it.

Although .... I don't actually have Word and methinks I've just found the first defect of MS Works which actually seriously affects what I'm trying to do (the 'merge cell' option doesn't seem exist anywhere on any of the toolbars and the phrase 'merge cell' doesn't return any results in Word Processor's help search; it also doesn't seem to be possible to merge cells in the Works Spreadsheet programme).

So, next question ... where can I download a decent bit of word-processing software for free? Or can anybody recommend a decent bit of word-processing software that costs less than Mr.Gates' Word?
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
I am looking to buy a new laptop, and I'm discovering how hard it is to do this now if you still want XP. Which I want because of software compatiblity issues with Vista (the word on the street seems to be against Vista until SP1 arrives). Dell will still ship models with XP but (in France at least) only for top-of-the-range models, whereas for this particular puter a mid-range one would be fine.

I have read that it is possible to downgrade (or roll back or whatever one does) a puter shipped with Vista to XP. Does anyone have any experience of doing this?
 

---

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
No problem, provided you have a copy of XP that doesn't require "activation". Just boot up with the XP CD in the drive, follow prompts to delete all existing partitions, create a new partition, and install XP.

The principal caveat is to be sure you have all the necessary drivers -- video, audio, network -- beforehand. These should be downloaded beforehand and stored on a "thumb drive".

This is best handled by someone who knows what they are doing.
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Mountain Snow Tiger

It might just work like Excel (who ever said Microsoft were consistent) in which case look under format and see if there is an option to format cells , then alignment, then merge cells.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 

quote:

---

This is best handled by someone who knows what they are doing. [/QB]

---

Thanks


The problem is that the people I know who would be capable of doing this are all sworn enemies of Micro$oft.

I read something about being able to do this by calling Microsoft and getting an over-the-phone key to get to Windows XP already lurking on the hard disk somewhere....?
 

---

Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:

I read something about being able to do this by calling Microsoft and getting an over-the-phone key to get to Windows XP already lurking on the hard disk somewhere....?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
It might just work like Excel (who ever said Microsoft were consistent) in which case look under format and see if there is an option to format cells , then alignment, then merge cells.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mountainsnowtiger:
Seriously, I think there really is no way at all of merging the cells in a table when working in MS Word Processor.

---

Table --> Merge Cells does a pretty good job
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:

quote:

---

This is best handled by someone who knows what they are doing.

---

Thanks


The problem is that the people I know who would be capable of doing this are all sworn enemies of Micro$oft.

I read something about being able to do this by calling Microsoft and getting an over-the-phone key to get to Windows XP already lurking on the hard disk somewhere....? [/QB]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:

quote:

---

Originally posted by mountainsnowtiger:
Seriously, I think there really is no way at all of merging the cells in a table when working in MS Word Processor.

---

Table --> Merge Cells does a pretty good job

---

Sorry, didn't mean you meant MS Works WP. Didn't read the original post.
 

---

Posted by Gracious rebel (# 3523) on :
 
Ok this is an odd one. I have a trusty old PC still running Win98SE. Last week I replaced the printer (the old one died). Bought a replacement printer (second hand) on eBay that was exactly the same model, so I already had drivers, but had quite a bit of trouble getting it to work, probably because the serial number was different and stuff like that. For some reason it only seems to want to work properly when plugged into one particular USB port, which is not the same one as the old printer was plugged in. But that's by the by, the new printer is now working, and this may be totally unrelated to my current new 'problem'. I only relate them because the problem started when I was having trouble getting the new printer to work.

For a couple of days on start up, I got a dialog box appeared about a missing file or path, can't remember the exact name, but later events cause me to assume it was referring to Microsoft works calendar. Yes I do have an ancient version of Works installed, but rarely use it. To the best of my knowledge I have NEVER used the calendar (I use Outlook for calendar) and I didn't even know there was a calendar in Works.

Well that happened for a couple of days, then since yesterday when I boot up, it automatically starts up Microsoft works calendar (complete with a dialog box asking me if i want to make it my default calendar). I have no desire to use this facility, so can someone please remind me how to stop it starting up when I start the machine. Thanks. No idea how it 'found' the missing path, and no idea if this is related to the printer thing. Odd.
 

---

Posted by Lumpy da Moose (# 9038) on :
 
This may be a solution-- got to Start, Run, then type in the run box-- msconfig and press enter. You should get a dialog box and look for a tab at the top called "Startup." Click on that. Look for a startup item with something referring to Works or calender or somesuch and uncheck (untick) the box in front of it, click on apply and then OK. That should take care of it.

Of course, if you're not using any of the Works suite, just uninstall the whole mess. If you have the full version of Outlook, I'm guessing it came as part of the Office suite. If you have Office, you don't need Works.

Also, if this doesn't work, look down by the clock in the lower right and see if "task scheduler" is started. If so, click on it to open it, go to options and click "disable task scheduler." Your calender may be running through there as well.

Hope this helps.
 

---

Posted by cqg (# 777) on :
 
So...

Leopard. I'm on an iMac with Tiger. Should I upgrade? Discuss.
 

---

Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
If my Mac would run it (I'm still on a G3) I'd upgrade. This after skipping Tiger entirely.

Reviews have been almost unanimously positive. It's supposed to be Very Fast.
 

---

Posted by Otter (# 12020) on :
 
As a new-ish Mac user, I asked a very geeky list, and the resident Mac-fans said to go for it. Spaces (virtual desktops) and Time Machine (backup utility) are what looked the most interesting to me, but they said there's lots of other goodies under the hood, too, that don't show up or get minimal mention on Apple's advertising pages. They also suggested waiting a couple of weeks to a month if I was worried about early-release bugs. But my copy should arrive today, and my new external drive tomorrow, so I'll probably be installing tomorrow.
 

---

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 
Why? I'm on 10.4 here (Tiger) and there is nothng I want to do that I can't (except run PovRay & I've not heard 10.5 will do that)

Unles a clincher comes along I'll stick with this until my next Mac - which, money being money, and Macs being overpriced, might be another six years which was the gap betwen this one and the previous one

If I had a spare few hundred I'd buy an external disk though

[ 02. November 2007, 02:44: Message edited by: ken ]
 

---

Posted by cqg (# 777) on :
 
I have a nice Buffalo Technology DriveStation external disk (USB) that my iMac doesn't want to seem to recognise.

I guess I'll have to by one of the DriveStation combo's (USB & FireWire) instead and relegate the USB-only one to some kind of NAS with a USB port.
 

---

Posted by Otter (# 12020) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by ken:
Why? I'm on 10.4 here (Tiger) and there is nothng I want to do that I can't (except run PovRay & I've not heard 10.5 will do that)
...snip...
If I had a spare few hundred I'd buy an external disk though

---

Well, the cheap-shot simple answer is that they felt the price/value-received equation tilted in favor of buying. One liked some of the improved functionality that the apple hype pages glossed over (which pretty much went over my head), another one is really impressed with Time Machine, others have kept current with each release in the past and don't have any particular thing to point to this time around. That said, none of them made me feel that I should feel obliged to go to Leopard, either.

I got lucky and found a 320 GB external drive (desktop, not a cool slinky portable one) for US $90.
 

---

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 
Yeah, I was drooling over the firewire and/or wireless disk server I saw in the Apple Shop that looks like a white plastic paperback book and just sits there and gives you 500 Gbytes of extra space.

Which seems to be last year's news... its now 750Gb and costs less than 300 dollars...

Of course you could get a less cool disk directed at Windows users and requiring boring cables for half that - a hundred dollars or more is a lot to pay for a white plastic sleeve round the box and a fast wireless card inside.
 

---

Posted by Lumpy da Moose (# 9038) on :
 
Ken, fast and wireless are oxymorons, like military intelligence or jumbo shrimp. It would probably work for transferring small files like MP3s or something, but for large files it would be better to use a wire, preferably Firewire.

If you're just cruisin' and not in a hurry and don't want to mess with wires, go for it . . .

And make sure you have security in place so a neighbor doesn't decide to use it.
 

---

Posted by aj (# 1383) on :
 
I'm running Tiger on both my G3 (Pismo 500) and 12" G4 Powerbooks, and don't plan on upgrading [i.e. the G4] to 10.5 until I feel the need for a new Mac. That won't happen for a while, because they're expensive, and because I'm holding out for a good replacement for the 12" PB. I use Adobe CS2 and moving to a new Mac would require an upgrade to CS3 and I don't need that either.

So...Leopard. I've been perusing the Mac discussion sites a bit and there's not much to tempt me to change. I'm writing this post on my c.2000 G3 and, while it's pretty slow now for stuff like video, it's still a worthy machine for general wireless surfing.
 

---

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lumpy da Moose:
Ken, fast and wireless are oxymorons, like military intelligence or jumbo shrimp. It would probably work for transferring small files like MP3s or something, but for large files it would be better to use a wire, preferably Firewire.

If you're just cruisin' and not in a hurry and don't want to mess with wires, go for it . . .

And make sure you have security in place so a neighbor doesn't decide to use it.

---

Having spent most of the last ten working days trying to get our eduroam service working through an Alcatel WLAN controller/switch, a little PIX firewall, a very big Cisco router with firewall module, and a couple of Linux FreeRadius servers what I installed myself, authenticating via Samba and Windows Active Directory, this is more or less where I live
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
I use Excel to add up invoices and then calculate VAT on the summed total. I've noticed that it seems to be out by 0,01€ on occasion, eg rendering 2.242 as 2.25, which is rather worrying.

I have the cells set to display figures as currency to 2 decimal places.

Does anyone have any idea where this error is coming from and how I could fix it? Thanks.
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
question 1:

Are you using format or the round function to get the results from your calculation?

If the format form then your are not rounding it, it is only presenting the data to 2 decimal places but it is holding the data to something like sixteen. This can cause small errors.

However if you are rounding and also calculating percentage on the total then you will get a similar mismatch in results.

Jengie

[ 05. November 2007, 11:06: Message edited by: Jengie Jon ]
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
question 1:

Are you using format or the round function to get the results from your calculation?

---

Um, err

I'm using the formula "(sum Xa:Xb)" to get the total of cells set to "currency - 2 decimals" which are in turn multiplications of cells set to up to 3 decimal places. Then I'm using (Xc*0.196) to get the (French) VAT. Does that answer your question?

Since my Excel is in French, I'm not sure what your function terms correspond to. I'm probably rounding somewhere, but how do I know I am and how do I stop it??

[ 05. November 2007, 13:59: Message edited by: Eutychus ]
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 
Format, rather than rounding.

For example, suppose you have 1 pound divided between three people. That will be 33.3333... pence each, correct?

That will be reported as 33.33 in each cell.

Add those up, you get 99.99

Hence the sorts of errors you get.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
It's multiplication rather than division, but I guess the problem is something like this.

I think I understand that if I have calculations which give results that run to four decimal places and add all those up, it could come out differently from adding up the two-decimal-place result (maths is really really not my strong point though and I am quaking in my boots at the thought of interpreting a cryptology conference this week for this very reason...)

Assuming this is the case, is there any way I can make the result correct to two decimal places only at each stage of the calculation? I surely can't be the only person using Excel to add up rows of numbers which are themselves multiples, can I??
 

---

Posted by Lumpy da Moose (# 9038) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by ken:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lumpy da Moose:
Ken, fast and wireless are oxymorons, like military intelligence or jumbo shrimp. It would probably work for transferring small files like MP3s or something, but for large files it would be better to use a wire, preferably Firewire.

If you're just cruisin' and not in a hurry and don't want to mess with wires, go for it . . .

And make sure you have security in place so a neighbor doesn't decide to use it.

---

Having spent most of the last ten working days trying to get our eduroam service working through an Alcatel WLAN controller/switch, a little PIX firewall, a very big Cisco router with firewall module, and a couple of Linux FreeRadius servers what I installed myself, authenticating via Samba and Windows Active Directory, this is more or less where I live

---

Well, then, a wireless hard drive should be a minor issue! But a wire still is faster.
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
It's multiplication rather than division, but I guess the problem is something like this.

I think I understand that if I have calculations which give results that run to four decimal places and add all those up, it could come out differently from adding up the two-decimal-place result (maths is really really not my strong point though and I am quaking in my boots at the thought of interpreting a cryptology conference this week for this very reason...)

Assuming this is the case, is there any way I can make the result correct to two decimal places only at each stage of the calculation? I surely can't be the only person using Excel to add up rows of numbers which are themselves multiples, can I??

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
Use the ROUND function.

---

quote:

---

Rounds the number to the specified number of digits

---

quote:

---

=ARRONDI(SOMME(A1:A2);2)

---

I totally hate translations of software instructions (unless they are mine of course )
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Very basic device question: can I plug in a generic external keyboard to a laptop via any USB port - will the computer find it (keys falling off laptop keyboard grr)?
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
Very basic device question: can I plug in a generic external keyboard to a laptop via any USB port - will the computer find it (keys falling off laptop keyboard grr)?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:
Does anyone have any experience of Sky broadband? I am thinking of getting Sky satellite TV and it would probably work out cheaper to go for a satellite and broadband package and ditch my current broadband.

---

quote:

---

Also if I did this, would I have to lose my current email address and be something like sparrow@sky.com?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Late Paul:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:
Does anyone have any experience of Sky broadband? I am thinking of getting Sky satellite TV and it would probably work out cheaper to go for a satellite and broadband package and ditch my current broadband.

---

quote:

---

Also if I did this, would I have to lose my current email address and be something like sparrow@sky.com?

---

If you mean the one in your profile then yes you can keep it. You'll usually get a new one anyway but there's no need to use it.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by ecumaniac:
Is there a way to deliberately throttle my broadband speed? I have a housemate who (and G*d knows what he's downloading) keeps chewing through my data quota. If I could slow down the connection when I'm not at home during the day it could help.

---

In our house, that kind of thing is done through the firewall (an external hardware one). Not sure if ours can actually throttle, but it can be turned completely off for certain hours, and/or certain users - The Otter Pup currently has no internet access at all, at times in the past it's only been on for him when we'd typically be home and awake (after a period of sneaking downstairs in the middle of the night, )

I suppose what you do depends in part on the financial arrangement and/or broadband use understanding you have with the roommate, and how well you get along. I'd probably lean toward cutting him off completely unless a cash appeal is made, but I think that's my Mercenary Bitch side coming out.
 

---

Posted by Pheonix (# 2782) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Otter:

quote:

---

Originally posted by ecumaniac:
Is there a way to deliberately throttle my broadband speed? I have a housemate who (and G*d knows what he's downloading) keeps chewing through my data quota. If I could slow down the connection when I'm not at home during the day it could help.

---

In our house, that kind of thing is done through the firewall (an external hardware one). Not sure if ours can actually throttle, but it can be turned completely off for certain hours, and/or certain users - The Otter Pup currently has no internet access at all, at times in the past it's only been on for him when we'd typically be home and awake (after a period of sneaking downstairs in the middle of the night, )

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pheonix:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Otter:

quote:

---

Originally posted by ecumaniac:
Is there a way to deliberately throttle my broadband speed? I have a housemate who (and G*d knows what he's downloading) keeps chewing through my data quota. If I could slow down the connection when I'm not at home during the day it could help.

---

In our house, that kind of thing is done through the firewall (an external hardware one). Not sure if ours can actually throttle, but it can be turned completely off for certain hours, and/or certain users - The Otter Pup currently has no internet access at all, at times in the past it's only been on for him when we'd typically be home and awake (after a period of sneaking downstairs in the middle of the night, )

---

Quite a few modern routers (I know most netgear ones do at least) enable you to control access times and I think (although not 100% sure) access speeds. If you do this though make sure you've changed the access password on the router so they can't get in and change the acess restrictions themselves.

---

With any diabolical scheme like this, you have to hope the person you're trying to limit hasn't got more network savvy than you do. I could get away with very little at my house, since Lumpy the Lesser is the one with the Net + certification. Not that I'm an idiot (I do run our network at work), but he's smart enough to find his way around any barrier I could put in place. Even on a router, it's a simple matter of holding down the reset button and bring everything back to factory defaults.

He knows better than to mess with me, as I'll have the service shut off, no problem.

Or worse yet, sign up for dial-up!
 

---

Posted by MouseThief (# 953) on :
 
Okay I posted this on the question thread but they said I might get better answers here. To quote,

Okay I'm clearly a Google failure, so I hope I can turn to the good people here at the SOF for the answer to my question.

My beloved mouse of many months has passed away. He was an optical wireless mouse that I used with my laptop on the kitchen table. Sadly, since I purchased said mouse, the style in mice has changed, and they nearly all have a ridge running along beside the buttons on the outside. This is not clickable, and herein lies my problem. My hands are very large and the way I use a mouse is by splaying my right index finger off to the left a little, and resting it on the left edge of the mouse. But if I do that with one of these newfangled mice, it's on this unclickable ridge. I have tried to hold my hand so that it rests inside the ridge, but it's too uncomfortable.

I went to the local office supply superstore Office Max (as well as Circuit City and Radio Shack) and could not find what I wanted. Microsoft made a couple without the ridge, but they have a huge transponder that would have to sit on the desktop along with my computer, speakers, SAD light, napkin basket, not to mention leave room to eat. I want one with the cute little thing that plugs into the USB port and doesn't have a wire running to some megalithic transponder box.

So I went online, where else to go, right? I couldn't find anything near enough to what I want. There are a couple that look right, but either they're bluetooth (which I do not have on my Nixon Administration laptop), or they don't show the dongle at all, which makes me nervous that they're trying to sell me one with the monstrous transponder thing.

Who will rescue me from this body of death?!
 

---

Posted by Jimmy B (# 220) on :
 
Ok, printers. Previously I have been a Canon junkie. Loved them in the past, very reliable. Cheap to run. Now with the advent of chipped cartridges, my printer is a nightmare. It's less than a year old near top of the range and I'm about to dump it and never buy Canon printers again, I'm so pissed off with it. I have half a mind to complain to the ACCC (Oz consumer body) about Canon's anti-consumer practices eg. you are forced to use Canon consumables at 3x the cost of a generic, and if you use a generic, the printer becomes purposely cumbersome to dissuade you from doing that - Canon effectively block all competition and deny the consumer the ability to use the product at its peak function unless they also buy Canon ink.


So. About to dump $400 worth of Canon. What (copy/scanner/fax that preferably does duplex, adf, dvd printing, and direct from flash) printers are there that don't use chipped cartridges, or failing that, which ones have chipped cartridges that are known easy to reset or chip with 3rd party chips?
 

---

Posted by glen moranjie (# 7011) on :
 
Can anyone recommend a good webcam for a Vista pc, that will work doing instant messaging in web chat rooms. Thanks.
 

---

Posted by Jimmy B (# 220) on :
 
Well I've spent a pleasant evening being excited by printers. And have come to the conclusion that bubblejets, which used to be a cheap option for consumables, are just not worth the bother. I think a laser mfp will do the trick nicely but where do I find one that does colour 3-in-1 *and* autoduplex. Hm.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
My new Dell laptop running WindowsXP has arrived

But the Microsoft Office 2007 pack I have got with it no longer seems to include Microsoft Office Document Imaging, which is something I regularly used with previous versions

Can anyone tell me how I might go about installing this??
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Arghh. Finally found the answer. It is on the Office 2007 CD buried in a submenu and not automatically installed. Maybe the other OCR software recognition package sellers made them hide it or something.
 

---

Posted by aj (# 1383) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by ecumaniac:
Is there a way to deliberately throttle my broadband speed? I have a housemate who (and G*d knows what he's downloading) keeps chewing through my data quota. If I could slow down the connection when I'm not at home during the day it could help.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by glen moranjie:
Can anyone recommend a good webcam for a Vista pc, that will work doing instant messaging in web chat rooms. Thanks.

---

How did you get on with webcams, glen?

A brand I've found reliable and full-featured (and not evil Micro$oft) is Logitech, and I notice all their models are Windows certified so no probs with Vista. I like the look of the Quickcam Communicate Deluxe: not too OTT in $$$ - it looks to be the replacement of the Quickcam Pro 4000 which I have, and is excellent for what you need it.
 

---

Posted by ErinBear (# 13173) on :
 
Dear Jengie Jon,

How wonderful! Many thanks for the pointer to the other thread! I'm still finding my way here.

Clearly I misread the title of this thread - ha! I read "Greek" for "Geek" in my excitement. But it's all good in the end.

So you teach Koine? That's a beautiful thing. Thank you on behalf of all of us who love the language.

Blessings,
ErinBear
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
No, I am still just learning it but we have got passed the basics.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Me again . I interrupted the download of an .exe file intended to update some software, and now I can't delete it or indeed do anything else to it - WinXP error message says it's being used. The file is recorded as having 0 octets. I've tried rebooting, to no avail. Also tried downloading the same thing again but of course it renames the existing file when it discovers there's already one there. It doesn't seem to be doing any harm, it's just annoying me. Can anybody rid me of this turbulent icon?

[ 21. November 2007, 21:02: Message edited by: Eutychus ]
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
Me again . I interrupted the download of an .exe file intended to update some software, and now I can't delete it or indeed do anything else to it - WinXP error message says it's being used. The file is recorded as having 0 octets. I've tried rebooting, to no avail. Also tried downloading the same thing again but of course it renames the existing file when it discovers there's already one there. It doesn't seem to be doing any harm, it's just annoying me. Can anybody rid me of this turbulent icon?

---

Try logging in as a different user and deleting it from there. Your profile might be holding the file open.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
No luck
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Sometimes you can get rid of things you "accidently acquired" by resetting the computer to an earlier date - before you (or teenage daughter) inadvertently downloaded the programme you don't want. On Microsoft XP, it's called system restore and allows you to back track to a point where the computer worked OK. It depends if it's a Microsoft programme you want to keep or not though.
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Eutychus

This is a long shot, but what if the problem is internet explorer rather than Windows, might there be a version for windows of these fixes?

If not try the old Dos delete commands. They may work where GUI fails.

Jengie

[ 22. November 2007, 20:07: Message edited by: Jengie Jon ]
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jimmy B:
Ok, printers. Previously I have been a Canon junkie. Loved them in the past, very reliable. Cheap to run. Now with the advent of chipped cartridges, my printer is a nightmare. It's less than a year old near top of the range and I'm about to dump it and never buy Canon printers again, I'm so pissed off with it. I have half a mind to complain to the ACCC (Oz consumer body) about Canon's anti-consumer practices eg. you are forced to use Canon consumables at 3x the cost of a generic, and if you use a generic, the printer becomes purposely cumbersome to dissuade you from doing that - Canon effectively block all competition and deny the consumer the ability to use the product at its peak function unless they also buy Canon ink.


So. About to dump $400 worth of Canon. What (copy/scanner/fax that preferably does duplex, adf, dvd printing, and direct from flash) printers are there that don't use chipped cartridges, or failing that, which ones have chipped cartridges that are known easy to reset or chip with 3rd party chips?

---

Sir: I know how it is. I've just bought a replacement for my old and trustworthy Canon printer S600, as it stopped printing in black, even after installing a new printhead. (I was told now by another geek that perhaps the printhead contacts needs throrough cleaning, so might try that at some time. I hate dumping old stuff which still kinda works.)

I've bought the Pixma iP5300 printer, which also only works with chipped cartridges, but as it is my second (backup) printer, I'm not using it very often.

However, and to be on the safe side, I've looked into some alternative ink systems.

One that seems quite popular in Oz can be found here: rihac.com.au. It's a so-called CISS, a continuous ink supply system. I know people in Oz using it, and who are quite satisfied by this. I might have to look into this when my current main printer, Canon iP4000 (works still without chips! Yay!), reaches its end of life...

An other alternative would be an adapter, as made by Armor (see e.g. here: Armor flash demo), who appear to be a French-based manufacturer.

Jimmy, I absolutely agree about the ACCC - by all means, go for it and complain to them! Somebody's gotta do it!!

Hope you'll find a solution, and/or a new, better machine. This OEM cartridge only policy is totally inacceptable, I find.
 

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Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
If not try the old Dos delete commands. They may work where GUI fails.

Jengie

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
I interrupted the download of an .exe file intended to update some software, and now I can't delete it.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
If not try the old Dos delete commands. They may work where GUI fails.

Jengie

---

Goodness, attempting that took me back. And told me how much I never knew. I remembered dir c: and got a result, but beyond that I'm lost. What would the command to delete a file on my desktop look like?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
del "c:\documents and settings\<username>\desktop\<filename>"

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TaDaa! Thanks. Maybe I should pay you a retainer (and thanks Jengie for the DoS suggestion!)
 

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Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Actually I think that should be DOS suggestion not DoS suggestion.
 

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Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Custard.:
I recently got e-mailed some attachments (.doc files) in a hideous Mac base64 format. I ended up having to edit the files as text, remove what looked like header and footer information, then bung the text through an online base64 decoder and save the result as a .doc, then it worked.

What was the easy way?

I use Windows XP and/or Ubuntu.

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quote:

---

Originally posted by TonyK:
Has anybody used Cloudmark to detect spam and phishing emails?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by TonyK:
Thanks Wesley J and Mr Spouse.

Wesley J - are you using any of the plug-ins?

---

Yes, I am. Actually, I've downloaded 27 (!) of them, just to be on the safe side. It seems there are 29 filtering plug-ins currently, some of which may, for one reason or another, not download anyway. The instructions to some of them appear to be in German, as devised by geeks there; they can be downloaded safely though.

A nice feature is the DCC filter which connects to an external server (allow through firewall!); it stops e-mails sent to lots of recipients from getting through (occasionally occurs with normal automatic replies too, so regularly check the 'Training Area': this lists all messages stuck in any of the filters, and you can finally delete or save them, and even read them if you like, in safe mode).

BTW: Should you not like the software, you need to do a clean uninstall. It puts itself between your inbox and the mail server; if you just shut it down, you may not get any incoming e-mails.

All in all, a very useful thing that regularly saves my day.
 

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Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:
if you just shut it down, you may not get any incoming e-mails.

---

Sounds like an excellent idea !
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:
if you just shut it down, you may not get any incoming e-mails.

---

Sounds like an excellent idea !

---

Are you saying you actually prefer talking to people?!
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Have any of you experienced a rather patchy service of yahoo.com and/or yahoo.co.uk e-mail accounts recently?

On a number of occasions, and on two different computers, I was denied sending messages, with an error page being shown, advising me to 'run a virus and spyware check' and also that 'this function is unavailable' , with this probably being 'only temporary'.

I tried sending messages to different people as well as to my own account, but only some of them got through.

Seems to be fine again now. - Any remarks? Thanks.
 

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Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
How can I get Excel to ask me if I want to "Sort anything that looks like a number as a number"?

Yesterday in Excel I was sorting and it was giving me that wonderfully helpful prompt.

Today I'm working in Excel again, on a different machine, and it's not asking me. Today's machine is Excel 2003 SP2 on Windows XP SP2. Yesterday's machine was also Windows XP, but I'm not sure of the SP, or the Excel version.

I do know how to manually work around this to get my mixed columns sorted all together as I wish. But the prompt was so much easier! How can I have it here at home in my comfy nest of down comforters on my convenient laptop?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[ 08. December 2007, 15:02: Message edited by: Autenrieth Road ]
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Apart from using the isnumber() function I really don't know.

Jengie
 

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Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
Ah, false alarm. I just tried some experiments, and my Excel here does give the desired prompt. Just not on the data I was sorting. Even though AFAICS it's just like data that was producing the prompt yesterday. Bah.

I worked around it for this particular data by F2-ing through the short list to force it to all numbers instead of numbers-that-don't-know-they're-a-number.

Thanks for the isnumber() suggestion, Jengie Jon, I'd forgotten about that and I think I may need it to troubleshoot just what is wrong with this pesky column! I'll report back if I figure out what was wrong with it to start with.
 

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Posted by Celtic Knotweed (# 13008) on :
 
Can anyone recommend a good, free, downloadable bit of anti-virus software? New laptop, runing Windows XP, home broadband connection available for download (currently involves taking laptop to parental abode, but that will change soon I hope!). Tend to use Firefox rather than IE.

I know about Spybot already and will probably be putting that on at the weekend, but I'd sooner have something else, preferrably with a firewall too.
 

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Posted by Late Paul (# 37) on :
 
I use AVG
 

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Posted by 206 (# 206) on :
 
I used a Microsoft approved 'Easy Transfer' cable to move stuff from my nearly ancient laptop (XP home) to my new one (Vista basic or home or whatever they are - I buy the cheap ones).

No real problems except none of my original Outlook Express 'personal folders' or contents made the journey. I've got a lot of old emails I'd love to have stored in my new Outlook but I don't want to forward them all by email.

Any advice very much appreciated.
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by 206:
I used a Microsoft approved 'Easy Transfer' cable to move stuff from my nearly ancient laptop (XP home) to my new one (Vista basic or home or whatever they are - I buy the cheap ones).

No real problems except none of my original Outlook Express 'personal folders' or contents made the journey. I've got a lot of old emails I'd love to have stored in my new Outlook but I don't want to forward them all by email.

Any advice very much appreciated.

---

• Open OE, go to tools -> options -> maintenance -> store folder -> 'Your personal message store is located in the following folder' -> ...
• Then EITHER: copy and paste the folder address into 'run': go to 'Start' -> run -> type the name of a program folder, document or internet resource, and Windows will open it for you -> paste OE folder adress -> click ok; OE folder opens -> choose edit -> select all -> edit -> copy to folder -> choose folder of choice -> ok
• OR: click on 'change' -> browse for folder -> highlight OR create new folder -> ok

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gracious rebel:
Virus question.

I use the free AVG anti-virus, and Outlook 2000 for my email. Due to being careful about publishing my email address, and probably some good luck too, I am largely free of spam.

But the past couple of days I've received a couple of messages that not only are definitely 'spam' (just random words strung together to look like a sentence, to fool anti-spam software I suppose) but AVG has identified them a having a virus - it instructs me to delete them without further reading. But they appear to contain no links, or attached files, so in what way could this (seemingly plain text) email be carrying a virus?

I had to open them in order to read them (and to see the message from AVG on the bottom that says there is a virus - normally on emails it says its certified virus-free), so have I compromised my system in any way?

Spam I can live with (but of course would rather not), but spam that claims to be carrying a virus is more worrying.

So how do these things work?

The email address they used, was the one in the 'mailto' link on my personal website (see sig) - this address is not advertised anywhere else, nor given to anyone else, so I know they got it from the website - is there any action I could/should take here to prevent further reoccurrance?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Late Paul:
I use AVG

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quote:

---

Originally posted by Mr Clingford:
I've got a Packard Bell EasyNote running XP - how do I switch off its annoyingly loud start-up beep?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mr Clingford:
I've got a Packard Bell EasyNote running XP - how do I switch off its annoyingly loud start-up beep?

---

It'll be in the BIOS settings somewhere. If not there, then you can't.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Drifting Star:
Yesterday I received two emails that were sent on June 2nd 2003.

Can anyone tell me how it is possible for this to happen - where have those two bundles of electrical impulses been for the past 4 and a half years? And would it be fairer to blame the email provider that they were sent by, or mine?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Drifting Star:
Yesterday I received two emails that were sent on June 2nd 2003.

Can anyone tell me how it is possible for this to happen - where have those two bundles of electrical impulses been for the past 4 and a half years? And would it be fairer to blame the email provider that they were sent by, or mine?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
Eutychite has a problem with her wifi card (Intel supplied by Dell under XP). The settings panels say the card is working but not connected, but attempting to activate the card does not work, "display wifi networks" does not display any networks even though there are networks present (I keep getting the message that Windows cannot configure this connection), the "repair" function fails to work and the card does not seem to be interested in any new drivers.

The wired Ethernet connection works.

This problem may well be subsequent to a reformatting of the hard disk by other hands.

Any help most welcome!

---

Got just the same problem on my evil work PC laptop. There's a button on the machine to turn the wireless on and off. Turning it off invokes the tone of a USB device being disconnected, as if a virtual wireless card is being pulled out. Turning the wireless back on with the button brings up the screen that says `Windows cannot configure this connection, etc.'. The only solution is to restart the machine and then I get the `let Windows configure this connection' message in the wireless networks page.

I think the solution lies in removing ALL possible third-party wireless configuration software and letting Windows do the job always. Easier said than done, sometimes. Why do wireless hardware manufacturers insist on peddling their own wireless network management over the one built in to Windows? Is there something they know that we don't?
 

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Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
AFAIK there is no other wireless configuration software on this machine
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Have you tried getting the respective manuals or website advice from Intel (for the network card), DELL (for the laptop) or perhaps from 'Gatesosoft' re connectivity problems? (Though the latter help is normally fairly useless, in my experience.)

Alternatively, googling might help, using some keywords about your network card and/or the lappie.

I wouldn't know what else to suggest right now, especially as the configuration and more technical details are not available.

Hope you'll find a way around. Appears to be a software problem in any case. Good luck!
 

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Posted by MouseThief (# 953) on :
 
I think my wireless router (if that's the right word) is dying.

Every now and then all of us laptoppers will lose the signal and the internet will stop working. If I go down and reboot the router thing, it will start working again. Most of the times we have the full "five bars" when we look at the signal strength on our computers, sometimes it is significantly fewer, and of course sometimes doesn't show up at all.

Do I need a new router? (Do I even have the right word for this device?)
 

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Posted by cqg (# 777) on :
 
It could be a router and it's also called a wireless access point.

If this behavior has only started recently, maybe it is beginning to fail with intermittent faults that cause it to "hang".
 

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Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
Please tell me your wireless access point permits only passworded, encrypted access and that its administrator account (perhaps called admin) is passworded with a strong password.

The fact that access slows to a crawl and then disappears, but returns upon reboot, could mean that someone has hacked their way into it and enjoys jamming it for you.
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
This is a reply to Zappa whose machine's Gatesque grotesque forced error reports are indeedtruly bothersome.

You can completely turn off sending error reports to MS.

On XP, go to 'My Computer' -> rightclick -> Properties -> Advanced -> Error Reporting -> choose 'Disable error reporting', and 'But notify me when critical errors occur' -> ok -> ok.

Et voila. (For vile Vista, others may help.)
 

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Posted by Alban (# 9047) on :
 
My technique would be to record a whole side of the tape, then look for the gaps between tracks (easily spotted, little islands of no sound among the seas of sound) selecting it track by track each track using first "export selection as (wav/mp3)", then deleting that section to save confusion. Tends to work quite well
 

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Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
The Eutychite laptop wifi issue has evolved.

Disabling other drivers has allowed the Windows configuration to identify wifi networks in the usual way, and the computer has successfully connected to non-secured networks. Now it just won't log onto ours. I've entered the right WEP key an' all, but it just attempts to connect endlessly - so the problem now appears to be with our network and not the software.

I've had problems like this before - we run three other laptops on the same network and sometimes putting a new one on has booted the others off - and wandering round the frustrating labyrinth of XP menus associated with wireless network configuration has eventually solved the problem in the past, but I'm having no luck this time. Using the "repair connection" feature doesn't seem to work either.

Does anyone have any more suggestions or can anyone point me to somewhere I can get a coherent explanation of how to set up my wireless network any better?
 

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Posted by The Kat in the Hat (# 2557) on :
 
My dad has a new computer (running XP). Now, even if he chooses the Turn-off option to shut-down, although it appears to turn itself off, when he moves his mouse, it wakes up again.
He has never had this problem with his old machines. The man who built/sold it to him says

quote:

---

this is a system built into the motherboard of new systems and it is perfectly normal

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Drifting Star:
There are three received dates, all last Tuesday, which is when they arrived in my inbox - so presumably the fault has been at the sender's end. There doesn't seem to be anything else that's helpful.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Kat in the Hat:
My dad has a new computer (running XP). Now, even if he chooses the Turn-off option to shut-down, although it appears to turn itself off, when he moves his mouse, it wakes up again. [...] The only way he (my dad) can make sure it stays off is to hold in the power button for more than 6 seconds.
Any ideas? Is this normal?
thanks
K

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alban:
My technique would be to record a whole side of the tape, then look for the gaps between tracks (easily spotted, little islands of no sound among the seas of sound) selecting it track by track each track using first "export selection as (wav/mp3)", then deleting that section to save confusion. Tends to work quite well

---

I'm sorry, Alban - what's this the reply to? Was that on an earlier page? Ta for clarifying, if you like.
 

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Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Choirboy:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Drifting Star:
There are three received dates, all last Tuesday, which is when they arrived in my inbox - so presumably the fault has been at the sender's end. There doesn't seem to be anything else that's helpful.

---

This sort of thing happened to a friend of mine. In his case, his institution had screwed up their email system. The mail was forwarded from the initial gateway to some other machine that was meant to distribute it to his department, but for some reason, that machine was set to forward mail back to the original gateway. I think this happened when they swapped some machines around in their network. The result was a few emails from the time of the switchover were stuck in an infinite loop of forwarding.

If a similar thing has happened to you, then there is no way to tell whether it is at your ISP's end or the sender's. If this is the problem, then the fact that you have now received the email means it is fixed. And no one is going to own up to it!

Either that, or the sender had his system clock way wrong!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Kat in the Hat:
Wesley
thanks for the reply.
As far as I can tell, what used to happen, on his old machine (and on every other pc that I have ever used!) is that when you chose the Turnoff option from the Shutdown menu, the machine did exactly that. It turned itself off and the only way to start it up again was to press the power button on the pc.
However, with this new machine, that is not what happens. it appears to have shut down, but when he moves his mouse (out of the way, so to do some paperwork for example), the computer starts up again, as if he had pressed the power button.
His computer man is saying that this is quite normal, and what he should expect. But I've never come across it before. (Well I have, but only when I chose the Sleep mode).

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by MouseThief:
I think my wireless router (if that's the right word) is dying.

Every now and then all of us laptoppers will lose the signal and the internet will stop working. If I go down and reboot the router thing, it will start working again. Most of the times we have the full "five bars" when we look at the signal strength on our computers, sometimes it is significantly fewer, and of course sometimes doesn't show up at all.

Do I need a new router? (Do I even have the right word for this device?)

---

quote:

---

With all due respect to your friends, this is a system built into the motherboard of new systems it is perfectly normal and is usually called "Wake on Lan", or "APM configuration", it may be controlled by BIOS settings but is usually left on as default so that the computer may be switched on, by say moving the mouse or just clicking one of the mouse's buttons. This is not a problem, nor is it a fault, it is exactly how these system are built, and designed to operate.

---

He is not, evidently, getting the message that my dad does not want this to happen!
 

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Posted by butler (# 11157) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Kat in the Hat:
Butler,
yes, it is starting from scratch. The guy who built the computer did say that it was built-in. He seems to think it odd that we don't want it to happen. When queried about it, mentioning that we have never come across this particular function before, nor have any of our friends, his reply was:

quote:

---

With all due respect to your friends, this is a system built into the motherboard of new systems it is perfectly normal and is usually called "Wake on Lan", or "APM configuration", it may be controlled by BIOS settings but is usually left on as default so that the computer may be switched on, by say moving the mouse or just clicking one of the mouse's buttons. This is not a problem, nor is it a fault, it is exactly how these system are built, and designed to operate.

---

He is not, evidently, getting the message that my dad does not want this to happen!

---

Lol there is a very good reason they make future IT techs take communication courses at uni now .

To turn this function off is usually pretty simple it involves getting into the bios (when computer starts up it will tell you particular key to press, usually f8 or delete) then look through settings being carefull not to change anything you are unsure of, and look for a acpi function settings it will be listed there as boot on mouse or power on mouse set this to disabled and its all sweet (alternatively if you get stuck pm me model and make details and i will see if i can find you exact settings)


Cheers Mark
 

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Posted by The Kat in the Hat (# 2557) on :
 
Thanks for that. It will probably have to wait until I can get down to where he lives, though, as he is not at all computer literate. This is why I'm a bit annoyed with the other guy. He should, IMO fix this, since it clearly is a problem from my dad.
 

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Posted by butler (# 11157) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Kat in the Hat:
Thanks for that. It will probably have to wait until I can get down to where he lives, though, as he is not at all computer literate. This is why I'm a bit annoyed with the other guy. He should, IMO fix this, since it clearly is a problem from my dad.

---

LOL the only way to get a techie to fix it is to annoy him till he sees its going to be easier to fix it than keep on putting up with your phone calls/emails
 

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Posted by andreas1984 (# 9313) on :
 
Does anyone know if one could use the same iPod device over both an iMac and a pc that runs Windows Vista? I mean, without having to reformat the iPod to a file system recognized by Windows...
 

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Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by andreas1984:
Does anyone know if one could use the same iPod device over both an iMac and a pc that runs Windows Vista? I mean, without having to reformat the iPod to a file system recognized by Windows...

---

Yes, you are supposed to be able to do that.
 

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Posted by andreas1984 (# 9313) on :
 
I googled the Internet for info, and what I found out is some people saying either that a)one will have to format it in FAT32 so that it can be accessed by both windows and os x, or b)that a program that let's you access os x format from windows needs to get bought. I am wondering if there was another way, but I'm being probably over optimistic.
 

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Posted by TonyK (# 35) on :
 
Wesley J - just to let you know that, following your advice last November, I have finally downloaded Spamhilator. I am very reluctant to pick up freeware - even on reliable recommendations - but a rapid increase in spam forced me to it.

It is brilliant! Simple to download and install, easy to use and effective immediately, and it does improve with its 'Training' facility.

I am very happy to agree with Wesley J's comments! Fully recommended for anyone using Outlook Express.
 

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Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 
I'm having a problem with the CD/DVD drive on my computer. I haven't used it for a while, and now it doesn't seem able to detect any files on any kind of disk I put in the drive - either a CD, DVD or a program disk. If go into "my computer" it shows the (E) drive exists, but it doesn't show any files on it. It always used to start to play any kind of disk automatically, but now nothing happens. When I put a disk in the slot, the green light shows briefly then goes off. Any ideas?
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by TonyK:
Wesley J - just to let you know that, following your advice last November, I have finally downloaded Spamhilator. I am very reluctant to pick up freeware - even on reliable recommendations - but a rapid increase in spam forced me to it.

It is brilliant! Simple to download and install, easy to use and effective immediately, and it does improve with its 'Training' facility.

I am very happy to agree with Wesley J's comments! Fully recommended for anyone using Outlook Express.

---

Thank you, kind Sir! Always at your service.

(More information on the --> Spamihilator website.)
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:
I'm having a problem with the CD/DVD drive on my computer. I haven't used it for a while, and now it doesn't seem able to detect any files on any kind of disk I put in the drive - either a CD, DVD or a program disk. If go into "my computer" it shows the (E) drive exists, but it doesn't show any files on it. It always used to start to play any kind of disk automatically, but now nothing happens. When I put a disk in the slot, the green light shows briefly then goes off. Any ideas?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:
I'm having a problem with the CD/DVD drive on my computer. I haven't used it for a while, and now it doesn't seem able to detect any files on any kind of disk I put in the drive - either a CD, DVD or a program disk. If go into "my computer" it shows the (E) drive exists, but it doesn't show any files on it. It always used to start to play any kind of disk automatically, but now nothing happens. When I put a disk in the slot, the green light shows briefly then goes off. Any ideas?

---

Try this: Go to -> My Computer -> right-click E drive -> Properties -> Autoplay -> choose from options -> Ok

Perhaps this may help somewhat? If not, do get back.

---

No, that doesn't work!
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Thought so. Perhaps update the drivers? - I hope others can help you out.
 

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Posted by cqg (# 777) on :
 
Looking for recommendations.

I have a trusty HP color inkjet printer (710C or something like that).

You may recall that I went over to the Mac-side last summer.

I'm thinking of buying a wireless print server appliance and hook up the deskjet to it.

Anybody have any experience with these and whether Macs have any issues spooling to such? I'd obviously need a parallel port on the appliance since that's what the venerable printer connects with.
 

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Posted by butler (# 11157) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:
I'm having a problem with the CD/DVD drive on my computer. I haven't used it for a while, and now it doesn't seem able to detect any files on any kind of disk I put in the drive - either a CD, DVD or a program disk. If go into "my computer" it shows the (E) drive exists, but it doesn't show any files on it. It always used to start to play any kind of disk automatically, but now nothing happens. When I put a disk in the slot, the green light shows briefly then goes off. Any ideas?

---

Try this: Go to -> My Computer -> right-click E drive -> Properties -> Autoplay -> choose from options -> Ok

Perhaps this may help somewhat? If not, do get back.

---

No, that doesn't work!

---

Most likely is the drive has simply died. what type of computer is it and is it currently a dvd burner in it ? it quite a simple and cheap tast to replace a drive (on most computers) and if you get back with these details will be able to give you instructions on replacing it
 

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Posted by butler (# 11157) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by cqg:
Looking for recommendations.

I have a trusty HP color inkjet printer (710C or something like that).

You may recall that I went over to the Mac-side last summer.

I'm thinking of buying a wireless print server appliance and hook up the deskjet to it.

Anybody have any experience with these and whether Macs have any issues spooling to such? I'd obviously need a parallel port on the appliance since that's what the venerable printer connects with.

---

The easiest way and probably cheapest is to ditch the printer and get one with the usb option or one that already has a network card installed in it. brother make 2 good options, if you are happy with just black and white go for a brother hl-2700 (network laser) currently here they are only about $135 au or if you want colour a brother any model number mfn as long as it has the cn at the end of product model (this refers to networkable) and both of these work very well from mac or pc without having to have isssues with setting up seperate print servers or so forth.
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
A question to Firefox and printing.

I've found that Firefox offers only limited tweaks for printing webpages. Although you can choose 'Date/Time' in six different positions on the page to print, and there is a custom option available, it seems you cannot print the actual date only, WITHOUT the time.

As I often use printouts in my job, I believe it is nobody's business to know at what time a document was printed, though I don't mind about the date as such.

Can I get Firefox to print just the 'Date' without the time? And while we're at it: Can I get it to print 'Page 1 of 2' and not just '1 of 2'. IE used to do all this and i quite liked it.

Thanks.
 

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Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
Wesley, this page looks like it might be helpful.

It seems to depend on which platform you're on - I don't have a "Custom" option on my Mac. I'll continue to poke around.

b.
 

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Posted by Jimmy B (# 220) on :
 
Wesley J, I meant to thank you for that great advice on the printer. You always have solid things to say. I have not used the supplier of the CISS you recommended yet (still persevering until the current crop of consumables is depleted), but I am almost certainly going to move to it - or at least buy my ink in bulk from them (so cheap!)

Cheers!
 

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Posted by sheba (# 10654) on :
 
I've got Linux on my laptop. It makes me feel superior to other dogs.
 

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Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by butler:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:
I'm having a problem with the CD/DVD drive on my computer. I haven't used it for a while, and now it doesn't seem able to detect any files on any kind of disk I put in the drive - either a CD, DVD or a program disk. If go into "my computer" it shows the (E) drive exists, but it doesn't show any files on it. It always used to start to play any kind of disk automatically, but now nothing happens. When I put a disk in the slot, the green light shows briefly then goes off. Any ideas?

---

Try this: Go to -> My Computer -> right-click E drive -> Properties -> Autoplay -> choose from options -> Ok

Perhaps this may help somewhat? If not, do get back.

---

No, that doesn't work!

---

Most likely is the drive has simply died. what type of computer is it and is it currently a dvd burner in it ? it quite a simple and cheap tast to replace a drive (on most computers) and if you get back with these details will be able to give you instructions on replacing it

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:

quote:

---

Originally posted by butler:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:
I'm having a problem with the CD/DVD drive on my computer. I haven't used it for a while, and now it doesn't seem able to detect any files on any kind of disk I put in the drive - either a CD, DVD or a program disk. If go into "my computer" it shows the (E) drive exists, but it doesn't show any files on it. It always used to start to play any kind of disk automatically, but now nothing happens. When I put a disk in the slot, the green light shows briefly then goes off. Any ideas?

---

Try this: Go to -> My Computer -> right-click E drive -> Properties -> Autoplay -> choose from options -> Ok

Perhaps this may help somewhat? If not, do get back.

---

No, that doesn't work!

---

Most likely is the drive has simply died. what type of computer is it and is it currently a dvd burner in it ? it quite a simple and cheap tast to replace a drive (on most computers) and if you get back with these details will be able to give you instructions on replacing it

---

It's a Dell Dimension 3100C - I've only had it just over a year! The drive is a CD/DVD burner - Philips DVD+-RW DVD8801.

---

Time to pull out a screwdriver sparrow
go to this page and download the service manual (its only 2mb) then open the zip file and double click on the parts0.htm document and will give you full instructions on the physical replacing of the drive. before you do this however you will need to pick up a PATA dvd burner which will not cost a whole heap (pioneer or LG are usually best). One final note try to do this on a wooden bench or at least a bit of cardboard and be carefull not to do it on carpet that causes static electricity.
Dont be worried its a pretty simple operation the only other thing you need to check is when you have your old drive out before you put your new one in on the back there is a jumper which will either be on cs(cable select) m (master)or s (slave) just copy that setting onto the new drive.
(btw apologies for bad spelling or grammer as I had one person complain )
 

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Posted by butler (# 11157) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by aj:
We've got a student staying with us and we're trying to get her Vista laptop onto our wireless network. It's a Linksys router and I've updated the MAC address information in the router's setup pages.

Her laptop can't see out network. I've tried various combinations of turning off security, toggling the SSID broadcast, disabling the MAC filter, resetting routers, components, computers, etc., to no avail. I'm not Vista savvy, but I have a work laptop running XP which seems fine on the wireless.

Anything really obvious that I'm missing?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by basso:
Wesley, this page looks like it might be helpful.

It seems to depend on which platform you're on - I don't have a "Custom" option on my Mac. I'll continue to poke around.

b.

---

Aha! Looks like you're on to something! Thanks muchly, basso. Looks promising!
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:
I'm having a problem with the CD/DVD drive on my computer. I haven't used it for a while, and now it doesn't seem able to detect any files on any kind of disk I put in the drive - either a CD, DVD or a program disk. If go into "my computer" it shows the (E) drive exists, but it doesn't show any files on it. It always used to start to play hany kind of disk automatically, but now nothing happens. When I put a disk in the slot, the green light shows briefly then goes off. Any ideas?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:
It's a Dell Dimension 3100C - I've only had it just over a year! The drive is a CD/DVD burner - Philips DVD+-RW DVD8801.

---

Sparrow - really an annoying problem. I see your machine is one of the posh new tiny ones.

You may've already done all the steps suggested in the 3100C Owner’s Manual (link to pdf here, as given before by butler). There's a few things in there you can do before you grab a screwdriver.

Do you have a warranty for more than 1 year? (IMHO, always a good idea to get e.g. 3 years, even if it costs more - I did that for both of my machines, DELLs too.) Go and pester their support for a bit?

There's more specific information on the Philips DVD+-RW DVD8801 drive on the DELL support website. Philips say "This Philips drive is a special customized product and is sold only as part of a computer system (OEM)", thus the link to DELL.

I was wondering earlier if perhaps a driver update might be useful. Here (TinyURL link) is a driver update of 13 April 2007, so you might not have that yet.

I hope you'll manage to get it to work again eventually, or as a last resort might have to replace it.
 

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Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:
Sparrow - really an annoying problem. I see your machine is one of the posh new tiny ones.

You may've already done all the steps suggested in the 3100C Owner’s Manual (link to pdf here, as given before by butler). There's a few things in there you can do before you grab a screwdriver.

Do you have a warranty for more than 1 year? (IMHO, always a good idea to get e.g. 3 years, even if it costs more - I did that for both of my machines, DELLs too.) Go and pester their support for a bit?

There's more specific information on the Philips DVD+-RW DVD8801 drive on the DELL support website. Philips say "This Philips drive is a special customized product and is sold only as part of a computer system (OEM)", thus the link to DELL.

I was wondering earlier if perhaps a driver update might be useful. Here (TinyURL link) is a driver update of 13 April 2007, so you might not have that yet.

I hope you'll manage to get it to work again eventually, or as a last resort might have to replace it.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by aj:
I should add that the laptop can see our neighbours' networks.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by andreas1984:
Does anyone know if one could use the same iPod device over both an iMac and a pc that runs Windows Vista? I mean, without having to reformat the iPod to a file system recognized by Windows...

---

If the iPod is formatted for Windows, the Mac will still read it, but I'm not sure that it is possible the other way round. Only because when I got my iPod my friend loaded on songs from his Mac, but at the time I had a Windows (XP) machine and he then had to jump through hoops to reformat it.

The other issue if it's Windows formatted is that you will only be able to do software updates by connecting it to a Windows machine.

My question is: any suggestions for good backup software for the Mac? Today I had a hard drive crash that, while not life-shattering, is still quite inconvenient. Next week I'm going to go get a big external drive. I'm considering upgrading to Leopard too.

[ 14. January 2008, 11:16: Message edited by: ecumaniac ]
 

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Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by ecumaniac:

My question is: any suggestions for good backup software for the Mac? Today I had a hard drive crash that, while not life-shattering, is still quite inconvenient. Next week I'm going to go get a big external drive. I'm considering upgrading to Leopard too.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by basso:
(I'm going to MacWorld SF this week. I think there's a new Mac in my future.)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by babybear:
Kompozer is exactly what I want. It shows the code in the same way as the 'view source' in Firefox.

Many thanks.

bb

---

bb, I may be late and you may've already made up your mind - and perhaps for the better product. However, I'd like to put forward Alleycode HTML Editor, which I've found to be quite useful in the past. Plus it's free.

Have fun with your new software, whatever you may choose!
 

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Posted by Amorya (# 2652) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by babybear:
I would like an editor almost exactly like the one I get up when I "View source" in Firefox. The difference would be that I can actually edit the file!

A brief description - it recognises the keywords of xhtml and css and bungs them in blue. It also matches up brackets and shows up " />" bits. Comments are in green.

Any suggestions?

---

Try Coda.
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Oi! My suggestion was for Win. Using the OS of The Enemy here - I repent.
 

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Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
If you're on a Mac, the HTML editor of choice is BBEdit.

I use vim, which does syntax highlighting very well. It's certainly not for everybody, but if you've used vi and not hated it, vim is all you need.
 

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Posted by babybear (# 34) on :
 
I despise vi. Well, actually, I don't, but I hate the fundamental flaw in it where a way to navigate is 'hjkl'. These are one step out from the 'home keys' in touch typing, and as I learn how to type I get seriously discombobulated by them. I know that I could re-map the keys so that 'jkl;' become the navigation keys, but that only stores up problems if I were to use vi on any other machine than my own.

The HTML source view in Kompozer is exactly what I was after. I like the way the colours have been done, and it is a very simple text editor, on a par with Notepad. Tis Notepad that I have been using up until now.

I am not a fan of how Kompozer looks in any other views, but it looks great for writing code by hand.
 

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Posted by Late Paul (# 37) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by babybear:
I despise vi. Well, actually, I don't, but I hate the fundamental flaw in it where a way to navigate is 'hjkl'. These are one step out from the 'home keys' in touch typing, and as I learn how to type I get seriously discombobulated by them. I know that I could re-map the keys so that 'jkl;' become the navigation keys, but that only stores up problems if I were to use vi on any other machine than my own.

---

In vim certainly, and probably other vi's, you can use the cursor keys as an alternative to hjkl.

However vi(m) really isn't for everyone, if you hate it, I won't try to convince you.
 

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Posted by babybear (# 34) on :
 
Argh, spoke too soon. Whilst the code appears how I would like, and functions as a simple text editor, when the file is saved it doesn't save the formatting style I like. I can't get it to have blank line, and it puts in 'weird' linebreaks.

Gremlin and I have trawled through various bits and pieces and found the following advice "Don't use a WYSIWYG authoring tool to write code." KompoZer is in ver 0.7.10 just now, and it won't be until 0.9.x that the formatting of text will be looked at.
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Not sure what you want Babybear, just had a quick check and below maybe a possibility.

Sometime ago I think ChrisT recommended TSW. I have used it for writing a couple of my own websites and I like it. I am less happy over previewing CSS (I need something other than what I am getting but I am not sure what and if you work differently this may not be a problem) but for straight coding it is fine!

As I said I got the recommendation here, Oh and it has a good ftp client that goes with it. I am very happy with that. Ended weeks of frustration over whether a site was up to date or not!

Actually investigate the site further as I think it has a cut down coder that may suit your needs.

Jengie

[ 17. January 2008, 22:23: Message edited by: Jengie Jon ]
 

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Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:


You may've already done all the steps suggested in the 3100C Owner’s Manual (link to pdf here, as given before by butler). There's a few things in there you can do before you grab a screwdriver.

---

[/QUOTE]


Well, that didn't work (trying to update the driver. I downloaded the file which was supposed to be the new driver - it's a zipped file - but when unzipping it there's nothing inside it!


 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
The link I've posted and now used, contains two items when I unzip it. I get 'AD21.cvt' which is 925kb, and 'WinDWFlash V1.03" of 64kb (SCSI Disk Flash Tool).

If you PM me your e-mail addy, Sparrow, I'll forward both the zip folder and the two files to you.

All best!
 

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Posted by ecumaniac (# 376) on :
 
Having finally had enough of the WinXP laptop I'm using while my Mac is in hospital, I'm going to jump on the Linux bandwagon.

I'm following the tutorial from pendrivelinux.com to save the hassle of partitioning the drive.

I'll report back when it's done. Wish me luck!
 

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Posted by Codepoet (# 5964) on :
 
I am off to college later this year, and so will have no money, and hence am thinking I ought to get off the MS wagon and start using Free software.
While I can see that most of the software I would want to use has an Open equivelent, I can;t get my head around what the Open equivelent of MS Outlook (and exchange) is. I need to be able to manage email, calander and contacts, access them all via the while I am out and about and also sync my PDA/mobile phone with it as well (especially for diary and contacts) Obviously in the MS worls, the solution id exchange, outlook, active sync and windows-mobile. Any suggestions what I can use to do this in the Open world?
 

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Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Is there a way of searching with google and specifying that the search terms must be within the same sentence - or even paragraph?
 

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Posted by EveJ (# 9063) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Codepoet:
While I can see that most of the software I would want to use has an Open equivelent, I can;t get my head around what the Open equivelent of MS Outlook (and exchange) is. I need to be able to manage email, calander and contacts, access them all via the while I am out and about and also sync my PDA/mobile phone with it as well (especially for diary and contacts) Obviously in the MS worls, the solution id exchange, outlook, active sync and windows-mobile. Any suggestions what I can use to do this in the Open world?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Wanderer:
Does anyone know an alternative to Paypal? I need to send money over the Net, they are asking for documents they've already got, and are slowly driving me mad! Is there another firm out there that does the same sort of thing, but works?

---

I've used Egg Pay successfully a couple of times.
 

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Posted by The Wanderer (# 182) on :
 
Many thanks - I'll explore that tomorrow.
 

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Posted by Jimmy B (# 220) on :
 
Visiting a friend, also an ancient geek and he told me a wonderful story, relating to one of the original PC XTs. (He said it was an 8080 processor, but I suspect he meant 8088).

Anyway, he was working as a programmer at the time, and a mate mentioned his machine (the aforementioned PC XT) which was behaving a bit flakily... So he told the mate to drop it round and he'd have a look. When he opened the case, he found that a mouse had made its nest right on top of the CPU!! There was no fan in this machine - and the mouse nest (wait for it-- ) was made of a shredded pest control leaflet!




[ETA: This same friend working now at a university had another mouse story for me Staff were complaining that the new laser printer was leaving streaks on the printouts... when he opened it up, a mouse had tried to run up over the drum and been zapped by the high voltage. There it remained wedged, and its little paws had etched the surface of the drum! Hence the streakiness. The drum was replaced under warranty ]

[ 28. January 2008, 12:05: Message edited by: Jimmy B ]
 

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Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
Hi fellow geeks, my geeky specialty being databases rather than email, I'm hoping for a bit of geeky reassurance (do geeks do reassurance? hmmmm.)

I'm trying to make webpage mailto: links bring up gmail instead of Outlook Express. Have gotten to where gmail comes up, but the page just says "Loading" and the status bar says "Done 100%". Windows XP, IE7, Norton 360, Gmail Notifier 1.0.25.0, Gmail "newer version." Outlook Express is on the machine but not configured and never used.

I've tried toggling the "block popups" in the toolbar, but to no effect.

I'm thinking for a workaround of making the mailto: links bring up OE, and configure OE to send mail through gmail. Apart from that I want OE to be completely transparent -- no POPing of email, no having to use OE to look at anything.

Any thoughts? Either for fixing the problem at its root, and/or for the feasibility of the mostly-transparent workaround, and/or any other workaround possibilities?

[ETA: for configuring OE, I'm thinking of something like this. Everything I know about this whole setup I've found out through Google.]

[ 30. January 2008, 15:02: Message edited by: Autenrieth Road ]
 

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Posted by sheba (# 10654) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by ecumaniac:
Having finally had enough of the WinXP laptop I'm using while my Mac is in hospital, I'm going to jump on the Linux bandwagon.

I'm following the tutorial from pendrivelinux.com to save the hassle of partitioning the drive.

I'll report back when it's done. Wish me luck!

---

Hooray! Another Linux convert. I recommend Ubuntu Linux 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon, the one I'm using at the moment.
 

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Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
Ah, it turns out that it's bogsstandard to set up OE to have an IMAP connection to one's gmail, giving one one's choice of clients (OE, web, etc.) that can be used interchangeably. So that's all set then. My problem had been thinking of gmail as synonymous with its web interface.
 

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Posted by duchess (# 2764) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jimmy B:
Visiting a friend, also an ancient geek and he told me a wonderful story, relating to one of the original PC XTs. (He said it was an 8080 processor, but I suspect he meant 8088).

Anyway, he was working as a programmer at the time, and a mate mentioned his machine (the aforementioned PC XT) which was behaving a bit flakily... So he told the mate to drop it round and he'd have a look. When he opened the case, he found that a mouse had made its nest right on top of the CPU!! There was no fan in this machine - and the mouse nest (wait for it-- ) was made of a shredded pest control leaflet!




[ETA: This same friend working now at a university had another mouse story for me Staff were complaining that the new laser printer was leaving streaks on the printouts... when he opened it up, a mouse had tried to run up over the drum and been zapped by the high voltage. There it remained wedged, and its little paws had etched the surface of the drum! Hence the streakiness. The drum was replaced under warranty ]

---

You know, it would have been cheaper just to get a cat.
 

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Posted by Qlib (# 43) on :
 
Can anyone tell me why my computer (Windows XP) - which used to happily let me plug in and plug out my USB pen without any of the tiresome 'safely dismounting*' stuff that I have to do at work (XP Pro)- has suddenly started forgetting at 20 minute or, on bad days, 20 second, intervals that the USB pen is plugged in and ignores its contents, refuses to save files back to the pen etc. Is this the result of another 'improvement' downloaded?

*'Dismount' - wtf? What do they think we're doing with those pens?
 

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Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Qlib:
Can anyone tell me why my computer (Windows XP) - which used to happily let me plug in and plug out my USB pen without any of the tiresome 'safely dismounting*' stuff that I have to do at work (XP Pro)- has suddenly started forgetting at 20 minute or, on bad days, 20 second, intervals that the USB pen is plugged in and ignores its contents, refuses to save files back to the pen etc. Is this the result of another 'improvement' downloaded?

*'Dismount' - wtf? What do they think we're doing with those pens?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jimmy B:
This same friend working now at a university had another mouse story for me Staff were complaining that the new laser printer was leaving streaks on the printouts...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider: Does it do this with other USB devices?

---

Nope - I have a USB modem, which it manages quite happily.
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
I guess you'll have tried different USB ports on your and other machines? - If the problem persists, looks to me like a physical connection error of the pen drive. Some modestly priced models are not exactly reliable.

If not, get back - and let us think...
 

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Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
The flash memory in a pen drive is rated only for a certain number of write cycles. I think that yours is probably worn out - even without moving parts!

I'd try replacing it with a different drive.
 

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Posted by Qlib (# 43) on :
 
It's a relatively new pen, and still functions fine at my place of work. There are 2 USB ports at the front of my computer and the modem works when plugged into either of them. The pen has problems whichever one it is plugged into.

The computer has started urging me to plug the pen into a "Hi-Speed" port, which I guess is at the back and relatively inaccessible. But I guess I'll get a connecting thinggy and try that next. Thanks for the ideas so far.
 

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Posted by Real Ale Methodist (# 7390) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by ecumaniac:
My question is: any suggestions for good backup software for the Mac? Today I had a hard drive crash that, while not life-shattering, is still quite inconvenient. Next week I'm going to go get a big external drive. I'm considering upgrading to Leopard too.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Qlib:
It's a relatively new pen, and still functions fine at my place of work. There are 2 USB ports at the front of my computer and the modem works when plugged into either of them. The pen has problems whichever one it is plugged into.

The computer has started urging me to plug the pen into a "Hi-Speed" port, which I guess is at the back and relatively inaccessible. But I guess I'll get a connecting thinggy and try that next. Thanks for the ideas so far.

---

Good thinking re getting a USB cable or a USB hub, possibly a powered one.

Hi-speed ports are USB 2.0, which practically all new computers got; USB 1.1 is older and slower, and that your drive's viewed as a lo-speed 1.1 shows that your machine currently can't correctly indentify this particular pendrive. - But we already knew that, didn't we.

Hope working with a USB hub will help. Sure worth a try. 3 ports aren't a lot anyway; I got 5 and still need an extra hub! Silly manufacturers!
 

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Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
I have a new optical mouse with a 'tiltable wheel'. And yes, it does tilt, but I can't see what this tiltableness is for ... it certainly doesn't help me go around corners any faster. Can some let me in on the secret please?
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Yep. Each tilt is either programmable or has a certain function assigned to it. On my Logitech G5 mouse for example, I use the right tilt to move one step forward, and the left one step back, e.g. while surfing the web, or working on documents. Very nifty.

You should find more info on the manufacturer's website, and normally have the appropriate software on a CD-ROM that comes with your mouse.

Hope that helps. It's a very useful feature I find.
 

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Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Aaah - thank you! That does sound useful.
 

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Posted by aj (# 1383) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Real Ale Methodist:

quote:

---

Originally posted by ecumaniac:
My question is: any suggestions for good backup software for the Mac? Today I had a hard drive crash that, while not life-shattering, is still quite inconvenient. Next week I'm going to go get a big external drive. I'm considering upgrading to Leopard too.

---

Upgrade to Leopard, get the biggest external hard drive you can afford, preferably with a firewire cable. Use TimeMachine. (Even better get a TimeCapsule - I want to)

---

At the very least it's worth using an external hard drive with something like Carbon Copy Cloner to backup the entire disk. I first used CCC with great success a few years ago when I got a new hard drive for my Powerbook and wanted to make an exact copy of the information on the old disk.
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Ok - me again.

Just had the most amazing geeky experience:

Norton Internet Security asked to be upgraded to NIS 2008, as otherwise any future subscription update wouldn't be possible. As I got NIS 2008 on another machine and like it, told myself, ok why not, sounds a good idea to me.

So that's what I do, and then NIS 2008 tells me: 'Your subscription has expired', and me, hey wait a minute - I want my two months' remaining subscription back!

I use their chat facility, and a nice man from India makes me change a few settings, namely temporarily turn back the computer date to 28 Jan 2008, and hey presto - I've now got an entire 12 (twelve!!) months of remaining subscription... Chap says, there's no other way around it, so seems that Symantec for a change've mightily messed up and are now literally paying for it. Very nice this!

BTW, and with all due respect to (free) AVG AntiVirus owners (which seems excellent), Norton Internet Security 2008's now finally a great lot faster than any Norton before - even a weak, slow machine shouldn't take 10 minutes to start up any more, but only a short while, like it should be.

At last, with NIS 2008, they got the hang of that, I guess. Really took 'em quite some time!

Anyway - I'm now enjoying 10 months's worth of free updates with Norton, because they couldn't get the tweak right. Not complaining there. Full stop.
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
I seem to be getting spam from my own forged e-mail address, of course with a totally false name, but with my address.

Currently I don't seem to be able to catch these in a spamfilter (Spamihilator), as I'd be blocking my own e-mail address.

I'll be trying to tweak the spamfilter, and will report back - in the meantime, do any of you have any suggestions on how to solve this?

Thank you.
 

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Posted by Pheonix (# 2782) on :
 
Sounds like some spammer is doing a joe-job on you. Spoofing your domain name on spam they're sending out. Catching that is pretty difficult. If its failed delivery reports you're getting then you can see if you can filter on null sender to get rid of them.
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Thanks, Phoenix.

I don't think it's a classic joe-job, as that would involve sending out spam with my forged address to others. This I think has not (yet) happened. Though this strategy is new to my account, my ISP actually is already adding a Kapersky 'spam' tag to the message header, so they're obviously on top of this. If I activated my ISP's spamfilter, I guess the problem wouldn't be visible.

It's only one or two messages very occasionally. As I'm a bit on the geeky side, I'm trying to find a way of chucking those messages into the bin right away. I'd like to make my spamfilter react to the obvious contradiction between my addy and the person purportedly sending it, which at the moment appears as different fake names.

I'll contact my ISP in any case I guess. I could always activate their filter, if necessary. Hmm...
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Quick update to the spam problem above - receiving spam from your own address, but with a forged name.

Problem solved! Yay!

I've found yet another tweak in 'Spamihilator', by using its 'signature' filter: mails from my own account are now only accepted if they contain a particular signature, ie. a clearly defined text of certain letters, numbers and gaps which spammers won't know. (Plus you can always adapt this later.)

Another victory for spamhaters. Huzzah!
 

---

Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 
I have a four year old PC and she's getting a bit on the annoyingly sluggish side. How can I perk her up? I've cleared temporary files, I defragment from time to time. But it's starting to sound like the processor actually contains cogs. Time for an upgrade? Of what bit?
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 
Check the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run key in the registry. Probably contains loads of crud you don't actually need starting every time you log in.
 

---

Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 
Where would I find that? My Computer? My Documents?
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hazey*Jane:
Where would I find that? My Computer? My Documents?

---

Regedit. Start --> Run --> Regedit --> OK
 

---

Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 
Aha! Found it. Thanks.

There doesn't seem to be *that* much stuff in there though. And certainly not anything I feel confident about deleting.
 

---

Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 
If I delete stuff from there will it remove it from the computer, or just prevent it from running every time I start up?
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 
It will stop it from running at log in. Post a list of what's in there and I'll tell you what you can delete.
 

---

Posted by catholicedinburgh (# 12668) on :
 
Hello

I wonder if anyone can help.

I have an old, old Toshiba laptop running Window98 that I don't need. I want to remove Windows and put Ubuntu onto it instead. What I can't work out is how to persuade the machine to boot from a cd - I have a plugin cd reader for it.

I have tried pressing F1 through to F12 and combinations thereof to no avail.

Any ideas?
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by catholicedinburgh:
Hello

I wonder if anyone can help.

I have an old, old Toshiba laptop running Window98 that I don't need. I want to remove Windows and put Ubuntu onto it instead. What I can't work out is how to persuade the machine to boot from a cd - I have a plugin cd reader for it.

I have tried pressing F1 through to F12 and combinations thereof to no avail.

Any ideas?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hazey*Jane:
(Default)
AlcxMonitor
ccApp
My printer's drive
Gearbox
HotKeysCmds
hpsysdrv
IgfxTray
IMJPMIG8.1
KBD
MSPY2002
NvCplDaemon
nwiz
osCheck
PHIME2002A
PHIME2002ASync
PS2
QuickTime Task
Recguard
SsAdd.exe.
TkBellExe
VTTimer
Windows Defender

Phew! I feel very exposed!

---

Yeek! Loads of stuff there.

Those are the names of the values - what are each of them set to (on the right hand side of the right hand pane)? This gives the name of the actual file run.

I'll go through the ones which are clear:

AlcxMonitor - part of the RealTek sound software. Considered spyware by some; consider getting rid.
ccApp - part of Norton Anti-Virus. I find Norton a resource hog and would consider replacing it with something else
My printer's drive
Gearbox - may be spyware. Do you know what this is meant to be?
HotKeysCmds - Installs Intel Hot Keys for their graphics chip.
hpsysdrv - part of the print
IgfxTray - more graphics stuff
IMJPMIG8.1 - part of MS office
KBD - need to know the .exe file being run
MSPY2002 - Used for entering chinese and Japanese characters into IE. Up to you
NvCplDaemon - NVidia graphics module. Are you using an Intel or NVidia graphics card?
nwiz - more NVidia
osCheck - part of Norton
PHIME2002A - MS Language Support
PHIME2002ASync - a/a/
PS2 - need to know the .exe file
QuickTime Task - Ugh. Delete any Quicktime stuff which runs on boot.
Recguard - important. Prevents you from mucking around with the recovery partition.
SsAdd.exe - can't find this one. Can you tell me where SsAdd.exe is launched from on your PC? Do a search for it to find the file. This may give us a clue.
TkBellExe - Part of RealPlayer, another App from Hell like QuickTime.
VTTimer - user by VIA graphics hardware
Windows Defender - Anti spyware programme.

So the other question would be what graphics chip you are actually using.

[ 11. February 2008, 19:47: Message edited by: Karl: Liberal Backslider ]
 

---

Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 

quote:

---

ccApp - part of Norton Anti-Virus. I find Norton a resource hog and would consider replacing it with something else

---

quote:

---

Gearbox - may be spyware. Do you know what this is meant to be?

---

quote:

---

KBD - need to know the .exe file being run

---

quote:

---

PS2 - need to know the .exe file

---

quote:

---

SsAdd.exe - can't find this one. Can you tell me where SsAdd.exe is launched from on your PC? Do a search for it to find the file. This may give us a clue.

---

quote:

---

So the other question would be what graphics chip you are actually using.

---

No idea!

Erm, I presume posting all these file extensions on the net isn't going to make me prone to hacking in some way?!
 

---

Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 
I have an 'Intel Graphics Controller'? Is that the thing?
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 
No. It won't.

Gearbox Connection Kit may be used to set up your connection to your ISP.

To find out what graphics chip you are using, right click "My Computer", choose "Properties", "Hardware", "Device Manager" and expand Display Adapters. You will probably find the software for the others in Add/Remove programs. So if you've got an Intel chip, remove any references to NVidia and VIA from there.
 

---

Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 
Thank you, Karl, that's been really really helpful.
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hazey*Jane:
I have an 'Intel Graphics Controller'? Is that the thing?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hazey*Jane:
I do keep getting warning messages about Virtual Memory being low, and Windows attempting to create more of it.

---

Your Swap File is probably fragmented. There is a cure for this, but it's not for the faint-hearted.

1. Set size to zero. Reboot
2. Defragment.
3. Set size back to auto
3. Reboot again.

More RAM would be no bad thing though.

[ 11. February 2008, 20:20: Message edited by: Karl: Liberal Backslider ]
 

---

Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 
That does sound a bit scary. And I'm not sure I understood!

How would one go about getting more RAM?

Sorry for all the questions! Feel free to stop answering if it's getting annoying.
 

---

Posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider (# 76) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hazey*Jane:
That does sound a bit scary. And I'm not sure I understood!

How would one go about getting more RAM?

Sorry for all the questions! Feel free to stop answering if it's getting annoying.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alban:
On the "how to get more ram" question, I have an old PC I am trying to set up with Ubuntu, the ram inside does not seem to have any name on it. I know my current computer has DDR Ram as it says so on the Ram, but what could the nameless stuff in the other computer be, and how would I find this out?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Timothy the Obscure:
My laptop was set up for the LAN at my old office. I'm not there anymore, and I have tried to remove the network connection. The My Network Places window is empty, but occasionally (not every time) I'll get an "unable to reconnect all your network drives" message on boot. The LAN is still in the Connections window, disabled, but delete is grayed out when I right click. It's not really a problem, but it is a minor annoyance. Suggestions?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:

quote:

---

Originally posted by catholicedinburgh:
Hello

I wonder if anyone can help.

I have an old, old Toshiba laptop running Window98 that I don't need. I want to remove Windows and put Ubuntu onto it instead. What I can't work out is how to persuade the machine to boot from a cd - I have a plugin cd reader for it.

I have tried pressing F1 through to F12 and combinations thereof to no avail.

Any ideas?

---

It may simply be too old.

Is "CD" listed in the boot options in Setup (unfortunately I can't tell you where to find that as every CMOS setup is different. Look for "boot options" or similar.) If it's not listed then it might not be able to boot from CD. But I have to tell you that a W98 era laptop is unlikely to run Ubuntu tolerably. I put it on an old XP laptop and whilst a little faster than XP on the same machine, there wasn't much in it.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alban:
On the "how to get more ram" question, I have an old PC I am trying to set up with Ubuntu, the ram inside does not seem to have any name on it. I know my current computer has DDR Ram as it says so on the Ram, but what could the nameless stuff in the other computer be, and how would I find this out?

---

What Karl said. I'll add that if it's an old machine, it would probably be wise to try running Xubuntu, which uses the Xfce GUI rather than the standard Gnome one (or just install Xfce once you've got Ubuntu up and running). I find it's a bit faster than Gnome on older machines.

DS (proudly running ubuntu atm)
 

---

Posted by Lady Alicia of Scouseland (# 7668) on :
 
Greetings!

I want to build a cheap computer, for a back up and am thinking of buying this AMD Starter Bundle (scroll down a bit)

It includes these:

Contains:
1x AMD SEMPRON LE-1100 AM2 1.9GHZ 256KB RETAIL
1x ECS 6100SM-S2 uATX,VGA,DDR2,PCI-X,SATA2,RAID
1x PM BARON "DELIGHT" BLACK ATX CASE 400W PSU
2x 1GB 667 DDR2 PC5300 DIMM MEMORY ELIXIR

The question I have is apart from what I mention below, what else do I need to buy?

I have a spare monitor, and IDE hard drive and a couple of keyboards and mice and I have bought these type of bundles before in the past.

With some help have managed to get them to work - but technology has moved on a bit since last time I bought one, so does it need a different kind of hard drive (SATA/RAID?) or will the IDE version work?

I have no experience at all with the other kind and was hoping not to have to buy them just yet.

Also, is the graphics card and CPU adequate for playing some basic games. It is mainly intended for a homework computer, but some gaming will be done on it I am sure. It is for a gift.

I know I could ring the shop and find out but it would be nice to be able to just order it and avoid the sales pitch, in the knowledge that I know what I want/need.

[ 15. February 2008, 12:08: Message edited by: Lady Alicia of Scouseland ]
 

---

Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
Buy a new SATA drive. Don't try to make an old drive last in a new machine. Old drives will fail and disappoint you.
 

---

Posted by Lady Alicia of Scouseland (# 7668) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by basso:
Buy a new SATA drive. Don't try to make an old drive last in a new machine. Old drives will fail and disappoint you.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by catholicedinburgh:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:

quote:

---

Originally posted by catholicedinburgh:
Hello

I wonder if anyone can help.

I have an old, old Toshiba laptop running Window98 that I don't need. I want to remove Windows and put Ubuntu onto it instead. What I can't work out is how to persuade the machine to boot from a cd - I have a plugin cd reader for it.

I have tried pressing F1 through to F12 and combinations thereof to no avail.

Any ideas?

---

It may simply be too old.

Is "CD" listed in the boot options in Setup (unfortunately I can't tell you where to find that as every CMOS setup is different. Look for "boot options" or similar.) If it's not listed then it might not be able to boot from CD. But I have to tell you that a W98 era laptop is unlikely to run Ubuntu tolerably. I put it on an old XP laptop and whilst a little faster than XP on the same machine, there wasn't much in it.

---

As I feared. Oh well it owes me no favours and should probably be allowed to rest in peace.

Thanks

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lady Alicia of Scouseland:

quote:

---

Originally posted by basso:
Buy a new SATA drive. Don't try to make an old drive last in a new machine. Old drives will fail and disappoint you.

---

Are they as easy to fit as IDE ones?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dinghy Sailor:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lady Alicia of Scouseland:

quote:

---

Originally posted by basso:
Buy a new SATA drive. Don't try to make an old drive last in a new machine. Old drives will fail and disappoint you.

---

Are they as easy to fit as IDE ones?

---

Yep. They just have a different form of connector.

---

thanks both of you!
 

---

Posted by MouseThief (# 953) on :
 
I am running XP. I want a utility that will allow me to remap keys on my keyboard to add some extended ascii characters in easy reach, without having to change to a bizarre foreign keyboard as offered by MS. I found some programs online but they all want me to be have .NET 2.0.50727. What is it? Is it safe? Will it slow my computer down or cause my children to have children with six legs? Where does one find it? Why does Microsoft have to make this sort of thing so bleeding difficult?

Thanks. I feel better now. Anybody? Please?
 

---

Posted by MouseThief (# 953) on :
 
Also while I'm asking, is there an affordable mp3 player that truly has removable media? My googling has found players that can be used AS removable media, but not ones that use removable media (e.g. flashcard) as their storage rather than onboard memory. Can anybody steer me in the right direction?
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Mousethief

In answer to question about .net, that appears to be an update on Microsoft .Net Framework, whatever that is, but I know I have ended up with it on at least one of my machines, I think for getting at fancy databases. However on checking on the Microsoft site it appears not to be suitable for XP (or they forgot to list it) and you perhaps should look at .Net 3.5 .

However I would hope someone who knew more about OS than I do would come along and say something.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
SanDisk have got mp3 (and video) players with removable storage, e.g. the Sansa e260, which I've got.

Fantastic machine, with microSD slot. All in all, you may have e.g. a 4GB flash drive with an extra 2GB on the microSD card.

There may be newer models available, but I can wholeheartedly recommend the Sansa players. They also play videos, after transformation by the software you receive with the player. The latest models may have even more storage space.

Hope you'll find one you like!
 

---

Posted by MouseThief (# 953) on :
 
Do you have to transfer the music from the microSD to the internal memory, or can you play directly from the microSD?
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
The microSD card is effectively additional storage space and is recognised as such by the player. It seems you can only put audio files on the card, not videos, but then you'll have plenty of space for that on the proper flash drive. The card shows up on the display by a little icon next to the song title.

However, all this also depends on which transfer mode you choose, as you can in fact use the player and the extra card as a data storage facility, just like any USB memory stick. Data will not be recognised by the player, i.e. can't be listened to or watched. However, you can have both data and music/image/video files on the drive at the same time, but of course will only be able to access the audiovisual ones on the road - the others will show up once it's plugged into a USD port.

Sansa, BTW, use a specific USB connection cable of their own making, so if you want to connect to any USB port, you always need to carry that around with you - though I've never found this to be a problem.
 

---

Posted by MouseThief (# 953) on :
 
Well I haven't purchased an mp3 player yet, but I did find a program to allow me to create extended ascii characters on the fly without loading some crazy foreign keyboard layout. I haven't even scratched the surface; what I am using it for right now is just a tiny fraction of all it can do. Looking forward to putting it through its paces as soon as I figure out how!
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Anyone out there using Mozilla Thunderbird as an e-mail client?

I've downloaded it and am currently looking through its functionality, and would be glad for your comments. I've had MS OE so far.

Thank you.
 

---

Posted by Otter (# 12020) on :
 
I used Thunderbird at home before getting my Mac and lazily switching over to the native Mac mail program. I was quite happy with the state of Thunderbird about three years ago, I assume it's still good today.
 

---

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 
I use Thunderbird at work. Very easy to get the hang of.

Its also a bit more heavy-duty than Outlook, I can use it in a wider variety of circumstances. Such as wanting to access five mail servers simultaneously. And I like being able to store mail in easily readable flat files, and being able to modify the configuration and profile by hand.
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Lovely. Thanks muchly. Guess I'll give it a try then!
 

---

Posted by MouseThief (# 953) on :
 
It's very amusing to read "I use Thunderbird here" and "I use Thunderbird there" -- in these parts Thunderbird is the name of a rotgut wine popular with street alcoholics.
 

---

Posted by MouseThief (# 953) on :
 
Okay, Here's my Question:

I have a nice little jump drive thingee that attaches to my key ring, and which I use to keep vital personal information and other stuff on. I got some wonderful encrypting software that keeps it locked up until you plug it in and fire off the "unlock.exe" and type in your password. Then you can use it just like any other drive. When you unplug it, it automagically goes back to being locked and scrambled.

SOOOO, here's my question:

Can I set it up in such a way that when I plug it in, it will "autorun" the unlock.exe program? Can you set up a jump drive to autorun something when you plug it in? My computer already recognizes it and assigns it the same drive letter and share name every time. I don't care if it only does it on my machine; I don't use it elsewhere very often.

THANKS!
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:
Anyone out there using Mozilla Thunderbird as an e-mail client?

I've downloaded it and am currently looking through its functionality, and would be glad for your comments. I've had MS OE so far.

Thank you.

---

Yes and happy with it. Threatened to put it on my fathers machine, when he was having problems with Junk Mail. I even have got automatic signatures on my work copy and have not found anything Pegasus Mail used to do that it can't do. It is the standard email client at work.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Lovely! Thanks, Jengie Jon!
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Last post on previous page, for better visibility here again:

quote:

---

Originally posted by MouseThief:
Okay, Here's my Question:

I have a nice little jump drive thingee that attaches to my key ring, and which I use to keep vital personal information and other stuff on. I got some wonderful encrypting software that keeps it locked up until you plug it in and fire off the "unlock.exe" and type in your password. Then you can use it just like any other drive. When you unplug it, it automagically goes back to being locked and scrambled.

SOOOO, here's my question:

Can I set it up in such a way that when I plug it in, it will "autorun" the unlock.exe program? Can you set up a jump drive to autorun something when you plug it in? My computer already recognizes it and assigns it the same drive letter and share name every time. I don't care if it only does it on my machine; I don't use it elsewhere very often.

THANKS!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by MouseThief:

Can I set it up in such a way that when I plug it in, it will "autorun" the unlock.exe program? Can you set up a jump drive to autorun something when you plug it in? My computer already recognizes it and assigns it the same drive letter and share name every time. I don't care if it only does it on my machine; I don't use it elsewhere very often.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by basso:
Google is your friend. The first result in my search was this one, from lifehacker.com. Looks like just what you need. I've found lifehacker reliable in past.

---

Googling isn't my strong suit. I did everything the lesson suggested (multiple times) but it still doesn't work. When I plug in the zip drive it asks me what I want to do, open folder or do nothing, whereas it usually automatically opens the folder (when I go into properties, that's the option I have checked). Could my puter have the "autoplay" function turned off? If so, how do I turn it back on?
 

---

Posted by MouseThief (# 953) on :
 
Okay, I've sussed it.

Sadly it brings up the same menu as mentioned, just with an extra thing ("Launch Portable Workspace" ) as an additional option. (The "always do the selected option" is greyed out.) In other words, it doesn't really launch. It is just as easy to doubleclick the unlock.exe icon as to work through this thingum. Net gain is nil.

Why can you set it up to always play a music CD without asking, but not run a program without asking? Is this just another one of those "I hate hate hate hate hate Microsoft" things?

Sigh. The search goes on.
 

---

Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
There's lots of stuff out there, Mousethief.

I searched on 'windows thumb.drive autorun.inf' and
got many hits. Maybe one of them will do the job for you.
 

---

Posted by Nats (# 2211) on :
 
Embarrassingly, although I am an IT geek, I need assistance for my home network! Yes I can virtualise a server but can't workout wireless at home!

At the moment we have cable internet access through the freebee modem pugged in to a PC. That's it. Nothing else. We want to move rooms around, and need to move the computer downstairs, and it is impractical to run a wire so I guess wireless is the way to go. We've also been given an old Netgear music streamer which we want to plug in to our Hifi - compatible with 802.11b and g. My husband likes to stream tele on the computer (particularly Scotland football games when he is supposed to be lesson planning!) and we use video skype to speak to my parents in Japan.

The question is this. What speed of router do we need to buy? Do we need to go for a 108 jobbie?? or will 54 do? We've got a small-ish modern-ish semi - do we need something with extra strength or will bog standard do? Should be aim for Netgear or are the other makes as good? What about refurbished ones on ebay?? And to connect up the PC, PCI card or USB key??

We have been given 2 Netgear powerline adapters, but they are the slowest ones and apparently not fast enough for TV (14 something he said I think - but they are at home and I am at work.)

Sorry for being such a useless Techy
 

---

Posted by MouseThief (# 953) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by basso:
There's lots of stuff out there, Mousethief.

I searched on 'windows thumb.drive autorun.inf' and
got many hits. Maybe one of them will do the job for you.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
I think is under view menu but Microsoft change it with every version as far as I can tell so I am not going to even try and tell you which is correct! Yes I have just checked and my version is labelled differently to what I recall so I really don't like guessing.

Jengie

---

I've fiddled with everything under the view menu, and got nowhere.

I'd like to know how to toggle this on and off, because it is quite useful - just not at the moment, when I need to see the proper layout!
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
This is going to sound really silly and I am sorry if it really is too basic. Have you have got the full menu visible, not just the frequently used items showing. Microsoft by default shows only the frequently used items on a menu. If you only have the frequently used items showing then you will see a double down arrow on the menu. You should also see the menu expand if you keep holding your mouse over it and not clicking. What you sound to be in is "Normal" and what you want is "Print layout".

The other option is that you somehow have got into print preview (actually an easier too hit combination of keys) in which case all you need to do is to close it but that does not match your description of what is going on.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Drifting Star: I have OpenOffice.org 2.0, so not exactly MS, but I imagine the layout may be similar.

Try perhaps something like 'view' and go to something like 'print layout' vs. 'web layout'. You might have chosen the latter.

I've attempted to find my way through MS Office FAQs, but once more MS's rather unhelpful there. Yet, you should be able to get some help there, namely re keyboard shortcuts.

For Word 2003, you can print out the available shortcuts (one if which you've used inadvertently) by doing this (from above website):

quote:

---

1. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros.
2. In the Macros in box, click Word commands.
3. In the Macro name box, click ListCommands.
4. Click Run.
5. In the List Commands dialog box, click Current menu and keyboard settings.
6. Click OK.
7. On the File menu, click Print.

---

That might help. Hope it works!

[ETA: x-posted with Jengie Jon ]

[ 05. March 2008, 10:49: Message edited by: Wesley J ]
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Thanks Jengie - but I was in print layout.

I have just sorted it out (Google is my bestest friend).

While in print layout you have to go to the tools menu, then options. In the print and web layout options there is a setting 'white space between pages', where the box need to be ticked. No idea what it was that I pressed in the first place that removed the tick though.

[ETA Cross-posted with Wesley J - thanks!]

[ 05. March 2008, 10:52: Message edited by: Drifting Star ]
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
That's great Wesley - I can't find the shortcut that I used, but I have found one to make instant footnotes that is going to be really, really useful!
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Pleasure!

And I've finally just printed out the OpenOffice.org shortcuts for myself here - high time, this! - and have upgraded to the latest version, 2.3.1.

Highly recommendable, stable and free: OpenOffice.org.
 

---

Posted by Nats (# 2211) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nats:
Embarrassingly, although I am an IT geek, I need assistance for my home network! Yes I can virtualise a server but can't workout wireless at home!

At the moment we have cable internet access through the freebee modem pugged in to a PC. That's it. Nothing else. We want to move rooms around, and need to move the computer downstairs, and it is impractical to run a wire so I guess wireless is the way to go. We've also been given an old Netgear music streamer which we want to plug in to our Hifi - compatible with 802.11b and g. My husband likes to stream tele on the computer (particularly Scotland football games when he is supposed to be lesson planning!) and we use video skype to speak to my parents in Japan.

The question is this. What speed of router do we need to buy? Do we need to go for a 108 jobbie?? or will 54 do? We've got a small-ish modern-ish semi - do we need something with extra strength or will bog standard do? Should be aim for Netgear or are the other makes as good? What about refurbished ones on ebay?? And to connect up the PC, PCI card or USB key??

We have been given 2 Netgear powerline adapters, but they are the slowest ones and apparently not fast enough for TV (14 something he said I think - but they are at home and I am at work.)

Sorry for being such a useless Techy

---

Can any one help? I'd like to get something ordered soon....
 

---

Posted by aj (# 1383) on :
 
54g should be plenty for internet. Much faster than most people's broadband. You probably only need faster if you want to transfer large files between machines around the house.

We've got a Linksys wireless router that seems to work ok, with good range around our two-storey semi. Get one with a 4-port ethernet switch on the back. Even better, get one with a USB port so you can connect a printer that everyone can share.
With ours we set up the cable modem from a laptop connected directly, then cloned the laptop's MAC address to the wireless router before plugging that in to the cable modem.

IME, regarding connecting up the computers, USB hardware seems to work well for a desktop, and no opening of the case is required. Be aware that most wireless connectivity hardware comes with its own drivers - it's probably best to disregard this and let Windows (if it's a PC) sort out its own driver. We had a USB 54g adapter and installed the bundled software, only to have it continually dropping out. Uninstalling the proprietary driver and letting Windows manage the `driving' did the trick.

I haven't used powerline network hardware but have heard that you don't get much faster than 10Mbps, so perhaps 14Mbps is the upper speed possible with this technology.
 

---

Posted by Nats (# 2211) on :
 
Does anyone else stream TV over a wireless link? And does it work well? What about video calls??

Thanks!
 

---

Posted by Late Paul (# 37) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nats:
Does anyone else stream TV over a wireless link?

---

quote:

---

And does it work well?

---

quote:

---

What about video calls??

---

Depends on the resolution I guess. I've used my wbecam with Skype and MSN with no problems over the wireless network but the resolution my webcam is set at is nowhere near TV size.

Does that help at all or is it too vague, with too many caveats?
 

---

Posted by Nats (# 2211) on :
 
No LP that's exactly what I needed - enough to convince me that 54g wireless router will play BBCi player and video skype fine. Wonderful - off I go shopping - thanks!!

Nathalie
 

---

Posted by aj (# 1383) on :
 
All the best with it, Nats.

Remember that 54Mbps speed is a lot quicker than the broadband that most people around the world have (we're blessed with Virgin Media's cable snail <2Mbps service) so when it comes to online video your broadband connection will probably be slowing down the overall connection long before the wireless slows down (unless you've got loads of people on your wireless local area network at once and/or wireless coverage around the house is patchy).
 

---

Posted by ecumaniac (# 376) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Drifting Star:
While in print layout you have to go to the tools menu, then options. In the print and web layout options there is a setting 'white space between pages', where the box need to be ticked. No idea what it was that I pressed in the first place that removed the tick though.

---

In print layout view, if you hover your mouse near the bottom or top edge of a page, it changes to a double-arrow, and if you click that, it removes the white space at the top and bottom of pages.
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Thanks ecumaniac. I knew there must be a simpler way out! That's really useful. Mind you, that can't be how I got there in the first place, as both hands were on the keyboard - but I can live with that bit of mystery.
 

---

Posted by Pearl B4 Swine (# 11451) on :
 
I got the newer version of Java installed, so I could look at the new cafe'; But there was a disclaimer that my Windows ME wouldn't work with the higher Java. Well, I did it anyway, and I did manage to get into the new cafe'. However, I have no sound with the places & games I used to have sound on. Like Pogo games, and the chat cafe raft. I only had partial sounds in there before, and no 'features', only very basic operation.

So, I guess I will un-install the Java so I can play Word Whomp and Mahjong Safari with the noises I like.......and forego the New Ship CAfe'. Is there any way around this problem? Or is the answer to get a better newer Windows system? Thanks. Anyone who answers, please speak non-technical to me Pearlie
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
An upgrade would be a good idea, methinks. However, I don't know whether there ever was an XP upgrade package for ME (which technically is older than Win 2000), and whether you could get one now, long after ME being supported by MS (that ended in mid-2006).

If you were to 'upgrade', you would certainly need to take into consideration your computer specs and the demands of a new operating system. XP still seems fairly reasonable, whereas Vista is using rather a lot of resources, even in the basic versions.

You might need to think of getting a new machine perhaps one day? Some may still be available now with XP as a special treat, though one will have to enquire carefully there.

Regarding practical workarounds I'm afraid I'm not competent, so perhaps someone else might chip in here? - Thank you all.

Hope that helps for the time being, as unsatisfactory as it may look...
 

---

Posted by Henry Troup (# 3722) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by MouseThief:
...Why can you set it up to always play a music CD without asking, but not run a program without asking?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Henry Troup:

quote:

---

Originally posted by MouseThief:
...Why can you set it up to always play a music CD without asking, but not run a program without asking?

---

It's to protect you from yourself - anyone might wander along with a key and plug it in, after all.

However, check out the U3 keys - the scuttlebutt in the security world has that they might be capable of this kind of behaviour.

---

I can confirm that. You have the option of autostarting the U3 software and can do the same for every single program on the USB stick. However, I've so far only used those provided by SanDisk and U3 Download Central, but I imagine any program can be autorun.

(Love the SanDisk Cruzer Titanium drives BTW - very rugged. )
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Starman's laptop (XP) was ordered with extra hard drive capacity (an extra 32GB on top of 8). Looking at the disk space using Device Manager shows that the extra space is 'unallocated', and we cannot find a way of using it. It doesn't appear to have been partitioned - there is no extra drive letter - and we just want it in with the rest on the normal c: drive. It was a while before we realised that we had this problem, and going back to the supplier is no longer an option.

Is there a simple way of grabbing the space? Help!!
 

---

Posted by Gwai (# 11076) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:
(Love the SanDisk Cruzer Titanium drives BTW - very rugged. )

---

I have one of those through work, and it's great, but it really bugs me aesthetically* that it counts as two drives, the untouchable core and the rest that I can use.


*Yes, yes I know!
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
If you don't like the U3 part, Gwai, you can kick it out. There is an uninstall option now.
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
This is a question, I want to automate for someone the process of preparing the church notices. It is basically a fairly simple piece of software that takes a piece of text, two dates one for display from and one for actual event date and also field to specify which notices.

Then it should generate a report that can be exported as an rtf file (though cut and paste will do) so it can be included on the church service sheets. It might also be handy if it had a check that said "Is this all events" y/n, yes would get it to an rtf file but no would get to an input file.

Does anyone know of software like this?

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
*bump*

Any takers please? Ta.
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
No answers, but here is something which is puzzling me.

The new BBC site, and particularly the iPod section depends on some sort of scripting. Possibly php. For some reason, this will not run on my home PC. I have enabled scripts, java, pop-ups, cookies... It's not the ISP, since the other computer on the wireless LAN is unaffected. Something, somewhere, is conflicting with the scripts.

Anyone have any idea of what sort of app would be hostile to php?
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Have you checked your firewall settings on the PC?

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Yes.

Even turning them off seems to make no difference.

I have looked at the event log, and the requisite cookies seem to be whizzing about, so why it doesn't DO anything, I don't know.
 

---

Posted by Leetle Masha (# 8209) on :
 
I have a similar problem, Firenze, with Norton Personal Firewall 2006 (no money to update to their "360")--I can see a video on a news website if I turn off the firewall, start the video and turn the firewall back on... Have to do this every time I want to see a news video on the BBC (one available on the International version).

There is a way to set up rules in Norton Firewall, but I don't understand it and it costs to do their "live chat".

"Russia Today" has opened a YouTube channel here where I can see their videos through YouTube without turning off my firewall.

M
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Right, after reading up a bit on Mobile Code, I found the privacy settings which were blocking the BBC scripts (apparently it was identifying them as banner ads).

It means I can now watch programmes via iPlayer - assuming I want to see a programme at 4" rather than 40"....
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
AFAIK, Firenze, you can watch (or listen to) some BBC iPlayer programmes with an external RealPlayer. Sometimes it takes a bit of fiddling, eg. right-clicking onto the video and choosing from the options. I appears to work for me, at least for certain broadcasts.

[ETA: I mostly watch news programmes, though.]

[ 07. April 2008, 03:46: Message edited by: Wesley J ]
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Firenze, BBC i-player has a function to make it full screen, or it does when I use it. It gives the option of being full screen for a programme I want to watch, and smaller for something I want to catch up with and multitask around.
 

---

Posted by Orb (# 3256) on :
 
I'm sure I'm the biggest idiot on the internet as of yesterday...

YouTube says that I cannot play any of its videos because I don't have the latest version of Flash.

So I follow their instructions about how to uninstall my current Flash player, restart my computer, and then reinstall Flash. Still, when I go back to YouTube, the same message is on each video. It's driving me round the bend. I must have uninstalled, restarted and reinstalled four times now - all to no avail. What gives? Is there something very basic I'm missing?
 

---

Posted by passer (# 13329) on :
 
This might help out.
Read the description at the bottom of the page, and take a Restore Point before installing it, of course.
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Can anyone tell me how to change the spell-checker dictionary in Word to UK English permanently?

If I go through Tools>Language>Set Language I can change it, but only for selected text - and even if I select a whole document it seems to find ways of defaulting back to US English as I add to it.

Surely there's a way to change the default setting? The patronising paperclip is just as unhelpful as usual.
 

---

Posted by leonato (# 5124) on :
 
Have you checked your language settings in Control Panel > Regional and language options? Make sure that is set to UK settings.

Or possibly uncheck the "Detect language automatically" box in the Word "Set language" dialogue box?
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Ah - thanks Leonato. I did have the regional options set to UK English, but there is an Advanced tab there as well which has a setting for 'Language for non-Unicode programs'. That was was set to US English, and is now set to UK English, and seems to have sorted it out.


 

---

Posted by babybear (# 34) on :
 
I am running Win XP and have come across a problem.

It used to be that the bit of space around the icons, and title of the file or folder was transparent, and you could see the colours of the background picture through them. But that has changed. Now the space is non-transparent. I can change the colour, but I can't get it to be transparent again.

Any ideas?
 

---

Posted by Amorya (# 2652) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
This is a question, I want to automate for someone the process of preparing the church notices. It is basically a fairly simple piece of software that takes a piece of text, two dates one for display from and one for actual event date and also field to specify which notices.

Then it should generate a report that can be exported as an rtf file (though cut and paste will do) so it can be included on the church service sheets. It might also be handy if it had a check that said "Is this all events" y/n, yes would get it to an rtf file but no would get to an input file.

Does anyone know of software like this?

Jengie

---

If you're ok with an internet based solution, that shouldn't take more than a couple of hours to program. PM me if you're interested.

Amorya
 

---

Posted by Autenrieth Road (# 10509) on :
 
babybear, for transparent Windows XP icon backgrounds:
Start, Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance (*), System, Advanced, Settings in Performance section. Turn on "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop."

(If you're using Category view. Go straight to System if you're using Classic view.)
 

---

Posted by comet (# 10353) on :
 
Mac Geeks! I need you!

my iBook G4 is bogging down, and I suspect I need a defrag. How do I do that? I've pitched cookies and cleaned the detritus off the desktop, but I can't remember how the heck to do a system defrag.

help!

(I blame a dodgy link in Hell for this.... )
 

---

Posted by amber. (# 11142) on :
 
This link gives a few clues, I think, though from memory the new operating system on Macs is supposed to do all the defragging as it goes, so they don't give you a defrag thingy with it any more and you have to buy/get a separate one?

Apple defrag link
 

---

Posted by babybear (# 34) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Autenrieth Road:
Turn on "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop."

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by comet:
Mac Geeks! I need you!

my iBook G4 is bogging down, and I suspect I need a defrag. How do I do that? I've pitched cookies and cleaned the detritus off the desktop, but I can't remember how the heck to do a system defrag.

help!

(I blame a dodgy link in Hell for this.... )

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by comet:
Mac Geeks! I need you!

my iBook G4 is bogging down, and I suspect I need a defrag. How do I do that? I've pitched cookies and cleaned the detritus off the desktop, but I can't remember how the heck to do a system defrag.

---

quote:

---

Does anyone know of software for preparing UK taxes that runs on a Mac OSX 10.5 operating system?

There must be some tax-and-computer geeks on board?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mamacita:
Seeker963 posted this question on another thread:

quote:

---

Does anyone know of software for preparing UK taxes that runs on a Mac OSX 10.5 operating system?

There must be some tax-and-computer geeks on board?

---

Why yes indeed, and they're on this thread. Can anyone help Seeker963 out on this one?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Seeker963:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mamacita:
Seeker963 posted this question on another thread:

quote:

---

Does anyone know of software for preparing UK taxes that runs on a Mac OSX 10.5 operating system?

There must be some tax-and-computer geeks on board?

---

Why yes indeed, and they're on this thread. Can anyone help Seeker963 out on this one?

---

Thanks, Mamacita and sorry for getting protocol incorrect.

I'm fearing the answer isn't the one I wanted to hear! To the shipmate who said to use HMRC's own software - they have very cleverly made certain that Ministers of Religion can't use that system. Arrrgggh.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Seeker963:
Thanks, Mamacita and sorry for getting protocol incorrect.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilithofthevalley:
Have you tried working your way through
this list on the HMRC website?

I know Taxcalc don't recommend anything cept Windows, but one of the others might...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Seeker963:

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilithofthevalley:
Have you tried working your way through
this list on the HMRC website?

I know Taxcalc don't recommend anything cept Windows, but one of the others might...

---

Yes, I have worked my way through the list. Most of them don't even say which operating system(s) they work with, although a handful say that they can only be used with Windows.

I'm loathe to download something and find that it fries my hard-drive!

---

This will no doubt sound defeatist, but unless your tax affairs are really complicated, it may be safer (and cheaper) just to fill in the form and let HMRC do the calculation of how much you owe/are owed!
 

---

Posted by Nats (# 2211) on :
 
Can anyone recommend a Geeky online forum to ask complicated questions about creating ADM files to add sections in to the GPO in a Windows (mixed between 2000 and 2003 server) network?? The TechNet forum specifies server 2008 nothing lower

Just incase anyone here knows the answer this is what I want to post...

You'll have to excuse me because I'm new to all this, having recently moved over from a desktop support role, but can anyone help?! I'm trying to modify our group policy to reduce the IE history retention down to 5 days, and the max space used to 5120Kb. I've gone round and round and round in circles, looking mainly at

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/resources/qanda/jun05/hey0613.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/resources/qanda/dec05/hey1214.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/technologies/management/gp/admtgp.mspx#ESNAC

And I'm still not really getting anywhere. I suspect that there's a silly little mistake in here, but I can't find it. Can someone point me in the right direction??

This is what I have written:

CLASS USER
CATEGORY !!iehistory
POLICY !!history
KEYNAME "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\URL History"
EXPLAIN !!retentiontime
PART "Days" NUMERIC
VALUENAME "DaysToKeep"
MIN 0 MAX 21 DEFAULT 5 SPIN 1
END PART
END POLICY
POLICY !!size1
KEYNAME "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\Cache\Content"
EXPLAIN !!maxsize1
PART "Limit" NUMERIC
VALUENAME "CacheLimit"
DEFAULT 5120
SPIN 0
END PART
END POLICY
POLICY !!size2
KEYNAME "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Content"
EXPLAIN !!maxsize2
PART "Limit" NUMERIC
VALUENAME "CacheLimit"
DEFAULT 5120
SPIN 0
END PART
END POLICY
END CATEGORY

[strings]
iehistory="I.E. History"
history="history retention"
retentiontime="Days to retain Internet History"
size1="max size 1"
size2="max size 2"
maxsize1="Maximum size of Internet Cache in Kb Value 1"
maxsize2="Maximum size of Internet in Kb Cache Value 2"

Many thanks in advance for your assistance.

Nathalie
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
I'm not a techie but I wonder if any of the list here might be appropriate or some other techie list from Jiscmail. The best advice I can give, if a list looks a possibility, then read the latest posts and see if yours would not appear too out of place. Also note the date of last post, some lists are very inactive.

If there is something more obvious to search on than "server" please search for it.

Jiscmail is a UK academic resource. Most lists are academic topic related but as Universities run computer networks there are some computer network related lists. As reliability is often favoured for these networks rather than keeping up to date many institutions run older versions of software where they know the kludges that are required (rather than have to learn a whole new set).

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Nats (# 2211) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
I'm not a techie but I wonder if any of the list here might be appropriate or some other techie list from Jiscmail. ....

Jiscmail is a UK academic resource. Most lists are academic topic related but as Universities run computer networks there are some computer network related lists. As reliability is often favoured for these networks rather than keeping up to date many institutions run older versions of software where they know the kludges that are required (rather than have to learn a whole new set).

Jengie

---

Thanks - I've signed up for my password.... there do seem to be some people who post who are not in the ivory towers! I've also posted on TechNet asking for the server 2003 boards back.... 2008 is far too new for the majority of companies I can't believe that it is "normal" yet...
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
This here is for people with big ones. Big screens.

I'm quite happy with my current 17" computer monitor, but might occasionally like to use my bigger TV screen as a monitor, e.g. for some films.

As it seems, the only video-out I currently have is one VGA monitor connection, which I am told is low-quality when it comes to TV screens (which does have a VGA in-socket, though).

I admit that my graphics card (ATI Radeon X300 - don't ask... ) is rather at the lower end of the spectrum - though I can use two monitors -, so perhaps might one day get a better card. But for now, Ladies and Gents: Any advice on VGA? A monitor switch box (physically switching between two plugged-in screens) and cables are easily available and not too pricey, but is it worth it?

Ta muchly.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Windows XP problems at a weird and deep level:

Okay start by flogging me for messing with this stuff at all, but the damage is done and now I need a way to back out of it.

There seem to be two different levels of user account and password login for Windows XP. There is the familiar screen you see when you turn on the computer with the silly avatars and you click your name and a password box drops down.

But there is also a network-like login system, and my computer seems to have gotten kluged up between the two. I ran "control userpasswords2" from the "run" box, and fiddled around with it, and now all Hell has broken loose. I can no longer log in as Administrator at all, nor change the password for that account. In the userpasswords2 application, it says to press ctl-alt-del in order to change the password, but when I press the three-finger salute, the task manager comes up.

I created another account Administrator2, at both the deep level and the control panel level, but when I log in using that account it cannot create or remember a user account set of directories and shunts me to a default of some sort.

The reason I got into all this was that I wanted to make it so I didn't have to log in. I'm using the computer in question merely for a streaming music station (broadcasting to my Sennheiser cordless headphones -- greatest invention since sliced woofers). Anyway like a fool I clicked "change the way users log in" and when I logged out and logged in suddenly it wanted to log me in under WatersOfBabylon's name. Which I found odd because she has no account at the control panel level at all -- which is when I found out about this deeper level of accounts and passwords.

It's all over my head and I'm about to either reformat the son of a bitch or better yet switch it over to Linux.

Who can rescue me from this body of death?
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Anyone downloaded SP3 for Windows XP yet? Any comments or practical experience?

Ta.
 

---

Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :
 
Mousethief,

Sorry if I've mis-understood you, but am I right in thinking that you want to log in as Administrator -- or at least change the password of Administrator? Have you tried loading Windows in Safe Mode? I think [emphasise think] from there you can change the Admin password as you should be able to log in as Administrator, but unfortunately I am not at home so I cannot check.

With regard to the issue of WatersOfBabylon's name coming up, sorry, but I didn't quite understand this bit. I seem to recall an option that enabled you to say, when you removed the ever-helpful Welcome screen, which User you used to log in by default. I know you write there is no such user [or at least not one that can be seen], so I am rather confused.

Good luck. I hope I haven't led you astray.

[ 07. May 2008, 00:52: Message edited by: Ian Climacus ]
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Thanks Ian, and no, I haven't been led astray, except by my own folly. I ended up deciding to reinstall XP, but since this puter has no i/o devices, I uninstalled the HDD and put it in my own computer and installed XP on that. Then I switched it back in, and it won't boot at all. Sigh. I've ordered an external [cd-rom] thing and when that gets here we'll see if I can make it trot again.

(etf: w/c)

[ 07. May 2008, 02:23: Message edited by: mousethief ]
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Okay, back up and running. Only one major problem remains:

I can't get WinAmp to bring up Shoutcast. This is work-aroundable because Shoutcast has its own website. But it would be nice to do it from within the program iteself as it was designed to do.

There are actually a few threads in the WinAmp online forum where people discuss the error I'm getting, but I can't figure out how to do the fixes they suggest. (They all seem to involve going to menu selections or directories that don't exist.)
 

---

Posted by Josephine (# 3899) on :
 
Registry cleaners. Are they something everyone ought to be using, like a firewall and ad-ware killer software? Or is it something to avoid because it will kluge your registry?
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Sorry if I've asked this here before somewhere, but I can't find an answer.

My laptop, which runs XP, doesn't like Java (or at least some sorts). For instance, for the café, it opens the app but then says that it cannot verify the certificate. This is not specific to the café but has happened for several other apps too.

I have downloaded the latest and brightest Sun Java but to no avail. It seems like there is some certificate validation something-or-other missing off my computer. How can I fix this?
 

---

Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 
Some questions for you wonder-geeks:
1. How would I go about buying a laptop with XP? I heard a rumour that Dell were still offering them, but the page that claims to list the products still offering XP is rather empty.
2. Alternatively, how hard would it be for a Linux virgin to get to grips with a different type of operating system, such as Ubuntu?
3. I want to become a geek. How/where do I start? Or should I avoid it at all costs?

[ 15. May 2008, 23:30: Message edited by: Hazey*Jane ]
 

---

Posted by Dinghy Sailor (# 8507) on :
 
1) Try some of the geekier sites, like scan.co.uk - they have just about everything. Scan have a range of XP laptops atm.

2) If you've got some spare hard disk space (upwards of maybe 5GB), install it on your current machine and see how you like it.

3) Get yourself down to thinkgeek.com and buy a t-shirt with a really nerdy joke (How many people in the world can read hexadecimal if only you and DEAD people can read hex?* is my favourite.) and the everyone will assume you're a geek, whether you know anything or not.

*57006
 

---

Posted by Paul M (# 37) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hazey*Jane:
Some questions for you wonder-geeks:
1. How would I go about buying a laptop with XP? I heard a rumour that Dell were still offering them, but the page that claims to list the products still offering XP is rather empty.

---

quote:

---

2. Alternatively, how hard would it be for a Linux virgin to get to grips with a different type of operating system, such as Ubuntu?

---

quote:

---

3. I want to become a geek. How/where do I start? Or should I avoid it at all costs?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Josephine:
Registry cleaners. Are they something everyone ought to be using, like a firewall and ad-ware killer software? Or is it something to avoid because it will kluge your registry?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hazey*Jane:
Some questions for you wonder-geeks:
1. How would I go about buying a laptop with XP? I heard a rumour that Dell were still offering them, but the page that claims to list the products still offering XP is rather empty.

---

quote:

---

Dell, HP and Lenovo are exploiting loopholes in Microsoft's licensing terms to extend the operating system beyond a 30 June end of life date.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dinghy Sailor:
3) Get yourself down to thinkgeek.com and buy a t-shirt with a really nerdy joke (How many people in the world can read hexadecimal if only you and DEAD people can read hex?* is my favourite.) and the everyone will assume you're a geek, whether you know anything or not.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
In other news, still looking for help with my Java issues... surely this must have happened to someone?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pheonix:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
In other news, still looking for help with my Java issues... surely this must have happened to someone?

---

Umm.... Have you tried windows update and installing the root certificates update under optional/recommended updates...

---

Do you have a more specific link?

I looked in my "update windows components" box under "add/delete programs"; the "update root certificate" box is checked but contains zero MB. All the stuff I can find online at Windows update is about removing/disabling this component but not enabling it...
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Thanks BroJames - that looks quite do-able, and I found plenty of info specific to my model.
 

---

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
I occasionally receive e-mails with "docx" or "xlsx" suffixes, which I cannot open in Office 2003. I thought it was Windows Vista that was adding the "x" but a trusted Shipmate says it's Office 2007 and that I should be able to download something to allow me to open them. Any suggestions? (I tried the Microsoft website but wasn't sure what I was looking for.)
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Yep. There're some Office Viewers available. You can't change or format any documents there, but at least you can read and print them out.

Link here.

Hope that's what you were looking for?
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
I occasionally receive e-mails with "docx" or "xlsx" suffixes, which I cannot open in Office 2003.

---

There is a free option available for Office 2003 to convert .docx files to .doc files, after which they can be freely edited (although obviously they will not retain any specific docx features, notably XML). Alternatively, you can open and edit either in Google documents (same limitations apply).

[ETA I think the Office add-on is called a "document converter" or some such]

[ 19. May 2008, 19:37: Message edited by: Eutychus ]
 

---

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
Thanks! I'll try that tomorrow. (I'm about to head for home, so I don't want to start a download now.)
 

---

Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 
Is there a gender-neutral term for the person who runs a website? I built and run the website for our church, but I really don't know what to call myself - I don't like "webmistress"! Any other suggestions?
 

---

Posted by amber. (# 11142) on :
 
Website Manager
 

---

Posted by Doc Tor (# 9748) on :
 
I almost hesitate to post this here, but hey...

My main computer is on the fritz - still useable for t'internet, but no game playing or big graphical things. I have a bit of spare cash coming (having sold another book ) so:

xp or Vista?

Things to bear in mind are: I have a large legacy of pre-Vista software (tbh, pre-xp software which works well enough with xp) which I don't want to have to buy again. I've downloaded Microsoft's Vista-ready check thing, and it tells me that none of the programs I consider important are incompatible, but how reliable is that?

I'm also aware that xp is due for the axe, and Vista requires mahoosive memory and graphics cardage.
 

---

Posted by Hiro's Leap (# 12470) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Doc Tor:
xp or Vista? [...] Vista requires mahoosive memory and graphics cardage.

---

Don't worry too much about graphics cards - new ones should be fine, even if it's a basic card integrated into the motherboard. Turn Aero off you need to - I do anyway because I think it's ugly. Memory hasn't been a problem for me either, running quite a few big applications at the same time with 2gb RAM on a laptop.

Personally I'd go for Vista hands down now, except (and it's a big except) for those compatibility issues with your old software. No idea about that.
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Help required with BBC iPlayer please (NB for advice purposes please assume maximum cluelessness on my part ).

I have just (at last) downloaded BBC iPlayer, and am trying now to download a couple of programmes so that I can watch them offline. However I keep getting a message that "Windows Media Player needs an update to allow iPlayer to download and play programmes" (it appears to be a security update that is required). When I click on the button to update I get an error message, telling me that the player security has not been updated. I can't see any settings for Windows Media Player (and I'm sure in iPlayer I've got it set up so that downloaded programmes are played on iPlayer as default, not any other media player). What am I doing wrong, and what can I do about it?
 

---

Posted by Hare today (# 12974) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jack the Lass:
Help required with BBC iPlayer please (NB for advice purposes please assume maximum cluelessness on my part ).

I have just (at last) downloaded BBC iPlayer, and am trying now to download a couple of programmes so that I can watch them offline. However I keep getting a message that "Windows Media Player needs an update to allow iPlayer to download and play programmes" (it appears to be a security update that is required). When I click on the button to update I get an error message, telling me that the player security has not been updated. I can't see any settings for Windows Media Player (and I'm sure in iPlayer I've got it set up so that downloaded programmes are played on iPlayer as default, not any other media player). What am I doing wrong, and what can I do about it?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hiro's Leap:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Doc Tor:
xp or Vista? [...] Vista requires mahoosive memory and graphics cardage.

---

Don't worry too much about graphics cards - new ones should be fine, even if it's a basic card integrated into the motherboard. Turn Aero off you need to - I do anyway because I think it's ugly. Memory hasn't been a problem for me either, running quite a few big applications at the same time with 2gb RAM on a laptop.

Personally I'd go for Vista hands down now, except (and it's a big except) for those compatibility issues with your old software. No idea about that.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Doc Tor:
I almost hesitate to post this here, but hey...

xp or Vista?

Things to bear in mind are: I have a large legacy of pre-Vista software (tbh, pre-xp software which works well enough with xp) which I don't want to have to buy again. I've downloaded Microsoft's Vista-ready check thing, and it tells me that none of the programs I consider important are incompatible, but how reliable is that?

I'm also aware that xp is due for the axe, and Vista requires mahoosive memory and graphics cardage.

---

Let's just put it this way. Most people in business in IT are pretty much underwealmed with Vista. Remember Windows Me? Lame version of 98 that did multimedia a bit better and had a bit better USB support. Vista is to XP what Me was to Windows 98. The only cool thing about it IS the Aero desktop, and if you shut that off, what's the point? There's DRM issues, plus the stupid nanny thing that asks you over and over if it's Really, REALLY OK to run this program. No thanks. The Mac people make fun of Vista in their TV ads for a reason.

Not a week ago I bought a new XPS laptop from Dell, through their outlet store. It came with Windows Vista Home Premium, whatever the hell that means. It was on here less than half a day. I wiped it the first evening home and there's XP SP3 installed on here now. I did my homework, found all the drivers ahead of time, and am quite happy to have things my way.

In addition, I use my laptop on my job and it has to work with a legacy Windows NT network, plus (I can't believe I'm saying this) we still run a DOS-based set of databases for our production records. M$ wasn't very forthcoming about NT compatibility or if it would even work with DOS programs.

As for games and other software, I would take anything M$ has to say about compatibility with a large grain of salt. There's supposedly something called "compatibility mode" available in Vista (it's in XP as well, but I've never had to use it) that MAY let your old software work. Yes, they will be quitting support for XP end of June, but so what? It won't suddenly stop working. I suspect they will continue to offer such things as security updates for a little while.

I don't know what you have for hardware, but the requirements for Vista are a bit steeper than most people are used to seeing, effectively double of what XP needed to barely run. It might be a good idea to rethink your whole computer, but as I don't know what you have, I cannot advise you further about that.

M$ keeps crowing about how many people have bought Vista and blahblahblah, but the truth of it is, most of those were units that had it pre-installed and most folks aren't able to just wipe and install a new operating system. So there you go . . .

Up to you to decide, really. But if you don't want to reinvest in software (again, you don't specify which ones), then consider the conservative choice.
 

---

Posted by Hazey*Jane (# 8754) on :
 
I'm also interested in the XP vs Vista question. I need to buy a laptop in the next 12 months, and although I'm in no desperate hurry otherwise, I'm partly inclined to get a move on so as to get one with XP before they stop offering it. Still, I'm not quite sure from Dell's site how to get them to sell me a laptop with XP unless I pretend to be a small business.

Anyhoo, some more questions:
1. If you want to wipe a hard drive, before you pass a computer on to someone else, how do you do it? I am vaguely aware that deleting stuff isn't enough - stuff can still be recoverable. I also seem to remember reading something about there being some kind of wiping process that you should do seven times in order to make sure everything's off there, but that may have been an article in Pagan PC User.

2. Can anyone recommend one of those websites that enables you to email/transfer great big files from user to user via the web?

Thanks

Hazey

[ 01. June 2008, 18:39: Message edited by: Hazey*Jane ]
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
I occasionally receive e-mails with "docx" or "xlsx" suffixes, which I cannot open in Office 2003.

---

There is a free option available for Office 2003 to convert .docx files to .doc files, after which they can be freely edited (although obviously they will not retain any specific docx features, notably XML). [...]
[ETA I think the Office add-on is called a "document converter" or some such]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hazey*Jane:
I'm also interested in the XP vs Vista question. I need to buy a laptop in the next 12 months, and although I'm in no desperate hurry otherwise, I'm partly inclined to get a move on so as to get one with XP before they stop offering it. Still, I'm not quite sure from Dell's site how to get them to sell me a laptop with XP unless I pretend to be a small business.

Anyhoo, some more questions:
1. If you want to wipe a hard drive, before you pass a computer on to someone else, how do you do it? I am vaguely aware that deleting stuff isn't enough - stuff can still be recoverable. I also seem to remember reading something about there being some kind of wiping process that you should do seven times in order to make sure everything's off there, but that may have been an article in Pagan PC User.

2. Can anyone recommend one of those websites that enables you to email/transfer great big files from user to user via the web?

Thanks

Hazey

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hazey*Jane:
Thanks for the advice. I am UK based, but I'#m after something a bit more oomphy than an Inspiron - something more like the Latitude/XPS models.

As I don't work for MI6, I'll follow your advice and not go for the 7-times dance of the blank hard drives. But how do I actually go about formatting it once - sorry to be dim.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Drifting Star:
My 4-5 year old laptop is fundamentally very sound but (as I've mentioned before) the keyboard is wearing out, and there seems to be a dodgy connection with the display.

Is there any chance that I would be able to get hold of a new casing - including display and keyboard - and transfer the gubbins from the inside? If so, where would I look for such a thing?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by BroJames:
My venerable Epson Stylus Photo 750 inkjet printer is finally on its way out after about 9 years of use, and I need to replace it. I would like to get a networkable replacement, but otherwise I'm looking pretty much for a like for like item. I am completely boggled at the range of choice available in the under £200 (say under $450) price range. I think I am heading towards a HP DeskJet 6940. Can anyone help me with what issues I ought to be thinking about in terms of cost of replacement inks, useability etc. etc. (I am running Mac OS X 10.4.11)

---

I have an HP PSC 1610 - which they don't make now even though I only bought it 2 years ago. It scans, prints and photocopies very well, and was under £100. I recently bought an HP C5280 (also prints, scans and photocopies) for my mum-in-law, and we were both very happy with it.

The C6280 is networkable, and is £100. We find that the scanning and photocopying bit of our printer is fantastically useful.
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
I've got an HP1317 and my daughter (away at university) has a F380, both of which we have found really useful and are both scanner, printer, photocopiers. The cartridge replacement is not cheap, but you can often find deals (3 for the price of 2) or equivalents that work well.
 

---

Posted by Doc Tor (# 9748) on :
 
Thanks for all the help earlier - I've just ordered a new XP machine which has 4x the memory, twice the speed and 3x the hard drive of this one. For just over half the price.

It actually comes with Vista, but the techs are installing XP for me. The cost is the same...
 

---

Posted by Nats (# 2211) on :
 
Although I'm an IT geek (just passed an exam to prove it this morning as well! ) I can't help my Mum on this one. She has XP and broadband, and wants to be able to send a fax from her PC.... Anyone know any good utilities for this? I can virtualise a server but can't send a fax... ....
 

---

Posted by Ann (# 94) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nats:
Although I'm an IT geek (just passed an exam to prove it this morning as well! ) I can't help my Mum on this one. She has XP and broadband, and wants to be able to send a fax from her PC.... Anyone know any good utilities for this? I can virtualise a server but can't send a fax... ....

---

I've never tried sending a fax so I don't know what works and what doesn't - but in Word there is an option (File|Send to ...) to send to Recipient using a Fax Modem or an Internet Fax Service. Presumably if you want to send a printed doc, you'd scan it first and insert it into the document.
 

---

Posted by Badger Lady (# 13453) on :
 
OK. I have a Samsung ML-2250 Laser Printer. I also have a ibook G4, with Mac OS X 10.4. I would like to two to get along famously and to be able to send documents to print from computer to printer.

However, this is proving problematic. At first I was unable to get the computer to recgonise the printer's existence at all. I have looked on the Samsung website and there is no driver for my make of printer compatible with Mac OS X. I tried downloading another driver found through google, this meant I was able to add the printer, but I could not print out documents (they came out as nonsense typescript)

Is there any way around this or do I have to accept that my computer and my printer have irreconcilable difference and the only solution is to replace the printer with a younger, sexier model?

BL
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nats:
Although I'm an IT geek (just passed an exam to prove it this morning as well! ) I can't help my Mum on this one. She has XP and broadband, and wants to be able to send a fax from her PC.... Anyone know any good utilities for this? I can virtualise a server but can't send a fax... ....

---

There are two issues here, a hardware and a software one.

Let's start with the software.

In Windows XP, go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Communications -> Fax -> Send fax (OR: Fax console, to set up a fax layout)

However, here cometh the hardware issue: You will not normally send a fax via your broadband connection, but will use a regular, conventional phoneline. In most computers, there's a built-in conventional modem where you can plug in your regular landline - however, please don't forget to use a splitter, i.e. a special plug for your phone or fax line, once you have broadband. (Chances are high that your landline phone is already plugged into one - one line will go from the phone socket to your phone, and the other to your broadband modem or router.)

An alternative, which is what I'm using, is an external e.g. 56k fax (and possibly voice) modem which you connect to your computer's serial port. I'm still using a brilliant fax/voice modem which now serves as my answerphone and records all incoming voice and fax messages. - Frankly, I'm not quite sure if you can receive faxes with an internal modem too when the computer is turned off, that's why I chose the external method.

I use 'PhoneTools' software, which came with my external USRobotics modem some years back and works nicely, but there'll be other decent programs available if you don't want to use XP's fax console.

Hope this helps.
 

---

Posted by Paul W. (# 1450) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nats:
Although I'm an IT geek (just passed an exam to prove it this morning as well! ) I can't help my Mum on this one. She has XP and broadband, and wants to be able to send a fax from her PC.... Anyone know any good utilities for this? I can virtualise a server but can't send a fax... ....

---

As an alternative to setting up a modem connection, there's a bunch of websites that let you send faxes via the internet. I did a Google search for online fax uk which brought up a load of possible solutions. The ones I looked at seemed to be subscription based services, so probably better for if she wanted to send them often, but if you look around you might find something more suitable to home users sending the odd one.

Paul W
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
[ETA to Badger Lady]

The other alternative, if this is likely to be anything more than very occasional, is of course a fax machine.

I used to use Wesley's 56k external modem solution but, short of two phone lines, ran into endless problems of misidentifying incoming calls and so on. In addition, the fax serves as a quick occasional copier and is much better for sending hardcopy documents rather than having to scan them. I got a basic-model Samsung for about 50€, I think.

[ 10. June 2008, 21:06: Message edited by: Eutychus ]
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Aagh. I mean to Nats. Apologies.
 

---

Posted by Nats (# 2211) on :
 
Thanks folks..... I don't think modem will be the way to go - Mum is in Japan and on wireless and where the computer is there isn't a phone line etc etc etc - and I can't be there to set it up for her! I really don't think that's going to happen - though I agree that would be the easiest (and is what I would do if it was me! Neither is a physical fax - she's an arty type and won't get a printer because "there isn't anywhere to hide it and it's ugly"....! (She has said that she will need to eventually - I wish she'd hurry Just a printer would mean she could print the fax and take it to the local corner shop where there is a fax...!!) I was hoping someone would have tried one of the web based places and recommend one.... it won't be often so a monthly subscription won't do it but a "10 faxes for this amount of money" sort of deal would be fine. I don't know if she'd have to use a Japanese one but I hope not - most services like that in Japan are useless! So I guess the question is

"Has anyone used an on line faxing service that they can recommend??"
 

---

Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :
 
I seem to be overrun with virus protectors and they want me to get more.

I've been offline for months and I've had to allow a lot of updating since my computer is up again. Fine. As I understood it, my pc is currently protected by AVG and the virus protection that comes with ATT. Every morning I have updates coming in from AGV. Then it scans and generally says things are fine.

Suddenly a few minutes ago, I got a big pop-up claiming to be from something like XP Virus Protector or some such. Oh no! Oh no! It says I have NO virus protection! I have 69 viruses (most of which seem to actually be cookies)! I have have to download their stuff NOW!

I feel like I've been telewphoned by a cold-caller. I have no idea whether this crap is from anyone official or scaremongers who want to force something down my throat. (It's popped up yet again: "Warning! 69 infections found!!!" At the top "XP Antivirus 2008- Threats detected")

How the hell do I know if this isn't someone looking for an excuse to burrow into my computer? If I am subscribed to AVG or McAffee or Norton, aren't I protected?

My instinct is to put on the brakes. What does anyone else think?
 

---

Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Badger Lady:
OK. I have a Samsung ML-2250 Laser Printer....

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lyda*Rose:
I seem to be overrun with virus protectors and they want me to get more. [...]

It's popped up yet again: "Warning! 69 infections found!!!" At the top "XP Antivirus 2008- Threats detected")

How the hell do I know if this isn't someone looking for an excuse to burrow into my computer? If I am subscribed to AVG or McAffee or Norton, aren't I protected? [...]

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by BroJames:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Badger Lady:
OK. I have a Samsung ML-2250 Laser Printer....

---

Badger Lady, I'm sure this is do-able, but except for true afficionados printer installation is something of a black art!

---

quote:

---

I think what you need to do is download the Samsung ML-2550 Mac OS ppd file from this page.

When you have downloaded it it unpacks as a folder containing two archive files. You should double click the file OSX.sit. It unpacks into a folder called OSX containing different language versions of a file called ML-2550. The English language version is ML-2550(eng) these files are installers and when you double click the file it launches an installer. This will install the necessary file in the correct place on your system.

After that you should be able to use the Printer Setup Utility to add your printer to your system in the usual way.

---

quote:

---

HTH do come back to me if you hit a snag.

---

Well you did ask.... the printer, whilst recognised and added in the set up utility, will still only printer 6 blank pages and one page of nonsense when I send a document to print.

The driver you recommended is for the printer ML 2550, and my printer is 2250. I don't know if this is the cause of the problem.
 

---

Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
Sorry, my bad. I didn't read your printer number carefully enough. I think it may still be do-able, but I need more time to follow it through as I ma currently wrestling with my own printer issues. In the meantime you may as well delete the printer I just asked you to install.
 

---

Posted by Badger Lady (# 13453) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by BroJames:
Sorry, my bad. I didn't read your printer number carefully enough. I think it may still be do-able, but I need more time to follow it through as I ma currently wrestling with my own printer issues. In the meantime you may as well delete the printer I just asked you to install.

---

No problem. I'm more than grateful for your help with this Best of luck with your own printer issues. I'm not sure wrestling it, even assuming you win such a gladiatorial encounter, will ensure it's co-operation though.
 

---

Posted by markprice81 (# 13793) on :
 
Hoping for a bit of help here. My fiancee has just got a new laptop with Vista on it and whenever we shut the lid and reopen (or put it to sleep), we just get a black screen. I have tried googling and installed this hotfix which seems to be the only solution to the problem I could find. The laptop can be found here (we had an extra GB of ram added, so it now has 2GB). I am a ubuntu / apple user and so do not have much experience with windows in general.

Any help appreciated,

Mark
 

---

Posted by Doc Tor (# 9748) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by markprice81:
Hoping for a bit of help here. My fiancee has just got a new laptop with Vista on it and whenever we shut the lid and reopen (or put it to sleep), we just get a black screen. I have tried googling and installed this hotfix which seems to be the only solution to the problem I could find. The laptop can be found here (we had an extra GB of ram added, so it now has 2GB). I am a ubuntu / apple user and so do not have much experience with windows in general.

Any help appreciated,

Mark

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Badger Lady:

quote:

---

Originally posted by BroJames:
Sorry, my bad. I didn't read your printer number carefully enough. I think it may still be do-able, but I need more time to follow it through as I ma currently wrestling with my own printer issues. In the meantime you may as well delete the printer I just asked you to install.

---

No problem. I'm more than grateful for your help with this Best of luck with your own printer issues. I'm not sure wrestling it, even assuming you win such a gladiatorial encounter, will ensure it's co-operation though.

---

OK I've had a look at this and there are some pretty easy ways which might get it to work if you've got time for a bit of trial and error. According to this thread on the OpenPrining User Forum the driver for the ML-2150 works well. That can be downloaded from this page on Samsung's site. I'm fairly sure the one you want is ML-2150 Mac PPD_OS X (ver.1.0), but it might just be the driver specified for OS X 10.3. Once you've downloaded it then you need to go through the same process as you did with the ML-2550 driver.

If that doesn't work or doesn't work well then, as you will see from the OpenPrinting thread, some people have found the generic PCL4 driver works well - for text at least. When you click the Add Printer in the Printer Setup Utility these can be accessed from the Print Using drop-down menu (which shows in grey the words "Please select a driver or printer model"). Choose the category 'Generic' and then select the driver you want. The ML-2250 is actually a PCL6 printer so if the PCL4 driver works then possibly one of the higher level ones (PCL5 or 6) might also work. Good luck

[ 13. June 2008, 09:50: Message edited by: BroJames ]
 

---

Posted by markprice81 (# 13793) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Doc Tor:
At the risk of teaching you to suck eggs... are you used to a laptop turning itself back on when you open the lid?

I've changed the power saving settings on my lapdog (running xp) so that it goes to sleep quite quickly. When you open it up, you have to press the power button to wake it back up. I'm guessing that if you're not used to doing this - this is my first laptop, so I don't think it's unusual - you might think it's broken. Change the power saving settings and see if that makes a difference!

---

In answer to your first question, only on my powerbook which works fine.


Having looked at the options, it turns out hibernation is the problem. It can sleep fine, and I have just changed the settings so that lid closure now sends it to sleep. This means it can be woken up by a press of the power button, but it is more of a workaround than a fix.

Mark
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Back when I were a young sprog of 23, computer "green" screens would, if left open to the same image (loosely so called), get "burn-in" where the screen forever contained a faint image of what was constantly being beamed. To prevent this, the "screensaver" was (eventually) invented: something that either blanked the entire screen, or everything but a small image that constantly moved around, thereby preventing burn-in.

We still have screensavers, but are modern flat screens (like a laptop screen or those newfangled desktop thingees) even susceptible to burn-in?
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Doc Tor, emphasis mine:
I've changed the power saving settings on my lapdog (running xp) so that it goes to sleep quite quickly. When you open it up, you have to press the power button to wake it back up.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
We still have screensavers, but are modern flat screens (like a laptop screen or those newfangled desktop thingees) even susceptible to burn-in?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Doc Tor, emphasis mine:
I've changed the power saving settings on my lapdog (running xp) so that it goes to sleep quite quickly. When you open it up, you have to press the power button to wake it back up.

---

I know you write sci-fi but I find this concept worrying.

---

Rofl. I can't remember how it started being called a lapdog, but it's even called that on my local network.

(yes, I have a local network )
 

---

Posted by markprice81 (# 13793) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Doc Tor

(yes, I have a local network )

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by markprice81:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Doc Tor

(yes, I have a local network )

---

Doesn't everyone? I was mightily impressed when I managed to connect my PS3 straight up and started streaming films within a matter of minutes.

---

PS3s are built to connect. Unlike Windows... I used Network magic and succeeded in minutes where hours of fiddling with the ironically-named Network Wizard had failed.
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
I've just downloaded the brandnew Firefox 3.0 browser, from here (link), for the UK English version and Windows. For other versions, languages and systems, see linked page, centre right.

Impressive, although not all add-ons seem to work with it yet - might have to give some a miss, at least temporarily, until they've been updated too. Fiddling around now with my new toy.

What others are thinking of Firefox 3.0?
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
My son is complaining that half his video links don't work any more.
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Interesting, Euty. Would this be flash videos?

Folks, I am seriously impressed. Webpages load incredibly faster than before! (I'm on broadband, but feel I'd like to try with a conventional 56k modem too though, for emergencies, but suppose it might be similar.) Seriously, dude!

I can report that the following add-ons are ok now:

• Adblock Plus
• CustomizeGoogle
• Flashblock
• IE tab
• McAfee SiteAdvisor

• Customize Google has a privacy option which allows you to block any statistics on page usage secretly sent to Google - a great number of websites actually have this feature, and that'll stop 'em right in their tracks. Serves 'em right.
• Flashblock does what it says: you get to decide if you want to see, or not, a flash media file on a site (this is often used for ads).
• IE Tab is fab: it adds an option to your right-click menu so you can see the page you're looking within Firefox, but using Internet Explorer as a Firefox tab! And at any time you can switch back. It even allows you to open a page in 'an external application', i.e. it opens the page in IE.

More later.
 

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Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
I think you had me on the words 'incredibly faster' - somehow that's not what I expect from a new software version. Too often they've been made cleverer and more resource heavy rather than more efficient.

Since the ie tab add-on is available - I need that one - I reckon I'll be updating in the next day or so.
 

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Posted by amber. (# 11142) on :
 
Anyone know how easy it is for a church to set up a blog as their website when they have no real experience of websites at all, and hardly any computer experience?
 

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Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Wow - Firefox 3! It seems as though my processor has just got faster. Or my broadband speed, I suppose.

Very, very quick and easy upgrade, too - all my personal options put back just where they found them with no fuss.

I'm sure this must be my imagination (or dodgy eyesight), but the display seems to be crisper, too.

Firefox are trying to get a record for the most downloads in 24 hours - they deserve it for this, so if you're going to update, try to do it by 6pm today (BST).
 

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Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Heeeelp! Fast it might be, but it's stopping me from logging into a phpBB forum. It accepts my username and password, puts me onto the list of those logged on, but doesn't actually let me in. If I go through the IE tab there's no problem. It doesn't seem to be a cookie issue as I have them allowed for all sites at the moment.

Any thoughts?
 

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Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by amber.:
Anyone know how easy it is for a church to set up a blog as their website when they have no real experience of websites at all, and hardly any computer experience?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Sparrow:
Is it possible to send a message from my computer to someone's mobile phone that they can read as a text message?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Nats:
Although I'm an IT geek (just passed an exam to prove it this morning as well! ) I can't help my Mum on this one. She has XP and broadband, and wants to be able to send a fax from her PC.... Anyone know any good utilities for this? I can virtualise a server but can't send a fax... ....

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quote:

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Originally posted by Sparrow:
As someone who suffers from a bit of RSI in my hands I'm always looking for keyboard shortcuts instead of using the mouse. I've found the one for moving backwards a page when internet surfing (backspace) but is there one for moving forward again after you've gone back?

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I've generally used Alt and the cursor keys for this. (Far too many things are mouse-driven.)

On another question entirely, if I want to keep my anti-virus software, which has just launched a new release, apparently I have to upgrade my operating system to Windows Service Pack 2. I'm currently on Windows SP1. I've never upgraded an operating system, and feel nervous about doing so. How risky is this?
 

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Posted by Lumpy da Moose (# 9038) on :
 
It has its difficulties, doing a service pack, but it is fairly infrequent that there's major problems. First, assuming you're using system restore, make sure you set a restore point, something an upgrade to SP2 or 3 should do automatically if you have it switched on. I don't use system restore myself, but that's just me.

Make sure to get a full downloaded version for redistribution (about a 300+ MB download for SP3) and do the update from that. Don't do the on-line one-- if your connection gets interrupted, there could be problems. If you have SP1, don't bother with two-- just get SP3. I have installed 3 with no problems.

I'm guessing you have AVG-- I'm still getting updates on my SP1 machines even though I'm still using v.7.5 and not 8 (8 is on this laptop I'm writing on).

If you have a fairly standard mainstream machine, I don't think you'll have problems with a service pack update.
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
With all due respect, I still have SP2, as have most businesses I know. And for the time being I shall stick to it, as there appear to be a number of bugs and incompatible software issues. This just from my own XP-ierence.

Glad if it works for you, Lumpy.
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Pearl B4 Swine:
Instant Message help wanted [...]

About a month ago I got Vista windows. Should I try to uninstall yahoo IM & reinstall? or dump it & get some other kind of IM ?

Invisible Pearl

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I'm afraid I can't help you there, Pearl, as I don't do IM. (Except Skype, and that only rarely.)

Uninstalling and reinstalling sounds worth a try. Have you got Yahoo! Messenger version 8.1? (Info here.) - This looks like the latest stable version for XP as well as Vista.

Try to get someone else to sign up and to experiment the IM with you and perhaps check by phone if it works.

There should also be an FAQ section somewhere which you could check, or alternatively google (take this, Yahoo! ) with e.g. 'Yahoo IM' and 'problem'.

Hope you'll find your way around. - Perhaps someone else more knowledgeable can help here? Ta.
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Re the latest Microsoft Security Update of 8 July 2008, KB951748, described in 'Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-037 – Important'.

This vulnerability has also been published in the media, e.g. on BBC News. The update is for Win 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, however not needed for Vista.

After installing the MS patch, I lost all access to internet both via broadband and dial-up, on different browsers (Firefox 3.0, IE7) and machines. I had to uninstall it again via add/remove programmes, and internet is back now. Phew!

Anyone else experienced this? Found a workaround? Interestingly, there doesn't seem to be any comment on this issue from MS, here.

Just curious.

[ 09. July 2008, 08:07: Message edited by: Wesley J ]
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Ok, seems to be an issue with Zone Alarm firewall. - Hm. We'll see what they come up with.
 

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Posted by Pheonix (# 2782) on :
 
The only issue I have seen with XP SP3 is that windows updates can stop working properly (most noticeably with Office updates). However, a simple re-register of the important DLL's is often enough.
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Wesley J

What sometimes happens is that ZoneALarm looses all its internet access rights. Resetting these to Firefox and such works wonders.

Jengie
 

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Posted by Mr. Spouse (# 3353) on :