Thread: HEAVEN: Geek Revival: the computing thread Board: Limbo / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Previous thread archived here.

Welcome to the 2011 reboot.

Firenze
Heaven Host

[ 31. December 2011, 20:11: Message edited by: jedijudy ]
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Congrats on 8k posts, Firenze, and thanks for archiving this - there's some good stuff on there.

Happy New Geek Year, all!
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Any OpenOffice sufferers -- I mean users -- out there? I'm trying to do a document with multiple chapters and I want to use the style feature. I created the master document, and tied the chapters into it, but how do I get changes in the paragraph styles to cascade through the documents? I've tried making the changes in the master document first, but then when I go to a subordinate document, they don't show up. And of course changes to one subordinate document are not available to another. Why can't you just save a fecking template and tie any ODT file to it? Ye gods these programmers must be people who weren't smart enough to work for Microsoft.
 

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Posted by the giant cheeseburger (# 10942) on :
 
Thanks for that Mousethief. Now I know I should counter the other advice my grandparents are getting that their new computer needs neither iWork or Office for Mac because OpenOffice is so much better.
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
mousethief - double-checking with my daughter, she gave up OpenOffice and went back to Micro$oft because she couldn't get things to format to the level she needed for her university course (both word and spreadsheet documents). But ... have you looked to see if there is an add-on that might help? Not that I can see anything in the repository with a quick glance.

I haven't tried to do anything that complicated in Open Office - I get wound up enough producing worksheets for teaching and trying to include pictures, or producing PowerPoints (yes, I mean PowerPoints because I have to use them on a MicroSoft machine) for a starter.
 

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Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
I've also only used Open Office for rudimentary word processing. I hope it will develop more.
If it helps, I am told MS Word was once considered a joke. The then dominant program was Word Perfect?

Personally, I dislike MS Word. I want a viable alternative.
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
or an add-on from here OpenOffice Extensions site
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Okay, this is weird. Suddenly gmail is sorting my inbox upside-down. How do I get it to go back to the way I want it? Don't tell me to click on "date" because there are no column headings.
 

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Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
I could not find a setting to change that, MT. I went through the settings, changed to a Priority Inbox. Nothing. ISTM it is a glitch.
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Thanks for trying, lilBuddha!
 

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Posted by Pasta la Vista (# 15288) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by mousethief:
Any OpenOffice sufferers -- I mean users -- out there? I'm trying to do a document with multiple chapters and I want to use the style feature. I created the master document, and tied the chapters into it, but how do I get changes in the paragraph styles to cascade through the documents? I've tried making the changes in the master document first, but then when I go to a subordinate document, they don't show up. And of course changes to one subordinate document are not available to another. Why can't you just save a fecking template and tie any ODT file to it? Ye gods these programmers must be people who weren't smart enough to work for Microsoft.

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Seems to me you can save a fecking template and tie .odt files to it. This worked for me.

Create a new fecking template (.ott) with the styles you want to use and save it.
Create a master document (.odm) using the new template
Create a couple of new documents (.odt) based on the new template. File->New->Templates and Documents, locate the new template (click Templates in the left-hand pane, double-click My Templates in right-hand pane if necessary, select the new template), click Open. Save the new documents.
Link the new documents to the master as sub-documents. In Navigator in the master doc, click the Insert->File. Locate and select your new document files. Save the master doc.
Close master and sub-documents.
Open the template, change style(s) as desired, save template.
Re-open each sub-document - accept the prompt to Update Styles. Save it.
Re-open master document - accept the prompt to Update Styles. Save it.
And relax.

Perhaps that's not what you're trying to do?

N.B. I don't work for Microsoft, nor have ever wished to. Insufficiently smart to realise the logical way to shut down is to click Start. But then I'm not even smart enough to make Word number paragraphs correctly, ever. I think we're supposed to call programmers 'developers' or 'software engineers' these days, whatever that is in India or China where they all are now. Anyway, fret not, Oracle are in charge of OOo now, so it'll be either perfect or stone dead soon, as will MySQL and Java.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
OK, internet access is sometimes slow to the point of crawling with pages that hang. The problem seems to be related to one of the svchost.exe processes, and I think it's dnscache or something to do with the cache memory. I've noticed if I kill the process, the freeze disappears and the page loads immediately and I can just get on with it OK from that point. I usually only have to do this once.

What I need, though, is a permanent solution to this problem, as I don't understand what's going on here and I don't want to think I'm doing some irreparable damage. Any suggestions?

I've uninstalled Spybot which seems to have made a huge number of additions to the host file and I'm just wondering whether this has anything to do with it. I don't know enough about this kind of thing to risk fiddling with it.

This is Windows XP 2, btw. Any suggestions welcome (but I don't know anything about XP2 operating systems or networks, so amending config files etc isn't going to be my strong point).
 

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Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Ariel, all Spybot's hosts additions do is prevent the computer from accessing known dodgy URLs - anything Spybot puts in there basically doesn't get looked up by DNS, because hosts has already pointed it to a 'null' address (loopback, if I remember rightly).

So that won't be slowing it down.

When you're getting iffy 'net access and you're confident it's not the ISP but something local the usual things to do are:

- a thorough check for viruses, with your normal scanner and potentially a second as a one-off (www.trend.com have an online one called Housecall that's handy for the secondary scan)

- a thorough check for Malware using one or both of Spybot or Malwarebytes (I favour the latter these days, but mileage varies)

- flush out your temporary files by deleting everything not in use from %temp% and %systemroot%\temp (just type those strings into the "Run" box on the start menu)

- if using Internet Explorer, purge the Temporary Internet Files from the Internet Options applet (Control Panel, or Tools > Options in IE itself)

- check you haven't got a stupidly big cache size set; older versions of IE just used a percentage of the drive, which results in multi-gig caches which can be detrimental

- remove any crappy third part toolbars that have been installed in your browser; most likely they're only scamware tracking your browsing anyway

- if your anti-virus solution includes link scanners and various other webby bits, they can slow things down too; experiment with turning those bits off and using common sense as to which links you click on

Of course, it could be something totally different but that lot runs through a lot of the standard issues.

If you want to get behind the svchost process, you may need to play with some of the SysInternals tools.
 

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Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
Is anyone familiar with the ins and outs of using LinkedIn?

I tried to alter my account from an @googlemail address to an @gmail address when it became possible for Google to call it gmail in the UK. Obviously I didn't try the right thing as I now have two accounts, one each under googlemail and gmail, with different contacts depending on which one with my name on they found first!

Is there a way of merging the two, or will I have to bin one account and try to make contact anew with the contacts from that account?

Any assistance gratefully received!

Thanks,

AG
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Ariel:
[...] This is Windows XP 2, btw. Any suggestions welcome (but I don't know anything about XP2 operating systems or networks, so amending config files etc isn't going to be my strong point).

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quote:

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Originally posted by Sandemaniac:
Is anyone familiar with the ins and outs of using LinkedIn?

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quote:

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- check you haven't got a stupidly big cache size set; older versions of IE just used a percentage of the drive, which results in multi-gig caches which can be detrimental

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I don't use IE except for one site that doesn't work in other browsers. I'm on Opera, with a cache of 100Mb.

I'm not sure about running XP3 on this pc - I'd need to check compatibility first, also with some of my programs as they're a bit old now.

All v odd, but I'll keep trying ideas. Thanks for the suggestions!
 

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Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 
This is probably a stupid question but I can't remember how to do this - how do I find out which version of Internet Explorer I have running on my PC?


 

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Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
Whilst in Internet Explorer, click on 'Help' from the top bar, then 'About Internet Explorer', usually the last option in the drop down list.
 

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Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 
Thanks, that's it!
 

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Posted by Silver Faux (# 8783) on :
 
On the weekend, my PC seized up, then I received a "blue screen of death" with white letters informing me that my PC was loaded with worms and viruses.
I noticed that a new program called freepcaudit had been installed, believed that to be the problem, and took my processor to a local repair shop.
After 3 days and a fairly heavy price tag, he told me my computer was all better now.

Thing is, freepcaudit is still there, I can not run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, and can not sign onto The Ship's chatroom forum, as the requisite program will not run.

I suspect the bloke, who told me he removed 14 viruses, simply restored it to an older time (the automatic updates ran 95 updates when I got it home, changing my browser back to Explorer 8, which it had been prior to the arrival of the blue screen of death) among other things, left me with freepcaudit which I suspect of being malware, and left me unable to run my program to remove malware.
Any suggestions, Shippies?
 

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Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Silver Faux:

Any suggestions, Shippies?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Silver Faux:
I do not have the original software to re-install the system.

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When I'm in that situation with a second-hand computer that has become unusable, I just install Ubuntu or Fedora on it. It's a darn site easier than faffing about trying to reinstall a copy of Windows of unknown legal status. That said, I tend to milk the pre-existing OS for all its worth before switching over. I'll dual-boot it if the existing OS is still serviceable, unless I'm absolutely convinced beyond all doubt that it's irrecoverably overrun with malware.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Well, I still have the 100 cpu usage problem I described earlier in a post further up this page, and the only cure seems to be to kill one of the svchost processes to get it to work properly as I don't know which process exactly is clogging it up - I suspect dnscache. The other thing I've just discovered is that I can't access any https websites, with any browser: they either hang, or with Opera I get an error message (552) about the website having the wrong version of SSL, which I don't believe.

Any suggestions would be welcome...

[ 16. January 2011, 14:11: Message edited by: Ariel ]
 

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Posted by lily pad (# 11456) on :
 
I think I need to set up a board that would be something like one of the private boards here. Ideally, people who had permission or a password could engage in conversation around several different topics.

I have never done anything like this. Everyone I've talked to seems to think it is a piece of cake to set up. A search shows that there are many free sites where a person could set up such a board. Does anyone here have any advice about reliable sites or the pros and cons of doing something like this? I would love to have the ability to have a chat feature with it, if that makes a difference.

Right now we are spending thousands of dollars a year to bring people together for meetings and not only do we not have the budget for it but we're expecting volunteers and parish clergy to drive for four to eight hours for a two hour meeting. Something has got to give.

If you want to pm me instead of posting here, that's okay too.
 

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Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
This is a Word 2010 problem.

I have a .doc document with a drawing object in it (ie a nice box round some text written in standard fashion). The box displays when opening the document but not in print preview. It doesn't print out to a printer and neither will it print to a PDF. It will print out if opened in Word 2007 or Word 2003 though.

Does anyone have any ideas how to fix this? (Nobody on mousethief's Hell thread wants to play )
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Eutychus

Is this any use. I did not know you could set Word so that "the Print drawings created in Word option turned off".

Jengie
 

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Posted by cross eyed bear (# 13977) on :
 
I tried installing my copy of MS Office 2000 onto my (relatively new) netbook. The netbook runs XP and before installing office 2000, I completely used up a 30-go free trial of Office 2007.

Although the rest of Office 2000 works fine on the netbook (although getting Word to run involved uninstalling some add ons), Powerpoint just refuses to load. Instead I get a message which states something along the lines of "Powerpoint has encountered an error and will have to close down. Save any files you may have been working on" (as my computers are in German, I'm not too sure of the English wording)

Despite uninstalling / deleting every 2007 file I found before loading 2000, I suspect that there may be an element of powerpoint 2007 running in the background which is blocking powerpoint 2000. This is particularly plausible to me as I used to leave powerpoint running when the netbook was on standby, to delay the day when my 30 uses of the trial version would be over and I would have to find the time to load up a proper version. Looking on the internet, I found some visual basic coding to search out "hidde_" instances of powerpoint, but don't have the visual basic knowledge of how to actually use such coding.

Possibly relevant: I also have open office on the netbook (which is barely used as I have hyperlinks to jump slides in a lecture and these aren't supported by open office)

-Could there be a different root to my problem?

-How can I get powerpoint 2000 to run?
Ironically, it's the programme I need the most on the netbook...

Grateful for any ideas!
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Cross Eyed Bear

I am too tired to do much successful finding on that tonight but...

if I were you I would Google the exact error message in German, then look through the solutions for any indication of having previously installed Office 2007.

Jengie
 

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Posted by Imaginary Friend (# 186) on :
 
Sorry it took me so long to acknowledge the responses to my question about DVD drives: you've been very helpful, so thanks.
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Okay here's the deal. I decided to convert my Linux system to a dual-boot. According to everything I read online, Windows has to install first, then Linux.

So I boot to the Windows XP CD-ROM, and it gets to the point where it should start to install, and it says it can't find any hard drives! As kids these days say, what's that about?

There's clearly a hard drive because I took the Windows XP CD-ROM out of the drive and rebooted and here I am.

Say whhhhuuuuutttt?

Anybody have any idea what I'm doing wrong, or what I have to do to the hard drive to get Windows to see it?

(PS reason why I need dual boot: have some software I need for school that only runs on Windows.)
 

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Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
My guess is that your HDD is SATA and the XP disc does not have the drivers to recognise them. I reached that stage once but did not find the solution.
 

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Posted by alienfromzog (# 5327) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by mousethief:
Okay here's the deal. I decided to convert my Linux system to a dual-boot. According to everything I read online, Windows has to install first, then Linux.

So I boot to the Windows XP CD-ROM, and it gets to the point where it should start to install, and it says it can't find any hard drives! As kids these days say, what's that about?

There's clearly a hard drive because I took the Windows XP CD-ROM out of the drive and rebooted and here I am.

Say whhhhuuuuutttt?

Anybody have any idea what I'm doing wrong, or what I have to do to the hard drive to get Windows to see it?

(PS reason why I need dual boot: have some software I need for school that only runs on Windows.)

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quote:

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Originally posted by Latchkey Kid:
My guess is that your HDD is SATA and the XP disc does not have the drivers to recognise them. I reached that stage once but did not find the solution.

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quote:

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Originally posted by mousethief:
The thing is, I need to re-partition the drive before I install Windows, so where would I install the SATA reading utility? I've got a round robin of catch-22's going on. Who will rescue me from this body of death?!

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quote:

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Originally posted by mousethief:
Well it's a Compaq nc6400 laptop. I'd assume it was a Compaq/HP motherboard but I know so little about laptops (and not much about towers anymore either -- my hardware days are long behind me).

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quote:

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Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
Eutychus

Is this any use. I did not know you could set Word so that "the Print drawings created in Word option turned off".

Jengie

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quote:

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Word 2010

1. Click File, and then click Options.
2. Click Display.
3. Under Printing options, click to select the Print drawings created in Word check box.
4. Click OK.

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did indeed fix it. I wonder why the default is 'off'?
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Okay I've given up on the dual boot idea and have resigned myself to dragging out an old tower and making that work for the MS stuff I have to do.

Now all I want is for my sound system to work right. Has anybody got any idea what I can do? I left a request for help on the official site, and have gotten jack shit. Do any of our resident Linux experts have a solution? Please? I can send chocolate.
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
mousethief, I'm confused about your statement in Hell that Linux doesn't let you run two sound sources at once. This machine running Linux allows me to hear two things at once - so the sounds from a game and a YouTube or i-player programme. In fact, I can get both YouTube and i-player running at once should I want a headache. (I checked it for someone else when they were installing Linux).

What programs for sound have you got installed? And did you install them from the repository or from sites?
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
I have no idea what program I have. I uninstalled one (as per suggestion on a help site) and then reinstalled it (when it didn't solve the problem and its lack prevented me from getting into the sound dialogue), but now I don't remember what it was. (I wrote it down on a piece of paper but it got tossed ) Apparently this problem isn't terribly rare as there are "solutions" (none of which work for me) to it all over the Ubuntu support sites. As I said over on my hell rant, these follow the usual course of discussions on Ubuntu support sites: problem mooted, one or two solutions proposed which the thread originator says don't work, then radio silence, usually for years.

Oh, and that reinstall was done from terminal using apt-get.

[ 21. January 2011, 18:34: Message edited by: mousethief ]
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Do you have drop down menus at the top of your screen (or wherever you've put the tool bar)? and if so, do you have the applications menu? Because under Sound and Video it should tell you what programmes you have.

If you load from the Ubuntu Software Centre - bottom of that drop down menu - you will make your life infinitely easier.
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Downloads: Not from the System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager?

Re: sound driver. Where on the Applications menu? When I go to the Sound&Video submenu, it just has applications that make noise, such as VLC, Banshee, etc.

Going through Synaptic, I have these sound-related files loaded:

pulseaudio
sox
gstreamer
alsa-base
esound
apport
espeak
freepats
lame
libasound
libcanberra
libesd0 / libgme0 / libjack0
libmp3lame0 / libopenspc0
libpulse / libpython2.6
libsoundtouch1c2
libsox
linux-sound-base

Not sure how many of those are relevant.

[ 21. January 2011, 20:50: Message edited by: mousethief ]
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
OK, under Sound and Video in the Applications menu I have:

ALSA Mixer
ALSA player
GNOME ALSA mixer
GNOME MPlayer
Movie Player
PiTiVi video editor (which I suspect I don't use)
Rhythmbox Music Player
Sound Recorder

The advice I've had from everyone is that if you're not sure, you add programmes through the Ubuntu Software Centre, making sure that if you're using GNOME you only download programmes that work with GNOME. I have added the odd thing through the sudo route and it wasn't quick or easy
 

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Posted by Alex Cockell (# 7487) on :
 
MT - it does look.. if you've installed .tar files all over the place, that you've basically fried your machine's filesystem.

Do the following.

1 - copy off what you can from your home directory to a USB stick. JUST your home directory.

Shut the machine down, boot with your Ubuntu Live CD in there (if you're running Lucid (10.04) - so much the better).

Allow it to clear everything down, run a Live Test, check you have all hardware visible and usable.
Run a clean install - clear everything out.

Accept all updates through Update Manager.

Once your machine is back up, do NOT install ANYTHING from ANY source outside Software Centre. ONLY install certified Ubuntu packages from Ubuntu repositories. This software has been tested with the OS.

Join a local linux User Group within your area ( I believe you're near Seattle).

if there are software requirements you believe you need, please post back here with a list of the apps and the websites... we'll walk you through what you will need to do. In most cases, you will need to file Needs-Packaging bug requests on Launchpad to request that the app is prepared for inclusion in the Ubuntu distribution at a later date.

This will then engage programmers and release managers - who will then eventually ensure the app will work with Ubuntu.
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
I don't know what a tar file is. What's a tar file?

Everything in my HOME directory including hidden directories and files, or not including hidden directories and files? You mean my personal documents/files?

My puter didn't come with a Live CD -- I downloaded an .iso from the Ubuntu site; it's called ubuntu-10.04.1-desktop-i386.iso. Is that the same thing? Last time I ran it the only option it gave was "install Ubuntu".

I'll try again and get back to you.
 

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Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
I thought this glossary might be helpful.

quote:

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Definition: tar: The GNU tar program saves many files together into one archive and can restore individual files (or all of the files) from the archive. Tar can also be used to add supplemental files to an archive and to update or list files in the archive. Tar includes multivolume support, automatic archive compression/decompression, the ability to perform remote archives and the ability to perform incremental and full backups. If you want to use Tar for remote backups, you'll also need to install the rmt package. You should install the tar package, because you'll find its compression and decompression utilities essential for working with files.

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quote:

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Originally posted by mousethief:
Thanks, Think2.

Alex (or anybody), I notice in the Software Center there is a category called Canonically-maintained. Do you want me to ONLY install canonically-maintained software, or can I trust anything in the Software Center?

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MT, for safety's sake, System/Admin/Software Sources settings should only be the following.

Ubuntu Settings tab -
Canonical supported Open Source software - ticked
Community-maintained open source software - ticked
Proprietary drivers for devices - ticked
Software restricted by copyright - ticked
Source code - UNTICKED
(If you hit this by mistake, hit REVERT to back a change out)

Other software - follow procedures to add the Partner and Medibuntu repositories (I'll link these on, make sure that ONLY these two repos are enabled in this section - and only the ones for the version of Ubuntu you're running).

Ubuntu updates - ONLY enable Security and Recommended updates. Adding backports or proposed means UNSTABLE, UNRELEASED code will be offered.

Release upgrade - leave as LTS (if running 10.04) only.

DON'T ADD OR TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE!

Let the repo lists reload...

Adding Medibuntu - Ubuntu process doc

PArtner repository - Commercial software (including Flash etc) -

"Adding Canonical Partner Repositories

The "Third-Party Software" tab is where you will be able to add the Canonical Partner Repositories. You will see two Canonical Partner repositories listed - one for applications and another for source code (src). The partner repositories offer access to proprietary and closed-source software and are not enabled by default. Users must specifically enable these 'partner' repositories. Select "Close" and "Reload" to save and update the database if you chose to add either or both of them. "

ONLY enable "http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu lucid partner" - LEAVE THE SOURCE CODE ONE DISABLED.

Select Close and Reload.

Apps from those repos will now be in Software Centre.

LEAVE IT WELL ALONE FROM HERE ON IN.

If an app is not supplied, raise a request in Launchpad for the app to be released onto Ubuntu... and wait.
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
mousethief, he meant back up to pen drive / USB stick, just your personal files, not anything else. If you've got other stuff in your home directory, it's probably one of the reasons you've got problems - because it's tar files being filed in odd places.

Don't forget (as I managed to do when we updated over the summer) that Pictures are in a different file from Documents as are Videos. Two months of photos no more - I'm much better at backing up now!
 

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Posted by wilson (# 37) on :
 
A complete re-install seems a bit drastic. I'm not seeing the evidence that MT's system is that screwed.

One thing it occurred to me to ask is whether the chatroom program is written in java because there is (was?) a known problem with sound in java on Linux. Basically if some other sound was already playing then the java app would remain silent and vice-versa. I can't find the references right now but I did look into it quite heavily when I was trying to get sound working with the cafe.

At the time there was no solution.

If you are thinking of re-installing I'd recommend Linux Mint - it's based on Ubuntu but it's got a few tweaks to make it more useable out of the box. In particular it comes with the extra repositories Alex refers to already set up.

The link given should take you to the Mint 10 download page. Avoid the Mint Debian edition as that's more for people who want the latest and greatest software and don't mind that it's not as stable.
 

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Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
Linux mint looks quite nice, but I am not sure I'd want to put myself through the pain of os-switch or dual boot for it. Most of the additional software I've put on this netbook is free anyway. And I am not sure what other benefit I'd get.
 

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Posted by wilson (# 37) on :
 
It was really a suggestion for MT rather than a general one, and only then because he may already be in the process of doing a re-install.

In general if you're happy with your current set-up then you may not get much benefit (or any) from changing. That works whichever OS you start with and go to.
 

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Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
Mint review, Linux Ubuntu review.
 

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Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
In theory I like the idea of open source, on principle. But I am not sure I have the tech skills to manage. I would tend toward dual boot in order to learn the the new os in the first instance, I have a desktop running windows anyway if it did go horribly wrong on the netbook it would be annoying but not disastrous.
 

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Posted by Alex Cockell (# 7487) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Think²:
In theory I like the idea of open source, on principle. But I am not sure I have the tech skills to manage. I would tend toward dual boot in order to learn the the new os in the first instance, I have a desktop running windows anyway if it did go horribly wrong on the netbook it would be annoying but not disastrous.

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One wa of trying it all out is to put on a Wubi install - or get hold of VMWare Player and load Ubuntu into a virtual machine atop Windows... if you want to leave your Windows install alone.

In any case, this is why Live CDs exist - so you can try it out without touching your primary OS.
 

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Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
Thanks for that, wubi looks like a good option for getting my head round it and seeing if I like the system. The netbook is sans cd drive, I know you can use iso images but wubi looks a lot simpler as a process.
 

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Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
On further cafe conversation with Alex, maybe not Wubi after all - I shall download vmplayer and keep all in a safe little box ...
 

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Posted by Alex Cockell (# 7487) on :
 
T2 - follow the instructions on page 60 of this guide...

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/GuestOS_guide.pdf

Install process for Ubuntu 10.04 as a guest OS - including allocating suitable memory etc
 

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Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
Fab thanks, vmplayer is installed next step guest os.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Well I've reloaded, managed to create a double-boot, and am now running Update Manager. It says I have about 56 minutes left (the download size was in the 100s of MB).

Curiosity: the reason my home folder was so large is that I have music and documents and photographs. Fortunately I also have an external HDD for backups.

Here's a question: back in the early days of my former Ubuntu installation, I changed my DNS lookup servers to an opensource thingee because it was taking ages for my default lookup server to find sites. ("Looking for domain.com"...... and looking..... and looking). Does anybody know (a) which site I found the numbers on, and (b) where in Ubuntu to shove the numbers into? I got it as a suggestion in an email and it's long gone.

RELAX ALEX this isn't software.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Alex: once this is all done updating I need permission to install UltraEdit, sir. It's a commercial bit of software that I've been using on the Windows side since 2001. I paid real $$ for the license and would love to use it. It's in the Software Center, but it says

1. This software is available from the 'lucid-partner' source, which you are not currently using.

2. Canonical does not provide updates for UltraEdit. Some updates may be provided by the third party vendor.

Please say I can use it. Nothing but NOTHING I have found on open source can hold a candle to it (which is why I broke down and bought it for Linix).
 

---

Posted by Alex Cockell (# 7487) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
Alex: once this is all done updating I need permission to install UltraEdit, sir. It's a commercial bit of software that I've been using on the Windows side since 2001. I paid real $$ for the license and would love to use it. It's in the Software Center, but it says

1. This software is available from the 'lucid-partner' source, which you are not currently using.

2. Canonical does not provide updates for UltraEdit. Some updates may be provided by the third party vendor.

Please say I can use it. Nothing but NOTHING I have found on open source can hold a candle to it (which is why I broke down and bought it for Linix).

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
Here's a question: back in the early days of my former Ubuntu installation, I changed my DNS lookup servers to an opensource thingee because it was taking ages for my default lookup server to find sites. ("Looking for domain.com"...... and looking..... and looking). Does anybody know (a) which site I found the numbers on, and (b) where in Ubuntu to shove the numbers into? I got it as a suggestion in an email and it's long gone.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
Alex: once this is all done updating I need permission to install UltraEdit, sir. It's a commercial bit of software that I've been using on the Windows side since 2001. I paid real $$ for the license and would love to use it. It's in the Software Center, but it says

1. This software is available from the 'lucid-partner' source, which you are not currently using.

2. Canonical does not provide updates for UltraEdit. Some updates may be provided by the third party vendor.

Please say I can use it. Nothing but NOTHING I have found on open source can hold a candle to it (which is why I broke down and bought it for Linix).

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alex Cockell:
OK - go into Software Sources, supply your password, go to the Other Software tab, and enable the line

"http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu lucid partner".
Click on Close, then Reload.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by no_prophet:
I'd be interested in knowing what open source progs you tried before you gave up.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
@Alex: Ah, I see. By "Software Sources" you meant a item buried in the menu structure.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:

quote:

---

Originally posted by no_prophet:
I'd be interested in knowing what open source progs you tried before you gave up.

---

I don't know; it was years* ago. One with a fish, at least. That one really and truly sucked. Maybe it would be better if you told me what one(s) you like, and I can give them a spin.

Here "change your thinking" means "stop thinking about what you need and start settling for what we can provide." Which is one of my gripes with Linux in the first place. The software exists, it was designed for Linux, but since it isn't OpenSource, it's a bad boy and must be punished.

------------------------
*Well, a couple of months anyway. But when you're my age....

---

For various different types of editting I use:
[*]open office - word processing
[*]kate - simple text editting
[*]quanta - html
Have some others rarely used.

What sort of editting are you needing to do? No-one will be able to discuss with you what might be helpful if you can't provide such info.

Okay, so you're smarter than me. But I'll take it merely as a demonstration that you're frustrated. Linux has programs because some individual wanted to develop the program. You may understand computers but you do not understand Linux. It does not matter how long you've been using computers and what you think you know. Linux is not windows and it requires you to change how you think. If you don't want to, then perhaps it is not for you. There is no advertising no hype, just people trying to do tasks. Maybe just go ahead and install your prog. A reinstall doesn't take very long anyway and maybe you'll learn something.
 

---

Posted by wilson (# 37) on :
 
I dunno I tend to think having a decent text editor is like having that one really sharp knife in the kitchen or that one screwdriver - it's just so useful that if you've found one you like then stick with it.

Unless of course it's Emacs in which case you're clearly insane!
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
What Wilson said.

"Change your thinking" -- so far you haven't defined what this means, other than the snippish but clearly-not-too-inaccurate portrayal I gave above. "Ask not what your operating system can do for you, but what you can do for your operating system." So basically you're saying, if you want to actually DO something, get Windows. I have to think there's more to Linux than that.

I want a text editor to edit text. Simple text, html, SQL, etc etc. If you've never used UltraEdit, I will excuse your derision.
 

---

Posted by Alex Cockell (# 7487) on :
 
MT, I'm quoting my instructions publicly - so others can help when I'm not around..

"OK - I would suggest the following.

Click on System/Administration/Software Sources.
Type in your password.
Go to the "Other software" tab, and check that the Ubuntu Lucid Partner line is ticked.
Click on Close, then select Reload.

Open up Ubuntu Software Centre, and do the following.

1. Search for Sun Java, and select for install.
Select sun-java6-jre and sun-java6-bin, and select for install (these will probably be picked up as dependencies)
2. Look for OpenJDK, and uninstall.
3. Search for UltraEdit, and select for install.

Supply your password.

Once installed - close Software Centre.

Open Update Manager, click on Check, then Install updates.

Close and reopen your browser.
Reboot.

Log back in, and go to www.sun.com and click on Test Java. You should have Sun Java running."
 

---

Posted by Alex Cockell (# 7487) on :
 
MT - please do NOT PM me; ask publicly from here on in.

We are trying to help you... but I am exhausted.

please read the documents at help.ubuntu.com and digest them. Also, read Linux is NOT Windows.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Okay, sorry -- I just didn't want to take up the whole thread. Sorry, I didn't see this until I answered your PM -- feel free to ignore my reply.
 

---

Posted by Alex Cockell (# 7487) on :
 
Here's your last lot...

"Yay, Java is up and running! Thanks!

I have a question. Before reinstalling, I partitioned my 400GB HDD into 2 parts, about 90 and 310. I first installed Windows XP into the first part, then installed Ubuntu, and told it I wanted a dual boot. It has chopped up my hard drive in odd ways -- when I go to "Computer" I get the following three things:

99 GB Filesystem
199 GB Filesystem
File System

The last one is where all of the bin, home, etc. stuff is. If I open the first one, it has the windows stuff. What's the middle one?

I'll email you a picture of the Disk Utility screen."

Middle one could be swapspace... but I couldn't be sure.

But, you really are now verging on where, to be fair, you really should go to shop.canonical.com and buy some commercial support. Or find a local User Group -

Contact these folks - Greater Seattle Linux User Group. They could give you some local training face to face.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
I have, by the way, ordered this book.

Also btw, Java is now working super-dee-duper.

Unfortunately I still can't hear both the java window and something else at the same time.

Open questions:

1. favourite music players?
2. how do i get codecs for flac, mp3?
 

---

Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
[tangent]
For those playing at home:

Ubuntu 10.10 has disabled 'Software Sources' in the Admin menu.

quote:

---

But fear not! You can easily re-enable the Software Sources menu entry. Simply right click the System menu, select "Edit menus" and then scroll down to Administration and check the box next to "Software Sources". And of course, you can still access Software Sources via Synaptic with no tweaking required. For now...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
I have, by the way, ordered this book.

Also btw, Java is now working super-dee-duper.

Unfortunately I still can't hear both the java window and something else at the same time.

Open questions:

1. favourite music players?
2. how do i get codecs for flac, mp3?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
Oh, and do I need to install an antivirus package in my virtual machine?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by St Everild:
A very simple question - what is the best AV for a Mac? Ive read reviews and confused myself.

I used AVG Free on my old PC.

Thank you!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilBuddha:
Jengie, you might wish to check that link.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Revolutionist:
My desktop at the moment currently runs Windows XP and Office 2003 (I also dual-boot with Ubuntu, but that's another story). Is it worth upgrading to Windows 7 and/or Office 2010?

---

Office 2010 will give you the ribbon interface. That takes some learning to get used to. Not so much a problem using what's obvious on the surface of it, but relearning where all your favourite commands have gone is annoying for a while.

Windows 7 seems to move just about everything compared to where it was in Windows XP. So that will also require relearning.

One thing in Windows 7 is to use the Help feature from the Start menu liberally. It's much improved from previous Help, and is a lifesaver for finding all those things which are now accessed in slightly different ways.
 

---

Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
I am clearly channeling my inner geek - since I installed the vm player I have tried out three different linux distributions. Currently, am thinking Lucid Puppy is good for old and/or small (like mine) machines. Very very fast - still playing about to look to see what functionality I can get out of it though. (Damn Small Linux was very fast, but not pretty and rather limited in what it could do - but you still get a browser and the basics.)
 

---

Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
Hmm, Lucid Puppy really does not like not being on removable media. And requires a firewall - which is odd for linux.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Well I gots me a book what is called A Practical Guide to Ubuntu Linux. I have begun to read it. The beginning is a little slow, a history of UNIX and Linux and their derivatives, movers, shakers, and lookers-on.

I was disappointed that it didn't have the "rename" command. Fortunately the man for that command is actually helpful, in that it has handy examples that are actually informative.

So I wrote my first script, which changes .wav files to .mp3 files. I couldn't figure out how to grab just the first part of the name (I know how to do this in Visual Basic, but couldn't find it in the manual) so I ended up doing a workaround. My program:

for file in *.wav; do $(lame --vbr-new -V 1 "$file" "$file.mp3"); done
rename 's/\.wav\.mp3/\.mp3/' *.wav.mp3
rm *.wav


 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Revolutionist:
My desktop at the moment currently runs Windows XP and Office 2003 (I also dual-boot with Ubuntu, but that's another story). Is it worth upgrading to Windows 7 and/or Office 2010?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
Well I gots me a book what is called A Practical Guide to Ubuntu Linux. I have begun to read it. The beginning is a little slow, a history of UNIX and Linux and their derivatives, movers, shakers, and lookers-on.

I was disappointed that it didn't have the "rename" command. Fortunately the man for that command is actually helpful, in that it has handy examples that are actually informative.

So I wrote my first script, which changes .wav files to .mp3 files. I couldn't figure out how to grab just the first part of the name (I know how to do this in Visual Basic, but couldn't find it in the manual) so I ended up doing a workaround. My program:

for file in *.wav; do $(lame --vbr-new -V 1 "$file" "$file.mp3"); done
rename 's/\.wav\.mp3/\.mp3/' *.wav.mp3
rm *.wav

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boadicea Trott:
Software query :

Is there a way, using MS Word 2007, to create a multi-page document consisting of two columns into which I can insert Document A into column A {without it automatically filling up Column B on each page as well} and then insert Document B into Column B ?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alex Cockell:
IT DOES have a rename command! It's "mv"

---

quote:

---

for file in *.wav
do
mp3_file=$(basename $file .wav).mp3
lame --vbr-new -V 1 "$file" "$mp3_file"
rm -i $file
done

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Curiosity killed ...:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boadicea Trott:
Software query :

Is there a way, using MS Word 2007, to create a multi-page document consisting of two columns into which I can insert Document A into column A {without it automatically filling up Column B on each page as well} and then insert Document B into Column B ?

---

Not sure if this will work in Office 2007, but the way I'd do it is in a table - so you set up a two column table and fill column 1 with document A and column 2 with document B. To line things up, add table rows

---

Dear "Curiosity killed",

Thank you so much, it worked perfectly first time !

I had spent ages trying to do it over the last few days and was ending up getting thoroughly infuriated - and was about to abandon the idea as a bad job before thinking of asking folk on The Ship for help.

Thanks again,

BT
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
@Wilson: what does the $( ) do?
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Okay now this is weird. Is this something to worry about? I swear I never touched any of the things it mentions.

quote:

---

alex@winbuntu:~$ sudo nautilus
[sudo] password for alex:
Sorry, try again.
[sudo] password for alex:
Initializing nautilus-gdu extension
Nautilus-Share-Message: Called "net usershare info" but it failed: 'net usershare' returned error 255: net usershare: cannot open usershare directory /var/lib/samba/usershares. Error No such file or directory
Please ask your system administrator to enable user sharing.


** (nautilus:2465): WARNING **: Could not inhibit power management: The name org.gnome.SessionManager was not provided by any .service files
^Z
[1]+ Stopped sudo
nautilus
alex@winbuntu:~$

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
...what does the $( ) do?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
Okay now this is weird. Is this something to worry about? I swear I never touched any of the things it mentions.

quote:

---

alex@winbuntu:~$ sudo nautilus
[sudo] password for alex:
Sorry, try again.
[sudo] password for alex:
Initializing nautilus-gdu extension
Nautilus-Share-Message: Called "net usershare info" but it failed: 'net usershare' returned error 255: net usershare: cannot open usershare directory /var/lib/samba/usershares. Error No such file or directory
Please ask your system administrator to enable user sharing.


** (nautilus:2465): WARNING **: Could not inhibit power management: The name org.gnome.SessionManager was not provided by any .service files
^Z
[1]+ Stopped sudo
nautilus
alex@winbuntu:~$

---

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by wilson:
mousethief,

Try this:

quote:

---

for file in *.wav
do
mp3_file=$(basename $file .wav).mp3
lame --vbr-new -V 1 "$file" "$mp3_file"
rm -i $file
done

---

You can ditch the -i on rm if you like. It's just giving you an "are you sure" prompt before deleting. Usually a good idea until you know your script is definitely working.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
Okay, some time ago I told it to feck off when it kept asking me which program to run when I stuck a CD in the drive.

Now I'm doing a lot of music ripping and I want it to open the ripper software when I stick a CD in the drive.

Where do I go to tell it I changed my mind?

---

code:

---

bpm@mehitabel:~$ ls 0470613033.pdf 
0470613033.pdf
bpm@mehitabel:~$ basename 0470613033.pdf .pdf
0470613033

---

If you've got filenames with embedded spaces, the -print0 switch with find is handy. You combine it with xargs -0 for some real magic.

This looks like a good intro.
 

---

Posted by Coffee Cup (# 13506) on :
 
Can anyone recommend a decent external hard-drive for backing up my laptop please? Either 500GB or 1TB, and it can like on my desk at home so it's fine if it needs an external power supply. But cheaper would be better than more expensive and I'm a bit confused about which of the brands are more reliable - a peek at amazon and pcworld suggests that western digital, iomega, seagate, samsung and hitachi are all options.

I'm in the UK if that's at all relevant...


ps - I can't believe i've been writing shell scripts for five years and never heard of basename (I'd been using sed 's/\.txt//g' type statements).
 

---

Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
Maplins have a special off on this 1TB seagate - it would be easy on the eye too. Though I have no idea on what criteria one distinguishes between hard drives.
 

---

Posted by Jessie Phillips (# 13048) on :
 
Does anyone have any suggestions about getting software 56k modems working in Ubuntu?

I've got a computer running 9.10 (not the one I'm posting from), and not the most recent kernel version. The start-up manager is set to default to Linux 2.6.31-14.

The reason I don't run Linux 2.6.31-22 is because there's a PCI 56k modem - it's a software modem, although I have forgotten what type. Once upon a time, it actually worked in Ubuntu 9.10, although I've forgotten what I did - although I do remember that I had to jump through a lot of hoops. I specifically remember that it didn't work in 2.6.31-22, but it did work in 2.6.31-14.

But now, it doesn't work in 2.6.31-14. When dialling using the GNOME PPP application, it dials, it beeps, it makes the usual screechy noises 56k modems make - and then that's it.

I remember that in order to get it working, I had to identify what type of modem it was, and download a driver from the manufacturer's website - but since it's a PCI device that's inside the computer, I have forgotten who the manufacturer is, and I'd have to shift a lot of clutter to get the computer out to open it up to have a look at it. It would be a lot easier to identify the modem using a software diagnostic tool, although I've forgotten how you do that too.

In an ideal world, I would have a 56k modem router that I could plug lots of computers into using Ethernet leads. But such beasts are hard to find, and are horribly expensive when you do find them. Broadband modem routers are generally a lot cheaper. But the advantage of 56k is that if you move house - or if your broadband connection goes down - it's usually possible to get 56k dial-up internet access a lot more quickly than fixed-line broadband access. So it bothers me that I can't get 56k to work. Any suggestions? Thanks.
 

---

Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
Emergency mobile dongle might be a lot simpler.
 

---

Posted by Alex Cockell (# 7487) on :
 
This is why I have a Zoom 3G travel router

With an emergency 3 dongle..
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Coffee Cup: as with everything, in terms of what's "good", you'll probably get 20 different answers from 12 different geeks

FWIW, for a basic USB HDD I'd tend towards Western Digital Elements at the moment. We use a lot of WD drives, internal and external, 2.5" and 3.5" and (for the last few years) they've been a good balance on cost, performance and reliability.

Seagate basic externals seem OK too, although I have historic issues with Seagate (which may no longer be valid).

If you've got appropriate software already, I wouldn't bother paying the extra for a WD MyPassport or MyBook - the basic drives will be the same, they just come with some extra guff and a prettier case.
 

---

Posted by Mr. Spouse (# 3353) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Coffee Cup:
Can anyone recommend a decent external hard-drive for backing up my laptop please? Either 500GB or 1TB, and it can like on my desk at home so it's fine if it needs an external power supply. But cheaper would be better than more expensive and I'm a bit confused about which of the brands are more reliable - a peek at amazon and pcworld suggests that western digital, iomega, seagate, samsung and hitachi are all options.

---

quote:

---

java.net.PlainSocketImpl : connectToAddress at line -1
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : connect at line -1
java.net.SocksSocketImpl : connect at line -1
java.net.Socket : connect at line -1
java.net.Socket : connect at line -1
java.net.Socket : <init> at line -1
java.net.Socket : <init> at line -1
uk.co.darkgreenmedia.faverolle.SocketComms : run at line 86
java.lang.Thread : run at line -1

---

quote:

---

aus2.mozilla.org : server does not support RFC 5746, see CVE-2009-3555

---

quote:

---

IO Error (java.net.ConnectException: Connection refused)
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : socketConnect at line -2
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : doConnect at line 333
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : connectToAddress at line 195
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : connect at line 182
java.net.SocksSocketImpl : connect at line 366
java.net.Socket : connect at line 529
java.net.Socket : connect at line 478
java.net.Socket : <init> at line 375
java.net.Socket : <init> at line 189
uk.co.darkgreenmedia.faverolle.SocketComms : run at line 86
java.lang.Thread : run at line 662

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilBuddha:
Try using Windows Explorer and browse to the drive.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wet Kipper:
thing is, the laptop can "see" it's on the network, (becuase it can't see the drive when it's disconnected, or turned off) but trying to use the supplied software tools to map the network drive, or start backup procedures don't work. I click the easy set up button for "map network drive" and nothing happens. It's as if it can see the drive, but can't do any data transfer, or control it. Any thoughts?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by wilson:
Think² - the error you're getting means the Cafe client - the java program that runs on your computer - is trying to connect to the Cafe and the connection is deliberately refused. Since you can connect via your netbook - which will look like the same source from the Ship end - it's almost certainly not being blocked at the Cafe itself.

If you look here and here and the related discussion, you'll see that the cafe makes an outgoing connection on port 25424 TCP. If you have a firewall blocking that then it would cause the kind of errors you're getting.

It's possible that this is the firewall on your router but I'd suggest unlikely. Your netbook can connect presumably using the same router so you would have had to configure the router to treat the two computers differently and I guess you'd remember doing that?

My guess is that it's the Windows 7 firewall, or another firewall running on the Win7 machine. I'm not sure how you get to the firewall settings in Win 7 but in XP it was through the Control Panel. You need to make sure it's allowing outgoing connections for port 25424 TCP.

HTH

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by wilson:
Think² - the error you're getting means the Cafe client - the java program that runs on your computer - is trying to connect to the Cafe and the connection is deliberately refused. Since you can connect via your netbook - which will look like the same source from the Ship end - it's almost certainly not being blocked at the Cafe itself.

If you look here and here and the related discussion, you'll see that the cafe makes an outgoing connection on port 25424 TCP. If you have a firewall blocking that then it would cause the kind of errors you're getting.

It's possible that this is the firewall on your router but I'd suggest unlikely. Your netbook can connect presumably using the same router so you would have had to configure the router to treat the two computers differently and I guess you'd remember doing that?

My guess is that it's the Windows 7 firewall, or another firewall running on the Win7 machine. I'm not sure how you get to the firewall settings in Win 7 but in XP it was through the Control Panel. You need to make sure it's allowing outgoing connections for port 25424 TCP.

HTH

---

quote:

---

IO Error (java.net.ConnectException: Connection timed out: connect)
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : socketConnect at line -2
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : doConnect at line -1
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : connectToAddress at line -1
java.net.PlainSocketImpl : connect at line -1
java.net.SocksSocketImpl : connect at line -1
java.net.Socket : connect at line -1
java.net.Socket : connect at line -1
java.net.Socket : <init> at line -1
java.net.Socket : <init> at line -1
uk.co.darkgreenmedia.faverolle.SocketComms : run at line 86
java.lang.Thread : run at line -1

---

 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Wet Kipper,

Have your tried setting up the drive directly attached to your computer, then plugging it into the router? Also, try inputting the MAC address in the router's security software.
 

---

Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :
 
It's a MyBook World, and I'm running Vista
was thinking of direct connection, will need to try it at home. I'll also need to go looking for the router instructions to remember how to get into it for the MAC address thing
 

---

Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
Tried switching both firewalls off and that doesn't allow me to use the cafe either
 

---

Posted by wilson (# 37) on :
 
sorry Think² - I'm out of ideas.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
What browser are you using, Thinkthink? I can't get Java to work right on Firefox for Linux 3.6.13. I installed Epiphany for when I have to do something in Java.

[ 04. February 2011, 20:13: Message edited by: mousethief ]
 

---

Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
Thanks for trying wilson. I am coming around to the idea I have router problems.

In win 7 I have tried on IE 32bit and 64bit (with both kinds of java). I have used a pc tuner application to update all possible drivers, fix registry errors etc. I have tried with one and both firewalls turned off. I have manually enabled the port mentioned above in windows firewall.

Next plan is to log into my homehub and see if I can fix it there. But I will leave that for tomorrow.
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Apache2, SSL, Subversion on Debian Lenny - How hard can it be?

Harder than me, it would seem. I hate bloody Linux and the half-assed instructions one finds. Especially as this time I thought I was actually making progress.

As there appear to be a few official beard'n'sandals types in here, does anyone know how the hell to get this lot working?

It's a CLI-only install of Debian (onto a VM but that doesn't matter). During the install I asked it to whack Apache2 on and sort itself out.

Foolishly I didn't check that SSL was working, but it /seemed/ to have all the bits in place. Used apt-get to add in sudo, subversion, libapache2-svn and ssh. Followed destructions here to get the svn install going, and it mostly seems to have worked. I haven't tested it via SSH from a client, because I don't have a suitable client to test from (trying to get to the point where I can connect using TortoiseSVN from Windows). However, all the svnadmin and local commands seem to work just fine.

Did the svn WebDAV stuff, but not sure that is working.

Connecting to the default apache site via HTTP produces the success page. Connecting via HTTPS fails miserably.

Have probably now screwed everything up by trying to poke around in the SSL config, but if anyone can give me any pointers I'd appreciate it.
 

---

Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
Start by making sure that apache is listening.

code:

---

[bpm@mehitabel:~]$ netstat -4ln
Active Internet connections (only servers)
Proto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address           Foreign Address         State      
tcp        0      0 127.0.0.1:631           0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN     
udp        0      0 0.0.0.0:58434           0.0.0.0:*                          
udp        0      0 0.0.0.0:68              0.0.0.0:*                          
udp        0      0 0.0.0.0:5353            0.0.0.0:*                          

---

Of course on this netbook I'm not running any servers, so there's nothing listening at all.

You'll see a line including 0.0.0.0:80 -- that's the regular server.
You also need a line for the listener on the SSL port -- it will be 0.0.0.0:443. If you don't see that follow the instructions here to set that up.
If the secure server is running but not responding, it may be a firewall issue or it may have something to do with your virtualization setup.
 

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Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
A much more simple question - you folk are so much more techie than me

Is it the best to switch off the computer every night? At school all the computers are always switched off at the end of the schol daytime and switched on in the morning. I haven't done this to my iMac for ages, only once on holiday.

I have Silver Keeper attached to it to preserve its stuff in it and it's an old iMac, upgraded from 9 to 10, and it's attached to the phone.

Will it save electricity bills and be better for it, or does switching on regularly cause problems?
 

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Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Basso: d'oh, and thanks. I'll fire it up Monday and have a poke (taking tomorrow off out of semi-religiosity and primary needing a break!).

DaisyMay: 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. Yes, it will save electricity - even at idle a pooter consumes some power. On the damage/preserve front, there are two competing schools of thought, so It Depends on your situation. Leaving stuff on tends to mean more heat generation, which if it's /lots/ of heat, can be a Bad Thing and shorten lifespan. OTOH, turning things off subjects them to more 'violent' changes of state, and generally the times that things like PSUs, chips etc. are likely to blow is when they get a big surge of power, not a steady trickle. Like ... at switch on.

So you pays yer money and takes yer choice. In reality, unless you have an old and fragile system, or need it to run overnight scheduled tasks, turning it off is probably the sensible thing to do for a domestic machine, but it's not worth losing sleep over either way.
 

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Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
Oh my goodness. HELP.

I have just tried to transfer a recording from my digital video recorder to my computer, using a USB stick.

The recorder says that it uses a JFS file system. It wouldn't let me transfer anything onto the USB stick until I formatted it for JFS. Okay, done. Copied recording onto stick...

...take stick to computer running Windows XP.



This is the point where I discover that Windows won't recognise something in JFS format.

Then I start reading, and discover how JFS is perfectly familiar in Linux. And I start freaking out. Because I know absolutely nothing about Linux beyond the name.

And then I start reading some stuff about how you can persuade Windows to see JFS, and I barely understand a damn word of it. I don't know the first thing about setting up a virtual machine, or making a part of my hard drive Linux-y or anything like that.

If anyone has a clue how to do this and can step me through what programs to download, etc etc VERY gradually, I'd be much obliged.
 

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Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
Thanks, Snags , that means I had ideas that it would be good either way, and wasn't being stupid - so I'm going to turn it off every night and during the days I'm off at work... and let's hope it stays OK, as you've mentioned it can.
 

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Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
orfeo, I think your best bet is to download a Linux live CD image.

The Ubuntu download page is here, and if you've got a vanilla desktop PC, the first link on the page (PC (Intel x86) desktop CD) is the one you'll want. Download that and burn it to a CD [1]. Then reboot with the CD in the drive. The system will come up in Ubuntu without touching your hard drive.

Now you should be able to put your USB stick into the computer and copy the files from it to your hard drive. Choose 'reboot' from Ubuntu and eject the CD to return to Windows.

[1] There's a CD burning guide here.
 

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Posted by Amorya (# 2652) on :
 
I'm feeling clever at the moment.

I've got an app for my iPad that makes it appear as an extra monitor for my laptop. To do this, it needs the computer and the iPad to be on the same wireless network. Problem is, I'm in the library, and it doesn't work over the wifi here.

So I created a wireless network on my computer and it works over that.

Of course, that means that I can't get the internet (since you can't connect to two wifi networks at once). So I'm connected to my mobile phone by bluetooth and getting the net through that.

I had a nice geeky feeling of accomplishment when it all worked

Anyone else done anything that they're proud of?

Amorya
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Orfeo, the other possibility (if you want to avoid Linux as a Big Scary Place) would be to check out if there are any utilities for your particular voice recorder that run on Windows.

In my (not extensive) experience of digital voice recorders* they usually support a USB connection to a PC, and come with some dodgy software that will let you extract the files direct, particularly if they're using a non-Windows compatible file system internally.

*Bah to technology, takes all the fun out of using my dictaphone (ah, the old ones ...)
 

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Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
basso: Thanks, I will give that a shot.

Snags: not digital voice recorder. digital video recorder. As in a box that is plugged into my analogue television, enables me to receive the brand new (by Oz standards) digital signal and digital-only TV stations, and has a nice big hard drive on it for storing hours and hours of TV shows until I get sick of 'em or move 'em.

I'm actually thoroughly pleased with the box in question, works like a dream. This is the first time I've had any difficulty achieving something with it.

Having said that, your advice is essentially sound and I'll see if there's anything out there.
 

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Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
Addendum: And it looks like there MIGHT be an appropriate utility. I will have to wait until I get home to check it out.

But thanks for both of the responses, they make me feel a bit more confident.
 

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Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
Eureka! I think I've cracked it!

It looks as if while the recorder's native format is JFS, it will also recognise a NTFS format drive. As will Windows!

I'm in the middle of transferring a recording onto the USB drive, which I formatted as NTFS via my computer. The mere fact it's attempting a transfer, instead of claiming there is no room on the USB stick, is a great sign.
 

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Posted by The Silent Acolyte (# 1158) on :
 
Can some kind, meciful soul please tell me

quote:

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What is the K&R for html?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Silent Acolyte:

quote:

---

What is the K&R for html?

---

!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Snags:
MT: it depends on heaps of factors, so specific advice is a bit tricky.

NiCads tend to suffer from battery memory, so to get best life you need to fully charge/discharge rather than use on the mains all the time.

Nimh don't generally have that issue,

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:
I've been getting normal e-mails, from people I know, without attachments, which I've been opening and reading as per normal, and leaving them in my in-box till I get round to replying. Then, a couple of days later, little red flags are appearing next to some of them.

Where are these wee red flags coming from? They seem to be completely random.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:

Oh, a related question: the battery level indicator that comes with Ubuntu 10.04 gives the amount of time left, but not the % of charge. Is there some utility I can get through the Software Center that will show % of charge?

---

gnome-power-statistics can show that. It's probably installed by default (it is on my 10.10 system).
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Awesome, basso! I found it and added it to my Applications menu.
 

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Posted by malik3000 (# 11437) on :
 
HELP!!! I just bought a used Toshiba laptop -- still in good shape -- from a friend. It had Windows XP with MS Office on it, but the version that was on his PC at the time did not include MS Access. I said, prior to buying it -- that i had to have the MS Access database program on it if i were to buy it. (That would be the main reason for me to get a PC rather than a Mac) I'd pay a little more to have it put on.

He said no problem -- he had someone who could do that. Well, as it turned out, his guy not only put MS Access on it, but altogether replaced XP with Windows 7. I hadn't expected that but it was fine with me.

But now, it turns out that the guy (not the friend from whom I bought the PC) apparently put a bootleg version of Windows 7 on it. I keep getting messages that my Windows isn't valid.

Someone in the IT dept. at my job offered to put a valid copy of Windows on for $140. He said i wouldn't have to get a new version of Office because after he wiped off the bootleg Windows and put on the valid Windows, he could put the Office programs i had back on again.

If it does what he says it will do i am willing to pay that (mild sigh) altho for certain reasons i kind of would prefer to do business with someone else if possible. I definitely want the registered programs on my PC to be valid. How does what he said sound? I am so ignorant when it comes to computer technicalities.

I'd like to get input from more than one trustworthy person on the best way to do this I really want a valid version -- quite simply because i don't want the hassles that having a bootleg version causes.

What is the best way of having valid Windows and valid Office on my PC? Would i be better off going to a computer store. Or what?? ... (This stuff confuses me and i don't want to get burned further) To re-iterate . . . I am so ignorant when it comes to these sorts of computer technicalities. To repeat ...

[ 25. February 2011, 17:13: Message edited by: malik3000 ]
 

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Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
I would go to a store, if I were you, unless you have a high level of confidence in your IT person. I have upgraded operating systems, but never an illegal version to a legal. It should be simple, but I do not know. I would make certain I put a legit version of Access on as well. Windows will, i think, check for the validity of other Microsoft products.
 

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Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
I'm sorry, but I might need your help again.

1,5 years ago, I bought one of these little HP netbooks. It is running Windows XP.

About a month ago, vertical flickering coloured lines were starting to appear on the right hand side of my screen. Sometimes they're there, sometimes they're not. They seem to mimic the colours that are on the screen at the moment.

Today, the coloured lines decided to join together to a big black band, taking away almost 1/4 of my screen.

Is this a hardware problem, or can it be resolved by doing something with the software? I'm currently in Africa, so I'm afraid servicing the computer is not an option, and I really need it
 

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Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
malik3000: most times when Windows fails the Genuine Validation thing, there's a mechanism to make it legit right there and then by going online and handing MS your $$. It doesn't necessarily require a re-install, it depends on whether it's just a dodgy key that's been used, or a totally cracked version. So that's the good news.

Without wishing to be negative, the bad news is that if he's used an iffy OS, he's probably put an iffy copy of Office on too

LeRoc: it sounds like hardware, but it's probably the screen rather than the video card, so if you have access to an external monitor, the machine may still be usable (although obviously not as a particularly portable proposition)
 

---

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by malik3000:
Someone in the IT dept. at my job offered to put a valid copy of Windows on for $140. . . . For certain reasons i kind of would prefer to do business with someone else if possible.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe:
And rightly so! Fire him and hire someone who will not exploit his colleagues by charging for favors. It's not as though there are no jobless walking the streets.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Snags:
LeRoc: it sounds like hardware, but it's probably the screen rather than the video card, so if you have access to an external monitor, the machine may still be usable (although obviously not as a particularly portable proposition)

---

Thanks, I was afraid of that. This doesn't give me much hope either

Some sites suggest updating the Video Card Driver. Would it be worthwhile to try this as a last resort? (Not that I know how to do this, but I guess I could find out.)
 

---

Posted by Alex Cockell (# 7487) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
Thanks lilBuddha; that was very informative. I unplugged my battery; the web site says that should help it last longer, although I can't store it at 40% because I need to be able to pop the battery in at any time and have the longest possible run time.

Oh, a related question: the battery level indicator that comes with Ubuntu 10.04 gives the amount of time left, but not the % of charge. Is there some utility I can get through the Software Center that will show % of charge?

---

quote:

---

Some sites suggest updating the Video Card Driver. Would it be worthwhile to try this as a last resort? (Not that I know how to do this, but I guess I could find out.)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
How is selling for $140 something that costs more than that int he store exploitation?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
You probably have a blown (or about to blow) inverter. I was able to replace one in one of our computers and I'm usually pretty thumby with electronics. It looks like this and is located in your laptop lid, just below the screen proper. you pop the case open around the screen, unplug the inverter, plug the new one in (you might have to unfasten/refasten with a screw), and you're good to go.

They seem to run between $5 and $40 on ebay.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alex Cockell:
If you right-click on the battery icon and open up the Power properties - that will give you a full screen of diagnostics, along with charting on the second tab.

Means you can see what the battery's health is as well.

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quote:

---

Originally posted by rufiki:
Good evening Geeks,

This afternoon my laptop screen's backlight stopped working. Everything was dark! After leaving it for a few hours, it is now working again, but not as bright as usual (brightness is set to max).

Can something be done, or is it time for a new laptop (this one has served me faithfully for three and a half years)? If the latter, where's a good place (UK) to buy laptops with Linux pre-installed?

Thanks!

---

quote:

---

In Microsoft Windows Explorer, designate a folder that you can use to store your master document and subdocuments.

---

Yeah, right. Where the bloody hell in Bill Gates Revenge' aka Explorer do you find a thingy called "open a folder"
 

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Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
Sheesh Zappa, get thee to thy nearest community college, find a hungry graphic design student, and beg them to import and format the bloody thing in Adobe InDesign for you. You have no IDEA how much easier it is to work with that program, it won't chew it up and swallow it forever, and your publisher will never know the difference. I'd do it for you if you were this side the globe!
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
It's tempting to get a ticket - but yeah, that might be an idea (the community college one) ... ta!
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:


So I go to Microsoft Word Help and it says, after telling me to go to Expolorer (which I don't use),

quote:

---

In Microsoft Windows Explorer, designate a folder that you can use to store your master document and subdocuments.

---

Yeah, right. Where the bloody hell in Bill Gates Revenge' aka Explorer do you find a thingy called "open a folder"

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
So I go to Microsoft Word Help and it says, after telling me to go to Explorer (which I don't use),

quote:

---

In Microsoft Windows Explorer, designate a folder that you can use to store your master document and subdocuments.

---

Yeah, right. Where the bloody hell in Bill Gates Revenge' aka Explorer do you find a thingy called "open a folder"

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
Ok now slow down. . . . Windows Explorer is not Internet Explorer. . . . Windows Explorer is the posh name for the files and folders window.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by malik3000:
Just out of curiosity, what do folks think of Open Office? Does anyone here have experience with it?

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quote:

---

Originally posted by malik3000:
Just out of curiosity, what do folks think of Open Office? Does anyone here have experience with it?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Curiosity killed ...:
What did you want to use OpenOffice for?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by malik3000:
Just out of curiosity, what do folks think of Open Office? Does anyone here have experience with it?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by ken:
When our vicar or parish administrator send me copies of the latest newsletter or service sheet and I look at them in Word on my PC, they rarely fit on the page the same way the printed copy does.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe:

quote:

---

Originally posted by ken:
When our vicar or parish administrator send me copies of the latest newsletter or service sheet and I look at them in Word on my PC, they rarely fit on the page the same way the printed copy does.

---

That may be due to screen fonts vs. printer fonts. What you see isn't always what you get.

---

I'm sure it is. But they don't understand that
 

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Posted by Joan_of_Quark (# 9887) on :
 
In a moment of altruism, I seem to have accepted a mission to help a church musician choose a computer. This is not just a new computer, it's a *first computer ever*. I'm OK on computers and day-to-day software but a musical ignoramus. Does anyone have any tips, especially if there are programs classical musicians might use that are only available on Macs, or PCs, not both? I'm guessing we're looking more at writing sheet music or perhaps inputting from an electronic keyboard, but not major amounts of mixing. Thanks!
 

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Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Ha! Welcome to platform wars!

First thing to do is find out exactly what they want to use the computer for, in musical terms. Out of the box, Macs will come with more music-related tools than a PC, but chances are if they want to produce notation then they'll need to acquire a 3rd party package either way.

Second thing to do is find out if they're already familiar with any particular notation/composition package, or have a strong views either way. Also, find out if they move in any circles where others are already clueful on this stuff.

My view is that you can achieve good results on either platform, so it doesn't really matter too much. However, what you're going to need/want is going to vary hugely depending on whether the main use will be to produce notation, or to actually compose, arrange and produce recorded music etc. etc. Most of the big name packages are available for both Mac and PC; there are some fairly cheap but competent notation packages for the PC, as well as the megabucks ones; not so sure for the Mac.

AIUI "the industry" is still fairly Mac-centric, at least when it comes to recording/mixing stuff, although according to friends in the know, if you know what you're doing it's swings and roundabouts, and inertia/history has a lot to do with it.

Finally, if your friend DOES have strong views, and really, really wants a Mac, but you reckon they'd be better off with a PC ... let them get a Mac. Otherwise everything in the world will be your fault, they'll never be happy, and in 12 months they'll go and get a Mac and never cease to tell you how great it is, even if in practice it's just as problematic for them. Note that you can completely reverse the platforms in that statement and it will still be true.

We kid ourselves that these decisions are rational, head-based choices based on what will do the best job; in reality for most of us they're largely emotional choices, and unless some really gets it wrong, they'll be happier (and thus more productive) with an objectively inferior option that matches their preconceptions, than with a superior one they've never quite bought into.
 

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Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
I think people who are very visual do well on the mac os - whereas those of us who are quite verbal and like words and text and lists do better with windows.
 

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Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
Joan, is your friend working at a particular parish? If so, get whatever the parish is using.
You can offload some of the tech support on the other people at the parish office.

The music director at my parish uses a Mac. I can ask her for input if you'd like.
 

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Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Think²:
I think people who are very visual do well on the mac os - whereas those of us who are quite verbal and like words and text and lists do better with windows.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by RooK:
Seems to me it more a matter of what you're familiar with, and how much of a snob you are.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilBuddha:
Something along the lines of insult Apple to a Mac user and you are starting a fight. Insult Microsoft to a Windows user and you are starting a discussion.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
I know of one package where the ribbon really is a step forward. Contextually sensitive lists were driving me beserk, basically because it was dead easy to change context without realising it. Now you set the context by changing the ribbon!

---

Yes well the answer to that is easy. Have the full list and grey out the ones not currently applicable. I believe earlier versions of Office did that; then they went to hiding stuff, which meant that if you weren't sure where something was, you could never find out by opening a couple of menus.
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Nope

That is what it was like, it was horrible. I want to pull in a new piece of data in the database, so I go to the data menu open it up, Oh no the option to import new data is greyed out. Why is it grey out? Oh I know I have just navigated to where it should be imported the window is even showing the rest of the files in that place but as I have not clicked on that window it will not import.



Repeat ad nauseum.

In the end I stopped using the menus and icons at the top and used right click menus it was so bad.

Jengie
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
Oh I know I have just navigated to where it should be imported the window is even showing the rest of the files in that place but as I have not clicked on that window it will not import.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilBuddha:
Two separate copies. Else Bill Gates will be knocking on your door.

---

I was afraid of that!


 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
The good news maybe that it will only be 50% more expensive to buy Three upgrades than one copy

Jengie
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Okay, according to my computer it's NEVER safe to remove my external hard drive. Which seems very unlikely. Is there something I don't realize? Anything I can do?
 

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Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
MT, remind me of how that drive is set up? USB?
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Yes, USB.
 

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Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
Okay. It should appear on your desktop, and you should be able to right-click on the icon and select 'eject'.

If the icon softly and silently vanishes away, it's cool to unplug it. If not, what message to you get?
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
"Eject" is not one of the options; only "Safely Remove Drive." However when I clicked it, it worked.

So is that the secret, I have to click it from the desktop rather than from within Nautilus? That's easy enough.
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Okay here's one that's stumped me. I have only been able to find one online document that really addresses it, and it contains a big dose of "we're not really sure." It's interesting because the same question and non-answer are repeated on several different sites word-for-word.

Does an LCD or plasma monitor scan like CRT? A TV of course fires different spots on the screen in sequence, starting at the top left and moving to the right, then dropping down a row and starting at the left again, until the entire screen has been shot, then it starts again at the upper left.

Does the LCD do this? It seems you couldn't fire all the pixels at once; it would take an impossible amount of throughput from the video card to the screen; you'd need three bits of data per pixel, times the number of pixels on the screen, all presented to the screen controller at the same time.
 

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Posted by Joan Rasch (# 49) on :
 
Topic: retrofitting wi-fi connection

I have acquired an elderly Mac laptop (iBook G3 Dual USB; OSX 10.3) which does not include an Airport card. I am looking at 3 choices of USB wireless adapters:

• Two made specifically for Macs, one by BearExtender which has an external antenna & one by AftertheMac.com which doesn't
• One which is supposed to support both Macs & PC's, with antenna, by C.Crane

quote:

---

Originally posted by Joan Rasch:
Topic: retrofitting wi-fi connection

I have acquired an elderly Mac laptop (iBook G3 Dual USB; OSX 10.3) which does not include an Airport card. I am looking at 3 choices of USB wireless adapters:

• Two made specifically for Macs, one by BearExtender which has an external antenna & one by AftertheMac.com which doesn't
• One which is supposed to support both Macs & PC's, with antenna, by C.Crane

Prices range $40-$60 (US)


Thanks in advance /Joan

---

Ah - aftermarket wireless cards for Macs. Some aftermarket wireless cards have native Airport support, meaning the Mac software runs the wireless adapter without needing an extra third-party application to activate and manage the wireless connection.

I can't remember whether that particular model of Mac laptop has an internal slot for an older style Airport card. If it does, then getting a secondhand original Airport card can be a good option if you don't want any USB dongles sticking out of your computer.

[ 17. March 2011, 07:43: Message edited by: aj ]
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Why does my System Monitor show both CPU's working when I only have a 32-bit operating system?
 

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Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
While the OS needs to be written to address multi-processor systems*, it does not matter if they are 32-bit or 64-bit. Memory is an issue. A 32-bit system can only address 4 gigabytes while a 64-bit system can address much more. How much more depends upon the limits built into the CPU and the OS.

* not a Linux person, but I cannot but believe the current versions support at least dual core.
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Well there's supposedly a 32-bit kernel (i686) and a 64-bit kernel (i64) of Ubuntu. It's confusing and I'm not really willing to do a lot of heavy research. Thanks for answering
 

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Posted by Alisdair (# 15837) on :
 
It's as lilBuddha says: current Linux kernels will use as many cores as are available and needed; the main difference between 32 and 64bit systems is the way they handle 'memory', particularly the amount of RAM they can address. 32bit systems (whether Linux or Windows), can only address up to 4GB of RAM. If you have more than that it will be invisible to a 32 bit OS, and to a 32bit CPU.

For example, the AMD64bit CPUs can handle vastly more physical memory: 4PB (4,000 terabytes), I believe.
 

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Posted by Fineline (# 12143) on :
 
I have a question. I want to buy a netbook that is lightweight and has a good resolution (so it doesn't hurt my eyes to read) and which has Windows on it. And decent memory and battery life, and not too expensive. I don't know a lot about technical stuff. Can anyone recommend a good brand?
 

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Posted by Alisdair (# 15837) on :
 
Fineline, have a look at:

http://tinyurl.com/6hqheo4
 

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Posted by Fineline (# 12143) on :
 
Thanks, Alisdair.
 

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Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
An international charitable organisation I belong to already has a modest website but would like to do more, such as:

• a “members only” moderated website discussion forum (what's one of them?), together with a way of managing emails to supporters, such as country-specific mailings and particular interest sub-groups
• The ability for supporters to upload and share documents and images.
• Secure encryption and storage for membership and other sensitive information (I personally wonder if this is desirable, let alone necessary)
• Integration with the main website via embedded pages, widgets or links, and, maybe...
• Automated emails (RSS feed?)to alert supporters to changes on the website.
• The ability to hold customised information about supporters (e.g. to allow them to record particular interests or skills).
• A calendar of forthcoming events.
• The ability to share the administration load

• Wordpress extensions/ plug-ins to current website – a confusing number and variety seem to be available
• Buddypress (extensions to the current website) and....
• Various Facebook Causes; Google Groups; Yahoo! Groups; GroupSpaces; BigTent ; Ning; Amazee; SocialGO; Spruz; Memberhub.Some of these have varying free/ cheap/ expensive options

quote:

---

Originally posted by aj:
I can enter the unit's IP address and navigate directly to its web-based setup without any trouble, and everything looks quite in order. I just can't get to a point of browsing the drive from Windows Explorer, in WinXP or another laptop running Windows 7.

I also have a [recent] Mac, and that sees the drive immediately in the Finder, mounts it as a shared networked drive, and allows me to browse it without issue. We got the drive to browse and manage photos from all computers in the house, hence the desire for a networked solution.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by aj:
And there I was naively thinking that Windows stuff worked out of the box

---

That's why its worth spending an extra 200 quid on a Mac (if you can afford it)
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Slightly less geeky than nbtstat bits on the XP box not seeing the external drive by name, rather than IP include:

- firewall settings: if you have a software firewall it may be blocking NetBIOS traffic (local name resolution in the absence of a DNS server)

- browse master issues: the XP box might be fighting another box to be the "Browse Master" in the absence of a server that forces the issue by virtue of having the biggest stick in the playground. Unfortunately Browse Master fixes tend to involve messing around with low level network bits like nbtstat ...


As to the idea that the extra money on a Mac leads to a pain-free life, well ... you wouldn't say that if you'd had to sort out some of the Mac networks I've seen

Computers, just say no; they're all a snare and a delusion.
 

---

Posted by Mr. Spouse (# 3353) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by aj:
I deal with a bit of command line stuff in my work so will try communing with the Linkstation and see what information I can glean.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Snags:
As to the idea that the extra money on a Mac leads to a pain-free life, well ... you wouldn't say that if you'd had to sort out some of the Mac networks I've seen

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Snags:
Computers, just say no; they're all a snare and a delusion.

---

 

---

Posted by malik3000 (# 11437) on :
 
I asked about OpenOffice up-thread a while ago, but my question concerns a more specific and multifaceted problem, concerning database software -- MS Access 2007 and its open-source counterpart Base. Adding to my confusion is that Base is now available on LibreOffice in addition to the original OpenOffice. And above all i am so non-technically oriented that this post probably has more computer jargon in than any post i've posted to date.

To give an idea of what i need db software for, I have used MS Access for years to make databases, principally of an inventory or a bibliographic nature, not for databases that are constantly changing like the kind of dbs needed by businesses that sell products and which are constantly changing and need to be used to generate a constant stream of reports.

I find that MS Access 2007, or now MS Office Access 2007, is so different from previous versions that it's like i basically have to learn a radically different system. That could be good except that the new version seems to totally ignore database uses such as my needs. It seems totally directed to the needs of large commercial organizations that are selling lots of stuff. I definitely have no problem with the latter use at all, just with the apparent total doing away with any consideration of needs other than that.

So question #1 - am i overreacting and can Access'07 serve my needs without a huuuge amount of relearning? I love to learn new things, but give me a break.

So i thought about OpenOffice, whose dbms is Base. I like the concept of open-source software anyway and had thought about downloading it anyway. If Base can give me what i want that would be great.

But now i hear about LibreOffice, which is an almost identical "fork" off of OpenOffice, and which also has Base. LO was started by a bunch of OpenOffice folks who see Oracle being less helpful to OpenOffice than Sun (which was bought out by Oracle, Sun having had a big role in starting OpenOffice.) In my internet research alot of folks say LibreOffice will end up replacing OpenOffice.

I read that Base in its LibreOffice version is almost identical but the LO version requires download an SQL program of some sort. That's the kind of piddling little tech stuff i don't want to have to mess with. I just want a relational dbms with a non-techie-friendly user interface that is ready to use without additional nitpicking and farting around.

So question #2 - am i wishing for something that ain't happening -- or in other words, am i screwed? I asked about OpenOffice earlier in this thread, but i'm especially interested in Base. Does any one know about Base in either LO or OO version? If i choose the wrong version will i end up with a database will end up incompatible to everyone else, depending on which way the OOo-LO flap goes?
 

---

Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
Wouldn't you be better off using Endnote for bibliographies ?
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
I have looked at the OpenOffice version of database to open a Micro$oft database and couldn't do it immediately. In theory you can. I haven't had the real need to devote computer fiddle time to that, instead of say the website I maintain, to work out how to use it. Which basically says, it's not that straightforward.

You can immediately open spreadsheets and word documents using OpenOffice
 

---

Posted by malik3000 (# 11437) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Think²:
Wouldn't you be better off using Endnote for bibliographies ?

---

Not really bibliographies. I just meant a type of db that is not the kind that Access 2007 seems geared to. Perhaps "catalogue-like" rather than "bibliographic-like" (i'm starting to get into library/info sciences jargon now)

One of the uses planned is to catalogue/inventory a bunch of stuff, from books to dvds to assorted online documents and files.

And thanks "curiosity killed" for taking fiddle time to check this out!
 

---

Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
Endnote would do that.
 

---

Posted by Mr. Spouse (# 3353) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by malik3000:
I read that Base in its LibreOffice version is almost identical but the LO version requires download an SQL program of some sort. That's the kind of piddling little tech stuff i don't want to have to mess with. I just want a relational dbms with a non-techie-friendly user interface that is ready to use without additional nitpicking and farting around.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by ken:

quote:

---

Originally posted by aj:
And there I was naively thinking that Windows stuff worked out of the box

---

That's why its worth spending an extra 200 quid on a Mac (if you can afford it)

---

Why do you think I'm typing this from my trusty, secondhand c.2008 MacBook Pro?
 

---

Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 
Does anyone know if it is possible to put a password on a specific folder in Windows Explorer? I have a friend coming to stay for a few days, I am happy to let him use my PC for email and the internet etc, but I do have personal stuff in my folders I would rather he didn;t see!
 

---

Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
You might be able to do something by setting up a guest user profile.
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Sparrow,

Windows does not seem to easily allow this without 3rd party software.
If your friend snoops, I would recommend you do this.
Think's suggestion will work if he is not.

[ 23. March 2011, 20:35: Message edited by: lilBuddha ]
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Arrgh,

Firefox 4 has gone to the ribbon interface. Not really that bad in this case.
However, the new install changed some defaults, namely the remember password is set to yes as a default.
 

---

Posted by Mr. Spouse (# 3353) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilBuddha:
Arrgh,

Firefox 4 has gone to the ribbon interface.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mr. Spouse:
I'm using FF4 and it's not that different visually, except for the status bar, and tabs moving to above the address bar, both of which I'm gradually getting used to.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by basso:
Try right-clicking one of the toolbars. I think there's a menu choice there somewhere to move them around.

---

Yes there is. What's weird is I got the button by default on Win7 and the toolbar by default on XP.

Most annoying feature (until I get used to it): "open link in a new tab" is now the top option, not the second one. Which means I keep opening the link in a new window
 

---

Posted by Gracious rebel (# 3523) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilBuddha:
I interpreted the "Firefox Button" as a ribbon interface since similar buttons appear in various programs I use which do have ribbon interfaces. After enabling the menu bar, I see that I was incorrect.
I do not actually have any issues with the concept of ribbons. Some of the implementations, however...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gracious rebel:
Please could you explain (preferably with examples) what you mean by a ribbon interface. Its not a term I have encountered before. Just curious. (And trying to decide whether to install the latest Firefox)

---

In a ribbon interface, what appears to be a menu across the top are actually tabs. When selected, the tabs display contextual choices in a "ribbon" across the top of the program. Here is a bit more of a description.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Choking up valuable real estate on your screen, and putting things you used to know the location of in bizarre and counterintuitive places. Another sign of Microsoft's disdain of their customers.
 

---

Posted by TomOfTarsus (# 3053) on :
 
Sheesh, mousethief, don't EVEN get me started, we'd have to kick this one downstairs!

In my small office, I still doggedly cling to my "Perfect" word processor, if you know what I mean. It does what you want and expect it to do, not what IT wants to!

I'll get my coat...
 

---

Posted by Alisdair (# 15837) on :
 
For those who deplore 'ribbon interfaces' but who nevertheless find the 'traditional' word-processor siren call to endlessly tweak this and adjust that in the vain attempt to arrive at some kind of consistent (and professional), presentation, and who long for a work environment that encourages them to focus on what they want to say instead of how it looks, AND if you are willing to learn something new, may I suggest an exploration of LyX.

WARNING: LyX is merely a visual 'frontend' to the wonders of LaTeX (lah-tek), a typesetting system, and a fairly substantial download, which will automatically be included if you decide to give LyX a go, i.e. broadband connection highly recommended.
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Helpful Firefox 4 tip.

I love tabbed browsing. I will often have several tabs open and, if I am not yet finished with them, leave them active upon closing Firefox. The older versions would ask if I wished to save them. Firefox 4, by default, does not. As I invariably forget what those tabs were, this is an annoyance.This link provides instructions to change the setting, if you so wish.
 

---

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :
 
Thanks, lilBuddha! That's been bugging me.
 

---

Posted by Think² (# 1984) on :
 
I return in the hope someone may have insight into my ongoing java problem. With exactly the same browser set-up (google chrome) and firewalls etc, I can sometimes get into the ship's cafe and sometimes not - it seems to be random whether I succeed or not.
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Firefox 4 tabbed browsing tabs restored after restart: Thanks for the workaround, might try that!

However, the 'restore previous session with all tabs' feature is still there: --> Go to Menu Bar --> History --> Restore Previous Session, et voila.

I found that when FF used to crash with multiple tabs open, it sometimes tried to automatically restore all of these, even though often one of the tabs was why it crashed in the first place, e.g. due to a non-responding script. So in a sense this, although perhaps silly (I loved the multiple tabs restore feature), is not that unreasonable at all. I noticed that you might get caught in a loop with FF restoring the unresponsive tab as well, and you then having to force-close the whole thing again, etc.

I'll still have to play around with the new 'restore previous session' feature, as I think it will restore your entire previous tabs, but also keep the tabs you've just openend in a new session - should be interesting to see if you thus get the best of both tab worlds combined.

I'd now like to see a feature that restores not just all your tabs, but all your FF windows as well. (The new one on the History drop-down menu might do just that, but haven't tried out that aspect yet.) - I like to have several FF windows open on my 24" monitor, which I can place and move around on the screen, so this would be handy.

* * * * *

FF 4 seems to work quite well for me (XP SP3), but what I find annoying is that the Menu Bar buttons for Reload and Home have been moved to the centre and the right, which means that you've got to race all over the screen if you want to access those, and not use a shortcut or rightclick.

Any other experiences with FF 4?
 

---

Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
I haven't tried FF4 yet, but in FF3 you can choose View > Toolbars > Customize, which lets you add or remove items from the toolbar, and also reorder the items already on a toolbar. Just drag them to the correct place.
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Goodness - that's embarrassing - thanks muchly, basso!
 

---

Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
You're welcome. Glad to help.

I don't think you should be embarrassed. The UI on that is a little obscure. It's clear that you can add or remove things, but they don't give you any clue at all that they're also letting you fool around with the existing order.
 

---

Posted by Molopata The Rebel (# 9933) on :
 
I've a hardware question. Ms Molopata spilled coffee on her laptop which stopped working within half a second. (I would have probably done this myself, had it not been that I don't drink coffee. She has unplugged it. Has anyone got advice on how to proceed from here?
 

---

Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
Did the coffee contain milk or sugar? If not you may get away with giving it plenty of time to dry out thoroughly. It will probably be helpful to remove the battery. Whatever you do, don't switch it on while there is still moisture in it. Residue containing milk or sugar may cause problems even when dry. Even so, allowing the computer to dry thoroughly may help.

Once it is fully dry you can attempt to restart it. If that doesn't work then you need to take it to a repairer. You may find that the damage is covered by your household contents (or other) insurance.

It is likely that even if the computer is shot you can recover the contents of the hard disk - indeed that may operate perfectly well, and could be transferred into a standalone enclosure like this.

Good luck!
 

---

Posted by Molopata The Rebel (# 9933) on :
 
Thanks BroJames for the advice. Unfortunately, the coffee had milk in it (no sugar). I guess that will screw it, or is there a way to clean it off before I restart (maybe tomorrow)?
 

---

Posted by monkeylizard (# 952) on :
 
It's probably a goner, but here's what you can try. You don't have much to lose at this point unless you bought some extended warranty plan to cover drops/spills/etc. What I'm about to suggest will likely void the warranty if there is one.

Remove the battery pack.

Get the keyboard out. If you don't know how, find a YouTube video of someone disassembling the same or similar model of laptop as yours. search for terms like "insert laptop make/model here keyboard removal"

Once that's out, you'll see most of the guts of the thing. You'll need to get it clean and dry in every part you can find. Remove protective covers as needed to access all the little areas. Don't forget the little covers on the bottom of the laptop. Those will need to come off too so you can clean.

Use an electronics cleaner on pretty much everything. Disconnect every connector you can find and clean them too. Be careful with those thin ribbon cables. Leave the connections undone so the parts can air dry.

Let the whole thing dry for at least a day. Maybe three. You can assist the process by using a hairdryer on the lowest heat setting.

Put it back together and keep your fingers crossed.

I've had some success bringing them back before. It all depends on what shorted out first.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Meanwhile turn it upside-down over a towel.
 

---

Posted by monkeylizard (# 952) on :
 
If you're not up to the disassembly, try Bro. James suggestion first. Give at least 3 days for drying if you're not going to lift the keyboard out. Sometimes you just get lucky.
 

---

Posted by Molopata The Rebel (# 9933) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by monkeylizard:
If you're not up to the disassembly, try Bro. James suggestion first. Give at least 3 days for drying if you're not going to lift the keyboard out. Sometimes you just get lucky.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
Meanwhile turn it upside-down over a towel.

---

Done!
BTW, how's the Ubuntu?

[typo]

[ 28. March 2011, 14:46: Message edited by: Molopata The Rebel ]
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Doing well, thanks. I will admit however that I'm cheating. For things I just could not get Linux to do, I created a Windows box in VirtualBox, and run it simultaneously.
 

---

Posted by Molopata The Rebel (# 9933) on :
 
Good to hear that it's generally working out!

As it's an Ubuntu machine that we've just victimised, watch this space to see whether pouring milk coffee on the keyboard has any OS-enhancing benefits!

(disassembly now in progress)
 

---

Posted by Pearl B4 Swine (# 11451) on :
 
I've been the recipient (or victim) of free advice about my computer. I am a rank amateur. I have only a desk top set up, with Vista Home Something or other. I use both Firefox and IE, for different things.

These are the things I've been told I should get:

• Google Chrome, latest version
• Comodo internet security (free)
• DivX HIQ adobe flash improver

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pearl B4 Swine:
I've been the recipient (or victim) of free advice about my computer. I am a rank amateur. I have only a desk top set up, with Vista Home Something or other. I use both Firefox and IE, for different things.

These are the things I've been told I should get:

• Google Chrome, latest version
• Comodo internet security (free)
• DivX HIQ adobe flash improver

Any opinions about these?

---

If you don't have an anti-virus firewall thingy then you need one. Comodo is pretty good. There are others. here for Anti-virus and here for firewalls.

With Chrome, not sure, don't personally like it but that is personal preference, it is another webbrowser, there are plenty out there, it does not mean you need to have them all on your machine.

DivX HIO Flash Improver? don't know anything about it.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Pearl B4 Swine (# 11451) on :
 
Thanks, Jengie. Lots of good info there. My friend was saying that his suggestions were better than what I already have, so I'm not unprotected. I just subscribe to the notion that the enemy you already know is best to stick with
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pearl B4 Swine:
I've been the recipient (or victim) of free advice about my computer. I am a rank amateur. I have only a desk top set up, with Vista Home Something or other. I use both Firefox and IE, for different things.

These are the things I've been told I should get:

• [...]
• DivX HIQ adobe flash improver

Any opinions about these?

---

quote:

---

DivX's little freebie add-on is a bit of a marketing play. The download will come with an optional codec pack and a converter tool. But mostly, as Taylor says, "it identifies and links our brand the highest-quality playback possible."

From: cnet.com.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Moo:
I am just about computer-illiterate, and I have a question.

My Canon printer is about seven years old; I like it and it works fine. However, I can't buy ink cartridges for it any more.

I have some empty cartridges that I can have refilled. My question is whether there is any quality difference in the various places that do refills. The place that would be most convenient for me is Walgreens.

Moo

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:
But I'm intrigued that you say you can't get any more new ink cartridges. What Canon model is it?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
Doing well, thanks. I will admit however that I'm cheating. For things I just could not get Linux to do, I created a Windows box in VirtualBox, and run it simultaneously.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by BroJames:
I have a D-Link DSL 2680 router (provided by my ISP) and I'd like to restrict internet access by time for certain devices using the router

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Firenze:
Is there a widget - or any strategies - for boosting the signal on a particular wireless network?

We have a network between our two PCs, which are on the same floor, but in different rooms. Looking in my Network and Sharing Centre, I can see 3 other networks, one of which (downstairs neighbour?) is consistently much stronger than my own.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Firenze:
Is there a widget - or any strategies - for boosting the signal on a particular wireless network?

We have a network between our two PCs, which are on the same floor, but in different rooms. Looking in my Network and Sharing Centre, I can see 3 other networks, one of which (downstairs neighbour?) is consistently much stronger than my own.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hazey*Jane:
How does one go about buying a domain name? There seem to be a plethora of companies - how does one choose? Are they all reliable?

Also, I'm buying it for a friend who is based overseas. They want a '.com' address - are there any issues there? Do some domain companies only issue those to the country of the purchaser?

Sorry if this is dumb but I've never done this before.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by BroJames:
I have a D-Link DSL 2680 router (provided by my ISP) and I'd like to restrict internet access by time for certain devices using the router. The idea is that the teenagers' iPods won't be able to access the internet from it after (say) 10.00 p.m. on weekdays. Is this reasonably do-able? Internal communication with (e.g.) the wireless printer needs to remain available, and other devices using the router should still be able to access the internet.

---

I can't say whether you will be able to restrict certain devices by certain times of day or not - but you should be able to restrict it so that only certain devices can connect at all. That will be called "MAC filtering".

You'll need to set it so that it only allows devices with specific MAC addresses - and then you'll need to find out what all the MAC addresses of each device you want to connect is. This only applies to devices to which you connect by wi-fi; devices which are connected by ethernet are unaffected.

The router configuration options might allow you to set different MAC filtering rules for different times of day - but even if it doesn't, you could run a process on a separate always-on computer that automatically logs into the router configuration and changes it at certain times of day - although I can't pretend I know of any straight-forward ways of doing that. And it won't be much use if it's too easy for teenagers to turn that particular computer off.
 

---

Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
Yes I can use MAC filtering to lock them out altogether, but then they can't access the printer wirelessly either or transfer stuff between computers - both of which are highly desirable. Also there isn't an option to restrict access by time, and we don't have a spare computer which can be run 'always on' to handle this issue.

I think I may need to look at another router.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Okay my questions are always kindergarten level becasuse I haven't a clue what routing the DfAC3 on the MINFRIB deflooGG in PURAS Ver. 9.3 is, but ...

I have a new Acer. The keyboard doesn't seem to have a few things I'm used to ... and somehow the number touchpad to the right has turned itself into a numeric touchpad, when I want it to do things like Page Up and Home ... my old Acer had a "Number Lock" button* ... where the hell do i make the changes on this new one?

*It has the old "SCR Lk", which i've never used, and which I always thought hosts were referring to shipboard when they used to acuse me of 'playing havioc with their Scroll Lock' or sumsuch with my long alligator words ... ... were they?
 

---

Posted by Jessie Phillips (# 13048) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by BroJames:
Yes I can use MAC filtering to lock them out altogether, but then they can't access the printer wirelessly either or transfer stuff between computers - both of which are highly desirable. Also there isn't an option to restrict access by time, and we don't have a spare computer which can be run 'always on' to handle this issue.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
I have a new Acer.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
I wonder if anybody has yet computed the millions upon millions of dollars that were lost in productivity as people who used to know how to use the tools of their jobs -- common software applications -- had to re-learn how to use them, with the advent of Microsoft Office 2007? Things that worked for years suddenly didn't work, and normal functions were hidden in weird places, causing people to spend seconds or even minutes looking for them, when before they would have performed that function in a split second. Multiply those unnecessary minutes by 8 hours a day by millions of workers throughout the English-speaking world (well, and many other-speaking worlds as well). Millions of dollars in lost productivity.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
Zappa

From googling earlier try hitting the fn (function) key and the scroll lock together and see what happens. Also try alt and scroll lock.

Jengie

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
I wonder if anybody has yet computed the millions upon millions of dollars that were lost in productivity as people who used to know how to use the tools of their jobs -- common software applications -- had to re-learn how to use them, with the advent of Microsoft Office 2007? Things that worked for years suddenly didn't work, and normal functions were hidden in weird places, causing people to spend seconds or even minutes looking for them, when before they would have performed that function in a split second. Multiply those unnecessary minutes by 8 hours a day by millions of workers throughout the English-speaking world (well, and many other-speaking worlds as well). Millions of dollars in lost productivity.

Just wondering.

---

I don't know the cost in $, but as someone who'd been comfortably using MS Access for years, i was mega-disspointed that the new version is so different that it's like i have to basically re-learn the whole thing from scratch. I still haven't decided yet (loss of productive time!) -- if i have to learn a whole new system maybe i should just learn Filemaker Pro or Open Office's Base. But how disrespectful of MS to totally disregard the folks who have been faithfully using the Access all these years!

[ 15. April 2011, 21:39: Message edited by: malik3000 ]
 

---

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Kat in the Hat:
Hi,
Any recommendations for software to write web pages on? I'm currently using Notepad (I wanted to understand how to code), but wonder what others use.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by malik3000:
But how disrespectful of MS to totally disregard the folks who have been faithfully using the Access all these years!

---

It is like they think they are Apple or something.
 

---

Posted by PataLeBon (# 5452) on :
 
I have a question about Firefox4 post-infection.

Yea, I got infected . Malwarebytes got it out for me quickly, but I've been dealing with the leftovers ever since.

I thought it had come back a week later, and it had gotten around Malwarebytes and AdAware (the paid version with virus scanner) but apparently AdAware was simply corrupted. The computer shop people told me that my computer was completely clean, and eliminated AdAware and installled AVG. (Whatever, potato, patahto). (Actually, I think they were surprised that they didn't find anything. So was I)

Well, since I got my computer back, I've been having a weird problem with Firefox. The enter key doesn't work. If I type an address into the address bar, hitting enter does nothing. I have to click on the green arrow. History works as expected, favorites works as expected.

Is there some setting that I missed, or do I need to reinstall firefox (as I KNOW that it was a redirect virus that was booted off, therefore it did get into Firefox)?
 

---

Posted by lily pad (# 11456) on :
 
I use Firefox, with cookies disabled, for home use and Explorer for all of my work purposes. Both are usually open on my only computer - a laptop. When I need to book airline tickets or do something secure, I switch to Explorer.

Yesterday they updated the server at work. I use an intranet to get my mail and so on - always on Explorer. I was in for a bit but now I can't go to that website.

What is strange is, that I can go to it in Firefox and work securely without any trouble. I have deleted the history in Explorer but that made no difference.

Any idea what I am missing? It feels so strange to be "at work" in Firefox. Is like wearing pj's to the office!

Thanks!
 

---

Posted by lily pad (# 11456) on :
 
Hmmm....so I noticed a much longer url when signing into my remote workspace on Firefox, copied that to Explorer and it works. Still perplexed, but at least things are where they should be.
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Have you got redirection disabled in IE and not in Firefox perhaps?

What would have happened is that your company would have put up a redirect from the old site to the new one. Firefox then would respond to the redirect but not IE.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by lily pad (# 11456) on :
 
I will try to check. I am using the new url that they gave me though - not the old one.
 

---

Posted by Jessie Phillips (# 13048) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by PataLeBon:
Well, since I got my computer back, I've been having a weird problem with Firefox. The enter key doesn't work. If I type an address into the address bar, hitting enter does nothing. I have to click on the green arrow. History works as expected, favorites works as expected.

Is there some setting that I missed, or do I need to reinstall firefox (as I KNOW that it was a redirect virus that was booted off, therefore it did get into Firefox)?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jessie Phillips:
Please forgive me for asking what might appear to be a screamingly obvious question - but does the enter key do anything at all? In any application?

Just want to rule out the possibility of coffee in the keyboard, you see.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by PataLeBon:
I have a question about Firefox4 post-infection.

Yea, I got infected . Malwarebytes got it out for me quickly, but I've been dealing with the leftovers ever since.

I thought it had come back a week later, and it had gotten around Malwarebytes and AdAware (the paid version with virus scanner) but apparently AdAware was simply corrupted. The computer shop people told me that my computer was completely clean, and eliminated AdAware and installled AVG. (Whatever, potato, patahto). (Actually, I think they were surprised that they didn't find anything. So was I)

Well, since I got my computer back, I've been having a weird problem with Firefox. The enter key doesn't work. If I type an address into the address bar, hitting enter does nothing. I have to click on the green arrow. History works as expected, favorites works as expected.

Is there some setting that I missed, or do I need to reinstall firefox (as I KNOW that it was a redirect virus that was booted off, therefore it did get into Firefox)?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jessie Phillips:


Just want to rule out the possibility of coffee in the keyboard, you see.

---

My enter key didn't work for two years on my last computer (still in use 'cos I haven't worked out how to hook up to my email program on this one) because of this - so i used a plug in roll up plasma keyboard. Particularly critical because at one stage I accidentally asked the computer to take me back to a hard drive password, for which the enter key was essential, at start-up. I forgot the plug-in one time I went away and had a useless laptop to lug around for ten days.

But yeah, I use Firefox, and it doesn't seem to like the enter key. Weird.
 

---

Posted by duchess (# 2764) on :
 
Has anybody gone from the iphone to droid? What was it like? Please advise if you have. thanketh.
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Kat in the Hat:
Hi,
Any recommendations for software to write web pages on? I'm currently using Notepad (I wanted to understand how to code), but wonder what others use.

---

I use Crimson Editor for writing/altering code. I have used web design software, but I always find that I'm going into the bare html in order to get things the way I want them. Some of them tend to write rather peculiar code. Dreamweaver is certainly supposed to be the best - it isn't cheap though.

I use a variety of CMSs, although I generally do a fairly serious edit job on them too.
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Any Shippie got hands-on experience with a DELL Alienware M11x laptop?

I've read lots of reviews and watched quite a few videos, but any more hints, suggestions and observations in terms of practical everyday handling would be welcome. Just in case.

Many thanks.
 

---

Posted by Alisdair (# 15837) on :
 
Re writing web pages, have a look at:

1. Bluefish -- http://bluefish.openoffice.nl/index.html

2. Amaya -- www.w3.org/Amaya

3. Notepad++ -- http://notepad-plus-plus.org/
 

---

Posted by Molopata The Rebel (# 9933) on :
 
Belatedly, I just have to report back on our milkcoffee-ed netbook.

The jury was out on what would happen, but the patient did eventually make a full recovery.
We followed the advice given and opened it up and let it dry for several days. Our neighbour helped and lost most of the screws in the process. Nevertheless, it did boot up, first of all with a good number of system errors. Surprisingly, the operating system, Linux Ubuntu, managed to fix them, and the system is now back to what is was.

I guess this would be moment to install the media player called Kaffeine!

Again thanks to BroJames, monkeylizard and Mousethief for the advice!
 

---

Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
Computer fixes for any operating system.

So true it hurts, indeed.
 

---

Posted by Alisdair (# 15837) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by basso:
Computer fixes for any operating system.

So true it hurts, indeed.

---

 

---

Posted by Alisdair (# 15837) on :
 
This send-up is starting to show its age a bit.

Ten years ago the Linux part was painfully true, even five years ago there were still echoes of the pain, but in my experience the last two or three years haven't required any beard growing unless I've wilfully gone off the beaten track.

Can't speak for the other two though...


 

---

Posted by Alisdair (# 15837) on :
 
PS -- sorry about the double posting; accidently hit the wrong button.


 

---

Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
I know the joke is old, but I still laughed. Recall that I'm a linux user too, so I'm laughing at my own tribe.
 

---

Posted by Alisdair (# 15837) on :
 
Well it made me smile too; I'm sorry I'm just an incorrigible wet blanket!
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Okay, Linux folks, need your help again.

My Ubuntu box (10.04) was printing just fine to a printer on the Windows network, until today. I printed something like 2 days ago. On the 19th I installed a couple of movie editors. Neither did what I wanted and I uninstalled one but not the other. It seems unlikely that that would knock out the connection to the Windows network, but stranger things have happened. Other than that I can't see what I've changed.

Of course going online to the various help fora is less than worthless. Help me, Ship of Fools Kenobis. Y'all are my only hope.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Okay, belay that. It was the print server. Rebooted it a second time and it all of a sudden was happy.
 

---

Posted by birdie (# 2173) on :
 
Help!

We have just got back from our first proper family holiday ever. Loads of photos.

Mr b has successfully uploaded the photos onto the laptop, and then gone to upload to facebook.

On uploading two facebook, none of the photos appeared to be there. On further investigation the folder of photos on the laptop has disappeared. I have searched and searched and puzzled and puzzled as to what has happened, but in vain. Given we're always told that stuff we do on our computers remains even when we think we've deleted it, this is immensely frustrating.

I know I haven't given much technical info here but I don't know what you'd need to know and I'm in a bit of a panic.

Can someone please make a helpful suggestion before I cry?!
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
How about seeing if Recuva will help. It has saved my sanity on at least one occasions.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by birdie (# 2173) on :
 
Ignore me! Ignore me! I found them!

Neither of us have the faintest idea how it happened, but they turned up, in a music file.

I am burning them to a cd as we speak.

I am also doing a dance of joy and relief.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
multi-tasking then, birdie?
 

---

Posted by Molopata The Rebel (# 9933) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by birdie:
Ignore me! Ignore me! I found them!

Neither of us have the faintest idea how it happened, but they turned up, in a music file.

I am burning them to a cd as we speak.

I am also doing a dance of joy and relief.

---

Just when I was going to suggest you take another holiday!
 

---

Posted by Organ Builder (# 12478) on :
 
Are there any Shipmates using CAD/CAM integrated packages?

I've been using Vectorworks for about nine years now. It works quite nicely for what we do, although we've been a bit lax with the updates and I'm still using Vectorworks 11.

We brought on a CNC Router a few years ago, though, and the time has come to see if we can tighten the chain between my designs and pushing the big "Go" button to set the thing in motion. Some of the integrated packages have drawing programs that seem to be just one step above the Etch-a-Sketch with none of the fun that venerable toy would provide. I still need a powerful drawing program, but I'd love it if the toolpaths could be automatically plotted.

Organbuilding doesn't generate the kind of work that justifies $30,000 in software investment, but $1500-3000 would be quite workable. The Rhino package looks promising, but I have no experience using it--does anyone know anything about it? Any other recommendations?
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
*bump*
 

---

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :
 
Several people have mentioned on-line free data storage sites to me. Am I saying that correctly? Are they reliable? Do you have any that you recommend?
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
I'm having trouble with a couple of Windows 7 updates on one of my machines.

The laptop says it's installing them each time it shuts down, and then attempts to configure them each time it starts up, installs 0% after churning away for ages and then reboots. I have tried disabling updates but they still seem to be there...

The same three updates (about a week ago) took a few goes to install on my PC, too, but they seem to have worked now.

Suggestions welcome!
 

---

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
This isn't by any chance the fake "Windows Recovery" programme which is in fact an annoying virus which basically shuts down your computer?

My son had it - we eventually got rid of it by following these instructions. But I can't guarantee them, of course.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
No, this is a legitimate Windows update AFAICS.
 

---

Posted by wilson (# 37) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by jedijudy:
Several people have mentioned on-line free data storage sites to me. Am I saying that correctly? Are they reliable? Do you have any that you recommend?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
I'm having trouble with a couple of Windows 7 updates on one of my machines.

The laptop says it's installing them each time it shuts down, and then attempts to configure them each time it starts up, installs 0% after churning away for ages and then reboots. I have tried disabling updates but they still seem to be there...

The same three updates (about a week ago) took a few goes to install on my PC, too, but they seem to have worked now.

Suggestions welcome!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
I'm having trouble with a couple of Windows 7 updates on one of my machines.

The laptop says it's installing them each time it shuts down, and then attempts to configure them each time it starts up, installs 0% after churning away for ages and then reboots. I have tried disabling updates but they still seem to be there...

The same three updates (about a week ago) took a few goes to install on my PC, too, but they seem to have worked now.

Suggestions welcome!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sparrow:
Since updating to the latest edition of Firefox I find that it no longer asks me on exit whether I want to save my tabs. How can I get this back, it was so useful? It doesn't seem to be under "options" on the Tools menu.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by basso:
You need to do a bit of digging to reach that preference.

Try this link.

b.

---

Thanks, that worked ok.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Okay, help. I've got my old hard drive back in the puter, the one with the dual boot. I need to take the Ubuntu boot off it so it only boots to Windows. An online site said I can put the windows disk in and book to disk, then select "repair". But when I do that it asks for an administrator password. I don't have an administrator password. I never installed an administrator password. I tried all of the passwords I normally use and none of them work. Now what the **** do I do?
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Well okay I'm a little further along. I found a way to boot into safe mode and reset the Administrator password. I go into Repair mode and it says it's downloading a whole bunch of files, then it tells me to reboot. If I reboot to CD, it starts all over again. If I let it run, it reboots into Linux (why didn't it delete the grub?). If I switch to Windows in the crucial .00001 second time window the grub gives me, it freezes the computer.

Where's that damned slide rule? I'm giving up on computers.
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
MT, de-dual-booting Linux/Windows isn't a game I've played, but if you're trying to get Windows to do a brute force "Die, Linux, die!" then investigate "fixboot" and "fixmbr" from within the Recovery Console (available via your Windows boot CD).

You may need to do a Google or /? to get some more detail, but those are the tools one tends to reach for to de-snafu boot sectors that have tossed their cookies for other reasons, so they may well stomp on Grub for you.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Thanks for your help Snags. I ran the two programs you said, and it goes right into windows, so I assume the master boot record is restored. But then it freezes up again. I'm going to try to use the "repair" function on the install menu on the XP disk. We'll see how well THAT works (oy). Thanks again for your help. I'll be back if this doesn't work.
 

---

Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
Does anyone know why a bad HDD (or optical drive) can stop Windows working. It is not the drive where windows is installed. It is in a USB housing. On XP it stops windows until I unplug it. On a vista laptop it turns the display into unreadable garbage and I have to force a reboot with the power button.

I have had cases where a DVD drive caused a computer to go excruciatingly slowly, and rplacing it solved the problem. I have an old laptop where the service technicians said the M/B was R/S but changing the HDD got it working again.

I would have hoped that these failures would just end up with the data not being accessible, but the subsystems seem to be tightly linked.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
I'm baaaack!

Okay I gave up and re-installed XP. Now I can't get it to see my built-in wireless NIC. What do I do?
 

---

Posted by monkeylizard (# 952) on :
 
Install drivers from the card's manufacturer?
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
It's not a card; it's built into the computer.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Okay, I'm going great guns tonight! I found the drivers for my computer and now it's talking to the world. My next problem: installing the video driver. I have the download from hp.com, but when I click on it, all it does is install .NET. It doesn't install any video drivers.
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Very likely the graphics chip, onboard or otherwise, will be made by a third party.
Intel make an onboard chip, ATI as well. HP uses both. If you know which it is, go directly to the manufacturers site.

[ 14. May 2011, 02:52: Message edited by: lilBuddha ]
 

---

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
I have found Belarc Advisor invaluable for identifying hardware, for which you can then find the exact driver on the manufacturer's website. It's also invaluable for identifying software, including serial numbers and license keys. Belarc Advisor is free for non-commercial uses.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Thanks, Miss Amanda; I'll check it out!
 

---

Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 
How can I find out which systems i.e. FAT or NTFS, that my PCs are using? I have a desktop running XP and a laptop using Vista.
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Sparrow, various ways, some of which may only work under one OS or the other:

a) just highlight the disk in My Computer and the file system is in the "Details" (if you have the Task Pane up, rather than Folder List)

b) right-click on the disk and choose "Properties" and the File System will be given on the General tab

c) go to Computer Management (right-click [My] Computer and choose "Manage") then under Storage go to Disk Management and the file system should be listed next to each disk/volume

And a bunch more
 

---

Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :
 
Great, thanks I found it!


 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Anybody here use Notepad++? I want to create a user-defined language, and it's as anti-intuitive as you could possibly wish. And, like all freeware, the online help leaves out exactly the parts that are confusing, and the geekosphere help pages presuppose so much knowledge they can't possibly be of any use to anybody who doesn't already know how to do it.

Anybody here can help?
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Okay I gave up on Notepad++.

Here's my problem: I have a intermittent problem that causes Windows Explorer to crash. I was able to get rid of it on my w7 box by removing a "new" version of vbox and rolling back Java (I don't know which of them caused it but they both happened at roughly the same time, after which the problem started -- at least in this incarnation).

Now the same problem is happening in my virtual XP machine inside VirtualBox. That's too weird.

I beat up the interwebs but the only threads I could find were where somebody tried something I've already tried and it magically worked.

Thots?
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Just got my new Alienware M11x lappie.

Looking good. Will report back later.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Nobody knows what causes Windows Explorer to crash?
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
Nobody knows what causes Windows Explorer to crash?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilBuddha:

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
Nobody knows what causes Windows Explorer to crash?

---

Running it?

I use Firefox and Chrome, primarily. I do not run IE long enough for it to fail.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilBuddha:
(Slaps Forehead)
Sorry. Yes, it does occasionally crash. Not enough to be as serious problem. I often put heavy demands on my systems, so I attribute the crashes to this.

---

For a while there it was crashing every time I tried to open a folder, or even tried to type in that type-in box in the Start menu. I think it was a Java update; I uninstalled and reinstalled Java, and now it works fine. I was afraid I was going to have to reinstall Win7. THAT would be no fun.
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Anyone know why IGoogle on two machines has stopped showing the gadgets. These are both on my home network. It happened either late last night or today. I am using Firefox 4. It is not a problem on Internet explorer nor on work machine which is Firefox 3.

Any ideas?

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Ann (# 94) on :
 
Are you using NoScript or similar - you have to allow gmodules as well as google. Every so often, I find NoScript has forgotten bits of my whitelist and I have to re-enable. Any help?
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
solved it.

It is an interaction between Avast Webreports, Igoogle and Firefox



Jengie
 

---

Posted by Jahlove (# 10290) on :
 
as a very occasional reader of this thread, may I say that I am just left mouth wide open at the incredible amount of *ishoos* people have using windows-based applications. This kind of stuff just never even occurs with macs - what is it that ppl keep on buying microsoft even tho' there are clearly massive problems?
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Jahlove, does so occur with Macs, says someone who works with environments that have both
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
And plenty of people have no problems at all with Windows.
 

---

Posted by Alisdair (# 15837) on :
 
Jahlove, is that a troll in your pocket or are you just pleased to see us?

Some people have problems with Windows/OSX/Linux because, so help them, they insist on fiddling around, sometimes with settings, etc. they know little or nothing about. That's not a criticism, it's often how we actually learn stuff---as well as breaking it!

Other times there are problems because the software involved is a bit crap, either because it is still very much a work in progress (quite common with open source projects), and sometimes because the distributors actually don't care very much about their product/customers, just so long as the money keeps rolling in (quite common with proprietary software).

I'm afraid your comment about the reliability of Mac computers is most likely just a product of your particular experience. Macs certainly a have a good reputation for 'usability', but in general I think you will find that every system has it's own particular weaknesses and that the more inclined you are to poke around or be demanding of your system the more likely you are to encounter those weaknesses.

Plus, some people really do not have a clue what they are doing beyond turning the machine on and off, so for them everything is a challenge and an experience of frustration, no matter what system they are using.
 

---

Posted by Jahlove (# 10290) on :
 
don't be quite so fucking stupid, Alisdair
 

---

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :
 
Lightsaber lit

Alisdair and Jahlove, knock it off.

This is Heaven. We do not make comments implying trolling or call Shipmates stupid here.

If you have a problem with each other, take it to Hell.

Lightsaber powered down
jedijudy
Heaven Host
 

---

Posted by Jahlove (# 10290) on :
 
yes'm, sorry ma'am
 

---

Posted by Alisdair (# 15837) on :
 
I apologise for using the 't' word.
 

---

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :
 
Thank you! Apologies accepted.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled Geekiness.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Can one of you Geeky types please develop a thought interface in the next week? Thanks.

If I want to do one thing but tell the computer to do another it does what I tell it and not what I want and THIS JUST WON'T DO!!!! I need a PC that does what I want instinctively.
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Welease Wodderwick

Before we can do that you need to become completely and utterly logical. Otherwise the interface will be as annoying as a Microsoft spellchecker. However thought controlled computers are not as far away as people think.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
Welease Wodderwick

Before we can do that you need to become completely and utterly logical...

Jengie

---

I'm a man, of course I'm completely and utterly logical.



Oh well, perhaps not, then.
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
What do you know about RapportService.exe?

My connection is currently running like wet cement, and looking in Task Manager, I see this process running near the top of the list. I can't stop it though - access denied.

I feel there must be something running which is slowing/crashing the net. Have AGV and Zone Alarm for security.
 

---

Posted by Drifting Star (# 12799) on :
 
I think Rapportservice is something to do with banking - security software from your bank - so you probably don't want to get rid of it.

It shouldn't take up a lot of your CPU, so if it is it's probably worth uninstalling and re-installing it. There's some information from the people that distribute it here. They have free support so they should be able to help you sort it necessary.

I've no idea whether they're at all helpful though!
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie Jon:
thought controlled computers are not as far away as people think.

---

Ah, Hal we love you so. And then there was the Paper Man...
 

---

Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
Just made myself a little geekier by replacing the video connection cable from the M/B to the LCD and inverter for this Toshiba Satellite laptop. Still have a few screws leftover so will have to check the re-assembly. The screen bezel had to be literally squeezed for it to work, and it still kept going white. Don't have to do that anymore. It also seems to have increased the battery life.

When XP crashed on my desktop and the backup image also failed I replaced it with a PC Tech mag version of Ubuntu 10.10 called Peppermint Ice. It is working well, software installations are easy, but I still have to work out how to print to my printer which is attached to my NAS. It boots up in 10 secs and shuts down in 5, much faster than XP did.
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Still getting intermittent probs with the computer. I've run virus checks, and diagnostics and found nothing. The connection fluctuates, drops, resumes, shows as 3 or even 4 bars, but nevertheless runs like porridge. And the mouse movements become erratic and difficult to control - usually better if switching to a non net app, like a game. But if it's really bad, that can start to hang and malfunction as well.

Does anyone recognise the symptoms? Could there be some external source of interference going on, and what is it likely to be?
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Firenze

Is Microsoft trying to download an update? I have an old machine at work and it becomes very slow when that is happening. Unfortunately my method for finding this out was ethnographic. I noted what happened around it running slow and found that often shortly afterwards I was asked to install an update. I am sure there must be a smarter way to find this out.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
It's only been happening recently - while I presume the rate of MS updates is pretty constant, so why should it have become a problem suddenly?

Also, it's not an old PC - less than 2 years.

At the moment, there's a sub-problem of trying to get rid of AGV anti-virus (I decided to buy into Zone Alarm for both that and firewall). You uninstall, but it still hangs around (now, of course, un-uninstallable). However, I have got another programme which should deal with that when I have time to figure out how to run it.

Touch wood, the connectivity is stable at the moment.
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Firenze:
Does anyone recognise the symptoms? Could there be some external source of interference going on, and what is it likely to be?

---

If RapportService.exe is truly a protection service, perhaps it is conflicting with your ant-virus? Security softwares often do not play nicely together.
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
They got on ok in the past - both Zone Alarm and AGV have been on the PC since I got it. Ditto the bank security stuff.

The problem seems much worse in the evening, which makes me wonder about an external source.

I have a signal booster in a box which I must get out and install and see if that makes a difference - though, as I say, the connection is falling over even when the signal strength is quite respectable. Or the connection is up, but nevertheless the browser can load the page.
 

---

Posted by Mr. Spouse (# 3353) on :
 
If you want to get rid of AVG Anti Virus completely, download the relevant tool from here to your PC. If you have Vista or Windows 7 make sure you right-click the file and 'Run as Administrator' or it won't work fully.

From what I understand of Rapport it intercepts web communications to 'trusted websites'. You probably won't notice anything odd on a bank site, but it's been know to mess around with other sites too.
 

---

Posted by AristonAstuanax (# 10894) on :
 
*gloatgloatgloatgloat*
I'vegotanewmac! I'vegotanewmac!
After seven years of faithful service (and many, many adventures), Dante the PowerBook G4 was getting a tad long in the tooth—though he'll still be of help, since I could never put him out to pasture, this here is the inaugural forum post of Petrarch the 15" MacBook Pro.
Oh Yeah.

 

---

Posted by Latchkey Kid (# 12444) on :
 
Firenze,

Sounds like it's time to revert to a cleaner version of your installation if possible, or re-install from scratch. Going back a few restore points sometimes can do it.
 

---

Posted by Pearl B4 Swine (# 11451) on :
 
Windows mail problem: this opens my latest piece of mail automatically, which I do not like ! This morning, one of those Nigerian I-want-to-send-you-your-multimillion-dollar-fortune messages was there, already opened, when I asked for my email. How do I prevent this from happening? I want to see the subject & sender BEFORE I open anything.
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Pearl, you need to turn off the Preview Pane. I don't have a copy of Windows Mail in front of me, but a wild guess would be something like View > Layout.
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Pearls,

You need to turn off the preview pane. In Outlook 2010 it is under the view tab. Click change view, the preview.

AA, When one has sold ones soul, one shouldn't gloat.
 

---

Posted by Pearl B4 Swine (# 11451) on :
 
Snags, your wild guess was pretty good! I'll find out, next new email I get. Thanks very much. PB4S
 

---

Posted by Anchorman (# 16469) on :
 
I'm visually impaired ( Running DolphinGuide on Windows 7, if anyone's interested.)
I've heard various reports about the Ipad as a tool, some VI people say its' the best thing since Noah invented marine sanitation; others say that it shouldn't be touched with a ten-foot bargepole. Anyone know a Vi user...or give advice before I introduce the moths in my wallet to the concept of anorexia? Imcidentaly, when my screenreader encounters an FAQ section, the vocal announcement is not suitable for this forum..
 

---

Posted by Trudy Scrumptious (# 5647) on :
 
Can anyone help me?

I have a Canon MP170 printer/scanner which is connected to my computer and has always worked just fine. In the last few days, the printer still works, but the scanner refuses to scan (the computer says it can't communicate with the scanner, and that the scanner must be turned off or the cable unplugged). Is there anything really obvious (yes, the scanner is turned on) that could have accidentally gotten changed to make the scanner stop working?
 

---

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Trudy Scrumptious:
Is there anything really obvious (yes, the scanner is turned on) that could have accidentally gotten changed to make the scanner stop working?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Anchorman:
when my screenreader encounters an FAQ section, the vocal announcement is not suitable for this forum..

---

(coffee over keyboard moment)
 

---

Posted by Doc Tor (# 9748) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chapelhead:
I'm trying to set up a PC running Windows XP, which was previusly in use in our Malaysia office. The PC is using Chinese as the its language for all the buttons etc. With the aid of a Chinese member of staff, I've gone into 'Regional and langauage options' in the control panel and changed the language to 'English', and then restarted, but it seems to have no effect.

Every web-site I've looked at seems to say that the language can be changed in 'Regional and langauage options' in the control panel, but in this case this doesn't seem to have worked.

Any ideas?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
I'd rather buy a new battery than a new computer.

---

The battery should be pretty easy to change. It's probably one of the flat silver disk kind, like you'd find in watches, some cameras, etc. I have seen a few that use the cylinder batteries. They look like mini AA batteries. Either way, find it, replace it, and off you go. Be sure to unplug the PC before removing the cover, for safety.

[ 24. June 2011, 16:32: Message edited by: monkeylizard ]
 

---

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :
 
Thanks, monkeylizard!
 

---

Posted by monkeylizard (# 952) on :
 
If you haven't found it already, I should have specified that you'll find it on the motherboard. Here are some instructions for the different kinds of batteries that you could find. (Hope it's a coin-style).

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Replacing-the-Motherboard-Battery/81/1
 

---

Posted by Josephine (# 3899) on :
 
I need a workstation setup that isn't going to hurt my back, shoulders, or wrists. I've currently got a Microsoft split keyboard, but the number keypad, arrow keys, etc., to the right of the main keyboard put my mouse so far to the right that my right shoulder aches.

I'm not sure that I really need a split keyboard. When I put my hands in a neutral position, my elbows are too far to the side. Or if I do, I need one with a deeper curve -- one where the middle is even higher than it is on this one.

I'm wondering if a left-handed keyboard would be better -- move the number keypad (which I use rarely) to the left, so the mouse can be closer. Or maybe a keyboard with an integrated touchpad. I like the way that works on my laptop, but the reviews I can find for the keyboards set up that way suggest they're not very well made -- they seem to be for occasional use, for your home theater system, not for using at work 8+ hours a day.

Any suggestions, btdt, cautions?

Thanks!
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Josephine, I expect you've already gone through all this, but you need to look at the whole 'package' of how you sit at your pooter.

So seat height to give you (roughly) right-angles at elbow, hip and knee. Good lumbar support so you sit straight, not slouched. Height-adjustable monitor set so that you're natural 'at rest/straight on' view is cutting across about 1/3 of the way down from the top. Body straight on to the screen, so screen/keyboard/chair all in line.

Then you get to the actual keyboard and mouse

It's possible to get compact keyboards that don't have number pads, as well as keyboards with integrated trackballs. I'm guessing that you use the mouse mostly for menus etc. in which case learning the keyboard shortcuts will save you a lot of arm/shoulder movement.

There's currently a trend for very flat keyboards, which I find extremely uncomfortable for extended use, so you'll probably want to avoid those. There are various specialist makes, but Cherry do a wide range of generally reasonable quality without getting into silly money.

Final thought - could you mouse with your left hand? As a leftie, I do, and that keeps the mouse (potentially) very close to the edge of the keyboard without the hassle of finding an actual left-handed keyboard (which would drive me mad, but that's me).

In theory you should also have a break; sit back, stand up, move/stretch every 15/20 minutes or so, although we all know how likely that is when one's in the zone/under the cosh!

Apologies if all of that is an exercise in egg-sucking; it's a bit of a brain dump in case it's helpful.
 

---

Posted by Josephine (# 3899) on :
 
Thanks, Snags. I've got everything sorted except the keyboard/mouse. And, unfortunately, I have to do a lot of mousing. The software I use at work is not particularly user-friendly, and it has few keyboard shortcuts. So I'm always going back and forth from the keyboard to the mouse to the keyboard ....

But I'm sure there are keyboard shortcuts I'm not using. I'll spend some time today investigating that. The more I can keep my hands on the keyboard, the less my shoulder is going to ache.

I looked at the Cherry website; one of their keyboards might be a good solution, too.

Thanks.
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Could you get them to give you a touch screen?
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Okay here's the deal. I have three USB devices and one SD card that I regularly plug and unplug into my computer. Each time I do, it's a crap shoot as to what drive letter it will get. Which is hyperobnoxious, as my backup software is (of course) keyed to store to a certain directory on a certain drive. Which means I have to go into disk management and reassign the drive letter to the stupid USB device.

Who can rescue me from this body of death?

I want the danged disk management to always assign the same drive letters to the same devices no matter which is plugged in, or not, or in what order.

Is this doable?

I read a thing online about USBDLM but can't make heads or tails out of how to use it or if it will give me what I want.
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
The SD card - get an internal card reader, then the 'drive' is always present.

USB - format as NTFS from Storage Management and assign a drive letter as part of the format. This isn't 100% guaranteed, but is fairly reliable.

I'm assuming Windows here, of course.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Josephine:
Any suggestions, btdt, cautions?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Snags:
The SD card - get an internal card reader, then the 'drive' is always present.

USB - format as NTFS from Storage Management and assign a drive letter as part of the format. This isn't 100% guaranteed, but is fairly reliable.

I'm assuming Windows here, of course.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
The 'drive' may always be present for the SD card, but it doesn't always get the same letter when I plug it in.

Do the drive letters inhere in the format? I suppose it's worth a try, except for the fact that we're talking about a 2TB backup drive. I don't have anywhere else to put all that stuff while formatting.

---

This looks pretty straightforward.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Thanks basso. I had done that for the thumb drive, but not for the other drives. I was dismayed when the SD card took over the thumb drive's letters. But maybe if I assign a specific letter for the SD card it won't try to homestead on any other device's letter.

The whole drive letter thing is inane. Linux does the peripheral storage devices thing much better.
 

---

Posted by Anchorman (# 16469) on :
 
Well, this screenreader has a choice of five voices, none of which sounds like Stephen Hawking.
None of them cope too well when reading Scots; not only does my spell check need therapy, but the readers seem to develop deafness.

As to "FAQ", about the most polite way of putting this is that it sounds like Father Jack's number one comment in Father Ted.

I'm still open to opinions as to the viability of the Ipad for someone in my situation.
( visually impaired and incurably daft )
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 

quote:

---

The 'drive' may always be present for the SD card, but it doesn't always get the same letter when I plug it in.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Josephine:
I need a workstation setup that isn't going to hurt my back, shoulders, or wrists. I've currently got a Microsoft split keyboard, but the number keypad, arrow keys, etc., to the right of the main keyboard put my mouse so far to the right that my right shoulder aches.

I'm not sure that I really need a split keyboard. When I put my hands in a neutral position, my elbows are too far to the side. Or if I do, I need one with a deeper curve -- one where the middle is even higher than it is on this one.

I'm wondering if a left-handed keyboard would be better -- move the number keypad (which I use rarely) to the left, so the mouse can be closer. Or maybe a keyboard with an integrated touchpad. I like the way that works on my laptop, but the reviews I can find for the keyboards set up that way suggest they're not very well made -- they seem to be for occasional use, for your home theater system, not for using at work 8+ hours a day.

Any suggestions, btdt, cautions?

Thanks!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Snags:
Not a recommendation for a specific make/model, but you're basically going to have two options, I suspect:

a) cheapo - a 'portable' document scanner that's just a bar, and passes the paper through it, rather than being a flatbed

b) posher - a flatbed with an Automatic Document Feeder; Google "scanner ADF" and go with your favourite prejudice

---

Thanks for the pointers!
 

---

Posted by monkeylizard (# 952) on :
 
Euty, I've had some pretty good luck with Fujitsu desktop scanners.

Something like this:

http://www.fujitsu.com/us/services/computing/peripherals/scanners/scansnap/scansnap-s1500.html

They have more deluxe models with additional features. They're about the size of a small fax machine.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Thanks a lot. Ouch about the price, but I may just spring for it.

I have a software question now.

I use the Thunderbird client for e-mail; outgoing mail sometimes lands up in the recpient's inbox (in Gmail for instance) in a tiny font. The issue is definitely with Thunderbird. I've tried fiddling with the advanced font settings in Thunderbird but haven't managed to make a difference so far.

Suggestions, anyone?
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Found it. Account settings > Composition and addressing > uncheck "Compose Messages in HTML format"


 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
In other news, my ISP, in its infinite wisdom, has just decided to "upgrade" its webmail so that it's no longer possible to automatically forward incoming e-mails to another address in the filters.

I'd been using the webmail filters to switch on and off e-mail to be sent to my blackberry when I'm away from my PC. Now, there's no obvious way to do this

Does anyone have any suggestions, short of ceasing to use this e-mail account?

[ 13. July 2011, 21:10: Message edited by: Eutychus ]
 

---

Posted by Gracious rebel (# 3523) on :
 
I don't use a blackberry, so there may be some hardware-specific aspect of this that I am missing, but it sounds similar to what I do with my laptop. When I access email via my laptop, I have the client set up to leave the messages on the server. This way I can respond to them if necessary from the laptop, but they will still be there to download to my desktop next time I'm back 'home'. You don't need a separate email address to forward them to for this scenario to work.

But I've just realised you specifically mentioned webmail... so maybe I have got the wrong end of the stick.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Yes, Gracious Rebel, I leave my messages on my server (webmail) as well as on my client (Thunderbird) on my PC.

What I want my webmail to do is forward some e-mail some of the time (when I ask it to) to my Blackberry. Hitherto, that was easily done by concocting a suitable webmail filter, because one of the things you could instruct it to do with filtered mail was forward it to address xyz. So it was just a matter of setting up a specific account for my smartphone and switching the filter on to forward mail there when I left my PC, and off when I got back.

Now, however, this 'forward' option has gone

For now I've set up a Gmail account to pull everything from my ISP webmail. Gmail has 'forward to' as one of the options for filtered mail, but the other filter conditions aren't nearly so good, the filters aren't so easy to switch on and off and this seems a very Heath Robinson way of dealing with the problem.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Has Google changed, or have I inadvertently changed a setting?

Whenever I google, (e.g. GECCO) instead of getting a list of hits, I'm getting a message saying "Showing results for gecko" "Search instead for GECCO" and I have to click on the second. Virtually everything I'm googling at the moment initially comes up with something else first. I'm shouting at the computer "If I wanted to search for "gecko", I'd have typed "gecko!"

Virtually nothing I google is going straight to the thing I actually want, everything has this intermediate step first, offering some bizarre alternative. It's quite slow, too.
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
NEQ, yes it's changed to automatically 'correcting' perceived mistakes, rather than giving the "Did you mean ... ?" link that it used to.

Lots of bitching about it, but I've not found anyone pointing to a way to tell it to keep its bright ideas to itself yet.
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Actually, apparently there is a way, if you're using Firefox. I haven't tested it, but a few entries down on this thread there's a post from "TheSOB88" which details how to get FF to append a parameter to all your search strings that should stop them being auto-corrected.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Thanks, Snags. It's very annoying.It's got some bizarre ideas as to what I ought to be searching for. (E,g, wee lizards instead of computing conferences.)

Out of curiosity I googled "Ship of Fools" and it went to Showing results for "Ship of Fools lyrics" Search instead for Ship of Fools.

I'm a bit concerned that it might actually manage to "hide" sites I do want.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Do you have Google Instant enabled?

I've disabled this feature and am not finding the results you are. I only get alternative suggestions when putting in multiple misspelled words or strange proper nouns.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
In the last two days Firefox has suddenly taken to shutting down with no warning. It has done so maybe 5 times in the last 36 hours. Is this a known bug? Does anybody else have this problem?

I'm running Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2.8) Gecko/20100722 Firefox/3.6.8

Whatever that means. On Win 7. There no longer seems to be an "About" option in Windows so I can't tell you what update version I'm at.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
As an experiment I downloaded Google Chrome and am working with that. One of the things I liked about Firefox was an add-on that allowed me to mark links as visited without actually visiting them. Is there any such thing for Chrome?
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Right click on the executable and you should see a number like this: 5.0.0.4183 Version with incremental updates. I am running the latest for Windows 7 and have no such issue.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
I'm upgrading to 4.0. Hopefully that will do it.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Thanks, Snags and Eutychus, it's now fixed. But not before a search for someone called Peter Eight-letter-surname-not-beginning-with-A resulted in "Showing results for Pete Andre" which had me weeping into my keyboard.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Care to say how? Google, used in an unorthodox way, is actually a fairly critcial worktool for me; if this ever started happening in a way I couldn't unfix, it would be bad news.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
I got a teenage boy to look at it. He rolled his eyes a lot, muttered about "Google Instant" asked for chocolate and by the time I'd produced the chocolate - lo! it was sorted.

But, apart from the fact that the problem was caused by Google Instant, I don't know. Teenage boy said that the slowness was caused by two things running together? As soon as he'd sorted it, it stopped being slow.

It was bad news, because most of my searches are for obscure topics. Having them auto-corrected to "popular" searches for e.g. Pete Andre was frustrating. Another search-gone-wrong was for a place called Tuach, site of a couple of archaeological digs. Google kept autocorrecting this to "touch" and threw up some very iffy-sounding sites!
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
I have just got an iPad2, with which I am thoroughly taken. However, it can be quite hard finding out from the documentation how to do quite basic things. E.g. How do copy and paste - if you can - a URL?
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
NEQ, I'm glad I at least got the diagnosis right for the Google part.

I turned off Google instant the moment it arrived for very similar reasons to you. As a translator dealing with a wide range of topics, Google is so confused as to what I am on the grounds of my searches that I usually get lots of ads for private detective agencies...
 

---

Posted by rufiki (# 11165) on :
 
My (free, web-based) email company wants to upgrade everyone to a new system which scans all incoming and outgoing email to provide targeted advertising. I am uncomfortable with this, so am considering moving my email elsewhere. I think I can set up an email account with my ISP, but would prefer something independent, so that I wouldn't have to move my email again if I find a better broadband deal.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I just want email. I don't need fancy networking tools or other bells and whistles. Oh, and I'm no longer a penniless student so it doesn't necessarily need to be a free service this time.

Cheers,

rufiki (UK)
 

---

Posted by TonyK (# 35) on :
 
rufiki - consider gmx.co.uk

I've used them for some months and have had no problems. It's free! I use Outlook Express to read my emails, but they also offer a pretty good webmail service.
 

---

Posted by Alfred E. Neuman (# 6855) on :
 
zoho.com is also a good email service - caters to businesses but has free personal accounts.

Does anyone know of a simple online dictionary besides dictionary.com? They've turned into a slow, pop-up laden spam zone and I'm tired of it. Help!
 

---

Posted by basso (# 4228) on :
 
Here's a guide to text editors, comparing several of them to locations in Tolkien.

No serious content at all, I'm afraid.

b. (why, yes, I am a vi user. why do you ask?)
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alfred E. Neuman:
zoho.com is also a good email service - caters to businesses but has free personal accounts.

Does anyone know of a simple online dictionary besides dictionary.com? They've turned into a slow, pop-up laden spam zone and I'm tired of it. Help!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Firenze:
I have just got an iPad2, with which I am thoroughly taken. However, it can be quite hard finding out from the documentation how to do quite basic things. E.g. How do copy and paste - if you can - a URL?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by rufiki:
I think I can set up an email account with my ISP, but would prefer something independent, so that I wouldn't have to move my email again if I find a better broadband deal.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I just want email.

rufiki (UK)

---

I don't know if you've already made your decision, but I've just set up an "e-mail and apps" account with Rackspace (www.rackspace.co.uk). You need to buy your own domain (from someone else again), it takes a while to set up, and costs £9 a month for 5 addresses, but their support is (so far) brilliant - 24/7 phone or online chat and people that actually want to help you. PM me if you need more details.
 

---

Posted by rufiki (# 11165) on :
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't made a decision yet and will look into them.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Just to highlight the point, if your aim is to be independent and be able to change providers, you really need to make sure that you buy a domain (eg rufiki.co.uk) from somebody different from your e-mail hosting company - a lot of domain services sell e-mail hosting too, but you wonder what happens if you want to go somewhere else for your hosting some day in the future.

If you keep the two separate, you can change your hosting company without any problems with your domain: you just get this to point somewhere different. This took me a while to learn how to do, but now I know how and Rackspace really were helpful with the process even though the domain end wasn't theirs.

[ 03. August 2011, 08:01: Message edited by: Eutychus ]
 

---

Posted by Celtic Knotweed (# 13008) on :
 
I have a request for help here.

On Wednesday night my computer went down with System Repair malware. I restored from Sunday's backup, then last night I ran Spybot, which has AFAIK got rid of the damn thing. There are still a couple of things a bit odd though.

First, there was still a folder in my Programs folder called 'System Repair'. It, and the shortcut that had put itself on the desktop, are currently in the Recycle Bin. Do I delete?

Second, there are little database files about the place, some claim to have been created well before anything went wrong. The one on the desktop is called 'thumbs'. Anyone know what these are?

Third, and worst, I tried to run Windows Update last night and the Microsoft site informed me that the administrator of my machine had disabled the update facility for that account. That account is the only one with admin rights. How do I sort that out?

Computer is running XP Pro, with AVG Free version and Spybot as the anti-virus etc progs.

On a slightly different note, can anyone recommend a good firewall? Freeware preferred, but willing to pay if have to.
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Thumbs should be harmless.
As to the updates, that control should be under the control panel.
 

---

Posted by Celtic Knotweed (# 13008) on :
 
The controls for updates are in the control panel, and don't appear to be set any differently to how they were last week. The problem is that no matter how I try to run Windows Update, the site gives me the message "To install updates from this website, you must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group on your computer.". My account on this machine is the only administrator account, and I'm in it! That's the problem...

Edit - sorry, above sounds a bit snappish now I re-read it. Are there any other bits of the control panel I should be looking at?

[ 05. August 2011, 17:46: Message edited by: Celtic Knotweed ]
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
After clearing the malware, did you go back to a restore point prior to the infection? Some stuff messes with Windows Update and permissions.

Also, try using "net localgroup" to query your security groups and memberships, just in case the account isn't quite as mighty as it used to be.
 

---

Posted by Celtic Knotweed (# 13008) on :
 
Hadn't thought of going back via restore point... and after trying to, it appears that the oldest restore point on here is now the one created about the same time, give or take 10 seconds, that Spybot removed the malware. That's interesting, and annoying.

Just checked with "net localgroup", and according to that my user ID is in the Administrators group, as is the ID "Administrator", which is described in system tools as "the built-in account for administrating the computer/domain". That doesn't show up as a possible account to log into, unfortunately.

If I could get hold of the person who wrote the malware.
 

---

Posted by Celtic Knotweed (# 13008) on :
 
Had a bright idea later on last night, which appears to have worked. Windows Update still seems to work via the Automatic Update options. That'll do for now.

Many thanks for the helpful tips - got my brain back out of *panic* and thinking about the problem.
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
With XP Pro the default Administrator account is available in Safe Mode, or via the Ctrl+Alt+Del style log on, but not via the Welcome screen.

On some (all?) versions of Pro, if you Ctrl+Alt+Del at the Welcome screen you get the old style login prompt where you can log on as the main Administrator.

It's good practice to set a password on this account, although chances are yours has been left on the default of no password.
 

---

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
I have just heard about this sleuth software on the radio - sounds amazing.

Does anyone here use it?

Prey
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Does anybody use a program that "reads" text out loud? The voice built into MS Word is dreadful. Free- or cheapware would be ideal.
 

---

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
I need advice on buying a wireless router. Ours is dying the death and we're going to have to knuckle down and replace it. But the alphanumeribet soup of all the specs has my eyes bleeding.

Can I get a cheap-and-easy primer of what to look for, what the numbers mean, and all that?
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boogie:
I have just heard about this sleuth software on the radio - sounds amazing.

Does anyone here use it?

Prey

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mousethief:
I need advice on buying a wireless router. Ours is dying the death and we're going to have to knuckle down and replace it. But the alphanumeribet soup of all the specs has my eyes bleeding.

Can I get a cheap-and-easy primer of what to look for, what the numbers mean, and all that?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Drifting Star:
Word recognises ^p as representing the carriage return symbol, so you can use that to find and replace them with a space or whatever works for you.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Emma Louise:
I had kapersky provided by the university when I was studying but it is about to run out of license.

Is there anything cheap/free I can use instead? Thanks.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
Or Wordstar!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Niteowl2:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zappa:
Or Wordstar!

---

Does that bring back memories.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Kat in the Hat:
When I need to get rid of extra paragraph marks I tend to do it in stages, especially if it is a long document. I assume they have used double paragraph marks to start new paragraphs, so first I replace all double paragraphs (^p^p) with obscure characters (usualy XX). Then I replace the single paragraph mark with a space. Finally I replace the XX with the paragraph mark.
(I may also need to replace a double space with a single one!)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Emma Louise:
I had kapersky provided by the university when I was studying but it is about to run out of license.

Is there anything cheap/free I can use instead? Thanks.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Kat in the Hat:
When I need to get rid of extra paragraph marks I tend to do it in stages, especially if it is a long document. I assume they have used double paragraph marks to start new paragraphs, so first I replace all double paragraphs (^p^p) with obscure characters (usualy XX). Then I replace the single paragraph mark with a space. Finally I replace the XX with the paragraph mark.
(I may also need to replace a double space with a single one!)

---

Yes, that was what I worked out I needed to do today! Using a hash mark in place of a double paragraph.
 

---

Posted by Emma Louise (# 3571) on :
 
Thankyou - have a few days left of Kapersky then I will download Avast

ANother 2 questions....

* I have a "stickies" programme where I click and get a yellow post it not on my computer. Just this week the top of 2 of the post its seem to have gone "above" the screen of my computer and I can't move them/delete them etc as the bar with that on it is at the top and its offscreen. Any idea how to get it back?

* I have a document on my computer in word and every time I open it/shut it it tells me that changes have been made to "normal" and do I want to save changes to "normal". I go through a palava of clicking no each time. Any idea what I have done and can I undo it so it doesn't want to change normal? (If that makes any sense to anyone!)

Thankyou clever techy people
 

---

Posted by Emma Louise (# 3571) on :
 
Oooh solved the stickies one! I right clicked on the icon at the bottom and one of the options was to "rescue offscreen". Excellent
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
There is a macro in your Word document which alters the "normal.dot" template.

When you close Word after that happens, it's configured to prompt you to confirm you want to save changes to it. You can remove this option, but it's not a good idea because evil macros can then fiddle with your normal.dot template and infect all the new documents you create.

If the document is not complex in terms of formatting, you could try any of the following:

1. open the document, press ctrl + A, open a new document, press ctrl + V, and try saving the new document

2. try saving the document in RTF format (an option when you click "save as"), close it, open the new RTF document (which has an .rtf not a .doc extension) and then save it as a Word document again

3. if the above fail, press ctrl + A as in 1 above but paste the result into notepad, save as a text file (.txt), create a new Word document and paste the contents of the text file into the new Word one (this loses all the formatting but will also get rid of whatever is trying to change normal.dot).
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Now for a question of my own.

I'm running Windows 7. One of the great features compared to XP is a search function which saves all that tedious mucking around in Google Desktop Search.

But here's the thing: I've found a document it doesn't find. To all intents and purposes a perfectly innocent Word document, which is there, works fine, hasn't been moved lately, etc. but is invisible to the search feature.

Does anyone have any idea why that might be?

[ETA as a curious and helpful aside, it's possible if you act fast enough to use this feature to rescue documents - at least in Word - you have inadvertsntly overwritten, if you can remember a piece of text from the old document]

[ 25. August 2011, 11:52: Message edited by: Eutychus ]
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Is it possible to "subscribe" to a blog on blogspot.com and have it send emails? I don't have a blogfeed and if I did I'd forget to use it.
 

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Posted by Chelley (# 11322) on :
 
A question to all you wise ones...
I have an HP laptop and I can't find a number lock anywhere! Fn key clear but that's as far as I got! I want to use Alt codes but unless I can find the NumLock then I'm a bit stuck!!
(Have tried answers on net but with no luck).
 

---

Posted by ElaineC (# 12244) on :
 
My work laptop is an HP ProBook 6450b.

The 'num lk' is on the same key as 'scroll'. (Use with 'fn' key)

Top tow of keys 4 from the right.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
You can really tell Skype's been bought out by Facebook. Now, on startup, in addition to the "contacts" window, "Skype home" pops up on startup with a list of comments from your contacts and (as of today here, advertising)... and there appears to be no way to turn it off

(Skype also asked me this morning after an update whether I wanted to "set my profile picture to public" and encouraged me strongly to do so).

I've tried one of the workarounds suggested on the Skype forums (which are full of angry users) but it hasn't worked. Does anyone out there have a solution?
 

---

Posted by wilson (# 37) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
You can really tell Skype's been bought out by Facebook.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
You can really tell Skype's been bought out by Facebook. Now, on startup, in addition to the "contacts" window, "Skype home" pops up on startup with a list of comments from your contacts and (as of today here, advertising)... and there appears to be no way to turn it off

(Skype also asked me this morning after an update whether I wanted to "set my profile picture to public" and encouraged me strongly to do so).

I've tried one of the workarounds suggested on the Skype forums (which are full of angry users) but it hasn't worked. Does anyone out there have a solution?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by wilson:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
You can really tell Skype's been bought out by Facebook.

---

Actually it hasn't, Skype was bought by Microsoft. I believe Facebook did some kind of deal with them so they could embed video chat.

---

quote:

---

On July 6, 2011, Facebook launched its video calling services using Skype as its technology partner

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by St. Stephen the Stoned:
I wondered if anyone knew how to contact Gmail's development team

---

Unless you're a paying customer, you have to bear in mind that Gmail is a free service and as such will offer you, basically, no support.

As I found out recently to my cost, I think the days of reliable free e-mail are numbered. If you're using e-mail in any serious capacity, I recommend paying for your own domain and buying a separate hosted e-mail service. I've been with Rackspace for a few months now, £9 a month for 5 addresses, and the support is very good.
 

---

Posted by St. Stephen the Stoned (# 9841) on :
 
I suppose that the agency concerned is the paying customer, and that I have done enough by contacting them. After all, it was their confidentiality and that of their client that was breached, not mine.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
True.

I'm constantly amazed by the degree of confidentiality in documents I get sent by e-mail, irrespective of the service provider.
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Agreed. Where encrypted e-mailing would be advisable, or even a fax message on a reliable, and doublechecked personal number.

One may wonder how safe services like Skype are, even though they claim to be encrypted. Or you just go for London rioters' favourite communication tool, the Blackberry, which so far seems limited, but relatively unchallenged.
 

---

Posted by Gracious rebel (# 3523) on :
 
In Stephen's case, could it not simply be a case that the estate agent had wrongly recorded the other guys's email address, so when they were writing to the other 'Steve', the address they used accidentally was 'Stephen' as they had taken it down wrongly?

Something similar happened last week at the library where I work. We received a phone call from a confused individual who had received an automated email from the library to inform her that her copy of a book was ready for collection. She had not ordered the book, and was not even a member of the library, but she did have the same name as the person who had ordered the book. It transpired that when the other individual had given her email address to the library, it had been recorded as this other woman's email address. I guess she hadn't actually remembered what the format of her address actually was.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
That's a really boring explanation!

But probably the right one
 

---

Posted by St Everild (# 3626) on :
 
How do you get a domain name (OK, I know that you can buy them...but from where?) and how do you then link up your domain name with your ISP?

(You can tell that I haven't a clue, and I would really really like to know because I'm fed up with spammers getting hold of the bit of my address after the @ and sending fake emails out.)
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
First, you register your domain name with a registrar such as nominet. Then you purchase a hosting package from a hosting company such as Go Daddy. Though Go Daddy will do both for you. And give you help in setting everything up.
Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is not part of the equation.

I use Go Daddy myself and have had no issues. No affiliation with them other than that.

Having your own URL will not in itself stop spam. I would, and do myself, pay the extra to have the domain private.
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
St Everild

After looking for a cheap package on the internet and then it failing due to the company being taken over I have both bought my domains and my hosting package through Zen. They are not the cheapest, but they do provide decent support. Oh an I end up ringing them up each time I want to upgrade!

Jengie
 

---

Posted by St. Stephen the Stoned (# 9841) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gracious rebel:
In Stephen's case, could it not simply be a case that the estate agent had wrongly recorded the other guys's email address, so when they were writing to the other 'Steve', the address they used accidentally was 'Stephen' as they had taken it down wrongly?

---

No, the person I spoke to at the company in question checked their records. They had used the correct name, "Steve". I suspect that gmail somehow "overcorrected" the abbreviated name, or linked it to my email address. I don't have sufficient knowledge of the inside workings of gmail to understand how this would work, but I can't think of another explanation.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
I bought my domain name through domaine.fr and my hosted e-mail from Rackspace.

I was advised to get the two separately so that I can change one and not the other.

It took a little tweaking to set up but now it all works fine.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
Small brain question for you types, but:

somehow my computer has ended up with something called EA Download Manager. I have no idea what it does, but it dominates my start-up horribly.

When I go to uninstall it says something like 'You are a naughty naughty boy and if you uninstall me I will crash the entire European and US economies including that of Iceland and poop on your teddy bear'.

Would uninstallation be the end of the world as I know it?
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Assuming that it actually is "EA Download Manager" it's a tool for managing/downloading Electronic Arts games, I believe. In which case uninstalling should be straight-forward and largely consequence free for anything that isn't an EA game.

I'd be slightly twitchy if you haven't installed anything that might have wanted to use EADM, as there's the issue as to how it got on in the first place. It's also the kind of thing that malware might try to hijack/impersonate, but a superficial Google doesn't show anything up.

So, you should be able to kill it with impunity; if anything goes wrong you can restore from backup. After all, you do have good recent backups, right? Nobody would ever not have good, recent, backups for all their important data. Or indeed their whole system. <Vizzini>Inconceivable</Vizzini>

Or to put it another way, make sure you've got backups, zap the thing, should be fine.

This advice is worth exactly what you paid for it, as is my liability if it FUBARS
 

---

Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :
 
I come in supplication to you lovely wise and compassionate lot asking for a bit of advice on email.

At the moment I've been using Microsoft Outlook because I had an old copy of Office. The laptop I had it on is very nearly dead. I reckon my options are either to swap to using an online email for everything, buy Office again (without the good deal I used to get through my employers) or to use some other local email doodah.

Is there a security problem with using an online email thingy compared with downloading them at home? If so, is there a good opensource or reasonably priced email thingy I can use on my new and shiny PC? I suspect it's running Windows 7. Yes it is.

All opinions appreciated.

Thanks, Cattyish.
 

---

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
I am not aware of any security issue with using online but at work I use the standard software Thunderbird. Work never liked Outlook so went straight from Pegasus Mail to Thunderbird.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by churchgeek (# 5557) on :
 
My hard drive died this past summer, and obviously I'm all recovered, and thankfully I generally don't store stuff on my hard drive. But I did have some photos I had "temporarily" dumped onto my desktop in order to organize them for uploading.

So...I got a cheap connector to plug my dead drive into my USB port and downloaded some freeware or other and recovered a whole lotta photos I'm now sifting through. This is where my question comes in.

I got my computer used from a friend, and among the photos (jpg, gif, tiff, & png mostly) I see a LOT of web pages, including my friend's job searches on Craigslist, and also forums and facebook used by both of us.

They're not screen shots; they're the full page (as you could only see online by scrolling down) in one image file, a "snapshot" of one particular browsing moment. I know the computer stores images from sites frequently visited in order to speed up loading time, but why would it save an image file of what my visit to facebook looked like at one moment? It seems like a waste of memory.

I can't imagine there would be any security issues around this, unless of course they were generated by some spyware or something.

Anyone know? I'm just curious...
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
IIRC, your computer stores all sorts of things in order to have more quickly at hand what it thinks you my need in the near future. The OS is supposed to store them as temp files and clear them. Doesn't always work this way. Good idea to regularly clear temp file to remove the clutter and free space.
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
Catfish,

Online mail has security features built in, at least the major services. A mail client on your own computer has only the security you install. Most firewall and anti-virus software will integrate with some e-mail clients, but not all. Check to see that your software plays together well before making the decision.
Remember though, security set up do not preclude you from safe practices.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
Cattyish,

Even if you use a local e-mail client (Thunderbird or Outlook, etc) you will need a webmail service, such as Gmail, Yahoo! mail or similar, set up for the client to get mail from.

There is a slight advantage in getting one of these webmail providers rather than whatever your Internet Service Provider is offering, becase it means that if you ever change ISPs (eg you move from BTinternet to TalkTalk or something) you don't have to go about setting up a whole new e-mail address.

The decision to use a client is mostly about habit. I'm old-fashioned enough to feel happier with a local copy of my e-mail on my PC just in case the Internet goes down, so I use Thunderbird (which is free) as a local client. I suspect that the younger a person is, the less likely they are to do this for their personal e-mail: they will just read it online, "in the cloud".

Because I run a business from home, I now pay for a fully supported webmail service from which Thunderbird picks up mail, as explained a few posts up, but for non-professional needs a free service is probably fine provided you accept its limitations.
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Wesley J:
You could try this - at your own risk and peril:

http://blog.amwmedia.com/post/8428110053/kill-skype-home-ksh-get-rid-of-that-annoying-skype. More on the comments page there.

There's a link to a liddle extra programme you download and install, and which stops Skype Home from opening.

---

I've now downloaded and installed this, and it works a treat. There's a pop-up window at every start-up asking if you want to run KSH (like for any .exe file), but you can also start it manually later on.

It does what it says on the box. And minimises the regular Skype window as well at Skype start-up, if you tell it to. Neat.
 

---

Posted by churchgeek (# 5557) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilBuddha:
IIRC, your computer stores all sorts of things in order to have more quickly at hand what it thinks you my need in the near future. The OS is supposed to store them as temp files and clear them. Doesn't always work this way. Good idea to regularly clear temp file to remove the clutter and free space.

---

quote:

---

The Adobe Acrobat/Reader that is running cannot be used to view PDF files in a Web Browser

Please exit Adobe Acrobat/Reader and exit your web browser and try again

---

Huh?

One time I got a message about 'known instabilities' or some such.

Can someone rescue an antedeluvian luddite? I would so like to read documents again.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
What version of Acrobat Reader are you running (I seem to be on 10.1.1)? Sounds like you might need an update.
 

---

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
Woe is me! For my desktop computer has bit the dust. Or so it seems...

Basically what happened is this. I turned the thing off in the usual way and went to bed--though when I got up in the morning, I found the thing apparently still running, though there was no information to the monitor. The power button was still lit, though, and an LED on a floppy drive (don't laugh at me!) as well.

Thought I, "that's weird," and proceeded to turn the thing off manually. I waited a bit and then turned it back on. Um, no, I didn't--I TRIED to turn it back on, with no success. The little green drive LED came on, but there was no boot up, no fan, and no light on the power switch.

We have since been into the case and checking to make sure everything's seated firmly, etc. No help there. Has anybody got words of wisdom here? Why would the drive LED go on but nothing else?
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
LC, the shutdown issue sounds like a classic crash, with potential consequences from none to nightmare.

However the turn on issue is a classic PSU fail. Chances are it's pushing out the 5v line but not the 12v, so you get enough juice to light up, but not enough to boot. It's possible to test the PSU with a multimeter, or just swap it out. It might be something worse, so borrow rather than buy to test, but 90% ...
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
<non-expert opinion>

Sounds like the motherboard to me

</non-expert opinion>
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Put your fingers in your ears and don't listen to such doom!

It could be any of mobo, RAM, CPU or PSU, but in my experience the vast majority of such failures are the PSU taking a holiday. So much so that when we swap out the PSU with a test unit and it doesn't fix it, I now feel quite put out. Not least because a quick fix has turned into a nightmare.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
You mean like this?
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
I don't recognise that situation at all. Not even a little bit.
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eutychus:
What version of Acrobat Reader are you running (I seem to be on 10.1.1)? Sounds like you might need an update.

---

I don't seem to have one at all any more
 

---

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
i've reloaded it so I'll see what happens.
 

---

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
Mr. Lamb grabbed the voltmeter and tested the PSU. I think the readings were considerably lower than what you mention, so maybe...

He also did some weird thingy where he took apart the switch where the wires come together and pressing the button completes the circuit. He took those wires out and put them together so that we should have had a permanently complete circuit, but nada. He muttered "no resistance," whatever that means, and is having dark thoughts about the motherboard. But his electronic tech days are 20 years in the past, so we're going to have to get someone in.

I am thinking the PSU may still be faulty, just further "down" than at the very end where the button is. I hope so, anyway. Does that make any sense?

Of course this would all happen when I'm already throwing oodles of money at doctors.
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
If it's an ATX PSU you need to short out a pair of the connections with a paper clip before testing (a specific pair, I might add!) otherwise it won't put any power through at all - it's part of the design. Get Mr Lamb to look at this in case he didn't already Google it.

That page should also have links to the pin-out for the main 24-pin connector, which tells you which pairs are which (+5v, -5v, +12v, -12v etc.).

Because of my job, I almost always have spare PSUs lying around, so our test method when one's a suspect is simply to swap it. If you've got a suitable donor PC, that's what I'd do. If there is a fault, it'll be in the main boxy bit, and it's a chuck-and-replace job, rather than fix (for the PSU, not the whole machine).
 

---

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
Um, how can you tell if it's an ATX or not? (sorry, I'm on the edge of my comprehension)
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
It will probably say on a sticker However, if it's a conventional PC made in the last 6 years, it's almost a dead cert. The main power block that connects to the motherboard will have 24 pins, usually in a 20 + 4 arrangement with the 4 being split off the main block but latching in (to cope with older style boards that only had 20 pin sockets). There'll generally be another 4 pin square connector going into the motherboard near the processor.
 

---

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
I am SUCH an idiot. Just googled PSU and realized it WASN'T short for power switch whatever... Tomorrow I may try switching out the PSU (power supply unit, duh) from another PC with this one. If that's no good, I'll call someone who knows what he/she's talking about.
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
oops, sorry, my fault for failing the clear communication test :|
 

---

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
Not you indeed, who was it who failed to google and just assumed (making an ass of me but not you)?

That'll teach me. English scholar indeed!
 

---

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
Okay, me again. We went back in to check the power supply but for whatever reason, Mr. Lamb took another whack at the power switch issue. He shorted out two of the pins it plugs into on the motherboard (have I said that correctly?) with the result that the fan started running and the computer made the booting up sound. Does this tell us anything?
 

---

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
Dang we're freaks here. God only knows how, but after Mr. Lamb had been messing around shorting those pins ten or twelve times, it decided to boot and STAY booted. And what's more, allow us to turn it off and ON again.

I am currently rubbing my eyes in disbelief and doing a full backup.

In the "here's a nuisance" category, the keyboard has now died.

d'ye think we need an exorcism?
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Heh, sometimes they go like that. One of our clients had a machine where every single component tested out fine when done with full soak tests, but periodically the whole thing would refuse to work. Solution was to take each bit out and plug it back in firmly. Obviously something was building up/crudding up somewhere, and only the re-seat sorted it, but pinning down exactly what proved impossible.
 

---

Posted by Paddy O'Furniture (# 12953) on :
 
I have a problem and I haven't read through this entire long-ass thread to see if anyone else has had this problem... so, forgive me if this is a common problem and it's been addressed before!

I have an iMac G5. It was used when I bought it and used from the person before that too but in really good shape. However, about a year ago it started to develop weird horizontal and vertical lines on the screen. These are lines that flicker on and off and then some of them stay and some of them just come and go whenever they feel like it. Someone at the Apple store said that since my computer was bought used I had no warranty for it and that they could look at it but I'd have to pack it up and haul it in to the store. I don't want to do that as I don't drive and would have to get someone to give me a ride etc., etc., etc.

Anybody know what might be causing this?
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
It is an LCD screen, right? If so, I would think it is the video card.
 

---

Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
Sadly, this appears to be a common problem with some iMac G5s. Try Googling iMac G5 screen lines - or similar.

It is specifically known to affect machines with certain serial numbers, and Apple did run an extended warranty repair scheme. I don't know whether it is still active.

Some people with politeness, persistence and good research appear to have persuaded their local Genius Bar to repair free of charge, many have been told that it will cost them $500+.

I have seen one post where someone identified the problem as faulty capacitors and replaced them, but this is a level of technical ability well beyond me
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
The genius bar is maddeningly random in what they will do.worth a try though.
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Memory.

Yesterday, Photoshop seized up on me - opened, but then went into Not Responding. It's OK today. No point asking Adobe, since it's Elements 8 and they're on to 10.

However, it's caused me to look at my memory, since the application is a massive memory-hog. At startup, the profile is thusly -

Physical Memory
Total 4061
Cached 2004
Available 2654
Free 727

Kernel Memory
Paged 159
Nonpaged 56

With PS open, the Free physical memory halves (the other parameters remaining in roughly the same ballpark). Does this seem to you still adequate for running PS + Firefox (and the usual shedload of background processes)?
 

---

Posted by lilBuddha (# 14333) on :
 
I run photoshop on only 3 gigs. I generally am also running Firefox with, and I kid you not, 15 to 20 tabs open; iTunes and windows explorer. I am often running processing filters while playing music and updating apps. iTunes sometimes freaks out, but PS rarely.
Two things that may help..
1. % memory photoshop uses can be set in photoshop's preferences.
2. Set PS to NOT export clipboard upon closing.
3. (three things that might help) clear your firefox cache and clean up your temp files.
 

---

Posted by Jessie Phillips (# 13048) on :
 
I'm curious about the recent media kerfuffle about the Blackberry outage. Particularly the plethora of blog post comments where people say they're fed up of Blackberry and they might get an iPhone or Android phone instead.

What I'm wondering is - what exactly were Blackberry phones able and not able to do during the outage?

The idea that it was completely impossible to use email or web browsing on Blackberry phones during the outage strikes me as a bit far fetched. It seems to me that quite a lot of the basic functionality of Blackberry phones that you find in pretty much any phone these days was unaffected by the outage; you could still make phone calls, send SMS messages, play MP3's off your microSD cards, and take photos. And you could still install silly ringtones.

It seems that the way that the Blackberry Internet web browser operates is that it uses Blackberry's server infrastructure to partially render and compress HTML web pages, thereby minimising the processing load on end-user Blackberry devices - although, in addition to this, it also encrypts the connection between the end-user Blackberry devices and the central Blackberry servers. That's why the Blackberry Internet web browser won't work if Blackberry's server infrastructure falls over.

However, you'd have thought that the WAP browser would be unaffected - although I realise that WAP is a dying protocol.

But I think Blackberry phones can also run Java ME apps. If that's right, then you'd be able to use other Java browsers on your Blackberry phone, such as Bitsream Bolt, UC, and Opera Mini. And I guess these browsers would have been unaffected by the Blackberry central server outage. Here's a YouTube video from a few years ago that shows a simple comparison of the performance of the Blackberry browser with the BOLT browser - which I suspect would have continued to work during the outage, although, unlike the Blackberry Internet browser, the data transfer between your phone and their central servers is not encrypted.

But I don't know. I'm only guessing. So can anyone confirm what Blackberry phones were and weren't able to do during the outage?

Reason I mention it is because the people who say they're now going to give up their Blackberries, seem to be cutting off their noses to spite their faces. I can't see that any of these other phones can do anything that the Blackberry phone can't do. Even during outages like the one that happened earlier this week. Throwing away your Blackberry phone because the web browser doesn't work, strikes me as a bit like throwing away your car because the sat-nav doesn't work. But I could be wrong. Thanks.
 

---

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilBuddha:
... 15 to 20 tabs open ...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jessie Phillips:
But I think Blackberry phones can also run Java ME apps. If that's right, then you'd be able to use other Java browsers on your Blackberry phone

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by ken:

quote:

---

Originally posted by lilBuddha:
... 15 to 20 tabs open ...

---

Wimp! I've only got twelve Firefox browser tabs open right now but there are also seven in Opera and nine in Chrome.

Four SSH sessions in Putty, seven files in a text editor (unusually low, I usually have more), two email messages, two Windows command lines, itunes, Windows Explorer and a couple of local applications...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Firenze:
Is anyone running Firefox and Zone Alarm?

---

I have Firefox 7.0.1 and Zonealarm Firewall. I didn't receive any warning when updating, didn't close Zonealarm down, and everything is running fine.

Although, having said that, Firefox has crashed a few times in the past couple of weeks - maybe once every three days. I suspect that has more to do with a particular Facebook app rather than Zonealarm though.
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
OK, cop this one.

I was rereading a Word document and hit some unintended key combination. The result of this was that I lost control of Word and my computer began emitting a series of beeps that sounded like Morse code (not the kind of beep you can get on startup from your tower but a program-generated beep of some kind).

Everything else continued to work fine. I tried hitting Esc to no avail. I closed down everything else and the beeps continued. Eventually I went into task manager (which reported Word as running properly and didn't show anything else untoward) and clicked to force Word to close. When I did, I got the "Word is not responding" prompt, pressed "cancel" (in the hope of not losing everything since the last auto-save)... and got rid of the beeps and regained control of the program.

So what happened there?
 

---

Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
This is a guess, but could you have somehow filled the keyboard buffer (or convinced Word you had, at any rate)? Either that or got Word locked into a continual end/start of document situation (sticky PgDn key, Scroll Lock on and something weird etc. etc.).

As I say, speculation rather than definitive!
 

---

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
My impression was that it wasn't that kind of noise. If I'd done that I would have expected incessant Windows-type dings. This really did sound like it was reading my document in Morse or something. Probably just a software crash with a weird result.
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
Perhaps one of the accessiblity options? Beep for every keystroke, for visually impaired users? That or as you say, "a software crash with a weird result".

[ 01. November 2011, 19:35: Message edited by: Wesley J ]
 

---

Posted by lily pad (# 11456) on :
 
If you hold down the shift key for 8 seconds or longer it turns on filter keys and makes that sound. Maybe it was that.
 

---

Posted by Laxton's Superba (# 228) on :
 
Pleaes could anyone help me get my cursor keys to work, and the Pg Down and Pg Up, and the scrolling feature on my touchpad....... I have tried re-installing the driver. Faffed about with num lock and scroll lock, funtion key, etc, but nada.

It is driving me mad and giving me RSI having to manually go to the right hand side of the screen and although this is a nice shiny new-to-me laptop, I miss the old one where all the things worked how I wanted.

It's a Compaq Presario CQ61 if that helps....
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
You can find the pdf-manual for your laptop here here (NOTE: Link opens to pdf file!).

On page 13, there is a picture with description of the touchpad. Apparently, there's a button at the top of the touchpad that enables/disables it.

They also suggest to go to --> Start --> Control panel --> Hardware and Sound --> Mouse, if you want to change settings.

Hope that at least partially answers some of your questions?
 

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Posted by Laxton's Superba (# 228) on :
 
Thanks Welsey, I hadn't succeeded in finding that .pdf

I do have the touchpad enabled, but the scroll part doesn't work. It did work, when my mother had this laptop, but not now. I will keep trying and googling.
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
OK

Someone with more basic no how than me. Do I need a new network cable to attach my computer to the router?

Today when I switched on my desk computer it did not find the router. On rebooting it did then it became disconnected from the router. Windows on computer insisted it was a cable problem but when I put in another possibly working cable that did not sort it. However when I switched the computer off and on again that did.

Jengie
 

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Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
To Laxton's superba:

Have you done any software or system updates lately? If so, it might be worth trying to do a system restore (look in Control Panel). This will undo any software updates after the most recent system restore, but not affect your documents and so on.

Mrs Eutychus' Dell touchpad is very susceptible to crashing at the slightest provocation. Dell have replaced the touchpad and the motherboard, but neither of those was the problem. Doing a system restore has sorted it out every time though, with no other problems having emerged.

[ 03. November 2011, 21:47: Message edited by: Eutychus ]
 

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Posted by Padre Joshua (# 13100) on :
 
I need a geek! I want to put up a phpBB forum on my website. The site is completely blank at the moment. I want to set it to forums.sitename.com, and I also want to point my Blogger.com blog to blog.sitename.com.

If you're willing to teach me how, would you mind PMing me? Or if you'd be willing to do the work, would you also PM me so we can work out details?

Thanks!
 

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Posted by Snags (# 15351) on :
 
Jengie: Windows reporting a cable problem just means that it doesn't detect the cable being present. Unless you're really harsh on your cable, normally it's a misleading message, and the problem is somewhere more fundamental

Swap the cable for one that you know is good (or take the suspect cable somewhere else and use it to see if it's OK). Chances are the actual problem lies either in the router (or more specifically, the switch on the router), or the network port (NIC) in the PC.

If you're not in a position to blag a cable, PM me a postal address and I can send you one (a rough idea of required length would help) but IME it won't be the cable, it'll be either a 'system' issue or a dying socket at one end of the link. Which may or may not be a total PITA.

If the router has multiple ports, try switching to a different one (although on a 4-port switch they'll probably all fritz at once). If the PC is a laptop, cart it to a friend's and try it there. Basically, it's an elimination game ...
 

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Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :
 
Thanks Snags.

That confirms what I suspected. I had swapped the cable with another that I am pretty sure was working. It was plugged in between another PC and the router but had not been used for awhile.

Early indications suggest computer (under guarantee so if it is I will need to contact the suppliers), switching port did not fix, only turning computer on and off did. Another box also attached to the router showed no sign of difficulties. However router had been playing up all day before it so I am not sure.

Jengie
 

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Posted by Laxton's Superba (# 228) on :
 
I found yet another driver and installed it, and now the touchpad scrolling works. No joy with Pg Down and the cursors, but I can live with that now. Thanks for all your suggestions!
 

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Posted by Gracious rebel (# 3523) on :
 
Firefox has suddenly stopped remembering what I have previously filled into text boxes; - in the past clicking on a empty box would bring up text strings that had been entered earlier, then I could select the relevant one. I used this as a lazy way to remember my log on name on various sites (including the Church website, for which I am webmaster, so it was rather embarrassing just now when I went to update it and couldn't remember my login details).

How can I get it back to how it used to work? Running Firefox 7.0.1 on Windows XP.
 

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Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
Can anyone recommend a free program that will convert Word .doc files to pdf format? I know there are plenty out there, but a recommendation from someone who has used and is happy with one would be good.

I've just run across a site that requires me to upload my CV and covering letter as a pdf (trust me, cross-pondians, this is unusual in the UK!)...

Thanks!

AG
 

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Posted by Morlader (# 16040) on :
 
Cute PDF - free version is fine for any normal use.

Installs as a virtual printer, so any printing application can create a pdf.

It will probably need to install a subsidiary app (which converts postscript) but it's all safe - no toolbars, malware, or other nastties.

HTH
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 
I use pdf Creator, which is free and which I like a lot.

BTW, from within the free OpenOffice.org software you can directly turn into pdfs any documents you made. It's built-in, and very handy.

[ 05. November 2011, 13:53: Message edited by: Wesley J ]
 

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Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :
 
The latest downloads of PDF Creator are full of bloatware
 

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Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :