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Computer related questions. Volume 34 - Dynamic Dave

******** This thread now closed. Please see Volume 35 ********

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=27801


In this thread you may ask any computer related question for which you need help, advice, suggestions or whatever.

Usual rules apply,

No motoring related discussion,
No politics,
No Speeding, speed cameras, traffic calming
No arguments or slanging matches
Nothing which I think is not following the spirit of the thread
Nothing that risks the future of this site (please see the small print for details www.honestjohn.co.uk/credits/index.htm )

Any of the above will be deleted. If the thread becomes difficult to maintain it will simply be removed.

There is a wealth of knowledge in here, much of which is not motoring related, but most of which is useful.

This is Volume 34. Previous Volumes will not be deleted.

A list of previous volumes can be found here:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=20892


PLEASE NOTE:

When posting a NEW question, please "Reply to" the first message in this thread, i.e. this one. This keeps each question in it's own separate segment and stops each new question from getting mixed up in amongst existing questions. Also please remember to change the subject header.

Malfunction of Webroot Spysweeper - L'escargot
I have Webroot Spysweeper installed on my computer, and it works fine except for one thing. When it informs me of an Alert, it indicates one more Alert than there actually is. For example, when I boot up it indicates one Alert when there is actually none. If I create an Alert situation (by adding a website to my list of favourites) it indicates two Alerts when (obviously) there is actually only one. I notified Webroot and they suggested that firstly I uninstall the software and then secondly that I start again from scratch and install a download of the software that they sent by e-mail. I did this but it has made no difference. I have informed Webroot of this but their promise of a reply in two days has not materialised.

Any suggestions, other than just ignoring this little idiosyncracy, given that in all other respects the software appears to be OK?
--
L\'escargot by name, but not by nature.
Can't have a "P" - No Do$h
For some reason that eludes me, I lost the use of my "P" this morning. If I uses a lower case p all was well, but when I hit shift and p to get "P" , Windows Media Player opened.

And with no fiddling on my part, it's working again now.

Any clues?
Can't have a - NowWheels

8< Snip 8<

Please try and keep the sillyness contained to the silly thread. DD
Can't have a - Stuartli
Or even the Silliness Thread?
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Can't have a "P" - Adam {P}
Sounds like you've created a hot key of some sort but I don't know how you've inadvertently done it.
--
Adam
Too much spam? Don't get mad... - SjB {P}
...get even!

I have often thought about exactly this type of response, though doubted the legality of it on the basis of potential denial of service allegations.

Seems Lycos think differently!

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4061375.stm
Too much spam? Don't get mad... - Baskerville
It's a great idea until they hit a legitimate business by mistake, or a competitor quite deliberately. It looks like Lycos is trying to recruit its own army of machines to launch denial of service attacks. How is this different from the spammers? I don't trust them to decide who is a legitimate target, or to make sure their machines are secure enough to keep working for them and only them.
How do you create a "screenshot" file? - L'escargot
I have been asked by Webroot to send a "screenshot" that illustrates a problem I am having with their Spysweeper software. Their problem reporting system allows me to send a file attachment, but I don't know how to create a file of the "screenshot" in the first place. My computer runs on XP Home Edition.

Excuse any incorrect terminology ~ when it comes to computers you have to have patience with some of us oldies!
--
L\'escargot by name, but not by nature.
How do you create a "screenshot" file? - Adam {P}
I would say your best way L'escargot is to get the problem up on the screen.

Then, over on the right hand side of the keyboard, near the top of the keyboard, there will be a button saying PRINT SCREEN or PRT SCN or something to that effect. Press that and a snapshot of exactly what is on the screen will be taken although nothing will appear to suggest anything has happened. Don't worry about this.

My recommendation would be to open PAINT (in the Accessories menu) and press Ctrl and V. Click YES and then the screenshot will be there and all you need to do is save that as whatever you want. Then you can send that file.

Someone may have a better way but that's the way I'm aware of.
--
Adam
How do you create a "screenshot" file? - Dynamic Dave
Then, over on the right hand side of the keyboard, near
the top of the keyboard, there will be a button saying
PRINT SCREEN or PRT SCN or something to that effect. Press
that and a snapshot of exactly what is on the screen....


Almost correct. First you have to press and hold down the "Alt" key, then press the "Prt Scr" key.

Then, as Adski suggests, paste the captured image into Paint. Manipulate the image, and save it as a j-peg file.

How do you create a "screenshot" file? - Adam {P}
Sorry Dave - but er...you don't need to press Alt...do you? I never had and I do this all the time for Uni work.

What does plageurism mean by the way? ;-)
--
Adam
How do you create a - Mark (RLBS)
>>you don't need to press Alt...

Well I don't.

Dave, do you *need* to press that key or do you just find it comforting ?
How do you create a - Dynamic Dave
>>you don't need to press Alt...
Well I don't.
Dave, do you *need* to press that key or do
you just find it comforting ?


Well I was always led to believe you had to press the Alt key as well. *Maybe* it was on older operating systems, such as Win95? Having just tried it without pressing the Alt key, I'll admit that you don't actually have to. However, it makes it convienent for your left hand to be over that area of the keyboard ready to press the Ctrl V keys ;o)
How do you create a "screenshot" file? - Adam {P}
Of course. Silly me!
--
Adam
How do you create a - Dynamic Dave
And I ought to pratice what I preach.

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=27462&...e
How do you create a - Adam {P}
No comment - although you could use the "Friday" excuse.
--
Adam
How do you create a - Altea Ego
It depends if you want to capture the full screen image or the active window image.
On XP
PrtSc will capture the whole screen image for pasting
Alt/PrtSc will capture the display of the active window only for pasting.
How do you create a - Dynamic Dave
Alt/PrtSc will capture the display of the active window only for pasting.


I knew there was a reason for using the Alt key. Thanks RF.
How do you create a - Pezzer
If you press Alt it only copies the active window (which can be reduced in size if required). Not pressing Alt gives you the whole screen including sytem trays etc !!
How do you create a - Pezzer
Doh ! Didnt see RF's reply.... sorry
How do you create a - Altea Ego
This also begs the alternate "alt" "PrtSc" question. why does the PrtSc key sometimes have PrtSc/Sysrq on it?

I know, Mark probably knows, Anyone else know?
How do you create a - Pezzer
RF we used to use Sysrq (System Request) when a 3270/VAMP session started hanging or needed a 'kick', mainly when using mainframe applications from dumb terminals.
Dont know if you use 'VAMP' sessions still in your bit of the Big Blue place, but if you do, right click with your mouse and you'll get a set of buttons which include this as well.
How do you create a - Altea Ego
DOH - you ruined it Pezzer. You used insider knowledge.

Its not just 3270 btw. the alt/SyRq was used in other terminal emulation modes.
How do you create a "screenshot" file? - Baskerville
What does plageurism mean by the way? ;-)


Is it French for being homeless and having to sleep on the beach when they catch you for plagiarism?
How do you create a "screenshot" file? - Adam {P}
Well my excuse is that I'm in a cold house on a laptop keyboard! So neh!


--
Adam
How do you create a "screenshot" file? - L'escargot
Thanks Adski,

I followed your instructions to the letter and it worked a treat. I've sent the screenshot off to Webroot, so it's now a case of "OK Webroot, pick the bones out of that!"

It would have been really embarrassing if I'd had to resort to asking my 11 year old grand-daughter how to do it!
--
L\'escargot by name, but not by nature.
How do you create a "screenshot" file? - Pugugly {P}
We use Zap Grab in work.
There is a link here to what appears to be an identical product.

www.lysator.liu.se/~zap/zapgrab.html
Toast Titanium 5 on Mac - PhilB
Hi all,
I'm having intermittent problems writing DVD's on a Mac. Toast Titanium 5 sometimes pops up with an Error code '3' before quitting. There's no reference to this error code in the manual or online. Anyone out there got any ideas?
Thanks in advance, Phil.
Toast Titanium 5 on Mac - Stuartli
Have you tried the Roxio Support forums?

boards.support.roxio.com/roxio/board?board.id=0000...7

Error codes seem to be in three or four figure numbers.

This may also provide a clue regarding insertion of disks:

stream.uen.org/medsol/mac_toast/
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Toast Titanium 5 on Mac - PhilB
Thanks for the links Stuart, i've already cheked out the online help (which didn't help!), so have now posted on the roxio forum you suggested.
Error codes seem to be in three or four figure numbers.

This one has had me stumped, can find a reference to "error code 3" anywhere.
Thanks again.
Toast Titanium 5 on Mac - Stuartli
to "error code 3" anywhere.>>


That's what I meant about three or four figure numbers, 120 or 6003 for instance.
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Toast Titanium 5 on Mac - smokie
Having been struggling with DVD writing problems for some time now I am reaching the conclusion that they are almost always caused by either bad firmware or poor/incompatible media
Toast Titanium 5 on Mac - Stuartli
My son uses Nero BurningRom quite happily for all DVD burning purposes on a variety of media, much of it acquired from www.bigpockets.co.uk at very reasonable prices.

I only have a CD-RW rewriter but, again, Nero BurningROM 5, 5.5 and now 6 performs faultlessly. I've been using Kodak, TDK and Philips media for some years, but have now standardised on Imation CD-R disks.

I've got them in speeds from 32x, 48x and now 52x as I've bought/still buy them from Morrisons; price is £5.99 per pack of 10 with cases or three packs for £10.

They are rebranded disks produced by Taiyo Yuden Company Limited, regarded as one of the top media manufacturers in the world.

More on the small number of media manufacturers in the world and which major brand names rebadge their products can be found at:

www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_factories.s...l

plus a lot of other useful information.

Also try www.cdrfaq.org for hundreds of articles on all aspects of media, rewriters and who manufactures/rebrands the drives.
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Toast Titanium 5 on Mac - smokie
Yes. I should probably have added cheap hardware.
Toast Titanium 5 on Mac - Stuartli
If you are talking about DVD rewriters, now down to around £45 even for dual layer models, it's not really "cheap" hardware.

Basic drives cost almost buttons to churn out and there's very little extra in a CD or DVD rewriter to warrant high prices - consumers were ripped off for around two years when both types first came on the market until prices found their true level.

In fact a top brand CD rewriter can be acquired for between £15-20 these days (most are rebadged from specialist manufacturers in any case), which was the price of a CD-ROM drive until quite recently.
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Toast Titanium 5 on Mac - smokie
Trust me, mine was cheap! About £50 in PC World (yes, PC World) when the cheapest elsewhere was still over £80. I'm just about to replace it with a Branded one due to the problems I have been experiencing...
Toast Titanium 5 on Mac - Altea Ego
Most Burning problems are cuased by burning too quickly. ( I dont mean buffer underrun problems either)

Assume that:
"fast Burn" media is not as fast as it claims, (eg if it says 10X assume its 8)
Your drive is not as fast as it claims (eg if it says 18X assume its 16 or 12)

So burn slower than the max of your components always works for me.
Toast Titanium 5 on Mac - malteser
My CDRW hardware is a bit "stone age" now, with a max of 4x. I find that 2X burns OK, but have had lots of failures at 4X.(using Nero6)
--
Roger. (Costa del Sol, España)
Mozilla Thunderbird. - Pugugly {P}
Bitten the bullet and installed it in lieu of Outlook (full product), far better in every way. I wonder if they update it whether they will (being Americans) call it Thunderbird 2....?! - without a sense of irony.
Mozilla Thunderbird. - Baskerville
PU

As far as I know Thunderbird updates itself (and any extensions you've added) automatically. There is a checkbox in the (I think) Tools->Preferences->Advanced section. Might be a bit different, but it's somewhere in there. It works the same way as Firefox. There is also a Mozilla calendar, but I can't vouch for that as I haven't used it.

Chris
Mozilla Thunderbird. - buzbee
When I installed Thunderbird and it imported my email addresses (Win98SE) it shuffled them such that a nickname did not have the correct email address. The address/es had been taken from a different entry in OE. Also it did not create my original folders, just the basic three (including an OE copy).

Also when I created the folders to correct for this, it would not accept a folder name unless it was different to those already in the OE addresses.

I assumed this is all because it is still only version 0.9.

Even so, an hour or so later I had it all working (except for changed folder names) and it was well worth the effort.

I thought I should post this here so that other potential Thunderbird users will know the 'state of play'.

No doubt I will soon be informed if mine/theirs behaved differently.
Mozilla Thunderbird. - Pugugly {P}
About 5 minutes from starting the download.The only thing I hate is the Americanised date view (mm/dd/yy) still trying to find a way of changing it. The path for checking the auto update box is Tools/Options/Advanced and it is in there.
Mozilla Thunderbird. - malteser
I love Firebird, the browser, but Thunderbird failed to impress. Hard to set up, hard to use and no benefit over Outlook Express.
Binned it!
--
Roger. (Costa del Sol, España)
Mozilla Thunderbird. - Dynamic Dave
Pugugly, politely pointing you to the message at the start of this forum. The one that says Please Note.

I have moved it now.

DD.
Mozilla Thunderbird. - Pugugly {P}
Sorry....bows head in shame....
Mozilla Thunderbird. - Stuartli
Thunderhird 1.0 has just been released:

www.mozilla.org/products/
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Mozilla Thunderbird. - Pugugly {P}
released:
or launched - sorry a child of the late sixties !

Just checked mine it is version 0.9 (!) I tried to update but it won't. Not too fussed as it works well anyway.
Mozilla Thunderbird. - Stuartli
As I said, Thunerbird 1.0 has only just been released. All you have to do is install it over 0.9 and all the settings, configuration, messages etc are retained.

I've only been using 0.9 for four or five weeks, along with Firefox 1.0...:-)
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Mozilla Thunderbird. - Pugugly {P}
Just done after following your links. I am very pleased with Thunderbird.
MS Word (XP Professional) - Dynamic Dave
Is there a button anywhere to reset options to the installed default?

If I mistype a word or sentence and then highlight said word or sentence and then use the backspace key (the one above the return key) to try and delete, nothing happens. Same happens if I highlight any words/sentences and try and paste something else in instead. All that happens is that the original text remains and the pasted word(s) appear before the highlighted text. The delete key zaps the text, but until recently the backspace key also did this.

Checked the options for the obvious, but I must be missing something. The thing is, I haven't touched the options since installing MS Office over 6 months ago. This only seems to have recently cropped up.
MS Word (XP Professional) - Pugugly {P}
Dave,
I have access to two XP machines at home. One runs Office 2002 the other 2003. Which version are you refering to ?
MS Word (XP Professional) - Pugugly {P}
More specifically runs Office XP (2002 version) on one and Office 2003 on the other.....
MS Word (XP Professional) - Dynamic Dave
Pug,

Office 2002.

I've just made a visual note of the settings on my work pc. IIRC from looking at my home pc's settings last night, I notice there is an extra box ticked on my work pc. "typing replaces selection" in the edit options of the tools. I *think* this is the one I need to tick at home.
MS Word (XP Professional) - Dynamic Dave
an extra box ticked on my work pc. "typing replaces selection"


And by unticking it here at work does the same as word does at home. Problem solved.
Clipart - PoloGirl
Please help me before I go crazy.

I need a shape to use in powerpoint, nothing complicated, just a quarter of a circle shape. I can get a circle, a half circle and a circle with a quarter missing, but no quarter circle on its own. I've even searched the online clipart files.

Has anyone got a more up to date version of Office which might have this shape and could email me a slide with it on please?

Thank you!

Clipart - Citroënian {P}
Microsoft's own clip art site is fairly comprehensive - you'll have to search yourself though!

office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?lc=en-gb

hth
--
Lee
Having a Fabialous time.
Clipart - Robin Reliant
Why don't you draw your own in Paint? Should be easy enough with the circle and line tools.
Clipart - smokie
PG - You have email...
Clipart - PoloGirl
Thank you Smokie! Problem solved.

Clipart - smokie
Err - not sure if my stuff solved it but for everyone else's benefit I took a shape from Visio and pasted into Word. In Visio you can manipulate it a lot but once pasted I think you can just resize etc.
Firewall & antivirus on new computer - tomandjerry56
just bought a new computor was wondering when you install it does it allready have a firewall and antivirus installed or do i have to go and buy some software
Firewall & antivirus on new computer - Citroënian {P}
What kind of computer is it? Assuming it's Windows based you can do a quick check of its operating system by

Right Click My Computer
Properties

If it says Microsoft Windows XP
Service Pack 2

You can then click START - Control Panel - Security Center

Fairly self evident from there.

If you're not running XP SP2, post what you are running and we can help further.
--
Lee
Having a Fabialous time.
Firewall & antivirus on new computer - Baskerville
Just to add: DO NOT connect it to the Internet until you know you have at least a firewall blocking incoming attacks. Last I heard it took four minutes for a non-firewalled Windows PC to be hacked from the moment it connected to the Internet. Once that happens the only way to be sure it's clean is to format the disk and reinstall Windows. You don't want to do that.
Firewall & antivirus on new computer - smokie
4 minutes? Just 30 seconds last time I tried...

Firewall & antivirus on new computer - Stuartli
Windows XP's firewall (plus the latest version of it in SP2) is fairly basic.

You are better off downloading the free version of ZoneAlarm from www.zonelabs.com and carefully configuring it (this link will help):

www.dslwebserver.com/main/sbs-zonealarm-configure....l

Also the free version of Grisoft's AVG anti-virus program (must be updated regularly to remain effective); recently updated to version 7.0:

www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php

You will also need Spybot utilities to stop/get rid of spyware, malware etc.

Install Search and Destroy 1.3 from:

www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

Ad-Aware 1.05 SE (free version) from:

www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

and SpywareBlaster (works in the background and stops much of it getting on your system in the first place) from:

www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

After installation of S and D, Ad-Aware and SpywareBlaster, update all three immediately and then run each in turn.

Updates for AVG can be prolific as you can imagine because of so many new viruses etc appearing, so worth checking out daily. You can set it for Automatic Updating but I find doing it manually is better.

Once you have these on your system (and even better installing Mozilla's Firefox 1.0 and Thunderbird 1.0 (just been released) as your browser and e-mail programs in place of Internet Explorer and Outlook Express, you will be in a much stronger position to ward off nasties:

www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/central.html

If you do have Outlook Express and wish to continue using it, make sure that the Preview Pane is DISABLED permanently (from View>Layout); this stop a virus being activated merely by a mouse click on the message.

Also disable "Don't Open Attachments that May Contain a Virus" (Tools>Options>Security tab) as this is a pretty useless inclusion in OE, usually preventing perfectly acceptable attachments to be opened.




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Win 98. Email probs with outlook. - tomandjerry56
have got a windows 98 computer when i want to look for emails on out look keeps coming up with errors was wondering how i can transfere from outlook to own account ie tesco.net
hopefully it makes some sense
Win 98. Email probs with outlook. - Mark (RLBS)
What error messages are you getting ?

I presume that you have Outlook Express [or Outlook] already set up to access your tesco account ?

It is unlikely that you are able to transfer them from OE to an internet e-mail account.

But a few mroe details def. needed.
Win 98. Email probs with outlook. - Stuartli
If you switch to Mozilla Thunderbird (more secure and safe than Outlook Express; version 1.0 now out) you can Export all your OE settings, messages etc with one click of the mouse during installation.

It's the same in every way with Firefox 1.0 if you swap from Internet Explorer (which includes OE).

See: www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/central.html

You should, if you do swap, make Thunderbird and Firefox the default e-mail and browser; you can still use IE or OE if necessary.
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Win 98. Email probs with outlook. - Citroënian {P}
There's a really cool utility called OEBackup that does what you need - data & settings (not passwords though IIRC).

OEBackup

www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx

Microsoft also have a settings transfer wizard that I'm not too familiar with, but I think may be useful for you.


--
Lee
Having a Fabialous time.
Java script error on this site. - malteser
Using Opera, set to "spoof" as I.E. 6, I get the following error message on each page.
"Inline script thread
Error:
name: TypeError
message: Statement on line 9: Expression evaluated to null or undefined and is not convertible to Object: pp282219
Backtrace:
Line 9 of linked script ad.uk.doubleclick.net/adj/HonestJohn/;dcopt=ist;sz...5?
pp282219.document.write("<" + "html><" + "head><" + "title> \n"); "

Opera and Firefox seem to be much less tolerant of Java "errors" as I have no problems using I.E. itself.
I find the same problem occurs on another site I regularly use,(Unicasa.es) when I.E. makes the "choice" boxes work, but Firefox & Opera don't.
Is this usual?





--
Roger. (Costa del Sol, España)
Java script error on this site. - Baskerville
Why do you have Opera set to spoof? Does Opera not work with this site normally? Firefox does, with no problems on Linux or Windows. What makes you think this is a Java problem?

The reason why Opera and Firefox seem less tolerant is that they are. Both Opera and the Mozilla Foundation follow agreed W3C standards for web applications and depend on web designers following those standards too. IE does not comply with the standards, but because it is ubiquitous, many websites have been created and tested using IE only.

Typing in the url of this site to the W3C validator does actually reveal some html errors which may be causing your problem in "spoofing" mode at least (I haven't looked through them):

validator.w3.org/
Java script error on this site. - malteser
Opera throws up this error when it is set to identify as "Opera" too!
--
Roger. (Costa del Sol, España)
Outlook Express 6 Security Update - THe Growler
I barely use OE but have had reason to a few times lately. Every time I try to download mail on to it I get an error message and am redirected to the MS Update Page -- the one that looks for Critical Updates. Each time this happens I am told to download KB837009 Cumulative security Update, which I do. I download and it installs.

Looking at the download record I see I have now downloaded the same update 9 times. Que pasa a qui¿
Outlook Express 6 Security Update - Dalglish
I am told to download KB837009 Cumulative security Update

>>

if you google.com for kb837009, you will find links that show that others have experienced the same problem.

however, you will also get a microsoft link to the download page.

download the file
File Name: Q837009.exe
Download Size: 855 KB
Date Published: 3/29/2004
Version: OE6

and then click on it to manually install. that should fix it.

no doubt, someone will be along soon to tell you to ditch ie6/oe6 and adopt mozilla/firefox/thunderbird. (like asking someone how to get from a to b, only to be told - i would not start from a ! )

important to note: there was a later cumulative update for oe6 - kb823353
File Name: IE6.0sp1-KB823353-x86-ENU.exe
Download Size: 1950 KB
Date Published: 7/14/2004
Version: OE6

www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-0...x

www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/critical/de...x
Outlook Express 6 Security Update - Baskerville
>no doubt, someone will be along soon to tell you to ditch ie6/oe6 and adopt mozilla/firefox/thunderbird. (like asking someone how to get from a to b, only to be told - i would not start from a ! )

Hmm, I think more a more accurate comparison would be "I wouldn't use a pony and trap to do that journey".
Outlook Express 6 Security Update - Stuartli
>>"I wouldn't use a pony and trap to do that journey".>>

Actually it would be a move up to an S-Class or equivalent...:-)
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Outlook Express 6 Security Update - Dalglish
Actually it would be a move up to an S-Class or
equivalent...:-)

>>

not sure which one you classify as the s-class.

:-)

however, personally i have both ms products and the alternative and use both to suit my particular needs. i think of one as a highly tuned sports car prone to frequent breakdowns if not maintained correctly and subject to hack-attacks by jealous vandals and requiring careful handling and the other as a boring reliable comfortable saloon. you can probably guess which one fits which which category in my mind.

:-)

edited for Dalglish by ND
Wireless Network Security - Bromptonaut
Help sought please.

I'm using a Linksys WAG 54G ADSL Gateway with Belkin PCI/Cardbus wireless cards in the SWMBO/kids machines (mine's on a wired connection). How do I suppress the SSID identifier so my network is useable but not visible to all and sundry?.

If I disable the SSID broadcast the remote PC's loose their connections.

I've tried changing the wireless network name (it's using the manufacturers name at the moment) and creating an entry with the new name on the networked machines but they still don't detect it until I turn the SSID on at which point the network is visible to all and sundry with the new name. I've locked it down to a degree by limiting access to deignated MAC numbers but read that they're not difficult to spoof.

TIA
Wireless Network Security - Bromptonaut
Sorted now:- need to click OK on card setup screen to finish process, it only looks like it's hunting for the new name 'til then!
Windows XP and a reformat. - Adam {P}
Hmm. That was annoying - for some reason, the first time I posted this, my router's firewall blocked it and now it's gone. I'll write it again! (stupid technology)

Right. My mate has just built a computer and yesterday we put Windows XP on. However, for some reason, (we think the CD) it couldn't find a lot of files so a reformat is on the cards.

The first time we put XP on, we simply set the CD-ROM to boot first, then the Hard Drive so that with the XP cd in, "Press any key to boot from CD" and you can then format the drive using the Windows setup. However, when we do that now, it boots Windows up regardless of the boot sequence and won't let you boot from the CD.

At a guess, I'm guessing it's because the computer's saying "Woah - hang on a minute guys - Windows is already installed - no need to boot from the CD". The only thing I can think of is going into Windows, and essentially sabotaging it. I.E. - Deleting as many files as we can and then it should let us.

I use 2000 myself and have never had this problem but I would appreciate any advice please,

Many thanks,
--
Adam
Windows XP and a reformat. - Mark (RLBS)
Check the boot order and how long the period is for "Press any key..."

Also check that it is actually seeing the CD drive and that you have a valid and clean CD in there.
Windows XP and a reformat. - Adam {P}
Cheers Mark. It could be the CD because during the first installation, it was missing files. We're going to try a new one today so I'll let you know how we get on.

Thanks,
--
Adam
Windows XP and a reformat. - Stuartli
Try the disk again using the setup sequence. XP will detect that there is already a copy on the system and offer the Repair Console.

Continue instead with the Install until you have the Repair option. Agree.

You can only use the original disk as, at a certain point, the procedure will require the Product Key verification.

Otherwise it's a case of going back to Microsoft and requesting a replacement for your current disk because it is faulty.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
Windows XP and a reformat. - Stuartli
Sorry, that should read the Recovery Console...
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
Windows XP and a reformat. - Altea Ego
Yup as soon as the windows XP disk has seen and formatted a primary boot disk, there is a signature in the boot sector to say "this is windows xp" The windows CD will see this every time and assume there is xp on it somewhere, even if you are booting from the CD.

To do a clean, not upgraded or repaired XP load, the disk has to be freshly formatted.

Windows XP and a reformat. - smokie
There's often a key you can press at the early stages of power on (usually after the video BIOS has loaded, just keep tapping it, when you find what it is) that will bring up a boot menu so you can manually choose which device to boot from. (I think it's F11 on my system, probably not the same on yours - motherboard BIOS-dependent, if you have the manual check it out). Then proceed as suggested above.

Alternatively if you have a boot floppy with CD support (the one with Windows 98 does the trick) then you could boot from that then (in DOS) type

d: (or whatever your CD drive has mounted as)
setup

This *should* bring you into the CD start up sequence rather than that on your hard drive.

Or alternatively again...simply use a boot floppy with the FORMAT command on it - boot then type FORMAT. If it is a Large Disk you might need to esure you are using the right version of FORMAT. In fact I think you might need to use FDISK first to destroy the NTFS partition (if that's how you configured the disk when loading XP).

If you need such a floppy mail me (addy in profile) and I'll see if I can send you a diskette image - you would need a 1.44 floppy drive on a working computer to sort it out.
Windows XP and a reformat. - Baskerville
1. Go here and download Knoppix 3.7:

www.knoppix.com

2. Burn to a cd as an iso image.

3. Boot from this cd into a graphical Linux desktop (takes a couple of minutes; no user intervention required; nothing on hard-disk is touched at this stage) that won't be too unfamiliar.

4. Use the partitioning tool (I think it's called Qparted) to format/repartition the disk.

5. Shutdown Knoppix, remove cd, and install Windows.

6. Keep the Knoppix cd because it's an excellent tool for repairing Windows intallations and recovering data from hard-disks when Windows (or any other OS) has become unusable for some reason.

Everyone should have one.
Windows XP and a reformat. - Altea Ego
Can Knoppix reformat a NTFS disk? Early versions couldnt.

No need to reformat anyway, any boot disk/cd that has Fdisk on it will do, all you need to do is just kill the partitions, the Windows XP boot CD will see a blank disk and do the partioning/formatting

Windows XP and a reformat. - Baskerville
Not sure if it will actually format the disk as NTFS (I haven't had to do that for years), but it will certainly resize, kill etc. A clean install of WinXP will do the formatting anyway as you say.
Windows XP and a reformat. - Baskerville
RF

I've done some digging in my lunch hour and come up with a couple of things. These are the available Linux tools for working with NTFS--looks like it is possible:

linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/status.html#ntfstools

And this is a live rescue-disk called Recovery Is Possible that claims to be able to "work with" NTFS (dullest homepage on the Internet?) among other useful-looking stuff:

www.tux.org/pub/people/kent-robotti/looplinux/rip/

I do know that the latest Linux kernel can certainly read and theoretically write to NTFS. Quite a few Linux distributions use fonts from an existing Windows partition, for example.

Chris
Windows XP and a reformat. - Adam {P}
Thanks very much to everyone who posted. Before I'd even got there, he'd decided to Upgrade to Windows XP. He apparently used exactly the same CD and no errors came up oddly enough and it seems to work fine.

Again, many thanks to all of you,
--
Adam
Windows XP and a reformat. - Stuartli
There are full and upgrade versions of the various Windows operating systems - sounds as though it was an upgrade disk.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
Windows XP and a reformat. - Adam {P}
I thought that at first Stuart but it wouldn't have installed originally would it if that were the case?
--
Adam
Recyle bin - Imagos
When i delete files to recycle bin sometimes they show up in it but most times they don't. Any ideas on getting over this? running XP home.

TIA
Recyle bin - smokie
Are you sure you are deleting them to the bin? Somewhere there is a choice of whether you use the bin or not (in properties for each disc, IIRC). Some files or folders may be too large for the bin, in which case you usually get a prompt saying so, and offering you the choice of cancelling. Lastly if you press the shift key then delete it bypasses the bin.
Wireless networking connectivity - alexisj
My wireless internet connection at home is driving me to distraction this morning...
Every so often (sometimes 5mins, sometimes 50mins...), and for no apparent reason, Windows informs me that my 'network has limited or no connectivity' and drops the internet connection. This has got really bad this morning after months of (relatively) trouble free use. The signal strength is fine so I can't understand why the connection keeps failing. Using the repair option in network connections usually fixes it and shows that there is a problem with the IP address, but offers no explanation as to why the computer or router has suddenly forgotten what this is. My current settings are to automatically obtain an IP address; I could manually input an IP address but then I suspect I'd have to change this whenever I try to log on to a different wireless network, and I'd need to find out the relevant DNS and default gateway settings. Is there something obvious I've missed? I'm using a Centrino laptop running XP Home, connecting to a Belkin Wireless router. Cheers, Alex
Wireless networking connectivity - Altea Ego
Dont know the belkin per say, but most routers allow you to log in and check any logs. Thats the first place I would look.
Wireless networking connectivity - Stargazer {P}
Has another wireless network recently started near you (are you town or rurally based)?

If two networks use channels too close to each other they will interfere, reducing the speed of both possibly to the point of dropout.

Check your channel setting on the router, perhaps try changing it by at least 3 channels (recommended separation for adjacent networks).

I had a similar problem when I first set up my home network until I realised that my neighbour was also running a network.

StarGazer
Wireless networking connectivity - Altea Ego
Should have hacked into his and save your expense ;)
Wireless networking connectivity - alexisj
Have changed the router channel in case this is causing problems. I can't detect any other networks in the area at the mo. I'll keep on fiddling with it (at least until a housemate wanders in enquiring why their internet connection has just been lost...). Cheers, Alex