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Computer Related Questions-Volume 212 - Dynamic Dave

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 we 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 212. Previous Volumes will not be deleted.


A list of previous volumes can be found by clicking Here


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.


969555

Edited by Dynamic Dave on 12/02/2010 at 17:53

Online form filling problem - Ramite
I have a problem when trying to fill in forms on the internet.For example on ebay, the box that you would fill in appears really small.So small you cannot see what you have written.I have just got a 2nd hand pc everything seems ok with it.Just not sure how to sort this out.

default subject line corrected - unless the box was too small to see of course !

Edited by Pugugly on 13/02/2010 at 16:46

Online form filling problem - JH
What browser are you using? IE8 has a "scale" at the extreme bottom right. Mine is currently showing 100%. Maybe yours is set lower? If so, try changing it.

JH
Online form filling problem - Stuartli
In both Firefox and IE, if you use Ctrl and + or - (alternatively Ctrl and moving the mouse's scroll wheel one notch forward or backwards), you can increase or decrease the font etc size.
Online form filling problem - Ramite
Tried to change the scale but only made the page bigger.The page size and zoom level is fine,it is just the boxes when filling forms out.They are about a 10th of the size they should be.
Online form filling problem - SpamCan61 {P}
I'd try a different browser.
PC can see BT router but won't connect via wi-fi - Nsar
We have a home hub. My PC is fine with connecting via wi-fi, my wife's is fine too but our au pair's HP laptop stubbornly won't, but can see the router.

The only difference I can see is that his pc is French, but can't see how that makes a diffference.

Annoying for him but our kids fall about when when he talks about connecting to the wiffy.

PC can see BT router but won't connect via wi-fi - Altea Ego
I assume the au pair's lap top can see the wee fee router broadcast name of your router, and it comes up as an access point - oius?

I also assume that your router has some security on it - wep?

you are giving him the right password? dont give him the passphrase, but the actual alpha numeric generated password.
PC can see BT router but won't connect via wi-fi - Nsar
Yes, to all of those questions

PC can see BT router but won't connect via wi-fi - Altea Ego
Cest la vie
AE gives a gallic shrug of the shoulders

Get your continental home help to set his wireless adaptor to 802.11b - 11gbs

Edited by Altea Ego on 13/02/2010 at 23:38

PC can see BT router but won't connect via wi-fi - pmh3
Is it running Vista?

I encountered one in France (it was also HP) that refused to succumb to all sorts of tricks by me and then from my 2nd line support. The thought was then to to reload - but fortunately I was leaving, so left the owner to the local professional 'expert'. He failed too! The 'professional' solution in the end was to install Windows 7.

Problem solved but not understood. If you Google you will find other people who have had difficulty.


Are you sure that you are running WEP? The default on recently shipped 'Black' HomeHubs is WPA2. If you are set up with WPA2 it may be worth temporarily taking all security off to see if it works then move up thro WEP back to WPA2?

Edited by pmh3 on 14/02/2010 at 09:36

PC can see BT router but won't connect via wi-fi - NVH
We have this problem on one of our routers.
It affects Vista pcs only and we solve it by connecting using a 5 metre cable in the same room as the router.
The other problem we found is when giving someone is given the wrong key
typical format 98-D8-85-EE-88
There are typically 4 keys visible on the routers admin software,
and a dropdown box which shows which of the 4 keys listed is the wireless key.
The other 3 will connect to the router but show a "limited or no connectivity" message.
PC can see BT router but won't connect via wi-fi - gmac
How old is ap's laptop ?
Is your home hub running n (300Mbps) ? If his laptop is older it may only be able to run at g (54Mbps), you will have to change the settings on the router.

I found this out with my wifes old XP laptop. I had to change the router to b,g,n to enable it to access the network. It could see the router under n, just could not connect.
PC can see BT router but won't connect via wi-fi - rtj70
When you say it sees the router, I assume it find the access point but will not connect when you try. Therefore check that MAC address restrictions are not enabled on the router, i.e. allow only known devices.

So I'd turn this off, let it connect and then look on the router for the MAC address of the laptop and add it to the allowed list. Then turn on MAC address security to allow only known devices.
PC can see BT router but won't connect via wi-fi - Nsar
Thanks all, some stuff to work through will have a go later on.

Mind you it has just taken the two of us best part of an hour to change the bulb on a Yaris, so it may be some time.

PC can see BT router but won't connect via wi-fi - JH
3 hours later and no "changing a light bulb" jokes? :-(

JH
PC can see BT router but won't connect via wi-fi - Altea Ego
Its no joke on the yaris.
PC can see BT router but won't connect via wi-fi - Nsar
Too right, but on the plus side I now have an alternative career ahead of me.

Edited by rtj70 on 14/02/2010 at 23:46

PC can see BT router but won't connect via wi-fi - SpamCan61 {P}
Just wondered if there were any other thoughts / updates on this one? I've now got exactly the same problem at Spamcan towers with a friend's HP laptop.

Wireless access point is a Netgear DG834G, I've now turned all security and MAC filtering off - 5 PCs running 3 different OSs, 2 wifi radios, a Wii and a Nokia E70 all connect fine.

Laptop is a HP DV2-1010ea - big netbook really - running Vista Home Basic. As per original problem network can be seen by laptop but will not connect - indeed the laptop does not show up in the access list on the router, it's like the laptop is receiving but not transmitting on the wifi.
Itunes volume levelling - BobbyG
Up until recently I connected my ipod to the car via the headphone / aux socket. I recently bought an ipod to aux cable and, whether its a coincidence or not, I am now very aware of constantly having to adjust volume depending on what track is playing.

Is there a way that I can "level the volume" of all my songs currently in itunes and then sync these to my ipod? I know when I used to use Musicmatch many moons ago there was the option of volume levelling.

Secondly, if I add new music, is there specific settings I should use to ensure any more tracks are levelled?

I looked at the last ipod question which related to this but I can't see how to do it through Itunes / Get Info?

Cheers in advance
Itunes volume levelling - rtj70
An iPod would limit max volume via the headphone socket. As you have found the dock connector is not restricted.

I am sure iTunes allows you to calibrate/normalise all music. Being on the work laptop I cannot currently check. Maybe its called Sound Check?
Itunes volume levelling - BobbyG
Yip, I have now ticked the Sound Check button and it is now Analyzing each of my tracks individually - only 4800 to go... think the laptop will be getting left on overnight!!

Thanks again Rob
Itunes volume levelling - rtj70
Another tip... on an iPhone or iPod Touch it now has the ability to shuffle on a shake action. If you have this on (e.g. in a gym) it will seem to randomly shuffle. Took me a bit to fathom that one out! As you'd have to stop and take a look and then no evidence apart from suffle on again.... only then do you figure out there is an option in settings (now) for shuffle via a shake action! :-)
Itunes volume levelling - BobbyG
Just as well mine is an old ipod classic - what you doing going to the gym? Is that the only way you homeless folk can get a shower???? :)

(I actually did that the first few days after my house fire! - except instead of the gym it was 5 mins in the sauna then into the showers!)

Edited by BobbyG on 14/02/2010 at 23:05

Itunes volume levelling - rtj70
Is that the only way you homeless folk can get a shower???? :)


You will have mail soon ;-) Not quite homeless!
wireless network problem - borasport20
My wireless network is based on a 5 year old 3com 11g router, and initially connected an XP pc and 2 XP laptops, using WPA.
Then a few years ago,SWMBO got a Vista laptop, and we couldn't get that to connect using WEP or WPA, and after a lot of headscratching (mainly by Adamski, once of this parish) we went for an 'unsecured' network using MAC addressing

Having now got a Windows 7 pc and wanting to make more use of the network, I've reverted to WPA. The new Windows7 pc connects, no problem. The old IBM thinkpad connects, no problem. Her Vista laptop connects, no problem. My works laptop connects, no problem.
The old XP PC just sits there, trying to aquire a network address - anybody got any ideas ? - it uses a 3COM USB 11g adaptor that came as part of the kit with the router, and i've gone as far as uninstalling and re-installing the driver for it, without success

wireless network problem - rtj70
What service pack is on the old XP machine? It may not like WPA and certainly not WPA2.
wireless network problem - gmac
The PC used to work under WPA, WPA was then turned off, now the PC does not work under WPA is what I read in the message.
Have you told the PC about the WPA wireless connection again ?
Does the router broadcast the SSID or have you switched this off to hide the router ?
You will have to reconnect to the router and tell the PC the WPA key again, manually if the router is hidden.

Edited by gmac on 15/02/2010 at 13:28

wireless network problem - borasport20
The pc which doesn't connect and the IBM laptop that does are both XP SP3. The laptop connects via a PC card that like the USB adaptor came as part of the 3com kit with the router.

I may try getting the laptop to connect via the USB card just to see if that is the issue, then again as the XP pc has been rendered redundant, I may just forget it.


Now, for the next question, how to stream audio from audible.com over the network ... I've managed to stream mp3 stuff with itunes, but it seems to specifically preclude audible files - anybody got any clever suggestions

and can I just say that if Bill Gates had been around when I was wasting most of last weekend trying to migrate my mail from XP to W7, he would have been lying bleeding in the gutter ;-)
wireless network problem - borasport20
p.s.
Bill Gates would have been joined by somebody from my ISP. Their support docs specifically state the password for setting up your connection is the one you were provided with at signup, not the one used to access your email account, and that is totally wrong - another couple of hours wasted.
wireless network problem - jbif
borasport20 - seems to me you are having an irrational rant:
if Bill Gates had been around >>

Bill Gates retired from active service in MS some time ago (27 June 2008).
when I was wasting most of last weekend trying to migrate my mail from XP to W7, he would have been lying bleeding in the gutter ;-) >>

You don't say which email client you were using in XP and which one you have chosen for Win7 (as you may or may not know, MS left out a free bundled email claient to avoid "monopoly" accusations, and had intended to leave out IE8 in Europe as the EU had asked for initially but then the EU asked MS not to exclude IE8 ).
Anyway, afaik, the migration of emails from XP to Win7 is a doddle and takes about 10 minutes if you follow the simple basic instructions correctly.
my ISP. Their support docs specifically state the password for setting up your connection is the one you were provided with at signup, not the one used to access your email account, and that is totally wrong - another couple of hours wasted. >>

AFAIK, every ISP does this, and IMO should do it if they are not out of their senses. It is the most basic security safety precaution I or anyone with any sense could ask for.

wireless network problem - borasport20
AFAIK every ISP does this and IMO should do it if they are not out
of their senses. It is the most basic security safety precaution I or anyone with
any sense could ask for.


My ISP states - 'Your broadband username and password will be sent to you in an email prior to when your service goes live. This is a separate username and password to that of your ---------- email account'

This is incorrect, it is the same password in both cases - this is not a security precaution, it is an error in their documetation.
wireless network problem - Stuartli
TalkTalk issues a Username (your phone number @talktalk.net) and a unique password for logging on purposes, but its e-mail account address is in the form of your chosen prefix (probably your name) to @talktalk.net and your choice of password.
wireless network problem - jbif
... it is the same password in both cases ... >>


Sorry, my mistake. I mistakenly thought you said in your earlier post that they were different but that you wished they were the same. In the case of my ISP (talktalk) the broadband and email usernames/passwords are different.
www.talktalk.co.uk/help/email/how-do-i-create-a-ta...l

p.s. re your old XP desktop. Try renewing the IP using ipconfig command.

Edited by jbif on 15/02/2010 at 17:38

wireless network problem - borasport20
@jbif

did you really think I was going to beat Bill Gates to a pulp as well ? ;-)
wireless network problem - jbif
did you really think I was going to beat Bill Gates to a pulp as well ? ;-) >>


Yes, of course, literally, just as I take this line from your ISP to be true:
"Their support docs specifically state the password for setting up your connection is the one you were provided with at signup, "

p.s. tcp/ip and using the ipconfig command
support.microsoft.com/kb/314067

Edited by jbif on 15/02/2010 at 17:46

wireless network problem - smokie
You could try removing the wireless adapter (de-install in Device Manager) then letting Windows re-discover it (Add new hardware). May need a reboot in between - if it does, don't skip it. This will rebuild the ip stack which can get corrupted in some very odd ways. And/or remove the IP protocol from the card, then re-add. My memory around this is a bit hazy so come back if that makes no sense.

Edited by smokie on 15/02/2010 at 19:52

wireless network problem - Stuartli
In the case of my ISP (talktalk) the broadband and email usernames/passwords are different.>>


Which confirms what I stated a little earlier. In fact it goes back, in my case, to April 2006 when I first switched to TalkTalk from Tiscali. Ironically the latter is now under the CPW banner, along with one of my earlier ISPs, Pipex, once the market leader par excellence.

Edited by Stuartli on 15/02/2010 at 22:52

wireless network problem - Altea Ego
And boy dont you know that talk talk has taken over. I have ended up shouting and swearing at talk talk reps who insist on phoning me on a weekly basis telling me I need TV.

Never had any agro when it was Tiscali.
wireless network problem - Stuartli
>>Never had any agro when it was Tiscali. >>

I had far more "aggro" whilst with Tiscali over several years than I've ever had with TalkTalk since April 2006.

To date, TT hasn't put a foot out of place (apart from recently attempting to try and tempt me away from my AnyTime International3 package), delivers a consistent 6.5Mb to 7.3Mb connection and provides bills that are spot on use wise.

To add to the satisfaction, I've been getting occasional speeds of up to 16.5Mb in recent weeks, no doubt due to the further LLU upgrading by TT at my local exchange, currently closed to potential new TT customers as it's at full capacity.

Edited by Stuartli on 15/02/2010 at 23:13

wireless network problem - jbif
.... I have ended up shouting and swearing at talk talk reps who insist on phoning me on a weekly basis telling me I need TV ... >>


I assume you know the name of the man who "owns" the business. His email address is easily found and I can assure you that if you write to him (politely, not shouting or swearing), you can expect to get your complaint resolved pretty quickly.

wireless network problem - pda
I certainly need that email address.
I'm at my wits end with Tiscali and Talk Talk.
I've been with Tiscali for 7 years now without a problem for broadband only with a phone line from BT.
I pay £17.99 per month and since last August I have been trying to 'UPgrade' to a cheaper package as I know I can get broadband only from elsewhere for about £7 per month.
I rang them monthly to be told all last year that there is a technical problem on my account ( along with a lot of others apparently) and nothing could be changed at present.
In December I got annoyed and insisted something was done so I was promised the problem would be solved within a month and I wouldn't be charged for January.
I was, and I have just been charged for February too.
Two hours and five phone calls yesterday and nothing is solved yet again.

These are my options I'm told.
I can upgrade to Broadband only through Talk Talk for £19.99 per month BUT I have to change my email address to a talk talk one.
I can stay as I am at £17.99 and keep my tiscali email address.
BUT, when the 'technical fault' is removed I can then change to Broadband and Talk and ditch my BT phone line for approx £27 after the first 3 months reduction.

Now my problem is that my email address is printed on all of our Charity paperwork and websites as a point of contact and I simply cannot change it so what would the backroomers advise.
I have googled this problem and there are many of us having this problem with Tiscali/Talk Talk.

I do accept that the package of Broadband and Talk may well be a bit cheaper than BT at the moment but I just hate being bullied into agreeing to something and this is just that.

Pat
wireless network problem - rtj70
I assume you know the name of the man who "owns" the business.


I once did that with BT, i.e. email the chief exec. I got an email back from them (probably a secretary), calls from very senior managers and some credit on the account.
wireless network problem - Altea Ego
Talk Talk boss (actually still carphone warehouse till they sell off Talk talk)
Charles Dunstun
The Carphone Warehouse
North Acton Business Park, Wales Farm Road
London
W3 6RS
telephone:
020 88965000

wireless network problem - hjd
His name is actually Charles Dunstone.
wireless network problem - Stuartli
Charles Dunstone's e-mail address at the last count (keeps changing them!):

dunstoc@cpwplc.com
wireless network problem - pda
Thanks Stuart:)

Pat
wireless network problem - jbif
Charles Dunstone's e-mail address at the last count (keeps changing them!): >>


He has various versions, to distinguish public, personal, company-general and company-restricted communications.

This gives you the official page on the parent Company's cpwplc.com website:
tinyurl.com/y85ukjz

Edited by jbif on 16/02/2010 at 10:07

wireless network problem - jbif
Charles Dunstone's e-mail address ... >>


Stuartli - I note you have posted his email addresses on a PC advice forum in the past. Have they (CPW) not tried this tactic on you? :
www.oliverbrown.me.uk/2006/12/12/carphone-warehous.../
www.canyoutrustthem.com/index.php?go=details&id=36...0

I know that whoever tried it on was on futile mission.

wireless network problem - Stuartli
>>- I note you have posted his email addresses on a PC advice forum in the past.>>

In one instance, yes, about four years ago.

But not on the links you list, especially the second, which comes up bright red on McAfee's Site Advisor's panel.....:-)
wireless network problem - Altea Ego
His name is actually Charles Dunstone.


really. I should have spelt it "billy the kid" or "butch cassidy"
17" laptop (from CRQ vol 208) - tyro
Following on from
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=81981 . . .

We finally got into town and popped into Aldi yesterday. One of their 17" laptops that went on sale 3 weeks ago, as mentioned by JBIF, was still available. Seduced by the promise of the 3 year warranty* and the reasonable spec, we decided to purchase it.

We went in expecting to spend about £5, but ended up spending over £500.

*Looks like I'll be buying Korean cars next.

;-)

IE - which version have I got? - bintang
When I open IE I get an IE8 message but the Outlook Express emailer shows IE6. How can I check which version I actually have please? The "All Programs" section doesn't say.
IE - which version have I got? - Stuartli
It's because OE is still Version 6.

If you go to Help on the Toolbar in IE and/or OE and then click on About IE or OE, it will list the version in use.
IE - which version have I got? - bintang
Thank you. It is IE8.
ip cctv camera - janliv18
will i need a static ip to view this type of equipment abroad or can i connect it up to my netgear router and view it some other way?

thanks



type of item is on ebay see link:


cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2205...T

ip cctv camera - rtj70
If your router supports port forwarding (almost certain) then you could foward all requests to the CCTV camera. You'd need to know the IP address of the router and it's not likely to be static (but may not change if always on). But you could get it to register with a dynamic DNS service.
ip cctv camera - janliv18
so would that allow me to access the camera remotly? the router is never switched off. Its a Linksys wireless router, but the camera would be connected via cat5 cable.
Im with talktalk but you cant get a static ip with them.
ip cctv camera - rtj70
If the router is never turned off then the IP address will remain the same - in theory it could change but unlikely. When the routers asks to renew the IP address it will get the same one.

So yes you could access the camera. But you will need to forward the network port used for the camera on the router to the local IP address of the router. So say TCP port 80 to access the camera, and the camera was 192.168.1.11 you would port forward port 80 to 192.168.1.11.

If you register with a dynamic DNS service, the Linksys should be able to register with this if told to do so and you could access your camera with a proper fully qualified hostname. Or jut use the IP address of the router provided by TalkTalk.
Is Hotmail working? - ifithelps
Anyone having any bother with Hotmail?

Mine receives OK, and I can open messages.

But when I try to compose a message to send, I cannot type anything in the text box.

And I can't get access to my contacts list.




Is Hotmail working? - maz64
Just managed to send something ok.
Computer turns itself off and lost emails - maz64
My mum tells me that her PC tends to turn itself off. If it's going to do it, it's usually not long after start-up, so she leaves it for a few minutes to settle. Once going, it's ok (but see below).

I got her to send the System event log, and there aren't any events corresponding to when it turns itself off, so I reckon it's hardware rather than software. What do you think -
- motherboard
- power switch
- PSU
- something else?

Also, the main reason she rang was the PC turned itself off just as she was catching up on her emails. She was using Outlook Express, and about 8 had just arrived in her inbox when it went kaput.

When she got it going again, she could see all her old emails, but there was no sign of the 8 new ones. Anyone know how she might recover her lost emails?

Cheers
F
Computer turns itself off and lost emails - rtj70
Anyone know how she might recover her lost emails?


Might not help this time but you can usually setup outlook to delete emails when they reach a certain age, e.g. a week. So they are still on the server.

I do this for other reasons. I work away but the home computer is used so I can use webmail to still see emails.