Recent Posts

1526

DC Gamer Club / Re: Terraria

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 07, 2011, 07:51 PM »

That Rift game looks like a better proposition

-Lashiec (June 01, 2011, 04:34 PM)

Wow... I really like Rift... but 73 hours in 2 weeks?  That's impressive considering that row is only one person...

-wraith808 (June 07, 2011, 01:48 PM)

And how much is the monthly charge on top of the initial cost?

1527

Living Room / Re: Suggestions for removing nVidia drivers?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 06, 2011, 07:20 AM »

Friend wasn't too keen on a complete reinstall - so I have had another bash at removing nVidia dregs (even after Driver Cleaner and Driver Sweeper there were still files and registry entries, and a failing service hanging around), I also removed all the ATI software, updated mobo, sound, network and storage drivers and then reinstalled a different ATI driver (a couple of versions back).

We still got another STOP 0x3b afterwards but we noticed it only seemed to relate to when the computer was not in use and conicided with entering sleep mode so I have disable Sleep power settings - fingers crossed.

1528

Living Room / Re: Suggestions for removing nVidia drivers?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 05, 2011, 04:59 PM »

Thanks guys - yes I had just found ABR !!!

I think what I am going to try is to reinstall the GT220 card and then do a normal HP restore install and then uninstall any nVidia drivers immediately before reinserting the ATI card and start again.

I am pretty sure if I can get the nVidia drivers to uninstall cleanly there shouldn't be a problem as I have done that on other computers.

If it still goes pear shaped I will do a clean install from a Windows RTM DVD and just download the required drivers from HP.

Cheers - I'll let you know how it goes!

1529

Living Room / Re: Suggestions for removing nVidia drivers?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 05, 2011, 01:31 PM »

Thanks for the suggestions - I will have another bash tomorrow but it looks like a clean install is on the cards!

Any idea how to use an MS Windows 7 disk to install a clean setup and restore the OEM license?

1530

Living Room / Re: Suggestions for removing nVidia drivers?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 05, 2011, 11:41 AM »

The situation is that he had two monitors plugged into an nVidia GT200 card but needed 3 monitors. The system only has one PCIe socket.

The only cards that support 3 monitors are AMD/ATI cards.

The nVidia normal uninstaller didn't complete properly but left the system in a somewhat mixed state - which is why I used both DriverCleaner and Driver Sweeper to remove remnants. Nothing nVidia seems to be left on the system and the Catalyst drivers seemed to install without error. The three monitors work fine.

I am using one myself with 3 monitors and suggested the card to him.

I have installed this on a few systems and it works fine including a system where I removed old nVidia drivers when the card died.

Sorry I can't remember the STOP code number on this system but it is definitely graphics card related.

I updated to the latest Intel drivers from HP website (maybe I should try downloading newer ones from Intel).

FWIW - I have used both ATI and nVidia cards over the years and have had mixed results with drivers for both systems. Currently my experinece is that ATI seems to have the edge on stability - it is just this one system that is behaving screwy.

He isn't playing games or anything stressfull - just using normal office software.

1531

Living Room / Suggestions for removing nVidia drivers?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 05, 2011, 09:48 AM »

I installed a new ATI card in someones computer and ever since they have had regular BSODs related to graphics drivers.

Before wiping and installing from scratch has anyone any ideas on how to clean out all the graphics drivers and start from clean?

So far I used nVidia's uninstall routines to remove the drivers priori to removing the card, I have also use DriverCleaner.Net and Drive Sweeper to flush out nVidia remnants.

The motherboard has an Intel based chipset so there are no nForce drivers or other nVidia software installed but still the BSODs are coming daily.

Tried removing and installing various versions of Catalyst drivers - including the latest version but it doesn't seem to make much difference.

Any other suggestions short of a full reinstall of Windows would be appreciated.

I also have the problem that the only way to install Windows on this machine is from an HP installation image - is this going to reinstall the nVidia stuff because it expects a card to be in there or is it more intelligent than that?

1532

Living Room / Re: Microsoft unveils new UI prototype - Windows 8?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 05, 2011, 09:42 AM »

Just strikes me that the kiddie sliding block approach to the UI is pretty much identical to the way Apple hand held devices work. It also isn't miles away from the touchscreen software produced by HP for their machines.

I can see a rather large argument happening which will mean Windows 8 won't get released until the interface design is already passé !

1533

Living Room / Re: Microsoft unveils new UI prototype - Windows 8?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 05, 2011, 08:47 AM »

OK when is Apple going to sue Microsoft on look and feel?

1534

Living Room / Re: Is the Core i7 2600K really worth the extra cost over Core i5 2500K?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 02, 2011, 08:49 PM »

The one I am using is a Sapphire Radeon HD-5670 1Gb DDR5 which supports 3 full HD digital displays and is pretty good on the games I have installed. In the UK it is about £80-£85 which makes it pretty good value.

If you do look at these there are a range of models with a variety of output formats - make sure that you get the one with 3 digital outputs (DVI, HDMI and Display port) - it comes with a DVI-VGA adapter and HDMI-DVI adapter. Sapphire also do Display Port-DVI adapters separately.

I have mine set up with 3 x 24" Samsung HD 1920 x 1080 screen and it is fantastic for the price point.

1535

Living Room / Re: Microsoft unveils new UI prototype - Windows 8?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 02, 2011, 01:35 PM »

The trouble with all this is that it is already nearly there in touch screen computers.

I already have a number of clients using systems with touch screens  - the problem is after the novelty wears off (around the 5 minute mark) they all go back to keyboard and mouse because it is quick, more accurate and less tiring to use.

Who wants to use massive arm gestures when a quick flick of the wrist does the job rather better.

Maybe more innovative software is required but I am not convinced Microsoft are capable of producing it.

At least MS are thinking - the problem is that the way they are thinking seems to be at odds with what people want. All this is ideal in a palm device (except when you need to type when it is utterly crap) but on a large screen it looks really childish and nerdy!

1536

Living Room / Re: Is the Core i7 2600K really worth the extra cost over Core i5 2500K?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 02, 2011, 10:03 AM »

FWIW I stopped using nVidia cards (too many driver hassles) and switched back over to ATI about a year ago. I haven't had any regrets about that decision. 

-40hz (June 02, 2011, 09:40 AM)

Ditto - the only problem I have had is cleaning off nVidia drivers to get ATI drivers to install without issue.

1537

Living Room / Re: CPU Question: More Mhz per core or more cores?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 01, 2011, 09:01 PM »

FWIW (coming to this thread late) I have been using Corsair PSUs recently in builds and have been very happy with the quality and the price.

1538

Living Room / Re: Is the Core i7 2600K really worth the extra cost over Core i5 2500K?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 01, 2011, 01:28 PM »

AMD CPUs tend to be cheaper - have you seen the Phenom II x6 processor - I am VERY happy with mine and I haven't managed to max it out yet (despite trying)!!

On Amazon UK the Phenom II x6 3.3GHz is £80 cheaper then the i7-core x4 3.4GHz

AMD seems like a lot better value and the mobos are the same price.

1539

General Software Discussion / Re: How to find/replace a WDC WD5001ABYS-01YNA0 device driver

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 29, 2011, 08:40 AM »

Is RollBack like GoBack? If so that driver always blocked hibernation. Probably not much you can do about it if you want to keep Rollback running.

1540

General Software Discussion / Re: How to find/replace a WDC WD5001ABYS-01YNA0 device driver

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 28, 2011, 02:16 AM »

If they don't work make sure the IDE drivers and individual drive drivers are MS drivers. Sometimes mobo drivers provide alternative IDE/hard disk drivers for no apparent reason and they often cause problems. I know nForce drivers do this but you can opt out of using them during installation.

If you have an nForce chipset it might be worth downloading the latest version for your motherboard from nVidia and then uninstall the current set restart, install the latest version but ue advanced mode and make sure you don't use nForce IDE drivers.

If you don't have nForce drivers it might be worth doing the same update for your motherboard and make sure that non-standard IDE drivers are not installed.

You shouldn't need anything other than the standard drivers supplied in Windows by MS and they should hibernate without issue.

1541

General Software Discussion / Re: How to find/replace a WDC WD5001ABYS-01YNA0 device driver

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 27, 2011, 06:29 PM »

Try uninstalling the driver from device manager and then restart the computer - there is something strange going on with that driver.

If that doesn't work try updating the motherboard drivers.

There is no reason why a hard disk should stop hibernation!

1542

Living Room / Re: 15 Minutes to Hack Your Email

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 27, 2011, 04:09 AM »

seemed to https in the sniffed output - so why isn't is encrypted?

You can switch off https in GMail - and in the early says http was the norm. I don't think older accounts were automatically updated to https.

1543

Living Room / Re: Strange phone problem - can anyone help?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 24, 2011, 08:52 PM »

Thanks for the all the ideas and a great story.

The really strange part is that the socket where it had a problem is the master socket and now it is connected to an extension (off an adapter) and it works. I have moved the wired phone to the master socket and that seems to work without issue too.

All very peculiar - but you are probably right - it is likely to do with QoS.

1544

Living Room / Re: Phone scam - pretending to be Microsoft Engineer

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 24, 2011, 08:48 PM »

I have had a number of clients hit by this scam and a few have handed over money and access to their computer. They basically diddle about looking like they are doing something and install some free tools (like Malwarebytes).

One client contacted trading standards and got her money back and an investigation started. Trouble is it is difficult to tell where the scammers are based as I have come across a variety of accents!!!

1545

Living Room / Re: Strange phone problem - can anyone help?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 24, 2011, 01:03 PM »

Its OK - I hang my head in shame at missing something so stupid.

Still like to know why changing sockets mad the final difference?

1546

Living Room / Re: Strange phone problem - can anyone help?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 24, 2011, 04:19 AM »

Problem solved (sort of).

I replaced the cable - which makes things a lot better but not perfect. I should have thought of this before - the socket is in a really difficult place to get at so the only common feature of all 3 phone sets was the cable. It still isn't 100% but it is more like 90% working now.

Additionally I have now moved the base unit to the kitchen and it seems to work fine. The kitchen is an extension off the main socket (where it was plugged into so why it works in the kitchen I can't imagine!

Anyway thanks for the suggestions.

1547

Living Room / Re: Strange phone problem - can anyone help?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 23, 2011, 07:06 PM »

Yes I can hear the tone - and it works probably 25% of the time on average.

Yes my exchange can use pulse as well as tone but it works fine from the wired phone on tone and also worked fine on my old Dect phones on tone. It's academic anyway as the base unit doesn't have a pulse switch.

1548

Living Room / Re: Strange phone problem - can anyone help?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 23, 2011, 05:59 PM »

That's what Amazon said - but then I ordered a different model - so now I am on to my third set of phones and two different models and they all have the same issue (which wasn't there on previous Dect phones).

There doesn't seem to be any logic unless there is something specific in Panasonic phones that is different to other Dect phone?

1549

Living Room / Re: Strange phone problem - can anyone help?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 23, 2011, 02:39 PM »

Yes it is DECT The base unit sits next to the router - but the problem persists when the router is unplugged!

Nudone - you are correct I need to take it to a neighbours house and try it there to eliminate something in the house.

The strange thing is I had a set of BT Calypso DECT phones before and never had any issues at all.

1550

Living Room / Strange phone problem - can anyone help?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 23, 2011, 12:48 PM »

I had to replace my cordless phones and after looking at lots of different makes opted for Panasonic as they had good reviews and most other makes didn't seem to fair so well.

I have a main socket and a single extension with a wired phone on the extension and the cordless base unit on the main socket. Both had ADSL filters.

I have absolutely no problems making calls from the wired phone, and my previous cordless phones worked fine (albeit with really crappy sound).

The Panasonic phones have a problem - any number that has a 3 in it (or if you are using 3 to navigate menus) don't work - at least not consistently.

Given that the area I live in has a 3 in just about every number it takes about 3 or 4 attempts to make a call (using redial - so the number is correct). I just get number not recognised more than 50% of the time and if I am using menu navigation on a switchboard it just doesn't seem to hear 3 when pressed.

I returned the phones as faulty to Amazon and got a replacement but exactly the same problem. I have nmow changed model number (still Panasonic) and still get the same issue.

I have tried turning off broadband in case there was a frequency clash but that doesn't seem to make a difference.

One of the reasons I liked these phones is that they support call chaining from the address book. I make a fair number of overseas calls and use access numbers so call chaining is really handy - unfortunately it is almost impossible to dial my mother's number without error - even manually!

Has anyone got any clue how to troubleshoot this and work out how to fix it (other than just sending them back and getting a different make).