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Recent Posts

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1851
Living Room / Re: install win7 32 or 64 bit on a 4 gig ram machine - opinions, please.
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 24, 2010, 03:57 AM »
Well done - glad you got it working.

To insert image use the drop down on the left (Link Inline Image ...) so the article I edited became this:

[Select]
Thanks for the replies and help.
I have considered updating the bios.
I've done it once on anther machine successfully.

Here's what I'm looking at from gateway support.
Which doesn't seem updated enough.

This is after input of my computer serial number,
and scanning current configuration, with available downloads.
So these are for this Computer.

[attachthumb=1][/attachthumb]

[attachthumb=2][/attachthumb]

[attachthumb=3][/attachthumb]

The 1,2,3 refer to the order in which the images were attached to the message.
1852
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: HDMI Cables: $0.60
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 23, 2010, 09:41 AM »
Quality audio cables are also gold plated, best quality SCART cables are gold plated (and I thing the contacts in USB cables are gold plated). Presumably with tiny connection areas and a damp environment (eg. humans and pets breating, eating food etc) can cause minor corrosion and poor contacts. I presume the problem is made worse by the amount of data being transferred and the easy with which digital data can be disrupted. Analogue data isn't so bad because if you miss a tiny bit no one will notice.
1853
General Software Discussion / Re: save ebay auctions webpages
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 23, 2010, 03:31 AM »
I just saved the page you linked to in Firefox 3.6.3 using File > Save As ... and the "Web Page, complete" option and it looks identical to the original to me.

Similarly I saved it as an MHT file in Internet Explorer and it worked fine. (it even displays properly in Opera)

See attached MHT (You'll have to unzip it)
1854
Living Room / Re: Why does the computer have to pause when you stick in a blank dvd/cd?
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 22, 2010, 06:34 PM »
I don't know why (well okay it was pointed out above that disk i/o needs multi-threading) but it seems any disk activity puts everything else to sleep until Windows wakes up after disk i/o.
-Daleus (June 21, 2010, 11:27 AM)

Could this have something to do with the use of pagefiles and the need to complete page transfers in one go without interruption?
1855
General Software Discussion / Re: Why upgrade to MS Office 2010?
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 22, 2010, 06:26 PM »
If you are only using Word, Excel I can see no particular reason to upgrade from 2007 to 2010. The upgrades to those apps, AFAICT, are minimal. Powerpoint has a few updates and Outlook and Publisher now have the ribbon interface.

There are some tweaks for sharing and the odd new feature (such as clipboard preview and more picture editing) but nothing with a wow factor for the average user.

These articles might help a bit:

http://www.pcworld.c...ce_2010_ribbons.html

and

http://redmondmag.co...orth-an-upgrade.aspx
1856
Living Room / Re: Help! Really strange WiFi problem.
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 22, 2010, 03:14 PM »
Firewall issue? Are you blocking access by accident?
1857
General Software Discussion / Re: This Mac devotee is moving to Linux
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 21, 2010, 06:35 PM »
I am using a Canon Pixma MX850
-Carol Haynes (June 21, 2010, 03:28 PM)
Not the point of this thread I know, but I've found this printer to be so good that I just had to add  :up: :up: :up:

-cranioscopical (June 21, 2010, 03:52 PM)

LOL - I'll add another few  :Thmbsup: :Thmbsup: :Thmbsup: :Thmbsup: :Thmbsup:
1858
Living Room / Re: install win7 32 or 64 bit on a 4 gig ram machine - opinions, please.
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 21, 2010, 06:33 PM »
Yep - 3Gb is probably about correct.

Backup is a good idea.

When installing Windows 7 remember to unplug any extra hardware (eg. external drives, printers, multiple monitors etc.) Make your system as simple as possible.

Good luck ;)
1859
General Software Discussion / Re: This Mac devotee is moving to Linux
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 21, 2010, 03:28 PM »
I would use Linux if ...
-Carol Haynes (June 21, 2010, 01:00 PM)

But, would you, really?  You run a PC support business.  Isn't that a de facto Windows support business?
-rjbull (June 21, 2010, 02:57 PM)

Mostly true but I do support Mac systems and very occasionally Linux raises its head.

I multiboot Windows XP, Vista and 7. If I could I would include MacOSX (but not to the point of spending a fortune on Apple hardware - though I have been tempeted by one of those boxes that looks like a white brick). If it was useful to do so I would also multiboot a Linux distro or two.

As for my own desktop I would have no particular problem using Linux if I could run the software I need but I don't really see the point of running Linux when I would need to install VMWare just to function.

  • any sort of drivers that work with all-in-one network based printers from major players (and in particular Canon)

Which Canon MFPs do you like?

I am using a Canon Pixma MX850 at the moment as my main printer network attached MFP and a Canon Pixma ip5000 as a subsidiary shared USB printer.

The reason I use canon printers is the quality of output. I used to use HP printers but don't think the quality is as good and also HP software stinks (99% of printer problems I encounter seem to be caused by HP software). Last time I used Epson was in dot matrix days - I haven't been hugely impressed with what I have seen since.
1860
Living Room / Re: install win7 32 or 64 bit on a 4 gig ram machine - opinions, please.
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 21, 2010, 02:31 PM »
Your current BIOS seems to have been superseded by 4 versions. Try the top one (5/2/2007) which is designed to add support for Vista (and by implication it is the one most likely to be best with Windows 7).

Windows 7 should install the correct drivers for the motherboard automatically but it cannot hurt to download the latest versions and have them ready. The motherboard driver listed there is ancient - try using something like Speccy or SIW to correctly identify the motherboard and look on the chipmaker's website for the most recent version with Windows Vista/7 support (from the images above it looks like it is an Intel chipset).

Speccy: http://www.piriform.com/speccy/builds (use the portable version)
SIW: http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download.html (go for the free version without installer)

Once you have found out which chipset you can look for a driver here:

http://downloadcente...efault.aspx?lang=eng
1861
General Software Discussion / Re: This Mac devotee is moving to Linux
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 21, 2010, 02:19 PM »
Interesting to hear that WiFi is getting there.

GIMP - nah ... absolutely hate it ... it always feels as though someone has randomly spewed incomprehensible windows all over the screen and it isn't designed for print media (it was specifically designed for web images - and yes I know it can be used for more but ...). I know PhotoShop is complicated too but I do like Photoshop and have invested a lot of money in it over the years. Now if Adobe want to expand to Linux too ... (yes I know there is a gimp skin that makes it look a little bit like photoshop but the underlying software is not brilliant IMHO).

For me printer support is the biggest bugbear ... I know you can use standard 'generic' drivers to get something out but over years I have tried with various printers and have yet to find one that produces a decent printout from Linux. As for all-in-one printers you can forget it. I love my Canon printer and it is fantastic that I can stand in another room and scan an image directly to any computer on the network. I have yet to find any kind of scanner driver that works with any scanner on Linux - let alone a decent driver that takes advantage of all the features.
1862
General Software Discussion / Re: This Mac devotee is moving to Linux
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 21, 2010, 01:00 PM »
I would use Linux if ...

  • there was decent software for graphics and video (at least as function as Photoshop Elements and Sony Vegas
  • decent office software (not OpenOffice)
  • any sort of drivers that work with all-in-one network based printers from major players (and in particular Canon)
  • drivers that work with wifi (not just a small selection of esoteric hardware that you can't buy)
1863
General Software Discussion / Re: InfoHesiveEP from 2BrightSparks now free
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 21, 2010, 12:41 PM »
No it is designed for ePublishing ... here is the workflow:



1864
General Software Discussion / Re: InfoHesiveEP from 2BrightSparks now free
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 21, 2010, 12:13 PM »
Just looking at the download page - I notice the SDK is written for Borland Delphi. I wonder if the move to freeware signals that they are no longer going to be using Delphi and hence the program development has reached its end?

I certainly hope not. I purchased version 1 and had version 2.3 installed (the last commercial version).

I suppose it should at least keep working for a reasonable length of time since it is Windows 7 compatible.
1865
General Software Discussion / Re: InfoHesiveEP from 2BrightSparks now free
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 21, 2010, 10:36 AM »
OK who added the picture (I forgot)

Thanks  :-[
1866
General Software Discussion / InfoHesiveEP from 2BrightSparks now free
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 21, 2010, 07:22 AM »
Great piece of software for e-publishing (Help files, PDF files and lots more) now freeware

http://www.2brightsparks.com/infohesive

InfoHesiveEP.gif

Miffed that I paid for it but it is a great bit of software - now thoroughly affordable ;)

Just hope it doesn't mean no more development  :tellme:
1867
Living Room / Re: install win7 32 or 64 bit on a 4 gig ram machine - opinions, please.
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 21, 2010, 06:55 AM »
Probably needs a bios update, yes.
I'm not confident to do it though.
The chances of turning it into a door stop.
-cmpm (June 21, 2010, 04:59 AM)

The important points to BIOS updating are:

1) Be 100% certain that you download the correct BIOS update for your motherboard direct from the manufacturer's website. Model numbers are always printed on the motherboard somewhere (often between the expansion slots - you may need a torch!). However, if it is a factory built computer system from a big box shifting manufacturer don't rely on the printed model number on the motherboard as manufacturer's often buy cheaper modified versions of motherboards and supply limited BIOS options - you then can't 100% guarantee that the BIOS from the motherboard manufacturer is completely compatible  (though I have to say I have used this method to release previously unavailable BIOS options and never had a doorstop at the end - but you should be aware of the issue).

2) If you are happy to upgrade the BIOS follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter

3) If things seem to take longer than expected don't be tempted to do anything silly (such as press the OFF button or reset) go and get a strong drink and come back later.

Having said all that I agree with steeladept - I have performed more BIOS updates than I can remember and have never (touch wood) killed a motherboard yet by doing so.
1868
Living Room / Re: install win7 32 or 64 bit on a 4 gig ram machine - opinions, please.
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 21, 2010, 04:48 AM »
If Win 7 installs and with 2Gb there is no reason why it shouldn't do so with 4Gb.

Have you checked BIOS settings (if you tweak them revert them to the safe default settings). In particular make sure your memory settings are conservative.

If that isn't the issue have you checked for a BIOS update for your motherboard - from what you are describing it sounds like either a memory issue or a motherboard issue.
1869
Living Room / Re: install win7 32 or 64 bit on a 4 gig ram machine - opinions, please.
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 21, 2010, 04:10 AM »
BothXP Pro and W7 would only show 3gb usable, while showing I did indeed have 4gb of mem.
Some limitation with 32bit.
-cmpm (June 20, 2010, 09:00 PM)

Depending on what hardware you have in your machine you are very unlikely to see more than 3.3Gb of RAM in a 32 bit system and if your grapgics card has large onboard memory you are likely to see less than that (which probably accounts for the the 3Gb only). Vista and 7 do recognise that you have 4Gb available but the way it works is that any devices with mapped memory (eg. graphics cards) is removed from your 4Gb so that it can be mapped.

If Windows 7 32-bit is blue screening and the memory is OK I would guess it is a driver issue. I am starting to come across a number of systems (32 and 64 bit) that are having issues with drivers installing out of the box. This includes my own desktop system - I tried to install 7 and Vista, both 32-bit and 64-bit and all 4 versions blue screened. My motherboard is Vista certified and my graphics card is identical to one I use on another machine with windows 7 so I suspect it is another piece of hardware present in my desktop box that is causing the problem At the moment I can't be bothered to fix it but when I get round to it I will need to remove all inessential hardware before the install and then add them back bit by bit and download the relevant drivers from the manufacturer because obviously something doesn't like the drivers supplied by MS during Windows setup.
1870
Living Room / Re: install win7 32 or 64 bit on a 4 gig ram machine - opinions, please.
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 20, 2010, 05:52 PM »
Sounds like a dodgy memory stick
1871
General Software Discussion / Re: any free (or cheap) utilities to export outlook pst files to HTML or XML?
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 18, 2010, 11:25 AM »
The server version is really overkill for the suggested needs (and hardly qualifies as cheap when it expires in less than 2 weeks). The Home version is free permanently - but I was interested to see there is now a beta portable version of the Home edition.
1872
General Software Discussion / Re: any free (or cheap) utilities to export outlook pst files to HTML or XML?
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 18, 2010, 07:53 AM »
Are you sure all your emails are in a PST file? If it is a company with mailbox quotas it sounds more like an Exchange Server that is being used.

If it is in a PST profile then you can use the Home version of Mailstore (http://www.mailstore.../mailstore-home.aspx) to archive all of your email (without affecting your PST file if you don't want to) and then export from MailStore it in lots of different ways (including a folder full of text files or .eml files). Mailstore also has a brilliantly quick search built in and it can add emails incrementally.

There is also an option to delete archived emails using rules (such as older than xxx days) if that is required to reduce your PST file size.

If you do reduce your PST file size in this way don't forget to use ScanPST.exe (supplied with all versions of Outlook) to produce a new compacted version of your PST file to minimise the wasted space.
1873
General Software Discussion / Re: is there an ultimate file extension manager (to work with windows 7, at least).
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 15, 2010, 03:22 AM »
Not pretty (and I haven't tried it) but this article covers how to change a filetype icon in 7 and Vista:

http://www.winhelpon...windows-7-and-vista/
1874
General Software Discussion / Re: Office live is now...well...Live
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 12, 2010, 10:50 AM »
Quite attractive site but the apps are pretty basic compared to the desktop equivalents!

Looking at Word Live I think Wordpad probably has as many features.
1875
Living Room / What the heck has happened to Google search?
« Last post by Carol Haynes on June 12, 2010, 08:16 AM »
Is it just me or is the new Google search simply broken?

It has been increasingly frustrating for a long time that it is difficult to find anything relevant because of SEO kiddies bunging up the top spots (yes I know there is another thread) but since the "new" google started appearing search results have become totally useless.

Almost everything now seems to be pretty much irrelevant to the search items.

What is going on?
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