Recent Posts

1976

General Software Discussion / Re: Question - Does anyone know of such a program? - Data organizer

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 04, 2010, 02:55 PM »

How about InfoHesive at

http://www.2brightsp...nfohesive/index.html

1977

Living Room / Re: How I’d Hack Your Weak Passwords

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 01, 2010, 02:58 PM »

My business bank account demands you login as normal and then to access account info you have to use a device that that looks like a calculator which you have to insert your debit card, use your card pin in the device and it creates a unique 8 digit code for that session. Very effective - and even puts me off using online banking because it is so convoluted!

1978

Living Room / Re: Low energy use always on pc -- what's better, a laptop or a mini (htpc) pc?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 30, 2010, 08:33 PM »

I would say a micro-tower type would be your best bet in terms of reliability and longevity as it is easy to fix if anything goes wrong (not true of a laptop). Also micro-towers are easier to use passive cooling whereas laptops generally have to have fans kicking in all the time to keep them at sensible temperatures.

A micro tower isn't going to be as energy efficient as a laptop but by chosing sensible hardware (such as using onboard sound and graphics, not too much memory or ultra fast CPU, bare minimum of anything else and keeping drives to a minimum and use slower models) you should keep power to a minimum and mean you don't have to run a very powerful PSU. I would guess the extra running cost is likely to be easily outweighed by the purchase price and potential repair costs.

The Atom is an interesting idea but I have never used one so can't really offer constructive comments on that.

1979

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: WinPatrol PLUS at 50% off until April 7

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 29, 2010, 03:06 PM »

If you want a direct link to the blog go to http://billpstudios.blogspot.com/

1980

Living Room / Re: How the big boys win the race for most popular website and rake in the dough

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 29, 2010, 05:37 AM »

How come Viacom haven't sued themselves for copyright infingement

I think that you can become "successful" by cheating, but eventually it will backfire. I guess you could call it Karma.

-Deozaan (March 19, 2010, 04:35 PM)

If you are one of the little people this is true - but by their nature cheating is how corporations (PLCs in Europe) actually do business (and often it is the only way they make real money).

1981

General Software Discussion / Re: Dell: No refunds for Linux users who reject Microsoft's OS EULA

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 22, 2010, 05:36 PM »

I don't understand how Dell are responsible for the refund. It's MS's EULA, not theirs.

Unless Dell have separately agreed to underwrite the cost of the returns with MS.

-katykaty (March 22, 2010, 03:37 PM)

The EULA explicitly says "return it to the retailer". Dell sold the copy of Windows why should MS reimburse you directly? If they did then Dell would keep the money they received for the sale and MS would cough up the refund - that would not make any sense.

1982

General Software Discussion / Re: Dell: No refunds for Linux users who reject Microsoft's OS EULA

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 22, 2010, 04:58 AM »

I have an idea - why don't we all buy a Dell notebook and then return them all because we reject the EULA. It would give Dell pause for thought (and other manufacturers) if they were inundated with returns.

1983

General Software Discussion / Re: Dell: No refunds for Linux users who reject Microsoft's OS EULA

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 21, 2010, 12:05 PM »

I'd also wish you good luck getting them to honor the warranty on your hardware if you switch your OS.

40Hz: You may be interested in this:
Linux FUD Pattern #8: Linux will void your warranty.

-Edvard (March 21, 2010, 11:06 AM)

That assumes that all vendors do what HP do (at least in theory).

My experience of warranty claims suggests that many computer manufacturers will do anything they can to avoid warranty claims - eg. any hardware upgrade (such as installing a PCI card) or even just removing the side panel on a system and using any operating system not supplied by the manufacturer (I have come across examples of upgrading Windows to a new version will invalidate the warranty).

I even came across an example where a computer supplied with Vista Profession and a free downgrade to XP Professional (which was included as a physical set of CDs in the box with instructions). The manufacturer told the user the warranty was invalid because they downgraded to XP and then encountered a hardware problem!

I have also come across a number of ISPs who provide free routers now but in the past provided free USB broadband modems that won't allow users to upgrade to a new version of windows because the old modem won't support the new version and they won't replace the ancient hardware. AOL(UK) was one example though I think they have recanted on that now they have been taken over by TalkTalk.

1984

General Software Discussion / Re: Dell: No refunds for Linux users who reject Microsoft's OS EULA

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 20, 2010, 07:33 AM »

Simple solution is to return the whole system to Dell and say you want a full refund because you don't agree to the license.

Certainly under UK (and EU) consumer law you have the right to return any items bought from Distance Sellers (ie online or by telephone) for a full refund for any reason within a limited period after purchase.

1985

Living Room / Re: Yay, Upgrade time! - Inspire me with hardware I can buy =-D

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 18, 2010, 07:29 PM »

Not sure but I think the warranty that comes with most CPUs is dependent on using the stock pad if you buy a retail package.

1986

Living Room / Re: moving outlook express to a new computer

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 18, 2010, 02:08 PM »

That was my problem - Thunderbird only seems to support IMAP (why no POP3 support?) so that was out.

1987

Living Room / Re: moving outlook express to a new computer

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 18, 2010, 12:49 PM »

Yes it probably makes sense for people on OE to migrate to something else. I'm just not sure WLM is the best place to migrate to.

1988

Living Room / Re: moving outlook express to a new computer

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 18, 2010, 11:15 AM »

How do you get WLM to use local contacts in Windows 7?

Windows Mail works fine but I couldn't find anyway to use local contacts (in the user's Contacts folder)? As I said the only way I could see to do it was to upload all of your contacts to Windows Live - which is not a nice (or secure) solution.

The other thing I don't like about WLM (over OE or WM) is that its tied to Windows Live/Hotmail accounts even if you don't want to use them.

1989

Living Room / Re: moving outlook express to a new computer

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 18, 2010, 10:18 AM »

Changing PC is a good opportiny to get read of OE and switch to a better solution : Windows Live Mail (a component of Windows Live) : you get a nice e-mail client that imports perfectly all messages, address book & accounts (you have to export your accounts from OE on the source PC).  Then you will get a more secure data structure : each mail is a file (.eml) and a basic yet efficient anti-spam.

-MerleOne (March 18, 2010, 07:38 AM)

Have you actually used Windows Live Mail? It is a pretty hideous client (IMHO) and importing from OE isn't exactly nice as you end up with all your emails buried deep in a nested folder structure. Also I can find no way to use local contacts within Windows Live Mail - AFAIT you have to export all your contacts to a hotmail or live account online - not exactly friendly.

1990

Living Room / Re: Yay, Upgrade time! - Inspire me with hardware I can buy =-D

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 17, 2010, 12:28 PM »

Is this a troll thread?

How do you plan to change your motherboard and keep an old CPU ? Or are you planning to upgrade your motherboard with an old motherboard to match the CPU ?

If you are planning to buy a new motherboard you will almost certainly have to buy a new CPU (and what would be the point if you didn't?) and at the point AGP and PCI graphics cards becomes moot because every modern mobo supports PCIe which is far superior to either of the old technologies.

1991

General Software Discussion / Re: Undelete utilities?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 17, 2010, 11:24 AM »

but for recovering single files or folders I find Recuva to be more than adequate.

-Ehtyar (March 11, 2010, 04:40 PM)

+1 for Recuva - saved my sanity on more than one occasion.

1992

Living Room / Re: First compelling reason to switch to Windows 7

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 17, 2010, 06:21 AM »

I have read about my Nvidia graphics card, though having a 512 MB memory cache of its own, reserves some of my 4 GB but still I though it was less than the 1.25 GB that is not available to me. Can you - or anyone here - explain to me how and why only 2.75 GB of my 4 GB of RAM is available? Not in baby talk but at least in something that might be comprehended by a non-coder?

-J-Mac (March 16, 2010, 10:48 PM)

The 1.25 Gb of RAM is being use by memory mapped devices. Even though your graphics card has 0.5Gb of its own RAM that is used purely for speed - the memory is still mapped to within the 4Gb main memory (and the corresponding 0.5Gb of main memory is mapped out). Without knowing what other devices your system has installed i don't know where the other 0.75Gb is going but I suspect it will be memory mapped out in a similar way to your graphics card.

Out of curiosity why don't you just use the 64-bit version of Windows 7 and get all 4 Gb (or even install more memory if your system will support it). I have supplied a lot of computers to people over the last 6 months and most manufacturers now seem to be using 64-bit Windows as the preinstalled version. I have yet to come across anyone having real problems with the transition.

1993

Living Room / Re: Donationcoder: How did you find it + What has your experience been like so far.

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 16, 2010, 04:23 AM »

If I remember correctly (which is no mean thing these days) I think I was pointed here by a link in a Fred Langa newsletter.

1994

Living Room / Re: moving outlook express to a new computer

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 16, 2010, 02:43 AM »

The reason I do this manually now is that I haven't always had the best of success with some of the automated tools.

1995

Living Room / Re: moving outlook express to a new computer

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 15, 2010, 07:51 PM »

Sorry correction to the above about address book:

To export the address book in WAB format open Windows Address Book from the Start/All Programs/Accessories menu. Export the as a WAB file.

The WAB file can then be imported into Outlook Express.

Very odd behaviour IMHO why does OE allow WAB import but not WAB export when it is the standard Windows XP format for the address book?

1996

Living Room / Re: moving outlook express to a new computer

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 15, 2010, 06:57 PM »

Simplest way I have found is:

• On new computer set up Outlook Express with your email accounts (just open Outlook Express for the first time and follow the email setup wizard)
• Move the data folder to somewhere sensible using Tools/Options/Maintenance
• Close Outlook Express, reopen it to complete the folder move and then close it again
• Copy the data folder (ie the one that contains folders.dbx etc) to the location you set up above.
• Open Outlook Express - hey presto all of your folders and emails are there

To move your OE address book export it as a WAB file on your old setup [see note in my next post below] and import it into the new setup.

This doesn't sort out rules or Newsgroups but it does move your email.

If you don't want the hassle of moving your account settings you can export them from Tools/Accounts/Mail in the old setup and import them again in the new setup - you do need to reinstate the passwords though as they will not be exported.

If you can't remember passwords use MailPassView from nirsoft.net

I haven't tried moving newsgroups but if you also export the news server account settings (Tools/Accounts/News) you should be able to import those on the new machine. I would do this before you transfer the folder data and then you should retain news posts too - though you may be better to simply resubscribe and sync news accounts.

By the way to move email from Outlook Express to Windows Mail or Windows Live Mail just copy the data folder and then use the import function. If Windows Mail or Live Mail can't find OE installed it will just ask you to point to the data folder and then import the emails.

1997

General Software Discussion / Re: Free Pascal - Lazarus?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 15, 2010, 05:41 PM »

I have been playing with RealBasic and like the fact that IDE and language development is ongoing regularly (and rapidly). OK it isn't free but with the pro version you can cross compile for Windows, Mac and Linux.

1998

Living Room / Re: First compelling reason to switch to Windows 7

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 14, 2010, 04:45 AM »

Back to the hard disk issue - am I being dense or can you not set the sector size for formatting manually anyway in Windows XP and Vista ? So why not just tell XP you are are using 4Kb sectors?

1999

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Verbatim DVD+R 16x a quarter apiece

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 13, 2010, 05:11 PM »

I use Verbatim DVD+R 16x and DVD+R DL 8x (both with full face writeable surfaces) and have no problems with them at all using a Pioneer DV216D burner. I also use them in my Panasonic DVD recorder without any issues for transferring TV recordings from the hard disc to optical media.

I have tried all sorts of media but keep coming back to these as the most consistent I have found in terms of coasters (in this case just about 0 over the last couple of years).

2000

Living Room / Re: Pirate vs. Paying Customer illustrated

« Last post by Carol Haynes on March 12, 2010, 12:14 PM »

ACTA seems quite lenient compared to current UK legislation and government ideas. Currently it is illegal to attempt to circumvent copy protection. So in theory even thinking "I wonder how ...?" could set the thought police on you for an offence! Add to that the current proposal for one strike and your off the internet and ACTA seems almost rational!