Recent Posts

2601

Living Room / Re: Please tallk me off the ledge... Intervention needed!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 06, 2009, 07:57 PM »

I have a solution ...

• Keep a wish list
• when you want to buy something write it down (it is astonishing how quickly the list becomes enormous)
• don't actually buy anything until it has been on the list for a couple of weeks.

Generally I find that things lose their desire factor if your wait.

Having said that i still buy things impulsively - but I have avoided buying a lot of things that have been dumped onto my Amazon wishlist and have now sat there quite happily for a couple of years!

2602

Living Room / Re: Tough Router Question

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 06, 2009, 07:44 PM »

You can back up your settings to a file so you can restore them if you need to. Gluing the reset button would only cause a problem if you completely lost access to the router via the admin interface.

2603

Living Room / Re: Tough Router Question

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 06, 2009, 07:18 PM »

Another note on reset buttons and avoiding them being used - if you are sure you never want to use it just trickle super glue around the button so it seizes up. Just make sure the button isn't depressed while you do it

2604

Living Room / Re: Tough Router Question

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 06, 2009, 06:15 PM »

If you set your daughters computer to a randomly named workgroup then there isn't even the possisbiliy of the two computers seeing each other because they aren't on the same network. For the two computers to interact through the router they would have to be joined to the same workgroup AND have file sharing enabled.

If you disable file sharing on your daughters computer AND set a random workgroup name (avoid WORKGROUP and MSGROUP which are both MS defaults and avoid anything guessable) then her room mates computer won't even see your daughters computer on the network.

As for packet sniffing I think for most people that is entering the realms of fantasy unless her room mate is a really knowledgeable hacker. Far more likely that the packets will be sniffed by malicious people on the internet!

Sorry if my post was confusing above - I thought the room mate would have access to the laptop too - so restricting the users to user mode (good practice anyway from Vista onwards) would minimise potential interference.

As above setting a BIOS password effectively stops anyone accessing the computer (including your daughter if she forgets the password)!

Re. router in a cupboard - I wouldn't think hinges etc would be much of an issue if the majority of the cupboard was wooden. Some of the 802.11n routers (esp. the Netgear routers) have really strong transmission (much more than the 802.11b or g routers) which gets through walls without problems - a cupboard should have negligible effect in a room!

PS - most routers are manageable remotely (at least all the ones I have seen are) so you can connect via the internet. You can also set them to email you with any changes made to router setting or other events. Check out the router settings.

PPS - I suppose the reset button is present because mostly routers are either locked away or in the home where there isn't a real issue. If it didn't have a reset button and the settings got scrambled or corrupted (which happens) what would you do?

2605

Living Room / Re: Tough Router Question

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 06, 2009, 02:56 PM »

For security and the reset button issue why not set it up and lock it in a a cupboard. If it fails they can always unplug the mains adapter wait a while and plug it in again. If it is a wooden cupboard the wireless connection shouldn't lose too much power over a short distance.

For security make sure you enable WPA2+AES if possible in the router and give it a very long unguessable key. Then switch off broadcasting the SSID (network ID) so that no one can see the router and the only way to log into it is to use the invisible SSID and the unguessable key. Make sure you also change the default router password so she can't log in to change settings. You can also set the router to only accept specific MAC addresses so that even if she guesses the WPA key you can restrict the router to the computer containing her wireless card only.

Now on her computer set her up as a a user (not an admin) and encrypt the admin account, giving it a long unguessable password. That way she will only have basic user rights to the system and won't be able to access system settings and devices etc. If you set up her wireless connection there is no need for her to know the WPA key at all unless the connection is lost or damaged.

2606

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Acronis TrueImage 10 available for free

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 06, 2009, 03:52 AM »

There is now no download link now on the Registered Products page - it just says:

"The installation package can only be obtained from a promo campaign partner."

Edit: If you can't find the file anywhere check out this thread http://www.hotukdeal...?t=331457&page=5

2607

Living Room / Re: Please help me build my new computer, DC!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 05, 2009, 04:44 PM »

Go to the Device Manager and check the properties of the internal hub(s) - you should see the maximum load and metering there.

You should have enough power though ... what are actually connecting that isn't self powered?

2608

General Software Discussion / Re: WINDOWS 7 THREAD (ongoing)

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 04, 2009, 08:13 PM »

The way I understand it is that for general usage they have Home Premium and Professional (as in XP).

They still have an Ultimate edition for anyone gullible/stupid enough to pay extra for not real gain and Enterprise licenses which businesses will be suspicious of until two weeks before the new version of Windows is released and then decide to pass on it (they will all still be limping on with Windows XP).

With Win 7 Starter and Home Basic they basically have two packages that show little or no commitment to solving real issues. If they really want to help emerging economies they could do so very simply by having very low prices on Home Premium and Professional versions in those markets. OK some copies would spill out into other markets but so what - giving Home Basic to poor countries is just a slap in the face and shows that MS really don't care about those markets - they are purely interested in maintaining hiked pricing structures in the rest of the world whilst trying to give the appearance of caring.

As for Win 7 Starter MS knows that they can't cram a quart into a pint pot and they have backed themselves into a corner. First, they can't keep extending XP licensing on netbooks without losing face even more than they have done already. Second, they only extended XP licensing to maintain some market in the netbook class because they knew Vista would kill any potential future market if they tried to get vendors to install it. Win 7 Starter is really a simple admission that Windows from version 7 onwards is going to replace XP but that it doesn't actually work properly.

I would guess two things will happen in the next year or two - Linux will be the OS of choice for manufacturers of Netbooks because they won't want to piss off customers by selling them a more expensive but crappier product and MS will come up with its own Netbook (either in house or under license) that runs a tweaked version of Windows 7. It will be about as successful as Zune (i.e. a total catastophe) and MS will spend 2 to 3 years telling everyone how successful it was before binning it and they reinstate a Windows XP type OS for OEM netbooks.

2609

Living Room / Re: Please help me build my new computer, DC!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 04, 2009, 02:59 AM »

Isn't that the whole point of rebates? They actively want to make it difficult for users to make an effective claim. It is a marketing scam (or at least a near scam) - if they genuinely wanted to benefit customers they could simply give you a sale price on the goods.

2610

General Software Discussion / Re: Complaints about Direct Access Text Expander Taking Ideas from Others - Split Topic

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 03, 2009, 05:14 PM »

Thanks for saying that - my irritation is growing with this constant moaning and whining.

How about this for an approach - imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. Just enjoy the flattery and drop the rest. As app103 (and others have said, and if anyone is still following this I bet others think) you are doing no good to yourself by trying to maintain a flame ware - and actually by this point you have ceased to do any damage to your 'rival'.

If you want to sell your app keep innovating and people will buy it - if your ideas are copied (and I would argue that there is nothing that is really new in the market place anyway) then it will take time - grab the market first with good ideas and good implementation.

2611

General Software Discussion / Re: WINDOWS 7 THREAD (ongoing)

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 03, 2009, 01:27 PM »

The trouble is that MS complied with a previous EU directive and produced editions of Windows XP (the N editions) that don't contain extra MS software (such as WMP) with the exception of IE. The net effect was that the 'N' versions were more expensive than the standard version. Who is going to pay more for a product that has fewer features?

The EU could argue that the 'N' versions should be cheaper but MS would argue that the cost of producing extra versions with low demand justifies a higher price.

What I don't really understand is why Apple doesn't come in for the same criticism with its inclusion of iPhoto and iTunes etc. I also don't really understand how Apple are allowed to restrict their product to their own hardware sales - they are after all selling operating systems separate to the hardware.

And what about Linux distros that are 'sold' bundled with Gigabytes of software. Surely they should play by the same rules and sell 'application free' products too. Free download distros could also be restricted to 'application free' ISOs so that users have to choose the applications they want.

People may not like the MS dominance (I don't particularly even though I use Windows, MS Office etc) but no one can really argue that MS is not in large part responsible for the spread of personal computing. I don't really understand the argument that market dominance gives MS an unfair advantage in the applications market when they are supplied free with the OS.

For example should an OS be able to write to DVD-R and DVD-RW these days without 3rd party software? If so then doesn't the market monoply argument rule because the OS is removing the need for 3rd party writer software and if not why should the OS be able to write to hard disc (after all NVIDIA supply drivers for their motherboards - perhaps all motherboards should provide their own IDE/SATA drivers - with all the issues that would cause) ???

2612

General Software Discussion / Re: MOGware's FileHamster (Complaint)

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 03, 2009, 09:02 AM »

I have to confess I went to have a quick look at CVS on reading the post above - the documentation is a bout as clear as mud (and only seems to refer to Linux even though there is a Windows version of CVS).

I agree with tomos MogWare is dead simple to use and is absolutely fine if you just use it on a desktop (rather than a server).

2613

General Software Discussion / Re: WINDOWS 7 THREAD (ongoing)

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 03, 2009, 06:37 AM »

Are you arguing that WMP is not part of the OS (in which case I agree) but having said that I hate the DRM content in Windows but much prefer it to the problems that would arise if MS left it up to individual companies to implement their own DRM systems - do you really want Sony installing software on your system (or any of the other media companies) when you want to play a CD, DVD or BluRay disc? Can you imagine that havoc that would ensue if they all started trying to put kernel level DRM on to a system without cross testing their products? If Windows Media Player is part of the DRM solution in Windows then I'd rather have that present.

As for IE there was a recent article (sorry can't find it now) about the EU insisting that if MS won't remove IE from Windows they will be forced top inlcude the other major browsers on the desktop in the EU.

2614

Living Room / Re: Drive Dock: Turn bare drives into floppies

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 03, 2009, 05:02 AM »

I have a similar 'cable' USB device which allows you to plug in IDE, SATA or laptop 2.5" IDE drives.

See http://www.amazon.co...idos/ASIN/B000Q5YW76



Not the prettiest setup but quick and easy for connecting any drive quickly.

2615

Living Room / Re: Man, those British folks sure know how to live

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 02, 2009, 04:41 PM »

watching a mixture of La Boheme and Desperate Housewives on TV

-Carol Haynes (February 02, 2009, 12:58 PM)

Interesting combination, Carol.

My favorite snowy day movies are Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain and Mamoru Oshii's Avalon.
 (see attachment in previous post)
Best enjoyed with a nice glass (or two) of port, followed by omelets for dinner.

(Thank goodness for DVD's!)

-40hz (February 02, 2009, 02:59 PM)

I love Amélie - brilliant film!

2616

Living Room / Re: Man, those British folks sure know how to live

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 02, 2009, 12:58 PM »

I've spent the day lounging in front of a coal fire watching a mixture of La Boheme and Desperate Housewives on TV - with lovely views of snow covered hills outside the window!

2617

Living Room / Re: Man, those British folks sure know how to live

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 02, 2009, 12:42 PM »

Mea culpa - oh woe is me   

2618

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Mini-Review: Altiris SVS

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 02, 2009, 05:16 AM »

Does it cope with Vista - and will it work with Win7? If not it will be dead soon unless Symantec plan to actually do something about it.

2619

Living Room / Re: Man, those British folks sure know how to live

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 02, 2009, 05:15 AM »

Ironically they currently have the worst snow in 20 years!

2620

Living Room / Re: Man, those British folks sure know how to live

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 01, 2009, 01:50 PM »

The only advantage of a marble driveway I can see (heated or not) is that the pretentious idiots won't live long as their cars will plough into the gates on that surface

2621

Living Room / Re: Man, those British folks sure know how to live

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 01, 2009, 03:56 AM »

OK, "Heated marble driveway".

What for?

-SKesselman (January 31, 2009, 10:37 PM)

So you don't need to shovel the driveway when it snows.

-Deozaan (February 01, 2009, 12:25 AM)

When does it snow to the point of needing anything in the south of England ... in a hard winter you might have a couple of days when there is a light dusting that has melted (or been washed away by the rain) within 24 hours!

2622

General Software Discussion / Re: Every Site is Unsafe According to Google

« Last post by Carol Haynes on January 31, 2009, 04:00 PM »

Brilliant - and hilarious

2623

Living Room / Re: Drive Dock: Turn bare drives into floppies

« Last post by Carol Haynes on January 31, 2009, 02:51 PM »

Hotswapping requires compliant PSU, Motherboard AND harddrive... and wasn't supported at all (for consumer drives) until SATA came along.

Yeah, I know some maniacs have done it with PATA by tristating the drives, but... ugh.

-f0dder (January 31, 2009, 02:09 PM)

I am still trying to work out how some motherboards are hot swapable!

2624

Living Room / Re: Drive Dock: Turn bare drives into floppies

« Last post by Carol Haynes on January 31, 2009, 07:19 AM »

Trouble there is no option to safely remove active IDE drives unless you just remove the whole USB device with the drive and then reinsert it with a new drive.

I don't have a great deal of success in 'safely removing' even USB drives as they are often 'in use' when it comes to removing them - the in use is usually by system processes so I don't feel totally comfortable using unlocker to release them. This often happens - especially if the drive is present when windows starts (Seems to be less of a problem if you plug the drive in after windows is up and running).

2625

Living Room / Re: Man, those British folks sure know how to live

« Last post by Carol Haynes on January 31, 2009, 06:47 AM »

It is an impressive building but with so much poverty in the UK (not to mention the rest of the world) this is a pretty sick project by any standards!!