Recent Posts

826

Screenshot Captor / Re: Dual Monitor Issues-Screen goes to black

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 24, 2012, 02:53 PM »

Does the GeForce card have two sockets? If so you might be better running both monitors off that and disabling/ignoring the onboard Intel graphics. Could be a driver conflict or anything really. Things will be simpler to troubleshoot with a single adapter.

827

General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft takes on Dropbox with major SkyDrive update

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 24, 2012, 07:37 AM »

Note this upgrade only applies to older accounts - I set up an account for someone last week and the 25Gb upgrade does not appear on their account.

Also not if you want to use the app on Mac you need OS X 10.7 - it won't install on Snow Leopard.

828

General Software Discussion / Re: Restore in 7 BootManager:

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 22, 2012, 08:19 AM »

The trouble with the first two is I think you need to boot into windows 7 to use them ???

Thanks for posting the third link - the automated method is the one I mentioned above and is by far the simplest.

829

General Software Discussion / Re: Restore in 7 BootManager:

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 22, 2012, 05:18 AM »

Boot from it and go into the repair tools (at the bottom of the initial install screen) and use startup repair - that should rebuild the boot configuration.

830

Living Room / Re: I'm Going to Build a PC. Suggestions?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 22, 2012, 04:37 AM »

Windows should just activate or click activate now.

If it complains there is something wrong somewhere.

Change Product Key isn't used for upgrading - you do that through the Anytime Upgrade window. It maybe the original key you type was incorrect - use change product key again and enter the key again - make sure to distinguish the letter B and number 8 - I have had a number of occasions when they are almost imperceptibly different on the labels. After entering they key use activate now or let it activate immediately if offered - make sure you have an active internet connection before you start.

The only reasons for activation to fails after that are:

• You tried to activate too many times in quick succession and so the server refuses to allow further automatic activation.
• You have a dodgy key - a while ago MS used to produce OEM packages with the keys on the outside - if you got old stock someone may have already used it. Recently the keys have been on the inside of the packaging.
• You still have the wrong key entered - but that is unlikely because the system won't accept one it doesn't consider valid.
• Microsoft server are screwed (probably most likely)

In any of these scenarios you need to call Microsoft and get a manual activation key.

Have you tried the MS automated phone system - that should work 24/7. Your local number shows up when activation fails. (Sorry haven't read all the comments above).

831

General Software Discussion / Re: W7 taskbar>toolbar>'desktop' extremely slow

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 21, 2012, 06:48 PM »

Out of curiosity have you tried disabling all startup items and non-MS services in MSCONFIG ? If it makes a difference re-enable a few at a time.

832

DC Gamer Club / Witcher 2 Enhanced Edition - free DRM free download if you own a copy!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 21, 2012, 01:22 PM »

If you own a copy of The Witcher 2 (doesn't matter where you bought it) you can download a free DRM-free copy of The Witcher 2 Enhanced Edition from GOG.com.

Just go to

http://www.gog.com/en/witcher2/backup/

and enter your product key.

If you don't have a product key (eg. you bought it on Steam) then you can request a key by following the steps on:

http://www.thewitcher.com/backup/

833

Living Room / Re: Team Time management/recording software

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 20, 2012, 05:41 PM »

Looks like an interesting piece of software but far too complicated for what I need.

This is what I need:

1) Central client list

2) User runs little tool to select client and click start, pause and stop to measure the time working on the clients behalf.

3) On pressing stop the clients work record is updated with the time, date, name of user and duration recorded.

The manager can then access and see who has been working on a clients behalf, when and for how long and print a report to that effect for the client - ideally choosing a date range.

The icing on top (but not essential) would be to generate an invoice for the work for the client.

834

DC Gamer Club / Re: Humble Botanicula Debut

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 20, 2012, 08:43 AM »

Just had a play of Botanicula.

Very pretty and quirky but I am really not sure what you are trying to achieve.

Seems to be purely mouse point and click but there are no instructions or explanation as to what you are supposed to be doing ??? Puzzled.

835

Living Room / Team Time management/recording software

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 20, 2012, 08:40 AM »

I have a client that needs to keep accurate records of billable time spent working for clients across a group of 5 employees.

There is plenty of software out there that can do this but most of it seems ridiculously expensive or too complex.

All that is needed is a timer application on each desktop where staff can click start and stop for a particular client thus recording periods of work. This information needs to be automatically collated into a report over a chosen period so that all work done for a client during a period is brought together and the time totalled.

Anyone know of something simple and cheap to achieve this?

Preferences:

• Local install - not cloud based (pref working across a workgroup based network).
• If it is a commercial app preferably a one off payment rather than a subscription based model.
• Must be Windows 7 x64 compatible.

TIA

By the way I have looked at Toggl which seems to do everything that is required and is free but to work with more than 5 people cost $5 per user per month which soon adds up.

It isn't clear to me either how you would set up a client list which is accessible to the whole group rather than having to enter the details for each person.

There is also the issue that it is entirely cloud based though CSV and PDF reports can be generated.

836

General Software Discussion / Re: W7 taskbar>toolbar>'desktop' extremely slow

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 20, 2012, 08:26 AM »

Could be a faulty shell extension in Explorer - try ShellExView and disable all extensions to see if the proble goes away - if it does re-enable them again a few at a time until you find the culprit and then uninstall/reinstall the related software or do a repair install.

(Note there are 32 bit and 64 bit versions which don't require installation).

837

General Software Discussion / Re: W7 taskbar>toolbar>'desktop' extremely slow

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 19, 2012, 05:00 PM »

Have you tried chkdsk c: /r

I have found slow behaviour like this can be because of file system issues.

838

DC Gamer Club / Humble Botanicula Debut

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 19, 2012, 04:41 PM »

New Humble Bundle:



see: http://www.humblebundle.com/

839

General Software Discussion / Re: W7 taskbar>toolbar>'desktop' extremely slow

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 19, 2012, 02:48 AM »

Also it would be good to know if CCleaner > (system) "delete temp files" will let young files be and only delete older files.

-Curt (April 18, 2012, 04:31 PM)

Have a look under Options > Advanced.

The default action is to leave windows temp less than 24 hours old. I just noticed there is also an option (not default) to leave Recycle Bib contents less than 24 hours old.

840

Living Room / Re: Arrested and Convicted for Tweeting in the UK!!!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 18, 2012, 07:16 AM »

(Too bad the Guardian doesn't know how to use quote properly...)

-Renegade (April 18, 2012, 05:47 AM)

(It's also too bad that they don't know how to start a sentence, or how to use commas properly... But enough of picking away at the inability of the press to write fluently in their own language... That... is another rant...)

-Renegade (April 18, 2012, 05:47 AM)

That's why the Guardian has the nickname the Grauniad !

841

Living Room / Re: Arrested and Convicted for Tweeting in the UK!!!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 18, 2012, 04:17 AM »

The Daily Mail is very tabloid and very right wing biased (almost fascist in its attitudes) - you can't really take seriously any of their 'journalism'.

Think of it as a comic for people who can actually read, if you can't read then you probably just about cope with the Sun.

No comparison with the Guardian or BBC. Can't really comment on the US publications (though I gather Fox News doesn't have the greatest reputation for integrity).

To add to the dabate here is another Twitter Jail Sentence:

http://www.guardian....mp;CMP=FBCNETTXT9038

842

Living Room / Re: Arrested and Convicted for Tweeting in the UK!!!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 18, 2012, 03:12 AM »

Not for the faint hearted or terribly sensitive

I find it totally hilarious that anyone thinks CUNT is any more or less offensive than the word VULVA!

There is a feminist movement now to reclaim words like cunt. In fact there was whole BBC programme about it a couple of years ago.

One question: why are terms like cunt and twat considered more offensive than balls, tosser or bollocks ?

In fact I really find it strange that people get so preoccupied with 'bad words'.

I have never used Twitter (can't really see the point) but I am now tempted to open an account and start tweeting about politicians. Anyone want to join me? Maybe we could start a global 'abuse a politician' day.

By the way good book to read:

"Filthy English - The How, Why, When and What of Everyday Swearing" by Peter Silverton. US Link.

It is cheered up bay a lovely book cover.

Or for people with a short attention span how about: http://www.amazon.co...n-2003/dp/B005O7G6N4

That can be my rant for the day - I feel better now!

P.S. please take any daily mail article with a nice pinch of salt!

-Redhat (April 17, 2012, 02:20 PM)

+1   (The Daily Mail is known to be written by whole load of lying c**ts and w***ers.)

843

Living Room / Re: Xvid Video converter for Windows 7 x64 - any ideas?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 17, 2012, 06:54 AM »

VidCoder seems to do what I need, and is quite quick.

I have also been playing with Sony's "PS3 Media Server" which is available for windows and supposed to transocde stuff on the fly (including ISO files). Unfortunately it only seems to transcode to MPEG format which my TV/BD don't like as a streaming format! Other than that files that play work fine via that and it seems less prone to losing connection than Windows 7 DNLA service.

844

General Software Discussion / Re: Deduplication, encryption, security and... Dropbox

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 13, 2012, 04:23 AM »

What about MS SkyDrive?

http://windows.micro.../en-GB/skydrive/home

I haven't tried it but it does include at least some sync features.

845

Living Room / Re: I'm Going to Build a PC. Suggestions?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 12, 2012, 04:36 AM »

Ditto - I use Arctic Silver that is a few years old too - just squeeze a small blob out and discard if it looks as though the nozzle has started to dry out - the stuff inside the tube should be fine.

846

Living Room / Re: New iPad owner. Please suggest Apps.

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 11, 2012, 03:34 PM »

My iMac has the same problem -- slow & unreliable wireless

-Renegade (April 11, 2012, 01:16 AM)

Well documented issue is some Apple products

847

Living Room / Re: Xvid Video converter for Windows 7 x64 - any ideas?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 10, 2012, 06:40 AM »

Depends on your TV - if it is internet connected check to see if it supports DNLA connections. If it does you whoule be able to connect to your PC library via the network (you may have to manually set up the required sharing options).

The only problem with my Sony Bravia setup is it occasionally drops the connection with the the DNLA service (not when in use though) and restarting the Windows media sharing service in Win 7 seems to instantly fix the problem.

848

Living Room / Re: I'm Going to Build a PC. Suggestions?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 10, 2012, 06:37 AM »

I wouldn't touch reburbished motherboards with a barge pole.

849

Living Room / Re: Hack a Mac, or 500,000

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 10, 2012, 02:18 AM »

At least running a decent AV may help, even if it is only after the event. Apple have repeatedly said that MacOS is impervious to this sort of thing which has the implicit assumption that using AV products is pointless and unnecessary. I don't see that many Macs but I have yet to see one that has ANY kind of security system installed and active.

850

Living Room / Re: Hack a Mac, or 500,000

« Last post by Carol Haynes on April 09, 2012, 08:18 PM »

The humour of the situation is not the infections but that the invincible OS that cannot be infected has been. It is rather sad that so many people were conned to believe that crap and it is my fervent hope that a class action suit will follow against Apple who failed to live up to their own oft-repeated promises.

It is about times the liars were actually taken to task for their lying ways and compensate all the ignorant peasants they managed to con with false promises and assertions.

As for the users - I see infected computers on a near daily basis. Most people don't know how they got infected. I hope the incident doesn't cause them too much pain and rather than gloating people in the know can spread a little education on computer security.