steveb

But it will on my laptop. A friend gave me a copy of some software that he bought and copied( I know it's illegal, but I would like to try before I buy), it loads fine on my ancient laptop, but it won't load on my desktop. The program start-up wizard gets to 99% and stops. I seem to have this problem with all CDs that have been home recorded. I very recently bought a Canon DSLR and a Canon printer, everything loaded fine with these items. However, I couldn't even open a Grandson's CV that he had downloaded onto a CD. I did copy the program using my laptop from CD to memory stick to see if that would make a difference - it didn't! Is it possible to take whatever's blocking the downloads off?

Interesting and easy to understand - you've come up trumps once again! Although application of the battery rule of thumb, is easier said than done, if I take into account my awful memory. I have only started putting the laptop into service because I have bought a new DSLR and the laptop is handy to view pics as you take them, so the battery will be getting lots of small discharges. Two bags to carry now - I'll be looking for a donkey on eBay soon! Back to my original post. I suppose two hours use from a battery must mean that its still got plenty of life in it.

Thanks for the replies Wolfey and Dalo. It's a Li-ion 14.8v 4400mAh

After reading threads on the forum regarding battery maintenance, I thought I should fully discharge the battery on my laptop. I surfed the web for about two hours before the final warning message, there was enough juice left to shut down properly. I suppose different tasks use more of the battery than others and some questions are, 'How long is a piece of string?' Approximately how much longer use would I get from a new battery, if I used the laptop to just surf? And would a once a week stint on battery only be enough to maintain max life from it?

Thanks for your help Wolfeymole. I've done it!! I cut the tape to the pointer stick and problem solved. The first time I've ever attempted to touch even a screw on a PC and it's been a success - 100% record so far. It took me all of 5 minutes too.

I've just found this thread, it gives step by step. Fingers crossed!

Thanks Wolfeymole, I'll give the pointer stick some scissors treatment tomorrow - cut and hope!!

It's a C600

The cursor on my Dell Latitude has taken on a will of its own, it keeps moving to the left hand side of the screen then creeping up the left hand edge. Sometimes restarting makes it behave again and sometimes not. A colleague tells me the same fault used to happen with the company laptops, but he couldn't remember how the problem was solved. Any ideas please?

Thanks for the welcome. XP Home on my current desk top PC (it was removed some time ago) and the desk top I had before which ran on 98.

Thanks RandyL. Then the update must have been lying dormant (please forgive my lack of correct terminology) on the so-say cleaned up hard drive, it's quite a scary thought that businesses are selling off their old laptops with some of their programs accessible. It makes me wonder what an expert could find.

It's Office Pro 2000, someone gave it to me about seven years ago. I very rarely use it as it's too big for a modest user like me but, it was always handy to access e-mails that couldn't be accessed in Works; although Open Office now takes care of that. I only loaded it because a grandson was trying to access his CV from his school website.

No to the old style icons. I am just interested why the program updated on the laptop, when it had never updated before. Thanks for the reply

Hi I have posed this question on other sites, but without reply. The question is posed out of interest only and is not a problem. I have an old version of Office Premium that I have loaded onto several desk top computers, it always loads with the old style italic icons and the annoying toolbar. I bought a second hand refurbished Dell Latitude C600 from a reputable company, it came loaded with XP Home and a few freebies like Open Office and AVG. When I loaded the old version of Office Prem onto the C600 it took a fair time, but it came up as an updated version. For example the icons for Word, PowerPoint etc, were the newer type. I have asked the question to people with a lot more knowledge than me and the two 'theories' so far are that the program was ghosting on an ex-business laptop because it hadn't had its previous stuff deleted properly or the laptop had been registered for updates by its previous owner. Someone here will surely know the answer. The program was loaded whilst the laptop was online via my wifi router. Does any of this make sense? Or do I need to give more detail? I will be really grateful for the answer. Steve

Thanks for replying. I have two adapters: the first is the one that came with the dodgy disc that finds old xp, that one is EDUP IEEE02.11G+ 108Mbps The second one is one that the laptop supplier eventually sent me: D-Link 2.4GHz DWL-650. I have found the drivers on their website for this now obsolete piece of kit but I was unable to install them because there was no install program with the driver download and if I don't have an install wizard to guide me through I don't have the knowledge to download the drivers to the laptop. I have tried using a cd and a flash drive (E) to do this but have been unsuccessful.