Quacker

Well I am an Avast fan - good start:cool: What about any other tips? for example I find when purchasing a new machine there's plenty of tech info, but fot the average user, little practical stuff. How and when to maintain etc. It might be obvious to some, but not all. These pages help to fill the void;)

Further to Wolfey's post above, I'd just like to ask a few things. Firstly, I will be using Windows 7, does that have any in-built security (a firewall for example) and secondly are there any advantages or disadvantages in having an antivirus & firewall together over separate ones. As well as antispyware/malware & the mentioned tools, are there any other considerations? Also, I understand the rule of only one AV and Firewall, but is it ok to have more than one program to keep the other stuff at bay? Prevention being beter than cure etc.

Thanks Match - well I sort of have a choice, between 7 and Vista lol. On second thoughts.... 7 it is ;)

Thanks both - yes, I made the (wrong) assumption they were bona-fide paid for and recommended ads:( I just realised how old this machine is and poor spec. 1.99 celeron, 30gb hdd and 256gb ram - shared with graphics. No wonder it runs slow and takes forever to boot etc. - It isn't even wifi as I have to plug in a wireless dongle - it even has the old USB ports:eek: On the plus side, it does have a comms port good for interfacing my ham radio gear as newer machines require an adaptor for this. Replace rather than repair methinks ;)

On this here laptop I have Avast for AV and use XP's own Firewall (I think). The machine had very little use in recent times. I downloaded the programme Registry Reviver (advert linked from this site) and did the scan. As I say it found all those errors and I could hve them fixed etc. for a fee of course. Difficult to tell which of these are better than others to "clean up" machines. see below for specifics; com/active X - 144 Application paths - 6 windows stratup items - 12 File/Path references -489 Program shortcuts - 7 Empty regstry keys - 288 File associations - 3 Invlalid class keys - 219 Sound and app events - 27 CLSID/type lib/interface entries - 277 Now they don't mean a lot to me, but they look bad! the general health of the laptop was also described as bad. Do they mean anything, how critical are they and how do I even begin to put things right?

Is this possible? - the free scan said this laptop is in bad health. Re there any other ways to clean up a machine for free or low cost as I notice there are plenty of downloads which promise to keep a machine healthy. How do you decide what is necessary and what is not?

I've not used Windows 7 and my only experience of Vista was my father's PC. I have the option whilst looking for a new machine. I can even have XP (which I get along with) but that may be a wrong move. My use is quite ordinary, quite dull really, so not sure if any of the improvements would enhance my experience. Just thought I'd ask on here saying as how I have a choice.

Hi Randy Reason I think it is possible malware or spyware is because this is the machine that had problems a year or so back ans was "fixed" via these pages. I briefly called into my local shop explaining the symptoms and was told to re-install - thye also kindly offered to do it for me for £50. To answer you other points; Yes, I meant restart. As for safe mode, there is no option, and therefore no lst known good configuration. The clickng/whirring noise might not be as bad as it sounds. I think I just notice it more when there is nothing happening on the screen. Ironically, the laptop I am on is also acting very slow! - will need a whole new thread for this one. Back to my main point, my fault I know, but as usual can't readily locate the usual disk which came with the machine - put somewhere safe, but so safe I cannot find. Any other options? - will check back later. Any significance that when I clicked on a favourite tab I was asked where I wanted to save to?

Not sure what is going on. No slow-down, no signs of a problem, but possibly malware. I was using Firefox and tried to switch to one of my tabbed favourites and was asked where I wanted to save to??? - I tried again and the same. So I thought I would try another (different) favourite and again the option to save. I reset the PC and it never rebooted, though makes a clicking noise as though it is trying to boot. More worryingly, I am unable to boot in safe mode as that is the obvious first step. Is there anything else I can try? This is a machine that was rescued by this very forum a year or two back, but I still think it is good for a few more until this odd behaviour. Of course it might just be nature's way of telling me it is time I made a donation to the forum :) Where do we start?

Once again apologies if posting in incorrect section, but I often am unsure of where to post. Ok today we setup the other half's new PC. It has both wireless keyboard & mouse. The mouse was working immediately, and after a false start the keyboard followed suit (I changed the batteries and notice the set button underneath). Ok bear in mind it came without documentation and neither of us have any experience of wireless mice/keyboards. Tonight she tells me she has lost the use of the cordless mouse and it is not responding. She has unplugged and tried removing the batteries etc. but to no avail. Also advises there is not a set button on it like the keyboard had. Also when trying to fit a "normal" mouse, it is not recognised and nothing happens. Because of this, she cannot get on here - hence my post. We live at separate locations by the way. Anything obvious we may be missing or need to do here? as I said the mouse was working fine earlier when setup. Why wasn't the non-wireless mouse working as I always found them to be plug-and-play? Regards Steve

Thanks again! - I love this Q&A stuff - well worth a fiver :D

Thanks Match;) Can you or any of the others comment on the fact that today when setting up my other half with her new computer, we simply unplugged the ethernet (I think it is called) from the old PC and into the new one and the wireless network worked a treat! Wasn't asked to enter a password or anything. Is that normal? Apologies if this needs moving to a different topic now :p

Thanks both - no paranoia here regarding the info (who said that? :D) I always fancied a factory reset or similar, just to see if by removing everything and starting again it would behave differently. I presume I just use the serial no. that came with it to re-install using the original windows XP disk. I really should be able to do this by now but have always been afraid since I did a format C a few years ago and lost a whole bunch of family photos....though I now believe there is software available to recover this! Thanks again. Steve

I've added another wee donation as I realised it was a while since I last donated. I figure the cost of advice on here has saved me a few quid and a lot of time. I think it only fair and correct to "give a little back" and once again a timely reminder to give thanks for all the selfless devotion from everyone out there! Thanks again guys!

As opposed to removing it. I have taken all I need, music, photos etc. and safely backed them up. Now if I am to purchase a new machine (I am always thinking of doing this) rather than ditch this one or lock it away in a shed or loft, is there a way to clear it of all the bits and bobs leaving just windows - i.e. factory fresh? How easy is it to do this and is it possible to have the service packs left as I have downloaded them? I have never used a system reload or restart disk - indeed never reset anything - I'm sure I have the XP disk somewhere though. Is this straightforward, or best to have someone do it for me?

In lay-person's terms. Is it worth adding more ram for what I suppose is now an old processor? Maximum Memory Capacity: 1048576 MB Currently Installed Memory: 1024 MB Available Memory Slots: 3 Total Memory Slots: 4 Dual Channel Support: N.A. CPU Manufacturer: AuthenticAMD CPU Family: AMD Sempron 2600+ Model 8, Stepping 1 CPU Speed: 1833 MHz I was toying with the idea of a newer and higher-spec desktop, but then the thought of having to set it all up and the almost-guaranteed router problems! Also, the above is taken from the Crucial website. My PC was independently built by a local firm, so no manufacturer. Is this a (potential) problem?

Hello all. My dad has been messing - albeit inadvertently with either some combination of key presses and/or function keys. It might be straight forward, so please advise if so. He is using Firefox as I mentioned but on just one website, the text is minute - and unreadable, yet it is only on that one website and Firefox shows all other sites without problem. When I ask how he gets around this problem, he advises me he logs on to it via Internet Explorer. Is it possible to shrink the text on just one site and not all text, is so, how? - and how is it rectified. When questioned, as usual I got the "It just happened" reply. I get this a lot by the way ;) Not sure if it is relevant, but the website is Transmission1 :: Radio Resources for PMR 446, Scanning, Broadcast, Amateur and CB Radio which is a forum for all sorts of radio, i.e. CB, Amateur, Shortwave etc. Cheers Steve

Hope it didn't come across as ignorant as I never responded - yes all sorted and here I am over 5 months later as need same info for different laptop! - archives are great lol. I did of course mean wolfmeister, but what's a typo between friends. Cheeky scamp! :)

By making it switchable, or even removing it altogether. I remember reading somewhere (probably on here) about going into MSConfig but can't recall much after that. Apologies if posted in wrong section, but this is slowing things down somewhat. Cheers Steve

Oops! A quick read of the manual from the old fella and it is obvious as a press of the function key (FN) and key 3 - this toggles WIFI on and off! Seems a bit silly to me but then again I feel a bit silly for not noticing it immediately. I know my notebook doesn't have such an option to toggle wifi on and off. Tomorrow I'll add avast & firefox for him. Thank heavens for wifi :-) Anyone recommend a good photo-quality wifi printer lol.

Why me? - everytime I get a newDesktop/laptop/netbook something goes wrong. THe amount of times I have tried one would think I would know why. New notebook for my dad, switch it on plug it in and setup windows etc. then as I have my own wifi netwrk and router thought I would just have to connect and add the relevant password/code but it is not "seeing any router or wifi connection". The only thing I can find is the request to make sure wireless switch is on. No obvious physical switch. What is needed here. Why can it not just power up and locate like my laptop did? Obviously until I get the connection he can't register windows or download firefox & avast etc. Please advise as we have a 40th wedding party to go to :-) PS using XP home edition Steve

Ok, I will admit as an archivist with discarded emails I am rubbish. Recently large files were not getting through (you know the ones mates/relatives send which are garbage but they think side-splitting?). Anyway, as a result I purged thousands - and I mean thousands of the blighters. Inbox, sent items and the deleted lot. Somewhat surprisingly, they still seem to be conflicting! I have checked and re-checked the sent & delteted item folders and they are empty. Even if I send a test mail to myaelf it comes back advising my inbox is full etc. Any ideas?

Nice one Wolfweister!!!

Thanks as always. Not sure what happened to my first attempt at this post. Lost internet connection - maybe they knew? Sorted the email query, will consider whether I really need to change from Virgin to Sky for the HD television content (and pay the cost of it). Steve:) Edit: Wolfey (or anyone really) I was going to PM you, but I seem to recall reading this was not preferred on here. Any more info on registering a domain for my own unique email address, or a point in the right direction please? Needless to say I've never attempted that. Not even sure if it is worth the hassle changing

Thanks Nev Food for thought. Never had to replace a battery on a laptop and I have 3. Hope it's not catching lol.