Can't think it would be a setup option Limpy. Replacement keyboards are advertised on Ebay and they are generally not difficult to fit once you've worked out how, although you might need the maintenance manual to do that. However they are fairly expensive and there is no guarantee that the fault is in the keyboard rather than the motherboard.

Thanks for that Kayak. I will take it into the local pc bod to have a look at later this week but i reckon a new basic one is on the cards (it's not for me, so obviously I will be shopping on price not spec....!)

On that subject does anyone know the best place to buy a nice cheap laptop for just basic office stuff? i have looked at dabs and pc world and they have some that would do the job for around 600 but does anyone know of anywhere else
Thanks again

Limpy, re Dell laptops, I think the keyboards are the least reliable bit. However, I have had three keyboards in mine, and after the last one was replaced I again started having trouble. I ignored it and the problem seems to have rectified itself (kiss of death!!). However if you're running Windows ME you need no excuse for an upgrade!


I have another rpoblem now. I have a rewritable disc which I copy files to from my laptop using Roxio Easy CD creator's direct CD facility and Windows Explorer under Win 98. When I try and read the disc in my Desktop running XP home it only reads the files placed there last week - as though it's remembered the disc and doesn't expect anything different to be on? This is not the case and I want to copy the new files. I'll try deleting all the files and recopying them over and see if this works. Still haven't had time to install W2K on the laptop though!

Kayak any idea? computer keeps switching itself off, no virus!, power supply burning out?

Thanks!

Ruth , had same probs with Favs a few times. I have a wireless router broadband modem. If I unplug for 30 seconds then re open IExplorer then the modem has re set itself and the problem is solved. Give it a try if thats what you use to connect. Its the biult in firewall that causes problems in the modem.
Also I think BT have been having a few issues causing problems since last week. At the end of the day, it doesnt matter who your supplier is. Its all BT carriers behind them.

edit

David, just upgraded to a netgear dg834 g wireless router, built in firewall,

That may be your problem, conflicts between XP firewall and netgear. Worth a call to Netgear helpline probably. Mines a D Link and thier Customer Support was excelent

TP, could be a number of causes unfortunately. Faulty case or CPU fan, faulty memory, faulty motherboard, faulty power supply! First step is probably to check the case and CPU fans are spinning OK and see if anything that you do is causing it to shut down. How does it 'shut down', similar to power off with the fans stopping?

kayak just turns off in the blink of an eye to a black screen, no slow shut down procedure, i think i must have a corrupt file, closed down when i was logging onto the net this mornign so fresh machine, did it yesterday when i clicked on sharescope to load, fans all running as far as i know, how i hate computers! when they go wrong!

Only once today, been ok since!

What operating System, TP?

windows 2000 pro d2k

Pro LOL!!! :-)
All it was, was the problem you describe is similar to one I had on Win98 a few years ago,

If it shuts down suddenly with a blank screen and the fans off, leaving you to turn it on again with the power switch then it is going to be a hardware problem. Not much to go on apart from opening the case, checking the fans, and trying to swap the power supply in case it is that.

You could download MBM 5 which will give you motherboard and CPU temperatures and voltages: http://mbm.livewiredev.com/. However it will require configuring. If you look in your BIOS it may be that there is a screen giving the same information, although not in normal running of course.

You cannot beat Pros:)

thanks for the advice Kayak but a little beyond me, if it happens i will give it to my computer guy and let him loose hair over it!

Ruth

"edit why has computers beome a link in my post? "

This looks to be associated with searchmiracle.com which appears to be some sort of hijack.

Unless you have deliberately installed something to do with searchmiracle.com then you should start by running Spybot S&D and AdAware.

ThePlayby.
This sounds similar to problems I had a couple of weeks ago.
Ended up with 2 new power units and on the second occasion they put a new heat sink in.Total cost was 45.the people I used are in Uxbridge Middx. If of any use to you message me and I will give you there details. Graeme.

thx graeme if my comp man has trouble and if i get the prob again! i will take you up on your offer!