michaelc, dragging is the way to do it, perhaps you're not clicking on the right place?

Kayak.....tried that earlier but couldn't get it to move BUT just tried it again and it worked ! Hmmmmmmmm

Kayak, I am doing this for two reasons:

a) so I can understand what techies do in their own environment, I have a lot who work for me and if one is able to make a strong link between business/technoogy then it's adventageous

b) to make money and gain some experience :-)

Mike couldn't afford me, and even if he could he would need to move up to chairman and let me run the company :-)

Thanks for all suggestions on my Norton problems. Unfortunately despite downloading suggested Spyware etc, I was unable to use the removal step as the programmes seemed to be frozen from that point. I am now considering replacing the hard drive, is this a big job?, maybe better left to the professionals,

sutherlh1

Have you run the scans and removal tools in safe mode? Many viruses have the ability to block or interfere with the AV programms. Safe mode has more chance of getting round this.

There must be a way roound this so don't replace your hard drive yet.

I haven't tried safe mode. How do I get my computer in this mode, thanks

When you start your computer press F8 as the first windows loader comes up and you are then presented with a list of options. Try safe mode with network support.

Optimist. Would chkdsk /r /f help sutherlh1 before any thoughts at hard disk replacements anyway?

sutherlh1 / 7th floor

It is never a bad thing to run ChkDsk but the assumption so far is that your problem is virus / trojan related.

Having said that, I think that assumption is based on your symptoms being similar to someone elses. Perhaps the next step should be for you to repost your problems and what steps you have taken so far.

These web hosting companies are a joke. I have canelled and had refunded 3 orders over the last 24 hours. I am tring to stay British but so far have tried and cancelled orders with:

streamlinenet.co.uk
https://www.123-reg.co.uk
web fusion/pipex

they are so unprofessional I'm amazed they exist at all. Perhaps all of the techy world is like this or it's just UK plc!? They couldn't run a brothel.

More importantly I have lost 2 days of my time farting about with muppets.

sutherlh1, please be more specific about what steps you have taken to remove the problem, which software have you run and how? It is difficult to remove some infections but it shoudl not be impossible, there are people here who will do waht they can but we do need as much information as possible.

Mr E

I think you need to work out exactly what you need the web server to do and what service level you require.

I'm not trying to defend them but there are advantages and disadvantages of both Lynux and MS servers and anything that is not standard has got to cost.

I don't know what you were paying, but I pay $10 a month for a very basic web hosting package and IMO a very good email service. I'm happy that it works almost all of the time but have to face the fact that at that price they can't afford to give me much attention.

Mr Euro, one of the best ways to start out is to use webspace provided by the ISP, which is often free apart from the registration of the domain. I don't know what's available in France, perhaps you should take a look? In the UK one of the best is PlusNet, which gives you 250Mb of free webspace with CGI, FrontPage, PHP, MySQL, SSL, stats, and other bells and whistles, all for free. Registration of a domain is 1 per month. And on top of that you can have 2Mb/s ADSL for 19.99 depending on bandwidth. Excellent customer service.

PlusNet

Optimist, I have actually and at least two of them received my spec before I placed any orders. You would not believe some of the general practices all the companies I mention used (I have email proof and some are the most basic). I don't know the market but from what I see it's competitive, and I am surprised customer service doesn't appear as part of the offering. Must be a niche there for somebody....

Thanks Kayak. PlusNets offering is better than most hosting companies!!!! Haven't looked in france but may have found a solution.

What is really annoying is I am putting in 20 hours+ per day on these projects (whilst I may a full recovery), time is off the essence, and I get fed up with dealing with muppet companies who think employing a nice voice at the end of the phone is good business.

Honestly, they are all catching the French illness "anyone would think we are here to serve you!"

I am worn out.

Quick question. Is there any great difference between re-registering a domain name and pointing your domain to name servers and keeping your current registrar?

Thanks.

Have a break Mr E , Wales due to dish up some Champagne rugby on BBC2 in half an hour.

Regarding my problems with Norton antivirsus/firewall on my home computer. The main problems are that these will not come on, either will my spyware (adware) and AOL spyware protection. I cannot log on to many sites including moneyam and microsoft updates. I get the first page but once I try to log it I get 'the page cannot be displayed' When I try to update the Norton and spyware programmes it seems to contact to the sites and then says all are up to date. I tried this when I was logged off and got the same response. So it looks to me that all have been nobbled to appear they are working. I know from using my portable computer that there are updates to be downloaded as I have had several.

I have downloaded other spyware mentioned in this board and they show threats such as recycler, adlop and data miners. However when I try to use the remove button on each of these programmes i get 'page cannot be displayed' I have tried running Norton in the safe mode as suggested by Optimist. It found 348 threats which Norton was unable to remove. However I was able to remove them manually. Despite all this my problems remain the same as above. I have also gone to the symantic site and carried out the free virsus and threat scans they provide. They say the computer is 'safe' from threats and virsuses.

sutherlh1,
OK I think you need to start again with this one, I suggest :-

1) Disable or uninstall all virus protections that you have at the moment
2) Disable or uninstall all anti spyware that you have at the moment.
3) Download and install Ad-Aware and update it
4) Download and install Spybot S&D and update it 5) Look a couple of days up this thread and find the info about Trend Sysclean and download and install it (2 downloads).
6) Restart you machine in Safe mode and run the three programs installed above.
7) Restart your machine and apply all microsoft critical updates.
8) Check to see if you still have any problems.

I am not clear exactly what spyware software you are using, you say Adware, if that is not Ad-Aware as in step 3 above then I suggest you dump it.

I would not use Norton either as I dont like it however many people do use it and find it OK. The free AVG Virus protection program is very good.

Keep a note of what happens at each step and let us know how it goes.

Good luck