MB, dont worry thats easy.

Install the dial up stuff and configure it for whatever ISP you are using (I assume you know this stuff).

You can either dial manually and connect to the dial up ISP or you can change the default using IE/Tools/Internet Options/Connections and selecting Dial Whenever a network connection is not present and then selecting your new dial up account as the default.

When you come back just go into IE/Tools/Internet Options/Connections and select Never Dial a connection.

Spaceman,champion information will it be a problem if i get the cable up and running first then change to dial up after ????

Mega...

MB

If it is a new laptop see if there is an upgrade to XP Pro. The price difference sholud be <40 and is well worth it.

Opti,sound advice will check it out !!!

MN, not it wont matter which way round you do it.

Thanks gents,enjoy your weekend.

couple of questions please:

1.I have just got my Dell 4700 which comes according to the blurb as "dual screen enabled" - I set up on the main screen and went to display settings and it showed "extended desktop" and "clone" available for the second screen. When I switched on the second screen the "clone" option disappeared leaving only extended desktop. Would Dell have configured the machine this way and if so is there anyway of getting the clone option.
In addition is there any advantage to clone over extended desktop ???


2. This new machine I am going to connect to BT Yahoo broadband. Is it possible to unplug this from the bt line and reconnect my laptop which is at present connected to Wanadoo anytime. I am considering keeping this setup as a backup.

maddoctor

The clone setting will give you a copy of the first screen on your second monitor. Typically you would use this for presentations either with a second monitor or a projector. If you want to use the clone mode or a single monitor go into display settings, select second monitor and uncheck 'Extend my desktop over...'

If your laptop has a dialup connection you can use it at the same time as your broadband but the filters may restrict the speed. If you want full speed, disconnect broadband and the filters.

laptop is up and running via its wifi,it was so easy it just set its self up !!!!aint got it secure yet but will do that later :-) bloody brilliant can walk around the house with no cables :-))))))

a big thank you to all the pc boffins on this thread,without you lot we would all be stuffed.... CHEERS

Mega...

Optimist , when the extend my desktop... is unchecked the second monitor is blank , i.e. no clone mode and the writing only gives the extended desktop option , anything relating to clone has disappeared off the screen.

maddoctor

The exact operation depends on the graphics card driver so it might be worth checking their website.

When you uncheck the Extend.. option are you saying that the actual monitor is switched off or that it goes blank in the properties box?

Optimist , nothing on the second screen when powered up.

Wondering if it was something to do with a preset driver myself.

Unless you have a real need for the cloned mode then I should forget it and enjoy having two monitors.

Optimist , thanks , I am sure I will , just wanting to understand what it is I have got as spent an age getting the hardware right and am happy with that after all the help you and other guys have given me.

I think you will have to go to the graphics adaptors site as they all work in different ways.

I have a laptop that switches the 2nd screen on when I plug it in but the extended option has to be checked in display properties.

On another box I have a Matrox card with a different set of options.

New worm distributed via ad-networks:

http://www.lurhq.com/iframeads.html

Thanks to the respondents to my OE winge. While I couldn't open it at all I did eventually get it back by opening my inbox by clicking on the inbox file from Explorer. Outlook does seem a very fully featured programme - never really bothered with it before and my web mail account also has all I need. However OE seems to be heavily embeded into IE and scary fiddling with registry seems necessary - not for me so I'll leave it alone for now.
Thanks again for your time/help.

Kernow

Should you decide to move from OE to Outlook, Outlook has some good import routines to get your data and settings accross.

It will probably offer to set itself as the default mail client but if it doesn't you can change it from IE (Tools/Internet Options/Programms tab).

Optimist - I'm still on Outlook 97 which probably isn't the bees kness anymore - I can't be bothered with all this upgrade chasing unless/until this laptop goes phutt. I have always used the address book and diary in Outlook though 'cos I have a Psion series 5 (soon be a museum piece as well!) which I keep in sync. for when either are playing up. This has got me out of a real jam on more than one occasion.
Thanks again for your advice :-))

McAuley's Axiom:

"If a system is of sufficient complexity, it will be built before it is designed,
implemented before it is tested and outdated before it is debugged."