Good advice. Still hestitating on a reinstall - I'll probably just buy a new system after Santa's been - this laptop is a bit dated @ 20Gb and 700mhz but is so reliable and pleasant to use (good old Sony) I'll clean it up and keep it for emergencies.

A little off topic, but I am frustrated by the standard "contacts" database that came with my Palm Tungsten E. Have tried agendus but it's simply another way of looking at the same info. Does anyone know of a good contacts type database? I'm looking for multiple categories eg xmas card list, personal contacts, work contacts, sometimes the same record fits both categories.

Might have to write my own :-(

"New worm, Santy.A, using Google to spread
It infects Web servers running a software package called phpBB

DECEMBER 21, 2004 (IDG NEWS SERVICE) - Antivirus companies are warning Internet users about a new, fast-spreading worm that infects Web servers running a popular package of online bulletin board software and uses the Google search engine to find vulnerable servers to infect.
The worm, dubbed Santy.A, uses a vulnerability in a popular free software package called phpBB to spread across the Internet, infecting computer servers that host online bulletin boards and defacing those sites with the words "This site is defaced!!! NeverEverNoSanity WebWorm."

..."

http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,98453,00.html?source=x73

Just upgraded to a 1Mbps Service, Pipex. My connection icon still shows 10 mbps.Is this right.Its just that it used to show the same speed before the upgrade.Im using a Zoom adsl usb external modem

These are the results of a speed test
Downstream 944 Kbps (118.0 KB/sec) 1019 Kbps (inc. overheads)
Upstream 246 Kbps (30.8 KB/sec) 265 Kbps (inc. overheads)

Speed test is excellent. The 10Mbps looks like it relates to your home network. A USB modem wouldn't normally have a green terminal icon in the system tray. If you look amongst your program shortcuts though there is likely to be an ADSL diagnostics or statistics program to give you more info.

Thank Very Much Kayak.
Ps Merry Christmas
Thanks for all your help and others, on here over the year.
Now! Can you be as helpfull with my trading ? ;-)))))

A merry xmas to everybody and especially those who helped me get my new system up and running.

techy dudes...once someone has sobered up...is it possible to set your default browser to anything apart from IE??

i have Netscape, Firefox and IE on my machines, i would love to get rid of IE but at the very least I want to use Firefox as my default.

any ideas?

Treble, not something I've tried but if you're running 2000 or XP, under Control Panel/Add/Remove Programs there should be a tab Set Program Access and Default. Set option and untick Show This Program to stop IE being shown (it will still be there though).

Treble:

In Firefox, go Tools . . Options . . . General and see "Default Browser" option.

D.

cheers dudes

Does anyone know if USB hubs work OK. I have 3 USB slots on my laptop but could do with 1/2 more. Do USB hubs work OK and can you recommend a make.

Jeffmack

They do work but bear in mind that the bandwidth and power supply is split between all of the ports on the hub.

If you have several devices that use power you can get round it by using a powered hub. If you have several high bandwidth devices then put each on a seperate computer port or use an expansion card.

For a laptop it's probably worth starting with a mini-hub (basically a multiple socket) because they are so cheap, small and convenient, but as Optimist says you may find you need a powered hub if you run into problems. Plenty on eBay.

Thanks
I believe I only need a mini hub. Its for things like synch cable for XDA and camera

one of my TFT screens (iiyama AS4611UT) has just gone blank,i have power going to the screen as i have changed over cables,
the power button on the screen will not turn on,
is there an internal fuse in the screen,
i have had screen for about 4 years and is on 8 hours a day,do they just give up like this,(no bang just went blank,i was on the Marks and spencer site at the time and went blank as i opened a window within the site,

steve

Scussy

Have you swapped the video cables as well, to make sure that it is not your graphics card at fault?

yes changed,still no good,
there is no power going into the screen,indicater power light does not come on,
power lead bypassed first switch on screen so hopefully a internal fuse,
trying to get into the inside now,

steve

no internal fuse found,i have a burn on the first conection board which takes the feed to the screen,
now the question is ,do i take it to a repair shop or just bin it as i can get a new screen for about 250,

steve

If you can find someone who understands them then it may well be worthwhile. I would be tempted to throw 50 at it or 100 for no repair no fee.