Vasey
Sorry, my post was unclear. Windows XP is far superior to Windows SE. But a clean installation is far better than performing an upgrade although it is harder work to reload programs and files.

axdpc
Possibly but EMail me
david@crocsoft.co.uk

axdpc and Croc:

I use a dinkie little pdf creator called FinePrint pdfFactory. You can get a free evaluation copy download from www.fineprint.com -- the purchase price for an unlocked licensed version is $49.95 as I recall.

It just looks like another printer on Win 98, so any software that can print can create PDF files. It's not perfect, and there is a more expensive version available which will be better at some things, but if your problem is similar to mine where I wanted to create legal documemts (contracts) that could be emailed but not edited thereafter, it is ideal.

They have versions for all versions of Windows.

MM

axdpc, ebay is often the best place for cheap software, although you might on occasion be offered illegal copies :-0

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?GetResult&query=pdf&shortcut=2&ebaytag1code=3&ht=1&currdisp=1&st=2&category0=160&Top10=&SortProperty=MetaEndSort&catref=C1

The "PDF generator software" auction expires in 16 hours so be quick...

croc, MightyMicro, Kayak. Thanks.

Anyone any tips about using "Academic" software?

It looks to me like the saving are enormous! Lots of it for sale on Ebay too.

I mean, should I go down to my local Adult Education Class and sign on for one night of cookery or flower arranging? And then get the teacher to give me a course reference number with the AEC's rubber stamp on it.

Does Dill, sorry a slip of the keyboard, I mean Bill, actually write and ask you really embarrassing stuff if you buy Windows XP Home Version Academic? Would Windows XP Professional Academic be an absolute "No!No!" on the grounds that you can't be a professional as well as academic?

croc, not sure whether you got my email about pdf editors ?

Bought a PowerLeap for a Dell PII Slot1 from Total Memory & Media. Arrived 24Dec.

Real saga - if you are thinking on doing likewise read on.....

First web order ignored/lost. Second web order resulted in a delivery of a unit minus any manual or install instructions.

Got instructions from PowerLeap site. To their credit it was simply unplug PII and plug in PowerLeap. No jumpers neded changing. PowerLeap went up in smoke - literally. Big panic as to the state of the motherboard. Replaced PII and all OK thankfully.

Request RMA from Total Memory - two mails and one call later and still don't have more than a promise that I'll hear from them. Next step may have to be money recovery via my crdit card co.

PowerLeap Brochure and web site look great. Unit showed no sign of any transit damage - but to have components actually melt/smoke - incredible!!

axdpc
Yes thanks, will answer tomorrow, looking for CD!

croc,
It is NOT a chase, we are all busy with one thing or another. No rush.
I just want to make sure you've got the email as I had problems sending email
on two past occasions (Nov 2002).

Darn it!

Just managed to shoot my winxp remote desktop connections & havn't a clue what I did wrong ?? something conected with services / security I think (maybe) been configuring both slightly.

TIP - I use the remote desk feature all the time to keep track of my networked pc's - works a treat in combination with the ms powertoys MSVDM - highly reccomended & quite fast as long as you turn off all the gizmos ( themes etc)

? any ideas pls?

Also how can I set up the routing for a firewire backbone - have a LAN & also have firewire between the machines the idea is to use winxp's firewire networking as the backbone to give faster transfers than the ethernet & still use the ethernet as backup for intenet & printing etc. It seems to work partially at the mo, but I have a feeling there is some contention / conflicts going on as the machines loose internet connection ( which is provided viua the lan) periodicaly for a few seconds / minutes & then reconnect on their own.

Hmm head scratching time.... again...... -(


any help much appreciated

tia

mbbcat,

I have to ask, what are you doing between the machines where it is better/more productive for you to use the 400MB/s firewire which you are having lots of problems with vs the 100MB/s ethernet which would nodoubt work out of the box?

Im still on 10 MB/s wired and 11MB/s wireless at home

Lots!

mbbcat,

Well, taht cleared that up ;)

Question on graphics cards / monitors.

Bought a Dell last March with XP Home and a 64mB Nvidia GeForce3 Ti500 graphics card. The card seems to have both an analogue (blue) and a DVI connector (white).

Obviously, the supplied CRT 17" monitor is analogue and works fine. Is there anything to stop me buying a 17" TFT panel with DVI to make a dual monitor system? XP does allow that dual monitor thing.

Advice appreciated.

Al

Big Al
Pretty sure the answer in no on that one.
EMail info@nvidia.com

http://www.nvidia.com/view.asp?PAGE=contact_information
Regards
D,

Thanks Croc. Thought I had a relatively cheap way of doing it. Looks like I'll have to fork out a bit more if that's the case. Worth a try.

Al

Since I moved house, my PC has become incredibly noisy. If I apply some pressure by leaning on the top of the PC, the noise disappears, so my guess is that a card is loose inside (though the PC appears to be working fine). I am tempted to open it up and push the cards in securely, but could I cause some other problems by doing this ?

Any other suggestions gratefully received.

kjoco, no harm in taking the cover off to check for loose bits, disconnect from mains first, obviously. Look out for loose power/audio cables fouling processor fans etc, can often be a cause of frightening noises.

kjoco, more likely to be some mechanical part, a fan as the troll says or possibly the case itself, rather than a loose card.

the troll, Kayak

Thanks guys. I'll give it a go this evening.