Kayak, I've not had any viruses detected, but you never know I suppose. I downloaded another Ghost from Symantec but I now have the problem I faced before (and I remember asking questions then!). How do I open an ISO file?? Looks like I need to copy it to a CDR :))

Not that it will affect anyone on here, of course....

From http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1122382824047_77/?hub=SciTech

Microsoft cracks down on software piracy
CTV.ca News Staff

In a controversial effort to stop software piracy, computer users who go to the Microsoft website for Windows updates will have their system scanned, to check whether their copy of Windows is a counterfeit.

Privacy advocates have called the tactic an extreme invasion of privacy.

Microsoft has said that no personal data will be collected. Instead, a program called Windows Genuine Advantage will search computers for a Windows product number.

Pam Dixon, executive director of World Privacy Forum, told The Globe and Mail that Microsoft's tactic still sets an "extremely negative precedent."

"Microsoft is saying, 'Before I let you do anything at all, you have to open your computer to us.' I really object to this," Dixon said.

Users who find that their software is counterfeit can fill out a piracy report, and send in their illegal copy along with a proof of purchase to get a genuine version of Windows Home Edition or Windows Professional for free.

The piracy report asks users to detail where the illegal copy was purchased, how much it cost, whether it came with a certificate of authenticity, and who sold it.

If users are missing a proof of purchase, they can still get either copy of Windows for approximately half price.

Those who refuse either option will be unable to download software updates, except for security patches.

Tim Prime, who works for Microsoft Canada Co., told The Globe that he is not worried customers may feel angered by the search.

"Customers want to know whether retailers have sold them genuine software," Prime said.

Microsoft had an independent security advisor, T-ITof Germany, test the Windows Genuine Advantage program if it protected the personal information of users. T-ITfound that the program does not obtain any information that would allow users to be identified, according to The Globe and Mail.

Microsoft started testing the Windows Genuine Advantage software last September, on more than 40 million customers, according to the Associated Press.

It is unknown how many pirated copies of Windows were found, although Microsoft claims that one in five American computers is running an illegal copy.

Microsoft says that at least a third of all computers in the world use pirated software, making efforts to crack down on counterfeit programs extremely difficult.

Time and Tiny computers just gone into liquidation

One of my first machines was from Time, who used to have some good deals a few years ago. But one of the problems being, particularly if your machine happened to develop a problem, once you'd shopped there and experienced their version of 'customer service', you wouldn't ever do it again or recommend them to your friends.

Anyone been to http://earth.google.com/ and managed to get it to work? All it does for me is crash my machine.

Perhaps I'm doing something wrong?



Fly from space to your neighborhood. Type in an address and zoom right in.
Search for schools, parks, restaurants, and hotels. Get driving directions.
Tilt and rotate the view to see 3D terrain and buildings.

Google Earth (Free) puts a planet's worth of imagery and other geographic information right on your desktop. View exotic locales like Maui and Paris as well as points of interest such as local restaurants, hospitals, schools, and more.

Google Earth Plus ($20) is an optional upgrade adding GPS device support, the ability to import spreadsheets, drawing tools and better printing.

Google Earth Pro ($400) is for professional and commercial uses. Google Earth Pro is the ultimate research, presentation and collaboration tool for location information.

Google Earth OK for me

Running Win XP home, SP2, AVG antivirus.

Works fine here DocProc. It's probably something to do with your display card or display driver. Look at the release notes since some common display cards are not supported.

Thanks Kayak. I thought it might be that.

On another topic, take a peak at a slideshow of Microsoft's new 'Windows Vista'

Help please,
In Investors room i clicked onto www.intelligentagent.com by driver and now every time I click back to thread or any other click to get back to the board I get this security message come up which prevents the previous smooth flow ............. how do I get rid of it Please

Seadog,

You will see a https:// in the address bar - removed the 's' and you should then be ok

Ian

Thank you Ian .....SD

a friends PC just had a new hard drive,since this the sound has not worked,
she had to load all the software onto the new drive and the guy from DELL put them in the right order for her to load,i did ask if the drivers were loaded and it was,it's not on mute and it's up high on the volume setting,i said it must be something silly and i will have a look for her,the volume icon in the taskbar has a X through it,and the speakers do have power lights on,

can anyone give me some pointers as to what to look for first,

many thanks

steve

Scussy,

Is she running XP? If so ask her to go

Control Panel - Sound, Speech etc - Sound and Audio Devices - Hardware

This will show if the PC is seeing the Sound Card.

Personally the first thing I would do is take out the card and swap slots, but if it is an inbuilt card this is not possible.

Let's hope it is not this problem!

http://forums.suselinuxsupport.de/lofiversion/index.php/t10338.html

HELP

MY COMPUTER JUST WENT DOWN AS IF A POWER CUT !! CAN NOT GET IT TO FIRE UP AGAIN ??
NEED URGENT HELP

HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT POWER LEADS

breydon, have you tried a different socket or checked that the one its plugged in is still working?

Did it just happen while you were working? or when you switched the PC on?

Had you changed anything? installed anything new?

Why do you use capitals only ? its not regarded as polite in the internet world ;-)

Do you get any type of sound when you try to switch in on? A Click or buzz?

sorry, it went off in middle of connection just like a power cut slowly died, now i can not get back on , have tried different plug but just climmer of light when switch plug on the nothing ??

If there is a glimmer of light then it sounds to me like one of your key components has gone. It will be either your memory, board or processor most probably.

How old was the system and was it AMD or Intel? i.e Pentium or Athlon?

Breydon,
Could be bad but, I would open the case and check that none of the power connecters have come loose, the big one that plugs into the motherboard from the power supply could have worked loose, these are sometimes in hot areas and constant heating and cooling can loosen them. Check the other power supply connectors as well.

Power supply might have blown, its not easy to check them as they are SMPS systems and fairly hazardous to play with. Do you have another PC that you could borrow the power supply from?

good luck