Graeme, if they are plagued by pop ups then it is most likely that the computer has caught a virus. Do a full virus scan and scan for malware too.

Just taken up an offer of a free security sweep by Panda Software which diagnosed my computer was infected with Demo-GFI.A I can't get my head round the Google references for this Trojan. Should I be worried about it? Is it necessary to remove it? How do I remove it? Any comments greatly appreciated.

NTL INFO: My ISP failed me 3 times on Thursday and Friday last week and I'm on 2mb with 20/1 contention - just noticed that NTL do 10mb Broadband @ 34.99 wondered if anyone had experience of NTL and are they any good?

CS

Here's a page, which I have set up on 'ADSL Guide.org.uk' just for an exercise, and compares Broadband Cost, Speed and Technical Service from BT, NTL and Tiscali.

You can set up your own comparisons elsewhere on the site and there is also a Forum.

Check out http://www.adslguide.org.uk/.....Compare BT, NTL and Tiscali

Captain Scarlet.

I use NTL Broadband. Generally OK but customer service pretty awful if you do have a problem. Also watch out for the usual scenario of when they offer you a free upgrade, the small print means you commit to another twelve month contract with them. I have been caught out.

Totally ignorant about this really but my understanding was that although NTL may offer 10mb, your telephone line may not be able to accept faster than 2mb - don't know if that makes sense!!

CS

Just bear in mind that you will only get 10mb if your area is cabled up.

I was with NTL for almost 2 years and never had a problem with lost connections. However, I knew they had below average reviews but couldn't understand why until I had to cancel as moving house. I was kept on hold for over 45mins before I could get through!

Apparently, technical support suffers from the same problem.

I am now with Plusnet and am very happy with their service. I can get through to the techies within 5 mins and they understand and resolve problems quickly and efficiently.

They seem to get above average reviews on adslguide and I believe a number of traders on here use them too.

I have tried loads of special offers, guaranteed lowest prices etc. etc. and have ALWAYS returned to BT within a month, every other supplier of both land-line telephones and broadband etc. have had either hidden charges, crap service, no back -up or incorrect billing-I could go on- as for AOL they tried to sue me for non-payment , they didn`t collect the direct-debit- as for Sky Telephones- don`t start me off!!!!!

My formula:

BT landlines.

Call18866 for 0p/min UK calls (4p connection charge) 2p/min to US, good quality VoIP.

Zen Internet for broadband, one month minimum contract, great reliability and customer service. Check them out against others at ADSL Guide

My computer runs slow at times when I have a number of applications open. I have adsl @ 2mb so that's not the problem. I suspect my 512mb RAM is the problem - carrying bagage reducing it if that is possible? Any easy checks, tune ups to free up RAM that you know to work well? I'm suspicious some of the offerings I see have a hidden agenda and won't use them. Perhaps I'm paranoid.

Kernow, is the hard disc thrashing when you swap between apps? If so then it's almost certainly more memory you need.

If you're running a number of apps then upgrading the memory is one of the easiest, cheapest and best fixes there is. I've just upgraded my PC to 1 Gig from 512 and the difference is sgnificant. Wish I'd gone for 2 Gig even.

So much of the 512 is used in system overhead, so that adding another 512 would dramatically increas the amount of free memory avaialble - you'd easily more than double the available memory. 512 is barely enough these days.

MM

You're overpaying! http://www.call18185.co.uk/ is same price for UK (0p) and connection charge, but only 0.5p/min to USA!

There is an even better deal somewhere on this board, but I can't find it.

We use 18185 regularly for calls to USA, Canada, Australia, NZ and Singapore, and couldn't be more pleased with the service - and it makes for excellent marital harmony :-)

1 Meg broadband @ 10 a month unlimited, no sign up charge etc - you have to pay for 24 months in advance though!

https://www.euro1net.com/cgi-bin/home.cgi

I've found them OK, they pick up the phone straight away (and speak English!). You're a bit stuck if you move house though as they then charge 65 for BT to move your ADSL to the new number but I guess that applies to all suppliers?

Test the Javascript Speed of your PC

BenchJS will reveal the answer! BenchJS consists of 7 scripts testing the speed-potential of your PC and your browser's JavaScript engine.

ADAM, thanks for response.

Thanks SC. You're right. I'll have to buy more RAM

kernow, how fast is your CPU,i too have pc running slower then normall,with me it's nortons AV taking up the CPU (25-30)%.so i need to get a faster cpu for the motherboard or get a up to date PC,i have 1.25 GB mem and 10 meg cable.so its not that side ,as said i think you will need more RAM,
with RAM does it matter if its

pc 2100 DDR ram
pc 2700 DDR ram
pc 3200 DDR ram

as listed HERE

and HERE
the IT men should tell us if they can be mixed or should they be the same as you have in the PC allready,

steve

When you want to upgrade it, a good way to find out what type of RAM memory you have in your machine is to simply look in the little book that came with your computer and is to do with the Motherboard. Or you can of course, take the lid off, pull out the RAM card(s) and have a look.

If you go to Crucial they have web-based tools and advice to help you select exactly the right stuff.

Thanks Scussy and DocProc for the advice - I'll explore on Thurs when next at home. fwiw I ditched Nortons years ago. I found it caused endless problems and the end came when after renewal of subsciptions for several years I found the support for my old version had been withdrawn and they advised buying new. In my innocence I assumed I had been paying for constant software upgrades!! The good folks on here put me onto the router firewall and avg - both of which work easily in the background and trouble free.

"the IT men should tell us if they can be mixed or should they be the same as you have in the PC allready"

This is a cracking little programme which tells you all about cpu, mobo and memory - go to SPD and it will tell you what make and speed is in each slot - very handy!

http://www.cpuid.org

I found I was running 512 of 166Mhz kingston and 256 of 133Mhz Nanka

It seems to run OK but I'd imagine it would be better not to mix speeds?

bubble message "running low on vitual memory windows is going to increase it "

is this because the RAM is not large enough ?

(512K ram; 3Gb P4 Win XP HE )