I've just checked this machine and it's loaded with MS Access 2000 and I'm pretty sure there must be a more current version. Before I start twiddling with the data, perhaps I should be using something more up-to-date. Can I just download MS Access 2005 or similar from somewhere on the net?

Haystack, your points are well made. I've got umpteen dozen varieties of Mc, Mac and O's. 99% of the database is from Scotland. Do you recommend any particular database software, or is Access good enough - if I can get a current version?

The latest version of Access is 2003 and you have to purchase it or pay the upgrade fee. Yours should be OK.

These might help

http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ooa/HIVReporting/SOUNDEX/WebDownloads/Soundex/DHS 8641 SC.pdf

http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ooa/HIVReporting/SOUNDEX/WebDownloads/Soundex/Soundex_Excel.xls

http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ooa/HIVReporting/fpdb/Soundex_Access.mdb

http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ooa/HIVReporting/SOUNDEX/WebDownloads/Soundex/Soundex_Tools_Info.doc

I wouldn't bother with moving everything over to a database for 600-700 addresses. In terms of simplicity I think hilary's suggestion in post 4337 is the best, assuming the list is on a spreadsheet and it's easy to sort by postcode.

Since you guys are so knowledgable and I'm so "PC Thick", is there a simple way to back up my entire hard disk?
About every 18 months or so, my computer seems to start going very badly wrong. I am sure this is due to viruses as I am online 24/7 and my system security has to be quite weak due to the amount of access I need to let my PC have so it can be constantly updating from various suppliers etc. It is also due to the hammer it gets, of course, but when it goes it goes big style (Twice now) and I end up buying a new PC.
The fact of buying another doesn't bother me. It is that I end up spending a month rewritng the stuff I have lost, and reloading masses of quotation and database software.
I am told there is some way of taking a picture of your hard drive, and storing this on a dvd. How does this work, will it work for me and does it matter that I do not have the Windows disk, cos as usual it was pre-installed under license.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Alan

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=17781554603&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=62833

Alan,this will back up the whole pc and easy to install via usb,plug and save all the info.

Mega...

hewittalan6, it more complicated than just getting an external drive (the lacie drive MB mentions is however a good one).

We have covered this subject many times in ths thread before if you can work out how to search it its in here.

So, if I had an external drive I can dump my entire hard drive onto there periodically and if my system crashes I could wipe my entire drive, plug in the external and reboot from there?
Is that the basics of it?
Alan

Alan, No not without extra software and a clear method. Sorry its more complicated.

Computers always are :-((((
I have never worked out whether they are really clever machines designed by really dumb people or really dumb machines designed by really clever people.
Either is a disastrous combination.
I am always being told how important it is to back up all my work and files, and when I decide i better start doing it , I find you need a degree in computer sciences.
Big market for anyone who comes up with a cheap and efficient way of doing it!!
Thanks anyway,
Alan

Alan, the other problem you need to consider is this; if you believe that you computer goes badly wrong due to virusues then these same viruses will also be sitting on the back up hard drive. If this is the case then using the backup disc to restore ALL your data will almost certainly fail.

If you are strict with your folder structure you could just back up your data files (my documents?) to DVD or HDD. You would then have a much greater chance of successsfully accessing these via a 2nd or replacement PC. (Bear in mind that your emails, address book and internet favorites are not stored in 'my documents' by default and you may need to copy these to your data folders if you want a backup of these)

This application is very good at doing just what you need and has a non technical user interface which makes backup and restoration to a new pc very easy;

Acronis backup software

If your data is business critical I really would recommend paying a techie to look at your set up and do the set up and configuration for you.

Neil

Cheers Neil,
I was thinking the same thing about getting a techie to configure the system correctly if I get a new one this summer.
Its just that I'm a tight little bugger, but it did spring into my mind that this summer will see loads of layabout students from our local university looking for the opportunity to earn some beer tokens, so I may get it all done for a four pack of Skol!!!
Will check the link, thanks very much for your efforts.
Alan

Alan, have a look here:

PC World external drives

We use one of these at each site:

Smartdisc

They're a doddle, quick to backup but not the best value probably. Lovely and small and easy to slip into a pocket at night.

Amaxingly cheap. It wasn't that long ago that I was paying around 1,800 for 500Mb disks drives.

I'm no expert to be able to add authorative advice but fwiw I do recall being told just to save data e.g. my docs, my pics, favourites, outlook addresses and any little downloaded programmes and do a hardware reinstall in the event of a crash because (a) probably there is a newer version of e.g Windows/Office, (b) backup everything may merely reinstall the problem and (c) the build up of minor corruption, irritations that build up on an old machine are cleansed.

Yep,

Definitely the best way, and don't forget to export your Outlook profiles, address book and internet favourites. All the Software can easily be installed again, but those settings things can be a pain.

CAN ANYONE GIVE ME AN ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM

CAN ANY OF YOU CLEVER PEOPLE OUT THERE HELP ME, BY TELLING ME WHY, IF YOU FORWARD CERTAIN MESSAGES WITH PICTURES IN THEY COME OUT AS BELOW? !!!! I RECIEVED THE PICTURES FINE BUT WHEN I SEND THEM ON THEY COME OUT LIKE THIS, SOOOOOOO FRUSTRATING.







Hi Irene, Here are the wee smiles - Love Lynne
----- Original Message -----





-------Original Message-------

From

What shows up is the outline of the image with a small red cross in one corner










--------------------------------------


Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.298 / Virus Database: 267.15.2 - Release Date: 4/02/2006

Can anyone give me some help in Trojan removal,not a techy so will need to be in simple language.
My antivirus has picked up the following,
Win32/Sinteri.....C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskdir.exe
Win32/Sinteri.....C:\WINDOWS\system32\parad.raw.exe
Win32/Sinteri.....C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskdir.dll
Win32/Sinteri!downloader......C:\WINDOWS\system32\woblaizdupla.exe

thanks. Steve.

Aldwick. You see the red cross because the receiver's computer cannot find the picture you have sent. This suggests you have not sent it as an attachment but as a link to another website where is has been removed or is temporarily unavailable. To see it you sender need to save it to a folder on your machine then send the image file as an attachment to an email.

O k, Seymour , thanks very much.

aldwickk

One way to send the pic as an Email is to highlight the pic and copy/paste it into your Email.

You will get this problem if you send a pic from your own PC. One way tofind out the specific problem is to right click the red square and view the properties. You will find either that there is not a complete path to the web site pic or it has C: etc as it came from your PC.