In Windows Explorer, try Folder Options/File Types and set HTM and HTML (and perhaps some others) to Internet Explorer. If that doesn't work it will be the file types in the registry but that will be non-trivial to fix.

DCB
Thanks. IE is akready set to be my default browser, but it doesn't use it when clicking AOL links. I also have Firefox and it doesn't use that either. I have messed about previously and must have buggered something up. It is useful to know that you have made it work by that method. It means I will have to tinker a bit more.

I gave up on Firefox because although the ad blocker is wonderful, it will just not display several sites I use, properly. In particular anything with a chart in it and tables/frames often display in a wierd manner. Also Firefox is very slow to load in the first instance. As for streaming charts, forget it.
I was disappointed and tried re installing both Firefox and java before and after each other to no avail.

BEWARE

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/5034384.stm

Woman targeted by web hackers

A woman from Greater Manchester has become a victim of an internet scam in which hackers hijack computer files and blackmail owners to get them back.
Helen Barrow, a 40-year-old nurse from Rochdale, is believed to be one of the first victims of the con in the UK.

Criminals encrypt files with complex passwords, leaving a ransom note telling victims not to contact police.

Ms Barrow's note said that she would have to buy drugs from an online pharmacy to find out the password.

The new phenomenon, known as Ransomware, means victims cannot access any of the files stored in their My Documents folder.

Ms Barrow, from Littleborough, discovered her computer files had vanished and replaced by one 30-digit password-protected folder.

She also found a new file named "instructions how to get your files back".

Ms Barrow contacted police and an IT expert who managed to recover some of her files, which included coursework for her nursing degree.

The senior sister said: "When I realised what had happened, I just felt sick to the core.

"I was in shock.

"It was a horrible feeling and I thought I was going to lose all of my work.

"I had lots of family photographs and personal letters on the computer and to think that other people could have been looking at them was awful."

A message had appeared on her computer screen telling her she had contracted an unnamed virus.

It is thought the message was part of the scam and she inadvertently downloaded it.

The virus is known as Arhiveus and victims are told to buy pharmaceutical drugs from an internet chemist thought to be based in Russia.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "Our High Tech Crime Unit is aware of this new type of crime and incidents of this kind could increase in future."

"Our High Tech Crime Unit is aware of this new type of crime and incidents of this kind could increase in future."
No Shit! Sherlock :-)

Does anyone use or can recommend a Start-Up program to evaluate all the start-up items that are slowing my XP start-up to a crawl?

rpaco:

Sorry to hear about your experience with Firefox. If a site doesn't render properly with Firefox, it's because the web site authors have only implemented for Internet Explorer, and not the World Wide Web standards (Prop: Sir Tim Berners-Lee). In other words, it's their problem, which is made your problem by their ignorance. Complain to them. Tell them to fix their code so it does work with standard browsers, not just Microsoft's IE.

I use Firefox or Opera most of time (it's a mood thing) and have no problems. I don't use IE, it's in the bin as far as I'm concerned because of its appalling record on security.

"a Start-Up program to evaluate all the start-up items that are slowing my XP start-up to a crawl?"

msconfig.exe typed into 'run' shows most and you can untick the box and stop them loading although the parent application may reinstate them.

I have just changed broadband provider, now if I leave my computer and screen saver comes on, the computer locks up and I have to turn it off at the mains any ideas ?

brian - Well, there's the rub. The parent certainly re-instates them - and which are the one's that really matter anyway. There seems to be some proprietary programs that do all the hard work for tenderfoots such as me and I was just wondering their worth (if any). Thanks for the comment, anyway.

Jim, not at all sure why this should be related to change of BB provider. Have you installed any new software recently? Have you checked / altered the screensaver settings. It sounds more like a corrupted file somewhere than anything to do with broadband. Just to make sure, why don't you switch your router off or disconnect it if it's a USB one and see what happens when the screensaver kicks in. I bet it locks up again.

I would try changing screensaver first!

The Other Kevin: Have you visited www.mlin.net ? There's a free start up control panel that let's you see and control start up progs. Very easy to use

(If I can use it anyone can :-))))))

Bolshi - No I haven't. Sounds interesting. I'll have a look. Thanks.

Spybot S&D will tell you which files and applications execute at start up.

You'll first need to ensure that you are in Advanced Mode, rather than Default.

Then Tools > System Startup.

edit: If there are any values which you're unsure of, it's a good idea imo to paste them into a Google search to find out more about them. There's always a technogeek somewhere on the internet who can say exactly what the purpose of each and every file is.

The beauty of Mike Lin's start up utility is that you can disable any suspicous looking progs (after googling them) and seeing how your system performs and then either deleting or re-activating.

Thanks Hilary. I've never looked at Spybot Advanced Mode because of the health warning that flashed up with it. I'll take a peek.

Help required please on 2 issues,my wife has just bought a laptop and we are planning spending a lot of time up north without internet access,1st question i want to hook the laptop up via either 3G or gprs with either a card modem or can it be done with a bluetooth dongle and a Sony p800,the 2nd choice is the cheaper option as i have the phone already but possible not the best option ????Any suggestions on this one please.

2nd problem is i have a email account that comes free with webspace on a host server and its dedicated to a sales@.....thing,if when i am away from my main computers and want to access my email from my laptop,can the email be routed to say my yahoo account which i can pick up anywhere on the planet,can this be done and if so how ????

Can someone help on these issues please.

Rick...

MB,

I pick up e:mails and do web work that does not require too much speed using a bluetooth USB device connected to my Asus laptop and my Nokia bluetooth cellphone which can handle GPRS. It is a reliable system that not only works 'up north' but in places like Venice, India, South America - you name it.

The great thing is that it is easy to get the connection. The downside is speed and cost as you are not using broadband and you are paying per quantity of data downloaded.

I have no experience of 3G, but there are lots of people using those 3G PMCIA devices with assorted degrees of success.

If your e:mail account can be made to perform as a POP3 mailbox you can pick up your messages anywhere you can get access to the internet. However, sending messages demands that you have SMTP permission. If, like me, you are using O2's GPRS you will get it.

However, I took the precaution of signing up with http://www.authsmtp.com/ and for a nominal annual sub you get an SMTP pass that works on any internet connection you can find. I have a sub to
http://www.maglobe.net/

With that, as long as I can get a phone line I can dial a relatively local number and get internet access - not broadband, but faster than GPRS.

I have a Compuserve account and never bother about re-routing. I have an off-line reader called nPOP and that allows me to scan the headers of what it in my mailbox, delete the junk and then download anything relevant.

Any help?

TP

Could someone offer advice on a ADSL problem please.
I run a Linksys WAG54G modem router.
It has 4 Ethernet connections and up to 30 wireless connections.
The problem this morning is although its showing green lights for connection to
ADSL there appears to be nothing coming out of the Ethernet ports, i can connect my PDA wirelessly no problem. Is it likely to be the Router at fault.
It shows on the PC as " Local Area Connection, A network cable is un pluged " This keeps flashing on and off as though its momentairily connecting
I've checked the leads to both PC connected to it and all seems ok
Thanks Steve.