SC: That IP address (61.187.200.10) is one allocated to Hunan Telecom in China. So that's where the probe into your machine came from. Norton obviously continues to work, it's just that you won't get updates to its database.

Having said that, if the computer is behind a NAT firewall (eg an ADSL router with the firewall on), I'm surprised the probe got that far.

UDP is the basic Internet datagram protocol which doesn't guarantee delivery (as opposed to TCP which does). It's sometimes used for streaming media where a small bit drop out is tolerable in sound and/or vision transmission.

MM, I was on dial up with OneTel at the time rather than broadband. I realise Norton is continuing, without updates, which is fine for now but really I do think Norton's too heavyweight for my needs.

Bones:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-ca/assistance/HA011166031033.aspx

and

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010875321033.aspx

Thanks for those links Seymour!

Bones,

I was re-reading some info about Karen's Replicator last night as I was recommended to it as a good back up system. At the time I was also being warned off back up systems that encrypted or compressed as they were more likely to become unreadable.

If you look at the following page you will see a reference to synching a laptop and a PC and you might find it an interesting approach.

http://www.karenware.com/newsletters/2003/2003-05-27.asp

Certainly the software seems well thought out and there are about half a dozen of those newsletters that explain more about how it can be adapted to suit people's various needs.


TP

Seems the CPU fan on my computer has broken. Is this something I can just buy myself and plug in or do I need a "pro" to fix it? Seen a couple for sale on PC World website for my processor (AMD Athlon) but no many about how they connect. Any advice much appreciated.

Isaacs,

"Seems the CPU fan on my computer has broken. Is this something I can just buy myself and plug in or do I need a "pro" to fix it? "

I b*gg*r*d up my studio PC a few months ago trying to replace a power supply with a noisy fan. It is an easy job to do, but what I did wrong was to switch the computer off with the power switch instead of closing down from within Windows.

I did it because, in fitting the new power unit, I dislodged one of the other cables to something like a CD drive. I was so annoyed that I turned the PC off and as it had not done its proper Windows close down the operating system became corrupt. So corrupt that trying to install the system from the release disk did not work - so I guess I trashed the hard disk.

I am sure I could do it again properly next time, but when I think of the time I wasted it makes using a pro seem cheap.

TP

Isaacs, fitting a CPU fan (combined with heat sink) is very easy if you are reasonably handy. I am not familiar with Athlons specifically but fans are made to clip onto the motherboard thereby pressing onto the processor below. The only things to watch are: choose the right model of fan (look inside the box and note the dimensions of the fan, and get one a similar size and specified for the correct processor); be very careful not to damage the motherboard as you unclip and reclip the heat sink (it may take a certain amount of force); and ensure that you put enough 'thermal transfer compound' between processor and heat sink. When you remove the heat sink you will find remnants on both sides and should be able to scrape enough from the old heat sink to move to the new one. The new heat sink might come with a piece of tape under which is pre-spread the correct amount of paste, in which case remove the remnants on the CPU. Otherwise Maplin do a small tube, from memory.

OK thanks guys. Might have a go later. Fortunately PC holding up so far. Famous last words no doubt.....

.

I've just been taking the Opera 9.00 browser for a spin this evening -- I think it must have the quickest web page rendering ever. Very impressive and worth a try.

For free at http://www.opera.com/

Thanks to The Publisher for earlier advice on Replicators. I'll follow up.

Another issue. I have a LAN at home now :) Well a main computer and a lappie which access the internet through a Netgear router. I know I should encrypt access to the network to stop nosy neighbours and worse using my wireless connection but a quick browse has revealed a lot of complicated (to me) talk about WPA, and "make sure you do this and that". Basically, I need a mickey mouse guide to encrypting my network where I don't end up locking myself out of it from any computer I use!

Does anyone have a simpleton's guide to the software needed (if any) and how to do it in six easy steps?

Thank you.

Chief Dunce

Bones,

Pending some info from someone experienced - which I am not - you might like to take a roam around http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/

I got my kit from them. They were most helpful and it is possible that there is some advice for Dummies or Duncies on their site. Maybe not, but if you've quarter of an hour to kill.......

TP

Bones, if no-one else comes up with an answer I have a document somewhere which I could scan and email to you - I still have your e-mail address, but won't be until later this evening.

TP, SC. Thank you both!

I have just done a re-load and I have lost my pound and 'at' sign. How do i get my keyboard back to what it was? I have xp home edition.
Thanks, in anticipation.

Help wanted for a friend of mine in oz , she's blond.

That adobe sight you sent me I did access that.before but try to download it, and it says' This url already exists' but try finding it!!! impossible .In the programes , I have adobe acrobat reader 4.0 when I try to get into it cannot. If I try to download the newer version ,cannot ,and if I try to uninstall it , it wont let, me saying parts of this program do not exist so cannot install. feel like I am going crazy.

Wondering if anyone can give me some advice. Had my laptop for about a year, seems to be getting abit slow, is there any bits of software(pitstop is one I looked at) thats good at cleaning all the crap out or do I need to take it to have it done professionally?

Poldark:

In control panel, click on: "Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options"

then "Regional and language options", and select "English (United Kingdom)" and click "OK"

That should give you back your missing symbols.

We're intending to take the printers off the individual PC's and put them straight onto the network via an ethernet switch.

We've got all the bits and bobs that are needed and will look to sort it out over the next couple of days, but is it as simple as it sounds or is it likely to be fraught with problems? Will the printers be automatically detected and assigned IP addresses or will they need to be manually assigned? Presumably printer drivers will need to be installed on each PC?

Seymoor Clearly have you not tried AVG, I use it and many others I know, free and reliable, been using it for two years now.