SC, quite safe to use the D partition, that's what it's for after all. The only thing I'd say though is that a laptop disk is a pretty bad place to keep a backup. Laptop disk drives don't have a long life and all you have to do is drop your laptop to lose all your backups.

Geoffg, could be anything really, motherboard, CPU, memory, disk drive, or any of the cards. You could exclude the memory by removing memory sticks one at a time, the expansion cards by removing all non-essential cards, the others by swapping parts with a working system. The other thing you could do is install the disk drive on a working system and check and fix any errors.

Actually thinking about it, check in the BIOS that the voltages being provided by the new power supply are within limits (the facility is normally there).

Kayak, thanks. The laptop is a backup of the backups, sort of double insurance, my Partner does the same so we have, at any one time, three backups of the original data.The first backups are portable hard drives, and one failed within weeks of getting it so I'm now paranoid!

Anybody on here know of this?

Subject: FW: Please Read and Send Out ASAP
> > >
> > > Thought I'd pass this on just in case it has some validity.
> > >
> > > 1. Emails with pictures of Osama Bin-Laden hanged are being sent and
> > > the moment that you open these emails your computer will crash and
you
> > > will not be able to fix it!
> > >
> > > This e-mail is being distributed through countries around the globe,
> > > but mainly in the US and Israel.
> > >
> > > Don't be inconsiderate; send this warning to whomever you know.
> > >
> > > If you get an email along the lines of "Osama Bin Laden Captured" or
> > > "Osama Hanged" don't open the attachment.
> > >
> > >
> > > 2. Please read the attached warning issued today.
> > > PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS: ; You
> > > should be alert during the next days:
> > > Do not open any message with an attached filed called "Invitation"
> > > regardless of who sent it
> > > It is a virus that opens an Olympic Torch which "burns" the whole hard
> > > disc C of your computer. This virus will be received from someone who
> > > has your e-mail address in his/her contact list, that is why you
> > > should send this e-mail to all your contacts. It is better to receive
> > > this message 25 times than to receive the virus and open it.
> > >
> > > If you receive a mail called "invitation", though sent by a friend, do
> not
> > > open it and shut down your computer immediately.
> > >
> > > This is the worst virus announced by CNN, it has been classified by
> > > Microsoft as the most destructive virus ever.
> > > This virus was discovered by McAfee yesterday, and there is no repair
> > > yet for this kind of virus.
> > >
> > > This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc, & gt;
where
> the
> > > vital
> > > information is kept.
> > > SEND THIS E-MAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW, COPY THIS E-MAIL AND SEND IT TO
> > > YOUR FRIENDS AND REMEMBER: IF YOU SEND IT TO THEM, YOU WILL BENEFIT
ALL
> OF
> > > US.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >

It looks like an 'Irish Virus'.

You had better send it to everyone in your address book and we had better do the same.

But there again, don't let's bother, eh? That might stop just stop this particular Irish virus.

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/osama.asp

Hilary "Thanks, but the manuals are pretty vague on network installation and instruct you to use the standard Windows drivers within XP. The Minolta drivers are for earlier OS's."

What model is this? With the network printers we use we have to use the drivers on the CD to search for the printer over the network. They never show up otherwise!

After a call to Konica Minolta Support, the problem is now resolved.

The procedure was completely different to anything in the manuals and involved installing the printer as a local printer on LPT1 (even though a parallel cable wasn't connected) and then re-assigning the port to a TCP/IP port. It was also necessary to use the Minolta printer driver rather than the XP driver which was contrary to the manual.

At no point was the printer installed as a network printer which was the route that we had been going down to no avail. At least it works now. Next step is to stick an HP A3 printer onto the network. Deep joy.

Anyone have an idea to what this error message is about:


# An unexpected error has been detected by HotSpot Virtual Machine:

This is the first line of a text error file that appears on my Desktop on a regular basis. Something to do with Java I believe, but no idea why it is being generated.

Many thanks

pth

pth

http://www.java.com/en/download/help/5000041400.xml

There is an indication here of what your Java problem is and it also tells how to do a 'workaround'.

Need some advice and opinions.

Does anyone know whether it is possible and how to use/connect a PC as a home entertainment center, replacing TV, DVD-player/recorder, hi-fi etc?

Thanks

Thanks Doc

axdpc, quick answer is yes, whether you would want to is another question. We will all end up doing this but I suspect it will be in 3-5 years time.

The only all in one tv/pc etc I know of was made by Elonex but they went bust a few weeks ago, have a look at this site you may find more info there AVForums

Spaceman, thanks :-)

If i wanted to sell my computer would the free C Cleaner download be enough to wipe my hard drive clean ?

.

"axdpc, quick answer is yes, whether you would want to is another question. We will all end up doing this but I suspect it will be in 3-5 years time."

I doubt even 3-5 years will be the case.

The main reason I have a WiFi broadband/router servicing my laptop at home is because it enables me to check my messages (and prices on Stock Manager) with my PDA. I hate having to wait for Win XP to load up if all I need to do is see whether someone has sent me a msg.

I still don't understand why someone does not make a telephone that accepts broadband and has a crude e:mail receive/send facility.


TP

I'm thinking of getting a Vodaphone 3G PCMCIA data card which has been unlocked for any network.

If I use it in Spain and France this summer, would it be possible (and cheaper) to buy local PAYG SIM cards for it in each of those countries? Also, do they need special SIM cards or will ordinary phone SIM cards work?

Hil,

There's nothing special about a 3G SIM card, it's the equipment (handset or card) that decides to connect to an available 3G (UMTS) network. I found that "support" at Vodafone thought otherwise, but they're wrong. Any old Voda SIM works in my 3G card.

Sometimes PAYG cards are not data-enabled, but I bet they'd be cheaper than paying Voda's rip-off international roaming charges.

You may find that the card falls back to good old clockwork GPRS in many places.

I notice you're going Spain and FRance this summer. If you go in the winter, you will need the ski-boot option as well, but I can help you with that ;-)

Hils,i bought a 3G card about 4 weeks back and while up scotland last week used it for the 1st time,mine is unlocked also but have not put my Tmobile card in it yet.Summery of use for the week because i was out in the sticks it never got a 3G signal,so was only running gprs which runs about 56k.Could be expensive to run on the PAYG it costs about 7.50 a mb,which does not last long.
As i only use it for placing trades with Betonmarket who dont have the facility to place a trade by phone,only on the net,i dont have much choice.

It gives me the freedom to travel alot more and reduce the screen watching.

If you want more information,just ask away,but will be away again from friday for a week up north again.

Rick...