Klal

If you go the wireless route and have a laptop, make sure that they have USB connectors. Some wireless keyboard/mouse kits have a base unit with two PS2 plugs. Most laptops have at most one PS2 socket, and although you can buy a 2 into one connector, these can be troublesome to use.

There's no need to apologise, Doc.

It might have been harsh of me to suggest that the JiWire link was out of date. More accurately, I had a problem with the way in which it searched for hotspots as there seems to be a problem with the indexing of their database. For example, when I entered the name of the town that I was staying, it returned only 1 result. I then entered the post code relating to that town and it returned 5 results, all of which had the same town name within their address. There's clearly a problem somewhere.

Photomad/The Publisher/et al

Regarding earlier references to overheating, I remove the fan cover and clear out the dust from the fan every weekend and find it has helped. I also created a platform to sit the laptop on to allow more air to circulate around it, which also seems to have made things more stable...

Thanks for all the advice I have received here. A great thread to visit in a crisis.

G.

DocProc / Optimist, thanks for the tips. Might be a good time to replace the keyboard - didn't like it too much anyway!

Greystone, my PC tends to overheat too (too many apps!). Dust does seem to be the problem and I find myself having to open up the covers and blow it all away.

Apart from that, I use a utility called CpuIdle that lowers the CPU temperature by disabling it when not needed. It does seem to work as I have seen the temperature come down to more acceptable levels.

CpuIdle
Motherboard Monitor

Re:My more acute disk problem - Windows XP know tells me that this file is either missing or currupt :- /system32/ntoskrnl.exe

(Should be backslashes but I can't find the key on this IBM thingy...)

Any ideas on how I can recover that file?

Klal

Is your computer a desktop? If it is the it may well be worth replacing the fan with a better one. There is a trade off between noise and cooling but many manufacturers put really cheap ones in that are not up to the job. Get one with a heavy heatsink and a reasonable size fan. The other thing worth fitting is an extra case fan these tend to be quieter and are very cheap (as are standard keyboards). Check out your local Maplins.

Greystone

I think that error message is a symptom of your corrupted disk. You could replace the file but then it would most likely have problems with another one.

You need to run Chkdsk on the entire disc. Assuming that you are using the NTFS file system, this has an excellent chance of fixing it for the time being or at least long enough for you to clone the disc. However, this process is not without risk, the safe thing to do is mount the disc as a secondary on another machine, copy your data and then try to sort the disc.

Email me if you need any detailed help.

Edit I would stop trying to boot from that disk as it could damage it further.

Greystone - if the previous help from optomist didn't work and assuming you're using xp try the following:

1/ Place your Windows XP CD into your CD-ROM and Reboot your PC

2/ XP's setup program will automatically start and files will be loaded to memory

3/When you reach the Welcome to Setup screen choose the Repair option by pressing R

4/ This will open the Recovery Console

4/ The list of Windows installations will appear

5/ If you only have one installation on your PC you need to press the number which is relevant to your installations location. This, obviously will typically be 1

6/ You now need to enter your Administrator password to gain access. If you are using Windows XP Home edition the administrator password is blank by default so simply press Enter

7/ At the command prompt change to the drive letter that contains your CD

8/ Next type: cd i386

9/ The directory should now change to the i386 directory

10/At the command prompt you now need to type: expand ntkrnlmp.ex_C:\Windows\System32\ntoskrnl.exe

11/The relevant file should now be expanded and copies to the windows\system32 directory of your C:\ drive

12/ Finally, remove the Windows XP cd from your CD-ROM and, at the command prompt type: Exit


There's also a link here for another way. I've never got round to trying it yet but you may experiment for us all ;-)
http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=313

G

But please run chkdsk first!

Brian

Thanks for the link.

Hi brianboru,

Many thanks for that. I've saved it for future reference...

My PC is a Toshiba Satellite and the only CDs I can find appropriate are two "recovery CDs". Unfortunately, the system doesn't seem to recognise them as bootable, so keeps trying from the hard disk.

Looks as though I'm stumped. I guess the PC was due for replacement soon anyway and I do have most of the files I need from the disk stored elsewhere.

Mrs.G. will be unhappy that I won't be able to recover the digital camera pics which I never got round to saving, so that will probably cost me dearer than the PC will....

Best regards,

G.

Edit: Optimist - A long way from getting far enough to run chkdsk sadly

G

Is it a 40MB disk about 3 or 4 years old? They had serious trouble with those. You couldn't use yor PC as much as I do, I got through 2 disks in 9 months each.

The disk is almost certainly recoverable so don't throw it or the computer away. The recovery disk on my Sat Pro is bootable but any Win XP instalation disk should do. In fact when I had to use my recovery DVD, it was very much a Toshiba disk and the Win XP utilities were very well hidden. you are best to use a standard XP disk.

Optimist - Thanks. I'll try to track down a Win XP installation disk and give it a try. There are a few Brits around here with PCs which I presume will be using XP.

Optimist, yes - what I have is a desktop PC. Thanks for the suggestions - will seriously consider replacing CPU fan with something heavier. Was thinking of an extra case fan myself. Hope to do the replacements in a few days...will post results here.

Thanks,
Lal

Hilary, thanks for the information.

Still toying with best way to go. Thinking of Changing from V21 although they have given me good service and getting a T-mobile datacard for this country. Costs about 20 per month which has a I am told a good download rate and I can take with me if or when I move. May have to sort out my network differently.

But why can't I use the same system all over Europe without getting stitched up when going from one country to another. I know they Vod and BT have to make a bob or two but at the moment its highlight robbery.

Hi!
Using Outlook Express-I'm sure I shouldn't be
It is suddenly impossible to delete any e-mails.
Any help on rectifying this greatly appreciated.

I have some Video (.mov) files I want to edit. Simple stuff but the most urgent is to turn them though 90 degrees as some I am desperate to keep were taken with the camera on its side. So you have to watch the video in bed 

Also would like to do some basic editing.
Is there any freeware out there that will give me such basics or am I into buying software and if yes which should I go for.

Regards
M

M

Microsoft Movie Maker 2 will do that and more. Last time I looked, it was free.

hodgins. I don't know if this will help but..... my friend had an Outlook Express auto update the other day (Friday?) & it sent her PC into a bit of a tizzy. Desktop altered, email settings disappeared, address book gone etc. etc. Rectified itself after about an hour. Have you had an auto update lately?

Optimist

My hero and I have it on my PC.

Off to play thanks

M

OK, I think we need a company website setting up - used to have one but it fell by the wayside- not a lot of info needed on it - who is a cheap and reliable host? Anyone any experiences?

If you need to watch a film in bed to see it the right way up, it must have been taken in bed in the first place :-)