Thanks guys, and yes most of it is static data (consulting methodologies etc..). Will ponder for a moment.

Mr Euro, the best solution is to add a tape drive, which will cost you a couple of hundred pounds but you can then back up the whole of your system on a single tape. Failing that, you could buy a DVD writer at 150 or so, and with a backup program that compresses as it backs up you might also get away with a single DVD. There are many backup programs around, a market leader is Veritas, e.g. their Backup My PC, http://www.dabs.com/products/prod-search.asp?action=search&stab=ref&ob=manufacturer&cs=Products. With this sort of program you can select compression, which files you want to backup and restore, and it will also be able to recover a complete system from a total disk failure.

The vast majority of computer systems sold in the shops do not include significant backup facilities, on the grounds of cost. People are therefore not used to paying for a complete backup solution. The advantage of investing in a proper facility rather than messing about selecting files to back up is that backup and recovery becomes a very simple affair indeed. If my disk crashed tomorrow, I would merely buy a new disk, load the last full backup tape onto it and then the last differential backup, and off I go ready for the next trading day with a maximum of one day's data lost. No need to reinstall operating system or any application software since the registry etc. is also backed up and restored. Anyone backing up just data files or selecting which files to back up would have to start by reloading all of Windows and all his applications, and will probably lose options/defaults/layouts etc. and also run the risk of losing any data he'd forgot to back up.

Mr Euro

Here is the address of a page which I found very useful for back-up info. It is by Fred Langa. You can also download the article which makes for much easier reading. It is a small (40.2kb)zip file which once opened becomes a help file.

The address of the page is:

http://www.langa.com/backups/backups.htm

And if you want to go straight to the download:

http://www.freetune.com/backups/backups.zip

Within the article is lots - maybe too much - info about ways of backing up your data. There are also links to other useful articles about specific ways of backing up data like the tape option outlined above.

Thanks all, very much appreciated. Will have a look for a tap machine on ebay and hopefully I wont end up with a tape recorder :-)

Mr E Be very careful what you buy. Tape backup units sometimes have limited life. Make sure the warrenty is OK.

Yes, definitely buy new. Dabs is probably a better bet, http://www.dabs.com. Also check the cost of the tapes.

Any ideas where I go next on this internet connection problem;

Im trying to connect via a laptop, I dial up and connect to the ISP without any trouble but dont seem to get any data flow after an initial 500 to 600 bytes.

So far Ive tried;
two modems (one int, one ext)
several ISPs
several phone lines (including the one I normally connect on)
two different modem to phone connecting cables

Any further suggestions welcomed

thanks

Neil

robber - sounds like you've covered everything other than the software running on the PC itself. Try uninstalling all networking components (TCP/IP etc), rebooting and reinstalling. Check all operating system service packs/patches/modem drivers are up to date (just go to www.windowsupdate.com if using a recent version of Windows, and the modem manufacturer's website).

Hi troll, thanks for that, pretty sure that SPs and drivers are up to date. The problem with removing networking components is that I want to run the laptop using ICS via my home network most of the time but use dialup access when Im away from home. Will have a play around anyway as youve given me a few ideas

thanks

Neil

troll, nice one, I cleared out a few of the redundant networking components but left both the networking and dialup protocols that I presently use. Result; faultless access via either dialup or ICS.

thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

cheers

Neil

Norton Utilities tells me i have a missing Programme File.

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\MAPISRVR.EXE Cannot accsess a necessary file GAPI32 DLL

Any idea what this is and where i can restore it from.Norton gives the severity of this problem as Medium.
Iain

iain, if you search the web there are plenty of references to gapi32.dll being missing. You can download it from here if you need it but I would try to understand why it's missing first. You are likely to have installed or configured some application as a mail client.

the troll has it right, it is software. Are you using Win98 by any chance ?
Nice site for DLL'S k!

I've just received AOL vers 8 - anybody been brave enough to upgrade yet?

skinny - Put the disc in the bin and go and lie in a quiet room until the urge passes.

:-)

anyone got any bright ideas for 'dealing with' surfcontrol :-(((

Neil

the troll - exactly my thoughts/action :-) - but you've got to ask!

Interesting one. Some how today an application called "Fuck off haha" has installed itself on my desktop, start-up menu and in a windows directory. I think it came in via email and might be someone trying to be funny. Didn't want to open it just in case and have scanned attachments but nothing. It also got by my firewall.

Now it may have started out as a prank but I can't delete the file from the windows directory and just gives me a message "Cannot delete Fuck off haha". It also reinstalls itself whenever I reboot.

Anyone any ideas?

Mr E: to delete the file try right-clicking on it, click on Properties, and untick all the boxes under "attributes". Then try to delete again. If it reinstalls itself on reboot you will need to edit the registry.

I've looked in the Virus information and there is no information about it which might mean it is a new virus. It's unlikely to be someone trying to be funny.

Hi K, Yes tried that and all I get on delete is "Cannot delete Fuck off haha: access is denied

Make sure the disk is not full or write protected and that the file is not in use.

This is becoming annoying.