Haystack - that's helpful - I will check that when I get these s/b's closed out - thanks didn't think of looking in there :>)

Hi guys

im looking to replace the graphics card i currently have, however, im not sure of the interface i need to the motherboard. How do i tell what my current interface is?

Your current graphics may be a separate card or it may be embedded on the mother board. You should have received a user guide to your motherboard with your PC. If not then you may be able to identify it and look on the appropriate web site. If it is a separate card then you need to remove it and install the new one. You will need to determine what sort of slot is being used for the card - PCI short or long for instance.

One simple way to et a bit more information is to go to the desktop and right click. You should then click 'properties'. Then click 'settings'. Click 'advanced' and then 'adaptor'. This should identifiy the type of card or graphics capability that you have. It will also show the amount of graphics memory that you have. If the graphics is embedded on the motherboard then the memory may well be part of your main memory being grabbed (this is very common). Click on proprties and it should show if it is a PCI bus.

Haystack

many thanks

the card i have is a matrox G550 dual head. when i go into properties it has location PCI bus 1, device, 0, function 0

does this mean i need a PCI (not AGP or PCI express card) ?

Ok, the motherboard is an ABIT AS8. In the detail i can find it says it has 1 x AGP 8x slot and 4 x PCI expansion slots

Does this mean i have to use an AGP rather than a PCI Express graphics card???

F yes.

cheers spacey

Having a bad night tonite!!!

When trying to enter a poker sites downloaded application im getting the following Fatal error:

An internal error has occurred:

IDirectDrawSurface_Blt (DDBLT_KEYSRC) -2147467263


My unitiated brain thought this was a problem with directx and or the graphics, but have tried everything i know to resolve - anyone any clues would be gratefully appreciated

TIA

Have you tried redownloading the application and reinstalling it? You may have had a duff copy.

If I don't get joy from Trend PC-Cillin I shall come to the conclusion that the company has had its day.

A while back, and sorry this thread is hard to search, I think the consensus was in favour of AVG http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1/lng/us/tpl/v5

Is my memory correct?

I don't mind paying for a more complete version of AVG - but what has, as I said earlier, put me off Trend is the way it hogs resources.

Enjoy your weekend folks - but where is the sun?

TP

yes haystack :(

TP, I've used the free AVG for about 3 years, no problems with hogging resources.
All runs very smootly in fact.

Op,

Thanks.

I think I'll give a go.

TP

TP,i too run AVG pro with firewall 7.5,no problems,just set the scans for when your not working,but dont set if missed start at start up in settings,
there is a new all in one INTERNET SECURITY $69 for 2 years,i think i wll be upgrading to that soon as i have a year left on my PC's.

AVG LINK

have a good look around the site

I have recently switched to usings Prevx2 which is currently in beta form, this is a different type of program but has soime interesting and significant adavantages.

I think it should do very well, I used prevx1 for a while about a year ago and that also worked well but I had some stability problems with it on my PC's.

http://www.prevx.com/

Sp,

" interesting and significant adavantages."

You tempter, you !!

Such as ?

TP

TP, it works in a different way and does not depend on constant client updates of 'fingerprints' to detect virus or other malware like activity. This means it should be capable of detecting problems even if they are not recognised by many other products.

Prevx does use fingerprints and updates but also other monitoring methods including building its own central database of current threats.

There is a slight con with many of the virus detectors in that if there is a new infection, they will not detect it or protect against it, most of them will then quickly put out a new update and soon after they will provide clean up instructions.

The Prevx people have also written a special removal tool for the gromozon infection which, I believe no-one else has been able to do. To me this shows that they have an excellent understanding of the whole malware world.

I am nothing to do with prevx and as I mentioned earlier I had problems with prevx1, however I am very impressed with prevx2. I will be buying it when my trial runs out, its 14.50 per for a year for a single PC or 37 per year for a family pack covering up to 4 PCs.

Thanks Sp,

Sounds a good recommendation.

TP

Haystack,

Just another thank-you (your reply 24th May) re the problem I was having with Internet Explorer (Vista) and a McAfee add-on (site adviser).
I E-mailed McaFee customer services after having no luck with their on line tech adviser system (I was not going to pay them when it was clearly a problem with a McAfee product). I followed their link and downloaded the add-on again (site adviser) at a the moment all is ok.

Cheers Greek.

Quick update - many thanks to Haystacks for your help last week. I have broadband running again, had to reload external modem software on 1 computer, ISP said it was a line fault, expect 2-3 days for repair but it was all fine again in a hour after speaking to them - all very weird but at least its fixed :>)