Keep getting this "DB Error: connect failed" when going between threads again..any ideas anyone?

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Can anyone point me to a freeware version of Excel please?

I only need it to do the simplest spreadsheet on my studio computer and it's certainly not worth buying another version of Office 2003 which is what is on this machine.

I can look at Geeks and things - but someone here may save me going down the wrong road and wasting time.

TP

openoffice.org

Thanks Hay,

Came out top at MajorGeeks.

I'll download tomorrow.

TP

TP

For light work, rather than install openoffice, check out portableapps.com.

PortableApps is a collection of programs including Open Office that will run from a disc or memory stick without having to be installed

All; I had problems today connecting to the internet and went to check my settings. I think I have changed to administrator from my normal username and my whole system is messed up spectacularly. In startup it tries to install my operating system, and thinks office etc is new.

When i click on email it invites me to set one up.

A bit embarrassed by it all, but complete technophobe; WHAT HAVE I DONE!!

This sprung from this morning when I received an email purporting to be from me, turns out to be a European pharma based in Canada.

Although it is funny I am also, more seriously, quite worried. Not only have I been hacked but I worry about some sort of premium tate line being used, the other day when I shut down, IE had a programme running - and I never use IE.

My telco provider just said if there was something it wouldn't 'show up' for months.

Unlikely to get much sleep tonight, i've read of people with bills running into thousands.

HELP/ADVISE IF YOU CAN THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

H, first of all make sure you don't have a modem connected to the phone line, i.e. nothing plugged into the phone socket direct from your computer - but see below.

If that's the case then you won't get a massive phone bill. You still need your broadband modem connected to the phone socket via an adsl filter which is what the phone also connects through.

The other stuff you'll have to ask one of the more technical wizards about, just wanted you to sleep easy :-)

Harwick

It could be something simple, or it could be a virus or hijack attempt.

In case it is the latter, unplug all network and modem connectors and make sure that WiFi is switched off. That will close the gate on any virus propagation or information leak.

The email that you mention is most certainly spam and could carry a virus but so long as you are fully patched, you would normally have to do more than just open a dodgy email for it to cause problems.

If you have logged in as a diffeent user then none of your settings will be availible to the new user, so it is entirely normal that it thinks Office is new and that there are no email accounts set up. It's also normal for IE7 to run a configuration routine whenever a user logs in for the first time. The solution to this is to log out and then log in under your normal user name but before you do so, I suggest tha you change the background so that it will be obvious if you log on as that user again.

Your next step is to get hold of an AV program that will run from a CD without an Internet connection, and check the machine out.

Thanks guys superb. Your time and efforts appreciated more than you know; if you do think of anything else let me know!

Not too sure how to 'reclaim' my email.

my computer only on Moneyam has started asking me if I want to display both secure and unsecure items without the usual ticking box to tell it not to ask me again, any idea how to get this feature off or get that brilliant tick box back?

GDP Which browser are you using? Internet Exploder or Firefox?

hawick

Just log on as the user that you always used before.

Opt,

"For light work, rather than install openoffice, check out portableapps.com. "

Thanks. I have masses of space for software on my studio machine so I might as well install openoffice. I need PowerPoint at some time and I understand there is a clone of that included.

TP

TP

The problem with the installed version of Open Office is that some components are always loaded at startup which uses significant system resources even when you don't use it.

The PortableApps version (which includes the PP clone) is not installed so it will only be loaded when running. The downside is that it will always lag behind with the updates and (I assume) it will run slightly slower with fewer advanced features.

Opt,

Thanks. I see the logic. I certainly don't want to use system resources as my photographic work is heavy on them.

I'll go for the PortableApps version.

TP

Thanks guys, still struggling with email, doesn't seem to work, I think I've changed my network connections by mistake; they are being incredibly helpful on the avast forum too. Ploughing my way through their suggestions!

seems to have fixed itself, seymour

hawick

If you need any more help, you will have to explain what measures you have already taken and their results.