Grief, not rebooting for a week ( by which I presume the computer crashed).

Vista was intended to be the OS that allowed folk to have media centres as well as business computing etc etc. unfortunately these applications are mutually exclusive - particularly as domestic-apps require quiet. This cannot be done with the current thinking, where PC have grown ever-more power hungry. The alternative hardware has yet to be developed - it needs a radically new outlook.
I see further development where Google is going - to make available smart applications which users can "borrow" On-Line, so there is no need to buy ever-expensive software. By interfacing through the internet the computing-power is in the server. This may reduce the power needed by computers. Hopfully PC cards will be developed to take streamed data and create a "cinema-experience" visually and in sound perhaps with interaction over their broadband connection.

Furthermore any domestic OS needs to stop being PC-like and far simpler than (say) a Video-recorder/VCR - which are notoriously poor at user-interface.

Vista confused the Market by having too many versions and this looks set to continue.
- If XP does what you require, it's far better to leave well alone and wait until the next OS is started. Being "first" with an OS is plain foolhardy - it is impossible to test all combinations of hardware/software, so conflicts are bound to happen. With computers as powerful as they are now, it is "probably" better to improve your periperals, rather than upgrading the core of the process. If the computing power shifts on-line, then what we have now will meet future needs, although better screens and speakers are likely to enhance our enjoyment.

Just been pointed to this site.

Already installed a couple of the gizmos that will save me quite a bit of time/effort.

Worth a look for the less computerate of us mob - like 'moi'.

TP

Hangon wrote - "Grief, not rebooting for a week ( by which I presume the computer crashed)."

No, I have only ever crashed Vista once. What used to happen is that after a couple of days, the system seemed to run out of resources and some programs could become unstable, particularily IE7 which would hang or possibly disapear without warning. The easiest way to sort that was a reboot.

As I mentioned above, that problem now seems to have been fixed.

Any advice on getting rid of AVENGE virus (which I gather is tied up with Norton
somehow.)? A friend has it on his PC and can't get shot of it. Online advice on the
subject doesn't really help at all....

I've noticed recently that when my computer and laptop are both off my modem 100 mtr light has been blinking a fair bit (not as much as when online though). I'm sure it didn't used to, or only very occasionally.
Anything to be concerned about, and what might be causing it? Thanks

hawick is it a wi-fi modem and someone getting a free ride or have you got it encrypted ???

Don't really know what sort of modem it is, wouldn't imagine it is wi-fi; had it about five years. Don't think it is encrypted. If my computer is turned off how could they access it?

It is callisto 821 Iskratel if that means anything

How do you connect to the internet with your laptop do you use a cable or wi-fi ???

Sorry had modem about two years. I connect laptop through router and modem, main computer just through modem. Sorry my technical knowledge and computer lingo is zilch! :o

Would they have to be within 100 metres to get 'free ride'?

If you dont have a wi-fi point they wont be able to connect to you so that idea went out the window,it was only a thought :-) prehaps someone else could suggest something !!

Any way to secure my router? I only have two neighbours who could conceiveably be within range and (I thought) I trusted them!!

Could they access my phoneline if i had a wifi point, which I don't think I have anyway? Is a router not a wi-fi point? I use laptop in garden (in summer lol!).

if you have a wi-fi access point and it was not encrypted the answer would be yes they could get on line :-) how to secure the router our other learned friends would help you on that one !!!

The "100 meter light", lol, I think that's actually telling you that your network is running at 100 megabits per second :)

Computers sometimes leave their network card on even when the rest of the computer is off, so it is possible for the light to be blinking though that should only be once a minute or so max.

OK I've just looked up your Callisto router and it is not wireless, so you haven't got to be worried about the neighbours. That's unless a hole has recently appeared in the party wall with a cable running into your room :-)

Thanks guys, I'd say it is four or five times a minute, though sometimes two or three minutes appearing inactive. They can get onlin, but could they make calls? My computer and laptop has spywareblaster to stop chatlines etc.

Only thing is I've just read your post above about using your laptop in the garden? Do you mean you are browsing the web or receiving emails in the garden?

I use to to surf the web.

So how is your laptop connecting to your modem when in the garden?

I assume through the router, which is then connected to modem? So I guess you are saying it is a wireless connection!

hawick: either that, or you are connecting to somebody else's open wireless router!

Does the router have a short aerial on it -- about 2 to 4 inches long?