Hil: I dunno -- there speaks the computer expert :). The problem we found doesn't prevent the computer joining the local wireless network -- but it did prevent it from accessing the WAN (Internet) as it wasn't sent the default gateway address (which is normally the same as the router address).

Going to the command line C:\> and typing ipconfig /all will reveal all (about your computer's IP configuration at least).

And it's only if they're running XP SP3, when it might be yet another side-effect of this latest Microsoft screw-up. We believe that the effect is more widespread than Microsoft say. Also, their description doesn't quite make sense.

The link below is to a description and "hotfix" for the problem.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/953761/en-us

TP

An up to date free FTP client is FileZilla by the same people who write Firefox. I don't know whether the speed is down to your FTP client or a server issue. FTP is not known as a fast transfer protocol and also your ISP may have a cap on the speed of their FTP server.

You could try logging into the server using IE7 and see if that gives any difference in speed.

Hilary

Your problem is not related to the SP3 issue that MM describes. That problem would prevent any connection at all and in any case is unnlikely to be experienced by domestic users.

Instead of rebooting, try going into the network connections and dissabling and then enabling the wireless network connection. That should reset it.

The other thing to check is that you have the latest drivers for the wireless network adatpor in the computer and the latest firmware for your wireless router.

Thanks MM. I've mailed the link to my kids for them to try and sort it out. It's all Dutch to me.

Optimist: au contraire, it certainly is experienced by domestic users.

Microsoft's description would have you believe that the user has performed some obscure reconfiguration of a DHCP server.

The "SP3" problem prevents even a wired connection to a router from gatewaying to the Internet. The LAN connection is fine. We took a laptop that had previously connected (when running SP2) to my (admittedly extensive) domestic net and attempted to connect to the Internet. The "default gateway" field in the IP config remained stubbornly blank on the laptop. This happened with both a Netgear router and with a LinkSys/Voda 3G router of very recent vintages, whether the connection was wred or not. It's a DHCP problem caused by SP3 but does not affect all brands of router DHCP server (or vintages of firmware, one suspects).

The devil and Microsoft find work for idle hands . . .

Opti,

Sorry, I've only just noticed your post. Thanks for that. I'm pretty sure that they have already tried disabling and repairing the connection but to no avail.

Thanks for the correction. I assumed that as a home system does not require the Microsoft speific options then they would not be available on most routers. I should have guessed, nothing in computers is ever that simple ;)

Hilary - I still don't think that your problem is related.

Hil and Opti:

It's possible (pace Dil above) that it's a recent Microsoft "fix" that's destabilised the connection. I just had a conversation about this with our Engineering Director and he said he had a similar problem at home some time back which corrected itself. He put this down to a Microsoft update correcting the earlier problem -- but didn't investigate as he "was too busy sorting out our engineering problems without getting enbroiled with Microsoft's".

And, Opti, you're right, the SP3 problem is unrelated to Hil's kids' problem -- I expect :)

Thanks for Filezilla Opt,

It seems a jolly site quicker than my CuteFTP.

TP

As I install my software and data on to my two new Computer Doctor PC's I am inspired to set up the Acronis True Image 11 recovery system.

Am I the only person who would quite like to set Acronis running at the end of a session and leave it to turn off the PC when it had finished?

MS Updates do that frequently.

Has anyone found a way of doing it with Acronis?


EDIT But having thought about it I guess that most of you folk never turn your PC's off anyway. Maybe they are more reliable if left running.

TP

Anyone using Acronis?

I may need some help - but not until after the weekend.

Have a good one.

TP

TP

You ask: "Am I the only person who would quite like to set Acronis running at the end of a session and leave it to turn off the PC when it had finished?"

Hmmm? Sounds like a good idea if it can be done.

Sorry not to reply to you earlier on this but we are doing a spot of decorating and this is just a coffee break posting.

The Computer Doctors did load up Acronis on my machine but I have been totally negligent with it. Your post prompts me to make an effort and read up on it a. I do make back-ups, but I sorta kinda, I do it 'generically' - IYKWIM? I am also mad on machine housekeeping and I'm sure this is why I haven't had to take this machine back to the CD's for any kind of help.

I've just been to the following site:

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

A quick read tells me I am missing out on not using Acronis more actively. Apparently, for system and also data backup "Acronis absolutely rocks!"

In the Review section of the above web site, one guy says:

John Hight: "Thanks for the reply to my e-mail. You were right. I purchased Acronis True Image 6.0 and I must say it is a great program. I backed up my Hard Drive C: with all the operating system files and programs on to Hard Drive D:(which is another partion on the physical drive). It took about 30 minutes to back up 18.5 Gb with a 3rd compression. Then just to see if it would work I put in the bootable rescue disk I had made during installation and let the computer boot to this disk. From the time I put the disk into the drive till I got my system completely back up and running was about 15 minutes. Everything was the same as when I backed it up. It deleted the old information and reinstalled the new information from my backup copy in less time than I could make a pot of coffee. This is really a terrific program. It does all you say it will. Now there is no more all day affairs trying to recover from a fatal crash."

Backup can't get much better than that!

Exec

This site has told me more about Acronis than any other.

What I found confusing was the reference to an Acronis Secure Zone and the Acronis Startup Recovery Manager.

There are as many who swear by them as who feel they cause more trouble than they are worth.

My understanding now is that the ASZ is vital if you are storing the backups on the main system drive - but not intended when you, as I do, store on a USB external hard drive.

If you do that an have a bootable CD (which you will have if your Acronis came in a box from CD) you boot from that and not from the ASRM. And indeed if your drive C went AWOL your Acronis backup on it might also be AWOL anyway.

I've just done my first backup and am verifying it now. I'll try booting with the CD from the box and prove that works.

There is also the matter of refreshing the backup with differential and incremental backups. The consensus is that differential is better and safer. And when you have done a number of differentials you can do a clean full backup and follow it with more differentials.

That's the key stuff I have puzzled out over the last 48 hours.

TP

Thanks for that. I'll take a look at the link.

Just had a weird experience. a tiny insect crawling across my screen, only when I look, it's actually under the screen - can't be brushed off. Didn't think that could happen!

Quite common actually :-)

Insect behind PC screen

Send for Batman PacMan?

Hmm, just wish I had a mouse with a stun button. Someone on that forum suggests it's a Microsoft bug. Thanks guys :-)

I bet that the first thing you thought was that it was time to go to the optician :-)

Groan :-)

Actually thought how good my specs are that I can see that bug!!