thank you very much, MM, Opto and Exec - advice much appreciated. :-)
Temorary fix for the problem by adding a second spare PC (also means that I can use 3 screens) :-))

cheers harry - I was leaning that way.

I've been happy with AVG for several years but have resisted the Upgrade to 8.

I have just bought two PC's from Computer Doctors. They came pre-loaded with Avast which I removed so it did not conflict with my AVG.

Seriously thinking about re-installing the Avast - but also hoping that AVG see the light as there is no shortage of publicity about the problem.

TP

One of the best AV programs on the market is SUPERAntiSpyware Free. It has had rave reviews too and is quite easy and almost a pleasure to use.

I've been using it for quite a while now and I have almost completely discontinued with Ad-Aware Free and Spybot Search and Destroy Free. In fact, when I do run them, which is always AFTER doing a scan with SAS, I've found them to be a complete waste of time. They always found 'zilch'.

On a recent update of SuperAntiSpyware Free, I had a marketing plug for the SAS Professional Version sent down with the update. It offered a discount off the Professional Version, reducing the cost down to $19.95 and was accompanied by an offer of an additional Copy of the Pro' Version (for a friend or another computer) for just $9.95.

This is the first marketing plug I've ever had from them and I've been using it for over a year now. And, by the way, with SAS Free, you find there is an update wth new data on it available EVERY DAY.

Their motto says "Welcome to SUPERAntiSpyware - removes ALL the spyware, NOT just the easy ones!"

SUPERAntiSpyware Professional will detect and remove thousands of Spyware, Adware, Malware, Trojans, KeyLoggers, Dialers, Hi-Jackers, and Worms. SUPERAntiSpyware features many unique and powerful technologies and removes spyware threats that other applications fail to remove.

These are the main features of the two programs:

SUPERAntiSpyware Professional includes Real-Time Blocking of threats, Scheduled Scanning, and Free Unlimited Customer Service via e-mail.

SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition is 100% Free and will detect and remove thousands of Spyware, Adware, Malware, Trojans, KeyLoggers, Dialers, Hi-Jackers, and Worms. SUPERAntiSpyware features many unique and powerful technologies and removes spyware threats that other applications fail to remove.

SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition does not include real-time blocking or scheduled scanning.

Here's a link, which I've tested out before putting it here and it will enable you to buy the Professional Version for only $19.95 with a further copies for only $9.95 just like I've done:

http://www.superantispyware.com/shoppingcart.html?action=add&sku=SASSP000&tag=SASNOTIFY

If you want to read a bit more, then here's the URL for the main site:

http://www.superantispyware.com/index.html

NOTE: If you decide to try it, I'd first recommend you try and download the FREE version.

If you decide to upgrade to the Professional, then I'd recommend you do so at my link above and save yourself some money.

At my link above you are merely given a Registration Code to use with the Free program, which obviously you have most probably already tried and downloaded as the Free version. This allows you to upgrade the 'Free' program to 'Professional' and this neatly then allows the program to use the Professional Version's features, such as real-time blocking and scheduled scanning.

If you buy a second version of Professional 'for a friend or for another computer', then you are just given yet another Registration Code.

As you can correctly see, SAS Free and SAS Profesional are identical downloads and it's just the use of the purchased Registration Code with turns on the additional features.

I use the paid for Avast at work and it is much less intrusive than AVG - I am going to switch my home machines to the free version of Avast.

Ta very much, Dezza and Hil.

The last time I looked at my defraggler, although it was set to do the job Fridays at 10pm, it never had. Pressing the do it now button didn't give me much confidence, as it didn't show any 'progress'. Anyway, that was all before I zapped McAfee :)
When I looked last night, it told me it had done a little turn last Friday at 10:48pm, which was nice.

I shall be giving Heineken Hil's recommendation a whirl over the weekend :o)

Heineken Hil :))

Defragging

Defrag Program features compared

The Worlds Most Efficient Defragmenter (as recommended by The Computer Doctors - amongst other Free Software): IObit Smart Defrag

For Tune-Ups, The Computer Doctors also recommend another Free IObit product: Advanced WindowsCare Personal Edition

I watched "Your Identity for Sale" from the BBC's Mischief Team on BBC Three last night. The presenter was Rebecca Wilcox. She is gorgeous and very bright and intelligent and I give her (98/100).

The programme covered the increasing problem of identity theft and the harvesting of information on individuals. She investigated how Internet marketeers have been relentlessly tracking and profiling her, then buying and selling her personal information.

Absolutely bloody amazing stuff! Truly frightening as well!

Watching this programme reminded me very much about MoneyAm's own recent 'Win an Ipod" competition questionaire -which, rightly or wrongly, I personally didn't enter by the way! Having watched this programme, I concluded, "Rightly!" They must have made a small fortune out of it, selling the harvested information on to interested parties.

Anyhow....

When Rebecca discovers the perils of her information slipping into the wrong hands, she develops a plan to protect us all and takes it to the top level of government. Amusingly, at the end of the programme she takes to the top government official, that she ends up seeing, a whole wadge of bank account cards, credit cards and store cards, that she has been able to open quite legitimately in his name.

I thought that this bit was mind blowing in its own right. The Government minister hardly batted an eye-lid and passed all the cards on to an underling. I don't think he could really believe it.

Of course, this plonker was quite highly paid and must have had a very high credit rating. The credit on these cards must have been 1,000s and 1,000s.

Set your Sky Plus timer to record the programme and its Series Links at either of the following:

15 Sep 2008 03:45 BBC Three
16 Sep 2008 02:45 BBC Three
17 Sep 2008 03:15 BBC Three

Here's the programme's web site, where you can also download last night's episode if you want to watch it sooner:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ddwmf

Thanks one and all.

Can you tell me the quickest way to a 20 bagger.............;-))

20 bagger? Buy TAD, or even better, Arthur Shaw (SAW) :-))

I meant upwards not downwards. :-))

ExecLine - 12 Sep 2008 12:36 - 7253 of 7257
Defragging

Tried to download the defrag prog from the website, I just keep being sent round in circles, one page then another....how do you download it?

If you want the best defragment utility then checkout Diskeeper. The disk defrag program included with Windows is a cut down version of this.

Don't bother downloading the trial unless your prepared to buy it because you'll want to.

optomistic

I know exactly what you mean about just being sent round in circles. It took me quite a while too! They have got to be joking!

Anyhow, here is an actual download page, actually linked from the iobit site. If you permit it, downloading should start immediately:

IObit Smart Defrag

I have previously been using Windows own defragger so my machine was quite tidy. Affter the download, I defragged using Smart Defrag and it only took me about 3 mins - so I was quite chuffed.

Thanks EL, pleased it wasn't just me that found it confusing :-) I will give your link a try now.
Cheers Optimist, I'll give the free one a try first....Yorkshire bred you know! LOL

EL, downloaded and defragged in 25 mins very quick (not done a defrag for some time)
cheers
opto

Run an office? You might like this.

In fact, you might even like to look at it if you don't run an office.

Tips for everyday problems, like renaming an account after losing an employee and taking on a new one, levels of security, disaster recovery, policies, layered e-mail security, problem solving sequences, resources, drivers, typing tests, tech purchasing, computer training tutorials, the answers to questions on Internet firewalls, protecting your passwords, etc, etc, etc.

Bill the Computer Guy - IT Support

10 Google Chrome tips and tricks:

From http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/...

1. Surprisingly handy keyboard shortcuts
Chrome offers some unique shortcuts that go beyond the typical CTRL and T for opening new browser tabs. The full list of Chrome shortcuts can be found here, but the three most unusual and unique to Chrome are:

CTRL and SHIFT and N
Automatically opens up a Chrome 'incognito' window which allows you to surf on a PC without leaving behind any digital footprints.

SHIFT and Escape
Allows for fast access to Chrome's Task Manager utility that allows you to nix browser processes that have gone awry.

CTRL and SHIFT and T
Will open recently closed browser tabs.

2. Custom searches
When you want to run a search directly from Google's address bar , also known as the Omnibar, just type a question mark (?) followed by a keyword. The default search engine is Google. To change the default search engine to anything you want go right-click inside the address bar and select 'Edit search engines'. You can choose from a predefined list, or create your own.

Here is how to create your own shortcut to search the site of your choice directly from Google Chrome's address bar.

Right-click inside address bar and select 'Edit search engines'.

With that dialog box remaining open, now go to a website you would like to create a custom search for. For the sake of example try Dictionary.com.

Once you visit the site now look at your 'Search Engines' configuration window and you'll notice under the 'Other search engines' field Dictionary.com has been added.

Next you'll want to change the 'Keyword' to something short and easy to remember such as DIC.

Now when you want to look up a word at Dictionary.com all you have to do is type in Chrome's address book 'DIC' proceeded by the word you want to look up.

3. Everyone loves an easter egg
Type 'about:internets' into the address bar and you'll see a tribute to United States Senator Ted Stevens' take on the internet. (This only works in Windows XP)

4. Larger comment boxes
Comment boxes on websites soliciting feedback can sometimes be way too small. With Chrome you simply click on the corner of any web-based comment field and stretch it out as large as you like.

5. Help! Direct me home, please
I appreciate Google Chrome's minimalist approach to design that leaves the interface clutter-free. But without a Home button Chrome feels a bit like a house with no front door. To regain the Home button on your browser simply go to the wrench icon, select the Google Chrome Options, click on the Basics tab, and check the 'Show Home button on the Toolbar' box.

6. Fun with tabs
Browser tabs are an incredibly useful feature in browsers today. Google has spent some time and made them even more useful by allowing more tab flexibility than is currently possible with IE or Firefox. Chrome allows you to peel browser tabs off a browser so they can become their own browser window. Chrome also allows you to take two separate Chrome browsers and drag them together creating one window with two tabs.

7. More privacy please
As privacy issues continue to swirl around Google new concerns have been raised regarding Google's Chrome browser. According to reports Google's auto-suggest (featured in the Chrome browser Omnibar) allows Google to know everything you type into it - even if you don't hit enter.

To disable the auto-suggest feature right-click inside the Omnibar and un-check the 'Use a suggestion service to help complete searches'.

8. Go incognito on the fly
Not sure what awaits you when you contemplate clicking on that link? If you want to make sure your web tracks are covered just right-click the link and select 'Open link in incognito window'.

9. No Google Toolbar for Chrome? No problem:
Google Chrome doesn't support the handy Google Toolbar. Available for IE and Firefox, the Google Toolbar brings much versatility to the browser including a shortcut to Gmail, access to online Google Bookmarks, a spell checker, and the ability to send URL links via email in just a few clicks.

Harry McCracken, explains on his Technologizer website that he has found a way to create an approximation to the Google Toolbar by tweaking Google Chrome with a technique he calls 'Project Fakebar'. For those with idle time, visit the site and find out how to put a Fakebar on your Chrome Browser.

10. Really want to stay with Firefox?
How to Enable Google Chrome's Best Features in Firefox

My daughter spends too long on MSN. We've already stopped her from downloading and installing MSN Messenger, but she can still access it on the web via Ebuddy, etc.

Is there any time restriction software out there that will enable us to restrict her usage to certain times?

Cue Doc.

:o)