Thanks RG, will have a look tonight,but puzzled as to why it's OK in IE.

Seymour Clearly,

yesterday if u read back up, u'll see I had the same problem as you but also IE dont let me gain access, after searching the net, read it migt be a conflict between avast virus checker, then read about deleteing old records in firewall software, got IE to work, then Firefox late last nite

Several people in the past have asked about transfering the OS to a new hard disk, backing up a disk or repartitioning the disk.

The June issue of PC Pro (DVD edition) has a suite of free Paragon programs that will do all of this and more.

Install them before you need them.

I have a problem with Java.
It started with a Java auto update that failed. Instead of leaving it alone I tried to help :-((
I went to Java help & did as they said. I deleted all old Java files, installed MS clean up utility etc. Still no joy. I'm left without any Java at all now.
When downloading the Java files I get an error message 25099 Unzipping Core Files Failed.
It looks like an ongoing problem that they haven't got a solution to yet. (I also tried installing off line).
Is there any way of re-installing an older version of Java anyhow while they fix the problem?
Did I mention that my System Restore doesn't work ??

I need some help with replacing a graphics card. I have an ATI Radeon 9700 TX which is about to die. (The TX is Dells own label, but its a NON Pro 9700 by all accounts.)
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/video/HMGA6/en/index.htm
http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/videocards/article.php/3211_2183921__2

The slot on the motherboard seems to be an AGP 1.5v (NON PRO) slot.
Im having trouble finding a replacement that will fit the AGP slot.
Any pointers will be gratefully received.

The AGP graphics standard has been superceeded by PCI-e. You will probably only find something from a store that has old stock or second hand. I bought one for my kids that was second hand from Computer Exchange CEX

http://www.cex.co.uk/

Put AGP in the search at the top and click on the items. It will tell you which stores have it.

It looks like a 9500 or 9700 pro or non-pro should for do instance. They are both AGP 3.0

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=Mzc0

Haystack - thanks for the speedy response. Some good points there.

Trying to investigate further before my eyes go funny with the current faulty card!

Hmm .. pity .. http://www.cex.co.uk/ only have a 9700 in Huddersfield, nothing available online.

Still confused over AGP and PRO/non PRO.

Is the meaning of PRO in reference to the card mentioned here ..
http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=Mzc0
the same as the meaning of the PRO socket illustrated here ..
http://www.playtool.com/pages/agpcompat/agpslots.gif
If so, I cant use a PRO card.

Look here. It does look like you can't use a PRO card as the slot seems to be different.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerated_Graphics_Port#Variations

Variations
A number of non-standard variations of the AGP interface have been produced by manufacturers.

64-bit AGP
A 64-bit channel. Used in high-end professional graphic cards. It was once proposed as an optional standard for AGP 3.0 in draft documents, but was dropped in the final version of the standard.

Ultra-AGP, Ultra-AGPII
It is an internal AGP interface standard used by SiS for the north bridge controllers with integrated graphics. The original version supports same bandwidth as AGP 8x, while Ultra-AGPII has maximum 3.2GB/s bandwidth.

AGP Pro
This was a rarely-used slot for cards that required more electrical power. It is a longer slot with additional pins for that purpose. AGP Pro cards were usually workstation-class cards used to accelerate professional computer-aided design applications employed in the fields of architecture, machining, engineering, simulations, and similar fields.

Compatibility

AGP cards are backward and forward compatible within limits. 1.5 V-only keyed cards will not go into 3.3 V slots and vice versa, though "Universal" slots exist which accept either type of card. AGP Pro cards will not fit into standard slots, but standard AGP cards will work in a Pro slot. Some cards, like Nvidia's GeForce 6 series or ATI's Radeon X800 series, only have keys for 1.5 V to prevent them from being installed in older mainboards without 1.5 V support. Some of the last modern cards with 3.3 V support were the Nvidia GeForce FX series and the ATI Radeon 9500/9700/9800(R350) (but not 9600/9800(R360)).

It is important to check voltage compatibility as some cards incorrectly have dual notches and some motherboards incorrectly have fully open slots. Furthermore, some poorly designed older 3.3 V cards incorrectly have the 1.5 V key. Inserting a card into a slot that does not support the correct signaling voltage may cause damage.

There are some proprietary exceptions to this rule. For example, Apple Power Macintosh computers with the Apple Display Connector (ADC) have an extra connector which delivers power to the attached display. Additionally, moving cards between computers of various CPU architectures may not work due to firmware issues.

A minefield, isn't it?!

Off to watch Family Guy - need a laff!

Thanks again.

Can anyone help me get rid of this MoneyAM bacon bug?

It's here on the Stockwatch page too!

It's not a bug. MoneyAM tries to balance the needs of its customers against the advantages of pork-related promotions, which are an important food source for the company. Without displaying the cured belly of a swine carcass over your Stockwatch page and obscuring the information you paid for, the information would be considerably more expensive. The ad should only be shown once - between April and June - after which it will disappear and you will be able to see your data again as normal.

WARNING WARNING WARNING

Had a virus attack Thurday/Friday W32.virut.ce jumps to all exe's scr files and totally stops you booting up in safemode and stops taskmanager from working, plus you lose all icons in you desktop top showing. This was even with NIS2008 installed and Spyware blockers running

After using the second PC and read the net, you need to do a total format of harddrive I lost 80gigs, and there is no point in using you backup files as they are infected to

Bad news was second PC got virus now and cant get into it to fix it
All Virus checkers have not been able to sort this out yet

I am looking for a virus checker to have on a USB stick folder so if this happens again I can try and use this or a software windows repair kit

If you know what files to delete or rename then you can boot up in something like DSL Unix (Damn small Linux) that runs from a CD and does not use the hard disk and then mount and access the windows files.

Are you on Win XP. You could boot up with last known configuration or with command prompt and fix the problem files.

Haystack, it wouldnt even allow that ;-(((

I had it again during the afternoon, when I put in a USB with software on it, all of a sudden norton and comodo virus checkers start popping up with virus found error and they could repair some but not others and the machine just started to crash again

I have had similar viruses usually due to my son downloading games patches from odd sites. There are often key files within the c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 directories. If you go to the file manager and look at these directories. Click on view at the top and click details. Then click on the date field and then again. You will now se files that have been created or modified recently. You may spot a file or files that changed or appeared at about the right time.

Richgit, dear boy, "I put in a USB with software on it" -- what are you thinking of? What software? Where did it come from? Don't!

Most viruses invade a computer by invitation of the owner.

Just say no.

My PC's been crashing & M/S suggest uploading a driver update to my Via Sata Raid Controller. When I go to the Via site there's a choice of 2.
I need to know which Raid Controller I have. How do I do that please?
Many thanks in advance.