mojo, I can sympathise to some extent with Exec's post though I might not have phrased it exactly in the same way. It is difficult to understand what you mean partly because of imprecise language and punctuation, and partly because you are not giving enough detail on what is happening. E.g. when you say "sign in", is that into your computer or into Hotmail? What is telling you you have 700 messages, the PC or a Hotmail web page? What is the exact message, and is it a window with a window title? Your previous email address was not a Hotmail address? Etc. etc...

Hi I havent used the hotmail account yet and their is no messages in it. the 700 messages i think are in a in box someplace on the outlook express system. have they come in while i was uninstaling it ? I dont know it just comes up when i am signing in on the computer. Ok i was a bit sharp with you exec line but you know what its like when something is wrong you dont know how to explain it or fix it

As I said before, when you start up your PC and before you log on you get the user list. If you are using Outlook under your user name it gives you the number of unread Emails.

Mojo had 700 unread mails in outlook so she uninstalled outlook. But on the log on screen it still says 700 unread.

Mojo
Take a look here

Edit Registry

Can anyone recommend a good file recovery program. My brother cannot open his "quicken" accounts file, and the back up which he has on a flash drive will not restore either.

Many thanks.

I use quicken also. If you wanted to e mail the backup I'd be happy to try on my spare machine.

Thanks Kernow but the problem has been (partially) resolved. He's managed to open the file and recover his data up to Jan 9th. He's going to manually update it from there.

He says that it's been misbehaving for a while. Invoice numbering occasionally increments by 5 or 10 at a time, rather than sequentially.

I've told him to find some different software.

The @compuserve.com mail system is currently not working.

Beware all, like me, who use it.

TP

No probs. CCC. I must say I've used quicken since 1993 and never a problem. Perhaps a re-install of the software.

Hi Kernow

I've suggested he does a re-install but don't know whether he has or not. I've used Q for many years also without problems, but only for domestic matters. My brother is a walking computer disaster zone & always having problems. It's no doubt down to something he's done.

Thanks again
CCC

Hi all.
Laptop recommendation needed please.
Believe it or not, I have never owned a laptop and know bog all about them. However I will be travelling for 2 months this summer and need to keep a close eye on my modest portfolio. Any suggestions gratefully received. Weight is a consideration. TIA

It depends how adventurous you are!

I use a 200 Linux netbook on holiday which works fine but updating it to Firefox 3 with Java and Thunderbird email was interesting though probably no problem for a Linux guru. I haven't tried it, but I don't fancy running Win XP on an Atom based netbook. I know that many people do but I can't imagine it being powerful enough. Though Windows 7 may be better and it's free till March.


The other alternative is a standard laptop. Aim for at least an Intel Core 2 Duo processor with at least 2GB RAM. There are loads available well under 500 so choose one that has got the features that your prepared to pay for. Get one with Vista Business or Ultimate this will add significantly to the cost but Vista Home version is c**p.

Bel, Check the costs of downloading if you are abroad. May be cheaper to use and internet cafe.

Set up your portfolio on an internet site, before you go. I was stuck in Portugal for 6 mths with a desktop in my motor home and it cost me about 200 a month. I was downloading, but when I start flogging shares the internet at that time was B slow. I resorted to internet cafe and sold out at the right time. I was lucky then.
But the internet and communications have vastly improved since then
Another thing, perhaps, because I am more tight fisted than Optimist, and if you are not going to use it for other purposes demanding a powerful machine, and older operating system and a large ram may solve your needs. More cheaply.

Friends have picked up some bargain second hand computers at crazy low prices.
I am as I said tight fisted and having to trail behind the pack and like a operating system which has been debug by others. Happy to be lazy!

Enjoy. your holiday.

Just a thought, Optimist do you know if they do packages on the continent with computer and WFI connection like some phone companies are presently offering here.

My be a cheaper method of solving problems. Depends on contract.

I'm not sure that a 200 notebook counts as extravagent, but you do tend to get what you pay for.

The downside of using an Internet Cafe, is security. You have to asume that any machine will have a keylogger and possibly a screen capture trojan runnng in the background, which means you have to be brave to access financial sites on them. Public WiFi, though safer, still has it's risks which means you need a machine with at least a fully patched Win XP SP3 and a good AV program therefore you need a machine with at least 1GB RAM which rather limits the choice of used models. Also, in my experience, the built in WiFi receiver in Laptops is one of the most common failiures although you can always buy a USB dongle.

A Linux machine is less vulnerable to attack, mainly because fewer are in use, but not immune. you would also (almost) lose the option of using mobile phone based internet connection.

A mobile phone based internet connection is the most secure, but as Fred says, it can be very expensive and data rate is variable.

I don't know of any computer/WiFi packages on the continent but I suppose they must exist. Possibly the cheapest way is to buy a data dongle with a short contract when you get abroad.

BTW Vodaphone are abolishing roaming charges for the summer, but maybe not for data.

Thank you for the input guys.

Time difference means no cafe or hotel internet open, so will need hotel with wifi where possible. Didnt realise a netbook could do the job, so will investigate further. Would want to run xp and ie8 which is what I am used to, if possible. Yes the large ram with an old system has got me thinking too.

EDIT to add

Ok another source has suggested a Dell Inspiron 15 ( seem to be pretty loaded with about 3gb ram) 350 while they're on offer. And could you please explain what a win xp sp3 patch is please, as I will be viewing financial sites.
Thank you very much guys

I was thinking of checking shares prices, rather than trading. I did have anxieties about Internet cafes, but I was flogging out in ISAs and money only transferable to own account. I hoped.

I use my Eee netbook using XP when in Spain. Moneyam and other web based trading sites work fine as does web based e mail. The dinky size is a gem as is the 4/5 hrs battery life but you do spend more time scrolling due to small screen size.
I also use a usb dongle at 6euro/month, 2 euro per day but this is country specific.

I bought a Samsung NC10 netbook a few months ago - I can easily get 7 hours battery life out of it with XP. I used a Dell Inspiron laptop before this which managed about 3.5 hours. Not as cheap as some netbooks but the NC10 has convinced me that mobile computing is really all about battery life - because for the first time I can use a portable without constantly feeling like I'm watching the clock and battery indicator. I've read that some newer netbooks might be able to manage as much as 9 hours now - after the NC10 I'd never go back to anything with less than 7 - it's changed my way of using them.

A good point, much as I like my cheap and cheerful Aspire1, the usable batterry life is around 75 min.

This might be well worth considering too:

https://www.gotomypc.com/....