Any comments/views about Avant browser please chaps/chapesses?
I ran Firefox & was getting to like it but I've a new packaging labelling software prog that only runs on IE or Avant.

I seem to be seeing a lot of people complaining about 'hanging' when browsing. It seems to be happening more & more to everyone. Is it just my perception or have others noticed it? Also my PC gets more fragmented than it used to. I run Fix It disc defrag once a week & notice that my disc is about usually 9% fragmented. This never used to happen.

The date on my machine is correct. I know this to be the case because I have checked on it with a visual inspection. I have also sent myself some test e-mails, with and without Read Request receipts. Everything checks out OK at my end.

However, for the second time in a few days I have received an e-mail from someone else with an incorrect date reference.

The latest one, which is a Read Receipt for an e-mail I sent on the 15th is from the recipient. It arrived on my machine this morning (no problem with that as he might only just have read it today). The e-mail is dated today (17th) but says the recipient has read it but on the 18th (which is tomorrow!)

I paste the receipt below, with simple suitable edits, to show you the gist of what it says:

This is a receipt for the mail you sent to
"Fred Blogs" at 15/06/2009 16:42

This receipt verifies that the message has been displayed on the recipient's computer at 18/06/2009 09:35

Can I properly infer and conclude the recipient's machine's date must be incorrect?

My machine's operating system is Windows XP Professional. The time is correctly maintained automatically. However, I do know you can mess the clock up by say, checking on the time clock on the information bar, going ahead a month or so to check what day of the week a certain date falls on and then clicking on 'OK' instead of 'Cancel' to finish off with. Might my recipient have done something like this?

Am I correct in assuming this is also the case for other operating systems on people's computers, where the OS is not Windows based?

Vista, Windows 7 and many Lynux distros have a pop up calender on the task tray clock so it is less likely that the date is indavertently changed by the way you suggest on those OS's.

The internet time service often did not work properly (or at all) on Windows XP and Vista. It is possible that this was fixed on XP SP3 and Vista SP2 but I haven't checked and wouldn't count on it. Windows 7 and Lynux have no problems with Internet time servers.

Does anybody have an opinion on locally hosted affiliate software (Mega maybe?)?

Two that have been brought to my attention are:

Post Affiliate Pro 4

and

iDev Affiliate

Anyone know how to setup Opera Mini Mod 2.06 on Sony K800, I've been told to alter the connection settings in the menus of Opera, but I can't seem to find it

Which is better Crossfire or SLI video card, and which one should I get thats got at least 4 DVI's and HDMI connections?

About to receive my new HP Laptop. Will be going wireless as there will be two machines needing internet access. What wireless modem/router would you recommend bearing in mind that one of the machines will be used for trading (streaming charts, java trading platform, etc)? Have been looking at some Netgear models. Also, do I look for just G or Super G (G+) models. And to make it even tougher to choose a model, my son insists we must have a router that allows his Nintendo Wii to connect as well! Grateful for suggestions...

In my experience, most WiFi ADSL routers all have similar features but the Netgear is probably the easiest to setup and use. They also tend to be reliable although I have known them to fail. The G+ ones may give you a faster speed and/or greater range but you probably need Netgear clients to take full advantage. Don't expect to get anything like tha advertised speed or range but it should be good enough for Internet access.

If you are only using one computer at the moment then I would guess that you are using a USB ADSL modem which for security reasons should have ben thrown away years ago. If you are not using a USB modem but have an Ethernet ADSL router then you could save some money by adding a wireless access point to the network.

Don't forget that although WiFi is getting better, it will never be as good as an Ethernet cable so you should use those where practicable.

Thanks Optimist. You're right, I am using a USB ADSL modem atm. Which means I will have to go in for a combined modem/router now. I realise wireless won't be as fast as wired access..but guess I'm gonna have to live WITH that as I am keen to get rid of the wires.

Just in from Exec's chums at Computer Doctors.

"Subject: Hoax - Update for Microsoft Outlook / Outlook Express
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:04:35 +0100

Warning to all customers from Computer Doctors

If you receive an email supposedly from Microsoft titled, "Update for Microsoft Outlook / Outlook Express (KB910721) Please do not
click the embedded link.
This is a drive-by site that will infect your PC.
If you wish to update outlook or Outlook Express, please go to windows updates on your start menu.

You have received this message because you are an existing customer of Computer Doctors Ltd"

TP

Anyone have any bright ideas how I can tell whether my router's WiFi is dying or whether I'm suffering from interference from the (large number of) neighbours with WiFi?

symptoms are that I cna usually see a high-strength signal from the router, but can't connect (doesn't authenticate). This has happened over the last couple of days.

Scanning the area shows up to 10 visible WiFi networks at any one time.

You are probably right about the interference. You should be able to select a broadcast channel on the router to avoid as many as possible of your neighbours. However, if you are using a 108 Mbps router you will probably then be limited to 54 Mbps.

Also worth thinking whether you may have made any changes to the house, e.g. putting up mirrors or moving router or laptop.

Apologies if this has been done before which I'm sure is the case.

Daughter finally gets a shiny new mac. No probs getting on to the net but I know nothing of security for macs so paranoia setting in.

Seems avast is ok for macs. Anything else i need to do?
Cleaner not available but been reading about Onyx, securely erase trash, erase free space 7 times, App Zapper, Clean Space, zero my hard drive 30 times so Nasa can't get it......

Am i in the right ball park :-))

Is it worth updating to IE8?

Skinny

I've been using IE8 for around 18 months since the early beta. It was always good and the final version is even better.

Upgrade.

Opto - thanks.

Heres a puzzler for some very clever chap / chapess out there..............

My Laptop was fine until yesterday when it developed 2 faults together. Neither is life threatening, but both are a nuisance.

1) On startup, it just sits forever on the manufacturers loading screen. I work round this by hammering the F2 button as I switch it on, which does not take me to any system menu, but does open Windows normally!!

2) The internet works fine, except I cannot access my home page (Sky), either on start, from the little house icon or by typing in the address! All the other computers in my house can, just not this one.

Any suggestions please fellas. I have done a system restore and cleared all my history / cookies etc. all to no avail.

Alan

I can't see any connection between the two, but if you can't get some Internet sites then it could be a virus. See if you can access sites such as microsoft.com and the AV sites.

I'm assuming that you have the laptop networked to the same ADSL router as the other computers in your house.

Skinny,

Given a choice, I'd uninstall IE completely. Unfortunately, IE seems to be needed for the Microsoft updates.

Firefox and Opera are both noticeably faster than IE, imo. Interestingly, 45% of my site traffic comes through users with Firefox 3. IE 6,7 & 8 combined accounts for 42% of the traffic.

Thanks Optimist.

I have now fully updated my spyware/virus stuff and ran a check. I have also allowed windows to do a full update (which included IE8, which is awful). I have run full checks, restarted the offending piece of junk and got rid of the start up problem.

I still cannot connect to sky.com though I can connect to sky.co/news!!!. Everything seems to work except getting through to the e-mail section of sky for the missus to read her e-mail.

Frustrated? You bet......................

Alan