Klal,

You can thank my son for this link. I got him to do a similar thing this summer for an elderly relative.

Thanks Hilary. That looks very comprehensive. Need to find some safe way of splicing together a couple of snapped tapes though. I'm sure I'll need something more than Scotch tape!

This might help, its about the only splicing kit I could find - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUDIO-AND-VIDEO-TAPE-REPAIR-KIT-SPLICING-BLOCK-NEW-/230489399354?pt=UK_CE_Cassette_RL . I think you might have to cut out any badly chewed tape.

jonuk76, thanks for that link. The project is building up!

I need an expert to help me sort out the language on my laptop. I live in France and my new laptop language and keyboard are in French op. system Windows 7.
How do I change the language to English but keep the keyboard French.
Many thanks
Paul

I believe you would need to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate and then you can just change the display language via the control panels "Region and Language" link. Versions other than Ultimate do not have this capability, as far as I know. Source - http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7install/thread/d58fb37b-cb02-41c8-986f-22582fd35a12

Just had a look at my XP. If you go to 'Control Panel', 'Regional & Language Options', click the 'Languages' Tab at the top, it then offers offers you a 'Text services & input Languages' Details button. By pressing this it then offers you both the default input language & the keyboard options. I haven't gone any further as I don't really want to modify my system, but I suspect it then either asks for the Windows disk or boots you to the Microsoft website. I suspect Windows 7 should be something similar.
I was in Paris a few weeks ago & noticed that the QWERTY keyboard was an ASERTY one, which confused the hell out of me!

Thanks for your reply both Jonuk76 & HARRYCAT and I now also believe that my friend can only change languages from French to English if he upgrade to windows 7 ultimate.
Today the assistant in Aachan said that the computer will reinstall and he will have the option to change language by holding down the CTRL key and tapping the F10 key repeatedly. Has anybody heard this before and is he right, Im not sure.

Update to the change language saga. Only windows 7 Ultimate will allow a change in language. The ALT + f10 key (not CTRL + f10 as I reported earlier) is for resetting the computer operating software back to its factory settings and not to change languages as we were told by the shop assistant.

F1: This is the help key. If you press this when you are on the windows desk top or on a windows explorer page, windows help will appear. If you are working in another program and you want to see the windows help program, press the windows button (which is located on the bottom row, its the key with the windows logo on it) and the F1 key at the same time.

F2: You can use F2 to rename a folder or file. When you are on the documents, pictures or music display page, highlight the folder you wish to rename and press F2.

F3: This is the find files button. You can use this anytime when working in Windows.
You can also use the F3 key in Microsoft Word Program to change the case form of letters you are using from all capital to lowercase. To do this, first highlight the letters you want to change and then press F3 and the Shift key.

F4: F4 will open the address bar in Internet Explorer. You can also use F4 and the ALT key to close any web page.

F5: This key will refresh the page for you. This is really invaluable when you are on an active message board.

F6: You can use this key to cycle from window to window by pressing it more than once.

F7: This key does not have any function in Windows. But it does in some other programs. If you are using a program and wonder if F7 does have a function within it, you usually can check under the program's help page under function keys. You can use the F7 function key when using the Microsoft Word Programs. When you press it while using Word you will bring up the thesaurus.

F8: You can enter your computer's safe mode by pressing F8 during the booting process.

F9: This key is like F7 in that it does not have any function in Windows. Again, like F7, it may have a function in other programs.

F10: This key will bring up the menu in most programs. If you press the SHIFT key at the same time as F10 you can usually bring up a short cut menu.

F11: When you are working in Internet Explorer, you can press the F11 key and view any page at full view, causing all toolbars to disappear. This is useful for pages that contain a lot of information. When you press F11 again, the toolbars will reappear.

F12: Like F7 and F9, F12 does not have any real function in Windows. But this key could have a function in other programs.

ALT F10 has multiple functions depending on the computer manufacturer and the operating system. For example, Acer's custom MBR (Master Boot Record) allows the use of ALT-F10 for recovery.

All other ALT + Key functions will vary depending on the open program (Excel, Word, Adobe, Powerpoint etc).

Might it be easier to buy one from the UK? If not then an English copy of Windows should work OK, but you might need to download the laptop specific drivers. The French keyboard layout should not be an issue. Or there's the option of upgrading it to W7 Ultimate using Anytime Upgrade (you do this online, you just buy a key which unlocks the additional features although its not cheap).

Going for the Anytime upgrade option thanks jonuk76

Hi Guys

Any suggestions for the following:-

My Gericom laptop hard drive is giving me a problem. It comes up as primary hard disk bad, replace.

The drive is partitioned, Ubuntu and XP. When working normally it starts with ubuntu boot page and I can select XP OS

However when I remove the hard drive and connect it externally on USB, The Ubuntu works fine but the XP comes up saying there was a problem, then it offers options for safe mode, reverting to last good set up etc. it does not respond to keyboard commands and eventually returns to Ubuntu boot page. It does not say anything about disc being bad.

2.5 HDDs are relatively expensive so I don't want to buy one if I don't have to. Can I replace internal with a much cheaper external drive on USB socket. I do have the original XP disc.??

PS I have considered binning it, but it is the best laptop I ever had, so I would like restore it if poss

Hi Bob. When you say it comes up as "primary hard disk bad, replace" - what is saying this, a program in Ubuntu? Or is it a message when it first tries to boot?

First things first, if you have any data on the hard drive that cannot be replaced, back it up while you can still access it (assuming it's accessible).

Have you got another computer? If the drive is in a USB caddy you can connect it to that. You'll need to run chkdsk on the drive. Plug it in and when it's recognised open up a command prompt and type "chkdsk f: /R /X" without quotes (assuming f is the drive letter of the external drive). This scan takes a while. It might also be worthwhile trying the disk manufacturers diagnostic tool on it - either from the manufacturers website or here is a burnable CD containing lots of them and more besides - http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd The manufacturers software should be able to tell whether there are any physical problems with the drive, as opposed to a file system issue which chkdsk deals with.

Windows XP won't boot from a USB drive without some modifications to the installation - Microsofts stance is that it does not work, but there's some instructions on how to install to a USB drive here. Ubuntu is not as fussy I think. As an aside 2.5" drives are not that expensive really - 160gb IDE drive for 36 here for example.

More on what a browser window from IE9 is going to look like HERE

Thanks jonuk76

I will try it on another PC later and will let u know how I get on

Hi jonuk76

I have done the chkdsk on a desk top as you suggested. In stage 4 of 5 it replaced bad clusters in some system files. However it went on to say the disk does not have enough space to replace bad clusters. Then said unspecified error occurred and reverted to command prompt.

I will delete lots of stuff and have another go later.

Tks very much for your advice

Bob

It is worth deleting some junk if the disk is nearly full, but I think these errors could be pointing at bigger problems with the drive. MS's site mentions the "unspecified error" in chkdsk as a known problem in old versions of Windows 2000 so if the PC you are running the scan on is using Win2000 that is possibly an issue, but otherwise I can't find anything that is much help in their support area.

If freeing up some space doesn't help, I do think running the manufacturers disk utility would be useful

Kayak

I have just had another friend with a computer sending out viagra spam. I got one of them this time.

Fortunately I remembered your previous advice and told her to change the password on her hotmail account. Presumably she will still have to run spybot or similar to get rid of trojan??

My Netcraft toolbar indicated very high risk rating and came out of China. The email purported to come from a Canadian health company.

Do I have to take any action on my PC.??

My wife got one as well but I deleted that before she could open it on her computer.

Guess who bought one of these on eBay recently for 69.99 plus 3 postage?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y55qQES64Ps

The seller has a substantial 100% Feedback rating and said he had purchased this previously and then bought a new PC with Windows 7 already loaded and so didn't need the copy he was selling on eBay.

This all sounded very credible and so, with the price being very reasonable, I went ahead with a 'BIN'. Another eBayer took it upon himself to alert me to the fact that it might well be counterfeit and this video above and what to look for.

The copy I have bought is indeed counterfeit and is still in its wrapper awaiting the sellers instructions and confirmation of my refund. Failing that, I will have to go back to PayPal for my refund from them.

Undoubtedly, from what I have read, eBay might well freeze my account.

Since the seller has re-listed, and with the same description, then he deserves to have his account frozen because his description is just a pack of lies.

There is also a 'morality' problem to address:

eBay/PayPal tell buyers to first take things up with the seller (ie. get a refund from the seller). However, since there is still a chance that the seller will do my refund, it is also a bit daft to do what I would like to do, and split on his dishonesty to PayPal and eBay. Perhaps I'll do the 'common sense thing' and tell them after he has made the refund? That is, providing he does it.

Hmm? But what if doing that gets my eBay account frozen?

Hmmm?

So, what would you do?