HC,but i was not use 2 anti-virus programms 1 is a Firewall(zonealarm) and Avast which is a anti-virus prog both do differant jobs and yes i never sell old computer on i take them apart and the drive is broken up,a waste yes but its a secure way of disposing of it.

Sorry, MB, mis-read it. Thought you had put AVG & Avast.

Mega - I bet you cut old credit cards up into hundreds of pieces and dispose of the bits in different places. :-)

skinny,you aint wrong mate :0)

I'm about to retire my old but faithful PC and invest in another. I use it for emails, word processing, trading and storing pictures, so I don't need lots of bells and whistles. What should be the minimum spec and should I go for 32 or 64 bit? Answers in plain English would be appreciated.

Windows will be slightly better in 64 bit, however there is very little software that will be 64 bit, certainly almost nothing that the average user will have access to, but that is the trend long term.

TOK,

All I can add is that the introduction, from this forum, to Computer Doctors in Northampton, has suited me. They are a small unspectacular company staffed by good solid people.

http://www.computerdoctors.co.uk/

TP

I have loads of VHS tapes of hols etc and a tele with a video cassette player.
I bought the " gubbins" - a video grabber-to transfer the tapes to my laptop, a few wires and a USB connection, but realise that although the player has one scart and a red+white connector they only are for input to the video, and not an output, any suggestions?

Sequestor, how does your player connect to a tv?

EDIT: I think I get it - it's one of those built-in players...

Yeah its an old Grundig 14" with the player built in as you say klal, there is a blanked off space next to the scart, I wondered if behind that there might be an " out" scart- but having taken the back off an old tele years ago and getting a shock even though it was unplugged- I hesitate to look- apparently the capacitators store power ( so google says) .
I still grin at a bloke who after I got the shock said it was impossible and I must have had the tele plugged in, he did the same trick, but the smile was knocked off his face as he was tossed across the room- there`s always one.

cheers

Sequestor, without a "tv out" you're probably stuck. You're probably gonna have to buy a separate VCR. I have loads of tapes awaiting conversion. Though I have an excellent Sony VCR, the audio bit isn't all that good - thanks to my kids. On the hunt for a replacement. Seen some Panasonic ones with a built-in DVD recorder...

Just for data transfer surely worth getting another VCR from second hand shop or charity shop? They are almost giving them away now (most of my friends have just junked theirs even if they were still working). Can't see any point in buying a new one, though not seen many about now that DVD's are the norm. All the VCR has to do is play the tape cleanly. Quality control can be done on the laptop.

There a quite a few on Amazon for @40.

Lidl were doing a video to PC (scart to USB) adaptor & software for about 20 this week. No idea if it's any good.

Sequestor, there are outfits that will do the conversion for you - I've just seen some quotes of around 6/tape. Depending on the number of tapes you have, it might be better to buy your own equipment (a low-cost vcr).

thanks lads I hadn`t thought of a second hand shop purchase- and the charity shop will inflate my chances with St.Peter, come the day

cheers

Seems Ive got the conficker 32.b virus, ive tried 4 virues software to remove it, it just comes back any idea of away to get rid of this once n for all

The latest version of MS Security Esentials shoiuld remove it.

What OS do you have

Try this

Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool


http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx

If you have lost internet access because of the virus then you can download the software at the link on a different PC and transfer it to the infected PC.

Malwarebytes finds most viruses. You may need to run virus software in safe mode.

I had a tricky virus some months ago and I found a trick on the internet. I created a new user with admin privileges, logged off and logged in to the new user and ran virus scans from there.

Remove all temporary files with something like CClean as well as viruses often hide in temporary files and then reappear after they are deleted.

Haystack, thanks

Windows 7,

I've used Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool, Avira, Malwarebytes and Zonealarm plus Superantispyware, Miscosoft Security Essential

but everytime it finds it it cleans it then it comes back, and even on reboot it comes back

tried special conficker32 removal tools, says its not there, but others say it is

Manual steps to remove the Win32/Conficker virus
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962007

Good luck 'cos it looks a real tricky one to do.