Spaceman, thanks. I'll have to look on Friday now as I don't have any more time at this branch now. I understood most of what you wrote there :-)

(Don't bother to explain - I do know what you mean!)

Morning.

My PC keeps sounding like a plane increasing and decreasing thrusts.

Any idea why please?

Thanks.

KD.

KEAYDIAN

Assuming that the noise is coming from the PC and not the speakers, then it is probably either a fan (either CPU, PSU, Graphics Card or case) or the hard disk drive. If it's the latter then you could have imminent problems, backup all of your data, stop using it and change the disk.

Your best way forward is to open the case and see if you can detect where the noise is coming from. If you unplug the power lead to the hard disk (while the mains is unplugged) and then switch it on, the machine will not boot but any fan noise may still be noticeable.

KEAYDIAN:

Optimist is on the money with his method for detecting where the noise is coming from.

However, many computers use temperature-controlled fans which sound like a jet engine spooling up when they increase speed. If this is a new phenomenon (rather than you just didn't notice before), you may have clogged up air vents -- or is the computer near a radiator?

It's that time of year again where I start to clear out old rubbish from my PC.

I've noticed a lot of uninstall folders (approx 50+) in my Windows/windows directory. eg $NtUninstallKB123456$. Inside this folder are various bits n bob, particularily a spuninst folder, again with files inside. These have modified dates of 2004, 2005.

Are these simply leftover uninstallation bits of info that can be safely uninstalled please? Thanx in advance.

Those are folders enabling you to uninstall hotfixes etc. downloaded via Windows Update. The KB refers to a Knowledge Base article number. If you are happy with the updates it is safe just to delete the folders.

K,

In your rush to do your diagnostics do not, at any stage, unplug the power without doing a proper Windows close down.

I did precisely that when replacing a power unit earlier this year and crashed a perfectly sound hard disk.

TP

Cheers Kayak

Kayak, I had 40 of those folders all dated 3 Apr 06. Now currently resting in the recycle bin. Was that a date of a significant Windows Update?
............I know sometimes we expect too much of you :-)

O

He works better under pressure!
:-)

I disappear for a few hours when under too much pressure :-)

Don't think so optomistic, probably more that you downloaded a lot of updates on that day?

Thanks Kayak, I have it on auto update so it just did it's thing.

Maybe you reinstalled Windows and it had to retrieve all the updates? I just had one on 2nd April and five on 13th April (I download them manually).

No didn't reinstall (as far as I can remember) and nothing showing for that date in the update history.
edit: that does seem odd!

My gawd, where did all that dust come from.

Computer has decided not to pretend it's an aeroplane now (touchwood), thanks.

I recall someone mentioning a while back that when they go into a thread they're having to read previously read information. How do you go about making the machine realise that you want the thread to open where you left off?

I have been advised to do a system restore in order to try and cure a problem- I have tried 2 different dates at which system checkpoints were taken but both have failed???

skinny. I'm not an expert but I saw a post somewhere (I don't think here, maybe, maybe not) & the same thing was happening. He was asked to try a Restore in Safe mode I think. I haven't a clue whether it worked or not.
Also, Kayak, MM or Optomist (bless 'em all) posted a Microsoft Restore Troubleshooting reference some time ago.
One of these? Will this help?
http://search.microsoft.com/results.aspx?q=troubleshoot+system+restore&l=1&mkt=en-US&FORM=QBME1

That's all my so-called "knowledge" on the subject. Sorry m8. Told you I wasn't an expert :-(

Edit: Thinking about it I reckon I'm talking bollox with a Restore in Safe mode! :-((

I've started getting a lot of junk mail about stocks, on two of my three email addresses. I keep blocking them but still they come from an apparently different sender each time. Some of them aren't even addressed to me. I have a feeling that blocking is actually encouraging them. I just wish they'd stop it because I never even read them.

What's the best way to stop them. Would Thuderbird do a better job?

SC.

I've also been receiving spam email about stocks, and tons more porn spam.

I block them as they come through but yet more and more arrive.

Today I've received about 30ish spam messages.

In the past couple of months a network of spam-bots has actively been sending the stock stuff. These are computers infected by a virus, which means that they are programmed to send out spam as requested each day by a central site. This single network appears to be responsible for over a 100 emails a day in my case! That is on top of the 80 or so varied ones about viagra etc. The senders will be different each time of course since you are dealing with a large network of zombie computers. Not much you can do except bin them as they come.

The ones I'm talking about are easily recognisable though since you will notice that the format of the title is consistent.