I would be concerned if the paddlock sign is not shown on an https site. I suggest that you initialy try the site using alternate browsers.

Bear in mind that they will be recording your IP address, which is fine for a genuine site but not so good if it is a scam.

Thanks Optimist. The same page when opened in FireFox correctly shows as a fully secure page without any problems. So I'll just go ahead and carry out the transaction using FireFox rather than Opera this time.

Optimist

"Bear in mind that they will be recording your IP address...."

What do you mean by this?

Doc

Every website that you visit records your IP address. There is very little you can do about this, but it could help to identify you.

If you were to visit a dodgy site, then it is just a little extra info that may enable them to target your computer, rip you off or steal your identity.

If you really think a site is a scam then it's best to avoid it entirely.

.

Can anyone help with this problem I have on my PC.

I installed a new Hard drive (SATA) couple of weeks ago - but kept the original Drive in situ (to be reformatted once all files were transferred to new drive). The new drive has been working without any problems.

However - this morning I installed some Software (for Canon scanner) - but when I tried to restart the PC - the WindowsXP window with the bar scanning back and forwards appeared then stopped. The PC was rebooted - but the same thing happened once again. I was unable uninstall the scanning software in Safe Mode - so used a previous Restore point.

However - since then whenever I switch on the screen shows the page giving Safe Mode, or (wait 25 seconds or whatever) to switch on normally etc - and this is a continuous loop. Even by clicking on any of the other options the loop continues (unable to get into Safe Mode).

I have tried changing setup in the bios so that the original drive boots up first - and that is ok - but using My Computer the new drive can't be seen at all.

Any clues where the problem might be?

Many thanks in anticipation.

Hi Timeliner

The first thing I would do is disconect the old hard disk to make sure that nothing happens to your old system.

If you can't boot from the hard disk, you will have to boot from the instalation CD (which must be SP2 if your new disk is over 120GB) then either use the repair facility to completely restore Win XP but keep most of your settings or use the recovery console to try and correct things. You will need to spend some time browsing the Microsoft site to sort that.

If your new disk is only 2 weeks old, you could consider booting from the old disk, copying any changed data from the new disk, then erase the new disk and re clone it.

Timeliner

I may be stating the obvious to you, but have you changed the jumper settings on your two hard drives so that one is master and one is slave?

You don't have those jumper settings on a SATA drive.

Well that puts paid to that suggestion!

skuttles back to corner with tail between legs. whimper....

LOL

Optimist

I have booted from the original drive - and using a program called "Hard Drive Inspector" it shows the new drive as "0mb" free space - which is clearly wrong. It is a 500gb drive and at least 50% free space.

But can't see a way of copying any data because I cannot "see" the new drive.

If I can access the drive I will transfer the data which has accumulated since it was installed before reformatting it (assuming this is necessary) - in other words iI hope there is a way of saving the contents of this drive.

Has anyone around here used Compuserve recently?

I won't bore you with the problem if the answer to the above is NO.

TP

Help please,just had a power cut and the pc went down,powered it back up again,it works fine but i am getting a little yellow popup window when i log into OE saying DDE Server Window:OUTLOOK.EXE-Corrupt file........Please run the Chkdsk utility.
It all works fine in OE but what does the message mean and how can i delete the message.
Any ideas please.

Mega.........

Sorted,just found the way to switch it off :-)

Well, I went ahead and bought a Belkin (Universal it says on the box) wireless range extender. Needless to say it won't work with my Netgear router :-(

After speaking to the Belkin techies they say that my Netgear router has an 8 character network key and I need to contact Netgear to get it changed to a 10 or (I think) a 26 digit one.

Personally I don't feel inclined to do this as I'm wondering if I'm just opening up a can of worms.

Anyone know if these network keys on routers are changeable and if so is it easily done?

Apologies if this has already been asked on this board:

Does anyone know if an internal ADSL (Broadband) modem is available for laptop computers, please? I know that external USB connection modems are available, but would prefer to install internally if possible. Thanks in advance. (Don't really want to go the WiFi route at the moment).

Timeliner

Your new disk must have at least some, most probably all, of the data intact because it goes through the initial boot sequence.

I'm not familiar with Hard Drive Inspector but are you certain that it can handle such large disks? What does the Win XP disk manager utility say about the disk? Whoch program did you use to clone the disk?

If you cant access it from within windows, you should be able to run the repair console to get the data off it. Make sure you use the SP2 repair console.

Harrycat

I've not heard of such a device, but why would you want one? Broadband can only be used from one location so there is no downside in using an ADSL Router/Firewall.

You could use a USB ADSL modem but these tend to be harder to setup and keep going and anyway IMO should be banned as they are not secure enough.

Thanks, Optimist.
What I am trying to do is use a PC & a laptop in the house. PC is upstairs, laptop is downstairs, so if both have an ADSL modem I thought that, so long as one of them is switched off, the other would work (connected to a BT Line box via ADSL filter & telephone cable).
I still believe, rightly or wrongly, that hardwire is much more secure than WiFi, so prefer to connect to broadband via ADSL modem plugged in to the computer.
I have learnt this morning however, from Maplins, that two modems can't be plugged in the same BT line (even if one is switched off).
I also believe a router requires different cables from the usual telephone ones, so that is going to complicate things a bit.
Question is then, how to get two computers to work in the same house using cables? Presumably via router?

HarryCat

Since they are perfect for your needs, you really ought to look into using the Devolo Adapters, which I mention above.

You need three adapters:-

One for the modem - to put the broadband signal into the 240v mains supply wiring system.

One for your PC - to take a broadband signal out of the 240v mains and into your PC.

One for your laptop in the bedroom - to take a broadband signal out of the 240v mains and into your laptop.

Note how you only need one modem but you do need three adapters.

They are absolute simplicity itself to install. They are secure and there is no configuring to be done as all of this stuff is automatic. You don't even have to tell the modem how to dial out if you use an Ethernet cabled rather than a USB cabled modem.

Here's one type of installation:



Here's another. Note this is more 'wireless' than the first but still utilises the 240v mains supply to get the broadband round the house:



(I went for the 200Av adapters myself so as to get some high data transfer rate futureproofing)

This Devolo stuff is also called 'Homeplug'. I suppose one can see why, eh?