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gary-danneI need to get out more

Joined:: 28 Dec 2005
Posts:: 294
Location:: Leics

X_fanny_x wrote:

When the wireless keyboard stops working its important to remember it has batteries in it

it should the the first route of call not banging the keyboard of the desk a few times fiddling with the cables at the back of tower then switching of unplugging in and restarting especially when you are hosting a very busy room and cant get back in

Hi

....

Sound advice there that has obviously been tested out for the whole threads benefit

....the same goes for shakin a cordless mouse and shoutin you bastard at it just when you are in the middle of orderin that most important item or tryin to tell your better half how much you want to be with them

...

Cheers Gary xxx

gary-danneI need to get out more

Joined:: 28 Dec 2005
Posts:: 294
Location:: Leics

Gary's pc tips number 1....

First in a series of tips blatantly borrowed from someone far more clever than me.....

Today windows XP....

Eliminate animations

Ending useless animations in Windows will improve performance. Right-click the desktop, choose Properties, and then the Appearance tab. Click the Effects button and make sure everything is unchecked in the next window.

Tan--KinkyGodlike

Joined:: 27 Nov 2007
Posts:: 5257
Location:: Tartlepool

The mouse tell me when the batteries stop working i get a big sign up on the screen but never had anything with the keyboard so i wasnt thinking batteries (plus had the keyboard a year and its the first time ever ive put batteries in) the mouse ones only last 2 - 3 weeks

gary-danneI need to get out more

Joined:: 28 Dec 2005
Posts:: 294
Location:: Leics

Gary's pc tips number 2.....

Today Windows Vista.....

Disabling Automatic Startup Programs

If you don't want certain programs or applications to run automatically on startup, there's an easy way to disable them.

* Click Start
* Type msconfig in the search box
* Click Continue in the User Account Control to continue
* Click on the Startup Tab
* Uncheck any boxes in the "Startup Items" that you wish to disable or click the Disable All button (not recommended)
* Click OK

If you need to re-enable any of the programs, go through the same process and check the boxes of programs you wish to run automatically on startup

Am still figuring out Windows Vista like most people

but thought this might be useful to someone

Cheers Gary xxx

woohooChatroom OP

Joined:: 2 Jan 2005
Posts:: 4546
Location:: -

re the above post ...
Make sure you know what the programs are before disabling them of course

gary-danneI need to get out more

Joined:: 28 Dec 2005
Posts:: 294
Location:: Leics

woohoo wrote:

re the above post ...
Make sure you know what the programs are before disabling them of course

Hi

.... goes without sayin .... but if you knew what you were trying to close down its usually self apparent ... if you scroll along the line you can see which directory the files are in and work it out from that ... personally I always look in task manager first to work out what to shut down .... moral is tho don't touch it if you don't know what it is ....

Cheers Gary xxx

nellie-mwgcGodlike

Joined:: 1 Jul 2005
Posts:: 1474
Location:: midlands

thought id give this a nudge incase anyone has any questions for gary.....keep him busy while im at work

Tan--KinkyGodlike

Joined:: 27 Nov 2007
Posts:: 5257
Location:: Tartlepool

we have a acer lappy with inbuilt cam which always freezes or doesnt work (its in china at min with dek)

how easy is it to make an external cam the main one so when you switch cam on, it automatically chooses the external one? and not the inbuilt one?

can normal joe average not very pc literate me manage it? (when i have the lappy at home)

blueocean_041Finding my feet

Joined:: 7 Jan 2006
Posts:: 15
Location:: -

X_fanny_x wrote:

we have a acer lappy with inbuilt cam which always freezes or doesnt work (its in china at min with dek)

how easy is it to make an external cam the main one so when you switch cam on, it automatically chooses the external one? and not the inbuilt one?

can normal joe average not very pc literate me manage it? (when i have the lappy at home)

In XP,
open the control panel,
double click System
click the hardware tab
click device manager

It should look like this

If it doesn't then click view and select "view by type"
click the plus sign next to each category until you find the inbuilt camera on the list of items. It should be under something like "imaging devices"

When you have found the camera (Be certain it's the correct one), right click on the name and select disable.

For Vista
Goto control panel
click "hardware and sound"
click device manager
find the camera on the list
right click on it and disable

Hope that helps

Carl

Tan--KinkyGodlike

Joined:: 27 Nov 2007
Posts:: 5257
Location:: Tartlepool

Thanks for that will try when he gets home trying to tell him how to do it is like talking greek to an english toddler

gary-danneI need to get out more

Joined:: 28 Dec 2005
Posts:: 294
Location:: Leics

Hi

......

Nice one Blueocean that was sound advice.....am glad other folks post advice on here that was the whole idea.....for every problem there is bound to be someone on here who can help.....

Cheers Gary xx

gary-danneI need to get out more

Joined:: 28 Dec 2005
Posts:: 294
Location:: Leics

Hi

......

Nice one Blueocean that was sound advice.....am glad other folks post advice on here that was the whole idea.....for every problem there is bound to be someone on here who can help.....

Cheers Gary xx

MikeNorthGodlike

Joined:: 6 Jan 2004
Posts:: 5264
Location:: Housing Project
Hill

In the past few days there have been periods when I cannot access websites at all, or only some, even though I am connected to the internet (broadband connection). I did a diagnostic test which told me that it could not detect a network card (which seems also to be called a network adaptor). Then for a while everything is okay again.

What is a network card? Is mine packing up? Does it usually go gradually like this? What do I do? I would be grateful for some advice.

foxylady2209Godlike

Joined:: 6 Jan 2005
Posts:: 4069
Location:: Derby

X_fanny_x wrote:

Thanks for that will try when he gets home trying to tell him how to do it is like talking greek to an english toddler

From what I've seen of computers - you'd be better getting the toddler to do all the IT stuff anyway - they always seem to know how to get stuff working.

gary-danneI need to get out more

Joined:: 28 Dec 2005
Posts:: 294
Location:: Leics

MikeNorth wrote:

In the past few days there have been periods when I cannot access websites at all, or only some, even though I am connected to the internet (broadband connection). I did a diagnostic test which told me that it could not detect a network card (which seems also to be called a network adaptor). Then for a while everything is okay again.

What is a network card? Is mine packing up? Does it usually go gradually like this? What do I do? I would be grateful for some advice.

Hi

....
Sorry about the slow response I cant always get on here....got loads on at the mo....anyway....
The network card is actually an ethernet card and this is where your broadband is plugged into the pc i am guessing....first thing i would do is look in device manager and see if the ethernet card is working properly.....sometimes the dreaded automatic windy updates install a newer driver and make things worse rather than better....make sure the device is working ok and click to update driver....if you find it is problematic new network cards are only about £6 from pc shops....hard to diagnose exactly from your post so feel free tp post a more detailed account

Cheers Gary ......

MikeNorthGodlike

Joined:: 6 Jan 2004
Posts:: 5264
Location:: Housing Project
Hill

gary-danne wrote:

MikeNorth wrote:

In the past few days there have been periods when I cannot access websites at all, or only some, even though I am connected to the internet (broadband connection). I did a diagnostic test which told me that it could not detect a network card (which seems also to be called a network adaptor). Then for a while everything is okay again.

What is a network card? Is mine packing up? Does it usually go gradually like this? What do I do? I would be grateful for some advice.

Hi

....
Sorry about the slow response I cant always get on here....got loads on at the mo....anyway....
The network card is actually an ethernet card and this is where your broadband is plugged into the pc i am guessing....first thing i would do is look in device manager and see if the ethernet card is working properly.....sometimes the dreaded automatic windy updates install a newer driver and make things worse rather than better....make sure the device is working ok and click to update driver....if you find it is problematic new network cards are only about £6 from pc shops....hard to diagnose exactly from your post so feel free tp post a more detailed account

Cheers Gary ......

Thanks Gary - there has been no problem with it for the last couple of days, so maybe it was just a blip. Thanks for the tip about checking in device manager - I'll do that first if it happens again.

CherrytreeGodlike

Joined:: 29 Jun 2005
Posts:: 3224
Location:: -

Hello Gary, if you have time could you possibly advise on this, please - my elderly uncle has just bought his first computer, a reconditioned lap-top for £80.00.

Within days of using it, the anti-virus software (Blackice) stopped working and now the computer has ground to a halt.

My knowledge on computer stuff is zero, but a computer shop near us has quoted £79.99 to clean it and put new anti-virus software on there.

I feel quite responsible as it's me who's been telling him to get one for ages, and now he's down £80.00 and no computer, and even more scared of them than he was before.

What would you do in this situation? Is it worth paying to get it fixed?

Can you give any advice without knowing the specs?

(I don't know the specs, and getting him to discuss it is very hard!)

Any advice gratefully received

Cherry x

gary-danneI need to get out more

Joined:: 28 Dec 2005
Posts:: 294
Location:: Leics

Cherrytree wrote:

Hello Gary, if you have time could you possibly advise on this, please - my elderly uncle has just bought his first computer, a reconditioned lap-top for £80.00.

Within days of using it, the anti-virus software (Blackice) stopped working and now the computer has ground to a halt.

My knowledge on computer stuff is zero, but a computer shop near us has quoted £79.99 to clean it and put new anti-virus software on there.

I feel quite responsible as it's me who's been telling him to get one for ages, and now he's down £80.00 and no computer, and even more scared of them than he was before.

What would you do in this situation? Is it worth paying to get it fixed?

Can you give any advice without knowing the specs?

(I don't know the specs, and getting him to discuss it is very hard!)

Any advice gratefully received

Cherry x

Hi

....

First off did the place where he bought it from not give him any sort of warranty??? they should even with recon stuff....not a very good advert for them....you say it has ground to a halt.....if it is completely dead then it is more than a software prob....but if you get error messages and nothing else it could well be.....if i had it i would wipe and put new software on it.....if you live anywhere near me....pass it on and will do it for him....as long as there is some life in the thing there is no reason why windows me or even xp wont work on it....however slow....would be ok for the net and basic stuff....have done a load of old pcs for folks who just want to browse the net or type letters and things....or even just get the hang of things before diving in and buying a new puter....but if you can get it to me i would have a look for him

Cheers Gary xxx

CherrytreeGodlike

Joined:: 29 Jun 2005
Posts:: 3224
Location:: -

Hi Gary, thanks very much for taking the time to reply

He didn't get a warranty, he bought it from a private advert in the paper.

Yes it is error messages that he is getting, I wish I did live closer to you!

Thanks again,

Cherry xxx

derbyman_2Just popped in

Joined:: 1 Nov 2007
Posts:: 4
Location:: -

Hi

Changed my net provider AOL to Sky and now cant get a wireless connection with me lap top, having to use a cable connection to the router, it tells me its getting network address but then not connected. thats as far as it go's. all other pc's in house are ok? any ideas please.

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