Technical corner........

Quote by X_fanny_x
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)

Quote by X_fanny_x
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

Quote by MikeNorth
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 ......

Quote by gary-danne
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 ......

Quote by Cherrytree
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
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 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 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

Quote by anais
Hiya Gary.... I have two problems at the moment. Be great if you can help me out with some advice please?
1) My modem on my comp has died, is it possibke for a dafty like me to open the tower an take it out so I can get another one?
1A) If yes, what does a modem look like? And can you pointme in the right direction
As mine had died a death Ive dug my sons out he packed away last year... connects to the internet ok but!
2) It wont let me sign into my email accounts, messenger, ebay, etsy, FB etc etc... I can browse ebay etc but cant log in to check to my auctions (bluddy annoying). Seems to be secure sites that I cant log into. When I try to log in a page comes up saying *This page cannot be displayed*
Ive checked all I know to check etc, deleted norton firewall (was out of date anyway) as I heard that can cause this problem.
Ive cleared my cashe, deleted old files, done a defrag, disk cleanup, virus check etc etc
Anything else I can try?
Thanks in advance...
Anais xx

Hi .....
Changing the modem is not too hard......it may be a card plugged into your motherboard or it may be built into your motherboard in which case it is slightly more involved....best idea is to plug tower into the mains but leave it switched OFF at the wall....(this earths the chassis and helps protect from static damage to cpu and motherboard/memory)....then remove the side of the tower and look whats on the inside directly adjacent to where your phone cable plugs in....new modems are very cheap as no one wants dial up internet anymore....a few pounds.....or take the one out of the old pc and try that.....or better still get broadband lots of good deals around at the mo....if you are not sure just message me and i'll talk you thru it....
As for your other probs I would install firefox....its a free down load and solves all sorts of net probs as internet explorer can be a real pain.....
If you're struggling let me know....
Cheers Gary xxx

Quote by danne-gary
Hiya Gary.... I have two problems at the moment. Be great if you can help me out with some advice please?
1) My modem on my comp has died, is it possibke for a dafty like me to open the tower an take it out so I can get another one?
1A) If yes, what does a modem look like? And can you pointme in the right direction
As mine had died a death Ive dug my sons out he packed away last year... connects to the internet ok but!
2) It wont let me sign into my email accounts, messenger, ebay, etsy, FB etc etc... I can browse ebay etc but cant log in to check to my auctions (bluddy annoying). Seems to be secure sites that I cant log into. When I try to log in a page comes up saying *This page cannot be displayed*
Ive checked all I know to check etc, deleted norton firewall (was out of date anyway) as I heard that can cause this problem.
Ive cleared my cashe, deleted old files, done a defrag, disk cleanup, virus check etc etc
Anything else I can try?
Thanks in advance...
Anais xx

Hi .....
Changing the modem is not too hard......it may be a card plugged into your motherboard or it may be built into your motherboard in which case it is slightly more involved....best idea is to plug tower into the mains but leave it switched OFF at the wall....(this earths the chassis and helps protect from static damage to cpu and motherboard/memory)....then remove the side of the tower and look whats on the inside directly adjacent to where your phone cable plugs in....new modems are very cheap as no one wants dial up internet anymore....a few pounds.....or take the one out of the old pc and try that.....or better still get broadband lots of good deals around at the mo....if you are not sure just message me and i'll talk you thru it....
As for your other probs I would install firefox....its a free down load and solves all sorts of net probs as internet explorer can be a real pain.....
If you're struggling let me know....
Cheers Gary xxx

Quote by Mwbpsx
how do i "unthrottle" my tinterweb connection when downloading from torrent sites etc. I believe it is only "peak time" but this appears to be whenever im out of bed !!!!

Quote by TanKinky
autocomplete usernames and passwords, both used to come up and now only the usernames come up how do i get back on to having both on ??

Hi ...
Ok.....for ZZZInternet ExplorerZZZ.....goto to control panel and look in internet options under the advanced tab....in firefox just goto options....I know i keep harpin on about firefox but this could solve your probs to....try it its free :)....
Cheers Gary xxx

Quote by blueocean_041
I have a query, I have my young daughter coming to stay with me soon and she will want to use my computer whilst she is staying. I have set up a new account on the computer which blocks access to my favourites and stops her from amending settings etc. however I have an extra drive with folders on it that I don't want her to have access to. I have tried to make the folders private however the box I need to tick is greyed out so I can't tick it. I could make my folders "Hidden" but that is hardly foolproof and I want to be able to leave her to use the computer without invading her privacy by constantly looking over her shoulder. Is there anyway I can do this? Also is creating a new User Account going to be enough to stop an inquisitive child? What are the risks and how can I deal with them?
I normally deal with this kind of thing myself but I could really use a bit of advice in this area
O/S - Windows XP Home Edition
Browser - Firefox
Carl

Quote by Peanut
I have a query, I have my young daughter coming to stay with me soon and she will want to use my computer whilst she is staying. I have set up a new account on the computer which blocks access to my favourites and stops her from amending settings etc. however I have an extra drive with folders on it that I don't want her to have access to. I have tried to make the folders private however the box I need to tick is greyed out so I can't tick it. I could make my folders "Hidden" but that is hardly foolproof and I want to be able to leave her to use the computer without invading her privacy by constantly looking over her shoulder. Is there anyway I can do this? Also is creating a new User Account going to be enough to stop an inquisitive child? What are the risks and how can I deal with them?
I normally deal with this kind of thing myself but I could really use a bit of advice in this area
O/S - Windows XP Home Edition
Browser - Firefox
Carl

Quote by blueocean_041
Thanks for that quick response however when I do this; In windows explorer go to Tools -> Folder Options -> View. Then in the list of tickable items right down at the bottom is "Use simple file sharing". Make sure it's unticked.
I haven't got "Use simple file sharing" on the tick list.
Carl