Each time I turn my puter on a window pops up that says"Found new hardware Wizard" and the name of the programme? it is trying to install is about 3-4 real strange letters. I keep cancelling but can't get rid of it.....any offerings?

Bernice: do you have a new device connected to your usb or serial port ? did anything in the hardware config ?

Hrqls: thanks Hrqks....I have found what it was LOL......it is fixed now :)

Strange thing, now happened with several USB-Storage-Devices:

Normally after connecting the USB device, the autoplay-option (if used) shows a window asking you how you want to open the content.

For some time now, on various computers with vista or XP, some of those devices
aren't recognized any longer as devices with content,
but the Operating System asks, which program i want to use to open the  _file_.

But as if there are a couple of files on the device, this is not what windows should ask.

Formatting the device solves the problem, as well as right-clicking it and choosing "explore".
But what i wanted to see is a possibility of resetting the device without formatting it
(its okay for some GB sticks, nut not really helpful for a 250gig external hard disk )
or - of course - changing some registry-values (i already tried some, but this way it does not seem to work).

Any experience and/or suggestions out here??

dio

If anyone used to use Fasterfox extension for Firefox they will know that since FF 3.0 has been out it does not work, unless you have modified the .rdf file yourself

If you would like to still use it, please contact me and i will forward you the modified .xpi file and tell you how to install it

Does anybody know why my computer monitor won't turn on?After i turn on the tower and press the monitor on, the green lite will only stay lit for about 2 to 3 seconds and shut off.The monitor is ok,i've tried 2 of them...

SMART ALX: I assume you find it OK for your monitor not to turn on. :))

SMART ALX: you probably get no signal from your computer
try the monitor on another computer to check the monitor itself

if it works try another cable between your computer and your monitor
if that still doesnt work then my guess is that your graphics card is broken :(

SMART ALX: Check also your current supply. I had this happen once, I thought the central unit is out for sure, but it turned out simply to be a badly plugged cable. The monitor would react to a low current, but the box won't.

Is it not a wise idea to use two different security systems IE mcafee and AVG? Slows things down, and is redundant?

What about the adaware and spybots as well?

Czuch:i can't find any reason _not_ to do that... ;-)

diogenysos: I think I confused myself with my use of negatives etc... so are you telling me its ok to use more than one ant virus program, and the same with spyware adware as well?

I have been told that two anti virus will take twice as long to start computer etc plus some other problems that i cant remember exactly?

Czuch: I've been told the same. Our ISP company provides free software, but the old system which was in use when we joined was no longer good or stable.... ie it was one program that did anti virus and one that did firewall, etc... and they caused conflicts.. which explained why the anti-virus kept having to close or said it was logged into another account!!

Their new software is just one program and does everything. It's fast and stable.

Czuch:there are a couple of well-known problems running two anti-virus-progs at the same time.
But personally, I dont know any problems concerning spybot and adaware.

There is one nice effect when running both programs:
While scanning the running processes, one program identifies the other as possible malware...

But this can be just ignored... .

diogenysos: ok thanks!

Pedro Martínez:It's going to get returned on to it's original factory setting.

whats the deal with firefox 20019? Any issues? I have heard some extension problems and such, any advice about downloading it?

Czuch: I have read the Firefox Forums on the subject. The version you are talking about when released was only to patch a couple of security issues. They do state that they will be discontinuing updates for this, and any users should update to Firefox 3

MadMonkey: how is firefox 3 fairing then?

Czuch: I've done really well with FF3, and have had no problems with it.

Eriisa: Thanks! I probably have to give it a go, even if its not perfect yet, isnt that what we do?

Czuch: Actually, I thought it was out in full release, but I could be wrong with that.

Czuch: Firefox 3.0 is fine, in fact Firefox 3.1 is not far off

Czuch: ive just got one problem with it
freezes up when downloading computer games which is very annoying

Snoopy: Strange..... one of my kids uses Realarcade and has had no problems. Are you sure it's not your anti virus or firewall picking up something naughty in the code?

Another good program to add to the list of needed stuff should be a registry cleaner... I use Eusing.. Also a Window cleaner.

And I've found spybot now to be just tooo full of itself and more annoying then helpful.

Anyway... my ISP service provides free software that does it as part of the protection suite.

wetware:WOW! nice one...

And good for system-administrators to increase their income

I have been recommended to back up my files and to restart my computer back to factory new (or whatever it is called)

Any advice about this, and where would you recommend I do my back ups, if I do not have any cds or removable storage, anyplace online that is recommended?

Thanks for any help or advice!

also does anyone else use skype? I have firefox and have problems with the sound using skype, maybe its related to this other problem, but youtube and other streaming seems to be okay, just skype where I have problems with the sound?

Czuch: I have been using opera and sound works well for me in skype

is it ok for me to back up my files with an online web site and then clear my computer and start over?

Czuch: that is a risk only you can decide on....personally I wouldnt trust/do it, but it does have to be your decision.....that way only YOU are to blame if/when you lose everything.......sorry

Czuch: Save to disk (CD or DVD or memory stick) all data you want. It's best you save it yourself.

They are cheap enough (especially CD's) and you can make multiple backups if you want.

Then re-install if you wish.
But use a registry cleaner and a window washer after, as there will be alot of rubbish left over from all the bits you install. It'll keep your machine running faster.

But this is if your 'problem' cannot be corrected only.. as it takes hours especially if Microsoft are slow with all the updates you need to download.

(V): if you read below he said "if I do not have any cds or removable storage"

This is the site I am using to backup my files... anyone ever heard of it or anything, should I just cancel this, I dont want to lose everything, it still has 14 hours left to get everything downloaded, should I trust this?

https://mozy.com/home

Czuch: I have not heard of it, i use http://www.adrive.com/ to keep copies of a lot of my stuff. Its handy if i happen to be somewhere and find out i could use a file or something

Of course there is another way (depending how knowledgeable you are). Install a slave drive inside your pc, copy all your files to there or an external hard drive.

I do not save anything on my Main C: drive

MadMonkey: obviously not very knowledgable... but this slave drive sounds interesting enough, like a second C drive?

Bernice: I know... but they are cheap enough to purchase very easily. Even if he has no CD writer, a memory stick is pennies these days.

I find it strange that I never get any virus updates during the holidays... the company must give their workers the time off and think that the hackers and writers of devious code take the holidays off too.....

(V): Yeah, but I am also lazy.... then I would have to go through every file myself and manually download it myself.... this external one might be a risk, but they do all the work for me, we shall see how lucky I am if it works, and if not, well it is a new year anyway, I will take it as a sign that its time to tidy things up a bit anyway!!

Czuch: No... you copy the whole folder after deleting any files you don't want.

Depends on the size of "My documents" you have but you might be able to do it in one action. The other thing.... Buy a cheap external HD. Sales are on are they not.

(V): not just documents...also contact lists pictures music, I guess i am just ignorant about these kinds of things, but it seems like a lot of click and drag and looking around to find and copy specific files i want to back up?

Czuch: As I said, delete the ones you don't want and if they are all in one folder you can just back up the folder. I had to re-install our PC recently and I just copied whole folders to disk and let the PC do the work.

But it means to do this easily that you've kept ya stuff together and not willy nilly. How big is all the data, etc?

(V): Dude, i am so bad.. I have files scattered all over who knows where! This is now a hope and a prayer kind of operation... I have already finished downloading pretty much all of my files to this web site, and soon i will clear my laptop back to factory new, then hope to get these files back and then hope to get them back with no type of virus then hope my machine works better than ever before!

Czuch: My suggestion if you've done the downloading is to when you get them back to put them in folders and keep ya files neat and tidy.

.. Trust me... it makes your life much easier. I've worked in enough offices and run enough accounts depts to know how much easier it makes ya life.

And before you get the files back, make sure your anti virus software is running and upto date and scan all the files.

Can someone help me with smilies, all I get is a blank square when I try to use them at home, but they work fine on my other computer, is there a setting in IE that could have changed which has stopped them it cannot be brainking issue as it works on my other computer

I backed up all my files/folders to a web site that does that kind of thing, then installed my new hard drive... I thought I could just import the files back to their normal places... silly me! Now I have imported back to my desk top the files again and have to sort through them and put them back where I want them individually.

So far my biggest problem is importing my address book back into Thunderbird? I just cant seem to find the correct folder that contains these files?

Most of the tech support I get isnt familiar with thuinderbird, but i have had some dell techs trying without any luck!

Thunderbird doesnt offer phone support (that i know of) and I have scoured their online help, but nothing yet.

Anyone with any good advice? Please???

Czuch: Where is your address book now ? on your Desktop and what sort of file is it stored as (.csv, .txt etc..) ?

MadMonkey: its somewhere in a file on my desk top supposedly, I think it is an lpid file but not even sure about that, I cant figure out how to get it to search all the files on my desk top for it though