Info and forum posts by 'Fitz'

This user hasn't used our main site yet, so has no main account at present.

Joined on: Tuesday, 20th May 2003, 12:00, Last used: Tuesday, 7th August 2007, 15:37

Access Level: Elite

About this user: This user has chosen not to submit a description :(

This user has posted a total of 1923 messages. On average, since joining, this user has posted 0.24 messages a day, or 1.71 messages a week. In the last 30 days, this user has posted 0 messages, which is on average 0 messages a day.

Recent Messages Posted:

Fast User Switching on Windows XP won`t work

No idea why but the Fast User Switching feature on Windows XP no longer functions. As Administrator I go into "Change the way in which users log on and off" and check the box for Fast User Switching, then Apply. Then I try to log off and switch users but nothing happens. So I go back to the check box for Fast User Switching and the check mark has disappeared. In other words the feature hasn`t been applied. Any ideas please ? TIA

Problem with FM Radio in Windows XP MCE

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced the following anomaly with FM radio in Windows XP MCE.

I`ve recently bought a Hewlett Packard M7415.uk desktop which has MCE installed. I`ve discovered that you can`t use the FM radio facility if the TV tuner card (a Hauppage Amity2 I think) is set to receive Freeview although it works if the card is set to receive analogue TV. This seems a bit odd to me. There doesn`t seem to be any mention of this in the PC manufacturer`s user manual (such as it is) and I even sent the PC back to HP under warranty thinking there was something wrong with the card and it came back with "fault not found".

I`d be interested to learn if anyone else has this problem or has the card got a weird fault ?

Thanks

JF

RE: Advice on upgrading motherboard

Well, I was wondering about going down that road. But I wonder if the economics of the project would pan out, i.e. does it really work out cheaper ? But set against that, I suppose the simple satisfaction of saying "I built it myself" would compensate.

JF

RE: Advice on upgrading motherboard

Thanks guys for all the advice. I think in this case, for me at least, it`s a case of "if it aint broke, don`t fix it". In other words, I think I`ll give the upgrade a miss, well the change of mobo at least. It leaves me with two other options really.

1. Build a completely new PC from scratch.

2. Save up my pennies and go for a new prebuilt unit.

:/

JF

RE: Advice on upgrading motherboard

Thanks Miles. Nothing in life is simple is it ? FYI, my Windows XP Home was pre-installed and is apparently licenced to an OEM something or other. The only Windows disc I have is an HP Recovery Disc which had to be copied from the installed software, presumably as a back up and also a disc containing PC Recovery Tools, again which had to be copied. I believe the actual recovery system resides on the hard drive, disk D. I didn`t realise how difficult it was to upgrade an off the shelf retail PC, well, for the motherboard that is. :(

JF

Advice on upgrading motherboard

This is probably a weird request for help, but nevertheless, here goes :

My HP Pavilion Desktop is just over 2 years old and I was planning to upgrade the Intel CPU to one of those dual core jobbies. This of course means a motherboard change to a socket 775. I`ve done some research and I need a micro ATX mobo. So having got an idea what to buy, I contacted HP support to ask if the proposed board would be compatible with the tower case. This what HP support said
"When replacing a motherboard in an HP Pavilion computer you will need to use the Tattoo Utility to burn the serial number, product number, and model number into the ROM of the new motherboard.
Note: HP System Recovery may not work properly if the motherboard has
not been tattooed."

I wasn`t able to find out what this "Tattoo Utility" was, where I could get it, or how to use it. :/

Any ideas please folks ?

Thanks in advance.

JF

RE: Twin tuner Freeview stb but without hdd

I think that the DVD recorder manufacturers have a hidden agenda. Come the time for analogue switch off, beginning in 2008 I believe, people will suddenly realise that they need Freeview boxes for their recorders. Then there will be a rush for this new technology and the manufacturers will be able to call the shots, i.e. on price, particularly the sort of kit I`m looking for i.e. twin tuner jobs. :/

JF

RE: Twin tuner Freeview stb but without hdd

Thanks Sue, it`s not so much cost that`s an issue, but I`m trying to think ahead here for when "they" switch off the analogue signal. I already have a Humax 9200T (twin tuner and 160GB HD) wired into the system. What I`m aiming to try and do is to provide a Freeview signal to my other recording kit which is a Sony DVD recorder with 80GB HD. A twin tuner being necessary to watch one Freeview channel whilst recording another. Thanks for the link anyway. :)

JF

Twin tuner Freeview stb but without hdd

Any of you savvy guys know where twin tuner Freeview STBs but without HDD (already got one of those) can be obtained ? I`ve "Googled" for this kit, but all I come with is a Goodmans in Argos. Thanks in advance.

JF

How exactly do I set up WPA encryption on a new laptop ?

As in the heading. I`m familiar with setting up the wireless router, but I`m really getting bogged down trying to set up the laptop with WPA encryption. Despite using wizards etc and using the same key, I can`t get a connection to the router or beyond to the internet. An absolute idiots guide would be most welcome. OS is Windows XP Home with Service Pack 2. Thanks. :/

JF

RE: Problems with rollover images in Dreamweaver

Thanks for reply. I`ll have another try, but I thought that was what I was doing. Onward and upward. :)

JF

Problems with rollover images in Dreamweaver

I`m very much a Dreamweaver newbie and am trying to create rollover images. I follow the instructions exactly (or so I think), but all that happens is that the original image file has a crosshatched layer imposed on it and the rollover doesn`t work. I am using the WSIWYG feature of Dreamweaver as I can`t write HTML code. Any advice would be appreciated please.

Thanks

JF

RE: Where can I download the EastEnders Christmas Party 2004 ?

Quote:
do you know how bit torrent works?Yeah, sort of. I`ve seen an article in one of the PC mags. Seems a bit scary, particularly if you`re not sure if the thing you`re downloading is copyright or not.
JF

Where can I download the EastEnders Christmas Party 2004 ?

Yeah it`s sad I know, but as the title says..Would prefer it not to be a torrents as I don`t have anything to upload and share. Any advice would be most welcome.

BTW, not sure if this is the correct forum or the DVD & Films forum, but as it`s PC related I`ve posted here.

Thanks in advance. :)
JF

RE: ADSL - something I don`t understand

OK Mike, thanks for all that. I`m going on hols soon, so not wanting to rush things and leave my set up in a state of disarray, I`ll have a good look at the procedures you`ve outlined when I get back. Once again many thanks.

JF

RE: ADSL - something I don`t understand

Again, thanks for reply. Yes it is a USB modem and I checked the disconnect when idle settings which was set by default to "never". I tried resetting the time to 24 hours and as I suspected, it made no difference. I think I`ll have to have a good look at the on-line manual on the installation CD-ROM.

JF

RE: ADSL - something I don`t understand

Thanks for the reply. Er.. if you`re talking `bout just the modem and not the whole enchilada, it`s a ZyXel USB ADSL modem, model Prestige 630-C1, (no, I haven`t heard of it either), which came with it`s own software and was supplied by my ISP.

JF

ADSL - something I don`t understand

Just been with this new fangled broadband for just over a month now. One thing I can`t make out is that although all the blurbs say it is a permanently on service, why does my modem dial out a series of zeros when I open my Home page using IE6, or for that matter when using the modem`s own icon ? The other strange thing is that sometimes I`m connected very quickly to my Home page, but at other times, the "Page not available " error comes up and I have to click Refresh. There doesn`t seem to be any pattern to whether or not I`m connected straight away or not. :/

JF

Second Hard Drive - what`s the difference between cable select and slave ?

Just about to wack in a 2nd HDD. The PC`s ( a Hewlett Packard jobbie) manual says use cable select, yet the installation instructions for the Seagate don`t appear to recommend this, but say set jumpers to slave. Am now confused, so any advice would be appreciated please. :/

JF

RE: ADSL filters - I`m puzzled

Thanks. So does that mean that if I were to have the BT master socket replaced with a pre-filtered one, I would be unable to use ADSL anywhere other than at the master socket ? :/

JF

ADSL filters - I`m puzzled

This is what`s puzzling me.

I originally set up the filters as follows.

Microfilter plugged into BT master socket and a plug in extension cable plugged into the microfilter. The extension cable routes to PC installation upstairs where a faceplate splitter/filter is fitted. The master socket hasn`t got a phone plugged in, but there is an extension to the living room, hardwired from the rear of the master socket. When setting up broadband with this configuration, the ADSL line wouldn`t connect, so I removed the microfilter from the BT master socket, leaving just the plug in extension to upstairs and bingo, everything works. What I don`t understand is why I don`t get a connection with the microfilter plugged into the master socket. As I understand it, the ADSL signal is unfiltered and therefore I wouldn`t be filtering it twice (once at the master socket and once at the PC input upstairs. Has anyone got any ideas please. Thanks in advance.

JF

RE: Can standard CD players play .WAV files ?

Quote:
Yep, if you don`t burn .wav files as an audio CD, you just get a data disc that CD players can`t readYeah, thanks Emily, that`s exactly what happened first time round. And all I was trying to do was to record a bit of voice from tape to CD. Still, got there in the end thanks to you guys. :)
JF

RE: Can standard CD players play .WAV files ?

Success on the second attempt. Must have been pressing the wrong buttons - which is what my wife is always telling me. :D

JF

RE: Can standard CD players play .WAV files ?

Thanks for replies. I thought I used Audio CD, but really can`t remember. Will have another go & see what happens. The player I tried it on is quite elderly, so maybe that`s another factor.

JF

Can standard CD players play .WAV files ?

Like the heading says. I`ve recorded an audio file in .WAV format and attempted to burn it to a CD-R, with Nero but it won`t playback on my CD player. Any advice would be appreciated please. Thanks

JF

What`s the best and safest way to bury mains cable in a lawn ?

As above. I also know the new regs. are pretty restrictive, e.g. DIY frowned upon. Thanks ?

JohnF

RE: What are yours called and why?

We`ve taken to calling our big ginger tom Lazy Bugger or Lump `cos that what he is. He`ll sit in front of the cat flap waiting for us to push it open although he can do it himself. Our other female moggie we called Jazz, short for Jasmine (yawn!)

JohnF

RE: car manuals

There don`t appear to me Haynes manuals for either the Honda HRV or the Seat Leon. :(

JohnF

RE: Do London West End theatres have a dress code ?

Thanks one and all. Put my mind at rest. Never was one for getting poshed up anyway. ;)

JohnF

Do London West End theatres have a dress code ?

As in the heading.

JohnF