Computer problems and/or advice 2013

[Peter Maguire]

Maybe it's the mixture of capital and lower case letters that cause the problem.

So much for hybrid vigour, 

[Maggi Young]

Maybe it's the mixture of capital and lower case letters that cause the problem.

So much for hybrid vigour, 

Just to note that new passwords for the forum must have a mix of upper and lower case letters and numbers.

[Rick R.]

In my experience all email programs will occasionally throw up an unexpected pop-up window asking for your user name and password. 

Me too, except with Juno.  It is the first email program I ever used, since the mid 1990s, and I still use it.

[David Nicholson]

Earlier this evening I narrowly avoided downloading something called AVG Nation. I use (or did-see later) the free edition of AVG as my anti-virus protection and I had no reason, at first to be suspicious about what I was being asked to do until I realised that if I downloded what was being proposed my computer would be just about "owned" by AVG Nation.

Having Googled AVG Nation and finding that there is a lot of comment out there in the ether about AVG Nation, and indeed AVG, and most of it not good (I have to say that I didn't understand a lot of it) I have uninstalled all AVG systems from my Computer.

I'm now looking for a replacement for a good, and safe free anti-virus protection system, and views please.

[Maggi Young]

We use AVG and Ian just renewed the free version on this laptop for me the other day-  seems it is necessary to be wary of what  you allow to be added on to your download, but we think AVG is still a very good product.

[Alan_b]

I'm now looking for a replacement for a good, and safe free anti-virus protection system, and views please.

I would recommend Microsoft Security Essentials, free from Microsoft (the same program is called Windows Defender on Windows 8 ).  It does just as good a job as any other security software, free or otherwise.  And it is a light user of your computer's resources so it runs well on older computers where other security software does not.

I don't believe AVG Nation has anything legitimate to do with AVG Antivirus but in my opinion AVG Antivirus has become too strident in its advertising and too resource-hungry to run well on older computers.   

[Maggi Young]

Interesting  advice and point about AVG, Alan, thank you.  I think the issue of heavy resource use is not one that we all take into consideration, or even know about. 


 P.S. I have re-arranged this thread into a specific one for 2013 ( also one for 2012 and then there is an old one for 2008-2011)

[David Nicholson]

I would recommend Microsoft Security Essentials, free from Microsoft (the same program is called Windows Defender on Windows 8 ).  It does just as good a job as any other security software, free or otherwise.  And it is a light user of your computer's resources so it runs well on older computers where other security software does not.

I don't believe AVG Nation has anything legitimate to do with AVG Antivirus but in my opinion AVG Antivirus has become too strident in its advertising and too resource-hungry to run well on older computers.

Many thanks for that Alan. Apparently, and this came as a surprise, I have Windows Defender already on my computer (Windows 7 Home Premium) and have just done a scan. All clear. I have to say I agree with you on your comments on AVG's stridency.

[Alan_b]

Sorry, David, you will have Windows Defender on your Windows 7 computer but that is not what you need; you need Microsoft Security Essentials.

For versions of Windows up to and including Windows 7, Windows Defender is a semi-defunct piece of software that only targets spyware.  You need to install Microsoft Security Essentials which targets all forms of malware.

For Windows 8, somebody in the Microsoft Marketing Department decided to give the Windows Defender name to the software formerly known as Microsoft Security Essentials.  You can see why they did this, because it is a better name, but it is also incredibly confusing. 

[Alan_b]

Problem with Microsoft Office 2010 Starter Edition on Windows 7

I have become aware of a problem affecting very many people that has received minimal publicity.  It was caused by a faulty Microsoft Update that was released on Wednesday 11th September and withdrawn on Saturday 14th September.  It affects the free version of Microsoft Office called "Microsoft Office 2010 Starter Edition" that was bundled with many Windows 7 computers.  In technical terms, it corrupts the file associations for Word and Excel files.  So the symptoms you will experience are:

•   You will get gibberish if you try to open an old file created in Word or Excel
•   You are liable to get a message implying you need to buy a copy of Microsoft Office 2010

The cure is to go to Control Panel - Programs and Features.  Find "Microsoft Office Starter 2010 - English" and click once to highlight it then click Change.  A Window will appear offering to repair the software.  Click 'Yes'.  You may find there is a long delay when you next try to open an Office document whilst something is downloaded and installed but it does eventually work.  Please be careful that you Change rather than Uninstall the software.

   

[Alan_b]

P.S. I have re-arranged this thread into a specific one for 2013 ( also one for 2012 and then there is an old one for 2008-2011)

But is this not the thread that should be stuck/stickied whilst the old one can be allowed to roam free?

[Maggi Young]

Yes, Alan - done!

[David Nicholson]

...............For versions of Windows up to and including Windows 7, Windows Defender is a semi-defunct piece of software that only targets spyware.  You need to install Microsoft Security Essentials which targets all forms of malware...............................

Thanks Alan, sorted.

[Tony Willis]

A little help needed as to this email problem.

I am on Virgin media and when I send an email to a person on BT Yahoo it is taking hours before it gets there. If they send one to me it is immediate. I did a test with Peter Maguire and one I sent at 11pm arrived with him at 9am the following morning. Of course BT say there is no problem and the only contact with Virgin is in Mumbai who say all is well.

[Alan_b]

The only thing you can realistically do about this is to open a Gmail, Outlook or similar other email account and try using that instead.