Computer problems and/or advice 2013

[Alan_b]

I'm on a 10GB package from Plusnet that allows free (unmetered) usage between midnight and 8 a.m.  I have to make use of that to avoid going over my monthly allowance and also restrict my use of streaming (such as BBC iPlayer).  I notice that Skype also consumes a lot of bandwidth.  These days 'unlimited' packages have become quite cheap so as soon as my telephone contract runs out I plan to renegotiate for one of those.

David, can you not keep your emails on the 'server' so you don't have to use up your allowance each time you download and upload them?

[David Nicholson]

David, can you not keep your emails on the 'server' so you don't have to use up your allowance each time you download and upload them?

Alan, I may be a "thicko" but I don't understand what you mean here? 

Martin, thanks for that I'll get hold of that software.

[David Nicholson]

.........I have a free bit of software I've had for years, but it is still available, called NetMeter which monitors your upload and download traffic and gives use by day, week, month. You can also set alarms so that it tells you if you're using more than you expect........

If anyone else is considering this don't. It's taken me over two hours to clean up my computer from the rubbish that unknowingly (well to me anyway!) came with it including some malignant thing called MySearchDial that took over and replaced my preferred search engine and replaced my chosen browser opening pages. I suspect I'll find more problems too.

[Martinr]

Oh dear, didn't have any problems like that when I got it, albeit some time ago. Which site did you use to get it?

[David Nicholson]

Can't remember actually Martin but think it was Softonics.

[Alan_b]

Alan, ... I don't understand what you mean here? 

To view your BT emails, BT encourages you to go to their web site http://home.bt.com/ log on and view your emails there, in 'the cloud'.  You don't don't download the emails to your computer so if you are only passing on large files without changing them you should be able to avoid downloading these files to your computer and uploading again by forwarding the email (to retain the attachment) but editing the message.  The principle remains the same whoever you use as your email provider.

[David Nicholson]

Alan, I never look at BT,s home page and never use it for reading emails. I use Thunderbird for all email receipts and processing?

[Maggi Young]

As an aside to Alan's comments about accessing one's email online direct from your provider : be that BT, Blueyonder, whoever  - if you suspect an email has got lost - as in the case we warn of for automated emails from the SRGC to activate seed accounts, for example - the SPAM filter  that has scooped up such an email is the one on the provider's website. ...... when you log in to see your mail there there is a SPAM box that will contain all sorts of things - not all of them SPAM/ rubbish - it is that area  which needs to be checked for missing emails.
I check my mail via my  online provider's site several times a day - I am determined not to miss any SRGC  query mails that may be scooped accidentally - I only  find about one a week but that is one too many to lose !

[Alan_b]

Alan, I never look at BT,s home page and never use it for reading emails....

so you will probably completely miss some emails, as per Maggi's post

... I use Thunderbird for all email receipts and processing

which will tend to cost you more of your usage allowance.

[brianw]

The perils of modern plant hunting. –never hunt plants without a first aid kit or safety net to fall back on.

We often see references to the well known plant hunters from the last two centuries, whose names we all know from current plant names, telling tales of how dangerous things were at times, and even today the people from Crug Farm or Cally Gardens or Lullingstone Castle are exploring. But I never expected I might be in a perilous position at home.

On Saturday I was filling in a seedex form and wondered what a particular Adenophora looked like. A quick Google search and there was a row of photos. The last in the row looked interesting. Click.

Whoops! What was that? Up pops a new window trying to get me interested in very dubious products and services. Again and Again and Again. A Trojan virus.

Won’t go into the full story (my fault of course) but I am now poorer but have new software packages, one named after a famous old motor cycle, others with weird names, a new very small but shiny solid state hard disc that holds the same amount of data as our 2 laptops added together, and I have re-acquainted myself with the local guru.

Hope you are better prepared when you click on those handy little plant links.

[Alan_b]

It probably wasn't a virus at all; just a web site that had been hacked so that your browser got stuck there.  Restart the computer and you would have been rid of it.  If it did take hold then it was more likely because you had not been updating utility software like Java, Adobe Reader and Flash Player than for lack of "Matchless" Internet Security.

Solid sate hard drives work very fast but unless you have very very deep pockets they will have a relatively small capacity.  If yours really holds the same amount of data as your two laptops put together then your laptops are both over 10 years old and it's time to get new ones.

Amongst "computer gurus", as with any other trade, you will find the odd cowboy.  Perhaps the "full story" would explain all but the edited version doesn't really hang together from the perspective of a computer problem.  The best first response to any odd behaviour when online is to restart the computer and see if the problem persists (if you don't try to revisit the web page where it started). 

[mark smyth]

I can't get on the iinternet. My PC keeps saying the proxy server isn't responding check man. What does that mean?

[Alan_b]

Proxy servers are most commonly inserted by a computer "virus" to subvert your internet activity.  Proxy servers are the corrupt taxi drivers of the internet, you ask one to take you somewhere and they may do or they may take you somewhere else, possibly without you being any the wiser.  Or you may get to your intended destination but find that you have picked-up some passengers en route (in the form of unwanted advertisements).  These fake proxy servers change ID quite frequently to avoid the authorities but if the virus on your computer does not keep up then your internet connection will stop working altogether.  I should add that some work locales also use a legitimate proxy server  so you may find you are using one if you bring your work laptop home.


Under "Tools" in Internet Explorer select "Internet Options".  Try Alt + x on the keyboard if you don't see tools.
In the "Internet Options" window that pops up, click the "Connections" tab at the top.
Click "LAN Settings" near the bottom of the "Connections" section.
If the "Proxy server" checkbox is marked with a check, click it to deselect/uncheck it.
Click "Ok" to close the "Local Area Network (LAN) Settings" window.
Click "Ok" to close the "Internet Options" window.
Restart Internet Explorer.
"Internet Options" is also available via the Control Panel

Update your security software and run a full scan of your computer.

[mark smyth]

thanks Alan. Now back online. I ran AVG and it found 14 problems

[Martinr]

OK, here goes...Seriously sick 18 month old Samsung Laptop running windows 7 Home premium. Started taking anything up to 20 minutes to be useful at switch on. Restored to factory settings several times but as soon as any software or windows updates are applied it slows down and, on recent attempts has become very unstable, frozen, etc, etc. What next apart from a sledgehammer? Reformat the hard disc?

frustrated

Derbyshire