Computer problems and/or advice-2015 to 2017

[David Nicholson]

Thanks for responding all. I shall stick with Windows 7 for as long as possible.

[Anthony Darby]

Why does my Samsung Galaxy S4 (inherited from my son) keep switching to vibrate mode, seemingly at random, when I'm in camera mode? The result is a picture or video that looks as if it's been shot through a shower glass with water running down it!

[johnralphcarpenter]

So there I was, pondering the big questions of life, such as:

 - who put the do in the do wah diddy?

 - why is there only one Monopolies and Mergers Commission?

 - should I upgrade to Windows 10?

when I switched on the  laptop to find that Microsoft had made the decision for me and Windows 10 was downloading.

Took around 8 hours to download and nearly as long again to install. So far it works and seems faster; now all I have to do is get all my settings back to how I like them!

[Martinr]

A Windows 10 update.....Microsoft Money 2002 now works in the latest version

[Peter Maguire]

Yippee!!!
 

[brianw]

Not exactly a problem, but I like to know what is going on.
Not bought or sold anything recently on Ebay, but all? of my recent emails from them reminding me of what I have being looking at are blank. Just header and footer, no content. Tried resending it to myself, still blank. This is with IE 11, which I prefer. If I read them in Firefox OK.
If I highlight the email and paste into word the content appears as the words
Hide
Message body
which suggests an instruction from something of mine.
Whose instruction ? Ideas please.

This sometimes turns up on 1 or other of my discussion groups, but usually I can see them and someone is having the problem.

[David Nicholson]

In addition to my BT email address I have a Google mail account that I use for all my work connected with my Advertising Manager role for SRGC. Over the last couple of days I have received over a 100 emails in my Google mail account which are 'delivery status notifications' saying that my emails to a large number of email addresses are 'undeliverable'. I have sent no emails to any of these addresses and each email is accompanied by an attachment. I have opened none of these and have deleted all of the 'delivery status notifications'.

It looks to me that my Google address has been 'hoovered up' by spammers. Has anyone else been similarly affected and what's is the best way around the problem please? I read all of my emails in Thunderbird and never use the BT or Google systems.

[Alan_b]

Ebay .... all? of my recent emails from them .. are blank. Just header and footer, no content. This is with IE 11, which I prefer. If I read them in Firefox OK.
If I highlight the email and paste into word the content appears as the words

The problem would seem to be confined to Internet Explorer.  Deleting the browser cache might work (Internet Options - General - Delete browsing history).  Failing that try Internet Options - Advanced - Reset. 

[Maggi Young]

Would also be worth running a scan on your machine, David.

[Alan_b]

It looks to me that my Google address has been 'hoovered up' by spammers. Has anyone else been similarly affected and what's is the best way around the problem please?

Go online.  Log on to your Google Account and change the password.  Make it hard to guess; a name followed by a short number is too easy.  Adjust your Thunderbird settings for the new password.

It's possible your email address is just being 'spoofed' in which case there is nothing you can do.  That used to be commonplace but it's getting harder as email systems tighten-up on authenticated sending.

Whilst it's always worth doing a scan on your machine, it's pretty unlikely your machine had anything to do with sending the emails that were bounced back to you.

[David Nicholson]

Two full scans done. First was Malwarebytes, free edition, which turned up 381 cases of PUP.Optional.MindSpark, now deleted. The week before last I had a problem on going to a guitar tutorial web site I use regularly; the 'shape' of the site was substantially different from what it was previously , and , to cut a long story short, I had to spend the next couple of hours getting rid of a search engine and toolbar that I hadn't requested or wanted together with a large number of pieces of software littering my programme files. A Malwarebytes scan following that exercise also turned up innumerable .MindSparks files which were cleared out.

Second was Msoft Security Essentials with no problems detected.

Alan, thanks for you advice.

[David Nicholson]

Thanks for responding all. I shall stick with Windows 7 for as long as possible.

Perhaps like many others I have received one of those annoying messages from Microsoft to say that my option to take the 'free' Windows 10 will expire at the end of this month. I haven't taken it and have still no intention of doing so.

[Graeme]

Perhaps like many others I have received one of those annoying messages from Microsoft to say that my option to take the 'free' Windows 10 will expire at the end of this month. I haven't taken it and have still no intention of doing so.

and as I have said before at some stage they will start to make you pay and it looks like the start of it has been deployed in the most recent update
http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/685963/Windows-10-Microsoft-Hidden-Subscription-Plan-Operating-System

[David Nicholson]

They won't persuade me to pay for something I don't want. I shall continue to use Windows 7 for as long as it is available and after that the Ipad will come out the drawer in which it spends most of it's time.

[Maggi Young]

The messages about windows 10 get  sneakier - to start with they are  easy to be rid of if you don't want to move on - then they start being more about  "choose a time now, or else" - I was very busy in the middle of a task one day when the darn thing popped up - I assumed it was the usual version and clicked it to "go away" - only then did I realise the message had changed and I'd clicked to download the bloomin' thing.
Much moaning and some swearing ensued - I was so angry I had been so stupid - however, the Bulb Despot (as my boss is affectionately known)  pointed out that I'd have to change at some point anyway so since I had fallen into the trap I may as well just go with it!
He's not always right  - pause for effect - but he was in this case.  It was all a bit fiddly  for a while and took a long time to get it all loaded etc   which was a good excuse for some down-time  to get my eyes less square again!) and now I seem to be  managing fine with it.  Shall not say too much for fear of a jinx  but .... so far .....