Andromeda43

You have windows 98, 98SE or ME? Then you can boot up with a DOS floppy disk and run the DOS version of Ghost. Originally written by GhostSoft, Inc. and purchased by Symantec. I use Ghost 2003 all the time to make my own Ghost images. I run it from a boot FD with my own Cleanup batch file which runs first to clean up the HD and delete the Windows Swap file before Ghost loads and runs. I save the image files to either my second HD or to the second partition on my SATA main drive (much faster by 10x). Later, at my convenience, I copy the Image file(s) to a DVD for permanent storage. You should be able to find Ghost 2003 somewhere on the internet for download. I got my own copy FREE on a Driver disk that came with a new motherboard. Good Luck, Andromeda43

The proper way to Upgrade an I.E. 5.0 install to I.E. 6/SP1 is with the CD from Microsoft. I got mine for free.....I think I paid the shipping and handling charge of $5 or so. Almost any (decent) tech in your area should have one. Have you asked? I personally did not want a copy, so I got mine directly from Microsoft. I use it often on service calls where I'm faced with an old PC running ver 5 or 5.5. The download from MS is problematical at best. Cheers, Andromeda43

Just a few suggestions: 1. Install only from the CD.....free from Microsoft 2. Clean up your hard drive, running Disk Cleanup and any other cleanup software you may have. Then do a defrag. 3. Shut down all running programs before running the Install CD. ********************************* SP2 is not just a patch or fix. It's a whole new version of Windows XP. Get the CD and install it as soon as you can. Cheers! Andromeda43

Will the last one out, please turn off the lights!

Gotcha! Every one of us who really want to DO something with our PC's, can use a VBScript here or there. I've been real lucky to meet several guys through the internet forums that are very accomplished in writing VBScripts. A good place for you to start, would be to 'Google' for "VB Scripts". There is a plethora of places on the net where people post their favorite little 'scripts'. Who knows,,,,you may even find the very thing you're looking for. Or, find one that's close enough that you could modify. At the very least, you'll find many good examples of HOW to write your own scripts. Windows XP has the Visual Basic interpreter built in, so it can run any properly written VBScript that you may want to run. Good Luck, Andromeda43 PS: If you find one to print $20 bills on a Color Inkjet printer, please let me know.

With moderators closing threads, moving threads and threatening to ban users who post in the "incorrect" place,,,,,I'm afraid to post anything. So, I won't. I have a half dozen topics that need discussion but in the current climate, I won't post anything. It's time that the moderators realize that this is just a public forum and not an IRS audit. Where the 'public' is involved, there is always SOME diss-co-ordination anyway. Good Luck, B) PS: Are you talking about an Visual Basic Script? Here's a very good example of one, to create a Restore Point. It's name is SetRestorePoint.vbs ****************************************** Set SRP=GetObject("winmgmts:\\.\root\default:Systemrestore") CSRP=SRP.CreateRestorePoint("Hacked the registry", 0, 100) ***************************************** I use this little script in my Startup folder, to force a restore point every time I boot up my system.

We just say Gas to avoid the repetition of the longer version, "Gasoline". What's a Commodore? I'm familiar with getting a Royal Falcon. Cheers mate! B)

And then if you want a movie to scare the begeebers out of you.....this is another must-see: Collosus: The Forbin Project This one shows up about once a year on the Late Show or Sci Fi channell. Cheers, Andromeda43 PS: the ultimate computer in the Ultimate Sci Fi movie = Mystery on Planet X Introducing, for the first time, Robbie The Robot

If you love old movies that deal with IT and how computers worked their way into our everyday lives, "Desk Set" is a must-see. Based on the Broadway play by Robert Fryer and Lawrence Carr, Desk Set represents the eighth screen teaming of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. Hepburn plays the head of a TV network research department; Tracy plays an efficiency expert, hired to modernize Hepburn's operation. When Tracy has a huge computer installed, Hepburn and her co-workers (including Joan Blondell and Sue "Miss Landers" Randall) fear that they're going to lose their jobs. Their suspicions are confirmed when the computer merrily begins issuing pink termination slips. But something is obviously amiss: the computer not only fires the ladies, but also the head of the network--and Tracy, who isn't even on the company payroll! At this point, Tracy explains that the computer was designed to help Hepburn and her staff and not replace them; he also confesses that, given the pink-slip incident, this might not have been such a hot idea. But Hepburn, who has fallen in love with Tracy, is in just the right mood to forgive him--and doesn't need to consult her research files to come up with this decision. -- Hal Erickson Among the weaker of the Spencer Tracy-Katharine Hepburn films, Desk Set is nonetheless an enjoyable and entertaining trifle. Inevitably dated, the topical film (and play upon which it was based) probably packed more punch when initially released; even today, however, there's more than enough here to make this a worthwhile viewing experience. Chief among its assets, of course, are the stars and their undeniable and fascinating onscreen chemistry. Together, they create an easy goodwill that draws the viewer in and makes him/her willing to overlook the staginess of much of the movie and the artificiality of much of its plotting (including an ending which, while effective, is quite contrived). Tracy in particular comes off well; his early "computer nerd" character has an earnesteness that is quite appealing. The stars are assisted by an exceptional supporting cast that understands exactly how to play light comedy of this nature. Joan Blondell and Gig Young stand out in this regard, but even actors in quite minor parts (such as Harry Ellerbe and Ida Moore) make an impression. If the plotting of the piece can be questioned, Henry and Phoebe Ephron's dialogue is bright and snappy. Walter Lang's direction is smooth and efficient, and the very 1950's look to the film is an added bonus. Desk Set may not set off fireworks, but it has a modest sparkle that's quite engaging. -- Craig Butler

This is an OLD clip..... The name of this file as I first saw it was "Piano With Balls". Here's a website that deals with it in more depth. Click Here it's: http://www.bruner.net/blog/archives/012594.shtml if the link doesn't work for you. For even more info: Google for "Piano With Balls" , quotes included. Fake or real,,,,its still pretty neat! Cheers! Andromeda43

Look at the AV software industry. They sell commercial versions of their software to little companies, big companies and major corporations. They make enough profit off of those sales that they can afford to GIVE their software to the little home user. AVG and Avast are good examples. AdAware (Lavasoft, Inc.) does the same thing. NO, MS does NOT legalize the copying of its software by people in third world countries. However, they do Give a lot of it away FREE to schools and institutions. The Microsoft Foundation gives away $5,000,000 a day to qualified recipients. Right now Microsoft is GIVING us it's latest aquisition, Giant Anti-Spyware. The only question is,,,,"when the Beta test period is over, will the software remain FREE"? I personally hope that they WILL, continue to offer it for FREE. Only time will tell. Cheers, Andromeda43

OK,,,here's a tip that probably no-one will know of. Q: How many of you know what an O2 Sensor is? (also called an Oxygen Sensor) A: It's a device mounted in the exhaust system that measures the amount of free oxygen in the exhaust gases coming out of the engine. (on a V6 there will be at least two and maybe even three of these devices) It's wired into your Engine Control computer where the computer uses this information to control the fuel injectors on the engine to get the best fuel to air mixture for the 'best burn'. The O2 sensors on a brand new engine will actually run the engine just a little bit on the lean side of center. As the sensors become contaminated with impurities in the gasoline, they drift past center to where they are causing the engine to run rich (wasting fuel). For most cars, 60,000 miles is the time to change O2 Sensors to keep the engine running economicly. I've changed O2 sensors on cars I've owned in the past and gained up to 20% increase in gas mileage. These devices can be very expensive and usually will overshadow the savings in fuel costs. To replace all three on my car will cost me well over $300. In years past when I drove a car with a four cylinder engine with only one O2 sensor, I've found a sensor for as little as $25 and installed it myself, for a significant savings. On my current SUV, the sensors (3) probably will NOT get changed before I trade it off for a smaller and more economical car. Happy Motoring! Andromeda43

Tires,,,,oh yes those wonderful rubber donuts. I get mine for just $25 ea,,,,pulled from county vehicles with only about 20% of the rubber worn off. So if I shorten the life of them a little getting better gas mileage, so be it. So what's next? Anyone got any revolutionary ideas? I don't have a diesel, so I can't try McDonalds old french fry grease. B)

That may just change......stay tuned!

Get this, sell that.....ok......but what are YOU personally doing to combat high gas prices. As I said,,,,I'm doing everything in the poll to improve my own gas mileage. Just today I raised my tire pressure from 32#perSqInch to 36#.. Harder and firmer tires roll easier and cut down friction drag. This increases gas mileage. If the price of gas goes down,,,,so does my tire pressure. Andromeda43

How did you know I drive an SUV? ( a Suzuki Grand Vitara w/ DOHC V6) But, you're absolutely right. SUV's, especially the 4WD's like mine are NOT gas savers. However, I pull stumps, pull cars and vans out of sand pits and grade my road with mine. Can't do that with a VW bug or a Geo Metro. I did have a little Chevy Sprint Turbo a few years back, that could get over 60mpg on the highway. Great little car. Gosh, I wish I had it now! By the way,,,,in the last few days, I've done all the things I listed on the Poll. Every one helps a little especially Slowing Down.

OH NO! I don't think I or anyone has said that India is BAD for taking our jobs..... NO NO NO! Of course it's the money hungry moguls that run the major corps that are to blame. I've seen this become an ever growing problem in the electronics industry over the last 30 years. It didn't all happen yesterday. I've watched company after company move their manufacturing operations to foreign countries, usually on the Pacific rim. And, if ever its going to be 'fixed', that won't happen overnight either. Thank God, I've made a carreer for myself that CANNOT be outsourced to a foreign nation. I go to peoples homes, sit down at their pc's and solve their computer problems. Besides being very rewarding, it's FUN too. I really enjoy the interaction with my customers. Cheers! Andromeda43

This is the information I've gleened from the web. ****************************************** Here's my short, short list of services to disable for a stand alone PC, not on a network: From the RUN box, type in Services.msc , then maximize the window to full screen size. Then scroll down the list of services to each item on the following list and right click on an item and then click Properties. In the properties box you can Stop a running service and then set the action box to "Disable". Then Apply the change and OK the window to close it. Move down the list to the next item and repeat the process. When done, close the entire window and reboot your PC. Clip book Computer Browser Error Reporting Service Messenger Performance Logs and Alerts Portable Serial Number Remote Registry Remote Desktop Help Session Manager Routing and Remote Access Server (leave this on for a local network, DSL and Cable connections) Smart Card Helper System Event Notification Task Scheduler Themes Universal Plug and Play Device Host Upload Manager Web Client Windows time Wireless Zero Configuration (disable if you will never use a wireless network) ************************************* It's always advisable though, to make a registry restore point before doing major changes like this. If things don't work right afterwards, just do a registry restore to put things back the way they were. Good Luck and God Bless, Andromeda43

With gas prices going through the roof I'd like to know what YOU are doing to save gas and save money.

RJM, I know.....ain't they great? When they go to the computer shows, they give even greater deals than in the store. See ya in Orlando? (next show) I work with Bob, the Memory man. Andromeda43

Again, the last thing in the world I wanted to do was hurt anyone's feelings. That's not what I'm all about. Maybe its just another one of them Language Comprehension gaps. But, what about the feelings of the thousands of people here in the US that used to answer those telephones, that are now being answered in India, Pakistan, etc. And what about our children that are maybe just going without......because their mommies job went to India or some other country. Outsourcing is killing this countries economy. Thousands of our jobs are going over-seas, and there is nothing to replace them. Only so many people can flip burgers. And I get bashed because I said "I can't understand those people who answer those customer help lines." Facts are facts and have nothing to do with hurting anyone's feelings. Sorry bout dat!

Didn't mean to hurt any feelings. In fact I know that the greatest system programmers in the world come from India and that area of the world. Level of education is NOT the topic. My Dr. at the Veterans Hosp is from India. He's a very good Doctor. I have to say "HUH?" a lot, because even though he's been here for over 20 years,,,,he's still hard to understand. But what you don't seem to understand is that many Americans have a very hard time understanding the Indians that work the computer company help lines. I hear this every day from my elderly customers that have hung up the phone in a rage because they could not understand the person on the other end of the phone line. I personally have the same problem with understanding anyone with a heavy accent. That was never a problem when our calls for help were being answered in Peoria, Illinois (USA). So much for 'outsourcing' of the customer help lines. B)

The problem is.......I.E. has never been "Fine"... It's a security nightmare. Just look at all the "Fixes" that MS has issued over the past few year to fix "holes" in I.E. It's absolutely Scandalous, Rediculous and Obsurd! If any other company in the world had that many problems with their "product", they would have been backrupt and out of business years ago. Only because MS writes our one and only OS, do they get away with it. Think about it. I removed the icon for I.E. from my desktop a long time ago. Firefox is not only my Browser of choice, but it's my only browser. I know I.E. is still down there in the ol' HD someplace, but,,,,,"Out of Sight,,,Out of Mind".... I do love it that way..... Cheers,

Well, yes,,,,,,it does take a few brains to use Ghost effectively. When you change anything in the machine,,,,,you make a new Ghost image. That's what I do anyway. That's why I make at least three new Ghost images of my C: drive every week. I download and evaluate a LOT of software. My HD really gets mucked up easily. A Ghost restore gets things back on track in just four minutes. Thanks for your replys, We've breathed some life back into this old forum. Cheers!

Fabulous! you got away with it because you did your homework and got the right components to do the job without making SMOKE. But for the average user,,,,it's going to be "Gone In 60 Seconds"..... just like the movie!