Thetownend.com

Computer board now here:

http://thetownend.com/index.php/board,30.0.html

In the interests of fairness can we also have a thread called "I love my Apple Mac"?

Make your own you dipshit

Sounds like a good idea Si.

Updated at Bennett's request

Cheers Si, that's worked a bloody treat...caught the worm and killed it...

I am addicted to the internet what should I do? 8)

Subscribe to world of warcraft.

Im on the house pc but mine nor my brothers laptop is picking up internet connection from our router......help!

Someone may have enabled MAC filtering on the router.

Go to http://192.168.1.1/ or http://192.168.2.1/ (depending on your router) and look for a MAC filtering option.

Where do I go from there though?  My router is Belkin...

That makes it easier, mines Belkin as well. I'll assume you've logged in, then go to MAC Address Filtering under the Firewall heading on the left-hand side. Set it to disabled, click save. Your router will restart then try your laptop again.

You might need to reboot your laptop as well to refresh the wireless connection.

Ok it was already on disable........so clicked apply changes again and still doesn't work?

Do you have a WEP or WPA key set? i.e. do you need to type a pass-key on your laptop when trying to connect to the network? If so, has someone changed the pass-key?

We have a security enabled network but noone has changed the passkey.

I just dont get why the laptops arent picking up the router and when you look at available networks on the laptops, ours doesn't show...

Sounds like the SSID is hidden. In the router menu try and disable the 'hidden SSID' setting.

I tried disabling "ESSID Broadcast " but that did nothing...

Ah, your router might not be broadcasting the SSID. I'm guessing the PC you're on is connected by cable.

Go back into the router menu and go to Channel and SSID under the Wireless heading. Check ESSID broadcast is set to enabled.

Hang on people, where is the router menu?  In that link you posted Sam?

Yep.

Ok well I went in and where it said "extend range" I clicked enable and its now working!

You will know it's the router menu if it has reference to Belkin in it.

I have this problem again :(  read through the above and its still not working - any other suggestions?  Theres now 2 laptops in the house and neither are picking up wireless :(

I assume you plain can't see the router again so don't even attempt to connect to it. Assuming that's true :

1. Reboot the router, see if it clears issue.
2. Take your laptop and stand right next to the router. See if you can see it. It's not beyond he realms of possibility that interference is causing the issue (DECT phones, video senders, etc, all share the same airwaves) and standing next to the router is a way of reducing the chance of interference.
3. No joy, then plug in cable and make sure you can log in to the router. Check the settings.

I've had a dodgy router in the past that has managed to turn off the wireless all by itself. Also the same dodgy router had a habit of dying totally - you couldn't get in to configure it and needed to reload the firmware onto it.

4. Try a different wireless channel. You will need to go into the router and configure the 'wireless setting'. There should be an option on there, so if it is set to (e.g.) channel 1, then chose channel 12. Etc. It may take a few seconds for the laptop to recognise the wireless after you have changed channel.

5. A couple of applications I have found useful as

XP: Netstumbler (http://www.netstumbler.com/ - site seems down) :(
Vista: Vistumbler (http://www.vistumbler.net/)

These sniff out any networks your PC can see. Helpful to see if it recognises your network, and also to avoid channel clashes with neighbours if you try step 4. They are relatively easy to configure/use -hit the play button(for netstumbler you may need to change 'device from prism to ndis depending on your network card).

6. The only other thing I can think of is disable wireless security temporarily and see if you can suddenly see the router. Last result and you want to re-enable it ASAP so make sure you know your settings, etc just in case the router doesn't retain them between disable/re-enable.

Wireless can be a royal pain in the arse when it doesn't work!

Thank you!

Got it sorted in the end - did reset it but not sure whether it was that or whether it was my fiddling around with the cables!

Probably the reset, the cables shouldn't affect the wireless.

Anyone have any router advice please?

I'm currently running a Linksys router, but TalkTalk seem to think my internet constantly going down and giving me shit speed (lowest on record is now 9kbps down and 700kbps+ up?!) is a router problem. Being Linksys (which i'm lead to believe are good) i doubted this, but it's recently started to require reseting at least once every 24 hours to allow me to connect to it wirelessly.

I also find a hard reboot seems to give me more speed for a few hours, well, it gets it up to 500-700kbps down, when it should be 2.2mbps.

Well it appears I'm wrong, need to eat some Humble Pie and the router is broken. So, I'm probably going to buy another Linksys, but wonder if anyone has any recommendations as to the manufacturer? (As long as it's not Belkin or D-Link!)

It does sound like a router problem rather than a line problem I have to admit, the needing to reset fault is the key on this.

I have used d-link many times with little problems at all. but 20 years of working on PC's I have never used Belkin..I have used Belkin dongles and found them fine but have no idea about the standard of the routers themselves.

But in general I have always had good comments on Netgear and Cisco....admittedly the Cisco are pretty pricey, if you can afford one go for Cisco...if not then Netgear isnt a bad cheaper solution.

I've never used Netgear, but used to have a NAS by them which was awful, and to be fair haven't used a D-Link or Belkin for years, but my last 2 were those and dropped like fuck. I also used to own a Dynacord, which was pretty reliable, but like you say, Cisco is a pretty major brand and is THE brand for proper routers, so should be good in the home.

The pricing issue of the Cisco/Linksys is only thing holding me back on buying another, especially as my Old Man recently bought some Tiawanese tat for £10 on eBay, which is faultless.

Can't beat a bit of taiwanese tat mate!

TBH as long as they have a good chipset they are pretty much foolproof, if you can get a cheap brans but with a good chip you are truly laughing, but I don't buy cheap brand because I cannot afford to risk if they are not up to scratch.

Exactly, my Dad's duck's arse like wallet means he actually didn't strike gold until his 3rd. So he shoulda plumped for a good one off the bat!

Your foolproof comment is mainly my reason for asking because in my head it's just a few chips, nothing complex, so why do they fuck up? My thoughts are that once it works, it stays working and i'm completely flummoxed as to why they eventually go tits up. I think it must be built in shelf life crap that's now cynically thrown into all products. :D

I also notice that on eBay the vast majority of used Linksys Modem/Router combos are my model. Kinda leads me to believe i'm not the only fucker suffering with this problem.

I use a Netgear DG834G. Unspectacular but very solid.

I've done some research and dsicovered that the one your mention is pretty good batch. I've been yet again forced to concede i know fuck all, as it seems Belkin are also very good. :D

So found a good Belkin N1 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Belkin-Wireless-N1-Modem-Router_W0QQitemZ170370205899QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_Networking_SM?hash=item27aadb08cb&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) on eBay for £49, or found one of yours (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Netgear-Wireless-Router-Modem-DG834G_W0QQitemZ140337600974QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_Networking_SM?hash=item20acc5d9ce&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) for £25 Batch. I hate spending money, so am more inclined to yours Batch, but the Belkin strangely appeals.

I've got a Belkin which I've had for 3 or 4 years, don't know the model number but it's been pretty good for me.

I've also had 2 of these without problems, one purchased (one provded by sky) and have bought the same model for my uncle and a mate. never had any trouble with em and easy enough interface for security/firewall/port forwarding

Is that the same one for 3 or 4 years? How's the wireless and do you need to reset often?

3 or 4 years is quite incredible from my experiences with routers and i'd cut my arms off for that sort of reliability.

Yep same one. Wireless is usually good. Only ever needed to reset it a few times.

If I was going to buy one it would be D-Link. If you read some reviews of the product online that should be a pretty safe bet.

Yeah, read some reviews, heard good things about the Belkin N1 and the Netgear Batch mentioned. I wanted a Linksys WAG160N, but most reviews were pretty negative.

My Old Dear uses my old D-Link and it does need regular resets, but is otherwise good and solid. I'm just sick of resets to be honest and have read similar negative reviews of D-Link, so am a bit tainted in my opinion of them.

I always go for the cheaper option (I won my last Linksys WAG354G on eBay for £12 inc P&P), so for once i think i'm gonna pay out and get that Belkin. Or perhaps I should actually buy something new and have some sort of reliability, as well as a warranty! Dick heads like me fail to learn. :)

A lot of routers shjould be reset periodically anyway, they can get a biut jammed up with all the data running through them. A low cost alternative may be to get a timer plug and set it to switch off at 4am and back on at 4:05am (for example), thus resetting the router every day without you touching it.

A good idea, but if you're on ADSL and you've got an ISP who uses adaptive BRAS it'll think your modem is losing connection because of line quality and will automatically reduce your speed.

My microwave interferes with my router, every time it's on my connection goes slow  :soapy tit wank:

Also this might be worth doing: http://www.speedtester.bt.com/

Right another challenge.

Weird one. My PC sometimes doesn't start when pushing in the switch. But I seem to have more problems with the monitor switching on, the light goes orange and not green like it not seeing the connection.
It's playing up between the two this week, but also working?
I sometimes pull all the plugs out for 15 minutes and it works now and then.
I check the leads are connected alright and I haven't touch any setting.

I need the townend help.

When the monitor stays off has the computer beeped after you switched it on? (it should always let out a single beep)

When the monitor stays off (orange) I hear a tripping sound on the monitor. But the computer seems like it started normally, but hasn't kicked started the monitor.

Internet help.

I dont know if anyone will remember but some months back I posted that for some reason my internet brower suddenly decided to stop 'remembering me' ie every time I come on here I have to log in again where as before I'd already be logged in. I was using Internet Explorer.

The my advice I was given was to use firefox, which I did....and now randomly firefox has started doing the same thing.

Why?

Every time you turn the computer on from now on listen for the beep. If you don't get the beep then it's an issue with the computer itself, if not then it's the monitor.

Just to be sure, does the monitor power cable go straight into the mains or is it through the computer?

Ok, ill listen out tomorrow, as I don't want to switch it off right now. I really don't think it beeps.
The monitor power cable goes straight into the mains.

The beep will not come from the speakers, it will come from inside the pc and does so to show all the pre boot checks are ok before the computer tries to load windows.

As the computer sometimes doesn't turn on sometimes and the monitor isn't responding I have a hunch something inside the pc isn't pushed into a connection slot properly.

What computer do you have and I will keep an eye out for your post tomorrow?

HP Pavilion 434.uk
ATI Radeon 9000
2.66ghz
Intel Pentium 4

I did put some more RAM into it a year ago, should I take the lid off and check conections/clean.

Might want to check the RAM is pushed in firmly. I disassembled/cleaned/reassembled my pc at the weekend, didn't touch the memory and yet the computer never booted because it had loosened ever so slightly.

To be honest it was a buggar to get in. But cheers, ill try it tomorrow. thanks.

It's because at some point or other your cookies have gone spannered. Easiest way to sort it on FF, is go to Tools> options> Privacy Tab> show cookies button> then search for TEF cookies and delete them.

Then login by clicking the login button/link instead of on the homepgae and tick the box always stay logged in. Or something like that. It'll work but some of the directions might be a bit off. :)

Nope, did all that. Logged into the TEF (its not just this site, all of them!) closed my browser down. Opened up a new one and I was logged out.

Then I'd probably cull all cookies, then relogin everywhere. It's definitely a cookie issue, so if you remove the cookies, they should be sorted when the correct ones are redownloaded. The trouble often comes, i think, from conflicting session cookies so it should solve the problem.

afraid not.

Oh... Maybe you're not allowing TEF cookies? So go into the privacy tab again and make sure that, accept cookies from sites is checked, and then click on the exceptions and make sure thetownend.com and any other sites you want to use have their web address displayed along with allow. If not make it that way. :)

I also wonder whether you maybe have it set to clear history on exit? That's another check box further down i believe.

Sounds like your security settings are rejecting cookies. Are you using a firewall?

Do you have any addons in FF that do anything with cookies, perhaps even third party cookie blockers or script blocking addons?

I've been having a similar problem with firefox but have been too lazy to sort it. It's not a firewall problem. Heard the only way to solve it is to create a new user profile when re-installing.

Accept cookies from sites is checked.

Keep untill: they expire


Yes, but I dont see why the problem would suddenly kick in after about 8 months of everything being fine


Not that I'm aware of.

That expire check box is to do with third party cookies, so doesn't matter too much. I set it until i close FF, as people make money stuffing third party cookies.

Just to the right of the accept cookies, there should be an exception button? Click on that and see if the TEf is in the list. If it is, make sure it's set to allow. If it isn't in the list add it and click allow. Dunno whether it will help, as Si mentions user profiles which seems about the only thing left and is over my head. :)

that didnt help and I've just installed the latest version (which I think I was already using anyway)

no joy.

Can only imagine it's what Si said then, which i know nothing of. :shrug:

I've had similar problem recently here and on other websites. All of a sudden a number of websites forgot who I was and I had to login again and then it would keep happening, then just as suddenly the problem went.

I'm using Safari and never figured out what was causing it and can't be arsed getting to the bottom of it.

I clean out my PC, all seems to work so far. But I have to push the power switch on twice to boot it up everytime. weird.

Is the power switch connection firmly pushed into the connecto on the motherboard? If it is I think your power supply is on the way out.

Right, I need something to backup data and files from the old laptop and PC.  Can anyone recommend a nice and simple solution that is automated and won't cost the earth?

Would be nice to get somesort of wireless hub thingymajig that I will also chat to the PS3.

I must admit I've been pretty lucky with files and data over the years and never backed anything up but it's time I got something sorted out.

Cheers ears in advance of your wisdom.

Sounds like you need Network Attached Storage which plugs into your router and then the pc/ps3/laptop can access it through the router.

Having a look around this one appears to be one of the best for the money. I think it comes with all the software.

http://www.dabs.com/products/lacie-500gb-network-space--nas--gigabit-ethernet-7200rpm-56CZ.html?refs=52020000-12

If you need more storage there's a Buffalo branded one on ebuyer for the same price but has 750gb. I don't think the Buffalo ones work quite so well though.

First of all you'll need a wireless router, the features you'll need on it depend on how you connect the hard drive;
- you can plug in a USB drive, though you'll need a suitable USB port on the router
- get a hard drive with an ethernet connection and plug it in to an ethernet port on the router

Not sure how much the router would cost, the Apple one costs £140 but you should be able to get something cheaper. A 1tb hard drive with ethernet connection will cost no more than £100.

I've currently got an unbranded RAID NAS, that's brilliant. I used to have a Buffalo that was also very good, but i prefer more than one back up after losing the backup and the original simultaneously about 2 years ago. (250GB: that made me smile i tell you.)

With regards to software, most of them are utter cack, they take fucking ages to even find the changes. I used to do a backup on wordfiles, only about 1GB worth and it took about 30-45+ mins! I now use Syncback, the freeware version, which does everything the premium ones do, only simpler and quicker.

If you keep two backups now, where do you keep them? If you've got them both in the same house as your computer that is a massive fail - one of them should be kept elsewhere and updated once a week or so.

Just over 10 years ago I worked on the storage systems at a large credit card company, I ran a project which reduced our disk storage usage by 100Gb. You might laugh now but back then 100Gb of enterprise storage had a list price of about $500k (if I remember correctly and the articles I just checked are correct).

Just the job that Si and cheers all. 

I've always been hap-hazard with data despite seeing the perils all to often of not backing stuff up.  I think fate owes me a dead hard drive.

The other option if your pc will do it is to add another drive to it which is the same as the other one and then setup RAID. This means you have a perfect mirror of the other drive should it fail. Would be the cheapest option but only if your pc supports it.

Fucking hell. What, for home data?

Either you are amassing the world's definitive porn collection or you are keeping the books up to date for the mob...

I have to agree Alan, all I backup is my music and documents and pictures....which with 10,000 music tracks still only comes to 200gb, all I do is periodically store it on my spare pair of 320gb (£30 each) drives, say once a month.....hard drives are so bloody cheap and most PC's can have 4 or even up to 8 sata disk drives.

I too have never backed up a HDD *touches wood*.

I've been thinking of getting a NAS for a while so that I can stream stuff to my laptop, desktop and PS3.

Come one Jonny, that's seriously paranoid! There are 2 drives in the NAS, which is mirrored RAID, so 2 copies there. Sure, that could go tits up, explode or my house could burn down, but i think losing my data will be the least of my worries should something of life ruining proportions destroy my data.

And no it's not porn. There's porn in there, of course, but very little. It's mainly high quality audio and video, which as anyone knows who deals with those formats, 250GB (although my backups are actually nearly 350GB now) is fuck all. I'm lucky i never got into downloading mp3s or movies, so my need to backup is often monthly or after i know something major has changed.

It's not paranoid, just sensible and if you read my previous post you'll see I used to do this for a living which explains it in part as well. It all depends on the level of protection you want, if you could cope with losing all of your data then keeping a backup outside your home isn't necessary - but you should give some thought to all the data you'd be losing and whether you really could cope without it.

At minimum you should keep backups in a different room to your computer, which gives a bit of extra protection for practically zero effort. The ideal solution is having a drive in another location connected over the internet that you can copy an extra backup to, unfortunately upload speeds are so slow still this is normally not practical.

I actually don't back up any of my porn as its easy to replace / recreate, except for the home movies of course which are kept in triplicate. But other data I just couldn't live without, I don't keep any paperwork for example (I scan everything and then bin it) so it's all on my computer and I'd be screwed without it.

When i lost all my info previously i was properly distraught, but it's kinda good sometimes, an enforced clean slate if you like. I enjoy a bit of challenge and losing shit i feel i can't lose, is certainly that, but i coped last time and i'll do it again! :)

Being completely honest though, the only things that really, really matter i have backed up to several DVDs, so i'd never be completely lost. I think.

I know what you are saying, but I still think that is well OTT.  But, hey, it's your choice.

Not a problem as such, but I had an issue with my laptop earlier. I put the wrong end of my phone cable into the USB port, and the laptop just stopped. Switch off completely. No shit down, just went black and stopped. ANd then it wouldn't turn on for a good 5 minutes.

It works fine now, but i'm a bit perplexed as to why it happened. Reckon i might have short circuited something??

Dog! Hound! MUTT! Beeeeaaasssssssley...

You have more of a problem if your computer usually shits down.

The IT equivalent of someone poking a finger in your eye.

It hurts for a few minutes and then goes away.

Hey yeovil babe, can't you unsticky this now there appears to be some computer forum?

It looks messy and my forum ocd is crying.

I think you're right Ben, I didn't have the ability when I originally started the computer bit so I forgot about it.

Has your forum ocd stopped crying?

I haven't noticed yet, I only get to the forum section pages when I post and it automatically takes you there. Otherwise I browse from the recent threads on the front page. Of course that leads to the ironic situation where I'll find out if it's sorted out my OCD after I've answered your question on whether it will fix it.

A crazy situation.

You didn't use to be an admin. Didn't I ask you ages ago if you wanted to do it instead of me? When I said I couldn't be arsed in the AYGS bit they said they wouldn't bother with anybody.

Did something happen which needed the smooth diplomatic of Si Pie? I might have to read through all the threads I've missed. Or not.

Barry gave me admin rights because I needed them to setup and keep the computer bit tidy. But I hven't seen any noticeable difference with what I can do as a mod (he originally set me up as a mod) so I was going to ask him to change me back. Then I have just figured I could change it myself, so job done.

I suppose the only thing I can't do as a mod of the computer forum is move topics to the computer bit, but we'll see how we go.