Computer problems & advice FAQ

[Samdy Gray]

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

[Barry Scott]

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

[Simon Pieman]

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.

[DV]

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.

Accept cookies from sites is checked.

Keep untill: they expire

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

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

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

Not that I'm aware of.

[Barry Scott]

Accept cookies from sites is checked.

Keep untill: they expire

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.

[DV]

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

no joy.

[Barry Scott]

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

[jonny72]

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.

[blinkpip]

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

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.

[Simon Pieman]

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.

[Dazzza]

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.

[Simon Pieman]

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.

[jonny72]

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.

[Barry Scott]

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.

[jonny72]

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.)

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.