Aunty Virus 1st March 2010
Bill via email:
Dear Aunty, a couple of weeks ago you answered a question to a correspondent, I think it was about accessing UK TV Catch up sites, where you advised the site you have used that provides the services of a proxy server. I intended to keep the article for future use but unfortunately it appears that the cold weather has contributed to me recycling the newspaper by way of la chimenea. Would it be possible to let me have the website address again?
Aunty Says:
Hi Bill. I’m pretty sure it would have either been daveproxy.co.uk or proxy-list.co.uk.
The main problem with these proxy servers is that they are identified and blocked fairly frequently, especially by the BBC. I cannot understand why the BBC won’t change their archaic rules, and allow people outside the UK to access their services via the internet. They’re missing some huge advertising opportunities and I for one would be more than willing to pay the licence fee.
Bernard via email asks:
Hello Aunty, My wife has just bought a laptop to replace her desktop system. So what do people do here with old computers? Is there a charity that might be able to pick it up (or we’d drop it off) and give it or sell it to someone who could use it? Obviously we don’t want anything for it, but it would be a shame to dump a desktop computer that still works perfectly well. Please help us to help somebody.
Aunty Says:
Hello Bernard. It is very important that we start recycling computer equipment correctly as it accounts for a huge amount of hazardous waste. Did you know that a single computer can contain up to 2kg of lead? What is also very important is that you don’t let your personal data fall into the wrong hands. I know eNET Computers run a service where they will safely wipe your data and pass any usable stuff onto charities. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or via the www.freecycle.org website (type Alicante into the search field)
Val from Catral
Please can you help me Aunty as I think I have a problem with my laptop. I have an Acer which is around 5 years old now. I have started getting a continuous flashing green light on the front of case by the battery sign. Today it changes from the green to an orange flash from time to time. It is plugged into the electric cable all the time. I have also had a warning that the battery is critical and to plug into the electric supply just as I switch off but I am still plugged into the supply. Please can you tell me what is wrong and what I can do about it?
Aunty Says:
It does sound like it’s time for a new battery Val. However, as you are running your laptop only from the mains then you could simply take your battery out. If you flip your laptop over you will see a spring loaded catch and probably a lock facility that you simply slide and lift the battery out.
Ray from Sucina asks:
Hi Aunty, I read your column on the Round Town News website as I live out in the sticks and can't always pick the printed version. I would like to say the new website is a brilliant improvement on the old one (much easer to read) Enough rambling and onto my problem. When I switch on I get a message saying “Restarting your computer is required” (attached screen shot) if I do it makes no difference as it keeps appearing and I cant get rid of it, any suggestions please?
Aunty Says:
Looking at the screen shot you sent me this could well be an AVG issue. Once your PC is up and running and connected to the internet you should double click on the small AVG icon in the bottom right corner. This will bring up the AVG control panel where you can check everything is functioning correctly up to date. You should be running version 9 and once fully updated you must run a full scan.
Peter via email asks:
Dear Aunty, I occasionally put my computer in the standby mode which allows me to take a break from my work, but sometimes when I press any key to bring it back to life it will not accept my password. Not wishing for my account to be locked after three tries I then turn the PC off to start again. When I do this a message appears saying "Do I wish to continue as others are logged on" to which I reply "yes". The mystery is that it does not happen every time. Now when I put the PC into standby mode I check for "others logged on" and there is no one. I am assuming that the person/s referred to could be me.
Aunty Says:
How strange Peter. Probably the easiest solution is to disable the password requirement when your computer comes out of standby mode. If you go to Control Panel and choose "Power Options" and then the "Advanced" tab. Uncheck "Prompt for password when computer resumes from standby" and click "OK". While you’re in control panel you may as well go the user account section and check there are no suspicious user accounts setup. Make sure you do a complete scan for virus and spyware.
Jim via email asks:
Firstly, if there is one article I will not miss in the RTN it is yours and this is not to butter you up to get a reply! After loading Firefox 3.6 I have encountered several problems the most annoying being the loss of the toolbar with 'File' View' 'Edit' 'Tools' etc. and the Forward and Back buttons. I have tried everything I know (not a lot mark you) but have uninstalled and re-installed without success. I lost other toolbars as Firefox said they were not compatible with 3.6 and will not allow me to install them as before.
Aunty Says:
Flattery will get you everywhere Jim. The menu bar can normally be switched back on by holding down the Alt key and pressing V T and M in that order. Any other toolbars or add-ons will need to be updated either from the Firefox website or from the company that provide them (Skype, Google etc.)
Gordon via email asks:
We have an Dell Laptop just two years old with Windows XP and not often used. Shortly after start up there is a beep then all programs freeze completely and laptop has to be turned off manually. We had installed Panda antivirus software but it seems to uninstall and requires reactivation. We have tried to get answers from Dell Tech support without success.
Aunty Says:
This could be caused by almost anything Gordon, and as your computer is freezing it is going to make it even more difficult to diagnose. As always I would recommend AVG, Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware but in your situation it is going to be tricky to install and run any security programs. It will be best if you take your laptop to a specialist so if you email me your location I will see if I know of a good one in your area.
Dear Aunty, a couple of weeks ago you answered a question to a correspondent, I think it was about accessing UK TV Catch up sites, where you advised the site you have used that provides the services of a proxy server. I intended to keep the article for future use but unfortunately it appears that the cold weather has contributed to me recycling the newspaper by way of la chimenea. Would it be possible to let me have the website address again?
Aunty Says:
Hi Bill. I’m pretty sure it would have either been daveproxy.co.uk or proxy-list.co.uk.
The main problem with these proxy servers is that they are identified and blocked fairly frequently, especially by the BBC. I cannot understand why the BBC won’t change their archaic rules, and allow people outside the UK to access their services via the internet. They’re missing some huge advertising opportunities and I for one would be more than willing to pay the licence fee.
Bernard via email asks:
Hello Aunty, My wife has just bought a laptop to replace her desktop system. So what do people do here with old computers? Is there a charity that might be able to pick it up (or we’d drop it off) and give it or sell it to someone who could use it? Obviously we don’t want anything for it, but it would be a shame to dump a desktop computer that still works perfectly well. Please help us to help somebody.
Aunty Says:
Hello Bernard. It is very important that we start recycling computer equipment correctly as it accounts for a huge amount of hazardous waste. Did you know that a single computer can contain up to 2kg of lead? What is also very important is that you don’t let your personal data fall into the wrong hands. I know eNET Computers run a service where they will safely wipe your data and pass any usable stuff onto charities. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or via the www.freecycle.org website (type Alicante into the search field)
Val from Catral
Please can you help me Aunty as I think I have a problem with my laptop. I have an Acer which is around 5 years old now. I have started getting a continuous flashing green light on the front of case by the battery sign. Today it changes from the green to an orange flash from time to time. It is plugged into the electric cable all the time. I have also had a warning that the battery is critical and to plug into the electric supply just as I switch off but I am still plugged into the supply. Please can you tell me what is wrong and what I can do about it?
Aunty Says:
It does sound like it’s time for a new battery Val. However, as you are running your laptop only from the mains then you could simply take your battery out. If you flip your laptop over you will see a spring loaded catch and probably a lock facility that you simply slide and lift the battery out.
Ray from Sucina asks:
Hi Aunty, I read your column on the Round Town News website as I live out in the sticks and can't always pick the printed version. I would like to say the new website is a brilliant improvement on the old one (much easer to read) Enough rambling and onto my problem. When I switch on I get a message saying “Restarting your computer is required” (attached screen shot) if I do it makes no difference as it keeps appearing and I cant get rid of it, any suggestions please?
Aunty Says:
Looking at the screen shot you sent me this could well be an AVG issue. Once your PC is up and running and connected to the internet you should double click on the small AVG icon in the bottom right corner. This will bring up the AVG control panel where you can check everything is functioning correctly up to date. You should be running version 9 and once fully updated you must run a full scan.
Peter via email asks:
Dear Aunty, I occasionally put my computer in the standby mode which allows me to take a break from my work, but sometimes when I press any key to bring it back to life it will not accept my password. Not wishing for my account to be locked after three tries I then turn the PC off to start again. When I do this a message appears saying "Do I wish to continue as others are logged on" to which I reply "yes". The mystery is that it does not happen every time. Now when I put the PC into standby mode I check for "others logged on" and there is no one. I am assuming that the person/s referred to could be me.
Aunty Says:
How strange Peter. Probably the easiest solution is to disable the password requirement when your computer comes out of standby mode. If you go to Control Panel and choose "Power Options" and then the "Advanced" tab. Uncheck "Prompt for password when computer resumes from standby" and click "OK". While you’re in control panel you may as well go the user account section and check there are no suspicious user accounts setup. Make sure you do a complete scan for virus and spyware.
Jim via email asks:
Firstly, if there is one article I will not miss in the RTN it is yours and this is not to butter you up to get a reply! After loading Firefox 3.6 I have encountered several problems the most annoying being the loss of the toolbar with 'File' View' 'Edit' 'Tools' etc. and the Forward and Back buttons. I have tried everything I know (not a lot mark you) but have uninstalled and re-installed without success. I lost other toolbars as Firefox said they were not compatible with 3.6 and will not allow me to install them as before.
Aunty Says:
Flattery will get you everywhere Jim. The menu bar can normally be switched back on by holding down the Alt key and pressing V T and M in that order. Any other toolbars or add-ons will need to be updated either from the Firefox website or from the company that provide them (Skype, Google etc.)
Gordon via email asks:
We have an Dell Laptop just two years old with Windows XP and not often used. Shortly after start up there is a beep then all programs freeze completely and laptop has to be turned off manually. We had installed Panda antivirus software but it seems to uninstall and requires reactivation. We have tried to get answers from Dell Tech support without success.
Aunty Says:
This could be caused by almost anything Gordon, and as your computer is freezing it is going to make it even more difficult to diagnose. As always I would recommend AVG, Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware but in your situation it is going to be tricky to install and run any security programs. It will be best if you take your laptop to a specialist so if you email me your location I will see if I know of a good one in your area.