Computer Assistance Thread.

Got a problem with your PC, Laptop, or Mac? Software playing up? Porn dialers infected your hard drive?

Post the problem here with a a short rundown of the situation and someone will hopefully be able to help you sort it out.

finally someone had to make this thread because its all over the my day will involve thread

I think I'll be asking a question here soon, as I've had a prob when using winamp - only since I downloaded files to help it work better

yay ive been waiting for this for a while! I always need help with my laptop

Well anything you want to know, ask away.

Good free downloads

Gimp - For more experienced users - this is a free alternative to photoshop. Definately worth a download if you are new to graphics and want to play around with them.

Gimp Shop - Same as above, but this has been made more user friendly for the less advanced users. If you like the photoshop layout, then you will like this.

CCleaner - Great File Cleaning program (recommended)

Mozilla Firefox - Great free Web Browser, an alternative to Internet Explorer

AVG by Grisoft - AVG is a great free Anti Virus (recommended)

Avast - Another Free Anti Virus if AVG isnt your thing.

Ad Aware - Get rid of that Spyware and adware with this free program (recommended)

Spybot Search & Destroy - Another Spyware removal tool

Kerio - Free Firewall Software to keep your PC Protected

Zone Alarm - Another Free Firewall (recommended)

Mozilla Thunderbird - Free Email Client from Mozilla

Open Office - Free alternative to MS Office

Winamp - Multimedia player (recommended)

Well I put this list together for you guys - feel free to add to it.

As you're still here Mr D - how do I put a pic on the site?

go to: www.imageshack.us ,
then where you see browse click on that,
then double-click on the picture you wish to upload,
then go to "host it",
then a new pafge will open and you copy the link which has "thumbnail for forums 1"
then paste it to your message back here

If im not making sense twmcat just say and ill hep you out

All i want to know is Spybot search & destroy the exact same kinda thing as Adware??
do i need both or just one of them?? and which one is the best?

Ta Jamie

Yes they do the same thing but im not sure which one is better at it. If you want to be really safe you can use both as the both can detect things that the other wouldnt.

Just to confuse you more, personaly i use Microsoft Anti-Spyware Beta 1, you can find it here
http://www.download.com/Microsoft-Windows-AntiSpyware/3000-8022_4-10418686.html?tag=lst-0-1

Cheers Jono mate

Does anyone know of any programs that i could use to convert video files such as WMA and AVI files to mpg???

I think Winamp that O Dogg posted above can do that, not sure tho.

Cheers i'll give it a try

Winamp wouldnt convert the files. Why do you want them converted? Most softeware out there that converts these files are products made by independant companies which are not free.

Do a search in google and you will see what is out there. I have checked for freeware versions, and cannot find any decent ones.

As for the Spybot/Ad Aware question - then yes they pretty much do the same thing. Its all about preference really. I have never used the MS one, however have heard its decent also so may be worth giving it a go. Make sure you download updates regularly though. Your Anti Virus/Spyware software is only as good as the last update.

also be aware that some of these free programs such as Ad Adware have some limitations on them and so do not offer the same protection as the full version you have to buy . I use the Ad Aware Se Professional Edition at work which showed up a number of things the free version did not . Also be aware that using two different programs doing the same job can cause problems on certain systems , i had this using Spybot and Adaware so removed Spybot and everything was then ok . In my opinion one version is fine as long as you get the updates regularly .

I have run Ad Aware and Spybot on the PC At the same time which worked fine for me. They dont run real time, so shouldnt really clash at all. Maybe you were just unlucky Conner

As for Ad Aware - it is the same with most of the free downloads listed above. To keep your PC free of spyware, Ad Aware free edition will pretty much work. When you pay for the software, you just get additional tools, where are not really required. Same goes for Zone Alarm and Zone Alarm Pro. Personally if your just after some protection, Zone Alarm will be sufficient. If you want all the little gizmos with it, then you will need to pay for the pro edition - and same goes for AVG.

yeah i guess so , i actually went out and bought the lastest Mcafee Internet Security Suite which was only £24.99 in PC World , does everything , Firewall , Virus , Privacy , Pop up blocker and 12 months of updates which are downloaded automatically in the background , its very good and the best out there in my opinion . I do have a seperate spyware program though as well to be absolutely safe .

I detest McAfee!!
That would never ever ever go near my PC ever!! lol
I think its each to their own though. Some people swear by it.

really . I have never had a problem with it but as you say everyone is different . I did start off with Norton but that totally screwed up my system and slowed it down no end . It was also hard to uninstall and left traces on my pc which took a while to completly get rid of .