Computers

Well Ex the battery on my laptop wont hold a charge only lasts approx 1hr, do I just buy another or just leave plugged in, sorry this is very basic have not had exp with laptops before this one.

I think an hour is about normal, no? Its about that on this one, and its a very snazzy thing that dh got me for xmas (second hand bargain!)

My computer is running very slow. Can anyone tell me how to check what programmes are running? Also how will I know which programmes are essential? I've run Norton to clean up the computer but its still very slow.
All the best

sarah can I sujest if you havnt already done so..to---
go to
tools (top of the page)
internet options
click on Delete
and tick the box (temporary internet files/cookies/history) I usualy UNTICK passwords as it saves me having to retype them in again.

Its just a start im not saying it will work wonders..and you may have already done it, but just a thought, also I upgraded my memory last year to 4GB. this made mt laptop run a lot! faster.

Hi Any ideas how to make a powerpoint presentation into a DVD?

Hi regarding your battery in your laptop, if you are connected by the mains lead take your battery out . If you leave your battery in and you are connected to the mains the battery keeps recharging , this will mean that eventually your battery wont hold a charge.

Hi Sarah, to see what programs are starting up every time you log in , run "msconfig" , click "startup" , leave all the Microsoft programs alone and see what others are starting up . If you are sure there are some you don't need try disabling them or make them manual, but don't delete any so you can put them back to automatic if something stops working . If not sure just leave it , a slow computer is better than one that doesn't work at all !

Glass or two , Hi , Laptop batteries don't last for ever and only have so many charge/recharge cycles before they start to loose their charge . I've found new batteries cost the earth so I tend to do what tesea says and use mains as much as possible. As a general rule , newer laptops have an automatic limit on charging and the charge light goes out when it's full , but if it doesn't then do as tesea suggests and take the battery out.

WONDERSHARE POWERPOINT TO DVD Will do the job MaggieJ
But i think you have to have Powerepoint Installed on your PC.

Thanks DaveTHH - saw that one when I googled for ideas but was hoping for a reliable freebie really as I'll not use it very often.

Will my laptop still work if I take the battery out and connect it to the mains using the power lead? I thought the battery had to be in all the time regardless?

Duh! {slaps forehead in vain}

I was told not to leave the battery in all the time as it permanently recharges and it shortens it's life! I've just got my third and my laptop is nearly six years old, depends how often we use them of course! My new one lasts about two hours. Got it from Amazon on line cheaper than the local computer shop by £15.

thanks milliej

I recently bought a Samsung notebook to replace my ancient laptop that couldn't hold a charge to save its life. I was looking forward to spending time in our newly revamped garden, happily surfing or watching DVDs under the parasol. Unfortunately, the screen is highly reflective, so most of what I see is me.

I've now ordered an anti-reflective/anti-glare thingy which I hope will reduce the problem. Then I can spend time in the fresh air and sunshine. Cue the wettest summer on record.

I have Windows Vista, can i upgrade to Windows 7?and how to go about it.

DESPERATE FOR HELP!! I hope a 'techie' here can help me. I've been here since this morning with my problem. I recently upraded to to Internet Explorer 8 and since have been unable to 'copy and paste' Has anyone got the same problem. I've trawled the net for a solution and have tried everything.

Many thanks for your answers about the slow running computer. I've tried both and the problem seems to be Internet Explorer. I get a message from Norton security software saying that iexplore.exe is using 90-100% CPU. I've upgraded to IE8 but can't upgrade to IE9 as my computer runs under Windows XP.
I don't know if anyone else has any ideas?
You are right that a slow computer is better than no computer and I do hesitate to change things but sometimes it runs so slow that I can go and make a cup of tea and it still hasn't loaded a page.
All the best
Sara

It could be your (ISP) Ineternet Service Provider. I have recently changed from AOL to Plusnet and it's made a real difference with my download speeds.

Anyone having problems with slow page loading could always try a different browser , say , Firefox for example . During a Windows update they included a browser choice option so choose one of those . They are all free and if you don't like them just delete or don't use them . Most let you transfer your bookmarks .
Also check your broadband speed using one of the free testers , and if it's not what you expected , complain .

I totally agree with the last thing Exwirecutter said.

I was on 02 and I only got 2MB max even though they said I would get 'up to' 8MB. However, for the last 6 months I only got about 500kb, not enough to run a bath.

I complained to 02 and they allowed me 2 months free of charge.

Meanwhile I went on to a website called DaveKnows and looked up my local exchange and found that the only ISP that has 'unbundled' there is TalkTalk. I therefore knew I was never going to improve my download speed with 02 unless they unbundled but they had no plans to do so.

My choice was BT or TalkTalk. I have not heard anything good about TalkTalk so I went with BT and now I get 6GB regularly and, as long as I don't watch TV on the computer any more (nothing uses the download allowance quicker) 10GB a month suits me fine.

DaveKnows is a really interesting website and very informative.

I have changed over to a mac book lap top which is really great. Just wondering if anyone else has one and good give me some tips please, as I feel I am not using it to full advantage,

Sure. I'm a bit of a geek myself, though not nearly as knowledgeable as I would like to be.

Well to be quite honest , I was up to date with geek talk up to a few years ago , but things seem to have raced ahead of me and am having problems keeping up . Its a case of advancing technology versus declining brain cells.

sarah2000h - If your PC is still slow(this is an old post), first get RID of Norton. Waste of money. I've been computing almost 20 years, and certainly since the beginning of the Internet. I've NEVER paid for my anti-virus software, the one I currently use and is on 2 Laptops and a PC is called Avast! (with the exclamation mark at the end) .

You don't say what OS your using - XP? Vista? Windows 7? Anyway, if you hold ALT/CTRL/DEL you will get a small window pop up called 'Task Manager'. Click on the 'applications' tab and that will tell you what your currently running.

Any more help, just reply.

AngeTheHippy