AVG 9 causing shut down problems in XP

You may have read in my previous post that I'd recently installed AVG 9 on some of my computers.  All's gone well except for my girlfriends HP Media Centre M7240.UK.  Shortly after installing AVG 9, XP started to struggle when shutting down, a number of applications would signal failures, namely WUAUCLT.exe, SVCHOST.exe, INETINFO.exe.  With nothing significant apparent on any troubleshooting websites and after numerous problem tracing attempts, removing unnecessary applications, running virus/spyware etc checks, registry cleaning etc.. nothing worked!  I've removed AVG 9 and installed Microsoft Security Essentials instead.  Since then the problem has gone away, the computer shuts down without any errors.  Have you had this problem?  Did you manage to solve the issue and keep AVG 9 installed?

Microsoft Security Essentials... fail.

Having worked with MSE for a couple of days, I have decided to return to AVG.  Although it massively improved Windows start up times it slowed down saving items within a browser.  Downloading anything from a website caused the whole system to stop for 10+ seconds.  Doesn't sound like much but soon became very annoying.  It effected Firefox, Explorer and Chrome in the same way, even switching off the automatic scanning of downloaded files (which isn't recommended) didn't effect the delay.  Having removed MSE and installed AVG, the browsers all react normally to save/download requests.

Shame, I really wanted this to work!

AVG 9, Microsoft Security Essentials and PC Tools Threatfire

You may have heard of Microsofts new free anti virus and spyware software, hearing about it is one thing but actually tracking it down is quite another.  Search for AVG and your first hit in Google is AVG's free download link, search for Microsofts free anti virus and its quite another matter, anyway, for those that are interested in trying it, here's the link http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/ You'll need Genuine Advantage on your PC to install it however so for those of you that don't (for whatever reason..) you might want to carry on with AVG for now.

First impressions of MSE are that its pretty good, I've certainly noticed a reduction in boot time.  I haven't suffered with a major viruses (touch wood) for some time now, if that situation changes, I'll let you know and blame MSE!

I've also decided to run PC Tools Threatfire as well, this is supposed to identify suspicious activity on your computer without the need for an up-to-date Malware index.

AVG 9 looks pretty similar to 8.5, just a slightly appleified looking interface.  Upon installation it runs an optimisation scan, the idea behind this is to identify certain "concrete" features of your PC/Laptops harddisk so that it doesn't persistently check it on each virus scan theoretically speeding up scan times.

Upgrading a HDD on a Lenovo T61 and obtaining the XP recovery cd's.

Anyone whose ever owned or used a Thinkpad will probably agree with me that their the best laptops ever made ever!  The only downside with them is their slightly prohibitive cost.  I've had 3 now, unfortunately I've not been in a position to buy a new one so have relied on the generosity of strangers.. or ebay.

I'd been using a T41p for about 4 years when I decided to upgrade to a newer Thinkpad.  I went for the T61.  Apart from the build quality, one of the things I love most about the Thinkpad is the little red nipple (or trackpoint) at the centre of the keyboard.. why don't other laptops have them??  They're so much more accurate to use than a touch pad and much less cumbersome than a mini mouse.

The T61 came with a nifty little finger print recognition device which enables automatic login to windows as well as a number of other security measures that I haven't actually delved too far into yet.  The only thing my T61 doesn't have that my T41 did, is built in bluetooth.  I've ended up using a micro usb bluetooth dongle which isn't too bad but looks a little bit ming mong compared to the rest of the sleek black design.

Having watched a few auctions come and go on ebay I finally went for this one.  Buy it now for £350 or make an offer.  £325 later and I had a nearly new Lenovo T61, not bad considering 12 months earlier it was bought for £1000+. 

It came with a 80gb SATA HDD which I knew I'd need to upgrade.  The only problem was getting the authentic Windows from one hard disk to another.  Lenovo supply a Rescue and Recovery program thats supposed to create recovery disks for occasions such as this.  Upon trying to create the recovery disks I was told "insufficient room in boot sector partition... ".  The laptop didn't come with any recovery disks, a lot of manufactures rely on this small partition on the disk  to hold the Windows installation data as well as all the drivers you'll need.

I prepared for a battle with Lenovo.  Having already checked out obtaining recovery disks online it seemed I'd have to concoct some convoluted story and that it was likely I'd end up paying for them even though the laptop was still in warranty, I gathered all the relevant info I could and phoned Lenovo customer support...

..they were great!  Just explained that I was upgrading the hard disk and that it wouldn't let me make any recovery disks.  Bish bash bosh.. a week later I had the 6 recovery disks in my hand having been delivered by UPS.

So I here I am writing to you from my T61 with a shiny new Windows XP installation and a pack of recovery cd's courtesy of Lenovo.

I guess the moral of this little story is, if you don't ask you don't get!

Is mobile internet faster through my mobile or my dongle?...

A question that has plagued mankind for generations.. and I have the answer!

I have a Nokia N800 (its actually kinda useless, prior to purchase it seemed like it would solve ALL of my problems..) it was really handy being able to connect to the internet via my mobile phone using bluetooth. If you had a Nokia phone it was easy to setup too, none of that "initialisation string" faffing you'd get with a pocket PC.  Anyway, I recently upgraded my T-Mobile mobile internet to an 18 month contract in exchange for a dongle (the USB 530 stick).  I noticed that my internet connection speed appeared to be a little quicker on my laptop since receiving this dongle... could it be that my mobile phone was actually a rubbish modem?  Was that the end of the road for the N800 (it doesn't have a "proper" usb port)

I decided to run a few tests using http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk/ to see if it were true... for fairness, all tests were done whilst reclining on my couch with my trusty IBM T41 Thinkpad using Chrome (and not because I'm some kind of "Bill Gates must die" freak, its just Chrome was the quickest to open and less likely to have add ons butting in saying they need/have an update), no other tabs were open and no downloads, updates were running in the background.  The USB ports on this laptop are 1 not 2, so these results may be slower that the network allows but will still give an idea of difference in speed.  Each test was ran 3 times.

First up was connecting to the internet through my Nokia E51 using Nokia's PC Suite, via a usb cable.

As you can see, its not exactly break neck speed...

Next, connecting to the internet using the same port but this time with the 530 usb dongle from T-Mobile.

As you can see, the dongle was considerably faster than the mobile phone.  Which is a shame really, the E51 meant I could carry my mobile internet around with me all the time, by using bluetooth or JoikuSpot pretty much any other device I had was able to connect through it and to the internet.

I decided to put this on here as I couldn't get an answer anywhere else!  Perfect, the answer to a question no one ever asked!

Push email on your mobile?

Well it appears I set up the blog updates via email correctly, well done me!

You may have noticed the signature at the bottom of my last post. That is thanks to one of the best pieces of software I have come across for my mobile. I've always had email on my phone and really liked the idea of Blackberrys push email system, but have always preferred Nokia's phones.  Dilemma, dilemma. Until I came across Seven. It's a beta program at the moment and is free. So, if you like the idea of having push email on your mobile, go to www.seven.com and see if your handset is compatible.  Its easy to setup too, all you have to do is enter your email address and Seven works out the rest, which is a lot easier than messing around with
port numbers, pop and smtp settings.

Side effects?
Seven runs constantly in the background, it has to in order to push your emails around by keeping your phone connected to the internet. I haven't noticed a change in battery life but then I religiously put my phone on charge at night and place it in a charging cradle in my car. It uses very small amounts of data, so you shouldn't really notice this on your bill* (unless you start downloading attachments), most network operators offer you around 1mb of free data, I know O2 does with mine. The software does slow down the N95 a bit, I certainly wouldn't try installing it on the N73. My girlfriend has it on her E71 and it runs fine without affecting the phone at all.


*your experience may differ, so don't sue me!

Did this work?

Set up blogging via email.. But did it work? I guess i'll find out tomorrow when i logon.

--- Sent with System SEVEN - the new generation of mobile messaging

The Car Computer Project!

For ages I'd thought about putting a computer into my car.  How handy it would be to have a PC at hand when ever I needed it in my car.  If at this point you're thinking "how pointless it that?" don't worry, you're not the first and certainly won't be the last.  If however you're thinking "hey that sounds pretty cool" then you'll probably find these blog entries interesting or maybe even handy!  Yes it does have a big pointless gadget factor but I also figured it could be very useful.

I did this project a couple of years ago in my trusty VW Passat (B5).  I used an old AMD micro atx system, powered by an M2-ATX power unit (the link will take you to the site I bought mine from).  I used a mini touchpad which I positioned on the side of the drivers seat, so that with your right hand you could operate the mouse.  For the keyboard, I used a mini keyboard from Keysonic.  I also had a DiNovo wireless keyboard and mouse set up for any passenger in the car to use.  The monitor was a Lilliput 7" touchscreen LCD.  If I'm honest I went with it as it was the cheapest option available.  This was mounted on the dash by rejigging a tomtom holder.  For internet access I had a T-Mobile Web & Walk PCMICIA card and used a Panorama antenna to boost its signal.  I also had a wireless card installed so that I could use the PC as an access point for other wireless devices.

The M2-ATX was set up to switch the PC on when the engine was started and to switch the PC off when the engine was turned off.

The PC was installed in the boot and fixed in behind the rear seats.  A VGA lead ran along the near side door sill, USB leads then ran from the PC, under the rear seats and along the centre consul.  Not the neatest set up, but at that point I was still at the testing stage.

Picking up the live, earth and switching live was simple in the Passat, all terminals were easily picked up from the drivers compartment.  If I still had the car I would have posted pictures of where these were obtained.

If I still had the car... unfortunately my trusty Passat suffered a dash fault (not related to my installation!) and a garage that effectively ruined what was left of it.  The Passat is dead, long live my new car.  A BMW 530d E39.  If I'm honest, its not as nicely put together as the Passat but that's another story.  Its still jolly nice though and I love it!

First Project Problems

The biggest problem was the monitor.  Most of the work was done at my parents who have a great driveway plus my dad who is a problem solving genius and my mum who makes tea!  Anyway, there, a monitor "permanently" mounted on the dash seemed like a perfectly good idea.  However, once the reality of parking my car on a street at night etc sunk in.. it didn't seem quite so bright.  This meant removing it each time.  Power lead, then VGA lead.. sounds simple enough bit its a lot of farting about when all you want to do is get out.

Second monitor related problem was the VGA lead I used.. non screened and position closely to the vehicles chassis meant I picked up lots of interference which affected the screen.

Third monitor problem, brightness.  Evenings and dull weather conditions were fine, however on a bright sunny day the monitor was useless.  Angling the monitor did assist however there's only so far you can angle the monitor downwards before it becomes useless.


After that I was restrained by software, budget and monitor technology.

Software wise, the only really good navigation software available in PC format was Autoroute from Microsoft.  The biggest problem with that was the interface, intended for use on a laptop all the buttons/icons etc were too small to be easily used on a 7" touchscreen.  The other issue was that it didn't automatically correct the route when you took a wrong turn.  I bought another piece of navigation software that was so useless it actually included the voice command "you are lost".. seriously..


Many years past and nothing more was done with my car PC idea until now....

The point of this...

I have decided to start a blog.. Why? Well, for years I've used the internet to solve problems (most of which I've caused) and have decided its about time I started putting information that I've gathered out there for the rest of the world to see, in hope that someone somewhere will think "gee thanks Kevers, without that.. I'd be screwed". Most of the stuff on here will be computer related but then you never know...