Bursar

I haven't played with any of the betas, so I'm wondering what the killer features of XP are. Windows 2000 had a funky new layout, improved reliabilty and security and ofcourse Active Directory. I don't think offering a skinable OS is really going to entice people to upgrade, so there must be something else there. In your opinions, which features of XP are likely to turn it into a 'must-have' upgrade?

One of the best compounds is Arctics Silver or the newly released Arctic Silver II. It's relatively expensive for the amount you get, but it is much better than just about anything else. You need a thin coating on the actual CPU core (no more than the thickness of a sheet of paper), and spreading it about too much could cause problems. Particularly with AMD CPUs where it could come into contact with the L1 bridges. It is conductive, so shorting them all out would be a 'bad thing'.

Don't get a Sony either. I 'acquired' a Sony DDU220E IDE DVD drive and it was fine for a while, and then it basically went tits up and died on me. Everything slowed down and hlaf the time it didn't even recognise the disk. I've since replaced it with a 52x CD drive . When DVDs actually start becoming useful for PCs I might consider getting another one, but it'll prbably be a Pioneer drive, and it'll definately be SCSI.

If you lower the security settings in ZoneAlarm, you shouldn't have any problems. On my main PC at home I have a cable modem hooked up, and a 2nd NIC for the LAN. With the default ZoneAlarm settings (Medium LAN, High Internet), my machine is fine for the net, but my second machine can't get out. If I lower the Internet security to Medium, then the 2nd PC can access the net. I haven't really tried the file sharing stuff, but it might just help you out.

Most modern PCs shouldn't have any problems being left on all the time. My work PC is left on 24/7 crunching SETI units and has suffered no ill effects. It has the occaisonal reboot, but that's it. My machine at home on the other hand gets switched off everynight. That's to do with 6x 80mm fans in the case to help keep it cool. They chuck out a lot of noise!

I'm not trying to start a flame war, I'm just curious as to what people consider the best bits of Windows XP. Being simplistic here, but if the only difference between Win2k and WinXP was a skinable interface, then it's not exactly going to sell well is it? I've also heard that it allows you to configure multiple network settings for a single LAN card. Handy if you have different network options at home and work. Has anyone tried this, and does it work?

The problem is down to the hard disk controllers. I had the exact same problem when I went from an Intel 440BX2 to an Intel D815EEA. The only way around it is a reinstall of Win2k so it can detect your new disk controllers.

If you're using a GeForce card, you will need a little utility to allow you to run at reresh rates higher than 60Hz. You can get it from here: http://www.fileplanet.com/dl/dl.asp?ztn/nvreffix-setup.exe Also, take a look at: http://www.planetunreal.com/game/utpreview/uttweaks.shtml for some UT tweaks.

The first thing to check is the Filter option. Go into it and make sure are including the right mod that you want to play, and put in a reasonable ping time. I generally have mine set like this: Ping <350 Not Empty Not Full I think that's about it. Don't check the dedicated server button. Then click on Update rather than refresh. This should go off to the WON servers and grab a load game servers for you.

There are a couple of ways. Under 9x, hit CTRL-ALT-DEL, select the application, and choose End Task. Under NT/2000, hit CTRL-ALT-DEL, choose Task Manager, highlight the application and choose End Task.

I tend to spec out all the individual components and get them as money allows. My machine is now quite a reasonable spec, and I'm slowly upgrading components one at a time. Once your machine is running it doesn't matter if you take 6 months to save up and get that quality wotsit that you've been after. The real pain is when you need to buy several things at the same time just to make it into a whole machine. As for cases, I recently purchased a pre-moded GlobalWin 802 case. This beast has 6 fans in it (3 intake, 3 exhaust) and is nice and roomy to work with. It sounds like a light aircraft when you first power it up, but you soon get used to the noise. The fans have made a massive difference to my temperatures though. Case temps are down by 14C and CPU temp by 10C.

Most 'business oriented' PC mags have service packs on the cover CDs. The current PC Pro has the sp1network.exe file on it. I used it recently to double check that SP1 was installed correctly.

I don't think that having a TechNet Plus subscription will automatically give you the Windows XP beta. I have Technet Plus, and the only betas I get sent automatically are the ones that make up the Technet disks for that month. Curently in my Technet folder I have betas for: Exchange 2000 Conferencing Server Mobile Information 2001 Server - Enterprise Edition SharePoint Portal Server 2001 Release Candidate In order to get other betas you will need to apply for them through Microsoft. Take a look at https://www.betaplace.com/betaplace/content/AboutBetaPlace.htm For more details.

Not to worry, I've spent the money on a nice new case instead.

On your Windows 2000 CD is a file called APCOMPAT.EXE Copy it it your hard drive and run it. You can use it as a lauch platform for other applications and it tries to fool the applications into thinking they are running on Win9x. I can't be certain that it will work, but give it a go. Failing that, try the website for the software and see if there is a patch that will help you out. If all else fails, I hope you kept the receipt!

Damn, busted! They noticed the price was wrong, and want me to pay full whack. Not likely, so I've cancelled the order. Guess I'll just have to live with my Live Value for a bit longer.

I know they're not required to honour the wrong price, and I remember the Argos thing too. I don't have the auto reply handy, but it basically says something along the lines of 'This is an automated reply, your order details are as follows, we will check it, and send a second confirmation email when we ship the product.' This kind of implies that they can pretty much do what they want. I don't have a problem with that, providing they don't charge me the full whack without telling me. If they do, then they can have the card back, and I'll have a full refund. If they don't like it, they can take it up with the credit card company! Ya never know though, I might just get away with it!

I had a feeling that was the case. Needless to say, I placed my order last night! These price comparisons are just for the card. VAT, delivery or other charges have not been included. Insight - £130.99 Simply - £124 Dabs - £123 Buy.Com - £122.57 www.cclcomputers.co.uk - £118.68 Damn, they've put their prices up. Lets hope they honour the price for me. If they try and charge me £118.68 + VAT for it, they can sod off. I wouldn't have bought it at that price. Honestly though, the webite told me a total cost of about £65 inc VAT and delivery, and I got an automated reply back stating they had received my order. This should be interesting.

Have you tried the official 6.31 drivers? I ran these on my GF2 Ultra without any problem at all. I've since upgraded to the 6.50 drivers for Win2k and again everything is fine.

On a fairly regular basis now (three times so far today), I am getting the following error: Event Type: Information Event Source: Application Popup Event Category: None Event ID: 26 Date: 03/02/2001 Time: 20:35:03 User: N/A Computer: XXXX Description: Application popup: Half-Life: hl.exe - Application Error : The instruction at "0x0f2c2e8e" referenced memory at "0x00000034". The memory could not be "read". Click on OK to terminate the program Click on CANCEL to debug the program I have changed my RAM so I now have 2x256MB PC133 2-2-2 Crucial memory, and I'm still getting them. Also I get: Event Type: Information Event Source: Application Popup Event Category: None Event ID: 26 Date: 03/02/2001 Time: 20:41:49 User: N/A Computer: XXXX Description: Application popup: SysFader: iexplore.exe - Application Error : The instruction at "0x04612d44" referenced memory at "0x04a6d39b". The memory could not be "written". Click on OK to terminate the program Click on CANCEL to debug the program When I try and access the Windows Update site. I have SP1, but am not sure if there are other pacthes I should apply that might help this. A friend told me that MS have a patch available on request that fixes this kind of problem with Outlook 2000. I'm hoping to get this patch soon and am praying that it will fix my problems. In the meantimes, does anyone else have any ideas? ------------------ PIII 866EB FC-PGA Intel D815EEA Motherboard Intel® PRO/100 Integrated NIC (for LAN) 3Com 3C905 10/100 NIC (for Cable Modem) Motorola Surfboard 3100 Cable Modem 2x256MB PC133 RAM 2-2-2 Crucial Technology Maxtor 92049U6 20.4GB 7200RPM UDMA66 Maxtor 52049U4 20.4GB 7200RPM UDMA66 Hercules 3D Prophet II Ultra 64MB AOpen 52x IDE CD-ROM Yamaha CRW4416S SCSI CD-RW Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer USB Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro USB Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro US Robotics Sportster Flash v90 External modem Iiyama Vision Master Pro 17 Adaptec 2940 Ultra Wide SCSI controller Sound Blaster Live! Value (LiveWare 3) Windows 2000 Professional (SP1)

The problem is very intermittent. Sometimes I can play several HalfLife sessions in one 'boot session' without problem. The problem also occurs in IE. I'm now getting it when trying to access the WindowsUpdate site. I click product updates, I get the little box in the middle, and then POW just as it should be loading the list of updates, I get the error. The second event log posted above is after a crash following a visit to the WindowsUpdate site. Paul, do your blokes at work have Visual Studio or Visual C++ installed on the machines that are experiencing this problem? Maybe it's something to do with that?

I can't think of anything I may have done recently that might be causing this. It's been happening on and off since about Christmas, but I thought it was just a misbehaving application. The frequency of the errors now leads to me think I may have a hardware problem (but not in my RAM as I have changed it and the problem still occurs), or a part of my OS is fried. As for services, the following are running: Alerter Com+ Event System Computer Browser DHCP Client Distributed Link Tracking Client DNS Client Event Log HID Input Service Internet Connection Sharing IPSEC Policy Agent Logical Disk Manager Messenger NAV Alert NAV Auto-Protect Network Connections Norton Program Scheduler Norton Unerase Protection Plug and Play Print Spooler Protected Storage Remote Access Connection Manager Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Removable Storage RunAs Service Security Accounts Manager Server Speed Disk service System Event Notification Task Scheduler TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service Telephony TrueVector Basic Logging Client TrueVenctor Internet Monitor Windows Management Instrumentation Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extensions Workstation The Nav entries relate to Norton Anti-Virus 2001 (part of SystemWorks 2001) and the TrueVector services are for the ZoneAlarm firewall that I run. All other services are set to manual.

On a practical level, you probably wouldn't find much performance difference between FAT32 and NTFS. However NTFS records a lot more file information than FAT32 so technically it's likely to be a bit slower. If you're running a standalone machine, then either system will do. In a networked environment, NTFS is much better choice.

My Winnt folder is 1.09GB in size and I have Win2k Pro, SP1 and a number of applications installed which have probably all put a few files in there. My registry is 21MB which will also be contained in that folder. Don't forget that Windows 2000 keeps a whole stack of files on the hard disk in order to minimise the number of times you need to insert the CD if you're installing new hardware. The File Checker utility also keeps backup copies of a few hundred key dll files so it can replace them with official versions if a bad application tries to overwrite them with older versions. I really wouldn't worry about it too much if I were you.

Alternatively, call MS, and ask for the file quoting the knowledgebase number. They will send you an email with a download location for the file, and the password so you can unzip it. If you do it this way you know you're getting the official file and not something that may have a nasty surprise in it.