COMPUTERS, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY

[Pluggy]

Some advice please. I've had more trouble this last week than in the previous many years. I've been invaded by unwanted data. Something called jucheck.exe appears constantly asking to be let in, and another thing called searchnu. has taken up residency in Explorer. The latest invader is a site for emoticons which has self installed a shortcut on my desktop. - The cheek of it. I've got rid of searchnu from firefox (Ithink) but it is fixed in Explorer. There have also been many seize ups and data dumps.
A little research reveals that these things are not viruses, and I may have inadvertently given permission when downloading so called "free" software, thus is not picked up by anti virus software. I have used the free version of Avast for many years without any problem at all. I have even given Linux another try, but still can't get on with it.
Has anyone had similar problems, and Is there a reliable software which will rid me of these things. Would I be free of this if I got an Android Tablet device?

Freebie advice. Jucheck is Java Update check. Its legitimate, You can get rid of it by un-installing Java but be aware that some websites won't work without it. The later versions of Windows, ask permission for unknown software to run, which is why you're plagued with it. Searchnu is one of a whole raft of spyware search engine add-ons. It may or may not have a removal system in control panel. In Windows land, this c**p is considered (semi or wholly) legitimate so all AV and most anti-malware leaves it alone. Dodgy deals abound in the vast grey area of what is legit and what isn't. Give it a while and Android will be the same. Its all about making money.

Linux's biggest problem and greatest accolade is that it doesn't run Windows software......

[Stanley]

DaviDT, I was sorry to see you tried Linux again but couldn't get on with it. I'm sure you are at least as intelligent with me and in my case it was virtually painless. The answer probably lies in the fact that I got Pluggy to install it, went cold turkey and ditched Windows completely with no transition. I'm on 10.4 64 bit and it works fine. As Pluggy says, the greatest benefit of Linux is that you escape the hegemony of Microsoft and funniliy enough, when you do, your computer starts working for you and not for Msoft's balance sheet. There IS life after Windows.

[Tripps]

Thanks for the advice chaps. We're in a funny world here. I downloaded the software as recommended, and did first the quick, then the full scan. The second scan threw up one problem which I deleted. Result was that Explorer would not work as Malwarebytes proudly told me that it had intercepted a malicious file called avastsvc exe outgoing to a dangerous site called 207 232 22 60. Strange (to me) that it found it in real time, but not during the scan. I looked on their FAQ board, and it seems - as I understand it - that this file may not be what it seems, and could be another file in disguise! At this stage I did the decent thing, and gave up.
I am considering wiping the entire machine, and starting again. I will need help with this, and he's not available sat the moment so will have to wait.
Sorry about Linux Stanley - it does not seem to be intuitive enough for me. Anyway I've given the small PC which has it installed, away to my grand daughter "for her homework".

[Stanley]

David. What I don't know about Windows would fill many books but from the sound of it you are in the same position I used to be in the good old days of W98. I can't even guess the number of times I formatted the hard drive and reloaded everything so I sympathise with you. The big problem I always suspected with Windows is that it is constantly manufacturing files, these are incredibly persistent and eventually clog the OS. One thing I like about Linux is that when it sends you an update for the system it's always a complete reload (at times 60mb) and you just sit there and watch it do it, takes about two minutes and happens regularly. Don't know how they do it!
Doc and I were talking about the old archive and he happened to have a copy of it in his pocket on a pen drive(!). I tried popping it in the FM and opening it but it couldn't read it. I had a look in the applications menu and it threw up an Open Office application that Doc said would do it. I didn't bother loading the application but he has Ubuntu loaded on the old FM which is a fast machine so he says he'll load the programme and look at the SQL data file on that under Ubuntu as it will be much faster.

[David Whipp]

Digital storage develops (and becomes redundant) so quickly...

I've a drawer full of floppies with stuff on that I'd backed up for 'safe keeping'. Will a floppy ever be a Rosetta Stone?

Acts of Parliament are still recorded on parchment...

[Tizer]

Stanley, I wonder how we'll get on with the new Ubuntu 12.04 (the new Long Term Support version). I've had a go at installing it on one of my older computers (2.8GHz, 1GB RAM) but without any success. I tried doing an online upgrade from the 10.04 already on the PC but it froze near the end of the install every time. I also tried doing it as a new install, deleting the old version completely, but still no success. Then from a CD instead of online - but failed. I get lots of error messages and freezes, which makes me concerned about next March when the present 10.04 will stop being supported. I'm glad I didn't try installing it on my main PC.

I've also looked at the 12.04 version using a `Live CD', i.e. running the system from the CD, not installing it on the hard disk. The CD is the one I was trying to do the above installs from. The system ran OK from the CD but, as Pluggy has hinted, there are lots of differences from the present version. I spent ages trying to find things that I can get in seconds on my present version. You have to use a Search function more often to find applications instead of menus and icons. I suppose it just needs me to learn it but I suspect there's an element of `change for change's sake' and it's not necessarily better. I wonder if they are copying changes in Windows? A lot of useful applications are not loaded in the default installation and you end up searching for them and wondering how to access them before you realise they ain't there! I often use the Synaptic Package Manager to add or remove applications and it's been in Ubuntu since I first had the system but now you have to install it, which to me is a bit like buying a car then having to ask them to put in a steering wheel!

[Big Kev]

I put 12.04 on an old Compaq Presario, it has a Mobile AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 3000+ with 1.1 GB of RAM. It's mainly used by my wife to surf and send email. Very easy to use and put new life into the Compaq...

[Tripps]

I've sent for a tablet from ebay. Half the price I paid for a KIndle two years ago, and it does a great an amazing amount more. Let's see what damage I can do to Androids.

[Big Kev]

I've sent for a tablet from ebay. Half the price I paid for a KIndle two years ago, and it does a great an amazing amount more. Let's see what damage I can do to Androids.

If you get on with the Android OS you'll be fine with Ubuntu 12.04

[Pluggy]

Stanley, I wonder how we'll get on with the new Ubuntu 12.04 (the new Long Term Support version). I've had a go at installing it on one of my older computers (2.8GHz, 1GB RAM) but without any success. I tried doing an online upgrade from the 10.04 already on the PC but it froze near the end of the install every time. I also tried doing it as a new install, deleting the old version completely, but still no success. Then from a CD instead of online - but failed. I get lots of error messages and freezes, which makes me concerned about next March when the present 10.04 will stop being supported. I'm glad I didn't try installing it on my main PC.

I've also looked at the 12.04 version using a `Live CD', i.e. running the system from the CD, not installing it on the hard disk. The CD is the one I was trying to do the above installs from. The system ran OK from the CD but, as Pluggy has hinted, there are lots of differences from the present version. I spent ages trying to find things that I can get in seconds on my present version. You have to use a Search function more often to find applications instead of menus and icons. I suppose it just needs me to learn it but I suspect there's an element of `change for change's sake' and it's not necessarily better. I wonder if they are copying changes in Windows? A lot of useful applications are not loaded in the default installation and you end up searching for them and wondering how to access them before you realise they ain't there! I often use the Synaptic Package Manager to add or remove applications and it's been in Ubuntu since I first had the system but now you have to install it, which to me is a bit like buying a car then having to ask them to put in a steering wheel!

Your experience installing 12.04 isn;t typical, I;ve put it on quite few now, it's always installed without a hitch. I haven't tried it on older hardware but its less problems than 10.04 on more recent stuff. You don't need synaptic, you use Ubuntu software centre instead. Its a bit "iTunes" but it does work.

I've just ordered parts for new Desktop for a customer, He wanted Windoze on it and I offered him 7 or 8 since 8 is being launhed this friday and everyone is doing pre-orders for it. He went for 8, - I'll let you know......

[Stanley]

Tiz, I shall continue with 10.4 64bit until it staggers, then I'll throw pension at Pluggy. We are so lucky to have him about, takes the stress out of using a computer! Doc has put Ubuntu on the original Flying Machine that he built for me, still a fast machine. He says he is going to transfer the gubbins from the enormous tower case to a smaller one and use it on the boat. When we built it I had to weld extra brackets into it as it had four hard drives! Those were the days. If I do have to go onto 12.4 I shall consult and get a new box which will have the very latest guts. If ever FM Mk 3 gets built it will be impressive!
Orange update. Ping has speeded up to about 14, download is still 10mps and up less than 1mps. FM is running faster but not yet back to what it was 18 months ago. Patience Stanley. Bright spot is that latest bill from Orange for portal is same as usual.....

[Stanley]

Very interesting interview with the CEO of Mozilla on Today as I write. Well worth listening to. He says that Firefox is now used by 25% of the web. Other snippets, "We do not collect any data from users" "Our next move is into free source apps for mobile phones" "The web is going to change radically over the next five years" "the main topic in 2013 is going to be privacy" He doesn't believe that anyone should be allowed to collect data and said that they already had free software out on the web which allowed you to track who was gathering data. Much more in there, and he sounds like a good man.

[Tizer]

Thanks folks for the positive comments on Ubuntu 12.04. When the time comes I'll copy all our data and profiles onto external disks then try the online upgrade and keep my fingers crossed!

[Big Kev]

I will just add that 12.04 went in as a "clean" install on a machine that was originally Windows XP...

[Stanley]

Speed upgrade is still progressing slowly. Ping 12s, Down 12mps and up .9mps. All improving but not there yet.

[Stanley]

Still running at the same speed. Everything is working much faster and I suspect that the increase in the ping speed has something to do with the improvement. The ten days is up today! If there is no improvement over the weekend Orange will be hearing from me again! I want my 16mps!

[Tripps]

Well - the Tablet has arrived, plus a refund because they were unable to supply the promised keyboard and case. All went well at first - I got onto the internet via my wifi, and had a look around. Tried BBC iPlayer and all OK. Spotify however want another £5 per month to let me lsiten on the move. Next tried to download some photos from my laptop. Problem - connected USB, and Windows tried to locate driver software, but was unable to do so. I wondered if it was something I had done, so restored it to factory settings, and started again. Now it won't connect to the wifi Deep joy. Thank goodness for the Distance selling Regulations.

[Tizer]

You have my sympathy Tripps, we waste so much of our time trying to make things work that are meant to save us time! We still haven't leapt in and bought one of these tablet thingies - you're braver than me!

[Tripps]

We're getting there. I found that using the supplied stylus caused misprints so I entered the password with a finger, and I'm into the wifi. I think I can transfer photos etc, by taking out the memory card, writing to it on the other PC, then transferring back to the Tablet. It's a micro card so I'll need a magnifying glass. If that works, I will keep it.

PS. Later that same night.....
I think we're there. I did as I said above, and can now see my pictures. Also found lots on youtube in the way of tutorials. I think I can safely recommend it now. Quite amazing value for £55 all in.

[Stanley]

Tablets seem to be all the rage! Luckily I have no need for one, if I spend any money on IT it will be to upgrade the FM2 and make it even more powerful, not because I need it but because I like keeping in font of the Kids!
Tiz, I remember when I got my first Amstrad (Remember Locoscript?), I was heard to say that it was amazing how something that was designed to make work faster and easier could take so much time out of your life. From then on my ambition was always to get to a point where I had a system that was rock solid, did what I told it to and didn't waste my time. It took almost 30 years to get there! That's why I converted to Ubuntu. Gone are the Blue-screen days and the error messages that said I'd done something illegal. ( I always thought that was a particularly autocratic and insensitive way of letting you know you had a problem) The nearest Ubuntu gets to that is a polite message when logging in 'You have caps lock on'.
On the speed front, Orange have a reprieve, I am on over 14mps this morning, whatever they are doing is working.

[Pluggy]

Mine as expected hasn't moved, still around 7 mb/s. Not a problem - it works.

Windows 8 - Forget everything you thought you knew about windows. If you thought Ubuntu 12.04 was very different from 10.04 . its nothing in the comparison between Windows 7 and Windows 8......
I did something I haven't done in a long time, I bought a copy of Windows, the thinking being, that sooner or later things running said OS are going to be coming my way for repair. Transferring my knowledge from XP to Vista and Windows 7 wasn't difficult, 8 is a whole new ball game, so I think I need to try and get my head around it. The upside is that it's seriously cheaper to buy than Windows 7.
Its very "Tabletesque" although it works OK with a mouse. Right click does very little but the way you move the mouse and where to is everything.

Tripps, this Android/Windows tablet (depending on which post you read), how about a link ?, so we know what you're talking about.

[Tripps]

Stanley - you don't buy these things because you need them it's because you just have to have one.
Plugs - sorry for any confusion - the Windows reference was the operating system on the computer to which I was trying to connect the Android Tablet.
This is a link to the item. Tablet

[Stanley]

I realised this morning that it was time I looked at latency to see what it was. Just shows how little I know about how the FM works! Under the 8mps connection it was running at about 36ms but it's now 12ms. I found that I was right about the 'ping' being the speed of connection rather than the actual download speed but hadn't realised how important it was. Funny thing is that while I was looking for the information I came across an old article that discussed 56kbs connections, the olf Dial-up! Can you remember those days? The first email connection I had was Terntech.co.uk and I can remember the curious procedure I had to go through to get a service. This was before W95 and I seem to remember that every mail sent or received was a considerable triumph!

[Tripps]

Well - that's the end of the saga. I've received the case and keyboard unit this morning, which is only two business days after the tablet arrived, and free of charge, since I have had the money back for it! Typing on the keyboard is much more convenient than on the screen. I received a reply to my email which confirmed that these devices are not compatible with a windows computer, so file transfer will have to be done by copying onto the SD card, and physically moving it. I've done that successfully for photos and music.
Having once paid £200 for a dot matrix printer long ago. this is staggeringly good value at £60.

[Wendyf]

On another topic I mentioned the electronics business my hubby started up back in 1986 and Ian set me off on an afternoon of nostalgia by asking what Colin did. I know I have spoken about it before on One Guy, but we mostly produced low cost video digitizers for a variety of home computers, the most popular by far being for the Commodore Amiga. I've been googling this aft and found a blog all about the stuff we made for the Amiga, with piccys and even an old review from a magazine!
Here