crabtree

As you know some BBC Channels moved last night, ITV & C4 within the next week. Slight change here but still receive BBC1HD & BBC2HD, 80cm dish, 24260. For BBC HD, try BBC Wales HD or BBC Scotland HD, and BBC News HD. They are staying on Astra 2F, so if you could get them yesterday, you can still get them.

My system is set up with 3 hard disks. A small 70gb disk for the operating system onlyTwo 1tb disks, partitioned for a) Programs b) Documents, c) Media and d) Backup. I then image the operating system, programs, documents and media weekly. Having the operating system on it's own disk solves a lot of problems, and makes the restoring of an image easier. Should I have a problem with any of the other drives, programs, documents etc., I can extract the necessary files from the images or restore the whole image. These days usually PCs/laptops come with one large hard disk, at least 320gb, more likely 500gb or 1tb. I would suggest partitioning the disk and making a small partition for the operating system and the rest of the disk (one or two partitions) for programs, documents etc. This way the image of the operating system can will not be too big, can be quickly made and restored (if need be). An image restore of my operating system takes 10 minutes.

[quote user="NormanH"]Once you come to understand that imaging is the ONLY reliable and guaranteed way to back up, and start to practice it, you will find that you have become all but immune from just about anything a PC can throw at you, even a complete HD failure because if you sensibly store the images off the machine you can just replace it, restore your image to it, and be back in business in no time at all. Where do you store the image? Mine is too big for most free services.. [/quote] You can use an External Hard Drive, a large USB Memory Stick, or if your system has a number of Hard Drives you can use one of them.

[quote user="AnOther"]OH has an Acer 5551, don't know how great the differences might be. Using recovery discs is probably the most stupid and cheap idea MS ever came up with and 99/100 problems can probably be solved well short of that blunt and drastic procedure. I have never bothered with making recovery disks because once I have a machine set up exactly as I want it I make an image of it's C drive and then keep that refreshed from time to time. Come the day disaster strikes I can be back to precisely where I was at the last image refresh and all in about 15 minutes, no frigging about getting all the updates again or having to install all my programmes from scratch etc. etc. Once you come to understand that imaging is the ONLY reliable and guaranteed way to back up, and start to practice it, you will find that you have become all but immune from just about anything a PC can throw at you, even a complete HD failure because if you sensibly store the images off the machine you can just replace it, restore your image to it, and be back in business in no time at all. I learnt about imaging way back in the early days of Windows 95 when I installed it on a spare PC to play with it and play I did mercilessly delving into places users shouldn't go and regularly breaking it but no problem, bang in the bootable floppy and call up the image restore function and 30 minutes later I'd be back to where I was ready to break it again. [/quote] Totally agree.

[quote user="Quillan"]Yes it is on the bottom of the unit. The version of windows is home edition 64 bit. Being as the Acer version is 'tailored' by Acer (drivers etc) I don't know if the key will run with another OEM copy and of course you would loose the the ability to have a restore partition. I guess if possible I would like to put it back as it came out the box (with restore disks this time) so that if it breaks and somebody else looks at it they will see it as a standard machine. Somebody has very kindly offered me a copy and I have the key for the laptop but I will wait and see what response I get from Acer before going an alternative route. Thanks anyway. [/quote] You don't need the restore partition if you do a clean install of Windows 7. Once it is installed it can be backed up regularly, and just restored if need be. The Windows key you have will work no problem. As for the drivers, every driver needed can be downloaded (from Acer or elsewhere), and it is likely that most if not all will be installed by Windows 7 anyway. As an example, we have an Acer laptop that came with Windows 7. I purchased a key for Windows 8 (now 8.1), deleted the old Windows 7 and the Acer partition, then did a clean install of Windows 8. No problem whatsoever.

Does your friend have the original Win 7 licence key? If so can you not just do a clean install of Windows from CD?

The main SD channels should still be on 101 to 105 (BBC1, BBC2, ITV, C4 & C5). I believe that some time this year the BBC are going to rearrange their freesat numbering, not sure how though. Hopefully they will then get into some sort of order, closer together. The main SD channels should still be on 101 to 105 though. By the way, it is not the fault of Humax, but freesat. They (freesat) will not allow any manufacturers to reorder the channels as the EPG is freesat's. So the only thing you can do to customise the main channel list is to delete those that you do not need. I have deleted many of the regional BBC channels, the shopping channels and so on. Also, sometime next month, or beginning of March a new Astra satellite will enter service (it is currently moving to the location, for testing). Most of the UK public service broadcaster's channels will be moving there. This may affect your reception depending where you are.

If it is just the footy you want to bet on I think that any PMU will take the bet. Not sure if it might only be the higher divisions though. Not into betting so can't be sure.

I used 'Virement' to pay a German company earlier this year, using La Banque Postale Online. There was no charge.

[quote user="JasonBourne13"]Expat Shield does work on Windows 8. What you need to do is restart your computer in Safe Mode. Here is how to do that: Step 1: Press Win+R (WIN is the window button on your keyboard) to get the Run dialog. Type “msconfig” (without the quotes) and launch the utility. Step 2: In the Boot tab, check Safe boot, followed by the type of Safe Mode that you want to achieve (Network Safe Mode is recommended). Hit Apply. That's it, it will prompt you to Restart your computer, just click the Restart button and wait for Windows 8 to restart. When you get back to your desktop, go online and download Expat Shield from it's main page. Run the setup. It might prompt you to download toolbars or some other none sense, just click Decline or No and finish the download. After it is finished downloading you can test it online in Safe mode before you reboot in Normal Mode (OPTIONAL). Then Press Win+R to get the Run dialog. Type “msconfig” (without the quotes) and launch the utility again. In the boot tab, deselect Safe Mode boot and click Ok and just restart your computer. That's it! Now you have a working Expat Shield with no compatibility issues or any annoying pop-ups saying it doesn't work!! Enjoy!![/quote] I have a short-cut file that gives access to all Windows 8 start-up options. If anyone would like a copy please PM me.

[quote user="Quillan"][quote user="PaulT"]Sorry, cannot help with the actual problem but I assume that it has a French type keyboard, i.e. non QWERTY and I assume that this is why you cannot find the model number on the UK website. Perhaps if you look at the spec and photos of those on the UK website you can find the equivalent of your model with a QWERTY keyboard.[/quote] Exactly my thoughts, I know Toshiba give different part numbers depending on keyboard and operating system language. I would search using the part number and gradually remove the last character each time. Some companies have different last letters or numbers for language (the norm) but some use the first couple. So if you don't get a result by gradually removing the last character each time try removing the first character each time if you get my drift. [/quote] Perhaps it ends in 'F' or 'FR', many manufacturers put this on the end of their French models. Otherwise the model numbers are the same. Might be worth looking at.

[quote user="Jonzjob"]Just renewed my passport. Sent the old one to Durham, as requested, with the correct bits, photo, etc. and the new one was returned 14 daze later. [8-|] Majic !! No more delays via Paris, even if it is the center of the World [:-))] [/quote] Tell us more - can you send renewals to the UK now then?

[quote user="Clair"]I don't remember ever seeing this message on ours. This probably keeps happening because the box is trying (and failing) to update itself, and the first suggestion which comes to mind is "Could your dish possibly be slightly out of skew?" [/quote] That sounds about right to me, it is looking for it's 'home' transponder. Can I suggest you ask here, plenty of knowledgeable folks there who should be able to help.

[quote user="Quillan"]I wouldn't personally touch Windows 8 at the moment. There will be an upgrade to W8 to give you back the 'Start' button and make it feel more like W7 but I read you will have to pay for the upgrade, it won't be released as a Service Pack. [/quote] Windows 8.1 WILL be a FREE upgrade to those who have a legitimate version of Windows 8, expected to be available for download from Microsoft in October. It has just been pre-released to computer manufacturers. Unfortunately it appears that the 'Start' button will not be anything like the old Windows 7 Start. I use 'Start8' from a software company called Stardock, which is the Windows 7 Start Button/Menu and highly customisable. It also allows (if you want) to boot straight to the desktop, so you do not have to go to the new look start page. It will also work with Windows 8.1. There are also a few other Win8 start menu software available.

[quote user="sid"]I'm surprised that there were no "gravillons" warning signs, and 40kph (25mph) is a very low speed to get into a 2-directional skid; are you sure about the speed? The question will be asked again, I'm sure. [/quote] It is a road I use often, so know the bend well, and always take it at around 40kph. I was already at a low speed before the bend, so there was no braking involved, just very gentle acceleration through the bend (as this is how a bend should be taken).

[quote user="EuroTrash"]"Unfortunately on this occasion being wide on the bend put me in the loose stuff, had I not been so wide I reckon the accident would not have happened." Again, playing devil's advocate - could you not see the 'loose stuff''? Anyone who has ever ridden a motorbike would instinctively avoid putting a wheel onto the loose stuff at any cost. Your reasons for staying wide on left handers are good ones on normal road surfaces but you have to be prepared to adapt, and risking a skid in order to see potential oncoming traffic a micro-second sooner can't be a good decision. That said, long ago I worked for a civil engineering company and I was disgusted by their cavalier attitude to leaving loose chippings after they'd resurfaced a road - they reckoned that it was cheaper to let the traffic scatter the chippings and for them to pay out a dozen or so insurance claims from motorists whose windscreens had been broken and paintwork had been damaged by flying chips, than to keep the roadworks in place and employ a roadsweeper and crew for an extra day to sweep up them up. So that's what they did.[/quote] I have driven over loose chippings many times, and you always get that noise when they come up into the wheel arches, so you know all about them being there. On this occasion there was no noise, no loose chippings visible and no signs put up. Funny enough, the gendarme told me when we were at his 'office' making a statement, that they nearly had the same thing happen to them when they drove off from the scene!!!

[quote user="Hoddy"]until further notice. Apparently some local law comes into force when the river is more than 2m high at Cenac. I'm not sure how far down river the ban extends though. Hoddy[/quote] All open again now.

It is a safety measure, and extends all the way to Bergerac.

Thanks to all for your replies. I have asked my insurance company about my wife's situation. I await their response. Regarding the road - at bends I am always conscience of other drivers misjudging the bend. So on a right hand bend I hug the nearside, and on a left hand bend I stay as wide as possible (this also gives the earliest possible view of oncoming traffic). Unfortunately on this occasion being wide on the bend put me in the loose stuff, had I not been so wide I reckon the accident would not have happened. Just to add that excess speed was not involved here. According to the gendarmes had I been doing over 40kph, one or both of us may well not be around to tell the tale!

Thanks for your replies. Yes, this was in France, French car, French insurance. My insurance company have all the details, and have taken action as regards the car (awaiting payout!). I have suggested they might make a complaint against the road surface company, but they have not yet responded. I should have added that the gendarmes have suggested the (newly laid) road was the cause of the accident. Here are the relevant clauses in my insurance contract: Responsabilité Civile Dommages corporels illimités Dommages matériels et immatériels limités à 100 millions d’euros Sans franchise Défense Pénale et Recours Suite à Accident A concurrence de 18.600€. Se reporter systématiquement aux Conditions Générales Sans franchise Garantie Corporelle du Conducteur Dans la limite de 600.000 € à partir d’un taux d’IP supérieur à 15%

Recently my wife and I were involved in a car accident. Unfortunately my wife has broken 3 fingers on her right hand, and the car is written off. Briefly, we were the only car on a quiet country road. As we were exiting a sharp right hand bend the rear of the car swerved violently (lack of grip) to the right and I had no control. I managed to turn the steering wheel and the car swerved violently in the opposite direction, heading towards an embankment. I turned away but again the rear swerved violently, and now the car was going towards a 5 foot ditch and eventually flipped forwards over the front and then rolled and eventually finished on it's roof. A passer by stopped to help, and informed us that the road had just been relaid and there was a lot of loose chippings. This appears likely to have been the cause of the car swerving violently and the reason for the accident. There were no signs warning of the loose chippings, although since the accident they have been put in place! Gendarmes and pompiers called. Evening spent at hospital! That briefly covers the accident. I have two questions: Can my wife make any sort of claim for her injuries.Can we claim against the road laying company.If the answer is yes to either of these questions, what are the options? Thank you all in advance.

[quote user="PaulT"]Thoughts please..... Travelling over mid May and staying until early August. House has an 80cm dish. Would you bring over a 1m dish or see what happens. A 1m mesh dish in the UK is about £50 delivered - where and for how much can they be bought for in France. Thanks   Paul [/quote] I think you might be on the limit there for an 80cm dish. I am in 24 and 80cm is fine, but heard from a few further south who have gone up to 1m. If you can get a 1m at a reasonable price, it may worth your while. If not, currently you may only lose a few channels see here for the channels on Astra 2F. All the other channels should be OK for you this year!

It would appear that there has been a delay in another satellite launch (Astra 2E), which will take the remaining channels. This is now expected to happen in the summer. BBC and ITV channels will then move to 2E, which it is understood will have the same 'footprint' as the new 2F which currently carries among others all the Channel 5 channels and Channel 4 HD. So it would seem, if you can get C4 HD now, then when the moves are completed in the summer you should still be OK. If you cannot get C4 HD now you will most likely need a larger dish.

I believe it is. However, I prefer Libre Office. It is the same thing but updates more regularly. Version 4 is too be released soon.

Do Free have their own network, or do they use another network (e.g Orange or SFR)?