Kalyn Computers

If your internal and extrenal DVD writer are not recognising balnk disks, it sounds to me as though you're missing a driver or writing isn't enabled for the drive(s). You could try this: Go to My Computer Right click on the Drive in question and select properties Left click on the recording tab Put a check in the box that says: Enable CD recording on this drive. There is also a thread at Microsoft which may help: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316529 If that works - problem solved, if it doesn't post again!   HTH Tim

If your internal and extrenal DVD writer are not recognising balnk disks, it sounds to me as though you're missing a driver or writing isn't enabled for the drive(s). You could try this: Go to My Computer Right click on the Drive in question and select properties Left click on the recording tab Put a check in the box that says: Enable CD recording on this drive. There is also a thread at Microsoft which may help: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316529 If that works - problem solved, if it doesn't post again!   HTH Tim  

If your internal and extrenal DVD writer are not recognising balnk disks, it sounds to me as though you're missing a driver or writing isn't enabled for the drive(s). You could try this: Go to My Computer Right click on the Drive in question and select properties Left click on the recording tab Put a check in the box that says: Enable CD recording on this drive.   If that works - problem solved, if it doesn't post ahain!   HTH Tim  

Is it only typing that is slow? Do programs apear slow and jerky on the screen? If so, then I would suspect that the screen driver is the problem. Have there been any Microsoft updates done on the computer recently? Have you changed the screen resolution? If the answer is yes to any of these, then I would try a system restore and see if that cures the problem. Tim

FT English number: 0800 36 47 75 Tim

There's no need to turn the livebox off at all EXCEPT during thunderstorms. Tim

I am here and haven't gone anywhere! Telephone 05 49 72 34 79. Tim   PS - Contact now made!

Definitive answer! YES - the DG834 will work in place of the Livebox UNLESS you normally plug your 'voice' telephone into the Livebox - i.e. your normal telephone to make calls. In my humble opinion the Netgear 834 is one of the best routers on themarket - I have sold literally hundreds - I replaced 2 Liveboxes tody with 834's - typical after a thunderstorm which we had last night. HTH Tim

Hi Panda   Sorry about the confusion re the USB connection - the same question was asked elsewhere, and mentioned the USB connection, and I simply copied the answer I wrote there to here! However, without wishing to start an argument but being slightly pedantic - you DO need the Orange software to use the USB connection - which obviously counts as ANY connection. Unless there us a very good reason to, I would never use the USB connection on a Livebox - it uses lots of system resources and is nowhere near as reliable as a LAN (ethernet) connection. Tim

Sorry to disagree but the easiest way is NOT to start with the USB connection! To use the USB connection you have to instll the software and that is what can cause problems. The easiest way is to start with the Ethernet connect which needs no software. Simply connect the cable - it usually has RED plugs at either end, to your computer and the Livebox and then access the built is browser page to do the setup. You do this from Internet Explorer by typing into the address bar: 192.168.1.1, this will bring up the setup page, you may need a user name and password depending on the age of the Livebox (you may get a new style of an old style one) the default user name is admin and the passwod is admin. From there is it pretty self explanatory. HTH Tim

There are two main reasons for not using Word, firstly it isn't a web design program - it's a word processor, the second reason is that the html code it prduces is 'bloated' and isn't certain to display correctly in all browsers - even IE7! If you want a zero cost program that is easy to use and fairly intuitive, do give NVU a try. I have used it for several sites and found it very useful - it was only the gift of Dreamweaver from a grateful client that made me make themove away from it. You can get it here http://nvudev.com/index.php HTH Tim  

This is NOT an English based ISP! Look at the carefully and you will see that they are actually a French company. Their charges are not cheap and their broadband is repackaged from another ISP. Having said that, the people I spoke to last year are French but do speak English. HTH   Tim

You cannot run 2 liveboxes off one incoming phone line at the same time! The only way you could do it is to always have one live box switched off which probably partially defeats the object. The Maplin mains network suggestion will only work if you either have a single phase electricity supply to the house or, if you have a 3 phase supply, the socket you connect to in the house and in the shed are on the same phase - and it isn't easy to check! I would suggest that a cat5 network cable is the simplest way to connect the shed and house if you can run the cable easily. There is a limit of 100 metres to the length of a cat5 cable. HTH Tim

Regarding the BT Router, there is a very good chance it will work in France, you will need to change 2 settings, the VPI and VCI and of course your user name and password will also have to be changed to the Orange username and passord. Unplugging and replugging the Livebox may cure the problem for some people, if it does, I would suspect that the problem lies with you telephone line and not with the Livebox. It is impossible to generalise on this one as there are too many variable factors. One thing to note is that Liveboxes are no where near as good as modem/touters made by other companies! One other problem with Liveboxes is the Orange Parental Control software, it can cause silly problems and in my opinion, there are much better (and cheaper) alternatives available. France Telecom are not the only company who offer VOIP telephony, we use Voipcheap (and have for that last 18 months) and we find it a very good service and it isn't expensive, looking at my call history, this week alone I have made over 80 telephone calls, 50% to France 45% to the UK and 5% to the US, total cost of call? Approx 1€ - in total! We rarely run out of credit or 'freedays'. I don't get a commssion from Voipcheap - I wish I did because I have put over 100 people on to their service in the last 18 months. Tim

I have a customer who cannot get ADSL but  doesn't need satellite speeds so I advised them to get ISDN. FT told them that they no longer supply new installations of ISDN. I don't know if this applies to the whole of France but it certainly does in dept. 79. So looks like your only option is a second line. Cost should be approx 155€ to have it fitted and then the normal monthly line rental. HTH Tim