"Melody she means to cover the webcam so that the person you are talking to cant see you, if you dont want them to"


Okay, I'm a dumb broad today!!!! Who is she talking to that she covers the webcam with post it notes!!! I don't talk to anyone with my webcam. I just make videos or take pics.

You can talk to people and use the webcam??? Oh, I think I know what you mean!!!!!!. Are you referring to Instant Messaging while you see the other person, or....when you have a microphone and you are talking to the person and you can see them via the webcams???

Now why on earth would you be talking to a person via a webcam and you wouldn't want them to see you!!!! Don't you have to give them your IP number or something like that?

Years ago, when my son had a webcam and we had a webcam, the first time, we used it to see each other, he did the yahoo messenger thing and I got a message on my screen that "Frank has invited you to view his webcam". I clicked on "accept" and there was my son, right in front of my eyes and then we talked via the microphone. Now it was a garbled conversation (this was 5 years ago, and I gather technology has improved right). But I'll tell you, it was the most exciting night of my life. Here we are, 3000 miles apart from each other and there he was, clear as a bell, right on my computer screen.

He no longer has a webcam but I never forgot what it felt like to see him on the computer.

I have friends (who have computers, and their kids have computers too) and they have grandchildren. But the grandparents do not have webcams. And I say "are you crazy, get a webcam for under a hundred bucks and you can "visit with your grandchildren, see them change on a daily basis. It's free because you are on the internet". They just shrug and say "no, I don't know how to hook it up, it's too much of a hassle!!!"

Boy, I'll tell you something. If I were a grandma, I would be seeing those kids all the time. That's how they don't forget their grandmother and grandpa!!! It's a way to reach out and stay in touch. You can make videos, they can make videos of their artwork, of their school work, you can mentor them. Grandparents are very important. I would have made a really cool grandmother, that much I know.

Oh well!!!!

Hi to all of you, and bye for now.
Mel

Using an XP disc, keep pressing the delete button whilst starting the PC, then set the boot order in BIOS for cd first then [C] hardive 2nd, save and exit, reboot with XP disc in player and away it will go, you must format all the hardive and it ask what size partition you want, say 30 gigs for XP and 90 gigs for Vista.
once thats all done just let the disc do its job, it will ask you simple questions along the way, its easy as, then load the motherboard drivers using INI files first, check in device manager to see if all drivers are installed if they are thats all.
With win 2000, use the 4 floppies then the CD.
Put the Vista disc in and select the second partition [D] for the vista installation and do the same, then load all motherboard drivers, and printer, etc.
Its easy but a bit time consuming, but i really meant for the shop to do it for her, they can do it easily whilst serving customers.

Upgrading XP to Vista i would think you would have to do a fresh installation then load Vista upgrade [ i think not 100% sure ]

Thanks - that made sense...

Another question - what do you back up to? I had been using imaging software - but the latest versions were incompatible with many of my programs (and ironically their own virus program, which I use and like) and corrupted files - so axed that... I'm now using a simple program called "Karen's Repllicator" (the name of the program is a total coincidence!) - so I can at least back up all my data etc - and have external hard drive that just plugged right into the system - I have backups set for things like music library, data, pictures, "favorites on inet", express, etc... the external drive was inexpesive, and again, simple to hook up! no software required or anything.... just thinking about BIllye here - having lost all my I-net sites etc before was not fun and I know shes on the net lots!!!!!!

Since this is a computer thread I have a question about my HP Printer.
It's an HP Deskjet 3940.

I purchased my HP Media Center PC last year, my older printer (which I adored, and was an HP Photosmart printer 895 (at least I think it was a 895), well it cost us $250 when we purchased it and it had all bells and whistles, was a real heavy thing, worked perfectly, and if you wished, you could program to print pictures, etc. (I never did this). I did print photos off of my "my pictures" folder, but I really used it mainly as MY PRINTER!!!

Now as I said, it worked perfectly with my Windows ME. But then I go and get this media center thing, (with XP) I try and hook up my beautiful expensive printer and I am told "This is not compatible" So I phone up Microsoft and they don't provide drivers any more for anything to do with Windows ME. I then phone up Hewlett Packard and I'm told "you can't use your old printer with Windows XP, it's not compatible"

So I went and got this piece of cr*p. And I'm being kind here. Not that it doesn't work...sure it works. But it's like a tinker toy compared to my Photosmart printer. I got this one at Radio Shack. Paid $59.00. What does that tell you??? I thought, wow, what a good deal!!! It was the only one they sold (that's what they told me when I got the computer through them.)

So I get this Deskjet 3940 (by the way, this is the second one, they had to replace the first one, it kept jamming). Well, I hate this printer. It reminds me of a Tinker Toy!! and it's light, it moves around too easily. To me, my old photosmart printer (well I loved that printer).

So I gave that old one to my friend and she has webtv from MSN and she loves this printer. The ink cartridges were very expensive but at least they lasted for a length of time.

Now the ink cartridges for this tinker toy thing, well it's #21 and on the ink cartridge it says HP-C9351A.

I absolutely hate this printer and the ink cartridges don't last for anything. They cost $18.00 in the computer store and I went back there the other day saying "you know, I bought an ink cartridge here last week and it it already out of ink. Do they make a better cartridge?,and she said "no, this is the only one for your printer". So my printer is a piece of junk. And I don't print every day. Only once in a great while.

So here's my question.

What printer (better than the one I have) when I save up some moola, what printer can I get for my HP Media Center, Windows XP computer??.
I will not go to Radio Shack any more.
Anybody know which printer I should purchase. I really hate this one!!!!

I just need some suggestions.
Thanks,
Melody

I just use Nero Enterprize with good quality media, seems to do a good job for me.

I got a new router and router table last month. I made two beautiful picture frames and trim for four bookcases on it. I don't know what a router has to do with computing, but it's your money to spend as you wish.

My dad had a Cadillac. I hope your new computer will be more dependable than his Caddy was. I know what people here are talking about. His electric Windows stopped working and we had a hard time seeing the passing Vista for all the smog in LA. Your new Cadillac will probably work better in Texas. At least I hope so.

Oh, and congratulations. May you have many happy years of use out of it.

P.S. My other router is a Linksys. It's been totally dependable for the past three years, is fast and completely transparent, was inexpensive, and was very easy to set up. We run two computers and a laptop off of it. Be aware that immediate neighbors can run their computers on your network if they have a WAN card. That doesn't bother me since I don't pass tax info or credit card numbers etc. on the network, but it's something for you to be aware of. You can run password protection and encryption, but that slows the network down.

Sorry to keep bombarding you with information!

I believe you said you have problems with your hands hurting, etc.. too.. mine are numb and what helps me a lot is to use an external mouse instead of the mouse pad right on the laptop... (they are very inexpensive) - also, another inexpensive but potentially helpful item - a USB hub that has extra usb ports - just plugs into a port in your puter - and then you can plug more items into the hub (the one I have doesnt have to be plugged into an external power source - some do - which is less hasssel) - and allows me to leave hooked up my printer, scanner, mouse, I leave the camera cord in to download photos, and also can use it for MP3 player etc.......

I thought all I had to do was turn it on!

I'm going to print all of this for hubbie, but it is all greek to me at this point. I'm going to learn tho. I'll start with the basics and find my way thru it. I'm one of those that believes in reading the instructions before I start. I've taught myself to use a PC just doing it as I go. I've never had a lesson but I'm not afraid to just try to work it out. I've got lots of support hubbie and best friend here who is very computer literate. And I've always got all of you all to ask.

David,...I posted this and then re-read your post. I thought "what does this man mean about routers not having anything to do with computers?" It just now hit me what you meant about the router!! Shoosh! I'm dense. Quit picking on me. I've been sick.

Thank you all so very much for all the info.
Billye

Hi Billye

I am thrilled that you are getting what you want to make life that bit more enjoyable and most of all - keep in touch with us I am watching every posting on this thread and thought I would offer one more site for you to look at regarding your chosen laptop. I am not suggesting it is bought from Amazon, just that there is a lot more info on their site. BTW they have made a mistake in screen size, it should be 17" as they mention in their description later on. Here it is:-
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Satell...902210&sr=1-24

Whatever you do enjoy Billye and by the way how are you feeling?!!! I hope you are improving quickly.
Take care - Tony

Billye - in case you would like to read Toshiba's actual info on the P205-S6237 here is their site. BTW I don't want to get involved in any controversy over Vista but Bob and Brian do have a point. Please be careful.
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/...368658&seg=HHO

Tony