TechSupp

I have a Toshiba A300 laptop that has now got two of the function keys separated from the keyboard (don't ask me how it happened, it just appeared with an apology from the teacher). Had a look, but the mechanism under the key that connects the key to to the keyboard is broken. I know there is usually a lot of damage reported to laptop keys on here, so has anyone got two spare keys from a Toshiba Sat Pro (would think most of the current models would have the same mechanism). I have the keys just not the working mechanisms.

All suggestions using whatever method thankfully recieved, there's more than one way to skin a cat (keeps head down in case RSPCA are looking!). Will try setting up a test PC using the policy first and if I can't get that to work I'll try setting up a script to do the job. Thanks all.

Glad to see some other views on this. One of my primaries nearly blew the ICT budget on this this year, thankfully I managed to persuade them that buying better PC's to replace the failing ones in the classroom was a better use of the money! Looked at the site and heard the approx costings and not convinced. If they want info screens then as someone suggested I would think streaming their own content would be better, bet even to be conviced on that yet as who is going to spend time watching it.

Thats the kind of info I'm after, thanks. Will have a look at that when I get the chance on Friday. I'm sure I'll be back to ask more though. Ours will be simpler as we only just have a suite (corner of a corridor!) so all PC's will prefferably have the same start menus items and any specific programs i.e. for the foundation stage will be placed directly on the desktop for ease of access.

Had the ICT coordinator suggest that he wanted all the programs not being used by the staff/pupils to be uninstalled from the PC's because its too confussing for them!!! I asked how long did he expect this to take to whichg his reply was can't you just do it from the server...if only!!! However after thinking I can do it by just removing the unwanted ones from the menu and apply in the new menu...buit how. Anyone got an idiots guide for me as usual for how to replace the current All Programs menu with one showing my own selection. The pupils have mandatory profiles and the teachers roaming, its Server 2003 with XP clients and the the software has only recently been started to be installed using msi's from the server so much quicker to change the menu. Got desktop redirection in two of my schools and thats just a brilliant time saver, but I have to admit not setting that up inthe first place.

Thats just the same with me except I only cover 4 primary schools. Tried to initiate the idea of an online system when I first started but it fellk on deaf ears so I just went with the flow of one I know they will use, a job book or whiteboard. Trouble with an online one is that how do they report a problem of internet access when they need the internet to report it?

Thanks Guys, ...but can we get a better deal? so far its nearly £20 for 80...can we beat that?

Anyone know where the cheapest place to get AA size batteries. Not bothered about rechargeable just alkaline but I need bulk. Found a site the other week but as usual I now can't find it again. Sure they were selling about 130 for £16. Need them for some control work.

Problem 1: Got a Smartboard installed with a separate speaker mounet either side at the top. Got a problem now that through the speaker can be heard music (had this before in another classroom where it was a taxi firm we heard!) not that you are not supposed to nhear music through a speaker but this is when none is being played via the PC! How can I stop or cut down this problem? Should I use one of those ferrite rings on the cable or just try and re route the cable (difficult as there is not much spare). Problem 2: Similar thing but this time its a crackle etc comming from the speakers when the room hearter kicks in or the lights are switched on. Was OK untill Xmas when the sparkies added some extra sockets to the system but apparently not on the same ring. They suggest its to do with the eddy currents and "nowt to do with our work, we've checked it!"...just coincidence then! My answer was it must be the flux capacitance then captain...didn't help much but it made me feel better! Once again any ideas for a solution?

Hi Guys, as usual great replys, thanks. Its the Server then that I want as I want to just test a new OS out for access by the network but keep the existing server 2003.

Can someone let me know which I need to use to install on the server so I can have a guest operating system on it and have it accessed by the network, Vmware server or vmware esxi? Looked at the site but can't make out which one is the one to use or whats the difference? Installing it on server 2003 if that makes any difference.

Bigger screens on the Samsung. Agree with what you say aout looking the part for primary but still taken with the Samsungs. Have one school who want to go the Fizzbook way and one the Samsung way. Suppose I'll see who's right in the end

Just in case anyone else has the problem, it turned out to be flash related. Just installed the latest version and it was OK.

There is a toshiba bios password reset floppy disk as well if you have a USB floppy available. I don't think the A300 has an LPT port but I can vouch for the loop back working on older models as I had to make one up the other week for an A40 I think it was, plug in, boot, password removed. Anyone know why its Toshibas that seem to have this self setting bios password problem. Thought it would have been fixed by now.

Just installed the ABACUS Evolve maths (Foundation Stage) software for the reception class. On one PC it installed and works fine, yet on the second PC, same install, when I use the RM Easyteach program to access the activities instead of seeing a page with activity buttons I only see a page with the title on it, but there are links there for the buttons as the mouse changes as you hover it over areas of the page and when clicked they go to other pages..just can't see any of the graphics? Anyone any ideas? I can only think it may be a Flash issue maybe? Not had much to do with RM Easyteach before so not sure how it uses graphics etc.

Thanks, once I started delving a bit more I found that. Just what I needed.

Anyone know of any software I could run/install on the school network (could be on a separate PC as I have one comming spare) to allow a Blogg to be created like Wordpress etc. I know I could just set up one on Wordpress but the school just want this set up totally internal. Oh forgot to add...the usual price range £0 to £0 (free) is required!

After the BETT show wisit we were very taken by the Samsung NC10 Netbook for use in the classroom (Year 6). Anyone got any views on this netbook or what other reasonable ones, impressed with the size of screen, batter life etc. We would need ability to run XP Pro, have a reasonable hard disk etc, min 1Gb ram but would like more if possible. Also anyone got any suggestions for a reasonable storage unit we could use to store them in, only looking to get 6 initially and if it went well get more so would need room for expansion.

Thanks for the pizza guys, just the job at just the right time.

Blip.tv banned site under YHGFL

Thanks, I'll let them know.

Don't you just know its Christmas! Been asked is it possible to connect a Wii up to a Whiteboard and projector but as I don't own one not sure about what connections are available or possible. I know the standard connection is via scart to TV (or composite RGB) but can I connect it to a whiteboard wall connection that has audio and video phono connections and some SVGA connection as well as the usual VGA. Sure I must be able to as seen it being used with projectors in Shopping centre demo's etc.

I'm a bit biased but about time cycling got recognition for the rapid progression it has made over the last 10 years, from being happy to get in the finals to being dissapointed not to get the golds they expect now. Not bad haul last noght as well, Coach of the Year, Team of the Year and Personallity of the Year.

Funny justr had this happen this morning on a Fujitsu PC. Was not finding the network, limited connection and all that. Shut it down, restarted, hey presto all working OK:doh: Don't you just love it!

Hope this may the right forum. Been using SystemRescueCD (Main Page - SystemRescueCd) for a while now to image PC's from a PC to a portable hard drive and then on to the new PC but I would like to image them to the server on the network. The CD runs linux (not sure what version or flavour) but none the wiser after looking the the documentation how I go about connecting to the server (win 2003, got a share already set up). Anyone used this software before like this and could give me some pointers of instructions. The CD picks up te DHCP server and allocates and address and gateway etc so it sees the network, just don't know what to do next even after looking at the documentation.