Zoom7000

We are running a Windows Server 2003 domain with XP clients. I am fed up of PCs being shut down by staff and student, meaning we can't do maintenance and roll out software etc. Is there anyway I can disable shut down? Also, the popular method for shutting down the PC is pressing the power button on the PC. Can I change the setting of the power button to reboot the PC as opposed to shut it down so that the PC will always at least come back online. Don't mind reboots, but can't stand shut downs!

Right, I think I've finally managed to solve this! The Intel® Rapid Storage Technology was the driver causing all the issues. Annoyingly, the driver on Asus' own website is the problematic driver. The version on Asus' site is 10.5.0.1026. This driver kept giving BSOD and screwing up my entire Windows installation to the point where it wouldn't boot in to Windows any more. I decided to check the Intel website and found a version 10.6.0.1022. This driver installed fine and so did all the other drivers and the system has been running well for the last few days. So, all the problems I had were basically because Asus have got crappy drivers on their own website! I updated the BIOS anyway and thanks to everyone else for their help here!

Well, the trouble is, both systems were working fine. I then had to dismantle both systems to get the motherboards swapped out by Asus due to the SandyBridge flaw. So, both boards are now the B3 revision boards which weren't supplied by OcUK. The warranty is unaffected, but I'd rather sort out the issue if it can be sorted with something like a BIOS update rather than having to RMA or otherwise. The trouble is, I can't yet pinpoint exactly what's causing the issue. I'd like to get a confirmed diagnosis as to which part is actually fault (If faulty!) before returning the board, only to find a new board causes the same issue because something else is faulty!

The important question, where are you moving to Ric?

The SATA mode has been set to AHCI. I think that was the default and seeing as my own identical machine is working fine, I presume this isn't the problem, however, I will double check! Thanks for the tip.

Yeah, the last time I did the install, I installed all the drivers barring the IRST drivers and when I did the full Windows Update (checked that it didn't install any drivers during the update) it went in to recovery reboot loop and wouldn't go in to Windows at all. BIOS update is the next step! Will try that this evening.

Right, just installed Windows 7 on a new (borrowed hard drive) and when installing the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver Software, it came up with the same BSOD. So, not the HD at fault. Faulty motherboard? Or faulty CPU?

I think you're wrong there mate. The RAM is fully compatible with SandyBridge CPUs and they require the RAM voltage to be set at 1.5V. I read on OcUK forums that setting the voltage to 1.6 has been killing SandyBridge CPUs.

Everything is running at stock at the moment. lol! Well remembered and thanks for the tip! No, not booting from the DVD. It's going in to the Startup Recovery mode on it's own. Will try this too if all else fails - Always been a bit edgy upgrading BIOS firmware!

I just received my replacement Asus P8P67 Deluxe B3 boards and having major problems getting things going. I purchased 2 identical builds and 1 set up worked completely fine. The second however, is giving me no end of issues. Booted it up and the machine just kept on BSOD-ing with the current Windows 7 build, so I then tried taking 1 of the RAM sticks out (GeIL 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz VALUE PLUS Dual Channel) and trying it with 4Gb. Same issue, tried the other stick, same issue. Put both sticks back in and it just wouldn't POST at all. Took the RAM out of the identical working machine and the machine boot up but again BSOD on Windows boot. Put the both the other RAM sticks in and annoyingly, it booted up! (Again BSOD on Windows 7 boot though). So, downloaded Memtest and ran with no errors found. Reinstalled Windows booted up fine. Then when it came to reinstalling the drivers it BSOD on the install of the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Driver Software with error iaStor.sys. After reboot, it didn't boot into Windows at all complaining that iaStor.sys was missing or corrupt. I tried another format and install and installed all the drivers again except for the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver Software, this worked fine and then I ran Windows Updates. The only driver it installed was the Marvell Storage driver with no issues. However, when I reboot the PC, it went in to an Infinite Reboot Loop of going in to the Startup Repair console, reporting it can't fix the issues and then shutting down. I had a search round Google and went in to the advanced options. I noticed by running BootSect.exe that there was no install of Windows on the C: drive, yet there was an install on the D: drive. However, no D: drive exists on the PC. There is only one drive with no additional partitions. So, I tried fixing the MBR, but still had no luck. Any ideas what could be the problem here? Faulty Hard Drive? Or faulty motherboard? Also, why would the motherboard not POST with the 2 RAM sticks, yet when I tried the sticks out of the working PC and then put the other 2 back, it worked? Baffling!

Unfortunately, it only records in AIFF format. I posted the same question on OcUK forums and someone suggested the aptly named "DropVox" - Which does exactly what I want it to, except for the fact that it records as M4A. For universal compatibility (and sharing) I need MP3 and they don't give an MP3 option.

Does anyone know if there is a Voice Recorder app available for iOS (iPhone in this case) that will record audio in MP3 format and allow uploading to cloud based storage like Dropbox? Currently I am recording using Voice Memos, syncing to iTunes, converting to MP3 (from M4A) and then uploading to Dropbox. Is there anything that will do all this in one hit?

Just bought a new Mac Mini for use as a server on site replacing our ailing Xserve (remember them!) Now, it doesn't come with a DVI or VGA port at the back, instead comes with HDMI and Thunderbolt. I don't particularly feel the finance department will be pleased with £899 for an Apple Cinema Display. So, can someone please recommend a monitor that will work with HDMI (or Thunderbolt but I doubt anything is out there!) that will work well with the Mac Mini and ideally carry sound (Just in case it is needed!) I believe it is possible to use a HDMI to DVI to VGA converter for use with our current monitors, but we need to purchase a new monitor anyway, so, I'll weigh up the options.

Can anyone please explain how you can compile a new NSI installer?

I've also added this reg tweak with my deployment so that if the user double clicks on the DVD drive in My Computer (as most of them do here!) then it will automatically launch VLC as opposed to WMP (which doesn't have the codecs on XP) Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DVD\shell\play\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\VideoLAN\\VLC\\vlc.exe\" --no-qt-privacy-ask --no-qt-updates-notif --started-from-file dvd://%1" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AudioCD\shell\play\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\VideoLAN\\VLC\\vlc.exe\" --no-qt-privacy-ask --no-qt-updates-notif --started-from-file cdda://%1" So basically, any DVDs or AudioCDs will play automatically in VLC if the user double clicks the drive icon in My Computer.

Well, I'll be pleased with this move. It means I only need to take 1 bus from almost directly outside my house and it's only about a 10 min journey! Either that, or get my dad to drop me off! lol!

Thanks for this! Worked exactly as I wanted it to!

I find IMPACT more annoying that Comin Sans. Especially, when in BOLD EDIT: Bloody hell! THAT IS TERRIBLE!

Yeah, I hope they do use the same method, or better still allow users to create a bootable USB/DVD from within System Preferences or similar.

According to Engadget: http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/06/stevejobswwdc2011liveblogkeynote0551.jpg So from that it looks like it will follow the same licensing scheme for all App Store apps. You can install it on to all of your authorised Macs. Pretty decent value for money for home users. Just waiting to see how the educational licensing will work out. It'll be amazing if you can upgrade all of your Macs for just one £20.99 purchase!

Can someone please recommend me an All-in-One Printer, Scanner, Copier. I'd rather stick to HP as I prefer HP products for their support and ease of finding accessories. Fax would be a bonus, but I would like Wireless as my parents may chose to place it in another room.

You've got it all wrong mate. RM cannot make you redundant. It is called TUPE for a reason. Transfer of Undertakings, Protection of Employment. The latter is the part where your job is protected. I have done several informal chat sessions with prospective TUPE staff (having been TUPEd to RM myself in 2009). No TUPE staff have ever been made redundant within RM and until recently, only 1 had left of their own accord. If you transfer to RM tomorrow they have an obligation to honour every T&C you have today. Regardless of what salaries you get paid. TUPE staff salaries vary because the LAs have never shown equality (which I have always found utterly stupid!) If your boss is telling you he'd rather give you what an RM Technician might get (which may be more or less - depending on your NM's job) then in my opinion he is trying to pull a fast one on you. Ask for what you deserve and RM will honour it. In fact, RM will even honour a pay appeal if you have one pending after you TUPE over. RM cannot pay you RM Technician rates. They cannot give you pay rises or bonuses based on RM terms, they have to honour all your T&Cs based on your LA terms. (So you will still get your LA announced pay rises, holiday increments, long service increments, benefits etc) You are merely asking the very similar questions I was asking when I was in your position. Take everything the LA tell you with a pinch of salt, because our LA were useless at giving us any information. If in doubt, contact your union rep. Mine helped me an awful lot to ensure everything was all above board and it was in my case.

I understand all of this. I just wanted to know what the advantages of running x64 versions of everyday use programs was compared to running the x86 versions on Windows 7 x64.

Can someone please explain installing and running x64 programs over x86? I'm now running Windows 7 x64 on my main PC at home and a lot of everyday use software now comes in both x86 and x64 flavours. Some of the programs I'm using are: 7-Zip WinRAR Media Player Classic - Home Cinema Microsoft Office 2010 As far as I was aware, the only advantage for me was that running Windows 7 x64 allowed me to make use of more than 4Gb RAM. (Hence the 8Gb in my PC used for VMware etc plus the 1Gb on my GPU). But what advantages does it have using 64bit versions of everyday software? Will something like Media Player Classic run smoother? Will 7-Zip and WinRAR extract faster? What use is there running IE9 in x64 over x86? (Last time I ran IE(8) in x64 it neither supported Flash or Microsoft's own File Transfer Utility for downloading from Technet/MSDN - Not checked since) - Will I actually notice any speed advantages running these programs on my SandyBridge Core i7? Just wanted to get some suggestions/opinions.

Granted I got my USB at BETT 2010, however, how they have treated everyone else who registered who couldn't make it to BETT to collect their USB has been pathetic. Hope you succeed in kicking their butt Tony!