Computer help?

I haven't seen a case provably due to a bad hard disk. However, it seems plausible that disk errors affecting the paging file can look like memory errors.When my disk failed last month (probably a head crash), solaris still booted but with errors. WinME would not boot at all. WinXP booted without any visible error messages, but ran very slowly. It looked to me as if it was silently rebuilding damaged data, for it ran faster on subsequent reboot. (Yes, I one of those people who installs multiple operating systems on the one disk).

My computer time is currently 2 minutes off -- time for me to resynchronize with a time server.This is just clock drift, and normally not a serious problem.

Just a minute, there. Have you determined that she needs a 3.5 inch drive?

It could be one of the smaller ones (such as used on laptops).I agree 3.5 is more likely, but it is usually a good idea to check.

I just measured a 3.5 inch drive. It's actual size is 4 x 5.9, and almost 1 inch depth. That's to help you identify. It is called 3.5, because it is designed to fit in the same space as a 3.5 inch floppy drive. There was a break through in disk technology a few years ago, that pushed prices down and capacities up. That's the processor type. The original pentium was the 80586 processor, from around 1995. You probably have something newer and faster than that, but with "pentium" still part of the name.

Faith asked for help. But I wonder if we are drowning her in too much geek talk.

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Compassionate conservatism - bringing you a kinder, gentler torture chamber

You have to first click the appropriate icon in the system tray, to tell the system to prepare it for removal. Otherwise you might lose data. Not a real problem. It's electronic, not mechanical. No wear factor. However, I do presume it has a finite life. I don't happen to know what is that life.

Question: will that actually work, if she happens to be using a web proxy (as she would if using AOL)?If she is connecting to the net via DSL, then we need to also take the modem into account. If she is using a Speedstream 4100, then there won't be a problem, though (depending on modem settings settings) Windows might see her IP as 192.168.1.64. If she went with the 2Wire modem, then that will be acting as a NAT router with the firewall protections of NAT. She would need to configure the modem to port-forward the port used by VNC or Remote Desktop. Those are the standard SBC/ATT modems at present.Then, as jar mentioned, there is the windows firewall.Welcome to geekdom, Faith

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Compassionate conservatism - bringing you a kinder, gentler torture chamber

Using admin privileges, I can check the IP you are using to post to evcforum. Your Message 241 was posted using an AOL proxy (IP address began with 207.). Your Message 245, the one to which I am responding, was posted using an SBC dsl ip address (begins 75.). You might have seen a still different IP. As far as I know, connections to AOL make use of a VPN (Virtual Private Net), and AOL assigns an IP address typically beginning with 172. for those connections. Maybe VPN is not quite correct - the technology of VPN is used, but a public IP address is assigned.

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Compassionate conservatism - bringing you a kinder, gentler torture chamber

If you leave your modem powered on, you should keep your IP for a long time (weeks, sometimes months) unless you have line problems. I have had the same IP since Oct 12th. Yes, I use an SBC dsl connection.

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Compassionate conservatism - bringing you a kinder, gentler torture chamber

What modem are you using (manufacture and model, such as "Speedstream 4100)?

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Compassionate conservatism - bringing you a kinder, gentler torture chamber

Sorry about that subtitle. I started to write something different, then changed my mind and forgot to correct the subtitle.If the modem is a separate small box, it presumably has a label.I'm looking at a modem right now (not the one I am actually using). On the front it says "SpeedStream", and there are 5 labeled LEDs. There is a red label at the back. If I turn it over, another label says "SPEEDSTREAM 5100" and a bunch of geek stuff. There is also a yellow label with a modem access code.Open a command prompt window. Type in the command:

ipconfig /all

If you can post the output of that, it will tell us a lot. Or email it (to AdminNWR), if you don't want to post that in a public place.

In Message 257
I asked for that to help identify the modem. You can skip it for now. Okay. That was my guess.You will probably need the modem access code for the next step. It is on a label on the bottom. Write it down, so you can find it when you need it without having to repeatedly look at the bottom of the modem.Point your browser to http://192.168.0.1/
You should see a page that looks like this.
However, it might not have all of the details. If you don't see the "Connection Configuration" button, then click on "Advanced". I think that's when it asks for the modem access code.Then click on the "Connection Configuration" button. You should see a page that looks like this.About halfway down that page is a selection menu for "Connection Type". The three choices are "Connect on demand", Smart Connection", and "Always attempt to connect". Set it to "Always attempt to connect". Then click the "Save Changes" button at the bottom of the screen.The effect of this change, is that you should be able to keep the same IP address for a lot longer.Those web pages are for the 5100b modem. But the 4100 modem is almost identical (but physically smaller), so they still apply.And here is the page for more than you ever wanted to know about your modem.

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Compassionate conservatism - bringing you a kinder, gentler torture chamber

The IP address that Faith used to post Message 265 is identical to the IP address she stated in Message 261.If you are unable to connect, it might be due to the Windows firewall.

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Compassionate conservatism - bringing you a kinder, gentler torture chamber

I would guess that both firewalls are active. But I'm mainly a unix person, so not the best source of Windows info.