Replies

You could try a Google with your drive details to look for a driver to download and install, or go direct to the vendor site to see if they have them available there (they should). The services are unlikely to do much before the drive is properly installled.

My LUA setup has been stable for quite a while now, although it took some fiddling to get there. The following is from memory, rather than the detailed notes I should have taken.

I started with the LUA/admin split when I still had XP Home, and had to “cheat” from time to time. A later switch to XP Pro, with all the controls available, pretty much eliminated the need for the cheats, because it allowed direct changes to folder/file permissions.

The most common and simplest work arounds I used for apps that didn’t want to play were:
– Uninstall the admin installled app, elevate LUA to admin, reinstall as LUA, demote LUA.
– Create a shortcut to run the app as admin (aka “Run with different credentials”).

The application that caused me the greatest grief was Primavera – a magic tool, but a long way from Windows compliant.

If you have specific apps that cause dramas, the Lounge is a good place to seek a solution.

btw A simple technique I use (started back in MS-DOS days) to assess the quality of a product is to install into a non-default folder. If it fails this test,it has to provide something special for me to persist with it. It’s a sign of poor coding practises and a good indicator of the thought and effort put into the product.

Fair enough. Passwords for physical access at home can be a nusisance, even redundant, if you’re behind a good router firewall.

The scenario where the tip for autologon, with password protection, is more relevant in a work place scenario, where moderate security is needed (would you want someone sending emails from your account?) and password are usually mandatory.

At home I use a limited user account. for all my routine work, surfing, playing, etc. I use a 2nd, admin, account for maintenance, configuration, installs, etc. Once you get into the habit (it takes a while), it helps you focus on the role you’re supposed to be in (user v admin). And hopefully also keeps me a little safer most of the time, especially on the web.

It probably won’t improve your calculated rating, but you can make your autologon more secure if you Boot up Windows before you even log in.

The linked tip lets you use autologon, but locks the computer so you have to enter your password to use it. That is, you turn on, go make a brew, come back, enter your password, and everything is loaded up and ready to go. Where you’re allowed to use it (the IT guys won’t like), it gives you a nice smooth start to the day. (NB: This is not 100% secure, but it is far better than autologon by itself.)

You forgot AntiVir from your list

A Google for “free antivirus review” will get you more formal reviews of these (& other) products, eg Review: Free Antivirus Software. The review results vary, but you can get a feel for each product as you check the comparisons.

> that word is also the same in all the Scandinavian countries…

I guess that depends on whether you consider Iceland (no flag in Lounge!) & as part of Scandinavia?

Nice one, Joe. I’ve been doing this manually, via the “Open Command Window Here” XP PowerToy, but now I can tailor a standard one, with my switch selections.

Not only that, but you could set up a similar option with the “TREE” command for a more graphic version. And then…

Or, check the Sysinternals Suite links, courtesy Joe.

Same sleeve as the formula?

If Hans’ explanation needs further explanation you can also use the built-in Excel resources.

The “fx” (insert function) button on the formula bar (or Shift-F3) describes and allows you to select among available functions, and guides you through parameter entry, step by step. If the brief guidance in the dialog is insufficient, you can click on the “Help on this function” link (bottom left) to take you direct to function specific help.

What I often do to build up a complex composite of functions, as per Hans’ solution, is to work out each component in a separate cell before combining them. This process is especially useful to get my head around unfamiliar functions.

(If you only have single copy of your (precious) formula, make a copy before trying the following.)
The other trick I use is the F9 key for partial calculations (to debug formulae). If you select a part of the formula in the formula bar, and press F9, the selection is replaced by its calculated value. The selection can be anything from a single cell reference, to one, or more, functions. When you make the selection, limit cell references to to just the cell reference, and for functions include everything from the function name to the closing parenthesis. Repeated select/F9s let you “step” through a formula to see how the final result is calculated. You can use ESC to “back out” from the partial calculation(s) – ENTER will save the formula with the calculated values in place.

If you’re really keen, you can always dive straight into the Excel help, but be prepared to guess the sometimes elusive, correct terminology (as with most help systems).

Not specifically, but a simple formula should do it (wouldn’t surprise me if Hans didn’t have one up his sleeve, ready to go).

A littlle more info about what you’re trying to achieve, maybe a sample scenario, should get you a more solution.

Make sure you’re up to date as per Joe’s reply.

I sometimes experience similar “dropouts”, even when not minimised. So far, I’ve always been able to kill the hung process and reconnect to my (in progress) session.

I haven’t identified a specific cause, but have a few suspects. Apart from just plain broken connections (wireless), periods of inactivity seem to be common denominator, possibly involving screensavers and/or power saving options.

Cool – probably worth a cross post at “Other Software Applications” to spread the news.

I’ll continue keep this on my usb drive(s) as well since some places I work at have rather draconian constraints on web access (it’s amusing that even where diskette/cd/dvd drives have been removed from “LAN only” PCs, it’s usually possible to attach a usb drive!).

>I force strings into upper-case

could have something to do with it. It would be interesting to test run your code with the case conversion commented out.

But I’d be surprised if that was enough to account for even half the difference.

>I can’t even display my own desktop wallpaper

My sympathies – I’d be very tempted to find somewhere more rational to earn my daily bread. That easily beats any misguided and paranoid sys admins I’ve ever had the “pleasure” to cope with.

I much prefer the model where only data is locked down, everything else up for grabs, and swift and drastic action (the boot) for misdemeanours. And it tends to be far more productive too!

You’re right Al, thanks, that setting is off (never reset since dial up days ).

But, IE 7 still displays the user pic with the post, despite that setting! That is, I have the same post open in FF (no pic) & IE (with pic)?

After switching the setting on, both FF & IE display the pic. And now the mismatched behaviour is gone – if I toggle the setting either way, both FF & IE now behave identically.

Since I can no longer replicate the peculiar behaviour, I suspect this will remain unresolved. And that leaves me really struggling to understand how the symptoms could have shown up in the first place since the behaviour is (should be) controlled by a Lounge setting, and presumably the Lounge code makes no special provisions for any browser.

Anyway, to celebrate the reappearance of userpics (for me), I’ve added my mobile toy to the mix.