The Top Twenty

I have a COMBO CD/DVD drive & find that when wanting to play DVDs it will only play cheap double sided or illegal copies. It wont play legitimate store bought copies. Can U tell me how I can get round this problem please!!!

EDITOR'S NOTE: You're probably trying to play NTSC-formatted discs on a device that's configured for PAL (the UK standard). You can probably fix the problem by setting the DVD drive to a region that supports PAL. See the manual or vendor's website for help with that.

I HAVE 2 LAPTOPS, 1 IS CONNECTED TO BROADBAND. HOW CAN I CONNECT MY 2ND ONE TO SAME BROADBAND USING WIRLESS CONN.??? IT DOESN'T SEEM TO PICK UP ANY WIRELESS CONN. AROUND HERE?

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you can connect to the router with one laptop, then the other should work the same way. Are you sure it has a wireless adapter, and the adapter is turned on?

Took a free scan from RegCure, took their offer of 3 free error removals and had to re-install my entire system. Thanks Bob

EDITOR'S NOTE: Okay, but I hope you don't think that *I* recommended RegCure. If you want to see the list of registry cleaners I recommend, look here: http://askbobrankin.com/free_registry_cleaners.html

Bob,
I am using vista with dial up,(Net Zero), and the email attachments will not completely download. They go to 99% and the computer never completes the download. It just runs until I stop it. I tried cleaning up the computer with ccleaner and the computer is faster, but still no go on the downloading of the email attachments. Any suggestions?

EDITOR'S NOTE: My guess would be that an anti-virus or anti-spyware tool is interfering. Try temporarily disabling these and see if that helps.

I want to install Linux operating system as an second operating system with microsoft xp operating system. can it possible? If possible please give me the webaddress to download linux software and please give how to install it as a dual operating sytem.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, very doable. This will help: http://askbobrankin.com/running_linux_in_windows.html OR http://askbobrankin.com/wanna_wubi.html

need help! have 2 hard drives,cant access slave cant can download but wont install.sound doent work eithercard is installed. what do I do to solve this problem?

these tips are very very useful

I am a 73 year old retired male. I have a 32bit HP desktop computer with Vista Home Premium. I wish to buy a new computer with Windows 7 on it, does the W7 take over from VHP or will the new one need to have both-W7 & VHP? Also would I be better getting a 64bit computer?

EDITOR'S NOTE: There's no need to have Vista on your new Win7 computer. Anything that runs on Vista will run on Win7. As for 64-bit, there are a few 32-bit programs that don't work well on 64-bit systems. Check any important programs to see if they'll work on 64-bit.

I have an internet radio station and need to get an 800 number. Any suggestions or have you published on the subject of 800 numbers?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Try http://www.tollfreenumbers.com/

In a previous existence, circa 1960, I was a programmer who morphed into a tech writer before retiring in 1990. Now, I live in a retirement home where there are lots of people trying to deal with computers. I do what I can (and some of the challenges are immense) and your site is a big help.

I especially like the article about "how much computer do you need". Right now I'm confronted by a very nice woman who is from Afghanistan, and totally computer illiterate. She went out and bought a laptop---the HP Pavilion Entertainment PC---which she would have no idea how to use, even if she could affort the internet hookup. A netbook would have been all that she needs--she just wants to send email to her relatives in Afghan.

Just thought you'd like an "attaboy".

Jean Lockwood
Virginia USA
jeanlock@cox.net