h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes, once again i have broken my computer. Windows says that a software or hardware change might have caused it.


B*llocks, it's just jealous of Linux

what do you mean by broken? Windows won't boot?

yep but i installed windows 2k. I jsut need drivers and stuff to play games.

Can i go on the internet with kirstys version of 2k if automatic update is off?

stick a decent firewall on it first and virus scanner and turn off MSs IM thingy and turn of disk/folder/print sharing and... A few bits and bobs to make you safe.

how do i install the virgin media cd it says it needs ie 6.1 but i can't download it and it doesn't work with firefox either

you have to download IE6.1
Which is not a good idea without the relevant protection.

OTOH what do you need the VM CD for? You can stick XoneAlarm on it and then configure the network yourself by copying the information from the main machine. I wouldn't advise you go near M$ site without some sort of protection

Or, as I said, safest way is to download it under Ubuntu.

how do get the info from the main computer?

go to control panel, then network connections then select whichever one is enabled (probably a 'Local Area Connection' ) right click to select properties.
Under the properties panel you should see something like:

Tab - General
'Obtain an IP address automatically' checked (or with a blob in the radio button)
'Use the following IP address' - no blob in the radio button and the text below it all greyed out
'Obtain DNS server address automatically' - this might be checked, it might not be. Depends. Note whether it is or not.
If it is not checked then the next bit will be filled in
'Use the following DNS server addresses'
Preferred DNS Server:
Alternate DNS Server:

copy down what is shown there and then do the same on your 'puter and set it to the same.
The DNS server is the Domain Name Server which is the bit that translates the web address you type (eg www.bbc.co.uk/dna/hg2) into an IP address that the computer can use (eg 192.164.20.18 - although not actually that one since that is an internal IP address, but you know what I mean I hope!).

Also click on the 'Advanced' button and under 'IP address' it may say 'DHCP Enabled' if so - do the same on yours. If not, then not.

Check the DNS tab - should show the same IPs as in the DNS bit above.
Check the other tabs if you want but not such a concern there.

Well i have the internet working now!

hey, well done!
That's a definite +25 geek points

how many do i get for using linux?

ah, that's a clear +50 for installing it. Now, if you can figure out your way round it using the command line rather than the GUI that'd be +100. And if you managed to recompile the kernel on your own that'd be +500. Or something But installing your own OS and setting it is a good thing to have done. Now just gotta make sure you have all the drivers - and don;t go to the MS site, please?

ooops. why not the ms site?

Have a guess...

Plus you really don't need to go there - you need the HP drivers for your laptop, not MS ones. Being as how your laptop was made by HP and not MS...

i updated win 2k from windows update so that avg 8.o wworked on it but i got the drivers from the hp site and the intel site. as long as there are no problems from M$

From Judith - Dse212 results out today

tell her to let me know

Hmmmm...I wouldn't have run the update against M$ myself. Bit risky really.

So, all working ok now?

I'll elt mum know.

all working ok. why is it a bit risky? just so that i know for the future.

Why is it a bit risky?
I'm sure you can work it out

Plus - do you know all the information that your computer sends when you are on there? Nope. Same goes for any website but most of them a firewall will suffice. However, MS wrote your OS and they have back doors in it that will circumvent basic firewall and other protection. You don;t know what they are up to. It is probably all OK - but you have to ask yourself if the risk is worth it.

given there are other ways of doing this (such as downloading the MS updates via Linux) I think not.

Message from Mum. With regards to degree classifications what is a lower 2nd degree?