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Older computers may have been built during a time when the electronic components used in their construction were of poor quality. In particular, a large number of capacitors suffer from a syndrome called the “Capacitor Plague” where they swell, bulge, burst and may even blow up with quite a bang!

Photos: A motherboard with the Capacitor Plague

Before these components fail catastrophically, they will likely cause stability problems with the computer. frequent lock-ups and crashes. The computer may even fail to boot or fail POST, amongst all manner of other issues. 

How this came to pass is a story straight out of a James Bond movie. Several Taiwanese manufacturers used a stolen formula that had vital details missing, which resulted in the components not being manufactured to the correct construction or grade. The result was the supply of components to electronic device manufacturer that were destined to fail given some time and use!

The Wikipedia entry for the “Capacitor Plague” makes for interesting and comprehensive reading on this topic.

If you’ve got an older computer and are experiencing strange problems that don’t seem to be down to the usual Operating System, drivers and software causes then it is worth a quick inspection of your components for signs of this condition. Roundtrip Solutions can perform this inspection for you if you suspect it is the cause of your computer problems. This is a part of our computer support and repair service offering that covers Edinburgh, Fife, and Tayside. We will advise you of the necessary repair required to get your computer operating again both stably and safely.

Technorati Tags: capacitor, capacitor plague, computer repair, computer support, Edinburgh, Fife, Tayside, Wikipedia

Most people believe the banks will reimburse any losses from their accounts even when the fault lies squarely with the customer. This honourable position by the banks has been the case up until now, with many people seeing the banks reimburse losses  that are the result of fraudulent transactions on their accounts. But, this period of generosity may be coming to an end!

From the latest Banking Code:

Online banking
12.9 Online banking is safe and convenient as long as you take a number of simple precautions. Please make sure you follow the advice given below.
• Keep your PC secure. Use up-to-date anti-virus and spyware software and a personal firewall.
• Keep your passwords and PINs secret.
• We (or the police) will never contact you to ask you for your online banking or payment card PINs, or your password information.
• Treat e-mails you receive from senders claiming to be from your bank or building society with caution and be wary of e-mails or calls asking you for any personal security details.
• Always access internet banking sites by typing the bank or building society’s address into your web browser. Never go to an internet banking site from a link in an e-mail and then enter personal details.

Lots of sound recommendations that everyone should be following today. However, the big one from a customer perspective is the requirement to keep your PC secure and using up to date security software. But, many people are simply users that don’t always understand if their computer is fully secure and meets the recommendations made in the Banking Code.  The vast majority of PCs will have at least one issue that could allow the banks to use their “get out of jail free card” and avoid having to reimburse the customer.  

The banks will likely publish new terms and conditions that limits their liability whenever they are able to show you haven’t been following their recommendations for keeping your computer secure. Now to see how long before we see them applying this new culture to secure their profitability… the credit crunch and challenge of bank charges may speed along the real world implementation of this new culture!

Roundtrip Solutions is able to provide a service to secure your systems on an ongoing basis through a support contract. The ongoing option ensures the latest security updates are applied, your computer is running up to date security software and the latest best practices are applied. Computer support customers in Dundee, Edinburgh, Fife and surrounding areas may find our service to be extremely useful.

Technorati Tags: anti-spyware, anti-virus, banks, Banking Code, firewall, online banking

The BBC’s Panorama show features an alarming report tonight to do with the seedy side of the online world. Every parent should be watching this important public service programme tonight on BBC1 at 8:30pm to ensure their kids don’t fall victim to the predatory nature of pedophiles.

Many parents will remember the “Charlie Says..” public service announcements of the late 70’s, so let’s take that advice and update it for today! Don’t remember it, well here’s a little reminder for you…

Our support staff have already provided assistance and support to Fife parents that have discovered grooming like activity in time and wanted to ensure their kids were safe in the future. The first few times we have came across such instances it was with some disbelief that we approached the issue and a feeling of remote detachment and denial as we tried to get our heads around the actions from the worst scum of society. Many parents will also go through these feelings and believe it won’t happen to their little darling! Be warned that it could unless you are vigilant.

We recently delivered an IT Security talk  to the Institution of Engineering and Technology in Edinburgh. One of the sections within that presentation was on Child Protection issues, along with all manner of advice to make computers and the Internet a safer environment for the children who reap great benefits from its use. Even taking our first hand experience into account, we were alarmed by some of the resources and statistics discovered to do with online grooming whilst performing further research for the presentation. Needless to say, the advice and protection resources form a vital section of our presentation. 

A copy of the presentation is available in pdf format (requires Acrobat Reader to view).

You shouldn’t believe banning your kids from using the Internet is the solution, when the key is education, how the computer is set-up and the trust relationship you have with your children. The benefits from the Internet are numerous and the risks can be mitigated thereby preventing these scumbags from depriving our children of the wonderful advantages of the online world. We must do everything possible to get these predators removed from society and banged up in prison for a very long time. Report any suspicious behaviour and preserve the evidence of the offense for the authorities.

Please feel free to contact us for further information, advice or help in securing your computer to better protect the children from this most deviant part of society.

Technorati Tags: BBC, BBC1, child protection, IET, Institution of Engineering and Technology, Panorama, pedophiles

For a while now, Apple Software Update will tell you the related update for a Quicktime only install is iTunes + Quicktime! No it isn’t, it is Quicktime that is installed and it is Quicktime that should be kept up to date. Not everyone wants to use iTunes!

However, we suppose it could be argued that a dependency exists that makes for a better computer set-up, so we’ll concede that one. But, now for the real gripe of this post and it is a peach and a half!

When did all Apple customers/users install Safari?

For those who don’t know, Safari is Apple’s Internet browser, in competition with Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Why is this update being offered to everyone running Apple Software Update? Proof below of how this works even on a system that hasn’t even looked at the Safari webpage, never mind going to the length of downloading and installing the browser. 

The slightly good news is you can ignore the update by going into:

Tools -> Ignore Selected Update

We’re betting it won’t ignore the fact that we don’t want Safari and we’ll be offered it again and again and again as they release new versions!

However, the irritation isn’t over yet! Now Apple Software Update is popping up with a message inferring it can’t take a telling. No means NO! What part of that don’t you understand Apple?

This behaviour is totally unacceptable and reminds us of the kind of misleading approach used by the nasty people that peddle malware. Our message to Apple is to STOP this immediately and redesign your update application to be honest and only offer updates where updates apply and make it explicitly clear when the software install being offered is an optional (read as unnecessary) extra that doesn’t really affect the Apple software running on your computer at the moment.

The majority of computer users will simply install this Safari update when it is offered, even although they may never use it or even understand what it does. Perhaps we’re now starting to see the real face and business practices of Apple! The marketing droids at Apple want to be able to say they have a higher marketshare through the number of installs of iTunes, Quicktime and Safari, even if it is done in a deception and misleading way. Naught, very naughty indeed!

Apple is now betraying its customers and users. Mac fanboys feel free to convince us otherwise and comment on how this kind of behaviour wouldn’t make them flame if it was being done by Microsoft.

Update: John Lilly, CEO of the Mozilla Foundation, has posted a similar complaint about this issue on his blog. He makes some interesting points that expand upon our blog post… we heartedly recommend it to you.

Technorati Tags: Apple, Apple Software Update, iTunes, Quicktime, Safari

The Movie Playback Problem

Some versions of Windows Vista don’t come with an MPEG-2 decoder / addin for watching  movies, other MPEG-2 video sources and recorded TV. Vista Home Basic, Vista Business and Vista Enterprise customers are going to be a little upset when they try to play a DVD movie, watch certain TV channels or have a must see video clip and all they get is a message from Windows Media Player saying it can’t play the clip. Only Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate have support out the box!

However, there are a number of options available ranging from FREE to mega bucks. Let’s look at some of the common options.

MPEG-2 Playback Options

VLC Media Player
Free - yes, that’s correct, it costs £0. With versions available for many different platforms and operating systems. Simply install on the problem system and you’ll be able to use VLC Media Player to watch your movies and video clips. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a DirectShow MPEG-2 Filter, so you can only watch MPEG-2 content using the player. 
 

"Microsoft Approved" DVD Decoders Plugins
A couple of plugins from Roxio and Cyberlink come with the blessing of Microsoft. Around about £10, these are an inexpensive option from a couple of the biggest companies in the 3rd party multimedia application marketplace.
 

NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder
Three different varieties ensure there is an option that suits both your wallet and your need.
 

3rd Party DVD Playback Software
Think PowerDVD and WinDVD, which most users of previous versions of Windows will be familiar with. 
 

Microsoft DVD Playback Pack
Recently announced, this option only looks to be available to Volume License customers. A word of warning straight from the mouth of Microsoft:

DVD Playback Pack for Windows Vista is designed to be used by IT professionals and should only be distributed as part of an operating system image.

Doesn’t sound like many people outside of corporate-land will be using this option!
 

Upgrade Windows
Order a Windows Vista Anytime Upgrade pack from Microsoft to allow you to  upgrade to one of the supported versions. Only worth pursuing if you require some of the other features and functions that are only available in a "higher" (more expensive) version  of Windows Vista.

Warning
You will need to run an upgrade set-up, which could result in the corruption or complete trashing of your current Windows Vista installation. Ensure you know what this involves and what options you need to select before performing this upgrade. And don’t forget to backup anything you can’t afford to lose before kicking off the upgrade.

Conclusions

For most people, we recommend going with VLC Media Player and consider donating some time or money to help support the project. Remember you need to watch the movie (clip) in the VLC Media Player application.

If you would like features that are only available in a higher version of Windows Vista then consider the Windows Vista Anytime Upgrade option.

Technorati Tags: Cyberlink, DVD, DVD decoder, DVD Playback Pack, Microsoft, MPEG-2, NVIDIA, PowerDVD, Roxio, Vista, VLC Media Player, Windows, Windows Vista Anytime Upgrade, WinDVD

Happy Easter everyone.

Since it is a holiday, we though you’d like to see this amusing little Apple Mac vs PC spoof that is performed South Park style.

Technorati Tags: Apple, Easter, Mac, PC, South Park

Continuing with our “Geek Sayings” series, Stephen Lamb commented on how the paperless office wasn’t really happening to the degree he’d like to see.

One of the comments, made by Kevster, summed things up perfectly,

“A paperless office is like a paperless toilet” - Kevster

How are others finding the transition to the paperless office? Are you using more or less paper than you did five, ten, twenty years ago? Any tips to share with others on transitioning to saving the trees?

Technorati Tags: Geek Sayings, paperless office, Stephen Lamb

An informative video via Colin Mackay.

How To Behave On An Internet Forum

Technorati Tags: forums, Internet

The government is currently considering a plan to ban users that are caught illegally downloading copyrighted content. ISPs will have to monitor and ultimately terminate the customer’s internet access if they are found to be abusing copyright.

The BBC reports that “UK net firms are resisting government suggestions that they should do more to monitor what customers do online”.

Now for some Friday humour that complements this story nicely…

Further reading:

BBC Online

Times Online

Technorati Tags: anti-piracy, BBC, funny, humor, humour, Times Online, YouTube

On Wednesday evening, James Eaton-Lee of NGS Software and John A Thomson of Roundtrip Solutions presented to the IET South East Scotland Local Network.

The PDF version of the presentation is now available.

Please leave us a comment if you attended the event or have downloaded the presentation and have some comments or questions.

Technorati Tags: computer security, IET, NGS Software, Roundtrip Solutions

Roger Thompson of AVG’s Exploit Preventions Labs has just produced this excellent video on how social engineering techniques are fooling people, even those who think they are safe using Firefox.

The bad guys are getting smarter! Be careful out there folks.

Technorati Tags: AVG, Exploit Labs, Firefox, MalwareAlarm, Roger Thompson, security, social engineering

The Windows Vista blog has just announced the release to manufacturing of Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

This should fix some of the big issues that have seen slow adoption of Vista in the real world. Goodbye to the slowness and reliability problems of Vista! Well, fingers crossed.

Remember to backup your system before applying any major service pack. But alas, you’ll have to wait until mid March before it will be available on Microsoft Update.

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Microsoft Update, Service Pack 1, Vista, Windows

The PC vs Mac debate is of religious proportions. It can easily start bar brawls, result in wars and may ultimate result in the end of civilization.

Okay, we exaggerate a little, but since it’s Friday we thought some PC biased folk would quite like this humourous video and there might even be some Mac fanboys who can see the funny side.

Warning: NSFW (maybe)

Technorati Tags: Apple, Bill Gates, funny, humor, humour, Mac, Microsoft, Steve Jobs, Windows, YouTube

Forget alcohol, forget heroin, the new addiction is “Technology”.

Technorati Tags: addict, addiction, technology, Word of Warcraft, WoW

Have you heard what Bill Gates said about Windows Vista? No! Well here goes and listen closely!

Your ears aren’t playing tricks, he’s saying that Windows Vista could well have been a candidate for more polish before it was shipped. Not really a revelation there!

However, it is fair to say that Microsoft have been working hard and Windows Vista is getting there now. A few customisations and a fully patched Windows Vista computer is now something we can recommend for home and some business customers.

We’d add Office 2007 as a close second place for more polish and that is even after Office 2007 SP1.

There is no truth in the rumour circulating the Internet that Office 2007 team members got polishing kits in their Xmas stockings… no truth at all. But it has been reported that the shiniest shoes in the US can be found in Seattle.

Technorati Tags: Bill Gates, Microsoft, polishing kit, Office 2007, Vista, Windows