A: Richard said that the problem is most likely to be that Janet has lost the program that plays DVDs. There are lots around, such as CyberLink and Power DVD that can be purchased and downloaded from the internet. The decoder is the piece of software that plays the DVD to the screen. Richard suggested checking the discs that were supplied with the computer and re-installing the DVD playing software.
Richard noted on the show that there are a lot of fake anti-virus programs that are being circulated at the minute, for example WinAntiVirus or VistaAntiVirus. Even though these programs seem to be a good thing to have, they are infact the opposite. He suggested getting your PC checked out by a professional if you have such programs on your computer, before they do any damage!
Q: Harry said his internet connection had dropped to around 4Mbps from a usual speed of around 7Mbps.
A: Richard said that this could be a problem with your internet service provider. Mbps stands for "Mega-Bytes Per Second", and is a measure of the speed of your connection. This figure is affected by many variables, such as the distance from the telephone exchange, the type and condition of telephone wire you use, and the router/modem you use to connect to the internet.
However, because this figure has changed recently, this is most likely to be a problem with your ISP, and suggested getting in touch with them. It could be that they are working on your telephone exchange or cables in the area, which can affect internet speed.
Q: Steven has upgraded his package with Karoo, and installed it ok. They are now having problems with their PC after the power cable became unplugged whilst the PC was on.
A: Richard said that this was probably due to Windows experiencing an improper shut-down. This could have corrupted the Windows files on your computer, and may need re-installing. Richard suggested seeking professional computer help regarding this issue.
Q: Chris texted into the show, saying that he had mobile broadband as BT won't install a permanent broadband network in his small village. He asked if there was any way of raising the issue with BT to possible make them install a network in his village.
A: Richard suggested that mobile broadband is the best option for you, until a network is installed, which can sometimes take a while. The best way to hurry the process of getting a network installed in your village is to register your details with BT, and get your fellow Villagers to do so, and if there is enough interest then BT are more likely to install a network.
