redbeardtravels

My PC wouldn't boot up properly after some recent changes (an update to my AVG anti-virus was at least one of the changes I made the same evening).

After restarting my PC wouldn't boot up properly. It would load Windows, but then hang. Usually I'd get background processes like the AVG updater popping up.

I decided to do a System Restore. It couldn't find a restore point, so I went all the way back to the factory defaults. I'm sure I saw a screen that said 'no data will be lost'.

The PC is now running fine. As expected, most of my software needed uploaded again, but I'm shocked at how many of my files have been lost! I've gone through a major project recently reviewing ALL my 15,000 or so photos, organising them, deleting duff ones, etc.

ALL that work has been undone! The duff photos and old folders are back, but some folders are completely empty. I'm doing a Picasa scan from fresh to see how many photos it can find, but I'm amazed at what's been lost!

Any thoughts please??

Most evenings after turning on my PC I need to wait at least 15 minutes for my broadband to become accessible. I have two icons in the corner, one saying Status SpeedTouch PPP disconnected and another saying Speedtouch Initializing.

If I try to connect to broadband while these icons are showing, I receive an error message 'no dial tone.'

Some evenings it takes an hour or two for broadband to become accessible, if it does at all.

When I run the Speedtouch diagnostic, it says my PC and modem are fine, but that there is a problem with the ISP. When I click for more details it says 'the modem is initializing, this may take a few minutes, please be patient.' I would hardly call a couple hours a few minutes!

Two nights running and it has not worked at all! When I do get it running, the whole PC freezes a couple minutes until my web browser opens. The two icons switch to 'PPP connected' and 'Speedtouch bytes received/sent'.

I have only noticed this problem since switching to Talk Talk (which has very slow speeds, but that's another issue). I've not changed my equipment and I don't recall changing any settings. Basically, I want to know if it's Talk Talk's fault? Any thoughts would be appreciated, ta.

When I signed up to Talktalk they gave me a broadband wireless router which I'm never going to use. Would it be ok to sell this on ebay?

The reason I ask is because I read that the router has come hardwired with my username and password. Is that true? Or is it in the CD that came with it?

Or would it be ok, since the buyer would be unaware of my phone number and probably won't be a Talktalk user anyway?

For the past few days I've been unable to visit my website, www.redbeardtravels.com.

I receive error messages like 'no content' when trying to load the page, even when using different computers.

I publish using Blogger and own the domain, but neither Blogger or Namecheap have flagged up any error messages with me saying it's been deactivated or anything. I ran a report through DNStuff and they didn't pick up a problem either.

On my Blogger account I can log in and see a list of entries, but when I try to actually view the blog nothing happens. I've even made a new post, but again I can't see it!

This has happened out of the blue, I've not posted content to it for a few days or changed any settings. Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

Would anyone be aware if there is still the bus from El Escorial to El Valle de los Caidos?

Last I heard, it runs from Plaza de la Virgen de Gracia at 3.15pm Tues-Sunday, returning at 5.30pm and that the €8 return ticket includes admission to the monument. These specifics aren't on the Patrimonio Nacional website.

Has anyone done this recently and can confirm this information still accurate? Also, are we looking for a bus stop in the plaza, or is it a travel agency?

Many thanks, it sounds like a good daytrip from Madrid.

It split down the middle, the outer layer was tough and crispy, plus it was stodgy.

Was the oven too hot? I baked it at 200C. Did I beat the dough too much? Should I have used beef suet instead of the veggie version? Please share your roly poly recipes and secrets!

We have booked tickets for Bettye's gig at the Jazz Cafe on Sunday 14 April.

We've not been to the venue before and wondered how far it is away from Camden Town tube station?

What would be a good time to queue up (doors open at 7, so presumably she's not onstage till 9)?

If we miss the last tube back into central London, is there a taxi rank nearby? Thanks!

It was probably made within the last couple years. We just watched a trailer for it on a rental DVD last night but forgot the name and the now the DVD is back in the post.

Anyway, it looked like a suspense movie, there's an explosion in downtown LA and the husband is trying to reach his wife after she leaves the house. He's not sure if it's terrorists, the army shows up in chemical suits, the air is thick with smoke....there's no attempt during the trailer to explain the plot, just capture the mood. Apparently it got good reviews and there's a twist at the end?

Any ideas of the title, it looks like a good one to rent? Cheers!

I am trying to find the paperwork with which to claim a refund on dividend tax on French, Swiss and German holdings. The dividends have been taxed by both the the UK and respective European authorities so I am entitled to claim a refund, but I am having difficulty finding the documents online. Any suggestions? Many thanks!

I'm quite sure a couple years ago the female singer from Roxette was in Manchester filming a music video atop our coach station but I can't find it anywhere on YouTube? I'm not sure of the name of the song nor any mention of it on her website!

I was at a club the other night and on the monitors they were playing a DVD of what looked like a black Saturday Night Fever on roller skates.

It looked amazing - funny, with great costumes and cool dancing sequences (probably with a funky soundtrack too) but I have no idea what it was called??!

Any ideas, I'm not finding it on Amazon. It would make a great double bill with Xanadu...

Preferably in metric? I am trying to use a recipe in an American bread machine book but it keeps collapsing.