Craig M

Hello all.

I recently ordered an enclosure/caddy for a 3.5" sata Western Digital HDD I have because the original encasing was badly damaged. I tried it earlier on today and I think it's overheated/blown my HDD. It powered on for a few seconds then died and there was a strong smell of something being burned.

I've been looking online and a few links suggest that it may be repairable. A case of removing - and possibly the replacing the PCB - to check the diodes, which may have been fried, but, apparently, can be removed and/or replaced.

Links:

http://www.extremetech.com/computing/133294-raisin...

http://lifehacker.com/5982339/diy-data-recovery-tr...

Any experience of this, guys? I'm at my wits-end with my laptop and this external HDD; I must have spent 75 hours tinkering with both and getting nowhere!

Thanks!

Hi all, I have a Western Digital essential 'my book' 500GB hdd. which recently 'broke' (power problem). So, I've removed the hdd from the case and am now looking for 3.5" sata enclosure to connect it to my laptop with. Something like this below:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5-SATA-to-USB-HD-Hard-...

However non of the items I am finding on ebay and Amazon appear to be compatibale with Windows 8. I don't really understand how something can be compatible with W7 but not W8. I have emailed the sellers and they confirm "not compatible with W8". Surely this is just inaccurate info?

And ideas' guys?

Thanks for reading!

Hi all,

Recently I became aware that I cannot open files by doing the standard left button double-click, so I have to right click and select 'open'. This is on virtually all files, from desktop icons to avi files and doc files.

The laptop is used solely for browsing and work, so I really shouldn't have picked-up a virus as I download virtually nothing on it. I have done a full Mcafee anti-virus scan and also ran Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool. In addition I've ran a Dell performance scan, and nothing was picked-up.

Any ideas on what might be causing this issue? And how is might be resolved.

Dell 3520 Inspiron running W 8.1

Many thanks!

Hi all, can anybody please advise if there is likely to be a significant difference in performance between these two processors?

Thanks!

Hi all,

It seems that all newly-sold laptops here in the UK are running W8 now. However, I've read quite a few reviews advising it is a nightmare to use as a desktop OS - designed with touch-screen functionality in mind. If I buy a W8-running laptop would I be able to 'downgrade' to W7 should I struggle with the former? (I'll probably buy a Toshiba since they're all I've ever used!)

Many thanks as always.

Hi guys, is there a significant difference between these two processors? Many thanks

I've read that shih tzu have a "flatter" pug-like face, but looking at images online it's very difficult to notice any discernible difference!

Thanks!

Hello, I am considering buying a puppy from a breeder who advises the pup is "KC" registered. However, the breeder does not appear on the KC website as an "registered breeder."

Does this mean the breeder is trying to dupe me, or do breeders have to pay fees to appear as a "registered seller" on the KC website?

Many thanks

Is it necessary to have a lhasa apso pup tested for PRA? How common is PRA in lhasas?

I am considering buying a JR puppy. I note the pups can be either smooth-haired or rough/wire-haired. I imagine the smooth-haired dogs moult hair like, say, a spaniel. I wonder if the rough-haired version are more like, say, a Westie, ie don't moult??

Many thanks

Hi all,

Could I used Polyuenthane Floor Paint to paint and seal my concrete driveway? I understand it'll be slippery but I thought I might possibly get round that by adding a fine sand, say kiln-dried sand, to the paint before applying to the surface.

I have a large concrete driveway which is a mismatch of colours as it has obviously been extended over the years. It is a real eye-sore, so I'm looking into the options available to me. I can't find tinted concrete seal here in the UK so I thought I could use either Polyuethane paint or maybe I could just paint the area with masonry paint then seal it using a clear concrete sealer?

Any opinions or advice, guys?

Many thanks.

Would it be effective if I were to paint my concrete driveway with exterior paint and seal it the same day using a concrete sealer?

Thanks!

Hi guys,

The driveway at my home is a mismatch of different coloured concrete. It has obviously been enlarged over the years and pieced-up with mortar at various points where the original concrete has cracked. In an attempt to make it more attractive I have been thinking about sealing it or staining it. Which would be the better option? And where, in the UK, can I buy concrete stain and/or coloured concrete sealer? Alternatively, would I get away with painting it with external, eg masonry, paint then sealing it?

Thanks!

Hi guys,

The driveway at my home is a mismatch of different coloured concrete. It has obviously been enlarged over the years and pieced-up with mortar at various points where the original concrete has cracked. In an attempt to make it more attractive I have been thinking about sealing it or staining it. Which would be the better option?

Alternatively, would I get away with painting it with external, eg masonry, paint?

Many thanks

Hello all readers,

The driveway at my home is a mismatch of different coloured concrete. It has obviously been enlarged over the years and pieced-up at various points where the original concrete has cracked. In an attempt to make it more attractive I have been thinking about painting it. What sort of paint would be effective? I was thinking external masonry paint. I was also wondering if it is possible to "stain" set concrete. If this is possible I'd imagine it would be far more effective than simply painting the surface. I live in the UK and I do quite a bit of DIY, but I don't recall ever coming across "concrete stain". However, I'd imagine this is a possibility. So, is it possible to stain set concrete? And, assuming it's not, or that I can't get an applicable product in the UK, is there an effective exterior paint that can be used instead. Thanks in advance to respondees!

She is almost 5, and is, at least I thought, in good general health. Three days ago she developed a cough. Initially I thought she might have swallowed a foreign object as she has a habit of chewing and tearing her rubber toys into small pieces and also running, quite literally, through the conifer trees in our garden most afternoons while trying to get the attention of our neighbours dog. I became particularly concerned when I noticed yesterday (Sunday) that the cough seemed to be worsening. I called our regular vet surgery this morning to schedule an appointment for later this week. However, soon after I had made the call, she collapsed in the garden and, though conscious, she was unable to get up from her side. I took her immediately to the vet's. She has been there all day and so far they have said it is either "kennel cough" or an "enlarged heart". I'm not satisfied with either explanation. Firstly, she has not been near any other dogs, other than our neighbours dog, which spends most days on the other side of our garden fence, so I'm not convinced that kennel cough is likely. Secondly, she is a fit and healthy, and fairly young, terrier, so I'm not convinced she would suddenly develop an enlarged heart without my noticing. She has not had any change in her appetite or energy levels. My question is: would an enlarged heart cause her to develop a cough and to collapse, and, additionally, is it possible her heart enlarged without any visible symptoms? Many thanks to any and all respondees

Hi everybody,

I have a Kodak digital camera. Every so often I Bluetooth photos to my PC to back them up, and sometimes upload for friends and family to view. Sometimes the images transfer literally smaller than other times. The consequence is; some photos appear much smaller than other. Is there a way I can stop this from happening? I can use Paint to increase the size of the smaller photos but they then lose quality. Many thanks

I wonder if any users might be able to recommend useful digital archives relating to nineteenth-century U.S. history and the Civil War. I need to write a paper on nationalism in the antebellum U.S. Since I normally deal with South American history I am not too familiar with U.S.-based digital archives.

Many thanks

hello, I am curious to learn how miniature schnauzers respond to recall training. I understand beagles and fox terriers are difficult to recall train. Are miniature schnauzers any less stubborn that the other two? many thanks