MyAnswers: Can I use my two screens with VGA and DVI ports with a new computer with DVI and HDMI ports.

The following MyAnswers solution 2420 is now available:

I've bought a new computer and want to use my existing two screens. My screens have VGA and DVI ports but the computer only has DVI and HDMI. Can I still use both my existing screens.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au/myanswers/
(An Online Connections service.)

MyAnswers: Be careful when purchasing computers from retailers as you can end up with underperforming hardware.

The following MyAnswers solution 2419 is now available:

Be careful when buying a high performing computer from the large retailers. One of my clients purchased what they thought was a fast computer. When I checked the AMD processor it was half the performance of the Intel i7.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au/myanswers/
(An Online Connections service.)

MyAnswers: Older Windows XP computers running very slow due to design flaw. There is a workaround.

The following MyAnswers solution 2418 is now available:

A number of people have found their older Windows XP computers are running very slow. They've done nothing new with the computer but find the speed sometimes intolerable. Checking Task Manager shows svchost.exe consuming a considerable amount of CPU resources.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au/myanswers/
(An Online Connections service.)

Alert: Your iCloud storage is almost full. You are currently using 4.8 GB of 5 GB total storage.

I received an email tonight with the subject 'Your iCloud storage is almost full.'. I couldn't help think, was this a scam email or a legitimate email. I checked all the links in the email, the headers for the email and the IP address from where the email was sent from, which was registered to Apple. So yes, this was a legitimate email.

I was surprised to see I'd used up nearly all my iCloud storage. I actually thought I'd disabled most of the iCloud features but apparently not. Time for me to go in and first delete some unwanted material on my iPhone which has been uploaded to iCloud. Then I'll disable the features I don't want to use with regards to iCloud, so hopefully the problem won't occur again. It turned out I had the iPhone backup set to use iCloud. I deleted the backup and the incomplete backup that had been created in iCloud. I do however use other techniques to backup my devices so it is important to make sure you backup your devices so you can at least recover the data that is important to you. 

This is actually a good marketing strategy for Apple. Those who don't manage their use of iCloud will end up purchasing more storage thinking they need it. When you look at a basic iPhone it has 8 or 16GB or storage. The 5GB will easily be consumed backups and you may not even know it is happening. It also means there's data usage from your internet access plan you've used that may or may not impact the cost of your internet service. Whilst it does take some effort, it is important for you to know what each feature of your device does and how that could affect you.

What also concerns me is this is an automated message in a standard format. Once spammers/scammers see messages like this they'll create fake messages to trick people into taking some action. If you receive any such messages from Apple treat them with suspicion. It only takes a moment to infect your computer or to share your personal or credit card details.

Kelvin Eldridge 
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

Call 0415 910 703 for IT support.

Servicing Doncaster, Templestowe and the surrounding areas.

MyAnswers: ERROR 403 - FORBIDDEN when submitting a PHP form which contains a website address.

The following MyAnswers solution 2417 is now available:

I've created a form in PHP which enables a user to enter a website address. If the user enters http:// at the front of the website address, when they press submit they receive an 'ERROR 403 - FORBIDDEN' message.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au/myanswers/
(An Online Connections service.)

MyAnswers: Adding text to a a graphic using Gimp 2.8.4 on a MacBook Air running Mavericks doesn't work.

The following MyAnswers solution 2416 is now available:

When trying to add text in Gimp 2.8.4 on an Apple MacBook Air running Mavericks, after you click on the graphic and start typing the text does not appear and Gimp thinks you are using a keyboard shortcut. Quite unworkable.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au/myanswers/
(An Online Connections service.)

MyAnswers: How to change deleted messages on Apple Mail to go to Trash and not Deleted Messages folder.

The following MyAnswers solution 2415 is now available:

Apple Mail on the MacBook Air sends deleted emails to a Deleted Messages folder and not the Trash folder as expected. How can I change the deleted messages to go to the Trash folder.

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Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au/myanswers/
(An Online Connections service.)