fix and repair

I recently had a Dell D505 laptop in the workshop that refused to install Service Pack 2. Each time, it just stopped on "Checking Product Key"

The product key was correct but it could get no further - the Update process would then use 100% of the CPU and had to be closed manually.

After searching the net, I found a few other users with the same problem and generally the solution was to reinstall Windows with SP2 slipstreamed into it already. Since this was already a fresh install after a hard disk failure, I was not keen on this plan.

We recently had a client who applied Windows 2003 Server Service Pack 1 on their Dell Poweredge 420SC server. On reboot, they were greeted with the dreaded blue screen of death (BSOD) with the error message.

STOP 0x00000051 (REGISTRY_ERROR)

The server would then reboot and then do it all again. Safe mode and Last Known good configuration made no difference.

After searching the net, it turns out that this is a known problem on older Dell Poweredges that have had a factory install of Windows on.

Manual download for SymNRT that will completely uninstall all Norton 2003-2009 products.

Sending email to AOL customers can be a tricky business. Especially if you are say running your own mail server on an ISP connection like a lot of small businesses do, typically with Exchange on Windows 2003 Small Business Server.

AOL have given one minor tool to help you avoid the bouncebacks, (typically by changing your configuration so your email is sent through another SMTP 'smarthost' like an ISP's SMTP server)

Once you've made changes that you think are needed, you can test the outgoing IP by emailing to the AOL IP Confirmation email ipconfirm@postmaster.aol.com

You will receive an email back from ipconfirm-response@mailtest.mx.aol.com showing the IP address that they perceive you to be sending email from. This is handy when you are getting bounce backs from AOL customers if AOL have blacklisted your IP.

• Make a copy of the PST. Do all of the following from this backup.
  
• Open a hexeditor. HexEdit is a free hex editor if you need one.

Please note that this article is a summary of choices for the more technically minded (and ourselves) and is not a comprehensive "How to".
How to Raise a BT Line Fault at wikiHow.

To check it is not a transient problem caused by something other than your equipment and line.

• Reboot your router! To remove the chance of a stale session, switch off your router for at least 20 minutes.
• BT Service Status page or call 0800 169 0199
  
• BT Fault report and tracking page
• BT Wholesale Broadband Incident Report - courtesy of AAISP*
• Perform a simple BT Line Test and test the connection via the master socket - Dial 17070 for a BT test line - It tells you the phone number for the line and provides quiet line test.
• Check wiring and replace parts where possible*
• List of potential connection problems
• Worse when there is bad weather? Do you have 2 lines?
  

Contacting BT Broadband

BT Broadband Business Internet Services - 0845 600 7020

• Press 1 - For Broadband order enquiries including moving premises
• Press 2 - Existing customer with a technical problem or enquiry
• Press 3 - For Billing Enquiries
• Press 8 - If you are a Residential customer
• Press 9 - To speak to an advisor
• Press 0 - Hear these options
  

Further advice for ongoing problems.

• If you get stuck in First Line support and you believe that they can't help you any further, you can ask to speak to a "Product Specialist" to escalate your call. (BT's own advice to us)
• You can log on using the BT ADSL Test account using the details below (this bypasses your username and password problems, authenticates you on the network with no access to the Internet except for an information page)
  

ADSL Test account details

• Username: bt_test@startup_domain
• Password: <no password please leave blank>
• More info

Finally, our best advice is not to sign up to BT in the first place (or cancel/migrate as soon as your first 12 months are up). Instead, sign up to a smaller reseller (you can use the ISP review top 10 providers), they might be a few pounds a month more expensive, but if you rely on your Internet connection (especially for business purposes), you'll be glad you did. We particularly recommend Andrews & Arnold*

BT Phone numbers

For information purposes only:- provided by saynoto0870.com on 17th May 2008.

* denotes some referal or partnership with these suppliers via the links given. Check out our stance on reviews and recommendations.