Ceci n'est pas une blog.

MossMan's non-blog.

Still offline... or "France Telecom is still a bunch of ****ers"

Friday, July 20, 2007 9:49:30 AM

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The story so far...

The PC suddenly starts crashing every ten minutes, we move house, we send a change of address to France Telecom, I resuscitate the PC, we wait for ADSL to be switched on in the new place...

But of course, depressingly predictable though it is, FT did *NOT* do the change of address properly... so after waiting the specified time I called them this morning and, SURPRISE SURPRISE (not): "they changed your address in the administration but forgot to request ADSL at the new place. That will now take another week."

Yay.

So they manage to do exactly the same f*ck up two times in a row for me. Let's hope it doesn't descend into the same month-long farce of three years ago (engineers who never turned up for appointments while I took time off work (at least five working afternoons wasted), phone on - ADSL off, then ADSL on - phone off, then all off... and all this while I was racking up a several-hundred-euro bill keeping contact with Jazz on my Dutch mobile).

I should also mention that this all started with the woman in the agency convincing Jazz that we should take up digital TV (only French, of course) and VOIP for an extra three euros a month, only to call back the next day to say sorry - they don't actually provide that service in our new neighbourhood - would we mind bringing all the equipment back again? And I had to go online to re-activate Caller-ID since she obviously didn't transfer that to the new address either.

Sigh. Same ol' same ol'.


Anyway, the PC is still sick. The power-pack had a failed fan, and when I replaced it the new fan wouldn't run off the pack's internal power line... so it's probably the power-pack itself that's unstable and I'll replace it some time after our holiday. For now, the PC runs okay with the box opened up and the power-pack outside (its new fan is now connected to an external line) - but it still crashes a couple of times a day. Not that it matters too much when we have no internet, but at least we have a bit of home entertainment back. smile

Big News!STILL still offline... or: France Telecom is crap! France Telecom is crap! France Telecom is crap!

Comments

P*nutP*Nut Friday, July 20, 2007 10:16:22 AM

I've got a major problem with my PC as well. For quite a while Norton had been saying something or other about Antivirus being out of date soon and to do a live update, which I always did and then it always went wrong. However, that date must have now passed.

Now, Norton Antivirus is telling me it's in need of "urgent attention" and it tells me that my "virus definitions" are out of date and to run live update but when I uploaded the live update it fails saying my Subscription to Norton Antivirus has expired.

However, I'm loathe to buy a new package because I re-subscribed to the full Norton Internet Security Package at the beginning of this year. Also bizarrely the "Norton Antivirus" page is saying on the renewal page of Norton Antivirus a renewal date of 30/12/1899 and that my subscription to virus protection is current.

If I look at the subscription page of the "Norton Security" page an Internet explorer script error comes up, and the renewal date just says that it's refreshing and doesn't refresh.

The lack of security is already having an effect as something dodgy comes up when I look at a blog page on Myspace, and Youtubes and videos in general are unusably slow.

I guess I'm going to have to resort to deleting this version of Norton Internet Security which now doesn't appear to be bug free (?????) and buying a new security package sad

Unless you have any better ideas of course bigsmile

mank1 Friday, July 20, 2007 10:20:21 AM

Sorry to hear about the complications. Oddly enough, I was reading an article about the superiority of French internet connections just a few hours ago. It would appear your personal experience is somewhat different. Check it out on Business Week.

Hope you get it all worked out soon. Cheers.



mank1 Friday, July 20, 2007 10:27:17 AM

Security? Yeah, use AVG. Even the free version beats the pants off of Symantec/Norton.

MossMan Friday, July 20, 2007 10:39:15 AM

Norton is a major pain in the arse these days and I would never recommend using it (indeed, I think I advised you against it).

Not only is it very invasive of your system (good luck removing it, you'll need it!) it charges and nags for services that you can get elsewhere for free!


My current top-three of essential maintenance and protection software for Windows (all free):

- AVG, anti-virus ( http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10703202.html?tag=lst-0-1 ) (you have to get it from places like download.com since they've hidden the free version on their own page)

- AdAware, removes spyware ( http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2007-Free/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5 )

- CrapCleaner, deletes junk and fixes Windows errors ( http://www.ccleaner.com/download/ )


I advise you to download these, install CCleaner, uninstall Norton, run CCleaner to fix the mess Norton has probably left behind ("clean" and "issues" in CC (run "issues" a few times till no more problems found)), install AVG, update it and let it scan, then install AdAware, update it and let it scan.

You might also want to try SpyBot in case AVG and AdAware have missed anything: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html


You should then visit Windows Update if it's not been doing automatic updates in the past: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

P*nutP*Nut Friday, July 20, 2007 10:50:54 AM

Are you advising me to download all three first and then install CCleaner, or start with installing CCleaner.


Are weird things like what's happening to me common with Norton then? It worked fine for one and a half years cry

Oh, I'm sure I can find it but your link to adaware isn't showing bigsmile

MossMan Friday, July 20, 2007 10:51:56 AM

@mank1 : I don't know who they were comparing France to (the UK, I suppose) but I was in Holland before, where it's better, and my wife was in Singapore, where it's better.

Actually, the services themselves are fine when they're working, and not too expensive, but the customer services are total crap in our experience.

I could also mention that my wife was considering taking an Orange (also FT) mobile service last year because they had a phone on offer that she liked, but their unbelievable arrogance and inflexibility cost them a subscriber who had already signed the contract!!! It was closing time on Saturday, the nice assistant had taken us through all the signing up (he was a student, not normal FT staff... and IT SHOWED!) and then we found we didn't have a certain detail of my bank account with us. The offer was finishing that day... could we arrange it next week on the same terms? Shop manager: non. Could we just leave everything in the shop and bring the number on Monday? Non. Could we make a payment now and sort it out afterwards? Non. Could I look it up online then? Non, it's closing time and I want to go home. Us: well you won't ever see us in here again then! Screw you!

P*nutP*Nut Friday, July 20, 2007 10:53:07 AM

Maybe I'll be able to put proper pictures up on myopera if I get rid of Norton bigsmile

MossMan Friday, July 20, 2007 10:56:39 AM

@P*Nut - you can download them as you like, but I would use CCleaner straight after uninstalling Norton because I know Norton leaves a train wreck behind. You are the fourth person I know who has gone through these deNortanisation troubles... smile

P*nutP*Nut Friday, July 20, 2007 10:59:17 AM

CCleaner seems to become PC Registry cleaner - is this the right thing? confused

MossMan Friday, July 20, 2007 11:01:35 AM

Nope. If you go through the FileHippo links you should end up with ccsetup141.exe.

P*nutP*Nut Friday, July 20, 2007 11:06:13 AM

Thankyou. Done! smile

P*nutP*Nut Friday, July 20, 2007 11:14:57 AM

I'm downloading all three first before taking the bold step of deleting Norton.

CCleaner already done. AVG downloading now - shall I ignore the reviewer who says "it's free - but so is herpes!" bigsmile - it's going to take 43 minutes though.

I'll go find adaware now.... smile

Thanks again for your advice! I'm acting on it right now - see how much faith I have in you wink

P*nutP*Nut Friday, July 20, 2007 11:20:06 AM

Is this the correct link?

http://www.adwarealert.com/index.php?hop=advanced99&p=3&gid=1072645447&tid=guk

Should I download 3-Way Protection or ....

OOohhhh... That's Adware not Ad-aware - how sneaky!!!!


Okay.. I guess this..... http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php?PHPSESSID=64ed0d9d262288a70656276d1e130aa2 .... is the page but I can't see where the download button is....

Sorry for being a bit thick and bunging up your blog with my problems. Can you point me in the right direction - I'm not a computer natural as you know smile

P*nutP*Nut Friday, July 20, 2007 11:48:37 AM

I've just seen my computer is completely full as well!!!!

73.9GB used space - 543 MB Free Space. I'd better delete some unused progs methinx!!!!

MossMan Friday, July 20, 2007 12:31:04 PM

Just running CCleaner should give you some space back...

Did you find AdAware? I don't understand what you're doing, since all the links I sent have big "download from..." buttons on them!

MossMan Friday, July 20, 2007 12:32:41 PM

Ahh.... unless you have a virus or spyware that has buggered about with your hosts file in Windows. Hope not - can't be arsed to tell you how to fix that one! lol

P*nutP*Nut Friday, July 20, 2007 12:35:00 PM

You haven't sent any links for Adaware! Honest! None are showing here!!!

P*nutP*Nut Friday, July 20, 2007 12:37:43 PM

I now have downloaded AVG and in the middle of installing had to put a new version of Roxio on (as it had a bug AVG couldn't handle) and then we had a power cut.

And now I can't find AVG anywhere on my system, and if I try to download it again it just very quickly says "Thankyou for downloading" as I obviously already have! Arrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!!!!!!

P*nutP*Nut Friday, July 20, 2007 1:00:08 PM

My little dog is searching my system. He's found something called AVGSETUP.EXE which looks promising. Let's try it, eh? bigsmile

P*nutP*Nut Friday, July 20, 2007 1:01:33 PM

OH - Windows can't open the f-ing program. F! F! F! mad

MossMan Friday, July 20, 2007 2:00:44 PM

Sorry mate - way too many other things for me to handle at work right now... you're on your own!

(If you can't see the link to AdAware in reply number 20 then I fear you may indeed be infected by something that is deliberately blocking access to that kind of cleaning software!)

P*nutP*Nut Friday, July 20, 2007 2:38:30 PM

Don't worry - when you have the chance, I don't know what you mean by Reply 20. The only reply that you would have thought should have the adaware link would be reply nr. 4 under this blog (i.e. your first comment.)

I can't find AVG anywhere on my system or am I able to download it again so I don't know what to do at present, so there's no rush. sad

Norton remains on (sorta) for now! bigsmile

MossMan Friday, July 20, 2007 3:57:52 PM

Sorry - my overheated brain read #20 instead of noticing it was 20th of July. D'oh!

Still, I *just* finished and sent off the two-weeks work scheduled to be complete today with ten minutes to spare! Yay!

(Although I had to send it twice since I used my personal account and sent a slightly older version by mistake first time. Oops. Quickly followed it up with an added comment about the end of a hot Friday afternoon...)

Anyway, now I have to rush off and get drinks since JazzMoss invited some people over for dinner tonight. BYE!!!

P*nutP*Nut Friday, July 20, 2007 5:00:41 PM

Cool! Have fun!

MossMan Monday, July 23, 2007 9:30:30 AM

We did. bigsmile

Linhellownurse Monday, July 30, 2007 5:59:54 PM

Ooh Lala! >_< It only reminds me of the hell that I would have to get through again to reactivate every single thing! OMG!!! Off-line = communication cut off from the ENTIRE WORLD!!!! >_<;

Not to mention, I haven't even locate a house yet... (Double opps)

Well, Toulouse is French = (*%$^%^% system)

I don't seem to be able to get the SMS that Jazz has sent to me... Weird...

MossMan Friday, August 10, 2007 11:11:54 AM

I've had things break down on me all month! PC... internet... new camera cry... phone getting less and less reliable...

JazzmossJazzMoss Monday, August 13, 2007 4:03:53 PM

Hopefully things are looking up from Monday the 13th. wink

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