If you press control alt and delete (in windows XP) and you get a task manager window without tabs, borders or means to close it then it is running in 'tiny footprint' mode. Why anyone would need such a mode in task manager is beyond me - it doesn't save much space at all and it's not as if you'd ever need this to be on-screen for a long period of time anyway.

To fix it, double-click on the top border of the window.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q314227


Our email is scanned for viruses and spam by an external company. Due to complaints that large amounts of junkmail were getting through, even messages with very explicit subject lines, we are going to have the service upgraded. As part of this upgrade, I was given a long list of file types and asked which should be blocked or allowed if they are attached to emails.

After going through the list marking out the obviously risky types and file types which have no valid business use, I decided to send a memo round which listed the proposed blockages and asking if anyone had any objections to this.

The list includes a large group of multimedia file types, such as Mpeg, Avi, Quick Time Movie etc. There is zero business use for these files at our company, but they are often used for passing funny short videos around.

One staff member spotted Mpeg on the list and asked me to reconsider.

"Ok then, what's the business benefit of allowing these files that clog up the email system and double the size of the back up?"

"They brighten the day and put a smile on people's faces!"

Not a bad argument actually, but I wouldn't want to have to defend it to the company directors!

One thing I've noticed over the last 18 months or so is that laptops with one year warranties seem to start developing problems around the one year mark.

In one instance we were lucky. The problems started on one of 2 identical laptops after only 9 months. We were able to get the warranties on both extended to 3 years, which was lucky because we've had more trouble with them since.

We haven't been so lucky with another. This one was bought not long after I started doing the IT job, when I didn't know about this seeming 'built-in obsolesence' feature! This laptop has started pulling some spectacular stunts, and we might have to pay top whack to get it sorted out. Today the keyboard had 4 working keys at one point. When I say working I mean you get some kind of response from them, not what you have typed but a response anyway. After plugging in an external keyboard it works ok up to a point, then the built-in keyboard throws in characters of its own ad lib. The number lock light comes on and off also of its own free will, so I think you could say the keyboard (or its connection to the motherboard) is blown.