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XP Help

Rod

Rod

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Back in 2006 I bought some software and kit for colour profiling printers etc which worked on Windoz XP.
Before anybody asks the latest version costs £1100!
I gradually upgraded to 7 then 10 and didn't really need to use the software as I kept using the Epson cartridges and the same type of papers.
However recently I decided to use compatible inks as the Epson ones are £14 each and my printer takes 9 - compatible ones cost about £2!
It does mean my printer profiles are not correct and it shows as the prints have a magenta hue.
I've dug out our old laptop which runs XP but am worried about viruses, security etc.
Can anybody recommend any (free) security software that runs on XP?

Rod
 
Mike G":5pc1bznp said:
Avast.
Click to expand...

Only consider programs beginning with A :lol:

+1 for Avast I have that one machine

Adaware AV on another.

I'm going off Avira. It takes ages after boot up (minutes) before the machine responds normally

AVG used to be ok but lately has become bloated. Make sure you got no where near Norton EVER

but as someone said do you need anything if it is not going to connect to the internet??

Welcome to a delightfully stable OS with no updates!!

Bob
 
Thanks for that.
I have to access the web to get a new activation code for the software, fortunately the company are still around.
After that I cannot see why I'd need to be connected.

Rod
 
I use AVG and , both free editions , I have malwarebytes bute don't use it much.
Touch wood .. no problems.
I also avoid any potentially "dodgy" sites ;)

another NO for norton .. it does things to your hard drive boot sector you really don't want it to do !
 
Oh well it looks like it will no longer be an issue as I have heard from XRite that they no longer support the software and cannot issue new licenses.
Bit of a shame as I have the disks and the kit but cannot use it unless I can find a key generator.
There's at least one firm that provides profiles at £15 a throw so looks like I will have to go down that path.

Rod
 
I've been using a Toshiba Satellite laptop, which uses a Pentium 4 that we bought in 2000 but it's frustratingly slow!
It's fairly stripped down as my wife used it for working from home and it could only use limited "approved" software.
It couldn't have been this slow when last used (about 6 yrs ago) - do computers get slow with age?

Rod
 
Was the machine previously networked and is still checking for network connections?
Run some sort of disk checking utility to see if that might be a problem - bad sectors etc.
Run process explorer to see if anything is hogging CPU time or memory
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sys ... lorer.aspx

Maybe defrag the disk - although fragmentation should be no worse than when you abandoned the machine.

hth
Bob
 
Thanks Bob I'll give that a try though I'm losing the "will to live" with it having spent a "wasted" day with it yesterday trying to remove and update security software. It takes about 30 mins just to boot up Firefox!!
It wasn't networked as such - just plugged into our modem, then dialled into the works system through passwords etc.

I've found a possible software crack but it's on a newsgroup that you have to join and subscribe to. I'm really annoyed that I've got the software and kit but cannot use it as it's "finger printed to a particular machine"! When it was supported they would issue a new key if you changed machines.

Rod
 
Rod
Can you use a free generic Colour management system ?

Bob
Just install ed that ...
What is System Idle Process ? it's using 90-100% CPU
(yes, I'm about to google ! lol )

EDIT .. OK , just googled it .. nothing to worry about :-)
 
Ah! Slow to boot rather than slow to run.

You probably have remnants left after software removal which is causing long waits looking for missing stuff.

Google for clean up programmes. Maybe consider working in safe mode to speed things up whilst you are tidying and cleaning.

If it is too bad, pull off any files you need and then reformat the disk and reload the OS. This might cost one "will to live" rather than many. :lol:

Bob
 
Tusses":3r4ixztx said:
Rod
Can you use a free generic Colour management system ?

Bob
Just install ed that ...
What is System Idle Process ? it's using 90-100% CPU
(yes, I'm about to google ! lol )
Click to expand...

The clue is in the name. It is what the computer does when it is waiting for you or not being usefully employed.

90-100% is good!

Bob
 
The kit has a lot of hardware - you print out a page of special colours using your known paper and inks. Then use the hardware to analyse each small colour patch in turn - the programme works out a colour profile for that particular combination of paper and inks.
You can also calibrate your monitor so "what you see is what you get".
I went on a colour management course and some of the kit was given as part of the fee and software at a big discount.
As I kept to the same inks and paper over the intervening years and the output was still ok, it didn't get much use, so when I upgraded to other Windows I'd sort of forgotten about it.
Now using cheaper inks the printing is not 100% - very obvious magenta cast which I find difficult to change even using photoshop.
Going back to Epson inks would cost 9 x £14 and they don't last very long especially when printing A3.

Rod
 
There are places that do a ICC profiling service - you print their chart and post it to them, then they send you back a printer profile to correct it.
never used one myself as I gave up home printing photos a long time ago.

First one I found with google - http://www.colourphil.co.uk/profiling.shtml
Not checked for reviews and know nothing about them but you can see what the service is..
£15 or £23
 
Thanks Robert I mentioned about them a few posts ago [emoji3].
I don't print many now myself too but my daughters arranged a family photo shoot in a studio and instead of paying for very expensive prints bought some of the JPEGS for me to print!
If I can get the laptop up to speed, I think the software I've got will work for 14days without the licence key, in trial/demo mode.

Rod
 
:oops: I should have read more carefully :)

Don't know what printer you have but it is often the case now that it is cheaper to buy a new printer than a stock of genuine ink for older ones..

I'd still use an online print service. The cost is not that much different to home printing and there is no hassle.
 
It's an Epson Stylus Photo R2400
A3 printer which uses 9 different ink cartridges.
I've used PhotoBox to make up albums, when they have offers - what online service do you use?

Rod
 
whoever is cheapest!

Bonusprint

Truprint

like you, photobox if there is a decent offer

Recently used http://www.supersizeprint.co.uk/ for a lot of large pictures for the hall and stairs. did a good job.

Not tried snapfish.

So far the only bad prints I've received came from photobox but they did reprint without fuss.
 
Here's a photo of the calibration kit with two of the printer samples it analysed to give the profiles.
The two oblong devices are the readers - the small one for the monitor.

6eab23bef7bf3da06b79773fb06e0125.jpg


Rod
 
Thanks Bob

I've been looking into the printing services and they are not that expensive.
I need some A3's to fit into frames we have and they work out at between £4 and £5.
I defragged the laptop and it is running a bit faster - it was not just booting up that was slow. I've tried to remove some old security software but they will not fully uninstall, the computer just hangs part way through the process!
The HD is 87Gb and about 83 is free - I'd forgotten how small they used to be.

Rod
 
lol .. the PC's I am using for the CNC and Laser cutter both have 30gb HDD !
still plenty for what they do.

I'd like to have an original XP install disk though, as you can't really get rid of the accumulated junk completely without a format and re-install (or a side by side fresh install if you have the room.
That way, you keep all your wanted files on an accessible drive.
 
I did think about reformatting the HD
- I've got two copies of XP, one is an upgrade and the other a DELL oem.
I remember having trouble with both of them so a bit wary.

Rod
 
Rod":2l2mdcfx said:
I did think about reformatting the HD
- I've got two copies of XP, one is an upgrade and the other a DELL oem.
I remember having trouble with both of them so a bit wary.

Rod
Click to expand...

Rod, been a long time since I messed around with XP but be careful that the version you have 'the upgrade' is an actual complete copy of XP and not a Service Pack (it will be printed on the disc label if it is). The service pack will not install XP.

Likewise the Dell OEM version...unless your PC is one (a) at least from Dell and (b) ideally the model that the Dell OEM disc is for then you could have real problems (as you have found out) with incorrect/missing drivers. I would be inclined to try and pick up a copy of XP off eBay. I used to have a couple but in the move I have no idea where they are otherwise I'd gladly send you and Tusses one.
 
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