Back in July I decided to take out a subscription to the User Magazine. After I received my first copy, the magazine (sadly) folded.

According to this web site, I should be contacted 'by post' about 'refund options'. Has anyone else been contacted yet? I'm still waiting...

From the original message, I doubt that this is a hard drive problem. My guess is BIOS corruption or motherboard failure - many laptops have on-board graphics chips, and HP/Compaq have had huge problems with NVidea graphics chip overheat issues.

You could try a boot with everything removed: Hard drive, memory, wireless card and battery out. If the display doesn't light up and you get no start-up 'beeps' then it does sound like a dead motherboard. If you do get display backlight then I'd try resetting the BIOS next.

As suggested, search your model number on the internet for the same fault/symptoms.

Good luck!

[Quote] Flossie wrote:
If you look at the website with the benefit of Firefox + Adblocker, you still get SRS & Foliopics adverts (who pay specifically to advertise here, so I don't mind), but you don't get all the rubbish from Google. In fact, I'd say the site is deliberatly designed to look right and show those links with AdBlocker...

Getting rid of the google garbage also makes the page load quicker, take up less screen space, and you can focus on the forums not on irrelevant distracting and often misleading stuff.[/quote]Yes, that's my experience, too.

On Firefox try the combination of Ad Block Plus and Ghostery.

On many websites it's necessary to leave Google Analytics unblocked, or links may not work. PU appears to use Google Adsense and Analytics.

OP said Leeds, not France!

Yes, you should never drive a diesel. Awful polluting monsters!

Seriously, all internal combustion engines are nasty, but diesel (compression ignition) is IMHO the nastiest of all. CO2 won't kill you directly, but (nano) particulates (which don't get caught in the particulate filter) can.

Don't get me started on burning coal for power...

I'm on holiday, but am at home as I have a real stinker of a cold - that's my excuse anyway.

That's brilliant (except for the bit where the tyres seems to go uphill?)

That's great - it reminded me of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w

Funnily enough I gave the K10D a clean today prior to re-setting the focussing (thanks again to Stefan who put me right about how to use the SD card route to getting into the debug menu).

I agree with both sides on the cleaning issue:
I do clean the focussing screen and base of the prism, actually with a sensor clean liquid and wand, maybe twice a year.
I've also cleaned the mirror once after two and a half years of use, again with the 'wet' sensor cleaning equipment (a lump of something that wouldn't blow away), and,
It's incredibly hard, if not practically impossible, to eliminate every grain of dust from on or behind the focussing screen.

But I wouldn't recommend anyone to have a go. Best advice is leave well alone unless there's really a problem!