I have loads of stuff from the tv that I have collected over the last few years via my Archos PVR. The files are all in avi format (but I think they are something to do with div-x), and I have put them onto dvd-r with a view to being able to view on the tv. Unfortunately I cannot get the files to play, and currently the only way I can view these is on my laptop or on tv after transferring back onto the Archos. My new tv has a usb slot, so I thought this would be a good way to view. I converted a file to mp4 format (took ages) and stuck it on a usb stick and into the tv. The tv can see the file, and knows its name, but will not play it - it just re-boots the tv after a few minutes reading the stick. It's a Sony tv, and it should be able to play mp4 files. My questions are: what am I doing wrong, and should I try converting to a different file format? The idea was to convert files to an appropriate format and burn to dvd-r, so I could just pop the disc into my blu ray player (also Sony), without having to get out my external drive, copy onto the Archos and view that way.

Anybody able to offer me any good advice? I have tried connecting my laptop to the tv, but can only get a small image in the middle of the screen, not a full size one (I've tried adjusting the resolution, but only a couple of settings seem to give any image at all)

Thanks for reading

and it comes with 500MB web access. I've absolutely no idea if this is a lot or a little. I don't want to get a huge bill in my first month for excessive usage, so can anyone give me an idea whether I should try to control my instincts to use this a lot? I also get 200 minutes of calls, which is approx 195 more than I need. Do you think they'll swap some minutes for data? I'm going to ask later on today.

TIA

I'm hoping that the infinite knowledge of the Massive can help me out.

I have no problem logging onto my home wi-fi network, but see to be having problems logging onto some (but not all) other wi-fi. Whenever I try to log onto a free wi-fi network, I seem to ahve problems - usually I see the wi-fi symbol on my ipod touch, and it tells me I am connected to the network, but when I try to actually use the network it says I am not connected. I have also had this problem trying to connect to networks that require a password, even after I have entered the correct password (several times). There are occasions when I can connect, but some networks I have never been able to connect to, even though I should be able to.

Anyone any ideas? Are there some settings that I need to change?

Thanks for reading.

Burning MP3 discs.

I don’t have much experience of using i-Tunes (only used it previously for downloading podcasts), but I don’t seem to be able to burn a CD of MP3 files in the format that I require. Let me explain….I would like to burn a CD for the car, containing several albums on the one disc. I have managed to do this, but I get all the tracks in one folder, so that there is just a single file containing all tracks; they are not split into separate albums, so that I could navigate between the albums, rather than having to scroll through the tracks and needing to know which track number is the first in the album (track titles etc don’t seem to hae been copied over, either). The second problem is in removing gaps between tracks. I thought that I would be able to use i-Tunes to do this, as there is an option in the info region of each track to indicate that the album is continuous (the option to burn with no gaps seems to only be present for audio CD burning). I absolutely hate gaps in live albums and concept albums where each track flows into the next. On placing the newly burned CD into the car this morning, I found that the gaps were even bigger than the ones I get on my Creative Zen player. I have previously burned MP3 CDs using Creative Mediasource, and the albums are in separate folders, but the gaps are still present. Does anyone know how I can get MP3 cds with no gaps, and each album in a separate folder? I’m sure that the fabled fount of wisdom that is the Word Massive can come to my aid.

Many thanks.

Just got round to starting to read the Runaways article in the latest issue and took my eyes off Cherie's bum for a second and squinted into the audience, like you do. Well, half way down the right side of the picture is someone who looks a lot like I did in those days. I was wondering if anyone knows where this particular photo was taken? I was indeed in the audience (at the front, too) at their gig at Leeds Uni. Could it be......?

Anyone else seem themselves (or someone who looks like them) in photos in mags, films, tv etc from the distant past - obviously anyone with the slightest hint of 'celebrity' is discounted from this question.

I was once convinced that I must have been on the tv when highlights of Leeds v Celtic in the European Cup semi-final of 1970 was shown, as I was right at the very front when Celtic took the throw in that lead to their goal - but later viewing on video has failed to show my presence.

I did once see a neighbour in the crowd behind Peter Beagrie doing a summersault (how do you spell that?) at Notts County in 4-4-2.

Great - the plop on the floor indicates that the latest issue of The Word has arrived. Bad news - the scrabble of claws over the hall floor indicates that the dog will get there before me. Disaster - the free cd case has teeth marks right through. It quickly becomes apparent that the dog didn't want me to hear any new music this month (perhaps he is fed up with the crystal clear sounds of Revolver) and has destroyed my free Now Hear This cd.

Now for the appeal - would any member of the massive who routinely bins the free cd care to donate their unwanted copy, so that dog can live? We've only had him for a month, so it would be a shame if it had to end like this.........