That's for sure.

N9LCD

Some amendments:

STEP 0:  DON'T USE PAYPAL. PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD.

Step 9:  Dispute the charge(s) with your credit card issuer.
            If the gear doesn't work or has undisclosed damage, it's "NOT AS ADVERTISED".
            If you were double-charged for shipping and handling, it's an "UNAUTHORIZED CHARGE".

STEP 10:  Withhold payment of the disputed amounts from your credit card issuer.

STEP 11:  Let your credit card issuer take on Martyn.  Card issuers can yank his card acceptance
              privileges if he's the subject of too many disputed charges.

Electricians use something called "pulling compound" when pulling large or multiple cables through a conduit.  Check it out at an electrical supply house.  Or use generic petroleum jelly (vaseline)!

N9LCD

Amateur radio will survive ONLY IF it needs the needs of those it wants to attract.

N9LCD

Thanks to all the hams who offered advice, especially W8JX, John.

I finally found most of my problems and got the laptop back up and running.

1.  Uninstalled ATI/Rage video driver / graphics card(?).  I'm still wondering how C# & Zadig corrupted that.

2.  Removed several updates/versions of Java6.  Apparently Java doesn't automatically remove "old" versions.

3.  Repaired and updated Avast Free Anti-Virus and got it down to a manageable size.

4.  Ran Defrag and Chkdsk to clean-up the hard drive.

TO BE DONE:

1.  Get the serial com port communicating with the PCR-100.

2.  Get the USB mouse working.

3.  Find some memory cards for a very old laptop.

Thanks again & 73!

N9LCD

W8JX:

Computer:  Panasonic ToughBook CF-48

Processor:  Intel Pentium 4 Mobile CPU, 1.8 GHz

Operating System:  Windows XP "Office" -- Build 2600.XPSP_SP3

RAM:  512 MB

Hard Drive:  40 GB

Anti-Virus:  Avast "Free" -- Version 8.0.1483.0

Browser:  FireFox (x86 en-US) -- Version 20.0.1 
 
Last complete update: 04/20/13

Last complete anti-virus scan: 04/20/13.

I suspect "free" FireFox has gotten way out of hand.  While I'm doing this post. I opened Windows Task Manager and it shows FireFox using 175.9 MB of memory.  Does that seem way out of line?

Thanks & 73!

N9LCD

John:

Thanks.

I tried unistalling SDR and Zadig, defragging the hard drive; running "check disk" to clean-up the mess; trying to reinstall any drivers; and rebooting.

Still no luck.  The machine keeps freezing at the same point, when the video/monitor icons start appearing in the tasak bar.

73!

N9LCD

I bought  a Terratec USB receiver figuring to give SDR rigs a try.

I'm using a Panasonic laptop running Windows XP Office.  I repeatedly tried downloading and installing SDR# and Zadig.  I kept getting the "display" but no tuning or audio.

All of this so messed-up by laptop that I can't use a hard-wired USB mouse or run the PCR-100; the serial port is screwed-up and the mouse drivers are missing.

Also the computer won't complete the "boot" process.  It hangs up and freezes after the monitor icons appear on the task bar.

I have to run the computer in the "safe mode with networking" to get online.  I've checked everything on "Device Manager". No problems show and supposedly everything is operating right.  Reinstalling the drivers for the mouse and the comm ports doesn't help.

Has this happened to anybody else out there?

Does anybody have any suggestions how to get my laptop back into normal operation? (Hi! Hi!) 

Thanks & 73!

N9LCD

 

PS:  After this, I'm sticking to my "boat anchors".
 

Saw a posting on one of the ham websites that concluded with:

     "I DON'T CARE IF I SELL IT OR NOT."   

'Nuff said.

N9LCD

        

I'm not sticking-up for UPS but:

Do you know what YOUR responsibilities are?

What documents does UPS need?  Who has them?

Have you asked UPS if they will pay the claim even though you repaired the rig?  You may have prejudiced the claim by repairing the rig yourself.

As a seller, I've had a couple of claims for rigs damaged in transit.  The damaged rigs were inspected and returned to me for me to arrange the repairs.  I paid for the repairs and the carrier reimbursed me.

At this point, your only hope is talking to a live person at uPS.

N9LCD

 

The accuracy of the response is more important than the speed.

Any incorrect responses is useless.  I'd rather have a slow, researched response than a "shoot from the hip" incorrect one.

N9LCD

IF AT ALL POSSIBLE,  USE A CREDIT CARD WHEN BUYING HAM GEAR!

That way, if you haven't yet paid for the item(s) in question, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer and, if you got a good "story", possibly get that charge reversed.

N9LCD

File a complaint with PlayPal.  His advertising is FALSE!

And, if you use a credit card to fund PlayPal, write your card issuer and dispute the charge.  ou have good grounds:  He sold defective merchandise and won't accept a return as he said he would.

DON'T GET MAD.  GET EVEN!

N9LCD

Contact your credit card issuer.  See if Idiom Press has put their charge through to your account.  If they have, see if you can get it reversed.  You may have to write a letter, but it's worth the try.

If you haven't been charged yet, see if your credit card will block the charge.

IF THEY DON'T GET PAID, THEY WON'T SHIP!

N9LCD

MAIL FRAUD:  Postal Inspectors are only REQUIRED to investigate alleged mail fraud involving $300 or more.  Many small time scammers fly under the radar, keeping their individual hits under $300.

FEDERAL OFFENSE:  Generally a "federal offense" must involve $10,000 or more unless the statute specifies a lesser amount.  When I was in banking, a robber held up one of our locations and got away with about $2,500.  That was a federal offense.  A teller stuffed about $7,800 in her bag and walked out of the bank with her haul.  That was not a federal offense; it was less than $10,000.  The police investigated and the states attorney prosecuted.

FEDERAL CIVIL SUIT:  I believe that, in a civil suit alleging damages, the federal court system requires a minimum of $70,000 or $75,000 in alleged damages.  There are exceptions for suits filed under federal statutes or regulations where the damages are capped at a lesser amount.

N9LCD