RFS

I believe that one solution is to create yourself a new login account, copy your files across to it and, when happy with the new one, delete the old account. You should also be able to recover the start menu by simply signing out and back in, rather than restarting the PC.

Microsoft's Windows 10 Anniversary Update is about to become available - next Tuesday for everyone. As I'm registered for Insider Preview, it was available to me from yesterday so I've been checking it out today. It's a full replacement with a version number of 1607, and the install process is much the same as with the 1511 version that came out in November last year. It took about 35 minutes on my main PC, but a lot longer on a slower laptop (about 90 minutes). The only noticeable change is that the start button and the list of apps is now combined. It makes a lot of sense and means you can access apps in one click rather than having to click the start button, and then "all apps". So far only a couple of minor issues: I use BT Mail and this started saying that IE 11 was an unsupported browser. The problem was due to compatibility settings and was resolved by going into IE, selecting tools -> compatibility view settings and then unchecking the box "use Microsoft compatibility lists". Also I used a download that defaulted to US English but it's easy enough to change that back (Control Panel -> Language). There are many other new things no doubt, but not many of much use on a bog-standard desktop PC like mine! The version number is 1607 and the OS build shows as 14393.5.

There are two signal posts in the picture: the one at danger adjacent to the track applies to the line to the right of the train. There is another signal to the left of this which applies to the line the train is on - you can just see the white board behind it. This signal is clear so there's no imminent SPAD.

Are the sleeper sizes and spacing on this track exactly to 4mm/ft scale, or (like Peco's forthcoming track) a compromise to prevent the track looking narrow gauge?

My card was debited in full straightaway. But there's been no refund so far. I emailed Kernow and got a reply from Greg saying the refund had just been processed. However, between these two transactions my July statement was created. I pay off this card in full each month by direct debit, which means next month £269 will be taken from my current account for this When Kernow's refund takes place it will merely leave my card in credit - I have no means of stopping this direct debit once the statement has been produced. I don't use this card very often so I'm now going to have to negotiate with the card provider to see if I can get this altered. Needless to say, I'm not happy about this at all and have written to Kernow to say so. Pre-orders from Hatton's and Rails are not processed like this.

I've just pre-ordered a blue one and my credit card has been billed immediately for the full amount. I thought pre-orders were only billed at shipment. The web-site is also quoting £14.99 for standard delivery and free delivery for Interlink, and this despite the web-site saying orders over £150 are free delivery. I will be contacting Kernow.

Whilst the windscreen wipers look very fine indeed, they are all parked in the centre of the screen on all the models. Is this how it will be? They should ideally be parked next to the centre panel when not in use - otherwise the driver's vision is impaired.

But they're open to offers. I'm sure if you offered £99.50 it would be accepted.

Postage from Hatton's to OZ is £7 and less than the 20% VAT that they will deduct for you, so buying from them will be much cheaper.

I use DCC. I thought it was because with the 4CEP the two connections are head code and interior lights, but with the Thumper they're forward and reverse (ie white lights or red lights).

I found that when trying a 4CEP TS as the centre coach of a 2H that the interior lights in the TS only worked in one direction. BR also did the same thing, albeit with a class 207 and a refurbished TS trailer - http://www.semgonline.com/gallery/class207_2.html

I tried Kadee #18s on mine with 30" being the tightest radius but still got derailments, so all are now coupled with #19s. On the first 2HALs, the NEM pocket on the trailer coach is too long and a Kadee coupling will not clip in. You have to file about 1mm off the coupling box to get the coupling to click in place (same needed even with a Hornby tension lock). Hence you now need a Kadee #20. But I recently purchased the blue version and also the one with full yellow ends, and on these the coupling pocket was OK so a #19 fitted OK.

Some available here for around £60 - http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?an=weddell&isbn=0860935558&sts=t&tn=lswr

Just had emails from Hatton's to say these coaches will be in stock from July 24th. Presumably this means they're on the container ship now.

Is this the one? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dapol-Class-27-BR-Blue-/152102025193?hash=item2369fcb7e9%3Ag%3AWsgAAOSw6btXRGEN&nma=true&si=xbsa6FuRe0KVUlLuYTh0blQqWM0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 Appears to be the powered one to me which is £82 at Hatton's (2D-013-000) http://www.ehattons.com/57732/Dapol_2D_013_000_Class_27_diesel_27108_in_BR_blue/StockDetail.aspx.

It's 99p plus £3.99 postage, so nearly a fiver. For 1p more you can get a brand new one that's guaranteed to work, for example http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-1A-DC-UK-Plug-Power-Supply-Adaptor-Transformer-for-LED-Strips-CCTV-etc-12W-/381368493602?hash=item58cb556622:g:4FMAAOSwT6pV1f1w

34030 Watersmeet was originally sold by Hornby as part of the Devon Belle boxed set - see http://www.ehattons.com/17578/Hornby_R2568_Ltd_Edition_The_Devon_Belle_train_pack/StockDetail.aspx It thus had an unmodified tender with original emblem. So this model has a replacement tender. Rails also have another model from the same stable - 34090 92 Squadron but inexplicably with an Exeter nameplate - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hornby-YOUCHOOS-ENHANCED-R2220-92-SQUADRON-BR-BATTLE-OF-BRITAIN-DCC-SOUND-7H/191865517973?_trksid=p2046732.c100040.m2060&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140107095009%26meid%3Dcd933b05520e4f71b52da71a00a2b1e2%26pid%3D100040%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D131813982132. It's also described as 34081. Plus it has not only route disks (also fixed in the wrong place) but also "working" express headlamps just like the other example, even though the Southern never used this form of train description.

Another classic, this time from Rails - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hornby-YOUCHOOS-ENHANCED-OKEHAMPTON-WEST-COUNTRY-LOCO-34030-DCC-SOUND-7U-/131813982132?hash=item1eb0b9bfb4:g:mkoAAOSwr0ZXNxq~ How many inconsistencies can you spot? Well I can see that 34030 was Watersmeet, not Okehampton (note nameplate glue marks!); the Devon Belle ceased running in 1954 long before tenders were rebuilt or the latest tender totem was used; smokebox roundel ceased with the advent of BR etc. If you're going to spend £325 on something like this, at least you'd expect it to be reasonably accurate ....

Hi Alan - it might be worth raising this issue as a separate thread in the DCC Questions forum to get it to a wider audience. I've certainly experienced the problem too and would dearly like to know the cause. It seems to be related to Lenz decoders and it sounds as though they may be more sensitive to interference than others, but then I'm just guessing.

Your link doesn't work - it's for RMWeb and not Ebay .....

IE is still there, so if you don't like Edge (I certainly don't use it) then you can just make IE the default and it'll work just like on Windows 7.

In the Home edition you can't turn automatic updates off. Also Windows 10 updates are cumulative so you can't select which ones to install and which not. All 3 of my PCs have had Windows 10 since August last year and so far I've not had a problem with updates. But that might not have been the case had I interfered with the automatic update process and only selectively installed bits and pieces.

And why photograph it on a black shiny surface so we can't really see it? A sheet of white A4 underneath would have made all the difference!

I actually have these on all my bus ends - it hasn't helped. Strange that only Lenz decoders are affected: I tried Bachmann basic first before deciding on Hornby Sapphire (I found a cheap supplier!) and neither the Bachmann nor the Sapphire had any problem.

Hi Alan - I've had similar issues with my 4 Bachmann 2-EPB units when fitted with Lenz Silver 21-pin decoders. The problem was especially bad when running two of them as a consist. Despite extensive investigation I could never trace the cause, and the problem happened all over the layout. However, when fitted with different decoders there was no problem at all. For the last couple of years all 4 have been running with Hornby Sapphire decoders with no issues. As part of my investigation I did remove capacitors from two of them (a right faff as you have to completely dismantle the motor coach) but it made no difference. I also have a couple of 4-CEPs which will exhibit the same problem, albeit much less severe, but the problem can be bypassed by keeping their interior lights on. In fact it's not difficult at all to reproduce it. So these still have Lenz Silver decoders. 2 Kernow Thumpers and 2 MLVs do not have any problem with their Lenz decoders. I believe the issue is due to something on the internal circuit board on the 2-EPBs and 4-CEPs that is perhaps causing interference on the DCC signal. If you find a solution I'd really like to know!