RandyL

Nice post Oldnoob. I upgraded your status here.

Hi redgey. I'm sorry but we can not offer assistance on bypassing password issues. This is pretty standard on most forums. The best thing to do is contact Acer. Many laptops have a default BIOS password set by the manufacturer. Acer should be able to help you with that.

It could be a number of things. Incompatable hardware, bad memory, over heating, drivers. Try removing any devices you have plugged in. Check your memory. Update drivers.

From the document I linked you to; "This model does not require Recovery CDs. Recovery data is included on a special partition of the hard drive." The instructions for how to recover from the partition and how to make the CD's are in that document should you choose to go that route. Either way you should create those disks just in case you need them in the future.

Congratulations Doug. That's quite a milestone.

Is it set up on the same IDE channel as the hard drive? Do you have a second IDE channel?

Frequently asked questions about the Windows Genuine Advantage Kit If you order the WGA Kit online, a new product key will be sent to you in e-mail when the payment is confirmed. You will also receive the Windows XP CD and media through postal mail within four to six weeks. However, you may not have to reinstall Windows XP. Did they send you the XP disk?

If one of your fans is failing it will cause a shutdown. The HP diagnostics tool won't detect that. Sometimes when a fan is failing it will cut out at odd times. Then it will shutdown to prevent overheating. Opening the case and observing the fans when it crashes and shuts down is one possibility. Another possibility is if you have a 1394 port device plugged in. There is a hotfix for your model at HP.

If you clicked Review your computers status. Control Panel\System and Security\Action Center Then used the drop arrow next to Security it should show you all your programs and security settings. So if you had a different firewall it would be listed along with your antivirus. Check to see that the Windows Firewall Service is set to Automatic. Start Search Type services Click Services or Local Services Scroll down to Windows Firewall If it's not right click it and select properties to change it.

shawn if you need help with malware please post it in the security section. If you still can't get Excel to work and no longer have the installation CD's you might be out of luck. However you might be able to repair it. If you go to add/remove programs and choose uninstall you might get prompted to repair or uninstall. Try repair. You still might need the disks though.

You could try upgrading to IE8. Did you try reinstalling Firefox? If you or the registry cleaner you used messed things up too bad there might be more issues than just those browsers. In any case if you do choose to do a recovery backup your files and download drivers from Sony first. View Document for Sony recovery.

I'm guessing this is not a Sony approved battery.

After all this time it's impossible to determine if this is ongoing or new. I think it would be best to start a new thread. You can link to this thread from the new thread if you wish. I'm afraid it's probably back to square one.

AV software will be for all users. Just install it and it will protect and scan for all users. It has to work that way in order to protect the entire computer. As for other programs there are some that will give you the option to install for just the account you are installing from but otherwise they should install to all accounts. It's really just the same as it was in Vista. As for 7 I really like it. I liked Vista over XP but 7 is better. My Vista got zapped by a thunderstorm anyway so it's just 7 and XP now. Just ask away kev and enjoy.

Control Panel Home. Under System and Security click Review your computers status. Security.

As this is a compaq all the drivers should have been included after a reinstall. It's probably onboard sound so there is no connections other than your speaker jacks which you can try to pull out and plug in again. Try another set of speakers and try your speakers on another computer. What this points to is trial and error. But with the directx error it probably points to a failed onboard sound chip on the mobo considering what else you have tried. A reinstall failed. All connections secure. Drivers updated. No errors except DirectX. Speakers work. Sounds like the only thing left is the onboard sound on the mobo has failed. Time for a new mobo or computer. Have you contacted Compaq on this issue?

Hi. Please create a new thread. It's rare for two things to be identical. Thanks for asking.

Have you checked for updated drivers from Compaq support? Do you have the original XP disks that came with your computer. Did the sound work before? When did it stop working? Do any sounds work or is it just in a media player? Can you tell us anything at all more?

Unplug and plug in the connections again.

How to use Windows Connect Now to configure the wireless connection for your Xbox 360 console. This explains how to use the wizard on your computer to create a connection to your xbox which connects to your wireless router. The instructions are for XP and later versions of Windows. In short when trying to set up xbox to a wireless router it explains how to use your computer to create a new connection and gives the option to save the file to a USB stick. Then connect the USB stick to the xbox to continue the connection. If prompted that the NAT may hinder connections accept the over ride. This is by far the most simple way I have found to make the connection. Make sure you have your router PIN number and write down your WPA key when presented as you will need it when you are prompted by your xbox.

Ah now I understand. I'm glad you figured it out Jim.

To quote Wolfeymole from PCHELPFORUM; We cannot offer support for illegal software that has been downloaded via that medium. Sorry but the thread is closed. Per RandyL Administrator; This thread is closed.

The last thing is a site problem. We await a software update. Try deleting temp files but I doubt that will help. I'm not exactly sure what you mean about "it is only opening the second site in the original window." Yes there used to be the option to open in a new window and open maximized. Open maximized never worked. I believe it was in the taskbar properties. The new window was in Internet options if I remember correctly. Unfortunately my Vista got fried by lightening so I can't check that or the IE7 I had on it. I only have IE8 on my Windows 7. As for my instructions you need to open a new instance of IE. Once you have one Window open don't open a second by clicking a link. Instead use the IE icon in the quick launch area if you have it enabled or use a different IE shortcut to open a second instance of IE. Drag the window larger. Don't close it. Open a new window. Drag it larger. Maximize the second window. Maximize the first window. Close the first window. Close the second window. Open a new window. The instructions for IE have to be exact. Sometimes I have to do it a few times with IE. Now there are two other options that might work but those steps have worked for me hundreds of times. System Restore. Or How to Reset or Restore Advanced Settings in Internet Explorer 7 It works for IE8 too.

Try this for your first problem. Open IE full screen

It could possibly be like the IE issue so you could try that fix. Drag the window larger. Don't close it. Open a new window. Drag it larger. Maximize the second window. Maximize the first window. Close the first window. Close the second window. Open a new window. The instructions for IE have to be exact. Sometimes I have to do it a few times with IE.