Plastic Nev

Hi Vamp, welcome back, I am afraid there is a long list of what could be wrong, but even though you are getting lights lighting up, that only proves one of the power supply outputs is working, so it could be the power supply, if possible to borrow a known to be working power supply and temporarily connect that in, it will be a start in finding what it is. Next is did you ever hear a beep at start up and if so are you hearing it now? I know some computers have been made without the POST beep speaker fitted, so it may never have beeped, but if it once did but isn't now, that is a good sign of a failed power supply. Nev.

It shouldn't do as most power supplies come with the two so you can install a second drive if you wish to. Nev.

Hi again, with what you said now I went back and re read your first post, my apologies but missed seeing that even the POST beep isn't at first sounding, only after much messing turning on and off before you hear it. That is probably why you were told it may be a RAM problem. Right now though, there are many possibilities as to what it may be, but lets start with the simple stuff, with power off, and a touch of the case to be sure there is no static built up. One at a time, pull out or disconnect, then reconnect, every single plug and socket you can find, but start with the power supply plugs first, pulling them out and replacing makes sure there is a good connection between all pins and scrapes off any metal oxides that may have been present or built up over time. Try that and let us know if it changes anything. Nev.

Hi John, it may just be better to get in touch with DELL and obtain a disk from them for a system restore, by what you say the hard drive partitions have been seriously messed up, so the only way out would be with a disk and a complete reformat of the hard drive. Hopefully the DELL service tag will be available as you will need to quote that to obtain the disk or disks. Before doing this make sure all important data is backed up and copied to either an external drive or DVD disks if no drive available. Nev.

I don't think this is RAM, more a problem with the monitor or the graphics control. First thing to try is can you borrow a monitor from a friend and try that, if the borrowed monitor comes on straight away then it will prove your is either now dud or not reliable. Let us know how you get on with that if it is possible to do, and one of our graphics experts may be able to help more if not the monitor. Nev.

Try as Frank suggests, but I think you may already have done similar with the paper clip. (useful things aren't they?) If there is still no joy, when you first opened the lid, was there the faintest hint of a burning smell? Even if no smell I still feel the power supply may have gone. I will warn you that sometimes a power supply failure can damage the motherboard too, so be aware that replacing the power supply on its own may not be enough. That happening to me some years ago is what got me into these forums and learning how the darned things work.:cool:

Hi, I have to ask this, first why change the case? and secondly, if because of damage, did that damage prevent the laptop working while in the old case? If because of damage such as being dropped, the hard drive may have failed. I would be looking at all connections wherever there is a plug and socket, check that it is the right plug has been put back in, and also even if not originally removed, still check it is fully connected, it may have been loosened while moving things over. However at this point I am suspicious of the hard drive, or even motherboard. Nev.

All these are now answered in the Windows7 threads here= http://extremetechsupport.com/threads/11604-PSU-temperature

Hi Wellies, I just recently got RealDraw pro on board, that is interesting and nice looking work there, and when I get more time to look into how to use realdraw I will be experimenting. Nev.

At this moment then I knowing that the PSU is a 780W one I would be saying that those readings are false as I doubt that there is even a temperature sensor connected either to or in the PSU. I have used Speedfan in the past and that has shown a PSU temperature as minus something a lot below freezing point, but I know there is no sensor or connection in my case so ignore it. As for the display shut down, do you mean a setting within the display, or a setting in the computer? If it is a direct display setting controlled from the monitor buttons themselves, then we can consider that one finished. If a setting within the computer, just see what happens and if resetting it has cured it. Nev.

OK George, let us know how you get on and what you find. It can be of help to others who read this thread as well. Nev.

Hi, one thing we can try to see if there are any error messages, is to go into safe mode, to do so reboot and as soon as the machine starts tap F8 or DEL, an options page opens first. Using the up and down keys select "Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure" then click the enter key, the computer should start up as normal but when it shuts down on its own, it should then display a page with the fault or error codes. Let us know if that works and what error codes are displayed. Nev.

Hi Jim, unfortunately I am no wireless network guru, I am hoping someone else can give advice as I know Ken is now away for a week. Any takers anyone? Nev.

Just to make things a little clearer, Windows7 starter is a very basic system installed on small netbooks, and other small portables, as Lees said it is not much good. You need a machine with Windows7 Home premium at the very least. You can then upgrade to Professional or higher at a later time if you wish. Nev.

Is this a desktop or laptop? If desktop are there any lights on the case? If not, have a look at the back, some power supplies have a switch, check this is on, also some do have a small screw in fuse, check that as well. If there are lights coming on, let us know, and which lights they are if possible. Nev.

Hi, in post 10 you replied that the drive wouldn't open being the reason why you removed it. I am now thinking the drive is duff, possibly mechanically. When the system reports the device is working all it is reporting is the electronics are OK, but if mechanically dud the read head won't move or other things such as the disk mechanical drive. I suggest at least trying a borrowed but known to be working drive, and see if that will run. If so the old one needs replacing. Nev.

There is another way round to run XP only games and programs, but you would need to upgrade from Windows7 home premium to Professional. You can then download free from Microsoft the XP virtual environment. More about the virtual environment here, http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/ However you must upgrade to Professional for it to work. Nev.

I suspect a power supply issue here, being a custom built machine the power supply may not be big enough, especially if there is a separate graphics card which you don't mention. What is the power rating of the PSU, it should be on the label on the PSU in watts or just W. Nev.

Next thought then is there something hogging processes. First question is security. Firewall, anti-virus, or anti-spyware, are they all the same products on both machines? If all the same then the slow one may be infected, have you scanned with antivirus and antimalware? Let us know what you find in that area, then we can go further. One thing that may help us would be an idea of what is running in the background that maybe hogging resources. Open the Task Manager ( Click start, then type in taskmgr) click on the processes tab, do this on both the good fast machine, and the slow one, see if anything is running on the slow one that isn't on the fast one, let us know if you find any big discrepancy between the two machines. Nev.

First thought is Media Player up to date and the latest version installed? Second is maybe Firewall related, is it being blocked?

Hi Mij, I think you know this but if the connection or disconnection tone is sounding when you or any of the family have not connected or disconnected anything, I think you might just be right that someone else is piggy backing off your wireless. You need to secure the network. I am no network guru, but KenB may be able to help you in sorting the security to prevent anyone else using your wireless signal. Nev.

Just for information, installing the update does help in general security protection as various vulnerabilities that were in IE8 have been patched in IE9. As far as the user interface, it isn't much different, and now annoyingly Firefox have vaguely copied it with FF4.

Hello again antecsource, I have now seen you asked this question here= http://www.pchelpforum.com/windows-vista-7/107510-permissions-hacked.html Do you wish us to continue with your problem here or to return there? We are more than happy to continue, providing you inform them you are receiving help elsewhere. With this sort of problem it can become extremely unsafe to take advice from two different sources. If that advice conflicts and you follow both, serious damage could be done to software and your operating system. Pleas make up your mind which you prefer. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help, This needs some expert help and I have alerted our security expert to it. However where did you get this advice from Samuria? Nev.

From your first post you say you have tried it in a friends computer and got the same result? I am afraid it is looking like it is faulty, a bit difficult to see up inside the USB plug I know, but does there look like a contact is either bent, or missing? Nev.