Plastic Nev

Hi again, I take it that IE6 would have been reinstalled during the recovery, so at the moment IE7 will not be available to roll back to. It would only go back to IE6 if you uninstalled IE8. I am a little unsure whether to go back to IE6, as this will mean IE8 will try to install again. There are also the issues with the Net framework, and also with Windows update in general. There are fixes for these and though I know of how to fix the Windows update in XP after a repair, I think Snow may be able to talk you through them better than I can. Nev.

Hi, the disk you have, is it the disk you made when you first got the computer? what make and model is it? That will help us find more info for you. And lastly a tip, next time you get caught out with malware, come back here and post your problem in the "malware infection removal" section of our forum, our experts may be able to rid you of it without having to reformat. Nev.

Hi again, I found a general file and data recovery software list, there are several to choose from and most offer at least a trial version of fully paid for, and maybe there could be a free one there. If the data can be recovered one of these may help, have a look here- NTFS Data Recovery Software. BootDisk, Freeware NTFS DOS and more...

Hi Bob, I run incredimail for my sins LOL, I assume you mean you deleted these from your deleted folder? I haven't needed to try this myself, but have you thought about a system restore? that might just bring them back. But If not I am afraid there isn't much can be done. Your only possible hope would be one of the file recovery programs available, but if some have been overwritten by new stuff then they have gone. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help, the spec looks pretty good as a budget machine, though not sure about whether the mother board will take the latest PCI Express which most new graphics cards are now. As far as a recommendation of what you can get in the way of a card for the price I will leave that to those with more knowledge of graphics. However you will need a monitor as it doesn't come with one and those can be pricey too. Also if needing internet connection, that depends on if you already have a DSL modem, as there is no modem or wireless either. Nev.

Hi Sheilah, this sounds more like you did a Windows repair rather than the full reformat, which would have taken you back to the factory settings. However for now just see how it goes, the repair may have sorted things out anyway. Nev.

Hi Sheilah, I had a look round and found that sinf.exe, and the missing xprt dll file are part of AOL. Do you still have the AOL disk? if so reinstalling that should cure that problem for you. However wait and see first if the restarting problem has definitely gone before doing so. Once you are sure all is OK, then try the reinstall. Nev.

Tried the Orca scanner and it did give more information, but it still needs Internet explorer to run directly. If using Firefox or other browser you have to download and save before running it. Also in both Crucial, and Orca, I think it worth a mention that you must tick the little and hardly noticeable box to accept terms and conditions before the scan will run or download. (I missed seeing it on the Orca site:rolleyes:) Nev.

Hi David, I think that looks OK and should do the job. For the Crucial scan to work at its best, it should be accessed from Internet Explorer, using any other browser involves downloading the scanner to run it. Otherwise, in some cases where the computer is a home build, or has had a replacement mother board fitted, (as in my case) the scanner can't find much information. Hope that is of help. Nev.

Hi, we can quickly clear up whether it is a screen saver or not, right click on an empty area of the screen, click properties and then the screen saver tab. In the drop down menu is anything listed there that gives us a clue? In the mean time I looked up Vortex. EXE and the list of applications is huge and don't have several months available to search through them all. :eek: so any help you can remember would be useful.

OK Jasand, thanks for letting us know and I wish you the best of luck and a quick end to your problems. Nev.

Hi Bob, I hate giving a ticking off to a friend, but elsewhere you say that you are now considering taking the drive to be examined and perhaps retrieve the data with professional help. This is of course on the computer room or forum of IDF50. I can also see there may become a conflict in advise given here and over there, it is only fair that Snow is made aware of this. Nev.

Hi Jasand again, I find you have also posted this question elsewhere on Help With PCs. You have recieved similar advice over there, and I will add that after running Malwarebytes as advised over there, that you should now send off for the appropriate recovery disk or disks from HP. I will also post this message to you. "It has come to our attention that you have posted for help on another forum(s). We do sympathise and understand that you want your problem solving as quickly as possible. Posting on multiple forums, however, is not the answer. Whether this is a malware or other problem you must realise that a great deal of time is spent by moderators and helpers in researching possible solutions for you. Under normal circumstances we do not begrudge you this time at all. After all, that is why we are here. It is, however, very frustrating to find that our colleagues on this, and other help forums, are being asked to spend time on a topic that is receiving assistance elsewhere. There is also the problem of conflicting information. There is often more than one way of solving a particular problem and if you are receiving assistance from two or more sources, this will invariably conflict or be duplicated. Either way this is a waste of helpers’ time. As you have posted on two or more sites you now have a decision to make. We are happy to help you here but you must inform the other forum(s) of your choice so that you are not wasting other helpers’ time. Similarly, if you choose to get assistance elsewhere please let us know and we will close the thread and wish you luck solving your problem. Please let us know your decision within the next 48 hours. If there is no reply after this period your thread will be closed. Nev.

OK thanks for letting us know. It is difficult to determine which is the problem at this stage and going your way will at least give us a clue. Do let us know how you get on. Nev.

Hi Tootech, my second link takes you to those pages, a bit longer way round perhaps, but it will get you there. Nev.

Hi, the HP PavilionDV4000 comes in several variations however I have selected the CTO in this instance and you can find a lot of technical help from HP via this link- HP Pavilion dv4000 CTO Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English) If the recovery CD has been lost if the machine came with one then you will probably have to send off for a replacement from HP. If however it came without and is of the later type of machine where you have to create your own recovery disk, and it hasn't yet been done, you may still be able to do so. Again the HP site does have instructions for how to do this.-- Obtaining a Recovery Disc set in Europe, Middle East and Africa HP Pavilion dv4000 CTO Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English) Scroll down the page a little to see them. Nev.

Hi again, looks like we are still at the point of not being sure about either the monitor or the graphics card. However considering that the monitor is new we will go for the card, it is possible that it is putting out too high a voltage, most flat screen monitors will shut down if that is the case. Can you borrow another card off a friend? that would at least prove it without having to invest in a new one if we find out there is a problem with the monitor. A new card being expensive and unlikely to be accepted back after use, is not good, as if it is the monitor at fault, you can at least return that under warranty. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help, I hope we can help you and that in turn you may help some one else. Nev.

Hi PCUser, it sounds like a setting wrong, check that the refresh rate is at 60HZ and not higher. Right click an open area of the screen, then Properties, settings, advanced, then finally "Monitor" to find out. Is the graphics on board or a separate graphics card? if separate remove the card and try the original on board graphics to rule out the card. Nev.

Hi Bob, the disk that came with your machine will be a recovery disk. SFC Scannow will only work off a full windows disk, not a recovery disk. There is however a way round this if the original operating system file is not corrupt. However I am not familiar with the procedure to go through to point SFC at the I think, I386 folder in the windows files. Hopefully Snow or Danzil will know it. Failing that, I am beginning to suspect your hard drive is failing and perhaps the read head and arm it sits on is mechanically sticking, hence the hang ups. Nev.

Triode does have a point, especially as you say it has been like this from new, do at least let them know you are having problems while it is still under warranty, and see what they have to say. Remember the sale of goods act as well. and a quick hi to you triode, are you still active on the wavebands? I haven't used the call sign for over six years, got into computers instead. :D Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. Although I am no graphics person, I do know Vista has some slightly different graphics enhancement properties, so it may actually be the operating system giving you that effect rather than anything in either the graphics section of the mother board, or the program. Being a laptop the graphics section, the Nvidia GeForce G 105M is inbuilt on the motherboard, not a separate card. Some one else may have more knowledge to be able to take this further. Nev.

Considering you now have a new PSU and mother board, the only thing left is the start switch button. It is only a momentary type switch that is only made when the button is pressed, but a meter would prove it is OK or not. Try that or replace it, and let us know. However, power supplies can sometimes not work correctly from new, unlikely I know, but something to bear in mind if no joy. Nev.

Hi and welcome Daipwyso, as far as stabbing in the dark, sometimes we still do :D

Thanks for the update on this Osprey. It must be frustrating for you by now that there is still no further advance. However I do have a suggestion, there is now service pack 2 out for Vista. I know you may be reluctant to take that on board in case it makes things worse. However, I can't see that it would make things worse, but maybe the issues could have been corrected within this service pack, and although nothing may be gained if I am wrong, at least it would be worth a try to see if it does work. otherwise we can only say that this is another mess from Vista. Nev.