Plastic Nev

Hi Shrimply mate, I can confirm that it is the case, the main page, yes you can get maps, images, etc. But once a search is initiated, they are no longer there. So breath a sigh of relief, it isn't something on your machine. It is Google themselves. What a pain, as I use maps quite often, so it will mean some messing about, probably close an existing page and then retrieve the main page from bookmarks. Oh ***** Nev.

Hello and welcome, I hope you find all you need here and you are also welcome to help out where you can. Nev.

OK, we really do need some more information. The motherboard number you posted is not much use without knowing the make. Can you remove the side panel and look at the board, the make name should be on it somewhere, that would help a great deal. Next, is go back to "Run" and type or copy and paste. msinfo32 That may tell us something. Though it is a bit strange that there are no yellow or red marks if drivers are missing. Nev.

There should be a label stuck to the back of the tower box with all the information we may need. However, for the moment, click start go to "Run" and type in or copy and paste- devmgmt.msc click OK or the enter key. scroll down the list till you come to "sound, video and game controllers and click the + to expand it, Let us know what is in that list and whether there are any yellow exclamation marks or red question marks next to any of them. Nev.

Hi daryls, and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. Considering you have changed the operating system you will probably need new drivers for more than just the sound system. In order for us to help you obtain and download these drivers we do need to know a bit more about your machine, is it a desktop or laptop, and from the label we could do with full model number and name of model. Also it would help to know what the name and type of the sound system is. Nev.

OK thanks, that at least proves the picture file is OK if it opens in paint. Unfortunately I have a photo handling program called "Irfanview" on my machine so all my photos open in that with a double click. However, try the right click again and do you then get an option "Open with" if so what is the selection shown, Windows picture and fax viewer should be there. Select that if it is there. Hope that helps. Nev.

OK My original thought was, "They look great at the bottom of the local canal", but thought that was perhaps too cruel.:D:D

Hi, I noticed earlier you said you don't know how to do a system restore. This is a facility within Windows to enable you to take your system back to a time when it was working correctly. To get to system restore, click start, go to all programs, accessories, system tools, then click on system restore. Once the system restore page has opened, make sure the radio button for "Restore my computer to an earlier time" is checked. (just click on it to do so) then click the "next" button. On the calendar, which should show September, there is a back arrow top left to go back to last month or the month before that, if it is still set to default it should go back to June as the earliest month you can restore back to. Just follow the instructions and select a date that you know is prior to when your sound went off. All documents and files will still be OK but any programs installed since that date will have to be reinstalled. Hope that is of help. Nev.

Hi, Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. When you open "My Pictures" what do you see there, is it set on "Thumbnails? (Click on "View" and select "Thumbnails) and is it a thumbnail of your picture that you see? What happens when you double click on the individual picture thumbnail? is it then that you don't see the picture? Try a right click on the thumbnail and select "Edit" What comes up then? Nev.

Tecknica? What is wrong with a Tecknica TV. I think they look great---> As something to put the potted plants on, or even a table lamp on it. :D

I agree with JB, it does appear that it is the socket on the laptop requires either just re-soldering or at worst a new socket. It is an easy job to repair in most cases so it may not cost too much. However get an estimate first, and if it is more than £50, get another estimate elsewhere as I reckon even that price is really too much. if however you can use a soldering iron and not afraid to tackle the repair yourself, have a look here at this link below, as there is a full description of how to do that repair. Laptop Repair Help Scroll down to the second article on that page. Nev.

I will add to Tootechs advice, if you intend installing a larger hard drive, it is most important that the computer comes with a fully legal copy of windows installed and hopefully a disk with it as well. You cannot use any other copy of Windows that has been installed on another computer, only the one that comes with the computer. If that isn't there, you will have to buy a new copy for it. Nev.

Glad to know that an older issue resolved has done the same for a new member, and thanks for letting us know.

Hi Goku my friend, good to see you again and hope you are keeping well. Nev.

Hello and welcome Bootneck, just for information, my present boss and employer is ex Royal marines but most probably much later than yourself, he saw active service in the Falklands before leaving the service. He now owns a very good business and is a great guy to work for.

Hi and welcome. Are you trying to download the Windows 7 using this computer? and if so does it already have an OS on it? Have you tried the download to a different machine, then put it on a disk to try installing that way. Also where are you downloading it from?

I actually have an original hand wound one and kept away out of use at the moment, but was originally bought so I could better look the part as steam railway engine driver. Then I realised that it could so easily get damaged, and went in for a cheapo plastic cased thing with a digital read out.

Hi, please let us know how you get on and if that does sort things out. It must be very annoying to you that this problem has not been resolved and believe me it is to us too. All the best and I hope it is resolved by the new drive and re-installation of your operating system.

hello and welcome. Hope we prove to be the people you want.

And a good day to you Easy rider and welcome.

Tootech has a very good point there, click start, all programs, Accessories, system tools, system restore. then choose a date prior to when you know the fault started. If restore doesn't work, I would recommend following what Randy suggested, with first a look at that audio test page. I found out recently through researching this problem, that the best way to uninstall Adobe Flashplayer is by using their own tool, the ordinary add/remove programs leaves too many bits behind that can conflict with a new install. So use this- Adobe Flash Player uninstaller Then go back to Adobe for a fresh install. I am still convinced this is a problem with Adobe Flash player, or as Randy suggested Java may also be playing a part in it too, as without Java you will have problems. Nev.

I agree with JB on looking out for a decent second hand but not more than say three or the most four years old machine. Your old one is not really worth spending money on a new mother board for it as you may have to obtain a higher spec power supply as well. But the most important thing about a machine that age is the likely hood of the hard drive dying pretty soon after, it has done well to last this long and being a mechanical device they do wear out. So you would be faced with even more expense to replace the drive if it died. Nev.

Hi, Before checking the RAM have a go at Tootech's suggestions first, but by all means check the RAM if no change after that.

Like you I am a lot puzzled, however lets just try taking some things out of the equation, how much RAM have you installed? If more than one stick, remove one and try again, it may run a bit slower, but if no change replace that first stick, then remove the other and try again. Do you have access to other known to be good sticks of RAM and can you try them? Nev.

Hi again, when you installed the card did you put the loudspeaker plug in the socket on the card? and not the original on board socket? Does the computer work OK in everything else, no slowness in doing anything or other problems? Nev.