Plastic Nev

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help, It is item 6 that throws me, a PCI sound card didn't make any difference, Are you sure you disabled the on board sound when the PCI card was installed? which card and make was it, if one of the Sound Blaster series it should have taken over the system and worked correctly. If as you say nothing works correctly, it does indeed look like a fault somewhere in the mother board circuitry, and I am afraid the only way to check that is with another board. Nev.

A lot depends on your present budget of course, but there are some reasonable laptops available at good prices these days, and to be honest that machine will struggle even if there was more Ram fitted. The processor is slow in comparison to more up to date machines, plus the hard drive is a lot too small if any data needs storing or other programs installed. If possible to do, I will recommend you buy a new, or at least newer second hand machine. Nev.

Hi Volcano, Probably would, but if you went for NTFS you are better off as FAT32 will not take large files.

Hi, I will also add, if you really do want to replace the existing hard drive with the new one, rather than having them run side by side, you will need to partition and install Windows onto the new drive. For this you will need the Windows disk plus also a disk with all the drivers on it. Whichever way you wish to go, we will help.

Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you perform a new Windows XP installation or you repair a Windows XP installation. How to get round it. Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you perform a new Windows XP installation or you repair a Windows XP installation

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Jelly Bean may just be right as it is obvious now that Adobe Flash hasn't loaded or installed correctly, Malware could be blocking it. Please follow our procedure below and let us know how you get on with that before we go any further with your sound issue. Your computer appears to be infected with Malware. Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. It is a combination of the words malicious and software. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. It is in your best interest to note the following: Please disable your resident security applications (such as AVG, Spybot, WinPatrol, etc.) before performing the below procedure so that they do not interfere with the process. Perform all the steps in the order listed to avoid any conflicts. If unsure, please stop and voice your doubts. You might be required to go offline during the disinfection process. Therefore, it is recommended to print off the instructions below for ease of reference. If you stick to the above guidelines, all should go smoothly. ================================================ STEP 1 Download ATF-Cleaner by Atribune. Save the file to your Desktop. Double-click on the file to run the program. On the Main tab, check the Select All button. Next, click on the Firefox tab (if applicable) and check the Select All button. Note: If you would like to preserve your saved passwords in Firefox, then click No at the corresponding prompt. Now, click on the Opera tab (if applicable) and check the Select All button. Note: If you would like to preserve your saved passwords in Opera, then click No at the corresponding prompt. Press the Empty Selected button and click OK to acknowledge the corresponding prompt. Click on the Exit button to quit the program. ================================================ STEP 2 Please click here to download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. Save the file to your Desktop. Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program. At the end, make sure a check mark is placed next to: Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware [*]Click Finish. [*]The program will download and update itself if it finds the necessity to do so. Please allow this. [*]Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan. Note: Depending on your computer specifications, the scan may take some time to complete. Please wait patiently and do not interrupt the process. [*]When the scan is complete, click OK, and then Show Results to view the results. [*]Make sure that every entry is selected, and click Remove Selected. [*]Restart your computer. ================================================ STEP 3 Please click here to download SUPERAntiSpyware (Free Version). Save the file to your Desktop. Double-click SUPERAntiSpyware.exe and follow the prompts to install the program. Open SUPERAntiSpyware. Under Configuration and Preferences, click the Preferences button. Click the Scanning Control tab. Under Scanner Options make sure the following fields checked: [*]Click the Close button to leave the control center screen. [*]On the main screen, under Scan for Harmful Software click Scan your computer. [*]On the left, make sure you check mark All the Fixed Drives. [*]On the right, under Complete Scan, choose Perform Complete Scan. [*]Click Next to start the scan. Please be patient while it scans your computer. [*]After the scan is complete, a Scan Summary box will appear with potentially harmful items that were detected. Click OK. [*]Make sure every entry has a check mark next to it and click Next. [*]A notification will appear that Quarantine and Removal is Complete. Click OK and then Finish to return to the main menu. [*]Restart your computer. ================================================ STEP 4 Please visit the ESET Online Scanner, using Internet Explorer to initiate the scan. Note: If you are running Windows Vista, then you will need Administrative privileges to complete the latter part of the procedure. To do so, right-click on the Internet Explorer icon in the Start Menu and select the Run As Administrator option in the shell context menu. Check mark the YES, I accept the Terms of Use box. Click the Start button. Click the Install button on the following screen. Click Start. This will will initialize and update the scanner engine. Check mark the box beside Remove found threats. Click the Scan button. This will start the scan. Please be patient while it is in progress. Restart your computer. ================================================ STEP 5 Click on Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools and select System Restore. Choose the radio button marked Create a Restore Point on the first screen and click Next. Give the restore point a name then click Create. The new point will be stamped with the current date and time. Keep a note of this so you can find it easily should you need to use System Restore. Next, click on Start > Run, type Cleanmgr and click on OK. Click on the More Options tab. Click the Clean Up button in the System Restore section to remove all previous restore points except the most recent one. This will remove any infected files that have been backed up by Windows. The files in "System Restore" are protected to prevent any programs changing those files. This is the only foolproof way to ensure the deletion of those files. Note: Do not clear restore points on a regular basis as doing so will clear all previous restore points even those that you may need. System Restore is a useful tool to revert your computer back to a working condition if something goes wrong. Re-enable all your security applications and please return here and tell us how the computer seems to be operating. Happy Safe Computing! Close browsers before scanning Scan for tracking cookies Terminate memory threats before quarantining

Which version of Vista are you using? is the reply question :D Have a look at your system properties for that, Start, run, sysdm.cpl Works in XP but not sure about vista but try it, it should tell you whether it is the 32 or 64 bit operating system there. Nev.

Hi again, I have been searching all over as I knew we had this problem some time since with someone else, have a read here- http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/sound-cards/3152-no-sound-certain-internet-sites.html especially the fourth reply and try that zip file from Goku, see if that helps, Nev.

Hi, again, can you tell us what that dll error message was, and has it come back again after another reboot?

I will add a final thing here, as you already know please do keep all your security software up to date. If not already using it change your browser to Firefox, it is more secure and also get the add ons, McAffee site advisor, and WOT (Web Of Trust), also in Firefox get AddBlock Plus, that keeps all those annoying adverts at bay, you can find them on the Mozila Firefox site. Finally, don't use peer to peer sites for downloading music or other files, they can operate as an open tube to install malware onto your computer from those unscrupulous malware writers and spreaders. Have a look at our rules regarding P2P sites, rule 3 http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/introductions/5272-rules.html There is good reasons for that as the use of P2P can leave you exposed to all sorts of nasties as I explained above, but also a tremendous amount of material available from those sources is very much illegal, either in its content or the fact it is breaking copyrights. Hope you continue to enjoy your computer use hassle free, and secure. Please do come back if any other problems, or you never know, you may be able to help some one else. Nev.

OK, Thanks, at least now I think your sound system itself is OK, so perhaps there may be a problem with Adobe Flash player, (youtube uses that) Have a look here and see if your player is up to date.- Adobe - Flash Player If not, update it, if it is up to date, it may be corrupted so go into control panel, add and remove programs, and uninstall it, then go to the above site and re-install, see if that helps. Nev.

Hi Covert, it looks like you are clean now of any problems, however I will leave the final decision on that for JB, but I notice you are still on service pack 1, I hope that is on the Vista and not the XP home, but whichever it is, I recommend you update to service pack 2 if Vista, and if XP, service pack 3. Nev.

Hi, again, sorry for asking the obvious, but sometimes it is the easy ones get overlooked, ha ha. After trying what Tootech has suggested and if there is no luck there, Can you have a look in device management, click start, run, and type or copy and paste in devmgmt.msc and see if there are any yellow exclamation marks or red question marks against Sound, Video, and Game controllers. Click the + to open or expand the list. Let us know if you find anything. Nev.

This weeks politically in-correct story. A man is seeking to join the West Australian Police Force . The Sergeant doing the interview says: "Your qualifications all look good, you studied Australian law and a few other things, but there is an attitude suitability test that you must take before you can be accepted." Then, sliding a pistol across the desk, he says: "Take this pistol and go out and shoot six illegal immigrants, six drug dealers, six terrorists, and a rabbit." "Why the rabbit?" "Great attitude," says the Sergeant. "When can you start?"

Congratulations Shrimply mate from me, though I have yet to go down this road and might when I decide I can afford it when Windows 7 comes out, I know I can look in here and follow this great advice for my own build. So well done for doing your own and a first time too. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help, I am afraid that it is the monitor itself faulty and I doubt that anything other than a new monitor will cure it. You could try taking it to a repairer and asking for a quote, but you may find it will be as expensive as replacing it. Nev.

The obvious one I know, but have you checked in the full sound system controls that all sliders are at or near the top and no ticks in any mute boxes? A double click on the speaker icon on the bottom task bar should open the control panel. Nev.

Greetings Geordie guy, and from Lancashire, welcome and hope you get the best out of the forum. Nev.

I will also add, if you do another uninstall of any remaining software, please remove the USB connection before reinstalling, only connect it after the software has installed or if prompted to do so by the installer. Doing it that way stops Windows seeing it as new hardware and trying to install it's own generic drivers before you have installed the proper drivers. Nev.

If you avoid turning the scan into JPEG and can save it as the full file, say bitmap then you should get some amount of enlargement without pixelation showing up. nev.

Just to point out that to use a borrowed disk to install the operating system to a new hard drive is not legal. When the original disk for that computer is lost or destroyed, there is as far as I know only one way and that is to buy a new or replacement copy if installing a new hard drive. Theoretically, even using a borrowed disk to perform a Windows repair, may be in breach of the original operating system license for that computer. That is of course assuming the original hard drive will work. However, if the original computer manufacturer is consulted, they should be able to provide the correct replacement OEM disk, though this may come with a charge. Nev.

Hi Johhnn and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help, once I know you have read this I will move it to a new post of it's own in the introductions. To answer your question, just click on "PC Help Forum" right at the top left of this page, that will take you to the full forum index. Find the section you think you should post your question in and click that, then click the large blue button at the top "New Thread" Write a title that sums up your problem, in the title bar, then write your message in the box below. Once done, scroll down to the submit reply button, click that and you are done till one of us replies. Nev.

Hi, as you may by now know, this forum is closing and time is running out, I would love to take this further but cannot do much more here. Have a look around, we are recommending several other help sites by most existing members and their preferences, I am sure you will find an answer on one of the many other help sites on the net. Sad regards, Nev.