Plastic Nev

Hi, The flash player running files off the net OK, I assume from the likes of Youtube, is throwing me here, so I have to ask is it only videos, or if using media player to play an ordinary sound file, music etc does the problem occur then.?

It's too new really for us to go much further Ace mate, it has been wrongly set up in the first place. So I would consider taking it back before it is too late. There is a very strange partition on there that has no file system allocated, not to mention the drive letter "S" has been wrongly allocated as well somehow. Nev.

In post 4 You mention these five unknown devices are under "Network Adaptors", is the machine part of a network or entirely on its own? If part of a network does everything in the network work OK?

So you think you have a computer problem eh? not as bad as this one I bet. LADY: "Hello Tech Support. How can I help you?' LADY: 'Last night my computer started making a lot of hissing noise at me so I shut it down. This morning when I turned it on it started hissing and cracking, then started smoking and a bad smell, then nothing.' SUPPORT: 'I'll have a technician come over first thing this morning, just leave the computer just like it is, so he can find the problem and fix it, or change it out with another computer. Give me your address and phone number and the technician will be there just as soon as he can.' When the technician got there, the woman showed him where the computer was, and said what happened to it. This is what the technician found wrong. Take a look at the pictures... you won't believe your eyes!!! !! And you thought you had computer problems !!! The technician told her: 'It must have been after the mouse!' The woman didn't think that was funny at all.

Hi Norman, follow the advice on that link Cobra provided till you get to step 3. If it does show there on that window you can carry on. If it doesn't, be sure not to go further as you could format your internal drive instead. Get back to us if it doesn't show up there.

It could be the printer itself faulty, can you try installing it on another computer if you have access to one to check it out? If it won't install on another computer then it is most likely to be faulty.

Thanks everyone, a good day spoiled by the weather I am afraid, originally, I was going to go out for the day, but in pouring rain? no chance.

OK mac, sorry but I missed a bit out, I should have asked you to use cmd first. Click Start, and then Run. In Open, type cmd, and then press ENTER. Use one of the following procedures: To run Chkdsk in read-only mode, at the command prompt, type chkdsk, and then press ENTER. To repair errors without scanning the volume for bad sectors, at the command prompt, type chkdsk volume:/f, and then press ENTER. Note If one or more of the files on the hard disk are open, you will receive the following message: Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N) Type Y, and then press ENTER to schedule the disk check, and then restart your computer to start the disk check. To repair errors, locate bad sectors, and recover readable information, at the command prompt, type chkdsk volume:/r, and then press ENTER. Note If one or more of the files on the hard disk are open, you will receive the following message: Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N) Type Y, and then press ENTER to schedule the disk check, and then restart your computer to start the disk check.

OK, mac, Can you run a check disk? To do so click start, then run, type in the box " chkdsk " and click OK. Let us know any results.

Hi George, Lets start again, first question is, is the BIOS configured to boot from the CD? I guess it must be as you have got that far already. Next, It is very important to do everything in the correct order, so I have copied the repair procedure for you. Please follow it step by step and try not to miss anything or make a mistake. If you do just stop everything and go back to the beginning again after a reboot from the disk. All of this comes from the link that RandyL provided earlier, I just copied the relevant part. Repair a Damaged Installation Please note: If you make a mistake when following the steps below, you will not be offered the option to repair a damaged installation. Follow these steps precisely (or reboot from the CD and start again). Boot from the Recovery CD (press any key when prompted). Choose Setup (press <Enter>) - do not choose the R=Recovery Console option. Press F8 to agree to the license agreement. Press R to Repair the selected Windows XP installation. The setup program will copy files to your hard disk and reboot automatically. Do not press any key when the CD boot code is run, allow the code to timeout, the system will boot from the hard disk and continue with the installation from the CD. Answer the configuration questions once the computer has finished re-installing. You will be prompted for your Product Key which you will find at the back of your system. You will also need to Activate your system within 30 days, if you have not done so previously (see below).

Well, if you get a full crash you should get the usual crash report window opens, which sends a report when you click the box etc. However for small faults and problems the only option I can find is to send an E mail. Have a look at this page- Select a Product for Assistance Give them a full write up of the problems you are having. Also there is a Windows 7 support forum where you can ask and receive replies on windows 7 faults and problems, here Getting Ready for Windows 7 Forum

Hi, Ok first off you have to remember that Windows 7 is still a beta release, meaning you and others are doing the trialling for Microsoft. Do a complete reinstall of 7 first, then reinstall the games, if the problem returns, send in a bug report to both Microsoft and the makers of the games. Nev.

Hi, and welcome. Hope you make us your new home.

Happy Birthday, hope you have a good one. Nev.

Thanks folks, I was hoping for some decent weather to day, not to be though, so I had a good time on here and elsewhere on the "wonderful wicked web." (WWW, as if you hadn't guessed) It is at this time I remember a good idea I obtained elsewhere which is - "Birthdays are good for you, the more you have, the longer you live" Now I like that one. Nev.

Considering you paid for it, and as I say Norton has greatly improved as far as its firewall and virus defence are concerned, keep it on, at least till the present subscription runs out. Just go for the other antimalware stuff and you should be fine. We are a family forum so some word filtering is needed just in case, but sometimes being just another computer, it does filter out some odd ones. :D

Hi mat, I know little about play stations so cannot answer that one however I can help with the malware problem. Viruses are only a small part of the problem these days, there are many more and worse things around now, so a program like Norton can't possibly guard against them all, especially considering it is mainly anti-virus with little in it against other malware. Norton has had a bad reputation for some time, however the latest edition has been greatly improved which you have on already. If you wish to keep it do not install another ant-virus, two anti-virus programs running will cause much greater problems because they will conflict with each other. If however you decide to get rid and try something else then make sure it is fully uninstalled first. Next is protection against the other forms of malware, we reccomend several and in this case you can install more than one. Because they each work in different ways they dont cause conflicts in normal circumstances. There are several, and some offer on line or real time protection and run in the background. Have a look here at those we consider being amongst the better ones. http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/malware-removal-av-firewalls-etc/3597-free-pc-help-recommended-security-products.html To give you some idea, I chose all free stuff, and use Comodo Firewall, and Avast anti-virus. Then for the other malware I installed Malwarebytes, and Superantispyware. As the always on protection I also installed Spywareblaster. Those are really all you should need to keep your system reasonably safe, but do remember most computer security is down to how you surf the net. Don't use P2P, that is now the quickest way to get infected. Stay away from known bad or dodgy websites, and to help with that you can get McAffee site advisor as a browser plug in or add on. I hope that is of some help for you. Nev.

Hi again, I am afraid it is more than likely now that it is the PSU. Please bear in mind that when a PSU fails, in some cases it can damage the motherboard as well, but the only way to check now is with another PSU first. Any chance you can borrow one of exactly the same type? Also can you let us know the make of your machine and what model, we may be able to help in finding one at a reasonable price for you, if we know the details. Nev.

Even if the stick was compatible, being perhaps older it may be slower, this would force the existing ram to run at that slower speed any way, so no gain in it.

Hi Hammerjeff, welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. Turn it off at the mains, then remove the side cover, and make sure you keep one hand on the main case to minimise static. Everything that plugs into something else, meaning cables plugged onto the motherboard from the power supply, cables going to the hard drive, CD and DVD drive etc, one at a time remove it, then plug it back in, this also goes for the RAM sticks on the motherboard. Doing so makes sure of a good connection. Once done, replace the lid and try again. Let us know how you get on. Nev.

Here is one I found on another forum, and was a response to someone wanting to keep the local cat of her garden. Just plant them in the soil on their edge, or even just laid flat, apparently the reflection scares the cat and it runs off. It must work to some extent because my cat was very wary of one I offered to it. He wouldn't even come and sniff it as he will with most other things.

Hi, come on in Zeron. We can't offer a cup of tea, and we have run out of virtual coffee too, but the forum will help you out if you need it.

Hi Sonflower again, First can we be sure about this, it is important, is the laptop an E Machines, laptop, or an E Systems laptop? they are different companies! That website that RandyL provided the link for is for E Machines only. If it is an E machines laptop then carry on, the page will ask for the serial number. SNID, is only short for "Serial Number Identification" The serial number should be on the label underneath along with the model number. If however, it is an E Systems machine, I have searched round and not been able to find much of use, however one of our other members or moderators may know more. Sorry about that, but sometimes these things do take some time to find. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help Sonflower. We could do with knowing a bit more first, does the continuous restarting happen after being turned off then re booting? Next we need to know the computer make and model, and also if you have any recovery disks. I f you can tell us that, it will be a start, thanks. Nev.

No IE onboard Windows 7 in Europe European buyers of Windows 7 will have to download and install a web browser for themselves. The above comes from the BBC with quotes from Microsoft, here- BBC NEWS | Technology | No IE onboard Windows 7 in Europe If they go ahead with this for any or all of Europe, including us in the UK then what now? Well that may be down to the manufacturer who may or may not include a browser in their OEM version for a branded machine, but for the home builder who buys a full retail, or even an OEM disk to install the operating system, how do you go on from there? The answer is, that if you plan on building a new one to install Windows 7 on it, you need to obtain a browser with the machine you are using now, for future install later. Just go to Firefox, Opera, even Microsoft if you do think you need Internet Explorer, and download the browser of choice to your downloads folder or similar, then either copy it to disk or memory stick. Once your new system is built, just install it from there.