Plastic Nev

Hi Valder, I came across this recently on a Vista laptop with a different program. It turned out that the firewall needed re configuring to allow that program to run. It may be the same in your case, have a look in your firewall settings, or providing you are off line, turn the firewall off temporarily and see if that helps.

Rather than disable the raid set up, it is obviously not seeing the SATA drive at start up, this can be something simple such as a connection gone loose or dirty. Turn off the machine, remove the cover and disconnect the SATA connection plug and then replace it, both on the drive and the motherboard, this will hopefully wipe the connection pins clean of any oxide or other causes of poor connection. Replace the cover and try it again. If still no joy then it may well be the drive has died.

Hi again New, it is perhaps the simplest way forward at the moment. Hi Zinglebarb, in most cases a combination of Malwarebytes and Superantispyware will deal with those that are basically ransom ware nasties, however there is always the problem of getting the software onto an infected machine in the first place. The best way being by access to a clean computer, download to that, then transfer to memory stick after renaming the file, then install to the infected machine. There are other ways as well such as removing the infected hard drive from the machine, connecting it to a clean machine then either using anti-malware software from the clean machine to scan the hard drive and remove the nasties, or in stuborn cases copy all relevant but clean data as a way of backup. Then reformat the infected drive. No doubt there are other ways as well, but those have been the methods we have used recently. Nev.

Hi New, We can go through the process of how best to download, rename and then use one or more of the anti-malware tools if you wish. But to be honest, your best bet is to follow the link provided by Jelly Bean, they are more qualified to deal with these difficult to remove infections. Hopefully we will acquire a security expert in the future, but at the moment that is the best course of action for that type of malware. Nev.

Still running XP here for now and will be as far into the future to the point when Windows 7 is fully de bugged, by that time this old clunker from 2004 will probably be worn out and ready for retirement, and something to supersede windows 7 will be in beta no doubt. However I intend leaping over Vista and not bothering with it unless 7 proves to be more of a turkey than millennium did.

Hi Unpro, first off, connecting a hard drive taken from one computer to another known good one is quite simple, there are plain connection adapters which are available to connect either IDE or SATA to USB, you may not need to buy a complete external drive caddy. Once the drive in question is connected to the good computer, it should then show in "My computer as an external drive . Providing the good computer has decent security software on it, for example Avast Antivirus, Malwarebytes, and Superantispyware. A right click on the connected drive should open a window with a list of various options including "Scan with Avast. Scan with Malwarebytes, etc. Just click on those, each one at a time, and the security software will scan the entire drive for you, also removing any nasties it finds. Once that is done you can then safely transfer, or just copy all the files you want off it.

My apologies for not being able to respond to you today. Here is the reason why. http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/nomail.gif

Soon be 7000 Bob, and here I am rapidly approaching my first 1000.

As some folk here will already know, as well as being involved with this great forum, outside of that I play cornet in a brass band. Lets face it, the avatar is perhaps a bit of a clue to that. Greenfield Brass Band Contest. I didn't announce this earlier that we were entering as it is only a small contest that our band entered. It took place in a small town called Greenfield, home of the Boarshurst brass band, and it was their quite impressive band club and grounds that hosted the event. The contest consisted of a short march tune to be played while actually marching down the street towards the club building. Once at the club and round the back in their very large car park we were to regroup, and then play a hymn tune followed by a more testing march tune as the main test piece. All seven bands taking part were judged on deportment during the actual march, then judged on the hymn tune, and finally the main test piece. Prizes were given for each part, plus individual prizes for the best bass section, the best euphonium section, the best trombone section, and best cornet section, as side issue prizes. We got fourth place for deportment in the march, first prize for the hymn tune and first prize for the main test piece. Our trombone section also took first prize for their part in it all. To add to the glory, we also took home the trophy for the overall best band. I think we did rather well and congratulate all my fellow band members on a good result.

It seems pretty much that Java isn't working at all at the moment, I can only suggest going back to add or remove programs, uninstall all Java entries, then go back to the Java site and do a fresh install from there. If any more problems after that, it may need a reconfigure of firewall settings, let us know how you get on.

Hi and welcome to Free PC help. I can't find out for sure but as well as the S Video socket, does the graphics card or output also have a DVI socket? If so, adapter cables are available. Have a look here- Play.com (UK) : 3m HDMI Male DVI Male Converter Cable HDTV DVD PC : Electronics - Free Delivery Hope that is of help. Nev.

Hi, and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help, As well as the make and model number that Wolfey asked for, Have a look in device manager, and tell us what you find there. Scroll down the list to "Sound, Video and Game controllers, click the + sign to expand it. To find device manager, click start, then run, then type in, or copy and paste this-- devmgmt.msc Are there any yellow exclamation marks, or red question marks. If possible, a screen shot of what you find would be a great help.

Hi Mama, We now could now do with some more information in order to offer more help. Can you tell us please what security software you have in the way of anti-virus, firewall, and anti-spyware, also are you experiencing any other problems? if so what are they?

Hi old tymer again, You could add SpywareBlaster, but otherwise your OK with what you have, but you didn't say if you are still using the Norton anti-virus? If you look at the list you will see many references to Symantec and therefore Norton. If it is still in subscription, leave it alone for now, but when it comes up for renewal, remove it and go for one of our recommended anti-virus. Symantec Norton is a renowned hog of system resources that can be part of your slower system. I will also add that as Tootech advised, increas your Ram size, this will speed things up a bit as well.

Hi cornelius, if that entry in the MFT is causing no problem, as I think it shouldn't do, why are you insisting on risking serious damage by trying to remove it? leave it alone is my advice, there are many other odd bits of previous program uninstalls lurking in all sorts of odd places that in most cases are harmless, but are there in many computers including mine. Some I have left alone as they could cause problems if I tried to remove them. Next is a thanks to Welies for the link for "Eraser", that connected to "Sandboxie" for those who use it may well be of some help. I wait for replies from others on this, as some expert opinion is devided regarding Sandboxie, and other overwriting software.

Hi again, glad the memory stick worked OK, as Danzils suggestion of renaming the files would have been the next thing, thanks Danzil.

That was my cat when I said "Your going the vet again"

In my day, there was one teacher who used to throw the blackboard duster, (which was a large and heavy lump of wood with felt attached), at unruly pupils, quite often hitting them on the upper torso, shoulders and chest. It b***** hurt. You also got covered in chalk dust as well, thereby staining yourself as a trouble maker. I only got that treatment once, I didn't need it again.

hi Survivor, and welcome from me too, do you have access to another but clean computer? If so, download all the antimalware, malwarebytes, superantispyware, etc to a folder on that machine, then transfer the files to either a memory stick or pen drive, or even CD, then try to install them onto the affected machine from there. If still having problems let us know.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/FatDavid.jpg

Hi Dan, welcome and do look around, you may find something useful and we are here to help. So as well as a bit of help for your friends, I hope you can lend a hand here now and then as well, it will be welcomed.

Hi Flytch and welcome to Free PC help, a case of you break 'em and we try to help you mend 'em eh?:D

Hi Star, most on that list I recognise as basic tracking cookies, harmless in themselves but they do tell their owners what sites you visit most frequently and what type of purchases you may be looking at. They are nothing more than marketing strategy things to help advertisers target their adds. Just dump them on a regular basis, is best. I would also recommend you install a bit more antispyware type of programs, SAS on its own is OK but another such as Malwarebytes is better, plus perhaps spywareblaster. Each one will find or stop the stuff the other misses. No anti anything software is totally perfect, but don't be tempted to install any more antivirus than the one you have, two will conflict and cause trouble.

Hi Mart, or wellies, good to see you here and hope you find your way around OK. Also hope you enjoy our company.

PC World, will charge a lot more than a more local type of repairer, also they will probably send it away as their in house facilities are never up to much. I would recommend looking at the local guy first, to save you both time and money. Nev.