Plastic Nev

Indeed, as Ken said, we do have patience and we do this voluntarily as we enjoy helping others. As Ken also asked, if you can tell us the forum you wish to post these pictures on, it will be a help to us so we can help better. I am still here and will help you through anything you wish, and without leading you into anything that could be dangerous or cause damage. I also started out knowing nothing at all when I bought my first computer, and not all that long since as it was in 2004. I know how much of a concern it is to not want to do anything that might mess it up, I was there once. Nev.

OK, no problem, as and when you can. there are other methods such as using a photo hosting site like Photobucket, however will leave it up to you thanks.

Hi, can you show me a picture of that devices and printers window so I have a better idea of what it may be please. If not sure how to obtain and then post a picture, here is how. Firstly, look in all programs, Accessories, and find "Snipping tool" when that is opened, use the mouse pointer and hold down the left mouse button to select around the image of the screen you want, (A red lined rectangle or square will be created) and then release the mouse button. A picture then appears showing what you selected. Might need some practice to get it right if never having selected a part of a picture before. Click on "File" at the top left and then "save as" to somewhere you can remember, also give it a name you can remember, though the default "Capture JPG" might be good enough for just a one off.. Next is to click the "Reply to thread button on the forum, then click the "Go advanced" button under the normal reply box, this opens a bigger reply page. Write whatever you need to in the reply box, then scroll down to Attachments, and click on the "Manage attachments" button. A new smaller window opens and at the top on the right is a button marked "Add files" click that, then the "select files" in the even smaller box. That opens your computers Windows explorer, and navigate to the picture you created earlier, click on it, and then click "Open", it returns to the smaller box, then click the "upload files button" You should now see the name of the picture underneath the original "Manage attachments" button. You can now click the "Done" button bottom right of the smaller attachments window. Then finally if all is as you want it, click the "Submit Reply" Button, or first to double check all is OK before then, click the "Preview Post" button You will see below this post, the brass instrument from my avatar as proof that it works just as I described it. Nev.

OK, thanks for that information and from the fact you see no warning signs in device manager, can you explain in more detail please which sound you can hear, and which sound you don't if you think there should be sound. I mean such things as sound with video from for example Youtube, or with music you have stored on the computer or maybe websites. Nev.

If you wish to learn more about computers and how to use them yet do so with real people guiding you rather than this way here, have a look round your local area and see if any colleges or voluntary organisations are running computer help courses. Believe me, you won't get very far if being afraid of every simple task on the internet. Nev.

It is not possible to share pictures to any forum without uploading them to either a photo hosting site, or uploading them to the forums own system, photo's are not anything like just typing words, like these I am typing now. In actual fact even these words are uploaded to the forum when I click the "Post Reply" button, everything sent from your computer is an upload. Sorry if you feel that uploading pictures is too difficult, as in reality it is a very simple process, and every photo you see any where on the net, in any forum, has had to be uploaded by the person who posted them. Nev.

Hi again, you won't need to download anything. Upload it, yes, and also you may, in fact better still, will need to register and become a member of a photo and image storing site. That is just so that you are aware of what you do need to do. I will be mentioning that some forums, (Not all) do have facilities to upload attachments such as photo's as this site does, and how to at least use that facility here on Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. Can you tell me please what the forum is that you wish to post pictures on? Nev.

Hi, first thing, can you tell us the make and model number of the computer please. That will help me look up what the sound system is that is installed. Next is to click the start orb, and then type "Device Manager" into the search bar, then click on Device manager in the list that opens up. In the device manager window, are there any yellow or even red warnings and if so what are they for, if you can post a screen shot of it it may help. Nev.

Hi Techphobe, and a welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. I will write up a complete tutorial for you a little later today, as I see we actually don't have a tutorial on the subject of posting pictures and photographs on to forums, such as this one and also other sites. I see also you require help in what to do with photographs and putting them on to your computer, resizing them, and a few other things you need to know. All of that will be covered as I will aim it at people like yourself who are new to computers and a true novice. Give me an hour or two. Nev.

Edit, just seen Ray posted while I was writing, he does have a good point about the usual windows theme music, do you hear that? OK George, It may well be booting up correctly but with no screen you can't tell of course. My thought now is that you may have disturbed the wiring for either the screen backlight or the screen itself. Does there seem to be anything showing if you look at the screen from an angle and with lights either off or dimmed down a bit in the room? If you can see a vague outline of the normal desktop screen it will be a lack of backlight, so it could be the inverter or the tube itself. Some laptops have the inverter circuit within the lid under the screen, others it is in the main body under the screen. You might have to take the lid and screen out to check wiring there, you never know if working on the keyboard has dislodged a connection. Nev.

Hi, considering the different fault messages, it is looking like the card itself is duff. However I am a little concerned about the other yellow marks for other devices, the Multimedia audio controller, (Can be part of the graphics card) and the SM bus controller. See what Ken has to say when he gets a look in next. Nev.

Hi George, if there is a CD in the drive, it needs to come out, as the BIOS just might be trying to boot off it and if an ordinary CD it can't. However are you sure it is the CD you can hear spinning up and not the hard drive, as that should also make the whirring spin up sound too. Please check the CD drive to be sure. If still nothing, double check the connections to the keyboard and also check no other connections under the keyboard haven't been loosened or come off. Nev.

Hi Alan, as an addition to Kens advice, if you don't have a spare graphics card to try a swap, lets see if we can get the drivers. If you can find it in the control panel, go to programs, search out all instances of Java and uninstall them first, then delete the new Java, as I think it means that one is corrupt. Then download a fresh version again to try that. If that then allows the driver scan to work, download whichever it recommends and install it. If after that, there is no change and the graphics are the same, then it must be the card itself faulty and will require replacement. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help Have you had a look for fresh or updated drivers for your Nvidia graphics card? I would normally ask you to try the on board video, however from what I can find out there isn't one hence why the graphics card I assume. Try this Nvidia page, and go for option 2 for it to detect the card and which drivers it needs as there seems nothing for the older Windows XP in the first option. http://www.nvidia.co.uk/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-uk Let us know how you get on, however I must warn there is a possibility the graphics card is going duff and may require replacement. Nev.

Great stuff Matt and glad to hear all worked out OK and Revo got the uninstall done for you. Wonderful program remover and as I said earlier it does dig down and removes stuff left behind by Windows own uninstaller. I will mark this as solved. Nev.

If I can add, she is possibly better off and quicker doing it with a flash drive as the so called easy transfer can take ages to work, sometimes.

No you won't lose any documents Matt, Your documents are in their own folder and though maybe opened by Open Office, they are a separate thing. Just tick each as it says, then carry on till it tells you it has finished. Once it has done so, it may be best to shut down and reboot the computer before starting to reinstall Open Office. The restart just helps to make sure everything of the old version has been removed. Nev.

Hi, it looks like it is starting at start up. The best way forward now will be to install Revo uninstaller, that will force the uninstall and removal for you. download Revo from here :- http://www.revouninstaller.com/download-freeware-version.php That link starts the download straight away, once downloaded install it and then open it. it will give a list of all programs installed, just look for the Open Office and either double click on it or choose uninstall. It then asks which mode, choose the moderate option. In your case it may ask if you wish to force an uninstall, allow it do so. You can keep Revo on your computer and use it for any uninstall later, it is much better than the Windows own uninstall system. Nev.

Hi Matt, this strikes me as a possibly corrupted original installation of Open Office. Try uninstalling it and then a reinstall, being open source software it is free. Download the latest version from here, is safest. https://www.openoffice.org/download/index.html Please make sure that any unwanted additions are not ticked, if offered an advanced installation, choose it as that will be where unwanted bundled junk ware is found to be, so make sure ticks are removed. I haven't downloaded and installed it recently so not sure if bundled junk such as the Ask toolbar etc are included or not these days. If you find any difficulty in uninstalling the original, please let us know before installing the new version. Nev.

Hi Grandad, the BIOS should be able to do so, it is only once Windows has loaded that the malware takes over and prevents Windows from recognising it. To get into the BIOS in the first place, it may be the F10 key, keep tapping the key straight from pushing the start button. If it isn't F10, have a look at this for other HP combinations. http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/a/biosaccess_pc.htm Once the BIOS page is open, you need to navigate to the page for the boot sequence, and then to move the CD/DVD drive to the top of the list. Some more good information about navigating round the BIOS here, http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/ultimate_bios_guide_every_bios_setting_revealed Scroll down to the sixth picture under "Advanced BIOS Features", that picture shows a page view similar to what you should be looking for. To make CD/DVD ROM drive the top of the list, use up and down keys to highlight it, press enter, then move it up the list with the up down keys again, once at the top press enter again. If a different procedure to that, it usually does tell you on that page. Just one small thought now about the disks you made for your own computer. The product key for your computer may be embedded within those disks, so therefore will not work with the product key for your friends. It will come up with "Product Key Invalid" If that happens, we will need to download the ISO image from Digital River, that is a full Windows copy that is then ready to be activated by the computers product key. Do not try to use your own product key, that will later result in both computers being locked with the "This is not a valid copy of Windows" messages. Nev.

Hi again, if your computer is exactly the same model, plus also exactly the same operating system, as in either home, or professional, there is a chance they might work. On the problem machine, you need to change the boot order to boot from the hard drive to boot from the disk drive in the BIOS first. You should then be able to open the drives tray, pop in the disk, then press the enter key or whatever instructions are in the BIOS. Worth a try any way. Is everything backed up and safe? Nev.

Hi David, thanks for letting us know. If it is any consolation most disk drive drawers on laptops are pretty flimsy looking, doesn't matter which make, they all seem to be the same. Just be glad it isn't one of the later plain slot type where you just push the disk in. If it sticks and you can't get the disk out, it is a nightmare dismantling job with them. Nev.

Hi Grandad, welcome back. There are two things come to mind and no doubt one of our other members may come up with more. Firstly is do you think it is worth the trouble of saving as it is? If so look in our malware removal forum, follow all instructions and post the resulting logs in there, you never know it may be simple for one of our malware removal guys to sort out. If on the other hand it becomes obvious that a restore back to factory condition is the best, providing you still have the product key on the Microsoft label, that can be done by downloading and burning an ISO of windows 7 to disk or flash drive. Then use that and the original product key to install Windows 7 again. Let us know which way you think best and we can go from there. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. Is there any chance you can try a different computer on the internet connection? If the other computer behaves the same but is OK elsewhere, then it must be the line or router, if on the other hand another computer works OK with a fast speed, then it must be your computer. Lets try to identify which it is first. Nev.

Hi, An addition to the good advice from DSTM, just one question, do you have an original Microsoft Windows XP disk? If not you may be lucky and find someone selling a genuine one on E Bay, however to rescue this system you do need a genuine disk. Nev.