Plastic Nev

The update numbered KB 3035583 is the one that installs the task bar notification. I hid it the first time round, however Microsoft pushed it out again two weeks back with some other general updates, which over rode the original uninstall and hidden one. Here is the description of the update KB3035583. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3035583 You can of course uninstall and hide the update again if you wish. Though somehow I doubt it will stop Microsoft getting the Windows 10 installer on to your computer one way or the other. We are definitely going to have to be stubborn and keep on top of uninstallling it if we don't want it. Nev.

I can only add that you read again Starbucks last post above mine and make sure you understand the implications. I am only trying to make sure you understand what you may be up against, I am not trying to persuade you in any direction. After all I intend keeping Windows 7 in one form or another after I have checked out Windows 10, but I do know all the implications. Even if you delete the Windows 10 upgrade files, I suspect Microsoft will still send out nuisance nag windows trying to persuade you. You may have to put up with just closing them when they appear. In my opinion at the moment Windows 7 is definitely the best Microsoft have created.and for now the fact that they will continue to send security updates until 2020 is good enough for me. No doubt the third party security companies such as those providing antivirus, antimalware, and firewall will continue to do so for Wondows 7 just as they are now for Windows XP. With perhaps some giving a cut off point at some time in the future. Just a point to remember, that Windows 10 is only free for one year, so after July29th 2016, even if you kept but did not install it, you will not be able to install it for free after that date, you will be charged a fee to activate it. Microsoft have been quite clear on that point. As I think it has already been mentioned, you can install Windows 10 just to see if you can work with it and get used to it. However if after that you decide it just isn't for you and you hate it, you can roll back to Windows 7. Starbuck posted a good tutorial on how to roll back to Windows 7 or for Windows 8 users, back to Windows 8 or 8.1 here :- http://extremetechsupport.com/threads/16861-How-to-Rollback-to-a-previous-version-of-Windows-from-Windows-10#.VbADsvmNiSo I hope that between us we have helped to clear up any points or issues you feel you may have about the subject. Nev.

Taking into account your other thread on system builders and parts, rather than using these system builders, have you thought about buying the individual parts and assembling it all yourself Kev, we can advise as to the best for price if you need help with that. Nev.

An alternative may be to order the complete computer with the lowest spec and priced PSU the VS450. Once you have it, remove it and sell it, then buy and fit a PSU of your own choice. Just a thought and one I would be looking at if it were me. Nev.

As far as I can tell, the downloaded Windows 10 will just sit there on your hard drive, possibly in your downloads folder. If wishing to stick with the present operating system, I see nothing to prevent you from deleting the download before installing it. However, at present I don't think anyone really knows as to exactly where or in what folder the download will be put by Microsoft. It may well be a case of hide and seek to find it. Otherwise if you do decide to install Windows 10, and then find you don't like it, you can roll back to the present operating system, I assume Windows 7. Nev.

Hi, this now sounds like the operating system has not been activated from new. You shouldn't actually require the disk in the package and should be able to activate the system without it or even the product key on the package. In earlier operating systems such as XP, Vista, and Windows 7 when the computer was first turned on from new, you were asked to activate the system and given a time period of so many days or weeks to do so. Instructions were given within the window as to how to do so. However not being a Windows 8 or 8.1 owner or user, I don't know the procedure for activating that system fully as the product key should actually be already embedded into the BIOS system, though Ken will possibly know what to do next. Nev.

Hi, I think the information may be enough, however a makers name on the disk package would be of help, does it say it is Microsoft or Sony? As for photographs, how to get them on to a computer, and then how to show the photograph on a forum such as this, it would be best to start a new topic or thread in the Miscellaneous hardware issues section, and we will be happy to help you. In that thread it will be important to tell us what type of camera you will be using, is it a purpose built digital camera or a mobile phone type camera or some other type? For the Miscellaneous hardware issues section, click this link to save you searching. http://extremetechsupport.com/forums/100-Miscellaneous-Hardware-Issues Nev.

Try just the DIR and no * symbol. I think the star symbol was just to highlight the DIR. Nev.

Have a look at post #7 Kev, I suggested using the disk clean up tool there for that reason, it is surprising how much unwanted crap can build up if not cleaned out of the way, and it is wasting disk space at that too. For any other members not familiar with it, Disk clean up tool can be accessed in Windows 7 from "Start Orb", > All Programs > Accessories folder > System tools folder > Disk Clean up. Or Start orb, type in Disk Clean up. It then says "Disk clean up", or "Free up disk space by deleting unnecessary files" Once the window opens, select which drive to clean if you have more than one. The next window, after it has calculated how much can be cleaned, then has a button for cleaning up system files, click that one and it goes through the calculation again. It then gives you a list of all files that can be deleted including the temporary operating system junk as well. Just click OK, it may ask if you are sure you wish to delete these files, OK for that too and let it get on with it. It closes itself when it is finished. Nev.

Basically your last post does hold the answer Kev, I found the same thing as to the size of the finished clone in comparison to the original, and as yet have not found anything missing on this SSD drive that I am running now, which I cloned from the original ordinary mechanical drive. It does use some intelligent system to not clone over the useless rubbish that inevitably accumulates. You should find everything works OK just as it does on the original. Congratulations by the way for completing your first clone. Nev.

Hi, rather strange, there may be a key with the backward dropped arrow without the word "Enter" on it, any chance you can show us a photo of your keyboard please? Nev.

Hi, up until recently, the website "Digital River" was the legal host site for Windows downloads, Hence why I asked where you obtained the operating system from. However if you bought the disk, it rules that out. So a search of what msxml2.dll is revealed this page :- http://www.processlibrary.com/en/directory/files/msxml2/28136/ It would seem to be a part of some third party software, have you recently uninstalled a program that this might be a part of? Nev.

Hi Kev, unless you have a drive of over 1TB and full, it shouldn't take too long to run, as an example I have roughly half of a 500GB drive as data and a clone takes around two and a half hours.for me. So I wouldn't go leaving it on over night for no real reason. Initially it needs attention in setting up, however once you actually start the clone by clicking on that finish button, other than accepting the box for telling you it will overwrite everything, it looks after itself till it is finished, there is no need of further input till then. Nev.

Hi and welcome back Peter. Check the programs list in Programs and features, if it shows up there you can uninstall it then get a fresh download from Google and reinstall it. Save a lot of messing about trying to get icons back as it may be possible that the line disconnection corrupted it. Providing your favourites haven't also been lost, or corrupted, they will still be on the computer and will merge with the fresh install. Nev.

Hi Kev, yes you can continue to use the computer while the clone is being made, though if you can set it up and then do something else you will then be sure nothing will interrupt the process. However I will ask that you clear out any junk before you start, empty the recycle bin, delete temporary files etc, no point in cloning them over is there! Use the Windows own disk clean up tool, it is more than good enough. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. When you first built this computer, where and how did you get windows 7 from please, was it a disk, or did you download it from somewhere on the internet? Nev.

One dark night a lady with a huge black eye stumbled into the police station. She said that she had heard a noise out on the back garden and had gone to investigate. The next thing she knew was that she had been hit hard in the face and had blacked out for a short time. A police officer was sent to her home and returned later also sporting a black eye. "Did you get hit by the same attacker" asked the sergeant "No sergeant, I didn't, I stepped on the same garden rake"

If it is the CPU main fan, a disconnection will have to be very short timed as the CPU will quickly heat up without it Jim, however, if the whistling sound stops in that brief period, then it will show it is the fan. So long as you are quick to reconnect it while the computer is running, there should be no harm done. Nev.

Just seen this, it is always a good idea to have some form of backup in any case, a clone on to a spare hard drive of the same size or bigger is one of the best, and easy to maintain as well. have a look at my tutorial for creating a clone on a spare drive and see if you think it is worth while. Here is the link to the tutorial :- making a clone

OK Joe, I will see if Ken has any thoughts, though it does look like there is something strange with the reader. Nev.

Just to add, if all else fails you can buy a simple SD card to USB card reader at fairly cheap prices such as this one. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Integral-Secure-Digital-Single-Reader/dp/B0047T6XWY Though that is as a add on to a larger order, other dealers still sell them fairly cheaply. Nev.

Hi Joe, just one final thing, please check your device manager, have the red or yellow marks disappeared? If not, the driver hasn't installed correctly, if they have, the driver is installed but the device isn't working! You could also try a fresh install again any way, as it seems odd that the reader worked once, then failed the second attempt. Nev.

You can use photobucket or similar hosting site Bob. However, without knowing what the name is of this "D" partition and what it might contain or how much of it is in use, I am stuck, as I haven't seen the mail. However if there is nothing on it, has no existing name, and it shows as 100% free space, you can either use it for storage of important stuff, or merge it with an existing partition such as "C". Nev.

Hi, unless Ken has an idea I am afraid that to me it looks like the reader has died, it is obviously not recognising there is a card inserted as doing so should open a new entry in disk management. If it hasn't been used in quite a while there is the possibility that the small leaf contacts have become oxidised, however getting at them to clean them is more than likely not possible. I doubt it is software related such as drivers faulty, however there is no harm in going back to the device manager page, opening that entry for the reader and uninstalling the drivers. Reboot the computer, if the reader is only short of correct drivers Windows will search for and install new drivers. It's worth a try, though if still not working after that it can only be the reader itself dead. Nev.

Open the search box again, then type in Disk Management, not sure how it is labelled in Windows 8.1, however it says "Create and format hard disk partitions" in Windows 7, it may say the same, just click on it, when the window opens it should show you the normal hard drive and if the laptop has one the CD DVD drive. It may or may not show the card reader at that point, however if the reader is working, it should show up when you put an SD card into the slot. If still nothing comes up, there is the possibility the reader has a problem with the contacts for the card. I have to ask are you putting the card in the right way up, or worse has a card been forced in the wrong way up, if the second, the contacts may have been bent out of the way and will no longer connect with the card. Nev.