Plastic Nev

Hi, I will leave it till weekend now as evenings here the connection sometimes slows to a crawl, but I will try to download and install it as I do have one program that would be nice to have running again, but just won't install on W7. I will let you know once I have it done and what results I get. Nev.

Hi, just to pop in, I noticed you mentioned earlier that the power supply didn't appear to be charging the battery, is that still the same? Are you able to remove the battery and will it run the laptop on the mains unit only? If the charger unit is duff, or more likely the jack it plugs in to, the battery may be nearly flat and could be why it isn't booting as a perhaps. Nev.

Hi Ian, last night I tried to download the XP mode, for some strange reason the download stopped at around two thirds of it and then had to cancel. I will try again later, but this makes me wonder if you got the full download or if in fact you might have a corrupted download. It might be worth while removing or uninstalling what you have and try another download. I must admit I have never seen a download stop dead, they have always completed in the past. Nev.

Hi Ian, just a quick word to let you know I haven't forgotten you, I am still looking into it. However it seems there is little information regarding this problem. I assume you checked and installed the 64 bit versions as you said you installed Windows 7 Pro 64 bit, so I think that one can be ruled out if you did. In the mean time, and leave the virtual mode and XP mode till I know a bit more, have you tried installing any programs yet, those that will run on Windows 7 and any of the XP or earlier programs yet? Any problems with any of them? Nev.

Hi, Can you please tell us as much as possible about the entire system, that means the computer make and model, or motherboard if a custom build, and also the make and model of the Wireless adapter if separate from the motherboard. That information will help us to find the correct driver and where to download it from. Also it will be best if downloaded onto a working computer, then put onto a pen or flash drive to then be able to install it. Nev.

Hi Ian, that is a strange issue, it should all work as far as I know. However, although my machine is OK to install, I have not yet found the need to do so. Unfortunately I am unable to help further until I try it myself, which I will look into it further tomorrow. I have run out of time tonight as I have spent most of this evening sorting pensions out as I retire in two weeks time. Hopefully there may be another member with answers for you before I can get back to you later. Just to add, though it may not be relevant as the system is supposed to check if your copy of Windows 7 Pro is genuine, and I would have thought this would be part of it, which is the important, have you fully activated that Windows 7 Pro yet? It just may be refusing to work if it isn't activated and registered. Nev.

Hi, it sounds like the auto backup in Vista may be creating backups and saving them to the hard drive, have a look at this Microsoft support page for disabling it, which should also give you an idea where the backups will be to delete unwanted backups from further back in time. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927014 You can disable it entirely, or set it so that backups go to an external source such as an external hard drive or even DVD disks, rather than cluttering up the hard drive space which is what I think may be happening.

Hi, first off, the possible clash between AVG and Microsoft Security Essentials as Ken suggested above may in itself be the problem. However, once you have removed AVG, or MSSE. Did you first run the Hardware Assisted Virtualization detection tool before installing the Windows XP mode and Windows Virtual PC? If you did run the tool you should have seen this message http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/HAVtool_zps5be3a6bb.jpg If you saw any other messages, please let us know what they were. However first please remove one of those antivirus programs and see if indeed that cures your problem before going any further. Nev.

Hi, as an alternative to running a dual boot system. From the full thread as I am reading it, your main concern regarding running XP is due to maybe many originally XP based programs and software with the worry that some may not work with Windows 7. Quite a common idea that in reality isn't that much of a problem. Many programs built for XP do run well on Windows 7. I have quite a large number installed on my Windows 7 machine that originally were on my older XP machine, some, where the license permits it, are on both. However, for the odd and rare case where an XP program will not run, an upgrade to Windows 7 Professional, if not already starting from that, is the first move, the upgrade is not too expensive and a lot cheaper than finding and buying a legitimate copy of XP and the maybe required extra hard drive may be. Once upgraded if the upgrade is required, Microsft provide a virtual XP environment, which once that is installed, all XP and earlier based programs will run within it. The virtual environment is a free download. More information and further links for the download from here on this Microsoft site:- http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/install-and-use-windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7 Nev.

Hi John, can you confirm that you can, or cannot get the computer into the BIOS page? From start up or power on button, usually F2, F10 or sometimes the Del Key, repeatedly tap the key till the BIOS page appears, holding the key down continuously may not work or may flash up a stuck key message. If you can get it into the BIOS it will be of help as it may need to be set to boot from a USB drive if that option is available, if not, to boot from the CD/DVD drive in order for our experts to run the first fix. Nev.

Hi again, it can be done but is expensive, that is due to the HDMI sound is still digital, so although there are cables that will split the video away from the audio so that you could just use the audio, you would still need a digital to analogue converter after that. The few and far between boxes I have found so far that will do it all are expensive and intended for TV or home theatre uses, not a simple thing in the way you want it to be. An example is this= http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI distribution amp_splitter 2 port.html Everyone seems to think that you would want to use the HDMI out to go straight into a similarly equipped TV to use as monitor, and therefore use the TV loudspeakers. I think now that the way you have it by using that as you say long white socket, which is actually a DVI port which for some reason has given you good sound, I would stick with that. Edit to add, I was writing while you posted the link, and from that you can see what the HDMI port is intended for, full home theatre style video and sound, not as a separate monitor ans speakers set up. Nev.

Yes, but in this case we want HDMI to sound so you can connect your speakers to it, They are separate speakers we are talking about here and not the ones on the monitor? If they are on the monitor then where you are now is the best we can get if the monitor doesn't have HDMI input ports. not found anything HDMI to sound as yet, but will stick with it if needed. Nev.

Hi, I don't know why the level dropped, hopefully a small setting up glitch that won't happen again. However if happy with what you have as it is now, that will be OK for now, and later when I have a bit more time, I will have a look see what I can find in order to get your sound from the HDMI port considering you aren't using it. I need to go out now, so will look round for something later. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. OK there are some rare types of malware that can prevent access to the computer, but the computer does at least boot. So can you explain in more detail exactly what happens when you first push the start button. Also which make and model of computer do you have, or if a special or home build what motherboard and other specs Please. It could eventually prove there is some sort of hardware or software fault which may not be cured by just changing the hard drive. Nev.

Hi Guypea, took a little bit of searching but found the possible problem I think. It turns out that AMD High definition sound is actually on your Radeon Graphics card, it took over the original sound system when you installed that new card. Here is part of the spec for the sound system. Integrated HD audio controller Output protected high bit rate 7.1 channel surround sound over HDMI with no additional cables required. This actually means that the sound is now through the HDMI port on the graphics card and no longer through the ordinary motherboard sound system. It does now depend on which port on the card you are using for the monitor screen as asked for by Armageddon. If using the HDMI port already then sound will only appear at the in built speakers on the monitor providing the monitor has them. Let us know which port you are using first please, then we can look around for what is best to use after that. Nev.

Hi Lloydie, you can't post on that thread as it is closed, please start a new thread in the malware section with all the logs plus the OTL extra's and one of our experts will guide you from there. Nev.

Hi, sorry, I didn't know you had installed a new graphics card and thought perhaps the old faulty one was still there. Although sound is sometimes linked to the graphics card it still needs to be turned on in the BIOS. I meant for you to disable the old graphics and enable on board graphics, not sound, when I thought the old graphics card was still in there. Now I know you have a new graphics card installed, we can go from there, first of all go back into the BIOS and turn the sound back on. Which sound out port or ports are you using please, are you sure you have the speakers plugged into the speaker jack and not a line out jack? If they are plugged into the speakers jack, then open device manager, scroll down to "Sound,video and game controllers", open that and can you tell me what is showing in there, any red or yellow marks? Also does it tell you the sound system type such as "Realtek HD Audio" or is it some other name? Nev.

Hi, is the duff graphics card still in the computer? If so and the motherboard has on board graphics, remove the duff card completely, make sure the on board graphics is turned back on in the BIOS and check the sound then. Let us know please, Nev.

Hi, did you follow the instructions and try the new power supply with everything else stripped off except the power supply 20(4) way plugged in? Did any fans start up, or was it still completely dead? If not please do so, however if you did do all that and still no life it has to be the motherboard. Nev.

Hi, a tip for you considering you paid for Malwarebytes and possibly by now cannot get any money back. Leave it in a disabled state but don't uninstall it. When you want it to do a scan, first disconnect from the internet, then temporarily open it, re-enable it, and run a scan with the AVG temporarily disabled. That way you will at least be getting some of your money's worth from Malwarebytes. In the mean time I will ask one of our security guys if he has any advice for you. Nev.

Hi Ian, Ken was just throwing the discussion open for us all to have a look see for you. I can certainly say though that what Steve Vr5fx has found is a double whammy!! Believe me if I wasn't so short of cash at the moment I would be asking for one of them too. For your needs that six core processor, added to the 8GB fast RAM and also a reasonable graphics card, you should find that a superb bit of kit and it comes with the Windows 7 DVD too, therefore ultimately a good saving as the £75 on top of the £400 is a lot less than the standard DVD on its own. Nice find Steve. Nev.

OK then who is going to go buy some Meccano next? Talking of which, as a project for some odd reason that I forget which, a place called Little Lever outside Manchester, they have built a bridge over an old canal using giant sized Meccano. Quite impressive it is too. Will post pictures when I find them. Edit, better still a link to an article in the Metro:- http://metro.co.uk/2013/04/10/giant-meccano-bridge-opens-over-canal-after-a-year-being-put-together-3590730/ Nev.

Hi, that's OK Ken, I was thinking of doing just that myself. OK about those brushes, go for the large one Bazman, being animal hair they won't create or aid in creating static and therefore ideal for the job. I must admit I was surprised, when I saw Artists brushes I thought lots of £ signs here, and was pleasantly surprised to see how cheap they are. Now for the continuous 0x00000124 error code, It is certainly a hardware error code and this could be the graphics card. There is a tremendous amount of information available including a direct connection to PCIe devices in Windows Vista, though your system is Windows 7 there are too many similarities between the two to ignore that. I am now a little concerned that the overheating prior to cleaning may have done some damage to it. Although it may not now be overheating, it could just be down to expansion of some part of it when it does warm up a bit. The only real test would be to try it in a different computer and see if the fault happens then. If not a computer of your own, perhaps a willing friend. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. Sorry but not sure do you mean you would like help fixing the Radeon HD 4850, or do you mean you would like help in deciding what to replace it with? If wanting to fix the existing card can you tell us what exactly is happening or wrong with it please. If wanting to replace it, first important thing is the power a new card requires as your present power supply is a 500watts rated supply, if wanting bigger and better in graphics card, that may have to be replaced with a power supply of higher rating. Let us know what your uses are likely to be, such as heavy gaming and if so which games, or other uses requiring good graphics. Also how much can you afford to spend. That information can help us decide on which card may be best for you. Nev.

Nice looking motor they are, oh to have enough to afford a brand new too. I am getting too old to be crawling around under old bangers. Nev.