Plastic Nev

Ah, good old system restore, now why didn't I think of that? well done any way, glad it all worked out for you and thanks for letting us know. Nev.

Hi, a bit confused here, which "Other devices", is there a name to them and what they are? What we are looking for is a device named Realtek AC97 or Realtek HD Audio, or it may be one of the other sound system makers, especially if they have the yellow mark. A double click will open the window for anything marked with the yellow mark any way, so once opened click on the driver tab, there should be an update driver, try clicking on that first and let us know what happens. Also there should be a button for "disable", if however it says "enable", click that first. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. Is this a new motherboard or one that has been used elsewhere? Also are you sure the monitor is working, is the power supply connected to it, and it should at least tell you there is no signal when first turned on, can you try it on another computer? Nev.

Hi, have you looked in device manager? To get there quickly, click start, then "run", copy and paste this into the box and click OK. devmgmt.msc Once the device manager window opens, scroll down the list to "Sound, Video and game controllers", click the little arrow on the left which should expand it, are there any red or yellow question or exclamation marks? Let us know what you find and we can go from there. Nev.

Hi, OK thanks for the clarification, when it comes to security of this nature we have to be careful. You may need to set up a remote user connection via the router and the works computer, but I know very little about that sort of connection so I will ask one of our more experienced staff to work with you. Nev.

Hi, to follow on from Kens advice, this is something I did when upgrading the hard drive on my laptop from a 40GB drive to a 160GB drive. Once you have the image on the external hard drive and then created the rescue disk, which you will need to install the image onto your new drive, fit the new drive. Then you need to get into the BIOS to tell it to boot from the CD/DVD drive and also insert the rescue disk and plug in the external hard drive at the same time. Then you can get out of the BIOS, it will then boot from the rescue disk. Follow instructions from then on. Though it does take some time to do, I will recommend creating the Windows PE rescue disk, I found the Linux disk useless as it wouldn't recognise my Buffalo external hard drive. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Fee PC Help. Could you be a little clearer about all the circumstances involved here, are you meaning security camera's at your place of work, and are you trying to access these cameras from home via remote access? If so, is this place of work your own business or some one else's? If it is someone elses business they will have maybe created a secure system to prevent outside tampering, you need their permission for that access. Please explain in more detail and why you feel you need to access those security camera's, especially if not your own. Nev.

Yes we do is the answer. In fact where you find any technical helper recommending the use of CCleaner, more often than not we will tell you not to use the registry cleaning part of it. As Ken said for general system cleaning it is very good, but the modern registry and the way Windows works with it, there is absolutely no need to clean the registry. As Neill said, folks have found the system wrecked by using registry cleaners. Nev.

Without knowing the layout of yours internally a bit hard to say, but if doing it in mine, there is room for it to just lay on the bottom, or as Ken suggested much earlier, a bit of duct tape onto the existing. Otherwise it would mean sheet metal working skills to make and fit a bracket. Nev.

To add to good advice so far, you mention the possibility of replacing the drive. It is quite possible to do do so and fit a much larger one, therefore giving more space. You can then use that Windows 7 disk to install Windows 7 onto the new drive. That though will mean any existing stuff on the old drive may be lost. However it can be copied over to the new drive as one complete move, including the Windows 7 operating system as well. To do so the easiest way, is to first create a copy of the existing drive, which will require an external hard drive to put it on, but that is something you could borrow for this. Next is the physical removal of the old and fitting the new, then installing the copy onto it off the external drive. all of that will require using what is called Imaging software to first create the copy, and then transfer the copy to the new drive. If you fancy having a go at that, myself and Ken plus Starbuck, can assist as we all use an imaging software called Macrium Reflect, which is a free program ideal for doing that job. Nev.

Yes, I think that is the way, there isn't much I can find in the way of a SATA data splitter, all seem to be for the power side not data. That is what I originally thought might be the case. From what I see on other websites it is not possible to actually split the data side of the SATA port, you will have to fit a PCI or PCIe card. It may be more expensive for a PCIe card but being the express version of PCI it will be faster. Let us know how you get on. Nev.

Hi, it may if it is a full SATA extension/doubler lead. I did look for something similar but obviously not the right place, hope it isn't too expensive if it is no good. My worry is that with both drives connected to the same port on the motherboard, the system may not recognise there are two drives connected. Though if any one knows differently I am welcome to be corrected. Edit to add- I found these instructions for installing a second drive with a splitter and only one SATA port, hope it helps. http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_6683120_installing-using-one-sata-port.html You may also need one of these as well. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002N2EHVQ/ref=asc_df_B002N2EHVQ11037732?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B002N2EHVQ Nev.

Hi, Unfortunately I am in a similar position, I bought a sound card for mine, guess what, no power plug, to use it means fitting a different power supply that will have the extra. Rather than trying to upgrade, I plan starting from fresh and building a machine to my specifications. However, you could get a power supply that has extra power plugs as well as getting the expansion card, not too expensive but is of course adding to the cost. Nev.

Hi, now I know it is for a VST, musical I assume? So yes you do need top speeds. If you don't already have a USB 3 port, that would mean buying an expansion card anyway, so perhaps best to stick to a SATA expansion card, you can then connect via SATA leads either internally or externally. The musical software from PG Music, "Band in a Box" has their own forum, mainly for discussing the software of course, however the forum has an off topic section where members discuss topics sometimes related to computer hardware and how to get the best out of it, as well as other musical software and instruments even, so well worth a look and asking questions there for music creation and idea's, as well as the more musically technical advice. This is a link directly to their off topic section- http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=0&Board=UBB4&page=0 Even if you don't use or have the software, most musical software companies have their own forum where some very useful musically technical advice can be found. Saves me checking and then relaying stuff I might not know directly ;) Nev.

As I said, it doesn't look like it looking at what I can see of my motherboard, yes there are prongs on the board but not a correct SATA socket next to where my drive plugs in. I will have to power off to remove some bits so I can see properly as my power supply covers quite a large area of the board. The Imedia range of cases are so compact that you can't see much motherboard without removing things. Also, Packard Bell, which are really Acer now, name and number the motherboard according to the main computer model number, so as each model is different, so also are the motherboards. Although I don't need an extra internal drive, if I did I would be looking at one of the PCIe expansion cards as they provide extra SATA sockets for internal use, no doubt just for this purpose, and being driven from a PCIe slot they should have the high speed which you want. Also, just looking at the hard drive housing and extra holes in it, makes me wonder if a piggy back type of housing that can bolt onto the existing one may be available. Might be worth looking round to see. Tomorrow when I have more time, I will do a full power off exploration and take some photo's, then some comparisons can be made. Nev.

Hi, thanks for the screen shot, nothing looks to be wrong in there though. Just to try and rule out, have you tried the drive or drives in a different computer, do they work OK or not? Can you also please let us know what make and model your laptop is, and also how many USB ports and are any USB 3. Also how many card reader slots does it have as well. Nev.

Hi Terence and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. It is always best to stick to well known names when buying new hardware, Sony, Samsung, Lite-on seem to be the main manufacturers. Have a look at those on sale here as an example, there is a Sony on there for a reasonable price. http://www.scan.co.uk/shop/computer-hardware/all/blu-ray-dvd-drives/blu-ray-laptop-internal Bear in mind that if you wish to burn disks as well as play them, make sure you get a drive marked as RW for DVD or CD. As yet and as far as I know, you can only read Blu-ray disks and not burn new ones, so no drive will offer that function, just DVD or CD-RW. Nev.

Reminds me about the maintenance man's two tools, which are WD40 and duct tape. If it should move but doesn't use the WD40, if it moves but shouldn't, use the duct tape. The duct tape is ideal for doing as Ken said, tape the new drive on to the fixed one, it won't move afterwards. Nev.

Hi, and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. I have a similar but possibly later PB machine, the S1300, from what little I have found so far, including a look in my own machine, a lot depends on whether your motherboard has a spare SATA port on it, mine does not. If you do have a spare port, and providing you can find space, nothing wrong in putting the drive loose inside the case providing it doesn't cause a short circuit to something via its case, or obstructs vital air flow. However, if no spare SATA port on the mother board, you can get a PCI, or even PCIe to external SATA card if you have either a PCI or a PCIe slot available, Have a look here for an example= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Port-Expansion-VIA-VT6421a-chipset/dp/B000S87GG0 If no PCI or PCIe slots, then you are limited to a USB connected external caddy. Nev.

Somewhere else on a different forum a member asked how did I take that photo. Actually I didn't, I just got it sent as E Mail, but knowing that a Tesla coil only sends one or maximum two to three arcs out at once, I think this must be a multiple exposure shot to have that much activity in it. Spectacular though and well done to whoever took the time to set it up. Nev.

Hi Tobyfex and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help, Considering all was OK till you removed and replaced or at least re-seated the RAM, that is where the fault may lie, how many sticks of RAM are in it? First turn off the power, you can leave the plug in to maintain the earth connection if the socket is a switched one. If more than one stick of RAM, remove all but one stick and try again, if still nothing replace that with another and so on. while the sticks are out, make sure the contacts are clean, a pencil eraser is good for that and wipe with a soft cloth afterwards. it is unlikely all sticks are damaged or dudd, but be aware they could be as bad RAM will prevent a start up. Nev.

Only two more weeks and the festivities will be upon us so may I say a happy Christmas to all. For those wishing for a spectacular Christmas tree, you will be hard pressed to beat this. http://i48.servimg.com/u/f48/14/68/69/96/christ15.jpg It was created using a Teslar coil, which is extremely high voltage and actually quite large, for comparison, there is a chap behind to the left holding an umbrella. Not something to be attempted in the living room, as well as the crackling noises it no doubt makes, which would probably scare the cat, there is a possible fire and electric shock risk as well. It would certainly make putting the presents under it, and later removing them, er-- um-- interesting!! Nev.

Hi, a bit late now as you have done it all, but some of the wires are looking a lot bigger than needed, making soldered connections difficult and chunky. A little tip for next time if you don't have an electronics outlet nearby such as Maplin or similar to buy finer cables, obtain a standard telephone type RJ45 four cored cable, they are cheap enough, not the ethernet 8 core and pin type, that stuff is too fine. Strip off the outer sheath of the four core RJ45 after chopping off the plugs and you will find some nice thin insulated wire inside. It is just the ticket for LED connections as the current is so low as to not be a problem. Nev.

Hi, I am no expert on graphics, so may be wrong, but I have looked up the specification for both your mother board and the graphics card and can only see this mismatch of 32bit OS and the 64bit mentioned about the card. It may be the reason for the not recognised problem, it may not. Nev.

Hi, for maximum efficiency both fans should be used, however with only one fan, I am surprised it heated up so quickly. You live and learn as they say. Nev.