Plastic Nev

Hi, can you be absolutely sure it is the PSU making the noise? High pitched whine noises can be very difficult to trace the cause, as above certain frequencies, our human direction senses get lost and can't sometimes pinpoint the exact location of the sound. As an experiment, turn off the power to the monitor. Strangely enough, the monitors own inverter power system which generates the high voltage to make the backlight work, can give similar high pitched whines. Nev.

Hi, at this stage, I am like you feeling the PSU blowing up also fried the MB. What I recommend, and is what I would do in these circumstances, is to remove the motherboard, CPU included, and also any graphic card or cards, maybe even the hard drive and take the lot to a local repair shop and ask for both a check of all items, and a written report of all faults found. Because Corsair have opened their mouth and insisted their power supply should protect everything else, you will then have written proof it didn't, and should be enough to get whatever is fried replaced at their expense, plus any testing and checking charges refunded. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. I am afraid I am stabbing in the dark here a little as I don't yet have W8 installed. However, if you saw this same problem on XP, I think it may be a file type and association issue. What make of camera and model took the photo's and also do you know what exactly the file type is, for example RAW, BMP, JPG or other? Nev.

Hi mcd840, glad to hear it is sorted, another team effort Ken. http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/mw_handshake.gif Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. After selecting the DVD drive as the first boot device, did you also select to save or save changes before exiting the BIOS selection page? If so, you need the disk in the drive, then reboot, it should go from there. Nev.

If at any time you have allowed the C.Cleaner registry cleaner section to run, that may be your problem, and the registry is possibly missing important files. We never recommend any form of registry cleaner as all too often they delete the wrong thing. However, if you just used C.Cleaner to remove ordinary junk and temporary files etc. that may be OK and the freezing is due to something else. First off then is how well does it run in safe mode, have you as yet tried that? In safe mode, only the basic drivers and software is allowed to run, so if it still freezes up, then it may well be one of those basic drivers faulty or corrupt even though the drivers may be up to date, it doesn't mean they are all good. To get into safe mode, reboot the laptop and start tapping F8 straight away. you should get the advanced options screen first, on that screen select Safe mode and then hit the enter key. If all OK, start again but next time select safe mode with networking, that way you can then use the internet and see how it behaves. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. it is extremely rare that we would even consider any sort of attempts to update or flash the BIOS as it is so easy to get wrong and finish up with a large but pretty doorstop. Be much better to try and get to the bottom of this freezing rather than risk the damage that can be caused by doing the wrong thing with the BIOS. So first of all, could you please list as much as possible what you have tried so far, saves us asking you to try something you already found didn't work. However, one thing that is a common reason for freezing and shutting down is overheating, have you first tried blowing air through the fan or air intakes to dislodge dust etc? The next is there any on screen messages, either during the freeze up or after a restart? If so can you tell us what the message says. Nev.

I believe you can get specific gloves that will at least mitigate the problem, at work we get some extremely thin fine white cotton things so the operatives can handle sensitive surfaced components, especially if the plastic moulding is to be kept super clean. (I work as engineer in a plastic injection moulding factory) Those gloves are so thin and form fitting you don't know you have them on, but still work a touch screen OK. Thanks for the kind offer there Ken, but hard to imagine that it was once someone's brand new pride and joy. Mind you, knock the dents out and a respray it could well go on show on a veteran and vintage motor display.

Sorry to butt in Ken, but- If that means the disk is the operating system on your original computer, that is not legal to install it on another, plus you will eventually have a message that it is not a genuine copy of XP as it is already registered to your present computer. After that you will find you have very limited use of the computer. I suggest you first obtain a new and not previously used XP disk, you can still get them with a bit of a search, and install that. Until you do install a legitimate version of Windows XP or other operating system, we may be left in a position where we cannot help any further. Rules I am afraid. Nev.

Indeed a good idea of Randy's to download and install a different browser, as well as Firefox there are others you can try as well such a Google Chrome, Opera, Comodo Dragon and Flash Peak Slim Browser, all browsers I have tried with each having their own merits, but worth trying any one of them to see if the problem still occurs. Nev.

Hi, back again, have to work during the week ha ha. I think now though the PSU is the fault, as Ken suggested if possible to borrow one from a friend is a great idea, however yours being nearly new, it will be under warranty so you should be able to get it replaced OK. Try and borrow a PSU first though, as that, if it works OK, will prove beyond doubt that your PSU is faulty. Nev.

Hi, before we say yes, check the physical start button on the front of the case and the wiring to it, if the button or switch behind is faulty that could first send the signal to start up, then send another which will make it shut down. The way to check will be remove the connections to the button and momentarily short across the pins on the motherboard, a small coin or screwdriver will do. Then remove it out of the way, if the power supply shuts down then, it could be the supply, or again the motherboard. Being a self build, you just might have a small spare screw between the motherboard and case, or even a wrongly fitted motherboard support pillar which could just be shorting tracks on the motherboard, all things to check first before we say it is the PSU. remove the motherboard from its mountings and lift it enough to be sure there is nothing touching any part of the case, slip some card or a sheet of stiff paper under to insulate it, then try again. Nev.

Hi again, a bit doubtful, but there could also be a motherboard fault not allowing power from the power supply to the fan, but my bet is the fan itself. If so, providing you still have proof of purchase you should be able to get an exchange for it. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. That fan not running will be the cause of the near immediate shut down, as the CPU will heat up very quickly without it and automatically shut down. First check the fan connections, unplug and push back on again to make sure. If still a problem, then ideally a volt meter is needed to check that power is there when the fan is stopped. That must be done with extreme care and if not sure, find someone qualified who can check, as it will point to either a faulty fan, or faulty power supply. Nev.

Hi just looked this problem up, it does seem that the SFF motherboards have a smaller connector, is it eight pin or other? I was hoping I could find an adapter for you but there doesn't look like there is one. Hope someone else can come up with other idea's. Nev.

Hi, thanks for letting us know. Nev.

Hi Pete, if using Internet Explorer only it may be a security setting, to find out click tools, then Internet options, and the tab for security, you will see four headings there, "Internet", "Local Intranet" Trusted Sites and Restricted sites, click Internet, where is the slider? for best safe results it should be on Medium High., have a look at the others as well and let us know where they are set too. Nev.

OK Thanks, let us know how you get on. Nev.

Once you have the cable connected and all is OK, if you wish to then disable the wireless, (stops the risk of someone else listening in) or at least make it more secure by encrypting the wireless section, let us know and we can describe how. Nev.

Indeed useful for others Tom and any more odd things you find the way round, do please post them here. I am not yet using W8 so any tips and tricks found will be welcome. Nev.

Hi again, at least it isn't likely to be a connection issue if you have that download speed, that leaves us with two possibilities, something missing, or some aspect of security Which browser do you use, Internet Explorer? or other? Do you have Java enabled? Which firewall and which antivirus are you using? An answer may be found in answers to those. Nev.

I will add, if you have a halfway decent computer shop, not a main dealer like PC World, but one that does builds and repairs, it can be worthwhile going and asking their opinions, they usually give that free in the hope you will buy the gear from them. Nev.

Yep, came across their website while looking round, I just posted the Amazon link to show the idea, and just wondering if I can get one locally. Good website though. Will have to wait for a while though, first priority is either get the rusty old Ford Ka through another MOT, or if forced, find another old banger. Nev.

Not quite a new purchase yet as finances won't stretch that far at the moment, but looking at something along the lines of one of these. http://www.amazon.co.uk/ViewSonic-VX2258WM-widescreen-Multi-Touch-speakers/dp/B003Y3BJ6O/ref=pd_sim_sbs_computers_6 Not specifically that screen or model, just want a touch screen to see how I get on with it, but not going for the complete computer and screen as I already have too many computers as it is, so just need a monitor that will work with this Windows 7 one I already have. Nev.

a good point BreatGritain (Gotta love that user name :D ) It reminds me of the time my lines went like that and it was due to the extension cable out to my workshop had been damaged. However, some time previously to that, and after I did the checking of all the house system, the BT engineer found the fault was in a junction box two streets away, so no charge was made to me on that occasion as the fault was definitely on their line and property, not mine. Nev.