Plastic Nev

Nice shots Helcaraxe, first one is shot into the sun, but that gives a stark level of contrast which really does bring out the smoke and steam from the engine. Even if not deliberate it is worth noting if you want that effect again. The other is well framed and in the perfect lighting conditions, so well done! Also, yes you got the upload right as I think there may be a bit of automatic resizing while uploading anyway. JB, that looks like a fighting machine, you just need the holster for the shotgun on the back. Well OK the law might not like a shotgun, how about a water pistol? Nev.

I think it may be because it is WMV that you uploaded it as, here is a video I did last year using WMV and you will see black space either side of the picture. To get the full sized picture you really need to be looking at starting and keeping in HD if possible. If not starting in HD, but some other format, try not to allow any editor to convert to a different format, either during or when saving, as each time you convert, you lose pixels and therefore size. Nev.

Ah, the good old Fezzy railway, at the Blaenau Ffestiniog station, know it well Ken. Good photo considering the obviously poor weather. Might go there next week myself, as I would like a look at the new extension on the Welsh Highland line. Nev.

Due to my old and once trusty Samsung pocket camera getting a smashed screen rendering it useless, I bought a new Panasonic DMC-TZ18. I then took it out to a favourite little railway, the Ravenglass and Eskdale fifteen inch gauge line, here are a couple of shots of the engine running on Tuesday. River Irt ready to go http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/R6.jpg http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/R7.jpg http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/R8.jpg OK they do also have a very nice diesel loco for those who like them. http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/R5.jpg At the top end of the line, Dalegarth, the engine Northern Rock which after some lunch, took me back down again. http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/R16.jpg http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/R17.jpg Some scenery at Dalegarth, which is breathtaking, and a simple camera cannot do it full justice, but tried anyway. http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/R13.jpg http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/R14.jpg http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/R15.jpg

Hi, try the driver as Maynardvdm suggests though if your system is XP, it may not work as that one is for Vista. My worry though is that the hardware should be showing as the "Sound, Video and Games Controllers" there just may be a chance it has been turned off in the BIOS but if not, then the sound chip has blown. To check in the BIOS, shut down to reboot, push in the main start button to reboot and start tapping the Del. or Delete key. Once the BIOS set up page opens, you need to be looking for anything to do with sound and check that it is turned on. For help in negotiating the BIOS pages, have a look here= http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/ultimate_bios_guide_every_bios_setting_revealed He mentions Audio in the Integrated Peripherals section on page 2. Let us know what you find in the BIOS and if it says anything about the sound systems. Nev.

Hi, the annoying thing is that Youtube have stopped informing us as to what format the video was originally in, AVI, WMV, MPG, or others, do you know exactly what the format is before you uploaded the video, as the black surround is typical of low settings WMV or AVI. Nev.

OK, I understand your concerns regarding the logging equipment and the need for that serial port. You may find perhaps a second hand machine with one and still be new enough to have Windows 7. I don't honestly know without a major search myself of everything now available, but a shortened search proved fruitless so far. You may finish up having to get a computer for your other needs, but need to keep the old one stripped of everything else software and data wise just for the serial port. Edit to add, I have just found on the Dell site they do serial adapters, not USB, but devices which fit into expansion slots, have a look here= http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?s=gen&c=us&l=en&cs=&k=laptops with serial port&cat=all&x=0&y=0&delxlap=1 (Copy and paste the entire link from above to get to the relevant page, not just the underlined link, that goes to a general Dell page.) One of them might be an answer for getting a serial port onto a newer machine. Nev.

Hi Muggles and welcome back, There are so many options available it is difficult to say for any particular model or make, no doubt there may be some who will say stay away from this make or that company is struggling so don't buy one of theirs in case they go bust and so on. What I do suggest is to have a look at what is available and how much they offer for your needs by going through say Amazon or New Egg, to mention major internet retailers, don't forget the smaller guys can sometimes have the one you want at the bargain price too. Now we come to this ageing peripheral, there may be a major stumbling block here depending on what the peripheral thing is, I assume a printer or scanner, considering you are only likely to obtain a new laptop that will be running Windows 7, there may well be compatibility problems as there may not be drivers for Windows 7 to make your device actually work. As for most other things in your wish list, most of it is now standard on the mid range machines. So have a look, see something you like, then ask us our opinion is the better way forward, as there is no way I or anyone else, could find the time or even money to give an opinion of all there is out there as it stands. Nev.

Hi, this could be a driver problem so look in device manager to see what it says there. To open device manager, click on "Start" then "Run", type or copy and paste into the box= devmgmt.msc Click "OK". Look down the list for "Sound, Video and Game Controllers" click on the little arrow on the left to expand that entry, are there any red or yellow question, or exclamation marks? Let us know what you find ther please. Nev.

Hi again yes it will be OK, but please wait now for etavares to continue, as he will have further instructions as to how to do things now he knows you have access to the other computer and flash drive. Nev.

Hi, what type of headset is it, does it also have a microphone as well? If all you need is sound there should be no need of a USB connection as that may be the source of the buzzing. Let us know about the headset type and how you get on with the checks please. Nev.

Hi suarezlfc, to save etavares a second or two of time, yes he does mean another computer and one that is OK. Also here is a photo of two different types of flash drive and it is one of these he means. http://i48.servimg.com/u/f48/14/68/69/96/flash_10.jpg Nev.

Hi, the clue is in the damaged wiring as a first point to look at, try a borrowed headset with good cable first. If the buzzing is still there, you may need to check sound system wiring inside the PC isn't close to the power supply. Are you also running the sound from the motherboard sound chips, or from either a sound card or graphics card sound out port? Nev.

Hi, the problem is the fact they are entirely different operating systems and work in different ways. XP itself has some ability to run earlier programs, but I suspect not DOS based ones. I personally have not heard of any software that could help, though there could well be some, I suggest a careful wording of the question in Google may be the best way forward unless someone else sees this and knows of something. Nev.

Hi, Firefox itself is just a web browser in the same way that Internet Explorer is a web browser, there are also other browsers, each of course have their plus points and some negative points too. However, Firefox does lend itself to many more add ons and plugins that help you the user get a better experience. Adblock Plus which is aimed mainly at Firefox and will not work at all with Internet Explorer, is an add on that I and many others have found to be one of the best at blocking all adverts and other unwanted trash. What is more, it is free to download and use at no cost to you, or anyone else for that matter. Edit to add, you posted while I was still writing Starbuck, I will have to get those high speed running shoes perhaps, ha ha. Nev.

Hi, OK to trying advice from different forums or websites, but it can get confusing, especially when we the helpers find the same question on various websites we visit. I was waiting for your reply here before adding to that thread= http://computerhelpforums.net/topic/40909-sound-distortion/ However KenB has actually asked the question and advised in the same way I would, as it is sounding very much like faulty RAM modules as the sound is OK till the system has to do extra work. Please check out as Ken Suggested first then get back to us. Also, although I have obviously seen the replies and help offered on that other site, can you please list things you have tried so far due to advice given elsewhere. That way we are not going over the same thing twice. Also it will be of great help to us all if you stick to one forum, so please make up your mind as to which one. Some other help forums and their members, would at this stage walk away from offering further help. Fortunately for you I am not like that. Nev.

Hi Arran, KenB answered you in the new members section, however if you would like to continue here on this thread please do. As well as the question KenB asked, Can you please tell us what make and model of PC you are trying to install Windows 7 on to. Did you also look up on the Windows website to find out if that computer can run on Windows 7? Nev.

Hi, this rang a bell Starbuck, and lincolns, which reminded me that some time ago I found and downloaded a Simple Adblock which was specific to Internet explorer. So having searched it out you can download it from here= http://simple-adblock.com/ I also found there seems to be no connection to the folks who make the one for Firefox that you linked to Starbuck, though it carries the same name. I found it to be quite good, though I don't use internet explorer much these days as I am also a Firefox addict. :D (With Adblock Plus) Nev.

Hi MrPierre, thanks for the update and glad that method got it all sorted, though I must admit, it was done by those good folks on the Windows 7 forums. I will mark this as solved, though the thread will remain open if you wish to come back to add any more on this subject. Any other problems, do feel free to start a new thread and we will be happy to help. Nev.

Great news, shame it had to cost you a new card though. Thanks for the update and will mark this one solved. Don't hesitate to come back if you get any other problems. Nev.

OK, I can't find if there are any compatibility problems mentioned so assume there are none, the only thing left may be the graphics card was damaged when the original mother board died on you. The only way forward now is to either check the card works in another computer if possible, or if not, take it to a local tech guy who can test it out for you. I doubt drivers on their own will work, as you say they can't find the hardware in the first place, which does suggest the card may be duff. Nev.

Thanks and glad to know all is now OK. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. Unfortunately I haven't time at the moment to look up if there are any known compatibility issues between your card and the new motherboard. However it does seem strange that there is obviously something working for the monitor to work while plugged in to the card even though it doesn't show in device manager, have you looked at all the options by the way, it may well be hidden in PCIE controllers for example, which in itself will be a sub section of "System Devices". That is based on my windows 7 set up and is just as an example only. However, a simple test by running something that will both give the card something to work with, such as a decent game, and also be well over the limits of the on board graphics. If it performs as it should without degraded graphics, personally I would ignore the fact it doesn't show where you would expect it to. Nev

Let us know how you get on and if you get it to work as you want it please. Nev.

Hi, I think I know what you mean, some people are finding it extremely annoying that Windows 7 now puts all folders, and all pictures within them in either alphabetical or numerical order, with any pictures just numbered being first. This function is called "Auto Arrange". Here is a way to disable Auto Arrange in Windows 7. From Windows 7 forums. Do note there is a warning that it works only in Windows 7 and only in the pictures section of Windows explorer. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/92758-windows-explorer-auto-arrange-disable.html Hope that is what you were looking for and that it helps. Nev.