Plastic Nev

Hi, and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. Right click on a blank part of the task bar, then properties. In the properties box under the "Taskbar" tab, Notification area, click the "Customise" button. On the page "Notifications Area Icons" Check the drop down menu for the Volume Icon is showing "Show Icon and notifications" "Notifications Area Icons" can be reached via control panel on this path = Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Notification Area Icons, as an alternative from the above. Nev.

Hi, it may also be the power supply or even the CPU overheating too. However please do as Ken suggested by downloading and installing Speccy, then let us know what temperatures it finds, where and at what temperature, we will be better placed to advise further with that information. Nev.

Hi, now there is a question, programs on the XP based drive, I found with an experiment using my laptop drive in a USB caddy that programs will open from the program files list using the EXE icon on that laptop drive, so you may find that is the only way to open and run them, as to how well they run is another matter. I doubt they would be able to be made to run from a desktop icon, but worth trying to see if an icon can be created, that in itself would hold a path for Windows 7 to follow to that XP drive. However I would really recommend installing them to the Windows 7 "C:" drive and just use the older IDE drive for data. You should find most programs and games will run except for very old stuff. For that you would need to download the XP virtual environment, it is free and from Microsoft here = http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/ You should be OK if your system is Windows 7 Pro or above, the V.E. will not run on home premium or lower. I do run some quite old music notation and composing programs with no trouble, and without the need for the virtual environment, so haven't found the need to download it as yet. next is the idea of running up to three devices from the IDE ribbon cable, theoretically possible, in practice it may overload things a bit. Nev.

Also in addition to all the above, can you please describe everything that happens once you try to start it up, and what is the exact wording of the message you see, is it in white on a black screen for example as well. Nev.

Hi, thanks for the update and hopefully all stays well, but we are still here if it doesn't. Sometimes these things happen and are corrected by other odd Microsoft Windows updates, or even updates to other software, usually without any one knowing what update or part thereof. Best of luck, Nev.

Hi, further to kens advice, I have had a look at the mother board spec, here= http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&q=asus+m4a88td-v+evo&sqi=2&cid=1405057181607810447&os=tech-specs According to that you should have four extra SATA ports and one IDE port for the older IDE drive so you could fill all drive bays in the box. If there is room on any one of the SATA drives, you could temporarily transfer all needed data from the IDE drive with XP on it to one of the new drives. Then format the IDE drive to clear it, therefore leaving room for whatever you want after that. Best of luck, Nev.

OK thanks for the update. Just for others to gain help, how did you perform the transfer? Nev.

Hi and Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. The new motherboard and processor I assume are totally different from the original? If so Windows will see a different environment from the original and refuse to boot. The only escape is a repair done from a full Windows 7 DVD disk, not the system created restore or repair disk that you made when you got the computer or supplied by the manufacturer. If you do have the full disk, and still problems with system crashing, considering it is a new processor, first is it seated on the heat sink and with enough thermal paste between? Secondly are you sure the processor is compatible with the mother board. Can you give us details of the motherboard, make and model number, also details of the processor please. Nev.

Simple answer is to dump AVG and install a more user friendly antivirus Personally I use Avast, but the Microsoft own "Security Essentials" is now extremely good as well as a few other free downloads. Nev.

Trouble being is that we all know a few idiots, I just give a big space between me and said idiot, I don't want it rubbing off on me, just in case idiocy is catching. :D

Just in case it is needed, here is a link to the manual for that router. It is a PDF so Adobe reader or similar will be needed. http://kbserver.netgear.com/pdf/wgr614v6_ref_man_20Apr05.pdf Nev.

Firstly thanks Ken for carrying on, though it was your thread to start off with:D To sort of reinforce all that Ken has said, let's try to be making a list of things now to do. First is to remove the hard drive now that the CD/DVD drive is already out and acquire a caddy or adapter for data ecovery and if needed hard drive diagnosis. Secondly, to find a local reputable repairer who can check out the CD/DVD drive while waiting for the hard drive caddy or adapter. If it turns out that the CD/DVD drive is faulty, you will need to replace it, hopefully the repairer may be able to get one at a reasonable price that is a fit for your laptop. Ask him for a quote to compare with what you can find elsewhere, locally or on line. Once you have the caddy and can connect the hard drive to another computer, let us know and we can take it from there. One thing not yet mentioned, but depends on what is available on another computer which you are going to use to recover the data. If the hard drive is SATA, (check as per links provided by Ken), and there is a spare SATA port on the motherboard of the working computer. If there is a spare port, all you will need is a short lead and connect the hard drive directly into the working computer. Data can be rescued and the hard drive checked out from there. Let us know how you get on and if any difficulties. Nev.

All you should need to do in boot order is move the IDEO, which is the hard drive, up to the top of the list. If that doesn't work, the CD/DVD drive should be removed and try again, on the off chance that Windows has become corrupted, and needs the disk to either repair or reinstall, I suggest that if possible, to get the drive checked out to be sure it is faulty. No point buying a new one if the fault is elsewhere at this point. I am going off line now, so will leave my friend Ken to carry on, all the best with it. Nev.

OK, before going down the rout of dismantling, one other thing to try is to go into the BIOS and find the boot order, if as I suspect, the CD/DVD drive is first, move the boot order to the hard drive first, try that and let us know how you go on. Nev.

This sounds a lot like the DVD drive itself has gone faulty and is now preventing Windows from starting up. The only way now is to remove that CD/DVD drive from the laptop, then try again. Being a laptop, I will only suggest doing that yourself if confident in the small amount of dismantling needed. I don't know that model myself, but quite often the drives are only held in with a couple of screws with sometimes a removable panel underneath. Edited to add, Just seen Ken has beat me to it, try his suggestions first, and let us know how you get on Nev.

Hi, if this is related to this thread= http://extremetechsupport.com/threads/13002-drivers We will carry on on that one once you have tried those Microsoft fixes, if needed. Nev.

Hi Lorcan, firstly try those links and the Microsoft fixes that Randy has suggested and get back to us if they don't work. Let us know please the make and model of computer you are having the problems with, and as much information as possible that you can give about what you are seeing in device manager, plus any other error codes. Nev.

Hi, I am thinking this may be an ISP issue, is your dad using a different service provider from yours? You say there is a certificate issue with your works server, if so your service provider may be blocking the site. Have a word with them if this is the case or not first. Nev.

Still on the driving topic, for anyone about to go anywhere by the UK motorways be aware [h=6]a tanker of vicks vapour rub has crashed on the M6 - police have reported that there will be no congestion for at least 8 hours...[/h]

You may also find something similar at Maplin as well. http://www.maplin.co.uk/cables-and-connectors/connectors/3.5mm-stereo-jacks Be careful removing the old solder, do you have a solder sucker or similar remover? That will remove the old solder in order to assist in removing the broken jack socket and fitting and soldering in a new one. Make sure the new solder doesn't bridge across those narrow gaps on the circuit print. Nev.

To add to Bluesplayers advice an even better way would be to create a system image if one has not already been done. You will need an external hard drive as a place to hold that image, but a full image will contain all drivers, the operating system and all files, music video etc. It is actually one of the best ways of creating a full rescue package for an event such as a dead hard drive or other major disaster. If you wish to go down this rout before the hard drive does die let us know and we can talk you through it. Nev.

Well hello Draco/Gryphon, good to see you here and no doubt the crew here will help sort things out. Just don't let on that elsewhere I am a bit of a dragon geek, and also like winding up any one who calls themselves a physicist.:D Oh, and please shut the door behind you or Wolfegar might follow you in, we already have one wolf loving member, two would be to much. Nev.

Believe me he has to put up with a lot. LOL. In fact it is much better this way, if you don't understand something, and ask, is much better than not understanding and going the wrong way, helping to get it right is why we are here. Nev.

Looks like Malwarebytes are now using external mirror sites rather than direct download from themselves, Ken and Dan. Nev.

If I can just pop in her without confusing the issue, on the Major Geeks site, right in the middle of the page is "Download Locations", with two links under that, click on the line "Download Locations" and the true download should start. For what it's worth, when I click the download now on the Malwarebytes page, it sends me to a totally different mirror site. Namely "File Forum" strange or what? Nev.