KenB

I'm glad something worked :) CHKNTFS /X C: This should, as you rightly assumed, have cancelled the chkdsk command. Aptio Setup utility It seems that you are booting directly into the BIOS. Try this: 1. Select Boot in the Aptio setup utility, select 'Launch CSM' and change to enable 2. Select the Security in the Aptio setup utility, select 'Secure Boot Control' and change to disable 3. Select Save & Exit [could be F10 ] 4. Hold down the power button until the unit switches power off completely 5. Switch back on and continually hold the F9 button down - this should take you to Windows Recovery Menu as before. 6. Select 'Advanced Start Up' and wait until the recovery menu appears 7. Select ' Advanced Options' 8. Select 'System Restore' and select a date prior to when the problem occurred Hope this works for you.

Hi again Labi I found the manual [i think ] for your machine which may prove useful. http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/nb/T300LA/0409_E9224_A.PDF?_ga=2.23700796.744860344.1521365577-1307938195.1521365577 I also found this for your specific machine - how to access BIOS - switch on and hold down the "Volume Down" button. Try Disabling "Fast Boot" -see pages 84 / 85 from the manual. Then Save the changes. [ F10 ] Now try booting up again and try the Safe Mode options. ========================== If Safe Mode is not a possibility - use the same method to get to the screen above and select "Recovery" option You need to select - Refresh Your PC" DO NOT select "Reset Your PC" Follow the instructions - you need to select an account with Admin privileges - you will also probably need the account password. You must select Refresh so that your files, photos etc are not affected. If you select Reset you will definitely lose data. =========================== EDIT: I found a suggestion that you use F9 after switching on to get to Advanced Options Screen. Give this a try.

OK thanks for the extra info. Try this. 1. Switch off with power button [ hold it down for 5 seconds or so ] 2. Power on again. 3. When it starts to boot switch off again with power button. Do this 3 or 4 times. I am hoping that the machine will go into Automatic Repair mode. If you manage to get this far click on "Advanced Options" Then click on "Startup Repair" The system should restart then give you an option as to which account to use. [ select an Admin account ] You will need a password for this account or if no password set leave the box empty. The system will look for problems and automatically fix them.

Here is one user who will not be overjoyed at the prospect !!

It shouldn't take this long. Please confirm - when you leave it alone and you get to this stage ..... Does it automatically go back to the first stage " Preparing Auto Repair" without you touching it? [ This will answer Rusty's question too ] 2. You say you have no DVD drive. Is it broken or just not provided with the machine. 3. What is the model of your Asus machine? 4. Is the OS an upgrade from Win 7 ? If not then your "BIOS" is probably UEFI [ very fast ] and so the old methods of accessing Safe Mode just don't work. 5. Do you have a DVD or Memory Stick with Win 8.1 on it that you used to install the OS ? ==============

Hi Labi and welcome to ExTS :) Re Safe Mode Take a look here - 5 Ways To Boot Into Safe Mode In Windows 8.1 | Digital Citizen - Obviously some of these explain how to access Safe Mode from within Windows but item #2 may give you a hint or two.

For further information: The site you refer to has only been in business approximately 1 year. The owner is based in Tunisia. I did a search and found Win 10 for £19-99 and as low as £8-78 However - I did find a lot of reviews saying that although the OS installed - the Product Key had been used before. The product could not be activated. !! Be VERY careful what you buy if you do decide to go down this route.

Hi, If you are thinking of installing Win10 on your old machine [ XP / Vista ?? ] you may find that you have compatibility issues. Older hardware is not always compatible with Win10. There is a compatibility tool that you can run to find out; click on this link - Windows 7, 8.1 & 10 compatibility testing for Windows XP, Vista & 7 computers Scroll down to #2 Even the Win10 compatibility software will not run on older Operating Systems you will need to run the Win8 And in answer to your original question - Win10 for £24 ??? I would be VERY suspicious. If it sounds too good to be true - it usually is.

H-B-E, I will leave you in Rustys capable hands :)

Hi Good to see you again :) There are lots of free Operating Systems available for you to try. Linux Mint is one. It has been around for some time now and is reliable. It is available here - Download - Linux Mint There are various Guides here - Linux Mint Installation Guide — Linux Mint Installation Guide documentation Judging by the age of your machine it is probably 32 bit [ 64 bit is also available ] - you would need to download the appropriate version. I am not a user of Linux but one of our other members is. If you have any questions I am sure that he would jump in - he may even have other suggestions :)

Hi Bringe I am pleased to hear that you now have the sound back again. The internal audio enabled is the on-board sound - not needed if you have a sound card. However - now that things are working it is best if you leave it as it is. If it ain't broken - don't fix it :)

You use the arrow keys to move around once inside the BIOS EDIT - I have just seen your very first post with the images - you want the "Advanced" section I think :) Either would do as long as it isn't "Disabled" When you switch on do you see a splash screen that shows something like ... "Press -- to enter Set Up" ? If this is not F10 but F1 or F2 then you will have to use this key to get into the BIOS.

Hi Bringe, 1. Make sure that you put the CMOS battery in the correct way around - usually + facing up. 2. Take a look in the BIOS [ I am assuming that you have on-board sound ] Switch on and constantly tap F10 about once per second [ if F10 doesn't work try F1 or F2 ] You should be faced with a blue BIOS screen https://support.hp.com/doc-images/979/c00506019.jpg There are different types of BIOS so yours may not look exactly like this. Move around with the arrow keys You are looking for "Onboard Audio" or "Onboard Sound" This could be under “Onboard” or “Device Configuration” or similar You may need to highlight the title and hit "Enter" key to see the menu underneath. Make sure "Onboard Audio / Sound" is "Enabled" If you make any changes you will need to Save and Exit - usually F10 DO NOT make any other changes in the BIOS please.

Hi Bringe Sad indeed - Nev was a great guy. 1. Which Operating System does your wife's machine use ? [ also laptop or desktop ? ] 2. Did it work BEFORE you changed the CMOS battery ? Unplug the external speakers. 3. Bottom right of screen there should be a speaker icon. Click on this and make sure that this is showing at say 50% Does the sound work now? [ without the external speakers ]

True - nobody wants their account hacked but there are still those who have their life savings in just one account. :)

Hi This is probably your problem. Our security team do not advise running two AVs as they will often conflict and slow things down. If ESET is up to date then turn Defender off and try your system again.

Yep - but it is people who buy these low end phones who can ill-afford to have their bank / credit card etc hacked :(

Yep - intermittent faults are a pain. Over-heating can obviously cause issues. This was probably an over-heating problem too. [ it should have been returned at this point :( ] This link may help: How to Diagnose and Fix an Overheating Laptop [click]

Hi Rustys I used to use BBCode a fair bit in the dim and distant past :)

There is using BBCode Simply copy the section that you want and paste it into a Reply. Put this ....

No I don't think so - I think your problem is getting the correct Wireless Driver software We have tried Atheros - this needs deleting from Device Manager. Go back to Device manager Click the > next to Network Adapters then right click on the Atheros driver and select "Uninstall" Go back to the drivers site again and look for a Realtek driver [ Wireless not Ethernet ] Download and install this. I will see if I can find a specification for your machine to determine the type of WiFi Adapter you have. ================================== Try this [ not at home to confirm ] Start > type in msinfo32 and hit Enter System Information should show. Click on "Components" and see if this shows the Wireless Adapter

Hi, Having a bit of trouble locating M3720 wireless drivers on Packard Bell site [ must be old ] I did find drivers here - http://www.driverscape.com/manufacturers/packard+bell/laptops-desktops/ixtreme-m3720/1115 Try downloading the Atheros drivers for your system [ assuming Win 7 64bit ] Download and install. Check in Device Manager that they are showing with no errors. Try wireless connection again.

This is your problem. The software that runs your wireless adapter has somehow been removed.:( I am going to need the exact model number to locate the drivers - and even then there may be 2 or 3 options. Regarding updates - I suggest that you look at one problem at a time. Your wireless connection is obviously you main concern - so let's concentrate on that first. I am away until Tuesday but I may have time to look in over the weekend :)

You have nothing at all in device Manager against Network Adapters ?? Please confirm. A screen shot may help :) If this is the case something - or somebody - has removed the drivers. What is the make and model number of your PC.? I may be able to locate the drivers for you to try re-installing. ==================== When was the last time that this machine was able to connect to the internet ?

What was the outcome of running the troubleshooter ? It usually suggests a reason why you cannot connect. In Device manager - which Network Adapters are listed ?