KenB

Hi Craig, You originally had just over 2GB free now you have nearly 5GB - this is a significant improvement. I would have been concerned if your freee space was filling up for no apparent reason - but this does not seem to be the case. Your original question was related to RAM - which I explained. You have a D:\ drive that can be used to install new programs / transfer existing files to for storeage. I don't understand why. You have increased the RAM - you now have a faster machine. You have nearly 5GB free space ( this is more than you had before) - ok this is not a vast amount but if you utilise D:\ you have pleanty of free space.

Hi dave, ( first post ) (latest post) I am assuming that you have solved your problem - am I correct ?

Hi Craig, Your original post was linked to memory - or lack of it. I wrote this earlier: Does your C:\ drive free space fill up for no apparent reason? If you use CCleaner again - does it create extra space? Record how much free space you have. Switch off then on again. Has the free space changed significantly?

Are you saying that the free space that you created using CCleaner and Disk Cleanup has disappeared for no reason? Do you use Norton AV ? It is not as simple as that. You can move things like photos, videos, saved documents ( like Word files ) but installed software is a different ball game. When you install a program it creates a complex web of links on that specific drive. If you attempt to move any of it you break the link. Once again - if you are not sure - leave it alone. You have 2 partitions on your hard drive. One is almost full and the other is nearly empty. You can choose to save / install new data / software to your second partition when you add new programs etc to your system.

Hi, Start > Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center Click on "Manage Network Connections" on the left side of screen. Click on "Wireless Network Connection" Click on "Wireless Properties" Make sure there is a check mark against "Connect Automatically when this Networ is in range". Your network should be the one listed. On the Wireless Network Connection click on "Properties" For TCP/IP v4 highlight and click on "Properties" Make sure "Obtain an IP Address Automatically" is checked. Make sure "Obtain a DNS Server Address Automatically" is checked. Do the same for TCP/IP v6 ( although I don't think this comes into play ). NB. If there are manual settings make a note of them - just in case.

You are welcome :) Disk cleanup is worth running too. (this is not part of CCleaner it is a Windows application)

Hi Craig, Basically - if you don't know what it is - leave it alone. Start > Control Panel > Programs and Features This will list all of the programs that you have installed. Any that you don't use anymore can be deleted. Again - if you are not sure leave it alone. Download CCleaner from here: CCleaner It will find and delete unused files etc. Do not use the registry option Click on "Run" when the d/l box appears. Start .......in the run box type ......disk cleanup Click on this at the top of the box. Run cleanup on C:\ drive Check your free space again.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. I think you are getting 2 different type of memory mixed up. Crucial would have recommended RAM - Random Access Memory. This is used in conjunction with the Central Processor Unit to process data on the hard drive. The more RAM you have the quicker your machine can process information. The hard drive is the place where you store your files etc. Your hard drive is showing as 31.5GB. This is a measure of how much data you can store on it. The CPU and the RAM work together to process the data stored on the hard drive. If you have doubled the RAM you will speed up your machine - it will not, however, allow you to store more files, photos, videos etc. This is governed by the size of the hard drive. I hope this helps. If you have just over 2GB free - this is not a lot on a 32GB hard drive. It is recommended that you have 10 - 15% free for Windows to operate properly. You are probably ok at the moment ( a little below the recommended ) but you may want to think about deleting / moving to DVD some of your files.

If it helps - I have a Acer 5735. Had it for a year or so with no problems at all. The battery life is good - (depends what you are doing) One slightly annoying factor - my USB ports are all on the left side. I sometimes like to use a mouse and it is slightly annoying having the cable trailing under the machine. This is my only negative comment with this machine :)

It would help if we knew how much RAM you had. Start > Run ...type in...winver....ENTER It should say at the bottom of the box. You could start by running MBAM from here: MalwareBytes

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. In addition to what Rebecca has suggested...... Which Operating System is on the problem laptop ? Start > Run ....type in ......devmgmt.msc.......ENTER Click the + next to Network Adapters. Are there any yellow exclamation marks or red Xs ? What is listed ?

If you are still having problems: In the TaskBar bottom right, there should be an icon that looks like 2 monitors. Right click on this and there should be an option to "repair". Try this. If you are still unable to connect... Start > Run ......type in....devmgmt.msc .......ENTER Click the + next to Network Adapters Are there any yellow exclamation marks or red Xs

Hi, If the tip of the iron is dirty you will have problems melting the solder. ( and re-soldering the capacitor) The very tip of the iron only has a small surface area and is not as effective as using the side of the tip. Try melting a piece of solder with the iron. The solder should melt almost instantly if the iron is hot enough. Some irons can take a minute or two to get up to temperature.

Hi, Try right clicking on the Taskbar ( just to the left of the other icons ) Properties > Notification Area There should be a check mark next to Volume. Also uncheck "Hide inactive icons" - see if it reappears.

This is an accident waiting to happen. Tell your friend, if he wants to run a cable to the shed, to buy some conduit pipe and run the cable through that. Build a waterproof box that locks for the plug and socket. I would suggest that this is a minimum. If he is doing the job properly then it should be armoured cable. Having pointed out the error of his ways your conscience should be clear.

Hi, Try CTRL + ESC (together) This should throw up the Start Menu box. Then type in .....system restore.....as above.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help If you can boot up .....click on Start ( bottom left of screen ) Type in .....system restore.......ENTER check "Choose a different restore point" > Next Select a date that is prior to your problem starting. The system will be restored to the settings etc on that specific date. You will not lose any files or data - you may have to reinstall any updates / software installed after the selected date.

Hi Roger and welcome to FPCH. There could be a number of things causing your machine to run slowly. How much RAM do you have? Start > Run .....type in ...winver .....ENTER Download MalwareBytes from here: Malwarebytes.org Download the free version - install - run. There is a lot more that can be suggested - lets see how you get on with these two first.

This seems to be the obvious course of action - you have done all you can. If you have anything important on the hard drive I suggest that you back this up before you send the machine away. It is possible to take the drive out and access it from another system. Also - you may wish to replace the old m/board - I am not sure if you have invalidated your warranty by swapping them over. If you need access to the data on your drive you could get something like this: USB 2.0 to SATA/IDE Adapter Kit with Power Adapter for: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo They are just plug-and-play.

Happy New Year Paula, and let me be the first to welcome you to FPCH :)

Hi, Can you boot up in Safe Mode? Constantly tap f8 after you switch on. If you can you can try a System Restore to a prior date. Start > type in .....System Restore Put a check against "choose a different restore point" Pick one prior to Monday.

If you have the original Vista DVD you could try an Upgrade Install. See here: John Barnett's Windows Vista Support: Repair A Vista Installation Using The Upgrade Option Of The Vista DVD One problem - if you have SP1 / SP2 and the DVD does not this will not be an option as it will notlet you "upgrade" to a newer OS.

As a parent I understand why your mom has installed the software. She cares about you and is concerned for you. This may seem a strange way of showing it - but believe me she has your best interest at heart. You will understand more when you are a parent yourself. From your mom's point of view see is aware of the dangers on the net ( and you know that there are ) and she is trying her best to make sure that you are cushioned from them. Trying to bypass the software she has installed will only prove to her that she was right to install it in the first place. Give her a break - she obviously cares about you.

Nice one Nev :) (I was aware of this as I had seen the solution before)

Glad to hear your problem is fixed :)