KenB

I assume these were USB keyboards ? Do the USB ports work with other USB devices? =================== There is an option to Refresh your PC. This will not affect files and data. It will, however, revert your pc to pre 8.1 and this will need to be re-installed. It will remove recent updates. It will restore everything to original settings. This may be worth a try before a total reinstall.

I explained this in post #20 Synapse may be able to explain it a little better.

Hi John Synapse ( Moderator ) is going to get to you as soon as he can.

Open the Search option > type in "Recovery" [ no quotes ] > click on "Recovery" > System Restore is here.

'Fraid not :) http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bOis0n0xpK4/UbauNb7Q-dI/AAAAAAAAFy4/XunCCEUuSKY/s400/Empty+Cake+Plate.jpg

Hi We seem to have missed this one ............... do you still need advice or are you sorted ?

Keep it here John. I will ask one of our moderators who knows more than I do about Raid to see if he has any ideas.

Try a system restore to a date that is just before the update.

Try going to Device Manager > Click the > next to Keyboards > Update Driver Software Use the Auto option If this fails right click on the device > Uninstall Win 8.1 will re-load the drivers when you boot up.

It could be that the problem lies with Hotmail rather than your friend's system. Change your password. Ask your friend to register here and post in this thread. One of the security guys will check his system over.

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/attachments/f68/45103d1167757628-happy-birthday-randy-chase_bday.jpg OK - I'm a year or two out .......... this is the biggest number I could find :) Happy Birthday Randy - I hope you have a good one :) :)

Sorry jontye - we seem to have missed your last post :( Is your system OK now? You should have had an option to "Verify" the image - did you do this ?

Hi Ray It sounds as if your friend has had their email account compromised. If this is a hotmail or web-based account it may be as simple as changing their password. If the email has been generated from their pc then they may need Starbuck or etavares to advise on malware removal.

I don't know too much either :) I doubt that it would affect the Seatools disk - strange. Hitachi do a similar one - click here Click on "Downloads" on the left side and then on HGST Windows Drive Fitness Test There is a User Guide on this page too. I can understand Seatools not finding your problem drive but it should have located your Primary Drive ........... ??? Try the Hitachi one.

Nice one :)

This is obviously not going to do the machine a lot of good :) There may well be something internal that has been dislodged. Software is the usual cause - but it could be hardware related. If you go to Device Manager > right click on the device > Properties Under the General Tab ( where it says "Device Status" ) normally it shows the device as working properly. If there is a yellow exclamation mark there should be an error code. If this is there can you post it here please ?

Hi Ray Good to hear that you have now done all that you wanted to. I am surprised that M$ were so accommodating. I will leave the pics as they are part of the eventual solution. I am pleased to be able to mark this one as "Solved" :)

Thanks for the heads up Starbuck - I still have an XP system :)

Hi, Try a system restore to a date when all was well. Start > type in ....system restore ....ENTER Follow the prompts. =============== I assume that the drivers you downloaded are these ? - click here [ under VGA ] The yellow triangle indicates that there is something wrong with the installed drivers. Are you sure that your on-board graphics is Nvidea and not the Intel ?

Hi If you need to access the restore partition switch on > hold CTRL down and tap F11 about once per second. This should take you to the restore partition. If you need further information - click here

From your image post #26 your F: drive is showing - but the size is 0 ....... I assume from this it cannot be read. Re: Seatools - The problem you are experiencing is odd. I have advised others to use this recently - with no problems. You could try the DOS version. This would need to be burned to CD. There is an explanation on the website how to use it. I can find other Windows based software if you prefer.

I have just Googled .....Bargain*hardware ebay .......and the prices look very competitive. :)

Hi again Just as a check .... At the command prompt type .............. diskpart ..........ENTER Then type in .......list volume ......ENTER This will show you a list of drives attached to the system. I am assuming that F: will not be there. This will show all partitions on the drives and can be a bit confusing as it will show hidden partitions too. Take a look at the volume size. If there is something there that corresponds to your problem drive - make a note of the drive letter. If unsure - post a screen shot. ========== I am not holding out much hope for the above so please download Seatools from here - click here You want the Windows option. Save it to your desktop so that you can locate it easily.

Hi cockpheasant If they provided a good service then post the link here :)

Hi Matt Yes XP is dated now. Nothing wrong with the OS as such - but not getting critical updates etc could cause problems later. Also with this machine the 512 MB RAM dates it - it has been around a long time. Upgrading is not financial sense. I would be tempted to keep the machine - especially if there is nothing wrong with it - but you will notice the difference when you get a Win7 machine with more RAM and a faster processor. Just a further note: Win 7 comes with 32 bit or 64 bit option. 32 bit systems will only recognise up to 4GB RAM 64 bit systems can utilise considerably more. A 64 bit version of Win 7 is the better option if you can get it.