IT Professional in Watchet, TA23

RE: system restore win 7

There are lots of hits on Google for the same problem. Start <a href="http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-system/0x81000101-shadow-copy-timeout-error-windows-7/e0114df2-332d-4ede-908f-3284eb6dcfa7" target="_blank">HERE</a> with a few tips from Microsoft.

RE: watching video online

Brilliant; glad you got it restored. Now may be a good time to find some cloud or USB storage for those photos & files that are so precious.

RE: Advice please

Thank you for clearing up the mystery Kathryn. Unfortanate that PC World is your only fallback as the warranty falls to them, but Hey! they don't make anything from selling cheap so the only profitable thing left is "Aftercare". Frightening prospect!

RE: my imac is crashing frequently then wont start up again until hours have pass - i think its overheat

Hi Andrea, we have several professionals in the Liverpool area that can quickly and easily sort out your overheating problems. It's probably due to clogged vents in the heatsink. Just place a support request from the main page and a local partner will be in touch.

RE: AOL (TalkTalk) ADSL signal gone - nearly two weeks

If you're paying for service and not getting it (AOL? / TalkTalk?) go shout at them but don't come yelling at us for trying to help you for free. Troll!

RE: Red cross on wireless icon

Oh yeh. I see that now :-(

RE: Red cross on wireless icon

Dodgy connection between wifi card and mainboard?

RE: graphics issue

Use device manager to roll back to previous drivers.

RE: packard bell comp won' t turn on

Sorry to say it but it sounds like hard drive failure. You say your "life" is on this PC which is very bad news as all stored data will be lost unless you made backups elsewhere. There is a slim chance that one of our engineers can retrieve some data if you post a request for a visit on this site.

RE: Tiny 755C10 Cmos Battery Location

I don't know this particular model but many laptops have a CMOS battery soldered to the mainboard, so it's very likely that you'll have to remove the case to get to the board to find the battery.

RE: 3 Dongle problem

Thanks, I'm sure this will be of help to the "3 Dongle" community.

RE: Sony Vaio all in one

Could it be that the built-in tv is analogue only? Or "analogue" is the current selection from the menu choice? If the reciever is analogue only then you won't be able to watch digital output. With a normal tv the simple solution is to obtain a freeview box or similar and feen the signal into your tv through that, but with an all-in-one combo like yours I doubt if that's possible.

RE: leftside of keyboard not working

The above message is pure spam and should be ignored by anyone reading these pages.

RE: acer aspire 1640z touchpad/keyboard irratic and freezes

Sorry that didn't catch all of the web address... http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/int_pr_mui.mspx?mfr=true

RE: Packard Bell Update

Hi Pamela. Please, if you want someone to help, you should open your request on a new 'thread' by posting a new message, to do otherwise makes it appear that you are merely responding to an existing post. One other matter; you really need to give much more detail of your problem icluding as an absolute basic, the name and model number of the device that is causing concern.

RE: My advent Verona SU (red) will not charge

I've just repaired one of these exact models with exact same problem. The battery was shot and every time the user moved or touched the laptop it went blank. It was nothing to do with the laptop or power jack; just simple metal fatigue on the cheap crappy PSU lead which was dis at both ends! New charger costs under &#163;20.

RE: webcam

It couldn't be as simple as Fn+F7 to toggle webcam on/off? Advent Modena M101 Laptop Specification CPU Intel Celeron T3500 2.1GHz Memory 2GB DDR3 Hard Drive 250GB SATA CD Drive DVD±RW Screen 15.6" Widescreen LED (1366x768) Video Card Integrated Intel Mobile 4 series Webcam Integrated Sound Card High Definition Audio Network Card Integrated 10/100 Ethernet LAN 802.11 b/g/n WLAN Ports 1x Card Reader 3x USB 2.0 1x LAN 1x HDMI 1x VGA 1x Headphone 1x Microphone Battery A14-00-4S1P2200-0 (14.4v 2200mAh) A14-21-4S1P2200-0 (14.8v 2200mAh) Dimensions 33.15 x 382 x 255 (HxWxD in mm) Weight 2.5kg Made By Shuttle A15IM Function Keys Fn+F1 - Places the computer into sleep mode Fn+F2 - Changes the (I-Powerxross) power settings Fn+F3 - Switches display modes: LCD only, External monitor only, LCD+External Monitor Fn+F4 - Turns Wireless LAN on/off Fn+F5 - Switches OSD (on screen display) on/off Fn+F6 - Turns the Touchpad on/off Fn+F7 - Turns the Webcam on/off Fn+F8 - Mute Sound Fn+F9 - Reduces speaker volume Fn+F10 - Increases speaker volume Fn+F11 - Reduces the screen brightness Fn+F12 - Increases the screen brightness Fn+Esc - Toggles Bluetooth & 3G on/off (optional) Useful Links Repairs and Spares All official service and support is handled by Knowhow (basically "The Tech Guys" under a new name), their website is http://www.knowhow.com/. If you laptop is covered under warranty then you need to contact them for repairs. There are also plenty of other companies that do repairs or supply spare parts, here is a selection - TechnoMart - http://www.techno-mart.co.uk DriveMyLaptop (replacement drives) - http://www.drivemylaptop.co.uk Laptop Solutions UK - http://www.laptopsolutionsuk.co.uk PartMaster (spare parts) - http://www.partmaster.co.uk

RE: error message 104 unsupported wireless network device

Gracias Bobz, I'm sure all the English speaking members of this UK forum will be very glad of your contribution.

RE: remapping f8 key

what windows 7 laptop do you have exactly?

RE: how to enable wireless on laptop?

Hang on there is something else called an ECO setting. You get to this via the System Control Manager and select "ECO Setting". That brings up a small interface where you can tick or untick devices installed on your laptop to save power.

RE: Webcam

Function Keys Fn+F3 - Changes Display Mode: LCD-only, CRT-only, LCD&CRT Fn+F4 - Enable/Disable the WLAN Fn+F6 - Enable/Disable the Touchpad Fn+F7 - Enable/Disable the webcam Fn+F8 - Mute/Unmute Audio

RE: Watermarks under screen.

Good advice Jon ;-) Oh, & yes Adam, next time use a damp cloth and not one that's dripping wet.

RE: Hi,I have a Parkard Bell TR87 laptop. I am getting no sound from the inbuilt speakers or headphones

Device manager may show no errors but have you unwittingly muted the sound with a function key stroke? Look for one of the top row of 'F' keys with a blue 'speaker' sybmol & tap it whilst holding down the 'Fn' key. This will toggle between sound being on or off.

RE: I have a acer netbook and the wifi signal keeps dipping in and out even when it says the strength is

I usually avoid Belkin since a string of problems with them a few years ago. However this week I visited a customer using 2 <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=belkin+wireless+g+usb+network+adapter&hl=en&prmd=ivns&biw=1284&bih=562&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=4327546978990408784&sa=X&ei=KctHTouBOMGG-wa79cSOBw&ved=0CHoQ8wIwBg"> Belkin Wireless N</a> dongles around the house whos claims they are superb. I must admit when I installed one on a third PC for the same client, the installation was smooth & simple, and worked a treat!

RE: packard bell lap top want start up

This sounds like a corrupted or failed hard drive. Your system is unable to boot normally and goes into repair mode as instructed by the BIOS, which then tries to repair the installation from a recovery partition on the hard drive. As this is failing then there are a number of possibilities, like: 1. The hard drive has died. 2. It's been wiped, written over or corrupted. 3. It's become disconnected. Have you tried booting to safe mode? (usually you get a boot options screen when repeatedly tapping F8 as the PC boots). If that fails best try a boot CD and diagnose the problem or place a call on PCIQ & get someone over to check it out.

RE: Black Screen Freeze after New RAM installation

Absolutely agree. Leave the power lead plugged in at both ends to ensure you have earth. Switch off at the socket outlet for safety but leave the plug in, then touch bare metal on the case to discharge yourself befor touching components. Better still, wear an esp strap!

RE: Black Screen Freeze after New RAM installation

John, are you back to using only your original 500mb RAM now or have you got the new Crucial 1gb in there? I ask because some mobos do not work with all memory manufacturers but insist on certain makes. I personally have bought Crucial DIMMs in the past and they didn't work. I should have read the manual first because when I did, I found that Crucial memory was not listed as being compliant.

RE: Time computer

LOL! Back to The Doctor for a change of prescription?

RE: Time computer

This old thread may be useful.. <a href="http://www.pciq.com/computer_support_forum/email_related_issues/view_topic.asp?topicid=5513&searchstring=time drivers"> http://www.pciq.com/computer_support_forum/email_related_issues/view_topic.asp?topicid=5513&amp;searchstring=time drivers</a>

RE: screen

Jessica, you can prove that is is a faulty screen by plugging your laptop into an external monitor from a PC. If this works and you can see your computer working normally, then you will have identified the laptop screen as faulty :-)

RE: can't get webcam to work

Often these built-in cams are only visible through using software/apps like Skype, Messenger etc. If you want to use it for just looking at yourself & taking the odd snap shot you will need to install a suitable program on your laptop.

RE: Wifi connection problem

It could be that your wi-fi adapter is only able to operate in WEP. This is true of older adapters, or maybe you could check the settings / properties of the wireless adapter to see if you can enable WPA2.

RE: Router not working

Boot-up order is really important here. Often the internet can be lost during a power outage just because most wireless routers boot up more quickly than cable modems, so the router doesn't detect an internet connection when the power is restored. Try turning everything off, then power up the cable modem & leave it alone for 2 minutes. Next power up the wireless router & leave for a minute, then finally boot up your PC. What happens?

RE: built in card reader

Do the drives show up in device manager? If so, and they have the yellow triangle against them, it's possible that you need to update/re-install the drivers. If not, it's possible that the cable connecting the card reader to the mobo header has come loose.

RE: acer aspire 5920

Chris - do a system restore, back to a date before the trouble started.

RE: Request for Engineers

Spam?

RE: 3 Dongle problem

Well spotted that man! Mark, I think you will have realised by the amount of moans on the web just how dodgy these dongles are. Your irritation could be symptomatic of a problem with the dongle, or could be getting nobbled by some other software on your laptop. Whichever way, your first port of call should always be 3. At least you have found a work-around :-)

RE: 3 Dongle problem

LOL! Custard or ice cream with that sir?

RE: advent modena webcam inbuilt not operating

Try Control Panel, click on Tools> Audio and Video Setup> Next to skip Audio and then your Webcam may be in there. See if you can choose the option to Enable/Disable by right clicking on the cam icon.

RE: Address books

Can you export the rocketmail address book to a csv file? If yes, then Gmail will happily import it.

RE: regarding audio device

as a general rule always try to download the correct drivers for your computer from the manufacturer's site. Avoid the "CLICK HERE TO GET LATEST DRIVERS" sites as they will inevitably lead you astray, fill your PC with spyware & junk and possibly entail you having to pay for something you could have got free on a proper support site.

RE: Advent 5611 laptop boot problems

Could be many things including processor failure or overheating, mobo chipset failure, power control circuit failure or simply a RAM card badly seated. It needs dismantling to check all these things so I suggest you place a call-out with PCIQ and get it looked at.

RE: Toshiba Equium Bios Update

Sayed, it is very unlikely that PCIQ can help with your problem as we are a UK based organisation and have no engineers on hand in Pakistan should you need assistance.

RE: my computer has a spyware software called system tool and it wont let me do nothing ive put a softwa

Bogus 'helper' software downloads are very abundant on the internet. You need to get your machine professionally cleaned up and a reliable internet security suite installed. If you are not completely computer savvy then call out PCIQ for expert assistance.

RE: it had a virus , i tried to do back up ,and now it jus not coming on at all..

More information needed, or possibly you need to request a call out to properly assess the situation.

RE: overheating (failing) laptop

Daniel: What PC World told you was possibly misleading. If your laptop is "failing due to overheating" this is very likely to be a simple case of processor overheat due to fan failure or clogging of the heatsink. Call out a PCIQ engineer to identify the problem. It will be the cheapest option in the long run as PC World's ultimate aim is to convince you to buy a new laptop. They do not provide a responsible or cost effective repair service!

RE: How do I remove the case on my Advent Eco computer.I have tried and so have a PC expect engineer.

An earlier thread on this foeum points to <a href="http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/advent/pc/ego.htm">this site</a>, where you'll find instructions for removing the case. BTW the nearest match I can find from your description is an E Go, not Eco.

RE: keypad probs

You have a poor contact under the N key due to either dirt or wear. If it's a desktop keyboard just replace it, they are very cheap. If it's a laptop you can sometimes prise off the cap & look to see if there's anything obvious underneath, otherwise you need to replace the keypad.

RE: fails to open and encounters lines on the screen

IP originates in Zambia.

RE: Screen distortion

Look for the "Keystone" settings in your display's control panel.

RE: dropped Macbook

If the damage was accidentally caused then I would suggest you look at your household insurance policy.

RE: keyboard

It should be possible to use a mouse with any laptop fitted with either USB or PS/2 ports.

RE: sumsungr530

Your Operating System has become inoperative so your system then relies on rebuilding it from a recovery partition. From what you say it would seem that the recovery partition itself is corrupted to the extent that it fails to fully restore your laptop. Causes for this could be many, but I would suggest that in light of the fact that more than one partition have become unstable then it's probably due to a failing hard drive.

RE: Please help me to get rid of 3 Dongle.

The obvious thing to say is to take it back to where you bought it from and state that it doesn't perform to expectations and ask for your money back. Failing that just cut your losses and bin it.

RE: Lost Icons

Unless you are left-handed and have reversed the buttons on your mouse that should read "right click on toolbar", not "left".

RE: Problem with power into Amilo Pi 1505

Hi Fred, you seem to have covered most of the things I would check for but I'll point out a couple of other possibilities that could be the cause. The socket may have a dry joint to the board. The socket may have a carbon build-up where it's been arcing to the plug. The plug may also have a carbon build-up as above. The cable may be broken inside the insulation at the stress point where it enters the back of the plug. The socket may have other internal damage inside that prevents a good contact to the plug. If you can rule out all possibilities other that the socket then it has to be the socket. The only cure is to replace it and that is a relatively simple procedure that a professional would be able to carry out for a reasonable cost. The sockets themselves usually cost no more than a fiver.

RE: 3 connect mobile broadband

Jamie, these "3" dongles seem to be notorious for not working properly and numerous posts to this forum will testify to that. When you say "it used to work" and then say that all your other USB devices work in that single socket then straight away I suspect another mafunctioning dongle. Demand a replacement from "3".

RE: when i switch on i get the message windows failed to load because the nls data is corrupt, or missin

Your Windows installation is either corrupt or your hard drive has failed. See if you can boot from a floppy or CD (Windows installation disc) and if so attempt to repair the existing installation. If that fails then it's likely that your hard drive has died.

RE: Acer aspire x3200

Maggie - I'd say there's no point in going down the route you suggest i.e. laptop connected to full size monitor, keyboard. mouse etc. You may as well get a desktop PC as the chances are it will be cheaper & more reliable so likely to last you years longer than a laptop. If you want XP look for 2nd hand PC's in your local paper; you could pick up a bargain. I sell used PC's all the time, some of them are very worthy machines and they rarely sell for more than &#163;60!

RE: System freezes using internet with 3 broadband dongle

Just googled and found this on the 3g forum: "Well not had a problem since switching to Avast, so unless I come back with experience otherwise, it seems AVG is the problem. Thanks all for all the help." It appears to be a conflict between AVG 9.0 and Windows 7.

RE: WINDOWS 7 UPGRADE KIT - PRODUCT KEY

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823570

RE: How do Iremove this

It sounds to me like a signature has been inadvertantly or maliciously created. Look in your settings and check if there's anything in the signature area. If you see the familiar message typed there then delete it and save out.

RE: ram memory upgrade

"Bulldog" uses DDR3 "Vegas 2" uses DDR2 That's what I make of it.

RE: ram memory upgrade

Oh, hi Jon. Looks like DDR3 on my link!

RE: ram memory upgrade

I just googled the bit of information you gave and it leads here: http://support.packardbell.com/uk/item/index.php?pn=PT.U170X.006&t=1409&c=28 Your manufacturers web site is always a good place to start!

RE: no audio output device is intalled

Ahem.. With Vista, if you don't plug any speakers in the jack provided then the system reports 'no output device connected'.

RE: ACER Aspire 5738 Laptop Screen Orientation

look at your graphics properties either through control panel or right-click on desktop and select properties. There will be a rotate screen function in there. It's possible that you have function keys to control rotation on your keyboard, which may explain how it occurred in the first place.

RE: SCREEN GOING BLANK

Could be many things from your short description. Check hardware is functional then make sure you have correct drivers for your graphics card / chip. Google for details of drivers for your computer and follow only TRUSTED links (i.e. manufacturer / microsoft sites).

RE: URGENTT help!!!!

if you can open it in safe mode then try to use system restore to take it back to a time when it worked ok.

RE: Total security

Make sure your security is up to date and do a full scan. If anything prevents you doing this i.e. pop-ups, lock-ups etc then that will confirm the presence of a virus or like. Install Malwarebytes (Free Download) or Superantispyware and run a complete scan. Tell us what happens then.

RE: packard bell 24 inch computer monitor

Yep, that's just like me to read the small print and ignore the headline! Sorreeeee!

RE: Eee pc 900

P.S. on this.... There were hundreds of these sold by on-line auction in Nottingham this week (Tuesday). They went for £130 each so if it's one of those there won't be any warranty or returns!!

RE: 3 Dongle Connection Problems

Try uninstalling ALL your network connections, software and hardware. Then run a clean install from the 3 dongle. I've noticed that the dongle software often 'knocks out' othe network connections already installed on a PC so it just may be worth using this reversed logic. If you are struggling to find the correct power adapter then think about getting a multi-purpose one that you can select the correct voltage and plug for you device. Just make sure it meets the power input requirements for your device (e.g. 3.5 watts etc)

RE: acer aspire x3200

Hi Gordon, I'm afraid we are on dodgy ground with your request as many people would like to know how to crack into a password-protected laptop; in particular the wags who have pinched them from the back of our cars! Your best way forward is to ask the person you bought it from or call in a professional for help. We cannot discuss our methods on this forum.

RE: I need help with a motherboard

This forum is primarily for use by UK residents to complement the services offered by UK based PCIQ professionals. As you are located in Romania I suggest there is little chance of garnering any business from you, but may I suggest you turn to Google to find the information you are looking for, as that is often the best way of finding the thing you need.

RE: internal keyboard

I don't have a definitive answer but my thoughts are: 1. Replace the keyboard, or 2. See if there's a facility in BIOS to disable the keyboard and use an external one, or 3. Physically remove the keyboard and use an external one.

RE: Fujitsu Siemens Amilo li1705 Freezing when Moved

Jon, he says it freezes and is unresponsive, not that the screen goes black.

RE: symbols instaed of letters

Pound to a penny says he's changed the default font to "Wingdings" or similar. What's a 9-year old doing with his own laptop? He should be set up on it as a user with no administration rights and this would prevent this type of occurrence.

RE: The computor has started running very slow, and would therefore appreciate help in getting it back u

First thing to try is a disk clean-up followed by a de-fragment. If you have AV software installed make sure it is up to date and check for malware etc.

RE: 3 Dongle problem

I have a feeling that you may be in the wrong place and that your enquiries may be intended for 3 and not PCIQ. Please read the preceding comments on this thread and if you still have a question for us then post back with a clearer explanation of what it is you require of us.

RE: blank monitor when switch on processor

Try tapping the F8 key as it boots up and from the options screen start up in Safe Mode. This should start the PC with a minimal set of drivers including a very basic video driver (800x600 max). If your screen displays this low resolution successfully then it's likely that your PC shut down and saved a setting that your monitor can't handle and is trying to restore that setting when you switch on. If that is so then using the safe mode to reset to a lower resolution should restore the monitor next time you boot up normally. If the screen still looks a mess in safe mode then your graphics hardware is suspect.

RE: 2 out of 3 usb ports not working.

Hmmm, I spotted that one too .. doo do doo doo Twighlight Zone!

RE: laptop toshiba problem

Either corrupt data or failed hard drive. You'll need a professional to look at it.

RE: We recently bought from PC World Nottm a programme Roxio DVD Copy & Convert We have made a compilat

It points to a software problem so we can rule out any possible faults with your Optical Drive. These Burning Programs don't like to mix together on the same PC, and even if you've had one program before and uninstalled it prior to loading a new one it can leave behind traces that give rise to there annoyances. You may need to uninstall and then get a professional to check for left-over vestiges of older burning applications and then re-install your new one into a clean environment. (Unless you feel lucky and want to have a go yourself!) Nero offer a clean-up tool but even with this I've found left-over traces after using it.

RE: when i plug charger in laptop battery light shows,but i cant turn the power on.elonex onet

PCIQ Alert! Sorry Luis, personal advertising is not allowed. If a customer wishes to arrange for a professional service they have the means to call for a local provider.

RE: ntldr is missing

Thank you for leaving your feedback. It is valued and has been noted as we all learn from these customer interactions as we go along.

RE: Hi Does anybory know how to take the back cover of an Advent off. I have taken all screws but there

I'm working on an Advent today. Got it apart no problem so the "stuck in the middle" bit must be the keyboard screw? I presume you took out the optical drive screw just next to the RAM card? My problem is I think I need to replace the poxy little IDE ribbon film that connects the hard drive to the mobo. What a lousy design! and I can't find one anywhere (Jon!).

RE: cant get my bookmarks

Okay, I'll keep an eye out for them and if I see any I'll let you know.

RE: Printing prolem

If you haven't got a manual for your printer you can nearly always read one on the manufacturers web site. Try googling for it.

RE: bt email address

Hi Jenny, it would be a good idea to start a new thread for your problem!

RE: my laptop logs off as soon as it starts up.every time i start it up it just keeps logging off and i

Please supply details of laptop make / model also what operating system you are / were using. Did you add any hardware / software / downloads etc befor this started happening?

RE: External Monitor Flickering

Could be a backlight problem. Basically they are thin flourescent tubes so can devlop a flicker just like the ones in your office. In rare cases these can be replaced but normally they are buried inside the layers that make up your screen making it impossible to attempt repair. Have you tried your laptop with a different monitor to prove whether its monitor or machine where the fault lies?

RE: Advent 7111 Motherboard

Sorry I'm a bit late in on this (as usual) but have you considered the possibility that the shorting component is actually a fuse? Many fuses are as you describe and look remarkably like capacitors when laying side-on to the board. Also they tend to be adjacent to the incoming power supply, but in my experience they are normally identified on the board markings as F*** or FS***

RE: hal.dll.

I've had a personal experience of this message being related to an incorrect boot.ini file. The HAL.DLL was actually pefectly OK and following this advice worked. http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm

RE: loss of previous email addresses

What email software are you using? If it's Outlook or Outlook Express all your contacts will still be in your Windows address book on your PC. If you are using a web-mail application like Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail then you can log into that account from any computer and still access your mail and contacts. Using web mail is the safest way to preserve your mail as it will still be there regardless of what PC or ISP you use.

RE: Keyboard replacement for Acer Aspire 5735

Re skill levels - Replacing a missing cap is extremely simple and there are plenty of instuctional guides together with photo's to illustrate the techniques on the internet (Google). The only difficulty is in replacing an entire key assembly, and this customer hasn't specified exacly what the problem is. I don't know if it's just me Alan, or if there actually is a hint of sneering cynicism in every comment you make about other contributors on this site, but either way, pretty soon it'll just be down to you and Jon if you keep it up.

RE: Vista Home Premium will only boot on second attempt

Tried CCleaner?

RE: green 6 mini pictures(all not clear) with black bar through middle

In that case I'd say your graphics chip is knackered. You'll need a specialist repair firm to work on the board and it will cost upwards of £150 so you may want to think about whether it's time to buy a new PC. Desktops suffer less from this type of failure than laptops and are cheaper to repair when they go wrong.

RE: green 6 mini pictures(all not clear) with black bar through middle

Let's wait and see what he comes back with.

RE: green 6 mini pictures(all not clear) with black bar through middle

and as I have now said twice, if you DO SEE a readable display in safe mode then there is a chance that I am correct in my assummption (it's not a diagnosis) and Alan's diagnosis is wrong.

RE: green 6 mini pictures(all not clear) with black bar through middle

Could be messed up graphics card or incorrect settings. Check if video display looks OK in safe mode; if so then set display properties to low (800x600) and see if that boots in properly. If so then notch up to the settings you want and see where it mashes up. If you can't do any of this even in safe mode then your graphics card / chip is a goner.

RE: Dell XPS m1730 has stopped charging he battery suddenly, with no prior battery problems such as shor

Hi Chris, I probably don't have a battery to try but more pertinent to your question is... where are you?

RE: Windows Mail connection.

You'll find how to troubleshoot this problem here... http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942495

RE: wireless query

My thoughts entirely Jon. My sister-in-law's reasoning is 2Well, I just neede to get it done and I didn't want to bother you again". This much is true- I would have gladly driven the 130 miles there and back again for a job that was going to bag me 200 pounds profit.

RE: wireless query

I just rang my sister-in-law in Hertford who was having the problem with the Netgear. She "called in a man" today apparently who said that the Netgear "should work but doesn't" so he sold her a TP-Link for 69.00 and 128MB of RAM for 40.00, spent almost an hour on site for a total bill of 220.00 pounds. It makes me sick!

RE: wireless query

IP config looked good as the router had allocated an IP (192.168.0.3 if I remember) so a network existed, but just no internet. Couldn't configure the router as explained. Disconnecting the router and hard-wiring straight from the cable modem and BAM! internet is there again no problem. I was very specific about where to plug in the cables so I'm in no doubt they were correct, but every time the router was re-inserted into the chain the internet was unobtainable to the main PC, and also invisible!

RE: Error Code

Can you boot to safe mode and run system restore from there? Switch on computer and repeatedly tap F8 key as it starts up, then choose safe mode from list.

RE: wireless query

Interesting.... I would endorse what this customer is asking as I have a query on this subject myself that may well be linked. I know of 2 instances lately where a new wireless router fails to be seen by a pc when connected up with an ethernet cable. Obviously this prevents the installation of the new router from completing, with the result that their wireless network fails to materialise and their new laptop is useless. In both cases I have been contacted by telephone and have failed to resolve the problem from a distance simply by talking it through, but I would like to know if there is something very basic that I'm missing.

RE: i have a dell pc which upon start up comes up with a blue screen, saying a problem has been detected

This is what microsoft says at http://tinyurl.com/22zhul "This issue might occur if a system thread generates an exception that the error handler does not catch. This exception can be caused by any of the following: If this issue occurs after the first restart during Windows Setup or after Setup is complete, the computer might not have sufficient hard disk space to run Windows XP. The computer BIOS might be incompatible with Windows XP, or it might have to be updated. The video adapter drivers might be incompatible with Windows XP. A device driver or a system service might be damaged. If the issue is associated with the Win32k.sys file, it might be caused by a third-party remote control program." These stop messages are very often associated with hardware failures or driver corruption. ave you added any new devices lately? If so then remove them and try starting in safe mode, run system restore to a date before any changes were made. If that doesn't work it's likely that you have faulty hardware on board.

RE: White Screen

Linda, lots of these download sites try to divert you into downloading their sponsored software. Sometimes you have to look at the small print between the lines to get what you actually went there for.

RE: monitor

I just looked at this again and maybe have an alternative conclusion. The monitor is not seeing the signal from your PC! This could be due to poor cable connections, graphics set-up or failed graphics hardware.

RE: blank screen

I strongly advise you to seek professional help as there's no advice we can give you when dealing with a "dead" laptop. Go back to the PCIQ home page and request an engineer by following the on screen instructions.

RE: Thank you so much for replying to my problem as posted on the PCIQ site. You were spot on and the o

Strange; I can't see Pamela J's original question.

RE: I have a Epson Stylus RX printer scanner and it will not accept an ink container I keep getting ERRO

Ahem... My Epson Stylus Color 680 is still going strong after 8 years or more of continuous hammer, and I've been able to buy cartridges for it from as little as 30p each. All Hail Epson!

RE: keyboard probs

SORRY! I'm using secure mode again - try this! http://www.pciq.com/computer_support_forum/email_related_issues/view_topic.asp?topicid=4678

RE: I have erased my volume device from my laptop by going in to control panel and remove programmes now

Satwinder K. - A simple lesson for you - "If it ain't broke, don't try and fix it". In other words; why fiddle in the control panel and delete your audio capability in the first place? I'm just interested to see what motivates people; nothing personal :)

RE: Email alert

Do you want to share the name and download location of this software with us? I fancy butterflies on my screen now!

RE: Acer 5630 won't charge...help!

I think it's a scam and we have been duped into being used as a conduit to spread the bug around by the creator who then relies on people Googling for an answer and then hitting on an infected site; exactly like what we have all just done.

RE: battery life

Jon - just for the sake of clarity, please define "Battery Life" for us. It seems you are quoting how long a battery will run a laptop from a full charge and I am quoting how long it will "last" as in when it becomes unusable and unable to hold a charge.

RE: My son has a packard bell desktop computer that will no longer switch on, when i switch it on the li

On seeing your answer to the LED colours my initial diagnosis would have been PSU failure but beyond that the possibilities are more numerous. Better to have a professional take a close look now you have eliminated the obvious.

RE: cant log onto my laptop (cant log onto microsoft)

If the "password" is left just blank and yours is the only account on the PC (except Administrator) then it will boot straight in to your (the default) account without you having to log on. You can choose various options for logging on from the control panel/users set-up.

RE: acer battery, laptop light indicates full charge, power management indicates Zero.

Almost certainly the battery has gone completely causing a short on the power rail. The symptoms you describe are typical of a battery in dire need of replacement. Best thing is not to even try and run the laptop with it fitted as you can do further damage to the laptop itself. You are fine to carry on using the laptop on mains power without the battery fitted.

RE: some of my keys on my laptop are only typing in ''function mode'' so to use some letters i have to h

Try Fn+F11 or FN+NumLk.

RE: I can not open my file CV or other file. the massages work cannot open

The file name should end in ".doc" not ",doc" as you have written. This may be just a typo on your part but if it's not then rename the file and try to open it again in Word. If that doen't work then it still leaves acouple of possibilities, the file is corrupt or your Word installation is corrupt.

RE: IT Support Developments

It's a very wide field you've marked out to play your game in Lauren. IT Support covers anything from individual personal support for single users right up to corporate WAN's so where exactly do you want to fit in? The most recent developments we are aware of here in our little coccoon is the ability for users to come to a free forum such as this excellent site provided by PCIQ and fix their annoying problems (hopefully!). Did your A levels cover the development of remote support like Teamviewer? That's about as cutting-edge as it gets here.

RE:

Come on Jason; you've given us nothing to go on in that one-liner! More descriptive prose please!

RE: Packard Bell Easy Note TN36 440 UK

It may also be called "Internet Connection Wizard".

RE: sony vaio

Stuart, with respect, the error message "operating system cannot be found" IS indicative of a failed hard drive. It it entirely possible for the BIOS to see and recognise a hard drive during boot up, but if the drive ain't spinning then then no OS can be found can it? I have witnessed this very scenario myself many more times than a corrupted boot sector. The only sensible recourse is to save any customers data possible (if the drive will spin up and allow it) and then run some diagnostics. I still maintain that drive failure is to be strongly suspected and therefore appropriate measures should be taken before subjecting the drive to further stresses.

RE: sony vaio

What I see from the symptoms is a dead or dying hard drive, in which case no amount of MBR repairing is going to work. I think that is also where Jon is coming from.

RE: setting photo from internet to desktop

John, please be aware that when you right-click an image on a website it is likely to be a low-resolution format that has been optimised for the web, therefore when you set it as your desktop wallpaper and stretch it to fit it will look awful (very pixellated). You need to download high-quality images to use as desktop backgrounds, and you can easily find them on Google by searching for "large images" under the "images" tab (at the top of the Google home page). Find what you like, download the file to your PC and then set it as "desktop wallpaper/background".

RE: installing a slave drive

A very good instructional guide, but did you notice that despite all the prior warnings about ESD protection, the person in the pictures is not wearing a wrist-strap?

RE: webcam not working

Check that the webcam is enabled in device manager. I've seen a customer unable to use webcam and this was the problem.

RE: Error Message

I just found this by Googling your problem... "that message refers to panda antivirus software quick reinstall should fix it!" Let me know if it works please.

RE: No Incoming E Mails

This is always a good way to access e-mails if your Outlook etc. local machine mail software is playing up.... http://www.mail2web.com/ Try it.

RE: help on Windows xp home 98

Hi Ann, from what you describe I'm left wondering if you have windows XP or Win98? This would make a difference in what advice to give you. XP may require a system restore back to an earlier time before the problems started, bur '98 may require a re-installation from the CD to restore all the missing files and correct registry entries. In both cases I would also recommend a full CheckDisk, Defrag & Virus/Malware check.

RE: Problem installing windows live messenger

If they are not in the bin then something like "Free Undelete" can sometimes recover them. Once you have them all back then a proper uninstall from the control panel or start menu program group is likely to be successful.

RE: bleeping

Ha ha -Hilarious! "Just remove all your clothing while you do this" - Nice one Jon! More practical is to earth youself and discharge any residual static charge in your clothing and body by simply holding on to a metallic part of your PC casing (assuming the mains lead is connected and plugged into a wall socket) before touching the components inside.

RE: computer bleeping

Check this out and see if it helps... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test

RE: I am trying to do a recovey usb disk drive for an acer notebook but evertime i try it comes up with

I see in my crystal ball that Shaun is trying to create a recovery disk for his Acer on a removable USB external drive. Best to follow Jon's suggestions, mate.

RE: wizard lost from computer-unable to download photo's

What Operating System are you using? Vista? XP? Windows 95? Are you expecting to see something automatically launch when you plug in your camera and this is no longer happening?

RE: Split memory

Just to expand on the subject of Partition Magic for the benefit of the customer; I have found success every time when using this software for re-sizing existing partitions without any loss or corruption of data. However, I've not had the same successful results when "combining" 2 partitions into 1. For that I would recommend only using it on virgin drives with no stored data.

RE: porn virus

Unfortunately this is very common, particularly when the sites visited on the internet are not striclty "Kosher". Dodgy sites abound with malware just waiting to pounce and invade your PC with pop-ups and hidden programs to keep them coming at an ever-increasing pace no matter how hard you try and stop them. These sites are not all "porn-related" but often include download / file-sharing sites and all carry the same risk. Just like in every town or city - there are places where it's not safe to go on the internet. You now need to install a good anti-virus program and malware scanner, free examples of these are given on the PCIQ link from the home page. Download from the safe links there, install and run. Once installed do a complete system check to clear out any rubbish.

RE: formatting computer

Unless you have something so evil (like antivirus 360) that it takes over your screen every few seconds and prevents you doing anything else because of all the clutter. If that is the case then a wipe-out and re-installation is the best bet. To simply wipe your drive just format it from the drive properties dialogue. Then you should really run some deep cleaning tools on it like Killdisk to obliterate any trace of embedded viruses. Then pop in an O/S CD/DVD and install a new system. Do you need any more pointers than that? If you think that any of those steps are a bit beyond you then you should call in a PCIQ professional.

RE: Help please

Yes, thank you Jon for a very complete, if exhausting, appraisal of some of the options available! Don't forget that unless you have a cutting-edge machine of gargantuan proportions in respect of processor speed and RAM size, a cocktail of so many components is likely to slow your machine to a standstill. It's really all about the places you frequent on the internet. I've learned the hard way to steer clear of certain dodgy districts on the 'net, the same as we learn not to go into certain areas of our towns and cities. Stick to respectable areas and you may not need to travel in an armour-plated car. I now get by quite happily on this old Toshiba laptop with Avast! AV and SpywareBlaster. My other PC's are loaded with AVG8 and SpywareBlaster. Since AVG8 incorporated spyware scanning I have dropped off using Spybot S&D, which was very time consuming and resource-hungry on my older machines.

RE: dead computer

That's right - get a USB wireless dongle for under a tenner and forget about fixing whatever's broken inside. Cheap and effective!

RE: emachine370 UK normally had crt monitor. Removed and now have dell lcd monitor resolution changed to bi

It wouldn't stop it working in resolutions other that 680x400 though. It sounds like its just running on basic VGA mode because the on board graphics accelerator isn't installed properly. If it was then a whole range of resolutions would be possible, albeit that none of them may suit a wide screen format.

RE: Will a WiFi Wireless 802.11b LAN SDIO Adapter Card (http://www.techfocus.co.uk/PDA-Accessories/TFPC1

https://www.expansys.com.hk/ft.aspx?k=54103 "Compaq iPAQ h3870 Pocket PC. Support Forum. Welcome to our forums. ... The iPAQ 3870 comes with an SD slot, not and SDIO slot - which is required for any ..."

RE: email sent through my account

You have, quite simply, been nobbled. Get some protection on your PC as suggested and run the cleaning program/s.

RE: monitor upside down

Most laptops have the ability to rotate the display using the settings in Control Panel. Mostly this is when the laptop is used for presentation work etc. and fed through an LCD projector that's mounted upside-down from a classroom ceiling. It's a simple matter of navigating to the monitor settings in Contol Panel and rotating the display 180 degrees.

RE: my USB holder has become lose and because of that i can not get connected to my internet and my lapt

I have repaired slack USB sockets with nothing more than a pair of snipe-nose pliers. If it's only that the metal casing has been stressed apart then tweak it together again until it grips the plug once more (at your own risk of course).

RE: lap top to tv picture

Can you adjust the "aspect" properties of your tv to make the picture fit?

RE: facebook webb site

I've checked the site - no problems with Facebook. You see all other sites OK - No problems with your PC. You can't see all the content you wish to view - maybe it's down to your personal settings for the site? Go into Facebook, then settings and check that the bits you want to see are enabled.

RE: laptop is just 2 mths old and im told my D drive has run out of space. havetired uninstall progs d

What is your manufacturer / retailer's response? 2 months old means you are under warranty.

RE: Lotus Notes

You need to check your administrator settings. "No authorisation" messages usually occur when your user settings prevent you from accessing certain parts of the program or making certain changes. It's too long ago now since I used Lotus Notes for me to remember what settings are within that program but there may be something there if you look into the properties. Sorry I can't be more specific at this point.

RE: I am disabled, and I need your help please. My computer is slow and low please could you help me as

Hi John, I think you probably need to call out an ebgineer to properly diagnose the problems and put things right. There are far too many possibilities to go into on this forum to assist you remotely.

RE: Vista limited connectivity

But, is your landlady still getting het internet connection?

RE: Blue screen on computer

Looking at the options available leads me to ask the question; "are you using Norton/Symantec anti-virus protection? Rationale: http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/powerquest.nsf/35f1485389b899f088256e97004a3bb4/626010eae181acc988256e75007cd1f9?OpenDocument&prod=V2i%20Protector&ver=Server%20Edition%202.0&pcode=v2ipro&src=ent&miniver=v2ipro_server_2&tpre=&prev=&dtype=corp

RE: I need to know if my computer has an ethernet portf or connection to fibreoptic cable,and if not, w

As a rule, the fibre is terminated at the C-MUX switch in your street cabinet and from there they run a copper connection to your home which is connected to your PC via an RJ-45 Cat5, 5E or Cat6 connection. Some cable operators (Virgin for one) are now able to bring the fibre right into your home and offer speeds of 50mb/s or more, but it is still rare.

RE: spilt tea!

OK, I always forget that some people have sugar in their tea. Yes, this method is more likely to be successful if its only water, but I did say 90 percent of the time - not 100 :)>

RE: everytime i go on internet other websites pop up

Thanks for that Jon, I never intended to imply that Spyware Doctor itself was bogus; just that there were many such downloads available albeit under a variety of different names, none of them actually able to do any cleaning until they were paid for.

RE: everytime i go on internet other websites pop up

Hi Shannon - just follow the programs instructions for removing or cleaning the threats & infections. Options can range from "cleaning" the infected files (which just removes the piece of damaging code from an existing file - very safe) to "Removing the Infected File" (which deletes the entire file containing the infection - more risky). Back up what you can before making any unsafe moves, then choose the option (if you see it) to place infected files into the "Virus Vault". At least then if something fails to work properly afterwards you have a chance to retieve the file and have another crack at the virus (a bit like the re-cycle bin). There should be an easily available guide to assist you with using each of the programs you have installed; have you read the instructions?

RE: netgear router cannot find ADSL signal

Sorry Sarah, I draw a blank at this stage; I would need to visit and see exactly what's happening to sort it out. I'm sorry if you've had a bad experience already with a PCIQ call-out but that really is my only recommendation at this point :(

RE: netgear router cannot find ADSL signal

Please switch to the Pro forum with replies to this!

RE: We have a Packard Bell Laptop & the problem is to do with the lead that charges the Laptop. Ours was

More thoughts - if we are talking about a notebook then the "lead" is probably in two separate parts; one each side of the Power Supply. Which part is "frying"; the thick mains lead or the thinner DC lead?

RE: How do I download Microsoft word to replace word pad/

Or you can download Open Office for free and keep it forever. In use it is very like MSOffice and files are interchangeable between the two. In my view it adds even more to the package than Office, including built-in PDF generator and far superior image program. http://www.openoffice.org/

RE: speakers

There are also numerous devices out there to transmit audio/video from one wireless station to another. I use one at home that I bought for about a fiver from Aldi, so I can play mp3's on my main computer and listen to them them through a pair of speakers anywhere in the house. I also hook it up to my hi-fi in the lounge for serious listening!

RE: Hard Drive Data Recovery and Technical Support

PCIQ - Please eradicate this blatant abuse of this forum asap!

RE: nowhere for discs

So, you need either a floppy drive or a CD/DVD ROM drive depending on the nature of your disks. You haven't specified so I can't properly advise!

RE: windows installer and apptray

Yay! Happy customer response! Thanks Lee!

RE: building a new pc around asus formula crosshair II motherboard

Hope this is not a daft reply but have you downloaded and stuck literally to the manual for your mobo? To me it sounds as if the header connections to the panel are mixed up at the very least, and certainly the BIOS is a mess.

RE: Having downloaded Norton via the internet. I cannot now access the internet as it comes up with HTTP

Go here first: http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039 Perform the removal, then download AVG Free Anti-Virus from: http://free.avg.com/ Sorted! (I hope)

RE: I left my desktop PC for around a year without use and now I want to install ubuntu onto it finding

SO,HOW FAR DO YOU GET THRU' THE BOOT UP NOW?

RE: I left my desktop PC for around a year without use and now I want to install ubuntu onto it finding

Cause for the warning message is that the chassis was opened e.g. to install new hardware. This status is logged by the BIOS. To clear this BIOS Log you have to enter the BIOS setup. In the main menu you will find PC-Health, Chassis intrusion detect with three options: enable disable reset Please select the reset option to clear the log file. If you want to disable the intrusion switch permanently, just leave the connector on the mainboard open.

RE: I left my desktop PC for around a year without use and now I want to install ubuntu onto it finding

You have a tamper sensor on your case that supposed to stop anyone going in and re-setting the BIOS. This usually happens on business machines that are locked for security reasons. Try taking the CMOS battery out on the motherboard for an hour and then re-seat it, as this can sometimes clear the BIOS and make the machine accessible again, but first check that the battery has some juice left in it. It should be delivering around 3 volts.

RE: my screen has gone big and i dont no how to get it to go back to the way it was

Right-click anywhere on your desktop and choose "Properties / Settings" from the window that appears; move the slider to a higher resolution and apply.

RE: I have accidentally deleted the downloads icon , bouncing up and down one, on the dock. I would

I would suggest keeping still at all times whilst on the dock, in fact "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" is ideal. Has anyone else got anything to add to this or am I interpreting it incorrectly?

RE: Myspace and java script don't seem to work together

Sorry Jenn, but unless you've unwittingly set up restrictions in your firewall or other software there's no reason why you can't see My Space pages the same as before. Check your blocked sites for entries relating to My Space and give them clearance. Also try clearing your cache (visited sites and cookies) then try again. Have you changed the security settings for the internet zone recently? If so reset to default and try that. There is an outside chance that you've picked up a virus. What anti-virus are you using and is it up to date? Have you run a virus check?

RE: lost internet connection

Well let's wait and see. It's all academic anyway unless Terry comes back with more info. BTW this should settle it: http://www.virginmedia.com/help/broadband/troubleshooting/cant-connect-lights.php I believe they can diagnose the state of a cable modem if it's powered up and connected to their line, but if that diagnosis seems wrong to the customer or inconclusive then they should send an engineer.

RE: lost internet connection

In which case Virgin should respond by sending either an engineer or a replacement modem to assist the customer. They don't seem to have done that so I have to assume that they were satisfied with diagnostic tests they ran remotely to test the modem.

RE: lost internet connection

You could try risking a fiver on a new PCI Network Card. I've had trouble in the past with on-board Ethernet connections and solved them this way.

RE: windows xp not booting

Calm down Richard, you're getting paranoid. I suggest you relax this weekend and share a glass or two with friends. The second poster could obviously tell from the accent that the first poster's name was "Patel". Nothing untoward about that.

RE: Advent laptop

It could be a driver problem after all the massing about you've done. See if this looks familiar:- http://support.microsoft.com/kb/832324/en-us I can't remember whether I've asked this already but the "new" drive you got - is it new or has it been in another pc before? If it's been used before then it may have been set up for all the devices on it's old environment, which would explain the difficulty you're having with detected components. If this were the case then XP must be run from the install disk, preferably BEFORE it boots up in a new pc for the first time! If you do this then you just repair the installation to correct all the hardware problems, but if it's an old drive, not erased, and you've booted it into your laptop, then the best bet is just wipe everything off it and start again with a clean install. I'm not trying to put you off, but often what seems like the most drastic action takes far less time than trying to pick pieces off the problem. After all, there's no data that you need to keep on this drive as it's already been swapped.

RE: Runtime Error

Does this error actually prevent you from viewing the page or content that you want to work with or is it just an annoying nuisance? You can turn off script debugging in IE by going to Tools/Internet Options/Advanced/"Disable Script De-bugging (Internet Explorer)" and "Disable Script De-bugging (Other)". That will prevent the error message from being displayed.

RE: camcorder

Do you have a USB lead supplied with the camcorder to connect it to a PC? Do you have an installation disk (CD-ROM) that came with it to load drivers? If the answer is yes to both of these questions then it should connect to a PC and you should be able to transfer files. However, you may come unstuck if you have Windows Vista and your camcorder is more that a year or two old, as Microsoft never supplied enough legacy drivers with Vista to make our old peripherals work. Your only chance to find Vista drivers for your device is to check on the manufacturers web site and download from there. Be warned though, I've done this for a client's Lexmark printer and the "Vista driver" still wouldn't work with it!

RE: printers

The real issue with printers is how much you are going to use them. Speed may be important but for me it comes down to the cost of replacement cartridges. before you decide which one to buy and after checking whether the print rate / paper capacity etc meets your requirements, go online and see how much replacement ink cartridges / drums etc are - that may make your decision easier. I rarely find that Epson can be beaten on this issue.

RE: windows xp

Does Vista allow you to replace it with XP? Probably not, so you'd have to wipe your drive to kill the Vista installation and then install XP from the CDROM. WARNING: Only attempt this if you know exactly what you are doing!! If you get it wrong or if you don't have a genuine XP CD you could completely kill your perfectly good laptop. I know how you feel tho' I also hate Vista. I installed it on my PC only to find that none of my devices or peripherals were supported by Vist drivers - fine if you want your desktop to look like its running in safe mode all the time! Rubbish.

RE: Dell Inspiron 6000

It immediately sounds like a battery failure problem. Is the replacement battery actually "new" or just procured from elsewhere? See if you can check the contacts in the laptop that the battery uses to connect. Is there any dirt / damage / detritus to or on those contacts that could cause a short circuit when the battery is locked in place?

RE: Advent laptop

Just leave it now until you have a working copy of XP Home.

RE: Advent laptop

Hi John There's no conflicting information really, it's just that there'salways more than one way to skin a cat - especially with computers. Your basic instuction set now you have set BIOS to boot from CDROM first is as before:- Put the windows XP HOME edition disk in the CD/DVD drive then restart the computer. On restart the computer will ask you to press any key to boot from the CD. Press a key, do this quickly. Wait a minute for the next screen then select the option to install Windows (press enter, then f8). It will tell you there is already a copy of Windows on the hard drive and ask if you want to repair it. You do not, so press escape to choose that option. At this stage will have the option to delete the partition you created in your previous attempt to install Windows (press D to delete it). Now you have eradicated any trace of the previous installation, just follow the on-screen instructions to install XP Home Edition and there should be no hindrance from any previous edition. Do you copy?

RE: Advent laptop

Well said Alan. Why can't I put it like that? Mind you, when I asked I did get the response "no i dont get a format screen". John, if you do what the man said, it SHOULD work!

RE: Advent laptop

You are going to find it much, much harder to do this without a floppy as CD images for boot disks are rare. You will also need image-burning capability on your PC to create one. I still haven't got a satisfactory boot disk for XP/Vista installed on NTFS drives despite numerous attempts to locate one. I used to use something called "Hiren's Boot Disk" for FAT drives with DOS/Win9x but it's useless for NTFS. Just a thought; if you boot from the XP Pro CD can you access the formatting/partition tool from there? If so you could create a new partition and install your XP Home on that.

RE: Advent laptop

Who's Simon? OK, you need to use a boot disk with disk tools loaded so you can re-format the hard drive before starting all over. At this point you may need to call in a professional?

RE: Advent laptop

If I've read this correctly you have a new hard drive? If so you need to wipe it clean & start again with your XP Home installation to erase the stuff XP Pro has left on there. Do you get a "Format" option when you go thru' the install? If so say "YES" as this will wipe the pevious version off.

RE: Water spilt on laptop

Nicole, it's important not to panic when a spillage occurs. 99% of the time the laptop is completely recoverable if just left to thoroughly dry. It's more problematic with beer / wine etc. as these leave a sticky residue that van be acidic and eat away your components! If it's not working still, I suggest you remove all the panels etc. around the case (battery, drives, RAM cover, Hard Drive etc.) to open the case up to as much airflow as possible, then leave it overnight on a shelf or raised off the floor in an airing cupboard (not on the tank!). Next morning put all your bits back in, hold your breath and switch on - with luck it will work. Good luck.

RE: I AM LOOKING TO DELETE ALL OF MY VIRUS AND SPY WARE HOW CAN I BE SUE IT HAS ALL BEEN DELETED AND MY

Be very careful deleting anti-virus applications. You should always disconnect from the internet when you do so. Many AV apps hate working alongside others so it's always best to delete one before installing another, but if you hit the internet with no AV protection at all you will instantly fall victim to infection. You need to run a complete virus scan with whatever you've currently got and eradicate any infection. Then disconnect from the internet and replace your AV software (some AV's need special tools to completely remove befor you can install a new one). Once installed, you can re-connect to the internet and download the latest virus definitions and run a check. Same thing applies to Spyware tools.

RE: Fujitsu Siemans Amilo Pro V2055. Does not power on. Green power light when plugged into power pack.

I have a third-party service supplier who repairs laptop mainboards for me.

RE: Start up messages

Sounds like you could run a registry cleaner too. Try Registry Mechanic. Use the free version to see if does any good before spending any money on it.

RE: cd/dvd player code error can''t play cd''s or burn a cd

Recently installed or used to work but now doesn't? Do the led's blink on the front? Can you hear the disk spinning up? Please try to describe the symptoms in more detail and we'll see if we can help.

RE: i am not sure if it is a software or hardware problem, my sound on my sony vgn-cr11z/r, is registeri

Hi Ian, From your description I have a feeling that the headphone socket itself may be at fault. When you plug in your jack it "breaks" the connection to the speakers, but this condition is supposed to reverse when you unplug and the connection "makes" again. It sounds like the socket may have a broken connection or dirt in it? Sounds silly but have you tried wiggling the jack in the socket a little bit to see if it re-connects? It could be a broken solder joint to the D-SUB Realtek HD audio pcb. If you don't want to start stripping it down it's best you get some professional help.

RE: avg problem

Can you still see it listed in Start/ Programs/ AVG Free Edition/ Control Centre ? If so just start it up again and it will run. If it's not in your programs group then it's got uninstalled somehow and you'll have to re-install by downloading from Grisoft.

RE: I did have free AVG but have been given Spybot search and destroy, when trying to open it it keeps s

Michelle, Spybot S&D is anti-spyware. AVG is anti-virus. I want you to be sure that these two things are completely different and serve different functions. You should not have deleted AVG when installing Spybot, the two work together in perfect harmony protecting your computer from different threats. I would recommend you re-loaded AVG immediately as by deleting it your PC is under constant threat from viruses. Then download whatever anti-spyware you choose.

RE: when i turn on comp it says cd rom not found floppy not found then windows loads on but it only gets

OK Jon, if we accept your diagnosis - what course of action do you recommend to fix it?

RE: my computer makes a crackling noise during start up and will load vista i tried to phone currys supp

You are correct Frank, the trouble seems to be with Ciurry's/ PC World accepting that and not supplying anything beyond remedial-level engineers. If only 10 months old it is definitely under guarantee and the their responsibility. Take it back, dump it on the counter and demand a replacement - it sounds like some of the hardware is up the swanny already.

RE: my computer makes a crackling noise during start up and will load vista i tried to phone currys supp

PS, if you're after a good diagnostic tool then try Everest - http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

RE: Buying new laptop

All I'll say is that I have had bad experiences in the past with Toshiba laptops, whereas Dell have never let me down. £750 would buy you a high-spec Dell that I would trust, but I can't say the same for Toshiba.

RE: Norton removal.

Go here http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/forums/index.cfm?action=showthread&threadid=294163&forumid=23 and download the Norton Removal Tool. The run Ccleaner to tidy everything up.

RE: not showing phots in grapics

I wonder if its possible that you have moved the source directory from it's original location when you inserted the picture into Word. To see if this is the case right-click on the empty frame within the Word page where the photo should be and select 'properties'. You should then be able to see the path to the source folder that Word is trying to access. If you moved the source folder or re-named it since inserting the picture then this path will be wrong. To correct it just replace the picture from file by navigating to where it currently is.