Computer Q's and A's

[fluffymoat4]

Just wondering if the more computer literate amongst us could help those who aren't? I have a bit of basic know-how which has come from errors that have occurred on my p.c. or when using the internet etc. Anyway, just thought I'd start this thread and see where it leads. Perhaps people could begin by posting their questions and, if anyone out there knows the answer, perhaps they could post the answer?

[Mike]

Hi, can any one here tell me how to add an image to a thread . Or a pitcure to my profile please
cheers
migky

[Alan]

Hi Migky,

To add a photo to your profile you will have to send it in by email to me at [ftp][e-mail][/ftp] I shall edit it to the right size and put it on site for you. If you also want it on the member's page please let me know your background details.

To add a photo to a thread you have to click on the Insert Hyperlink at the top when you are writing the post. The icon looks like the earth, bottom row second left of the format tools a the top. you will get these: tags appearing. put the address of the URL where the photo is between these tags. You will then see the photo appear when you post the reply.

Hope this helps.

Alan

[linda]

thanks alan i will try that.

[christine]

when i am going onto manmates it did it this morning and its done it a few times it doese a virus check and i got a trogen horse xxxxchris

[tony38337]

Hi Chris,

If you are told that you picked up a Trojan Horse then it means your virus checker has stopped it and deleted it, The anti virus software is just telling you that you spent our money wisely.

Tony T

[christine]

TONY WHAT DO YOU MEAN SPENT OUR MONEY WISELY ???CHRIS

[christine]

ITS DONE IT AGAIN WHILE I AM ON MANMATES IT SAID A.V.G 7.1 UPDATE IT DOESE IT NEARLY EVERYDAY XXXCHRIS

[tony38337]

Hi Chris,

If you run a computer these days without anti virus software you run the risk of picking up viruses every time lou log on to the internet, viruses can knock out your computer but also they spread to everyone whom you have in your email address book so spending money on anti virus software is money well spent. I use Norton Anti Virus, Iv'e used it for so long now I can't remember how much I paid for it, I just renew the subscription every year and it' totally trouble free, it updates the virus list automatically and you really only notice it when you trap a virus.

Tony T

[tony38337]

Oh and Chris I forgot to say that that notice that pops up every day is just telling you that the virus list is updated so that the programme knows all the latest viruses to look for, it means your software is bang up to date.

Tony T

[Lisa]

Hi Tony, I also use Norton Anti-Virus and I bought it when I bought my laptop even though it came with a free one month supply I still put the Norton on. It took me so long to get it sorted I need to ring Semantec for help installing it so when it came to renew it instead of buying another one for £25 in PCWorld I just renewed it with Norton. It was much more expensive but I didnt want to go through the bother I had first time installing it, It was much easier to pay online and renew. It also automatically 'cleans' up on a Friday at 8pm providing I leave my computer on. Its well worth it, as you say.

[Lisa]

Can anyone tell me why the sound has gone on my computer. One minute it was there, the next it had gone completely and I cant hear any sound at all. I have tried Control Panel/Accessories/Volume Control but there is nowhere for me to click on the Volume Control as its not in Bold its in feint so when I try to click nothing happens to the controller for the sound. I have tried System Restore but it will only let me restore up to August, not beyond. Any ideas?

[Alan]

Hi Lisa,

If you have WindowsXP. Go to Start, Control Panel, then click on the little speaker icon titled Sounds and Audio Devices. In the next window that comes up in the centre there is two check boxes. One says mute and the other says place volume icon in taskbar. This should have a tick in it. If this is greyed out

Lisa, in my last posting as regards the sound (now above), I noticed my last part was missed out. After it says, If this is greyed out, you may have to install your audio driver again. Or try and reinstall it through re-install hardware. However, as Mo mentioned you could re-install windows but you would have to back up everything you need. You also may have had a disk when you bought the laptop to bring it back to factory settings but again, you would have to back everything up or else you would lose anything you need. I shall add this to my previous post also so that it will stay in the computer Q A section.

Alan

Hope this helps

Regards,
Alan

[fluffymoat4]

Lisa, My hubby suggests re-installing your Windows XP as it may have "lost" the audio "driver". If Alan's idea doesn't work then perhaps you could try this instead? Hope it helps - I can't imagine being without sound on our p.c.

[tony38337]

Hi Lisa,

Surprised that you were charged more for internet renewal, I found that it was a saving of £10, because I had an old version up to my subs running out I decided to update at a simmilar saving.
Can't remember how much at PC World but they were dearer, installation is virtually automatic so don't understand your problems. I reiterate Alan's suggestion uncheck the mute setting another possibility is that a connection has come lose on your sound card, perhaps especially if you move it around a lot. I'm off to Skegness in an hour or so for the Bikers weekend laid on by The Motorcycle News.

Tony T

[Lisa]

Hi Little Mo, Thanks for the suggestion. How do I reinstall my Windows XP? I have a USB Bar which is a bootable disk but have never used it. I am told I need to back-up all my data before reinstalling but have never done it. I'm mainly self-taught and just do things by trial and error and I've been lucky so far but I do need to get the sound back on my laptop as I cant hear the joke videos that folk send me - very frustrating - I have to try lip-leading but most jokes are self-explanatory !!! Thanks for info and thank your hubby too

[Lisa]

Hi Little Mo, It is annoying being without the sound because when an e-mail comes in and I am in another room I cant hear it. OR when I'm on MSN I cant hear people calling me. So, yes, it is frustrating and I think it happened when my daughter was last home and thought she was doing me a favour by deleting some things I didnt need on the laptop. It was never the same after that - bless her !!!!

[fluffymoat4]

mavisredford said:

Hi Little Mo, Thanks for the suggestion. How do I reinstall my Windows XP? I have a USB Bar which is a bootable disk but have never used it. I am told I need to back-up all my data before reinstalling but have never done it. I'm mainly self-taught and just do things by trial and error and I've been lucky so far but I do need to get the sound back on my laptop as I cant hear the joke videos that folk send me - very frustrating - I have to try lip-leading but most jokes are self-explanatory !!! Thanks for info and thank your hubby too

Lisa, hope you're checking manmates frequently so we can help you out. My hubby has come up with an alternative to re-installing XP. Here goes:-
START---CONTROL PANEL---DEVICE MANAGER then scroll down to "Sound/Video/Game Controllers" One should come up as "Audio Driver" NOW here's where it gets interesting you could try ROUTE No. 1: tell it to UPDATE DRIVER it should "search" for the correct driver over the internet OR ask for your Windows XP cd. ROUTE No. 2: left mouse click on each audio driver in the list and then right mouse click and choose PROPERTIES. Doing this with each one will tell you whether or not it is working - if any of them are not working they give you an option to TROUBLESHOOT and this will then guide you safely through the "minefield" (only joking LOL) but hubby usually uses TROUBLESHOOTING when he's stuck and he's learnt lots over the years via this method. He went to all the trouble of getting our son's laptop out (blowing cobwebs off it first LOL) and plugging it in etc. just so he could find a solution to your problems so I really hope it works out for you. Let us know? Finally, you really do need to back up your docs/photos etc. regularly. Why not pop into PC World (or the like) sometime and talk about either CD Writers or memory sticks. They are coming down in price all the time and for any of you laptop users out there they are a great way to back up your laptop contents onto from time to time. We back up everything on our pc from time to time in case we ever get burgled and, god forbid, lose our precious photos etc. Laptops need even more regular backing up as you could drop them, lose them or - god forbid - have it stolen! Those people at PC World offer great advice on backing up and choosing a suitable device for doing it with (and, no I do NOT work there OR have shares in the company LOL - just that they've been great with us in the past). Good Luck Lisa - I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed for you.

[Alan]

Hi Lisa,

I have just be writing out how to back up and was also going go on to intalling audio driver but noticed Mo's hubby has very kindly saved me the trouble so I'll just explain about re-installing windows and back ups.

Be very careful before you re-install windows. If you don’t back up everything you need then you will lose it. This includes all programmes you have installed since you got the computer including all your internet and email settings and drivers that your computer uses to run.

Usually the windows disk formats the hard drive and then goes to re-install. There is an option were you can just use the disk to repair windows and then it will only fix anything that is broken. Of course this might not include audio drivers. So it could end being the same.

To back up? This all depends on what you want to back up. You can actually back up the whole drive and this will use up a lot of space, usually too much to put on a CD or DVD disk. You will really be better using another hard drive for this. You cannot use the computer hard drive because this will be wiped clean. A USB stick will not have enough memory I don’t think?

To back-up your files and settings go to Start, All Programmes, Accessories, System Tools, Files Settings and Transfer Wizard. It will then ask if this is the old computer and for this back up it must be yes. You will then have to follow the instructions about where you are putting this back file, to a USB stick or CD or whatever. After re-installing windows. You then have to do the same thing but this time you will tell it this is your new computer and where to find the file to transfer the settings back..

The other option is to back up any other file or the whole C: drive. Do the same as above up until you click on tools then go to Back Up, then advanced this is a blue link in the centre. then at the top click on backup you will then have an option to tick any boxes that you want to back up. The file or drive names will be next these boxes. You will then be asked where to put the destination file. All you have to do then is click back up.

Please be very, very careful if you are going to try this. Also, don’t blame me if it goes wrong. On your own head be it. If you are unsure get someone more experienced to help you.

Alan

[Lisa]

Hi Little Mo, Thanks for all the trouble you both went to. I am going to print out what you posted and have a go in a quieter moment. I was in Stockport today as well and could have popped into PC World but will go next week. I thought the USB that I had was a memory stick, but I know nothing about such things. A friend gave me the USB when I said I wanted a memory stick. I've never used it but I've got to learn now, havent I? Alan has also posted some solutions, so I'll print that off as well. I'll try your solution first as it seems easier (what?) and I did try Troubleshooting previously but gave up when it didnt work. I'll keep you posted. Thanks once again Mo and thanks to your husband.

[fluffymoat4]

Alan, I think I may have confused the situation somewhat! What I mean by "backing up" is just copying all saved documents, photos and the "save" files for games I'm in the process of playing. That way, if anything happened to my p.c. I can buy a new p.c. (with the insurance money if it had been stolen in a burglary) and I can then put all my documents, photos etc. onto the new p.c. I know there is hardware to backup the whole of the p.c.'s "contents" (for want of a better word) but, like you say, you'd need a whole hard drive for this.
We have files of photographs, word documents, spreadsheets, etc. and so we copy this sort of information, on a regular basis, onto CDs. My son uses his PSP to transfer info from his home pc to his college pc and vice versa but anyone using a laptop could copy files onto memory sticks - you could perhaps have different sticks for different types of files?
Hope this clears up any confusion I may have caused earlier.

[Lisa]

Hi Little Mo, I did what you suggested and it looked like all the devises were working, or so it said. I then tried another route and got to the Wizard who asked me to install the CDthat came with my notebook(laptop). The ones that came with my laptop were Disk 1- System cd Rev 1.1 which may only be used as backup and recovery. Disk 2-1 Recovery CD -ditto-as above and Disk 2-2 Recovery CD -ditto- above. There is also a booklet called Recovery CD Instruction Sheet. Does this mean I can use the cd's instead of going to PC World to buy one? and which cd do I use? I'm nervous about using any in case I lose all my work on the computer.

[fluffymoat4]

Lisa, my hubby is out at the moment. As soon as he gets back I'll ask him to read your post and see if he can help you out okay? Meanwhile - if I was you - I wouldn't try anything else just yet. Meanwhile, do you have a writeable CD drive? By that I mean have you ever copied anything such as photos or documents from the files on your laptop, onto a CD?

[Lisa]

Hi Little Mo, I dont know if I have a writeable cd drive. I've copied photos from my psc onto the computer but never transferred anything onto a cd but I think my laptop does most things but I've never known how to do it. Its a TravelMate 292LMi, Intel Centrino. I followed all what you said but dont know what these three cd's are for. Thanks for replying. I'll see what your hubby says. Dont take up too much of your time as I know its precious, just wish I could hear the b computer.

[Alan]

Hi Lisa,

The Recovery CD’s that you get with a computer are usually unique to that computer or at least to that model at that time, with that retailer. It all depends on what software and drivers that is included with the machine. All this changes as models and indeed, as manufacturers change these models. This is why it is difficult to know what to say or do.

You may find that one of the CD’s has your drivers including your audio drivers on it. You will really need to read the booklet. This should explain what does what.

Also, this software may be on your computer on a separate partition drive which is usually the next letter after C. So it would be the D: drive. Again, this would be explained in the booklet.

They do this a lot, so that when people phone up these technical help lines, they can talk you through going into the partition will all the drivers and tools so to speak to sort out the problem. But of course this is usually expensive, something like a pound a minute. Although, sometimes they are fairly quick, and at other times they take ages and don’t always sort out the problem.

I would have a look through the booklet and see what you come up with. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.

Alan

[fluffymoat4]

Alan, I'm just wondering, about Lisa's sound problem and I'm wondering if there would be technical help online? For the life of me I can't think of any companies off the top of my head - could Lisa perhaps do a "search" for pc sound problems or something?

[Lisa]

Thanks for that Alan. I did try ringing one of those technical numbers when I first got my laptop and I couldnt understand a word they were saying - it was in India - so I never rang again. Will have a look at the booklets later to see what they say. I do have a D drive so I might have a look on the computer to see if it tells me whats on it. I may end up taking it into Staples where I bought it. Thanks.

[Alan]

Hi Lisa,

I was trying to find your audio drivers on the net to down load but can't see any on the Acer site. It is they who make the travelmate.

But I found this if it is any help?

Technical Helpline:
If calling from UK : 0870 853 1000
If calling from Southern Ireland : 01 40732 14

For products out of warranty, please call: 0906 301 0001 between the hours of 09.00-17.30, Monday - Friday. Calls cost 50p per minute. Calls may be recorded for training purposes.

Alan

[Lisa]

Hi Alan, Thanks for all your help. I've written the no's down and may give them a ring if I cant get it fixed. I may end up taking it into a little computer shop near me to see what he can do. Thanks for all your trouble.

[royhowarth1]

Hi Lisa !
You do not state what operating system you are using. Is it Win98/Win98SE/WINME/WIN2K/or Windows XP ? Have you installed some new hardware lately ?
If you have and your operating system is XP then check the entry for the sound card driver in the device manager to see if the entry has a red exclamation mark at the left side of it. If so it means that you have developed a hardware conflict. Selecting 'troubleshoot' will help.
If there is an entry in the list for a sound card, then check the status. I have found that by just uninstalling the sound card drivers and then rebooting the system. The computer finds that the sound card is installed but no software so it goes into its 'New hardware found' mode and searches for the drivers in the 'Windows System32' directory. When it finds them it will load them and if all goes well it should work. Sometimes an installed file can become 'corrupt' and it will still load but not work, so by reinstalling the drivers it should solve your problem. This solution will work with WIN98SE/WINME/WIN2K/WINXP/XPPRO