Posts by EAMON

Could anyone please help, I am teaching myself networks at the moment, and use my 2 PC's for practice. I tried a Peer to Peer network setup, failed. But now I have 2 PC's that when turning on and off behave as if they are on a network. Is there a simple way to covert them back? I can use Sytem Restore, but if asked in future to do it on a PC that has been on a network for some time and the owner wants to keep all settings and files saved but just wants his PC to act as a stand alone, I would need to know how to do it. There must be a fairly easy way to achieve this without having to re-install. Can anyone help please ? thanx,
Eamonn.
ps if Outlook Express settings need changing I think I'm competent enough to this.

although your system specs are a little on the low side, you could run vista ok. the only cards that support directx 10 are the geforce 8 series which require pci-e. And i'm assuming your card doesn't support aero, what's is your video card again? if you can get the vista drivers, you'll be able to use all of the vista features, except directx 10, which is required by only the newest games like halo 2. I'd look into getting an nvidia card geforce fx 5500 or higher, as those do support aero.

but in the long run, it might be good to just buy a new comptuer.

I have no graphic card, just onbard graphic chipset, specs in my question. I never play any games, but my local PC stores all tell me Vista HP needs DirectX10 to run some features. No PCI-E slot, just an AGP 1.5V slot. Thanx Eamonn.

Hi hope someone can help, I am hoping to upgrade to Vista Home Premium. I seem to have all the right specs except for the graphics. I have an ASRockK7S41GX MOBO : Athlon 2800+ 2GHz Socket A CPU : 2GB DDR1 RAM PC3200 : Chipsets, Sis 741GX, FSB@333MHz, AGP 8X/4X (North Bridge)-SiS 963L USB2.0 ATA 133 (Southbridge), and a PATA 250GB HDD (not Utra DMA-I think?). The problem seems to be my 1.5V 8X/4X AGP graphic slot. I have been informed several times it can't support DirectX10 graphics needed to run some Vista features. So I cant buy the appropriate card unless I have a PCI Express slot, which I dont have. Is there any way around this ? I would rather buy a card and the disc to upgrade rather than a new MOBO, new DDR2 RAM 2GB, new CPU etc. I posted this problem on a local site and one answer I got was "not only will your graphics won't work, but your CPU can't handle the VHM" what is VHM???? I googled it using the AND function with, CPU, MOBO, Graphics etc, but came up blank. Can I find a solution please, I really can't afford the 2nd option. Thanx,
Eamonn.

Hi kenjutsuka, I downloaded Alcohol 52% as you advised. I have been trying to use it for over 4 hours now and can't work out how to use it. I have the .nrg file on DVD and on my HDD, I tried extracting to both CD-R, DVD R/W & on to my HDD. (the mount option is always inactive) It appears I have the relevant Nero software, but it will only burn to CD. As the file just exceeds CD max capacity it wont burn. Also my Nero wont burn this type of image file to a DVD of any type. Can anyone advise please ?
Thanx, Eamonn.

Hello I am in need of advice on how to extract a software application I urgently need for a college course I am currently doing. The software is packed into just 1 file with a file extension ' .nrg ' . All the info I can find was to save to CD and use Nero to extract the application. However the file is 704MB so is on a DVD, I do have the Nero OEM Suite, Nero Express 6, InCD 4, Nerovision Express 2 etc. All my efforts to extract this file have failed. Could anyone please help. Thanx
Eamonn. ;)

brown1950, after booting and hardrive is at rest, close ALL applications. Go to START/RUN type and spell right MSCONFIG. NOT misconfig. Press 'Enter' This should open 'System Configuration Utility'. Do not change any setting in this unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing. Just look for the 'Launch System Restore' button and press. If you cant access it via normal boot, boot from safe mode and follow the same steps. Hope this helps, remember its MSCONFIG you type not MISCONFIG. ie MicroSoftCONFIGuration utility.
Eamonn.

Hi lol hacker 101, I apologise for my last post, I swapped the 1GB RAM for 2 X 512MB modules not 256! Must have been a bit tired writing that. But as to responce both 512's work fine on thier own in both my PC's but not as a pair, again in both PC's. Thanx,
Eamonn.

Did you try putting in the 1GB of RAM and the 256MB, and was the 1GB installed into the first slot on the MOBO, some older MOBO's require you to put the highest module in first so make sure that it is installed this way.

Hi reezin14, I took advice from the fist reply and exchanged the 1GB for 2 X 256MB Kingstons. Again strange, both in together exactly the same thing happened to both my machines, yet I had them running perfectly with just 1 256 in each !!!! The shop where I bought them, thinks I should flash my BIOS, that I am not keen on at all. I havn't tried mixing 2different size modules yet, but ultimately I want 1GB of RAM on here. Thanx,
Eamonn.
PS both MOBO's are less than 2 years old and have specs to take 2GB at 400MHz.

Well, you state it is DDR memory, is it DDR or DDR2? Do you know if it's ECC Registered?

A general rule of thumb (to avoid issues) is to always update your RAM with 2 sticks at a time.

Most of the newer motherboards require ECC memory, which requires you to upgrade in pairs anyway.

Thanx BLUD for your reply, the memory I used is definately DDRAM not DDR2. As for ECC registered, I cant find any specs on my machines, motherboards, RAM old or the new module that can say if any are ECC registered. From what I do know for ECC is that as a home user who never plays games let alone high end graphic games, ECC RAM would not be a neccessity. If at a later date I upgrade to VISTA maybe I would need it then, at this time I simply don't know. I understand the reasons to upgrade in pairs, but when I purchased my PC it only held one 256MB module, although sluggish it worked ok. I upgraded last year by adding another 256 into the vacant slot with no problems. I will thanx to your advice return the 1GB module and replace with 2 X 512's.
One thing that baffles me is the DDR2 memory module, according to what I found out about DDR2 on the net, that it is basically an improved version of SDDRAM. If that is the case, why does it have a DDR slot and not 2 …

Can anyone please help, I have just bought a Kingston 1GB DDRAM mem module to upgrade from 512MB. However, although my BIOS (Award-Phoenix) recognises that my RAM is now 1GB, my PC would not boot after the first XP Windows screen before you get to the log on screen. After this point my screen stayed blank. The specs of my motherboard say it can take up to 2GB at 400MHz. I also have a spare PC, same specs but with AMI BIOS and the same thing happens on that. The only information I can find is that a 2 slot RAM motherboard is more efficient if both slots are used. Could this be the problem, and just use 2 512MB RAM modules instead of a single 1GB module? I just don't know. Any advice will be much appreciated, thanx.
Eamonn.

Where do I go to remove icons from the task bar? I have Windows XP. Can I go to this same place to put icons back on the task bar?

Hi paprworkknotdone, icons in the taskbar appear in two different ways. To remove icons to the left of the arrow ( central part) go to Start/Settings/Control Panel, double click Taskbar and Start Menu. When the Properties Widow opens just untick the Show Quick Launch square. To remove icons to the right there are two options. First in Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Window, click customise. From there you can control active icons by setting them to one of three options. Always Show, Always Hide or just Hide when Inactive. To stop the right hand side icons appearing completely on start up, then you you will have to uncheck the appropriate programs associated with the icons so the programs don't turn on at start up. To do this go to Start/Run/ then type in msconfig, click OK, the System Configuration Utility Window will open. Top farthest right tab is Start Up, click this and then just untick the programs you don't want their icons on your taskbar. Remember also that when you open a program quite often the icon will then appear in the taskbar. If it doesn't dissapear after closing the program, just right click the icon in the taskbar and select Exit or Close. Hope this helps, Eamon.

Hi Spaceboyz87, revealing hidden folders does not reveal ALL hidden folders and files, also if your machine is an OEM (pre-installed) a fair portion of your hard drive is partitioned and unaccessable. Unless you are one of the more knowledgeable IT 'Geeks' (no offence meant). Out of my league anyway. But it still seems quite a large portion of your hard drive is unnacounted for. Try running a Check Disk/Scan Disk via properties/tools and then defrag the drive. You could also do a Disk Clean Up via properties. Hopefully increasing free space. Hope I have been of some help,
Eamonn.

Thanks for that, would it help if i were to post a HJT logfile?

Hi Rebscott, it may be that AOL connectivity is your problem. I was with AOL until recently and was having the same problem, except I used internet explorer as as my browser. I kept getting a warning icon in my task bar informing me I have limited or no connectivety. AOL told me to download their 'SP2 Connectivity Patch' to resolve this problem. After downloading it I still had connection problems wether I used IE, MSN or even AOL's browser. The connectivity warning icon did stop showing in my taskbar. So I checked my LAN connection via the control panel and found that the SP2 connectivity patch did not resolve the problem, but hid it by removing the ticks out of the boxes that tell you your connection is faulty. Next time you manage to get online with AOL you can check your connection speed, in the blue AOL window that opens up when you 1st get connected, go to the far right of the menu bar, click 'help' then in the drop down menu that opens click the bottom option 'About AOL', a window will open but this window is irrelevant as speed is concerned. But when this window is open, press the 'control' and then the 'y' keys. Your connection speed will then appear as 6 or 7 digits. I was paying for 2Mbps but found I was only getting speeds of 2 to …

Yeah I really read your advice, but I tried to boot it in safe mode serveral times already before :mrgreen: ....but all what appears then is a black screen with the message that my pc is currently in safe mode....not even my wallpaper.... I don't know what to do anymore, so I'm gonna look for a cd which can clean my whole pc so I can start over again....anyone knows a good program for that?

When you boot in safe mode, you wont see your wallpaper, I did explain this, but if you read again you can still access as normal the 'Run' utility, it's just that you've got a black background. Remember safe mode only loads essentials at start up, wallpaper does not fit into this category. Until you sort yor current problem out, how are you going to use a CD ? If there is 1 on the market. Once in safe mode you can delete all the rubbish you have on the hard drive. There are are a lot of copycat programs out there, that look like proper applications but are actually malware. Anything that begins with Win like Winfixer, Winregistry etc also 1 I come across a lot is a prog called Messenger Plus, it even has a logo that looks like the MSM butterfly, but they are nothing but spyware progs that are difficult to get rid off.
Eamonn.

It would be nice if I saw anything of icons at the beginning of this topic already, but there isn't anything than my wallpaper :sad:

I have already suggested this, so just pasted it, some, not all icons will appear after booting in safe mode.
Hi Tnx, next time you turn on your PC, as soon as you boot up, press the F8 button on your keyboard repeatedly. Do not hold down as it will register an error. You should then be given options for booting, pick boot in Safe Mode, this should load only the applications needed just to boot. After it has booted, you should see no desktop wallpaper, just a few icons on your desktop set as a dark background. Now go Start/Run, type in 'msconfig' and press Enter. This will bring up the System Utility Configuration. At the top far right, click the tab Start Up ( do not change any other settings in this configuration except Start Up). In the start up window, is a list of applications. If too many are ticked and your RAM is too low, your PC can't load everything so gets as far as desktop and hasn't any RAM left to load anything else. Just untick any non-microsoft applications, Office is OK to untick. And if you see any of your personal ISP applications, don't untick them either. Then click OK. Then click 'exit and restart now' . On restart, you may be offered the boot up choice again, …

i recently installed nero on my computer to so i could start burning things to my blank cds. i bought some sony cd 700mb blank cds and thoughs worked fine. Now im trying to put our vacation movie but i need 3.7 gig space so i bought 4.7 gig dvd-r sony blank cds. It wont reconize that the cd is there? should i get new burning software or what is my problem?

Hi Koolfirebird, try using a DVD+R/W disk.
Eamonn.

I tried something nice now :rolleyes:

Since system recovery wasn't possible I tried to overwrite windows. Everything seemed to go pretty well [U]untill[/U] the setup from my new windows tried to start. The computer started itself up in safe mode in wich it isn't possible to run the setup. After pressing F8 at restart and selecting normal start mode it wouldn't work at all. The stupid thing kept starting itself up in safe mode....Is there any other way to force this thing to start up normally or something else I should do because I'm getting pretty mad on that thing.

Tnx :mrgreen:

Hi Tnx, try what I suggested in my last post. You said you don't want to overcomplicate things, why are you trying to overwrite windows? Read my last post, if you think you have enough RAM already, remember RAM does somtimes fail, or loosens from it's slot. Start in safe mode, Right Click on 'My Computer' icon, click properties, this will tell you how much RAM is avaliable to your PC. Also putting all this effort into accessing Sytem Restore, is wasted as system restore does not always do what it says and fails. Again refer to my last post.
Eamonn.

To all you brave people who maybe are going to try and help me fix my problem.

After some cleaning work I done on my computer I mentioned that I accidently removed the sound operating system. (or whatever you would like to call it). To get it back I tried to reload a storage point from my system from 3 days ago. But after I did this and restarted my computer Ony the background (wallpaper appeard without any icons or a start menu. The only thing that still worked was the control pannel when you push ctrl+alt+del. I tried to start up explorer manual by giving my control pannel pannel a new task by typing explorer.exe

But this won't work...I tried all kind of things but I can't get my icons and bars back :sad:

Anyone has an possible solotion...And if you have...please try to write it on normal people language...I'm not that much into computers like most of you maybe are :cheesy:

Tnx already ;)

Hi Tnx, next time you turn on your PC, as soon as you boot up, press the F8 button on your keyboard repeatedly. Do not hold down as it will register an error. You should then be given options for booting, pick boot in Safe Mode, this should load only the applications needed just to boot. After it has booted, you should see no desktop wallpaper, just a few icons on your desktop set as a dark background. Now go Start/Run, type in 'msconfig' …

Thanx for your suggestion, it is already partioned. I did delete the partition, but then it didnt show up in disk management???? So I could not do anything to something I can't see. Eamonn.

Hi Klnsjo, your reply was the correct solution after all. For some reason after deleting the partition, disk management showed as 'disk view'. So I deleteted the partition again, changed the view to 'graphical' and from then on creating a partition was so easy to do using wizard. I am sorry for misleading you with my first reply, but again your solution was perfect and so easy. Thanx for your advice.
Eamonn.

Sounds like the drive is already partitioned. In computer management under layout of this disk does it say "partition"? If so it is already partitioned you will need to delete it so then it will be unallocated then you should be able to create the partition of your dreams. If this still fails your hard disk could be knackered. Download seatools and test it.

Thanx for your suggestion, it is already partioned. I did delete the partition, but then it didnt show up in disk management???? So I could not do anything to something I can't see. Eamonn.

Hi I have a 40GB hard drive set up as a spare HDD master on my secondary IDE. All I want to do is set aside an active partition of just 1GB on this drive. I have tried to do it following the help menu by using 'disk management' and also by the command prompt. So far following the 'help menu' instructions, the disk management method just does not have the options it tells me to follow. The DOS commands, 3 methods, all failed as well. Could anyone teach me how to partition just using WXP functions please. I don't really want to buy a Partition Manager Application just to partition one HDD. The drive in question is already formated NTFS. Thanx, Eamonn.

I'm in the process of trying to delete the yahoo program. Can't find it in the add/remove program. How do I find it?:?:

If you cant find Yahoo in Add/Remove, try looking for it in Start/Programs. There may be an uninstall option there. If not just do a search, click all files and folders, type yahoo in both spaces, make sure C: is in the 'look in' space, click 'more advanced options', then tick ONLY the top 3 options and search. Then delete from the search window. If its a Yahoo folder you may have to double click it to reveal the internal files before you can delete the folder, delete these and then work backwards deleting as you go until you end up at the original search window. Then delete the folder, most times the folder will still be visible. But after you have deleted everything, close the search, empty the re-cycle bin and repeat. This time the folders that seemed to not get deleted wont be found. Yahoo must not be running for you to do this. Hope this helps. Eamonn.

There is no start menu or no desktop icons when i start up my computer regularly and the same when I start up in Safe Mode. I can control alt delete and access programs. Also when i type Explorer in run I can see the start menu flash. Thanks in advance for any help.

I agree Spyware/Malware may cause this, but I have seen this problem resolved by just doubling your RAM. As you use more and more applications, and updates etc, your PC may not have enough Ram to boot and load all the startup progs. You could also turn off all unnecassary progs in Start Up, see if that helps. Eamonn.

The only way to retrieve not only your work files but anything else you have in in windows explorer, is to physically remove your hard drive and set it up on another PC as a secondary master storage hard drive. Most BIOS types will do this automatically. Then just copy the files from your old HDD to the primary system HDD. Make sure the Bios recognises the new drive. Turn on the PC, open my computer and your old drive will be called, new volume or local disk E:, F: etc, open this drive, open 'Documents and Settings", open the folder with your Login name on, then open 'My Documents' and copy to the local disk C:. Do not copy them into C;'s 'My Documents' as folders such as my music etc ( even if they have been renamed Freds Music) as Freds music will be replaced by you my music folder. Just Create a new folder on C: and save in this. Can't help with your lost Windows CD sorry, but they are only about £180 !!!! for a new one. Hope this helps, Eamonn.

Many thanks for your prompt response. Cannot operate mscconfig - get message windows cannot find ! Downloaded as you suggested Trend Micro chillin - ran full scan - nothing found. Any further suggestions would be appreciated.

try 'msconfig' not 'mscconfig' . Viruses are not the only malware that play with default settings, some spyware can do that pretty good as well, get Ad-Aware of www.download.com it's free, then scan for spyware. If that is not working then, along with all your other problems, save what you can and re-install from scratch, if you have an OEM machine save and revert back to factory settings.
Eamonn.

I have a Dell laptop, that someone removed the HDD and dropped it. The laptop doesn't boot. So I rigged it up to my PC and unsuprisingly found that it had passed on. I replaced and upgraded the new HDD installed Windows on it with my regular PC, but although BIOS/CMOS recognised the new HDD the laptop will not boot from it. There are no I/O drives or a docking station. The BIOS on the laptop is Revision BIOS A09, what information I got when I googled it was not good, it seems A09 can't accept upgrades, and will only accept new hardware if it's like for like. The old HDD is an IBM Travelstar 20GB, the new one is a Samsung 40GB. Could the fact I installed windows on it using my PC may be the problem, or is it as I fear I need an identical replacement. Thirdly if there is a laptop wizard out there can I still get it up and running with what I've got, can you please help, thanx
Eamonn.
PS paid £50 for the new HDD 'ouch'

I would appreciate any help with the following problems : Cannot open system restore - tried safe mode %systemsroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe - Cannot access or delete emails in messenger. Cannot access defrag ! Here is my HJT logfile :-Logfile of HijackThis Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1Scan saved at 19:37:07, on 06/02/2006Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)Running processes:C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exeC:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\winlogon.exeC:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exeC:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exeC:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exeC:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exeC:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exeC:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXEC:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exeC:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeper.exeC:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\YahooMessenger.exeC:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exeC:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exeC:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exeC:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exeC:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgemc.exeC:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\KodakCCS.exeC:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exeC:\Program Files\KODAK\KODAK Picture Transfer Software\PTSsvc.exeC:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exeC:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\WRSSSDK.exeC:\Program Files\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\MSN6.EXEC:\PROGRA~1\INCRED~1\bin\IMApp.exeC:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exeC:\Program Files\WinRAR\WinRAR.exeC:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exeC:\Program Files\WinRAR\WinRAR.exeC:\DOCUME~1\CHRISB~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\Rar$EX11.3508\HijackThis.exeR1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartupO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SpySweeper] "C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeper.exe" /startintrayO4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\msnmsgr.exe" /backgroundO4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Yahoo! Pager] "C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\YahooMessenger.exe" -quietO17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{FB32859E-54AA-4149-ADB9-18980BA42FC0}: NameServer = 80.225.252.178 80.225.252.186O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dllO20 - Winlogon Notify: WRNotifier - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WRLogonNTF.dllO21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dllO23 - Service: avast! iAVS4 Control Service (aswUpdSv) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exeO23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exeO23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe" /service (file missing)O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe" /service (file missing)O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exeO23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exeO23 - Service: AVG E-mail Scanner (AVGEMS) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgemc.exeO23 - Service: Kaspersky Internet Security 6.0 (AVP) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - (no file)O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - …

trying to uninstall yahoo messenger get message cannot open install log file can anyone help

Some programs won't uninstall if running, go to start/run type in 'msconfig' this will open the System Configuration Utility, click oh the last tab 'start up' and just untick Yahoo Messenger, click apply. I always repeat this process, 1 to check & 2 you can click on OK this time. So next time you turn on your PC Yahoo wont start, and should be easy to remove. Remove from control panel, add or remove , but this doesnt delete all the yahoo messenger folders/files on your pc. Although yahooo messenger wont be a problem, if I delete something I do a search, ie 'yahoo messenger' and delete whats left through the search result window, can be legnthy. Hope this helps.
Eamonn.

Hi Gemini4, thanx for your suggestion. I will try it out and think it will work. Always the easy solutions are the best and am kicking myself for not thinking of it myself.
Eamonn.

Hi, to change where the taskbar is located simply click it and hold. Then drag it to the bottom of the screen. To change the size, right click it and make sure Lock taskbar does not have a check by it. Then but your mouse on the top of the taskbar, and drag down. Let me know if that does it.

Thankyou Tayspen, I have already tried your idea and all I can manage is either doubling the size yet again, or reducing it so that the taskbar isn't visible on screen.
Eamonn.

Can anyone help please, a friend of mine has somehow managed to double the height of his taskbar, also date and time are permanently displayed. I tried for hours trying to revert the taskbar to it's original size, I can drag it up to 4 times original size, or down so that it's not seen. My friend also managed to move the task bar so that it ran vertically on the right hand side of the monitor, I resolved this just by using System Restore as he told me straight away. This time he was too apprehensive to ask me as he doubled the height the very next day, and left it 3 weeks to tell me, so System Restore wont go back that far, I tried. It would help if he new how he moved it in the first place, but he tells me he hasn't a clue!
Any suggestions to restore to original size would be gratefully accepted. Thanx,
Eamonn.

Thankyou again DMS, I have a installation disc for XP Home, my product key on it. The PC in question is a friends. Her PC is the OEM and its FAT, she wants it permenantly NTFS to enable her son to play his games. I am looking ahead in case of problems, I've already reset to factory standards and re-installed applications, made it safe etc once before, because she doesnt seem to understand about running spyware,adware AV regularly. So I am anticipating her coming round to me asking to put it right again. This is where my knowledge is lacking, I can convert to NTFS no problem, but I dont know what happens to the OEM files, do they convert, stay FAT or are partioned anyway??????? Thanx again,
Eamonn.

Thankyou DMR, the files are on the same hard drive, but unless the drive creates its own partition (unlikely) after installation of OEM files, no partition. Still would like some feedback of just deleting the hard drive, re-installing with an XP Home disc, but instead of using product key of the disc use the OEM product key, would that work ?
thanx Eamon

Thankyou Kaosreigns the conversion seems straightforward, but this is an OEM PC, no installation disc, what happens to the installation (hidden files) on the hard drive, ie if the PC needs to be reset to factory standards again, will the files still be avaliable to enable this, will they be lost in the conversion, stay as FAT or also be converted to NTFS? The lady in question would like the PC to remain NTFS so converting back to FAT is not a problem.

Partition Magic seems to be able to do that.

What is 'partition magic' ????

Partition Magic seems to be able to do that.

Thankyou for your indepth reply, I don't even know what 'partition magic' is????

A friend of mine has an OEM machine with XP Home installed, but the file sytem is FAT. Her son finds that a lot of his games wont work on FAT system. Can I convert to NTFS, but also without corrupting the installation files in case at a future date if her PC goes wrong, the PC can be reset to factory condition. Will the original files stay FAT or convert to NTFS on conversion. I have thought of one possible solution but don't know if it will work, by formatting the hard drive and re-installing from another XP Home disc but using the original OEM product key ???????? The PC is a TIME product and I can't seem to get any information of them as the company appears to have gone bust. Any helpful suggestions or pointers will be much appreciated. Thanx
Eamon

To Thong Ispector, Ive mailed the guy who built my PC 3 times before i got an answer, when i did all he said was check the PSU voltages after switch on, wich i did, powered up, fan span, shut down, as usual. I then removed the ATX power connecter and measured the voltage on all 20 pins, pin4 @ 3V (soft power), pin19 @ 5V (for soft logic), all other pins are 0V. Ive now mailed him 3 times again with these results, they mean nothing to me except that for some reason all other voltage Potentials were at 0V, still waiting for a reply. This is the guy when i was having probs, crashing, internet cut off,BIOS errors, low CMOS battery, sys clock kept ressetting to May 2003 etc, mailed me and said my PC is not doing anything it shouldn't !!!! .The CMOS battery was fine by the way. As he hand built it for cheap Ive got no legal recourse here. But how do you test the ATK 20 pin plug unless the whole system is powered up ?
thanx again Eamonn.

To Thong Ispector, put the grese on like you said, guess what? no difference ! i even stripped it down completely using the manual, instruction by instruction, put it all back, added just a smoll drop of grease, again the same. You say in last post about powering on with heatsink off, tried that, same, but the fans deffinetly rotated for less time ? i always wear an earthing strap while working, the only time the CPU was handled unprotected was when the guy in the shop swapped the CPU from 1 MB to another, could there be a problem there?
thanx again Eamonn.

To Thong Ispector, yes my fan has 3 wires and i will get some thermal grease
and give it a go.The only thing that is bothering me is the voltage applied when i power on is in milli seconds rather than seconds, is that enough for it to heat up? i will get back to you after i have used the thermal grease wether it's successfull or not.thanx again Eamonn.
ps do i just put some grease on the copper plate covering the chip or smear the whole CPU?

Hi Thong Ispector, yes my CPU fan is on the MB CPU fan slot,not sys fan or from PSU.
I have a socketA Duron, but i dont know what "2100+" means. On the CPU is a black label with the following written on it :
AMD Duron
DHD16000L T839285842438
MIUMB 04055 1999 AMD : there is also a number in gold letters :27648 .Also on the bar code written in pen is :1.6D . i know the speed is is 2.1GHz via control panel/system/general,when it was working but have no documentation regarding the CPU, hope i haven't confused you, yes the power is instantanious and the HDD LED lights up for a fraction of a second. as for thermal grease i haven't used any, but when i removed the CPU it was as dry as a bone, so i dont know if any was used in the 1st place, could it evapourate after a year ? what there is, is a small triangular copper plate affixed to the chip by a pink rubbery substance. I know thermal grease is recomended, but how does the CPU know its been greased as it on too short a time to get hot? I have since checked power switch and thats OK. Still baffled but i appreciate your help and advice, ta again Eamonn.
ps the AGP is onboard in a SiS chip.

to Thong Ispector, hi again its Eamonn(typing this myself), sorry no
contact over the last week but someone nicked my sisters username and
password, somehow stopped her getting on line for than a couple of
mins or so,sorted now, anyway ive now got a jetway 830CNULTRA MB,
downloaded the manual and have put every connector according to the
manual, but when i press power the CPU fan comes on for a fraction of
a second ,then nothing ! this is the 2nd board that this has happened to so it must be me doing something wrong, the CPU fan connnector is not on sys fan, also there is an AGP port, but i cant see any AGP chip on board and no graphic card, totally at a loss at what to do next,been like this for 4 days now, any advice again please.
my CPU is 2.1 GHz ,there are only 3 jumpers on the MB, CMOS, keyboard
power on, and the third is something to do with clock speed and
bandwidth, the 1st 2 jumpers are easy to put in right but i couldnt
follow instructions for 3rd. ta again Eamonn.

Thong Ispector ive pasted web address for the motherboard :
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1043672&CatId=179 : (ITEM #: C460-1022) it is the link you sent me, the specs on my MB are : Mercury mainboard, KOB 740 FDMx, SiS 740 Chipset,Socket 462 Pin Support 266Mhz AMD Athlon XP/Athlon/Duron Processor : 2 x 184 Pin DDR : On Board 2D/3D Graphic Engine : On Board AC97 Audio : 4X AGP Slot On Board : On Board 10/100Mps LAN : Micro ATX Form Factor : 266Mhz FSB : DDR : USB 2.0 : External 4X AGP : On Board Sound : On Board VGA : LAN 10/100Mps : Micro ATX : Designed for AMD Athlon XP/Athlon/Duron Processor with SiS Chipset: these are the EXACT words on my manual cover with www.kobian.com on the back. ive recieved no reply from tiger yet concerning shipping costs. But yesterday my sisters husband Mark was just walking near downtown and saw a tiny PC repair shop, so he thought well you never no,and they have 1 micro ATX for sale at £12, but it is SDRAM, apparently the repair man said he would swap my DDR 2 x 128 with his SDDR 2 X 128 chips, and just charge for th MB, mark is taking the MB & accessories to him tomorrow to see if we can do a deal if his MB will work in mine, let you know what happens. As for my specs there is no on board sound, i had to load …

thanx again thong ispector found exactly what i need $34, about £25, just about the price i am looking at, my devices are USB2.0 only asked because all other microATX seem to have USB 1.1, just wondered if 2.0 would work on 1.1. just waiting for shipping costs reply, shouldnt be much for something so small!!!! hopefully soon i will be building my 1st pc,only started using them about 1 year ago.
ta again Eamonn.

to thongispector, i went on the sites you recommended and E-bay in the UK, i found some cheap motherboards but they were either socket7, mine is socketA, or they had sddram slots, the ram chips in my pc just say ddr on them, will they work in sddr slots? also is there a difference between USB1.1 & USB 2.0? thanx again
Eamonn.

thanks again thong ispector, does look like i need a new motherboard and someone to install for me, it's a micro ATX with SiS chipset & Athlon duron CPU, when i had it built i figured the non beep was a new system,a bit niaive, looks like ive been had over,also the lad that built it is more than capable of repair but since i paid him up he just doesnt want to know.i guess you are American "$50", i'm English so 1st got to find replacement ,dont know how many ££££ it will cost, then install, i can install drives but i think thats my limit, then find someone to put it in for me, more £££££'s.thanks again
Eamonn.

thanks catweazle, loved your show when i was a boy(electrickery), but i guess your right i need someone knowledgeable to repair, i can install drives but i think thats my limit, the lad i paid to build the pc for me could do it but since i finnished paying him off,he doesnt respond.thanks for your input i will gladly listen to any advice.
Eamonn.

hi Thong Ispector, no internal speakers, in fact it had no sound at all until i installed audio driver from instalation CD, so external speakers only. i dont know what the BIOS chip looks like, but after a good look at the board the only removable chips appear to be the CPU and mem modules, this was a handbuilt machine as i could not afford a new one as i'm on sickness benefits and virtually houseboud so you can see how much i need to get it going, its my window to the outside world.my sister is typing these on her PC until i get mine sorted, she's just typing what i telll her,thanks again Eamonn.

thanks Thong Inspector, it dont look to good if that is the case, i did save old BIOS settings on to a floppy, is there anyway i can put them back without spending lots of cash i haven't got?
EAMONN.

Just a long shot Eamonn,
but I was having BIOS problems, machine not booting up, incorrect beep codes, BIOS errors etc .. As a last resort I decided tp replace the button battery on the mortherboard, and all was well!! Cured with a £1-99 battery from Maplins. Might be worth a try, good luck

thankyou Tokyo prince but my pc is a non beep error machine, it "was" a visual error message pc, it did say my CMOS battery was low a few times, but i put a new one in and measured voltage on the original battery it was fine. thanks agian anyway.