47 replies to this topic

[paws]

Hi, until Doug gets back:
1 what happened after you tried this? ie does your machine now accept the ActiveX control?

and verify that all Active X add-ons from PC Pitstop are enabled. "
Huh? I will try that later.

2 Before posting back, please take a look at Device Manager (Start>Right Click My Computer>Properties>Hardware>DeviceManager and find the line "Sound Video and...." are there any Yellow or Red marks visible ( a Yellow ? or ! or a Red X for example....
Post back with the answers to 1 and 2 above and one of us will get back to you with some further steps you may need to take.
Regards
paws

[kapusta]

For now, #2: All 7 subcategories do NOT have the yellow or red marks described. They have grey speaker symbols next to them. OK, next #1.

[kapusta]

"If you are using IE6 or IE7 and are continuing to experience a loop when trying to load the PC Pitstop utility, go to: Tools | Manage Add-ons | Add-ons currently loaded in Internet Explorer and also | Add-ons that have been used by Internet Explorer and verify that all Active X add-ons from PC Pitstop are enabled. " I don't know how to verify that all Active X add-ons from.... I have tried to add IE twice since this started. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Last attempt was IE 8. I think the first time was IE 6 or 7. Should an icon show up in my Start list? IE was on my laptop when I got it, but I use Mozilla Firefox, so after a long time I wanted to free up some space and probably went to Add/Remove and got rid of it.

[kapusta]

Tools Options "Main" tab Lower righthand corner, click "Manage Add-ons" I get a window: “Add-ons” It’s on the Extensions tab. The only thing showing is “IE Tab 1.5.20090525 Enables you to use the embedded IE engine within Mozilla/Firefox” Options Disable Uninstall Find Updates The Plugins tab has Adobe Acrobat IE Tab Java MeadCo’s Neptune Mozilla Default QuickTime Shockwave Flash Silverlight Windows Genuine Advantage The Get Add-ons tab has Recommended CoolPreviews Read It Later ReminderFox Tab Mix Plus Tab Scope Browse All Add-ons opens a Firefox only tab And See All Recommended Add-ons opens a Firefox only tab And then there’s a Themes tab

[paws]

Hi kapusta,
Ok
You may want to print this out and work through it, ticking off each item as you do it.

1 Please click on start>Control Panel>and click on Sounds and Audio (This will take you Sounds and Audio Devices Properties)
2 Click on the tab "Volume" (you may be already there so don't worry if nothing changes)
3 make sure there is no tick in the Mute box and that there is a tick in the show icon on desktop box
4 make sure that the device volume slider bar is positioned at the extreme right of the scale
5 Click on Advanced
6 A new box will open labelled Volume Control
7 Make sure that none of the mute boxes have a tick in them and that all of the volume sliders vertical scales are at least 25% up the scale (it doesn't matter if some are higher)
8 in the bottom left corner of the Volume Control Box you may see the name of the device that your machine uses.... for example C-Media Wave Device..... can you let me know in your next post what appears on your machine or if there is nothing shown..thanks.
9 please now close the Volume Control Box (by clicking on X in the top right corner of the box,) so you come back to the previous box labelled Sounds and Audio Devices Properties.
10 Please click on Speaker Volume and make sure that both sliders are set to the extreme right of the scale and then click OK
11 Please now click on Advanced (just to the right of the Speaker Volume) and make sure that both sliders are set to the extreme right of the scale, and then under speaker set up use the scroll arrow to select the set up for your particular computer and then click on the Performance tab (at the the top) and yes you have guessed it, set the sliders to the extreme right of the scale
12 Click on OK
13 Next please click on the tab at the top ...labelled Sounds

14 Before we look at any more software settings, please have a look at your machine to ensure that your speakers are plugged in, powered up and that the volume is set to at least 25% or so..or if your machine is a laptop (I suspect it is) then ensure that any external sound switch or volume control is "on" and set to 50% or so.....if it's a volume control wheel that's fitted on your machine first turn the wheel fully anti-clockwise, and then immediately fully clockwise, now estimate where the middle is, and set it to that. If you have a laptop and there are keyboard controls or hard buttons to mute your computer or alter the sound volume by various key combinations or button presses then ensure sound is not muted and that volume is set to at least half of the available range.......if you are unsure on how to use the keyboard or buttons to alter the sound settings, read up on it in your owners manual/handbook........if you are in trouble on this (can't find manual etc for example then post back with the exact make model number of your computer and I will advise the steps needed.

15 Back to the software settings......under sound schemes use the scroll arrow to set Windows default (if you get a warning message about saving etc...) click on NO
16 Under programs events click (to highlight) asterisk
17 Click on the small right facing arrow (immediately to the left of the Browse box)
18 let me know if you hear a sound ( a short "ding ping" sound)
19 next Click on the tab labelled Audio (along the top of the box)
20 There should be entries in each of the 3 white boxes giving details of the audio devices fitted, please carefully copy down the name and post back to me with the details..thanks
21 next clear the box that is labelled use only default... so there is no tick in it
22 Click on OK and the box should close
21 post back with the information that I asked for and if any sound has been produced so far
Regards
paws
ps when I say put a "tick" in a particular box this may sometimes be better understood as a "checkmark"

Edited by paws, 24 December 2009 - 11:41 AM.

[kapusta]

I remember doing this already. OK. There is no tick on Mute. There is no tick on Place volume icon….. When I try to tick the second one I get an error window: “Windows cannot display the volume control on the taskbar because the Volume Control program has not been installed. To install it, use Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel." OK. But I don’t know how to do that. I know Add/Remove, but I have only used it to Remove.

[kapusta]

"Sigma Tel Audio"

[paws]

Hi kapusta,
Ok, have a look here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319095
and follow the directions.
if you find that you do not have the correct disc to copy the file from:
sndvol32.exe
then have a look here:
http://forums.whatth...ING_t87025.html
and follow the link provided by tallin....in the linked topic you will find a direct download link for sndvol32.exe

When you have followed these steps and the file is correctly installed then resume the steps 1 to 21 and let us know if any problems arise and if so what happens at each of the steps 1 through 21.
Regards
paws

[kapusta]

At least after I downloaded, etc, sndvol32.exe, I was able to put a tick in "place volume icon in the task bar" without getting an error message. "name of the device that your machine uses.... for example C-Media Wave Device....." "Sigma Tel Audio" "18 let me know if you hear a sound ( a short "ding ping" sound)" I did not hear anything. All volume controls are on max. I saw the little arrow, I clicked on it, the arrow turned to a square temporarily, then back to an arrow. Sound playback -Sigma Tel Audio Sound Recording -Sigma Tel Audio MIDI music playback -Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth "21 next clear the box that is labelled use only default... so there is no tick in it" There was no tick in it to begin with. - - - - - - - - Don’t "apply" anything? Thanks- we're making strides. Now there is a volume icon in the lower righthand part of my screen. When I selected it, as I figured, it was already at max.

[paws]

Hi kapusta
Firstly
Happy Christmas
secondly I have responded in your topic http://forums.whatth...679#entry619679
Now back to the sound issue
Well done on getting your volume control back.....we are making progress
Next we will need to check that the correct drivers are installed for your machine, but before we do that I need you to run the Windows Protected System File checker.....here's how:

1 Click on start
2 Click on run
3 type in the white box
sfc /scannow
4 Click OK (Note the space between the "c" and the "/" is needed)
5 the scan will start and a progress bar will appear.......the SFC will check that all Windows Protected System Files are present and correct and in the right place......if it finds problems (missing or damaged files etc) it will automatically try to copy the correct and undamaged files from elsewhere on your computer to their correct location. If it cannot find undamaged files that it needs to assist the repair it will ask you to insert your Windows XP MCE installation disc, do so and click OK..... it will then copy the file automatically from the Windows disc to your dll cache. as soon as you click OK.
Please be aware that a number of files may need to be copied and you will need to click OK for each one. The scan will take, as a general rule, only about 35 minutes (or so) and when it has finished ot will automatically close.
6 When this has finished, pleae revisit your Device Manager (Start>Right Click My Computer>Properties>Hardware>DeviceManager and find the line "Sound Video and...."( as you did before) and copy out all the items that are listed under it and let me know the details
7 When responding can you please confirm the exact make and model number of your Dell computer please ( from the label attached to the undersize together with any other numbers that are visible...... thanks...

Regards
paws

[kapusta]

"Insert your Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 CD now." I've moved 3 times since I got the laptop, so I don't know where the CDs are. I never had to use them. The XP was preinstalled. I'm pretty sure that I ordered the CDs to go along with the preinstallation. Let's hope. I will try to look for them, I don't even know if I have that here or in storage.

[kapusta]

On the first pass looking for my CDs, I can't find them. Is this something I can buy again on the internet, amazon, eBay? If so, can I buy it "used"? I have no idea. How much should I expect to pay new? How much should I expect to pay used?

[paws]

Hi, you will need the discs only if SFC finds a problem that requires a fresh copy to be placed on your computer and it cannot be found anywhere else on your machine. If you do need the disc then I can suggest 3 workarounds....... in order of ease of use, these are: 1 Borrow a disc(s) from a chum who has Windows XP MCE or Windows Pro with the same level of service pack 2 Go to Dell explain the problem you have, and see if they will sell you one! 3 Have a look here:http://forums.whatthetech.com/SFC_requesting_windows_xp_professional_service_pack3_cd_t100152.html Note if you find that you need to edit the Registry then please follow Ztruker's excellent advice in the linked topic to back up your Registry before making any changes to it...He provides a link to Erunt, which is excellent. Regards paws

[kapusta]

I did get prompted for the discs.

I don't have any chums around this weekend and the work friends at my job fall into 2 categories:
"I've heard about computers"
and
people so far past me they consider my software/hardware to be archaic and are usually unable to help me. They just buy new stuff when they have problems, instead of troubleshooting.

Dell?
I was in the chat queue for almost 20 minutes before I was transferred to the proper queue.
At this new queue I have been "You are next in queue...." for 56 minutes now.

I went to Dell's main page and could not figure out how to buy replacements.
I tried to Google "dell.com" and some search terms and could not find such a page (to buy XP MCE) on the site.
I think all they want to do is sell you the Latest software.

I followed your links. Like Talker, I only get three choices, 'Retry, Information, and Cancel'.
So I followed the link to
http://www.updatexp....cannow-sfc.html

“You will need to get your XP CD and locate the folder called: I386”
”…..now copy this onto your hard drive into the system root. For most of you that is going to be C:\ so you should end up with a folder that looks like: C:\I386”

I have already searched and found that I have C:\I385

”Now you will need to tell your computer you now have the files on your PC. We do this is the registry (type regedit in the Run box on the start menu) by navigating to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Setup”

I’m not following this one. Maybe because there is a wrong word in there.
I typed regedit into Run and it brought up Registry Editor

There are a lot of files and folders. I did not see HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE right off, so I used Search on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and got nothing.
Same for a file called SOFTWARE and only SOFTWARE.
Same for SourcePath.

So I tried these searches again using Search Hidden Files And Folders and still found nothing.

I must be misunderstanding something in his instructions.

[kapusta]

"I have already searched and found that I have C:\I385" I meant to write 386. Maybe the malware took my files.