Mrs. Muddled

Yes. That bottom picture is the only instructions that came with the Compaq Presario. I don't want to use the speakers in the screen. I was kind of surprised that was the only instruction for speakers ... I would have thought most people would want good exterior speakers and not the tinny ones that come with the flat screens. So, here I sit, everything plugged in and nothin' workin'. I've run all the tests that come on the new computer for sound problems. All to no avail. I've written to Boston Acoustics ... no answer yet.

Wow! I never thought of that ... the speakers actually not working with my new computer. How sad would that be? Why on earth would speakers not work. The sub woofer has never even been used. I had to send back my original one because of a loose wire. This one is fresh out of the box. Thanks for clearing up the RealTek issue. I guess I'm showing my abyssmal ignorance once again. This is soooo not my area of expertise! Whatever would I do without y'all? The hilarious thing is: In my circle of friends I am considered the computer expert! Can you believe it?

I have everything connected just like the pictures that come with my Boston system. When I go into the sound system to check everything ... it says everything is connected. What is confusing is this: On the Compaq Presario installation sheet it shows a speaker instruction of a green tipped jack going into the back of the computer (out) and a green tipped jack going into the back of my screen (audio in). On the Boston Acoustics sound system it shows a very different hook up path. Note: My screen is a Samsung SyncMaster 710M. Until I installed this new computer, my sound was set up to come through the (terrible) speakers in the screen. There is a thin black cord that used to go into the back of the screen and into the harddrive. I tried plugging that cord into the harddrive and I got sound ... but it was very flawed sound ... just a short noise. Check out the two pictures I am attaching if you would. You may see something very obvious that I am overlooking.

Sound system not functioning: Everything looks good. Just not working with new machine. I spotted some remarks the other day re Vista updates and a sound problem. I'll have to check into it further. I have Boston Acoustics sub woofer and two satellite speakers. All the lights are on, volume up and I can hear that the electricity is running in the speakers.. Continuing my comments re the lack of sound. I've checked everything to do with sound on the new computer. Everything says it's functioning. Yes the volume is turned up and no, I do not have it on mute. Can you tell me why my sound system is showing as Realtek High Definition Audio ... when my system is Boston Acoustics?

Right-click on the START button (the MS flag in the round globe on the task bar) and select EXPLORE. Gotcha! Hee hee ... Bob, I really did know where the start button was. Honest! As I mentioned earlier you need to manually resize your windows. Find a corner and move the mouse over it until it turns into a double ended arrow. Click hold and drag the corner in and the window shrink in size. Then click and hold the blue Title bar at the top and position it where you want it. Once you have it the size and the place you want it all the time, click the "x" in the top right corner to close the window. Windows will remember this new size and will open it that way from now on. Yep, I know that too. BUT ... the windows that I am having a bit of a problem shrinking down are not the ones that you can grab and shrink by their corners.

Bless you. I was thinking because it came with the slider at max that that was the way it was supposed to work best. You were so right about the 1024 x 768. I am VERY happy with the results. I still haven't got my picture the right size. Still too big for my 17" screen. I'll fiddle with it tomorrow. I have settled down now. I thought I'd have to take a hammer to Vista. Talk about convoluted!!! Anyhow, all is well on the home front. I've transferred all our files over and we are almost back to normal. Don't appreciate big learning curves like that. I don't know why they felt they had to change the names of everything. I still haven't found the file manager ... or whatever the heck they used to call it. Windows explorer? You guys are just so darn great. I want you to know how much I appreciate the fact that you are there. Now if I can just get some sound out of this thing so I can listen to all those how to tutorials ... and print something ... I'll be happy ... for awhile.

I went to IE text LARGEST ... I can still hardly see it. I am probably missing the forest for the trees with this ... but ... I can't give up on this Vista horror ... because I know eventually we are going to be forced to use it. So, it's inevitable. I can't believe I'm having so much trouble getting around on it!!!! When I look at the screen now much the page is off the screen so I have to scroll to see the whole thing. I'm even having to thrash around to use my mouse properly. I can't just swipe to the left corner for example. It just wants to function within a small circle. What's with that? I'm going to switch back to my old keyboard and mouse and see if that makes a difference.

Well, I finally took the bull by the horns and set up this new computer. I have three words to share with you: I'M NOT HAPPY!!! Vista!!! What on earth have Microsoft done? What did they think was wrong with Windows XP? My goodness, talk about a convoluted mess. I am finding it extremely difficult to find my way around. Never felt that way with XP. Everything was so obvious. So far I have no sound or printer, but I have managed to download a new driver for my scanner. I'm going to have to buy a new USB connection for my printer. I am having a terrible time with the size of the text. The only text I can see is what I'm typing in this box. I've set Vista to 200 dpi. The screen resolution is 1280 x 1024 Your site and every other site has such a tiny font I am unable to see it unless I put my nose on the doggoned screen. How can I get it set back the way it was in Windows XP? Nothing is ever simple, is it?

I hear you Bruce. I agree with your comments. I don't have a problem with our daughter taking it ... but I have a feeling it wont be long before she gets herself a laptop ... and then my computer goes out into the wild. That was the prospect that concerned me. I'm really not paranoid. Honest!

Yes Andy, that is exactly what I want to do. My limited knowledge tells me that it is fairly simple to undelete pretty much everything with the undelete programs on the market. I just don't want anyone to be able to 'experiment' with my computer somewhere down the road. When I think of all the information that was on old computers that I gave away years ago ... I cringe.

Hmm? From everything I'm reading regarding wiping the hard drive clean so that it can't be recovered ... the a/m method would still leave the information recoverable. It's not that there is anything all that exciting on this computer, but I don't really want my personal documents etc recoverable by whoever ultimately ends up with this hard drive. Are you familiar with the products I mentioned above? What are your thoughts on them? If you check this page you will see the opposite advice ... thus my concern. I've found the Gateway Operating System Windows XP Home Edition CD for reinstalling your operating system. Do I just put that in the CD drive and let 'er rip? Will it clear everything off the hard drive without me having to make a million decisions - and then I am assuming I would have to do a Windows Update to bring XP up to today's standard?

Hi! Well, that new Compaq Presario I bought is still sitting here in its virginal state. I have removed it from the box and I have read every piece of paper that came with it. Other than that, I'm still in my deer-caught-in-the-headlights state. You would not believe how many hours I have sat in front of this thing - preparing for the BIG move to the new computer. I have been backing up everything I can think of that my husband and I will want to have on the new machine. Even today I came up with yet another program ... Itunes. Can't forget that! The new WD Passport has it all. So, I'm going to give the computer to a family member. I have been reading all the documentation that comes along with Darik's Boot and Nuke, Eraser and Active@ KillDisk. At this point my brain hurts. During this quest I discovered Secunia PSI and spent the afternoon doing amazing things with programs that required updating. What a neat program that is! I'm impressed! I'm now wondering why I thought I needed a new computer. I want to clear out personal stuff before I give away this computer. Even with all my reading, I'm still not sure what I actually must get rid of, other than the obvious ... which CCleaner takes care of anyhow. Do I need to hit it with something as heavy as Darik's Boot and Nuke ... or ? I would like some guidance here. Guidance that I will understand. I need to know exactly which files I need to tell one of these programs to delete. I don't want the computer left in such a state that my daughter wont be able to use it.

Zac do I wait until I set up the new computer before I download that upgrade for Vista? Hey, thanks a bunch for checking that out for me.

I downloaded that program and everything appears ok ... except for my scanner. I have a Cano Scan lide 60. I'll have to find out if it will work with Vista.

$28.99!!! I just got back from Staples where I paid $66.78 for 1 GB of RAM for this new machine! What's with that? Surely prices in Canada can't be that much higher. I feel VERY ripped off!

Whew! That was encouraging news Zac. Thanks! So, what about this new computer I've got sitting here in the unopened box? Does it sound like a keeper? Shall I go buy another stick of RAM and install it right away ... before the price goes way up? It apparently has one empty slot.

So, what ARE the problems that drive you crazy with Vista? I think it's funny that your wife's problems with Vista are "little" ... cuz YOU fix them. Hilarious!!! You tell her I said she's a lucky girl to have you for a co-pilot!

Hi guys: Hmm? Never thought of that of course. I have a Canoscan lide 60 scanner and a HP Deskjet 5550. This is where I'm really going to show my abysmal ignorance. These are the only two pieces of equipment I can think of that I have that will be hooked up to the new computer. I am sitting here with THE BOX containing my new Compaq Presario PC SR5250NX Intel Pentium Dual-Core Processor E2140 Bi-processeur Intel Pentium E2140. 1024MB/Mo 320GB/Go DVD+RW Lightscribe Windows Vista Home Premium I got it for $300.00 plus change. How could I say "no?" I never thought about it not working with my scanner and printer. Sigh. Gawd, they make everything soooo complicated!!! I don't even know where to begin to find out if those two things work with bloody Vista. They are probably going to give me all sorts of information I wont understand about drivers and things of that ilk. I do not do drivers! I am dreading unhooking this computer and starting all over from scratch. I think I was smarter when I set up this one. I'm several years older now. My brain has slowed down. I'll be darned if I'm going to pay some guy at Staples $50.00 to set this thing up! I'd rather work myself into an absolute frenzy and do it myself.

I wont be buying the extra store insurance. I think I'll go back tomorrow and pay the $377.00 - 100.00. Works for me.

Bruce I would need three to maximize the RAM. If I can get a computer for 377.00 It probably makes more sense to do that than spend about $200.00 on memory. I will check around, but I don't think I'm going to find prices like you got. Even Crucial's prices would be a couple of hundred bucks.

Thanks guys. I really appreciate your comments and suggestions. I know I can usually count on you to set me straight. I will definitely make sure this compute is cleaned right out before it leaves our house. I hear from various sources that Vista is not the end all be all it was touted to be. Is there a big learning curve to Vista ... or is it fairly straight forward? I can't imagine it being that difficult. Windows XP was like falling off a log. I really like it.

I could just leave Shaw Secure (the memory hog) on the new computer (if I end up going that route). It does everything, and it does not play well with other security systems. I removed every other program of that ilk that I used to use. Now I just have to make up my mind about buying a new computer. Just the thought of loading all my "stuff" onto another computer stresses me out ... even though I love the idea of a clean slate, so to speak.

Oh my goodness! You must really think I'm a total bubble head!!! Sometimes my sense of humour gets lost on the typed page I guess. Believe me, I have spent MANY hours fretting over this. I was under the impression that the memory Crucial said I needed for my particular Gateway computer was pretty specific. Did you see my printout? I've already added one stick of RAM to my machine and cleaned it out with no tragic outcome. Re: The wrist thing. You didn't really think I would leave it plugged in did you? Say "no." I just wondered if anyone actually uses one when they open up their computer to add RAM and blow out the dust. Obviously "somebody" in-the-know must have told me the first time around that I didn't really need to wear one of those things. You know I never do anything to the computer without asking a million questions before I jump. So, off I went to Staples. Lo and behold the particular RAM I need for my somewhat aged computer is out of stock. He had one in the back and it was $119.00!!! I needed three! He laughs and says, "I can sell you a computer for about as much as it is going to cost you to add the three sticks of memory." I tell him to show me that computer. He shows me a Compac Presario SR5250 NDT @ $377.00 + $100.00 off that! He tells me that in future, always buy the extra memory for the empty slot within the first year. Makes sense now. He explained to me how the one I need is so old ... that is why it's expensive. I think it was 1 G with a second slot that I could buy for $90.00. $64.00 for the added 2 yr warranty. Manufacturer's warranty is only for the first year. So, I leave - the wind now totally out of my sails. I've come home to see what my trusty TCH forum says - before I leap into the breach. I really don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a new computer. Who does? I'm going to hit Costco and see what they have on sale. They will probably have something with all the bells and whistles - Huge monitor - t v recording ability - all that stuff mine doesn't have.

Okay! I'm on my way to Staples right now!