The Official Computer Tech Support Thread

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Originally Posted by stp

Probably because he didn't know more. A lot of primary tech support seems lost if they step outside the standard FAQ walkthroughs.

Exactly and I imagine they get a lot of really angry/non-computer-literate people calling up too.

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

Do you have a usb drive? While at work you download it and put it on that, then when you go home install it from the drive. I keep a folder full of the drivers for all my laptop's hardware so whenever I have to reformat (which is semi frequent), they're all in one place and I can immediately begin to install them.

Yes I do, very good point. I will write down what the computer type is and any infomation I need in order to get the right drivers if I don't have them. Then when I arrive at work I can then obtain these drivers.

Thanks Pete. xx

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Computer malfunctions can be from any number of things. I can't say with any certainty without physically checking it myself or knowing absolutely everything you've done with it. But certain things do help to point to likely causes. If it worked before, but suddenly stopped working, it's still either a hardware or a software problem. You have to figure out what you did from the point where it worked until the point where it didn't.

Obviously, you can go overboard and wipe the whole computer and reinstall everything to determine whether it's a software issue or not. If it is, you'll probably fix it. You just won't know what caused it and might do it again. The reason that's suggested so often is because it's usually quicker and easier than actually tracking down the problem, but it comes at the cost of starting from scratch. Fortunately you would be able to back up any pertinent data prior to doing this.

Another option is to use your last known good configuration, or reverting to a previous restore point. This is less drastic than a complete wipe, but there's no guarantee that it will solve the issue.

Ultimately, you can decide to do the detective work and try to figure out what changed, or you can just go back to a working restore point, or if that fails, revert back to the factory image and have to reinstall all the software you've installed since you had the PC. If I were you, I'd do the less-drastic stuff first. I just have limited information, so I can't recommend anything beyond that, besides just telling you to make sure that the computer is, indeed, seeing the camera (Device Manager), and whether the most recent drivers are installed or reinstalled. Apart from that, you can start uninstalling other 3rd party software that you've installed since the time it was working to now, and see if any of them were conflicting.

Just do the least-drastic/crazy stuff first.

Babies, I want to make.

Okay I will have a look at the driver, see if I need to install one etc. I will also go through any software I've installed and see if I can afford to get rid of it.

I'll update you later in the week if I've managed to fix it! Thank you FB.

[Trollheart]

Assuming you have a Windows and not Mac OS, if you see the device in Device Manager but there's a yellow exclamation mark beside it, like the one to the very left of this image

that means there's something stopping it from working, that it';s conflicting with another device on your computer. So it may show but not be accessible, as it were. Just a point in case you do see it and don't know what it means...

[darryl dayton]

I recently purchased an RCA MP3+ and have done the download for it as well as the frostwire download per suggestion from others.
I am 62 years old with limited computer skills (self taught) and can not figure out how to search for the old rock and roll music I want to download to my MP3 on the frostwire site.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks,
Darryl

[LoathsomePete]

Honestly I don't think anyone here uses Frostwire for downloads so your inquiry might yield better results here

FrostWire Community Forums • View forum - FrostWire Desktop Technical Support

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Assuming you have a Windows and not Mac OS, if you see the device in Device Manager but there's a yellow exclamation mark beside it, like the one to the very left of this image

that means there's something stopping it from working, that it';s conflicting with another device on your computer. So it may show but not be accessible, as it were. Just a point in case you do see it and don't know what it means...

I'm using Windows 8, 64 bit. I can't see the camera in the device manager, does anyone have any idea what cameras tend to be called in the device manager? Or what part of the components it's part of?

[djchameleon]

Originally Posted by Vanilla

I'm using Windows 8, 64 bit. I can't see the camera in the device manager, does anyone have any idea what cameras tend to be called in the device manager? Or what part of the components it's part of?

Check under imaging devices.

[Burning Down]

Originally Posted by Vanilla

I'm using Windows 8, 64 bit. I can't see the camera in the device manager, does anyone have any idea what cameras tend to be called in the device manager? Or what part of the components it's part of?

It should be under "Imaging Devices".

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Originally Posted by Burning Down

It should be under "Imaging Devices".

But will it actually have camera in the name or webcam?

[Burning Down]

Originally Posted by Vanilla

But will it actually have camera in the name or webcam?

Mine says "1.3M HD Webcam"

Depends on the brand of webcam they've put in there. Take a look.

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Originally Posted by Burning Down

Mine says "1.3M HD Webcam"

Depends on the brand of webcam they've put in there. Take a look.

Okay I did look thoroughly and didn't see anything so perhaps a driver is what I need. But I'll check when I get home.