Just joined as I seem to be having a major PC problem (probably why most people join!).
I've been running Win7 since last October without any problems, then in the last couple of weeks everything seems to be going wrong. I first noticed that the DVD drive wasn't working as it should - when I tried to import a CD into iTunes it would stop working and the DVD drive wouldn't be showing in explorer. At first I would reboot and it would appear, but now more often that not it doesn't. When it does reappear it doesn't stay long enough to import one song from a CD. It also means I can't reinstall Win7 as I don't have a working DVD drive. I have also tried an external USB DVD drive and that doesn't appear either, apart from the first time I plugged it in.
Then a couple of days ago I lost sound - the icon in the tray says that no audio device is installed. I am using the sound on the motherboard rather than a separate card. Have tried reinstalling drivers and disabling/enabling with no effect. At first that would come back on a reboot, but now it never appears.
Starting up the PC also causes problems - sometimes it's fine, others it hangs in the "Starting Windows" page and never starts, and other times it will start but takes anything up to 15 minutes.
Finally (at the moment) I always leave the power strip turned on when I turn off the PC. I have now discovered that if I turn off the power strip then turn it back on I can't even turn on the PC for around an hour.
I have spent days (and nights) trying to sort these problems without success, and would be pulling my hair out now if I had any left... Any advice welcomed.
I've been running Win7 since last October without any problems, then in the last couple of weeks everything seems to be going wrong. I first noticed that the DVD drive wasn't working as it should - when I tried to import a CD into iTunes it would stop working and the DVD drive wouldn't be showing in explorer. At first I would reboot and it would appear, but now more often that not it doesn't. When it does reappear it doesn't stay long enough to import one song from a CD. It also means I can't reinstall Win7 as I don't have a working DVD drive. I have also tried an external USB DVD drive and that doesn't appear either, apart from the first time I plugged it in.
Then a couple of days ago I lost sound - the icon in the tray says that no audio device is installed. I am using the sound on the motherboard rather than a separate card. Have tried reinstalling drivers and disabling/enabling with no effect. At first that would come back on a reboot, but now it never appears.
Starting up the PC also causes problems - sometimes it's fine, others it hangs in the "Starting Windows" page and never starts, and other times it will start but takes anything up to 15 minutes.
Finally (at the moment) I always leave the power strip turned on when I turn off the PC. I have now discovered that if I turn off the power strip then turn it back on I can't even turn on the PC for around an hour.
I have spent days (and nights) trying to sort these problems without success, and would be pulling my hair out now if I had any left... Any advice welcomed.