computer help with vista. Completed

[sirius]

Hi.

An 80 year old neighbor has just got a new laptop with Vista it will be ungraded in a couple of weeks to windows 7.
He is having trouble loading the BT homehub disk I had a look,but I have never used Vista before when he loads the disk in the drive and clicks my computer the disk is not seen, it loaded ok in his old computer thats working with xp, I am bit lost with Vista and cannot find anything I would normally look at  eg run, search ........ help please

Regards and thanks
Sirius

[marcie dean]

I am having problems with vista, I have tried to delete parental controls, because I am not a child and neither am I likely to allow any child to use this computer, as I have none.  But it has a password protection password on it which stops anyone from tampering with it.  Vista is more troublesome in my view.  My husband is looking for a code -breaker for vista to allow me to delete this part of it.  Apparently you can now get a legal copy of a downgrade to XP.  For all of you who like me are pulling your hair out.  You just have to look on the net for it apparently.  This came from a source who works with computers all the time and all sorts of electrical equipment.  He is hoping that by doing this he will be able to flatten the programme so that I can load something which works. A friend had not long bought Microsoft Windows? 7 and is trying that, am waiting for his input.
marcie

[MKG]

When you say the disk is not seen, do you mean that Vista is showing an empty drive, or do you mean that Vista can't see the drive at all? Just clicking on Computer in the pop-up menu (not My Computer - that one worried me a bit) will tell you that - is there a drive labelled CD or DVD? If you can't see the drive at all, then either there's a fault on the drive or Vista has missed it on installation for whatever reason. First things first, though - can you see that drive?

Mike

[sirius]

Yes you can see the drive, my neighbor has already loaded another disk for a printer with no problem, just need to know how to find the BT homehub disk to make it run.

Sirius

[MKG]

Well, you've already answered the next question. Okay, you can see the drive and the computer can make the drive operate, as shown by the successful use of the printer disc. So, it's not the drive at fault and it's not Vista at fault. If, on inserting the BT disk, nothing shows up in the drive (ie you continue to see the drive label but no disk description, than the fault lies with the BT disk. (Or see the last paragraph below)

It may just need a clean - a fingermark over the start point can play havoc. Or it may be scratched - it's possible to polish out mild scratching, but deep scratching is rarely repairable. It may even be cracked. If cleaning doesn't work, I'm afraid it's back to BT for a new copy.

In case you don't know, use a non-abrasive cloth for cleaning, and don't use "spiral" movements. Work from the centre of the disk radially to the circumference.

Mike

Or have I misread the situation? The Vista Autostart function is temperamental to say the least. Double clicking on the disk icon will start any auto-routines on the disk. Failing that, right click on the icon and choose "Explore".

[sirius]

Hi Mike

Thanks for info,the thing is that I said before the disk has loaded in his old computer with no problem. I had a look at the disk and could not see any damage

Sirius

[les_looking]

was there any reason for loading the disc?
the router is just plug and play, and WILL work a lot better without the bt rubbish

[sirius]

update, computer was taken back to shop as he only had it a week chap in shop said he has had to do about 15 computers with same problem working ok now.