Any tech experts about.

Oddly enough, clock has just corrected itself to correct time and bottom line where the start/turn off button are now working again, very odd.

What operating system are you using, what do you use for anti-virus?

check how much memory you are using on task manager

if you can't find the answer to your problem through google and youtube searches(where you can be 'specific' about what your trying to resolve) you're unlikely to find it anywhere else. 

You don't have to be a tech expert to run and maintain your machine. Simply take some time to understand the basics, and once learned, you'll only ever need an actual comp technician if your laptop is well and truly fuqqed.

Where do i find task manager dave?
Think the anti virus is something named Kapersky, which runs automatically through virgin i gather.
As i say know little about computers, just go onto sites i look at and thats about it.

control ,alt ,delete
Usually works
Or stick a finger on the on- button for 10 secs


Worked for me on Sunday

Very succinctly put Pro 

What DATE is showing - next to the Clock?

If it is an OLD historic Date- that has 'mysteriously' got changed - then lots of things/Extensions etc  will not function'

If the Date is Not Today's - Then - Re-set the DATE to today's date  - and try again.

The date is todays onlooker and time was correct when i logged on, stopped showing 13:17 and that bar on bottom stopped working, couldn't even turn it off, closed laptop to turn off but light at side kept flashing, seems ok now.

Try a  system recovery/reset which should return your computer to as it was when you bought it.

There is such a malware that prevents you from closing down stew , so if others agree i'd change your passwords and run a virus full check asap if i were you.

Good luck 

"seems ok now." -

Does that mean - Working - All OK?
--------------

If so - Good - Laptop just got Locked/Froze - and you have to persist in trying to get it to totally Shut Down (and the Light go out)

Has happened with my Tablet a couple of times - when I have left it unattended for some while

Hang on - sparrow .... He does not even know where the Task Manager is...

What operating system are you using

onlooker 25 Jul 23 15:18 
Hang on - sparrow .... He does not even know where the Task Manager is...




A search in Settings will find it for him and the process is far easier these days than it used to be.

Microsoft.

right click anywhere on the taskbar.. >task manager

operating cistern yfdsc

windows 7 windows 10 windows 11 ffs

Thanks sparrow, i don't really want to do a system recovery and have to start everything again, i think and hope it just froze, seems ok now, see what happens.

stewarts - Is it working? - normallly ?

You posted - "seems ok now"

11 i think the latest one anyway, don't know the jargon rico as already said.

^ You just answered  a few seconds before my question.

im a windows 10 IT expert..unfortunately never used win 11.

Like many others - Rico ...

Until we have to absolutely do so.

Just logged out of all sites and logged off laptop normal way, side light went off, seems normal now, thanks chaps.

"What operating system are you using"

"Microsoft." (I'd bet InternetExplorer..)

"operating cistern yfdsc"

I'm on W11. Like every other change/inconvenience, you'll get used to it. And once you have, W12 will be thrust upon you..

Wasn't there something else other than microsoft, Linus or Linex or similar.
Remember when i started using a computer a browser called Netscape Navigator was the preferred option, never hear of it now.

11 is OK, I moved there directly from 7.

A lot of people will not be able to run 12 on existing hardware (because it lacks the built-in security features) so thankful 11 still has plenty of life in it.

"Back to Basics: Browser Versus Operating System" stewie's lesson for today..

"I’ve had some conversations this week during which I was trying to figure out what operating system that folks with a problem were using. When I asked, they responded with answers such as Internet Explorer, Safari, and Chrome. (This was for a phone and not a netbook, so I knew they wasn’t the right answers.) The problem with those answers is that none of those programs is an operating system; they are all browsers. Now, before you think I’m picking on senior citizens and their tech know-how, let me tell you that the age range in this sample was from seventeen to eighty.

Let’s take a look at the differences between a browser and your operating system, or OS. The OS is the software that controls your device’s basic functions, such as running programs, controlling peripherals like a keyboard, and allowing your device to understand what you want when you tap the touchscreen. Popular operating systems for PCs are Windows and Linux.

The most popular operating systems for smartphones and tablets are Android and iOS (found on iPhones and iPads). There is also a Windows Phone operating system.

Chromebook devices have an operating system called Chrome. Chromebooks are very much like a tablet in a laptop’s body.

A browser is a program that allows you to use the Internet. You turn on your device and then select an icon like the ones shown below to go online.

Now, for many folks these days, their browser may be the only app they ever open on their PC. You might go straight online to check mail and read the news or watch a video.

Popular browsers include Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari. You can’t run every browser on every operating system. You might choose to run Chrome on a Windows, Mac, or Linux operating system, but you can’t run Internet Explorer or Edge on anything but a Windows computer. Plus, Edge runs only on Windows 10.

Chrome is the most popular browser. It’s used on PCs, Macs, and mobile devices. The default browser for Mac computers is Safari.

Why does this matter? If you’re looking to add a program or a peripheral to your device, you have to know the operating system, just like when you want to buy a car part you need to know the make and model of the car. You need to know what’s making that thing run.

To check your OS on a Windows system, type computer in your search box, then right-click on the result and choose Properties(or click on system information). Your operating system will be displayed."

As rico said right click on a clear area of the task bar and task manager is third from bottom - click on it and it pops up - memory is the second column with the list of your apps and what memory they are using. If the total at the top of the column is more than 80%, there is a chance that you could end up with no free memory if something decides it wants to take up all the slack. Then everything freezes which is similar to the symptoms you described.

Thanks Dave, coming up at about 83%, how do i get it lower please?

for w10 you want 8gb ram as minimum.

have a look at what app is using the most and shut it down if you aren't using it. You can buy extra memory and install it quite easily but it probably will involve unscrewing the back of the laptop.

firefox is very bad for memory leaking (gradually using more and more memory).

This is where I bought my extra ram memory


https://www.kingstonmemoryshop.co.uk/memory-ram/kingston-value-ram-memory

The site lists the right ram for your laptop and can look on youtube for an instruction video by searching "adding extra ram to xxxxxx laptop"

cheers dave, thank you.

ram way cheaper on ebay.

Yeah, you'll find "official" sites will always be looking to rip you off. Some great deals on ebay in comparison. Of course not all sellers on ebay are to be trusted, but a little bit of research will easily point you to a trusted/reputable one.

kingston ram is way cheaper on ebay

My grill element blew the other month, "official" Hotpoint store asking £60+ for replacement...eye found the same 1 for £25 on ebay! FuQU Hotpoint!!

Rico-Dangleflaps 25 Jul 23 18:17 
ram way cheaper on ebay


A millionaire on eBay ffs I’ve heard it all……

ebay is a shop ydc.

if you downloaded AI at sometime it takes over the lap top behind the scenes,you dont even know its there.But Mr Musk was changing a blue bird to an x today and the AI robots like money.So they may have taken a nap when Mr Musk was doing his thing/