General Chat

My laptop died last week, which is quite upsetting because my Gran bought it for me to help with the family tree before she died. My dear hubby bought me a new pc (Packard Bell) but I have had so many problems setting it up. I am beginning to wonder if there is something wrong with it, then again it could be operator error, but I am getting so fed up.

I cannot send any of my documents to discs. The operating system is Vista home basic. It has a DVD-RW drive. Everytime I insert a disc it says I need to insert one, it tries to format but says it can't. I am a complete novice when it comes to technical stuff, but is there anyone out there who might have a clue where I am going wrong or even who I should contact to get support. I am not sure whether I should contact Packard Bell, or Windows Vista support. It is all so confusing. Do I need to pay for support. Can some kind soul offer me any advice please, I would be so grateful, but please bear in mind that I am a woman and not at all technically minded.

I won't even ask about the printer!

Thank you so much, Lainey x

Hi Lainey.

I have been using comuters for over 10 years and know a fair bit about them, I've only had the odd dabble with Vista and I found it very confusing, there's no real help anybody can give you, it's like everything else it's a learning curve and there is no shortcut.

I would investigate the possiblity of attending some basic computer lessons, there are bound to be some in your area.

It sounds to me like you are trying to burn documents to a DVD instead of a CD, CD's do not have to be formatted unless they are CD/RW. Try using a plain CD.

Ron
www.genalogyprinters.com

Hello Ron,

Thanks for your input. I have actually done some computer courses and gained qualifications in word processing, spreadsheets, databases etc as well as basic how to use a computer, unfortunately they do not teach you how to set up a pc and much about the technical side of things. However I have set up 2 pc's before with no major problems it is just this one that is causing me a headache.

I tried using a CD as well and that didn't work either. Oh well back to the drawing board.

Hello Shelly!

Thanks everyone,

Lainey x

What happened when you tried to use a CD to back up files.

Ron
www.genealogyprinters.com

Hi Lucky, I'd get in touch with Packard Bell if I were you,

one thought..... is it definately DVd-RW and not DVD+RW? I bought the wrong ones once and they just did not work!

good luck!

Hello,

I just got my magnifying glass out and it says CD RW Ultra speed + whatever that means? I bought dvd-rw so maybe they won't work as well as cd r

Lainey

Ron, when I put a cd in it would not recognise it and asked me to insert a disc.

I think I will have another try in the morning when I am not so tired.

Thank you Ron and Mamiddau

Thank you Ron, Have a good weekend.

Lainey

hi you sure your name is lucky
i had that trouble,would read DVDs but not CDs.i had a chap in to look at it and he put me a new disc reader in and have had no trouble since