The Digital Surgery (computer questions/problems here)

[musungu]

It doesn't happen to everybody, and it doesn't happen at the same time, if at all. The first indication I had was Avast took a sudden dislike to Expat TV, and totally disabled it (would no longer work with or without Avast being active). I overcame this problem by uninstalling and re-installing Expat TV. This has happened to both Expat TV and 365 Sport several times since.

Several friends came to me with similar problems. I tried the same fix for them, but neither system would work for more than about 4 minutes before freezing. For friends, I uninstalled Avast and installed AVG. Their problems have now gone away.

I am now at the, 'system would work for more than about 4 minutes before freezing' stage. I usually use an Android Box, so its not such a big problem for me. On the rare occasions I need to use my laptop for Expat TV or 365 Sport, I simply make sure nothing else is running, and disable Avast for the duration.

That is really worrying so I think I shall uninstall.

[Big Boy]

Please use something else instead if you do uninstall - don't leave yourself without protection.

[hhfarang]

I have now uninstalled Avast using Revo uninstaller (expert mode that gets everything) and I was amazed at how entwined it was on my machine. I've used Revo for years and uninstalled many programs and Avast had way more registry entries and files scattered across my machine than any program I've ever uninstalled before (including other antivirus programs). It took Revo so long to uninstall it I thought it had hung but it was just due to the sheer quantity of stuff Avast had put on my machine. I'm now running with MS Security Essentials as my antivirus and according to Microsoft they will support that and their malware remover for XP for another year after support for the OS ends in about 2 months.

So far so good this morning. My streaming news is working perfectly so I think Avast was the problem.

Thanks to Big Boy and Pleng for the suggestions.

[musungu]

I have uninstalled Avast but did not got use the system to clear all registry etc - can I go back and do this using Revo Uninstaller?

[Big Boy]

Oh dear, I hope I haven't started a panic over the use of Avast

I still use it, and I'm generally happy with it. AFIK the only problem is streaming TV.

[hhfarang]

I have uninstalled Avast but did not got use the system to clear all registry etc - can I go back and do this using Revo Uninstaller?

I'm not sure as I've never done it that way. I suspect Revo won't recognize it as an installed program after you've done the normal uninstall. What Revo does is first run the own application's uninstaller, then it searches your drive for left over registry entries and files. It always finds a lot as the application's own uninstallers are notorious for leaving a lot of garbage behind. Be careful using Revo in its most powerful cleaning mode to ONLY delete registry entries that are BOLDED in the Revo result. You can screw up your system if you delete other registry entries which it will let you do if you want to.

[buksida]

Just to add balance, I've been using Avast and installing it on multiple systems for a few years and never had a problem.

Note: I ONLY install Avast AV and not all the other crap that comes with it (web page scanning, software update checkers, sandbox, toolbars etc etc).

[lomuamart]

Hopefully this is a simple question.
So, why dosn't my utube have sound?
Shit, I'll just put Ry Cooder on from my hard drive.

[PeteC]

Hopefully this is a simple question.
So, why dosn't my utube have sound?
Shit, I'll just put Ry Cooder on from my hard drive.

Maybe the sound default is mute? Check the sound bar.

[bluke]

i have a lenovo z500 i have a problem with the screen although the back light is on the screen is still to dark to see any advice would be welcome thanks

[buksida]

Try to adjust the brightness using the function keys (fn + whatever F key adjusts brightness).

If it is hardware failure it'll have to go back to the manufacturer.

[Big Boy]

I only play one game on my laptop, and that is MyBrute that BaaBaa. got me addicted to several years ago. The game itself is mind numbingly boring, but I'm determined to continue until I am awarded a pet bear.

I've battled through to level 51. A couple of weeks ago, the game would no longer display properly, and started giving me a message 'Your Flash plugin is out of date. Click here to update it'.

I've tried installing the latest update, I've tried uninstalling flash and re-installing, but all to no avail. I'm now reduced to continuing on my phone, which even more mind numbing.

Does anybody have any suggestions (outside of getting a life ) please?

[buksida]

Do it manually; via control panel uninstall the version of flash player you currently have. Then go here and download the current one: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

Once downloaded, close your browser and install that.

[Big Boy]

That's what I had been doing. Just tried again, but still no good. This is what I get:

[buksida]

Does Flash work on any other website?

What version do you have? http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player.html

Should be 12.0.0.7 if it is then the problem is on the website.