Sound and external hard drive "disappeared"

leo2moss

Hi. Hoping someone can help. Two weeks ago I noticed that my external hard drive, on which I store photos and some other files, had disappeared from my computer. Can't see it on My Computer. I've no idea why it disappeared. The computer desk is hard to move (I'm slightly disabled) and so I thought I'd wait for someone to come and check to see if the cables had maybe been moved. Then yesterday the sound disappeared as well. I rang a speaker check and they're still showing as working.

So - could this be a virus or, if not, what else can I do to check what might be wrong? I can't physically move the desk to check cables till someone's here to help me but I don't think that's the problem as I know I didn't move anything yesterday!

I'm using Vista, if that makes a difference ...?

davb

The two things are not necessarily connected, and don't really sound like virus type activity.
With the sound, double check nothing is muted - also do you have any headphones that you could plug in if there is an accessible socket on the PC front.
For both things, take a look in Device Manager and see if there is anything with a question mark against it - you could also drill down a bit and see if there is anything listed.
It may be an idea to turn power to the PC and hard drive off/on when the PC is shut down, as this can sometimes cure problems.

leo2moss

davb wrote: »

The two things are not necessarily connected, and don't really sound like virus type activity.
With the sound, double check nothing is muted - also do you have any headphones that you could plug in if there is an accessible socket on the PC front.
For both things, take a look in Device Manager and see if there is anything with a question mark against it - you could also drill down a bit and see if there is anything listed.
It may be an idea to turn power to the PC and hard drive off/on when the PC is shut down, as this can sometimes cure problems.

Thanks - already checked to see if muted, but it isn't. Not sure where to find Device Manager - am not all that computer savvy. PC and hard drive are both switched off at the wall every night. Will look out some headphones - if I get sound that way then I take it I'll have to replace the speakers?

davb

leo2moss wrote: »

Not sure where to find Device Manager

Click Start >Right click Computer >properties then select Device manager on the left margin.

leo2moss wrote: »

Will look out some headphones - if I get sound that way then I take it I'll have to replace the speakers?

Possibly! - it tells us if the sound card and it's drivers are working as they should.

As for the external hard drive, do you have anyone that could bring round a laptop, and try the drive connected to that - just trying to narrow down the problem(s)

leo2moss

davb wrote: »

Click Start >Right click Computer >properties then select Device manager on the left margin.


Possibly! - it tells us if the sound card and it's drivers are working as they should.

As for the external hard drive, do you have anyone that could bring round a laptop, and try the drive connected to that - just trying to narrow down the problem(s)

Will try getting a friend to link up a laptop.

I found Device manager but, truthfully, don't know what I'm looking for!