Ginny wrote:_ I am just very concerned about learning W8 when I don't have anyone nearby to help with that learning curve. That's a very big issue for me. Ah but you do have huge helpings of assistance really. Here is a link to eightforums where they deal with nothing but Windows 8, plus you can come here for help. Google is also a valuable friend when you need an answer right now instead of waiting for someone to reply on a forum. As Mickie notes above, once the initial screen is gone it is very much like Win 7

AZ, I understand what you are saying, but Emma makes a lot of sense. If users are not prepared for progress we would all still be using Commodores or in the least Win3.1. We have a whole bunch of Dell XP SP2 systems in our building. Six in our office alone. Ours are going to be replaced by a governmental entity due to security, non-MS software demand, and future anticipated expansion. You can bet many of the other offices will have to replace their systems via their budget as their offices have systems integrated for use with our data. And, we did survive without a burp when we switched from Win98 and Win2000 to WinXP. Bobbie, Hope you are sitting down. You know how I was dragged kicking and screaming into the post Win98 era as I loved my Win98 system. And, yes you know I love my Vista system even more and have defended it for all the bad publicity it received. My plans right now is to buy a entry to mid-level laptop with W8 just so I can play. See why I said I hope you were sitting down. Even though I think there is way too much going on now with the Internet, and can only guess as to what the future will bring we users have a choice. Be part of it or allow it to pass us by. Do I think everyone with a W7 should race out and purchase a W8? Of course not. However, two generations of O/S behind could become the future limit. DA

FWiW .. Most laptops would have a sound program in control panel with several ways to tune the sound. I can screw those setting up easy so I just keep it disabled :) My laptop now its control panel icon is SmartAudio. You might want to update or reinstall your sound card driver which most likely will come with some kind of ambient room types and a equalizer and some speaker style settings.

See link it's for Vista, should be same for Win7. Usually this occurs after coming out of sleep mode, anyway see if the link sheds any light.... Here is a link that might be useful: user-locked