Thanks JA.  I solved the problem via Sony by phone.  See the edit to my poast above.

Pat,
The Help internet settings were already checked, so I went through the routine of unchecking rebooting, etc.  Rechecking and rebooting had no effect.  Windows however recognizes the connection because we've done about 30 automatic updates.

Any other thoughts?

EDIT:  According to Sony, they have replaced the Help function with a proprietary help file on the HD specifically for the Vaio. There is a separate setings function which must be set to 'Offline help' to access the Sony file .  The front page of the Sony file includes a includes a smaill search window that leads to MS. 
Just another example of them trying to make things idiot proof and screwing it up!

Thanks for your help.

Bill

You're welcome.

Best to your wife and her computing.

Pat, Thanks very much.  This is my wife's first computer experience and she is rather methodical, wanting to follow a learning guide exactly; using Help and Support is step 5.  Now maybe she get on to step 6!

Bill

There is a setting to use on-line help in the help, options, setting. Just a check box.

We have acquired a Sony Vaio FW520FT and set up a Netgear Range Max which is working well.
The notebook is running win 7 Home -64bit and we have an unusual problem.
The internet access is great and all seems to work except when trying to access online Help.  Going to Start>Help and Support -windows does not find the internet connection to access the the MS help site.  All other online activity is fine.
My desktop is plugged into port one on the router and has complete access.  The Sony is completely wireless.
Must be a setting somewhere....

Any thoughts?

Bill

Ultramon 3 Beta works great on W7.

Bill

As you suggested.......

Bill

Ok, here it goes.  I will try to explain the crazy setup as best I can.  For a school television setup they have a computer that runs a software that controls ads, games, music etc.  It has the cable that runs back to the video card.  That is cut and dried and a pretty easy setup.  My problem is for the sound.  They have 2 wires coming out of the wall (red and black along with white and green, white and green are cut back).  I am trying to hook up to these two bare wires that come out of the wall.  The only thing I can do right now is to take cable that has a sound plug on the one end a splits into two cables and trim to bare wires on both.  It works but the problem is when I connect them both the sound gets real muddy.  When I disconnect one (it does not matter which one) the sound clears up and is fine.  The problem is that it is now only playing out of one speaker on televisions when I do this?  What do I need to do to get it to work correctly.  Are there any connectors that will work for this?  Help.  thanks.

I'm thinking that if Ace uses hand signals, the heat from his armpits will melt the show around his car.

Scuzzy; there's the true cause of global warming.