Hi all,

I had a follower, Faendal from Riverwood. I travelled to Whiterun with him and joined the companions. I got the inital quest to be accepted into the companions guild and he got replaced by Farkas. What happened to Faendal?
I assume he's gone back to Riverwood. What about the items that he was carrying for me? Are they gone?

he should come back to you once Farkas leaves, try fast travelling after the Farkas quest and he should show up next to you.
If not he'll be in Riverwood.

Hi..not sure with this char.. but every time i give my follower (Lydia) an Item..and tell her !! This is where we part company!! when next i see her she still has the gear..

Most likely he'll be back in Riverwood, working or at his house.

you'll need to pickpocket anything you want off your old companion if you still have the new companion with you if you want some items back urgently. it means you don't need to go through all the parting company business.

He goes back home, you can re-recruit him once you finish the quest with Farkas.

Ok thanks everyone. Another question regarding followers. I was doing the first dragon claw quest and just entered Bleak Falls Barrow, I told Faendal to attack a bandit and he said "ok", but then just stood there. I've tried getting my followers to pull switches as well, but still they just stand there!? Am I doing something wrong??

i've never used him as a companion so i don't know what he can and can't do. but i do know that my two companions that i used lydia and illia can open doors that require a lockpick as long as you have gave them some lockpicks first. they will also loot chests if you tell them to and i've never actually told any of my companions to attack anybody because they just usually go and do it themselves once the enemy becomes aggressive.

Bizarre, Both times I was in Bleak Falls. I had just entered and told him to attack a bandit who hadn't yet seen us. I was hoping that he'd attack him and get a sneak shot.
The second time was the arrow trap where you have to get the symbols right. I did the symbols and asked him to pull the lever, he said "ok" and then just stood there. Had to pull the damn lever my self lol.

i take it you already know that if you give your companion armour and weapons they will use them.

Yes, it was just the oddness of the giving commands that apparently doesn't work?