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Help: computer problem
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: GUEST Date: 09 Nov 01 - 04:56 AM "what program they are using, maybe I dont have that program"??? No, it makes no sense at all |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 08 Nov 01 - 09:12 AM I contacted my computer guru, he lives 25 miles away, and he says I should find out what program they are using, maybe I dont have that program. Does that make sense? |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 07 Nov 01 - 08:22 PM You're right. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: GUEST Date: 07 Nov 01 - 07:32 PM Please, Kendall Get someone local, who can actully see the machine, to take a look. It's probably a couple of clicks problem, but as this thread has shown, remote help (unless you have XP) is virtually impossible If I lived next door to you, I could sort it - find someone near
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 07 Nov 01 - 07:25 PM Well folks, it's back. Cant open e mail links. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: Bill D Date: 06 Nov 01 - 06:38 PM for my money,or lack of it, the best reg cleaner is RegCleaner, by Jouni Vuorio ...free, and GOOD! and, Sorcha...why not try one of the programs that limit cookies to ONLY the ones that you want? Wow, does that save a lot of hassle.
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: JohnInKansas Date: 06 Nov 01 - 01:49 PM Sorcha The task scheduler won't run if the computer's not turned on when the schedule comes up. Different versions of Win vary, but if the machine is off, or if you are using it, it won't generally wait for the next opportunity. It will wait for the next scheduled time. Maybe that's why it hasn't worked for you. I interrupt mine so often that it works more like an alarm clock than an "assistant." When it tries to run, I abort, and then when I'm done I've been reminded to do (manually) what was scheduled. It's an imperfect world. REGCLEAN: I found that I have an old copy of RegClean that I downloaded from Microsoft about 3 years ago. It was produced by some of their people who apparently had some time on their hands - but was, at that time - unsupported by Microsoft. I've checked the uSoft web, and it's no longer available directly. It is/was included in the "Project 98 Resource Kit," so that would be one place to go ($$$). It was supplied there as a "developers' tool." It has proliferated on the web, so there are a couple of places where you can download it. I downloaded it on recommendation of a PC mfr's support techie - for a specific problem. I've never used it much since, because it's never found anything to clean. It should make a backup, so you can "restore" things if something goes wrong. The problem is that a registry "restore" adds the old stuff back, but won't necessarily delete "new keys" that may have been added. Registry restore, too frequently used, is one thing that can make it useful to have something like regclean? It can be a useful utility, but not one that I would run regularly, "just in case it might help," like disk cleanup, scandisk, and defrag. Incidentally, it is a good idea to run scandisk regularly, preferably just before running defrag, since any lost file clusters or bad disk clusters will be corrected by scandisk so that they don't interfere with defrag. John |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 06 Nov 01 - 11:21 AM ok, I stuck my neck out and downloaded Regclean. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: Sorcha Date: 05 Nov 01 - 09:20 PM Yes. It will delete your Mudcat cookie, but you can re set it. Drag and highlight, then click Delete. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: Mary in Kentucky Date: 05 Nov 01 - 09:05 PM When you clean out the temp files, can you just delete everything in that folder? |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 05 Nov 01 - 08:50 PM I found them with google, but, they both give serious warnings about losing good stuff in the registry. I dont dare go in there, there's monsters in there. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 05 Nov 01 - 08:37 PM Mario, where do I find this easyclean or regclean? |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 05 Nov 01 - 08:34 PM John, I just downloaded that defrag program. Thanks for the help. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 05 Nov 01 - 08:12 PM I'll give it a try anyway. Thanks. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: Sorcha Date: 05 Nov 01 - 07:58 PM Bloody damn task scheduler has never worked for me. I do all the Stuff it says to do, and find out that my computer has NOT been defragged.........BTW, I call it "fragging"---intentional "friendly fire".....like shooting the asshole LT in the back during a fire fight. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: MMario Date: 05 Nov 01 - 07:02 PM For routine maintainence I would also recommend finding one of the registry cleaning programs - I use both RegClean and EasyCleaner (they seem to use slightly different methedologies -- sometimes one will find stuff the other doesn't) - and run them every few days to remove invalid links in your registry. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: JohnInKansas Date: 05 Nov 01 - 06:49 PM Kendall I'm AMAZED! Good job. Right now I think I'd go have a tall brown one. For future reference - when you've relaxed a little - Windows includes a utility called Task Scheculer. It should be one of those little icons at the lower right of the screen after you reboot. Go to Start - Help, click the Search tab, and type in "Scheduled Tasks." When you click on the "List Topics" button, it should bring up all you need to set things up so that Defrag runs automatically, on a schedule - while you sleep (provided the machine is turned on). Mine runs at 1 am on the first day of each month. John |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: Sorcha Date: 05 Nov 01 - 06:02 PM WHOOPEEE!!! Now, do it every week. Clean out temp files, cookies, empty re cycle bin, close ALL programs INCLUDING screen saver and background, run scan disc and then de frag. After de fragging, re boot. Aftr the re boot, re set screen savers, etc.
I do it every Sunday morning......but I usually do cookies at least once a day. All the net searches I do get me LOTS of cookies---I have been know to build up over 1,000 in one day doing searches. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 05 Nov 01 - 05:57 PM It worked! I was able to run the defrag through to the end, and, some of the previously troublesome links now work. Thanks everyone for you efforts. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: Bill D Date: 05 Nov 01 - 05:27 PM Jeri is right about defrag utilities...but there is a neat solution...the defrag from Windows ME is available as a standalone download |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: Amergin Date: 05 Nov 01 - 04:55 PM I still say try removing and rebuilding the email account...if that does not work...set up a new identity... |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: JohnInKansas Date: 05 Nov 01 - 03:31 PM For those watching Kendall has forwarded two emails to me, with links in question. Links in both emails worked in my Outlook Express. Kendall also mentioned a link on one of the sites that didn't work for him. That link worked for me, after the link in the email connected me to the site, so the problem apparently is not confined to Outlook - it's also there in IE (?). John |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: JohnInKansas Date: 05 Nov 01 - 03:12 PM Kendall Two emails received. Clickies from both emails work, and the one you described on the site worked fine for me. The one at whatchersweb is quite appropriate. In fact, so good - it's HERE. John |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: GUEST,Jeri Date: 05 Nov 01 - 03:07 PM I doubt defrag will fix his MSOutlook/clickie problem, but it won't hurt. As to Outlook, I think either a setting got changed, Outlook is messed up by another program, or is just plain messed up. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: JohnInKansas Date: 05 Nov 01 - 02:59 PM Kendall Guest, Jeri has the right idea if you really have to close everything. I just started defrag on my C: drive, with WinExplorer, Win98 Help, IE5, and a Microsoft Word doc all open, and it ran well into the 20% range before I stopped it. You should be up to 3% or so in less than a minute, or maybe 2. Something is writing to your drive at least that often. Are you on a "permanent" net connection? I noted Real Audio in the discussion above. Have you had it installed for at least a few weeks before the problem started? Microsoft has had a warning about earlier versions, and it did totally trash my system when I tried to install it. The newest version (a month ago) caused me enough problems that I took it off. If it's worked for you for a while, don't worry about it - but if it's new, it might be suspect. I found one file in the Mickey$oft Knowledge Base relating to "failure to open IE from email hyperlink," and it did implicate a conflict between IE and the "audio" system. Unfortunately - it applies only to Mac IE. But then, defrag isn't the real problem - the fact that it doesn't work does indicate a system problem, and the reason for coming back to it is that we hope it's a "fix one - fix all" situation. Probably wishful thinking. John |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 05 Nov 01 - 02:45 PM ok, I'll try one more thing. If it works, I'll take you yo dinner. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: GUEST,Jeri Date: 05 Nov 01 - 02:15 PM First the rant, then how to defrag...
Personally, I feel it's absolutely idiotic to have a utility program (defrag) that's disabled by a feature (that useless, un-removable, piece-of-crap startup tray) of the same operating system. What were those morons thinking? I Kendall, this is what I have to do to run defrag:
Close all programs.
(I really hope I didn't mess up any HTML, 'cause I can't fix it at the moment.) |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 05 Nov 01 - 02:10 PM Yes I have the same as Sorcha. I dumped all the icons in the lower right, started defrag, it went to 2% and started over. Just like it has. I've tried everything except throwing it out the window. That's next! John, I got that message in dos when I ran the command you gave me.In any case, I know I have more than enough space, so, thats not it. I ran defrag all night, but this am, it was still working and getting nowhere. It did not quit, but it still kept starting over at 3%. As Foghorn Leghorn says "It's choppin' but there's no chips flyin'" |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: JohnInKansas Date: 05 Nov 01 - 02:01 PM Kendall Your 05-Nov-01 - 10:53 AM said you getting a "BAD COMMAND" but it's not clear which thing your trying to do when it happens. Was this in the DOS window, perhaps? If you let Defrag run overnight, it may have just stopped itself and "guv up." As mentioned above, whenever anything writes something to the drive, Defrag has to start over. If it restarts twelve times, it will stop and display a message "Defrag has restarted 12 times, do you wish to continue" or something like that. If you don't respond withing some ?? period of time, it just shuts itself off. I have never had to close things on the "Start" bar at the bottom of the screen - that is the things that load automatically when you boot up - in order to run Defrag. On the other hand, I don't recognize any of the things Sorcha is describing. Have you compared what programs you both have installed to make sure your talking about the same things? If you're getting some results with Sorcha, by all means stick with it. I'll watch for a while. John |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: GUEST,Sorch Date: 05 Nov 01 - 01:42 PM OK. Sometimes the icons stay there.....ICQ will turn red when it is not running. Sometimes the option you need will be Exit, or Close Start Center. Real Audio and Real Juke offer Close Start Center. I assume you do know how to remove your wallpaper and screen saver? Those are in My Computer/control panel. My monitor has a little icon on the right that looks like a monitor. If I rt click on it, it asks if I want to change display properties. Do that and then: You should have a choice of tabs at the top marked Background, Screen Saver.....etc. Choose None for both of those........then try your de frag. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 05 Nov 01 - 01:28 PM Well, it doesn't work on the right side either! I right click on the icons, and, delete does not come up. My patience is wearing real thin! |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 05 Nov 01 - 01:24 PM Oye ve! no wonder it didn't work! |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: GUEST,Sorch Date: 05 Nov 01 - 01:18 PM Aw, shit. I must be dyslexic this morning....I meant the lower RIGHT icons.....where ICQ, sound, etc. are. The shortcuts on the left don't matter. Those would be your home page, e mail, etc. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 05 Nov 01 - 01:02 PM This is the first time anyone has suggested this. I'll try it. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: GUEST,Sorch Date: 05 Nov 01 - 11:17 AM Kendall, when you try to de frag, are you exiting ALL programs on the lower left? You have to exit everything, and set your monitor to NO background/wallpaper and NO screen saver. Sounds to me like it is about time for you to call a local and have someone come out to the house.....how far is Jeri from you? |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 05 Nov 01 - 11:02 AM I checked my available space, it looks like a pie with a small piece removed. The small piece is what is used, the rest if free. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 05 Nov 01 - 10:53 AM John, there must be something wrong with the command you gave me. I keep gettin, BAD COMMAND |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 05 Nov 01 - 10:32 AM I ran defrag all night. it did nothing. Could someone give me an e mail address? I'll send the message and link just as I got it. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: JohnInKansas Date: 05 Nov 01 - 03:13 AM Bill D We confirmed that Kendall did a good cleanup on temp trash - Disk Cleanup and IE temps & history files. Last hit, I asked him to reboot, and he hasn't been back. I believe shorty was down, at least briefly, since I lost the connection; and he may have had trouble getting back, if that's the one he was using. It was about 11 pm, his time, so he may have decided to take a break. I'm still concerned about his complaint re: not being able to defrag. Could indicate he's got a messed up disk. I agree we need to be sure that he is trying to use a good link. Maybe see if someone else can connect to what he's tring to link to. Outlook, and Outlook Express can be set to not link, although help files that I've found don't really tell you how to do it. John |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: Bill D Date: 05 Nov 01 - 01:02 AM Kendall, it is not clear why this is happening, but for now it might be easiest to just copy that address FROM your mail and paste it into your browser window and hit 'enter'...perhaps there is some setting in the mail program that has gotten set wrong (I have a setting in my newsreader program, Agent, that REQUIRES you to specify what you want done when you click an address (URL)....there are advanced settings in Outlook Express that 'might' have something to do with it not working, though, if you have not changed any, it's hard to see why. (we're assuming this DID work before and just quit working) sure is fun, huh?? *grin* |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: JohnInKansas Date: 04 Nov 01 - 11:20 PM I just lost my connection to shorty - switched to ragtime. It's getting late at Kendall's location, so he may not want to come back tonight. - or may be having trouble getting back on. I'm concerned about his problem running defrag. It may indicate marginal free space on the drive. Windows, in earlier versions required "contiguous" free space for temp files. It's not as much of a problem with Win95 and Win98, but if the drive is badly fragmented, temp swapping can be impaired. I would suggest looking at total file space and total free space on the drive, to get an estimate of how "crippled" the machine may be. Start - Programs - MSDOS Prompt. Should see C:\Windows >_ Type "cd\" (omit quotes) and hit enter Type "dir *.*/s" and hit enter Record total files(s) ????? bytes and ???? bytes free from the last two lines after it runs its course. i.e. what are the ???? Type "exit" to close the window. I would suggest that he post a url for one of the links that doesn't work, so that someone else can try to connect to it, to see if it's just a bad url. Outlook/Outlook Express can be set to show "plain text" and if he's gotten it turned on that way, what he sees in his email may not actually be a link. There is some significance to whether he is running Outlook, or Outlook Express, and which version. I'll try to check in periodically for a while, but may be away from the machine intermittently. John |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: Amergin Date: 04 Nov 01 - 09:49 PM What version of Outlook express do you have? it is possible that your account has become corrupted some how... Also, you might try going to tools accounts and removing your mail account...and then just rebuilding it...but first make sure you have the right settings...those can be gotten from the servers tab of your mail properties.... what you might also want to try is to go to file and identities...try creating a new identity to see if it works in there.... |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: GUEST,Jon Freeman Date: 04 Nov 01 - 09:14 PM kendall, can I try a recap and see if I have this right. 1. You have no problems with links using Internet Explorer. 2. You can not open any links via Outlook Express. If I have that right, what happens if you try to open a link in Outlook Express. Does IE open and freeze, does nothing happen, any error messages or what does happen? Just a wild thought - probably miles out - I don't suppose you have downloaded and subsequently got rid of another browser? Jon |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: Jeri Date: 04 Nov 01 - 09:13 PM I thought Andi suggested the Notepad stuff so Kendall could edit things down the road - .ini files, for example. It sounds like the only program you're having problems with is Outlook...possibly with a .dll file Outlook uses. I don't have Outlook, so I can't really help with this. To those of you who do, would re-installing it cause him any problems? |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: JohnInKansas Date: 04 Nov 01 - 09:11 PM Kendall: Step 2: At the top of the IE window you should see "Tools." Click it, and select "Internet Options." It should open a menu with the "General" tab on top. The top section would be where you could change your home page. Don't worry about it for now - but I use mudcat. The second section should be "Temporary Internet Files" and there will be a "Delete Files" and a "Settings" button. Click the "Delete Files." (This won't remove your cookie.) When it asks "are you sure" say Yes. Then in the third section - "History," click the "Clear History" button, and when it argues with you tell it "yes- delete." This should do a pretty thorough job of getting rid of trash in your temp files. When you have finished this, "OK" to close the window, and I would suggest you reboot. Click the "Start" button and select "Shut Down" at the bottom of the menu. You can choose "Restart" on the next menu, but I would recommend you choose "Shut Down." When the machine shuts down, give it a good minute or two for the drives to coast down and for residuals in the ram to settle. Then turn back on, hook back up and come back. John |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 04 Nov 01 - 08:58 PM I've dumped all temp files, and I just ran disc cleanup. |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: JohnInKansas Date: 04 Nov 01 - 08:34 PM I sense frustration. Believe me - we all know the feeling. Have you tried to clear windows temp files? If not, click the start button at the bottom of the screen, run up the strip to "Program Files." When the menu pops out, run up that menu to "Accessories." When the next menu pops out, go to "Sytem Tools." On the next menu click "Disk Cleanup." It should come up with the C: drive selected, click ok. When it comes back, click okay again and let it "delete files." Come back when done. John |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: JohnInKansas Date: 04 Nov 01 - 08:25 PM PS: re defrag. It's a good idea to close all files when you run defrag. Defrag has to look at what's on your drive in order to decide what to do to it. It stores the "state" of the drive, to use while it's working. If anything on the drive changes, it has to start over. ANY program that's open can "ding" the drive, and even the most minor change causes a restart. If the drive is "disorderly" defrag itself may need to write a scratch pad on the drive - and this is a change, so it has to start over. Usually - depending on drive size - nothing actually gets changed until defrag gets to somewhere around 8 to 12 percent. That's when it finishes "analysing" and actually starts moving stuff around. Screen savers are a particular nuisance, especially if set to come on after a short time. A defrag on a 20MB disk can be expected to take up to 3 or 4 hours, depending on machine speed. Defrag will also refuse to function if the free (unused) space on the drive is less than about 10 percent, since it needs that much room to sort the files. Defrag picks up any file that's out of order and writes it to the "end" of the disk. Then it goes to the end of the disk to pick clusters up in order and write them back where they "should" be - in order. John |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: GUEST,Ed Date: 04 Nov 01 - 08:22 PM John, I love notepad, and use it probably more than any other program. However, I'd put good money on the fact that it has nothing to do with Kendall's difficulties, and that 'Andi' is talking shit Ed |
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Subject: RE: Help: computer problem From: kendall Date: 04 Nov 01 - 08:14 PM I dont know what is causing it! How could I make it clearer? |
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