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ooh, also get a list of administrative processes and status (again, a SS will do)

start>settings>control panel>administrative tools>services

There may be a lot

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

i won't use linux because I need photoshop CS, illustrator and a whole bunch of graphics and desktop publishing apps that won't run on linux without a windows emulator.

that and the gimp is one of the worst image editing programs I've ever used.

fedora core 2 is a good linux based OS, but yea its hard to use if you don't know what your doing

and linux is not for the faint of heart. if diane is afraid to reformat her windows machine, switching to linux will only make things worse, imho.

Right

Still haven't gotten those snapshots yet. They are forthcoming probably tomorrow evening.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 17-Nov-2004 21:29

no, firefox and netscape are both mozilla based

and linux is not for the faint of heart. if diane is afraid to reformat her windows machine, switching to linux will only make things worse, imho.

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

by the way the best browser available is mozilla firefox. I recomend everyone use that instead of internet explorer. (firefox is netscape based)

Why not use linux if you don't like windows? Its more advanced and may take time to learn all the commands, but if your not a gamer its way better then xp.

switch back to netscape.

Internet explorer is just awful. I rarely open it up unless I go to a site that needs IE to function properly (and designers/developers out there - REALLY BAD IDEA to have an IE only site!)

see, your problem is you switched away from netscape. problem solved

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

Partition Splitstream and OMG - Reinstall Windows

Does this give all of you an idea of just how ignorant i am about computers .

Someday, when I'm not working 10-12 hours a day, I'm going to take some classes to get my confidence up. I have to learn how to do things as I please with my computer like some of you do

Thanks everyone, really. I appreciate any tips. I will post the stuff you are asking for next time it comes up. However, I just confirmed a pretty good clue. I thought it was just happening for the first time in 3 weeks since installing SP2. However, what I didn't think about until late last night, was that I have been using Netscape Navigator 7.1 all this time. I launched IE for the first time the other day and that is when all of this trouble started. Maybe the browser setting change is related to the SP2 that I had added. However, I will take the snapshots you are asking for (later or tomorrow).

What I did today to confirm it, is a turned my computer on and immediately launched Netscape as I had before without ever launching IE. I know what will happen the minute I launch IE.

I've got a betta tank that needs attention before I run off to bed. This can wait until tomorrow. Thanks

]:| I don't know what happend. I was just minding my business when this "Browser Settings Alert" just popped up saying that "A browser menu was added or removed". When I hit the "help" button, it brings up:

ActiveX Deleting Files Alert

When you select the Active X deletes files from my drive checkbox in the File Guardian Protection Settings page, you receive an alert message when File Guardian detectes and ActiveXdeleting files from your hard drive......

It goes on to explain it some more.

What I got out of it is that this particular checkbox was either checked or unchecked, but not by me. The problem is, I can't find the box.

I have Win XP and I have McAfee. I did update to SP2 about 3 weeks ago and used some settings recommended by PC Mag (can't remember ). I'm not doing anything I haven't been doing since that update so I don't think it is SP2. When I choose McAfee Guardian from my programs menu and try to launch it, nothing happens. I've looked through every other menu and submenu in Tools-Internet options and McAfee to find it.

Does anyone have a clue what is going on or why this may have happened?

I'm religious about updating windows and my virus/firewall protection. I've not missed any critical updates and McAfee updates automatically.

Ideas? This Browser settings alert keeps popping up every minute and is driving me nuts. I keep saying "reject the changes", but it just keeps coming back.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 15-Nov-2004 20:00

I reinstall about every 6-8 weeks. But I have my system set up to make it as painless as possible, i multipartition, slipstream, have a drivers partition with all my driver files ready to go so i dont have to use CD's. I reckon i can do it in aobut 2.5 hours if I really tried. That's from format partition>yes to system set up how I like it.

But if you're system's not set up ready to go, it can be a pain.

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

moondog - i loathe windows - and i find that the bother of reinstalling every couple months is a heck of alot more effective than any of the 'maintenance' utilities they have.

Never had a problem yet. Besides, i'm biding my time till I get enough money to buy a mac. I'm tired of windows and having to buy a windows operating system everytime I buy a computer from a retailer.

GIVE US THE OPTION!!!

sorry, rant over.

My methods may sound extreme - but this is how i've been doing it, and it works for me (and i hate installing stuff like norton utilities and other 'applications' such as those)

it always bothers me when so many people recommend a reformat for just about any problem. not that windows couldn't use a good reformatting, but i see this as a solution to so many problems when most times it takes less time to just find what's wrong and fix it [/rant]

i agree with tiny, that it would help if you could either get a screenshot of your running processes, or at least type them out for us. also check your startup folder by going to start->all programs->startup and making sure that it's only got stuff there that you know what it is. also check your control panel->add/remove programs and make sure you know what's in there as well. also, try this which i got from the sp2 website. it might be what you're missing:

Manage Add-ons

Users can enable and disable each add-on individually and view information about how often the add-ons have been used by Internet Explorer. To do this, use the following procedure to open Manage Add-ons.

1.


Click Start, and then click Internet Explorer.

2.


Click Tools, and then click Manage Add-ons.

You can also open Manage Add-ons through Control Panel by following these steps:

1.


Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2.


Double-click Internet Options.

3.


Click the Programs tab, and then click Manage Add-ons.

Manage Add-ons has several options that allow you to change your add-on configuration.

You can use Show to control the way in which the add-ons list is displayed. It has two options:
•

Add-ons currently loaded in Internet Explorer. This option lists the add-ons that have been instantiated (or loaded into memory) within the current Internet Explorer process and those which have been blocked from instantiating. This includes ActiveX controls that were used by Web pages that were previously viewed within the current process.
•

Add-ons that have been used by Internet Explorer. This option lists all add-ons that have been referenced by Internet Explorer and are still installed.

The list of add-ons shows all installed add-ons of the types mentioned earlier in this document. To enable or disable an installed add-on, click the add-on in the list, then click Enable or Disable.

If you click an ActiveX control in the list, then click Update ActiveX, Windows searches for an update at the location where the original control was found. If a newer version is found at that location, Internet Explorer attempts to install the update.

The list of add-ons also contains signed add-ons that were blocked from installation because their publisher was untrusted. After selecting one of these controls, the user can unblock the control by clicking Allow. Caution should be exercised when doing this, because clicking Allow removes the publisher from the Untrusted list.

Blocked Add-on status bar icon

A Blocked Add-on icon appears in the status bar when a Web page attempts to instantiate an ActiveX control that is disabled or blocked because its publisher is untrusted. You can double click the icon to open Manage Add-ons. The status bar icon is accompanied by a balloon tip the first five times it appears.

Add-on notification balloon tip

When a Web page attempts to instantiate a disabled add-on and there is no current Blocked Add-on status bar icon, a message appears to tell the user that the current Web page is requesting an add-on that is disabled. The user can click the message for more details on blocking add-ons.

You can use Control Panel to suppress the message. This option is described later in this document.

Why is this change important? What threats does it help mitigate?

Windows Error Reporting data has shown that add-ons are a major cause of stability issues in Internet Explorer. These add-ons significantly affect the reliability of Internet Explorer. These add-ons can also pose a security risk, because they might contain malicious and unknown code.

Many users are unaware of the add-ons they have installed on their computer. Some add-ons are loaded whenever Internet Explorer is started, but cannot be detected unless the user searches the registry. When users experienced crashes, there was no easy way to diagnose whether the issue was related to an add-on. Even if they suspected that the problem stemmed from recently-installed software, it was difficult to isolate the cause and often impossible to resolve if the software did not provide an uninstall option.

Internet Explorer Add-on Management, together with Add-on Crash Detection, gives users the ability to improve the security and stability of their systems by identifying and disabling problematic add-ons. Administrators are also provided with a powerful administrative tool to control add-on use in their organization.

What works differently?

Behavior when add-ons are disabled

Disabling an add-on does not remove it from the computer. It only prevents Internet Explorer from instantiating the object and executing its code. There is no guarantee that the disabled add-on will never be loaded, since an add-on that is considered by Internet Explorer to be disabled can still be used by another component in the system. The behavior that is displayed by disabling different object types varies.
•

If an ActiveX control is disabled, Web pages that rely on the control might not work as expected. They behave as if the user has uninstalled the control from the computer and declined to install it. Users are not prompted to upgrade controls that have been disabled.
•

If a browser helper object is disabled, functionality that depends on the object is not available, and there is no visual indication that a component is disabled.
•

If a browser extension is disabled, toolbar buttons and menu entry points are not shown for that extension. Internet Explorer behaves as if the extension was not installed.
•

If a toolbar extension is disabled, the toolbar does not appear in Internet Explorer and, on the View menu, the Toolbars item is disabled. Internet Explorer behaves as if the toolbar was not installed.

The concept of a disabled add-on only applies to instances of Internet Explorer (Iexplore.exe) and Windows Explorer (Explorer.exe) by default. Currently, other programs based on Internet Explorer components, such as the WebBrowser control, do not respect the disabled state. However, you can use the featurecontrol key to extend this functionality to other applications.

Some software programs depend on a combination of multiple add-ons to work correctly, and disabling any one of them might cause problems. Caution should be exercised when deciding to disable one or more add-ons.

Uninstallation

If the user disables a non-ActiveX add-on and subsequently uninstalls and then re-installs it, the add-on might remain in a disabled state. This is because Internet Explorer is not notified of application installations and does not detect any application state changes. However, if Internet Explorer is started while the add-on is not installed, it detects a change and automatically clears the disabled state.

If the user disables an ActiveX control and then uninstalls it, the next time a Web page attempts to use the control, Internet Explorer detects that the control is no longer present and clears the disabled state. However, if the ActiveX control is reinstalled using an executable file (as opposed to a Web page download) before there are any attempts to instantiate the control, then it remains disabled. This is because Internet Explorer does not detect a state change.

How do I resolve these issues?

In the event that disabling an add-on causes a lack of functionality, it can be restored by enabling the add-on in Manage Add-ons. Internet Explorer must be restarted for new settings to take effect, with the exception of ActiveX controls, where reloading the affected page might be sufficient.

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

Diane - when this happens, press ctrl alt delete, select processes and then take a screenshot (shift printscreen) then post it up here.

Also, in the taskbar properties, make sure that windows is not hiding unused systray icons, there are several viruses and trojans which hide as systray icons.

I'd probably go with the reformat myself, but if your system isnt set up tp make it easy, then it can be hours of stress and possibly lost data, so post your processes and we can see if it's something well known with a definite "cure"

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

format, reinstall winders (ignore SP2), and don't use Internet Explorer or outlook express, don't run macros in office, better yet, use open office.

Even better still - get a mac.

I would REALLY REALLY stop using IE completely, and reinstall windows.

I run XP, and I REFUSE to install service pack 2.

Well, I ran Spybot and it got rid of a bunch of junk again, but mostly cookies. The note is still popping up ]:| - like every minute. I keep rejecting it. I'm running virus scan now that the latest update is available to see if that finds anything. If not, I'm going to have to accept this nuisance. Not sure what else I can try.

I loaded Spybot about 2 weeks ago and ran it. Then I used innoculate. I didn't think to run it again, but will when I get home. I don't want to leave my computer running while i'm away as this is happening.

sounds like spyware nasties to me
When SP2 makes trouble, it seems to be more of the "PC wont boot to Windows" type trouble.

Can you ctrl alt del when the window pops up and post a screenshot of the processes in progress when it happens?

Last edited by tiny_clanger at 16-Nov-2004 05:11

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

does it show up all the time, or only when you go to certain web pages? if it shows up all the time, i would get some anti-adware and -spyware programs, like spybot or adaware and make sure it's not spyware first. there is nothing like what you describe on the [link=windows support page]http://support.microsoft.com" style="COLOR: #ff0044[/link], so i am tending to think you have some bad spyware or adware on your system.

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman