Computer Problem

[jarhead]

I have been running Windows XP for a little over 2 years on a Dell desk top model 8200
A few months ago my browser (I.E.) would unexpectedly just “blink off” when ever I visited a couple of web sites (www.hsn.com and www.ss.gov as well as a few random ones that I would come upon while browsing. I talked with a Dell technician in India for close to two hours while the machine was still under warranty, on two different occasions, and both times they ‘gave up’ One even suggested I contact my ISP provider, suggesting it was something from their end. My ISP provider told me the guy in India was barking up the wrong tree. Every site that shuts the browser down on my home computer, works just fine at friends homes that use the same ISP cable company as I do.

This morning, the web page for the Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper became another web page added to the cylinder of this Russian roulette that is going on with my system. I have Norton anti virus, and always have had it, and my pc is clean of all virus.

Anyone had a similar problem, or have any idea as to what’s going on, or how I might ‘fix’ it. I’ve given up with the guys in New Delhi.

 

[7B2]

Back up what you like to keep and wipe the thing clean and start over. See it as if it has reached TBO.

 

[BoDEAN]

format c:\

I usually format 3 times a year. Fresh starts are always nice!

Or, try www.mozilla.org
IE is terrible a browser. So many holes/security risks/errors.

 

[bobbysamd]

Alternative browsers

Try www.mozilla.org
IE is terrible a browser. So many holes/security risks/errors.

Excellent suggestion!

I run Firefox on my Mac. I have also run it on Windows 98 as well, which means it should run on XP. It's great. Plenty of customizable settings to blow off pop-ups and other annoying garbage. It's much faster than IE as well.

I also second the suggestion about simplying tossing your current Windows installation in the trash and reinstalling it.

Rest assured, it is not your ISP. The call center guy in India doesn't know what he's talking about.

Hope that helps some more.

 

[jarhead]

Thanks for the suggestions. I downloaded the www.mozilla.org site and have it as my browser now. All my web pages that "blinked off" on me with I.E. work just fine on the Mozilla browser.

Yippee.

Why couldn't the guy working for Dell in India tell me that?

 

[pilotman2105]

Still format even though mozilla works. If IE has a bug, or if you've got a hold of some malware, it's still on your system. It may give you different problems later.

If you don't want to have to format right away, try Spybot Serach and Destroy and Adaware (both available from download.com). They may give you a temporary fix, but I forsee a format and reinstall in your near future.

 

[bobbysamd]

Mozilla

Thanks for the suggestions. I downloaded the www.mozilla.org site and have it as my browser now. All my web pages that "blinked off" on me with I.E. work just fine on the Mozilla browser.

Pretty slick browser, huh?

The best thing about Mozilla et al is it has its own popup blocker, eliminating the need to use Adaware, etc.

 

[jarhead]

Bobbysamd

I love it! I had tried some pop up blockers on a free trial basis by downloading them. 30 day free trial and then a bill, but the free pop up blockers I tried added new problems or irritations.

Then I could not un-install one of them, even though it does not function, as I did not buy it.

I am learning to navigate it, as there are some differences in layout from the IE I was familiar with for the past 8 years.

Is there a way that I can have my selection for a home page to come up of my choosing, vs. the Mozilla home page?

 

[bobbysamd]

Mozilla

Is there a way that I can have my selection for a home page to come up of my choosing, vs. the Mozilla home page?

There should be a tab to access Options, perhaps under "Tools." Go there, go to something like "general," and you should see a field in which you can type a URL for your favorite homepage.

Hope that helps some more.

 

[jarhead]

Bobbysamd

Thanks so much for the help! I now have my favorite home page come up when I open the Firefox.

You should be working for Dell out of Denver, not in India

 

[bobbysamd]

Re: Bobbysamd

Thanks so much for the help! I now have my favorite home page come up when I open the Firefox.

You should be working for Dell out of Denver, not in India

You're entirely welcome, my friend.

 

[Q200_FO]

I tried Firefox, but I've found that some websites don't work at all on it becasue they're geared for internet explorer.

 

[jarhead]

Q200_FO

I had just the opposite experience. Several web sites I had always had available to me on IE, sudenly would just shut my browser down when I went to them. All of those sites now are available to me on Firefox. I have it as my default browser now, but have kept IE as a back up browser in the event I might have the trouble you refer to. So far, I've had no problems with firefox.....but I have access to both browsers.

 

[Flyingtoohigh]

I'm a Mozilla user on my PC desktop and a Sarfari user on my Mac laptop. I keep IE as a backup on both, no problems.

For those of you who still use Internet Explorer I highly suggest getting the Google toolbar from http://www.google.com/toolbar.
The toolbar has a nice place for quick Google searches and comes with a very un-obtrustive pop-blocker and auto-fill capability to help with filling out forms. It's also free.

 

[bobbysamd]

Still another alternative browser

Try Opera. I am using it on my Mac. It's much improved since when I tried it on Windows a few years ago. It has a number of customizable features, including popup blocking. One thing you can at least do with the Mac version is set it up to be seen to websites as IE or Mozilla, etc. That might help with the unviewable website problem.

 

[kevdog]

I like XP, but I also liked the days when you could just reinstall windows versus a backup and format to solve your bugs.

 

[bobbysamd]

Windows v. Mac

I like XP, but I also liked the days when you could just reinstall windows versus a backup and format to solve your bugs.

. . . which is what drove me to getting a Mac. I got sick of having to reinstall my XP OS every six weeks or so.

 

[ShawnC]

Re: Windows v. Mac

. . . which is what drove me to getting a Mac. I got sick of having to reinstall my XP OS every six weeks or so.

I ran 2000 without re-installing until I upgraded to 2003.

I have machines in my office that have been running XP since it's release. It's a fine OS.

Now about your problem it sounds like spyware. First I would run Adaware, and Spybot search and destroy (both free programs), then I would run all the IE updates from Windows Update.

 

[pilotman2105]

You shouldn't have to reinstall every six weeks. I'm assuming that's an exaggeration, but maybe not.

Windows is a great system. You just have to take care to keep it clean of various cookies, spyware, adware, etc. If running weekly scans on your computer to keep it in tip-top shape isn't your thing, then a Mac is the way to go.

Currently, I'm running Win ME which is the WORST OS Microsoft has come out thus far. I tried installing Win XP on my system a couple of months ago, but no success as my integrated soundcard was not recognized. Unforuntately, I can't just go out and get a sound card either because I'm running a laptop. So for now, I'm stuck. Unless I can find a place that is selling Win 2K.

I have Win XP on my office system and love it. Don't fear Windows. Just take time to educate yourself about it. If you don't want to spend that time, go Mac.

 

[bobbysamd]

Windows ME

You shouldn't have to reinstall every six weeks. I'm assuming that's an exaggeration, but maybe not.

No exageration. And, I would download all the updates and my system would slow down. I was running it on a Dell XPS 400.

Currently, I'm running Win ME which is the WORST OS Microsoft has come out thus far. I tried installing Win XP on my system a couple of months ago, but no success as my integrated soundcard was not recognized.

I installed XP with the upgrade on top of ME (several times) and it found all of my hardware. I agree, ME, and, for that matter, Windows 98, are not some of Bill Gates' best moments.