Cause and Effect.......Error message question!

[LixyChick]

I'm so at a loss! You couldn't even fill a thimble with what I know about computers!

Here's my problem/question..........

Recently, I've been getting error messages at the most inopportune times (ie: just after I typed a long winded reply and tried to add a pic) and I either get screen freeze and have to shut off power......or I get an error page and it says I can click enter and return to windows or a bunch of other (non-working) options and I still have to shut down the power!

It seemed to start doing this when I was resizing some of my pics for avatars. But, it's not just the av pics I click on that make this happen....though there is one I can't delete cause everytime I click on it to delete it I get screen freeze! But, I have different folders in my documents folder and when I am perusing them to get a pic.....any pic.....not the same ones all the time....never know which one will do it..........and I click to see thumbnails........I freeze or get an error message.

I hope I am explaining this ok......cause I don't know how to put it in puter speak!

Is there an explaination for my problem and how do I correct it?

Please explain it in lay terms because I don't want to sit here like a deer in the headlights trying to decypher! LMFAO! I mean it! You could dangle me over a lava pit and say, "You'll understand it when I tell you", and I'd have to say, "Drop me now......I have no idea what you are talking about"!

Thanks for any help/advice you can think of!

[jennaflower]

Lixy.. I wouldn't begin to know how to fix your problem.. so I will just bump this up until someone else does :)


If you have windows XP... have you considered doing a system restore back to a date prior to when you began getting this message?? Just a thought.

[LixyChick]

Thanks jenna! I have Windows ME.....and it's a Compaq. Guess I shoulda said that in my mutterings....lol! I do have restore from Compaq.......but I didn't want to do anything till I knew what was actually happening.

I had Norton 2002 loaded a while ago but I clicked on that avatar I talked about earlier, and suddenly I couldn't boot in anything but safe mode. So, I took it out and now I can boot properly but the pics keep making me freeze sometimes. It's so sucky too because I have a dial up service and it takes forever to reboot and wait for the scan and have it yell at me for improper shut down and all that shit.....and then I have to restore my desktop and redial up.........and by then I forget what I've typed previously and some of the things get even me to laughing and I can't remember them verbatum and I wanted so badly to post them but I can't cause I didn't save them.......Oh shit.....well.....I dunno!

Thanks for replying though.........I'll hold out for restore till I see if anyone can tell me WTF I did to make all this happen!

*hugs*

[fzzy]

I'm not all that computer literate either lixy, but you might check and make sure your recycle bin is emptied out ... then delete a few unnecessary pics, then empty the recycle bin again ... shut it all down and bring it up .... sounds to me like you just may be hitting a high memory usage and need to clear out a bit ... but well, ... ummm, wouldn't begin to say that is the absolute cure!!! :) Best of luck!!!!

[LixyChick]

Thanks fzzy! I do empty my recycle bin each and everytime before I shut down......that's if it has anything in it that is. I also clear my cookies and history and temporary files too! I do a defragment just about every week........Norton used to do it on a schedule but....well...I had to get Norton out because it was, "somehow". the main cause for my initial freeze and then only being able to boot in safe mode. And.....if I do try and clear some old pics and send them to recycle, I might freeze or get an error message. Kind of a "Catch 22" going on here for me!

I can still post pics.....that's if the ones I choose at that particular moment aren't ones to make me freeze, etc. It seems to do it most when I open a folder and try and click on thumbnails.....as the pics are opening for me to view.....freeze or error message...whichever it happens to want to give me!

Curious, huh?

Thanks for trying though!

[Sharni]

What is the exact wording of the error message Lixy?

[DallasLiving]

Ok, Like Sharni asked. What is the error message. 2nd) Do you remember exactly when it first started occuring. And if you do, did you install any new software right before it did.

It could be a conflict from an installation that you did, either software or hardware even because of programs that came with it.

[Ozling]

normally i'd probably know the answer, but in this case, im clueless. sounds like a virus to me, get some virus software, if you have Kazaa then you can find a nice crack of the latest version of Norton Anti-Virus and Ad-Aware. if not then borrow some from a friend or buy some, etc.

[dicksbro]

I've had the same kind of problem on the same kind of computer (Compaq) at different times. Done the virus scan (Norton) and have a firewall to shield myself from incoming. Do regular weekly full scans to help assure no sneaky virus.

Not even aware of any software changes.

I just thought my computer was getting old or was trying to be sympathic to my getting old. :D

(I was just ignoring the problem but if you get your's solved, Lixy, PM me because I'd like the problem to quit. Hmmmm. Do you think our 'puters' were fooling around and maybe they're going to have a modem or sumptin? :D)

[Bopper]

Well first off, I have heard of many problems with WinMe. I have had the opportunity to get and use it, but never have becuase of the horror storys I hear about it.

On the flip side some people have absolutely zero problems with it, so I dunno.

The restore seems to be the best option. Hopefully you have a burner or something to back up your files/pics/whatever to a cd-rom, as when you do the restore its likely to wipe everything out.

If you dont want to restore, I would do a couple of things, in this order:

1. Delete Temporary Internet Files (from that file folder named that)
2. Delete Temp files (again from the file folder named that)
3. Delete all Cookies (hopefully you rememeber passwords to all wedsites that may auto logon for you)
4. Delete all Internet History
5. Look in startup folder under the start button/program files and see whats in there...shouldn't be much, in fact I prefer nothing unless you have like a IM program that autoruns when you start up. Delete any other nonsense out of there.
6. Empty recycle bin
7. Use Windows update and download and install all the updates out there...especially the critical ones. However you dont need all the language versions.
8. Reboot the machine. You might have to do this after some windows updates, but reboot again after all of them are installed.
9. Defrag the computer and reboot.
10. Send to me and I'll have a look at it. ;)

Oh ya, spybot search and destroy might help too...you could try downloading and installing that (its free) after steps 1 through 9.

[LixyChick]

Oh shit Sharni!....I knew someone was gonna ask me that! I get so po'd when it happens I haven't even written it down. Ya know what? I'm gonna make it happen again after I reply here and I'll get back on and let you know! This'll be like going to the dentist though......it won't happen when I want it to......so excuse all the nonsensical pics that might pop up in this thread.....I'll have to experiment.

DL.....I'll get the exact wording soon! Don't forget, too, I don't always get the error message....just that things freeze and I can't click on ANYTHING! My cursor is useless or I sometimes don't even have a cursor. As to when it first happened......my husband was at the computer one morning when I came down.....he was trying to organize some folders (this is just after we went to larger avatars and the night before I had made some of my pics to the larger av size)....he was trying to get all the av's I had made into one folder and whenever he clicked on a certain av I made, the puter would freeze. He said this happened a couple of times and he had to shut off power and reboot and things were fucked up.....and I said....let me see what's happening. I tried to click the av he was having trouble with and the message I got (worded, of course, in puter speak) seemed to have something to do with a conflict with the pics I made and my Norton Anti-Virus 2002......I tried re-booting this time and it would only come up in safe mode.....I could do some things but not what I wanted and then I'd get an error message again and round and round........till I finally read and re-read the message and somehow got the idea it was a conflict with Norton..........so I uninstalled Norton! Then I did a restore to a time when things were good and I could boot in normal mode and all that fuzzy shit......but.......there are still times when I freeze or get the (elusive) error message and I have to shut the power off. Sorry bout all that.....I know I'm long winded.....but I don't know how to explain this any better. I'll get back to ya....thanks for helping!

Ozling.....Seems like a virus to me too.......but as you've read above....I had to remove Norton in order to even type this (though that was a while ago). I might try and reinstall it but I want to see what suggestions I get here before I do anything. I don't know how I could get a virus by changing the size of my own personal pics????? Thanks hun!

Bopper.....My restore can do a factory restore or a restore to a time when things were peachy keen! I prefer the latter at this time......least till I have no other option......and then I'll back up all the stuff I know will be gone forever (I know....I know....I should do that anyway). I think I've done all the other stuff you suggested except to go and check to see if I have any new updates to load.......which I used to get an alert to do so but now that you've mentioned it....I haven't had one in a while! TY so much for your help......I'll be back ASAP to let you know what's happening!

I have to leave for a while and go to a wedding shower.......I'll work on this as soon as I get back! TY all for trying to help the puter illiterate!

[LixyChick]

Additional pieces to the puzzle..(I just remembered...duh!)

About the same time I was sizing my av's, I installed Yahoo messenger (never had it till then).....and I still had Norton in and those two didn't seem to like each other........ex: If I signed completely out of Yahoo....my browser bar would go blank.....I still had a Start button but it didn't say Start on it after sign out of Yahoo. After I uninstalled Norton.....my Start button still reads Start!

Oh........and the error message to make me think Norton was part of the problem said something to the effect that (and I'm paraphrasing here)....there is something missing in my anti-virus program that will not allow my computer to boot up completely.......so it came up in safe mode. Sounds to me like Norton got corrupted somehow......by Yahoo, maybe?...and then all hell broke loose!

[Bopper]

Well a couple of notes to make here then. I would try removing norton completely. In the add/remove programs clicky under the control panel there will be a couple of things. One will probably say Norton Anti-virus blah blah and the other symatech liveupdate version yada yada. You want to remove everything related to norton at this point.

Then I would ditch the yahoo messanger too at this point. Completly uninstall it the same way as with norton.

I would even go so far as to go into the program files folder and remove the empty (or partially empty..dont worry..it happens) norton and YIM file folders...then empty the recycle bin again.

From that point, reboot and see if everything is working good. Make sure no more problems and then at least you will be able to eliminate programs as problems if you get the error message after reinstalling norton/yim, etc.

Also, I would lose the norton 2002. I have 2003 and it has virus protection not only for the puter but for IM programs as well. As far as the YIM goes, I dont use it...I use Trillian. You might want to check it out at http://www.ceruleanstudios.com. It allows you to have AIM/MSN/YAHOO/MIRC/ICQ all in the one program as oppossed to many different ones.

It has its quirks, trillian does, but overall its not to bad. Just a suggestion.

:)

Good Luck!

[LixyChick]

Bopper..........I've cum to luv you for all the help you are trying to give.......(hugs n kisses galore)....and to some, it might make perfect sense, but you don't know me babe!........(bag-o-rocks here....as far as computers go).

At the point of MAJOR frustration.........I removed Norton (see above posts)! It nearly told me to (error message).......so I did! Took me a while to get it all clear.......but I did it! Before I did that......I couldn't do a thing on this thing!

Please Bopper.......pardon me for saying so..........but have you seen (above) the computer intelligence level to whom you are speaking???????

YIM????? WTF is YIM???????.......LOL

I am gonna click on my "deer in headlights" pic in a folder I have......... and hopefully I get the error message I can relay to everyone (spell out verbatum) here!

No shit Bopper............I appreciate all you are trying to do............but........if you don't sit beside me and spell it out.......I have no friggin idea what "YIM" is........or any other "puter speak " you toss at me for that matter! And hun? If you feel frustrated at this response...........imagine my plight....tenfold!

*hugs Bopper.....and whispers......TY *

[Slow Ride]

Originally posted by LixyChick
Additional pieces to the puzzle..(I just remembered...duh!)

About the same time I was sizing my av's, I installed Yahoo messenger (never had it till then).....and I still had Norton in and those two didn't seem to like each other........ex: If I signed completely out of Yahoo....my browser bar would go blank.....I still had a Start button but it didn't say Start on it after sign out of Yahoo. After I uninstalled Norton.....my Start button still reads Start!

Oh........and the error message to make me think Norton was part of the problem said something to the effect that (and I'm paraphrasing here)....there is something missing in my anti-virus program that will not allow my computer to boot up completely.......so it came up in safe mode. Sounds to me like Norton got corrupted somehow......by Yahoo, maybe?...and then all hell broke loose!

I just installed Nortion's too..........I get a message at start up......can't find nortion's rescue disc.........and I said.....WTF !!!!!

[LixyChick]

BTW......I had 6 "critical" Windows Updates to install........one I had to do individually........and when I rebooted..........I had 7 more to install...........

Dunno why Windows stopped alerting me to updates.........but TY, TY, TY Bopper...........I got all installed!

[LixyChick]

I know the feeling SR! I dunno what to tell you.........

cept..............kiss me now! LOL!

[LixyChick]

and if not.......

if this doesn't make sense.........just wait a bit.....I'll get the error message if it kills me........and it just might! LOL!

[Bopper]

I am sorry Lixy, YIM is Yahoo Instant Messanger to which you had referred to that you installed earlier.

/me runs off and hides now....

:D

[LixyChick]

These pics won't make sense (but no nudes).........I'm trying to make my puter give me the error........

Again......sorry!

[LixyChick]

Oh Bopper...........PLEASE don't run away!

Bear with me! I dunno wtf I am doing.......and I learn fast.........please don't go! I totally appreciate your help!

[Bopper]

Ok to recap then:

You have uninstalled norton and yahoo instant messagener
You have installed all the windows updates
You have rebooted

And now you are waiting to see if the error comes up?

After thinking about this a while, its quite likely norton is the cause of the error. See the way norton works, it scans every file you open when you open it...and if its messed up you would likely get an error..

Still no error yet?

[Sharni]

One thing Lixy....If you suspect a virus is causing the problems....do not back up what is on your system now...it maybe infected....Worms can (&most do) attach themselves to every file on your system...so if you save pics to disk the reload them after cleaning the system...you are effectly reinfecting yourself...

One needs to keep all sentimental or valuable documents and such backed up at all times...not panic and back them up at the last minute.....

Been there done that...have learnt my lesson :D

[DallasLiving]

Ok now for my turn to be long winded I guess. The first thing I would do if you start to uninstall the programs is after you get back up to windows, is to run a thorough scandisk and a defrag of the hard drive.

From what I have heard, Norton has alot of conflicts with alot different programs.

If you continue having problems Lixy, Let me know and I will try catching you online and helping you try to get it all figured out.

DL

[Sharni]

Is sooo confused with people saying Norton has conflicts with programs....

I use Norton and have no problem at all once set up is done correctly!!

[Bopper]

I agree 100% with Sharni...backup often and only when sure its clean! And use a program like Norton (maybe a newer norton than 2002 hehe) to keep you system virus free.

I can't tell you the sheer number of people I work with that only save the important stuff on their local drive and then complain to me when A. their harddrive decides to take a dirt nap or B. we catch a virus and it turns all thier stuff into mush.

The ironic thing is, even after that happens they don't learn and it happens all over again. Sigh.

[LixyChick]

OK........here's the deal so far..........

A while ago..........I've uninstalled Norton 2002

Today........I realized that I hadn't had any alerts to Windows Updates (thanks to Bopper) and I went to Updates and loaded 6+1 critical updates! The extra one came up after I restarted after loading an update that had to be downloaded alone!

I tried clicking on pics to throw up here......and like I said before.......it'll be like going to the dentist.......the pain won't be there till I don't care about it anymore.............but I know one avatar I could click on that WILL definitely freeze me.................just freeze.......no error message..........WTF do I do now...........LOL!

Gawd, I love you guys......did I already say that?

[Bopper]

Just one? How big is the file? Avatars are usually small but if its very large...it might be corrupt somehow.

As far as freezing up computers go...well if you have a file thats larger in size than your available system memory...you'll likely get it to freeze up.

See I really didn't run away hehe ;)

[LixyChick]

TY for staying Bopper.........*licks*.....OOps!


I digress.......



Um........I had a pic from a series I did..........I sized it to 75x75 at one time.......No problem.........

Then......one night I took the same "resized av" and sized it up to.........

Oh shit........what's the size now? Pixies raised the av size and I haven't used it since this all started happening and now I forget the av size limit.......but anyway.......

[LixyChick]

I swear....I promise..........I know a little bit about alot of things............

Just don't know much about computers! I'm feeling rather dumb at the moment!

[Bopper]

Don't feel dumb. Computers are not everyones gig. I have even come across one that I could not fix...too bad for that one...it became spare parts ;)

If its just that one file giving you problems now then why not just get rid of it? Then install maybe a little bit newer anti-virus program...do a scan...if clean..defrag and all shoudl be good.

Sounds to me like you almost got the problem *licked*.

:)

[LixyChick]

Might sound like that to you........but here I sit......just staring at that file..........and thinking......it's so little......how can it beat me?

OK.......In my add/remove programs.......I found

(this is exact)

LiveReg(Symantec Corporation)
LiveUpdate1.6(Symantech Corporation)

Exact to every space and dot!

That's Norton?

Oh how I wanna say.......f'in Norton.......though I have a feeling Yahoo had a play in this too!

[LixyChick]

Oh......and BTW.......it's NOT just that one file...........it seems to happen when I open folders and click to open thumbnails........but not always then........or.......it happens when I click to open ANY pic IN ANY folder.........not one specific one......I never know when it'll happen......

Pretty crappy, huh?

[LixyChick]

And I reiterate..............I CANNOT CLICK ON THAT PIC...........EVERYTIME I CLICK ON IT I FREEZE.........TOTALLY FREEZE........HAVE TO SHUT OFF POWER KIND OF FREEZE.........I CANNOT CLICK ON THE PIC AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!

[LixyChick]

HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!


That's the pic I could never click on!


OMG.......I'm scared to do anything else with it!

Oh Geezzzzzzzzz..............I swear........I haven't seen that thing since I made it!

OK.......to bed with me........

Maybe the "Updates" fixed me!.......Not to mention Sharni and Bopper and DL!!!!!!! I have no clue .......but this is the pic that I haven't been able to click on since way back when! I just deleted it from my files.........and this remains the only place it is now.......I hope! I should prolly delete this reply from the thread........yes? So that no one else get's what I had???????

*Bows before the ones who stuck it out with me!!!!*

[LixyChick]

The few prior posts won't make sense.........I deleted the pic I didn't think I could click on........because I didn't want to "infect" anyone else.......in case that pic had a problem!

I have to sleep on this now.........I"ll be back!

[Bopper]

Naw they make sense. :) Hope things are working much better for you when you read this... and yes the Livereg and Liveupdate are part of norton.

Good luck, and we can talk more tommorrow if your still having issues..

[Lilith]

Lixy you can email me this demon possessed pic if you still need it worked on.

[Slow Ride]

Originally posted by LixyChick
I know the feeling SR! I dunno what to tell you.........

cept..............kiss me now! LOL!

*kisses you deeply..........chasing your tongue with mine.......my hands roam over your sexy body*


BTW.......... has anybody ever told you that you have beautiful eyes¿ I'm telling you now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *wink*

[LixyChick]

Thanks Bopper! I'm gonna be on and flitting about.....maybe posting a pic or two today and I'll keep everyone informed if the problem crops up again....but so far so good in that I could suddenly click on (and delete) that av pic that had started all this trouble. I dunno....but I think things are better!

Thanks Sharni! For sending me the email....and I'll take your advice and make sure nothing's affected or infected before I back it all up!

Hi Lilith and welcum back! Oops! I think I deleted all the copies of that av pic, cause I put it here and then deleted it from my folder real quick in case it was sleeping and was gonna wake and harrass me again! LOL! Then, I deleted it from the post here too.....so it's gone to..."bite me you somnabitch"...hell! But thanks for the offer!

Awwww Slow Ride! TY sweetycakes! Could you kiss back here too? *points to nape of neck* Mmmmmm!


***A special note to dicksbro........Go check on any Windows Updates hun.........might help you too! Click Start and click Windows Update (just in case you didn't know) then follow instructions.....k? Oh....and um.....my puter just asked me for pickles and ice cream........hmmmmm? LOL!

[Slow Ride]

*runs my tongue across the nape of your neck......kisees and gentle bites..................sucks of your ear lobes*

hi sweetie...... I hope your day was good !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DallasLiving]

Originally posted by Sharniqua
Is sooo confused with people saying Norton has conflicts with programs....

I use Norton and have no problem at all once set up is done correctly!!

Because a majority of people don't set it up correctly. When installing those programs, people see the notice to turn off all running programs and it even mentions Anti-virus's because alot of them scan for reg changes and most programs do them. So they end up causing problems.

I personally don't run any of the anti-virus programs. Never have. And have 3 computers running right now. But have seen plenty of people that do downloads, or click to get an attachment that was in an email that they were sent and have had to help them with correcting all of the problems.