[wannabe1]

You can pull the Startup Disk out of the floppy drive...that will eliminate the options screen. It's got an operating system to boot to now.

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I lost my connection for a while....but I think the installation is done.

Regarding the above, I did not have the floppy in the Drive; I had pulled it out when I had to make a another floppy during the installation steps

[Sinking Fast]

I lost my connection for a while....but I think the installation is done.

Regarding the above, I did not have the floppy in the Drive; I had pulled it out when I had to make a another floppy during the installation steps

[Sinking Fast]

Can I test the computer now and see if it will ScanDisk, Do Defrag, Restore Point, etc?

For me to test printing I have to disconnect my printer from the lap top and re-hook it to the desktop. Also, for me to test internet capability I have to disconnect cable from laptop to desktop.

Are you up for these activities as well or should I report back to you later? I'm in this for the long hall as I have to get my desktop back in shape .

[wannabe1]

The issues you may run into next will be:

1) You may have to reinstall the printer software.

2) You may have to set up the internet connection.

Is your data still in good order and do the installed applications work as they should?

There should be no need to run scandisk or defrag yet...we'll look at that in a bit.

[Sinking Fast]

Okay, I will check these (printer and internet connection and get back to you, although I will lose connection until I get set-up on the other computer). I hope this printer behaves and the installation will not be a problem, if I have to go that route. The first time I installed it; it took quite a while but again that could have been due to bad things with my O/S.

Now when you say I have to set up the internet connection, I hope you meant only switching from one computer to the other one via cable, and not that I have to bring AOL into the picture...

[wannabe1]

Do you connect through AOL?

Actually, if this repair install worked as it should have, everything should be in order.

[Sinking Fast]

Yes, I connect via AOL...

Regarding the printer, first I'll see if it will work without re-installation of the software and if not, then I will do what I have to do...(I've missed my tennis class already but this is far more important, and I'm so very appreciative for your help!!!!!)

[Sinking Fast]

Hello,

I'm back on the lap top to communicate with you....just checking in in case you are still hanging out, and if not I can catch up with you later.......

I think most everything is working well with the exception or perhaps the "norm" of AOL...it's a bit erratic ; I got stuck in it for a while and had to do the usual task manager exercise procedure to get out of it.

Now I notice that my McAfee Firewall is advising me that: (the application AOL has changed since you first gave it access to the Internet. Do you still want to let it access the Inernet?)

I also notice that the "file or program" in the Path given by McAfee appears to be the same as the one that I had to close via task manager, when I got stuck. Do you think this may be the cause of the AOL erratic behavior? And once I tell McAfee to grant access, AOL will behave better? Or is that wishing thinking, and I will have to get on the phone with AOL?

Now the good news:

I did not have to do a reinstallation with my printer

I can print internet document via IE, although I just realized that I didn't print anything in my AOL account (well keeping my fingers crossed that since I can print via the other broswer, AOL printing will work as well...see, I'm becoming very optimistic)!!

The system did a complete defragmentation (it appeared to be badly fragmented...i.e., all the white gaps, etc...)

Completed a standard scandisk. However, it is struggling with the thorough scandisk procedure...but it is going, although very slowly up to 158M clusters, when it has 1.2MM+ to do still.

The monitor is holding its setting

I'm not getting 10 copies of something when I select an icon from the desktop

The computer hasn't clicked off yet by itself


Now the things I've not checked:

...I didn't turn the computer off to see how it boots up yet (will it stop and ask for further instructions or go on as it is supposed to)

....I didn't do a restore point (which I presume will be today's date...

Gosh, we have accomplished so much today, and I am so appreciative for your time and patience. What a great service to the public, educating and empowering people to become more sophisticated about their systems. It is truly amazing...I am saving these steps, should I ever need to repeat this exercise. (God I hope not, but if I do, I will be more confident..).

Again, many thanks for your help, and I think I am certainly on the road to full recovery unless you tell me differently and/or I return with new findings!

[wannabe1]

Outstanding!

Go ahead and grant AOL permission with McAfee...that may be the hangup there. If not, let me know and we'll see if we can figure out what the problem is there.

It sounds like everything worked very well. If the disk defragmenter was able to complete, I'm fairly certain the scandisk will, too. The thorough check takes a very long time, but gives the drive a pretty comprehensive check-up.

Windows should have created an initial Restore Point when it finished installing, but you'll want to set another one once you know everything is working the way you want it to.

We did, indeed, accomplish much today...I have to admire the way you stuck with it through it all. Good job!

I'm usually around here somewhere, so if you run into a problem just give a shout...I will get back to you.

Keep me posted on how things are doing and when we're finished I'll give you a few hints on how to keep the machine running smoothly in the future.

[Sinking Fast]

Thank you, and I will keep you posted. You are the best!!! I can hardly wait to tell my friends what I accomplished today with the wonderful guidance of your organization, Geeks to Go.

Incidentally, kudos on your "pro bono" interest about repairing computers and giving them to families in need... I tried to give one away to an organziation once for a similar purpose but they refused....it was too old for them!

Again, many, many thanks, and I'll update you tomorrow. It's been a long day in tech land!

[Sinking Fast]

Hello Wannabe1,

After our marathon session on Tuesday, July 11, 2006, I had to take a break! The passing time, however, permits me to give you a more thorough feedback on my system, including updates on improvements reported previously, as well as point out two overlooked items.


Observations:

1) Internet printing (IE and AOL browsers) fully restored; all working still and without having to reinstall the printing software.

2) System not producing multiple copies of icons and pages.

3) Monitor is fully functioning, holding setting (not defaulting to lower resolution), can make and apply changes, graphics okay, and not clicking off without command.

4) Cookie delete button restored (had noticed it was absent but didn't realize it was due to the corrupt files...managed to convince myself that my system didn't have one!)

5) Can now empty Temp Files.

6) No files seems to be lost.

7) Computer not shutting off by itself.


Observations:

1) Boot Up - still stops on Microsoft Windows Millenium Startup Menu page. Four choices are provided, first one Normal is preselected, and is on a 30 second timer. Then the WIN ME pops up and goes through the normal things. Question: what is making it stop on start-up, and how can this be stopped or do I have a problem still?

2) ScanDisk - when we left off on Tues (appxly 10:30 pm EST), I had the system doing a thorough ScanDisk with auto check for errors. Nearly 14 hours later the procedure was completed! Is that a normal time and/or considered acceptable for this kind of procedure? Or is this symptomatic of other issues?

3) AOL seems a little erratic (although not out of the norm for AOL!) but then I've not done any maintenance on it since the WIN ME repair, so I probably need to revisit the setup with AOL.

4) Defragmenting - on first try after repairing Windows ME, the system promptly did a defragmentation on command. However, I've not been able to repeat the process, although now I get some form of communication from the system, whereas before I got nothing. My experience since the first run produces any one of the responses listed below. [/indent]

a) Defragmenting completely freezes the system. To get out, a number of different things, but success often came with repeated use of: CTRL ALT DEL > Black Screen > CTRL ALT DEL > Blue Screen > Hit any key. Then Microsoft Windows Millenium Startup Menu page comes up with the 4 choices noted above (Boot Up).

b) "Xprt Message Window", would also come up when trying to get out of unsuccessful defragmentation freeze up sessions.

c) Error notice defragmenting Drive C. Windows can not defragment this drive ...drive contains error...must be repaired.... do ScanDisk, etc. (Upon getting this notice, I did some system maintenance, which improved the outcome but then I started getting incomplete defrag attempts (noted below).

[indent=1] d) Meter starts but never gets beyond 4%.


Now, your input on two other computer observations not reported previously would be greatly appreciated, as well:

1) Sound - Bill Gates "hymn" at startup is skippy / a little broken up, as well as AOL "You've Got Mail." How can this be corrected or improved?

2) Network Password for Microsoft Networking- Computer has been prompting for a password. It use to not ask for such since I never set up a password on the system to begin with. Moreover, I'm the sole user of this computer. But, somehow in recent weeks, the password request page started popping up at the start. Default is in the user name box, so I just hit enter, and go on, but I really would like to do away with this request altogether, if possible. I'm fearful that one day it may prevent me from being able to get into my system at all, should the computer starts behaving badly again! How can I get rid of this password box?

Wannabe1, there is no urgent rush on this posting since my major computer problems / issues are behind me (unless you tell me differently ). Over the past few days, I've managed to get some work done THANKS TO YOUR WONDERFUL SUPPORT on Tuesday. Then I was seriously hampered and frantic by the "wilds" of my schizophrenic system and you were there for me, my angel from heaven!! Today I'm a new person.

[wannabe1]

Hello Sinking Fast...

I see no real problems here.

You might try running the Defragmenter from Safe Mode. ME's defrag is tempermental to say the least. If you still can't get through the operation, I'll point you to a third party defrag program that will "Git R Done".

The time it takes to complete scandisk depends on the size of the hard drive and the number of damaged clusters it has to repair. I have no doubt that it had a lot of work to do on your drive and probably had to start over many times to complete all the repairs...the thorough check takes a good long while on a good drive...

The glitchy sounds may be damaged sound files. I've got my ME machine down at the moment doing some hardware upgrades after a recent encounter with lightning...when I get it back up, I'll send you a new sound file from that.

The "You've got mail" sound may improve when you take care of the AOL setup. If they don't clear up with that, let me know and we'll revisit that issue.

For the password prompt, open "Control Panel" and double click the "Network" icon. From the "Primary Network Logon" drop down menu, select "Windows Logon" and click "Ok". (requires a reboot)

For the Startup Menu, click Start, then Run, type msconfig and click "Ok". Click the "Advanced" button and uncheck the box next to "Enable Startup Menu", click "Ok", "Apply" the change, and click "Ok" again. (requires reboot)

In short, I see nothing wrong here that can't be fixed by tweaking some settings or replacing some files. One thing I would like you to check is to look in the Device Manager (right click My Computer and choose Properties...click the Device Manager tab)...are there any yellow ? or ! displayed there?

I'm glad to hear things are going so well!

wannabe1

Edited by wannabe1, 15 July 2006 - 05:52 PM.

[Sinking Fast]

Hello Wannabe1,

Thanks for your last response, and your usual quickness! I'm taking comfort in your assessment of my computer situation ("I see no real problems here.") With all my issues, I was beginning to think that it must be time to make the new computer purchase despite my desire to hold off until Vista hits the "unsophisticated consumer market" and is "debugged" accordingly.

In any event, I did the things you recommended in your last post and results are noted below:

1) Prompting for network password: GONE

2) Safe Mode Defragmentation: WORKED (completed in about 20 minutes). While on the Safe Mode topic, I have a few more questions.

a) If Safe Mode works for defrag can it be used for a thorough ScanDisk function as well? If so, will it also shorten the process time? 14 hours in a Normal Mode just seems excessive to me (but what do I know about the internal workings of a computer?)

b) With an eye toward setting up an automatic schedule for computer maintenance, will the computer do defrag if it seems to be operative now only in Safe Mode? In essence will the computer try and then default to Safe Mode to execute? Or, will I have to tell it to do defrag in Safe Mode automatically? So far I've not seen this choice in any of the automatic set-ups.

3) Booting to Startup Menu: GONE. However, there is a new outcome: at the end of each full boot I get a dialogue box "System Configuration Utility" box with the message - "You are using the Selective startup for troubleshooting your system". Is this acceptable or should I make another selection here to get rid of this trouble shooting box? (Choices to be made in the "advance" sections are not my comfort level!)

4) Device Manager - no yellow ? or ! displayed. (I know now to look there when problems pop up. I just have to learn how to resolve them effectively!)

5) AOL - yesterday I uninstalled and reinstalled AOL via CD to rid some of its erratic behavior, so in the next day or so, I will know if all is okay there as well. Currently, I'm doing some fine tuning with my McAfee Anti Virus software, which came with AOL. Periodically, since the O/S update, I get notices that some components are missing and/or not properly installed. Everyday I'm learning something new about working with high speed cable and firewalls, etc. Up until the end of May 2006, I lived life in "dial-up".

6) Sound - incidentally, the sound that plays during the computer booting process is what I refer to as the "Bill Gates hymn /anthem." This is the sound that is scratchy, cracks up and/or skips. This is not a new problem (just an annoying one for years) and it does not affect other audios such as CDs. Recently, I did some troubleshooting and followed the recommendations suggested, including an upgrade. However, the feedback I got was that I had the most "up to date .... for whatever.... "

Once I've completed all my pending items, I will do a new system restore point. I've not set one following the O/S repair, and have done many things to aid the system in its full recovery. Thanks for all of your help and computer educational tips in getting me here!

[wannabe1]

Hi!

For the Selective Startup dialog window, there is a checkbox on the window you can check to not show it again...check that and click "Ok".

On WinME, there is no option to automatically run the Defrag operation. You shouldn't have to defrag more than once a month or so, depending on how much you use your computer. The reason it works best in Safe Mode is because there are only a minimum number of applications using the drive. The same will be true for the scandisk operation...it should complete somewhat faster in Safe Mode, but will still take a while...such is the nature of the beast.

The "cheesy" sound file is called Start.wav and I'll attach it to a reply as soon as I can get my ME machine fired up...still waiting for a part.

wannabe1

[peterm]

Vista hits the "unsophisticated consumer market" and is "debugged" accordingly.