Archive through March 11, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: 2003 March: Computer Problem - I need advice/help (ARCHIVES): Archive through March 11, 2003

Egbok

Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 01:13 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Where's DraHeid's input????

Draheid

Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 01:48 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Egbok & Mygetaway, I'm here. I just didn't want to see you get overloaded with too many people making suggestions. Sorry.

First off, anytime you can upgrade your memory, it can only help. You can also free up memory and resources (there is a difference of sorts) by not allowing programs that you don't use to run in the background. Anti-virus software is a must so I would look at other things first.

One place to look easily would be in the 'Startup' folder. Click on 'Start - Programs - Startup' and see what is in that folder. More then likely there are things you do not need running all the time.

What I would suggest is that you right-click on your 'Start' button, then left-click on 'Explore'. Next scroll down to 'Programs' in the left window and click on that. Then click 'File - New - Folder' and create a new folder called 'StartNOT'. Next, click on 'Startup' to view the content of that folder. Anything there that doesn't look like you really need it you can move to the 'StartNOT' folder so that it will not start when you restart the computer.

Once you have moved a few things from the startup folder, close windows explorer and restart your computer. Then check your resources. Hopefully, this will give you back some of your system.

Let me leave you with this for now. Please let me know if this helps.

Mygetaway

Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 06:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Before I check into what you just posted above I wanted to add that I just put in another stick of 256, for a total of 368 Ram and it still sits at 62% when I am online. My problem is I don't know what some of those things are that are running in the background.. I'll post more about them in a bit. Thanks Dra!!

Twiggyish

Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 06:24 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Also, go to Find, Look for Msconfig (Be sure to have it search your C drive) Look in startup.
You can uncheck those things you don't want to run.

Hope Dra doesn't mind more advice in here..LOL

Egbok

Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 06:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks Dra and Twigs! I appreciate any and all advice when it comes to computers. This site has taught me so much with regards to my computer problems and I just appreciate everyone here!!

I removed Kazaa as Jed suggested and so far my typing isn't sluggish at this point. Next I'm going to look at Dra's suggestion and create the 'StartNOT' folder. And Twigs, I'm a big chicken when it comes to unchecking 'those things' that I don't want to run...I'm afraid that I'll mess something up unintentionally, but I do appreciate your suggestion as well. BaaKKkk, BaaKKkk...that a chicken sound from me.

Mygetaway

Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 06:45 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I tried Dra's above, but it didn't do much.
In my StartNot folder I now have an AOL 8.0 tray icon, Epson background monitor(printer), Event reminder, and real download.

When my computer first boots up, one of the command lines has Photo Deluxe in it, and then Adobe something.. Photo deluxe is a program within my scanner.

When I do contrl/alt/del I get the following:

Explorer
Ccapp
EventMgr
Wnconnect
Rnaapp
Wncsmserver
mediadet
ctnotify
ptsnoop (which we have duscussed before)
stimon

Mygetaway

Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 06:56 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
*duscussed* should be discussed..LOL

Twiggyish

Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 07:17 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I looked up a few of them. They recommend leaving these two:
(I'll look up the rest)
Wnconnect
WNConnect

(My-Mainstreet.com)
Data extraction module of the STARS accounting system (STARS – Store Total Accounting & Retail System).

Recommendation :
We do not know the STARS software, nor have we received negative reports about this module, so our recommendation is to leave this module untouched.

Wncsmserver WnCSMServer

(AT&T WorldNet) Background task seen on PCs which connect to the AT&T WorldNet Internet service and which use the AT&T provided dialler. WNCSMSERVER is a module which gets installed with the AT&T dialler and which interfaces with the AT&T WorldNet Registration Servers for user logins (Login ID, Password) and which also downloads new AT&T Access Numbers.

Recommendation :
Essential to the proper operation of the AT&T dialler – leave alone.

These recommendations come from:

http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist_w.htm

Twiggyish

Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 07:20 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
ccapp:
Process File: ccapp or ccapp.exe
Process Name: Symantec Common Client
Description: The Symantec Common Client Application is included with Norton AntiVirus 2003 and Norton Personal Firewall 2003
Common Errors: N/A
System Process: No

Twiggyish

Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 07:24 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Do not disable ccapp.


You can disable Mediadet:

Mediadet Mediadet.exe

(Creative Labs) Creative Labs Disc Detector background application which gets installed with some Creative Labs sound card drivers. Disc Detector detects when you insert a CD in your CD-ROM drive and then automatically starts the appropriate application for it. You can determine whether it should open in Creative PlayCenter, or some other audio player.

Recommendation :
Windows does this very well already. It beggars belief that Creative Labs should have thought it a great idea to clutter the System Tray with an application that duplicates what Windows already does well. As with Creative’s CTNOTIFY, we recommend you disable MEDIADET. To do so, open the "Disc Detector" icon in the Control Panel and uncheck "

READ THIS ONE!!

Ctnotify
CTNotify.exe

(Creative Technology)
"Disc Detector" from Creative Technology. This System Tray icon gets installed with the drivers of some of the Creative Sound Cards and, wait for it, detects when you insert a CD !

Recommendation :
This is the worst type of System Tray software – a useless program which causes problems to end users. In every single case that we have ourselves seen this program in the Task List, the end-user could not use the Windows CD Player (Win95/98) or the Windows Media Player (WinME/2000) to play music CDs. No sound would come out. In some cases the mere presence of this task prevented any sound coming out of the ..... Creative sound card !!! Software this bad defies belief. Delete with Startup Manager.



http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist_m.htm

Mygetaway

Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 07:45 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks Twiggy!! I'll try those options and see how it works. This new stuff showed up with my new computer last summer, but they also ghosted over my whole C-Drive from my former system. I probably have all kinds of stuff on there I don't need anymore, but have no clue what it is or how to get rid of it. I learn what little (most) things I know from here. You guys are great!!

Egbok

Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 07:50 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Gosh Twigs, you just helped me to learn some stuff about computers!! Thanks!

And Dra, I moved a few things over to the 'StartNOT' folder and restarted my computer. All seems to be running smoothly now! Thanks again for your suggestion and help, I truly appreciate it!

Abby7

Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 07:30 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
For the last week or so I've had problems with my monitor suddenly going out of focus. It's in perfect focus, then suddenly goes completely out of focus. The words can't be read. This happens about once a day. If I shut down the computer and get right back on, all is okay.

It's a Trinitron monitor that came with the Dell computer package I bought..about 2 years old I think.

Anyone know what could cause this?

Draheid

Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 08:00 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Abby7: Have you tried adjusting any of the settings on the monitor before you turn off the computer? Or just turning off the monitor itself??

It is possible the monitor is going bad, however, I have monitors that are 4-5 years old still going strong.

I hope this helps. Please let me know.

Abby7

Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 08:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks Draheid. I have not adjusted any of the settings on the monitor. Everything is clear, then is quickly blurs (the words). I leave the monitor on. I just shut down the computer. Then turn it right back on and the monitor is fine again.

I wouldn't think the monitor is going bad so quickly...it's only 2 years old.

I never turn off my computer or monitor. Just leave it on. I go off-line but leave everything on...could that cause the problem? I have a screen saver though. It's fading right now as I type this sentence. That means it's happening more often now.

Draheid

Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 09:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Abby7: As it starts to fade, try using the adjustments on the monitor. See if maybe you just have a control going bad or something. Of course, if it's one of the newer monitors that doesn't have any 'manual' controls (ie. there are only buttons to adjust the monitor with) then that might not be possible. Next, when it happens, try turning just the monitor off. This is to try to rule out the monitor.

If turning the monitor off and back on or adjusting the controls does NOT bring it back, then you might have a problem with your computer itself. That's going to be much more difficult to diagnose. Please let me know either way.

Abby7

Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 09:33 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks Draheid. Next time it happens, I'll just try the monitor....been thinking that was what I should have tried in the first place. I'll let you know...hopefully it won't happen for a while.

There is one tiny button on the front of the monitor, then 6 other buttons (a little bigger in size) next to it, then the off switch. Menu and brightness/contrast come up when you hit the button. I tried to hit the help section on the menu but couldn't get to it from my any of the keyboard keys or mouse (hard to explain that...but I'll keep trying).

Let you know what happens and thanks for your help. I'm lost with computers, really should take a basic class.

Oops, just happened again (I edited this post). I turned just the monitor off and on and it was okay. Darn, this is happening more often now.

Draheid

Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 09:46 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Abby7: It sounds like it could be the monitor. You might try lowering the contrast & brightness (dimming the monitor basically) a little and see if it holds out longer between problems. If that doesn't help, you might check to see if you possibly have a 3 year warranty on your computer system - maybe Dell will repair/replace it for you? Good luck.

Let me know how it works out or if you have any other questions.

Whoami

Friday, March 07, 2003 - 12:27 am EditMoveDeleteIP
OK, here's a tricky one.

How can I take the following page....

This Page

...and save the contents to my hard drive. These are historical scores from the drum corps activity I love, and I would love to have these recap sheets accessable at any time.

I've tried copy/paste to Word and Excel, and the format gets thrown way off. I tried saving the page, but then it is not accessable off line.

I'd prefer to have this saved to Excel. Then I could have it in one document, and have one sheet for each year of historical scores.

When I save to Excel, it takes each column and makes it into one long column. I suppose I could save it and edit it. But I risk making the mistake of moving the wrong column to the wrong place. It really needs to read the way it does on the web site. Not to mention the historical scores are from 1972 to the present, so that would be a lot of editing! I gave you the year with the smallest amount of data to transfer. The later years have more corps, more rounds of competitions leading up to the finals!

Any suggestions?

Jed245

Friday, March 07, 2003 - 04:17 am EditMoveDeleteIP
There are a few ways to do that Whoami. As you said you could copy/paste edit.

OR you could open your web browser goto the page and useing internet explorer right click on the page then click view source. You can also do this by clicking View at the top right of your browser then slecting source.

You can then take the notepad document that opens up and paste the entire contents into front page express. Then save that and you will always have that exact webpage on your desktop.

Then there is the simple copy /paste copy/ paste way :o)

Goto the page and make sure your browser is maximized (it will most likely be anyway ). Then click the "print screen " button on your keyboard. Next open up MSpaint. Then paste it right in there. :o)

I know this will only get part of the page. So next thing you need to do after saving your newly saved page in MS paint, is go back to your browser and scroll down then take another screen shot by pressing the print screen button.

Paste that in MSpaint and save it. It may take you three or so screen captures, but, the end result will give you about three pics that can be edited and joined together so that you can view it as one pic. :o)

There are other ways as well, but, I think those are the most creative. :o)
heh.

Jed.

Mosessupposes

Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 02:34 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Whoami, here is a link to a page (slow loading) with a JPG image of that 1972 chart, if you put your mouse cursor over the chart and "right click" and "Save Picture As" you can save an exact image of that chart on your harddrive in JPG format. Your photo viewer will probably reduce it down to 10% of its full 100%, just zoom it back to 100%.

1972 Chart JPG Format

Don't know if this helps or not.

Texannie

Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 06:44 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Not really a computer problem, but a question. I have always wondered, can the owner of a website tell who comes to their site? IE..if you have to register, can they tell when or how often you lurk?

Draheid

Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 07:45 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Texannie: There are logs available on all web servers that display a lot of information about each time someone requests a page from it (ie 'visits' the site) - it depends on whether or not the site operator uses those logs. These logs can give a great deal of information such as the users connection address, browser type, operating system, screen size, color depth, etc. whenever you visit a site.

Hope this helps.

Texannie

Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 08:26 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks. What if you have a firewall?

Draheid

Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 10:38 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Texannie: Yes, even with a firewall, you're connection information has to be passed to a website in order for the site to send the requested information back to you. For an indepth view of some of the information that can be seen, I suggest you go to Anonymizer.com's Snoop Test and try all the different tests on the left side of that screen. It might scare you! However, there is additional information there that might be of interest to you to see what you can do to correct some of those.

Another good site to test your firewall's performance is GRC.com and run the 'ShieldsUp!' routine to see for yourself.

Hope this helps!