Unusual Problems

[N3]

Starting two days ago i've been having problems accessing my isp. Sometimes it would work but then i couldn't access my home page or email but i was able to access paltalk & skype. I'm only using a cable modem & i did disconnect it as well as reboot the computer but to no avail. Right now i dare not reboot my computer for fear of my isp not connecting properly. I did check with my isp & they said everything is working ok in my area. I'm wondering if the above has anything to do with my removing the two ms updates & java i had. My modem appears to be working, all five lights are on.

 

[Rich-M]

I certainly wouldn't be removing java it's used on almost every website. What were the updates you removed N3?
If you want a quick fix I would use System Restore to where it did work.

 

[N3]

I removed the two August updates that ms said were having a negative affect..."2982791" & "2970228". Unfortunately my system restore doesn't work. I tried accessing it through safe mode but it didn't help.

 

[Rich-M]

That sounds like Malware N3.

 

[N3]

My system restore has been that way for over 6 months. I tried every anti-malware program that i have. From what i've read it could also be a corrupted system restore. If i wasn't addicted to this computer stuff i'd gladly throw it in the dumpster! Never ending problems, grief, & aggravation.

 

[Rich-M]

The Anti Malware programs we use are generalist programs, I would post in the Malware Forum and let Pete practice his specialty as there are special programs these guys know about that are for specific issues. Maybe it's time to "bite the bullet" and reinstall Windows N3 as you are having a lot of issues and honestly there are times where no matter what we do, we can't fix it and just have to do that. Hell last week when I was having the issues with what I thought was Comcast I reinstalled Windows 3 different times in one week because I knew it was the only way to know for sure.

 

[Rich-M]

Have you tried manually making Restore Points?

 

[N3]

OMG! Reinstalling windows!!! To me that's a mental marathon! I realize the rationale of what you suggest but still........I've nave made a "manual" restore point. I've only chosen a restore point that was already among the list.

 

[starbuck]

Sometimes it would work but then i couldn't access my home page or email but i was able to access paltalk & skype.

So am i right in assuming that your problems are just browser based?

Right now i dare not reboot my computer for fear of my isp not connecting properly.

If Paltalk and Skype work ... then there's no problem with the internet connection.

First thing to try would be to reset your browser.

As i don't know which browser you are using.... here's the main 3:

To Reset Firefox

• At the top of the Firefox window, click the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information
• Click the Reset Firefox… button in the upper-right corner of the Troubleshooting Information page.
• To continue, click Reset Firefox in the confirmation window that opens.
• Firefox will close and be reset. When it's done, a window will list the information that was imported.
• Click Finish and Firefox will open.

Note:
After the reset is finished, your old Firefox profile information will be placed on your desktop in a folder named "Old Firefox Data." If the reset didn't fix your problem you can restore some of the information not saved by copying files to the new profile that was created.
If you don't need this folder any longer, you should delete it as it contains sensitive information.

The reset feature works by creating a new profile folder for you while saving your most important data.

Firefox will try to keep the following data:

• 
  
  
  • Bookmarks
  • Browsing history
  • Passwords
  • Cookies
  • Web form auto-fill information
  • Personal dictionary

--------------------

Reset IE back to the defaults.

• Close any Internet Explorer or Windows Explorer windows that are currently open.
• Open Internet Explorer by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Internet Explorer.
• Click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options.
• Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset.
• Select the Delete personal settings check box if you would like to remove browsing history, search providers, Accelerators, home pages, and InPrivate Filtering data.
• In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, click Reset.
• When Internet Explorer finishes applying default settings, click Close, and then click OK.
• Close Internet Explorer.
• Your changes will take effect the next time you open Internet Explorer.

-----------------

To reset Google Chrome

• Click the Menu option button at the top right of the Google Chrome screen
• Select Settings.
• Click Show advanced settings and find the "Reset browser settings” section.
• Click Reset browser settings.
• In the dialogue that appears, click Reset. Note: When the "Help make Google Chrome better by reporting the current settings" tick box is selected you are anonymously sending Google your Chrome settings. Reporting these settings allows us to analyse trends and work to prevent future unwanted settings changes.

Resetting your browser settings will impact the settings below:

Default search engine and saved search engines will be reset and to their original defaults.
Homepage button will be hidden and the URL that you previously set will be removed.
Default startup tabs will be cleared. The browser will show a new tab when you startup or continue where you left off if you're on a Chromebook.
New Tab page will be empty unless you have a version of Chrome with an extension that controls it. In that case your page may be preserved.
Pinned tabs will be unpinned.
Content settings will be cleared and reset to their installation defaults.
Cookies and site data will be cleared.
Extensions and themes will be disabled.

Unfortunately my system restore doesn't work

Try the obvious first:

Click Start >> All Programs >> Accessories,
Now right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.
Type the following command, and then press the ENTER key on the keyboard: (the space is meant to be there between the c and the / )
sfc /scannow

The sfc /scannow command scans all protected system files and replaces corrupt/ incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions.

 

[Rich-M]

N3 Starbuck is spot on go for that first. But I have a feeling your "marathon" awaits you. When you have that many issues in such a short space of time, I would bet the OS is corrupted and Vista and 7 do not do well with fixing that.

 

[N3]

I did the sfc /scannow with no negative results. Will try resetting both firefox & ie browsers.

 

[starbuck]

Ok, let us know how that goes.

 

[N3]

With deep regret i have come to the conclusion that i will have to do a "Return Computer To The Factory Settings". I have tried many options (some suggestions from this forum & the internet) to repair my comp & all have failed. One item i'd like to mention that may be significant....When booting up my comp i noticed that "WinPatrol" & "MalWare Bytes" icons are not displayed in the task bar?

 

[Rich-M]

N3, I have some pcs where Win Patrol will not display in Windows 7. I also have had issues where Mbam also would not show on the taskbar but actually in that case the pcs turned out to be infected.
I know your decision is the right one because there are some pcs where there just is no other choice so make sure you backup whatever is important first.

 

[N3]

Is there a means of printing all my firefox bookmarks as they are displayed? When i try to to print them all i get http addresses.

 

[starbuck]

Is there a means of printing all my firefox bookmarks as they are displayed? When i try to to print them all i get http addresses.

The easy way is to just backup the Bookmarks folder and then restore it into the new Firefox browser.
I've done this a few times when either reinstalling my system or when i've purchased a new system and want my Bookmarks on the new system.
Printing them all out could be a very long way around installing them again.
On my main system i have hundreds of Bookmarks and it would take me days to re-type them all.

This will explain how to backup and restore your bookmarks.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Backing_up_and_restoring_bookmarks_-_Firefox

 

[Rich-M]

Why not just export them, I do that regularly. Organize Bookmarks, Import & Backup, Export to HTML but don't try to print N4, just save the file somewhere and import it on your new install as import from HTML the same way.

 

[N3]

Well......After a "return computer to factory default" everything is working fine now. I'm no longer getting the permanent yellow exclamation mark on my network icon. "Winpatrol" will sometimes diisappear & appear after reboot. I did have 170 windows updates. Lost the two small "notification" arrows near my system tray. I still have some work getting information back into the computer but in time this will be resolved. Any "tweaks" or fine tuning i should do? Thanks to all for your past & present help in resolving my problem. You saved my computer from a dumpster deposit!

 

[Rich-M]

Good to hear N3. Nothing will run better than a clean install, its just a shame that it takes so much tweaking to get it back to where you want to be but we all know that sometimes you just have to "bite that bullet".