IE problem - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Snibble · #1 08-30-2003, 01:20 PM

I hope someone here would know how to help with my computer problem. I was playing around long time ago trying to delete things on the computer I don't need... unfortunately, I think I deleted the program that plays flash when I visit flash websites. I went to macromedia.com and clicked the install... but it does not download and I still have the problem. I have no idea where to go from here. Any help would be appreciated.

Snibble · #2 08-31-2003, 07:30 AM

uhhhhh.... ok. I will look elsewhere.

Piotr · #3 09-02-2003, 12:30 AM

sorry, Snibble. No idea. But if you learn how to shutdown Windows 98 so I can run defrag on it, let me know!

moparmike · #4 09-02-2003, 07:12 AM

Try going to a site that requires a flash plug-in and downloading it when you see the pop-up.

www.garfield.com is one.

Do a search for "flash plug-in" on google. Dont be surprised when you see about a billion hits though.

Moparmike, a computer tech.

tjohn · #5 09-02-2003, 07:30 AM

Yeah, if you wanted you could go through the control panel to the add/remove programs tab, then remove Flash and or Shockwave (basically all the Macromedia stuff you see) just to make sure you cleared off everything. Then, just do as Moparmike says, and you should download it fresh and new. Another possibility is if you recently installed a firewall, you may need to adjust the settings so that you can see flash content. Good luck.

#6 09-02-2003, 08:47 AM

Piotr,
In order to run defrag or scan disc you have to shut down all running programs exept explorer. To do that you have to push ctrl alt delete once and close everything except explorer. You will have to repeat this step for each running program. Then retry your maintenance. It should work.

tjohn · #7 09-02-2003, 09:09 AM

Not that Piotr's suggestion won't work - it will - but its only a bandaid approach. You need to get the updated defrag program that shipped w/ WinME. You'll be much happier you did. Check this link for help.

#8 09-02-2003, 09:27 AM

tjohn,
Thanks for that great link! I have been dealing with balky defrag for some time. Our IT guy told me what I told Piotr instead of the real fix that you described. Will you be my IT guy from now on?

tjohn · #9 09-02-2003, 09:33 PM

Glad to help. It makes a real difference doesn't it? And BTW, I'm sorry I got you and Piotr mixed up. I was in a bit of a rush this morning.

Gilly · #10 09-02-2003, 10:07 PM

Sorry if this is like "butting in" on this thread. I've got a few bad issues with my puter lately I just can't get rid of.
It's Windows ME, and a Compaq puter, Celeron processor, and added a little memory too it. Not a real hotrod. Oh, on a dial up too

.

Biggest problem is speed. now, i know it's not a hot rod computer, but it's really bad lately. By that I mean as I type this message for example, sometimes I'll have the cursor out about 2 sentences+, but not letters behind the curcor. i stop, and slowly, slowly, here come the letters i typed. It won't act like this at every site though. EBay is REALLY bad as far as trying to scroll through a page, just terrible. This site is bad sometimes (usually).
On my outlook express emails, never a problem.
I did an internet speed test, it was actually pretty good, 43kbs on a 56k modem, that's fair, right?

I've done all I know to do, mainly:
disc cleanup
defrag
scan disc for errors (it found and corrected some errors automatically, but still acting the same way)
went to "PC Pitstop" (it's a site by CompUSA, which is where I bought this turd) and ran there tests and did all the free stuff, changed a few settings. I'm not a computer expert by any stretch.

Anyone seen this before? It's driving me nuts sometimes when it's real bad. Been like this for about a month.

Oh, sometimes it would'nt shut down for me either, that does seem better the past few days after doing some of the work i mentioned.
Sometimes after start up and trying to log on to Outlook Express (in other words checking emails before logging on to IE) I get an error message. I then shut down OE, try logging on again and the second time it always logs on no problem. I never get bumped off the net anymore, which used to be a big problem, and also the computer never locks up or anything.

Gilly

moparmike · #11 09-02-2003, 10:38 PM

Sounds like you have extraneous processes eating up memory and processor time. I would slap some more memory in there (at least a 128MB stick, more if $$$ allows). My mom has a Compaq runing ME, and I hate it. It craps out and is terribly slow in everything it does. I refuse to use compaq because of all their extraneous BS.

Sorry if that turned into a rant about Compaq. It just rubs me the wrong way.

Gilly · #12 09-02-2003, 10:51 PM

No, I know what you're saying. Plus, it's getting to be about 3 years old. Don't most people hold on to them even less than that?
No Compaq next time, but the dial up probably stays.
But why just in the last month or so has it been like this? i think the phone company got some new equipment, I really can't complain about the kbs rate now. Seem to be just the computer. maybe I can take some of the Compaq stuff out of it?

Gilly

moparmike · #13 09-02-2003, 11:22 PM

Unfortunately, most of the hardware is proprietary Compaq stuff, requireing all the BS software to make it compatible. They do this so that they can:

1. Get more service call $$$.
2. Get more parts call $$$.
3. Put the home computer guru/tech/nerd out of business, or keep them out of the box.
4. Keep you coming back to Compaq for new updates on hardware and software, thereby getting more $$$.
5. Get more $$$.

Seeing a pattern?

This also causes the processor to have to run more programs in order to keep the computer running smoothly. Unfortunately for anyone who wants to do more than use Notepad or AOHell (which is a strech sometimes), it doesnt run very smoothly. I built my own computer, and I can count the number of times I restarted it due to error since feb '02 on all my fingers and toes. I can account for the reasons on about 90% of them too.

If your hard drive is more than 75% full, it could do that. My hard drive has been about 80% full for a while now (kazaa) and it takes a couple of minutes to boot. If I got it down to the 20GB of essentials, it would go much faster.

Gilly · #14 09-03-2003, 12:56 AM

Like I said, I'm no puter expert.
I believe the hard drive is also called the local disc, on mine it's called "local disc C". I hope this is correct.
On this local disc C it says I have 11.2 GB capacity, used 1.29 GB, leaving free 9.94 GB, so I don't thnk it's the hard drive, assuming this is all correct. On "Syst_Sav" drive D, it looks like I've used about 1/3 of it.
I have added "RAM" to it once, i probably could again. They didn't charge anything to install it, and I think it cost about 50 bucks or so, can't remember how much RAM it was. How do I look up how much RAM it has? Does RAM eventually get "used up" like disc space? is there a way to tell if I have enough RAM?
On the one test site I went to (PC Pitstop), it looks like that's about all they have left to suggest is more memory, I assume this means RAM. The first thing they recommended is that I delete a program I had which they said was "spyware", in this case it was called something like ISTSVC.EXE. So I did the delete program thing, still no difference. I think I'll need to get another year outta this puter, get more RAM?

Gilly

tjohn · #15 09-03-2003, 07:12 AM

I'm not a big Compaq fan either. I have one in my office, it's the slowest of three computer's there. Not by processor speed, but in terms of real-time performance. The issue w/ my Compaq is that has a crappy video card, and uses free RAM to compensate. It is slow with certain graphics intensive sites. I think the only real answer is to get a video card with plenty of its own dedicated RAM. However, any increase in RAM will help.