BeeCeeBee

Hi Ann, What are the security settings on your IE7 (I assume you are using 7) Just go to tools then internet options and click on the security tab. You should be set for "Internet" with a security level at medium- high. If your setting is for trusted sites or restricted sites this may account for your problems.

No problem Nicola, I am always glad when it is the simple things!! :D

Are you certain that the key has been properly entered into the PC. The fact that you can see the router from your lappy and the other is connected to the router but cannot see it makes a typo possible. The fact that you cannot connect using the ethernet is curious though but at least double check the entry.

Hi nicola, Please look at the easy stuff first. Click on the little network icon in the task bar and make certain that the pc is trying to connect to the proper network and not some neighbor's. If your network is not showing then click on view wireless networks and if it not on the list try refresh network list. Assuming that all is ok click on properties and then internet protocol (TCP/IP) it should look like this. http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/tcp.png Hopefully that will solve the problem.

Hi Fireball and welcome to fpch. We do our best to be and appreciate the referral.:) Enjoy the forum!!

Do you mean the very top bar where it actually says Internet explorer? I suspect that you downloaded IE7 from a tiscali site such as a welcome page. For years I had the wording Internet Explorer provided by ......... It is really nothing more than advertising. As long as your ISP connection is as it should be there is nothing to be concerned about. If it troubles you you can always uninstall IE7 and reinstall it directly from microsoft.

The symantic program you are using seems geared toward business applications where there is often a need to curtail internet usage etc. I would first suggest that you take a look at this link and perhaps consider making things a bit easier. http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/malware-removal-av-firewalls-etc/3597-fpch-recommended-security-products.html That is not to suggest that the warnings are necessarily inaccurate. It is just possible that it is the result of your settings. It is also possible that you have already been infected and, even if not, you should be reasonably sure that your system is clean before making any changes. I suggest that you follow our malware removal procedure to be certain. Your computer could be infected with Malware. Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. It is a combination of the words malicious and software. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. Required Cleanup Steps Disable the Spybot Search & Destroy TEA TIMER if you use it and if it is enabled Run a Temporary file and cache cleaner (ATF) Run 2 Anti-Malware scanners (Listed Below) Run an Online Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware Scanner (Listed Below) Clear out old System Restore points If continued Malware type activity is present you may be asked to post a TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Log file, do not do so unless requested. The reason to run multiple scanners is to ensure that no single scanner is missing something. The time it takes will vary depending on your system and your internet connection speed. Typically the SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes scanners will take between 10 to 90 minutes. The ESET online scan should take between 1 to 3 hours. In most cases, these scans will suffice to clean and disinfect your computer. Heavily infected systems or slower PCs can take much longer to scan and clean. For best results print the following instructions and bookmark this Web page To keep this guide printer-friendly, use your cursor to highlight the contents below. From your browser select File - Print and in the printer dialog box under "Print range" click the Selection choice to print out these instructions for removal of malware. http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/printer-selection.gif ____________________________________________ STEP 1 Disable Spybot Search & Destroys' TEA TIMER: (if installed, if not go to Step 2) Run Spybot-S&D in Advanced Mode. If it is not already set to do this Go to the Mode menu select "Advanced Mode" On the left hand side, Click on Tools Then click on the Resident Icon in the List Uncheck "Resident TeaTimer" and OK any prompts. Restart your computer. __________________________________________________ STEP 2 Follow these instructions carefully. Download ATF-Cleaner from Snapfiles.com to remove un-needed temporary files from your computer that may contain malware. When you run ATF-Cleaner, check the items as shown below for Main. For FireFox, be sure to click on the FireFox tab on top and check the items as shown below for FireFox NOTE: If you don't have FireFox or Opera installed then they will be grayed out and can be ignored Then click on "Empty Selected". http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner01.gif . http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner02.gif __________________________________________________ STEP 3 Install and run the free version (not the Professional version) of SUPERAntiSpyware from SUPERAntiSpyware.com Accept any prompts to allow SUPERAntiSpyware to install the latest rules and infection definition files. You do not have to send them your e-mail address, just click next. You can leave the automated check for updates on. You can uncheck "Send a diagnostic report to research center" if you don't want to send the information. DO NOT allow SUPERAntiSpyware to protect your Home Page settings. On the Top Left select the Scan your computer button. Make sure there is a CHECK MARK on all Fixed Drives. Click "Perform a Complete Scan". Click "Next" to Repair issues found and reboot the computer when prompted to do so. __________________________________________________ STEP 4 Install and run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from Malwarebytes - (direct download) Accept all defaults for the installer Allow the program to update the definitions Click on the Quick Scan and click Next. If any items are found allow it to clean them and then Reboot your computer. __________________________________________________ STEP 5 Run an online scan with ESET from Free Virus Scan: Use ESET's Online Antivirus Scanner You must use Internet Explorer for this online scan. FireFox, Opera, etc will not work for this scan. If your computer is running Window's Vista, then you must first start Internet Explorer as an Administrator. To do so, right-click on the Internet Explorer icon in the Start Menu and select "Run as administrator" from the popup context menu. Accept the terms and click "Start". Once the scanner is ready, check "Remove found threats" AND "Scan unwanted applications". Click "Start" to begin the scan. When completed restart your computer __________________________________________________ Make sure your internet firewall security is enabled, and then please return to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help and tell us how the computer seems to be operating. At that time, you will receive instructions to assist you in removing malicious programs from your Add/Remove program list if warranted. If required this is the download link for TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Unless instructed to by the Technician helping you then do not download this tool. Once you and the Technician agree that your system appears to be clean then you should delete all your System Restore points and recreate a new one. Please follow the instructions here How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows XP How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows Vista __________________

:) Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help young man!! Do not let age concern you. When I joined I was 50 and that was months ago. :eek: Hope you enjoy the forum!

It would be very helpful if in the future we are a little more precise in defining problems. A dvd/cd drive is both electronic and mechanical. It may well be that the reason the drives above stopped functioning is due to some driver issue etc. It is also just as possible that they are broken. Do they light up when you boot? Do they spin and stop or not spin at all? What actually happens when you put a disc in? Most things in life work until they don't.

Far to late here to get into this in detail. You may want to try to do a tag search. Tags are generally added after the fact and sometimes get you more pertinent information. We do not give heading to the threads but try our best to move them to the proper forum when they are not properly placed.

Glad to see you did that. :) Now get all of your data stored onto it as it is far more reliable then the little flash drive you have been using. As far as the add or remove is concerned, it really depends on how you are using the drive. If you are simply using it as storage and moving file over manually there probably is no great danger in simply removing the usb cable. If, however, you become more sophisticated in its use you need to be sure it is not being accessed when you remove it. If you are into "better safe then sorry" the few seconds it takes will be of little bother. On the other hand if you should happen to pull the thing without the safely remove utility I would not be particularly concerned.

Ok but as long as the system is booted up, look for a key with the windows flag on it (4 wavy boxes shaped like a flag) Press it and the start menu should pop up. You will then be able to shut down the system by using your arrow keys and enter. For that matter you should be able to access anything on the start menu that way. If you can do that during a freeze it probably is not a freeze at all.

If you are saying that the reason you believe the system is freezing up is because you cannot move your pointer with your mouse then I suppose it may be. Usually there is a bit more evidence before something is declared a crash. Have you ever tried the tab key (or the windows key to open your start menu) during a "freeze." Please before you do anything else attach a different mouse and lets rule it out at least.

From all you describe itn would appear that your hard drive may be failing on you. Do you hear any strange sounds such as a clicking sound when the system locks up?

Were you able to see the result of the check? Did it report any damage? Or did it just freeze up at the end?

"Outrageous aspersions- distressing event- truly alarmed." These seem like the words of someone trying to deflect attention. Perhaps Goku is on to something after all!

I don't think so Goku. The drive was used as a primary slave and we all know that Wolfey is a strong believer in slavery. I doubt he would kill one. But lets wait for the ME report on cause of death and leave all option open.

Chelle can you please give us all the information you can about the machine. Is it a Laptop or a pc? Specifically what is the make, model and serial number and is it the machine that is running XP Home. Finally I want you to go into safe mode again (no need for networking) and try to run a check disc. Do this by opening my computer and right click on your c drive. Select properties and then tools. When you get to tools select check now under error checking., It may require you to reboot. If so do that and report back. We need to know if you are even able to run this check.

Strange! What is the make and model of your machine and exactly what disks did you use to restore?

Perhaps we are getting lost in the words here. To me freeze means crash. You cannot do anything but shut down. What you are describing is a connectivity issue. Is it just your browser that is not functioning?

Considering that it was your hard drive Wolfey, I am not inclined to rule out suicide!! Calling in the Yorkshire CSI team. Move nothing!!!

Have you tried to boot XP in safe mode with networking? If not restart and tap F8 when the initial screen appears. When you get to boot options select safe mode with networking and see if you can connect without it freezing.

It is pretty much a last resort and a shame you have gone there already but it is done. When you say it still freezing what do you mean? Where does it freeze? Does XP boot at all?

Please explain what you mean by a full factory reset. Was this a full system recovery? Did it remove your data?

To the best of my limited knowledge and research there is little you can do in terms of resizing partitions in XP. I assume that this is the original partition scheme when you received the computer from Dell. 20GB is more than sufficient to run your OS along with all your programs etc. There is no purpose gained by loading up the C drive with loads of data that can easily by moved onto D.