Loss of program access

[Dave Kolars]

Just got a new system a couple of weeks ago (Dell with Xp Home Ed.) --
running fine until today:

I changed a couple of display settings: Control Panel, System, Advanced,
Performance, Settings... I set it to "Custom", unchecked the 1st 4 choices,
and clicked "OK". The display then went totally nuts. I had it set to
Windows Classic, and it reverted to Win XP (the flashy stuff), re-set all
the colors, re-set all the sounds to the defaults (I had turned them all off
except for "Close Windows"), and,in general, acted like older versions of
Windows, doing things totally unexpectedly, etc. And after being so well
behaved...

Now, Netscape Navigator 7.01 won't load. The splash screen comes up, and
then nothing. But it is running in the System Processes...

I clicked on the install file for NS 701 and get a non-functioning tab in
the bottom bar, so I can't even re-install it. Right clicking on it gives
me a small box that says "Move".

Downloaded a new copy of 701 and it, too, puts a non-functioning tab in the
bottom bar.

Installed NS 6.23. It will not run either.

I then did a System Restore to yesterday, but still no luck. Then did a
restore back to Monday. Still no luck.

Any hints or clues or help greatly appreciated! Thanks dk

[Sharon F]

Dave Kolars wrote:
> Just got a new system a couple of weeks ago (Dell with Xp Home Ed.) --
> running fine until today:
>
> I changed a couple of display settings: Control Panel, System, Advanced,
> Performance, Settings... I set it to "Custom", unchecked the 1st 4
choices,
> and clicked "OK". The display then went totally nuts. I had it set to
> Windows Classic, and it reverted to Win XP (the flashy stuff), re-set all
> the colors, re-set all the sounds to the defaults (I had turned them all
off
> except for "Close Windows"), and,in general, acted like older versions of
> Windows, doing things totally unexpectedly, etc. And after being so well
> behaved...
>
> Now, Netscape Navigator 7.01 won't load. The splash screen comes up, and
> then nothing. But it is running in the System Processes...
>
> I clicked on the install file for NS 701 and get a non-functioning tab in
> the bottom bar, so I can't even re-install it. Right clicking on it gives
> me a small box that says "Move".
>
> Downloaded a new copy of 701 and it, too, puts a non-functioning tab in
the
> bottom bar.
>
> Installed NS 6.23. It will not run either.
>
> I then did a System Restore to yesterday, but still no luck. Then did a
> restore back to Monday. Still no luck.
>
> Any hints or clues or help greatly appreciated! Thanks dk

Suggestions:
-- Since the display was the first thing to go wonky, what happens if you
reinstall the display driver?

-- Delete Temp files and Temporary Internet Files. Wouldn't hurt to clean
out Netscape's cache as well. This is an old fashioned step but extras
hanging around in these locations can still cause weird and obnoxious side
effects.

-- Executables not running is worrisome. Check for viruses using up-to-date
definitions for your antivirus program or give one of the online scanners a
whirl.

-- If the virus check comes up clean, run chkdsk. If it's been a while, it
wouldn't hurt to run defrag as well.

--
Sharon F
Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User

[Dave Kolars]

"Sharon F" > wrote in message
...
> Dave Kolars wrote:
> > Just got a new system a couple of weeks ago (Dell with Xp Home Ed.) --
> > running fine until today:
> > I changed a couple of display settings: Control Panel, System,
Advanced,
> > Performance, Settings... I set it to "Custom", unchecked the 1st 4
> choices,
> > and clicked "OK". The display then went totally nuts. I had it set to
> > Windows Classic, and it reverted to Win XP (the flashy stuff), re-set
all
> > the colors, re-set all the sounds to the defaults (I had turned them all
> > off except for "Close Windows"), and,in general, acted like older
versions
> > of Windows, doing things totally unexpectedly, etc. And after being so
> > well behaved...
> >
> > Now, Netscape Navigator 7.01 won't load. The splash screen comes up,
and
> > then nothing. But it is running in the System Processes...
> > I clicked on the install file for NS 701 and get a non-functioning tab
in
> > the bottom bar, so I can't even re-install it. Right clicking on it
gives
> > me a small box that says "Move".
> > Downloaded a new copy of 701 and it, too, puts a non-functioning tab in
> >the bottom bar.
> > Installed NS 6.23. It will not run either.
> > I then did a System Restore to yesterday, but still no luck. Then did a
> > restore back to Monday. Still no luck.

> Suggestions:
> -- Since the display was the first thing to go wonky, what happens if you
> reinstall the display driver?
==> No change
> -- Delete Temp files and Temporary Internet Files. Wouldn't hurt to clean
> out Netscape's cache as well. This is an old fashioned step but extras
> hanging around in these locations can still cause weird and obnoxious side
> effects.
==> Did this
> -- Executables not running is worrisome. Check for viruses using
up-to-date
> definitions for your antivirus program or give one of the online scanners
a
> whirl.
==> Ah, but some executables run -- the install programs for NS Navigator
4.08 and 6.23 will run just fine and install the programs. Then the
programs will not run. But, the 7.01 & 7.02 install exe will not run. I've
also run some other exe files since then and installed a couple of
programs(AdAware and Remote Admininstrator), with no problem...
> -- If the virus check comes up clean, run chkdsk. If it's been a while, it
> wouldn't hurt to run defrag as well.
==> No virii, did disk clean, and defrag... no change. It's like XP
doesn't want Netscape on its system...
> Sharon F
> Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User

[Sharon F]

Dave Kolars wrote:
> "Sharon F" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Dave Kolars wrote:
>>> Just got a new system a couple of weeks ago (Dell with Xp Home Ed.) --
>>> running fine until today:
>>> I changed a couple of display settings: Control Panel, System,
Advanced,
>>> Performance, Settings... I set it to "Custom", unchecked the 1st 4
>>> choices, and clicked "OK". The display then went totally nuts. I had
it
>>> set to Windows Classic, and it reverted to Win XP (the flashy stuff),
>>> re-set all the colors, re-set all the sounds to the defaults (I had
>>> turned them all off except for "Close Windows"), and,in general, acted
>>> like older versions of Windows, doing things totally unexpectedly, etc.
>>> And after being so well behaved...
>>>
>>> Now, Netscape Navigator 7.01 won't load. The splash screen comes up,
and
>>> then nothing. But it is running in the System Processes...
>>> I clicked on the install file for NS 701 and get a non-functioning tab
in
>>> the bottom bar, so I can't even re-install it. Right clicking on it
gives
>>> me a small box that says "Move".
>>> Downloaded a new copy of 701 and it, too, puts a non-functioning tab in
>> >the bottom bar.
>>> Installed NS 6.23. It will not run either.
>>> I then did a System Restore to yesterday, but still no luck. Then did a
>>> restore back to Monday. Still no luck.
>
>> Suggestions:
>> -- Since the display was the first thing to go wonky, what happens if you
>> reinstall the display driver?
> ==> No change
>> -- Delete Temp files and Temporary Internet Files. Wouldn't hurt to clean
>> out Netscape's cache as well. This is an old fashioned step but extras
>> hanging around in these locations can still cause weird and obnoxious
side
>> effects.
> ==> Did this
>> -- Executables not running is worrisome. Check for viruses using
up-to-date
>> definitions for your antivirus program or give one of the online scanners
a
>> whirl.
> ==> Ah, but some executables run -- the install programs for NS Navigator
> 4.08 and 6.23 will run just fine and install the programs. Then the
> programs will not run. But, the 7.01 & 7.02 install exe will not run.
I've
> also run some other exe files since then and installed a couple of
> programs(AdAware and Remote Admininstrator), with no problem...
>> -- If the virus check comes up clean, run chkdsk. If it's been a while,
it
>> wouldn't hurt to run defrag as well.
> ==> No virii, did disk clean, and defrag... no change. It's like XP
> doesn't want Netscape on its system...


Dave, you sure have a weird problem there.
I don't use Netscape so spent a bit of time poking around their FAQ and help
area. (It appears they have a user forum that may be helpful to you.)

You've already run chkdsk and defrag so won't suggest that to be done again.
However, a reminder to delete *any* files in the Temp folders after a failed
installation before trying to install again.

Did you update 7 after installing it? And are now trying to reinstall from
an older setup file? If yes, uninstall Netscape before reinstalling. OR
install to a new folder.

Does it ask at the beginning of the setup if it should install for all users
or just current user? Are you reinstalling the program from the same user
account it was first installed from? If no, log on to that account and try
there. OR uninstall from there, log on to your current account and then try
an install.

Are you using the online interactive install or a stand alone setup file? If
online, try disabling your firewall and/or antivirus program until the
installation completes.

The Netscape 7 help page makes a mention of trouble in several situations
when the program resides in a readonly folder. If you've installed to the
default Program Files folder, that is a readonly folder. Try installing in a
folder directly off of a root drive C:\Mozilla or D:\Mozilla, etc.

Ideas from the Netscape installation PDF file:
--Set your display to 16bit color or higher because when using 256 colors or
less it can only run in "classic theme."
--If Netscape 6 is on the computer (you mentioned trying to install that
too), it should be removed before installing 7.
--Choose custom install and choose the bare minimum of components to get
this program in and running. You can add additional components later.


--
Sharon F
Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User

[Dave Kolars]

> Dave, you sure have a weird problem there.
> I don't use Netscape so spent a bit of time poking around their FAQ and
help
> area. (It appears they have a user forum that may be helpful to you.)

I've been using NS since version 2.x and spent a lot of time in the FAQ
myself and posted to several newsgroups and found nothing that would help
with this problem.

I did receive a suggestion from someone who saw my message in one of the
newsgroups and said that I should simply reformat my hard drive and
re-install XP. This is not what I want to do (yet), that being pretty much
a last resort in my experience...

> You've already run chkdsk and defrag so won't suggest that to be done
again.
> However, a reminder to delete *any* files in the Temp folders after a
failed
> installation before trying to install again.

Yep, did disk cleanup and a manual checkup and emptied all of those temp
files... Oh, yes... after backing up the Registry, I removed all but the
generic references to Netscape from the entire Registry. Made no
difference.

> Did you update 7 after installing it? And are now trying to reinstall from
> an older setup file? If yes, uninstall Netscape before reinstalling. OR
> install to a new folder.

Nope, no update, and I have uninstalled all versions of NS

> Does it ask at the beginning of the setup if it should install for all
users
> or just current user? Are you reinstalling the program from the same user
> account it was first installed from? If no, log on to that account and try
> there. OR uninstall from there, log on to your current account and then
try
> an install.

I wish that I could get to the beginning of setup! When I click on the
install exe file, XP puts a box in the task bar. That's all that happens.
Left-clicking on this box has no effect, and right-clicking gives me a small
choice box that says "Move" and clicking on that turns the mouse cursor into
a 4-headed arrow.

> Are you using the online interactive install or a stand alone setup file?
If
> online, try disabling your firewall and/or antivirus program until the
> installation completes.

Using the stand alone. I tried installing the on-line version, and it
installed just fine, but will not run... BUT, Processes says that it's
running, using 16,340 K of memory. It just installed, didn't ask about any
users...

> Ideas from the Netscape installation PDF file:
> --Set your display to 16bit color or higher because when using 256 colors
or
> less it can only run in "classic theme."

I'm set to 32 bit by default after XP recognized my monitor.

> --Choose custom install and choose the bare minimum of components to get
> this program in and running. You can add additional components later.

Like I said, I never got that far with the stand-alone exe and did that for
the on-line install.

My son (the computer geek) asked me why didn't I just "come over to the dark
side" and use IE :) but I write HTML and need to check it on various
browsers...

Now for the newest "quirk" of XP, and this has happened since the above
weirdness -- I installed "critical" updates from Micro$oft and now I have to
click on my name on a Welcome Screen to start XP and get to the desktop --
out of the box from Dell, XP simply loaded and showed the desktop, but knew
that I was the user. Weird.

I am used to NT, having finished my working career maintaining some 35
desktops running NT 4.0 in a government setting, so the need for a log on of
some sort is not new to me, just that I didn't realize that XP would do that
since, out of the box, it didn't. NT does.

Another interesting thing about XP -- when I got the system, I installed all
my programs, either from CD or from install exe files (I had a second hard
drive that I put into the machine that had all of those files on it). XP
put most of the programs into "All Users", but put some into "Dave
Kolars"... no rhyme or reason for the placement that I can see... At that
point in time, there was no log in screen or welcome screen.

Thank you very much for all your help and concern thus far!!
--
> Sharon F
> Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User
>

[Sharon F]

Dave Kolars wrote:
>> Dave, you sure have a weird problem there.
>> I don't use Netscape so spent a bit of time poking around their FAQ and
>> help area. (It appears they have a user forum that may be helpful to
you.)
>
> I've been using NS since version 2.x and spent a lot of time in the FAQ
> myself and posted to several newsgroups and found nothing that would help
> with this problem.
>
> I did receive a suggestion from someone who saw my message in one of the
> newsgroups and said that I should simply reformat my hard drive and
> re-install XP. This is not what I want to do (yet), that being pretty
much
> a last resort in my experience...
>
>> You've already run chkdsk and defrag so won't suggest that to be done
>> again. However, a reminder to delete *any* files in the Temp folders
after
>> a failed installation before trying to install again.
>
> Yep, did disk cleanup and a manual checkup and emptied all of those temp
> files... Oh, yes... after backing up the Registry, I removed all but the
> generic references to Netscape from the entire Registry. Made no
> difference.
>
>> Did you update 7 after installing it? And are now trying to reinstall
from
>> an older setup file? If yes, uninstall Netscape before reinstalling. OR
>> install to a new folder.
>
> Nope, no update, and I have uninstalled all versions of NS
>
>> Does it ask at the beginning of the setup if it should install for all
>> users or just current user? Are you reinstalling the program from the
same
>> user account it was first installed from? If no, log on to that account
>> and try there. OR uninstall from there, log on to your current account
and
>> then try an install.
>
> I wish that I could get to the beginning of setup! When I click on the
> install exe file, XP puts a box in the task bar. That's all that happens.
> Left-clicking on this box has no effect, and right-clicking gives me a
small
> choice box that says "Move" and clicking on that turns the mouse cursor
into
> a 4-headed arrow.
>
>> Are you using the online interactive install or a stand alone setup file?
>> If online, try disabling your firewall and/or antivirus program until the
>> installation completes.
>
> Using the stand alone. I tried installing the on-line version, and it
> installed just fine, but will not run... BUT, Processes says that it's
> running, using 16,340 K of memory. It just installed, didn't ask about
any
> users...
>
>> Ideas from the Netscape installation PDF file:
>> --Set your display to 16bit color or higher because when using 256 colors
>> or less it can only run in "classic theme."
>
> I'm set to 32 bit by default after XP recognized my monitor.
>
>> --Choose custom install and choose the bare minimum of components to get
>> this program in and running. You can add additional components later.
>
> Like I said, I never got that far with the stand-alone exe and did that
for
> the on-line install.
>
> My son (the computer geek) asked me why didn't I just "come over to the
dark
> side" and use IE :) but I write HTML and need to check it on various
> browsers...
>
> Now for the newest "quirk" of XP, and this has happened since the above
> weirdness -- I installed "critical" updates from Micro$oft and now I have
to
> click on my name on a Welcome Screen to start XP and get to the desktop --
> out of the box from Dell, XP simply loaded and showed the desktop, but
knew
> that I was the user. Weird.
>
> I am used to NT, having finished my working career maintaining some 35
> desktops running NT 4.0 in a government setting, so the need for a log on
of
> some sort is not new to me, just that I didn't realize that XP would do
that
> since, out of the box, it didn't. NT does.
>
> Another interesting thing about XP -- when I got the system, I installed
all
> my programs, either from CD or from install exe files (I had a second hard
> drive that I put into the machine that had all of those files on it). XP
> put most of the programs into "All Users", but put some into "Dave
> Kolars"... no rhyme or reason for the placement that I can see... At that
> point in time, there was no log in screen or welcome screen.
>
> Thank you very much for all your help and concern thus far!!
> --

Well, we're not getting very far with this but we're sure having a lovely
discussion ;)

The change in your XP login is likely due to the addition a new account
created by the installation of the .NET Framework via Windows update. Check
in Control Panel> User Accounts to see if that new account is listed. If it
is, use Start> Run> control userpasswords2
Uncheck the box "Users must enter a user name and password to use this
computer" and follow the onscreen prompts for selecting the default account
to be logged on.

Before you do that... Care to try an experiment? What happens if you create
a new user account and try the network installation from there? If
successful, it's likely one of the items in your startup group was
interfering with the Netscape installation.


--
Sharon F
Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User

[Dave Kolars]

"Sharon F" > wrote in message
...
> Well, we're not getting very far with this but we're sure having a lovely
> discussion ;)

Yes we are!!

> The change in your XP login is likely due to the addition a new account
> created by the installation of the .NET Framework via Windows update.
Check
> in Control Panel> User Accounts to see if that new account is listed. If
it
> is, use Start> Run> control userpasswords2
> Uncheck the box "Users must enter a user name and password to use this
> computer" and follow the onscreen prompts for selecting the default
account
> to be logged on.

This worked once I put my account name in there instead of the Administrator
name!! Now I go right to the desktop, just like before.

> Before you do that... Care to try an experiment? What happens if you
create
> a new user account and try the network installation from there? If
> successful, it's likely one of the items in your startup group was
> interfering with the Netscape installation.

There is an account called: "ASP.NET Machine A" that seems to be the All
Users account? Anyway, I created a new account, logged in to that account,
and, since I have nearly everything that I use in the All Users\Programs
subdirectory, there on the screen were the icons for NS 6.23 and 7.02. They
both open just fine in the new account! I moved all of the remaining
programs and shortcuts from the Dave Kolars account to the All Users
account, and now have two choices: 1) try to set up the new account to be
the default (if I can manage to make all of the programs function from
there -- I know that a lot of programs won't work as they can't "recognize"
or find their start-up files!! and will need to have them imported, serial
nos. entered, etc. whadda pain... or 2) figure out what it was in the Dave
Kolars account that caused the problem...

Thanks a big bunch!!

Dave Kolars
www.tbcnet.com/~otcbr

[Sharon F]

Dave Kolars wrote:
> "Sharon F" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Well, we're not getting very far with this but we're sure having a lovely
>> discussion ;)
>
> Yes we are!!
>
>> The change in your XP login is likely due to the addition a new account
>> created by the installation of the .NET Framework via Windows update.
Check
>> in Control Panel> User Accounts to see if that new account is listed. If
it
>> is, use Start> Run> control userpasswords2
>> Uncheck the box "Users must enter a user name and password to use this
>> computer" and follow the onscreen prompts for selecting the default
account
>> to be logged on.
>
> This worked once I put my account name in there instead of the
Administrator
> name!! Now I go right to the desktop, just like before.
>
>> Before you do that... Care to try an experiment? What happens if you
create
>> a new user account and try the network installation from there? If
>> successful, it's likely one of the items in your startup group was
>> interfering with the Netscape installation.
>
> There is an account called: "ASP.NET Machine A" that seems to be the All
> Users account? Anyway, I created a new account, logged in to that
account,
> and, since I have nearly everything that I use in the All Users\Programs
> subdirectory, there on the screen were the icons for NS 6.23 and 7.02.
They
> both open just fine in the new account! I moved all of the remaining
> programs and shortcuts from the Dave Kolars account to the All Users
> account, and now have two choices: 1) try to set up the new account to be
> the default (if I can manage to make all of the programs function from
> there -- I know that a lot of programs won't work as they can't
"recognize"
> or find their start-up files!! and will need to have them imported, serial
> nos. entered, etc. whadda pain... or 2) figure out what it was in the
Dave
> Kolars account that caused the problem...
>
> Thanks a big bunch!!
>
> Dave Kolars
> www.tbcnet.com/~otcbr

All Users and Default Users are the two accounts that created the desktop
and start menu for the new user.

Asp.net is an account that is for the use of .NET programs that need a user
account to perform some functions. The account won't get used unless you
have one a program installed that takes advantage of the .NET framework and
then it will be accessed by the program. Similar to the "Local Service" and
"Network Service" accounts.

Suggestion if you adopt this new user account: Hang on to the old one and
experiment with it a bit. You may be able to pinpoint what was causing
Netscape to barf and blocking it from reinstalling. Might save you some
grief in the future if you run into this problem again.

Good luck and you're welcome. :)

--
Sharon F
Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User

[Dave Kolars]

"Sharon F" > wrote in message
...
> Suggestion if you adopt this new user account: Hang on to the old one and
> experiment with it a bit. You may be able to pinpoint what was causing
> Netscape to barf and blocking it from reinstalling. Might save you some
> grief in the future if you run into this problem again.
> Good luck and you're welcome. :)

Well, persistence pays off -- I fixed it!!! With the new profile, I could
open Netscape. I noticed that No Ads (ad blocking program) wasn't loading
in the start up so I started it. Poof, now Netscape won't load in the new
profile... Go to original profile and exit No Ads, and now Netscape works
again... There must have been a window with a title of "netscape" that I
blocked and No Ads was doing a fine job of doing what it was told to do... I
eliminated the reference to "netscape" and now I'm back like I was... I
take back everything that I said about XP :) but I reserve the right to
mutter about Microsoft...

Thanks!!
Dave Kolars
www.tbcnet.com/~otcbr

[Sharon F]

On Sun, 18 May 2003 23:37:05 -0500, "Dave Kolars" >
wrote:

>"Sharon F" > wrote in message
...
>> Suggestion if you adopt this new user account: Hang on to the old one and
>> experiment with it a bit. You may be able to pinpoint what was causing
>> Netscape to barf and blocking it from reinstalling. Might save you some
>> grief in the future if you run into this problem again.
>> Good luck and you're welcome. :)
>
>Well, persistence pays off -- I fixed it!!! With the new profile, I could
>open Netscape. I noticed that No Ads (ad blocking program) wasn't loading
>in the start up so I started it. Poof, now Netscape won't load in the new
>profile... Go to original profile and exit No Ads, and now Netscape works
>again... There must have been a window with a title of "netscape" that I
>blocked and No Ads was doing a fine job of doing what it was told to do... I
>eliminated the reference to "netscape" and now I'm back like I was... I
>take back everything that I said about XP :) but I reserve the right to
>mutter about Microsoft...
>
>Thanks!!
>Dave Kolars
>www.tbcnet.com/~otcbr
>

Great detective work on your part, Dave. Am glad to hear that you found
the source of the problem and have things working again.

Sharon F
MS MVP [Shell/User]