Windows/Total Commander problems

On 9/28/2017 10:03 AM, KenK wrote:
Paul wrote in news
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , KenK
writes:
[]
Where did you find the Windows Memory Tester? I've searched with

Paul's answered that, but ...

Control Panel and looked on Google and there seems to be nothing
built-in I can find on my system. DLing stuff all seems to be
disk images and seems more complicated than I'd prefer to get
into. I can't seem to find a simple XP memory tester to run from
the web site or DL. I seem to remember when I was running DOS
they were all over the place. I have a couple of old floppies
from magazines with maintenance utilities but I have no way to
run a floppy. The utilities probably wouldn't work on XP anyhow.

Suggestions?

The commonest one in DOS days (and to some extent still) is something
called something like MemTest86 - which wasn't DOS; it ran from a
bootable floppy.

If you haven't got a floppy drive, I _think_ there are versions that
will run from a CD. (Seems a waste of about 699 [or 199 or whatever if
you use a mini-one] MB, but since they only cost a few pence, I
suppose
it doesn't matter.)
You can fill it up more by downloading Hirens Boot CD.
memtest86 is on the first screen, before you load windows XP.
Very useful overall diagnostic CD.



Memtest doesn't actually use an OS. The loader loads the executable,
and the executable owns the machine. Memtest *is* the OS. It
uses VESA video mode, to draw the screen. That's why the screen is
640x480 while it tests. The executable is pretty small.

You can get memtest86+ at memtest.org . Half way down the web page.
There is a CD version, suitable for modern (floppy-less) computers.

I specifically included info for the Windows Memory Diagnostic, because
you never know when a second opinion might be required. I just happened
to see a failure in there, and I had to wait until the entire
memtest suite was finished, before I could confirm it. This was
one time, where only using memtest test #5, wasn't enough. You have
to run the whole thing, if your memory problem is obscure enough.
I was also not able to fault isolate to the nearest stick,
try as I might. I had to install all four sticks, to see
the (transient) error. And adjusting my Vnb this time,
didn't help. Putting new memory in, fixed it (grrr...).

Paul


How difficult is it to replace the memory chips? Remember? I seem to
recall doing it on one of my systems a few years ago but that's all I
recall. Probably depends on the motherboard.

KenK wrote in
:


Suddenly having problems with this both versions (Total
Commander/Windows Commander) old file manager. It won't change
directories. One view is set to C drive, the other to L. Selecting
another drive has no effect. This never happened before. Any theories
by anyone familiar with this utility? I'd hate to switch to something
else. I doubt DLing another version would help.

My Computer's display looks at different drives with no problems.

There might be something else wrong with the computer. It is a ~10
year old Emachine.

Running XP Home.

TIA


Found some new information yesterday.

File manager (FM) (Total Commander) is set to load when computer starts.
If I then load Eudora (5.1 I think), then Firefox, then Xnews
(newsreader) all works well except file selection in FM as described
above.

But if I don't load Eudora and try to use the computer nothing works. If
I click on an icon on the screen another one lights up. FM won't respond
right to mouse clicks. For example if I click on one filename in a panel
maybe a dozen or two light up by themselves. Does other very bad things.
Other stuff also doesn't work.

Interestingly, if I check the FM before loading Eudora I can change the
drives properly but then the other problems I noted above occur if I try
to do anything with the files or folders.

This is obviously VERY weird! I can understand an XP problem if an ap is
loaded but never heard of a problem if a program is NOT loaded!

What could be happening? What does loading Eudora do? I am getting ready
buy a new desktop but I hate to, I really like my ancient eMachine and
have it trained to do everthing as I wish. I hate to think of taming a
new machine. But I'm afraid this problem will get much worse if I can't
cure the cause.

TIA


--
I love a good meal! That's why I don't cook.

KenK wrote:
KenK wrote in
:

Suddenly having problems with this both versions (Total
Commander/Windows Commander) old file manager. It won't change
directories. One view is set to C drive, the other to L. Selecting
another drive has no effect. This never happened before. Any theories
by anyone familiar with this utility? I'd hate to switch to something
else. I doubt DLing another version would help.

My Computer's display looks at different drives with no problems.

There might be something else wrong with the computer. It is a ~10
year old Emachine.

Running XP Home.

TIA


Found some new information yesterday.

File manager (FM) (Total Commander) is set to load when computer starts.
If I then load Eudora (5.1 I think), then Firefox, then Xnews
(newsreader) all works well except file selection in FM as described
above.

But if I don't load Eudora and try to use the computer nothing works. If
I click on an icon on the screen another one lights up. FM won't respond
right to mouse clicks. For example if I click on one filename in a panel
maybe a dozen or two light up by themselves. Does other very bad things.
Other stuff also doesn't work.

Interestingly, if I check the FM before loading Eudora I can change the
drives properly but then the other problems I noted above occur if I try
to do anything with the files or folders.

This is obviously VERY weird! I can understand an XP problem if an ap is
loaded but never heard of a problem if a program is NOT loaded!

What could be happening? What does loading Eudora do? I am getting ready
buy a new desktop but I hate to, I really like my ancient eMachine and
have it trained to do everthing as I wish. I hate to think of taming a
new machine. But I'm afraid this problem will get much worse if I can't
cure the cause.

TIA

Shell Extensions are one of the weaknesses of Windows.

Let's take my copy of 7Zip as an example.

I install it.

7ZIP adds some registry entries for a Shell Extension, plus
the new entry would point to some code.

Then, if I have File Explorer open, I right-click a file, a
new entry is present in the right-click menu. It will offer
to generate a checksum for the file.

Now, take your Total Commander as an example. It has to
emulate at least some of the functions of Windows File Explorer.
Maybe it decides to "inherit" all the ShellEx entries and
respond to them. So if I install TC after 7Zip, maybe
the TC right-click menu now has a 7ZIP "checksum" entry.

Shell Extensions can destabilize File Explorer. Just a couple
days ago, I installed a new app, and later in the day,
File Explorer crashed (and of course, restarted itself
eventually, after a little Dr. Watson foolishness). I
uninstalled the new program, rebooted, and now all is
sweetness and light.

Somewhere in either my File Explorer code, or in some
past Shell Extension, something went amiss. And I'm
kinda stuck now. Even if I add a program like
Agent Ransack (which adds extensions to File Explorer so
it can open an Explorer window containing your search
find), File Explorer acts up. And then I have to
remove Agent Ransack.

So if you have X programs on the machine, one of them
can be a culprit, and spoiling things for the others.
Nirsoft has ShellExView for listing these things,
but even if you have a list, you have *no* idea which
one is poorly written and in need of work.

I'm sure your "traditional" version of Eudora has
Windows Integration stuff, and has been messing around.
The later version of Eudora is based on Thunderbird,
and maybe the table manners of that version are
a bit more tame. Not everyone will like the new
Eudora, especially if they were used to the old version.

If I knew how to debug this stuff, I'd have fixed
mine by now :-/

Paul

On 30 Sep 2017 16:41:26 GMT, KenK wrote:

Found some new information yesterday.

File manager (FM) (Total Commander) is set to load when computer starts.
If I then load Eudora (5.1 I think), then Firefox, then Xnews
(newsreader) all works well except file selection in FM as described
above.

But if I don't load Eudora and try to use the computer nothing works. If
I click on an icon on the screen another one lights up. FM won't respond
right to mouse clicks. For example if I click on one filename in a panel
maybe a dozen or two light up by themselves. Does other very bad things.
Other stuff also doesn't work.

Interestingly, if I check the FM before loading Eudora I can change the
drives properly but then the other problems I noted above occur if I try
to do anything with the files or folders.

This is obviously VERY weird! I can understand an XP problem if an ap is
loaded but never heard of a problem if a program is NOT loaded!

What could be happening? What does loading Eudora do? I am getting ready
buy a new desktop but I hate to, I really like my ancient eMachine and
have it trained to do everthing as I wish. I hate to think of taming a
new machine. But I'm afraid this problem will get much worse if I can't
cure the cause.

TIA

Some applications uses global hook on the windowing system. This may affect
other applications which are launched using the same Windows user account,
especially if the hook is faulty.

Applications use this kind of global hook to determine the presence of
dialogs which are owned by other processes such as shell dialogs; or to
automate them. e.g. making them not display and click an OK button
automatically.

In message , Paul
writes:
[]
There might be something else wrong with the computer. It is a ~10
year old Emachine.
[]
nothing works. If I click on an icon on the screen another one lights
up. FM won't respond right to mouse clicks. For example if I click on
one filename in a panel maybe a dozen or two light up by themselves.
Does other very bad things. Other stuff also doesn't work.
[]
I'm sure your "traditional" version of Eudora has
Windows Integration stuff, and has been messing around.
The later version of Eudora is based on Thunderbird,
and maybe the table manners of that version are
a bit more tame. Not everyone will like the new
Eudora, especially if they were used to the old version.

The last version of Eudora - called something like Eudora OSE - _is_
Thunderbird; unfortunately, it's a very _early_ version of Thunderbird,
modified to _look_ (something) like Eudora. It isn't Eudora, as my blind
friend discovered. (Fortunately, we discovered that the last two
versions of "real" Eudora work perfectly happily under Windows 7 [come
to think of it, since he accepted the free, under 10 too], which we'd
heard they didn't, and was why we played with the OSE version.)

Unfortunately, the people (person?) who developed this version of
"Eudora" has not maintained it, so it's now based on a very outdated
version of TB.

If I knew how to debug this stuff, I'd have fixed
mine by now :-/

Paul

(-:

I suspect Paul's explanation (which went considerably over my head) is
closer to the real cause than this, since I can't see why loading Eudora
etc. first should fix this, but: could it be a faulty keyboard?
(Something like a shift, alt, or Ctrl key randomly sticking?)

IIRR, emachine is a netbook - right? That will have a built-in keyboard;
OK, replaceable, but only as far as the ribbon connector; if there _is_
a fault between the ribbon connector and the - I'm not sure what, final
encoder? - then replacing the keyboard won't fix it. (Nevertheless, if
you think it _might_ be the keyboard - which it just _could_, and the
keys you press when starting Eudora just happen to free it - it could be
worth at least unplugging and replugging the ribbon cable.)

"If I knew how to debug this stuff, I'd have fixed ..." - I have a
similar weirdness here, which I just live with: if I touch the left Ctrl
key on this (Samsung NC-20 netbook), or sometimes even the right one, it
puts _something_ into a weird mode, such that thereafter, some of the
keys act as if shift or ctrl or _some_thing is stuck - at least, they
behave oddly. I have replaced the keyboard (actually, with a white one,
which I always wanted anyway), but that hasn't cured it - and once it's
got into its funny mode, even an external USB keyboard misbehaves - and
even ... see (b) below.

It's very odd, because (a) a restart _always_ fixes it, (b) once it's
happened, even the on-screen keyboard - which is operated entirely by
mouse! (Run: osk) - misbehaves. So I just live with it! Oh, and (c) it
behaves differently in different applications - Notepad seems more
immune than some, so sometimes - if I want to do something before the
reboot - I find myself entering text in Notepad, and copying and pasting
it into the more sensitive application. (As I do when Firefox has got
into its crash-when-I-type-into-it mode, but that's - I think! - another
story.)

Good luck. If you _do_ figure it out, do share ...
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"Bother," said Pooh, as he tasted the bacon in his sandwich.

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:


"If I knew how to debug this stuff, I'd have fixed ..." - I have a
similar weirdness here, which I just live with: if I touch the left Ctrl
key on this (Samsung NC-20 netbook), or sometimes even the right one, it
puts _something_ into a weird mode, such that thereafter, some of the
keys act as if shift or ctrl or _some_thing is stuck - at least, they
behave oddly. I have replaced the keyboard (actually, with a white one,
which I always wanted anyway), but that hasn't cured it - and once it's
got into its funny mode, even an external USB keyboard misbehaves - and
even ... see (b) below.

It's very odd, because (a) a restart _always_ fixes it, (b) once it's
happened, even the on-screen keyboard - which is operated entirely by
mouse! (Run: osk) - misbehaves. So I just live with it! Oh, and (c) it
behaves differently in different applications - Notepad seems more
immune than some, so sometimes - if I want to do something before the
reboot - I find myself entering text in Notepad, and copying and pasting
it into the more sensitive application. (As I do when Firefox has got
into its crash-when-I-type-into-it mode, but that's - I think! - another
story.)

In WinXP ?

Control Panels : accessibility options : Sticky Keys ?

That's the first one that comes to mind.

It could be some third party software. AutoIt ?
Have a look through your list of installed software,
and see if there are any suspicious items in the list.

Paul

In message , Paul
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:

"If I knew how to debug this stuff, I'd have fixed ..." - I have a
similar weirdness here, which I just live with: if I touch the left
Ctrl key on this (Samsung NC-20 netbook), or sometimes even the right
one, it puts _something_ into a weird mode, such that thereafter,
some of the keys act as if shift or ctrl or _some_thing is stuck - at
least, they behave oddly. I have replaced the keyboard (actually,
with a white one, which I always wanted anyway), but that hasn't
cured it - and once it's got into its funny mode, even an external
USB keyboard misbehaves - and even ... see (b) below.
It's very odd, because (a) a restart _always_ fixes it, (b) once
it's happened, even the on-screen keyboard - which is operated
entirely by mouse! (Run: osk) - misbehaves. So I just live with it!
Oh, and (c) it behaves differently in different applications -
Notepad seems more immune than some, so sometimes - if I want to do
something before the reboot - I find myself entering text in Notepad,
and copying and pasting it into the more sensitive application. (As I
do when Firefox has got into its crash-when-I-type-into-it mode, but
that's - I think! - another story.)

In WinXP ?

Yes.

Control Panels : accessibility options : Sticky Keys ?

That's the first one that comes to mind.

I didn't think so, but I just checked, and no, it isn't on. Besides, it
just happens - _sometimes_ - after I touch the left Ctrl key, which
isn't the way (oops: just happened, as I tried holding down Ctrl,
which I think is what triggers sticky keys; I'm typing this in Notepad
for cut and paste into my email prog.) of triggering it. (I've just
checked, and Sticky Keys is still not turned on.)

It could be some third party software. AutoIt ?
Have a look through your list of installed software,
and see if there are any suspicious items in the list.

Paul
A(ah, I can type here again! The deviation via Notepad seems to have let
me in again)n example of the oddity is that pressing Enter just made
Turnpike think I wanted to post (the shortcut for which, I've just
found, is Ctrl-T). But I can now press Enter:
as you can see, it comes and goes. I'll just try holding down left Ctrl
again: I was going to type "has it happened again", and it seems it has
(back in Notepad now): as soon as I pressed the H, TP acted as if I'd
clicked "View | All Headers". (And deviating via Notepad hasn't brought
me back this time.) Now, pressing spacebar has no effect (no space
appears) - in Turnpike; as you can see, I'm entering spaces in Notepad
fine.

The only software I can think of that I have that intercepts keyboard is
AllChars; the behaviour did indeed start _around_ the time I installed
that, though _not_ at the same time. Nevertheless, I did try
uninstalling that, but (a) it didn't solve the problem, (b) [I
reinstalled it] I can run - including using AllChars - and it doesn't
show up.

(In case you aren't familiar with it, AllChars allows you to enter
non-ASCII characters like o umlaut - ö, if that comes through usenet -
by tapping _and releasing_ Ctrl, then typing a sequence of two
characters [" then o for that one; ' then e for é e acute, and so on.
Very handy if you have no numeric pad, probably still so even if you
do.] Obviously, I use the _right_ Ctrl key! Certainly an obvious
candidate for being related to the funny, but as I say, I can use it
fine, both before and [as now] after the funny has been triggered, and
also uninstalling it didn't stop it happening.)

I can't think of anything else that could be the culprit. I do have
Toggle Keys (also under accessibility) on, so I know when I've
accidentally hit Caps Lock, but had that for years before the funny
started. (Installing AllChars was the _only_ thing I could think of that
I did _around_ the time it started.)

What bugs - even amuses! - me is that, once the funny has been triggered
(pressing quite normal keys - as part of typing - triggers unexpected
actions), even the on-screen keyboard exhibits the behaviour.

(Oh, I can now type Enter and space here again! [The above four
paragraphs were typed in Notepad.]) About to do a restart (which will
also cure the fact that my wifi has gone into Limited or no connectivity
mode; that's another thing that happens occasionally, not correlated
with the keyboard funny - it just happens, after hours or days of
remaining connected, and nothing I've found brings it back, other than a
restart which _always_ does). [Selecting "Repair" from the right-click
menu on the tray icon gets as far as "turning off wifi" or whatever,
then when it tries to "turn on wifi", the machine does a hard reset.
I've tried disabling the internal wifi and using a USB one, but (a) it
still occasionally disconnects, (b) selecting Repair has the same
effect.]

You might say I should ditch this machine [the wifi one sounds like
there's a hardware problem, from the fact that it does the hard reset],
or reinstall XP, but they happen rarely enough that I'd rather just
restart when they do: just the thought of reinstalling and reconfiguring
all the software I have over the years depresses me. (I can't even
remember _how_ to set things how I have for most of the changes.)

Right, I'll hit Post, and this will stay in Turnpike's outbox until
after the restart ...
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"One of my dearest memories is playing the leader of a gang of gay Hell's
Angels
thundering across the Golden Gate bridge on a motorbike in fog, wearing full
Nazi regalia with a young man in a purple dress on the pillion petrified we'd
crash into the bay." Christopher Lee (1997). ["It was in _The Serial_."]

"J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote in
:

IIRR, emachine is a netbook - right? That will have a built-in keyboard;
OK, replaceable, but only as far as the ribbon connector; if there _is_
a fault between the ribbon connector and the - I'm not sure what, final
encoder? - then replacing the keyboard won't fix it. (Nevertheless, if
you think it _might_ be the keyboard - which it just _could_, and the
keys you press when starting Eudora just happen to free it - it could be
worth at least unplugging and replugging the ribbon cable.)


No, it's a regular full size desktop. The key's labels are wearing out so
you may have a good theory. I have another keyboard. As soon as I remember
before I turn it on - tomorrow morning hopefully - I'll swap them.



--
I love a good meal! That's why I don't cook.

Paul wrote in news
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:


"If I knew how to debug this stuff, I'd have fixed ..." - I have a
similar weirdness here, which I just live with: if I touch the left
Ctrl key on this (Samsung NC-20 netbook), or sometimes even the right
one, it puts _something_ into a weird mode, such that thereafter,
some of the keys act as if shift or ctrl or _some_thing is stuck - at
least, they behave oddly. I have replaced the keyboard (actually,
with a white one, which I always wanted anyway), but that hasn't
cured it - and once it's got into its funny mode, even an external
USB keyboard misbehaves - and even ... see (b) below.

It's very odd, because (a) a restart _always_ fixes it, (b) once it's
happened, even the on-screen keyboard - which is operated entirely by
mouse! (Run: osk) - misbehaves. So I just live with it! Oh, and (c)
it behaves differently in different applications - Notepad seems more
immune than some, so sometimes - if I want to do something before the
reboot - I find myself entering text in Notepad, and copying and
pasting it into the more sensitive application. (As I do when Firefox
has got into its crash-when-I-type-into-it mode, but that's - I
think! - another story.)

In WinXP ?

Control Panels : accessibility options : Sticky Keys ?

That's the first one that comes to mind.

It could be some third party software. AutoIt ?
Have a look through your list of installed software,
and see if there are any suspicious items in the list.

Paul


I'm going to try a new keyboar as soon as I remember to before I turn it
on. Hepefully, tomorrow.


--
I love a good meal! That's why I don't cook.

KenK wrote in news:XnsA8046F2F9E21invalidcom@
130.133.4.11:

I'm going to try a new keyboard as soon as I remember to before I turn it
on. Hopefully, tomorrow.


Keyboard is Ideas In Motion for PC/MAC, But there's no driver CD. Is this
normal? OK to install?

TIA


--
I love a good meal! That's why I don't cook.

KenK wrote in
:

No, it's a regular full size desktop. The key's labels are wearing out
so you may have a good theory. I have another keyboard. As soon as I
remember before I turn it on - tomorrow morning hopefully - I'll swap
them.


Keyboard is Ideas In Motion for PC/MAC, But there's no driver CD. Is this
normal? OK to install?

TIA


--
I love a good meal! That's why I don't cook.

KenK wrote:
KenK wrote in news:XnsA8046F2F9E21invalidcom@
130.133.4.11:

I'm going to try a new keyboard as soon as I remember to before I turn it
on. Hopefully, tomorrow.


Keyboard is Ideas In Motion for PC/MAC, But there's no driver CD. Is this
normal? OK to install?

TIA

The core functions of keyboards and mice are standard.

Keyboards come in a few different matrix sizes (some keyboards
have no Function keys), and the OS appears to (most of the time),
figure out what it's dealing with.

The driver CD is needed when:

1) A keyboard has multimedia keys on the top-right.
If there is a button on the top row that says "Make Popcorn",
you'll need your driver CD for that.

2) A mouse has more than three buttons, and a means is
needed to declare what the extra buttons do. The three
core buttons have defined uses, so those are standard.
The driver CD (or a download of a package) may be
needed to make every gizmo on it work.

That's the basic idea. The USB.org defines standards for
HID devices, making it easier for an OS to deal with
the most common cases, without help.

When you plug it in, it should "do something". Most
people don't need the "Make Popcorn" button within
the first ten minutes of usage, and you can quite
easily survive without any driver CD.

Paul

KenK wrote in
:


Suddenly having problems with this both versions (Total
Commander/Windows Commander) old file manager. It won't change
directories. One view is set to C drive, the other to L. Selecting
another drive has no effect. This never happened before. Any theories
by anyone familiar with this utility? I'd hate to switch to something
else. I doubt DLing another version would help.

My Computer's display looks at different drives with no problems.

There might be something else wrong with the computer. It is a ~10
year old Emachine.

Running XP Home.

TIA


As mysteriously as it started, the file manager fixed itself last Friday
(12/8). I didn't install or remove any software or change anything. I'll
never understand computers.



--
I love a good meal! That's why I don't cook.