DAMN YOU MICROSOFT

[Ardbeg... innit]

My recent computer trials and tribulations

I have been in an enforced "deep lurk" for the past couple weeks (with minor appearances from my laptop). First my new computer started locking up. The final lock up was terminal, and giving Dell total credit for following the letter of their guarantee, they sent a technician who replaced the motherboard, CPU, and power supply.

Then, I had the problem where I could not in any way, shape or form use my keyboard. I could mouse around the screen all that I wanted, zip onto and off of the internet, print existing documents, etc... but the second I touched one key on the keyboard, BAM locked up again. (I have about 3 mice and keyborads, it did the same thing with all combinations). Seems that Windows uninstalled the keyboard driver (what the heck did it do THAT for). After a couple hours of diagnosis with the Dell tech support (I was getting use to the Bangalore accent by the time I was done). I had THAT problem fixed.

After everything was operational again (and thankfully, NO files lost or corrupted), Windows pops up on my screen to say that it needs some "Critical Updates from the microsoft web site. Being TOTALLY distrustful of these pop ups, I went to the microsoft site myself, found the critical updates, downloaded and installed. I spent most of Friday and last evening fixing THAT mistake. The "critical updates" hijacked my web access! I could not use Firefox or Netscape browsers, but Internet Explorer worked fine. Eudora would not retrieve my email. I decided to uninstall and reinstall Netscape and Eudora, but then Windows would not allow me to download either of those programs to reinstall.

It seems that the "critical updates" included something call DEP (Data Execution Prevention). This feature, blocks the execution of programs that Microsoft thinks might have breached your security and is trying to take over your computer. It seems that Windows feels that Netscape and Eudora are THREATS, and given that they know more than me about what I want, they shut down these programs. After I backed out of the updates (by hand, DEP prevented me from doing it automatically), I seem to have regained the upper hand.

WARNING: Dont download any "critical updates" from microsoft unless you KNOW before hand just what these will do to your computer.

RANT OVER!!

G

[Chicago Jake]

Sorry to hear about your rough times, but we're glad to see you back. Hey, Gordon, you are geek enough to use Linux, aren't you? Why don't you give it a try and report back to us?? .....Jake

[Merlot Joe]

Gordon,

I have a simpler solution to your problem.

How about a 20 pound sledge hammer.

[glow=red,2,300] SMASH[/size][/glow]
Then you can call Dell again and say that you are another technical problem!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D


Joe.

[Exildo Wonsetler Briggs III]

Glad to see you back, Gordon.

I read all these computer mags that say make sure you have your computer set to automatically download critical updates.

BULLSHIT![/color][/move]

I carefully review the updates and only download those that seem reasonable for my particular setup.

............Bob

[DT]

Gordon,

I have a simpler solution to your problem.

How about a 20 pound sledge hammer.

A 1 pound ballpeen hammer will do the trick.



pssssst....... Then again, if you want instant gratification. Stick with the 20 pound sledge with a long handle. ;D

[Ardbeg... innit]

Brought to you this morning courtesy of MICROSOFT INTERNET GOD DAMNED EXPLORER... Hijacked again overnight!!! No Netscape, no Firefox, no Eudora!!

DOUBLE DAMNATION TO HELL TO YOU MICROSOFT.

Jake, I am geek enough to have considered migrating to Linux, there is a big however, however.

My satellite dish modem software is Windows only, and my software that I use to make orthographic aerial photo mosaics (my billable reason to own the computer) is also Windows only. Take those two reasons off the table, then I have a dual boot machine with no major reason to dual boot.

HOWEVER (again), I am geek enough to keep my slide rule handy... just in case!

Thanks for the support all

Gordon

[Lady Irie]

Gordon - I'll have to show your post to Hubby - he has almost the identical issues you are describing with a new Dell that is only 3 months old. We've replaced the motherboard and Dell just sent a rebuilt hard drive which is unacceptable. We're going to see if they can replace the laptop at this point considering if I wanted a rebuilt one, I would have bought one to begin with!

I have found the site "Geeks to Go" very helpful when trying to eradicate the Narrator trojan from my pc which took about 3 weeks - it acts like a virus but isn't so it goes undetected for a while and ch-ch-changes its name each time it reappears. Here is a link to what you need to do step by step prior to their assistance. Just make sure any of the programs you download are updated first, then performed in safe mode, clean all temp files, dump recycle bin then restart and check your hijack log. Good luck!


www.geekstogo.com/forum/You_Must_Read_This_Before_Posting_A_Hijackthis_Log-t2852.html

[Tamer waiting 2 reg]

bornagaindruid said:

Brought to you this morning courtesy of MICROSOFT INTERNET GOD DAMNED EXPLORER... Hijacked again overnight!!! No Netscape, no Firefox, no Eudora!!

DOUBLE DAMNATION TO HELL TO YOU MICROSOFT.

Jake, I am geek enough to have considered migrating to Linux, there is a big however, however.

My satellite dish modem software is Windows only, and my software that I use to make orthographic aerial photo mosaics (my billable reason to own the computer) is also Windows only. Take those two reasons off the table, then I have a dual boot machine with no major reason to dual boot.

HOWEVER (again), I am geek enough to keep my slide rule handy... just in case!

Thanks for the support all

Gordon

Gordon,

Do you shut your system down over night or just let it sleep/idle mode? Your system may be updating with Microsoft after every use!! Try setting up your firewall to block incoming/outgoing transmissions to Microsoft. If you are ambitious enough go into your registry and find the offending command and deactivate it.

Also I am sure that there are enough sites out there bashing Microsoft that one or two of them may offer some advice.

[Chicago Jake]

Tamer - why are you "waiting 2 reg"? You are a member in good standing already, you merely need to log in with your username (tamer) and password (whatever it is). If you need advice, let me know......Jake

[Tamer waiting 2 reg]

Chicago said:

Tamer - why are you "waiting 2 reg"? You are a member in good standing already, you merely need to log in with your username (tamer) and password (whatever it is). If you need advice, let me know......Jake

I tried to reg today but am unable to access e-mails from work. Must wait until I get a chance to retrieve my password.

[Ardbeg... innit]

Sunlovers said:

Gordon - I'll have to show your post to Hubby - he has almost the identical issues you are describing with a new Dell that is only 3 months old. We've replaced the motherboard and Dell just sent a rebuilt hard drive which is unacceptable. We're going to see if they can replace the laptop at this point considering if I wanted a rebuilt one, I would have bought one to begin with!

I have found the site "Geeks to Go" very helpful when trying to eradicate the Narrator trojan from my pc which took about 3 weeks - it acts like a virus but isn't so it goes undetected for a while and ch-ch-changes its name each time it reappears. Here is a link to what you need to do step by step prior to their assistance. Just make sure any of the programs you download are updated first, then performed in safe mode, clean all temp files, dump recycle bin then restart and check your hijack log. Good luck!


www.geekstogo.com/forum/You_Must_Read_This_Before_Posting_A_Hijackthis_Log-t2852.html

THANKS for the link... theres a LOT to digest there.

I am pretty sure that I have this incident solved... a good fashioned Windows Repair session (along with another 3 hours online with Dell Troubleshooters).

Do BEWARE of the DEP (Data Execution Prevention), you can find it in (assuming Windows XP) ContorlPanel>System> Advanced> PerformanceSettings> DataExecution Prevention Tab. If this baby is turned to anything other than "Essential Windows Programs only" you can expect it to stick its nose into everything that you do, to make sure Windows is "protected". This was the root of my most recent problems, it even had the tech guy flummexed.


WINDOWS- Users Beware, if it aint broke, dont let Bill Gates fix it for you (I know its not his fault, but I dont know who else to blame).

Gordon

[Chicago Jake]

Guest-Tamer said:

I tried to reg today but am unable to access e-mails from work. Must wait until I get a chance to retrieve my password.

Well, that makes sense! Either way, glad to have you aboard......Jake

[Irish Stu]

You're not alone in your pain Gordon :

But computers are sold in vast numbers, loaded with software and put to work. Most people who use them haven't got a clue how they work - and why should they? - and since software like Microsoft's Windows make them easy to use, people have no concept of the amount of data processing that's going on every time they click their mouse.

But because computers are so complex, it's inevitable, and usually not very long, before they stop working as they should.

When a domestic appliance goes wrong, you can ring a repair man. When your car breaks down you can call the garage. But when your computer system goes wrong, who do you call?

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4387525.stm

Simon

[Ardbeg... innit]

God now THERE is a career path that would send me to the "Do you want to supersize that" exit.

I think that right now, my problem is that I have worked with these damn tings for 20+ years, and I am beginning to long for my old IBM AT with DOS 3.0 and the fantastically simple C: prompt. If I needed that computer to do something for me, I wrote a little bit of code, and it worked.

AND I walked 5 miles throught blizzards to school every day too (up hill, both ways, of course!) ;D ;D

Gordon

OH BTW... Heard about a great little technology that is threatening email... it requires NO advanced hardware (well one small piece that costs less than a dollar), it uses paper that is easily available in every printer in your office/home. Best of all, to use it... you just pick it up and it automatically starts up. The pencil requires no internet access, but there is a small fee to send each message... 37 cents. I will get back to everyone with more information on this advance.

[Merlot Joe]

But when your computer system goes wrong, who do you call?

Sledge Hammer Man.!!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

Hey new computers are cheap, so why not take you frustrations out on the old ones.

Joe.

[Ardbeg... innit]

jdwinelovers said:

Sledge Hammer Man.!!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

Hey new computers are cheap, so why not take you frustrations out on the old ones.

Joe.

Personal preference... Large vertical drops... anything in excess of 100 feet (if it is too large of a drop, and I cant see the results very well).

Editted to add: Of course there is the "poison pill" approach... place a penny under a CD or DVD, hit the disk near the location of the penny (but not on it) but not too hard, just enough to put a couple cracks in the disk. Slip the disk into the computers CD oro DVD player, then RUN. CyberJello should be all that is left of the computer innards.

[♥ COVID-19♥]

bornagaindruid said:

WINDOWS- Users Beware, if it aint broke, dont let Bill Gates fix it for you (I know its not his fault, but I dont know who else to blame).

Oh, it's his fault, alright. Believe me. He has built his own company on the ability to put other companies out of business. Remember DRI -- Digital Research, Inc.? They were the ones who developed the CP/M OS -- which MS ripped off to build MS - DOS! IBM was originally going to license CP/M from DRI for their PC's but Gates beat 'em to the punch by making his own version of CP/M under the Microsoft name and licensing it to IBM cheaply in exchange for the high visibility it would give them. Where is DRI now? Yep, that's Gates' business model, alright.