reddeer
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posted on March 19, 2001 09:06:50 AM new
Toke ........ Yes, it's making a noise, mine sounds more like gurgling/gagging sounds. 
Camachinist ....... Yes, I've backed up what I could.
It seems like everything is still working, except Netscape, which I didn't uninstall before downloading the new version.
Time to make a few phone calls ..........
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Meya
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posted on March 19, 2001 09:10:06 AM new
Reddeer, do a Ctrl-Alt-Delete and jot down everything that is running in that Task list.
It might help narrow down what is causing the disk thrashing. If Go-Back is running, that could be what is doing it.
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reddeer
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posted on March 19, 2001 09:17:51 AM new
Meya ........ That's what my daughter suggested, and we did that, and we couldn't pin point the problem? We are now down to Explorer & systray, and it seems the blinking freaking light has stopped? You may be correct, it could be GoBack attemptimg to back up my files?
I have a tech coming by in 2 hours. Wish me luck! My guess is he'll be uninstalling Netscape & reinstalling a fresh version.
Squeeky ....... Thank you so much for the email, but this is WAY over my head.
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nobs
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posted on March 19, 2001 09:40:47 AM new
Hi Partner,
You know I am totally computer challenged so all the help I can offer is a {{{{hug}}}} and to let you know what you already know - I am here if you need anything. I will help in any way I can. If you need post auction emails or anything, Just email or if you can't - post and I will be there. Or call me on the phone or I will call you.
I am sorry you're going through computer hell and hope it all works out (easily) for you!
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nobs
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posted on March 19, 2001 09:45:48 AM new
Hmmm.... my tower makes that noise that yours and Toke-sis does but only when i leave a floppy in by accident or if a program isn't closed properly.
I will tell you this, calling Netscape tech support is useless. They want around 30.00 and are useless. They have an online support that you can try. Windows may also have an online support - let me see what I have in my bookmarks. Of course, I think that these tech supports are only as good as who you get.
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reddeer
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posted on March 19, 2001 09:52:58 AM new
Nobs Partner! Hey, you made my day by just popping in!
Thanks so much for the offer, but if my tech doesn't get me up & running I'll be heading to my folks house to use theirs later tonight.
I'd hate to have one of my customers come to AW & start a "Sellers - Please Answer Your Email" thread. 
Now that my little red light has stopped freakin out, I think I'll leave things as-is until the cavalry arrives.
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toke
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posted on March 19, 2001 09:53:17 AM new
Good luck, reddeer!
I'm anxious to hear what your problem was, and that it's solved. As long as your puter isn't making a puking noise...there's hope...
p.s.
Hiya nobs-sis
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bhearsch
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posted on March 19, 2001 11:00:08 AM new
Hello reddeer and all you computer gurus.  I have found an automatic little batch file that works wonders on my Windows system. It cleans out the cookies, the index.dat file (where cookies hide), your temp files and history files. If you don't want to make up the batch file yourself you can download the cleanall.bat file that Fred Langa developed here:
http://www.langa.com/cleanall_bat.htm You should read the first part of the series called "Scrub Your Hard Disk Clean" by Fred Langa here:
http://www.winmag.com/columns/explorer/2000/18.htm and the second series which discusses the cleanall.bat here:
http://www.winmag.com/columns/explorer/2000/19.htm
This program is designed for Win98 but will work for Win95 as well. You will be amazed at how much disk space you free up by using this small batch file. I have it installed so it runs every time I start up Windows because I'm a privacy nut and I don't want anything to slip undetected into my index.dat file.
Fred Langa is the Senior Consulting Editor of WinMag and was previously VP/Editorial Director of WINDOWS Magazine so he knows what he's doing.
This link has his bio http://www.langa.com/about_fred.htm
Blanche
[ edited by bhearsch on Mar 19, 2001 11:01 AM ]
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nobs
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posted on March 19, 2001 11:20:08 AM new
Saying Hi and thank you to Blanche for all the goodies!
A huge hello to Toke-sis!
and to my dear Neil,
as long as ya know that I'm here if you need me, partner! Good luck and please let us know how it worked out and what the heck it was if you find out. My luv to IM.
What I wanna know is this - are they ever gonna perfect the computer so that these crashes and other difficulties cease?? Yea, right. But, even with all the difficulties, it is still a marvelous machine
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bhearsch
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posted on March 19, 2001 11:31:47 AM new
Hiya nobs. You're very welcome for the links and I hope you'll try the batch file. Don't be afraid of it. I've been using this program for a long time and have had no problems.
You're right about the computer. Where would we all be without it? I for one would probably be out enjoying life but this is more fun. I just wish the darn thing wasn't so addictive!!
Blanche
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toke
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posted on March 19, 2001 11:50:36 AM new
Yes, thank you Blanche!
I found your link for Ad-aware and downloaded it. I found Doubleclick...nothing else. I have to leave now, but I'll try your batch file tomorrow. Unless it does the same thing that Norton's Clean Sweep does?
I also like Lockergnome...now I just have to read all this stuff...
You're a wonder...
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reddeer
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posted on March 19, 2001 01:21:06 PM new
Well it appears bachelor #1 [hardoutfit] is the winner.
My tech warned me a few months back [after another SNAFU took place] that he thought my HD was going south.
It seems that I have some bad clusters on my HD and they just happen to be where Netscape is residing. Even after a clean uninstall & reinstall of Netscape, it was a no go. 
The reason my little red light was freaking out was due to Netscape attempting to run. It was also the reason that GoBack terminated the log file. Way too much "stuff" happening in the background.
Remove Netscape from the apps [ctrl alt delete] and the blinking & thrashing stops.
The good news is, I now have my email going through IE, and can now contact my deadbeat from last week.
As Twelepole would say, Ain't life grande?
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hardoutfit
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posted on March 19, 2001 01:52:57 PM new
I quess now I can consider myself an International computer consultant, LOL !
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reddeer
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posted on March 19, 2001 01:58:25 PM new
LOL hardoutfit , that's right!
BTW - It seems to be getting worse. I just attempted to click on a link I had sent Smw via email & it sent my HD into a tailspin.
Same blinking red light & thrashing sounds.
I hope this baby holds up until I get the new HD installed!
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twinsoft
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posted on March 19, 2001 02:01:44 PM new
If you clicked on a hyperlink, your computer probably tried to launch Netscape. Uninstall Netscape, then run Scandisk thorough again, with the "fix errors" option. Scandisk should mark the bad areas of the drive, so your computer won't try to write to them again.
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cdnbooks
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posted on March 19, 2001 02:15:21 PM new
Reddeer
Since you had all the experts helping you I haven't posted to this thread. However, now that your problem is diagnosed, I have the tool to help you with your harddrive:
A HAMMER!
Bill
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reddeer
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posted on March 19, 2001 02:24:51 PM new
Thanks Twin, that makes sense.
Ya Bill, you're a HUGE help buddy.
Just to add to my problems today, it appears rubylane counters are down for the count.
Can anyone get into rubylane.com, or is it just me?
[ edited by reddeer on Mar 19, 2001 02:25 PM ]
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laum1
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posted on March 19, 2001 02:43:22 PM new
Reddeer
If you have a friend with a portable CD Writer, you can also burn some of the files on CD Rom. Blank CDRs cost almost nothing.
This is in case your tape backup files cannot be restore properly.
I find many times users never test restoring from tapes. Thus, when they really need to do a full restore, the tape will not work properly.
Just a suggestion while you are sitting around.
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debtrek
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posted on March 19, 2001 03:16:06 PM new
reddeer...
about rubylane.com...
I use their counters but twice I've checked and got this message:
Couldn't read your counters
Our server is initializing.
Wait a few minutes and try Reload, or press your browser's Back button to return to Ruby Lane's counter page.
While you're waiting, visit Ruby Lane's Antiques and Collectibles shops. Search over 40 of the top Art, Antique & Collectible Web sites all at once!
this has been going on for about an hour for me...
I can't hazard a guess as to whether it'll continue that way for the night, but I'm assuming it will...
"Wit is educated insolence."
OOPS!
tried Refresh/Reload and got the counters page as usual...I suggest you try it too!
[ edited by debtrek on Mar 19, 2001 03:23 PM ]
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reddeer
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posted on March 19, 2001 03:23:19 PM new
Debtrek ....... The reason I asked, is that on IE the rubylane counters weren't loading.
Then again with my system, that could mean almost anything, or nothing at all.
They seem to be working for me now.
laum1 ...... Most of the important "stuff" on my computer can be backed up onto floppies, the rest of it is software that will have to be reinstalled onto the new HD.
I run a bare bones outfit.
[ edited by reddeer on Mar 19, 2001 03:24 PM ]
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debtrek
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posted on March 19, 2001 03:25:56 PM new
reddeer...
I'm on IE, too...
just Refresh and it'll come up!
deb
"Wit is educated insolence."
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abacaxi
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posted on March 19, 2001 06:07:15 PM new
toke -
FFIND.EXE is a program that Microsoft designed (that's a bad sign right there). It is SUPPOSED to make it faster to load the documents you work with often because it continually shuffles them into primo real estate on hour hard drive. It reality, it takes up a hell of a lot of system resources, and can end up shuffling files continually. It's a PITA and useless.
You also want to delete all TMP files (they can accumulate and slow word down), and do the discard and defrag routine every couple of months. If you edit a lot of graphics, do it more often ... they are space hogs.
REDDEER -
OH ... bad clusters. There is a program called SPINRITE that can mark off the bad sectors and usually move the files out of the way. Worth a try ... sometime a few clusters go bad and then the rest of the disk lasts for years.
[ edited by abacaxi on Mar 19, 2001 06:11 PM ]
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bhearsch
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posted on March 19, 2001 07:14:36 PM new
Hi toke. I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner but I've been gone for most of the day. I don't think Norton's CleanSweep cleans out the index.dat file but if it does you don't need the cleanall.bat batch file. Nsclean's IEClean does perform the same function.
reddeer, I'm glad to see you're still functioning. I think you ought to just uninstall Netscape, clean out all of your temp files, cookies, and remove any programs you don't use. Then get the Windows RegCleaner which is NOT a very aggressive registry cleaner so you shouldn't have to worry about screwing something up. Also, it keeps everything it removes in a backup file just in case you need to add anything back. Then do a FULL scandisk followed by a defrag. That should hold you for quite awhile.
I bet you're sorry now that you swore at Netscape for not allowing you to see Eppraisal's pictures.
Blanche
Edited to add that you could also benefit by using the cleanall.bat batch file.
[ edited by bhearsch on Mar 19, 2001 07:17 PM ]
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ffhotel
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posted on March 19, 2001 11:34:34 PM new
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH NETSCAPE BEFORE
TRY THIS OPEN UP YOUR FILE MANAGER
AND CREATE A NEW DIRECTORY
CALL IT NET OR ANY THING YOU WANT
RE-INSTALL NETSCAPE IN THAT NEW DIRECTORY
IT SEEMS TO FIX ANY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH IT
GOOD LUCK.......JOHN
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reddeer
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posted on March 21, 2001 08:21:55 PM new
I just wanted to thank everyone for all the great advice that was passed my way.
It looks like the new HD has adapted to the beast, and all is well again.
Thanks all, greatly appreciated!
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gs4
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posted on March 21, 2001 08:35:46 PM new
Thats good news reddeer, now you can sit back and enjoy one of those cold moosehead beers. (smile)
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bhearsch
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posted on March 21, 2001 10:46:16 PM new
Hi reddeer. I'm glad your box is working again. Don't you just hate it when THIS happens?
BTW, I found a site that offers some great homepage templates but it's an Austrian website and I can't understand a word.
http://www.gismo.netsurf.at/index_1024ms.htm Look under "GOODIES". This has always been one of my favorite places for graphics (he's won quite a few awards) but he just recently started offering the free templates, buttons and HTML tips/tricks. This is one of the few places I allow ActiveX to run because the special effects are awesome and it's quite safe.
Blanche
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toke
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posted on March 22, 2001 06:48:22 AM new
Thank you Everyone for all the help... I actually managed to install a 128 mg RAM module...myself. A miracle.
Would you believe, the very first thing I did was drop that little devil on the floor??? Yup. Indeed I did. The other miracle is...it works anyway. No more lagging keyboard or partially loading windows. I now have 192 mg perking along...
reddeer...
I'm so glad you're up and running again. What did you think of IE while you were stuck with it? Did you go back to Netscape?
Thanks for this thread, BTW. It was a great help to me, too.
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reddeer
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posted on March 22, 2001 07:14:16 AM new
Blanche ..... Yes, I HATE when that happens!
I woke up this morning to a monitor that didn't want to come out of hibernation? A reboot fixed that problem & I have now turned off all the green power saving options for my monitor. Geesh, what next?
Toke ....... Glad to hear you had a successful operation. FYI - I hate IE.
I was using the eBay sell form & it was driving me bonkers! Maybe I'm just used to Netscape & everything seemed strange with IE?
Netscape is back up & running on the new HD & that's what I'll be using from here on in.
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reddeer
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posted on March 22, 2001 07:16:55 AM new
BTW - Does anyone ever run into any problems when doing defrags or scan disk with GoBack running in the background? I have version 2.2 installed & I'm hoping it doesn't cause me any grief? I've read all the tech notes on the roxio GoBack homepage, and it seems everything should be ok withthe 2.2 version?
Any tips, or concerns I should know about?
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