posted on March 18, 2001 09:11:21 PM
Whatta day! I had what I thought was a minor crash in Netscape earlier today, and now I can't seem to get Netscape to work at all? I reinstalled Netscape 4.7 & still nothing? My computer's been acting strange ever since the crash.
I ran a "thorough" scan disk & everything checked out ok. From the looks of my little red light on my tower, my puter's been thrown into overdrive? I attempted to use my GoBack software to reverse back to before the crash, but it came up showing that there was no safe point to go back to because the GoBack log had been suspended due to "massive file activity". Whatever the hell that is??
Any words of wisdom before I toss this beast off a cliff?
posted on March 18, 2001 09:20:41 PM
Damn, I was afraid someone might say that.
I guess I best not be shutting this baby down again until I get a full backup.
posted on March 18, 2001 09:28:34 PM
Sounds like a software problem to me. Do you have norton Utilies? It is a great program that has win doc, disk doc etc. . . if you do run that if now get it from someone or on line. If you go into your my computer folder you may have some tools to help you out in your control paneling. Sounds like you lost a executable file when you crashed and either windows or Netscape or both will have to be reinstalled. Also check to see if your fan is running. Fans oftern die long before the hardrive and that could cause problems and in time would harm you hardrive but it still sounds from the very little you have told us like a software problem.
posted on March 18, 2001 09:43:11 PM
Yeah, I remember when my now wife's Wintel box started crashing the browser (Netscape)....next it started running slower and slower (even after checking everything with Norton...couple of corrupted directories)...and then poof!
Bye, Bye...
Get your critical files backed up ASAP, like before yesterday...
And just hope they aren't corrupted...
Then sort out the problem...
I do a network backup of all the critical files on our system every day and back up to different media types for redundant protection...
Saved my bacon a few months back when the hard drive on my Mac took a permanent vacation...
posted on March 18, 2001 10:39:11 PM
Having a good backup of your data is always a good idea.
What did Netscape do that was strange? Any error message? You haven't scheduled Disk Defragmenter? Check also for Findfast.exe if you have the Office suite. I find that when it ceates it's log of files it bogs down the whole system. The red lights never stops until it's finished.
Did you uninstall Netscape first or reinstall on top of the other? If you haven't uninstalled first, try it. Back up your mail before uninstalling.
When the red light is busy, open the close program window(Ctrl-Alt-Delete), close one program at a time. See if you can identify which program causes such activity.
I would also check for a virus. Did you run/install any new programs lately?
Is ZoneAlarm indicating outbound communication?
posted on March 18, 2001 10:43:09 PM
Hi Neil. I just sent you a link to a site that may be able to help you. It sounds like your CPU is working too hard.
posted on March 18, 2001 10:55:27 PM
Microsoft offers a free registry fixer tool called RegClean. It finds and fixes errors in your registry. The version below is for Windows 98.
posted on March 19, 2001 04:28:26 AM
Find the file called FFIND,EXE and DELETE IT!
It can cause this "disk thrasing", crashes and all kinds of grief on a Windows system.
Lack of disk space can also cause this:
After deleting FFIND, delete all TMP files, all tutorials, all leftover saved games, all programs you don't use anymore, and all those pre-installed software for online services you will never use. Archive any files you need to have backups of, then delete the files.
EMPTY the trash repeatedly as you delete files.
Then run DISK CHECK, followed by DEFRAG. Repeat the defrag at least once.
posted on March 19, 2001 05:07:19 AM
Hi abacaxi...
What IS the FFIND.EXE file?
My computer is also running strangely...Windows is kind of jerking around. I'll type a word...nothing happens...then the whole word appears. Or I try to move the scroll box and nothing happens for a while. Or only part of a window loads...then the rest...slowly. I bought Norton SystemWorks and it finds nothing wrong....?!
Is this what's happening with you, reddeer? I hope everything's okay this morning...
It sounds like your system is doing a heavy use of it's swap drive. How much ram do you have on your system? Do you find that when you operate many apps together, you hear the hard drive trashing all the time. If so, add ram.
Clear your caches, execute a thorough scandisk and then defrag on a regular basis.
If your hard drive is full, try to delete unnecessary files.
posted on March 19, 2001 05:41:37 AM
Morning, AC...
I'm running a 266 Pentium II - 4G hard drive, 1/2 of which is free - 64mg of RAM. I just ordered a 128mg module...should arrive today or tomorrow. I'm actually going to attempt to install it myself. Gulp
Anyway, since I got Norton SystemWorks, I've been doing all the recommended maintenance...defrag, etc. System Doctor shows me with 80% GDI memory free, and 68% USER memory free, right at this moment.
So, with that info...does it still sound like a RAM problem? I sure hope so.
posted on March 19, 2001 05:43:48 AM
FFind is part of MS Office, it actually is called FindFast I think. It will really slow your system down. You can remove it from your Startup Folder, or stop it from starting by removing the checkmark in MSCONFIG if you are using Win98.
posted on March 19, 2001 06:12:02 AM
Well thank god for IE, I'm still able to get online but my little red light is still a blinkin fool this morning, even after letting this puppy rest all night.
Thanks to all! Greatly appreciated. I'll go see what I can do with all this info.
Blanche ........ I can't get Netscape open, and can't get to my email.
posted on March 19, 2001 06:33:09 AM
I would do a fresh reboot, and run a Thorough Scan Disk. Then, delete any .chk files and .tmp files. Then run a defrag. Reboot, and see if things are better.
If you pull any more errors, make sure and write down what the errors say. It can be very helpful in pinpointing the exact cause of the trouble.
[ edited by Meya on Mar 19, 2001 06:34 AM ]
The Win95/98/Me version of system works requires 32MB of ram, plus you need about 32 MB for Win98. So yes, I would say your system is short on ram. It's using the swap file extensively. This is why you see the slow downs.
When you add your ram, make sure you touch the unpainted part of the case first to discharge any static electricity on your body. Don't wear wool sweaters. Zapping the electronics components of your system can damage it. It's not covered by any warranty.
reddeer
findfast.exe most probably found in the program files\Microsoft office\office sub-directory. You can disable it in the
system configuration utility or open it and set it up to index the files every 999 hours only.
edited to fix ram requirements and add a suggestion.
[ edited by AnonymousCoward on Mar 19, 2001 07:22 AM ]
As a matter of fact, I bought an anti-static wrist strap...told a young friend about it, and got a huge guffaw. He said what you said...all you need to do is touch the case. That's what I get for reading books... Cross your fingers for me...I'm scared to death to even touch the guts of this thing, but I have to try it some time........
posted on March 19, 2001 07:54:47 AM
Reddeer-you can backup your files and then run the quick restore that you received when you bought your computer. It is supposed to put your computer back to the way it was when you bought it. I lost netscape communicator and navagator about a month ago because MSN and Compaq sent me a message for an upgrade and they wiped them out. Now I only get explorer. I do have the netscape disc to install Netscape 4.7 but haven't had time to do that yet. I don't keep much information on my computer because I have had to quick restore about 3 times.
posted on March 19, 2001 08:23:02 AM
I also had unexplained heavy hard drive use that was slowing everything and found it was a web tracking program calling home with accumalated data. Does it only do it when you are connected? Do you have a firewall like ZoneAlarm to keep those things out?
When your red light is blinking, do you hear that little growly noise? If so, mine is doing the same thing. It actually DOES sound like it's sending something, like gravid said was possible. Mine isn't sudden though...been getting worse over the past month.
I just looked back through the thread...please update...have you backed up your critical files...?? E-mails, bookmarks, financial, database, documents, etc?
I didn't see any responses from you that indicated you did...maybe I missed...
Have you tried booting the computer from the installation CD or recovery diskette?
Personally, I'd boot from a known clean source, backup, and leave the rest to the tech...
Take it from someone who's spent days trying to figure out these kinds of things...*G*
That's why the Wintel box is in the garage waiting on the Goodwill and I have a nice iMac in its place on the kitchen desk....much more attractive, to boot...*G*
Cross your fingers for me...I'm scared to death to even touch the guts of this thing, but I have to try it some time........