Scripts are a series of text commands written in a particular format that can be interpreted by a script processor. Scripts allow dynamic interaction with HTML pages.
There are bad scripts and good scripts. Most script blocking programs or browser add/on script blocking simply blocks them and alerts the user that a website is trying to run them.
If I were you, I would disable Avast Script Blocking before going to the sites that you have a problem with, and enable it after that to protect you on other sites.
I don't know if you use Firefox, but there is a script blocking add-on, "NoScript", that will allow you to configure which sites you want to trust. If you use FireFox and get the add-on, you could probably leave Avast's script blocking disabled.
Message Edited by Bugbatter on 09-27-2008 09:58 PM
OK. Yes I do use Firefox just updated to 3.3 today I think it was. It seems to update itself automatically now.
I'll have to look into that with Firefox. I don't like things that just block stuff without an explanation or giving me a choice.
As I recall also with Firefox, it would give me a message about blocking something but give me the option right then of allowing it which I like much better than having to set up rules for all the sites I might visit once or rarely.
And there are some sites that I think are ok, but then not sure about all links, whether they are from the site or whether it could be from someone else that sort of piggy backs on the site.
And I guess also there are some well known names that want to take more control. I was going to sign up for google earth but some of the language of what they wanted you to agree to sounded rather overreaching. And I read a review that said that.
And then I don't know whether it was script or what but I was installing the newest version of Flash and something else was being installed that I'm not sure whether it was a plug in or needed by Flash and comodo kept asking whether to allow stuff that I wasn't sure I should or not.
Kathi wrote: "I'm not thrilled that when I installed Quicken it also installed a couple of other things that are now icons on my desktop."
Do these new icons have a box in the lower-lefthand corner, containing a curvy arrow? if so, these icons are merely pointers (or "shortcuts" ) to easily access these programs. shortcuts can be deleted from your desktop, without impacting the program they're pointing to... you should still be able to access that program from your START menu [to play it safe, I would check for the program in your START menu first, to be sure it's listed there... and if you are annoyed by the desktop pointers "cluttering things up", then delete the pointer(s)].
if Quicken installed additional programs (which are not essential for its running), you might be able to actually remove these extraneous programs, provided they're listed under ADD/REMOVE programs in your Control Panel.
you wrote "[Avast tech's] first suggestions were to uninstall the program to try to repeat what happened. Now... [they] mention that you can turn off script blocking which I would have thought they would have mentioned before telling me to uninstall the program".
Unfortunately, there can be a great deal of bad advice offered... from anywhere... including from Dell "tech support". For example, it's far easier for a "support" person to 'advise' a user to reformat and reinstall windows, than to take the time/effort to locate and fix the problem. when you get 'advice' that doesn't feel right... in your case, to uninstall your antivirus and then re-test your situation ONLINE WITH NO ANTI-VIRUS PROTECTION RUNNING, you should immediately reject such irresponsible balderdash and demand an alternative 'solution' --- such as simply disabling script blocking, without having to remove your entire anti-virus program.
for future consideration, rather than e-mailing tech support, i believe the you should consider posting at the Avast user forum, which in general, seems to be been quite helpful:
i use avast free, not pro, so i don't have any first-hand experience with its script blocking module.
searching through their forum, i've noted the following assertions:
1) the scipt-blocking flash-screen usually pops up [momentarily] only when opening your Internet Explorer browser. "The browser extracts the scripts from the page and passes them to Script Blocker. It scans them for viruses and if everything is OK, the browser continues execution. There's no whitelist... and the scanning itself shouldn't affect the execution in any way".
2) Avast's script-blocking does NOT work with Firefox, so you should not see it pop-up there.
3) Even without the script blocking enabled, the web shield module should provide adequate protection.
You wrote: "I'm wondering if I made a mistake getting Avast--whether it is geared to those who are more techies.... and comodo [firewall(?)] kept asking whether to allow stuff that I wasn't sure I should or not".
Unfortunately, there can be a daunting fine-line between enhancing one's protection, and ease-of-use. Comodo's firewall, particularly version 3.x, can present you with lots of choices. [version 2.x is much less "chatty", but likewise requires some decisions on the part of the user.] Comodo's decisions tend to be about whether you wish to permit a particular program to have access to the internet: making the wrong decision will either block internet access for a good program, or allow internet access to a bad program.
as mentioned, since I don't have the PAID avast, i don't have first-hand experience with its script blocker feature. as Bugbatter noted, "There are bad scripts and good scripts". presumably, the blocker was simply trying to tell you that a script was attempting to run on that page. if it merely advised you of the existence of the script, without asking you to approve/deny it, that probably meant it was able to automatically determine the script's "nature", and allowed or denied it accordingly. if instead it gives you a choice of whether or not to permit the script, since you indicated it was at a quicken site --- presumably safe and reliable --- I would tend to believe it should be permitted.
if you find avast's script blocking too intimidating, some choices would be either to use Firefox --- which does not get impacted by avast's script blocking --- or to disable avast's script blocking in Internet Explorer, since (presumably) its web shield module will intercept the script. I don't believe there's any reason for you to give up on avast as a whole.
As for comodo, if you're using 3.x [on XP], you can consider "downgrading" to 2.0 [not for Vista] --- or else, using a more "basic" firewall, such as the included Windows firewall. you should also check to see if your router --- assuming you're using one --- has its own hardware (NAT) firewall, which can be used in addition to any software firewall.
Quicken--they were the shortcuts, but for a "free credit report", best card to use for Quicken and 1 mo free bill pay. So just extra junk that I don't want. yes, I know I can get rid of the short-cuts, but I was actually alluding to the fact that they were placed on my computer at all. I'll probably get around to figuring out how to delete the whole thing for each of them--not just the shortcut icons.
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Avast. 1st off as my signature indicates I do use Firefox. While I can't conveniently avoid MS entirely so far, I prefer to use other alternatives when I can and although I'm not a usual early adopter, I'd heard so many good things right off about Firefox and didn't like IE so I switched fairly early on.
And yes, it isn't just Avast that has sometimes given advice like what you mention to reformat the HD or the like. This wasn't that drastic, but the scary thing is that I know enough to recognize it isn't good advice but not all computer users would know that reformatting a HD would delete everything and could take hours to restore, unless one had things backed up in a way that is easy to restore (I hope I do but I'm not sure, using Retrospect Express that came with my Maxtor external HD).
That's interesting that Avast's script blocking isn't supposed to work with Firefox, but maybe it was just taking a look at a script or something. Since that I have turned on the thing so it now shows I think it when scripts are being run.
While I have a router which I purchased I think when we got cable internet because a salesman said I needed it, others said I didn't so with the confusion I have never hooked it up so it is still sitting here in its shrink wrap. Also my isp sounded like they weren't thrilled with users using them since they I guess couldn't access the system for tech support, or something. I guess it would still work fine and I have thought about hooking it up. It is a Linksys Cable/DSL Router with 4 port switch I see it has a 1 year limited warranty which of course has long since expired unless they go from when it is installed. Oh and I just noticed one of the listed requirements is IE 5.0 or Netscape 6 for web-based configuration so not sure how that would work, but I would imagine there would be a work around. It was sold to me with the idea of it being a firewall although it doesn't say it has one. I don't understand that all very well.
And you mention that a hardware firewall could be used with a software one. I thought I had heard that a software one wouldn't be needed with a hardware one, but not sure.
Just something I've never gotten around to figuring out.
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Flash. I can't remember for sure but I think it was the Adobe site. As I recall it was a program or website that I trust that sent me there. But I was confused since I thought I was just installing Flash but then I was getting messages about something that I think it said was a plug in which I didn't know anything about whether it was good or bad or needed or not or why it was just trying to install along with Adobe.
I don't like it when I get asked questions about allowing something that I don't understand. As I recall, I allowed it several times and then decided to say no to Comodo, but the messages all looked about the same which seems a bit strange.
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The other thing I'm trying to figure out now is whether it is a good idea to purchase an additional year of tech support from Dell. My Inspiron 5160 is 4 yrs old and seems to be working ok after previous replacement of the HD, the motherboard and CD/DVD drive under the original 4 yr warranty which runs out 10/1. The following is what they offer for an additional year. I don't have plans to buy a new computer any time soon and looking for advice whether purchasing the additional year is likely to be a good investment or waste of money. (Realizing that I guess no one knows for sure whether something is likely to go bad. I don't know what parts and repair would cost, but I suspect that much or more, but I don't know.) And I really would prefer tech support where I could take it in and a tech would troubleshoot and repair it, rather than as with Dell I have to be so involved and spend so much of my time participating in the troubleshooting and then in the case of the HD failure within the 1st yr, reinstalling XP and everything else which took hours of my time.
Next Business Day Onsite Plus Nights and Weekends till 10/1/2009 -- 1 year(s) [add $156 or $15/month1]
This I need to figure out right away since I see they have an additional charge to reinstate, I guess for those who let the warranty lapse and then decide to extend. Don't want to go there.
Some of this stuff I can figure out later as I'm trying to belately get my Dad's income tax ready for the tax guy (its on extension and he wanted it a couple of weeks ago). His his more work to gather the stuff for the tax guy than completing mine with Turbo Tax but he's got more complicated things going on and my record keeping last year wasn't great with being very busy putting out fires.
"shortcuts [from Quicken]... for a 'free credit report', best card to use for Quicken and 1 mo free bill pay".
Unfortunately, it's quite common for a product to include extraneous "garbage": by including advertisements from other companies that are subsidizing Quicken, it probably allows Quicken to keep its price lower than it would otherwise be without having such "backers". I'm not saying this is "right" --- just trying to explain what's most likely going on. You can delete the icons... and hopefully remove the superfluous programs... or you (and other consumers) can try to protest, by not purchasing the next version of Quicken. [I realize that may not be practical, if you have lots of data stored in Quicken, and need it to access things. It's also likely that alternative programs (Microsoft Money??) may include similar "advertising"].
"the scary thing is that I know enough to recognize it isn't good advice but not all computer users would..."
As for stopping bad "advice" from being offered --- especially to computer "newbies" who understandably may be gullible --- unfortunately, there's very little that can be done :-( even here, in these DELL forums, there is an "open forum" policy: since this is a USER-TO-USER forum, ANYONE, regardless of qualifications/knowledge, is allowed to respond to any post. Yes, that means it's possible for an incompetent oaf to reply to a question... whether he truly believes what he is saying, or is just taking the "easy way out" (e.g., reformat/reinstall rather than take the time to locate/solve a problem), or is in fact a malcontent out to intentionally inflict damage on unsuspecting users. fortunately, there are lots of good people reading these pages regularly, that when/if we notice some irresponsible advice, we'll chime-in to contradict the "advice" --- however, i realize it may already be too late by then.
the only "rankings" included here (silver, gold, platinum &etc) merely indicate QUANTITY of posts at DELL, with no reflection of quality. meaning that a useless SPAMMER could earn a higher "quantitative" level... whereas an acknowledged expert from another security forum, upon joining the DELL forum, is classified as a "newbie", like any other first-time poster here. again, unfortunate, but something to keep in mind.
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As for hardware vs. software firewall, here's an interesting article comparing them:
the bottom-line being: "one type of firewall isn't necessarily better than the other. There are some differences, though, and they can be used together to give you an even greater degree of protection".
Or as BugBatter so aptly put it (elsewhere), "With both, [it's like] you've got 'a belt and suspenders'".
the comodo firewall [and third-party firewalls in general] take a short while to load/initialize. during those few seconds [or minutes, depending on how slow your system is], you're not protected from online attacks. by running a hardware/router firewall --- which presumably was turned-on before you booted your PC --- you have protection from the first instant of online connection.
[per BugBatter, this (instantaneous protection) is also true if you use the included WINDOWS firewall.]
as for flash, it's installation may depend on the browser you're using: i believe that Internet Explorer installs it as an "ActiveX control", whereas firefox & opera refer to it as a "plug-in". since i use all 3 browsers (on occasion), i have both versions listed in my add/remove programs list.
flash is one of several commonly used "embedded multi-media players". java is another example. both can make the internet experience "fuller" and "more enjoyable" --- and many sites require these in order to be viewed properly. unfortunately, both of these can (and have been) exploited by malicious vendors who have located, and taken advantage of, "exploits" in these programs. that's why they're frequently updated, and why it's so important that users should always update to the latest [most secure] versions.
let me also point out that some people, who insist on security over (for want of a better term) "practicality", refuse [on principle] to install flash, java (and the like)... in so doing, they maintain a more secure system, but one on which they can't watch any embedded flash/java applications. that's a security-conscious user's choice.
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I think we need to distinguish between a "tech support" contract --- which to me, means the ability to contact DELL for "advice" on how to fix problems on one's PC ---
vs. an extended parts/service warranty, which is precisely what it says.
when you specified "Next Business Day Onsite", I take it to mean the latter.
that's something each user must determine for him/herself. Personally, I've never opted for any extended service contracts (on just about ANYTHING i purchase, be it computers or otherwise), and so far, I've been very fortunate (lucky??) with things working out for me. on the other hand, given that you've already undergone "replacement of the HD, the motherboard and CD/DVD drive", it seems that a warrantee has been most fortuitous in your case. so i'm not going to tell you that you don't "need" it, only to have you write back should you find yourself paying "through the roof" for more replacement parts in the future.
finally, it's apparent that both you and I are both quite "chatty". i have enjoyed the weekend exchange with you, but be advised that I may not be in a position to continue such lengthy discussion as the new week enfolds.
ky331, Thanks for your comments. And yes, I tend to get chatty. I think it is related to my ADHD and also very definately the hour of the night. Plus this is more interesting than getting back to finishing getting my Dad's income tax stuff ready for the tax guy which should have been done some time ago (its on extension)
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Interesting comments about firewalls which I hadn't realized. I'll have to come back and review that in more detail after I get out from under some other things.
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Yeah, on the user forums it usually seems to work out. I've gotten lots of good help here, but on ocasion I've seen some really negative stuff against the poster. I've had lots of frustrations, as have many others, with Dell's tech support, meaning the the next day onsight, which isn't what I thought that meant.
I had thought that meant that if the computer had a problem, after some basic phone troubleshooting to eliminate the simple and stupid stuff that it meant that a tech would come out to diagnose and fix the problem. And I remember asking the salesman on the phone to clarify because I thought that was too good to be true (4 years of it was a special included in the sales price) and I was left with the same understanding. Of course he lied about some other things to, like telling me to contact him if I had any questions, giving me phone and email but never responding when I did have a few questions while waiting for the arrival of my computer.
I do see now that it is clearer on the website when you click on support options except that it is still misleading in one way since they mention that the user is expected to install simple things such as a mouse or keyboard. But in fact, at least for me and my impression is that this is Dell standard policy on these type of service contracts, the HD in the laptop was considered a user replaceable part. So they sent it to me and I was expected to do the replacement myself. That is quite a bit different than a mouse or keyboard. It actually wasn't hard, just needed a small phillips screwdriver and pulled it out and put in the new one. But the tech website warned about static discharge hazards and to have a qualified person do it!
When it first hiccuped and they wanted to replace it, it was in Dec and dry with lots of static electricity around in the air. By Mar when it was replaced it was more humid so not the static danger.
Anyway, I've noticed that some people on the forums take exception to frustrated users mentioning the problems of Dell's tech support. And I think this in part is because there are different types of users as you in part pointed out. Many of the techies are very friendly and helpful to those of us who don't know as much. But some of them, maybe because of their knowledge and ability to understand and deal with these issues, fail to understand the burden on those of us who are not so technical and who may spend hours on the phone and then hours helping run the diagnostics.
Or the frustration with their contract installers of parts. And that is apparently all they are. The guy who came out to install the motherboard was very nice, but he was just a hardware guy. He inserted a CD to update the BIOS but didn't know enough to go into the screen (F2?) where the boot drives need to be selected. So they weren't so the next day it wouldn't boot. And he also didn't make sure that the problem that had ocasioned the service in the first place was fixed. he was just a hardware installer. He had actually turned it off and rebooted but I guess hadn't left it off long enough to re-set something so when I tried to use the computer, what had been an intermittent LAN connection interrupt was totally not connecting.
So their contract installer caused 2 problems that I had to make 2 separate calls to Dell tech support (one I got a US tech and the 2nd one in India) to get the solution to what he had messed up apparently by installing the BIOS without making the needed changes or leaving it off enough to re-set. Fortunately in both cases I rather quickly got through to a competent tech person who I could understand who quickly told me what to do. But I think its pretty lame that their tech support is so disjointed that way so you have people remotely trying to diagnose problems and decide what is needed and then others who come out just to install without making sure things are working ok before they leave.
whoops. Didn't really mean to get on that again, but that was actually better than some of the tech support instances. And I don't think the motherboard itself was bad, just the connector which I assume was soldered to the board and had become loose.
But I don't recall Dell techs telling me stupid stuff like to reformat the HD to solve a problem (although its possible they might have, but I think that was others) or this dumb one about uninstall the program.
I have noticed in general that some tech support people really aren't techs--including many of the Dell ones in India but not the guy I talked to in the US--but simply read scripts about what to say. And on a number of ocasions I've had tech support from various sources instead of starting with the simplest solution first, would instead propose the one that should have been the "if all else fails" solution.
On the forums as you said, there are many helpful people who can correct bad advice, but when a person is dealing one on one with tech support, if the person is an actual newbie that doesn't know a lot, they may not realize that reformatting a HD would lose all their data, and be a lot of work and not where you start.
As far as advice type tech support, I often prefer the forums to contacting Dell since I usually get a quicker response that is more helpful (and I also find that having a written record is very helpful since I may be following a tech on the phone, but I've found I don't have perfect memory and if trying to follow it later, I may have forgotten things. So I like a written record of what was said. Plus on some other boards here people who made phone calls about warranties or repairs and the like and then reported problems with sometimes Dell having no record of critical conversations, someone commented that is why to always use email so you have a written record. Makes sense to me. I know I can't prove what the salesman told me about how tech support would work, but if I had gotten it in writing it would have been clear--and probably been an incentive to avoid misleading talk.)
I guess I'm really avoiding the tax stuff here, LOL.
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Flash
Yeah I have Flash and Java and I've heard there can be problems which I hope my protective software prevents. I guess one or the other or other software is what is used for viewing online videos. I've noticed that sometimes my computer seems to really slow down and watching video clips becomes rather laborious as it pauses very often to buffer i guess.
And even sometimes when I'm typing in an email or one of these posts the refresh rate or whatever it is, is noticeably slow where I have to wait for the letters to appear some times. Not sure why that is, but I suspect more RAM might help. It seems like so many things run in the background that I don't even know what they all are--other than the protection programs I've installed. When I checked for spyware or other malware it would show 16 processes running when that program was the only one open. of course I guess I should use disk clean up more often to clear out the leftover stuff.
your comment about how "tech support" people often simply read through a "prepared script" reminded me of the time my DSL connection was "out": I phoned Verizon, and immediately asked them whether there was a local outage in my community. But that wasn't item number one on their script. so they insisted on following their script, item by item, for over 20 minutes... having me try to confirm that switches/settings were all correct... insisting that I try to reset some things to default conditions... only to ultimately call-in a supervisor, who proceeded to inform me that there was a temporary local outage in my community. DUH!
unfortunately, some salesmen tend to say anything, in order to make a sale. afterwards, when we call back to get what was promised us, we quickly here a lot of "Woops!".
I read lots of posts in these forums. while i consider virus/spyware my "home base", i check out several other areas, and am amazed by the number of seemingly legitimate complaints against original sales promises, and against tech support. in my opinion, opening up a PC (which often voids the manufacturer's warrantee) to "tinker" with motherboards, or other items that can easily be "fried" by the least static-electric discharge --- which will of course NOT be covered any more, since it will now be considered breakage by the user --- should NOT be considered "over-the-phone" routine help. i'm also reading lots of dissatisfied posters noting confusion about how the 21 [or 30] day return period is determined (hint: it's NOT from the day of receipt). i think it would greatly benefit public relations and promote good will (not to mention DELL's stock price) if matters like these were better handled.
but that's another digression... and to keep this short, i think it best to let you get back to your taxes :smileywink:
Not sure if you were referring to something I said or that you had heard elsewhere. Just to clarify, I was not asked to do anything with the motherboard. They sent the contract tech out to install that.
Both the HD early on and later the CD/DVD drive were considered user replaceable. The CD/DVD drive wasn't that bad--just sometimes it wouldn't open so the replacement sat around for months. Then when the tech came and installed the motherboard, I mentioned the other and he put that in also.
But yeah, with the HD it was kind of both ways. On the web, instructions about it warned something about static and about having someone qualified deal with it--something to that effect. I was really kind of afraid to do it, but by the time it actually came to be replaced, as I said, no static and it wasn't hard.
Another thing about my series, the Inspiron 5100 series (mine is a 5160) there was discussion about HD problems and one of the recommended solutions was to take it out, or maybe it was partly out and put it back in to "re-seat" it. Apparently some of them had a problem with the HD becoming unseated.
I find that hard to understand. This is a laptop and I would think that proper design would be to have a secure enough bracket or whatever so that it wouldn't shift position and adversely affect function. It just sounded like a poor design that must have caused problems enough that it was mentioned as a troubleshooting step. It didn't help mine. Don't know why it failed although there were some reports of a maybe significant failure rate with those drives. The replacement was the same model as the original although some were different mfg. I see from my macro where I had previously entered the info that it was/is a Hitachi.
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As far as dates, my computer was ordered the end of Sept and delivered in early Oct. I don't remember the exact date but it was probably about 10-5 or something like that. My warranty is good thru 10-1 and I'm debating about paying the $156 to extend it another year on my 4 yr old machine. Maybe now leaning toward not and hoping for the best. But still need to call local computer stores whose techs have probalby gone home by now as its after 6 pm.
======================================================= Inspiron 5160, 2.8 gHz with hyper threading, WinXP Home SP2, 1 GB RAM, Comodo Firewall, Avast anti-virus, CD/RW DVD combo drive 60 GB, 4200, Hitachi warranty replacement HD.
Bugbatter
3 Apprentice
•
20.5K Posts
0
September 28th, 2008 00:00
There are bad scripts and good scripts. Most script blocking programs or browser add/on script blocking simply blocks them and alerts the user that a website is trying to run them.
If I were you, I would disable Avast Script Blocking before going to the sites that you have a problem with, and enable it after that to protect you on other sites.
I don't know if you use Firefox, but there is a script blocking add-on, "NoScript", that will allow you to configure which sites you want to trust. If you use FireFox and get the add-on, you could probably leave Avast's script blocking disabled.
KathiMR
282 Posts
0
September 28th, 2008 01:00
OK. Yes I do use Firefox just updated to 3.3 today I think it was. It seems to update itself automatically now.
I'll have to look into that with Firefox. I don't like things that just block stuff without an explanation or giving me a choice.
As I recall also with Firefox, it would give me a message about blocking something but give me the option right then of allowing it which I like much better than having to set up rules for all the sites I might visit once or rarely.
And there are some sites that I think are ok, but then not sure about all links, whether they are from the site or whether it could be from someone else that sort of piggy backs on the site.
And I guess also there are some well known names that want to take more control. I was going to sign up for google earth but some of the language of what they wanted you to agree to sounded rather overreaching. And I read a review that said that.
And then I don't know whether it was script or what but I was installing the newest version of Flash and something else was being installed that I'm not sure whether it was a plug in or needed by Flash and comodo kept asking whether to allow stuff that I wasn't sure I should or not.
ky331
3 Apprentice
•
15.6K Posts
0
September 28th, 2008 12:00
Kathi wrote: "I'm not thrilled that when I installed Quicken it also installed a couple of other things that are now icons on my desktop."
Do these new icons have a box in the lower-lefthand corner, containing a curvy arrow? if so, these icons are merely pointers (or "shortcuts" ) to easily access these programs. shortcuts can be deleted from your desktop, without impacting the program they're pointing to... you should still be able to access that program from your START menu [to play it safe, I would check for the program in your START menu first, to be sure it's listed there... and if you are annoyed by the desktop pointers "cluttering things up", then delete the pointer(s)].
if Quicken installed additional programs (which are not essential for its running), you might be able to actually remove these extraneous programs, provided they're listed under ADD/REMOVE programs in your Control Panel.
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you wrote "[Avast tech's] first suggestions were to uninstall the program to try to repeat what happened. Now... [they] mention that you can turn off script blocking which I would have thought they would have mentioned before telling me to uninstall the program".
Unfortunately, there can be a great deal of bad advice offered... from anywhere... including from Dell "tech support". For example, it's far easier for a "support" person to 'advise' a user to reformat and reinstall windows, than to take the time/effort to locate and fix the problem. when you get 'advice' that doesn't feel right... in your case, to uninstall your antivirus and then re-test your situation ONLINE WITH NO ANTI-VIRUS PROTECTION RUNNING, you should immediately reject such irresponsible balderdash and demand an alternative 'solution' --- such as simply disabling script blocking, without having to remove your entire anti-virus program.
for future consideration, rather than e-mailing tech support, i believe the you should consider posting at the Avast user forum, which in general, seems to be been quite helpful:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2.0
alternatively, you can try posting here, and we'll do the best we can to assist you.
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i use avast free, not pro, so i don't have any first-hand experience with its script blocking module.
searching through their forum, i've noted the following assertions:
1) the scipt-blocking flash-screen usually pops up [momentarily] only when opening your Internet Explorer browser. "The browser extracts the scripts from the page and passes them to Script Blocker. It scans them for viruses and if everything is OK, the browser continues execution. There's no whitelist... and the scanning itself shouldn't affect the execution in any way".
2) Avast's script-blocking does NOT work with Firefox, so you should not see it pop-up there.
3) Even without the script blocking enabled, the web shield module should provide adequate protection.
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You wrote: "I'm wondering if I made a mistake getting Avast--whether it is geared to those who are more techies.... and comodo [firewall(?)] kept asking whether to allow stuff that I wasn't sure I should or not".
Unfortunately, there can be a daunting fine-line between enhancing one's protection, and ease-of-use. Comodo's firewall, particularly version 3.x, can present you with lots of choices. [version 2.x is much less "chatty", but likewise requires some decisions on the part of the user.] Comodo's decisions tend to be about whether you wish to permit a particular program to have access to the internet: making the wrong decision will either block internet access for a good program, or allow internet access to a bad program.
as mentioned, since I don't have the PAID avast, i don't have first-hand experience with its script blocker feature. as Bugbatter noted, "There are bad scripts and good scripts". presumably, the blocker was simply trying to tell you that a script was attempting to run on that page. if it merely advised you of the existence of the script, without asking you to approve/deny it, that probably meant it was able to automatically determine the script's "nature", and allowed or denied it accordingly. if instead it gives you a choice of whether or not to permit the script, since you indicated it was at a quicken site --- presumably safe and reliable --- I would tend to believe it should be permitted.
if you find avast's script blocking too intimidating, some choices would be either to use Firefox --- which does not get impacted by avast's script blocking --- or to disable avast's script blocking in Internet Explorer, since (presumably) its web shield module will intercept the script. I don't believe there's any reason for you to give up on avast as a whole.
As for comodo, if you're using 3.x [on XP], you can consider "downgrading" to 2.0 [not for Vista] --- or else, using a more "basic" firewall, such as the included Windows firewall. you should also check to see if your router --- assuming you're using one --- has its own hardware (NAT) firewall, which can be used in addition to any software firewall.
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finally, concerning Flash Player, make sure to download/install it only from an offical ADOBE site
http://www.adobe.com/go/EN_US-H-GET-FLASH
as there are several fraudulent sites trying to trick you into download "flash" --- when in reality, they're trying to install a (zlob) trojan!
KathiMR
282 Posts
0
September 29th, 2008 04:00
Quicken--they were the shortcuts, but for a "free credit report", best card to use for Quicken and 1 mo free bill pay. So just extra junk that I don't want. yes, I know I can get rid of the short-cuts, but I was actually alluding to the fact that they were placed on my computer at all. I'll probably get around to figuring out how to delete the whole thing for each of them--not just the shortcut icons.
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Avast. 1st off as my signature indicates I do use Firefox. While I can't conveniently avoid MS entirely so far, I prefer to use other alternatives when I can and although I'm not a usual early adopter, I'd heard so many good things right off about Firefox and didn't like IE so I switched fairly early on.
And yes, it isn't just Avast that has sometimes given advice like what you mention to reformat the HD or the like. This wasn't that drastic, but the scary thing is that I know enough to recognize it isn't good advice but not all computer users would know that reformatting a HD would delete everything and could take hours to restore, unless one had things backed up in a way that is easy to restore (I hope I do but I'm not sure, using Retrospect Express that came with my Maxtor external HD).
That's interesting that Avast's script blocking isn't supposed to work with Firefox, but maybe it was just taking a look at a script or something. Since that I have turned on the thing so it now shows I think it when scripts are being run.
While I have a router which I purchased I think when we got cable internet because a salesman said I needed it, others said I didn't so with the confusion I have never hooked it up so it is still sitting here in its shrink wrap. Also my isp sounded like they weren't thrilled with users using them since they I guess couldn't access the system for tech support, or something. I guess it would still work fine and I have thought about hooking it up. It is a Linksys Cable/DSL Router with 4 port switch I see it has a 1 year limited warranty which of course has long since expired unless they go from when it is installed. Oh and I just noticed one of the listed requirements is IE 5.0 or Netscape 6 for web-based configuration so not sure how that would work, but I would imagine there would be a work around. It was sold to me with the idea of it being a firewall although it doesn't say it has one. I don't understand that all very well.
And you mention that a hardware firewall could be used with a software one. I thought I had heard that a software one wouldn't be needed with a hardware one, but not sure.
Just something I've never gotten around to figuring out.
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Flash. I can't remember for sure but I think it was the Adobe site. As I recall it was a program or website that I trust that sent me there. But I was confused since I thought I was just installing Flash but then I was getting messages about something that I think it said was a plug in which I didn't know anything about whether it was good or bad or needed or not or why it was just trying to install along with Adobe.
I don't like it when I get asked questions about allowing something that I don't understand. As I recall, I allowed it several times and then decided to say no to Comodo, but the messages all looked about the same which seems a bit strange.
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The other thing I'm trying to figure out now is whether it is a good idea to purchase an additional year of tech support from Dell. My Inspiron 5160 is 4 yrs old and seems to be working ok after previous replacement of the HD, the motherboard and CD/DVD drive under the original 4 yr warranty which runs out 10/1. The following is what they offer for an additional year. I don't have plans to buy a new computer any time soon and looking for advice whether purchasing the additional year is likely to be a good investment or waste of money. (Realizing that I guess no one knows for sure whether something is likely to go bad. I don't know what parts and repair would cost, but I suspect that much or more, but I don't know.) And I really would prefer tech support where I could take it in and a tech would troubleshoot and repair it, rather than as with Dell I have to be so involved and spend so much of my time participating in the troubleshooting and then in the case of the HD failure within the 1st yr, reinstalling XP and everything else which took hours of my time.
Next Business Day Onsite Plus Nights and Weekends till 10/1/2009 -- 1 year(s) [add $156 or $15/month1]
This I need to figure out right away since I see they have an additional charge to reinstate, I guess for those who let the warranty lapse and then decide to extend. Don't want to go there.
Some of this stuff I can figure out later as I'm trying to belately get my Dad's income tax ready for the tax guy (its on extension and he wanted it a couple of weeks ago). His his more work to gather the stuff for the tax guy than completing mine with Turbo Tax but he's got more complicated things going on and my record keeping last year wasn't great with being very busy putting out fires.
ky331
3 Apprentice
•
15.6K Posts
0
September 29th, 2008 13:00
ky331
3 Apprentice
•
15.6K Posts
0
September 29th, 2008 13:00
"shortcuts [from Quicken]... for a 'free credit report', best card to use for Quicken and 1 mo free bill pay".
Unfortunately, it's quite common for a product to include extraneous "garbage": by including advertisements from other companies that are subsidizing Quicken, it probably allows Quicken to keep its price lower than it would otherwise be without having such "backers". I'm not saying this is "right" --- just trying to explain what's most likely going on. You can delete the icons... and hopefully remove the superfluous programs... or you (and other consumers) can try to protest, by not purchasing the next version of Quicken. [I realize that may not be practical, if you have lots of data stored in Quicken, and need it to access things. It's also likely that alternative programs (Microsoft Money??) may include similar "advertising"].
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"the scary thing is that I know enough to recognize it isn't good advice but not all computer users would..."
As for stopping bad "advice" from being offered --- especially to computer "newbies" who understandably may be gullible --- unfortunately, there's very little that can be done :-( even here, in these DELL forums, there is an "open forum" policy: since this is a USER-TO-USER forum, ANYONE, regardless of qualifications/knowledge, is allowed to respond to any post. Yes, that means it's possible for an incompetent oaf to reply to a question... whether he truly believes what he is saying, or is just taking the "easy way out" (e.g., reformat/reinstall rather than take the time to locate/solve a problem), or is in fact a malcontent out to intentionally inflict damage on unsuspecting users. fortunately, there are lots of good people reading these pages regularly, that when/if we notice some irresponsible advice, we'll chime-in to contradict the "advice" --- however, i realize it may already be too late by then.
the only "rankings" included here (silver, gold, platinum &etc) merely indicate QUANTITY of posts at DELL, with no reflection of quality. meaning that a useless SPAMMER could earn a higher "quantitative" level... whereas an acknowledged expert from another security forum, upon joining the DELL forum, is classified as a "newbie", like any other first-time poster here. again, unfortunate, but something to keep in mind.
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As for hardware vs. software firewall, here's an interesting article comparing them:
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/webmaster/article.php/3103431
the bottom-line being: "one type of firewall isn't necessarily better than the other. There are some differences, though, and they can be used together to give you an even greater degree of protection".
Or as BugBatter so aptly put it (elsewhere), "With both, [it's like] you've got 'a belt and suspenders'".
the comodo firewall [and third-party firewalls in general] take a short while to load/initialize. during those few seconds [or minutes, depending on how slow your system is], you're not protected from online attacks. by running a hardware/router firewall --- which presumably was turned-on before you booted your PC --- you have protection from the first instant of online connection.
[per BugBatter, this (instantaneous protection) is also true if you use the included WINDOWS firewall.]
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as for flash, it's installation may depend on the browser you're using: i believe that Internet Explorer installs it as an "ActiveX control", whereas firefox & opera refer to it as a "plug-in". since i use all 3 browsers (on occasion), i have both versions listed in my add/remove programs list.
flash is one of several commonly used "embedded multi-media players". java is another example. both can make the internet experience "fuller" and "more enjoyable" --- and many sites require these in order to be viewed properly. unfortunately, both of these can (and have been) exploited by malicious vendors who have located, and taken advantage of, "exploits" in these programs. that's why they're frequently updated, and why it's so important that users should always update to the latest [most secure] versions.
let me also point out that some people, who insist on security over (for want of a better term) "practicality", refuse [on principle] to install flash, java (and the like)... in so doing, they maintain a more secure system, but one on which they can't watch any embedded flash/java applications. that's a security-conscious user's choice.
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I think we need to distinguish between a "tech support" contract --- which to me, means the ability to contact DELL for "advice" on how to fix problems on one's PC ---
vs. an extended parts/service warranty, which is precisely what it says.
when you specified "Next Business Day Onsite", I take it to mean the latter.
that's something each user must determine for him/herself. Personally, I've never opted for any extended service contracts (on just about ANYTHING i purchase, be it computers or otherwise), and so far, I've been very fortunate (lucky??) with things working out for me. on the other hand, given that you've already undergone "replacement of the HD, the motherboard and CD/DVD drive", it seems that a warrantee has been most fortuitous in your case. so i'm not going to tell you that you don't "need" it, only to have you write back should you find yourself paying "through the roof" for more replacement parts in the future.
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finally, it's apparent that both you and I are both quite "chatty". i have enjoyed the weekend exchange with you, but be advised that I may not be in a position to continue such lengthy discussion as the new week enfolds.
KathiMR
282 Posts
0
September 29th, 2008 21:00
ky331, Thanks for your comments. And yes, I tend to get chatty. I think it is related to my ADHD and also very definately the hour of the night. Plus this is more interesting than getting back to finishing getting my Dad's income tax stuff ready for the tax guy which should have been done some time ago (its on extension)
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Interesting comments about firewalls which I hadn't realized. I'll have to come back and review that in more detail after I get out from under some other things.
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Yeah, on the user forums it usually seems to work out. I've gotten lots of good help here, but on ocasion I've seen some really negative stuff against the poster. I've had lots of frustrations, as have many others, with Dell's tech support, meaning the the next day onsight, which isn't what I thought that meant.
I had thought that meant that if the computer had a problem, after some basic phone troubleshooting to eliminate the simple and stupid stuff that it meant that a tech would come out to diagnose and fix the problem. And I remember asking the salesman on the phone to clarify because I thought that was too good to be true (4 years of it was a special included in the sales price) and I was left with the same understanding. Of course he lied about some other things to, like telling me to contact him if I had any questions, giving me phone and email but never responding when I did have a few questions while waiting for the arrival of my computer.
I do see now that it is clearer on the website when you click on support options except that it is still misleading in one way since they mention that the user is expected to install simple things such as a mouse or keyboard. But in fact, at least for me and my impression is that this is Dell standard policy on these type of service contracts, the HD in the laptop was considered a user replaceable part. So they sent it to me and I was expected to do the replacement myself. That is quite a bit different than a mouse or keyboard. It actually wasn't hard, just needed a small phillips screwdriver and pulled it out and put in the new one. But the tech website warned about static discharge hazards and to have a qualified person do it!
When it first hiccuped and they wanted to replace it, it was in Dec and dry with lots of static electricity around in the air. By Mar when it was replaced it was more humid so not the static danger.
Anyway, I've noticed that some people on the forums take exception to frustrated users mentioning the problems of Dell's tech support. And I think this in part is because there are different types of users as you in part pointed out. Many of the techies are very friendly and helpful to those of us who don't know as much. But some of them, maybe because of their knowledge and ability to understand and deal with these issues, fail to understand the burden on those of us who are not so technical and who may spend hours on the phone and then hours helping run the diagnostics.
Or the frustration with their contract installers of parts. And that is apparently all they are. The guy who came out to install the motherboard was very nice, but he was just a hardware guy. He inserted a CD to update the BIOS but didn't know enough to go into the screen (F2?) where the boot drives need to be selected. So they weren't so the next day it wouldn't boot. And he also didn't make sure that the problem that had ocasioned the service in the first place was fixed. he was just a hardware installer. He had actually turned it off and rebooted but I guess hadn't left it off long enough to re-set something so when I tried to use the computer, what had been an intermittent LAN connection interrupt was totally not connecting.
So their contract installer caused 2 problems that I had to make 2 separate calls to Dell tech support (one I got a US tech and the 2nd one in India) to get the solution to what he had messed up apparently by installing the BIOS without making the needed changes or leaving it off enough to re-set. Fortunately in both cases I rather quickly got through to a competent tech person who I could understand who quickly told me what to do. But I think its pretty lame that their tech support is so disjointed that way so you have people remotely trying to diagnose problems and decide what is needed and then others who come out just to install without making sure things are working ok before they leave.
whoops. Didn't really mean to get on that again, but that was actually better than some of the tech support instances. And I don't think the motherboard itself was bad, just the connector which I assume was soldered to the board and had become loose.
But I don't recall Dell techs telling me stupid stuff like to reformat the HD to solve a problem (although its possible they might have, but I think that was others) or this dumb one about uninstall the program.
I have noticed in general that some tech support people really aren't techs--including many of the Dell ones in India but not the guy I talked to in the US--but simply read scripts about what to say. And on a number of ocasions I've had tech support from various sources instead of starting with the simplest solution first, would instead propose the one that should have been the "if all else fails" solution.
On the forums as you said, there are many helpful people who can correct bad advice, but when a person is dealing one on one with tech support, if the person is an actual newbie that doesn't know a lot, they may not realize that reformatting a HD would lose all their data, and be a lot of work and not where you start.
As far as advice type tech support, I often prefer the forums to contacting Dell since I usually get a quicker response that is more helpful (and I also find that having a written record is very helpful since I may be following a tech on the phone, but I've found I don't have perfect memory and if trying to follow it later, I may have forgotten things. So I like a written record of what was said. Plus on some other boards here people who made phone calls about warranties or repairs and the like and then reported problems with sometimes Dell having no record of critical conversations, someone commented that is why to always use email so you have a written record. Makes sense to me. I know I can't prove what the salesman told me about how tech support would work, but if I had gotten it in writing it would have been clear--and probably been an incentive to avoid misleading talk.)
I guess I'm really avoiding the tax stuff here, LOL.
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Flash
Yeah I have Flash and Java and I've heard there can be problems which I hope my protective software prevents. I guess one or the other or other software is what is used for viewing online videos. I've noticed that sometimes my computer seems to really slow down and watching video clips becomes rather laborious as it pauses very often to buffer i guess.
And even sometimes when I'm typing in an email or one of these posts the refresh rate or whatever it is, is noticeably slow where I have to wait for the letters to appear some times. Not sure why that is, but I suspect more RAM might help. It seems like so many things run in the background that I don't even know what they all are--other than the protection programs I've installed. When I checked for spyware or other malware it would show 16 processes running when that program was the only one open. of course I guess I should use disk clean up more often to clear out the leftover stuff.
ky331
3 Apprentice
•
15.6K Posts
0
September 29th, 2008 23:00
your comment about how "tech support" people often simply read through a "prepared script" reminded me of the time my DSL connection was "out": I phoned Verizon, and immediately asked them whether there was a local outage in my community. But that wasn't item number one on their script. so they insisted on following their script, item by item, for over 20 minutes... having me try to confirm that switches/settings were all correct... insisting that I try to reset some things to default conditions... only to ultimately call-in a supervisor, who proceeded to inform me that there was a temporary local outage in my community. DUH!
unfortunately, some salesmen tend to say anything, in order to make a sale. afterwards, when we call back to get what was promised us, we quickly here a lot of "Woops!".
I read lots of posts in these forums. while i consider virus/spyware my "home base", i check out several other areas, and am amazed by the number of seemingly legitimate complaints against original sales promises, and against tech support. in my opinion, opening up a PC (which often voids the manufacturer's warrantee) to "tinker" with motherboards, or other items that can easily be "fried" by the least static-electric discharge --- which will of course NOT be covered any more, since it will now be considered breakage by the user --- should NOT be considered "over-the-phone" routine help. i'm also reading lots of dissatisfied posters noting confusion about how the 21 [or 30] day return period is determined (hint: it's NOT from the day of receipt). i think it would greatly benefit public relations and promote good will (not to mention DELL's stock price) if matters like these were better handled.
but that's another digression... and to keep this short, i think it best to let you get back to your taxes :smileywink:
KathiMR
282 Posts
0
September 30th, 2008 00:00
Not sure if you were referring to something I said or that you had heard elsewhere. Just to clarify, I was not asked to do anything with the motherboard. They sent the contract tech out to install that.
Both the HD early on and later the CD/DVD drive were considered user replaceable. The CD/DVD drive wasn't that bad--just sometimes it wouldn't open so the replacement sat around for months. Then when the tech came and installed the motherboard, I mentioned the other and he put that in also.
But yeah, with the HD it was kind of both ways. On the web, instructions about it warned something about static and about having someone qualified deal with it--something to that effect. I was really kind of afraid to do it, but by the time it actually came to be replaced, as I said, no static and it wasn't hard.
Another thing about my series, the Inspiron 5100 series (mine is a 5160) there was discussion about HD problems and one of the recommended solutions was to take it out, or maybe it was partly out and put it back in to "re-seat" it. Apparently some of them had a problem with the HD becoming unseated.
I find that hard to understand. This is a laptop and I would think that proper design would be to have a secure enough bracket or whatever so that it wouldn't shift position and adversely affect function. It just sounded like a poor design that must have caused problems enough that it was mentioned as a troubleshooting step. It didn't help mine. Don't know why it failed although there were some reports of a maybe significant failure rate with those drives. The replacement was the same model as the original although some were different mfg. I see from my macro where I had previously entered the info that it was/is a Hitachi.
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As far as dates, my computer was ordered the end of Sept and delivered in early Oct. I don't remember the exact date but it was probably about 10-5 or something like that. My warranty is good thru 10-1 and I'm debating about paying the $156 to extend it another year on my 4 yr old machine. Maybe now leaning toward not and hoping for the best. But still need to call local computer stores whose techs have probalby gone home by now as its after 6 pm.
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Inspiron 5160, 2.8 gHz with hyper threading, WinXP Home SP2, 1 GB RAM, Comodo Firewall, Avast anti-virus, CD/RW DVD combo drive 60 GB, 4200, Hitachi warranty replacement HD.