A search of the google newsgroups reveals several possibilities.
1. It could be a virus - have you run a virus scan with up-to-date virus definitions?
2. It could be spyware - have you run programs like Spybot and Ad-Aware to get rid of this kind of garbage?
3. It could be due to a program called Messenger Killer. Are you running this program? If so, disable it before shutting down and see if that corrects the problem.
Thanks, Steve for your quick reply and suggestions!
Your #3 paragraph suggestion seemed to help. When I log in, each time at my desktop, I get a message box for MESSAGE BLOCKER with an option to close it, minimize it, or DISABLE it. I tried that when I logged in 3 times today, and when I went to shut down, I no longer got the net.exe error that I submitted to this Forum. I was a happy camper (even if I have to do this each time I log in)!!!
I do have Norton and Symantec for viruses, which I update regularly. I was not aware (still really not) of Ad-Aware, even though it's on my desktop. I opened it to browse around, but it was a little confusing and I didn't want to choose boxes to click for fear of deleting something I may need! I did run a Quick Scan and it detected 72 of "something"!! It looked to me like they had to do with "Cookies" (in My Documents). I regularly go into TOOLS, INTERNET OPTIONS, DELETE TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES, but have not done the same on that screen for DELETE COOKIES or DELETE HISTORY. Should I or will it alter any cookie settings I need?
Well, I got quicker assistance from thru this Forum than I ever have with Dell Technical Support/Customer Support (sorry to say). Plus, I have a hard time understanding the reps (calls go to India, I guess), plus there's the usual 1/2 hr 1-800 dialing experience! This Forum is MUCH BETTER because everyone seems to want to share their expertise. Very refreshing and interesting to browse thru.
It would be useful to know exactly what this message blocker is and what it is supposed to do. If it is just blocking the Windows Messenger Service pop-ups, then all one needs to do is turn off Messenger Service in the Windows XP Services menu. If it is supposed to block pop-up ads, then there is a free unobtrusive pop-up block that comes with the Google Toolbar (which also has the benifit of giving you quick access to the best internet search site available. One has to be careful these days as there are all kinds of "recommended downloads" that one comes accross while surfing the internet that seem like they would be beneficial, but turn out to be just disguised spyware.
As for Ad-Aware, the tracking cookies it finds will just come back the next time you visit the sites that use them. They are generally harmless but do send out information about your web browsing habits. I run both Spybot and Ad-Aware on a regular basis and have them always delete everything they find. After doing this for over two years, I have yet to have any problems.
It is worthwhile to occassionally delete the Temporary Internet Files. Deleting History does no harm unless you use the history listings to find a previously visited web site. Deleting Cookies will delete any log in information you have stored for some sites (like this site for example). All cookies can be restored, but if you don't remember the username or password for some sites and they are stored in cookies, then you will lose that information.
Good Luck keeping all of the bad stuff off your computer.
volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
May 29th, 2004 01:00
A search of the google newsgroups reveals several possibilities.
1. It could be a virus - have you run a virus scan with up-to-date virus definitions?
2. It could be spyware - have you run programs like Spybot and Ad-Aware to get rid of this kind of garbage?
3. It could be due to a program called Messenger Killer. Are you running this program? If so, disable it before shutting down and see if that corrects the problem.
Steve
goarmy
19 Posts
0
May 29th, 2004 23:00
Thanks, Steve for your quick reply and suggestions!
Your #3 paragraph suggestion seemed to help. When I log in, each time at my desktop, I get a message box for MESSAGE BLOCKER with an option to close it, minimize it, or DISABLE it. I tried that when I logged in 3 times today, and when I went to shut down, I no longer got the net.exe error that I submitted to this Forum. I was a happy camper (even if I have to do this each time I log in)!!!
I do have Norton and Symantec for viruses, which I update regularly. I was not aware (still really not) of Ad-Aware, even though it's on my desktop. I opened it to browse around, but it was a little confusing and I didn't want to choose boxes to click for fear of deleting something I may need! I did run a Quick Scan and it detected 72 of "something"!! It looked to me like they had to do with "Cookies" (in My Documents). I regularly go into TOOLS, INTERNET OPTIONS, DELETE TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES, but have not done the same on that screen for DELETE COOKIES or DELETE HISTORY. Should I or will it alter any cookie settings I need?
Well, I got quicker assistance from thru this Forum than I ever have with Dell Technical Support/Customer Support (sorry to say). Plus, I have a hard time understanding the reps (calls go to India, I guess), plus there's the usual 1/2 hr 1-800 dialing experience! This Forum is MUCH BETTER because everyone seems to want to share their expertise. Very refreshing and interesting to browse thru.
Thanks again, VolcanoII! Have a great day.
Go Army.........HOOAH!
volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
May 30th, 2004 00:00
It would be useful to know exactly what this message blocker is and what it is supposed to do. If it is just blocking the Windows Messenger Service pop-ups, then all one needs to do is turn off Messenger Service in the Windows XP Services menu. If it is supposed to block pop-up ads, then there is a free unobtrusive pop-up block that comes with the Google Toolbar (which also has the benifit of giving you quick access to the best internet search site available. One has to be careful these days as there are all kinds of "recommended downloads" that one comes accross while surfing the internet that seem like they would be beneficial, but turn out to be just disguised spyware.
As for Ad-Aware, the tracking cookies it finds will just come back the next time you visit the sites that use them. They are generally harmless but do send out information about your web browsing habits. I run both Spybot and Ad-Aware on a regular basis and have them always delete everything they find. After doing this for over two years, I have yet to have any problems.
It is worthwhile to occassionally delete the Temporary Internet Files. Deleting History does no harm unless you use the history listings to find a previously visited web site. Deleting Cookies will delete any log in information you have stored for some sites (like this site for example). All cookies can be restored, but if you don't remember the username or password for some sites and they are stored in cookies, then you will lose that information.
Good Luck keeping all of the bad stuff off your computer.
Steve