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November 19th, 2010 13:00
Sideshow Session Error Messages
I originally posted the message below in the Desktop Hardware forum, and it has been suggested that this forum might be a better place...
I have a XPS-420 with Vista SP1. I also am still using IE7.0.6 because IE8 and also SP2 won't install correctly, They seem to get the download and then go through a long confirming process, then the installation "reverts" somehow and these updates never get done. Just about every other Windows update has installed correctly except for these two...so I don't know if that is the reason for my current problem.
I have started getting these little pop ups that that Sideshow (that little screen thingy on the top of the case toward the front) won't start because it only works with Vista, which is what I have. This latest one occured when I attempted to put the computer to sleep for a few hours. Instead of that happening it restarted, which is not what I selected. I just ran diagnostic a couple of weeks ago and found no major problems and am wondering what is prompting this message to start coming up. I have no idea of what Sideshow is supposed to be doing for me. other than the computer is never really completely off, but the little screen lights up when I boot up the computer. Any ideas about what is going on will be appreciated.
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fireberd
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November 20th, 2010 04:00
I assume you are talking about the Screensaver "slide show". Is this correct? This is an Vista (Operating System) issue. With the other problems you are having I wouild suspect Vista is corrupt and there are probably other things that are not working properly either, if they were accessed.
Ultimately it is most likely going to take a complete reinstall to get everything working correctly. I know this is a hassle but sometimes it needs to be done. If you decide to do the reinstall, backup all your user data (e.g. music, pictures, My Documents folder,), e-mail address book, I.E. favorites, etc to some external media such as CD/DVD's, a separate hard drive or possibly a USB flash drive depenind on how much data you have to backup. Your PC came with the Dell PC Restore on the hard drive and if it's still there that is the best way to restore. Restore the PC and then get all the Windows updates BEFORE you add any of your own programs.
How to run PC Restore
dalem29
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November 20th, 2010 06:00
Hi fireberd:
Thanks for the the advice. The computer works fine otherwise and serves my needs so will hold off for awhile on the reinstall, and then I might go to Windows 7 instead. Haven't done any reading and studying about it (Windows 7) to determine if there are issues with it, but I have never been happy with Vista...XP was so much easier to navigate with, more intuitive, and way simpler to organize and find files and folders in. With me, less is more when it comes to "features" like Sideshow, and I hope Windows 7 is better in regard to simplicity. I have had some issues with my CD/DVD drive so will try to clear that up in the proper forum before I attempt a reinstall on cold, snowy day when it is too nasty to do any else. My Dimension 8400 with XP is still hangin on and I only run it about once a week to keep Windows and the security programs updated. It had some "Previous Fan Failure" messages awhile back, but taking it apart and cleaning out the dust seems to have solved that problem.