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chrisdoc11

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21 years ago

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1092

October 4th, 2005 03:00

Windows Crazy Problems

This evening I installed DSL on my computer, including the Yahoo! SBC DSL software. Afterward my computer has been nuts. Here are some of the problems:
 
(1) The recycle bin has disappeared from the desktop (my network places appeared on the desktop)
(2) When I click on the start menu and all programs, the menu doesn't open.
(3) At various times when I right-click something or even just hit enter, Windows Installer pops up with various programs
(4) At other times a dialog box pops up saying it is configuring Symantec
(5) When I tried to run msconfig, Windows said it could not find
(6) I ran in safe mode with command prompt to run system restore, and it said that System Restore could not protect my computer. I've run it again, and it says the same thing.
 
My DSL connection works and I can go online, but my computer is in bad shape otherwise. I contacted SBC, and they essentially said it couldn't possibly be their software (I couldn't get "Keith" off of his script, so I gave up). Of course Microsoft tells me to contact Dell or open my wallet. Any help from anyone is much appreciated.
  • jmwills

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    Posted October 4th, 2005 08:00

    Do a resore to a point before you installed the software and try this:

    Connect the modem and reboot and use the CD ONLY to find the drivers for the modem install, DO NOT install the SBC software.  Create a new connection using the Internet Options applet in the Control Panel.  Go to Connection tab and add a new connection.

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    Posted October 4th, 2005 14:00

    Thanks for the reply. Is there some way to get to a restore point if Windows System Restore won't run - it says it cannot protect my computer?
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    Posted October 4th, 2005 14:00

    System Restore is enabled on my computer, and I've used it before, which was why it threw me for a loop when it wouldn't work now. There is an SBC support program that is on add-remove programs. I can try to delete it tonight if there is any value in it.
  • jmwills

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    Posted October 4th, 2005 14:00

    Not if you did not enable System Restore.  Does the SBC Program show up under Add/Remove Programs?
  • jmwills

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    Posted October 5th, 2005 03:00

    Here's a support page that I use for my clients here in Italy.  The basics are the same no matter which DSL service you use.

    http://willsit.us/ADSL%20Setup.htm

     

  • 141

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    Posted October 5th, 2005 13:00

    Thanks for the help, by the way.
  • jmwills

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    11984 Posts

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    Posted October 5th, 2005 13:00

    Hey, not a problem.  We are all here to learn.
  • jmwills

    2 Intern

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    11984 Posts

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    Posted October 5th, 2005 13:00

    That's exactly why I came up with the procedure for my clients, to avoid such a mess.  Hope things work out.
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    Posted October 5th, 2005 13:00

    Naturally I wasn't even able to uninstall the programs - only some of the programs were listed in add/remove, and when I tried to remove them I received error messages, they disappeared from the add/remove list, but their program folders/files did not disappear. There was an uninstall icon for one of the programs in its program folder, but when I tried to run that I received a message telling me to run the program through add/remove programs. I spoke with a couple of SBC/Yahoo tech support reps, and they were stumped. They had me manually delete the program files that were there - of course that doesn't do anything to solve the problems and it doesn't delete whatever problem files they stuck in other folders. The last rep I spoke with told me that he had no doubt it was the SBC/Yahoo software, and that there were known problems with certain systems, including Dells, but that he didn't know how to help me because we couldn't find the files that he thought were causing the problems. He told me he'd have a manager call me back, though he wasn't exactly reassuring that such a call would actually happen), and suggested that I contact Dell. I did a google search, and I came up with this: http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_general&message.id=185050