# Have a Computer Question ? Read this first. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 6, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887 "2004-06-06T00:41:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/161 "2006-03-11T21:49:40Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Is this the message you are receiving:If so, it is not the system.ini file that is missing, but a file that is called in the system.ini file. Probably one related to Mcafee Virusshield. Uninstall Mcafee Virusshield, and see if that corrects the problem. If you are comfortable editing the registry, there is more information [here](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/280135/en-us). Be warned that screwing with the registry incorrectly can render your computer unbootable. Thanks. I’ll check it out after I get home. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ombre3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@ombre3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ombre3)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/162 "2006-03-19T14:03:21Z")
I have a 5 year old ME computer. Which does act a little funny anymore. 'puter says I need 27 critical upgrades. (OK–I did a system restore going back to when it was new 5 years ago)—probably shouldn’t have done that. The computer won’t load the 27 upgrades from Microsoft. Not sure why. What does no more technical support for ME mean after June of this year? No more upgrades? Older upgrades will no longer work? Am I running out of times to make this old ME work as well as it could? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/163 "2006-03-20T10:32:40Z")
I went through the files on my hard drive and deleted every McAfee file I could find. I still get the screen with the DOS message. Oh, and I found I do have the “system.ini” file on the hard drive; I saw your point. Still, having purged the hard drive of every McAfee file I could find, I get that DOS message every time I boot up. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/164 "2006-03-20T15:14:52Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > I went through the files on my hard drive and deleted every McAfee file I could find. I still get the screen with the DOS message. Oh, and I found I do have the “system.ini” file on the hard drive; I saw your point. Still, having purged the hard drive of every McAfee file I could find, I get that DOS message every time I boot up. Did you uninstall McAfee using the “Add/Remove Programs” on your control panel? If you didn’t, you did not remove all the files and registry entries McAfee creates. And now you probably deleted the uninstaller program, so the only way to remove everything is to reinstall McAfee and then uninstall it using Add/Remove Programs. We are trying to help you **dougie** , but if you won’t follow directions, you can hardly be disappointed when our suggestions don’t work. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/165 "2006-03-21T00:13:33Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Did you uninstall McAfee using the “Add/Remove Programs” on your control panel? If you didn’t, you did not remove all the files and registry entries McAfee creates. And now you probably deleted the uninstaller program, so the only way to remove everything is to reinstall McAfee and then uninstall it using Add/Remove Programs. We are trying to help you **dougie** , but if you won’t follow directions, you can hardly be disappointed when our suggestions don’t work. I read you loud and clear. :o OK, I see what you mean. Oddly enough, the McAfee program, nor any of its parts, did NOT appear in the ADD/Remove list when I checked it. OK–maybe I’ll have to pop the McAfee program back in so it can be fully uninstalled. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/166 "2006-03-26T21:04:38Z")
A fuse went in our apartment and we just relaunched the computer. All the bookmarks in Firefox are gone, and we need them. Anyway of restoring them? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/167 "2006-03-26T22:09:53Z")
It’s not a bug, it’s a feature!! [Fix For When Firefox Bookmarks Are Missing](http://www.smartnetadmin.com/support/computer_service_eugene_oregon52.html) ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2006, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/168 "2006-04-01T08:12:46Z")
OK, I eat crow. I popped the McAfee CD back in and when the dialog box came up I punched the Uninstall “radio button.” The program duly uninstalled itself and when I booted up the next time the message did not appear. 🙂 I thank you and apologize. dougie\_monty ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/169 "2006-04-20T01:12:03Z")
Are we supposed to read the whole damned 4-page thread, or just the OP? If the former, can the essentials be condensed into something shorter? If the latter, can the OP be edited to reflect this? BTW, this thread seems to be mostly about viruses, spyware, malware, other stuff that can fry your computer, and ways of combatting all that. That’s a good sort of thread to have as a sticky, but if I’ve got a computer question unrelated to all that, I damned sure don’t want to wade through four pages of firewall/antivirus discussion to figure that out. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/170 "2006-05-05T11:56:36Z")
The next question… I’m getting a popup while browsing these days, a system one, that says this: "Macromedia Flash player has stopped a potentially unsafe operation. The following local application on your computer network: h Is trying to communicate with this internet-enabled location: [spe.atdmt.com](http://spe.atdmt.com) To let this application communicate with the internet, click ‘settings’." I’ve run both AdAware and Spybot S&D, they find nothing. ANy idea what this might be, how to rectify it, and if I should / shouldn’t be worried? ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/171 "2006-05-06T08:39:10Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Are we supposed to read the whole damned 4-page thread, or just the OP? > > If the former, can the essentials be condensed into something shorter? > > If the latter, can the OP be edited to reflect this? Thanks for your suggestion. When I started this thread I did not anticipate that it would get this long. I have edited in the following text into the OP to reflect your request: > [@xash](#): > > The entire thread may be too long to read through, so please read through at least the first few posts in this thread before attempting to start a new thread in GQ. > [@RTFirefly](#): > > BTW, this thread seems to be mostly about viruses, spyware, malware, other stuff that can fry your computer, and ways of combatting all that. That’s a good sort of thread to have as a sticky, but if I’ve got a computer question unrelated to all that, I damned sure don’t want to wade through four pages of firewall/antivirus discussion to figure that out. > > Thanks. This was already covered in the OP by the following: > [@](#): > > **If you believe that the solutions listed here do not apply to you** , or you have attempted them and have further messed up your computer, or if you are unsure about how to proceed, **feel free to start a new thread in GQ.** Bolding mine. Hope that clears up any confusion. - **xash** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2006, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/172 "2006-05-22T06:29:34Z")
I go through this procedure constantly, since I only have a one-gigabyte hard drive. Almost every time I log off the Internet, I go to Temporary Internet Files and dump the whole lot into the Recycle Bin, which automatically deletes the unwanted files. (I check Recycle Bin to make sure.) However, I’ve done some toting up from the “My PC” list under My Computer, and am trying to locate an unaccountable amount of space that should be included in the “Free” part of the pie graph, that appears when I bring up the Properties dialog box. I came up with these totals: Windows 499,000 KB. Program files 237,000 KB. Unused part (acc. to Properties dialog box) 131,588 KB. Family Tree program, 69,700 KB. Recycled, 33,600 KB. My Documents, 17,800 KB. Smaller folders and separate files, 10,394 KB. The total for these is 1,004,412 KB, but the dialog box gives the hard-drive capacity as 1,081,635 KB. This leaves 77,223 KB unaccounted for. How do I locate this and move it from the pink (Used) part of the pie to blue (unused)? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/173 "2006-06-09T19:16:55Z")
One of the largest repositories on my hard drive, for Non-Critical Files, is Clip Art. This sub-file contains a vast number of files–all with the red “Do Not Delete” symbol–on dates during which, so help me, I did not sit here in front of the computer for hours piling image file upon image file. And the “used” area shown in the Properties dialog box keeps expanding. I have a good mind to delete all these files, red symbol or no red symbol. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/174 "2006-06-13T16:58:01Z")
After leaving my laptop (which has a LiIon battery) turned off and unplugged for two weeks, the battery will not charge past 70%. Um… what’s up? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/175 "2006-07-18T06:50:03Z")
I have a Dell Inspiron laptop with a “mouse” that is two buttons above a rubberized square area for moving the cursor around on the screen by moving a finger on the surface. Unfortunately, the cursor has a maddening tendency to drift toward the lower-left or upper-right corner, making the :mouse" useless. :mad: Any comments? ---
**Author:** ![Sparrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Sparrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparrow)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/176 "2006-08-20T16:25:45Z")
I’ve just noticed a slightly worrying message in the Windows Security Center. It says: “The Security Center is currently unavailable because the “Security Center” service has not started or was stopped. Please close this window, restart the computer (or start the “Security Center” service) and then open the Security Center again”. This doesnt seem to affect my being able to change the settings in security center. I have the internet options security level set at medium, automatic updates daily. The firewall is turned off because I have Norton Security running all the time. So what is this message and do I need to worry about it? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/177 "2006-08-20T16:40:22Z")
> [@Sparrow](#): > > I’ve just noticed a slightly worrying message in the Windows Security Center. It says: “The Security Center is currently unavailable because the “Security Center” service has not started or was stopped. Please close this window, restart the computer (or start the “Security Center” service) and then open the Security Center again”. > > This doesnt seem to affect my being able to change the settings in security center. I have the internet options security level set at medium, automatic updates daily. The firewall is turned off because I have Norton Security running all the time. So what is this message and do I need to worry about it? Norton Security Center turns off the Windows Security Center to avoid duplicate messages about the same event. All is as it should be (except Norton sucks, but that is for a Pit thread). ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2006, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/178 "2006-08-29T10:04:26Z")
Okay, so I read the whole thread and didn’t find my current particular computer problem. The silly thing has decided that it loves to freeze upon start up or at random times after that. Restarting it in safe mode tends to allow me to use the thing; however, that’s a major hassle. A couple of months ago, I had a computer savvy friend clean the thing up. It’s a Toshiba Satellite M35X-S349 laptop running Windows XP. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2006, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/179 "2006-08-29T12:10:11Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Okay, so I read the whole thread and didn’t find my current particular computer problem. The silly thing has decided that it loves to freeze upon start up or at random times after that. Restarting it in safe mode tends to allow me to use the thing; however, that’s a major hassle. A couple of months ago, I had a computer savvy friend clean the thing up. It’s a Toshiba Satellite M35X-S349 laptop running Windows XP. Any ideas? Sounds like too many programs set to launch on system start. Hit the \*\*Start \*\* button, click **Run** , and type **MSCONFIG**. Select the **Startup** tab, and look at all the programs that set to launch on system start. Uncheck any programs that **you recognize** , but don’t use all the time; if they look unfamiliar, leave them. Remove things like Quicktime, Real Media, Kodak Easyshare, Microsoft Money, Office Startup, AIM, etc. If you aren’t sure what to uncheck, refer to [this page](http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php) that explains what common startup programs do, and whether they are necessary or not. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2006, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887/180 "2006-08-30T04:17:00Z")
Done. No joy. ☹ The computer guru (subcontractor) at my school did his best today to get the thing working, but alas no joy for him either. Guess I’ll have to dig through my accumulated junk to see if I have the restore disks still. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-computer-question-read-this-first/248887.md?page=10)