Please bear with me. when I’m on the internet (microsoft internet explorer, I will typically have several windows open at the same time (checking searches, news sources, etc.) Today, I was doin the same old thing, but I noticed that suddenly, each ‘open in new window’ was blank. all it had was the line at the very very top (like in this case it says 'straight dope message board -post new thread- microsoft internet explorer and the little icons to make the window bigger, smaller or close it). well, that’s no good. not even the tool bars (File, edit, view back/stop etc. etc etc., let alone the actual site. I’d had 5 windows open when this happened, closed a couple of them. each time I attempt to open a ‘new window’ it does this (including, say clicking on a link within a thread for example).
I’m afraid to close these down and re-boot in case I won’t get anything back again. Would really, really appreciate some quick hints on this one.
I’m afraid a close and reboot is your best option.
Windows hiccups once in awhile (or more). 7-10 times a reboot does the trick in correcting whatever went wrong. You should almost certainly get back to everything with no problem. If you don’t them I’d say you either have a virus or some serious corruption in which case you’re screwed anyway.
If the problem continues re-post and we’ll think of some other things to try.
umm, Whack I’ll be glad to try this option (and that was my first thought, too), but I’m afraid that if it doesn’t work, then I won’t be able to access the board again until I get it handled. Originally had like 7 or 8 windows open w/o problem, then the new ones were problematical. Closed a couple to see if I now had a “limit” to how many windows could be open. any new opening became problematical.
will monitor this for a while, and if the consensus is that I should reboot, I’ll do that, but
If you don’t hear from me ever again, you’ll know why.
If suddenly a bunch of conservatives from Great Debates come over and suddenly suggest ‘oh yea, reboot, honest, that’d be best’ I’ll wonder
If you’re really nervous about it, try this: Close all windows, except the one that works. Click somewhere on that window and then hit Ctrl-N (the control key and N at the same time). It should bring up an exact clone of the window, including whatever page you’re on. If that works, then you’re having some sort of windows hiccup. If it doesn’t, it might be a memory allocation problem. Either way, a reboot should fix it.
Ok, I just saw your second post:
Let’s define terms. The thing you’re viewing the SDMB in is a “Browser Window”. Are you saying you’re having problems with ALL windows, or just browser windows? Try opening say…your Word Processing program. Having the same problem with that?
Try holding down the ctrl and alt keys and tap the “Delete” key ONE TIME ONLY!!! You should get a box that says “Close Programs”. Count how many items are listed. If you have >14 or so, you may be running short of memory: a reboot will fix this. To exit, hit the CANCEL button on the window.
Ok. tried the control n and got the same problem again. down to one window. oddly enough when I was closing another one, explorer told me I was performing an illegal operation :eek: (hell, I work with criminals, I can’t do anything illegal!!!) but, I’ll try the re-boot. (now we have two people, one of whom I know fairly well who wouldn’t want me to disappear, I think , telling me to reboot, so I will. Well, if ya don’t see me for a few days, you’ll know what happened ) wish me luck. If you don’t see anything, e-mail magdalene - she’s got my email… sniff.
Good luck, but I don’t think you’ll need it…the “Illegal operation” thing makes it very, VERY likely that it’s just a windows burp. A worst-case scenario would mean that you’d have to reload Windows, and if it comes to that, I’ll walk you through it. (magdalene has my e-mail addy too. All hail magdalene, keeper of the sacred e-mail addresses!). It sounds scary and it’s a pain in the tuckus, but it’s not bad if you have someone to give you a hand!
I thought that IE had a maximum of four browser windows that can be opened at the same time. I know if I try to open more, I’ll lose the old ones. Now, I may be wrong, and you said that you had seven. So, if I’m wrong, let me know (as if no one would).
I’ve frankly never counted how many was the most - but certainly it was over 4, let me think… at least 15 or so I suspect. (I do a lot of research, so, while looking at one cite, it’ll spur a question about something else, and that way, while one is loading, I can check several others out in the meantime).
Allegedly, if you’re using IE, you can have a nearly unlimited amount of browser windows open since, so goes the story, only the “active” window uses any real memory (ignoring Flash animations/java stuff, etc). I don’t know if that’s true, but I’ve had enough browsers open that I got a second row on my toolbar without trouble.
Okay. I think I’ve had this happen to me, if I understand the OP correctly.
Some unscrupulous sites can code pages to appear in “modified” windows, in the same way that you can get pop-up windows with no toolbars. I’ve been surfing occasionally and found that when I try to look at perfectly legit sites the windows still have the toolbars missing.
I usually reset the PC - i.e. switch off without shutting down. It certainly won’t do the hardware any good at all, but it prevents any settings from being saved.
, telling me to reboot, so I will. Well, if ya don’t see me for a few days, you’ll know what happened ) wish me luck. If you don’t see anything, e-mail magdalene - she’s got my email… sniff.
I guess I was afraid I’d never be able to come back w/o an act of congress or something.