This is really off topic, but after downloading the Windows SP2 my computer keeps trying to update Symantec and Sonic. Looking through Windows explorer and reading the “read me” files with each, Symantec is an update for Symantec antivirus (which I don’t have) and Sonic is an update manager and files for a DVD drive (which I again don’t have - I only have a CD RW drive).
Is there any reason I shouldn’t delete these files? I’m not sure where they came from, and these constant reminders to update when I don’t use either program are annoying…
Jayhawk, did you get any offline advice about this issue? I’m wondering if I should install SP2 at all, given the problems others have had so far…
(there’s another thread from a few weeks ago, also dealing with SP2 issues but nobody has added anything to that discussion in a while, and now I have this coming up and am wondering what others have done)
No, no one but you has responded. I do think this is somehow related to SP2. Both programs have an instal date that matches the factory build of my computer, but neither program had ever caused a dialer to pop up repeatedly saying I needed to update these programs, so my guess is SP 2 must somehow look for programs to update. The Sonic DVD program is really odd since my computer never has had a DVD drive. I’ve trashed both programs which has solved the dialer pop-up issue (they’re still in my deleted file, no problems so far, so I’m probably going to totally remove them later this week if everything keeps functioning fine).
Other than this issue SP 2 hasn’t caused any other problems for me.
I steer clear of any Symantec product. We’ve had problems in the past that they’re buggy software would crash computers whenever you ran DOS applications and their customer support had no solutions. Every computer at work that had Symantec (aka Norton) running on it runs slower and experiences more problems than others.
Thanks Daniel - my computer did come loaded with Norton, but I switched to AVG! That’s a safe one to delete for sure…still no problems with this alleged DVD program, either. I’m going to trash them both and free myself from pop-up dialer hell…
Well, before booting Windows we should back up our system, but off course we don’t, so I’d say just go for it and if something happens you might have to reinstall an old version.
I’d like to give a wise advice to everyone. When you get a new computer (or new harddrive), try to create an extra partition for everything that’s not OS related. For example, your C: should be your OS only related drive (you give it like 3 or 5 GIGS of space), and you could create a D: that contains everything else (programes, MP3s, data, etc etc). This way, you’re able to reformat your whole C: without endengering your personnal data. If Win SP2 screws up your system, you just format C:, reinstall WinXP, and “that’s it”. At least you get a running system without losing any data.
Some Windows XP (E-machine) machines have an “image” for the install, so that will claim the entire “c” drive, no matter how it has been pre-partitioned.
I recommend another hard drive and no power to it during any flavor of Windows install. I have lost too much stuff to Microsoft to trust it’s install not to destroy my data.
Don’t give it any opportunity to touch data during install…
I had a similar problem before I downloaded sp2. I was constantly being prompted for a DVD drive update. This was left over from a previous motherboard. The entry was still in the registry and there were two files on my hard drive I deleted the entry and the files and had no further problem.
I’m having other problems now… Haven’t installed SP2, but I ran the Adaware and Spybot programs last night. Now, I cannot send emails on Outlook.
I use McAfee.
Any ideas from anybody as to why I can’t send emails out? (and probably can’t receive any either) I imagine it has to do with McAfee, but can’t figure out what to change… HELP!!!
No really, I would like some help regarding this issue if anybody out there has any idea what I can do…
I’m still unable to send and receive emails. I don’t know what to check anymore… I really really would love to get some help with this from anybody in the know…
Even the US Government has now realized the security holes in Outlook and it’s address book. They recommend using another mail client.
I like Pegasus Mail myself or the small, quick ePrompter which automatically and simultaneously checks and retrieves your email messages from up to sixteen password protected email accounts such as AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo, Earthlink, Email.com, Excite, iName, Juno, Lycos, Mail.com, Mindspring, MSN, MyWay, Netscape, POP3, OneBox, Rediffmail, SBC Yahoo, Switchboard, USA.net and hundreds of other email domains.
My youngest son likes Thunderbird , which is an E-mail client and another quality product from Mozilla. Comes with spam filters!
Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit - builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, including Microsoft Hotfixes, and displays the results in your Web browser. All of your PC profile information is kept private on your PC and is not sent to any web server. Driver Cleaner - Driver Cleaner is a program which helps you to remove parts of drivers that are left after uninstalling the old drivers. The program is for ATI and nVidia drivers. First you need to uninstall the drivers from the control panel than reboot and after that run the program. If you really want a good description of what steps you should do than you really need to read the readme file included in the zip file and installation as it contains a detailed description step by step.
Download the Mega-Codec pack and never worry about codecs again! The Mega-Codec pack allows custom installation. It will let you install any and all codecs that you can imagine, plus their own media player will play .mov and .rm files. It even comes with Quicktime and Realmedia plugins for Mozilla/Opera browsers.
Thanks Fancypiper for the suggestions of alternate email clients. Perhaps I can give them a try once I’m able to connect to the internet at home once again. (Obviously, I’m online at work now…)
I’m so overwhelmed, I feel like nothing’s working out… Although Az and I did resolve the email issue last night, everything else is just not working. I’m trying so hard to remain positive, but every half hour today, something new comes up that isn’t working smoothly. Geez, I hope this day turns around at some point…
Oh my gosh… Finally everything is back to normal!! I’m connecting from home again, yahoo!!!
Man oh man, after almost an hour and a half of being on hold for the next operator at my ISP’s technical support center, it took 2 minutes to figure out that I had deactivated my network card, and that was the only reason I wasn’t connecting to the internet…
Jeepers… Well, I’m back, and now it’s time to learn a few new slip jigs
