[(JD)]

bummer. what am I doing with a computer???????? duh. me.

well, the animations here work with netscape, but my offline games wouldn't so they needed ? what? help section suggested reinstalling directx so I went to microsoft that says I need to use IE for that, but then it locked up before I could reinstall directx.

now my games don't work
and I don't have animation here either.

why do I even bother?

<font color=blue> meditation is a true way to connect to the Source </font color=blue>

[(JD)]

OK. Forgive me for answering myself, my brain doesn't always work without visual reminders...

I have "restored" my computer to a point prior to loading netscape 7, and thus have my games back. (prior to reinstalling Directx also)

I have notified my ISP of various problems, something I have been unable to do for months, since I couldn't get into their support site either.

I have just done something different: I right clicked on the site here, where Dex posted those little smiles that move (he told me to do this before and I had but not results..) THIS time I clicked on encoding (instead of properties which only sends me forum info) and set the encoding to AUTOMATIC, western ISO , I had had it on western windows but also on ISO but never with the Automatic checked.

I have animation now... wondering if I still have game use???

Well, I stil don't have it all fixed... it won't return me to a forum after I post....

hmm this is the 2nd edit on this... I don't have ALL of animation on the forum! How does that work? I get Dexter's, and the smilies, but not ozzie's nor sept's.

Ok the 3rd edit on this post... I right clicked at Sept's post and clicked on the iso under encoding... and I now have that animation... but when I tried that on ozzie's no way. I got Heather's without doing anything more, also. AND I waited and waited on oz'.

<font color=blue> meditation is a true way to connect to the Source </font color=blue>

[(JD)]

ANYbody just jump in when you want...

Well, I have tried restoring the computer to an earlier point, to no avail.

So now I'm back to current... reinstalled the latest version of Java2... and still no chat.

But I do have animation and games.

I'm using IE again. Maybe I'll wait until earthlink responds.
But maybe I'll try netscape again... to see if I can get into chat without an initialization error...

makes no sense to me.

<font color=blue> meditation is a true way to connect to the Source </font color=blue>

[Rapunzel]

{{{{{{{{{{Sky}}}}}}}}}}}

I wish I knew how to help you. I'm impressed with all that you are doing though, not really being a computer person. I live on the internet, but that's not quite the same thing. So you don't have chat now? Even if you use Netscape? Wish I could do more than just express sympathy.

<font color=orange>"Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm. - Winston Churchill "</font color=orange>

[PlanningtoLive]

Netscape and Java can't load on mine Sky...........grrrrrrrrrrrr

[(JD)]

Well, actually, it's good to know I'm not the only one having trouble.

When many of us exhibited trouble getting into chat, it wasn't till I made a huge issue of it that DocJohn made the Java 2 upgrade available and "suggested" we all download it.. (to me, someone found a problem with the current whatever....)

I am almost positive that my initial trouble began with the upgrade of IE...then needed the upgrade of java2 but it didn't totally agree with IE...though it did let me into chat, I lost animation.

For some reason the fix on IE isn't available on it's website, free, anymore? Or I cannot find the right website? The only feedback area I find is to answer their questions, not take mine...

someone with computer savvy with time to help might eventually come to our aid. If not, there is an IT center down the road from me, and I can pay them to help me but it's coming to that stress level I think...

<font color=blue> meditation is a true way to connect to the Source </font color=blue>

[dexter]

Sky there is a possibility that with all the trouble you have been having and all the restores, reinstalls, and upgrades, that things might just be fickled up (the computer term is foobar ). If that's the case then it is not a simple incompatibility... not just something like an upgrade to IE needed for compatibility... but just so many different bits of software mixed up at different levels that it won't play together nicely anymore. I suspect this may be the case because of the strange comings-and-goings of your symptoms. Something like upgrading Java is a reasonable fix to get into chat rooms. Changing resolution of your video to get animations working doesn't make much sense unless there's something subtly "broken" underneath. Especially since it broke again and changing resolution again didn't fix it this time.

You might want to check your video driver and see if there is an upgrade... bad video drivers can cause all sorts of widespread problems on the computer... not just display problems but things like printing problems and random computer crashes. If there is a video driver upgrade (this would depend on the specific model/manufacturer of your video card) then follow the instructions EXACTLY for upgrading it, or let the IT center do it for you.

If things got that bad on my system I would do a full reinstall from scratch of ALL my software, including the operating system. Not just a reinstall, but erase my whole disc and install everything fresh. This is likely not something you would want to do yourself because you need some good knowledge of how to boot and install the OS and find and install all the drivers necessary for your system. You'd also have to be sure that you don't erase, or backup and restore, any personal files on your system, and all thinks like links to websites, email settings and addresses, passwords and setup for ISP and email, etc.

That isn't necessarily the problem. When all seems lost very often an idea pops into my mind overnight and I realize there is a simple "obvious" fix. When I feel it is time to do a reinstall of everything, I always give it AT LEAST one full day to think about it to be sure no other solutions present themselves, and then spend another full day going through everything to be sure I have all my drivers and info set.

I only mention this because if that turns out to be the only real solution to your problem, there is no reason to keep banging your head against the machine looking for settings to change and upgrades to install. See if the IT shop has any suggestions for upgrades that might fix the problem before thinking of this, but don't rule it out.

------------------------------------
--http://www.idexter.com

[PlanningtoLive]

I've been trying so very hard NOT to completely erase everything, although I sense it coming. Do I have to partition it as well, or just format it? How do I save my stuff?

If I could do that, it would be awesome. Thanks, Dave.

Mary Alice

Believe me Sky, I'm banging my head on the wall as well - my life seems to focus around a piece of machinery that is not friendly - figures.


<font color=red>Don't you just hate it when life doesn't follow the manuals? - Author Unknown</font color=red>

[(JD)]

Yes, thanks. This is a consideration. I am in contact with my ISP who is going down the list of items to double check.

And I have put in an email to the manufacturer regarding some problems, to see if they have solutions. BUT I do have all the CDs... drivers and programs etc... and they would be more than happy to talk me through it on the phone, or even access my computer on the net and do it... it may come to that. I have a 3 year warranty with this notebook. Had it custom made for me, and made sure it included warranty against even stupid mistakes I might make LOL

Well, I recently copied all my files to dvds, cds so it wouldn't be tough to begin again right now. But I do want it fixed sooner than later.

I appreciate you being there, and all the energy and time you are obviously taking to think about my problems.

<font color=blue> meditation is a true way to connect to the Source </font color=blue>