Computer update

[SharonRB]

Sorry I missed you guys last night, but hubby couldn't seem to get the computer working again in time for me. I was only going to stay around for the first half and then go watch W&G anyway.

I hope to see you all tonight,but it depends on whether or not the computer decides to work for me. If not, have a great weekend, everyone.

Sharon

[WhirlyGirl]

1. Sharon, your'e not alone this time.

. . . One of those crazy programs installed itself on our computer and it opens up a whole bunch of windows at the same time without warning.

We can usually stay connected for 10 or 15 minutes, and then it strikes again. I noticed the new icon this morning -- which was associated w/ nothing we installed voluntarily.

My husband will jump on the system when he gets home from work, to see if he can find it and delete it -- but who knows how long it will take? None of our security software could locate it.

Like you, I may be missing the meeting tonight, too. :cry:

[SharonRB]

2. Bummer -- Good luck!

Maybe your hubby will have better luck than mine has been having. I also may have to get rid of my Smiley Central stuff -- it seems to possibly be causing some of the problems, but definitely not all. That tournament with Seito may just have to be cancelled!

[WhirlyGirl]

3. Aw, rats! Those smilie sites may be where you picked up a hitchhiker.

. . . Got a suspicion I acquired that exe program while I was checking out vintage production sketches of Disney's Blue Fairy ("Pinocchio") on several collector sites (I love her). That's just the kind of place to lay a trap.

[Berry Cool]

4. All the more reason to "Get a MAC!"

sorrry, I couldn't help but brag there. :-)

There ARE advantages, and not picking up nasty viruses is one of them.

[WolverineDG]

5. yeah

but they don't make Sims for Macs. God I'm hooked on that game....

dg

[Berry Cool]

8. In what universe do they not make Sims for Mac?

Google it and you will find any number of purveyors of the product.

Don't take at face value the "warnings" you get from PC people that "they don't make that software for the Mac." Many times they are completely untrue.

[WhirlyGirl]

6. No kidding???

. . . I've always wanted one.

My husband's a masochi-- I mean, a PC aficionado.

[Berry Cool]

11. See for yourself

Sims for Mac has been around since 2000. Don't know if all the latest releases are available in Mac right away, but it's not as if you can't do Sims on a Mac.

[WhirlyGirl]

7. Anyone know about this virus/worm/whatever??? that I've got?

. . . It causes multiple windows to pop up on the computer screen. They just start proliferating, and the more you try to close them, the less controllable the mouse pointer becomes.

The only way to stop the cascade, I discovered, is CONTROL/ALT/DELETE. This seems to focus the computer's attention; it waits until you tell it whether you want to close the prgram or not. In some cases it has enabled me to stay online; in other cases I have had to sign on again.

An Internet search revealed that there was a flaw in IE showHelp a few years ago which produced the effect I'm describing, but they patched that and we have all the updates from MS. There's also a malicious Java applet that opens multiple windows. I don't know what's being/been done about that.

Any information, ideas, answers regarding this problem? Is it amenable to self-help, or do I need to turn our system over to the professional bug exterminators?

-WhirlyG

[Berry Cool]

9. Unfortunately I know nothing about no PCs

so I can't help.

I can advise, though, that if you seek the services of a professional bug exterminator, you should avoid Tom DeLay.

[WhirlyGirl]

10. Okay. And you avoid...

. . . obvious punchlines. x(

[Berry Cool]

12. Sorry, sometimes it's hard to resist

Even our beloved newscaster makes bad obvious jokes sometimes. :eyes: