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General discussion

An Explosion of Windows

Mar 17, 2005 9:43AM PST

Last night I tried to email the article "Alarm over pharming attacks; identity theft made even easier" to my sister. I clicked on the email link in the article and about 30 windows opened. About half were blank and the other half said "this page could not be displayed".

I think this must be my email program, Internet Explorer 6.0 (I know, I know, I should get rid of it.)because it happened on another site a short time ago. Can someone help me solve this until I can find the time to change my email program?

My OS is Windows 98 SE, I have an antivirus program, AVG7, ZoneAlarm for a firewall, Spyware X-Terminator, SpywareBlaster, Ad-Aware for anti-malware. I just started using some of them but have them on all the time now. My resources are down to 51% so I'm working on getting my computer ready to install more RAM when I can. I have a 10GB HD but have had several recommendations to add RAM.

Thank you to anyone who can answer this question.

Discussion is locked

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a few pointers
Mar 17, 2005 10:07AM PST

i am a computer technican so take my word for it that you need to make a few changed to your system.

IE 6.0 is not an email program, i think that you mean outlook express.

REMOVE AVG and install CA EZAntivirus, it is free.

REMOVE Zone Alarm, more trouble than it is worth, i hope you didnt pay for it.

I have never heard of spyware x-terminator or spyware blaster so get rid of them. update adaware and run a full scan. install microsofts new spyware blocker, it blocks spyware attacks as the come in.

In the next 6 months i think that you should look at a new pc, windows 98 dosnt cut it any more and microsoft have stopped supporting it.

Install the latest windows updates, run a defrag and scan disk. Deffinately install more ram, it is the best thing you can do with an old pc other than sell it.

i dont mean to be harsh but ive been in the industry for a while and i see this sort of settup a lot and it is not good.

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Sorry but, I don't agree
Mar 17, 2005 7:21PM PST

with the advice to remove Zone Alarm and Spyware Blaster. Since I've been using Spyware Blaster, I have no spyware not even tracking cookies installed on my computer.

I'd suggest you download, install, update and run Spybot Search and Destroy and AdAware. Delete any entries they find. Spyware Blaster immunizes or block spyware from getting on your computer. Spybot also has an immunize feature. Enable them both. You need spyware protection whether you have a problem or not.

The multiple pages may be nothing more than a one time glitch. Has it happened again?

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I couldn't agree more
Mar 17, 2005 8:08PM PST

Brendon says he's a computer technician, but he has never heard of SpywareBlaster, one of the industry standards in combatting spyware.

ZoneAlarm is well known and well respected as an efficient, clean and fully configurable firewall.

Gail's advice is good, and I agree that the multiple windows problem may not be anything serious.

Good luck.

Mark

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IE6 is bad...
Mar 18, 2005 12:10AM PST

Get Mozilla, and uninstall IE.
http://www.mozilla.org/

IE 6 is almost a bad as eariler versions. There is no use for it. Even for Windows Update, you can download them manually and install them. Doesn't take much longer anyway.

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remove ie 6.... um no
Mar 20, 2005 4:54AM PST

i wouldnt remove ie 6 as other problems will arise, but i would install firefox and use that primarily. i will look into spyware blaster as i only use adaware, spybot and the new beta version of microsoft spyware blocker.

most pcs that i get called to work on have avg and zone alarm, but i think the main problem is PEBKAC.

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OE, not IE
Mar 20, 2005 6:39AM PST

I didn't mean Internet Explorer the last message. I meant to say Outlook Express. I frequently confuse the two names; thankfully I don't confuse the programs.

Brendon, thanks for your suggestion but I don't have the resources to install firefox (or anything else for that matter). What is PEBKAC?

Lola

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PEBKAC
Mar 20, 2005 6:55AM PST

PEBKAC is a common word used in my field, Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair. I am not saying at all that this is relevant to you or anyone else that uses this forum, in fact you must be pretty on to it as you know what a forum is and how to use one Happy

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RE: What is PEBKAC?
Mar 21, 2005 10:06AM PST
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RE: is no use for it
Mar 21, 2005 9:43AM PST

Why this bad rap? Been using IE bout 5 years. It's an absolute rarety when any "trouble makers" get my computer and I use IE exclusively. It seems the occaions when something has gotten on my system it was because I did something reckless or just plain stupid.

Perhaps because I keep the system up to date on patches, virus/pest definitions, auto protect, firewall, regularly scan for viruses an pests, control cookie handeling and security settings, stay away from uncontrolled P2Ps and porn sites, and run scans when someting suspicous happens. Sounds like alot but it isn't at all. I would assume such maintenence should be performed regardless of browser type but don't really know, perhapes some one could advise me.

It seems FF, MO and Opera starting to have problems as they gain populaity. Any thoughts on this?