Great!!

Bill Bunker — Sun, 4 May 2008 14:46:49 -0400

Glad to give you a reason to ramble on TR. It is all good and once again packed with information every single time!!

Like I said it is like having your own personal techie on call 24 hours a day.

You should consult. Let me know if you want advice on that?

Just noticed this comment..

TR Daggett — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:11:14 -0400

Sorry Bill, I didn't see this comment until just now.

I did however research and answer your other message/question last night via email.

As far as this issue, you didn't give me much to go on. If you could provide some screenshots when things like this occur and provide as much detailed information as possible it helps immensely! There are so many variables in people's individual systems, (and also how people describe issues differently) that pictures ('screenshots') of the dialog boxes or other things happening on your system while the issue is happening helps someone who wasn't there immensely.

Something "Shared" in your Control Panel? "Shared" can be a number of things. You can have 'Shared' folders or even whole drives. There are "Shares" referring to different system areas and security.. I've always kept to a 'wired' network, so as far as anything 'shared' concerning a wireless network or node I can't help you there. (I've never been able to afford a notebook computer, maybe someday..)

The Control Panel itself is different for each user depending on your configuration and what you have installed on your computer (aside from the basics). Was [it] listed in the Control Panel itself or within something listed in the Control Panel? As the saying goes.. 'Hard tellin', not knowin''.

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Answers.com has this: "A resource such as a file, folder or printer, that has been made sharable with other users on the network."

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As to the issue you mentioned: "This week I had an issue with my wireless and it would not allow me to disable it. "

I'm glad you solved it because again, it's much too vague to tell what you mean. You did the right thing. Generally if simply copy and paste the error message (or whatever) into a search engine like Google, someone else has had the same issue, and if you're persistent you'll find the answer you seek. Also there are SO many 'help' sites on the web you can figure most any issue out, but a word of CAUTION here. Seek out experts!

Lots of people give out advice and claim to have the answer but might be talking out their butts! I see it all too often, many times caused because they misunderstand the issue the person's trying to explain.

'Microsoft MVPs', forum 'moderators', or other responsible types should be sought out. Much of the time computer issues involve complicated solutions, and taking the wrong advise can have disastrous consequences. There are many 'know-it-alls' on the Internet, many well-intentioned but wrong. And as with medical advice, it never hurts to get a 'second opinion' when called for.

Providing additional information like the computer make, operating system, what programs were running at the time, what security programs (including firewall) are running and their version info, and exactly what you were doing when the issue happened are all important details for the person trying to help.

I realize that's a lot of things, especially for people who aren't technical or particularly experienced/familiar with their systems (I'm generalizing here for the benefit of other readers, I get the impression that you are not a neophyte..), but obviously the more detailed info you can provide someone, the better chance they have of piecing together what happened or answering a question, both via the Internet or over the phone.

One of the software programs I mentioned in my email to you "MWSnap" is an excellent and trusted utility to keep available on your desktop to immediately snap screenshots of things like error messages (FYI: some of those that include links to more detailed info I open up and 'arrange' to show as much of the info in the different windows as possible before I take a screenshot). And there's always the "Print Scr" key on your keyboard. When using that, you have to paste the screenshots into something like 'Paint", or another excellent [free] program (I also mentioned in that email) called "IrfanView" before you can snap another.

All this I'm telling you was learned through experience, trial, and error (plenty of error!). I've never taken any of my computers to anyone else to have them worked on, and I've had very few friends over the years that were even interested in computers. So I've learned to be self-sufficient, I've tried to learn from every issue along the way, and spent time reading through computer help 'forums' looking for people with similar issues.

I've learned that computer techs are really grateful when the person they're trying to help provides them with lots of good pertinent info!

Another type of software I've found very helpful in providing system info, for myself and for technicians I've communicated with when trying to troubleshoot computer issues, is something like "WinAudit". I've collected a number of different 'system information' programs (all free and excellent) over time, but to quickly gather, save, and provide various system information for someone trying to help diagnose a computer issue WinAudit's great. Just start it, check the boxes of the specific details you want the program to gather, click on the "Audit" button, and it does it's thing. Then you can save the info in various formats and/or print it out.

One reason I'm making this comment so long is for you and also others who read it. Also as a service for others like myself who are asked to figure out issues for others [with too little information]!

And FYI, I meant that in a positive, half-joking way!

The more info the better! And a picture (or more) really is worth a thousand words.

Other bits of advice would be develop a backup schedule. If you can, buy an extra disk drive (they've gotten really inexpensive) and back up everything you wouldn't want to lose if your system crashes, gets infected, or your drive dies. Learn the different places in your file system where important files are kept (like the Mozilla folder that holds your 'profile(s)' for one). Anything like regular system files that are constant, and are replaced automatically if you have to reinstall the whole operating system don't need to be backed up.

It sounds like you did a 'System Restore', restoring your PC to a 'point' before this issue occurred. That's saved many systems! Before I do anything on my system like installing software, making changes in certain settings, mess with registry, etc., I always open up System Restore and set a 'Restore Point'. It can provide some piece of mind and some insurance in the event something unexpected or unwanted happens.

So, after looking over my rambling response I can say this. If you were specific and detailed with your question I could have answered it with an equally specific, detailed (and much shorter) response! And if you've noticed, I don't need much of an excuse to 'ramble on'!

Take care,

Followed your suggestions

Bill Bunker — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:43:29 -0400

TR,

The thing that amazes me is how much better Firefox is than IE. No spam and garbage.

I read and followed your instructions and once again appreciate your suggestions.

I actually worked out another solution that you may want to include on your blog for readers. This week I had an issue with my wireless and it would not allow me to disable it. I did some research and followed the suggestions on the web but it took a long time to find a solution that worked. The error message read something like: "Unable to disconnect from this connection at this time."

I do have another question for you. When you look in Control Panel and it shows that your firewall and connected and "shared", does "shared" mean that someone else has gained access to your computer?

I fixed that one as well by resetting to a previous date. Phew!, to stay ahead of this stuff you have to recognize and react to these things immediately.

Keep the posts coming!!!!

[Update] To Firefox 2.0.0.14

TR Daggett — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:08:44 -0400

Mozilla released a new version of the Firefox browser yesterday. Here is how they describe it in their Security Advisory:

blogsNH - [Update] To Firefox 2.0.0.14 - Comments

Great!!

Just noticed this comment..

Followed your suggestions

[Update] To Firefox 2.0.0.14