Computer Help / Netscape

[Nightbird]

Recently a program was installed onto my computer that trashed all my drivers, my Yahoo Messenger, and my Netscape web browser.

Well I was able to get my drivers, and yahoo working again. But even though I have downloaded Netscape a couple of times now and followed all the steps to install it without any problems it won't work.

I also use Internet Explorer on this computer, which is what I am using right now, I was using Netscape 7.1 with no problems until this happened.

I am able to get a very old version of Netscape called "Netscape Navigator" to work but none of the newer versions will. And that old version is so slow, and unusefull it's not worth using.

Can anyone help me? Why can't I get my favourite Netscape working again?

To make matters worse there are no warning or error messages that pop up when I try to use the program. ARGH.. HELP!!

 

[Quoll]

What was the program that caused the problem?
Have you tried using Opera, it does have an ad banner but is very fast, or even Mozilla Firefox (free).
Try doing a search using the program name and the netscape version, if it is a common conflict hopefully something will show.

 

[Ravennera]

Hi Nightbird

Have you tried restoring the computer to the state it was in before the new program was installed ? System restore ? That usually fixes things because often when new software is installed the system automatically creates a backup..

I'm assuming you are using a Windows version, if you do I can talk you through it.

If you're on a Mac I'm sure there will be others far more knowledgable

Good luck and let me know ok ?

 

[silverwhisper]

nightbird: to help troubleshoot, we're gonna need more info.

1. what OS? windows XP home, XP pro, ME, something else? i'm assuming it's some form of windows b/c issues like this tend not to occur on other systems.

2. what was the program?

3. when's the last time you were able to complete a virus scan or spyware scan successfully? have you done so since the crash?

4. are you by any chance using AOL? i know of very few users who actually prefer netscape over IE, firefox or opera on the windows platform.

ed

 

[Nightbird]

Ok guys I didn't give enough information sorry about that.

Umm, lets see my computer is really old and I'm using Windows 95 or maybe it's 98 I can't remember.

The Program, I'm not exactly sure what it was but it had something to do with Vampire The Maskurade and making character sheets for that RP game.

I like Netscape A LOT, I'm one of those type of people who once they get used to something don't like it changed too much. I know a bunch of you say I should use Fire Fox but I'm not familiar with it and I'd rather use Netscape.

Someone said it might be an issue with a Security Upgrade and Internet Explorer maybe? Any ideas?

 

[Nightbird]

HI Ravennera :^)

I didn't do a restore because I don't have an up to date restore disk. I just reinstalled all my drvers. And I use windows.. Or Windoze as I like to call it. LOL

Hi Nightbird

Have you tried restoring the computer to the state it was in before the new program was installed ? System restore ? That usually fixes things because often when new software is installed the system automatically creates a backup..

I'm assuming you are using a Windows version, if you do I can talk you through it.

If you're on a Mac I'm sure there will be others far more knowledgable

Good luck and let me know ok ?

 

[Nightbird]

No ed I'm not using AOL I use Sympatico, it's a Canadian thing from Bell.

I do spyware scan's pretty regularly and I was using AVAST for my Virus protection it's a free thing off the internet that scans everything that comes into the computer. Or at least it's supposed to.

Again I'm not really sure what the program was, but it had something to do with Vampire The Masquerade RPG game.

Does this help?

nightbird: to help troubleshoot, we're gonna need more info.

1. what OS? windows XP home, XP pro, ME, something else? i'm assuming it's some form of windows b/c issues like this tend not to occur on other systems.

2. what was the program?

3. when's the last time you were able to complete a virus scan or spyware scan successfully? have you done so since the crash?

4. are you by any chance using AOL? i know of very few users who actually prefer netscape over IE, firefox or opera on the windows platform.

ed

 

[silverwhisper]

nightbird:

OK, that does clarify a few things. off the top of my head, i'm wondering if the machine hasn't been patched successfully/enough.

could you describe precisely what happens when you try to run netscape? do you usually try to get to a site by opening the browser and selecting it from your bookmarks, or by going to favorites and netscape just opens the site?

vampire, eh? i'm an old toreador player from a while back. :>

ed

 

[Nightbird]

Ok, lets see..

I click on the icon to open Netscape and it opens the nice little Netscape window that it does when it's loading the program but then the window just disappears and it does nothing. No error messages or anything. It just goes back to my desktop.

The Vampire thing isn't mine.. I'm a D&D player.

nightbird:

OK, that does clarify a few things. off the top of my head, i'm wondering if the machine hasn't been patched successfully/enough.

could you describe precisely what happens when you try to run netscape? do you usually try to get to a site by opening the browser and selecting it from your bookmarks, or by going to favorites and netscape just opens the site?

vampire, eh? i'm an old toreador player from a while back. :>

ed

 

[silverwhisper]

nightbird: OK, something is operating on your machine that's killing netscape. that's pretty much the only conclusion i can reach. some of the harder core geeks might have some more ideas (weird harold or ezzy in particular come to mind) but i'm afraid i'm stumped. outside of a virus of some kind, i can't imagine any explanation for your issue.

btw: do you also use netscape for mail?

btw 2: heh. i also play D&D. i'm in a 3.0 game now that last met sunday. we killed us a dragon. :>

ed

 

[Ezzy]

Some of the harder core geeks might have some more ideas (weird harold or ezzy in particular come to mind) but i'm afraid i'm stumped. outside of a virus of some kind, i can't imagine any explanation for your issue.


ed

"Harder core" I like , "Geek" I'm really not sure about , it is just experience talking when I talk, honestly that's all it is, not geekiness, well not real hard core geekiness, well may be you're right after all.

OK, that said here comes some geekiness...

Open your Control Panel.
Open Add or Remove Programs.
Take a scroll though the list and see if there is some glaring program that says "Vampire The Masquerade" if it is there then remove it, and see if that has cleared things up.

The other thing to do is clear out netscape again and re-re-install it, but unless the other program is removed first it most likely won't work.

The other solution would be to get another browser, (just as a test and see if it is effecting that one too?), though as I typed that, I worked out you must already have one working, or you couldn't post that you have a problem with Netscape, now just who is showing his geekiness here.

 

[Nightbird]

I use Outlook Express for mail..

A Dragon... WOoo hooo! Good one.. I haven't played in ages. You don't happen to play Baldur's Gate or any of the Ice Wind Dales on your computer do you?

nightbird: OK, something is operating on your machine that's killing netscape. that's pretty much the only conclusion i can reach. some of the harder core geeks might have some more ideas (weird harold or ezzy in particular come to mind) but i'm afraid i'm stumped. outside of a virus of some kind, i can't imagine any explanation for your issue.

btw: do you also use netscape for mail?

btw 2: heh. i also play D&D. i'm in a 3.0 game now that last met sunday. we killed us a dragon. :>

ed

 

[Nightbird]

Hi Ezzy..

Ok I know how to use the Add Remove thing I'll give that a try.

Maybe I should try this Fire Fox thing out after all.

And I use Internet Explorer too.. I have always used both Netscape and Internet Explorer without any trouble before. I just don't really like Internet Explorer as much.

This computer is due for a hard drive re-format soon anyhow. But I was hoping to avoid it for a little while longer.

Me

"Harder core" I like , "Geek" I'm really not sure about , it is just experience talking when I talk, honestly that's all it is, not geekiness, well not real hard core geekiness, well may be you're right after all.

OK, that said here comes some geekiness...

Open your Control Panel.
Open Add or Remove Programs.
Take a scroll though the list and see if there is some glaring program that says "Vampire The Masquerade" if it is there then remove it, and see if that has cleared things up.

The other thing to do is clear out netscape again and re-re-install it, but unless the other program is removed first it most likely won't work.

The other solution would be to get another browser, (just as a test and see if it is effecting that one too?), though as I typed that, I worked out you must already have one working, or you couldn't post that you have a problem with Netscape, now just who is showing his geekiness here.

 

[Ezzy]

The only thing I use Internet Explorer for is to update Windows from Microsoft, as Microsoft doesn't like to have other browsers downloading their files, and it saves time to avoid any conflicts that may arise.

That is literally the only use I have for IE, I gave up using it when I discovered Mozilla and then Mozilla Firefox. I have suffered a lot less than friends who only use IE, from all sorts of things like Trojans, worms and other malware, that is not to say that Mozilla is attack free, just that there are so many fewer attacks on them than on the seemingly ubiquitous IE.

 

[silverwhisper]

nightbird: i loved BG2 and am in the process of finishing the solo NWN mission. :>

ezzy: would you have preferred "alpha geek"? :> i also use IE solely for updating my machine. and i'd like to take this opportunity to shill for opera, which is my browser of choice. i like firefox too, though. :>

ed