Stupid Computer

Cardcaptor Takato · Post by **Cardcaptor Takato** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 6:38 pm

I've recently been having some computer problems that I find annoying. First of all, whenever I try to open up a conversation on an Instant Messenger, I always have to click it a thousand times just to get the conversation to appear. This gets really annoying, especially when you miss saying goodbye to someone because your computer is being stupid. Then, the other day, when I signed onto the computer, the desktop background I had set up was gone and it was the normal default desktop background and all the stuff I had in my documents was gone! The computer no longer lets me use anything in my computer via my username because it says it was "hidden" from me. So, now I must sign on to the Internet from another person's username, but I'm still having problems with the Instant Messenger. Can someone help?

Celexa · Post by **Celexa** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 7:04 pm

I'm not QUITE sure what's going on, but do you have anti-virus software? And do you have tons of files? Depending on your problem, go to different places:
1=no anti-virus software
2=tons of files

::1::
If you don't have anti-virus / anti-hacking software, things can happen. My anti hacking and anti-virus software give me alerts at least three times a day! I reccomend Norton Anti-virus. If you do have this stuff...I'd look at answer 2.

::2::
Tons of files and computer programs can slow up your software and mess it up. I have about 200 SM video clips, and that's only 1/100th of my computer documents! My computer is a little messed up, but not as much as yours. If you have tons of pictures, videos, files, or games I would reccomend deleting all those you don't need.

If neither of those apply, your computer is really, really messed up and you need to either have it checked or get a new computer.

Akarui Kibuno · Post by **Akarui Kibuno** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 7:10 pm

Hmm.

I'd say, first, we can't say a thing if we don't know your OS.

If it's XP, which status do you have ? Admin or moderate ? (I don't know if these are the words cause my XP is Frenc, of course).

I'm not good at comps, but I remember my AOL refusing to start only because I clicked on the desktop icon. I had put the "Classic Windows Menu" and it wouldn't start either, and now I put the "XP Menu" and it works. Duh. But it's AOL U_U

So, my point is, maybe you should "detail" the process.

OS...

How/where/when you click.

What happens then.

What you already did that didn't work.

The status of the username that lets you use it (if you have an antivirus or something, use it from there. If the person is an admin, it would be better, cause then you could look for your own documents from that person's folder).

^^;;;;;;;;;

Cardcaptor Takato · Post by **Cardcaptor Takato** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 9:24 pm

Akarui Kibuno wrote:Hmm.

I'd say, first, we can't say a thing if we don't know your OS.

If it's XP, which status do you have ? Admin or moderate ? (I don't know if these are the words cause my XP is Frenc, of course).

It's XP, but I don't know the terms "Admin" or "modertate." I don't know much about computers. ^^;;

Jumbled Thoughts · Post by **MarioKnight** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 9:26 pm

If your the only user of the comuter, then your account had administrator rights, I think that's what Akarui meant.

Cardcaptor Takato · Post by **Cardcaptor Takato** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 9:37 pm

Oh, I'm not the only user on this computer. They're other people who use it, too. I thought I mentioned in my first post in this thread that I'm currently using another person's username to connect to the Internet?

Jumbled Thoughts · Post by **MarioKnight** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 9:41 pm

Oh, I sort of misunderstood that. Best I can do for you is tell you to go to the system's owner and explain to them and hope they can do something about it. Not much I can really help you if you don't have admin rights.

shansen · Post by **shansen** » Thu Nov 27, 2003 2:56 am

It sounds like it could very well be a virus.

1) Do you have antivirus software?

2) Do you have anything that monitors incoming/outgoing traffic, like a firewall?

3) Do you keep up with Windows XP updates at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ regularly?

4) Have you downloaded anything recently (especially programs)?

5) Aside from what you mentioned, have you noticed any other changes (e.g. Internet Explorer's Home Page changed, pop-up ads appearing often, etc.)

Cardcaptor Takato wrote: ... all the stuff I had in my documents was gone!

It's likely not gone, but just hidden. To unhide, do the following:

1) Double-click "My Documents" on the Desktop (or go to Windows Explorer, and click on "My Documents"
2) From the toolbar at the top, click on "Tools", and then "Folder Options"
3) Go to the "View" tab
4) Under "Hidden Files and Folders", click the button beside "Show hidden files and folders"
5) Click OK

The screen will refresh briefly, and hopefully your files will appear.

As for the Instant Messaging stuff ... I don't know exactly what's causing it, but it could very well be related to a virus or worm.