Scott Mueller's Upgrading and Repairing PCs Forum

Hello,
Dell VOSTRA LAPTOP (Posted about a number of times)
ESC 43277975461
ST: JVQL7L1
Windows XP PRO SP 3 (Up to date)
EPSON WF 545 -= Its S/W is up-to-date.
Avast! (Free version) 2014.9.0.2021 -

PROBLEM:
TODAY I cannot open Firefox (38.01) or Thunderbird.
There is only an error alert SOUND (nothing visual)

PRECEDING EVENTS:
Firefox upgraded itself to version 38.01. Since then (I believe) I cannot print from Firefox (WiFi) - Firefox “crashes”.
All other programs (that I have tried) do print.

Twice, “Google Chrome” has been on desktop on cold boot (Today a crash report; Can’t recall the other day’s “message”)
I have NEVER consciously downloaded chrome.

Initially wanted older FF version but have not found a reliable link (or know how to find one) Also want to disable “auto updates (ESPECIALLY FF) before doing so although not really applicable at this time)

Yesterday I restored the system back 3 weeks (hoping to see if this would improve anything) but did not have time to check However, when I shut it down, it had to install yet another update.

Negative FULL system scan and boot scan.

QUESTIONS:
Should I choose a different restore point?

After all of this, is chrome any good....

I read a fix for FF’s VS. 38.01’s slowness is ?decreasing H/W acceleration... N/A for now but is this a possibility?

I am MOST concerned about not being able to use TB and FF for the time being!

Thank you very much in advance!

What happens if you uninstall and reinstall those applications? Scott.

Thanks
I have not tried (I may have the older ones on the system).


Should I try to access a restore point later than the "3 week before" restore first?
(Even though they ran after the "3 week before" restore (But did not try a cold boot)).

I don't know what order?

Thank you

I don't think trying other restore points will help in this case. Scott.

Thank you very much again!

(I am not getting email alerts)

The reason I ask about changing restore again is that moving it back 3 weeks preceded this problem. (BTW, Firefox is no longer 38.01 it is 37.x (I am backing up using MOZBACKUP which has it listed)). I assume the restore could have (?) changed the FF version??)

Another possible contributor:
2 days ago, I rebooted the modem (and router) but I messed up and got IP incompatibility (On both "wired" desktops “The IP address lease 192.168.0.100 for the Network Card with network address A4BADBF26D08 has been denied by the DHCP server 192.168.0.1 (The DHCP Server sent a DHCPNACK message).”.
I did not have the Vostra running at the time. But I reset modem and rooter in opposite sequence I repaired (control panel -> network ...) the 2 desktop connections)

I am at a TOTAL LOSS regarding networks and troubleshooting)

QUESTIONS / PLANS
1. Still about registry (whether it could make things worse)

2. Do you think it would cause more problems to install chrome?

I have the installs for Firefox and Thunderbird but I want to find out how to disable Mozilla – based autoupdates beforehand....

Thank you very much again!
P.S. Just tried running FF and TB in compatibility mode (right-click icon -> properties -> comp. Tab -> I used NT (I have XP pro SP 3))
Both programs gave a JS alert: “could not locate “XP.COM”

Installing Chrome shouldn't cause any problems but I would also uninstall and reinstall Firefox. Scott.

Hello and thank you Scott,
(I am still not getting email notification)

I will un and reinstall Firefox but I want to make sure I am not bringing problems into the new one(s).
One reason for concern is that Thunderbird will not open either. (And TB and FF are separate programs).

It seems that these issues occurred AFTER I used a 3 week old restore point.

Also the FF version backtracked from 38.01 to 37.x
I don't know why that happened - the only thing I can think of is system restore (to 3 weeks before).

I do plan on UN and REinstalling FF (and the email client Thunderbird) but on a semi-functioning laptop.

Do you think it would be harmful to use another restore point (but up to 1 week ago)?

Thank you!

ADDENDUM:
I have no option for safe mode!

After trying various F keys, F8 seemed to do it
But
"Choose which OS"
There is only option! which is:
WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL SP3



THANK YOU!

At this point I would recommend reinstalling Windows. The best option for this in your case would be the Dell Factory Image Restore: http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/ ... N117599/EN

Be sure you have all of your data backed up beforehand. Scott.

Thank you - that's likely what will happen but before doing this I am going to restore to another date:
QUESTION:
1. I have the option to "Undo my last restoration"
I do not know what date will be used by the system and I do NOT want anything on or following June 30th, 2015 (That was the day I used the 3 week old restore point)
OR
2. Restore to a *chosen* date: (I have points on 5/26/15 through 1/28/15)

Could you please advise?
Thank you!

If you are committed to doing an image restore then you have nothing to lose by trying other restore points. You don't have to undo your last restoration before trying different restore points. I don't think this will help but you might as well try. Scott.

Hi and thank you
I undid the restore last night and has been working well (except Firefox does not print anything - no crashes but nothing on the page - It prints in Thunderbird, word etc.)
For whatever reason Chrome again appeared on the desktop with something like " ... give Chrome a try". I don't know why.
(Do you know what the browser is linked with?)

I changed from Google as home page to Bing and will see what happens.

There is still no safe mode option (I never checked for it before though).
Isn't there a way to restart in safe mode from the command prompt?
(I don't need safe mode but just curious)

I guess setting the restore point back 3 weeks with autoupdates for third party s/w occurring can mess up the third party s/w.

Thanks

I would check for any installed toolbars from companies like Google and uninstall any you find. To access the advanced startup options (including Safe Mode) you normally would press the F8 key before Windows starts. However there is a way to automate the process (that is to automatically boot directly into Safe Mode without needing to press any keys) by using MSconfig as described here: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows- ... he-f8-key/

Scott.

Hi,
It's been over a week and I still cannot print on the laptop with Firefox 38.0.5.

Still same issues: Either FF crashes or the printer prints blank pages. (No page header or footer info but the printer(S) eject ("print") the correct number of pages, and print preview is okay.)

I even tried a new printer! (EPSON XP-410) with same results!

I need advice on a different browser for the laptop
DELL VOSTRO LAPTOP:
SERVICE TAG: JVQ7L1
EXPRESS SERVICE CODE: 43277975461

2. For another Dell
DELL DIMENSION XPS E-520 (2007) WINDOWS XP HOME SP 3 FIREFOX 14.0.1 AVAST! 2014.9.0.2021; THUNDERBIRD version 2.0.0.24 (20100228) EPSON WF 545 – ALL UP-TO-DATE

The E520 PC is old, and used a lot. so, I REALLY need the browser to be un-bloated, tested, and stable.

What I am also worried about is maybe the printing issue has something to do with specific DELL S/W (Incompatibility specific to dell)??

Are you very familiar with chrome?

I use and recommend Firefox. I also recommend you reload those systems using the product recovery (Image Restore) procedures. Scott.