Operating system not found.....

[gini]

Hi everyone,

It was 2/6 and I shut off my computer for the night and everything was fine. Saturday 2/7 when I turned it on in the morning hoping to have a lot of time for Pet Talk the dreaded message from hell came on my screen.

Refusing to believe that my 4 1/2 year old computer had died, I started doing research - called Dell (talked to a woman in Manilla) - my brother gave it a try - a computer tech tried too.

OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND was still my message.

Buying a "refurbished" hard drive with a 90 day guarantee just didn't seem to solve my problem.

So, it was back to Dell to put together a new computer for me.

The pieces and parts started arriving..............boxes just left on my porch that clearly say DELL COMPUTER on them. No one knocked on the door - no doorbell. I about tripped over them when I was leaving the house. However, the work station and monitor arrived last Friday and happily I had to sign for them.

Last Saturday I put it all together with the help of my neighbor and Outlook Express WOULD NOT WORK.

McAfee Firewall was the problem.............that is after many phone calls to Dell and my server and finally to Microsoft. McAfee has a software glitch that blocks access to the internet for Outlook Express. After I changed that setting everything works just fine.

All of this came together just this evening at 7 PM and now I am once again a very happy Pet Talker.

I think I will stroll over to Thursdays and see if it is open and catch up on anything I have missed.

I HAVE MISSED YOU ALL....................

Love, Gini

[zippy-kat]

We missed you too Ginster!!!

[popcornbird]

Welcome back Gini! We missed you. Computer problems suck, don't they? ;)

I'm not sure if you missed *too* much. PT has been quiet lately..........quiet and sad. This past week has been especially sad because of the loss of our very special Binx and Smokey. :( I'm sure you must have heard about that by now.

[Barbara]

What a horror story - and being caught between hardware, software and internet provider - a nightmare.

Glad you are back now:D :D :D

[Randi]

Yes, what a nightmare! :eek: Glad you're up and running again - so good to see you back! :D

When you've had your drink .... it's on me, then you can stroll over and nominate something for Thread of 2003. Just take your time. ;)

[Pam]

Gini you were missed!! I am glad you are *up and running* again. :)

[moosmom]

Welcome back Gini!! :D :D

[joycenalex]

...really stink. i was down for almost 3 months (money issues for a new computer) i haated using the library ones. glad you're back.

[catnapper]

You are very patient (unless you decided to edit what those phone calls REALLY sounded like:p ) My husband would have thrown the computer out the window (tolerance rating of zero) and I would have thrown my hands up in despair a dozen times!:)

Congrats on the new computer! Now you won't have to worry about this for another 4 1/2 years!

[Logan]

Welcome back, Gini!!!! :)

[amoore]

So glad to have you back! I have missed you!

Computers are head aches some times! Mine has gave me major pain lately! I have files that disappear, and then I get a message that says( " This program has performed an illegal operation. If problem persist contact program vender. mbb caused an invalid page fault in modual unknow....") Makes me crazy!:rolleyes:

[tatsxxx11]

So glad you're back Gini!:) We sure did miss you! Hopefully you're all set now...at least for awhile;) I'm teetering on the brink of a major crash. I too have a Dell, only 3 years old. I'm regularly getting that "has performed an illegeal function and will shut down" message. I'm constantly having to manually shut down the tower and reboot. Can't open, send attach's, insert pics, it doesn't recognize my printer, my scanner, digi camera, or DVD drive. Those Dell people in India have been of NO help! Of course they dragged out sending over someone to help until after the warranty expired. Grrrrrrrr:mad: :p

[slick]

You know we all use Dell's at work (of course we buy in bulk) and I've had no problems with their Tech Support. I'm amazed that the new one arrived in pieces. Our's come in two boxes, one for the CPU, keyboard, mouse, etc etc and the other one for the monitor. Having Dell written on them you are luck they weren't stolen.

Anyway glad you have in the "land of the living" so-to-speak. :D

BTW: Richard has been starting some "interesting" threads. I think a search is in order.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Gini... I am so glad you are back! Now we need to find Julie...aka Ally Cat's Mom!

[trayi52]

Gini, glad to hear you are back, you have been missed by all of us.
Your back in the computer business, and my dell had a corrupted file on it and it totally lost its video driver, does great, except no video. So can't use it, if I can't see the video! So I am waiting for them to send me a free hard drive, and a free man to install it.....

I could have done this myself, but how could I refuse a free man, Uh I mean a free technician? I am using a laptop right now, which is different.

When Ann mentioned the problems she has been having, I just thought of something funny that happened to my sister-in-law when they first got a computer, They had bought the computer for David, her son. Lisa and her mother decide they are going to get on the computer, for the first time in their life. Well not knowing what all the jargon was about, when they seen the "you have performed an illigal operation" thing, they went into a panic and hurrridily shut down the computer. Then watched for the laws, and fbi people to come swarming in.

When she told me this, Ann, Gini, I was literally down on the floor laughing my butt off. :D

Anyway Gini, I am so glad you are back. You have been missed.
Thurdays just aren't the same without you there. Just happy, happy, happy!!

Willie

[amoore]

Willie that is funny!

I have called Sam but he hasn't got back to me. "Oh well' I wonder when the cops are going to get here. heeheehee , maybe one of them will know how to fix my computer. LOL!:D

[trayi52]

Ann, that might just work! :D Really Lisa had me laughing so hard at her, I could just see them waiting to be arrested for the "illigal operation". Funny Girl!

Willie

[amoore]

I can see Lisa doing that! LOL! :D

[Miss Meow]

I missed you a lot :)

[anna_66]

:D Great to have you back Gini:D

[gini]

The final piece (battery back-up) arrived today. I almost killed myself on the package as I went to get my mail. There it was - again - no one knocked - no one rang my doorbell - just this box that in full glorious color describes the battery back-up.

Finally all of the pieces have arrived and I can stop whining.
It is amazing that something did not get stolen from my porch.

Once, years ago, some kids stole a FedX package from my porch that I had outgoing. They ripped it open and threw the contents all over the neighborhood. Nothing important - just paychecks for one of my clients. I have never left anything out again. So to have things delivered that are expensive without my having to sign for them, I find totally unacceptable.

Age and experience tell me that you deal with things the very best you can and THEN YOU MOVE ON.................

Again, thanks everyone..........I felt as though I had been marooned on a remote island (Los Angeles?? A remote island?).

Hugs!

[ChrisH]

Gini, it's great to have you back! :D :)

[captain]

Gini - welcome back!!!

HOWEVER, much to my horror ........... my home PC died this morning .............. I think it has read this thread and decided to "go out in sympathy"!!!

Luckily, someone I work with is going to try and salvage all the information tomorrow ............ and re-build the PC .......... then we will buy ANOTHER one just in case!

The worst part ..... my hubbies business stuff is on the PC, but we should be able to save it ...........

BUT - back to Gini - WE MISSED YOU TERRIBLY!

[amoore]

So glad to have you back Gini. We all missed you. Sipoweitz was missing you too.:D

Captain, I am sorry you are having bad trouble with your computer. I hope you get it all fixed up. Are you planing to get a new one? I hope you good luck with what ever you do.

[captain]

Thanks amoore!!!

We will probably salvage the currently on, AND buy a new one anyway ........ for ME!!!! :D :D :D

Then I can get back into Web Design .............

[Twisterdog]

McAfee Firewall was the problem.............that is after many phone calls to Dell and my server and finally to Microsoft. McAfee has a software glitch that blocks access to the internet for Outlook Express. After I changed that setting everything works just fine.

OMG, please tell me what setting you changed!! My Outlook Express has been non-functioning for months, despite my best efforts, AND I have McAfee!!

There is a glimmer of hope!!!!

[amoore]

I used mcafee also, then I switched to AVG Anti virus. I like it a lot! :)

Captain, that is what I want to do in the near future is get a new one for my self. Fix this one up for andy. He don't mess with pictures like I do.

:)

[gini]

Originally posted by Twisterdog
OMG, please tell me what setting you changed!! My Outlook Express has been non-functioning for months, despite my best efforts, AND I have McAfee!!

There is a glimmer of hope!!!!

I have McAfee Firewall and that was the problem. Click on your McAfee icon and go to McAfee Firewall. You will see a section called Internet Applications. Click on that and a whole list of internet applications allowed by the Firewall will come up. Scroll down to Outlook Express and see if it says "allow full access" or does it say "blocked." If it is blocked give it full access and then try Outlook Express.

I want you to know that I called Microsoft, gave them credit card information for the one time (one event) $35.00. And then I was on hold for ONE HOUR. I am not exaggerating, because I played numerous games of solitare, read the news, etc. Then this great guy who is in Nova Scotia comes on the phone and after he heard my story and numerous calls to Comcast and Dell, said that McAfee is almost always the problem.

At first he was going to have me uninstall McAfee and I groaned.........so he asked me to try this before we uninstalled McAfee. Outlook Express has been fine ever since. With the exception that I cannot open all attachments, but I think that is my fault, because I haven't had the time to go in and register all of the software that came with the computer.

I sure hope that this helps you..........let me know if it works, because if it does, I think a letter to McAfee is in order. This is ridiculous and it was a huge waste of time for me, before I just knuckled under and paid the $35.00.

[Twisterdog]

Well, that wasn't it, then. :(

I already had Outlook Express set to Allow Full Access.

Thanks for the info, though! :)

[gini]

I am sorry. Believe me I am no expert, but it might be the settings you have for your email.

All of mine was going only to the server (Comcast) and just sitting there. You have probably already done this, but you might call your server and make sure your settings are right.

From the beginning, I have always liked the ease of using Outlook Express, so I was really bumbed out until I could get it working correctly.

[Fox-Gal]

Sorry all that happened to you, what a pain in the A$$.

Did you at least have everything from that putter backed up or did you lose every thing you had on it? Just losing everything that I have right now on my putter would take days for me to get back and some I could never get back. I'd have to cry if that happend to me.

[gini]

Yeah, I lost everything. Too cocky and thought the hard drive would last forever. Thank God it wasn't my work computer.

It isn't the end of the world, but some things are gone forever.

I just couldn't believe that a four year old hard drive would die.

It reminds me of my expensive coffee pot. Krups, I think. It was almost $100 and it didn't even last a year - one pot of coffee a day was all I asked.

Bought a second Krups - they are so expensive, they must be the best - right? Ha, that one died too.

So my Mr. Coffee for $34.99 is working just fine and has been for well over two years now.