Re: POSSIBLE AND COSTLY IE7 installation!

Fred H. wrote:
After trying to install IE7 on Win xp pro SP3/IE6 several times,
both from net and from update-cd, I gave up and called customer
support. (All programs bought and the laptops hard-disk formatted
before trying. Original OEM XP.)

The answer from "support" was that I had to connect via cable or
pay more than my laptop is worth. Naturally I gave up.

I am retired now, but I have been working with computers and
programs since before Windows/IBM PC. I still remember CP/M, Gary
Kildall (RIP) and how Windows started. I also know how to explain
problems in a manner that the customers feels that they might have
done something wrong. I hoped these times were gone, but you guys
really make me feel young again!

Shame on you! The only change is that you are getting paid to lie!

I do not know how many thousands I have spent on your software
during all these years, but I think I would have gotten a nice car
for it at least. I feel like an idiot, because I have tried to be
true to my principles.

I just started in the wrong lane, right?

Keep up the bad work, and you will end up like the dinosarus!

Shenan Stanley wrote:
This is a peer-to-peer newsgroup. I don't know you and although
there is a possibility you have bought something from me in some
manner - I doubt you know me.

No worries - it is a common mistake - coming here and
ranting/raving at Microsoft about one thing or another just because
their name is in the title of the newsgroup - and expecting that
you are actually communicating with someone at Microsoft (and you
*might* - but more likely you will communicate with people who have
no affiliation with Microsoft other than using their products -
like you.

If you would like - please describe your issues when attempting to
install Internet Explorer 7 on your Windows XP Professional with
SP3 machine. Be very detailed about what messages you get, etc.
If you know about the Event Log, please look through it and give
the errors you see there. You may want to post here and in the
Internet Explorer specific newsgroups.

Just as a preliminary thing - before going too deep - you might
want to do some basic cleanup of your laptop.

- Make sure you have backups of all your important data. Pictures,
emails, contacts, documents, spreadsheets, databases,
favorites/bookmarks, etc and so on. Not having backups of the
important (to you) things on a computer is, at best, unwise.

- Ensure you have backups of your installation media (CD, DVD,
downloaded executables/installation files) and the product keys and
serial numbers to install/register them.

- Take inventory of your computer...

Belarc Advisor
http://belarc.com/free_download.html

- Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan
(seperately) with the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use
for this):

SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/

MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/

After performing a full scan with one and then the other and
removing whatever they both find completely, you can remove
each of them if you like.

- Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores
to a size between 64MB and 128MB..
- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section,
do the following:
- Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
- Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to
use:" to something between 64MB and 128MB.
- Click OK.
- Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline
contents" (the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this
could take 2-10 minutes or more.)
- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open
Internet Explorer.

- Uninstall applications you *do not* use and do not plan on
using...

How to change or remove a program in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307895

- Ensure your computer has the latest "High Priority" updates from
Microsoft.

Windows Update
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

I can suggest getting most of the "Optional Software" updates as
well - although I personally recommend not getting "Windows
Search". I also recommend not getting any "Optional Hardware"
updates from here.

- Look into alternative web browsers...

Mozilla Firefox
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

- Clean up your hard disk drive, clear out all but the last Restore
Point, check for errors, etc...

How to use Disk Cleanup
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312

How to scan your disks for errors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265

How to Defragment your hard drives
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848

After you do that - you might try your installation of Internet
Explorer again - who knows - might work. If it doesn't - feel free
to come back with details and reply to this conversation so we know
what you have tried!

Fred H. wrote:
Thank you for your well written reply, but sorry you did not read
my agressive input too good. The laptop was cleaned using the best
methods. (I got it free from a firm which used som kind of
supereraser to format/clean the hard-disk.)

I bought Win XP Pro/SP3. To my amazement IE6 sp3 installed.
Theerefore I downloaded upgrade to IE7, but untill now I haven't
been able to install it. Tried uninstalling SP3, installing from MS
update, from update disk etc. NO LUCK! There are no other programs
on the laptop, only Win XP.

Lucky you who has a good job to go to! I am getting crazy of beeing
retired.

I understood your intentions - I saw no need to acknowledge them further.
Nothing to do with me and me responding in kind does not help you remedy
your issues.

So you have not used the laptop at all - especially it has not touched the
internet? You have not surfed the web at all? There is a GOOD chance you
have infestations of some sort if you have surfed the web - especially if
(as you say) it is just Windows XP installed. No antivirus application,
basic Windows XP with SP3 (what about the dozens of post-sp3 updates?)

As for it being wiped with a 'supereraser'... Modern hard disk drives are
pretty much clean with a single zero-write pass. More can't hurt. There
are many freeware apps that do this - one that comes to mind immediately:

http://www.dban.org/

Take the advice I gave. Use the antispyware applications, update Windows
with all the other updates mentioned (other than IE7.) Do the disk cleanup,
change the Internet Explorer settings, download and install Firefox (you
might like it better anyway - and then who cares about IE7?) Take other's
advice too - download the IE7 update in full (unless you have done that
already.)

You should get a free antivirus on there soon, in any case. Between that
and the Windows Firewall and using the computer as a regular user (not a
user with adminstrative rights) for everyday usage - you should be fairly
safe.

You can complain all you want in life - it's good to blow off steam here and
there - but seldom does complaining without action get you anywhere. ;-)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


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