DjLizard

When someone discovers a remote exploit for your particular IM client, then you will not be fine, direct connect or not. Remote exploits are the only thing to be concerned about. AIM has a long history of remote exploits. YIM probably has the least [didn't check]. The best thing to do is use an alternative client (i.e., stay away from MSNM, YIM, and AIM, and use a jabber client that does all three at once - that way, the latest AIM exploit, etc, won't even work on you).

It's only bad for the hard drive in the sense that it will not last as long, due to twice as much read/write activity. Hard drives will die anyway, and at random times, so it doesn't really matter. All I can tell you is that you might want to be prepared; if your data is important to you, back-up frequently, and pick up a copy of Spinrite from grc.com. It's only $89 and it's a lifesaver. It will test your drive's integrity [i'm aware this causes more wear and tear] and truly repair bad sectors. It can keep you from losing data in the first place. It still doesn't beat regular backups though. What size is your hard drive?

Just a joke; no offense is meant.

That sounds good >

At any rate, do you understand what I mean now?

LOL. I did say that, didn't I.

Depends on your model and Windows version. On all of the latest models, no, because there's a "tattoo" [as HPQ calls it] that prevents piracy [and I've even had a go at trying to break it, to no avail yet. On the older CDs that used batch files that check DMI info, you can edit the batch file and comment out the lines that check model information via DMI and burn a new disc 1.

It's not a guy, it's a company who had a lot of money to spare in building this (and building those things is apparently their purpose)

OMFG

I meant it in the sense that poof is 'flaming gay', but Freddie is merely gay, not poofy hyper-gay. Can't believe I'm having this conversation.

I dunno. I don't even use firewalls (except the built-in Windows firewall). I don't have anti-virus, anti-spyware, a software firewall, nor hardware firewalling (I'm DMZ on my router). I do use Peerguardian, which is a sort of protection, but protection isn't even what I use it for

GRR. This was already said, you thread necromancer. You're all about increasing your post count, aren't you.

Richard, don't be an asshole; I can help only as much as the quality of the description of the issues. If you continue on your path, you're going to get flamed, and not even by me!

It's odd because you are now both saying that it's white here and running CCleaner and cleaning Firefox's cache DIDN'T help? Do either of you use Firefox Preloader? Try control+f5, or control+clicking on the refresh button, as well.

Sounds good. So when you said it was shutting off within seconds, you didn't really mean within seconds..? That it was trying to go into Windows and would blow up before it got there (but allowed safe mode) ? Just wanted to make sure I understand. So then you *do* have a software problem? It'd be a good idea to read/run-through Tarun's anti-malware guide if you haven't yet. (cue Tarun to paste his usual spiele) The boxes entry may not be malware. Or it may be an entry that really no longer exists, or an entry with an undisplayable name (like UNICODE). Well, try Autoruns [ http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Autoruns.html ] and remove any entries in the Logon tab that say 'file not found' near them. Cheers.

Crown? Most new people here think I'm conceited, or arrogant, or I think I'm never wrong [which I've never acted like, or said], because everyone keeps telling me [and everyone else] how awesome I am Stop it Yes, Newhotness = male (I know his name, too )

Richard Simmons is a poof. Freddie was simply gay.

Freddie

Yeah, it's macroblocky JPEG, but maybe you should click on the image.

I'm sure that telling him to click Start when his computer won't power on is pretty wrong. PCTech.com contains nothing presently. I never said I was perfect. I am wrong quite a [space] lot. The next person who posts needs to be steve. K? Thanks.

About the "jump" as you described it: Go into Internet Explorer (Start, Run, IEXPLORE). Tools>Internet Options. Programs tab, Reset Web Settings.. yes. Tell IE to check whether it's the default browser. Close IE. Re-open IE. IE may ask you if IE can be the default browser. Uncheck the box that says 'always perform this check', but answer YES, so IE is now the default browser. Close IE. Open Firefox, go into FF's options, and set FF as the default browser. CCleaner's URLs should take you to Firefox instead of IE now. About messed up sites: Dunno. Sounds pretty screwed. Try firefox -safe-mode and firefox -profilemanager (see also http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/profile )

Maybe you need a new forum name, Richard. He says that now it powers off seconds after powering on, and that's how you know you can't get into Windows, dick. I mean Dick. He clarified well enough for my taste, I gave some suggestions, and now we wait to see what happens.

We get this a lot - people post about CCleaner's forum [or any other site] losing all of its formatting, but still being accessible [it's all white]... usually this is because they ran CCleaner while Firefox is open, which corrupts Firefox's cache. Clearing Firefox's cache always solves the problem. My post was really a total assumption, but I'm pretty sure that it's going to solve the issue.

Yep.

That's not to say it's a BAD thing or that something is wrong.