XP Question

[WizeOne]

SIL dropped her laptop of to see if I could figure out why she can't access her wireless connection. Beats me as at my house her computer picks up various neighbors wireless signals. It will connect but the signals are poor so it keeps dropping the connection. OK for that, something must be up with the signal at her house but that is not the reason for my post.

Sometimes when I place the mouse cursor on a desktop icon, after a few seconds the item opens without me having clicked on it. It does not seem to do it on every icon, only some.

Is there somewhere that this action is controlled?

Also does anyone know what Phun Beta 3.0 is all about? I google Phun and I get info that it is malware or a porno site or some kind of game thing.

Either way it seems odd for it to be on my 65 y/o SIL's computer. She has gone across the continent to visit her daughter so I can not readilly ask her about it plus she is a real newbie at computers.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: XP Question

^bump^ Hmmm? All the esperts must be out boating?

 

[srothfuss]

Re: XP Question

Phun Beta is something that you should remove. If you have a virus scanner or program that will remove addware/malicous content now is the time to see what else is hiding on the machine.

Scan twice just to be sure.

Free virus programs like AVAST can be downloaded online.



For the home network: What kind of router? Is there an encryption key or security setting that is not programed into the computer, which would lead to it not picking up the wireless signal.



The popup Icon thing is standard, nothing to worry about there.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: XP Question

Does she know that she has to give the proper codes to access her router.... What type of wireless system does she have..aka mimo netgear linkys etc..

 

[WizeOne]

Re: XP Question

Does she know that she has to give the proper codes to access her router.... What type of wireless system does she have..aka mimo netgear linkys etc..

Not sure TG. She's in VA right now. I don't know whether it is an inhouse wireless via DSL or possibly a local wireless service for here somewhat remote neighborhood.

Whatever it is she gets a message on boot that it cannot find the/a/her wireless service. It has worked in the recent past and her hubbies PC is operating on it.

I'll take it over to her house, when she gets back and see what I can determine but otherwise I've had it operating all morning off a neighbors unprotected home wireless signal, ie linksys, belkin routers, etc.


Also I hope someone can comment on this aggravating mouse thing whereas on many icons, buttons, etc, once the cursor hits it, it open up without having to click.

 

[mike64]

Re: XP Question

Also I hope someone can comment on this aggravating mouse thing whereas on many icons, buttons, etc, once the cursor hits it, it open up without having to click.

Sound like you might need to adjust your touch pad settings. Go to Control Panel-- Mouse Settings. There should be a tab for "Touch Pad". You may be lifting your finger and setting it down and the pad thinks you're double-tapping to open. Try speeding up the "tapping speed" so you need to tap quick to open a program. Also you might want to turn up the touch pad sensitivity. There'll be some other settings in there maybe-- depending on your computer model and touch pad software. Take a look and see what else may need adjusting.

 

[i386]

Re: XP Question

I'm going with mike64's answer.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: XP Question

I'm going with mike64's answer.

I'll check that out. I didn't think to differentiate between mouse control and touchpad control. I'm sure the answer will unfold there. Thanks mike and i386.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: XP Question

Not sure TG. She's in VA right now. I don't know whether it is an inhouse wireless via DSL or possibly a local wireless service for here somewhat remote neighborhood.

Whatever it is she gets a message on boot that it cannot find the/a/her wireless service. It has worked in the recent past and her hubbies PC is operating on it.

I'll take it over to her house, when she gets back and see what I can determine but otherwise I've had it operating all morning off a neighbors unprotected home wireless signal, ie linksys, belkin routers, etc.


Also I hope someone can comment on this aggravating mouse thing whereas on many icons, buttons, etc, once the cursor hits it, it open up without having to click.

As far as connectivity that is the problem.........you have connected on your domain.. she cant on hers..end of story

 

[WizeOne]

Re: XP Question

As far as connectivity that is the problem.........you have connected on your domain.. she cant on hers..end of story

Could your repeat that in english please?

Oh, and btw, the touchpad curser problem was easy. There is a TP icon in the start up tray. When you right click, one of the options is "tap to click". It was checked so everytime you tried to move the cursor over the button it thought you were 'tapping'. Needless, I unchecked it and problem over.

 

[srothfuss]

Re: XP Question

You'll have to be at her home to figure out the connectivity issues. Since you have the laptop working on 'your' network - then the problem lies in the setup of her personal network [either in the computer or the router]

 

[i386]

Re: XP Question

Could your repeat that in english please?

Oh, and btw, the touchpad curser problem was easy. There is a TP icon in the start up tray. When you right click, one of the options is "tap to click". It was checked so everytime you tried to move the cursor over the button it thought you were 'tapping'. Needless, I unchecked it and problem over.

Tap to click is a good thing IMO. There should be a sensitivity setting. Once that's dialed in you won't do it accidentally.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: XP Question

Tap to click is a good thing IMO. There should be a sensitivity setting. Once that's dialed in you won't do it accidentally.

I'll look for a more comprehensive set of adjustments. 'tap to click' was just an option when you right clicked on the start up touch pad icon.

Personally, I do not like touch pads. Meeses are much better.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: XP Question

Wireless with XP can be a bit tricky if the firmware in the router is outdated. I had a similar problem with a linksys router...most of them are crap...and switched over to Belkin. That seemed to end my connectivity problems. Linksys and d-link are my least favorite routers...very iffy at best, also easy to hack. Look for something with cisco architecture (usually indicated on the box). Also xp has a funny habbit of getting confused with dhcp settings, particularly with the above mentioned routers, they have real problems setting up. You need to go to her house and trouble shoot there.

Ian

 

[WizeOne]

Re: XP Question

Wireless with XP can be a bit tricky if the firmware in the router is outdated. I had a similar problem with a linksys router...most of them are crap...and switched over to Belkin. That seemed to end my connectivity problems. Linksys and d-link are my least favorite routers...very iffy at best, also easy to hack. Look for something with cisco architecture (usually indicated on the box). Also xp has a funny habbit of getting confused with dhcp settings, particularly with the above mentioned routers, they have real problems setting up. You need to go to her house and trouble shoot there.

Ian

SIL returned home from VA, picked up her laptop from me, took it home and it worked. Beats me, I really never did anything to it but clean up some junk programs, update her AVG antiVirus and let it connect up using neighbors wireless signal.

 

[Wotknot]

Re: XP Question

SIL returned home from VA, picked up her laptop from me, took it home and it worked. Beats me, I really never did anything to it but clean up some junk programs, update her AVG antiVirus and let it connect up using neighbors wireless signal.

Don't let her know it.....first of all you're now a computer guru in her eyes........and 2ndly, 6 months from now when she buys herself a new laptop, she'll probably give the old one to you cuz you worked on it........

 

[WizeOne]

Re: XP Question

Don't let her know it.....first of all you're now a computer guru in her eyes........

Absolutely no doubt about that Wk. Here is a quote from her email to me.

"I'm THRILLED to have my computer back, in 100% working-order!!! I don't know what you did to fix it, but you sure were successful! I notice a few changes which seem to make the computer function more quickly and more smoothly.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[Wotknot]

Re: XP Question

Glad to hear it. Us " guru's " have to stick together.