Repeated scandisk long filename error in TIF folder

An elderly couple's computer has lately been encountering freezes requiring
powering off at the switch instead of a proper shutdown. No error messages,
just a freeze. When the computer is restarted, scandisk reports problems
with a long file name (such as it contains invalid characters), which always
turns out to be located in TIF. Running scandisk from within windows fixes
it and of course these files are disposable anyways, but sometimes it occurs
several times a day. I've tried deleting TIF and history and checked the
drive with SeaTools and it checked out ok. Doesn't appear to be virus or
spyware related. IE 5.5 & AOL 7.0 (yeah, yuk, it's not *my* computer)
Thanks for your consideration; any suggestions welcome.

CC Mom

We don't know from what web sites the troublesome files came, but "machts nichts",
the thing to do is to empty the TIF regularly, using its front-end in IE's Tools
menu Internet Options.

The freezes are likely not related to the long file names anyway. Have a look here
if it happens at shutdown:
Windows Shutdown Troubleshooter:
http://aumha.org/win4/a/shutdown.htm

It may need some periodic general maintenance:

Reboot.
Open the Temp folder and delete all Temp files:
-Click StartRun, type %temp% and click OK.
-Press Ctrl+A to select all, then press Delete.

Delete the Temporary Internet Files:
Click Start Settings Control Panel Internet Options General tab.
Click the Delete Files button, then put a checkmark in the box to Delete all
offline content, and click OK, and OK.

Follow the procedures he
http://www.aumha.org/a/health.htm
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Code-Curious Mom" wrote in message
...
An elderly couple's computer has lately been encountering freezes requiring
powering off at the switch instead of a proper shutdown. No error messages,
just a freeze. When the computer is restarted, scandisk reports problems
with a long file name (such as it contains invalid characters), which always
turns out to be located in TIF. Running scandisk from within windows fixes
it and of course these files are disposable anyways, but sometimes it occurs
several times a day. I've tried deleting TIF and history and checked the
drive with SeaTools and it checked out ok. Doesn't appear to be virus or
spyware related. IE 5.5 & AOL 7.0 (yeah, yuk, it's not *my* computer)
Thanks for your consideration; any suggestions welcome.

CC Mom

Click Start Run, type in: scandisk and press Enter.
In the scandisk window click the Advanced button at lower right corner.
Uncheck "Report MS-DOS mode........"
Click Ok Close.

Open Either MyComputer or Explorer.
Expand to c:\windows\temp.
With the Temp folder hilit and it's contents in the right pane, press
ctrl+A to highlite all in the right pane.
Press Del.

Close out back to the desktop.
Empty the TIF via IE Properties.

Make positive the machine is clean of parasites/viruses.
Run a full system scan with a fully up-to-date av app.

**It is very important to run the update for each program before
running the app/s to be sure you have the latest definitions.**
Run the programs in Safe Mode after assuring you have shut down all running
tasks except explorer or systray and all apps are fully up to date.
Remove your Temp Internet files: Right click IE. Under the General tab
click Delete Files, put a check in Delete all Offline..., click OK and
close when finished.
Delete all files in c:\windows\temp.

Download/run Cool Web Shredder from:
http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder.html

For Info on Cool Web Search variants:
http://www.richardthelionhearted.com...hronicles.html

Download/install/run Ad-Aware SE to detect/rid of any other
parasites/spyware that may be installed. It can be obtained free from:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
After installing Ad-Aware, open it and click on the ref update to get the
latest up-to-date ref file, then run Ad-Aware and delete everything it
finds.

Download/install/run Spybot - Search & Destroy:
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?l...&page=download
Run it at it's default settings until you learn an know more about it.
Spybot S&D is more of an advanced users tool and changing from the default
settings can be dangerous to the novice user. Items found in the default
settings that are RED can usually be safely removed. If you are unsure of a
found item, do not remove it and ask for help.

If you still have problems, download/run HijackThis from:
http://www.richardthelionhearted.com...downloads.html
http://majorgeeks.com/downloads31.html

Copy HJT to it's own folder, this is where the log files will be saved.
Run HJT in Normal Mode.
Do not remove anything with it until you get advice on what to remove,
HJThis will list many apps that are needed along with the bad ones.
Removing items listed hap-hazardly without knowing what they are can/will
create a royal mess. Read the quick start here on how to create a log file
that can be copied/pasted into a forum that can provide assistance on
removal of unwanted pests.
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/#quick

Then post the logs to an appropriate forum where they specialize in
spyware/hijacker removal. Please read any sticky notes for proper posting
which are most commonly posted first at the top in each specific forum.
Read any information under each forum category name for information on what
that particular one is used for, look for the proper one that you post logs
to.
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/
http://aumha.net/
http://forum.aumha.org/

After running the above and assuring you have a clean machine:
It's also a good idea to have a HOSTS file to block bad sites, scroll to
HOSTS File Manager he
http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm

Download/install/run SpywareBlaster which stops the badboys before they
even get a chance to install:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375




"Code-Curious Mom" wrote in message
...
An elderly couple's computer has lately been encountering freezes
requiring
powering off at the switch instead of a proper shutdown. No error
messages,
just a freeze. When the computer is restarted, scandisk reports problems
with a long file name (such as it contains invalid characters), which
always
turns out to be located in TIF. Running scandisk from within windows
fixes
it and of course these files are disposable anyways, but sometimes it
occurs
several times a day. I've tried deleting TIF and history and checked the
drive with SeaTools and it checked out ok. Doesn't appear to be virus or
spyware related. IE 5.5 & AOL 7.0 (yeah, yuk, it's not *my* computer)
Thanks for your consideration; any suggestions welcome.

CC Mom

Thanks to both of you. The freezes are seemingly random and do not happen
at shutdown. Temp, TIF etc. had been deleted; didn't seem to help. Will
try a few things from http://www.aumha.org/a/health.htm that I was not
already aware of to see if it will prevent the freezes. Had been intending
to try defragging, but it's time-comsuming and usually shows no noticable
performance improvement anyways. It's not been done anytime recently and if
it might improve stability, would be worth a try.
AV finds nothing and Ad-aware/Spybot doesn't find anything more than
cookies--which I deleted, (yes they are up-to-date). Computer already has
SpywareBlaster installed. Didn't run them in safe mode because the USB
mouse doesn't work there. Suppose I might be able to scrounge up an old
non-usb one. I can navigate without, but it's a real pain in some
programs. Theirs comes with a PS/2 adaptor, but for some reason it won't
work that way (Windows says there's no mouse attached).
May be weeks before I get back to their house, so don't expect any update
soon.

"Brian A." gonefish'n@afarawaylake wrote in message
...
Click Start Run, type in: scandisk and press Enter.
In the scandisk window click the Advanced button at lower right corner.
Uncheck "Report MS-DOS mode........"
Click Ok Close.

Open Either MyComputer or Explorer.
Expand to c:\windows\temp.
With the Temp folder hilit and it's contents in the right pane, press
ctrl+A to highlite all in the right pane.
Press Del.

Close out back to the desktop.
Empty the TIF via IE Properties.

Make positive the machine is clean of parasites/viruses.
Run a full system scan with a fully up-to-date av app.

**It is very important to run the update for each program before
running the app/s to be sure you have the latest definitions.**
Run the programs in Safe Mode after assuring you have shut down all
running tasks except explorer or systray and all apps are fully up to
date.
Remove your Temp Internet files: Right click IE. Under the General tab
click Delete Files, put a check in Delete all Offline..., click OK and
close when finished.
Delete all files in c:\windows\temp.

Download/run Cool Web Shredder from:
http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder.html

For Info on Cool Web Search variants:
http://www.richardthelionhearted.com...hronicles.html

Download/install/run Ad-Aware SE to detect/rid of any other
parasites/spyware that may be installed. It can be obtained free from:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
After installing Ad-Aware, open it and click on the ref update to get the
latest up-to-date ref file, then run Ad-Aware and delete everything it
finds.

Download/install/run Spybot - Search & Destroy:
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?l...&page=download
Run it at it's default settings until you learn an know more about it.
Spybot S&D is more of an advanced users tool and changing from the default
settings can be dangerous to the novice user. Items found in the default
settings that are RED can usually be safely removed. If you are unsure of
a found item, do not remove it and ask for help.

If you still have problems, download/run HijackThis from:
http://www.richardthelionhearted.com...downloads.html
http://majorgeeks.com/downloads31.html

Copy HJT to it's own folder, this is where the log files will be saved.
Run HJT in Normal Mode.
Do not remove anything with it until you get advice on what to remove,
HJThis will list many apps that are needed along with the bad ones.
Removing items listed hap-hazardly without knowing what they are can/will
create a royal mess. Read the quick start here on how to create a log file
that can be copied/pasted into a forum that can provide assistance on
removal of unwanted pests.
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/#quick

Then post the logs to an appropriate forum where they specialize in
spyware/hijacker removal. Please read any sticky notes for proper posting
which are most commonly posted first at the top in each specific forum.
Read any information under each forum category name for information on
what that particular one is used for, look for the proper one that you
post logs to.
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/
http://aumha.net/
http://forum.aumha.org/

After running the above and assuring you have a clean machine:
It's also a good idea to have a HOSTS file to block bad sites, scroll to
HOSTS File Manager he
http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm

Download/install/run SpywareBlaster which stops the badboys before they
even get a chance to install:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375




"Code-Curious Mom" wrote in message
...
An elderly couple's computer has lately been encountering freezes
requiring
powering off at the switch instead of a proper shutdown. No error
messages,
just a freeze. When the computer is restarted, scandisk reports problems
with a long file name (such as it contains invalid characters), which
always
turns out to be located in TIF. Running scandisk from within windows
fixes
it and of course these files are disposable anyways, but sometimes it
occurs
several times a day. I've tried deleting TIF and history and checked the
drive with SeaTools and it checked out ok. Doesn't appear to be virus or
spyware related. IE 5.5 & AOL 7.0 (yeah, yuk, it's not *my* computer)
Thanks for your consideration; any suggestions welcome.

CC Mom

Absolutely, do as Glee & Brian A. said in this case. Also... do the freezes occur just when in the process of connecting to the NET? Do they occur just after deleting a large number of files? Those may be normal these days! Otherwise...

A quick thing might be to try Safe Mode, to see whether it freezes
there. If not, then it is likely something in the Startup Group or a
32-bit Normal Mode driver doing it. Then, there is an MSCONFIG
troubleshooting method for that, explained in "START, Help, Contents,
Troubleshooting, Windows 98 Troubleshooters, Startup & Shutdown
section".
http://support.microsoft.com/support/windows/tshoot
That also is the Troubleshooters.

Also...
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;281965
How to Troubleshoot Using the Msconfig Utility with Windows 98
(281965) - This article describes how to use the Microsoft System
Configuration (Msconfig) utility to troubleshoot configuration errors in
Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition.

Careful with that one, though. Don't turn off System.ini or Win.ini,
unless you know how to restore them in DOS.

To get to Safe Mode, hit F5 as you boot. Or hit Ctrl for the Startup
Menu, if not already enabled at "START, Run, MSConfig, Advanced button".

(1) The mouse & keyboard are the ones with moving parts, & they are
"hooked", meaning tasks will run each time you touch one. Therefore,
with the computer off, unplug the mouse & hold by it's tail until it may
stop spinning & squawking. Also, open & clean the ball & rollers. That
is not a design you may see on the rollers-- it is a band of dirt
running round the center! Also, unplug the keyboard, turn it round &
spank it.

I did plenty of THAT, when I suffered erratic mouse movements & ultimate
mouse freeze. Unfortunately, I more/more dimly recall, there were still
one/two freezes AFTER the last cleaning. STILL, it is good to get the
gook out of there, I think.

(2) If disabling your virus checker's auto-"System" scan, using it's
Tray button, leaving the other types on, gives immediate & dramatic
relief, I have further info. This supposedly applies to Scan Engine
4.1.60.

(3)
http://support.microsoft.com/default...51&Product=w98
USB Mouse May Hang When the Computer Is Idle for a Long Time

So, if you have "Find Fast", try disabling that.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=199787
OFF2000: How to Turn Off the Find Fast Indexer
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;158705
OFF97: How to Disable the Find Fast Indexer
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;135476
OFF95: Office for Windows 95 Find Fast Indexer Overview

(4) For sluggishness in navigating folders: Open Explorer, R-Clk My
Documents in the left pane, & select Properties. How many folders
does it contain? If it is around 100, try moving them out. Reboot. Is
your sluggishness gone?


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Code-Curious Mom" wrote in message ...
| An elderly couple's computer has lately been encountering freezes requiring
| powering off at the switch instead of a proper shutdown. No error messages,
| just a freeze. When the computer is restarted, scandisk reports problems
| with a long file name (such as it contains invalid characters), which always
| turns out to be located in TIF. Running scandisk from within windows fixes
| it and of course these files are disposable anyways, but sometimes it occurs
| several times a day. I've tried deleting TIF and history and checked the
| drive with SeaTools and it checked out ok. Doesn't appear to be virus or
| spyware related. IE 5.5 & AOL 7.0 (yeah, yuk, it's not *my* computer)
| Thanks for your consideration; any suggestions welcome.
|
| CC Mom
|
|
|
|

In the scandisk window click the Advanced button at lower right corner.
Uncheck "Report MS-DOS mode........"

was already unchecked

"PCR" wrote in message
...
Also... do the freezes occur just when in the process of connecting to the
NET? Do they occur just after deleting a large number of files? Those may be
normal these days!

No. And the other stuff you (PCR) mentioned didn't really apply in this
case. But thanks anyway.

Anyways, as an update: By the time I got back there, AOL was not connecting
at all. Had to uninstall & reinstall it. And they had decided that many of
the freezes were associated with accessing a particular site's pages and
thus not as random as previously thought. I ran IE repair, defrag, scanreg
/opt /fix, and relegated the problem site to 'Restricted Sites'. Also tried
a few other suggestions from http://www.aumha.org/a/health.htm
Found that changing to 'Windows Classic' makes explorer (for viewing files,
not IE) work much quicker. Seemed to be working pretty well, even with
'problem site', but time will tell.
Thanks again to all who took the time to respond.

"Code-Curious Mom" wrote in message
...
| An elderly couple's computer has lately been encountering freezes
requiring
| powering off at the switch instead of a proper shutdown. No error
messages,
| just a freeze. When the computer is restarted, scandisk reports problems
| with a long file name (such as it contains invalid characters), which
always
| turns out to be located in TIF. Running scandisk from within windows fixes
| it and of course these files are disposable anyways, but sometimes it
occurs
| several times a day. I've tried deleting TIF and history and checked the
| drive with SeaTools and it checked out ok. Doesn't appear to be virus or
| spyware related. IE 5.5 & AOL 7.0 (yeah, yuk, it's not *my* computer)
| Thanks for your consideration; any suggestions welcome.
|
| CC Mom
|
|
|
|

"Code-Curious Mom" wrote in message ...

| just a freeze. When the computer is restarted, scandisk reports problems
| with a long file name (such as it contains invalid characters), which always
| turns out to be located in TIF.

You may set TIFs to auto-delete at... "Control Panel, Internet Options, Advanced button, Security section". I don't know how well it works, though. Surely some day I will remember to try it.

| In the scandisk window click the Advanced button at lower right corner.
| Uncheck "Report MS-DOS mode........"
|
| was already unchecked

I think that might have been the DOS Mode Scandisk speaking to her, then. So...

(1) "START button, Find, F/F, Scandisk.ini"
Should be in... C:\Windows\Command
(2) Open it in Notepad
(3) In the ENVIRONMENT section, turn off LfnCheck...

[ENVIRONMENT]
LfnCheck = Off ; On, Off

| Found that changing to 'Windows Classic' makes explorer (for viewing files,
| not IE) work much quicker. Seemed to be working pretty well, even with
| 'problem site', but time will tell.

Well, fine. Here is more on that...

(1) Undo Active Desktop.

(a) R-Clk the Desktop, point to Active Desktop, & select Customize my
Desktop.
(b) Uncheck "View my Active Desktop as a WEB page" & Apply.

Is there anything in the box under that item? Those are WEB sites that
would appear on the Desktop. Delete them.

(c) At the Effects tab, uncheck "Hide icons when the Desktop is viewed
as a WEB page" & OK.
(d) R-Clk the Desktop, & uncheck "View as WEB page".

(2) "START, Settings, Folder Options, General tab". Set to "Classic
style". If all gets better, click "Custom...", & gingerly go back to how
you like it. But stay away from "Enable all Web related content...".

| No. And the other stuff you (PCR) mentioned didn't really apply in this
| case. But thanks anyway.

You are welcome.

|
| "PCR" wrote in message
| ...
| Also... do the freezes occur just when in the process of connecting to the
| NET? Do they occur just after deleting a large number of files? Those may be
| normal these days!
|
| No. And the other stuff you (PCR) mentioned didn't really apply in this
| case. But thanks anyway.
|
| Anyways, as an update: By the time I got back there, AOL was not connecting
| at all. Had to uninstall & reinstall it. And they had decided that many of
| the freezes were associated with accessing a particular site's pages and
| thus not as random as previously thought. I ran IE repair, defrag, scanreg
| /opt /fix, and relegated the problem site to 'Restricted Sites'. Also tried
| a few other suggestions from http://www.aumha.org/a/health.htm
| Found that changing to 'Windows Classic' makes explorer (for viewing files,
| not IE) work much quicker. Seemed to be working pretty well, even with
| 'problem site', but time will tell.
| Thanks again to all who took the time to respond.
|
| "Code-Curious Mom" wrote in message
| ...
| | An elderly couple's computer has lately been encountering freezes
| requiring
| | powering off at the switch instead of a proper shutdown. No error
| messages,
| | just a freeze. When the computer is restarted, scandisk reports problems
| | with a long file name (such as it contains invalid characters), which
| always
| | turns out to be located in TIF. Running scandisk from within windows fixes
| | it and of course these files are disposable anyways, but sometimes it
| occurs
| | several times a day. I've tried deleting TIF and history and checked the
| | drive with SeaTools and it checked out ok. Doesn't appear to be virus or
| | spyware related. IE 5.5 & AOL 7.0 (yeah, yuk, it's not *my* computer)
| | Thanks for your consideration; any suggestions welcome.
| |
| | CC Mom
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|

Thanks for the additional info. I'm pretty sure the Active Desktop etc.
stuff is already set the way you recommend. And it's already the way *I*
like it. Their usage of computer is virtually 100% email & browsing online,
so it doesn't matter to them. Will definately keep the LfnCheck setting in
mind, but so far not a single freeze since I fixed things, and thus I am
disinclined to change *anything* at this point.

"PCR" wrote in message
...
"Code-Curious Mom" wrote in message
...

| just a freeze. When the computer is restarted, scandisk reports problems
| with a long file name (such as it contains invalid characters), which
always
| turns out to be located in TIF.

You may set TIFs to auto-delete at... "Control Panel, Internet Options,
Advanced button, Security section". I don't know how well it works, though.
Surely some day I will remember to try it.

| In the scandisk window click the Advanced button at lower right corner.
| Uncheck "Report MS-DOS mode........"
|
| was already unchecked

I think that might have been the DOS Mode Scandisk speaking to her, then.
So...

(1) "START button, Find, F/F, Scandisk.ini"
Should be in... C:\Windows\Command
(2) Open it in Notepad
(3) In the ENVIRONMENT section, turn off LfnCheck...

[ENVIRONMENT]
LfnCheck = Off ; On, Off

| Found that changing to 'Windows Classic' makes explorer (for viewing
files,
| not IE) work much quicker. Seemed to be working pretty well, even with
| 'problem site', but time will tell.

Well, fine. Here is more on that...

(1) Undo Active Desktop.

(a) R-Clk the Desktop, point to Active Desktop, & select Customize my
Desktop.
(b) Uncheck "View my Active Desktop as a WEB page" & Apply.

Is there anything in the box under that item? Those are WEB sites that
would appear on the Desktop. Delete them.

(c) At the Effects tab, uncheck "Hide icons when the Desktop is viewed
as a WEB page" & OK.
(d) R-Clk the Desktop, & uncheck "View as WEB page".

(2) "START, Settings, Folder Options, General tab". Set to "Classic
style". If all gets better, click "Custom...", & gingerly go back to how
you like it. But stay away from "Enable all Web related content...".

| No. And the other stuff you (PCR) mentioned didn't really apply in this
| case. But thanks anyway.

You are welcome.

|
| "PCR" wrote in message
| ...
| Also... do the freezes occur just when in the process of connecting to the
| NET? Do they occur just after deleting a large number of files? Those may
be
| normal these days!
|
| No. And the other stuff you (PCR) mentioned didn't really apply in this
| case. But thanks anyway.
|
| Anyways, as an update: By the time I got back there, AOL was not
connecting
| at all. Had to uninstall & reinstall it. And they had decided that many
of
| the freezes were associated with accessing a particular site's pages and
| thus not as random as previously thought. I ran IE repair, defrag,
scanreg
| /opt /fix, and relegated the problem site to 'Restricted Sites'. Also
tried
| a few other suggestions from http://www.aumha.org/a/health.htm
| Found that changing to 'Windows Classic' makes explorer (for viewing
files,
| not IE) work much quicker. Seemed to be working pretty well, even with
| 'problem site', but time will tell.
| Thanks again to all who took the time to respond.
|
| "Code-Curious Mom" wrote in message
| ...
| | An elderly couple's computer has lately been encountering freezes
| requiring
| | powering off at the switch instead of a proper shutdown. No error
| messages,
| | just a freeze. When the computer is restarted, scandisk reports
problems
| | with a long file name (such as it contains invalid characters), which
| always
| | turns out to be located in TIF. Running scandisk from within windows
fixes
| | it and of course these files are disposable anyways, but sometimes it
| occurs
| | several times a day. I've tried deleting TIF and history and checked
the
| | drive with SeaTools and it checked out ok. Doesn't appear to be virus
or
| | spyware related. IE 5.5 & AOL 7.0 (yeah, yuk, it's not *my* computer)
| | Thanks for your consideration; any suggestions welcome.
| |
| | CC Mom
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|

You are welcome. Very well. It's odd she would get a LFN problem in TIF's. I'm doubtful a DOS Scandisk actually looks inside of them to even see LFNs in there. So, the whole thing is weird. Probably, it was a corruption of some sort. Here is my final word on TIFs...

Actually, at long last, I've come to like my TIFs, but I've only got a
4.8 MB Index.dat. Anyway...

Do not delete TIFs individually, as you may cause corruption. Here is
the way...

"Control Panel, Internet Options, Delete Files button, bolt Delete all
offline content, OK, OK"

That does a credible job, in IE6 anyway. Note: It may take a few
moments: DON"T be impatient. The Index.dat inside Content.IE5 will
retain it's size, but is cleared or reset to emptiness. You still will
see Cookies in the main TIF folder, but all the weirdly named folders in
Content.IE5 will be gone.

These were your Temporary Internet Files, which, since V4, has an
involvement with Windows Update. It's main purpose is to hold
bits/pieces of sites you visit, to make it quicker to load next visit.
Also, it is a work area for OE6. Naturally, TIFs will grow back. It's
size is controllable by the slider & input box under the Settings
button. Mine is set for 125 MB there. Many say to go smaller-- say, 40
MB.

If that fails to get them all, then...

Some Cookies bleed into TIFs, so... "START, Settings, Control Panel,
Internet Options, Delete Cookies button". (Note, some site specific
passwords/settings may be wiped.)

If you STILL have matter in TIFs or in Cookies after that, it is
possible you have a horrible corruption that can likely be cured with a
DOS delete...

Verify, in Windows, where these folders are located before proceeding.

(a) "START, Find, F/F".
(b) Enter "Cookies, Tempor~1, History" (no quotes) in "Named".
(c) Click the "Advanced" button, & use the dropdown to select
"Folder".
(d) Then click the "Find Now" button.
If it is not in "C:\Windows", adjust the Deltree's below. If you
have more than one of any, then perhaps stop & report back.
(c) "Control Panel, Internet Options, Settings button"
Where does it say Temporary Internet Files are located? Use that
path below, but substitute "Tempor~1" for "Temporary Internet Files".

(1) "START, Shut Down, Restart in MS-DOS Mode"

(2) SMARTDRV
This speeds up hard drive processing considerably in DOS--
considerably, & yet it may still seem slow if TIFs are incredibly huge!

(3) DELTREE C:\Windows\Cookies\ /y
These are your Cookies. They may hold settings & passwords, site
specific.

(4) DELTREE C:\Windows\Tempor~1\ /y
These are your Temporary Internet Files. A DOS delete does reset
the Index.dat in Content.IE5 to 32 KB. It won't stay that small for
long. However, Cookies in the top TIF folder would survive this Deltree.

(5) DELTREE C:\Windows\History\ /y
This is a collection of the sites you have visited. It will begin
to grow again, depending upon "Days to keep..." at "Internet Options,
General tab".

(6) EXIT or Ctrl-Alt-Del to Windows

WARNING: DELTREE is a powerful command. It will wipe out the folder you
specify. DO NOT HIT ENTER too soon, or you will wipe out your system.
Get all the way to the end of those DELTREE lines.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Code-Curious Mom" wrote in message ...
| Thanks for the additional info. I'm pretty sure the Active Desktop etc.
| stuff is already set the way you recommend. And it's already the way *I*
| like it. Their usage of computer is virtually 100% email & browsing online,
| so it doesn't matter to them. Will definately keep the LfnCheck setting in
| mind, but so far not a single freeze since I fixed things, and thus I am
| disinclined to change *anything* at this point.
|
| "PCR" wrote in message
| ...
| "Code-Curious Mom" wrote in message
| ...
|
| | just a freeze. When the computer is restarted, scandisk reports problems
| | with a long file name (such as it contains invalid characters), which
| always
| | turns out to be located in TIF.
|
| You may set TIFs to auto-delete at... "Control Panel, Internet Options,
| Advanced button, Security section". I don't know how well it works, though.
| Surely some day I will remember to try it.
|
| | In the scandisk window click the Advanced button at lower right corner.
| | Uncheck "Report MS-DOS mode........"
| |
| | was already unchecked
|
| I think that might have been the DOS Mode Scandisk speaking to her, then.
| So...
|
| (1) "START button, Find, F/F, Scandisk.ini"
| Should be in... C:\Windows\Command
| (2) Open it in Notepad
| (3) In the ENVIRONMENT section, turn off LfnCheck...
|
| [ENVIRONMENT]
| LfnCheck = Off ; On, Off
|
| | Found that changing to 'Windows Classic' makes explorer (for viewing
| files,
| | not IE) work much quicker. Seemed to be working pretty well, even with
| | 'problem site', but time will tell.
|
| Well, fine. Here is more on that...
|
| (1) Undo Active Desktop.
|
| (a) R-Clk the Desktop, point to Active Desktop, & select Customize my
| Desktop.
| (b) Uncheck "View my Active Desktop as a WEB page" & Apply.
|
| Is there anything in the box under that item? Those are WEB sites that
| would appear on the Desktop. Delete them.
|
| (c) At the Effects tab, uncheck "Hide icons when the Desktop is viewed
| as a WEB page" & OK.
| (d) R-Clk the Desktop, & uncheck "View as WEB page".
|
| (2) "START, Settings, Folder Options, General tab". Set to "Classic
| style". If all gets better, click "Custom...", & gingerly go back to how
| you like it. But stay away from "Enable all Web related content...".
|
| | No. And the other stuff you (PCR) mentioned didn't really apply in this
| | case. But thanks anyway.
|
| You are welcome.
|
| |
| | "PCR" wrote in message
| | ...
| | Also... do the freezes occur just when in the process of connecting to the
| | NET? Do they occur just after deleting a large number of files? Those may
| be
| | normal these days!
| |
| | No. And the other stuff you (PCR) mentioned didn't really apply in this
| | case. But thanks anyway.
| |
| | Anyways, as an update: By the time I got back there, AOL was not
| connecting
| | at all. Had to uninstall & reinstall it. And they had decided that many
| of
| | the freezes were associated with accessing a particular site's pages and
| | thus not as random as previously thought. I ran IE repair, defrag,
| scanreg
| | /opt /fix, and relegated the problem site to 'Restricted Sites'. Also
| tried
| | a few other suggestions from http://www.aumha.org/a/health.htm
| | Found that changing to 'Windows Classic' makes explorer (for viewing
| files,
| | not IE) work much quicker. Seemed to be working pretty well, even with
| | 'problem site', but time will tell.
| | Thanks again to all who took the time to respond.
| |
| | "Code-Curious Mom" wrote in message
| | ...
| | | An elderly couple's computer has lately been encountering freezes
| | requiring
| | | powering off at the switch instead of a proper shutdown. No error
| | messages,
| | | just a freeze. When the computer is restarted, scandisk reports
| problems
| | | with a long file name (such as it contains invalid characters), which
| | always
| | | turns out to be located in TIF. Running scandisk from within windows
| fixes
| | | it and of course these files are disposable anyways, but sometimes it
| | occurs
| | | several times a day. I've tried deleting TIF and history and checked
| the
| | | drive with SeaTools and it checked out ok. Doesn't appear to be virus
| or
| | | spyware related. IE 5.5 & AOL 7.0 (yeah, yuk, it's not *my* computer)
| | | Thanks for your consideration; any suggestions welcome.
| | |
| | | CC Mom
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| |
|
|