Genealogy Chat

Eleanor: I'm not well versed on Outlook Express. I'm waiting on a response on your OE problem as I sent your dlimemna to Andy, one of my tech guys who is Microsft certified. I'll let you know what his response is as soon as I hear from him. Judy

Judy, (or anyone else who can help!!!) I wonder if you can help me too - I know it's cheeky cutting in on someone elses problem, but I'm stuck! I can't check for new messages on Outlook Express email as I keep getting two error messages that says (amongst other things!) The connection to the server has failed. Account BT Yahoo Broadband Mail ......followed by an error number. This hasn't happened before and I don't know how to correct the problem. Any advice gratefully received. Thanks in anticipation! Eleanor xxxx

Janet: Maintenance Wizard covers three very important maintenance jobs that need to be done but it doesn't cover everything you need to do. Other maintenance jobs that should be done on a regualr basis: 1. Empty Cookies Cashe 2. Empty Temporary Internet Files 3. Download and Install Microsoft Window Updates as they become available. 4. Update Virus Definitions 5. Install and run program (like Ada-Ware) to remove spyware (if your on the internet, you have spyware.) Judy

Wow! Just got back to have a look at the board ...... and all those messages! Thanks everyone! Judy in the States. I have Windows ME. Does Maintenance Wizard cover everything I should be doing? It does a Disk Cleanup, Defragging and Scandisk. Janet

One program that gets overlooked when defragging is your screen saver. Alter this to none, otherwise when defragging, the screen saver cuts in and defrag has to start again due to "Writing to Disk" messages. Badger Bill Worthing

I have Windows Me and after about 3 years the pc refused to defrag. I downloaded Diskeeper Lite and it is doing a fantastic job. My pc is getting old now - ahhhhh Kathy

Oooops! Sorry, Richard...I didn't mean to step on your toes! I didn't read through all of the replies before I responded with my last post. Richard is correct that there are programs running in the background and need to be turned off. There are several diffrent ways to do so....I was unable, on my end to just end a process and then have defrag work. (overly sensitive computer on my end I suppose.) Running the computer in Safe Mode and defragging always works. Will post on how to run in Safe Mode if you have any problems.

Will post shortly, step by step directives to alleviate the defrag from restarting. It's an easy fix....I just need to know what operating system you have (Windows 98, XP, etc....) Judy

Richard is absolutely right. There are often programs that run in the background at startup that you are not necessarily aware of. For example, your virus checker will be one of these. John

Thanks Richard! I'll print the advice you have given, and the next time I defrag, etc., I'll give it a try. Regards Janet

Hello Janet I recently had the same problem and found the answer on the net. Although you think you have nothing else running, there are a lot of programs that need to be shut down before defragging. Select Ctrl, Alt, Delete and then End Task individually on all the programs apart from Explorer and Systray. The defrag should then run - possibly after a couple of false starts. You then have to re-start your computer via the start menu. I use the maintenance wizard once a week to keep my rather elderly computer running reasonably efficiently. Hope this helps. Richard

I know it's not strictly GC related - but you are a knowledgeable lot out there! Can someone tell me why when I use the Maintenance Wizard, when it is defragging, it keeps re-starting as 'drives contents changing'. I don't have any other programs running, but there's obviously something causing it to re-start. What should I be doing to stop this happening? Also, does the Maintenance Wizard do everything I need to do on a regular basis, or is there something else I need to be doing? Thanks for reading this. Janet

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