strange computer problem
Discussion
My computer has just started to leave a "shadow" of the right hand edge of the start menu on my screen which will not go away no matter what I've tried. It lies "above" all the windows but "below" the mouse cursor if you know what I mean. Anyone got any ideas why this has started to appear? I'm running XP and no amount of rebooting will stop it from happening!
While i'm on pc problems, does anyone know how to stop things from loading when you start the pc. Quicktime and netmeeting load when I start my computer (the little icons are in the tray at the bottom right of the screen) but I haven't asked them to! Neither of them are in my start up folder so how are they being loaded? And how do I stop them. I have uninstalled quicktime but the little
still loads!
Thanks in advance!
While i'm on pc problems, does anyone know how to stop things from loading when you start the pc. Quicktime and netmeeting load when I start my computer (the little icons are in the tray at the bottom right of the screen) but I haven't asked them to! Neither of them are in my start up folder so how are they being loaded? And how do I stop them. I have uninstalled quicktime but the little
still loads! Thanks in advance!
That sounds like one of the guns in the back of your CRT has become a bit fcuked! Almost like focus has gone on one them and its leaving a shadow...
As for items that start with Windows, before XP there was a file called win.ini which had some statements at the top with LOAD or RUN at the start of the line. If you have a win.ini under XP (no DOS now you see so it may have changed) located it and remove these lines if you dont want the applications loading.
Alternatively right click the things you dont want and check any load at boot settings.
HTH
Matt.
As for items that start with Windows, before XP there was a file called win.ini which had some statements at the top with LOAD or RUN at the start of the line. If you have a win.ini under XP (no DOS now you see so it may have changed) located it and remove these lines if you dont want the applications loading.
Alternatively right click the things you dont want and check any load at boot settings.
HTH
Matt.
I have 256mb, so that should be enough, right? I haven't had problems until yesterday and I have had the computer a year! I know what you mean though - the computer runs fine otherwise, it's not slow or anything like that.
I have the AVG antivirus software, up to date and have scanned with this and come up clean. I have also used ad-aware and my system is free from adware etc.
I have the AVG antivirus software, up to date and have scanned with this and come up clean. I have also used ad-aware and my system is free from adware etc.
egomeister said: I have 256mb, so that should be enough, right? I haven't had problems until yesterday and I have had the computer a year! I know what you mean though - the computer runs fine otherwise, it's not slow or anything like that.
I have the AVG antivirus software, up to date and have scanned with this and come up clean. I have also used ad-aware and my system is free from adware etc.
Somewhat off-topic -- but I upgraded the RAM on my XP machine to 768MB (just plug in a new 512MB DIMM -- SOOO cheap!) and the thing runs twice as quickly when fully loaded. It really does make a difference so 256MB might be a bit marginal if you're opening more than a few apps at once.
Right, for no apparent reason the shadow no longer appears, just as i was about to take a screenshot. I'll grab one if it comes back.
I had a look in the win.ini file and there is no mention of quicktime or netmeeting so it looks like they changed it for XP... so I still have no idea where they come from.
I was going to upgrade the RAM (although I haven't had any problems unless a few hefty apps are open) but I have DDR ram which is twice the cost of normal SDRAM so i'll have to wait a bit until I have suitable funding for the upgrade.
I had a look in the win.ini file and there is no mention of quicktime or netmeeting so it looks like they changed it for XP... so I still have no idea where they come from.
I was going to upgrade the RAM (although I haven't had any problems unless a few hefty apps are open) but I have DDR ram which is twice the cost of normal SDRAM so i'll have to wait a bit until I have suitable funding for the upgrade.
There is a "start-up" branch to the registry as well (at least there used to be) intended as a replacement for the old win.ini file. You also have to take a look in the services control panel, you can turn off some of the junk that autoloads there.
What you can't turn off under XP is MSN Messenger. Even when it doesn't show in the toolbar it is still loaded to memory and chewing up quite a substantial chunk of memory. There are (or were) ways to disable it but MS keep patching these loopholes and everytime you download an update patch from MS is seems to put all the original Messenger settings back.
If it IS the monitor you won't be able to get a snapshot as it is only the screen itself creating the shadow. Anyone else looking at the screenshot on their computer won't see the problem (unless they have the same fault).
Only other real option is video driver - downloading the latest driver is usually a safe bet anyway as they tend to fix numerous bugs with each release.
[edit] One last thought - have you tried turning off all the visual enhancements? The mouse shadow was introduced in Win 2000 and a similar optional effect was added to windows and menus in Win Xp [/edit]
>> Edited by jimbro1000 on Monday 30th December 13:46
What you can't turn off under XP is MSN Messenger. Even when it doesn't show in the toolbar it is still loaded to memory and chewing up quite a substantial chunk of memory. There are (or were) ways to disable it but MS keep patching these loopholes and everytime you download an update patch from MS is seems to put all the original Messenger settings back.
If it IS the monitor you won't be able to get a snapshot as it is only the screen itself creating the shadow. Anyone else looking at the screenshot on their computer won't see the problem (unless they have the same fault).
Only other real option is video driver - downloading the latest driver is usually a safe bet anyway as they tend to fix numerous bugs with each release.
[edit] One last thought - have you tried turning off all the visual enhancements? The mouse shadow was introduced in Win 2000 and a similar optional effect was added to windows and menus in Win Xp [/edit]
>> Edited by jimbro1000 on Monday 30th December 13:46
Cheers jimbro, i have disposed of netmeeting by changing the settings in the services control panel. I have found where the quicktime loads from and deleted that although this was not listed in control panel.
The shadowy line has come back again now though, I have a screen grab if anyone could host it, because i have no where to upload at the moment.
Ta, Steve
The shadowy line has come back again now though, I have a screen grab if anyone could host it, because i have no where to upload at the moment.
Ta, Steve
That is the drop shadow from the menu. Looks like you need to try reinstalling you display driver (usually solves such things).
Try disabling the visual effects as well - this will stop the shadow being drawn in the first place. Doesn't get rid of the fault, but stops the symptoms appearing. (right click on the screen and pick properties from the menu - under appearance click on the *effects* button)
Try disabling the visual effects as well - this will stop the shadow being drawn in the first place. Doesn't get rid of the fault, but stops the symptoms appearing. (right click on the screen and pick properties from the menu - under appearance click on the *effects* button)
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