Shutdown, restart and picture problems

[angel]

Hi everyone

I am very new to computers and am having a couple of problems that I just don't know what to do about. If someone can please tell me step by step what to do I sure would appreciate any help. I have Windows 98 Second Edition.

When I go to start, shut down and then click shut down the computer, it goes to the screen that says, "Windows is now shutting down." and then stays there and never does shut down. I don't know what to do so I just turn the power off.

Next problem. A couple times a day I will just be surfing online and the computer will suddenly beep once and restart itself for no reason. This drives me crazy, and I don't have far to go. Is there something I can do to stop this?

Last problem. I can't see allot of pictures and ads on sites. I'm glad I can't see the ads but I want to see the pictures but they are just red X's there. I haven't had this problem before until yesterday.

Thanks for any help.

[Markoman01027]

Welcome to the forums Angel!

Please post full system specs.

Download a RAM tester from www.Docmemory.com and test your RAM

What is the brand name of your Power Supply and how much watts does it pump out?

Even if the tests show that your RAM has passed, see if you can replace the stick of RAM and see if the problem occurs.

Make sure you have picture viewing enabled in your browser settings. If you have them disabled, you will get a square with a red X in the top left hand corner.

[angel]

Thank you for the welcome, you're very kind.

I'm sorry but I don't know much of anything yet but I am learning........slowly. I don't know about the system specs or the power supply or even how to check the browser settings. If you could tell me where to look for these I will post them. I will go download this Ram Tester now and try to figure it out and post what it finds.

Thanks and sorry I'm such a bother.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Angel, you are not a bother. We are happy we can help you.

Now, the shutdown issue is a known bug of the Windows 98SE OS. You need to get the patch. Check this thread which contains the link to the patch and also links for a useful site about windows start and shutdown problems:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?threadid=30913

As for your system specs. What kind of puter do you have? Pentium 4? Celeron? Is it a brand system or a custom built one? How much ram does it have? (You can check that by pressing the Win key and the Break key at the same time, the System Properties will be displayed and you can read the type of processor and the ammount of ram there). How big is the HD? (you can check dat by opening My PC and right clicking on the HD's icon and selecting Properties)

HTH. And post back with your findings.

[Markoman01027]

Ahh forgot about the famous Win98SE shutdown issue...good call Henry!

[angel]

Thanks guys for helping me.

I have done something wrong in your instructions. Now the computer won't shut down at all. I go to start, shutdown and click on shut down and the computer restarts itself. It's strange, I thought I clicked on the wrong one at first but I didn't. I don't know how to shut it down now so I just turned the power off again last night.

I downloaded and ran the ram test and it said I passed all of them.

This is what it says the computer is. I hope thats what you wanted to know. The computer is not new or custom built.

AuthenticAMD
AMD-K6(tm) 3D processor
56.0MB Ram

I right clicked on 'my computer' and went to properties and it says this:

Label: Drive C
Type: Local Disk
File system: Fat32
Used space: 1,962,094,592 bytes 1.82GB
Free space: 2,339,491,840 bytes 2.17GB
Capacity: 4,301,586,432 bytes 4.00GB


I downloaded the patch that was in the link you gave me and the computer hasn't restarted itself today. Yea! I don't know if it stopped the shutdown problem yet because I don't know how to shut it down now.

I still can't see some of the ads and pictures but I can live without that.

and last, not related to anything, how do I get a picture under my name like you guys have?

[Nuclear Krusader]

To enable an avatar, you must go to the Control Panel (see the Forum Jump list at the bottom? Click on it an select Control Panel), there you can edit your profile and choose an avatar. Two avatars are provided. When you hit 1000 posts you can have a custom avatar.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Sorry, but suddenly I started having problems with this site and the loading of pages.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Idem.

[angel]

I was having problems too.

Is there only two to choose from? How about I send in the one I want to use and then there can be three? It was worth a try anyway. I'll never get to 1000 so I guess I'll pick the flag.


I have a couple more questions now if you don't mind.


Can I hide the control panel? I read one time that there was something you could do to hide the control panel, not use a password but just move it so no one can change your settings, could someone tell me how to do that?

Also I would like to change the name on my emails now to just my name. Its not a free one like hotmail, it's the one they gave me when I signed up for internet service. I have Outlook Express.

Lastly, Does anyone know of any sites where you can take online lessons or where you can practice doing computer things there? I once found a site where you could learn to do simple things like copy/paste etc and practice it there but don't remember where it was now.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Hide the CP? From where?

There is a way to edit your OE profile so your name is showed instead of the actual addy. But I'm leaving now, I'll look it up and post later.

As for the tutorials, this is your lucky day. Audiyoda gave this link to me a while ago: http://training:training@training.or...tranetlist.htm

Enjoy!

[angel]

Just hide it from where it is now or move it to somewhere that only I know where it is, if thats possible. I have a small son and he changed those settings last week and I liked to never got them fixed back. I just thought I would ask while I had the chance.

On the Outlook Express profile, I don't mind that it shows my address or my name. It shows both mine and my husband' names now but I have been widowed for 2 years and was making that change to just my name and didn't know how to do it. Again, it's not a problem if that can't be done.

Thanks for the link on the tutorials, wow theres so many. I'll never get the hang of all this.

[Cheryl]

Hi Angel -

To change your name in Outlook Express, click on tools, accounts, then click on the "Mail" tab (if it's not already selected). Highlight your mail account, click on properties, & under the "General" tab, next to user information, type in the name you want to show. Hope this helps.

Cheryl

Oh ya...keep playin' on the computer...you'll be amazed at how much you learn!

[angel]

Thank you so much Cheryl_2!

That's just what I wanted. I have it changed now and also thanks for the great step bt step directions.


I will keep playing and learning. There is just too much to know. Ya make one little mistake and it messes up everything.

Again, thanks.

[angel]

I didn't know if I was suppose to start a new thread or just use this one again. I have a problem sending an attachment. I really hate asking another question but I have tried for two hours on my own to figure this out and can't.

My son draws pictures in the paint program all the time and tonight wanted to send one in an e-mail to his Aunt. I do know how to attach a file but my problem is she can't see it when she opens it. I use Outlook Express and the paint program is Ability Draw. What am I doing wrong?

Also trying to figure this one out I was wondering if there is a way that you can put a picture in the signature part of an email so its in every email you send automatically? I know theres a way you can add a signature and it goes with every email you send automatically but can you do this with a picture?

[Nuclear Krusader]

Have you tried sending another file, such as a simple text file? Just to see if the problem is with the paint proggie or with OE.

As for the pic in the sig, try this and see if it works: In OE click Tools > Options > Signatures. At the bottom you will see an option to use a file as a sig. Click on Browse and select the file you want. Click OK. Voilà! That should do it!

[angel]

I didn't think to try that. I resaved it with a different file extention and it worked this morning. I don't think the problem was on my end, I think it was something with her computer, but it's working now.

I did what you said but it won't let me put in a picture, just a text file. I was thinking if I can get the picture saved in the stationary part that should work right? Do you know how I can take a picture out my "my pictures" folder and save it in the stationary part in Outlook Express?

One more question and I promise to leave to you alone for awhile. A friend scanned two photos for me and sent them to me in an email and they are way to light looking. I have MGI PhotoSuite SE and have figured out how to darken them some and it has an option to add a picture frame and in trying to add one I can't figure out how to resize the photo and have it fit into the frame right. I have found how to resize the photo and do resize it but when I add the photo frame over it, it always fits over the picture the same way no matter how small I make the photo, does that make sense? Does anyone have MGI PhotoSuite SE and can tell me how to do it?

[andyms18a]

you sons aunt neads to have the same programs your son used to see the email attchment ie Ability Draw.or just save the file as a
.jpg or .gif and it will work

[angel]

Thanks, I am sure that was the problem. She downloaded some kind of infraview (sp) and that did the trick.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Angel, post your last question in the General Software forum. More ppl will see it and answer it if you post it there.

I understand what your problem is, but I've never used Photosuite.

[angel]

Thank you

I will copy and paste it there.