Posted on 02/15/2005 9:27:22 PM PST by The Bugler
I'm hoping someone in "Freeper Land" can help with a strange problem that started today. I have a firewall (Zone Alarm Suite) and antivirus (same). I also use GIANT AntiSpyware (paid version) as well as SpyBot Search & Destroy and AdAware SE. This morning, out of the blue my printer decided to fire up and start printing (random stuff), printing was also attempted on my second printer as well as Acrobat PDFWriter. I rebooted sometime later and the same activity occured late this evening.
I'm running Windows ME :-( and I've never been infected with any virus/worm etc (knock on wood) to date.
My modem talked one day....
Currently, I am "DSL hardwired" to my computer
It is not as stable as 98se, and as bad as 95 if it runs for a long time without a OS re-install. It also makes for a lousy upgrade to XP. I had to wipe the disc and clean install xp.
If it keep up, I would try deleting the printer in the system device list, unplug it from the port and restart. Then reinstall and restart.
That should make sure it overwrites the drivers and print spooler stuff.
Failing that, I might re-install the OS which should keep everything, but MS e-mail and may screw up explorer, or, buy a new printer!:-)
Like I said, ME is a pain.
Something else, you could try a system restore. You may have corrupted your drivers etc, by installing some other program.
That is about it. A printer reinstall would be my first choice.
" I dunno", When was the last time your printer decided to print on its own? When was the last time that all the printers listed in your Printers Folder decided to print on their own?
Software firewalls are worthless. Should get a router to abstract you from the DSL line. Also, turn off your printer and file sharing.
The drivers sometimes will not overwrite if you delete and reinstall without first booting without the printer hooked up. The automatic installer just keeps the same crap.
Some give it too much leeway.
I can relate to your feelings about ME. Early on, I had many problems with ME, especially with the Internet. Over the years, the problems seemed to have stabilized. I can't think of any problems I've had with the operating system in well over 2 or 3 years (except today - which is probably not an OS issue).
I don't think they will be doing much further support on it however.
I haven't re-installed ME in 4 years. Maybe your experience is different but I do know that to upgrade to XP about 5 thousand dollars of my software would be useless.
I'm pretty sure that printer/ file sharing is turned off, but if you can guide me where to find that info in "ME", I'd be appreciative. THANKS !!
I really liked 98se. But, you need xp to run the newer video stuff.
Most versions of Windows will keep trying to print anything they find in the SPOOL folder, even after a reboot, and even if it's a corrupt spool file and printing gobbledegook.
Here's how it works. You tell Word or something to print.
I doesn't send it directly to the printer, it sends it to a file(s) in the SPOOL folder on your hard disk, and the Windows spooler software dribbles it out to the printer as fast as the printer can accept it.
I don't remember exactly where it is in WinME, and I don't feel like getting out of bed to fire up my WinME machine, but look for a SPOOL folder in your C:\WINDOWS or C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.
There may be several folders under that, so be careful not to delete your print drivers.
You're looking for a folder with files that end in .SP*, (You have to have file extensions turned on).
Whack those files, run a regular scandisk, and reboot.
I can relate to that, not to mention the cost just to UPGRADE to XP.
I would agree with that but I have the entire Adobe graphics and Video pakages plus all of the Corel packages and Ulead, not to mention Microsoft office and Lotus Suites. It would be foolish for me to throw all of that in the trash just for XP and I would get that free.
ME was developed for home users and as such those same users tend to break any system they use. I do a lot of consulting work and have had every Windows OS up to but not including XP. Me is the best and most idiot proof system I have used to date. I would probably give XP a chance had they allowed backward compatibility but alas they didn't.
You mentioned video systems. What am I missing out on?
No files with that extension (.SP*) was found on my computer. A search of "SPOOL" found no documents dated earlier than 09-2004
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