pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

I have a friend whose computer I've been working with. I have jpegs associated with Windows Live Photo Gallery. It's all he has for now. The problem is that clicking on a jpeg sometimes opens the file and sometimes it doesn't. All you see is the folder flying but no other info. When it works you see estimated time, file size, etc. in the small center window. Very erratic. Same thing with .pdf and .doc. He's running Yahoo as his home page and it includes Norton antivirus and I can't figure out how to shut it down. He also has AVG antivirus. I disabled AVG thinking there might be a conflict there but no luck. When I access my gmail account and try to popen the files there is not a problem. I'm trying to get him to set up a gmail account and let me send jpegs to that address. Any of you computer gurus have a clue? :roll:

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Are you trying to say he uses Yahoo as his browser, such as some folks use AOL ?

If yes, each of those adjust your system way too much for my penny.

My Win 7 uses IE9, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Avant Browsers.

They are independent and do not access my operation system.

Sarge

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Basically that's correct. I run Windows 7, IE9, and have Google as my home page/browser. Simple and don't have to look at all the advertising crap on a Yahoo page. I'm trying to get him to change the setup. Dump Yahoo. Another problem is he has a 12 year old son. It's better since his son now has an Ipad and pretty much leaves the computer alone. I can get everything working but he's one hard headed SOB. :roll: :lol: I'm pretty sure if he dumps Yahoo and lets me start from scratch I can make it all work. :thumbup:

Kestrel1029 Loc: Philadelphia, PA

If you just want to open up the files to view them I use a program called Irfanview. It's free and opens all sorts of pics. You can even install it on a thumbdrive and take it with you everywhere. I have used it for years. It even allows simple edits like cropping and color adjustments. Here is the link:

http://www.irfanview.com/

Hope this helps. Cheers,
Tim

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Thanks for the input. He has to look at jpegs on rental properties, pdf and doc for condo financial reports and legal correspondance. I's frustating when time is an issue and things aren't working just right. :thumbup:

Elle Loc: Long Island, NY

Don't think it has anything to do with Yahoo...sounds like he might need a codec update..you didn't mention the age of his computer.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

He runs Vista so that gives you an idea of it's age. I've heard of codec but sure what is or how that is done. :roll: :thumbup:

saichiez Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon

25 year computer consultant/tech here.

Nothing creates more problems than running two Antivirus programs at the same time. The work they both do is in direct conflict with each other. Particularly the high overhead (read here slows down your computer) with Norton AV.

My clients currently have been switching from AVG, which I favored until Microsoft came out with MSSE... free. MicroSoft Security Essentials.

That's not to say running one AntiVirus, and one Spyware scanner create problems however. I favor MalwareBytes for spyware.

So my favored, and most efficient, combo is MSSE, free from Microsoft, and MalwareBytes (either the free or paid version). The free MalwareBytes is a manual scanner and should be run weekly.
The paid version has a "real time" process and will update and run on a schedule, as will the MSSE free version.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

I ran AVG for years but had a serious malware problem that caused me to take my laptop in for service. They swithed my system (Windows 7) to the MSSE and also loaded MalawareBytes. I installed MalawareBytes on my friend's computer and ran it. It found 257 "issues" :roll: I tried to disable Norton that aparently came with the Yahoo software but can't find a way to do that. So I did a temp. disable of AVG and it made no difference from just running one antivirus. Still erratic file openings. Can MSSE be added to Vista and how can Norton be found and disabled? Also I'm still wondering about the mention of upgrading codec. I know this is a photo forum but everything is interelated these days. :roll: :thumbup:

john vance Loc: Granbury,Texas

you could very well have a conflitc between norton & AVG
personally I use AVG don't like Norton messes with computer to much.
Some times the simplest thing to do is reformat hard drive and reinstall windows / of course backing up any foto's or Doc's

pvbob_09 Loc: Newport Beach, CA

Here is a link that Norton provides to remove their program. https://www-secure.symantec.com/norton-support/jsp/help-solutions.jsp?docid=kb20080828154508EN_EndUserProfile_en_us&lg=english&ct=us&product=home&version=current&pvid=f-home

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Reformat is probably out of the question. He needs a new system. Thanks for the input. :thumbup:

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

I'll check that out next week. Thanks! :thumbup:

saichiez Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon

Check for "removal tools"

Almost every big (not necessarily good) software publisher of antivirus program has a specific "removal tool" on their site for removing many versions of their software. Norton has a "removal tool" for the longest list I have seen. Prevailing wisdom at this time is that there is no way using control panel removal to catch all the registry entries that are left in the system to conflict with newer different AV software. You need to (and are advised to) use the publisher specific "removal tools".

Norton
McAfee
Kapersky (huge offender in this)
and many others have "removal tools". Some are very version specific.

Then of course, there is the "reformat and reload" option, usually involving a weekend because you also have to update all the updates for the computer OS, from when it was originally published.

If the computer is running Vista, as I think I saw in one post.... Just go buy a new one. Either go back to XP, which Microsoft will continue to support until 2014, because of the HUGE BLACK eye they got from Vista. (Promised support to corporate America to 2014 on XP). Or, go to Windows 7.

I suggest hold on before going to Windows 8... there will be productivity features taken out of the OS, as it is geared more for tablets and social networking, to compete with iPad and Android.

In any event, to clean up the possible AV conflicts, find the "removal tools" offered by the publisher of the product you are replacing.

Norton is the Worst... Kapersky is next... McAfee is famous for interrupting access to the internet via premature updates, until they rewrite the updates.

Frankly, I love AV software. I've made a ton of money fixing them. As I said before... I favored AVG... until I switched to MSSE from Microsoft... both free.

Elle Loc: Long Island, NY

We kind of got off-track here on virus applications which I seriously doubt has anything to do with graphics performance.

A codec is a driver. a dll file that applications need in order to run properly. Mfg's update them from time to time as changes are made or for better performance. Existing ones can be effected by installations and/or uninstalls since many are common to more than one application among other reasons. The old ones may continue to operate but not properly and can run into conflicts. Sometimes the availability of new ones will appear under "Options" on a Windows Update but not all so it's not a bad idea to check for them on older applications. There are sites and programs that will pin-point out-of-date drivers on a machine. Although I keep my machine pretty much up-to-date, a check for driver updates for an old Wacom driver last night turned up that there was an update for my graphics car although both were working. Running much smoother now.