I need a little help solving a mystery. Internet Explorer is locking
up my iMac. It crashes so hard that I must remove power from the
system to shut it down (the power button is unresponsive). All my
othyer software seems to run just fine. And for a long time IE also
did not give me trouble. My system is an older iMac (CRT, drawer load,
with infrared port). I think the CPU is a 233MHz G3. It has 256MB of
RAM, and it is running OS 9.2.2.

I have already tried deleting IE and downloading a fresh copy, but
that didn't work. I am suspecting the possibilty of a virus which
specifically targets IE, or that IE saves a file somewhere which I
failed to delete, and that this file is corrupted. Or perhaps some
other file is damaged, or some necessary setting has been changed.
Netscape works, but I prefer IE because it suffers fewer random
crashes.

My kids have been allowed nearly free reign of the iMac, as it has
been the least frustrating system for them to use (our other computer
is a Windows Crash-O-Matic). And like kids, they have gone nuts
downloading every dam nthing they can click. And probably
inadvertently changing system settings as well. Can anyone suggest
anything I can look at that may help me get IE running again?

And as long as I'm asking questions...

The iMac and WinC-O-M are networked together to share a DSL
connection. But I don't know how to get the machines to talk to each
other. All I am really interested in doing is file sharing between the
two. What do I have to do to enable file sharing?

Is there a more graceful way to handle using CD-RW discs? OS 9.2 keeps
thinking I am inserting a normal CD-R, and often does not allow me to
add things to an already created disc, and sometimes will not even let
me erase the disc.

And now my last question - how do I set up the iMac to require users
to log in? It would be nice if each family member could have their own
desktop settings, and it seems this is exactly the sort of feature
Apple would include in it's OS, I just don't know how to turn it on.

Hi!

> My kids have been allowed nearly free reign of the iMac, as it has
> been the least frustrating system for them to use (our other computer
> is a Windows Crash-O-Matic). And like kids, they have gone nuts
> downloading every dam nthing they can click. And probably
> inadvertently changing system settings as well. Can anyone suggest
> anything I can look at that may help me get IE running again?

Well, the good news would seem to be that a lot of the Click Me! crap on the
'net probably won't run on your Mac. Even if your kids did click everything
in sight, I wouldn't bet that they managed to download or install anything
that messed something up.

> The iMac and WinC-O-M are networked together to share a DSL
> connection. But I don't know how to get the machines to talk to each
> other. All I am really interested in doing is file sharing between the
> two. What do I have to do to enable file sharing?

The Mac (9.x and earlier systems only) and Windows machines both speak very
different languages for file sharing. You'll need the help of a third-party
product (like Thursby Software's Dave product) or a move to OS X in order to
share files across the two machines.

> And now my last question - how do I set up the iMac to require users
> to log in? It would be nice if each family member could have their own
> desktop settings, and it seems this is exactly the sort of feature
> Apple would include in it's OS, I just don't know how to turn it on.

Check out the Multiple Users control panel on your Apple menu. That should
help you do what you want to do.

William

in article 7d763a23.0404111527.28d21150@posting.google.com, Daniel A.
Mazurowski at kingsmedley******.com wrote on 4/11/04 4:27 PM:

> I need a little help solving a mystery. Internet Explorer is locking
> up my iMac. It crashes so hard that I must remove power from the
> system to shut it down (the power button is unresponsive). All my
> othyer software seems to run just fine. And for a long time IE also
> did not give me trouble. My system is an older iMac (CRT, drawer load,
> with infrared port). I think the CPU is a 233MHz G3. It has 256MB of
> RAM, and it is running OS 9.2.2.
>
> I have already tried deleting IE and downloading a fresh copy, but
> that didn't work. I am suspecting the possibilty of a virus which
> specifically targets IE, or that IE saves a file somewhere which I
> failed to delete, and that this file is corrupted. Or perhaps some
> other file is damaged, or some necessary setting has been changed.
> Netscape works, but I prefer IE because it suffers fewer random
> crashes.
>
> My kids have been allowed nearly free reign of the iMac, as it has
> been the least frustrating system for them to use (our other computer
> is a Windows Crash-O-Matic). And like kids, they have gone nuts
> downloading every dam nthing they can click. And probably
> inadvertently changing system settings as well. Can anyone suggest
> anything I can look at that may help me get IE running again?
>
> And as long as I'm asking questions...
>
> The iMac and WinC-O-M are networked together to share a DSL
> connection. But I don't know how to get the machines to talk to each
> other. All I am really interested in doing is file sharing between the
> two. What do I have to do to enable file sharing?
>
> Is there a more graceful way to handle using CD-RW discs? OS 9.2 keeps
> thinking I am inserting a normal CD-R, and often does not allow me to
> add things to an already created disc, and sometimes will not even let
> me erase the disc.
>
> And now my last question - how do I set up the iMac to require users
> to log in? It would be nice if each family member could have their own
> desktop settings, and it seems this is exactly the sort of feature
> Apple would include in it's OS, I just don't know how to turn it on.

Okay, first thing's first. You need to "repair permissions" on your iMac
with your Disk Utility (or boot up with your install disk to do a full
repair) and get any extra files deleted from your hard drive.

Why do your kids have full reign on your computer? They could have
downloaded anything and you don't have a clue what that could be. This makes
your problem harder to diagnose as well. (Excuse my ignorance, but I don't
have kids!)

OS X has a great burning feature, but I don't know how to use it to re-write
to cds or erase them. Hopefully someone else here does know.


Kind Regards,
Nathaniel
--
flikWORLD Design
reply to: nat at flikworld(dot)com

In article <BCA15385.7243%nat@flikworld.com>,
Nathaniel Flick <nat@flikworld.com> wrote:

> in article 7d763a23.0404111527.28d21150@posting.google.com, Daniel A.
> Mazurowski at kingsmedley******.com wrote on 4/11/04 4:27 PM:
>
> > I need a little help solving a mystery. Internet Explorer is locking
> > up my iMac. It crashes so hard that I must remove power from the
> > system to shut it down (the power button is unresponsive). All my
> > othyer software seems to run just fine. And for a long time IE also
> > did not give me trouble. My system is an older iMac (CRT, drawer load,
> > with infrared port). I think the CPU is a 233MHz G3. It has 256MB of
> > RAM, and it is running OS 9.2.2.
> >
> > I have already tried deleting IE and downloading a fresh copy, but
> > that didn't work. I am suspecting the possibilty of a virus which
> > specifically targets IE, or that IE saves a file somewhere which I
> > failed to delete, and that this file is corrupted. Or perhaps some
> > other file is damaged, or some necessary setting has been changed.
> > Netscape works, but I prefer IE because it suffers fewer random
> > crashes.
> >
> > My kids have been allowed nearly free reign of the iMac, as it has
> > been the least frustrating system for them to use (our other computer
> > is a Windows Crash-O-Matic). And like kids, they have gone nuts
> > downloading every dam nthing they can click. And probably
> > inadvertently changing system settings as well. Can anyone suggest
> > anything I can look at that may help me get IE running again?
> >
> > And as long as I'm asking questions...
> >
> > The iMac and WinC-O-M are networked together to share a DSL
> > connection. But I don't know how to get the machines to talk to each
> > other. All I am really interested in doing is file sharing between the
> > two. What do I have to do to enable file sharing?
> >
> > Is there a more graceful way to handle using CD-RW discs? OS 9.2 keeps
> > thinking I am inserting a normal CD-R, and often does not allow me to
> > add things to an already created disc, and sometimes will not even let
> > me erase the disc.
> >
> > And now my last question - how do I set up the iMac to require users
> > to log in? It would be nice if each family member could have their own
> > desktop settings, and it seems this is exactly the sort of feature
> > Apple would include in it's OS, I just don't know how to turn it on.
>
> Okay, first thing's first. You need to "repair permissions" on your iMac
> with your Disk Utility (or boot up with your install disk to do a full
> repair) and get any extra files deleted from your hard drive.
>
> Why do your kids have full reign on your computer? They could have
> downloaded anything and you don't have a clue what that could be. This makes
> your problem harder to diagnose as well. (Excuse my ignorance, but I don't
> have kids!)
>
> OS X has a great burning feature, but I don't know how to use it to re-write
> to cds or erase them. Hopefully someone else here does know.
>
>
> Kind Regards,
> Nathaniel


Hi!
Nathaniel has some really good advice, but it's all geared towards OS-X
and not OS9... a whole different world...

IE locking up... If I remember correctly, I had a similar issue on one
of my Macs a year or so ago (before I upgraded it to Jaguar)... I found
that if I trashed the IE cache file it would work fine again for a few
weeks. Sorry, but I never did locate the root cause of the problem...
I just routinely deleted this file and it was fine.
The file to delete is the System Folder:Preferences:Explorer:Download
Cache.
While in there, check and make sure the System
Folder:Preferences:Explorer:Temporary Files folder is empty.

I think I was also deleting System Folder:Preferences:MS Internet
Cache:cache.waf, but I'm not sure.


File sharing... with OS9, you need a third party application like
PCMacLan or Dave to allow the PC and Mac to talk... both are not
cheap... actually, it would be cheaper to buy a used copy of OS-X
(Jaguar) which talks to PCs without any problems.


CDRW... Sorry, can't help you here... I never used Disc Burning with
OS9... Toast or Discribe is your best friend here.


Logon... It's been a while for this also... If I remember correctly, you
need to use Extensions Manager to ensure that Multi User is turned on.
Then use the Multiple Users control panel to set up the users... this is
where I am really foggy... you may need to set up all the kids with
Users & Groups first, but I think it was pretty easy and
straightforward. Just try the Multiple Users control panel and it should
walk you through it. It is pretty cool, but I found a conflict between
these extensions and the Logitech USB mouse extensions... not an issue
if you don't use a Logitech mouse and software.

Enjoy!
Gary

Nathaniel Flick wrote:


>>Is there a more graceful way to handle using CD-RW discs? OS 9.2 keeps
>>thinking I am inserting a normal CD-R, and often does not allow me to
>>add things to an already created disc, and sometimes will not even let
>>me erase the disc.

Try http://www.cdrfaq.org/
--
http://homepage.mac.com/mkatzman/

"Gary W. McIntyre" <sillywillybobsdad_withoutspam********.com> wrote in message news:<sillywillybobsdad_withoutspam-5B8A19.14372613042004@news.bellglobal.com>...
>
> Hi!
> Nathaniel has some really good advice, but it's all geared towards OS-X
> and not OS9... a whole different world...
>
> IE locking up... If I remember correctly, I had a similar issue on one
> of my Macs a year or so ago (before I upgraded it to Jaguar)... I found
> that if I trashed the IE cache file it would work fine again for a few
> weeks. Sorry, but I never did locate the root cause of the problem...
> I just routinely deleted this file and it was fine.
> The file to delete is the System Folder:Preferences:Explorer:Download
> Cache.
> While in there, check and make sure the System
> Folder:Preferences:Explorer:Temporary Files folder is empty.
>
> I think I was also deleting System Folder:Preferences:MS Internet
> Cache:cache.waf, but I'm not sure.
>

Thank you, I will try both.

>
> File sharing... with OS9, you need a third party application like
> PCMacLan or Dave to allow the PC and Mac to talk... both are not
> cheap... actually, it would be cheaper to buy a used copy of OS-X
> (Jaguar) which talks to PCs without any problems.
>

I've been told OS X is not compatible with my wee little G3 iMac.
Don't know if it's because required hardware isn't present, or if it's
because the system is just too slow.

>
> CDRW... Sorry, can't help you here... I never used Disc Burning with
> OS9... Toast or Discribe is your best friend here.
>

Toast actually came with the CD burner, BUT it doesn't work with OS
9.2. Well, now that I think about it, maybe I didn't try it after
installing OS 9.2, I'll re-install and give it a shot.

>
> Logon... It's been a while for this also... If I remember correctly, you
> need to use Extensions Manager to ensure that Multi User is turned on.
> Then use the Multiple Users control panel to set up the users... this is
> where I am really foggy... you may need to set up all the kids with
> Users & Groups first, but I think it was pretty easy and
> straightforward. Just try the Multiple Users control panel and it should
> walk you through it. It is pretty cool, but I found a conflict between
> these extensions and the Logitech USB mouse extensions... not an issue
> if you don't use a Logitech mouse and software.
>
> Enjoy!
> Gary

In article <7d763a23.0404131605.6a6337a9@posting.google.com >,
kingsmedley******.com (Daniel A. Mazurowski) wrote:

> > File sharing... with OS9, you need a third party application like
> > PCMacLan or Dave to allow the PC and Mac to talk... both are not
> > cheap... actually, it would be cheaper to buy a used copy of OS-X
> > (Jaguar) which talks to PCs without any problems.
> >
>
> I've been told OS X is not compatible with my wee little G3 iMac.
> Don't know if it's because required hardware isn't present, or if it's
> because the system is just too slow.
>

Well, according to Apple... the Bondi Blue is supported, which was the
first iMac...
http://www.apple.com/macosx/upgrade/requirements.html

If you can go to OS-X, you will never go back.... even if it is slow.



> >
> > CDRW... Sorry, can't help you here... I never used Disc Burning with
> > OS9... Toast or Discribe is your best friend here.
> >
>
> Toast actually came with the CD burner, BUT it doesn't work with OS
> 9.2. Well, now that I think about it, maybe I didn't try it after
> installing OS 9.2, I'll re-install and give it a shot.

There may be an update available at roxio... worth looking into.

have a great day!
Gary

kingsmedley******.com (Daniel A. Mazurowski) wrote in message news:<7d763a23.0404131605.6a6337a9@posting.google. com>...
> "Gary W. McIntyre" <sillywillybobsdad_withoutspam********.com> wrote in message news:<sillywillybobsdad_withoutspam-5B8A19.14372613042004@news.bellglobal.com>...
> >
> > Hi!
> > Nathaniel has some really good advice, but it's all geared towards OS-X
> > and not OS9... a whole different world...
> >
> > IE locking up... If I remember correctly, I had a similar issue on one
> > of my Macs a year or so ago (before I upgraded it to Jaguar)... I found
> > that if I trashed the IE cache file it would work fine again for a few
> > weeks. Sorry, but I never did locate the root cause of the problem...
> > I just routinely deleted this file and it was fine.
> > The file to delete is the System Folder:Preferences:Explorer:Download
> > Cache.
> > While in there, check and make sure the System
> > Folder:Preferences:Explorer:Temporary Files folder is empty.
> >
> > I think I was also deleting System Folder:Preferences:MS Internet
> > Cache:cache.waf, but I'm not sure.
> >
>
> Thank you, I will try both.
>

Sigh. Neither solution solved the problem. I may go as far as
re-installing the OS - it doesn't really sound like it will help, but
it is amazing how many problems I solve on my Wintel P.O.S. by doing
this.

And regarding the question of why the kids have free reign... well,
there are rules about what they are and are not allowed to do. But as
a practical matter I am unable to supervise everything they do with
the computer. On the plus side, this problem (with IE) has made them
much more conservative about what they get into, especially regarding
their wanton desire to download the entire internet.

BTW, I have not worried at all about viruses with the Mac, but I
suspect the platform is not 100% virus free. Are there any good
anti-virus programs for OS 9.2?

in article 7d763a23.0404131605.6a6337a9@posting.google.com, Daniel A.
Mazurowski at kingsmedley******.com wrote on 4/13/04 5:05 PM:

> "Gary W. McIntyre" <sillywillybobsdad_withoutspam********.com> wrote in
> message
> news:<sillywillybobsdad_withoutspam-5B8A19.14372613042004@news.bellglobal.com>
> ...
>>
>> Hi!
>> Nathaniel has some really good advice, but it's all geared towards OS-X
>> and not OS9... a whole different world...
>>
>> IE locking up... If I remember correctly, I had a similar issue on one
>> of my Macs a year or so ago (before I upgraded it to Jaguar)... I found
>> that if I trashed the IE cache file it would work fine again for a few
>> weeks. Sorry, but I never did locate the root cause of the problem...
>> I just routinely deleted this file and it was fine.
>> The file to delete is the System Folder:Preferences:Explorer:Download
>> Cache.
>> While in there, check and make sure the System
>> Folder:Preferences:Explorer:Temporary Files folder is empty.
>>
>> I think I was also deleting System Folder:Preferences:MS Internet
>> Cache:cache.waf, but I'm not sure.
>>
>
> Thank you, I will try both.
>
>>
>> File sharing... with OS9, you need a third party application like
>> PCMacLan or Dave to allow the PC and Mac to talk... both are not
>> cheap... actually, it would be cheaper to buy a used copy of OS-X
>> (Jaguar) which talks to PCs without any problems.
>>
>
> I've been told OS X is not compatible with my wee little G3 iMac.
> Don't know if it's because required hardware isn't present, or if it's
> because the system is just too slow.
>
>>
>> CDRW... Sorry, can't help you here... I never used Disc Burning with
>> OS9... Toast or Discribe is your best friend here.
>>
>
> Toast actually came with the CD burner, BUT it doesn't work with OS
> 9.2. Well, now that I think about it, maybe I didn't try it after
> installing OS 9.2, I'll re-install and give it a shot.
>
>>
>> Logon... It's been a while for this also... If I remember correctly, you
>> need to use Extensions Manager to ensure that Multi User is turned on.
>> Then use the Multiple Users control panel to set up the users... this is
>> where I am really foggy... you may need to set up all the kids with
>> Users & Groups first, but I think it was pretty easy and
>> straightforward. Just try the Multiple Users control panel and it should
>> walk you through it. It is pretty cool, but I found a conflict between
>> these extensions and the Logitech USB mouse extensions... not an issue
>> if you don't use a Logitech mouse and software.
>>
>> Enjoy!
>> Gary

Mac OS X is compatible all the way back to G3 (but not the beige PowerPC 604
chips) but you definitely need RAM and a good video card to make your X
experience go smoothly. What are the specs for your iMac?


Kind Regards,
Nathaniel
--
flikWORLD Design
reply to: nat at flikworld(dot)com

in article 7d763a23.0404140648.22218425@posting.google.com, Daniel A.
Mazurowski at kingsmedley******.com wrote on 4/14/04 7:48 AM:

> kingsmedley******.com (Daniel A. Mazurowski) wrote in message
> news:<7d763a23.0404131605.6a6337a9@posting.google. com>...
>> "Gary W. McIntyre" <sillywillybobsdad_withoutspam********.com> wrote in
>> message
>> news:<sillywillybobsdad_withoutspam-5B8A19.14372613042004@news.bellglobal.com
>> >...
>>>
>>> Hi!
>>> Nathaniel has some really good advice, but it's all geared towards OS-X
>>> and not OS9... a whole different world...
>>>
>>> IE locking up... If I remember correctly, I had a similar issue on one
>>> of my Macs a year or so ago (before I upgraded it to Jaguar)... I found
>>> that if I trashed the IE cache file it would work fine again for a few
>>> weeks. Sorry, but I never did locate the root cause of the problem...
>>> I just routinely deleted this file and it was fine.
>>> The file to delete is the System Folder:Preferences:Explorer:Download
>>> Cache.
>>> While in there, check and make sure the System
>>> Folder:Preferences:Explorer:Temporary Files folder is empty.
>>>
>>> I think I was also deleting System Folder:Preferences:MS Internet
>>> Cache:cache.waf, but I'm not sure.
>>>
>>
>> Thank you, I will try both.
>>
>
> Sigh. Neither solution solved the problem. I may go as far as
> re-installing the OS - it doesn't really sound like it will help, but
> it is amazing how many problems I solve on my Wintel P.O.S. by doing
> this.
>
> And regarding the question of why the kids have free reign... well,
> there are rules about what they are and are not allowed to do. But as
> a practical matter I am unable to supervise everything they do with
> the computer. On the plus side, this problem (with IE) has made them
> much more conservative about what they get into, especially regarding
> their wanton desire to download the entire internet.
>
> BTW, I have not worried at all about viruses with the Mac, but I
> suspect the platform is not 100% virus free. Are there any good
> anti-virus programs for OS 9.2?

Forgive my memory, but have you downloaded the most recent version of
Explorer, 5.1 for your OS 9? That might solve your problem. You should also
do an extension test. Here's the best way I have found to conduct it:

1. Select half of your extensions, leave the other half off.
2. Restart your computer and use Explorer.
3. If Explorer still doesn't function, then turn the second half extesions
on and the first ones off, and restart again.
4. If Explorer now works then restart with half of this second half of
extensions until you find the one that causes the problem.

Here are extensions I never use because they seem to always cause problems.
You must move this physically out of the Extensions folder and into a DO NOT
USE EXTENSIONS folder that you create on the desktop so they won't load:

1. Control Strip. This software is utter crap and seems to cause more
problems than it solves.
2. Energy Saver.
3. Any of the Speech Extensions and support files, control panels, etc.

As far as viruses go, save your money. It's a well known fact that the Mac's
last virus was created about 10 years ago. You will be fine as long as you
don't forward attachments that you didn't create yourself.

Have you zapped the PRAM on your computer? You can do so by holding command
(apple) + option + P + R while starting up and keep the buttons held till
you hear the start up tones a total of three times. This will reset your
computer preferences to factory settings. Explorer may have corrupted these
preferences.

As a last step, copy your Preferences Folder in the System folder to the
desktop and label it DO NOT USE PREFS. Then Trash the preferences folder
(leave the do not use folder on the desktop) and restart the computer.
If this fixes your problem then Delete the DO NOT USE PREFS folder. If not,
just rename the DO NOT USE PREFS back to Preferences and put it back in the
System folder.

Hope this helps!

Problem solved! Turns out my kids tried to install a Flash plug-in for
OSX. Deleting the plug-in did the trick.