"The Computer Help Thread"

[BobG]

It seems often when I'm posting a reply, and hit the carriage return for a paragraph break, the mouse location default is hovering on the submit button and it posts! Then I end up making dozens of edits to keep typing!

I also notice that despite that I rarely make a choice after a post, and don't click - the page returns me to the message I just posted rather than returning to the forum.

Could I have a setting wrong, or picked up a "bug", or is this a default something that I should fix in my profile or forum settings? This is the only place, site, forum is the only place I've noticed this quirk.

I am using an ad blocker if this makes a difference.

PC or MAC?

Desktop or Notebook?

Version of OS?

btw, apparently default is to return to the message posted vice forum

[BobG]

Also, do you have a hot key that will move your mouse to the default control in a window? That could be the issue with the "premature posting"

[nutmeg]

notebook windows ME OS , and no mouse controls do not default (using touchpad actually). No hotkeys - disabled. I also use selective start-up and load no junk, no plug-ins, minimal drivers. No fancy-pants, no quick-time or flash - no features like that, and control any active x, script blocking, ad blocking, etc. with firewall and browser.

I'm still waiting for something better than junky xp pro, etc. to come out and be proven before I upgrade. already suffered for long with ME, wish I had never given up 98! I'm thinking of going Mac or foxpro next time around - just a bit dubious since I'm an old DOS gal.

Thanks for cueing me in on the forum default regards to posting.

[BobG]

I know that with my old hp notebook, I used to accidentally bump the touchpad with my thumb nuckkes, and it would make the cursor jump on me ... usually with less than favorable results. Newer hp notebooks kept the same touchpad, but added a function button to turn off the touchpad.

As far as ME goes, I've not had much experience with it. I saw it was ill-fated from the get-go, being a w2K look/feel with 9X memory management. I decided that I had no use for it.

When you start up, what are your system resources sitting at?

[nutmeg]

Small world...it IS an HP notebook, was supposed to have 98 OS but when they shipped it to me it had ME preloaded! Grrrrrrr. I too have no use for it 'cept its what I have and Vista still isn't out and working yet.

Spooky....but its prolly some stickyweirdness with the left clicker on the touch pad, I disabled touch to click on the touchpad long ago.

[Schag]

Nutmeg, your machine will not be powerful enough to run Vista.
I sell systems for a living and anything that was configured for 98 or ME just doesn't have the power or memory for that.
You're best bet would be to find a copy of Windows 2000.
It's a stable OS and will allow you to keep using your system for at least a couple more years.

[nutmeg]

I know I can't overlay vista on this notebook, I am waiting to purchase a NEW computer with a decent OS, memory, speed, all the bells and whistles...pre-loaded and pre-configured! Hence my continuing to limp along with crappy ME on this notebook. My work only computer I have XP Pro, have not been impressed. Since I limit my access to direct into the server with that computer (due to so many holes in security of XP have NOT been impressed with it) I have retained the crappy ME HP Notebook for personal web use. I couldn't even overlay 2000 on this - ME platform, no 98 platform, no dos - this bugger was ME from the factory. When first purchased, and discovered ME - I paid HP for the upgrade - wouldn't work. Sent it in to them they tried - ended up frying out the motherboard. They replaced motherboard, sent it back to me NC including a refund for OS upgrade CDs. I have them still - they are useless for this particular HP Notebook.

when I clean boot up and after firewall is enabled I'm at 90% available. I don't run sys restore and have a very clean boot. My bios was upgraded to the latest HP offered, and tweaked. I'm also a regular disk sweeper, defragger, etc. although I have a 20 gig HD I don't store much on the drive either.

[Danno]

Nutmeg, if you go to get a new laptop send me a heads up and I might be in the market for a used old laptop, so you could at least get a couple of bucks towards your new one! I need something simple to use as a "carputer"

[BobG]

90 percent is pretty good for an HP Notebook.

Yes, you don't have enough ponies to run vista. I agree that w2k is probably the best, most stable bet for your pc.

If you go to xp, you might consider ditching Internet Exploder and going with firefox for a web browser ... it's much more secure. xp is actually reasonably secure now, not like when it was first released. yes, there are constant security updates, but at least they're fixing the holes now, instead of saying "holes? what holes?"

I'd stay away from vista for a year or two, that's my personal take.

maybe it'll be pretty good with SP1. NT4 got stable and secure with SP4. 2K got stable and secure with SP2. XP is stable and secure with sp2.

vista will probably be stable and secure with sp1 or 2.

[Danno]

If you go to xp, you might consider ditching Internet Exploder and going with firefox for a web browser.

Firefox is all I use!