- n program

[Steve T]

Lately when I try to shut down I get the above program pop up in an error
window with " Program not responding". What is - n? Running XP MCE-SP3 with
all updates current. Also, it might be related; sometimes when I try to
launch Firefox (ver 3.5.6) a window pops up saying that Firefox is already
running and I need to shut it down before I can launch again. I have
downloaded the latest version from Mozilla and re-installed Firefox just in
case I had a corrupted file. Don't know if that will cure it. Thanks for any
responses. Steve T.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this
machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?

 

[Steve T]

Have been running free avast! for about 4 months. It is current. Prior to
that it was free AVG. Anti-spyware is Malwarebytes, Spybot and
SuperAntispyware. Don't ever recall Norton or McAfee on this PC, trial or
otherwise. Used to have ZoneAlarm but removed a couple of years ago and just
go with my Linksys router currently. Steve T.

 

[Mrosen7542]

Steve, in reference to your Firefox question, what's happening is that the Firefox process hasn't ended yet. If you look in Task Manager under processes you'll see firefox.exe. You can end the process if you want to but it usually ends in several seconds on its own. The problem happens sometimes when you try to open Firefox again immediately after you shut it down. Hope this helps.
Mark

 

[Elmo]

Lately when I try to shut down I get the above program pop up in an error
window with " Program not responding". What is - n? Running XP MCE-SP3 with
all updates current. Also, it might be related; sometimes when I try to
launch Firefox (ver 3.5.6) a window pops up saying that Firefox is already
running and I need to shut it down before I can launch again. I have
downloaded the latest version from Mozilla and re-installed Firefox just in
case I had a corrupted file. Don't know if that will cure it. Thanks for any
responses. Steve T.

Run MSconfig and under the startup tab, look for that in one of the
Startup items. Please report back with your findings.

It looks like a switch that's part of a program startup, such as:

Run Firefox.exe -n

in which case, the switch would tell the program to run a specific way.
That's merely an example of what you might find.. I haven't seen that
switch behind any particular program. It could just be a random name of
some type of malware.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Is the "Not responding" application listed in Task Manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL)
Applications and/or Processes tab?

 

[Peter Foldes]

Steve

N is the European version of XP MCE from which some apps were stripped by MS
according to their agreement with the EEC. When the OS was shipped the stripped apps
were WMP and some others which I do not recollect at present

 

[Steve T]

Let me try and answer all of the questions above.
"Not responding" is not listed in Applications when I selected Task Manager.
I do not recall seeing it under the Processes either tab but not sure. I
will check if it happens again.
Running msconfig shows nothing with that name under the Startup tab.
This PC is a refurbished Gateway from TigerDirect that I have had since
March 2006 and the MCE is the OS that came with it. I've just kept
everything updated.
The "good thing" is that the problem has not re-occurred since I
re-installed Firefox but then it's only been a couple of days. Thanks, Steve
T.

 

[Steve T]

Right after I posted the above response I clicked on a link in my email
Inbox and got the message that Firefox was already running but not
responding. I had to close it or restart my system. Tried to launch Firefox
from Quick Launch but got the same response. I tried to restart but got an
error message that a program was refusing to end. Did not say what program.
I went to Task Manager, no apps running and no - n program in Processes tab.
I selected Firefox.exe and shut it down. Then I went back to the link in the
email and it launched fine. I did not have to reboot. ??? Merry Christmas
everybody! Steve T.

 

[buccy]

Right after I posted the above response I clicked on a link in my email
Inbox and got the message that Firefox was already running but not
responding. I had to close it or restart my system. Tried to launch Firefox
from Quick Launch but got the same response. I tried to restart but got an
error message that a program was refusing to end. Did not say what program.
I went to Task Manager, no apps running and no - n program in Processes tab.
I selected Firefox.exe and shut it down. Then I went back to the link in the
email and it launched fine. I did not have to reboot. ??? Merry Christmas

Did you ever figure this out - I have the same problem. My firefox
also locks up - then the whole sequence begins...can't open firefox,
says it is already running...when I reboot it says the n program is
still running.
I am running Online Armor firewall and A-Squared antivirus.