Microsoft update disables Netscape

[Steve]

Basically, I'd like to find out which federal agencies are
investigating Microsoft regarding their attempts to
monopolize internet access. I'm unfortunately a member of
MSN, which is the worst web browser on the market, and due
to the multitude of glitches I suffered through trying to
use MSN Explorer I switched to using Netscape exclusively
to travel the web. I'd use MSN only to hook up, then
switch to Netscape for everything else. No problems
whatsoever doing that until, mysteriously, immediately
after downloading and installing some windows updates I
now have problems using Netscape. It doesn't take a rocket
scientist to make the obvious connection.
I plan on notifying the FCC, but I'll have to do some
calling around to find the most appropriate agencies to
notify. I'd appreciate anyone with any knowledge on this
to let me know.

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

Sometimes when things are installed, other programs lose their
configuration. IT HAPPENS!

It is NOT a conspiracy, no matter what you may think. Work with the people
who use Netscape here and then get on with your life.

An example: Install AutoCad, the pre-eminent drawing program, and it will
disable your screen savers - all of them! Why? AutoCad takes possession of
the .scr extension for it's own use. I guess that they feel that anyone
using their program will be of a professional caliber and will not be using
a screen saver.

It's easy to change back. Was it done on purpose? Don't know, don't care. I
just deal with such things!

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Steve Nielsen]

Sometimes when things are installed, other programs lose their
configuration. IT HAPPENS!

It is NOT a conspiracy, no matter what you may think. Work with the people
who use Netscape here and then get on with your life.

It's not a conspiracy but it certainly appears to be by design
nonetheless. IE updates do in fact change browser default settings and
make it difficult to change them back. As far as I am concerned it is
the same effect as browser hijacking.

Steve

 

[Mike]

IMHO, Netscape isn't worth s&%t.. haven't used it since IE first appeared..
change the ISP to which you connect, and use the time saved chasing down
Federal agencies to get yourself a life..

 

[Phil]

It's not a conspiracy but it certainly appears to be by design
nonetheless. IE updates do in fact change browser default settings and
make it difficult to change them back. As far as I am concerned it is
the same effect as browser hijacking.

Steve

I have never, since Netscape 2 and IE 2 had a windows update break netscape.
I highly doubt its by design. If it was everyone would be effected and you'd
see thousands / millions of people saying an update killed my netscape, and
that is just not the case. Many people use other browsers besides IE,
including myself, and have zero probs with windows updates and the other
browsers. Sometimes some programs effect other programs in strange ways,
it's the way computing is now-a-days. Also could be that the update didn't
install correctly breaking other things. It happens.

 

[Phil]

Just reinstall Netscape or try FireFox. I use firfox with zero probs, not
one crash or error ever.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Federal Trade Commission
http://www.ftc.gov/

 

[just wondering]

Honestly, if you haven't used Netscape since IE first
appeared how would you have any idea whether it is worth
s&%t or not?

 

[Steve Nielsen]

I have never, since Netscape 2 and IE 2 had a windows update break netscape.
I highly doubt its by design. If it was everyone would be effected and you'd
see thousands / millions of people saying an update killed my netscape, and
that is just not the case. Many people use other browsers besides IE,
including myself, and have zero probs with windows updates and the other
browsers. Sometimes some programs effect other programs in strange ways,
it's the way computing is now-a-days. Also could be that the update didn't
install correctly breaking other things. It happens.

I have never seen the updates break Netscape either but I don't have
Netscape set as my default browser, IE is, so that might be a
difference. It is a fact that IE 6sp1 installs and updates set the IE
startup page to www.msn.com and make it difficult to set back. It would
not surprise me that they do wierd things to NS if it is the default
browser.

Steve

 

[Phil]

I have never seen the updates break Netscape either but I don't have
Netscape set as my default browser, IE is, so that might be a
difference. It is a fact that IE 6sp1 installs and updates set the IE
startup page to www.msn.com and make it difficult to set back. It
would not surprise me that they do wierd things to NS if it is the
default browser.

Steve

My default browser if FireFox. So maybe ns breaks, but we'd be seeing tons
of these posts and we are not, so I assume this is an isolated incident. I
also don't remember that IE6 SP1 changed the home page back to www.msn.com.
Could be, not sure, but even if it did it's not difficult to change back at
all. It is IE internet options. Simple to change back.

 

[Gordon]

also don't remember that IE6 SP1 changed the home page back to

www.msn.com.

Well mine certainly didn't.......

 

[Kenny]

I have installed autocad many times on various machines. The screensavers
still work.
Perhaps you mean they take over the extension. That is correct

--
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
_____________
Kenny S
foksot2004 at hotmail.com
www.computerboom.net

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

You caught me. Yes. It claims the extension for it's own. If you directly
open an .scr screen saver, such as Aquarium 1.1, notepad will open. If you
change the .scr extension back to screen saver, Aquarium will work again.
Why notepad opens is beyond me, but I have had this on a few computers in
the last year. None of the people were interested in the lease in using
AutoCad scripting.

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Steve Nielsen]

My default browser if FireFox. So maybe ns breaks, but we'd be seeing tons
of these posts and we are not, so I assume this is an isolated incident.

I can't argue with that logic.

I
also don't remember that IE6 SP1 changed the home page back to www.msn.com.
Could be, not sure, but even if it did it's not difficult to change back at
all. It is IE internet options. Simple to change back.

Every machine I have installed IE6sp1 and/or recent IE security updates
on has had the start page of www.msn.com, however the home page setting
in internet options was usually not changed. For example I usually set
it to about:blank, installing IE6sp1 or an IE update did not always not
change that value but the browser does conect to www.msn.com anyway.
Going in and verifying that the home page is set to about:blank and
hitting the Home button the MSN site STILL comes up. In the cases I
recall sometimes the value would be changed at that point to the MSN
site, then I'd change it back to blank, hit home button and still see
MSN come up. On 2K and XP boxes I would have to restart IE once or twice
after checking the home page value and then it would stick to
about:blank, on Win98 machines it usually required a system restart,
too. Not what I'd call simple to change back.

Steve

 

[Brian C]

Federal Trade Commission
http://www.ftc.gov/

Try deleting this file in Netscape folder. It called activation.dll
I think this mess up things with windows xp. Thats if you have
netscape 6 or above.

 

[Steve Nielsen]

www.msn.com.

Well mine certainly didn't.......

Now I am wondering if it may have something to do with the homepage set
to blank. Was your's set to a website or to about:blank?

Steve

 

[Joh N.]

just wondering, after spending 3 minutes figuring out which end of the pen to
use, wrote:

Honestly, if you haven't used Netscape since IE first
appeared how would you have any idea whether it is worth
s&%t or not?

That's how most of them seem to do things in this NG. If it isn't a simple
straight-forward question, or a rave about XPee, then shit begins to flow like
mercury out of their asses in the form of mentally challenged debunkings like
you saw from Mike above.

Joh N.

 

[Hilary Karp]

Netscape is my dafault, and no breakage here.

 

[David Candy]

or the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. This is one body that took the internet seriously. Either them or ASIC (share regulator) used to run a financial sting once a year (send up all your money and we'll triple it in a week). Then they'd ring the suckers and tell them what idiots they were and then refund their money.

Spam is illegal in Australia. Changing a single byte on a computer is illegal (5 years). The ACCC, FTC, and others have regular scam hunts.

But the person who asked is off their rocker.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

True. However, it's hard to regulate spam that does not originate in the US
or Australia.
Hard to enforce US or Australian laws in China or Lower Slobovia.

Where do I triple my money??? ;-)