Howdy!,

If I wasn't already Crazy, I'd say that my XP pc lately has been driving
Me crazy.

1. Often when I move the mouse downwards without any buttons pressed,
what I seeing on the screen Scrolls Down suddenly, oftentimes to the bottom
of the page.

The Mouse Pointer changes to a Circle when it does this.
The Circle has a Dot in the center, a UP Arrow above the Dot and a DOWN Arrow below the Dot.
Sometimes I see a Left Arrow and a Right Arrow with the other two Arrows.

I've learned that Circle means "Reader Mode".
Microsofts "Mouse and Pointers" page;

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/uxguide/inter-mouse

has a picture of what I have been seeing in the "Guidelines" section,
under the heading "Mouse Wheel" that's near the bottom of the web page.

While on MS's web site I did a Search for "Reader Mode" and found some links about it.
I will look at them later to see if I can learn how to turn Reader Mode OFF.


I looked in Windows XP Help and Support but it doesn't have any info for turning off Reader Mode.

2. Focus - when I have Buttons for more than one item in the Taskbar,
lots of times (most of the time) if I click somewhere on the page I have open, the Mouse Click goes to the page I previously used that hasn't been Minimized instead of doing what I was clicking on, on the current page I'm using.

3. CTRL-ALT-DEL - The Mouse doesn't do what I Click on and I have to do
the Three Finger Salute and then Minimize Windows Task Manager by clicking
the Button on the Task Bar to Minimize it.

I'm doing that about 100 Times a day.

At least the computer responds to the Three Finger Salute.

There is always Someone or Something that keeps Me humble, right now it's the XP computer.

I've been thinking of putting some variety of Linux on this pc.
At least then I will be able to use a Supported version of Firefox, instead
of Firefox that isn't supported by Mozilla because Microsoft doesn't want to support the older O/S software they created.

I guess my XP SP3 pc is a Orphan!

Are there anyone reading who still uses XP?

Here on Earth computers alway win because They have inside information.

Thanks for reading and any help is appreciated.

73 de Ed W9ODR . .



... Have you checked your smoke detector batteries & Fire Ext, LATELY?!
--- MultiMail/MS-DOS v0.49
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Hello Ed.

19 Oct 19 20:24, you wrote to all:

The Mouse Pointer changes to a Circle when it does this.
The Circle has a Dot in the center, a UP Arrow above the Dot and a
DOWN Arrow below the Dot. Sometimes I see a Left Arrow and a Right
Arrow with the other two Arrows.

Is not it just your mouse dead? I mean this usualy shows up during middle button click.

I mean you should first find out if it is HW or SW issue.

Karel

--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.4.7
* Origin: Plast DATA (2:423/39)

In a post between "Ed Vance : All", on 10/19/2019 8:24 PM

If I wasn't already Crazy, I'd say that my XP pc lately has been driving
Me crazy.

It's probably NOT the OS (XP), but something else messing with the OS and then results in the chaos you see. :)

1. Often when I move the mouse downwards without any buttons pressed,
what I seeing on the screen Scrolls Down suddenly, oftentimes to the bottom of the page.

The Mouse Pointer changes to a Circle when it does this. The Circle
has a Dot in the center, a UP Arrow above the Dot and a DOWN Arrow
below the Dot. Sometimes I see a Left Arrow and a Right Arrow with
the other two Arrows.
I've learned that Circle means "Reader Mode".

That state of the mouse and the resultant symbol is usually because the scroll wheel has been pressed (toggled).

Maybe you are inadvertently pressing too hard on the wheel, or the mouse wheel is defective, or time for a new mouse! ;)

2. Focus - when I have Buttons for more than one item in the Taskbar,
lots of times (most of the time) if I click somewhere on the page I
have open, the Mouse Click goes to the page I previously used that
hasn't been Minimized instead of doing what I was clicking on, on the
current page I'm using.

Might be easier to understand what you are experiencing with a video clip, but maybe this result is tied into the "problem" with the scroll wheel?

3. CTRL-ALT-DEL - The Mouse doesn't do what I Click on and I have to do
the Three Finger Salute and then Minimize Windows Task Manager by clicking the Button on the Task Bar to Minimize it.

I'm doing that about 100 Times a day.

At least the computer responds to the Three Finger Salute.

That definitely rules out the keyboard or OS as the problem. C-A-D has come to
the rescue for me many times as well. But 100 times a day is a problem for sure!

I've been thinking of putting some variety of Linux on this pc.
At least then I will be able to use a Supported version of Firefox, instead of Firefox that isn't supported by Mozilla because Microsoft doesn't
want to
support the older O/S software they created.

I have one pc with XP that I use most of the time. It is using Firefox 52.8 32-bit quite nicely. I feel no compulsion to go to their offering of 52.9esr.

Linux and its many variants (distributions they call it) is quite nice these days. I've explored retiring XP and replacing it with linux, but I still rely on several Windows programs that I can't replace: Office, and Access to name the two main ones.

When you say "MS doesn't want to support.." it's really just about the security
updates. Otherwise, there is absolutely nothing broken about XP! I'm a good boy and I don't purposefully explore the darknet or respond to any unsolicited links in email.

All is good with XP.

Are there anyone reading who still uses XP?

ME! (waving madly)

Try another mouse (one without a scroll wheel if possible) to rule out an OS problem.

--- Thunderbird 2.0.0.24 (Windows/20100228)
* Origin: nntp://rbb.fidonet.fi - Lake Ylo - Finland (2:221/360)

10-20-19 06:27 Karel Kral wrote to Ed Vance about XP_Many Questions
Howdy! Karel,

@MSGID: <5DAC308C.15646.windowsa@capitolcityonline.net>
@REPLY: <5DABA9A2.15645.windowsa@capitolcityonline.net>
Hello Ed.

19 Oct 19 20:24, you wrote to all:

The Mouse Pointer changes to a Circle when it does this.
The Circle has a Dot in the center, a UP Arrow above the Dot and a
DOWN Arrow below the Dot. Sometimes I see a Left Arrow and a Right
Arrow with the other two Arrows.

Is not it just your mouse dead? I mean this usualy shows up during
middle button click.

I mean you should first find out if it is HW or SW issue.

Thanks for the Reply.

I use a corded Mouse with Two Buttons and a Wheel, it's connected to the computers P/S 2 Mouse Port.

When I began seeing this problem I turned on a cordless Mouse and saw the
same actions.

Reader Mode comes on in Firefox and in Notepad too, so I think its SW.

Maybe it's Me!
I read some more Microsoft pages and learned I might be pressing the
Wheel on the Mouse too hard when I'm scrolling and doing that turns
Reader Mode ON.

Today I still see it happening so I'm trying to find out how to tell this
pc to stop doing it.

Appreciate the help, Thanks!

73 de Ed W9ODR . .





... !neercs siht dniheb deppart m'I !!pleH
--- MultiMail/MS-DOS v0.49
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Linux and its many variants (distributions they call it) is quite nice these >days. I've explored retiring XP and replacing it with linux, but I still rely >on several Windows programs that I can't replace: Office, and Access to name >the two main ones.

While I am almost certain it still has not caught up to Access, the Word
and Excel compatables in Libre Office work nicely.

Mike

---
* SLMR 2.1a * If it's Tourist Season, howcum we can't shoot 'em, Pa?
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Mike Powell wrote to AUGUST ABOLINS <=-

While I am almost certain it still has not caught up to Access, the
Word and Excel compatables in Libre Office work nicely.

I've been a Microsoft Office user since Office95, and forced myself to start using Google Docs to understand it better. I found myself having to create a spreadsheet, opening a browser and using Google Sheets for the first time a while ago.

For those connected, it's a pretty decent solution - and a heck of a lot better than an old, possibly unsupported copy of Microsoft Office.


... In total darkness, or in a very large room, very quietly
--- MultiMail/XT v0.52
* Origin: http://realitycheckbbs.org | tomorrow's retro tech (1:218/700)

On 21/10/2019 12:46 p.m., Mike Powell : AUGUST ABOLINS wrote:

Linux and its many variants (distributions they call it) is quite
nice these days. I've explored retiring XP and replacing it with
linux, but I still rely on several Windows programs that I can't
replace: Office, and Access to name the two main ones.

While I am almost certain it still has not caught up to Access, the Word
and Excel compatibles in Libre Office work nicely.

Hello Mike,

Libre's wordprocessor and the spreadsheet would be a perfectly fine replacement
for my needs. But MS Access has become a central program for my biz. Technically, I cannot work with a compatible. And, along the way, I've grown accustomed to some of the handy features in Outlook.

Otherwise, I would embrace the opportunity to walk away from the MS universe.

--- Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:60.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderbird/60.9.0
* Origin: nntp://rbb.fidonet.fi - Lake Ylo - Finland (2:221/360)

On 22/10/2019 10:44 a.m., Kurt Weiske : Mike Powell wrote:

Mike Powell wrote to AUGUST ABOLINS <=-

 MP> While I am almost certain it still has not caught up to Access, the
 MP> Word and Excel compatables in Libre Office work nicely.

I've been a Microsoft Office user since Office95, and forced myself
to start using Google Docs to understand it better. I found myself
having to create a spreadsheet, opening a browser and using Google
Sheets for the first time a while ago.
For those connected, it's a pretty decent solution - and a heck of a lot better than an old, possibly unsupported copy of Microsoft Office.

Personally I don't like the constant need to be "connected" just to work on a personal document. But, the online Google Docs and Sheets has been handy when I need to share a file that is progressing or needs updates.

The yearly fee for MS Office365 was a real turn-off for me.

We certainly have a lot of options these days.

--- Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:60.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderbird/60.9.0
* Origin: nntp://rbb.fidonet.fi - Lake Ylo - Finland (2:221/360)

Re: XP_Many Questions
By: Ed Vance to All on Sat Oct 19 2019 08:24 pm

I've been thinking of putting some variety of Linux on this pc.
At least then I will be able to use a Supported version of Firefox, instead of Firefox that isn't supported by Mozilla because Microsoft doesn't want to support the older O/S software they created.

I guess my XP SP3 pc is a Orphan!

Are there anyone reading who still uses XP?

I have two PCs (Desktop, Laptop) that run Windows XP SP3 and they are still humming along! If you haven't decided on a Linux distro as of yet might I recommend Pop_OS! by System76 as a possible alternative. There are quite a few out there and this one is so well put together.

============================
======-[ air walker ]-======
============================
--- SBBSecho 3.10-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (1:103/705)

I've been thinking of putting some variety of Linux on this pc.
At least then I will be able to use a Supported version of Firefox, instead of Firefox that isn't supported by Mozilla because Microsoft doesn't want to support the older O/S software they created.

Well, a simple upgrade to linux might or might not fix issues like that.
You may have to ultimately buy a newer PC to use supported versions. I am
not sure about mozilla but google, for example, stopped making a 32-bit
version of Chrome for linux. In order to use their newer, supported
versions of Chrome, you have to be running a 64-bit machine.

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * Profanity, the language of computer professionals
--- SBBSecho 3.07-Linux
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

Ethan Sullens wrote to Ed Vance <=-

I guess my XP SP3 pc is a Orphan!

Are there anyone reading who still uses XP?

I have two PCs (Desktop, Laptop) that run Windows XP SP3 and they are still humming along!

I have a couple of Windows XP VMs running on my Linux laptops. Without
access to the internet, there's no significant risk.

I use it to run my QWK environment; Multimail, Qedit and all of my text utilities ca. 1993 or so.


... Have you ever asked a question you weren't supposed to ask?
--- MultiMail/XT v0.52
* Origin: http://realitycheckbbs.org | tomorrow's retro tech (1:218/700)

11-06-19 17:29 Ethan Sullens wrote to Ed Vance about XP_Many Questions
Howdy! Ethan,

@MSGID: <5DC3971C.15664.windowsa@capitolcityonline.net>
@REPLY: <5DABA9A2.15645.windowsa@capitolcityonline.net>
Re: XP_Many Questions
By: Ed Vance to All on Sat Oct 19 2019 08:24 pm

I've been thinking of putting some variety of Linux on this pc.
At least then I will be able to use a Supported version of Firefox, instead of Firefox that isn't supported by Mozilla because Microsoft doesn't want to support the older O/S software they created.

I guess my XP SP3 pc is a Orphan!

Are there anyone reading who still uses XP?

I have two PCs (Desktop, Laptop) that run Windows XP SP3 and they are still humming along! If you haven't decided on a Linux distro as of yet might I recommend Pop_OS! by System76 as a possible alternative. There
are quite a few out there and this one is so well put together.

My XP is a Desktop HP a1430n Media Center computer I got in 2006.

Lately I've been wondering about not hearing a BEEP when I turn it on.
I see the three LED's Num Lock, Caps Lock and Scroll Lock flash when it is started but can't remember if this computer ever BEEP'ed when it started up.

I tried looking at HP's web site recently to see if there is a "BEEP'er"
in it but HP isn't interested in answering quesions about this 'OLD THING' since Microsoft's XP is an unsupported OS now.

The Hardware still work but is way out of Warranty today.

I tried looking in the pdf Manual's but haven't seen anything about it.
I would think if it had a Piezo Electric BEEPER there would be a connector
on the Motherboard for it but I've not seen it back when I looked at the Manuals.

I never heard of Pop OS or the System76 Company, I will have to ask
DuckDuckGo about it.

Thanks for the suggestion.

73 de Ed W9ODR . .


... Have you checked your smoke detector batteries & Fire Ext, LATELY?!
--- MultiMail/MS-DOS v0.49
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)

11-07-19 16:53 Mike Powell wrote to ED VANCE about XP_Many Questions
Howdy! Mike,

@MSGID: <5DC494B3.15665.windowsa@capitolcityonline.net>
@REPLY: <5DC3971C.15664.windowsa@capitolcityonline.net>

I've been thinking of putting some variety of Linux on this pc.
At least then I will be able to use a Supported version of Firefox, instead of Firefox that isn't supported by Mozilla because Microsoft doesn't want to support the older O/S software they created.

Well, a simple upgrade to linux might or might not fix issues like
that. You may have to ultimately buy a newer PC to use supported
versions. I am not sure about mozilla but google, for example, stopped making a 32-bit version of Chrome for linux. In order to use their
newer, supported versions of Chrome, you have to be running a 64-bit machine.

This XP pc has a AMD 3800+ CPU which I"m thinking is a 64 bit processor
so it could run newer software if I wanted to Dual-Boot or run a 64-bit
OS in Virtual Memory. ?

That is if the Hardware HP put in this box will work with a 64-bit OS.

I had another thought sometime ago about seeing if a AMD 4800+ CPU would
or could help out some if I changed the CPU.

I played with running Ubuntu 7.04 from the CD I made long ago.
And have downloaded several updates 10.4, 12.04 and 16.04.3 to try out.

I heard about Mint Mate v.17 and looked at it too, but haven't really
wanted to take XP off of this pc and run a version of LINUX.

I've just played with LINUX so far.
If I could just keep this XP from playing with Me...

73 de Ed W9ODR . .


... !! TRC eht dniheb kcuts m'I !!!!!!!!!!!!PLEH
--- MultiMail/MS-DOS v0.49
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (1:2320/105)