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Possible Virus (?) Help - printer starts printing on it's own
None | Today | Me

Posted on 02/15/2005 9:27:22 PM PST by The Bugler

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To: The Bugler

My modem talked one day....


21 posted on 02/15/2005 10:32:12 PM PST by Lijahsbubbe
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To: Dont Mention the War

Currently, I am "DSL hardwired" to my computer


22 posted on 02/15/2005 10:32:28 PM PST by The Bugler
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To: The Bugler

23 posted on 02/15/2005 10:36:11 PM PST by Pro-Bush (Can't afford Medical care? Thank an illegal alien.)
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To: The Bugler
I had a box with ME on it. It was the first time I nearly killed a computer!

It is not as stable as 98se, and as bad as 95 if it runs for a long time without a OS re-install. It also makes for a lousy upgrade to XP. I had to wipe the disc and clean install xp.

If it keep up, I would try deleting the printer in the system device list, unplug it from the port and restart. Then reinstall and restart.

That should make sure it overwrites the drivers and print spooler stuff.

Failing that, I might re-install the OS which should keep everything, but MS e-mail and may screw up explorer, or, buy a new printer!:-)

Like I said, ME is a pain.

Something else, you could try a system restore. You may have corrupted your drivers etc, by installing some other program.

That is about it. A printer reinstall would be my first choice.

24 posted on 02/15/2005 10:37:20 PM PST by Cold Heat (What are fears but voices awry?Whispering harm where harm is not and deluding the unwary. Wordsworth)
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To: Cold Heat

" I dunno", When was the last time your printer decided to print on its own? When was the last time that all the printers listed in your Printers Folder decided to print on their own?


25 posted on 02/15/2005 10:37:23 PM PST by The Bugler
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To: Pro-Bush

Software firewalls are worthless. Should get a router to abstract you from the DSL line. Also, turn off your printer and file sharing.


26 posted on 02/15/2005 10:38:11 PM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: The Bugler
Never happened to me that I recall.idid have a problem once where it printed gibberish. I did not have a second printer then, and it was ME, but I believe I reinstalled it to fix the problem.

The drivers sometimes will not overwrite if you delete and reinstall without first booting without the printer hooked up. The automatic installer just keeps the same crap.

27 posted on 02/15/2005 10:41:52 PM PST by Cold Heat (What are fears but voices awry?Whispering harm where harm is not and deluding the unwary. Wordsworth)
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To: Spktyr
Zone works pretty darn well,if you don't tell it to do something dangerous.:-)

Some give it too much leeway.

28 posted on 02/15/2005 10:45:26 PM PST by Cold Heat (What are fears but voices awry?Whispering harm where harm is not and deluding the unwary. Wordsworth)
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To: Cold Heat

I can relate to your feelings about ME. Early on, I had many problems with ME, especially with the Internet. Over the years, the problems seemed to have stabilized. I can't think of any problems I've had with the operating system in well over 2 or 3 years (except today - which is probably not an OS issue).


29 posted on 02/15/2005 10:45:31 PM PST by The Bugler
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To: The Bugler
That is good!

I don't think they will be doing much further support on it however.

30 posted on 02/15/2005 10:47:18 PM PST by Cold Heat (What are fears but voices awry?Whispering harm where harm is not and deluding the unwary. Wordsworth)
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To: Cold Heat
It is not as stable as 98se, and as bad as 95 if it runs for a long time without a OS re-install

I haven't re-installed ME in 4 years. Maybe your experience is different but I do know that to upgrade to XP about 5 thousand dollars of my software would be useless.

31 posted on 02/15/2005 10:48:42 PM PST by Texasforever (It's hard to kiss the lips at night that chew your butt out all day long.)
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To: Spktyr

I'm pretty sure that printer/ file sharing is turned off, but if you can guide me where to find that info in "ME", I'd be appreciative. THANKS !!


32 posted on 02/15/2005 10:49:50 PM PST by The Bugler
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To: Texasforever
I understand the problem.

I really liked 98se. But, you need xp to run the newer video stuff.

33 posted on 02/15/2005 10:50:57 PM PST by Cold Heat (What are fears but voices awry?Whispering harm where harm is not and deluding the unwary. Wordsworth)
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To: The Bugler
Have never seen a printer virus in 15 years of running LANs and computer consulting (although I did learn how to make the paper shoot out and the computer center's heavy duty tractor feed in a perfect parabellic arc back in the old college Fortran punch card days, LOL).

Most versions of Windows will keep trying to print anything they find in the SPOOL folder, even after a reboot, and even if it's a corrupt spool file and printing gobbledegook.

Here's how it works. You tell Word or something to print.

I doesn't send it directly to the printer, it sends it to a file(s) in the SPOOL folder on your hard disk, and the Windows spooler software dribbles it out to the printer as fast as the printer can accept it.

I don't remember exactly where it is in WinME, and I don't feel like getting out of bed to fire up my WinME machine, but look for a SPOOL folder in your C:\WINDOWS or C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.

There may be several folders under that, so be careful not to delete your print drivers.

You're looking for a folder with files that end in .SP*, (You have to have file extensions turned on).

Whack those files, run a regular scandisk, and reboot.

34 posted on 02/15/2005 10:51:21 PM PST by benjaminjjones
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To: Texasforever

I can relate to that, not to mention the cost just to UPGRADE to XP.


35 posted on 02/15/2005 10:52:00 PM PST by The Bugler
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To: Cold Heat
But, you need xp to run the newer video stuff.

I would agree with that but I have the entire Adobe graphics and Video pakages plus all of the Corel packages and Ulead, not to mention Microsoft office and Lotus Suites. It would be foolish for me to throw all of that in the trash just for XP and I would get that free.

36 posted on 02/15/2005 10:54:17 PM PST by Texasforever (It's hard to kiss the lips at night that chew your butt out all day long.)
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To: Texasforever
Gottcha! I just had some old games that I miss once in a blue moon.
37 posted on 02/15/2005 10:56:18 PM PST by Cold Heat (What are fears but voices awry?Whispering harm where harm is not and deluding the unwary. Wordsworth)
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To: The Bugler
I can relate to that, not to mention the cost just to UPGRADE to XP.

ME was developed for home users and as such those same users tend to break any system they use. I do a lot of consulting work and have had every Windows OS up to but not including XP. Me is the best and most idiot proof system I have used to date. I would probably give XP a chance had they allowed backward compatibility but alas they didn't.

38 posted on 02/15/2005 10:59:27 PM PST by Texasforever (It's hard to kiss the lips at night that chew your butt out all day long.)
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To: Cold Heat
I just had some old games that I miss once in a blue moon.

You mentioned video systems. What am I missing out on?

39 posted on 02/15/2005 11:00:57 PM PST by Texasforever (It's hard to kiss the lips at night that chew your butt out all day long.)
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To: benjaminjjones

No files with that extension (.SP*) was found on my computer. A search of "SPOOL" found no documents dated earlier than 09-2004


40 posted on 02/15/2005 11:01:13 PM PST by The Bugler
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