User Name - Ns 4.79

Hello

I've just installed NS 4.79 after multiple installs/removals/cleanups 'til I was blue in the face and bald. I'm happy to say, that NS 4.79 is now functioning [touch wood] but for one problem. I followed instructions I read about using a different User Name. Now I cannot load or view messages from forums restricted to registered software users only.

My new `User Name', is - I believe - the problem. How can I change it back without upsetting another apple cart or having to do another uninstall - install?

Oh for everybody's interest, I discovered my constant problem of pages not loading was Windows based, not my Netscape installations: had to remove and reinstall TCP/IP & Dial Up Adapter even though I use an Ethernet live connection. And yes, IE wouldn't load pages either.

Hope this helps somebody else while I seek new assistance.

Welt

PS To Ramona [hope I have this correct] When I installed 4.79, using a `custom install', there was no way I could refuse Composer. It was greyed out within Communicator. This is contrary to your 4.x Clean Install document. Good doc nonetheless.

 

Hi Welt,

You have lots of information for us today! Thanks very much for catching the Composer snafu! I have corrected the page. Wishful thinking on my part!

Your User name would have nothing to do with BBS accessibility, unless you didn't copy your cookies.txt file into your new Profile? This sounds as if it could be the problem, although I'm not clear as to your not being able to "load or view the messages ". Could you be more precise about what happens when you access this BBS. It seem you are able to post, so I'm assuming you are using another PC?

Assuming you didn't delete the old profile, you can copy it back to your Users folder.

Thanks,

Ramona

 

NOT BBS BUT NEWS FORUMS FOR REGISTERED USERS

Thanks for the quick response. I did not make myself clear. I was referring to news forums for registered users where I registered under my prior User Name to be granted registered user entry. As example: Corel's Word Perfect forum for registered Version 8 users only.

I can reach this Windows BBS just fine.

Oh yes, I copied my old files to the new News Groups such as `host-cnews.corel.com'.

 

Welt,

Aha, we're talking Newsgroups! First, lets be certain that you have the Newsgroup Server configured correctly.

Edit|Preferences|Mail & Newsgroups|Newsgroup Servers
Click on the "Edit" tab
Enable "Only ask me for my username and password when necessary "

Make sure "Discussion group (news) folder" has a path which points to a News folder which exists on disk. (Try clicking "Browse" and selecting the News folder you created.)
C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\newusername\News
Click OK.

It could be that it is pointing to your OLD profile name.

Post back and let us know if any of the above helped.

Ramona

 

STILL NO NEWS GROUPS

Ramona,

Once again, thanks for the quick feed back. All settings including path with new user name included, were as you described but I still have NO newsgroups. On the hard disk sub folders to NEWS exist and under NEWS there are RC files for each group and a FAT file.

Perhaps it's the problem, FAT that is...as the RC files appear to be dated when formed but the FAT file bears the date of the general news RC file, there is [and never was] a FAT file for the other groups. I suspect the FAT is simply a tiny master such as is found in Netscape's cache file except that the former never grows.

I have cogitated over this one and cannot come up with any rational way to re-gain access.

I just checked back and reconfirmed that every file in prior User files that I saved from Day One of my first uninstall, is identical to each other and to the files that are currently in place in Netscape save one: User's Name.

I just looked into the Corel RC file and it's clearly for WP 8 and contains a zillion numbers which I suspect are `read messages' or `all messages from a given date' that stay resident on my hard drive.

Still mystified.

 

Hi Welt,

One question I should have asked:

Exactly what happens when you click on the "Read Newsgroups" icon, in the lower left hand task bar? Do you get an error, etc.....

You might try editing your prefs.js and liprefs.js files to exclude the Newserver name, and see if that might help.

First: Backup your prefs.js and liprefs.js files

Open Notepad, select File|Open
Navigator to your Users folder\yourusername

scroll to this line:

user_pref( "network.hosts.nntp_server ", "netnews.yourispnewserver.net ");

Delete the Newserver name:
user_pref( "network.hosts.nntp_server ", " ");

Some users have found joy with this fix.

If this is unsuccessful, I have one more fix for you:

Using Windows Explorer, with Netscape closed, delete the entire news folder:

C:\ Program Files \Netscape \Users \yourusername\News

Then right-click and delete the News folder, which deletes all the contents as well. Netscape Communicator will rebuild the News folder, but this fix will work better if you create the News Folder yourself:

Create a new, empty News folder by opening:
C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\yourusername

Right-click an empty spot in "yourusername" folder and select New|Folder.
Then name the new folder "News "

Open Netscape and go to Preferences|Mail and Newsgroups| Newsgroup server
Even though C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\youusername\News is displayed,
click the Browse button and reselect that folder, which you created.
Then resubscribed to newsgroups.

This Tip from Alice, a member of the Netscape Navigator Forum

In order to preserve your Newsgroups in the future (this is how I save mine) in the event of a Netscape disaster: simply bookmark them. When such a bookmark is clicked, it automatically subscribes both the server and group.

 

NOT MUCH

Hi Ramona,

Seriously, when I click on Newsgroups Icon [lower right] I see Local Mail and its sub folders which include all messages that I have sent] followed by a folder named NEWS which is dead as a doornail.

I've not tried anything else but will read same but it won't be 'til later that I try editing. Will try and let you know tomorrow. Sale and Pelltier are on for 2 hours in a `Returning Home'
program from Edmonton and being a good Canadian, I shall watch it with my wife. It's at 6:30 here as we once again give way to the Eastern masses!

Thanks again.

 

MORE NETSCAPE NEWS NEWS

Hello Ramona

John Henry is back with a bit of good news and perhaps a bit of bad news and tidings of a wild, wild ride. Permit me to impose upon you and to try and report my adventures as I think they might be useful, I honestly don't know.

1 I made back up copies of liprefs and prefs files, both with the `js' extension.

2 I open them to edit out the `user_pref( "network.host.nntp_server ", "netnews.myuspnewserver.newt ");

3 I failed to find the line in (2) above in either file despite a thorough top to bottom fine tooth combing. Rather I found in `liprefs.js' `user_pref( "news.server_change_xaction ", 3);' [It now contains this line: `user_pref( "news.directory ", "c:\\Program Files\\Netscape\\Users\\weltrn\\news ");' - without the single quotes. This is after creation of a new NEWS folder per your friend Alice.]I found neither of the statements in `1 & 2 above' in the prefs.js file, nor do I now. I found NO JOY !

4 As mentioned I went the Alice route and deleted and recreated a NEWS folder which is when the wild ride began. Netscape promptly opened, to my surprise, it's wizard asking me to create a new profile. I did giving it my `old' user name thinking perhaps I might have multiple users names and I could copy my old NEWS files to it. I no sooner clicked finish and for some inexplicable reason Netscape opened and headed straight for Corel but not Corel's news group pages [I'd not yet gotten to adding in my old user files]. Then Java Script errors began to flash on screen. First one - and I took a picture and cropped it; then a second - picture and crop again; then a third - ditto. At this point the third Java Script error window kept reappearing.

My second and old user name never appeared in the Netscape users folder and still doesn't. It's gone to visit the space station I do believe - perhaps to Mars or Venus if feeling romantic.

5 I shut down Netscape and reopened it and tried to acquire news groups. I downloaded all my ISP seemed to carry but within them was not the Corel group I'd been using nor my server's own group. There were a couple of Corel to which I subscribed but not what I wanted.

6 I next tried copying in my old User files having first edited my old `fat file' to change all my old subscribed user group lines to change my old user name to my new user name. Having satisfied myself that the `new' fat file and my old one each contained the same opening line, I now deleted the `txt' extension that Notepad left behind and overwrote the new `fat' with my `edited fat'.

7 I reopened Netscape and it seemed to be working fine `even when I revisited Corel to find its newsgroup offerings.' I resubscribed to the WP 8 group and voila, when I double click it in NEWS, it downloaded the 200 messages I had set as my default. Unfortunately, I've not lost all my old messages but perhaps they're among those 10K+ I saw.

8 I could not figure out how to bookmark my news groups. Can I do that also for the news message replies I've sent? [I don't use Netscape mail for other than news].

9 Just had one final strange event. I opened Netscape to try and bookmark my news groups and for some inexplicable reason, it was trying to go to Netscape as its home page but Netscape would not load. I check preferences and sure enough, Netscape was showing as the `home' page. With an audible OH NO, I shut down and reopened Netscape. It instantly opened to my normal home page which also was revealed as the home page in preferences.

This 4.79 Netscape has a split personality!!!

10 Oh yes, after all tonight's effort, there's one other new event. EVERY time I open Netscape, it asks if I want to make it my defualt browser. It even has developed a serious inferiority complex! I've asked it to not ask me again. Perhaps I ought to have done so in the first place and it's me who is punchy. I am in my 70s!

Now Ramona, if you've not lost me and have persisted you know how I spent the evening after the skating exhibition. Once again, thanks for your help and please also thank your friend Alice. I hope you will respond to the questions/new events that surfaced this evening ...once you recover.

Again my thanks.

 

Mercy, Welt! I'll have to gnaw on this bone for a while, and will get back to you later today. It is now the wee hours of the a.m., and I must sleep. You did indeed have a wild ride.

Ramona

P.S. to Bookmark your Newsgroups:

Highlight the NG
Click on Communicator|Bookmarks|File Bookmark
Navigate to and select the appropriate folder

To save a specific Newsgroup message:
Highlight the NG Message
Click on Communicator|Bookmarks|File Bookmark
Navigate to and select the appropriate folder

 

BOOKMARKING WORKED

Hi Ramona.

Tried that yesterday but I guess I was not being very gentle and careful. Those bookmark windows jump around so rapidly....

Also forgot that I had to first create a new folder.

Hope you slept well and found meat on the bone for breakfast dessert and not all messy fat.

 

Hi Welt,

3. Not to worry!

4. Do you have JavaScript in Mail & News enabled? That would be in Preferences|Advanced If it is enabled, then disable it. That is a security risk. Might be why you were getting the JavaScript errors, but I will need to check that out.

The "Old" Profile may be listed in the Profile Manager. Look here: Start|Programs|Netscape Communicator|Utilities|User Profile Manager

At this point, it appears that Netscape is confused, and looking at two Profiles, trying to use both simultaneously. You may need to create another Profile to straighten out the "split personality ".

So the bottom line is:
you have your Newsgroups back
you got JavaScript errors, but after editing the fat file, they no longer occur
You may have two profiles trying to coexist
Netscape wants to be your default browser and you won't let it!

Waiting with bated breath,

Ramona

 

ALMOST THERE I THINK

Hi Ramona,

Yes, Java Script was enabled `in three places'. I disabled it in all three but have a feeling I should have done so only in the News Groups. This security bit with Java and Active X controls et al, `cornfuss me sumin' turrible' ! Are you telling me that `if enabled' my security can be breached?' What about viewing pages that require Java and what about my firewall security?

[Oops, Netscape has gone back to enabling Java in all but Mail and Newsgroups but it's working and doesn't seem to be seeking dual users. Security status, I just don't know.].

I have NO Utilities or User Profile Manager folders. Used Explorer and couldn't find them, then Find said `no such folder exists'. By the way my path line is: `C:\Program Files\Netscape\Communicator and therein are three sub folders: ISU-AOL & PROGRAM. PROGRAM contains 9 sub folders: AIM-DEFAULTS-DYNFONTS-IMPORT-JAVA- NETHELP-NLS-PLUGINS & SPELLCHECK and none contain either Utilities and/or Users Profile. I also used the browse function to allow FIND to search for both Utilities and User Profile and I again drew blanks.

Netscape IS my default Browser and I DO want it this way, not IE.

I deeply regret all the trouble to which I am putting you but surely do appreciate your infinite patience.

I think Netscape has had a good sleep and this morning it's condition has been upgraded from the original critical and serious to good.

 

Hi Welt,

Ah, improvements I see, and glad that you have moved from critical to good!

O.K., JavaScript can be enabled for browsing, but NOT for Mail & Newsgroups. Java can be disabled, but there will be some sites which will be skewed without its benefits, and others that require Java. It's a **** shoot at best. I disable it, unless needed.

Here is an excellent site on Security, Java/JavaScript, and ActiveX:
http://www.w3.org/Security/Faq/
See Q6, Q7, Q8 and Q9.

Yes, you DO have a Profile Manager. Did it not rise up and tempt you to recreate your "Old" profile. I probably wasn't clear enough about how to locate the feature. This is not through Windows Explorer:

Click on the START tab, lower left hand corner of the task bar.
Select Programs
Select Netscape Communicator
Select Utilities
Select User Profile Manager

If you have more problems or questions, please post back!

Ramona

 

Hello again Ramona,

Thanks for the peek at Java Script...and the referral.

Sometimes I can be so dumb. You didn't write a path and I wasn't bright enough to realize it. Nor
was I bright enough to realize that I had to have a Profile Manager. Saints preserve me from myself.
I had a look at the User Profile and to my surprise, the new profile that I wrote and to which I clicked Finish, is not to be found. Guess it's also somewhere near Venus.

I've been using Netscape since I had my first 1200 bps modem way back when. NEVER have I had
the problems I've had this time around. Besides, I wasn't doped up with pain killers back then.

I'm sure to have oddles of problems: only hope none are as difficult as this. I recently went through a horrid 8 days trying to install Norton 2002 and finally gave up when they gave me permission to use my wife's 2001 A-V. It was a breeze. Since then they have sent me two new CDs but I've not attempted to install them. I have to reinstall my scanner first [think it's calibration has gone awry]; IE 5.5 after trying 6.0 and having a horrible mismash, and who knows what else.

Should have started from a clean HD I suppose and reinstalled Windows and so on. I hate it when
things happen, and tho' they be fixed, I don't know what happened or why. It goes against my grain.

Thanks so very much.

 

Welt,

Glad that all is well on the Netscape front, and you now know how to access your User Profile Manager.

You take care, and post back anytime. We just love helping users with their Netscape problems!

Ramona

 

ONE WEE HITCH WITH NS

Hi Ramona,

Two hitches I suppose. I just lost my first message so hope this isn't a dual post. NS 4.79 seems to be working just fine but when I shut it down, I get two windows in tandem, that NS has caused an error... . I click OK to each, they close and all seems to be well.

There's a hiccup in there somewhere. If you think it's in the registry, could you please be specific. I don't mind editing the registry [with desktop BU of course] but only if I know what to do.

Any thoughts? At the moment it's only a bother but then I wonder about icebergs and their tips.

Thank you.

 

Hi Welt,

The next time the two errors occur, will you write them down and relay them to us? If they are: RPCRT4.DLL and PR3240.DLL exit errors, then read HERE.

If this isn't what's happening, let us know.

Ramona

 

YOU BETCHA

Thanks Ramona

Will do. It's spasmodic.

Ron

 

Hi Ron,

If it is the two exit errors that I suspect, I get them also. Will wait until you report back the particulars before I go into how to avoid them.

Ramona