can not start netscape

All of a sudden, Netscape 4.78 will not start. When I click on it, nothing happens but if I hit control-alt-delete, it is listed there.

Internet explorer and Netscape 6.2 work fine but some sites do not work with them. I have tried removing all programs that are running, and I have tried a clean install of both 4.78 and 4.79 with the same results. The only thing I have installed was a screen saver and I have removed that from the system.

Any ideas?

 

Hi bsole, and welcome to the Forum!

When you did the "clean" install, did you delete the nsreg.dat file from C:\Windows?

If no, then with Netscape closed:
delete nsreg.dat
restart Netscape
the Profile Manager will prompt to create a NEW profile
use the same profile name as the existing

Let us know if this works.

Ramona

 

RE: netscape will not start

For the " clean install, I removed netscape with tha add/remove programs in control panel, then removed all the files from the netscape directory, removed all references to netscape in the registry, and removed nsreg.dat from the windows folder. I did this for both 4.79 and when that didn't work I downloaded 4.78 and did the same thing.

When I try to start the program, nothing happens (or I should say that it tries to start as evidenced by the fact that it shows up as a non-responding file when I push control-alt-delete but does not start).

 

When you installed 4.78, was a new Netscape shortcut created on the Desktop?

Right click the Netscape shortcut, select "Properties ", and make certain the drive path is correct.

Let us know.

Ramona

 

Thanks for the quick reply.

Yes it did create a new shortcut and yes the location is correct.

 

Create a new profile and see if this makes a difference.

Ramona

 

When I open profile manager and click on new to create a new profile, the dialog box goes away and nothing happens. cntol-alt-delete shows netscape as being there. Also I do not know if it means anything, but when this happens (when I try to run netscape) I have to try to close the program 3 times before I can get it to close.

Bob

 

Bob,

Something is very wrong. Even though you did a "clean" install, the fact that Netscape will not start, and you cannot access the Profile Manager, tells us that you have corrupt files.

Uninstall Netscape, and rid your system of every vestige of Netscape files, including the Registry. Don't forget nsreg.dat and netscape.ini. Read here:
Performing a "Clean" Install
Follow all the instructions, including the second part: If you are upgrading because you are having problems with your current version of Netscape . . .

Download again from here: http://sillydog.org/narchive/

Then reinstall, and create a new User profile.

Let us know how you fare.

Ramona

 

Bob,

Do you use a Firewall, ZoneAlarm, etc.? If so, is it configured to allow Netscape, Internet access?

 

I have made 2 "clean installs using 4.79 (using the same information in the link you sent me) and when that didn't work, I did anothe clean install with 4.78. This was all before I tried this BBS.

I will be out of town for about a week but will try again when I return. As to the question about the firewall, I use norton internet security and everything was working fine. This just seemed to start out of the blue. The only thing I had recently installed was a screen saver and I removed that. I also updated my virus software and ran that on the system incase that was the problem.

When I get a chance to try again, I will start a new thread to let you know what happens (if that's OK>

Thanks for you help so far.

Bob

 

Since my last message, I have tried 2 times to do clean insatlls of netscape 4.78 and have downloaded and tried to install netscape 4.76. Each time I have the same result. I try to start netscape and nothing happens. When I hit contorl-alt- delete, I see netscape listed but it has not started.

Any ideas?

 

Hi bsole,

I thought it best to merge the two threads, in order not to have to toggle back and forth in order to see what has transpired.

I'm not sure what's happening with your installs. If you have done a clean install, then Netscape should be working. I'm suspicious of your Norton Internet Security, altho you say that this problem hit "out of the blue ".

I wonder why you downgraded to 4.76? This is not a wise choice, as there have been some major bug and security fixes since that version. If anything, I would strongly recommend upgrading to 4.79. You could be a victim of the "ghosting, or phantom" bug. This bug has been greatly reduced in Version 4.79.

Here is a list of questions to help troubleshoot your problem:

1. Do you have GetRight, Download Accelerator Plus, or any other third- party download manager installed
2. Do you use a HOSTS (not hosts.sam) file to block Adware/Spyware
3. Check in Preferences|Advanced|Proxies
   Ensure that "Direct connection to the Internet" is enabled
4. Right-click the shortcut for Communicator and select Properties.
   Under Target, delete anything following
   "C:\Program Files\Netscape\Program\NETSCAPE.EXE "
5. If Netscape doesn't respond:
   CTRL+ALT+DEL and if Netscape is in the list, end task.
   If this allows you to browse, after restarting Communicator, then you have the "Phantom Netscape" bug. You might want to consider upgrading to Version 4.79.
6. Try disabling programs from your Startup, one by one, to see if any of them are causing a conflict with Communicator.
7. Last but not least, delete your netscape.hst file, located in your Users\yourusername folder
   Empty your Cache folder, including fat.db
   Do a "Find" for *.tmp and delete all files[/list=1]
   
   Post back with your findings and hopefully we can get you up and running!
   
   
   Ramona

 

To answer your questions, I do not have get right, the only download manager I have is netscape smart download.

Running a find for hosts only shows hosts.sam

I am starting netscape.exe directly from windows explorer and do not have a shortcut set up for it.

When I try to start netscape, nothing happens so I can not get to preferences to check anything. after waiting for a while, I press cntrl+alt+del and netscape is shown. I have to hit end program 3 times to get it to go away.

When I first experienced the problem, I was running 4.78. I downloaded 4.79 to try to upgrade but the result was the same. I have downloaded and tried complete clean installs, according to the instructions at the site you recommended (which included removing the entire netscape folder) , 3 times and also tried the same with 4.78 3 or 4 times. I tried a clean install with 4.76 as a last resort. I even tried restoring a version of the registry from back in October long before this problem occured but it did not make any difference (except I had to reset a couple of things).

I have removed everything running on my system (including McAffee antivirus, Norton internet security and everthing else) to the point that if I hit cntrl+alt+del, all that is shown is explorer. Every time the result is the same. Netscape 6.2 and internet explorer both work fine but 4.7x will not start. Unfortunately I do not like the feel of either of these.

I am about ready to give up. I appreciate you efforts. If you have any other ideas, I will be happy to try them.

Bob

 

Things that make you go hmmmmmmm

Hi Bob,

After going over all your posts, I have some additional questions, and thoughts.

You said:

I do not have get right, the only download manager I have is netscape smart download.

Smart Download is known to create problems. It is very likely part of your problem. My advice would be to get rid of it.

I am starting netscape.exe directly from windows explorer and do not have a shortcut set up for it.

A "good install" places a Netscape shortcut icon on your desktop. I'm thinking that you have not succeeded in your "clean" installs/uninstalls. There is a missing link somewhere between the uninstall of the existing Communicator, and the install of the upgrade. You should stick with Version 4.79, BTW.

Go over the Clean Install instructions again. I went in this morning and bolded some of the headings and important steps. You might have missed them earlier.

I would use either of these download sites, and not Smart Download:

ftp://ftp.netscape.com/pub/communicator/english/
http://sillydog.org/narchive/

Ramona

 

I downloaded 4.79 from sillydog, removed smartdownload, followed all the directions for a clean install and had the same result. I think the only way I am going to resolve this is to reinstall windows and start over. I don't know if I am ready to deal with that right now.

If you have any other ideas, I would be happy to try them. Thanks for your help in trying to resolve the problem.

Bob

 

Hi Bob,

I found this Thread on the NS 6 NG today, and thought of your problems:

Subject: Re: browser 6.2.2 won't start
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 13:48:52 -0500
From: "Bundy"
Organization: Another Netscape Collabra Server User
Newsgroups: netscape.netscape6.windows
References: 1

<nospam@nospam> wrote

Just installed 6.2.2. on win 98, but for some reason the browser (navigator) won't start anymore. The splash screen keeps on the desktop and nothing happens. Have to use Ctrl+Alt+Del to exit the browser.

Any ideas?
Wim
--
From 6.2 Release Notes

Setting Profiles
If you install Netscape 6.2.2 over a nightly build of Mozilla, profiles may be corrupted and may cause Netscape to hang when it launches.

Workaround:
Create a new profile (or remigrate an old profile).

I'm wondering if by chance you may have installed your 6.2 over a nightly build of Mozilla? If so, you might try the above.

Ramona

 

First of all, I do not know what a nightly build of mozilla is. The first I saw mozilla was when I downloaded 6.2 and this was after I had the problem with 4.78. Second, I have gone as far as deleting the entire netscape folder and all references to netscape from the registry before reinstalling netscape. How would this be affected by a corrupt prfile?

 

Hi Bob,

First of all, I do not know what a nightly build of mozilla is.

If you don't know what it is, then you haven't installed Mozilla, so don't worry about it.

I have gone as far as deleting the entire netscape folder and all references to netscape from the registry before reinstalling netscape. How would this be affected by a corrupt profile?

Because Mozilla and Netscape share the same Profile. This can cause corruption, as stated.

If you have removed all instances of Netscape from your PC, including the Registry, and reinstalled, including creating a new Users Profile, then I don't know where else to go with your problem.

The only other possibility would be to also uninstall Netscape 6.2, removing it from the Registry, etc. Then install 4.79 again. Otherwise, I'm out of ideas.

Ramona

 

Just to let you know, I uninstalled netscape 6. I uninstalled netscape 4.79. I followed all the instructions for a "clean install of netscape and went as far as removing every reference to netscape, mozilla, and chrome from the registry. I ran scan disk and norton speed disk to defragment my hard drive. All before doing another "clean " install of netscape 4.79 (which I downloaded again).

After all this, the result was the same. I'm afraid that I will have to get used to netscape 6.2 as much as I dislike it.

 

Jst thought you would be interested. I copied a windows 98 installation from a hard drive that I had installed before I began having problems to my current drive and everything is working again. There are only a couple of programs that I will have to reinstall but at least netscape is working.

It seems that something was in the windows folder that was causing the problem. At least this will save me from having to reinstall everything.