Netscape 7.1 Does Not Run

I had been using Nestcape 7.1 for a few weeks, now for some reason it does not even run when you click on the Icon or the direct Netscpe.exe link.

It all began when I shutdown my Windows ME like I normally do and went to bed. The next morning went to start computer and it had not shutdown properly with a cursor blinking in black background. I had just recently done an Explorer update also.

Then when I restarted the computer, and ran Netscape it asked if I wanted it as a default browser. This happened before and I ended up having to reload Netscape 7.1 again. Norton Antivrus also failed to start, and I figured maybe a virus. So I ran the virus check and nothing found. Explorer browser worked ok, then checked for worms. Went to do a Reg Clean with a plug-in, and it failed in the middle of cleaning un-needed registry items.

Well, to make a long story short, after Reg Clean failed, and restart, Windows, and nothing would load. So after I used DOS with a rescue disk and opened Windows form DOS it said Registry has failed, and clicked on open with earlier registry.

Now, everything works, Windows, Explorer browser, except Netscape 7.1, Norton, and Java Sun. Downloaded the Java from the website and got that to run again, and tryed several unistalls of Netscape 7.1, and did the "Clean Install" by deleting the 2 folders of Netscape and Mozilla apps.

Netscape won't load, and no items in the Netcape folder run, HELP !! I called the Netcape help and got some info from them before I hung up without giving them my credit card info. She suggested Netscape needs to be fully deleted, and its Registry. Support would help me for $39.95, but declined.

I think something is wrong in my system Registry someplace.

What do I do next ???

 

Welcome to the Forum, vortex!

Hi vortex,

You have indeed experienced some major problems on your system. If you need help with your Windows Registry, you might want to post on the Windows ME Forum

When you indicated that you did a "Clean" install, did you follow these guidelines:
Performing a "Clean" Install, Netscape 7.x

In your circumstances, you should also Create a new Profile, if you haven't already.

If you didn't follow the above guidelines, then I would do another "Clean" Install, including deleting these files:
nsreg.dat
mozver.dat
If you have Mozilla installed, then DO NOT delete mozver.dat.

Once you have done the clean install, create a new Profile, and Netscape should function again.

NOTE: Back up your existing Profile Folder before you begin the unstall/clean install.

Ramona

 

Hi Broni,

I am not very familiar with DOS commands. When I was in DOS, I ran WIN from the Windows Directory, and that is when it came up with error message of Bad Registry. It then gave me one choice to revert to an earlier version of Registry.

Do you know if this version would be the last one or the earliest one?

I would think I would need the last one that has most of the current registry keys of the latest programs.

What I am finding is with the Registry version I am in now, it won't allow several programs to run, like Netscape 7.1, Java Sun, Norton Anti-Virus, and Windows Pop-up Stopper. All of these programs I had recently installed in the past year. So it looks like whatever Registry version I have does not include these newer programs.

Is your suggestion to go back to even an earlier version before lots of these programs loaded?

 

I believe that windows backs up the registry when booting. The earliest registry you would have is from tody to a few weeks ago, depending on how often you reboot. I believe windows keeps the last 5 copies of the registry, then as days pass overwrites the oldest with the newest. If you are really have a lot of problems, and cannot figure it out, you might consider a clean install. However, the users in the windowsME forum might know more.

good luck

tranquilo

 

I tried to restore, but no restore available, ie no previous restore points in storage.

 

Ramona,

When I get to step 2 of the "Clean Install "

"Open the Profile Manager and create a NEW Profile, entering a NEW PROFILE NAME.
Fill in the appropriate information. "

...it will not open the Profile Manager. Nothing runs in the Netscape folder.

Broni,

Went back to earliest version with DOS and the earliest was Jan 6, 2003. Lots of problems with opening folders to look at files. For example opening "Control Panel" showed nothing inside. So I went back to the newest version of Registry.

I have Norton 2002 System Works, and it found some registry problems. Ran a bunch of tools.

Somehow I need to delete the old Netscape System Registry keys to do a complete uninstall of Netscape, then load Netscape again.

 

vortex,

These would be the Registry Keys to delete:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Netscape.Network.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Netscape.Registry.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Netscape.TalkNav.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\NetscapeMarkup
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Netscape
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Netscape
HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Netscape

The first four keys are Netscape Communicator, but if you've never had Communicator installed, they won't be there.

Also delete:
mozver.dat file found in C:\WINDOWS
Delete the Netscape Program Folder
Delete the Mozilla Folder located in:
C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla

Ensure that you have backed up your Profile before this edit...

Edit with caution and please back up the Registry before proceeding. Have you been able to get all other programs running?

Ramona

 

vortex,

I was reminded of another place to look for existing Netscape files, following a thread on another forum:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\mozilla.org\GRE

If this folder exists, delete it also.


EDIT:
These Registry Keys are created by GRE:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Mozilla\GRE
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\mozilla.org\GRE\1.4f_2003062408\AppList



Ramona

 

Bingo Ramona,

I uninstalled Netscape through the normal Add-Remove Programs, then looked for the Registry keys you suggested.

Well, none of the Netscape Keys showed, however the Mozilla keys, below, were there so I deleted them.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Mozilla\GRE
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\mozilla.org\GRE\1.4f_2003062408\AppList

and the Mozilla file
C:\Program Files\Common Files\mozilla.org\GRE

So it appears everyhting was hung up on the Mozilla\GRE.

Now I re-copied my old Mozilla directory over in Apps and re-named the current one Mozilla.old.

My bookmarks work, but the abook.mab address book it does not like, and created its own, and my old mail does not show up, however the mail directories show.

Do I need to use the orginal Mozilla directory to get my mail back?

Thanks very much all of you guys for your suggestions.

 

Hi vortex,

Excellent!

Now I re-copied my old Mozilla directory over in Apps and re-named the current one Mozilla.old.

That will be a problem. What you need to do is leave the current Profile (*.slt) as is, then copy over files from the OLD Profile.

Copy abook.mab from the Old Profile to the New.
Copy mail files without the MSF extension from the Old Profile to the New.

This may not work, and you may have to create a new Profile, then copy the files over. Check out the link I gave you for creating a new Profile, for more detailed guidelines.

Let us know if you have more questions.

Ramona

 

I am really having a tough time with mail and getting my old files back.

I was doing a "Clean Install of Netscape 7.1" based on your notes.

In Step 2, I am very confused, you say...

=======================
STEP TWO:

Delete the entire C:\Program Files\Netscape\Netscape 7
AND
the C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles Folder.

Open the Profile Manager and create a NEW Profile, entering a NEW PROFILE NAME.
Fill in the appropriate information.
========================

Question: when I delete C:\Program Files\Netscape\Netscape 7
AND the C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles Folder

and go to Profile Manager it won't open, and can't find Netscape.

Don't I have to download Netscape again before I go to Profile Manager?

 

Hi vortex,

If you noted, Step Two is if you are having problems with Netscape... Follow step one, then on to Step Two.

Yes, Netscape would have to be installed in order to create a new Profile.

Ramona

 

I am afraid that things are getting more and more confusing.
I never quite understood the reasons for a clean install, as related to the Profile, but, as long as you backed up everything you need, you should be able to reintroduce everything.
And, Ramona beat me to the rest.
Anyway, let me tell you that I have also been a victim of the GRE syndrome. I had Moz1.4 and 1.5b, working from the unzipped file, but I remove them. And, I had NS7.1 installed normally.
Working from the unzipped file, there is no joint GRE to worry about. But, when I tried to install Moz1.4 in a normal way, I got the infamous xpcom.dll error. I solved the problem by chucking Moz1.4, and getting the .zip version of 1.5b. No problem whatsoever. I had my old profiles, so everything works fine. There should be a .zip file for everything, and GRE should be banned.
fp

 

Ok Ramona, I am about ready to get my mail working.

I was very careful in following the steps in the Clean Install and Make New Profile instructions, and am hung up on the last part of Make New Profile and Mail Settings.

I do not see a anynumber.s and a pref in my new profile, however they are in the default profile. Do these anynumber.s and pref have to be copied into my new profile?

All my folders are in but when I go my email box it says write protected and does not allow to read or write. Hopefully the anynumber.s and pref is the problem?

Thanks for sticking with me

 

Hi vortex,

Check the Properties of your Mail files. Right click: select Properties
If they are "Read Only" that is why you are getting the error. Remove the tick besides "Read Only ". This happens when you archive your files to CD.

You should have a prefs.js file, but don't copy the OLD prefs.js to the new Profile. Open Netscape and set up your preferences again.

The anynumber.s file contains password data. If you saved passwords in the OLD profile, do this:

Once the new profile is created, then create a new *.s Password file by going to a website and saving username/password.
Close Netscape

You will note that you now have a *.s password file in your salted folder.

Now, to have your previous *.s Password File back, rename the old *.s password file to the NEW *.s password File name. Then delete the new *.s password file.

Keep us post on your progress. You're almost there!

Ramona

 

You are good Ramona !!!

What a stupid error on my part, I never knew that if you created a back-up to a CD that when you re-copied back to your C drive that it would be write protected. I would have never known to check this error.

So I selected my files and took off write protect and for the first time see my old mail!

I am at work now, and don't have a place to hook back up into the internet with my Laptop, so will let you know the results later.

QUESTION: When you install Netscape 7.1 it will use your previous settings and mail by looking at your previous WIN|APPS DATA|Mozilla. So why can't I simply uninstall it, then put my old Mozilla folder back (un-write protected) and re-install Netscape? Won't this use the previous Mozilla folder and everything should be happy?