Netscape-Mozilla(sp?) Mess - 7.2 does nothing

Hello Ramona and Westside,

I forumed with Ramona on the Unofficial Netscape Help webpage and he suggested a couple things, but before I proceed... and now with stumbling on this webpage... I have more questions.

For the other readers... a bit of history.

We've had netscape for years and years... started with 2.x somthing I believe. When we built this machine I think the first netscape was 4.61... then 4.75... then 6.0... then 7.01 (I think)... then 7.1... and now the failed attempt at 7.2.

All but 7.1 and 7.2 (which were over the 7.0) were installed in their own specific directory (i.e net4.61, net 4.75, and net 6.0, etc.

4.61 has been uninstalled as has 6.0, but I did notice some net6.0 entries still in the registry.

But... there is MORE! Much More. This past MONTH I've been attempting to install McAfee's Internet Security Suite v6... from CD. At first I elected its default full suite... and it seemed to install OK... but there were problems with 7.1 and the SpamKiller and I decided to uninstall just the SpamKiller. Thats when everthing went crazy. Their techs had me uninstall the whole suite and reinstall, but every attempt failed in one manner or another. The "what if's" and "try this" from their chat sessions didn't work and upon getting a email address to their supervisor... his ideas didn't work. The last 4 emails I sent (the first two were nice... the next 2 were pretty blunt... with the last being to call or have a tech call... even offered it on my dime (phone)... but nothing... the last message I sent issued the directive from me to resolve this (go up the chain if needed) and if I didn't hear anything within a reasonable time... I would never purchase another McAfee product again.... (I stuck with it for da_n near a month... if anything I am loyal, as we'd had various McAfee products for over 14 years!)... after 72 hours there was still nothing... so it and every thing I could find relating to it in the registry and directories was uninstalled/or deleted.

In the process of uninstalling and re-installing their suite about 7 times... it somehow ******* around with my 7.1 installtion that I could not fix and I decided to just go ahead and get the new 7.2.

When I did that the first time it was a web based install but it erred out on a read only error code 215 when it tried to replace a file.... no idea what ever set it to read only attrib... but someting had (likely McAfee privacy or security progs). Upon looking through I now had a half and half 7.1 and 7.2 as I had elected to just let it install over 7.1 (I really knew better too!)

Also during this time... I was talked into a program called NoAdware... which I figured couldn't hurt and it found a couple reg keys and values... a couple of which were associated with IE and win Update... the others were in cookies. Deleted them. If they had anything to do with this... I have no way of knowing... but I did "printscreen/paint/print" its results in case I needed them.... I didn't know one could copy out keys and values then... although I'm still not sure how, but I could manually re-enter them if needed.

Somewhere in this time frame I decided to uninstall 7.2 (through add/remove) but was unable to uninstall the remnants of 7.1. I manually then deleted its directory structures and everything I could find in the registry that indicated 7.1 or 7.2... but I doubt I got them all. Also I have 4.75 netscape keys and values connected to just about everthing it seems... even programs we dont have anymore. (DONT you just love it!!!) Oh, still had the MCaffe ISSv6 (install #7) at this point.

I've since attempted twice to install 7.2... the 1st time with MCafee still installed (but disabled). Same as the other install... executing the netscp.exe by any means did nothing except bump the drive a little. Nothing on the monitor changes except the hourglass came up while it accessed the drive... and then returns to the standard pointer.

By this time I still had no word from McAfee and uninstalled everthing as I previosuly stated... usingf the "Find" feature in regedit I deleted every McAfee entry and also all the net 7.2 I could find.

With NO protection what so ever I was hesitant to use the internet and again attempted an offline install of 7.2 as I still had it. No change.... behaves exactly the same.

Unitalled it.... Again. But hav't stripped the reg yet.

I also noticed that there is still a Mozilla and associated files (not Mozilla.com) under the Applications Data directory. Is this the one for 4.75? I really do not want to delete 4.75... its been my back up... but I guess I could use IE and Outlook for a short time... assuming some of the keys and values for 4.75 that are linked to these dont mess with them.

Had a Norton VS 2004 given to me and installed it... so at least the emails and downloads are scanned.... but still no FW (port) protection.

I then purchased (actually my wife traded traded in the McAffee where we bought it) for Norton's ISS 2005, and will install it as soon as I can get this netscape to work. No sense in doing it now.

OK... so thats the history.... could have strangled somebody, and threatened to defenestrate the computer. An extremely aggravating month!!!!!!

So what precicely is netscp.exe not finding (or finding directive for) to run?. How do I trace that?

I am a diehard "netscaper" and absolutely distain using this IE (4.75 can't run this page for some reason).

Oh... That reminds me... I did notice several "plugin" entries for all the versions... but have no idea if they interfere or are in conflict. I suspect maybe so.

Oh yea 2, and there are 4 versions of Java... that I intend to replace with there latest and greatest (via Ramona's link).

I guess, since I've been inside this... and at one time had a reasonble hand on the behind the scenes activities of the computer... simply stripping and reinstalling seems the "easy way out" as one never see's what the problem(s) really were. But maybe its just so messsed up that its the only way. Allas... I've had to rebuild from scratch more than once... but that's really not an option on this machine right now.

So... the last directive still stands?.... uninstall all the netscapes and javas and strip the registry?

Oh this machine CAN "T go down totally. My wife MUST HAVE her programs operating for her job. I know we need two machines... but we don't, and can't right now.

Thanks for listening... and might be best to read this twice. There are several questions embedded.

Dave
Hillsboro, OH

PS Defenestrate = "to throw out a window ". learned that from my 9th grade history teacher in 1967. He threatned us with it many times!. Problem was, we believed him... as he was 6'5 and at least 270 lbs. Guess it worked...stuck with me all these years!. Oh be quiet... I gotta get my laughs where I can these days. Between the politics and this computer this past month, my wife is about to have me commited.

 

Welcome to the Forum, dem45133!

Hi Dave,

Oh boy, do you ever have a situation! When you tried to uninstall Netscape 7.1, did you see 7.2 listed in Add/Remove? Probably not, but had to ask...

When I checked my 7.2 netscp.exe file, and my Communicator exe file, they are the same same as yours. Netscape 7.2=584 KB, and Communicator=5,488 KB.

As you already know, your mistake was in installing 7.2 over 7.1. Netscape 7.2 files are not compatible with 7.1. That's why 7.2 won't install. Did you get rid of the GRE folder? That is a bad boy, and creates all sorts of havoc if not removed with a 7.1 uninstall. It too has Registry entries, and should also be deleted.

This is what happens: When Netscape 7.2 is installed over an existing Netscape 7.1, or in the same Directory, it uninstalls the C:\Program Files\Common Files\mozilla.org\GRE\1.4f_2003062408 folder, and the Registry Key for 7.1b1[en] Uninstall Log Folder HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Netscape. This is when the "No Uninstall Log" error dialog is seen, and which makes it impossible to uninstall Netscape 7.1. It leaves an leaves an ineffectual entry in Add/Remove for Netscape 7.1.

You may be able to replace the 7.1 Registry Key by reinstalling 7.1 over itself, BUT, when you uninstall 7.1 using Add/Remove, then 7.2 will have the ineffectual entry in Add/Remove.

The C:\WINDOWS\Application DataMozilla\Profiles\profilename\*.slt folder is your Netscape 7.1/7.2 Profile folder, which is equivalent to the Users folder in Communicator. It is left untouched by uninstalls/reinstalls.

So what precicely is netscp.exe not finding (or finding directive for) to run?. How do I trace that?

What's happening is called the "Installer Bug ", which is one of the biggies in Netscape 7.1. You can read about it here:
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=211694

Your plugins should have no effect on the problems you are having.

To the best of my knowledge, these are the Registry Keys for Netscape 7.1, plus files and folders:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mozilla\Netscape 7.1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\mozilla.org\GRE\1.4f_2003062408
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Netscape\Netscape
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\IM
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Netscape
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\Netscp.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInter
net\Netscp.exe\DefaultIcon
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInter
net\Netscp.exe\InstallInfo
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInter
net\Netscp.exe\shell
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInter
net\Netscp.exe\shell\open
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInter
net\Netscp.exe\shell\open\command
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Gtek
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Gtek\AOD
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppPaths\Netscp.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppPaths\Netscp6.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Netscape(7.1)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Netscape 7.1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\mozilla.org\GRE\1.4f_2003062408
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Netscape
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Shutdown "SetupProgramRan"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Description\Microsoft\Rpc\UuidPersistentData "LastTimeAllocated" (I don't have this key)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Connections "SavedLegacySettings "
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{0D68D6D0-D93D-4D08-A30D-F00DD1F45B24}\InProcServer32 "(Default) "
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{6EDCD38E-8861-11D5-A3DD-00B0D0F3BAA7}\InProcServer32 "(Default) "

directories

c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Netscape 7.1
c:\Program Files\AOD
c:\Program Files\AOD\aol
c:\Program Files\Common Files\mozilla.org\GRE\1.4f_2003062408
c:\Program Files\Netscape\Netscape


files

c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Free AOL & Unlimited
Internet.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Instant Messenger.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Netscape 7.1.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Netscape Mail & Newsgroups.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Free AOL & Unlimited
Internet.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Netscape 7.1.lnk
c:\WINNT\NSUninst.exe
c:\WINNT\GREUninstall.exe
----

Don't forget to back up your Registry before you begin...

Ramona

P.S. I'm a she, not a he.

 

Thanks Ramona

Oh by the way, I'd figured out the he/she thing when I registered... I swore I'd seen Ramone on the other web page. Sorry about that!

Well, I've made a discision... but I have to wait until my wife finishes some work on here first.

I'm stripping EVERYTHING, all netscapes (my mail and bookmarks, and abook are saved on a diferent drive, but I will make a duplicate copy since that is where nestcape is directed...just in case.

Do i need to realy worry about a profile...? Well maybe I do... if that where the isp comm settings are. For the sake of argument I save that out too... I think you said where that was is a previos reply.

Still have a Java question... you said to Uninstall them...what about the registry? Will the uninstalls get them too. Seems I saw a lot of entries/pointers? to them, and some seemed to be for certain versions. A little worried about that.

Will do additional searches for more old McAfee stuff, and a few others for programs that were deleted some time ago and left behind stuff. The shared dll thing spooks me a little... as I've had windows say some were no longer needed... but was a lie. Any words of your expert wisdom on this?

I did get Karen's Reg Ripper utility and others, including the orphan Pruner... Looks like they may be a useful tool... any peculurarities (sp?) about them I need to know?

Oh... PLUGINS.

Noticed there were references on several netscape versions on Plugins... but were identified as Plugin1, plugin2, etc...
I really do not understand these. I think some are needed and others are basically adversisment for AOL and others... like yahoo or something. Which do I need?. Aren't some needed for proper display etc for browsing? Our dial up is a straight ISP... I distain AOL. Seems every other program on here did somekind of reference to them... I could have plastered a whole wall with the CDs they send.

If I strip all reference to AOL and plugins, the new install of 7.2 should ID what it needs and get them right? Need your thoughts on this and plugins in general.

As always I have too many questions. I should have been more aggresive at registry maintanence over the past 4 years this machine has been alive... but basically it spooked me... so I adopted the "let that sleeping dog lie" attitude.

You may want to break this into a couple of replies. I'm sure though that I'm not the only one with these kind of questions.

Thanks again for your help.... hope your having a great day.

Dave
Hillsboro, OH

 

I am getting worn out just reading your post. I will not even attempt to answer call your questions, but I can point out a few things.
1.I know nothing about the McAfee suite. I had one in the year 2000, and I still use it in the refurfished Win98. Unfortunately, it is not compatible with winXP.
But, the worst thing is the Antivirus software. Each uninstall require a thourough Registry cleaning. I had to do it a dozen of time, before I was able to get it working again. That was with v.5.21, and, although I like the programs, I am a masochist. But, I learned to work with my Registry, after remove well over 100 key for each uninstall. As for Norton, I would be very concerned about scanning Netscape mail. It is dangerous to the Inbox.
As for Netscape. You can get in as much or worse trouble by using an old profile. It is not so difficult to create a new profile, giving it a different name.
Installing in a directory is ok if you want to compare versions. Otherwise, it is dangerous, if you are not aware of the problems in using the same profile for different programs. The profile has all your personal info., from bookmarks, to mail, address books, passwords, etc. That's why the program should be handled carefully, but there is no better way to mess everything up than to use the same profile.
I have no idea what you are talking about the Plugins. The plugins allow you to work with installed programs, such as Media Players, Flash and other stuff.
They are, mainly .dll and .xpt files. The plugins folder from the previous version should saved, and used for the new version.
The best way to do an installation is to select a Custom install. Don't mess with trying to remove AOL stuff, and the Registry, unless you know what you are doing. But, most important is to create a new profile.
I have perfectly working Netscape7.1, and 7.2 installed, as well as 6.1. In addition, three Mozillas and 3 Firefoxes. Never had a problem.