Comcast Meltdown
 

On Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:10:54 GMT, Tom Francis
wrote:

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:49:13 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"D.Duck" wrote in message
om...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"D.Duck" wrote in message
...


You might want to try the Norton removal tool from Symantec:

http://tinyurl.com/7v555b

I haven't used it recently but in the past it was effective in removing
their bloat-ware

I assumed that you have the 2008 version, if not there are tools on the
Symantec site for other versions.

Make sure you have the FREE version of AVG. Sometimes it's hard to
locate the free version URL.



Thanks. I read it. Not sure I am ready to try it, but I bookmarked it.
I am pretty sure I found the free version of AVG. There was a leading
advertisement to
get the full up version for free also, but I read it carefully and
discovered it was one of those
"free to try" deals. The version I downloaded from:

http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.htmlwas

is the basic, "free" file. Hold on ..... it's file name is: "index.php"
Haven't installed it yet though. Been reading that there have been some
problems getting it to install. Need to research it a bit more.

Eisboch

I've installed free AVG on three Vista PCs with no problems. I think you
know to remove Norton before the AVG install.


Well, that's where I am hung up. I haven't actually installed Norton on
the new computer, but I haven't completely removed it either. It still
asks to be installed every time I reboot. I figured I'd try to learn how
to completely remove it from the computer before installing AVG. Your link
provided good information, but it's obviously not as simple as doing a
Windows "Remove Program".

I hate doing stuff like this. Every time I try to do something more
involved than a simple install or uninstall, I screw up the computer and I
am up all night trying to fix it.

You need to use a more mystical approach - be one with the program and
one with the computer.

OOOOMMMMMMMM.......

Oh - I forgot to define mystical approach.

Take it to your local geek store and have them do it for you which is
what I did with the last new computer I bought - took it to the local
nerd shop, said remove the bloatware - two hours and $50 later, presto
- gone.

OOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM......

When we bought the Sony laptop for my wife, the Geek Squad in Best Buy
removed all the loaded on crap for $29, but we had to leave the computer
overnight. They did a right good job as far as I can tell.
--
** Good Day! **

John H

Comcast Meltdown
 

Eisboch wrote:

"Boater" wrote in message
...
Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:19:37 -0800 (PST), wrote:


That's odd, I don't know of anybody who doesn't like Comcast phone.

I don't like it. Mine drops the connection too much.
Besides that, when I lose service to the phone, which has happened far
too often, I also lose the net and TV.
I'm looking at alternatives.

--Vic


Phone over internet is not reliable.

I just finished responding to a Comcast Survey request regarding our
recent problems.
In the "scoring" section I gave mostly very low grades, mainly to catch
someone's attention.
It did. The scores prompted an additional survey page and a request for
comments because of the low scores.

I took my time and carefully crafted a polite but accurate account of
the whole fiasco, starting last Saturday, the promises made and
defaulted on, the frustration of having to go through the whole process,
describing the problem, etc. even though "Reference" numbers had given
to me for future calls if required. I explained how the home service
never showed and how I finally found a couple on lunch break in a local
parking lot.

I gave those guy kudos for being responsive, knowledgeable and
understanding of our frustration.
I suggested that Comcast should consider a major overhaul of their
telephone technical assistance.

At the end of the survey, they still wanted me to sign up for internet
telephone.

Eisboch

I have used Vonage for about 3 years and have had NO significant
problems since it was installed. When I first had it installed I used
to have to reboot the telephone modem about once a month, but that was
nothing more than turning it on and off. I used to have the same
problem with my cable modem. For some reason, I no longer have that
problem with my cable or telephone modem. I understand if he have a
real problems their customer "no service" can really suck.

If Vonage goes belly up, I will try out T-Mobile's VOIP at $10 a month.

Comcast Meltdown
 

Eisboch wrote:

"Boater" wrote in message
...
Gene Kearns wrote:
On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:20:40 -0800 (PST), penned
the following well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

On Dec 30, 5:42 pm, "Eisboch" wrote:
"BAR" wrote in message

...



You should've just called Harry he can fix anything.
Anybody should. Heck, I am far from a computer expert, but I
successfully
installed and setup a wireless home network system for my son at his
Beachouse. All you have to do is carefully follow the instructions.

Our system was dependent on Comcast. *That* was the problem.

Eisboch
I've got Comcast, and I set up my own wireless network without a
glitch.

Legitimizes the do-it-yourself notion......



I have a feeling the "cable modem" Eisboch was issued, and not the
router, or router side, was at fault here. There really isn't much to
setting up a router if you are not assigning IP addresses to the
devices on your home network.

I don't know much about these things but the one they replaced (that had
been working fine until the Comcast dude remotely did something to it)
was one unit. It was a modem/wireless router in one package.

The wireless router I installed myself at my kid's house was a separate
unit from the modem.
I simply connected it to the Comcast provided modem and followed the
directions on the disk that came with the router. It was duck soup.
Set up a secure network and all works fine.

Maybe I should apply for a part time job at Comcast, huh?

The guys that finally showed up at the house knew their stuff though.
They setup some cool stuff for us that the average do-it-yourselfer like
me would never know you could do.

Meanwhile, I've downloaded AVG but have not installed it yet. I read up
on it a bit and it was recommended that you make sure you are current
with all Windows updates for Vista, which I did. There were quite a few
updates that had to be downloaded and installed.

Before I install AVG, I want to get rid of Norton. Whenever I boot up
the computer I get a screen asking me if I want to install it, which I
refuse every time. I want to figure out how to get rid of that before
installing AVG, just to make damn sure there isn't some conflict going on.

Eisboch

Eisboch,
There is a good chance that "Norton" screen is actually a Trojan that is
sending you to a "Norton Phishing" site (and not a real Norton site) so
you will provide them with your credit card info. I had a neighbor who
picked up that virus and it was a bitch to get rid of. You had to
delete the start up line, manually delete the file it referenced, and
then reboot in safe mode to completely remove it.

You might be able to remove it using AVG but it does sound to me like
you have picked up a Trojan.

Comcast Meltdown
 

On Jan 1, 10:35*am, "Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq."
wrote:
Eisboch wrote:

"Boater" wrote in message
...
Gene Kearns wrote:
On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:20:40 -0800 (PST), penned
the following well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

On Dec 30, 5:42 pm, "Eisboch" wrote:
"BAR" wrote in message

news:37udnXRVFdcOP8fUnZ2dnUVZ_q_inZ2d@giganew s.com...

You should've just called Harry he can fix anything.
Anybody should. *Heck, I am far from a computer expert, but I
successfully
installed and setup a wireless home network system for my son at his
Beachouse. *All you have to do is carefully follow the instructions.

Our system was dependent on Comcast. * *That* was the problem.

Eisboch
I've got Comcast, and I set up my own wireless network without a
glitch.

Legitimizes the do-it-yourself notion......

I have a feeling the "cable modem" Eisboch was issued, and not the
router, or router side, was at fault here. There really isn't much to
setting up a router if you are not assigning IP addresses to the
devices on your home network.

I don't know much about these things but the one they replaced (that had
been working fine until the Comcast dude remotely did something to it)
was one unit. *It was a modem/wireless router in one package.

The wireless router I installed myself at my kid's house was a separate
unit from the modem.
I simply connected it to the Comcast provided modem and followed the
directions on the disk that came with the router. *It was duck soup. *
Set up a secure network and all works fine.

Maybe I should apply for a part time job at Comcast, huh?

The guys that finally showed up at the house knew their stuff though. *
They setup some cool stuff for us that the average do-it-yourselfer like
me would never know you could do.

Meanwhile, I've downloaded AVG but have not installed it yet. *I read up
on it a bit and it was recommended that you make sure you are current
with all Windows updates for Vista, which I did. *There were quite a few
updates that had to be downloaded and installed.

Before I install AVG, I want to get rid of Norton. * Whenever I boot up
the computer I get a screen asking me if I want to install it, which I
refuse every time. * I want to figure out how to get rid of that before
installing AVG, just to make damn sure there isn't some conflict going on.

Eisboch

Eisboch,
There is a good chance that "Norton" screen is actually a Trojan that is
sending you to a "Norton Phishing" site (and not a real Norton site) *so
you will provide them with your credit card info. *I had a neighbor who
picked up that virus and it was a bitch to get rid of. *You had to
delete the start up line, manually delete the file it referenced, and
then reboot in safe mode to completely remove it.

You might be able to remove it using AVG but it does sound to me like
you have picked up a Trojan.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Interesting theory, but Norton is a sleazy op that does everything it
can to keep from being removed.. McAffe btw as I noted before is a dog
of a system that drains your resources nearly as much as AOL...
Dick, try Zone Alarm like I said before...

Comcast Meltdown
 

"Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq." wrote in message
...

I have used Vonage for about 3 years and have had NO significant problems
since it was installed. When I first had it installed I used to have to
reboot the telephone modem about once a month, but that was nothing more
than turning it on and off. I used to have the same problem with my cable
modem. For some reason, I no longer have that problem with my cable or
telephone modem. I understand if he have a real problems their customer
"no service" can really suck.

If Vonage goes belly up, I will try out T-Mobile's VOIP at $10 a month.



Our old fashioned land lines rarely get used. Once in a while we the fax
line, but even that has become very infrequent due to e-mail.

For telephone service, we both use cell phones. I see no reason whatsoever
to sign up for Comcast Internet telephone service.

Eisboch

Comcast Meltdown
 

"Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq." wrote in message
...


Eisboch,
There is a good chance that "Norton" screen is actually a Trojan that is
sending you to a "Norton Phishing" site (and not a real Norton site) so
you will provide them with your credit card info. I had a neighbor who
picked up that virus and it was a bitch to get rid of. You had to delete
the start up line, manually delete the file it referenced, and then reboot
in safe mode to completely remove it.

You might be able to remove it using AVG but it does sound to me like you
have picked up a Trojan.

Anything is possible, but I doubt it. It's a brand new computer and the
Norton screen came up during the initial start up and program loading of the
computer. This was 4 days before it was ever connected to the Internet.

It first came up with the initial start up after loading Windows, etc. (as
it should). I clicked on the "close without installing" because I didn't
want to install Norton. It still pops up whenever I do a cold reboot, and
I continue to click "close without installing".

This morning I tried to install the free AVG program. Windows on the new
computer was unable to install it because it doesn't recognize ".php" files.
I suppose I can find the software to do it, but I think I'll just buy the
"Pro" version and be done with it.

Eisboch

Comcast Meltdown
 

On Thu, 01 Jan 2009 11:12:10 -0500, Eisboch wrote:


This morning I tried to install the free AVG program. Windows on the
new computer was unable to install it because it doesn't recognize
".php" files. I suppose I can find the software to do it, but I think
I'll just buy the "Pro" version and be done with it.

You have to go back to that index.php url and download what it points
to. PHP is a scripting language used for dynamic content. It is not the
program itself.

Comcast Meltdown
 

Eisboch wrote:

"D.Duck" wrote in message
...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"D.Duck" wrote in message
...


You might want to try the Norton removal tool from Symantec:

http://tinyurl.com/7v555b

I haven't used it recently but in the past it was effective in
removing their bloat-ware

I assumed that you have the 2008 version, if not there are tools on
the Symantec site for other versions.

Make sure you have the FREE version of AVG. Sometimes it's hard to
locate the free version URL.



Thanks. I read it. Not sure I am ready to try it, but I bookmarked it.
I am pretty sure I found the free version of AVG. There was a
leading advertisement to
get the full up version for free also, but I read it carefully and
discovered it was one of those
"free to try" deals. The version I downloaded from:

http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.htmlwas


is the basic, "free" file. Hold on ..... it's file name is:
"index.php" Haven't installed it yet though. Been reading that there
have been some problems getting it to install. Need to research it
a bit more.

Eisboch

I've installed free AVG on three Vista PCs with no problems. I think
you know to remove Norton before the AVG install.


Well, that's where I am hung up. I haven't actually installed Norton
on the new computer, but I haven't completely removed it either. It
still asks to be installed every time I reboot. I figured I'd try to
learn how to completely remove it from the computer before installing
AVG. Your link provided good information, but it's obviously not as
simple as doing a Windows "Remove Program".

I hate doing stuff like this. Every time I try to do something more
involved than a simple install or uninstall, I screw up the computer and
I am up all night trying to fix it.

Eisboch

If it really is Norton, you just go to Add/Remove software. If you
don't have Norton in your Add/Remove list, it is a Trojan.

Comcast Meltdown
 

On Thu, 01 Jan 2009 11:35:28 -0500, Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq. wrote:


If it really is Norton, you just go to Add/Remove software. If you
don't have Norton in your Add/Remove list, it is a Trojan.

Nah, Norton is a special case. You need special tools and incantations
to remove that POS.

Comcast Meltdown
 

Eisboch wrote:

"Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq." wrote in message
...

I have used Vonage for about 3 years and have had NO significant
problems since it was installed. When I first had it installed I used
to have to reboot the telephone modem about once a month, but that was
nothing more than turning it on and off. I used to have the same
problem with my cable modem. For some reason, I no longer have that
problem with my cable or telephone modem. I understand if he have a
real problems their customer "no service" can really suck.

If Vonage goes belly up, I will try out T-Mobile's VOIP at $10 a month.



Our old fashioned land lines rarely get used. Once in a while we the
fax line, but even that has become very infrequent due to e-mail.

For telephone service, we both use cell phones. I see no reason
whatsoever to sign up for Comcast Internet telephone service.

Eisboch

We just dumped our $60 a month basic phone service hard wired to the
house for a cell phone at $10 a month.. We only use it to filter
salesmen and stuff anyway. We use our personal cells for everything
else. For our business however we still use the copper, I can't stand
talking business with someone using a cheesy voip or cell phone.
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