How to Get Rid of Messenger Pop-up Windows

Messenger pop-ups are little windows created by computer users or companies that use that use the Windows net send command to create the uncontrollable pop-up messages you see on your screen when you least expect it. There are a few different types of pop-ups that may surface; these may be general browser pop-ups, advertisements or pop-ups generated from adware or spyware. Regardless of what they are, most users find them annoying and distracting.

All pop-ups can be prevented by installing or using an existing pop-up blocker. While most operating systems now do include a built in pop-up blocker some users that still work from an older operating system may need to manually stop pop-ups by disabling them or installing a special program. Many browsers such as Google have pop-up blockers that can be turned on to prevent pop-ups from occurring.

There are several programs that prevent these ads from popping up without your consent and interrupting your computer work. If you are working with Microsoft Windows it is advisable that you stick with a Microsoft sponsored option for pop-up blocking, some non-Windows programs specifically designed to stop pop ups may interfere with other components of the operating system and while the pop-ups may be blocked other issues may surface.

Here are some universal instructions for Windows users to stop the messenger pop-ups from intruding on your computer screen.

• Write down the pop-up messenger string information
• Click on the Start menu
• Go to the Run command
• Type Services.msc /s
• Click on OK
• Locate the messenger string and select this from the box
• On the Services toolbar select Properties
• On the Startup type set this to Disabled
• Click on the Stop command
• Click Apply
• Restart your computer for your setting to take effect

Live Gaming Failure

Gaming has become a social phenomenon, but it is hard to be use games for socialization purposes when your live gaming fails to initialize. Windows offers several error messages that communicate that there is a problem with the game load. You may encounter the problem if you are running the Games for Windows Live program as a dedicated server on a Windows Vista, XP or a 2003 computer.

The following errors commonly indicate that there is a problem:

• System cannot find the path specified.
• Live gaming on Windows failed to initialize.

Solution One

Uninstall and then reinstall the game, this may solve the problem immediately.

Solution Two

If the first option is unsuccessful, try uninstalling and reinstalling the Games for Windows Live software. To do this, go to add/remove programs in Windows XP or Programs and Features in Windows Vista and Windows 7. When the list of programs is populated select Microsoft Games for Windows Live and uninstall or remove this. Follow the instruction prompts on your screen which will walk you through the entire process.

Once you uninstall the program you will have to reinstall the Games for Windows Live Software. Next go to the Microsoft website and download the latest update. When the update is complete follow the instructions on your screen and close all other programs. Restart your computer and attempt to start the game again.

Solution Three

The problem may occur because another gaming application is running on the same machine which may cause a repeated conflict. Ensure that you have downloaded the latest Windows updates to allow you to run your gaming programs properly.

Updates can be installed by going to the Windows website. Always allow updates to be installed when you are prompted to do when they are available, this will prevent having to troubleshoot through error messages. Do not ignore the message prompts for updates in the future, this will ensure that you are up to date with the latest software for your computer.

Hopefully one of these three solutions will remedy the issue. If not you may need to adjust your settings or contact Microsoft Support for further assistance.

HTTP 500 Error

HTTP 500 errors can occur with any browser at any time. As with most browser errors, 500 errors can be customized based on the website where it is encountered. No matter how the error looks though, it will always mean the same thing. When you are faced with a message telling you that there is an HTTP 500 error, it means that there is a problem on the server where the website is being hosted.

All 500 errors will be shown as a normal web page within the browser and will contain messages similar to the following:

• 500: Internal Server Error
• HTTP 500 Error – Internal Server Error
• 500 Error

This is a very general code that is used to show that something is wrong on the server, but the exact problem is unknown. Fortunately (and unfortunately), this means that the problem has nothing to do with your computer or the browser you are using, but instead with the website itself. In other words, it is a server-side error.

While the error is due to something wrong on the server, there are things you can do to try and get to the web page you want to look at.

First, try reloading the URL that you are visiting. In some cases, these errors are due to a very temporary glitch and reloading or refreshing the page can often rectify the situation. You can try hitting the refresh button or you can try re-typing the URL into the address bar.

If reloading the website doesn’t help, try visiting the page later. Most 500 errors are temporary in nature and while some seem to correct themselves right away, others do need the web developer to make some corrections. If this is the case, visiting the site later will give the developer time to make any necessary corrections.

Most websites provide a way to contact the web developer or designer (usually by providing an e-mail address). Contacting this person is one way to ensure the issue is noted and that the person gets to work on the situation as soon as possible.

MSN Messenger Error 80048820

Error 80048820 can occur when trying to launch and log on to the Microsoft Messenger application. When this happens, you will often be greeted by a pop-up box that says “Sorry, we were unable to sign you in to the MSN Messenger at this time. Please try again later.” In the bottom left hand corner, a numeric code is shown that tells you which error you have encountered, in this case, 80048820.

In most cases, this error is triggered because the system time or date is incorrect and needs adjusting. Other possible causes of error 80048820 include: Internet Explorer has an incorrect proxy setting, the softpub.dll file has become de-registered, or firewall problems. In order to resolve this error and stop it from happening, you can do the following:

1. Log on as an administrator and correct the computer’s clock and date so that it is showing the right time. This is the most common cause of this error, so once you have done this, try launching MSN Messenger. If this did not correct the error, move on to the following.
2. In Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu and click Internet options. Go to the Connections tab in the pop-up box that opens and then click LAN setting. In the LAN setting box, make sure that the check box beside “Use a proxy server for your LAN (These settings will not apply to dial-up or VPN connections)” is unchecked and then check the box beside “Automatically detect settings.” Click OK through the boxes to save the settings.
3. Turn off your firewall temporarily and try to connect. If you can, then you need to adjust your settings in your firewall so that MSN Messenger is allowed access when the firewall is turned on.
4. Finally, in some cases, correcting this issue can be as easy as unplugging your modem. Removing the power source for 15 – 30 seconds from your modem resets the connection and may be all you need to get yourself back on Messenger.

Internet Connection Error 619

When attempting to connect to the Internet from a computer that has Windows XP installed, a connection error may be generated. If connection error 619 occurs, it often causes the connection attempt to fail, which means that you will not be able to browse the Internet at all.

Internet connection error 619 can be caused by a number of different factors, including: a third party program, a problem with the access numbers provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for those using dial-up, a modem problem, or a router problem. Depending on what is causing the error, there are different methods for resolving it.

If a third party program is causing a problem with your Internet connection, your best bet is to uninstall it. Once the program has been uninstalled, you should try connecting to the Internet to ensure that has resolved the problem. If you can once again connect to the Internet, you can try re-installing the program to see if it was just an issue with that installation. If it once again interrupts your connection, you should remove the third party program from your computer.

With a dial-up connection, there are often several numbers you can try to connect to the Internet. You should try all of them to see if any of them will connect. If you are still having issues, you may have to make some changes to your telephone line, like removing call waiting or adding a custom prefix when dialing your ISP.

To confirm if there is a problem with your modem, you should check its status in Device Manager. If there is an X or any issues, you can uninstall your modem. Once it has been uninstalled restart your computer and it will attempt to install the hardware. You may have to provide a disk for this. Once your modem has been installed, you can run a query on its set up from within the Properties window. If it appears to be set up correctly, try connecting again.

To resolve issues with your router, you will need the manual that was sent with it. Within that, you will find an IP address to enter so that you can check the configurations of your router. Follow the steps and ensure your router is set up as provided by your ISP.

If none of these remedies work, contact your ISP to determine if the problem is at their end.

npswf32.dll Error

When browsing different sites on the Internet, it is not uncommon to come across sites that use Flash and Shockwave as part of their programming. Particularly those sites that are animated will have some kind of Flash programming embedded. The npswf32.dll file is associated with the plug-in that is needed to run the Shockwave animations on these websites.

When there is an issue with npswf32.dll, it will often cause a browser to crash, particularly with older versions. The fact that your browser crashes and you get an npswf32.dll error means that either your browser is out of date or the version of the npswf32.dll file on your computer is out of date.

To stop your browser from crashing when you visit pages that include Shockwave applications, you can do one of two things (in some cases, you may need to do both):

1. Update your browser – Older versions of Internet browsers may not be able to connect properly with newer Flash plug-ins. Whichever browser you are using, you should download and install the latest version available. If you are still having problems after doing this, then it is likely that you will also have to update the npswf32.dll file version.
2. Update the npswf32.dll file – If you don’t know what version of the npswf32.dll file you are using, it won’t hurt to try updating it. You can do this in a number of ways. The easiest and best way is to install the latest version of the Flash player. By doing this, you will be installing all the most up-to-date files associated with it. The npswf32.dll file is often found in a number of places on your computer, so you could copy it from another location, or download it from the Internet and replace the file you have.

Fixing JavaScript Errors

Different Internet browsers show that there are JavaScript Errors in different ways. In most cases, you will have either a warning sign in the status bar or a window will pop up explaining that there are problems with a script running on the page. If you only get the warning icon, you can find out what’s wrong by clicking on it. This will open the window and give the details of the errors that are encountered. There are times where the error will state that there is a JavaScript error, although most of the time it will just say there is a problem with a script running on the web page.

How to Fix JavaScript Errors

If you get a scripting error message, the first thing you should do is close the window and try to load the web page again. If you get the same error on trying to load the page again, there can be a number of causes.

Internet connections can actually effect how well and if sites will load and run. With dial up or slower broadband and cable connections, more complex web pages may not run. This is due to the time taken for the site to download and the capability of the Internet connection.

Ensure that you have JavaScript installed in your browser and also make sure that it is an up-to-date version. You can find out if your browser runs Java by checking the following:

• Firefox – Tools > Options > Content, check the box Enable JavaScript
• Internet Explorer – Tools > Internet Options > Programs, click the Manage add-ons button and scroll down to make sure that JavaScript is enabled.

If you are unsure, visit the Java website and follow the instructions for installing Java for the browser you are using.

Finally, if none of this helps, there may be a problem with the code, and if you did not write the web page, then there is little that you can do, except contact the webmaster for the site and let them know.

400 Bad Request/Bad File Request

Web errors offer little information as to why they happen and what to do to fix them. Moreover, any information they do offer can be quite cryptic and mired in technical jargon, usually undecipherable to the common user.

A common web error is the “400 Bad Request/Bad File Request” as it can often come from minor mistakes in the web address or the Uniform Resource Locator, URL. For many web servers, the URL must be exactly accurate in order to reach the page that is requested. The error will occur if there is an error in the spelling of the URL, including case sensitive characters. This means that all of the capital and lowercase letters in the intended URL must be the same as what the user enters into the address bar.

Essentially, what the 400 Bad Request is telling you is that there is some part of the URL that has been entered incorrectly. The web server hosting the site cannot find what you have requested. This gives the error the name of “Bad Request.” If you are entering a specific file path or name and have entered it incorrectly, you may get the “Bad File Request.” In fact, all 400 series of errors imply that the issue is with the user and so the solution must be with the user as well.

This can be difficult with longer URL addresses as many have long complicated strings of seemingly unrelated letters. Try to use hyperlinks directly by clicking on them wherever possible or by copying links and pasting them into the address bar instead of recalling them from memory, especially if they are these kinds of long complicated URLs.

The wrong punctuation can also cause this error as the web server hosting the page or file you are trying to access will read punctuation as letters. Keep in mind that these are considered letters in many different areas of computing.

Finally, you may not be authorized to view the specific file that you are attempting to access. However, in this case, you will usually receive a very specific 400 error message that states “403 Forbidden/Access Denied,” which refer specifically to this instance.

Insight into SQL Database Errors

SQL stands for Structured Query Language, which is a standardized computer programming language that obtains information from certain databases and makes it understandable. Each specific computer application will have a unique version of SQL that incorporates features that are specific for that particular application. Regardless of some of the unique content for each application, SQL has some basic components that make it universal for all SQL databases so there is commonality among the language.

The core function of SQL is to interact with queries, modify data and manage databases that will allow for the retrieval, update, insertion and deletion of data in standard and/or remote databases. Since the development of SQL in the 1970’s, many versions of the SQL language have been released and adopted. The database and the SQL language has allowed for a much easier, more costly way to manage information on a large scale.

There are several errors that can be generated by SQL, with each error message having an associated number that specifically identifies what the error is. This is designed so the user can lookup the error and take steps to correct it manually before having to seek outside assistance.

Looking quickly at a SQL generated error, it would appear that it is a garbled mess of letters, numbers and words that don’t mean anything. This is actually not the case at all. Out of all of the errors that exist, the SQL errors actually tell you something useable about what is going on.
Every SQL error will have a message number, severity level, state of error and error message included. These parts make up the error that is received by the user. For example, if you receive an error message that states the following: Msg 208, Level 2, State 1, Line 110, Length of text, or image data to be replicated exceeds configured maximum, this is what it is telling you:

• Msg 208 is the message number, which identifies the type of error you are dealing with.
• The severity level is indicated by a number between 1 and 25, the more severe the error the higher the number.
• The state of the error is the source of information that relates to the origin of the error location. The states are given a value between 1 and 127 and tell you where the error is located on your document.
• The error message is the actual description of the error that provides the user information in words about the error.

A SQL error may occur when the information being added, deleted or changed in a database does not follow the rules of SQL. The database needs to understand the data in order for the system to work properly. When the instructions for use are not properly followed, either by the active user or the programmer, this may result in an error. The error code, such as the one listed above, provides the information necessary to repair the error, allowing the form in the database to again begin to function properly.

Of course, if you are working remotely or trying to input data into a website and come across a SQL error, there is not a lot that you can do. Your best bet is to pass the information on to the webmaster of the site so they can rectify the situation and get the site’s database up and running again.

About:Blank – Otherwise Known as the Hijacker

How many times have you tried to connect to a web page and nothing shows up except for a little message in the corner of the screen that says About:Blank, or something of the sort? This message can be a big problem for unsuspecting web browsers. Not only is it inconvenient, but it can cause a great deal of damage to your system.

The common definition of hijack means to take something by force. About:Blank does just that; it hijacks information from the web page you are trying to view and from your system. It is otherwise known as a homepage hijacker or the HoldOldSP hijacker. Basically, a hijacker is spyware or a virus that is seeking to damage your computer system or hack into information that you have on your system. There are several variations of the same hijacker that can cause different forms of damage to your computer. If you receive an About message, you can be fairly certain that you have some traces of spyware on your system.

The most common form of About messages are About: and About:Blank, with differences usually due to the browser being used. These messages are usually displayed either as blank pages or partial or unidentifiable information. There are many different about:blank spyware versions floating around. Being aware that About is a dirty word can keep you on the lookout for potential threats to your system.

What normally happens when you type a URL or address into your browser is that the browser uses the URL to identify where the information you need is located and retrieves it for you. If you receive an About:Blank message instead of the information you were searching for, chances are that a hijacker has taken the information you were looking for and replaced it with a blank document. The document may look empty to the user, but actually it is a URL scheme that is used to load blank pages into other browsing options. Once the blank page is loaded, it can then be modified by the spyware that now exists on your computer.

The About:Blank hijackers are difficult to remove manually and are persistent in their efforts to gain information from your computer system. Hijackers are known to make changes to the computer registry, which can cause havoc to your computer. Even the best spyware programs have been known to be unsuccessful in removing all of the traces of About:Blank hijackers.

If you receive an About:Blank message, you should take the following steps to rid your system of them right away:

• Close all of your browser windows.
• Go to the Start menu and select Run.
• Type cleanmgr and click OK.
• Download XoftSpySE and run this on your computer.
• Reboot your computer following the scan.
• Scan your system a second time using XoftSpySE, which should remove any leftover traces of the spyware on your system.

Some spyware can be difficult to remove and persistent in its efforts to gain information from your system. The best defense a computer user has against spyware is a good, up-to-date virus protection and spyware program. It may not prevent everything from leaking through, but it will offer more protection that you will have without it.