The Sims

[smurkin]

Some weeks ago, my niece came round and started moaning that the sims superstar doesn't work on her computer (well...it slows down then crashes)...like a mug, I agreed to have a look at the problem.

On receiveing the box I discover the "pc" is a multimedia "multitainer" from Fujitsu..no mouse...remote keyboard and keypad (so its really difficult to use the mouse)..it runs 98 se.

On digging around I find that the sims is an unreliable colossal piece of crap whcih is full of bugs...still, methinks, I'll update 98 on the internet and patch her up as best I can...then at least I can say I tried.

her connection (now stuck into my router) is 56k freeserve...but I cant get ie to open any pages including ms update.....im getting Forbidden...you were denied access beause: access denied by access control list.

I am guessing there is some parental control built in....but in tools>internet options>content the content advisor is disabled ?

any ideas plz ?

 

[(Shovel)]

Well, there are an infinite number of parental control softwares out there, so hunting for individual ones installed will not be very easy.

Having said that, the "hosts" file is used to block sites - iirc. Search for it in C:\Windows (and deeper), see what you can find. It may even be in a folder called "etc", in an obscure unix-ism.

Also, try closing down as many unecessary processes as you can - Ctrl -Alt -Del everything out until you have the absolute minimum running - Explorer and Systray are essentials, I have a feeling that 98 can run on just that.

If still no luck, give another browser a shot - Firebird say. You don't have to leave it there for her after (though obviously we in the hardware forum always recommend it - heh).

Still nothing? Try creating a new user account for yourself. 98 is not remotely multiuser oriented, but it exists in there anyway, that might free you from any strange settings that have come about in her account.

Other ideas: Is your router blocking her out? Are you running a web proxy on top of it all? Does that require any authentication? Do you need to manually add her MAC address to the settings?

 

[smurkin]

nice one...there is a program running called internat....unfortunately...it wont close with ctrlaltdel....I have to go to amsterdam tomorrow....so I'll kick the problem around a lil more when I get back

thanks

 

[(Shovel)]

Sadly that isn't what you are looking for. Having checked Google, internat.exe is actually the Windows International toolbar (the bit on the toolbar that lets you dynamically change the language).

The following pages might help you figure out which are essential processes:

A handy guide
Database of common base processes

 

[smurkin]

ok....i just had another look at the problem

access denied by access control list

This is caused by a damaged dial-up connection according to the MS knowledge base. Fine, methinks. So I remove all three of the connections from the dialup folder and hide them in a folder on the desktop, reboot....still no banana. IE gives me:

access denied by access control list

I am now connected to my home network....I try the routers IP in IE...I get the same error message

So, I run winipcfg.....under PPP the IP address is set to 0.0.0.0....which is bloody weird and the only other is NDIS 5.0 (no idea what this is)....so how can the pc have no IP address ??

Now, I looked in the network CP....and there is a TCP/IP adapter for the ether card and a dialup (as well as netbui)....it all looks ok. Sill, I changes logon from windows to Microsoft Networks (so I get a pw and user on startup)....still no banana.

Something is broken. I am reluctant to reinstall the os....

Any ideas anyone ?

 

[(Shovel)]

An "Access Control List" (ACL) is what Windows NT+ uses for File permissions.

I must concede though I have no idea what the error is doing cropping up in Windows 98.

Unless you've updated to an NT based OS (where you can type: "cacls <filename>" to view the ACL, or right click the file in 2000/XP Pro).

 

[Xavier]

just out of curiousity, there isn't some kind of proxy set in internet options? redirecting all outbound requests at localhost for said nefarious app to sieze control?

And did the pc ever have AOL?

If you can, boot into safe mode and check in the hardware manager that there are no network adapters installed there that shouldn't be too

 

[smurkin]

No the proxies are clear...as for isps, all I can find on it is freeserve (which is probably nearly as bad)...

I did set "auto detect LAN" in ie>options>advanced, tho (still no banana)

safe mode....thats a good bet...I'll try that with and without network support....I was thinking I might also try the XP boot disk networking wiz

however...shouldn't a windows pc always have an IP address, even if its only assigned internally ?

Unless you've updated to an NT based OS (where you can type: "cacls <filename>" to view the ACL, or right click the file in 2000/XP Pro).

I cant see that myself...shes only 12

ahh...I forgot to mention...there is a device memory error in windows after starting (pffftt)...however, all the hardware seems to be working ok in the system cp, and there is no bluescreen error..so...well...this is a can of worms (did I mention it wont play harry poter dvds?)