Help - IT experts!

[Driver]

My PC has suddenly developed a couple of irritating problems

1. On Start-Up I get a dialog box for Windows Installer, followed by another which tells me that I need to insert a disk for a program called TrayApps. Just now this was followed by another dialog box with a similar message relating to PhotoGallery. (I've never heard of TrayApps or PhotoGallery). Clicking on "Cancel" merely brings back the same dialog boxes. The only way I can get rid of them is to use Windows Task Manager's "End Task" function.

2. If I leave my machine for more than an hour or so, when I return and attempt to "Send and Receive" in MS Outlook, I get error messages. I have to re-boot in order to successfully connect to email.

These problems have only been occurring since Monday this week (ie, three days ago).

I have the free editions of AVG, ZoneAlarm and SpyBot Search and Destroy.

Can I remove Windows Installer without causing problems with any other software?

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can fix these new problems?

I'd be grateful for any useful advice. Thanks.

Col

[Shedhand]

Try rolling back to a date before it started happening.
Is all your AV, Firewall etc up to date?
If all else fails reinstall WinXP (or whatever version you have) but back up your files before you do.

[Ashore]

By this sheddie means go to Help & support after clicking on start and then go to Undo changes to your computer with System Restore
and choose a date before problem first occured
Rgds

[Ianab]

Try running "msconfig" (from the Run option in the start menu)
This will give you an option to turn off various things that are auto-running at startup.
Have a look under the 'startup' tab, and untick the things you dont want to start. No reboot and see if the problem goes away and everything else still works.

Cheers

Ian

[Driver]

Thanks for all the helpful advice, fellas. I did the msconfig and System Restore things and the problem seems to be fixed.

There's no doubt about you! Greenies all round.

Col

[Daddles]

Thanks for all the helpful advice, fellas. I did the msconfig and System Restore things and the problem seems to be fixed.

Ahh, but were you brave enough to reboot the computer :eek:

Richard

I too have used system restore when some software I tried turned feral - it's a good feature to have

[Driver]

Ahh, but were you brave enough to reboot the computer :eek:

But of course (we need a nonchalant emoticon. Ah! Here's one: )

And, of course, all IS well - aS you can see.