h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Something weird has happened and my computer is not playing anymore - the Mcafee is black instead of red and it tells me some components of my activeshield are missing.

I didn't even know I had an activeshield. I've tried system restore points, but they fail to fix the problem. I've tried uninstalling the software, but guess what it won't uninstall because some activex components are missing. I've purchased one of those fix your computer things and guess what it does't.

So I thought, where would I find someone smart enough to outwit this bundle of plastic, metal and bits of stuff .......... and then it hit me.

Hootoo - someone here is bound to know how to fix it.

Just let me know how to do it and you'll get your reward in heaven.

It would help people to know a little more about your machine, eg operating system and version.

This is my biggest problem SEF - I don't know anything about computers.......This is what I know so far........

Windows XP
IE7
Dell dimensions
Intel ?

virus stuff is working but icon is black

I know it's like saying my car is a silver Renault but if I knew anything else I'd tell you.

Well Windows XP is likely to be the most significant part of that (and possibly could have been guessed from your reference to "system restore"). On the plus side, not being Vista means that more people will have experience with it.

Well, I'm hoping if I shut it down tonight it will come back on again in the morning by which time some whizz will have worked out how I've broken it.

Try the McAfee Uninstall tool
http://ts.mcafeehelp.com/displayDoc.asp?docID=408302&categoryId=246&lastCategoryLog=1&HotTopic=YES

Of course that leaves you without virus protection, so you should immediately afterwards install some new antivirus software.

I find when McAfee goes black when loading that right clicking on the icon going to firewall settings and clicking on the "enable" option sorts it out. Maybe another application is interfering with it loading correctly.

Have you tried turning it off and then on again?

I have AVG and it greys out when it needs updating. Could you get the activex controls from the internet, via an update page in McAfee?

(just a shot in the dark BTW)

Thank you all for your advice.

To the IT expert - yes I have switched it off and on again.

To the others - According to my security centre everything is working - it's just that the icon is black. It has also stopped sending me the activex contols are missing message (maybe it's fixing itself), I ran a virus scan from the mcafee site and it stated there werre no viruses present.

The system itself is a bit iffy at the moment so I don't know what's going on - but while it works I'll be here so feel free to post any more good advice and I'll try it.

Buy a new PC

I have a better idea - why don't you buy me one

What from? Do you think I should ebay the t-shirt which hasn't arrived yet?

Well you could ebay the tshirt, but how will you pay the rest

You could ebay Rob the Carpet I suppose - who's to know, nobody reads the How Do I ..... page.

I never realised we were on 'How do I' - why didn't you post on 'Ask'?

Where's Croz, when you need him?

I have no idea, I was just wondering about that.

I didn't post on Ask because it was more of a How Do I ..... sort of question, and I thought it was about time this place livened up.

It's now in real danger of seepage from your yikes journal.

Sorry, I must have had too much white , but what's a seepage?

Well, let's just say you had a wound and it wasn't quite dry, the stuff that leaks out is seepage or IF you had a continence problem, but not so much that you needed to run to the loo, just a gradual leak, that too would be seepage........... therefore, when nonsense travels from Yikes to here ................. we have seepage.