Why can't I....

[coggles]

Category search without being shut down, post an answer, but I can post a question? What is going on AB ED? Am I trying to search the wrong questions, not giving the right answers but (sometimes) posting ok questions?

[AB Editor]

Every time you try a category search you shut down? Don't think we've heard of this before. But the problem of shutting down when posting answers may be related to your browser: other users with IE6 report similar problems.

Posting 'right' or 'wrong' answers won't cause you to shut down - this is a technical rather than editorial issue!

[coggles]

I assure you that it happens to me nearly every time I try and 'search the site'. I also get a message in a grey box and then a yellow box (while just browsing) basically saying that 'there has been an illegal operation and will be shut down, and recommends I save anything etc'. AB closes down and I have to open it up again. This happens at least 5 times every time I use AB and it's is driving me mad!!

[coggles]

Just tried to do a search and got the same shutdown message. The word 'lexplore' was in the top left-hand corner of the box. Does this mean anything to anyone?

[j2buttonsw]

Have you service packed IE? http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/crit
ical/ie6sp1/default.asp

[Janetex]

This happens to me at times too, usually trying to post an answer. It ocurs every time on one day, then not again for weeks.

[coggles]

Janetex, I'm afraid this happens to me very frequently. J2B - Microsoft Internet Explorer, yes, but can you ask me in 'stupid person terms' as I know how to use my computer but I don't know how they work.........

[j2buttonsw]

Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) comes in lots of versions depending on what operating system you run. Windows 98 came with version 4 whereas, ME and 2000 shipped with version 5 (which I found to be pretty good). As time went on they made improvements and released version 5.5 then two service packs. Windows XP comes with version 6 and subsequently they have released service pack 1 for it. At the time of writing IE 6 SP-1 is the latest version which should have all the bugs ironed out. You can update the version of internet explorer for free by going to the Microsoft page I wrote above but be warned the download is pretty big (typically 15-20 MB) and can take a long time with a standard dial-up 56k modem. With broadband it takes only a few minutes. Microsoft are conscientious that their products are not perfect and software updates are also available from Microsoft (in IE go to Tools > Windows Update). Microsoft strongly recommends that you keep your computer up to date as the security patches can often prevent future virus attacks (as demonstrated by the recent Blaster virus). To find out the version of IE you are running in IE go to Help > About Internet Explorer. Service packs are not restricted to IE, there are Office service packs (SP-2a for Office 97,SP-3 for Office 2000 and SP-2 for Office XP) and for the actual operating system itself: SP-1 for XP, SP-4 for Windows 2000 (none for Windows 98/ME). It is also highly recommended that you have the latest service pack for the operating system. Once again these are free downloads from Microsoft (and once again they can be very big, SP-4 for Windows 2000 is 129 MB). Here endeth the lesson.

[coggles]

j2b, I downloaded IE6 and when I opened up AB, instead of finding my question in the 20 most recent, I did a search 'why can't I' and pressed Go! (which is where I was always shut down) - and it didn't shut me down!!! I feel such a fool that it was such a simple thing to remedy! Thank you all for your help. I shall let you know if it happens again, but I'm sure it will be fine now..........

[coggles]

Erm, just tried to post an answer (phrases & sayings - punchlines) and couldn't. I had tried just before the ie6 download and again after and neither worked. Could it be though that the 'question asker' has chosen not to take any more answers because they have clicked the 'got an answer box'? I would have thought that the q. would be removed?

[coggles]

I feel even more of a fool now. Scrub the last part of previous answer. I forgot to turn the page on the punchlines question! It has been a long week (already) and my mind is unfortunately elsewhere. I am going to bed now and hope I have a peaceful nights' sleep. Good night everyone.

[Janetex]

I'm a bit confused, now zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[coggles]

I'm not surprised!!! I was very tired last night and didn't explain myself properly. I shall give a precis of the problems I had BEFORE I downloaded ie6 yesterday and what happened after..... Before: main problem on AB was that every time I tried to do a catagory search, as soon as I pressed Go! I would get a box come up saying that 'an illegal operation had been....system will be shut down' and I would have to get back into AB again from the start. I could post QUESTIONS but not always answers (which I believe is different to other peoples probs recently.) After downloading ie6 again yesterday, did cat search and I wasn't shut down! Yippee! I then tried to post an answer and thought I still had the problem - BUT, silly me, the answer had been posted, but is was on the second page of answers and I forgot to look at 2nd page! So, hopefully, everything is sorted, fingers crossed......... May I thank you and j2b once again for helping me out, it is much appreciated!