It might be easiest to do a simple system restore to the day before you had the problem begin. You can Google system restore for windows blank using what ever your windows version is.

Click Start, then type System Restore in the search box, and follow instructions

Thanks, will give that a try.

Jane

The computer with the problem is a Win 7 laptop, 64 bit. I can't find my way around it to see where the problem is coming from. I discovered a few things - by accident and can't find my way back. I discovered I have Java, 32 bit installed. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling but it keeps installing 32 bit. Went to the Java website to see if I could manually update and can't find out how to do it.

I think Adobe Flash is for 32 bit, but I'm not positive. I thought I saw it somewhere but can't find it again.

I saw something about a device problem (mouse and usb controller) but can't find that again because I can't find Drivers anywhere. Win 7 has the dumbest set-up, I can't find Administrator tools, I can't even find System Restore. Event Manager seems filled with warnings and errors about a device, but can't find a way to update drivers.

Anyway, I'm so angry with Microsoft for changing the way things appear and the difficult finding simple ways to make changes.

I'm sure the Jave and Adobe have to be corrected but not sure how to get the right versions. I'd appreciate any help.

Jane

It's easy finding things in Win 7 by typing them in the search box. Click start and type what you're looking for in the search box. Type device manager and click on it to open it. Right click on the device you want to update drivers for and select update drivers.

Remember to check google for instructions you can not find. Also the seven forum is an excellent resource.

I would suggest doing the system restore first rather than later.

Here is a link that might be useful: System restore

Jane you can visit Adobe and you will see 3 lines above the yellow text block which version you have installed. You can also update while you are there.

With Java you can go here and verify your version and update if needed.

Thanks again. I'm going to try the system restore (thank you Raven). Hopefully, I can find it. I uninstalled Java and Adobe completely. Thanks Owbist, I'll follow those links. Computer still works but nothing went back to normal. I'll try restore and post back.

Jane

Did system restore, but it only offered me restore date of 9/11. I know the problems began before that date. I had no choice so restored to that date. Nothing cleared up, in fact it seems worse. Gmail, banking sites, everthing is text with no color and all the boxes are blank.

Maybe I have to do a reinstall? This laptop didn't come with disks and of course, I didn't make any back-up disks.

Jane

What's everything look like in Internet explorer?

This is weird, I can't find it listed anywhere? Looked in Programs and Control Panel. I'll keep looking!

Jane

There should be 2 Internet Explorers 64Bit and a 32Bit, look in the start menu, click start. I gotta get to bed.....:)

I'm guessing you haven't backed up your profile or anything. Did this happen after a Firefox update? Firefox likes to sneak Whitesmoke in a lot lately, I'm wondering if it's just one of those or similar toolbar that's your problem. Did you go to the toolbar settings and try turning off extra toolbars?

I don't see any reason to blow away your computer because of a Firefox problem! LOL WORST case scenario would be to blast Firefox and reload it. And of course you should back up your profile regularly to avoid issues like this.

It might help if you posted a screenshot of it. Might recognize the problem.

Good luck.

I probably would run CHKDSK and also from one of those little black CMD windows opened by right clicking and run as admin...

SFC /ScanNow

In control panel if towards the top right corner you select View by 'small icons'... you will see device manager.

I gave up on trying to figure out what was wrong with this laptop. I'm thinking the problem might be Java. I uninstalled it and tried to reinstall but I keep getting an error that the installer is corrupt. It won't install.

Here is a pic of my gmail to show how it looks. Notice all the blank boxes. When I try to go shopping online, the buttons for 'add to cart' and 'checkout' are missing.

This problem has saved me a lot of money!

Any thoughts?? BTW, I tried system restore with no results.

Jane

Here is the message I get regarding Java.

Jane

You need to clean out all your java folders and registry too,,and browser java plugins,,, and attempt a download/install of the full about 30mb java program from your hard drive,, not a web install. You want to use 32bit java... unless you do use a 64 bit browser, or play fast games,,, I doubt you would ever have need for 64bit java.

Before your anger reinstalls windows,,,, Throw caution to the wind.. tell back up and restore in control panel to make an image backup to the D drive or somewhere ... Run a registry cleaner like Power Tools Lite ,,, in full experimental mode, to get rid of java and anything else it finds from the registry files. I run that all the time, its just a simple toy to save me time searching the registry.

And just an observation: despite your crossing out some information in your email inbox pic, Jane, I can still read through to the text underneath. I don't know if you'd want to re-do that so it's truly unreadable (to bots, spammers, etc.). :-)

they just dont make Marks-A-Lots as good as they used to :)

use JavaRA to fully remove all old bits and pieces of java including the registry entries.
JavaRa : SingularLabs
then install the latest version if you need it.

They just don't make laundry markers like the old days!

Mikie, you totally confused me. The laptop is 64bit so which Java do I install?

"Before your anger reinstalls windows,,,, Throw caution to the wind.. tell back up and restore in control panel to make an image backup to the D drive or somewhere"

What???

Thanks, Not2bright. Couldn't figure a way to post a shot of gmail. I have multiple gmail accounts and posted my 'house-hunting' account. Mostly Zillow, Trulia and Craigs List. We found a house but I can't figure a way to stop the real estate listing to stop coming in. I'll just cancel the account.

Raven, I'll try your suggestion tomorrow.

Thanks all,
Jane

If I go to download java... the page basically says;

We have detected you may be viewing this page in a 64-bit browser. If you use 32-bit and 64-bit browsers interchangeably, you will need to install both 32-bit and 64-bit Java in order to have the Java plug-in for both browsers

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

My guess is the browser you are using is 32 so I would get the 32. It goes by the browser not the windows.

"I gave up on trying to figure out what was wrong with this laptop. I'm thinking the problem might be Java."

I don't believe "Java" has anything to do with how Gmail renders. Gmail uses Javascript, not Java. I don't have Java and my Gmail renders fine.

You should of course keep Jave up-to-date for other reasons, I just don't see how it would affect Gmail. I may be wrong.

I know that doesn't help, it's just that the Java/Javascript terminology was confusing me.

BTW, this may or may not help with your Gmail. Click the "Gear", click "Settings", under "General" look for "Button Labels". Change it to "text" and save your changes. After that you can change it back to "icons" if you want without getting the blanks back. At least I think that worked for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to find my Firefox profile.

Now I'm totally confused. Java - Java script???

Its not just Gmail. My bank sites are affected too. All the function buttons are blank.

This laptop is used as a spare, mostly for checking emails, etc. It sits on the kitchen table for quick use. Now its become a chore to use it. Maybe reinstalling Windows is the way to go.

Jane

Yeah, sorry, I'm not expert enough to explain the difference, just pointing out that there is a difference.

My banking sites work fine without Java. I wasn't implying your problem is Javascript, just that it's not Java.

Javascript is not something you manually update, it's built into the browser and updates when you update the browser.

Personally, I wouldn't rush to reinstall Windows if all the problems are in Firefox. First, I'd try the "reset" that you tried. If that didn't work, I'd uninstall Firefox and reinstall it. If that didn't work, I'd do it again but make sure it didn't leave anything behind. Make sure it removed my old Firefox profile, maybe even run CCleaner's registry cleaner to make sure all Firefox registry entries were removed. Then if after all that it still didn't work right... I'd consider reinstalling Windows. I'm not an expert though so I'm saying that's what you should do, just telling you what I'd do.

BTW, every time I've ever reinstalled Windows, I dreaded it but ended up glad I did. Machine ran snappy new again.

Sorry I can't help more.

Thanks Chuggerguy, you have been very helpful. I don't understand the whole Java thing. I have tried removing FF numerous times and nothing changed. I did not delete my profile. I dread doing that, but will try it.

I stuck the laptop in the closet until I get enough free time to fool with it again.

Thank you for taking the time to help,
Jane