Computer techs -- help!

[erincon23]

Aargh. I deleted Microsoft Security Essentials -- it was screwing up my computer -- and after that deleted, my screen settings changed so that all the fonts are larger, nothing fits on the screen correctly. I checked the settings (I'm not totally unable) and it's set on 1024x768, which I think should be right. I've tried it on several other settings, and they're all wrong too. I've rebooted a couple of times and can't get anything to work out. Any suggestions? This is driving me nuts.

 

[Imzadi]

Try a System Restore back to a date of a few days ago.

 

[mickilee]

CTRL+0 [zero on numeric keypad] try this 1st

Some ways to change the zoom level:
- Ctrl+mousewheel. Changes zoom in 5% increments.
- Ctrl+"0" for 100% (no zoom). "0" is in the top row of your keyboard,
not the "0" key on the numpad.
- Ctrl+"+" (zoom in/up) or Ctrl+"-" (zoom out/down). Both the top-row and
numpad "+" and "-" keys will work. Changes zoom in 25% increments.
- "View -> Zoom" menu.
- Click on the Zoom box in the status bar to cycle between 100%, 125%, and
150% zoom levels.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Hold down your control key and turn the dial on your mouse back a click or two.

ETA: I guess that would be scroll button (dial) of the mouse-- not sure the technical name for it.

 

[erincon23]

Thanks. It's better than it was -- not like it was this afternoon, but livable.

 

[mickilee]

what is your screen size

try this one. if you have wide screen.. u might have to make the fonts bigger.
1680 x 1050,
font size settings under desktop>properties>appearance

 

[Imzadi]

You can change your display settings.

On a clear area of your desktop screen, right mouse click.
Click properties
Click Settings
Move the Screen Resolution smaller.

 

[bicker]

If Microsoft Security Essentials was messing up your computer, it was pretty badly messed up before you installed it, since it is the most non-invasive security product of the bunch. If things are really that bad-off, you're almost surely going to best-off backing up your data and reinstalling your operating system.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Try a System Restore back to a date of a few days ago.

what they said.

System Restore is your friend. Go to Control Panel....System....System Restore tab...just pick a date before you made the changes...and presto...life should be good again.

If only real life had a system restore....

 

[DrCavin]

If Microsoft Security Essentials was messing up your computer, it was pretty badly messed up before you installed it, since it is the most non-invasive security product of the bunch. If things are really that bad-off, you're almost surely going to best-off backing up your data and reinstalling your operating system.

The only complaint I have on MSE is that you can not schedule the checking of updates & it consumes a lot or resources when it is. I wonder if this is what the OP was experiencing.

 

[erincon23]

The only complaint I have on MSE is that you can not schedule the checking of updates & it consumes a lot or resources when it is. I wonder if this is what the OP was experiencing.

Yes, this is what was happening. I'm a substitute teacher, and often have to do work for other jobs after I get home (as well as check on Disboards, play Pogo, etc). And it would update just about this time, making everything virtually stop. We have an older computer with not enough RAM. And everytime I would run Malwarebytes, MSE would decide this was a good time to scan as well, I guess trying to show who was boss, and would make my computer freeze. We don't have a widescreen monitor, I've already adjusted the screen size to everything that was offered, nothing looks like it did before. I don't want to do the system restore if that will restore the MSE-- will it? or will it just restore settings? I'll try it if that will be the case. The settings didn't change when I installed MSE, just when I deleted it! Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[bicker]

The only complaint I have on MSE is that you can not schedule the checking of updates & it consumes a lot or resources when it is. I wonder if this is what the OP was experiencing.

Perhaps, but they'd encounter that with all the protection software out there. The big difference in terms of weight is with regard to the real-time protection (McAfee, Norton, etc., = heavy; MSE, AVG, etc., = light). They're all pretty-much the same with regard to updates, disc scans, etc.

 

[DrCavin]

Perhaps, but they'd encounter that with all the protection software out there. The big difference in terms of weight is with regard to the real-time protection (McAfee, Norton, etc., = heavy; MSE, AVG, etc., = light). They're all pretty-much the same with regard to updates, disc scans, etc.

Many others allow you to specify a time when to check for updates or even only do manual updates. MSE seems to want to do them within mintues of the computer starting up & it is ANNOYING!!!

 

[Imzadi]

Yes, this is what was happening. I'm a substitute teacher, and often have to do work for other jobs after I get home (as well as check on Disboards, play Pogo, etc). And it would update just about this time, making everything virtually stop. We have an older computer with not enough RAM. And everytime I would run Malwarebytes, MSE would decide this was a good time to scan as well, I guess trying to show who was boss, and would make my computer freeze. We don't have a widescreen monitor, I've already adjusted the screen size to everything that was offered, nothing looks like it did before. I don't want to do the system restore if that will restore the MSE-- will it? or will it just restore settings? I'll try it if that will be the case. The settings didn't change when I installed MSE, just when I deleted it! Thanks for everyone's help.

I have that same problem with my AVG antivirus. I like to check my email first thing in the morning. AVG, regardless if I set it to update later in the day, (it will just update again,) likes to automatically update around 8 am. If I don't get on at that time, it will automatically update itself, first thing, whenever I finally get on. That program takes 15-20 minutes now to update itself, and it S . L . O . W. S down my computer like a few bleepable pointworthy words.


Yes, System Restore will restore MSE and other programs, too. The only things it will NOT change are document files, email, personal files like that. If you had bookmarked new favorites in Internet Explorer, from the day you pick to restore, you do lose them, unless you back up your Favorites file and then replace it later. But, that's about it.

You can always UNDO the System Restore. (Then you'd be back to the mess you have now.) For anyone not very computer savvy, it their best friend.

To do a System Restore:
Go to START -> Programs ->
Accessories -> System Tools ->
System Restore

Then pick a date like last Friday, what ever is BOLDED around then. (Remember you can always UNDO it, or even Undo and pick an earlier date if necessary.)

It will reboot you to an earlier time and you should get your screen setting back as well as MSE.

 

[erincon23]

Well then, I'm not doing a system restore. I'd rather live with this screen issue than MSE. The screen had been fine before I downloaded MSE, and I have no idea why deleting MSE changed it (but I'm sure that's where the problem came from, since I made no other changes and I noticed it right after I deleted MSE).

 

[pad406]

Sounds like the DPI settings may have changed. It's set in display settings and should be 96 I think it may be 120 from what you describe. Unfortunately MSE is an absolute hog of resources when IT decides to update and you can't schedule it. AVG when configured right is the best I've come across

 

[Imzadi]

Well then, I'm not doing a system restore. I'd rather live with this screen issue than MSE. The screen had been fine before I downloaded MSE, and I have no idea why deleting MSE changed it (but I'm sure that's where the problem came from, since I made no other changes and I noticed it right after I deleted MSE).

When did you download MSE? If that was fairly recent, you may be able to do a System Restore to before that time.

Did you delete the program or uninstall it using the Control Panel? you probably accidentally deleted shared files used by other programs too. Were you asked if you should delete certain files, and just clicked on yes?

An alternative is to do a System Restore to get your display settings working properly and then find another to uninstall MSE. There must be thousands of people who've uninstalled it and and NOT had the screen problems you have.

Did you try Googling for an answer about the screen settings after uninstalling, or how to uninstall MSE another way?

 

[bicker]

Yes, system restore or reinstall is the best option. The most common way of encountering problems such as the OP described is bey deleting files rather than by using the installed-application's own uninstaller, and in effect deleting system files that seem like they belong to a specific application but in reality do not.