neverending spinning blue wheel that totally freezes my laptop

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CoolCarl

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I use AOL for email, and 2 months ago it started this spinning blue wheel problem whn I opened certain emails, and I can't pinpoint anything different from those senders from others, but it's always these 4. I've had AOL "tech" uninstall all remnants of AOL software, install a new version, reinstall all saved personal files, and after their 3x and my 2, it still happens. The bad thing is when I click those emails, the email becomes a see-thru window and at the top of the screen it says Connected, not responding. Well, NOTHING responds. I can't go to firefox, task mgr, even start button is disabled. It won't EVER stop so I have to turn the laptop(Dell with Win7) off by power key and reboot, then open those bad emails on my desktop where the problem doesn't occur. NO ONE has an answer, but I suspect it's something to do with this Dell and maybe that in combo with AOL. I've done system restore, cleaned everything imaginable, and even did a Command, sfc/scannow and it finished with no found problems. I am not a tech geek, so I am at the end of my patience with this crap. By the way, today, I even got a similar problem on FF with the not responding msg, blue wheel, and when I clicked on the page, it went to almost all white for about 30 sec. I am not loaded with $$ so can't pay $200 to fix a little problem on a $400 laptop. I would sure appreciate any help. If you want to email me(in case I lose this site), its <address removed by moderator>. THANKS!

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Saga Lout

Saga Lout

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What technical basis do you have for that comment?

The AOL client has always been quirky but there are still a lot of folks who like the security of the "walled garden" effect, even though it's no safer than any other browser. Also, if they scrap it, they lose possibly years of saved mails that can't be exported to any other e-mail handler.
 
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SBMfromLA

SBMfromLA

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Your comment is illogical.. If this person reinstalls... he'll lose his emails anyway... and he also said it's already been wiped.. so emails are irrelevant. and you're assuming he wants a 'walled garden".
 
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Saga Lout

Saga Lout

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If the AOL tech did his job properly, he will have isolated the files where the history is stored and should overwrite the ones that came wiith a new installation so that it mirrors the original. That's why I didn't want to write the detail as to how to do that if the OP isn't going to do it himself.

That walled garden thing is the reason most folks who keep the AOL client so it's not a bad assumption. I was a UKHost for AOL before they sold out and had to deal with problems for some years. I still get e-mails from folks who knew me back then and the reason for wanting the latest version is for that walled garden feeling.

What worries me most about this case is the OP's use of the quotes around the word tech. I can't help wondering how he found this "tech".
 
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CoolCarl

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Thanks, but I am now a pro at uninstalling all versions on this Dell, and reinstalling AOL, done it 6 times and to the newer versions. Now I wish I could reinstall Windows since I don't have a disk, I assume there is info somewhere with my Microsoft registration # so I could uninstall and reinstall. Seems like I would lose a ton of saved docs and files though. I wish I was more of a geek......maybe. Now I am also getting this blue wheel of death on Firefox as the screen fades toward white, and nothing can be accessed. Sometimes it gets fixed, others it takes a reboot with power key. I wonder if this laptop is the problem and not a virus or malware. I use Superantispyware for that by the way. Thanks!
 
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CoolCarl

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Thanks, I did that too. Must be a computer issue since my ancient Dell desktop has no spinning death wheel issues.
 
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CoolCarl

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Another thing I have done.....TWICE! I hate the Win 10 as it totally messes with my touchpad and keys by scrolling and highlighting large amounts of print without me doing anything. I have adjusted the sensitivity all different ways, but that issue continued along with some other things i didn't like about it, such as finding things after clicking the start button. Like finding control panel was a problem as I recall, so I went back to Win 7.....maybe MSFT will fix the bugs before the free upgrade expires.
Thanks,
Carl
 
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CoolCarl

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Sorry for late reply, I just decided to try new words for an answer to this despicable issue. Yes, I had AOL techs on Mars do it twice, and I uninstalled ALL aol files and programs 3 more times, and upgraded(joke!) to newest version, but still same issue. It's only about 20% of email senders, nothing in common between them, some are g-mail, others have their own domain, some are hotmail, but it's nearly all emails from those people. Some have embedded images, some none, others have attachments, so you can see there's no pattern. This crap even stops the clock and all programs, even task mgr can't be accessed, only can use the power button. If you have a solution, I owe you big time!
Thanks,
Carl
 
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Saga Lout

Saga Lout

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A fresh installation of any programme shouldn't behave that badly, even one with an acknowledged poor reputation as AOL. There's a chunk of AOL settings in hidden files and folders so did you actually get rid of all that before reinstalling?

Try again and this time, settle for the earlier 9.7. It was slightly more stable.
 
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CoolCarl

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I have installed Win 10 3x and it totally messed up my computer. pages and text would get highlighted by just touching the mousepad, it would scroll automatically, and things seemed harder to find in the files and programs. Bottom line is I switched back to Win 7 and since I don't have a CD, I don't know of a way to reinstall the OS. Anyone know how unless I have the registration # from Microsoft? Maybe I have that in some printed material, but without the CD, it seems difficult to a non-geek like me!

 
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Saga Lout

Saga Lout

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If you're quick, that is before Friday, your Windows 7 upgrade entitlement would still get you taken up to Windows 10. I believe it's valid after the 29th so long as you reserve it before that date. Properly set up, it's not as bad as you might think.

That said, it won't change AOL's errant behaviour but that is better explained by your experience with Windows 10 the first time around. What other strange things happen in your system?
 
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CoolCarl

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CoolCarl

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Thanks for the reply and suggestion of Win 10.but as I wrote yesterday(I think), I have installed 10 3 times, done correctly, but it causes the problems I mentioned on this site. My ONLY issue is this spinning working wheel that I KNOW will freeze the computer because when I open those emails, I can look through the email like a window, and then AOL says "connected, logged on, not responding". And except in rare cases, the system stays totally frozen until I reboot by using the power button. NOTHING works, clock, task mgr, trying to close AOL with the X, and the only quirk I found that lets me switch sometimes to Firefox is pressing Alt-Esc and that gives me limited use of FF. If I do that and go back to AOL, the wheel of death still spins, and nothing works.
As I also mentioned on this site, I didn't think I have a product code for Windows 7, but I think I found it on the bottom of my laptop. Of course now I worry that if I uninstall it, I will wipe out everything I have on here......not true, but how much does get trashed? Well, enough for now....Mr. Confused Carl
 
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