Sanford Aranoff wrote:
> Win XP SP 3.
> Recently unable to dial a phone via Outlook. "Another
> program is using the port." No other program is using the
> port.
Shenan Stanley wrote:
> What changed?
>
> One day it was working fine, next day it is not - something
> happened between working fine/not - what was it?
>
> New software?
> New hardware?
> Both?
>
> Updates?
>
> Power outage?
Sanford Aranoff wrote:
> We installed a new software, but uninstalled it.
> Actually, there is nothing different. We run virus checkers.
> Very strange. Cannot dial.
Shenan Stanley wrote:
> If the uninstallation of software only actually cleaned up as well
> as it messed up - but most software packages do not put much effort
> in their cleanup process - after all - their purpose was to get the
> application on your computer in hopes you would never remove it and
> pay them for life. 
>
> Did the dialing work right before you installed the application?
>
> Did the dialing work right after you installed the application, but
> before you removed it?
>
> What was the application in question?
>
> How much time has passed since it worked? Can you use System
> Restore to go to a date when it *did* work?
Sanford Aranoff wrote:
> System Restore. Now we can dial. Great. We still do not know
> what the problem was. Why did we have to do something this
> drastic?
Obviously something changed. If you would give the details I have asked
for, perhaps we could discover what.
As for it being 'drastic', you restored the system files to a state they
were in before there was a problem. You used a *backup* of sorts of the
system files kept automatically for you for this purpose. I would not call
this 'drastic' - I would call it 'used as designed'. Hopefully you have
backups in place for your files that would allow you to recover your data in
case of a problem as well.
If you would like to dive deeper into what happened - please provide some
detail.
We know you have "Windows XP with Service Pack 3", so that means you have
some edition of 32-bit Windows XP updated to at least the latest service
pack. Which edition (Home, Professional, Media Center (2002? 2005?),
Tablet PC, etc?) and what specific version (Start button --> RUN -->
einver --> OK --> copy the line starting with the word 'version".)
We have been told you are using Microsoft Office Outlook, but do not know
what version of Microsoft Office Outlook ('97? 2000? 2002? 2003? 2007?
2010 beta?)
You say the only thing that changed between the task you desire to work
doing aso/not doing so was the installation and subsequent uninstallation of
an applications, but although asked, you have not provided the manufacturer
name, name of the software, version of the software nor if the task you you
desire to work was working right after it was installed/before it was
uninstalled.
You say you run "virus checkers", I assume you mean antivirus software.
Okay - what antivirus software are you using? Some are known to cause as
many issues as they prevent and/or just use up large amount of resources for
no good reason. Also - is it kept up to date, not just the definitiions,
but the program itself (having the 2002 version of a modern antivirus
software can be almost as bad as having the definitions it uses from last
month)?
What about antispyware scans? You may *think* your antivirus is protecting
you from this more common than virus threat, but it is doubtful. What
antimalware software have you used in the past/use to actively protect you
now?
Wondering why you would have to provide that information? Put yourself in
the situation of those you are asking for assistance from. We cannot see
your computer, have no idea what you have/have not (insert action verb here
if needed)... We only have what you provide and if the story you weave is
not descriptive, is not complete - your answer will equal that of the
information given or just be a lucky guess or one based off years of
experience of people saying, "I cannot use Word" and asking them to verify
their electricity is on.
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html