Member Avatar for nemo

i use Netscape navigator 7.2 and when browsing the net i have started getting an anoyying notification window that says "Entry point not found,
The procedure entry point?Findchar@ncString@QBEHGHHH@Z could not be found in the dynamic link library xpcom.dll"
it doesnt make any sense to me and ever since this has started happening i am noticing strange behaviour of my pc , like it goes off LAN, browser closes by itself , pc restarts all of a sudden.
what could be wrong? is this a virus?

please help.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by antioed

Dani AI

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The error string that names xpcom.dll and a mangled symbol usually points to a version mismatch or a damaged Mozilla/Netscape runtime component — not Windows itself. A plugin, leftover DLL from an older install, or a corrupted core file can call an exported function that the installed xpcom.dll does not provide. That kind of mismatch can crash the browser and produce the instability you describe, though a malware infection can produce similar symptoms so both possibilities should be checked.

Immediate, practical steps: make a full backup of mail, address book and browsing data before doing anything that touches the program files or profile. Disconnect the machine from the network while diagnosing to limit risk. Run a current full anti-malware scan (use a modern scanner and a second-opinion tool). Also run the Windows file checker to repair protected system files:

sfc /scannow

Do not delete DLLs blind — backups first.

Deeper troubleshooting to isolate the culprit: search the disk for every copy of xpcom.dll and compare file versions/timestamps; a stray older copy in a different folder can be loaded instead of the expected one. Use tools such as Process Explorer to see exactly which DLL path the browser process loads, and Autoruns/Startup managers to disable third-party extensions or startup components. A dependency/diagnostic tool can reveal which exported symbol is missing and which module is requesting it. Check Event Viewer for crash entries to get module and faulting thread details.

As suggested, reinstalling can fix mismatches — but do a clean uninstall (remove leftover program folders and confirm no duplicate DLLs remain) only after backing up profiles. If the product is old or unsupported, consider moving to a maintained browser and a current mail client so security and stability are preserved.

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Member Avatar for antioed

Uninstall Netscape from "Add/Remove Programs" in the Control Panel and then reinstall it. Alternatively, if you have downloaded add-ins for Netscape such as a calendar for instance, try disabling the add-in or installing the latest version of the add-in.

Member Avatar for nemo

Uninstall Netscape from "Add/Remove Programs" in the Control Panel and then reinstall it. Alternatively, if you have downloaded add-ins for Netscape such as a calendar for instance, try disabling the add-in or installing the latest version of the add-in.

Thanks, if i uninstall netscape will i lose my netscape messenger too, (including all the messages and addresses)and what about my bookmarks? i downloaded the latest netscape browser, but it is Just the browser, and looks complicated.

it's not that i dont use IE, but i am a great appreciator of netscape with its messenger and composer built in one convinient package.

Member Avatar for antioed

Search for a file on your C: drive called bookmarks.html
The folder that lives in should contain a folder called Mail where all your mail settings are. Although I'm not particularly knowledgable about this version of Netscape I can tell you that previous versions generally know where to look to find your previous Netscape profile during installation. From what I can tell it would normally live in your profile. An easy way to check is:


Click Start-->Run-->type %userprofile% then click "Ok". This will be your profile directory. Find Application Data folder...double click it...look for a Mozilla or Netscape folder...you should be able to find the profile stuff in there. I don't think uninstalling Netscape will cause these files to be removed but you should make a copy of the profile folder just in case. When you reinstall Netscape all you should have to do is point it to the profile...if memory serves me Netscape will look for the profile for you automatically so you might not have to tell it anything. Hope this helps!

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