View Full Version : ? for puter techies
Yesterday was researching parts for a project we have and got one of those malware/spyware pop ups. Anyway using all the tools I eliminated that (I think)
Now however cannot access Internet Explorer. Just opens a blank page and then you cannot close that but you can minimize it.
When going into IE properties it says opening without add ons, and it also says it's not compatible with my system, XP Professional.
Any ideas before I have to call India???
Thanks
puter question in the hunting forum? HAHA. I love it.
Contact Mutt. He's really knowledgable.... though I'm not sure how much he is on.
Do you have the latest version on IE? All drivers updated?
ronaldrwl
05-18-2010, 09:56
That sounds like a virus. Just a guess but you may still have one.
What anti-virus software do you have? Do a scan.
have you tried a different web browser? try chrome or firefox.
puter question in the hunting forum? HAHA. I love it.
Contact Mutt. He's really knowledgable.... though I'm not sure how much he is on.
Do you have the latest version on IE? All drivers updated?
Yeah requested it to be moved but hasn't happened yet.
And I have scanned with noadware, malbytes, defender, reg cure, and microsoft security.
Sry mtn man... Hope it gets fixed..
Try scanning from Safemode.
scratchy
05-18-2010, 17:23
Restore your computer to a date earlier than the infection. Two days ago should do it. Look in Programs->Accessories->System Tools. Once the restore is complete, run a full scan with malwarebytes, avg/avast or some other antivirus. That should catch it if you use updated infection definition files. Take a backup point once clean.
Still no go for IE. All anti stuff says it's clean. maybe one of them deleted IE?
One of the very best tools these days is malwarebytes http://www.malwarebytes.org/ . Ideally download it on another computer to a USB drive. Then boot the infected PC into safe mode and run malwarebytes, very good chance it will fix you up.
If it doesn't get it then you have to move onto the serious hardcore combofix or reimage the PC.
BushMasterBoy
05-18-2010, 23:29
I have repaired Windows XP using a Windows XP upgrade disk. Its a Microsoft Product I used to upgrade to XP from Windows 98. Sometimes you can repair from a restore disk. That, or find someone that has Internet Explorer on disk. If you are near Pueblo...we could use my Windows XP Upgrade disk and its repair feature.
+1 on malware bytes.
also run avast! anti virus in the background.
periodically run spybot search and destroy and lavasoft adaware, and ccleaner.
oh and most importantly, ditch IE and go to firefox.
IE is like flypaper for viruses and spyware.
Which version of IE are you running. It's not easy to remove IE from a Windows machine, but IE8 with a reasonable security configuration (moderately annoying at times) goes a really long way to avoiding web based attacks. So if you currently have IE7, go ahead and update that to IE8.
Do give the latest version of FireFox a try, but there are somethings (gee thanks Microsoft and your proprietary ways) that you have to have IE for. These are mostly corporate things, but every once in a while you'll run into something on the MS.COM site that will require IE functionality.
Blast off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
Backup your data (no .exe files) to CD-ROMs, wipe the disk with something like DBAN, and re-install.
And buy Kaspersky internet security software.
Harsh, but it's better than the risk a key logger is reporting your bank logins to Romania.
Oh, and never use IE. Firefox, Chrome are free/faster/more secure. http://getfirefox.com or just google for "Google Chrome" To find it's URL.
H.
CrufflerSteve
05-19-2010, 10:01
If you really want to leave viruses and malware behind, how about Ubuntu? There is a little learning curve but the new stuff is getting better and more friendly all the time. My wife still has a Windoze PC since she is tuck in her ways but all other computers in my place are running it.
You might need windows for some specialized options but open office is good enough for all my documents.
Steve
You might need windows for some specialized options but open office is good enough for all my documents.
I use Ubuntu daily, along with other POSIX variants, but I still pay the premium to run Windows/OSX on my desktops. I just can't say that it feels as fast, or that The Gimp is a replacement for Photoshop, or that the few games that will run are worth it.
I have a Ubuntu machine with a monitor attached, but it's in a rack in my wiring closet. All day long I manage unix machines from the command line.
That said, if all you want is to surf the web, and you have older/lower powered machines, then Ubuntu might make a great choice. It's free, and you can download it, burn it to a CD, and boot the computer from that CD to try out Ubuntu without changing the harddrive.
H.
GoldFinger
05-19-2010, 10:30
One of the very best tools these days is malwarebytes http://www.malwarebytes.org/ . Ideally download it on another computer to a USB drive. Then boot the infected PC into safe mode and run malwarebytes, very good chance it will fix you up.
If it doesn't get it then you have to move onto the serious hardcore combofix or reimage the PC.
+1 on this.
Had a very similar problem to your Mtn Man and tried McAfee, Symantec, Trend and got nothing. Malwarebytes took a while to run but isolated the problem and got me back up and running, and it was free (used to be, anyway.)
Good luck.
Delfuego
05-19-2010, 10:39
I don't think anybody has even addressed the issue. telling someone to switch to a different browser or OS does not solve MTN Man's problem.
If someone was having feeding issue on a AR, do you tell them to go buy an AK?
BTW Internet Explorer (IE) is built into Windows and cannot be uninstalled.
"Let the bread bakers bake the bread".
MTN Man: If you are interested in help or long term solutions, you can email me. I am a Microsoft Partner and work on Windows all day every day.
Cheers!
I don't think anybody has even addressed the issue. telling someone to switch to a different browser or OS does not solve MTN Man's problem.
Re-installing (Windows) or installing Ubuntu will solve the problem.
I'd say it's more akin to telling someone who's AR-15 won't cycle to try 62 grain ammo instead of 55 grain.
Switching browser and installing good antivirus will prevent it in the future.
H.
Delfuego
05-19-2010, 14:23
That is far from an apt analogy. Linux is a totally different animal (weapon) than Windows.
Switching to Ubuntu WILL solve all your Windows problems, and create a massive new set of problems.
It is most likely a configuration error (possibly caused by Spyware/Trojan/Virus). Re-installing the OS is a solution for everything, but not of this problem.
My truck has issues engaging 4 wheel drive, should i summarily change the transmission or locate and fix the actual problem?
Just because people here use their computers to post info on the internet doesn't make them subject matters experts. I apologize for trying to be helpful and contribute. I wanted to help a member fix a problem and would only do this for members of this site. I think you have sworn me off of trying to help for good.
PS: Anybody want me to time & head-space their rifle? I don't have any tools or experience, but I know what I am doing because I am on the internet!
Just opens a blank page
Go to Tools -> Internet Options -> Connections -> Lan Settings
Under Proxy Server
If 'Use Proxy server' is checked and you are not using a proxy server (you most likely are not unless on a corporate network) this will stop the browser from connecting to the internet. If it says 127.0.0.1 for address it was changed by a virus.
When going into IE properties it says opening without add ons
To look for add-ons that may be causing issues, go to tools -> manage add-ons
Look through the list of ad-ons and see if anything looks "out of place / doesn't belong" they should all be listed with the development company's name.
cannot close that but you can minimize it.
Go to Tools -> internet options -> advanced
Under 'Browsing' -> uncheck enable third-party broswer extensions
BTW Internet Explorer (IE) is built into Windows and cannot be uninstalled.
Cheers!
Actually, it can be removed. Go to add/remove programs, add/remove windows components. Granted IE is so tightly integrated into Windows that it is impossible to remove entirely, but it will stop browser functionality by way of removing the IE shortcuts and iexplore.exe file.
CrufflerSteve
05-19-2010, 15:38
Switching from windows can be a whole set of problems but it is a way to duck out of the never ending war against malware and avoid spending $'s to protect your computer. Going Mac is one way but that is lots of $'s that could be spent at the range.
It really depends what you use your computer for. If you use specialty software like Photoshop you're tied to the platforms it supports. I do basic graphics and simple processing on photos and the Gimp is quite okay.
A friend of mine switched his mother-in-law to Ubuntu. All she does is email, chat & browse. She is also very careless about clicking on links in spam. He got tired of reinstalling windows and switched her a year ago and hasn't had a crisis since.
Steve
It is most likely a configuration error (possibly caused by Spyware/Trojan/Virus). Re-installing the OS is a solution for everything, but not of this problem.
Can you ever really trust the machine after that? I got a virus four or five years ago. I disconnected it from the network and DBAN'd the drive. Like I said, it's the only way to be sure.
As for supporting users, more power to ya!
[Beer]
H.
Has this problem been solved yet? I have my own question and don't want to high jack until the OP has fixed his problem.
Nothing has worked so far.....
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.