Blank pages especially on search results

[jmillerWV]

Hello all,
I have a problem with IE 6 and IE 7 after it was installed. The machine in
question is a Dell Vostro 1500 laptop running Win XP Home with 1 GB of
memory. We have 7 of these laptops in the field and so far this is the only
one gining problems. When I go to a search engine Yahoo or Google and enter
a search say for AVG free and click search the only thing displayed is a
blank screen with "Done" at the bottom. I can leave it set on the page for
ever and nothing happens I try and refresh and the same thing comes up.
At times IE will not advance to a given web page, regardless of what it is.
One of the things I did notice when I began working on the laptop was the
user had set up a "MYYAHOO" page and this was the home page. From there I
could get no where. If I stopped (click on the red X) before the web page
loaded I could then go some where else. I changed the home page to "MSN".
I have reset all the settings in IE6/7 to no avail still acting up as
before. I have run Antivirus (AVG) and found 82 possible problems. cleaned
them and still found many so I reloaded/repaired Win XP from the vendor
supplied disk. got rid of the "possible problem files" but still have the
problem with IE6/7.

Any ideas? Only thing I can think of now is to clean the drive and reload
OS and IE7. Thanks in advnace for your assistance.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I have run Antivirus (AVG) and found 82 possible problems.

What anti-virus app had been installed before you installed AVG?

NB: Support for all versions of AVG v7.5 (i.e., Free, Pro, & Internet
Security) ended on 28 Feb-09.

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting the requested logs
in an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=4075
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

**Seek expert assistance in
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or other appropriate forums.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.

NB: A Repair Install will not resolve such problems...nor will reinstalling
any version of IE. A format & clean install will, however.

References:

5 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/xppc.mspx

Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/computer/default.mspx

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/spyware/prevent.mspx

Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/worms/prevent.mspx

 

[jmillerWV]

Sorry for not getting this read until you reminded me of this post in another
reply. Anyway thanks for the reply. The AVG version is the newest 8.??
downloaded it and installed it that day. The laptop came with Norton which I
removed the day we received the laptops and installed AVG 7.5 at that time.
All AVG programs were updated when the new version was released. Funny thing
was when I started on this machine AVG had been turned off, not sure if user
turned it off or virus turned it off. I will take a look at your suggestions
and keep them handy incase this happens again. Again thanks for your reply.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[crossposted to WinXP General]

cf. your related thread in WinXP (05 May-09 &ff), where earlier today (06
Mar-09) you tell us that you've since formatted and reinstalled Windows:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr..._frm/thread/5bfde0a012e7d14d/59c51c10fcc76de4

Your first post in IE6 newsgroup was on 03 Mar-09. Today (06 May-09) you
tell us that you'd installed AVG 8.0 the day you first posted, replacing AVG
7.5. Were you prompted (by AVG 7.5) to install v8.0? Did you upgrade to
v8.0 or uninstall v7.5 & then install v8.0?

Assuming you've been running the free version, were you aware that there had
been no engine updates for AVG Free 7.5 since Aug-08 and no definitions
updates after 28 Feb-09?

The fact that AVG v8.0 "found 82 possible problems" ("healed 82 infections")
suggests one of two possibilities:

1. AVG v7.5 wasn't doing an effective job because its engine hadn't been
updated in six months; or...

2. AVG v7.5 didn't catch the "82 possible problems" because it had no
definitions updates for 2-3 days.

I think #1's the winner here and I would NOT recommend using AVG 8.0 to
protect your formatted & clean installed WinXP! I can recommend NOD32 or
Kaspersky anti-virus (not the suites); If cost is a factor, choose Avira
AntiVir (free). (Avoid any Norton or McAfee applications.)

Note that there's a very good chance that the Norton free-trial was also
reinstalled, but invalid, when you reinstalled Windows. Norton applications
are notorious for not uninstalling cleanly so I'd advise you to download/run
the Norton Removal Tool & reboot. See
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039.
[Related discussion: http://windowssecrets.com/comp/080207#story1]