IE hanging, processes not ending

[Guest]

Hello,

I'm using IE 6.0.2900.2180, update version SP2. Recently I've experienced IE
hanging when I open multiple new windows (e.g. from several web sites),
requiring that IE be closed by its 'not responding' panel. While IE closes
overtly on the desktop, the Task Manager processes tab indicates IE is still
running. I can kill the IE process there, but I've read that doesn't always
close all associated processes. Any ideas what I should do?

Note: I've already scanned for viruses using McAfee and Norton's web site
tool, and for spyware using Webroot's Spy Sweeper and the AdAware tool -
according to them, I'm clean. Further, I went to Tools/Internet
Options/Programs/Manage Add Ons and disabled a few items there to see if that
would help.

 

[Galen]

In Dav B had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Hello,

I'm using IE 6.0.2900.2180, update version SP2. Recently I've
experienced IE hanging when I open multiple new windows (e.g. from
several web sites), requiring that IE be closed by its 'not
responding' panel. While IE closes overtly on the desktop, the Task
Manager processes tab indicates IE is still running. I can kill the
IE process there, but I've read that doesn't always close all
associated processes. Any ideas what I should do?

Note: I've already scanned for viruses using McAfee and Norton's web
site tool, and for spyware using Webroot's Spy Sweeper and the
AdAware tool - according to them, I'm clean. Further, I went to
Tools/Internet Options/Programs/Manage Add Ons and disabled a few
items there to see if that would help.

You can try scanning again.

If nothing then... Open IE and head back to manage add-ons...

Disable ALL of them. (this is neither quick nor easy)
Enable them one by one until you find the buggy one.

Hmm... I had a clipboard snippet for this?

Malware Cleaning:
http://kgiii.info/windows/all/general/malwarefix.html

After that look for poorly coded plug-ins.

BHODemon 2.0:
http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm

One thing to note is that you'll be able to boot to safe mode without
networking, load IE - it will complain about not connecting - and from there
you can probably go ahead and see what plug-ins are enabled or you can just
use the above application...

Finally...

How to reinstall or repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=318378

Ah there it is...

Hopefully that works. (Using real scanning instead of online scanning
engines might be a good start.)

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/
http://kgiii.info/

"At present I am, as you know, fairly busy, but I propose to devote my
declining years to the composition of a textbook which shall focus the
whole art of detection into one volume." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[MAP]

Hello,

I'm using IE 6.0.2900.2180, update version SP2. Recently I've
experienced IE hanging when I open multiple new windows (e.g. from
several web sites), requiring that IE be closed by its 'not
responding' panel. While IE closes overtly on the desktop, the Task
Manager processes tab indicates IE is still running. I can kill the
IE process there, but I've read that doesn't always close all
associated processes. Any ideas what I should do?

Note: I've already scanned for viruses using McAfee and Norton's web
site tool, and for spyware using Webroot's Spy Sweeper and the
AdAware tool - according to them, I'm clean. Further, I went to
Tools/Internet Options/Programs/Manage Add Ons and disabled a few
items there to see if that would help.

 

[MAP]

Hello,

I'm using IE 6.0.2900.2180, update version SP2. Recently I've
experienced IE hanging when I open multiple new windows (e.g. from
several web sites), requiring that IE be closed by its 'not
responding' panel. While IE closes overtly on the desktop, the Task
Manager processes tab indicates IE is still running. I can kill the
IE process there, but I've read that doesn't always close all
associated processes. Any ideas what I should do?

Note: I've already scanned for viruses using McAfee and Norton's web
site tool, and for spyware using Webroot's Spy Sweeper and the
AdAware tool - according to them, I'm clean. Further, I went to
Tools/Internet Options/Programs/Manage Add Ons and disabled a few
items there to see if that would help.

Hi Dav,
I noticed the very same thing after upgrading spysweeper to version 5, what
version are you running?
I now do not use Spysweeper in real time, I only use it to scan every few
days and I no longer have the problem.
Try shutting it down and see if your troubles go away.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the tips Galen!

In Dav B had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:


You can try scanning again.

I updated and ran McAffee (I have it installed, not a webtool version),
SpySweeper, and AdAware again, still indicates no problems. Also ran the new
Windows OneCare web version, it found nothing in terms of virus or malware,
but did indicate 335 registry entries that could be cleaned. Registry editing
makes me nervous, but maybe that's something to try?

If nothing then... Open IE and head back to manage add-ons...

Disable ALL of them. (this is neither quick nor easy)
Enable them one by one until you find the buggy one.

I'm starting through that process. I suspected the Adobe Acrobat 7.0 add-ons
to IE, as I installed that version around the time I started having problems.
However, I have those disabled, and while IE didn't hang today, the
IEXPLORE.EXE process still isn't ending when I close the browser. Also, I run
at the high security setting in IE, I thought that was keeping ActiveX off so
that many of the add-ons wouldn't be activated.

Hmm... I had a clipboard snippet for this?

Malware Cleaning:
http://kgiii.info/windows/all/general/malwarefix.html

Excellent page.

After that look for poorly coded plug-ins.

BHODemon 2.0:
http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm

Supposedly SpySweeper protects from unwanted browser helper objects, but
maybe one slipped through. Unfortunately BHODemon is locking up when I hit
the update button, but otherwise it points to google and adobe items in the
registry, gives a green light for google, isn't so sure about the adobe bits.

One thing to note is that you'll be able to boot to safe mode without
networking, load IE - it will complain about not connecting - and from there
you can probably go ahead and see what plug-ins are enabled or you can just
use the above application...

Finally...

How to reinstall or repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=318378

If it comes to this, any thoughts on if I should just go with IE 7.0?

Regards,
Dav B.

 

[Guest]

Hi MAP,

I'm using SpySweeper 6.0, but I only installed that recently - quite
interesting that it gave you a similar problem. Perhaps its from the IE or
Windows shields it starts up - for example, in looking at how my RAM was
being used, SSU.EXE (SpySweeper's exe) was using more RAM than Explorer! When
I turned off the 'Spy Installation Shield' for Windows the RAM attributed to
SpySweeper looked much more normal.

I'll try running without it for a while, see if that helps as you suggest.
Also, I'll write Webroot and ask if they have other similar reports, will
report back here if they return an interesting response.

Thanks for your suggestion!

-Dav B.

 

[Galen]

In Dav B had this to say:

I updated and ran McAffee (I have it installed, not a webtool
version), SpySweeper, and AdAware again, still indicates no problems.
Also ran the new Windows OneCare web version, it found nothing in
terms of virus or malware, but did indicate 335 registry entries that
could be cleaned. Registry editing makes me nervous, but maybe that's
something to try?

Doubtful... Very doubtful.

I'm starting through that process. I suspected the Adobe Acrobat 7.0
add-ons to IE, as I installed that version around the time I started
having problems. However, I have those disabled, and while IE didn't
hang today, the IEXPLORE.EXE process still isn't ending when I close
the browser. Also, I run at the high security setting in IE, I
thought that was keeping ActiveX off so that many of the add-ons
wouldn't be activated.

In high security it controls how sites respond - not how your PC's browser
will respond. I'm not sure if that makes any sense but setting the zone to
high controls the processes loaded from the site and not those on the PC.
Hopefully that makes sense. Reading this really makes me think IE add-ons.

Excellent page.

Thanks but I really really really need to update it. *sigh* It's REALLY in
need of upgrading/updating.

Supposedly SpySweeper protects from unwanted browser helper objects,
but maybe one slipped through. Unfortunately BHODemon is locking up
when I hit the update button, but otherwise it points to google and
adobe items in the registry, gives a green light for google, isn't so
sure about the adobe bits.

Don't try to update it - it isn't worked on any longer BUT you can easily
manipulate through it and thus the recommendation. That and much of what it
has to say is still very much valid.

If it comes to this, any thoughts on if I should just go with IE 7.0?

I guess you can call me contrary. In short? No. Why compound it with
potentially more damage or things to navigate through instead of resolving
the issue and, when you want to or need to, upgrade in as clean a method as
possible to IE7? Find the problem now - I feel. If there's NO other route
then yes, consider upgrading - you'll have to eventually probably. BUT for
now the issue may be something deeper hooking into the IE process and that -
that right there - is what makes me worry.

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/
http://kgiii.info/

"At present I am, as you know, fairly busy, but I propose to devote my
declining years to the composition of a textbook which shall focus the
whole art of detection into one volume." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[MAP]

Good Luck.