Lock-up

[Mike]

I'm using XP Pro sp2. When I click on an e-mail link while browsing the
internet my pc temporarily freezes up. I'm using Outlook 2003. Instead of a
new e-mail message with the person's address popping up I get a temporary
freeze followed by 40-50 blank web browsers popping up. (Blank because my
home page is set to blank.) I can't click on a link for somebody's email
without this happening. Any ideas??
By the way, I'm using IE 6.0 sp2

 

[Malke]

I'm using XP Pro sp2. When I click on an e-mail link while browsing the
internet my pc temporarily freezes up. I'm using Outlook 2003. Instead
of a new e-mail message with the person's address popping up I get a
temporary
freeze followed by 40-50 blank web browsers popping up. (Blank because my
home page is set to blank.) I can't click on a link for somebody's email
without this happening. Any ideas??
By the way, I'm using IE 6.0 sp2

Start narrowing down the troubleshooting:

The First Question Of Troubleshooting: what changed between the time things
worked and the time they didn't?

The Second Question of Windows Troubleshooting: what is the malware/virus
status of the machine? If you think it is clean, what programs (and
versions) did you use to determine this?

Be sure the computer is clean:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Malke

 

[Mike]

1) Nothing has changed that I'm aware of.
2) I'm using AVG 7.5 anti-malware. Everything is clean, no virus, no
malware, no spyware.

 

[Malke]

1) Nothing has changed that I'm aware of.
2) I'm using AVG 7.5 anti-malware. Everything is clean, no virus, no
malware, no spyware.

If all you have is AVG Antispyware, then you don't know that your computer
is clean. This program will not help with viruses. Since you didn't mention
what other security programs you have - what antivirus you're using for ex.
- and how you scanned, even though your machine may be virus/malware-free I
can't make that assumption since I can't see your computer.

Either provide details, go through the scanning I suggested - not skipping
any of the prep work and following instructions to do all work in Safe Mode
- or post your question in an IE newsgroup if this only happens with IE set
as default and not an alternate browser like Firefox set as default
(temporarily). You might also want to check in an Outlook newsgroup.

microsoft.public.internetexplorer.general
microsoft.public.outlook
microsoft.public.outlook.general

If you really feel there have been no changes and the machine is clean, you
could try a System Restore to when things worked. There is no way for me to
guess what is really happening on your computer from the information you
provided.

Sorry I was unable to help you.

Malke

 

[Daave]

If all you have is AVG Antispyware, then you don't know that your
computer is clean. This program will not help with viruses.

Although AVG Anti-Spyware will not help with viruses, AVG Anti-Malware
("Integrated security protection against viruses, worms, trojans,
spyware and adware") will.