Major IE Issues...HELP!

[Guest]

Hi!

Okay, here's the deal. I moved over 3 weeks ago, and my internet has been
working fine. Monday night everything online was fine. Tuesday night...I
couldn't get online. My cable modem is sending a signal...but I was getting
The Page Cannot be Displayed. I called my cable service provider and they
told me that I need to change my registry to put in my new account number
since I moved. She was taking me through the process and when I was Deleting
Cookies and Temp. Internet Files I got a Not Responding Error. Which she
told me meant that my IE is corrupted and that I need to contact Microsoft.
I thought this was total BS, but after I got off the phone with her, I did
notice IE was acting funny. I did get it to delete my cookies and Temp.
Internet files without giving me the Not Responding error. But now, when I
click on the IE icon the window opens, but nothing ever happens. I don't get
a message at the bottom that says it's trying to find the website like I was
before and I don't get the Page Cannot Be Displayed Error. I didn't get any
errors at all, actually. It's like it freeazes or something. It's just a
blank screen.

What should I do? Is there something in XP that will repair IE? Do I have
to reinstall it? Everything I've read says that you have to reinstall XP,
which sounds like a huge ordeal.

Keep in mind that at this point, I have no internet access. I can't get in
to change my registry and set up my cable modem without IE working. I also
don't have a phone line to dial in because I use Voice Over IP. So I'm out
of Internet and Phone connections.

Please somebody...HELP!
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Katrina

You don't say what version of IE you are using (i.e. IE SP1 or SP2), but,
there are several things that can cause this type of problem, so I'll start
with one of the most common ones: Reinstalling or repairing XP is not
always necessary, and should *always* be the last thing when all else has
failed. So, let's start with the most obvious and work through. It's not
hard, just a bit time consuming perhaps.

You may have a hijacker, malware, spyware or other scumware on your system
causing this problem. Thus, in addition to running your updated anti-virus
program, you should do the following to be sure none of these are present on
your system. Although you may have already run one or more of the programs,
please do so again according to the instructions below. Be aware that, some
very aggressive and damaging variants of malware can replicate themselves
repeatedly, or mutate, if not removed properly. Please follow all
instructions carefully to be sure your system is thoroughly cleaned.

*********************

NOTE: As you can not download these programs from the Internet, if your PC
has CD read capabilities, go to another computer with CD-ROM burning
capabilities. Create a folder on the hard drive of the other computer called
HOLD, download the programs to that folder, then burn that folder to a CD.
Copy the HOLD folder to your HD and then install the programs from there and
run them. After you have IE access again, update all programs where possible
to get the latest definitions and run them again in Safe Mode to be sure
there are no lingering items on the system. However, some of the files can
also fit onto a floppy if you don't have CD burner access on another
machine.

**************************************

Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites:
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx
Be sure to run CWShredder here

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3019.html

and AdAware and Spybot.
Download the newest version of HiJackThis here:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/files/hijackthis.php
Spybot Search and Destroy

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2471.html



Also visit these two sites to test for parasites and help basic cleaning:

On-Line Check

http://aumha.org/a/noads.htm

and

Quick-Fix Protocol.
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.php

Basically, throw everything here at your "infection".

And be sure to use the HijackThis. Please DO NOT post your log to this
newsgroup, but to the HiJackThis Support Forums below:
http://www.hijackthis.de/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=10&guestlanguageid=4
the Aumha HiJackThis Forum
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30

or Bleeping Computer Forum

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum22.html

to allow the experts there to evaluate your log and advise you of any
necessary steps to clean your system.

(Note: You will have to Register before posting on these Forums. Please
follow all posting instructions carefully to avoid having your log deleted
or ignored.



Also this program searches for hidden .dlls that recreate the malware.
About Buster:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4289.html

CAUTION!!!!! Before you try to remove spyware using any of the programs
below, download a copy of LSPFIX from any of the following sites:
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
(if your OS is Win2k or XP) The process of removing certain malware may kill
your internet connection. If this should occur, this program, LSPFIX, will
enable you to regain your connection.

You should also get a copy of WINSOCKXPFIX available at:
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
and
WinsockXP Fix- WinXP
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
with instructions, at
http://www.iup.edu/house/resnet/winfix.shtm
Also
From LavaSoft- all versions of Windows-
http://digital-solutions.co.uk/lavasoft/whndnfix.zip
(NOTE: It is reported that in XP SP2, the command netsh winsock reset
will fix this problem without the need for these programs.)

or ........

Winsock Fix Utility
http://www.dfwonline.net/files/WinsockFix.zip




If these steps do not resolve your problem, or you need help with the above,
please post back to this thread with the details and any error messages.

Hope this helps

Jan
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

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[Guest]

Thank you so much for all of your help! I'll try to work on this now. I
won't be able to test it on my computer till I get home tonight...I'm keeping
my fingers crossed that it works.

And I'm pretty sure that I downloaded the SP2, I know that I did a Windows
update not long ago.

I did try to run my two virus programs. McAfee came up with nothing and
Solo just kept trying to search for updates. I'll try these things ago.

I feel so powerless without the internet =( Keep your fingers crossed for
me! =)

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Katrina

Thank you so much for all of your help! I'll try to work on this now. I
won't be able to test it on my computer till I get home tonight...I'm keeping
my fingers crossed that it works.

And I'm pretty sure that I downloaded the SP2, I know that I did a Windows
update not long ago.

I did try to run my two virus programs. McAfee came up with nothing and
Solo just kept trying to search for updates. I'll try these things ago.

I feel so powerless without the internet =( Keep your fingers crossed for
me! =)

Understood! Good luck..and fingers crossed! If you have questions or need
help, come on back to this thread, we'll be here.


Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.