ActiveX refusing to run

[Guest]

I wonder if anyone can help, for 4 weeks now, a second laptop running on XP
home.
Initial cause was a trojan, which with spybot has been removed. - It
continued to hang.
by using Task Manager, I was able to run internet explorer, and the files
are still accessible. After some extensive research the answer appeared to be
uploading all nessessary updates.
Then running automatic updates, it updated over 51 updates, including sp2
and ie7.

I now have to run the machine with MSCONFIG to get the thing to boot up to a
point where I can do anything with it at all. When I try to get the desktop
icons to load - by running explorer.exe, it attempts to do so several times,
rapidly flicking through the "Restore Active X" Desktop option. I have
reverted to the classic theme, removed the webpages check box, but this
continues.
Eventually - not always mind - It comes back with a "Buffer overrun" in
explorer.exe.
I have copied and replaced the .scf and .exe files from my own XP home
edition to the one with such a nightmare problem.
I have a suspicion that if I can reselve the silly buffer overun issue, the
laptop will be "back to normal.
Any ideas, suggestions greatly recieved.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

I wonder if anyone can help, for 4 weeks now, a second laptop running on XP
home.
Initial cause was a trojan, which with spybot has been removed. - It
continued to hang.
by using Task Manager, I was able to run internet explorer, and the files
are still accessible. After some extensive research the answer appeared to
be
uploading all nessessary updates.
Then running automatic updates, it updated over 51 updates, including sp2
and ie7.

I now have to run the machine with MSCONFIG to get the thing to boot up to
a
point where I can do anything with it at all. When I try to get the
desktop
icons to load - by running explorer.exe, it attempts to do so several
times,
rapidly flicking through the "Restore Active X" Desktop option. I have
reverted to the classic theme, removed the webpages check box, but this
continues.
Eventually - not always mind - It comes back with a "Buffer overrun" in
explorer.exe.
I have copied and replaced the .scf and .exe files from my own XP home
edition to the one with such a nightmare problem.
I have a suspicion that if I can reselve the silly buffer overun issue,
the
laptop will be "back to normal.
Any ideas, suggestions greatly recieved.

If you had one piece oh malware you probably have more.
Do a *thorough* check for malware, following all of the steps at one of
these Web pages.
Help with malware:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/darnit.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

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

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
For quite a few people it's by installing Messenger Plus, whose ads for
malware don't identify the malware as such and try to convince you that you
owe it to the author. See also:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971
Don't ever do a "default" install of anything. Always choose Custom and see
what else is being carried along. Don't install any extras you're not sure
of.