cANNOT CONNECT

[Guest]

Hi, i am expereincing a problem with internet explorer not connecting to
websites. I double click on it and it starts up and it just hangs with a
blank screen and nothing happens.Also when I go under tools-internet options
and try to go under connections it hangs there and doesn't let me view the
connections tab. This problem occured just recently because I was running
fine a couple of days ago. I'm not sure what has caused it and how to fix it.
Thank you for your assistance.

 

[oops!!]

Try this Winsock fix:

http://downloads.subratam.org/WinsockFix.zip

Download, unzip, run and reboot.

Test.

Be aware that if the fix works your system may have been compromised.

Make sure you're running updated AV software, spyware/malware scanners, firewall, etc.

Here is a great website on that topic:

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

Zee

 

[Guest]

Hi this fix actually worked, thank you very much for your help on this, I
appreciate it.
Andy

 

[oops!!]

Andy,

You're welcome. Glad I could help.

Zee

Hi this fix actually worked, thank you very much for your help on this, I
appreciate it.
Andy

 

[Guest]

Hi Zee, I'm sorry to bother you but I haver another question that you may
possibly help me on. When I use the internet exporer to go on websites on
some websites I have no problem viewing them but some as soon as internet
exlporer is ready to open them, then it disappears all of the sudden
completely like somebody closed it down. Do you know what this is caused by
and how to fix it?????

 

[oops!!]

Hi!

How up to date are you with AV software?

Free for home use:

AVG Free
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

Avast Home Edition
http://www.avast.com/i_idt_153.html

And how current are your spyware/malware scanners?

First of all, download NOW this Winsock fix (FREE):
http://downloads.subratam.org/WinsockFix.zip
If you lose internet access after the cleanup, run this tool.
This should ONLY be used if you lose internet access.

After that, download the fully functional trial version of Spy Sweeper:
http://www.webroot.com/downloads/?WRSID=595f27d74dd2795a56af83b763c321e1
Install, UPDATE and run.
You may need to reboot and run again to clean all the nasties that cannot be deleted at once ('in use').

MS AntiSpyware Beta (FREE)
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
Install, UPDATE and run.

Download Ad-Aware (FREE) from here:
http://lavasoft.element5.com/support/download/
Install, UPDATE and run.
You may need to reboot and run again to clean all the nasties that cannot be deleted at once ('in use').

Also excellent is SpyBot Search & Destroy (FREE) available here:
http://www.spychecker.com/download/download_spybot.html
Install, UPDATE and run.
You may need to reboot and run again to clean all the nasties that cannot be deleted at once ('in use').
You should also apply the 'immunize' function, since it blocks roughly 2100 known 'bad' runs/apis/apps.

Even if Ad-Aware and SpyBot S&D are similar, they do clean different things. You should have both of them and use REGULARLY.

An excellent anti-trojan scanner is a2 (a-squared) FREE:
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/
Install, UPDATE and run.

You can also install 'preventive' software that will help you control these nasties:

SpywareBlaster (FREE):
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Prevents the installation of Active-X based spyware, malware, dialers, etc
Currently protects you against about 4800 nasties.
Advantage: no system resources used!!!
Just download, install and UPDATE.

All of them extremely useful but you must keep them UPDATED.

Suggestion: Make sure you can see all files and folders and run Ad-aware and Spybot S&D in Safe Mode.

Zee

 

[Guest]

Thank you Zee again, I'll try all of the below amd let you know what happens.

Also I am experiencing some difficulties with windows media player. I t was
running fine on my PC but when I tried to download and install windows media
player 10 (unsuccesfully and I don't know why), then every time that I double
click to view an mpeg or listen to an mp3 or stream live radio I get an
internal application message error and after that I'm not able to double
click on the windows media player icon again or to any other icons from my
desktop. I can only restart or shut down the PC. Can you plase help me
resolve this if you know????

Thank you Andy

 

[oops!!]

Andy,

You're welcome.

Run the software I suggested, cleanup your PC and post back the results.

It's possible the WMP issue may be caused by some sort of malware.

Are you running Windows XP or other?

Listening.

Zee

 

[Guest]

Windows XP, should I run all the below that you have listed??? Thank you

 

[oops!!]

Windows XP, should I run all the below that you have listed??? Thank you

Yes, except the Winsock Fix.

SpySweeper and MS AntiSpyware will take care of most of the problems.

Curious: You are running some up to date AV software, aren't you?

Zee

 

[Guest]

Yes i am. Thanks again for your prompt responces. Should I run the winsock
fix at then end of SpySweeper and MS AntiSpyware or not at all ????

 

[oops!!]

The Winsock fix is just a precaution.

Sometimes when using the spyware/malware scanners you lose internet access, as you experienced earlier.

Then you need to run the fix.

If you cleanup and don't lose internet access, don't run the winsock fix.

Zee

 

[Guest]

Thanks again for clarifying this

The Winsock fix is just a precaution.

Sometimes when using the spyware/malware scanners you lose internet access, as you experienced earlier.

Then you need to run the fix.

If you cleanup and don't lose internet access, don't run the winsock fix.

Zee

 

[Guest]

Hi Zee, I did everything that you told me and my PC runs a lot better now. I
still though cannot access a few websites and my Windows Media player problem
still exists. Everytime that I double click on WMP file I get an error
message " Internal Application Error". Do you know how can I fix this issue,
it is driving me crazy not to be able to see any video files on my PC. Thanks
again for your help.

 

[oops!!]

Thanks for the feedback, and really glad you can post some good news.

Regarding the websites you cannot access, try locating a file called HOSTS (no extension!) and rename it OLDHOSTS.

Reboot and test.

For the WMP problem, I would suggest reinstalling your version of Windows Media Player from the Windows Media Download Center Web page:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=741

Hopefully that will do it.

If not, check these:

When I start the Player, I get the error message "Internal application error." How do I fix this?
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/knowledgecenter/mediaadvice/0035.aspx#Question4


You may receive an "internal application error has occurred" error message when Windows Media Player tries to automatically play a CD or a DVD in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;899873

Good luck,

Zee

 

[Guest]

Thank you Zee. For the file HOSTS you mean that I need to do a search on my
PC for a file by the name HOSTS????

 

[oops!!]

Thank you Zee. For the file HOSTS you mean that I need to do a search on my
PC for a file by the name HOSTS????

Correct, HOSTS and no extension, not HOSTS.SAM.

Zee

 

[Charlie Tame]

This won't fix a broken Windows Media Player but you can get a very good
video player from www.divx.com for free and sometimes it's useful to have
both because if a video file is "Not quite perfect" one will play it where
the other program won't.

I believe Divx is free from spyware, which many are not.

Charlie

 

[Guest]

Hi Zee, I am having some problems again with internet explorer. Once i
connect to the web and I access my homepage ( Yahoo) I get a lot of script
errors all of the sudden and also many of the advertisments or icons do not
download and they appear as blank on my site. Do you know why is this caused
and how to fix it???? Thanks again for your help and sorry to bother you all
the time.
Andy

 

[Guest]

Hi Zee, I am having some problems again with internet explorer. Once i
connect to the web and I access my homepage ( Yahoo) I get a lot of script
errors all of the sudden and also many of the advertisments or icons do not
download and they appear as blank on my site. Do you know why is this caused
and how to fix it???? Thanks again for your help and sorry to bother you all
the time.
Andy