frequent IE6 crashes

[Paul Pedersen]

My problem is that IE (running on XPSP2) will frequently freeze up, usually
but not always after closing an IE window. The progression of symptoms is
always identical. First, the hourglass cursor appears, and the page becomes
unresponsive. If I wait a couple seconds, then move the cursor to the title
bar, the Maximize box becomes disabled. The Minimize and Close boxes do not
change. After a few more seconds, "Not responding" appears in the title bar.

If I have any other IE windows open at the time, they continue to operate
normally for ten or fifteen seconds, then they frequently but not always
begin to exhibit the same symptoms as the first window.

This happens several times per day, sometimes two or three times per hour. I
uninstalled Flash, thinking that might be causing the problem, but no help.
(Then I left it off because I enjoy not getting tons of that awful Flash
advertising!)

In addition, I frequently have problems logging off, usually because some
application (usually but not always IE) will not quit.

I had this problem before I installed SP2. I was hoping SP2 would fix it.
Nope.

Ad-Aware finds nothing but cookies. NAV finds nothing.

BHO Demon finds nothing but Adobe Acrobat, MS Money, and Norton Antivirus.
(All are up to date.) There's also a QuickTime plugin, also up to date.


I have already reinstalled IE6, trying to fix the problem. It didn't help.

Anyone have ideas?

 

[Don Varnau]

Hi,
Run CWShredder and Spybot in addition to Ad-aware.
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm Are you running the latest version
of Ad-aware SE? Are the definition files up to date?

Working through the steps at http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm and posting
a HijackThis log for analysis may help. HijackThis may find potential
malware that the other programs didn't find. Be sure to read this post
before posting a log.

You may be looking for a legitimate program that's interfering with IE.
Disable (for diagnostic purposes) toolbars, ad-blockers, security/privacy
programs, etc. A program may need to be reinstalled- or not reinstalled. If
disabling Norton AV, or another AV, helps, reinstalling the AV program
should fix things. Also, some programs which interact with IE may need an
update to work with XP SP2. Check the program's website.

This article may help:
276393 - Understanding and Troubleshooting Unrecoverable Errors in Internet
Explorer: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=276393

Regarding Flash... Many solutions at http://faq.ozoneasylum.com/446/

I use EMS Free Surfer Companion from http://www.kolumbus.fi/eero.muhonen/FS/
It stops pop-ups and can disable Flash.

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE/OE]

 

[Koan]

I had the same problem. I tried for two months to figure out the cause . I
had every conceivable spamware program downloaded. Finally I installed
Monzilla Firefox brower. No more crashes and it's got so many more features
than IE.

My problem is that IE (running on XPSP2) will frequently freeze up,
usually but not always after closing an IE window. The progression of
symptoms is always identical. First, the hourglass cursor appears, and the
page becomes unresponsive. If I wait a couple seconds, then move the
cursor to the title bar, the Maximize box becomes disabled. The Minimize
and Close boxes do not change. After a few more seconds, "Not responding"
appears in the title bar.

Anyone have ideas?

I had the same problem. I tried for weeks to figure out the cause .
Probably spent 200 hours looking for the solution. I had every
conceivable spamware program downloaded and googled everything I could think
of. No luck. . Finally I installed Monzilla Firefox browser. No more
crashes, awesome browser, and it's got so many more features than IE.
Since it's free, developers are including some wonderful add ons for it too.

 

[Paul Pedersen]

Yes, I've been seriously considering that solution.

 

[Paul Pedersen]

I did not mention it earlier, but I have run CWShredder and Spybot and
posted a Hijack This log to some place that supposed to be able to read it.
No solution anywhere. That was a few months ago. I guess I could try it
again.

I have no other toolbars, and I removed my popup blocker when I got SP2.

Those links you gave sound useful. I'll check them out. Thanks!

Hi,
Run CWShredder and Spybot in addition to Ad-aware.
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm Are you running the latest
version
of Ad-aware SE? Are the definition files up to date?

Working through the steps at http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm and
posting
a HijackThis log for analysis may help. HijackThis may find potential
malware that the other programs didn't find. Be sure to read this post
before posting a log.

You may be looking for a legitimate program that's interfering with IE.
Disable (for diagnostic purposes) toolbars, ad-blockers, security/privacy
programs, etc. A program may need to be reinstalled- or not reinstalled.
If
disabling Norton AV, or another AV, helps, reinstalling the AV program
should fix things. Also, some programs which interact with IE may need an
update to work with XP SP2. Check the program's website.

This article may help:
276393 - Understanding and Troubleshooting Unrecoverable Errors in
Internet
Explorer: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=276393

Regarding Flash... Many solutions at http://faq.ozoneasylum.com/446/

I use EMS Free Surfer Companion from
http://www.kolumbus.fi/eero.muhonen/FS/
It stops pop-ups and can disable Flash.

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE/OE]

My problem is that IE (running on XPSP2) will frequently freeze up, usually
but not always after closing an IE window. The progression of symptoms is
always identical. First, the hourglass cursor appears, and the page becomes
unresponsive. If I wait a couple seconds, then move the cursor to the title
bar, the Maximize box becomes disabled. The Minimize and Close boxes do not
change. After a few more seconds, "Not responding" appears in the title bar.

If I have any other IE windows open at the time, they continue to operate
normally for ten or fifteen seconds, then they frequently but not always
begin to exhibit the same symptoms as the first window.

This happens several times per day, sometimes two or three times per
hour. I
uninstalled Flash, thinking that might be causing the problem, but no help.
(Then I left it off because I enjoy not getting tons of that awful Flash
advertising!)

In addition, I frequently have problems logging off, usually because some
application (usually but not always IE) will not quit.

I had this problem before I installed SP2. I was hoping SP2 would fix it.
Nope.

Ad-Aware finds nothing but cookies. NAV finds nothing.

BHO Demon finds nothing but Adobe Acrobat, MS Money, and Norton
Antivirus.
(All are up to date.) There's also a QuickTime plugin, also up to date.

I have already reinstalled IE6, trying to fix the problem. It didn't
help.

Anyone have ideas?