HELP: anc't open IE BONUS:Different Language problem

[nigel]

A friend of mine could not open his IE6.
He double clicks on the IE icon; it opens quick and closes.

Since he hadn't done any updates, I went to install Service Pack #1.
When we went to the Microsoft update page (through Windows);
everything was in a different language ... it looked like Russian.

He then said for a while erverytime he went to his Hotmail account it
was in this weird language.

Two questions:
1) why can't he open IE
2) and what's with this foreign language.

Thanks in advance.
N

 

[H Leboeuf]

Has the International Setting changed?
Start/Settings/Control Panel....


Was he hacked?

Try this: Tools > Internet Options > Advanced > Browsing
Uncheck the Enable 3rd party browser extensions

If this clears your problem then find out who the culprit(s) is/are with
these tools.

Let AD-Aware Scan your system for advertising Spyware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com

and:

SpyBot-S&D
http://security.kolla.de/

p.s Reset the 3rd party browser setting.

More: This may be caused by a third-party program (adware, spyware,
parasite).
Get AdAware and SpyBot and run them both. Keep them up to date.
Dealing with Unwanted Spyware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm