IE 6 hanging problems

[ChrisB]

I have a brand new laptop with XP/IE 6.

IE6 keeps hanging. Opens first time but if you try to open it again, or
open a link from an email for example, it hangs. Sometimes I can end task
on IE6 and restart it. Other times I have to reboot the computer - which
also becomes a problem because IE6 won't always close down.

Any idea what can be causing this and how it's resolved?

Many thanks

 

[PA Bear]

Did you take care of everything on this page before otherwise using the
machine online?

Before You Connect a New Computer to the Internet
http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/before_you_plug_in.html

 

[ChrisB]

I did yes. In fact I have been back to MS and installed auto updates
(although mine is set to install automatically). The problem still exists.
When I clicked on the link you sent me, this caused IE to hang to. I had to
copy and paste it.

And another weird thing has happened today. When I clicked on the 'New'
icon from within Outlook, it went to Favourites instead. I have tried to
put the icon back but it no longer exists within the 'Go' category in
Customise??

I am now having to access news by opening Outlook Express first?

 

[ChrisB]

The updates seem to have brought back the option for News (unless it was a
coincidence) but IE6 still playing up. Sometimes I can go for a while
without it hanging but then it starts again. By hanging, I mean that I
click on IE icon, the egg timer shows briefly and then nothing happens. If
you click on Task Manager, you can then see several IE tasks open.
Sometimes I can end all the tasks and restart IE but other times I have to
completely reboot??

 

[ChrisB]

Just to add some further information to this... if I keep trying to open IE,
eventually it will get there - sometimes I have to make up to 20+ attempts.

Then when I got to Windows Task Manager, the one that has actually opened
has a mem usage of around 27,364. The other failed attempts have a mem
usage of 17,000 approx or less.

Does this give any clues at all? I have no idea if this is relevant - it's
just an observation?

The application simply isn't starting at all the majority of the time.

 

[PA Bear]

Excessive crossposting eliminated/Followup set to IE6 Browser newsgroup.

Assuming you haven't installed IE7 Beta2 Preview, you've most likely got a
hijackware infection.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v1.99.1
(http://aumha.net/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware. **Post
your log to http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or other appropriate forums for expert
analysis, not here.**

 

[ChrisB]

Apologies - I wasn't sure which newsgroup to use.

I will check but I have Spyware Dr. running and not coming up with any
problems. This has been a problem from Day 1.

 

[PA Bear]

Getting an "all clear" from just SpywareDoctor doesn't mean the machine's
hijackware-free, I'm afraid.

 

[ChrisB]

OK, will get Hijack this and get some logs. Can I sent them here or should
I sent them elsewhere?

It is only IE that's intermittently playing up. Is it possible for me to
reinstall WinXP over the top of current setup?

Many thanks

 

[PA Bear]

OK, will get Hijack this and get some logs. Can I sent them here or
should I sent them elsewhere?

As posted previously:

When all else fails, HijackThis v1.99.1
(http://aumha.net/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware. **Post
your log to http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or other appropriate forums for expert
analysis, not here.**

It is only IE that's intermittently playing up. Is it possible for me to
reinstall WinXP over the top of current setup?

<snip>

Yes, you can...but doing so won't resolve your problem. You'd need to
format and reinstall WinXP.

 

[ChrisB]

OK, many thanks for your help

As posted previously:

When all else fails, HijackThis v1.99.1
(http://aumha.net/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware.
**Post your log to http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or other appropriate forums for
expert analysis, not here.**

<snip>

Yes, you can...but doing so won't resolve your problem. You'd need to
format and reinstall WinXP.