IE6 freezes after putting text in forms

  • Thread starter Thread starter John Smith
  • Start date Start date
J

John Smith

I am running IE6 sp1 with all the latest patches on Win2k SP4
with all the latest patches and updates. Yesterday a problem occured that
whenever text is entered in a form on a web page and I try to go to the next
field or anwhere else the browser totally locks up. This happens on any web
page. Links can be followed just fine, but the forms totally freeze IE.
I scanned for viruses, cleaned out the temp folder, cleared all online
content in the cache, defragmented the harddrive, and still the problem
persists. Any ideas?
 
CoolWebSearch hijacker, most likely. See:
http://www.merijn.org/cwschronicles.html

Check your system for other "hijackware":

Dealing with Hijackware
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm#tshoot
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

You *must* seek updates for Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc., before each and every
use, even "right out of the box". But even then, they can't catch
everything. When all else fails, HijackThis
(http://www.merijn.org/files/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware. **Post
your files to http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or the Spyware forum at
http://forum.aumha.org/ for expert analysis, not here.**

Also update your virus definitions and then run a full system scan. From
now on, do both daily.
--
HTH...Please post back to this thread

~Robear Dyer (aka PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Before You Connect a New Computer to the Internet
http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/before_you_plug_in.html
 
I kind of had a gut feeling that it might be spyware as well. I will
install spybot search and destroy on the users pc and run the update on
Monday. If that doesn't work then I will try the coolwebsearch removal
utility. If that does not work I will try the reinstall.

I will let you know what I find out.

Thanks for your suggestions.
 
Okay, I tried the cool web search tool first, it did not find it on my
system. Then I downloaded spybot and updated the files. Despite finding
quite a few spyware files, the problem persists.

I am beginning to think the only fix is to format the HD and reinstall
everything
 
Are you running a reliable anti-virus application? Have you sought updated
definitions lately and then run a full system scan? Have you tried one or
more of the free online virus scans?

Have you downloaded and run Hijack This and posted your files to one of the
recommended forums?
--
~PA Bear

Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas
to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly..
http://bertc.com/sniglets.htm
 
Yes, we run mcafee virus scan enterprise and it is kept up to date. I did
run a scan today and found nothing. We are also behind a firewall.
 
Updated definitions today, John. Get 'em yet?

Update CWShredder and run it. It's been hard to believe with the
precautions I take but CWShredder's found 2 CoolWebSearch infections on my
box in the past week.

YMMV.
--
~PA Bear

Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas
to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly..
http://bertc.com/sniglets.htm
 
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