IE6 hangs after making changes in Tools > Internet Options

[Guest]

In 98, open IE6 > Tools > Internet Options > it hangs after changes are made.
Need ctrl-alt-del to release it. (a) Later, when I try to shut down, the
system says "is still running" (doesn't say which program is still running)
and, to shut it down, I need to click End Task manually. (b) If I don't shut
down immediately, the system becomes unstable.

I've tried the following alternatives:
1. Right-click Internet Explorer (on desktop) > Properties > make changes >
it doesn't hang.
2. Control Panels > Internet Options > make changes > it doesn't hang.

I am using about:blank as home page. When I start IE6, it's not connected
to the internet yet.

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

In 98, open IE6 > Tools > Internet Options > it hangs after changes are made.
Need ctrl-alt-del to release it.

Try an IE Repair. Ref KB194177.

If that doesn't help you need more information about your hang.

Before shutting down but after closing everything you can see
use Task Manager and msinfo32 to list what is still active.
E.g. if you see iexplore.exe is still active you would know that
it is hung and hidden.

Can you reproduce the problem in safe mode?
If not you could use the same diagnostics there
as comparisons and have a much smaller difference set
to consider.

(a) Later, when I try to shut down, the system says "is still running"
(doesn't say which program is still running) and, to shut it down,
I need to click End Task manually.

Instead of immediately using End Task when informed of a hung task
during shutdown try using the Cancel button a few times. Sometimes
that gives you clues about what the hung task is and sometimes you can
even guess at what it is waiting for by imagining dialogs that it can't show
you but which it is still waiting for keyboard input from. (The simplest
example of this idea is imagining a hung Notepad window which involves
unsaved changes. I'm saying it could be worthwhile trying to type Y
(for Yes) or N (for No) after replying Cancel if you thought that that
was the reason for the hang.


(b) If I don't shut down immediately, the system becomes unstable.

It may help for you to describe the instability.


Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---

 

[Guest]

Thanks Robert for your advice. Will get back to you tomorrow

 

[Guest]

In 98, open IE6 > Tools > Internet Options > it hangs after changes are
made.

Try an IE Repair. Ref KB194177.

Tried. Problem still there.

If that doesn't help you need more information about your hang.
Before shutting down but after closing everything you can see
use Task Manager and msinfo32 to list what is still active.
E.g. if you see iexplore.exe is still active you would know that
it is hung and hidden.
Can you reproduce the problem in safe mode?
If not you could use the same diagnostics there
as comparisons and have a much smaller difference set
to consider.

Same problem in safe mode. msinfo32 shows the following tasks running in
both normal mode and safe mode:
kernel.dll
msgsrv32.exe
mprexe.exe
explorer.exe
rnaapp.exe
tapisrv.exe
msinfo32.exe

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

....

msinfo32 shows the following tasks running in
both normal mode and safe mode:
kernel.dll
msgsrv32.exe
mprexe.exe
explorer.exe
rnaapp.exe
tapisrv.exe
msinfo32.exe

If the hang at shutdown is reproducible at this stage I would try
killing mprexe.exe and see if that changes your shutdown symptom.
Actually I'm surprised that that task ("Win32 Network Interface Service Process")
would be started in safe mode but I have never used your OS
or seen its safe mode in use. Win95 used to have an interactive
prompt with its safe mode. Does that still exist in your OS?
You might be able to bypass starting mprexe.exe in that case
(albeit tediously.)

More troubleshooting suggestions for that module here:

<TITLE>178084 - Error Message: MPREXE Not Responding</TITLE>
< http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=178084 >


BTW you missed the suggestion to elaborate on your "instability" issue.
You could start a new subthread to reply to that question.


Good luck

Robert
---

 

[Guest]

After painful but fruitful research, I found that it was the two vx2 items in
look2me malware that caused the system instability. After removing them,
everything now seems back in normal.

Thanks for your help anyway.