IE6 won't connect, opens multiple windows

[Guest]

A computer running XP Pro got a power hit and had to get new power supply and
mother board. I reinstalled Windows so that drivers would be found for any
new or different hardware. All seems fine except that Internet Explorer (IE6
off the CD) takes a long while to come up on the screen, and then fails to
connect to any site once an address is entered. Instead, window after window
of IE6 opens up, the CPU runs at 100% usage (mostly svchost.exe/SYSTEM.
according to Task Manager), and everything has to be closed through Task
Manager, which takes forever. The indicated error is that iexplore.exe goes
into hangapp (or something like that). Outlook Express works just fine, so
the shared Internet connection must be okay. After discovering the problem I
reinstalled Windows yet again but the problem persists. Would uninstalling
IE completely be the next logical step? I know there's a KB that tells how,
and I wonder if a simple Windows repair/reinstallation skips whatever it is
that's causing this. Any help appreciated.

 

[PA Bear]

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis log
to an appropriate forum.

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.org/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware with
assistance from an expert. **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.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.

 

[Guest]

Hi, PA,

Sorry, but it's not a simple as that, I'm afraid. This is related to a
number of previous postings, most of which had to do with an HP "Share To
Web" software conflict, or a KB908351 update. The posted fixes helped others
with these issues, but that's not a consideration here... no HP and the
update isn't listed in this Windows reinstallation.

If I type the complete URL (e.g.: www.microsoft.com) into the address bar,
it stalls. But if I simply type: microsoft and then do a Ctrl+Shift+Enter,
it goes right through. Once I have a search page open, clicking-through on
links works also. It's just any: www.xxxx.xxx or: http://xxx.xxx.x.x stalls
IE and keeps opening more and more iexplore.exe entries in Task Manager.
Then it's necessary to go through and end each one with an End Process
through Task Mgr. I sure hope someone can help, this is the pits! Almost
tempted to download Firefox and see if that behaves.

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

Hi, PA,

Sorry, but it's not a simple as that, I'm afraid. This is related to a
number of previous postings, most of which had to do with an HP "Share To
Web" software conflict, or a KB908351 update. The posted fixes helped others
with these issues, but that's not a consideration here... no HP and the
update isn't listed in this Windows reinstallation.

If I type the complete URL (e.g.: www.microsoft.com) into the address bar,
it stalls.

That is not a *complete* URL. There is no protocol prefix on it.
Hence, it may appear as an argument to a search provider instead,
even if you choose not to think of that search provider as a hijacker.

But if I simply type: microsoft and then do a Ctrl+Shift+Enter,
it goes right through. Once I have a search page open, clicking-through on
links works also. It's just any: www.xxxx.xxx or: http://xxx.xxx.x.x stalls
IE and keeps opening more and more iexplore.exe entries in Task Manager.

Those procedures bypass the AutoSearch feature of the Address bar.
If you have AutoComplete for web addresses enabled (aka AutoSuggest)
and you have already visited a microsoft page, just starting to type micros
and then using a cursor key or selecting an item in the AutoSuggest dropdown
may also put a *full* URL into your Address bar and then bypass the search
provider...

Then it's necessary to go through and end each one with an End Process
through Task Mgr. I sure hope someone can help, this is the pits! Almost
tempted to download Firefox and see if that behaves.

You could try diagnosing your hangs. E.g. there may be clues available
via netstat or Process Explorer. E.g., in a cmd window enter:

netstat -abov >netstat.txt
then
notepad netstat.txt

and see if iexplore.exe is listed with any unusual sites or modules
in that output.


....


Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Robert,

I did try ltyping in the complete URL (the http:// etc), but that didn't
help But using click-through , which worked after a fashion on my
installation of IE6, I was finally able to access the Microsoft Update site.
I downloaded and installed all updates, including IE7. Once this was done,
everything worked just fine. I do appreciate your tips, however, and have
printed them out so that I can resume troubleshooting, if necessary, when and
if I ever have to drop back to IE6.

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

Thanks, Robert,

I did try ltyping in the complete URL (the http:// etc), but that didn't
help But using click-through , which worked after a fashion on my
installation of IE6, I was finally able to access the Microsoft Update site.
I downloaded and installed all updates, including IE7. Once this was done,
everything worked just fine.

Good news.

I do appreciate your tips, however, and have
printed them out so that I can resume troubleshooting, if necessary, when and
if I ever have to drop back to IE6.

Those ideas apply with IE7 too.


Robert
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