Internet Explorer not responding?

[Peter Skuce]

Sorry to be very new here ... I did try to find information in the Microsoft
data base but got lost quickly ... Also tried a search in this newsgroup ...
but I'm probably using the wrong words ...

Anyway, if someone can send me to the right place I'd appreciate it ...

For the last two days Internet Explorer has been hanging (eventually get a
message that it must shut down ... then I send to Microsoft as asked but
don't know how to find out if they recognize it) ... It happens within 5 or
10 minutes of surfing and occurs whether or not any other programs are
running ...

Sometimes the IE window turns blank inside and only the outline shows but
with the "x" available in the top corner to close but it does not respond
.... I have not installed any new software recently but I do have it set to
do all hotfix updates from Microsoft ...

I have a Pentium 4, 1.60 GHz, 256 Mb RAM ... It's and XPLIO (please don't
laugh) notebook ...

I defrag once every week ...

I'm considering reinstalling Windowsxp but I do have a lot of software
installed that would be a real pain to re-install ... I couldn't find a
"Repair Internet Explorer" as I had in Windows98 ... Internet Explorer is
not listed when I try "Add/Remove Programs" ...

Truly appreciate any help you can offer ...

Thanks,
Peter Skuce, London, Ontario, Canada

 

[S.Sengupta]

Hi!
scan your computer with latest virus definitioned antivirus/Spybot
Search & Destroy/Spyware Blaster or adaware.
Try:-
Start > Run > SFC /scannow >ok
regards/
ssg MS-MVP
pronetworks.org

 

[Malke]

Sorry to be very new here ... I did try to find information in the
Microsoft data base but got lost quickly ... Also tried a search in
this newsgroup ... but I'm probably using the wrong words ...

Anyway, if someone can send me to the right place I'd appreciate it
...

For the last two days Internet Explorer has been hanging (eventually
get a message that it must shut down ... then I send to Microsoft as
asked but don't know how to find out if they recognize it) ... It
happens within 5 or 10 minutes of surfing and occurs whether or not
any other programs are running ...

Sometimes the IE window turns blank inside and only the outline shows
but with the "x" available in the top corner to close but it does not
respond ... I have not installed any new software recently but I do
have it set to do all hotfix updates from Microsoft ...

I have a Pentium 4, 1.60 GHz, 256 Mb RAM ... It's and XPLIO (please
don't laugh) notebook ...

I defrag once every week ...

I'm considering reinstalling Windowsxp but I do have a lot of software
installed that would be a real pain to re-install ... I couldn't find
a "Repair Internet Explorer" as I had in Windows98 ... Internet
Explorer is not listed when I try "Add/Remove Programs" ...

1) Scan with current antivirus ("current" means a version not later than
2002 but using updated virus definitions); 2) remove spyware with
Spybot Search & Destroy (www.security.kolla.de) and Ad-aware
(www.lavasoftusa.com) - note that it is a good idea to do virus/spyware
scans in Safe Mode; 3) delete temporary and Temporary Internet Files;
4) stop unnecessary services/programs from starting with Windows - see
www.blackviper.com for services info and www.pacs-portal.co.uk
startup_index.htm for programs info - 5) look in Event Viewer for
clues.

Malke

 

[Peter Skuce]

Thanks S.Sengupta ...
Nothing with Spybot,
Nothing with Norton antivirus (latest definitions) ...
Appreciate finding out about SFC / scannow ... It went through and closed
without any warnings so I assume all protected files are O.K. ... Very nice
of you to respond
Peter

 

[Peter Skuce]

Thanks Malke ... I see items in Event Viewer that seem to coincide
(timewise) ... I don't know what to do about them though ... They are
"Hanging Application" wsftppro.exe version 7.5.0.1 hang module hungapp
version 0.0.0.0. hung address 0x00000000
and
"Hanging Application" fault bucket 21955421

I have very few things running on startup but thanks for the direction to
www.blackviper.com as I've been using "msconfig" which it cautions against
.... I did check to see if there was a possibility that I unchecked a needed
program and I'm pretty sure not ... If necessary, I'll re-establish them all
to see if it cures this problem then I'll uncheck things one at a time ...

I'm very impressed with how gentle everyone is in helping me ... Thanks very
much Malke and whole group ...
Peter

 

[Malke]

Thanks Malke ... I see items in Event Viewer that seem to coincide
(timewise) ... I don't know what to do about them though ... They are
"Hanging Application" wsftppro.exe version 7.5.0.1 hang module hungapp
version 0.0.0.0. hung address 0x00000000
and
"Hanging Application" fault bucket 21955421

I have very few things running on startup but thanks for the direction
to www.blackviper.com as I've been using "msconfig" which it cautions
against ... I did check to see if there was a possibility that I
unchecked a needed program and I'm pretty sure not ... If necessary,
I'll re-establish them all to see if it cures this problem then I'll
uncheck things one at a time ...

A Google shows me that "wsftppro.exe" is WS_FTP Pro - how strange! ;-)
So perhaps you have something set to upload to an ftp site? If you
don't, be sure to do the spyware removal thing as previously suggested.

Post back if you need more help.

Malke

 

[Peter Skuce]

Well, I think I've found the problem ... just for any who may also catch
this ... I had installed "The Hotbar Smart Toolbar" because I found it cute
.... I paid to register it because I didn't like the tracking done in the
free version ... I foolishly assumed that I was safe once I did this but I
think now that it was playing with my system and messing up the smooth
running of IE ...
Thanks to all who sent me help ... Peter Skuce