Problems with Internet Explorer

[Brad]

The other day on my other computer (no. 1) i accidently
clicked on one of those websites promoting online
gambling, which then automatically opened another 10
windows, and started downloading and installing numerous
programs. I quickly turned the cable modem off, and then
uninstalled everything that i could find that it had
installed.

Since then, internet explorer has been freezing up
regularily. It occurs when i click on a link or button,
such as when i first accessed this newsgroup from my other
computer (no. 1), and i clicked on new post, it took a
minute and a half to load the page. I then went to this
computer, and it took 2 seconds.

No.1 is 2.4 ghz, while this one is 600hz or whatever it
is. Strange huh.

Anyway i tried uninstalling IE, but managed to only
uninstall the service pack, which then subsequently was re-
installed by good old microsoft updates.


I feel that it would probably help if i fully uninstalled
IE, and reinstalled it from scratch.


Any ideas??? If you agree with this where do i find a full
version of IE6, would i have been given it in the cds
given to me when i bought the computer, or is it
automatically put on it.


Help would be appreciated.

 

[Martin C]

It sounds like your PC is riddled with mallware and spyware which can cause
these issues.

Check out the following to get rid of your problem.

Download/install/run Ad-Aware from:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
This will detect any spyware on your system. When you run Ad-Aware, click on
the ref update to get the latest up-to-date ref file, run Ad-Aware and
delete everything it finds.

You can also download/install/run:
Spybot - Search & Destroy from :
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download
Sometimes this will find problems that are not found in Ad Aware.
This program has two entries to it (Easy and Advanced). Unless you know what
you are doing, run it in Easy mode and also select Immunize after it is run.
Make sure you read the help on this first.

If you still have problems such as page hijack issues, then get this file:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/RestoreSearch2.REG
After downloading it, right click it and choose Merge.

Download/run Cool Web Shredder from:
http://www.merijn.org/

For Info on Cool Web Search Variants:
http://www.merijn.org/cwschronicles.html

If you still have problems, download/run HijackThis from:
http://www.merijn.org/
Be very careful with this program though. Do not remove anything that is
referenced by it until you get advice on what to remove as it will list some
good items as well as bad ones.
See http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/#quick and read the quick start on how to
create a log file that can be sent to a forum that can provide assistance on
removal of unwanted problems.
Post the logs to an appropriate NG here where they specialize in
spyware/hijacker removal:
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/

There are many Forums that offer Free "Hijack This" log review.
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/security,1
http://www.computercops.biz/forums.html
http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/index.php
http://boards.cexx.org/
http://forums.net-integration.net/
http://forum.mvps.org/
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/index.php
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com

Take your pick - they all offer excellent support -

At the very least you should have Ad Aware present on your machine and run
it periodically.

Hope this helps,

Martin