why do 65 browser windows open and crash my system

[Guest]

Hello,
I'm wondering if anyone here knows why my computer would suddenly start
opening browser windows uncontrollably. I'll be surfing along with just one
window of internet explorer, when suddenly the computer begins opening one
browser window after another, faster than I can close them. My computer
usually gets up to about 65 or 70 windows of internet explorer before it
locks up. I've had this happen on both my base computer running xp pro and my
laptop running ex home. Both are running service pack two and are up to date
on windows updates. I have pc cillin virus software that is also up to date.

It doesn't happen too often, usually about once a month or so, and it's
never from the same web site, seems to be kind of random when it happens.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE]

Hello,
I'm wondering if anyone here knows why my computer would suddenly
start opening browser windows uncontrollably. I'll be surfing along
with just one window of internet explorer, when suddenly the computer
begins opening one browser window after another, faster than I can
close them. My computer usually gets up to about 65 or 70 windows of
internet explorer before it locks up. I've had this happen on both my
base computer running xp pro and my laptop running ex home. Both are
running service pack two and are up to date on windows updates. I
have pc cillin virus software that is also up to date.

It doesn't happen too often, usually about once a month or so, and
it's never from the same web site, seems to be kind of random when it
happens.

First eliminate any spyware.
What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

CAUTION!!!!! Removing some spyware can damage the Winsock stact. Before
you try to remove spyware using any of these programs , download a copy of
LSP-Fix - a free program to repair damaged Winsock 2 stacks (all Windows
versions) so that the program will be available after removing the spyware.
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
Winsockfix for W95, W98, ME, NT, 2000, XP
http://www.tacktech.com/pub/winsockfix/WinsockFix.zip
Directions here: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=257
WinXP:
Get WinSockxpFix
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
How to Reset Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299357
In WinXP SP2: You can fix Winsock by going to Start | Run and typing
CMD
In the command window type
netsh winsock reset

See
Dealing with Unwanted Malware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Note that AdAware and SpyBot S & D will each catch some things the other
won't. Also, each needs to be updated with the program's update function
before every use, even when just downloaded. There's also a lot more to do
than just those two programs. CWShredder is also available here:
http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder
**Post your HijackThis log to
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/ or the Spyware forum at
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**
Alternative download pages for Ad-Aware, Spybot, HijackThis and CWShredder
may be found on this page:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.

See this link for information about malware:
http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/malware.ars

If nothing there helps, please post back to this thread.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE
Please respond in Newsgroup. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

 

[Guest]

Frank:
Please help!
I went to http://cexx.org/lspfix.htm and when I tried to download the fix it
would not let me. I was told on that page that if I had any problems to
e-mail (e-mail address removed). It came back as a bad address. When I (not too
intelligently) clicked on that e-mail address, I got the 65 browser windows!
I finally made it back here, and I need your help please. I have tried, and
tried the get into the fix, and it just won't happen.
What should I do?

 

[PA Bear]

Move on to the next suggestions. Also tell us your Windows version.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE]

Frank:
Please help!
I went to http://cexx.org/lspfix.htm and when I tried to download the
fix it would not let me. I was told on that page that if I had any
problems to e-mail (e-mail address removed). It came back as a bad address.
When I (not too intelligently) clicked on that e-mail address, I got
the 65 browser windows! I finally made it back here, and I need your
help please. I have tried, and tried the get into the fix, and it
just won't happen.
What should I do?

Windows version?

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE
Please respond in Newsgroup. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/