Proplem w/ my IE, perhaps?

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by gandhi the peacemaker, Oct 9, 2005.

  1. gandhi the peacemaker

    gandhi the peacemaker Private E-2

    I had originally posted this problem in the Software section with hopes that it would be easily solved (easily as in simple download, install, mess around a bit, restart, yadda yada, and we're done). However, even after taking all the advice (or at least the ones that I could do), my problem still exists, and I figured I may as well post it here as well.

    So, my problem is...

    If I click on a hyperlink, get a pop-up window, click on File--->New--->New Window, or otherwise open up another IE browser from my current IE window, the new site will work fine, but if I click back to my original window, it's as if the screen's frozen. I can navigate again by scrolling up/down with my middle button (it'll "refresh" the page), but every time I go to another address in the first window, it'll look like nothing's happening until I scroll up/down again. The navigation buttons (Back, Forward, Stop, Refresh, etc.) also disappear, and I can see 'em again by clicking on them.

    But that's not it. If I close either window, an error message ("Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We apologize for this inconvenience") comes up and both windows close. And to make matters even worse, if I create multiple new windows from the first one, everything just sorta locks up (they slow down a lot and become all completely blank) and the error message comes again. Which causes them to all close, which causes me to grate my teeth in frustration.

    (However, if I open up another IE window from the Start Menu, the Desktop, etc., it doesn't interfere at all with my first window. It seems this only happens when I directly open a new window from that window. The error message would still close both of these, though.)

    I'm running Windows XP and had recently wiped my memory (about two months back or so) due to overwhelming viruses/trojans/spyware/other yadda yadda. I don't think that's really important, but I decided to let you know, just in case.

    You can look at my progress here. Basically, I installed the Service Pack 2, and that didn't help. Then I did some of the stuff they suggested, and that didn't help. Then I downloaded IE Fix and tried it out, and that didn't help. Then I tried downloading SP2 again, but that didn't work because I already had it.

    And then I had an error message dealing with DrWatson Postmortem Debugger (again, it was the "DrWatson... has encountered a problem and needs to close" deal), and after doing some research, found out that it was associated with a relatively old(?) and dangerous virus called AceBot or something like that. The symptoms described were BARELY similar to what I was experiencing, but I decided it'd be better to be safe than sorry.

    Which is why I'm here. If anybody knows anything about the issue I'm having, please let me know.

    Greatest thanks.

    PS - In the other thread, I wondered about posting a HackThis! log, but I know the rules surrounding that, so I'm content to hear from you first. Thanks again.
     
    gandhi the peacemaker, Oct 9, 2005
    #1
  2. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    This may not be a malware issue, but we can check. If you have problems using IE reliably you may want to use FireFox to do all the downloading. You will need IE to do the online scans (if you can get them to work).


    Please follow the steps below:

    - Run ALL the steps in this Sticky thread READ ME FIRST BEFORE ASKING FOR SUPPORT: Basic Spyware, Trojan And Virus Removal

    Make sure you check version numbers and get all updates.

    - Very Important: Make sure you tell us the results from running the tutorial...was anything found? Were you unable to complete any of the scans?...Were you unable to download any of the tools?...Did you do the on-line scans as suggested? etc.


    After doing ALL of the above you still have a problem make sure you have booted to normal mode and run the steps in the below link to properly use HijackThis:

    Downloading, Installing, and Running HijackThis

    .
     
    chaslang, Oct 9, 2005
    #2
  3. gandhi the peacemaker

    gandhi the peacemaker Private E-2

    I did that once a while ago ('bout a month ago) and everything seemed to work out okay, but I'll do it again and let you know. Thanks.
     
    gandhi the peacemaker, Oct 9, 2005
    #3
  4. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Things change in a month! The tools update, malware evolves, and even our procedures change. In fact, by tomorrow afternoon (if not late tonight ) I will be replacing the READ ME FIRST with a totally new procedure.
     
    chaslang, Oct 9, 2005
    #4
  5. gandhi the peacemaker

    gandhi the peacemaker Private E-2

    Yes, yes, yes, which is why I did it again. But thanks anyway. ;)

    And here're the results:

    RavAntiVirus -

    Scan started at 10/9/2005 11:53:47 AM

    Scanned
    ============================
    Objects: 76783
    Directories: 5400
    Archives: 18914
    Size (Kb): -684832
    Infected files: 0

    Found
    ============================
    Viruses found: 0
    Suspicious files: 0
    Disinfected files: 0
    Mail files: 129


    Trend Micro - couldn't copy & paste, but there were no viruses found.

    Ad-Aware - 2 Tracking Cookies and 6 MRU lists found (all were deleted)

    Spybot SD - none

    HS Remove - 8 Objects Removed (didn't say what they were)

    Stinger - none

    MS Windows AntiSpyware - none

    ...and the problem's still there. So, following your newly-updated guide, here's my HijackThis! log.
     

    Attached Files:

    gandhi the peacemaker, Oct 9, 2005
    #5
  6. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Your log is basically clean but you can have HJT fix the below minor items:


    O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C8B2A36-3DB1-42A4-A3CB-D426709BBFEB} - (no file)
    O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - %windir%\bdoscandel.exe (file missing)
    O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Uninstall BitDefender Online Scanner v8 - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - %windir%\bdoscandel.exe (file missing)

    Other than that, I see nothing. You can either try some of the Alternative Scans in the READ ME and you could try the below regisrty patch ( not sure if it will change anything but it is worth a try):

    Copy the contents of the below Quote Box to Notepad. Then click File and then Save As. Change the Save as Type to All Files. Name the file fixIE.reg and then click save. (make sure you save it somewhere you can find it. Saving it to your Desktop may make that easy.) Then double-click on the fixIE.reg file on your desktop (or locate it with Windows Explorer and double click on it if not saved to the Desktop) and when it prompts to Add in to the registry, say yes
    You could also try the registry patch in step 8 of: SpySheriff (aka SpywareNo) Removal

    Let me know if there is any change!
     
    chaslang, Oct 9, 2005
    #6
  7. gandhi the peacemaker

    gandhi the peacemaker Private E-2

    Alright, I fixed the three problems and added the quoted part to the registry, but the problem's still there.

    Guess you're right about there not being any viruses/spyware, so thanks for your help.

    Do you have any suggestions for this situation? Ever heard of this at all?

    But thanks a lot anyhow. ;)
     
    gandhi the peacemaker, Oct 10, 2005
    #7
  8. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    I'm not sure what the problems is. Perhaps you can come to a solution in the Software Forum. If you use another browser like Mozilla FireFox does everything work okay. You could be look at a reinstall if a Windows Repair or an IE repair is not helping.
     
    chaslang, Oct 10, 2005
    #8
  9. gandhi the peacemaker

    gandhi the peacemaker Private E-2

    Yeah, went to Software before I came here. Can't do any of the last options, and I don't exactly like the idea of switching to a new browser.

    But thanks for your help. I guess I'll be leaving this section for now. ;)
     
    gandhi the peacemaker, Oct 11, 2005
    #9
  10. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Actually FireFox is rather nice and very similar to IE. You can even import your Favorites into it. IE is still really needed for some sites (including Microsoft). Your options are rather limited if you do not want to do a reinstall or a Windows repair. Perhaps if you wait long enough, Internet Explorer 7 will solve your problems.

    Have you seen this link: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555130
    Not sure it it will help but seemed slightly related.

    Exactly when did your problems begin? Had you recently installed any new software or hardware? Have you tried disabling or uninstalling any software (like AV or firewall)?
     
    chaslang, Oct 11, 2005
    #10

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