Internet Explorer has stopped working

Hi. I’ve just completed the Malware Removal Forum and all of the issues that were on my computer have been removed.
I had originally asked for help that Internet Explorer quit working. A heavy malware infestation was found and we hoped removal would correct the problem. It did not and I was referred to here.
With IE: opens to a white window and you can see it trying to come up but a box comes up saying that “a problem caused the program to stop working correctly Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available“. Another box comes up saying “Windows is checking for a solution to the problem” but it keeps running on and the first box pops up again then the 2nd box comes up again over & over……
Also my mouse is behaving erratically. I’m having to move and click several times on whatever I’m trying to do and I have it set for one click only. Double clicking doesn’t work either. I have to keep slowly trying till it finally works.
Also. My son just bought “Total War Rome II”. We installed it per instructions which also included the download of “Steam”. He received the “Spartans Culture Pack” as a free bonus on his receipt and when we went to “Steam” to activate it, that is when IE froze up. Thus my trip through the Malware Removal.
Can you help me?

 

Hi,

Follow the methods mentioned below and check.
Method 1: Let`s check to see if the IE works in in safe mode with networking.
Check the performance in ‘Safe mode with Networking’:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Start-your-computer-in-safe-mode

Method 2:
How to reinstall or repair Internet Explorer in Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318378
Disclaimer: The Reset Internet Explorer Settings feature might reset security settings or privacy settings that you added to the list of Trusted Sites. The Reset Internet Explorer Settings feature might also reset parental control settings. We recommend that you note these sites before you use the Reset Internet Explorer Settings feature.


Refer: Tips for solving problems when Internet Explorer crashes or stops working
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/tips-for-solving-problems-with-internet-explorer

 

The very first and easiest thing to try is opening IE with no addons. As long as you are not using Win 8 you will find it in All Programs > Accessories > System Tools.

 

OK. I got IE 9 uninstalled thru Windows Update. I now have IE 8 which is working fine.
I could not get my computer to boot up in Safe Mode. I tried 6xs a couple of different ways to no avail. No problem, I got IE fixed I guess.
What can I do about the other issues?
My mouse is still acting screwy and my son's Game still isn't right.
Can anyone help me with these other things as well. Please? :-o

 

Now that you have your malware removed by the great techs here at MG, I recommend creating a post in the appropriate forum for your operating system at Tech Support Guy. They are specialists when it comes to laggy computers and have helped me many times...

 

My computer is a Dell Studio 540. 64-bit Vista Home Premium SP2.
I get automatic updates and I check for updates as well.
I have IE 8 because when I deleted the messed up IE 9 this one was there and working so I took it.

 

Let's start by running .
The System File Checker tool

1. Click Start and then type cmd in the Start Search box.
2. Right-click cmd in the Programs list, and then click Run as administrator.
   If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type your password or click Continue
3. At the command prompt, the following line, and then press ENTER:sfc /scannow

This process might take a bit of time 7 to 10 minutes or more depending on your processors speed.
When the scan is complete, test to see whether the issue that you are experiencing is resolved.

 

OK. I ran the System File Checker Tool and it said there were corrupt files some of which could not be repaired or deleted. I tried to get the log to send to you but my system said "Access Denied". I rebooted the computer.
Mouse is still not working correctly.

 

To determine which files could not be repaired by the System File Checker tool, follow these steps:

1. Open an elevated command prompt.
2. Type the following command, and then press ENTER: findstr /C:"[SR] Cannot repair member file" %windir%\logs\cbs\cbs.log >sfcdetails.txt
   Note The Sfcdetails.txt file contains details from every time that the System File Checker tool has been run on the computer. The file includes information about files that were not repaired by the System File Checker tool. Verify the date and time entries to determine the problem files that were found the last time that you ran the System File Checker tool.
3. Type the following command, and then press ENTER: edit sfcdetails.txt
   The Sfcdetails.txt file uses the following format: Date/Time SFC detail

 

The computer will not allow me to go into it at all.

 

Try doing this in safe mode then.

 

Yes I have done all of the updates. In fact Automatic Updates have come on a couple of times as well.
I am doing everything that I'm advised to do. :confused

 

Have you tried booting safe mode using msconfig? If you aren't sure how to do that type cmd in the Start > Search box and when cmd.exe appears above right click it and click Run as Administrator. In the new window that opens type msconfig and in the msconfig window click the Boot tab. Select Safe Boot and Minimal and reboot.

 

Greetings, C Denise.

Pardon the interruption and please continue with the suggestions by the others. I just have a couple of quick questions:

1. Is this the same computer referenced here and here? If so, what were the results of the requested scans?

2. Do you have any of the Dell Restoration disks? Reason I ask: with the varied amount of problems your machine seems to be experiencing a format/Windows reinstall may be something to consider if the current situation persists.

 

To Caliban:No this is not the same issue and not the same computer. Sorry.

To Earthling: I tried msconfig and was able to boot to safe mode. I went back to post #8 and ran the System File Checker Tool in safe mode.
Followed directions in post # 10, still in safe mode and still could not get the text log. I went back to regular mode and now my Desktop is messed up.
I am becoming very frustrated. Please, I just want my machine to be good again.

 

I wouldn't worry about not finding the log as it would take an expert to understand it anyway. The thing is, did sfc fix any the files it found or did it continue saying they could not be fixed or replaced?

 

To Earthling: When I ran it in safe mode it said the same as before. It said that it had found corrupt files some of which could not be repaired or deleted.

To plodr: I will run sfc a couple more times. Couldn't hurt. :major

 

OK. I have run sfc in safe mode 2 more times. Each time it has said:
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
System file repair changes will take effect after the next reboot"
I am now rebooted in normal mode and my desktop is still screwed up. What now??? :confused

 

I have a question are you getting any BSODs.

 

Let's Try this option.

1. Click Start and then type cmd in the Start Search box.
2. Right-click cmd in the Programs list, and then click Run as administrator.
   If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type your password or click Continue
3. At the command prompt, the following line, and then press ENTER:sfc /scanonce
4. Then restart system.

scanonce scans all protected system files once at the next boot.probably the reason its not fixing is the problem could be in the boot sector as well.

Then run a sfc /scannow when you reload windows.

 

What do you mean here? Is it simply that your desktop icons have rearranged themselves, or something else?

 

To Goldenskull: What is a BSOD?
I ran sfc/scanonce and sfc/scannow both in regular mode.
Still said same as before:
"Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
System file repair changes will take effect after the next reboot."

To Earthling: My task bar at the bottom was grey and now it is white and all "squarish" like it looks in safe mode. Like wise the Windows Sidebar, it shows my widgets but the background is white instead of black which is what I have on my desktop. The actual desktop is black and my Icons are correct and in their proper positions.
This did not happen until after my first boot into safe mode and scans. When I finally booted into regular mode so I could access the internet and post, this is what I have.

 

OK, seems we still have a few odd quirks going on - not easy to pin down and correct. I'm thinking that your user profile has become corrupted somehow so suggest you create an entirely new User (via Control Panel > Users) with Administrator rights. Reboot into that and have a play around, see if there are any problems at all. Let us know what happens.

p.s. you won't be able to access your own files in this new profile, but if it's problem free we can help you fix that and then just get rid of your present user profile.

 

BSOD means that blue screen of death page that pops up if you are getting errors.

 

To Goldenskull: I have NOT had any Blue Screens of Death. Thank Heavens!!!
I think I caught all of this before it got that bad and I completely attribute that to my previous training from all of the super folks at Major Geeks! :-D

To Earthling: Before I change my User, I have to tell you what I found when I went to Users: I don't remember if UAC was ever turned back on when I was removing Malware so.. the user screen comes up and there are 3 things there.
1. Denise
Administrator
Password Protected

2. ASP.NET
Standard User
Password Protected

3. Guest
Guest Account Off

I do not recall ever seeing this #2 at all and I certainly have not given another password with administrator rights. No one else is listed as a user on this computer but me. What do you think about that?

 

I have never encountered the ASP.NET user on a Vista machine before, but then I haven't attended to that many Vista systems. It is created when Microsoft.NET Framework 1.1 is installed and I'm not absolutely sure about this but I don't believe that is normally to be found on a Vista system. I suggest you uninstall .NET 1.1 and, if it's still there, delete the ASP.NET user account. Reboot and if after that your system is still playing up then do as I said and try creating a new user account for yourself. Don't delete your old account just yet.

If this doesn't resolve the residual problems I would think you may have to think about a reinstall. Maybe too much collateral damage from your malware infection and removal.

 

I agree with earthling there if this can not be resolved.I would suggest on doing a Complete fresh install of the windows OS.Formatting the hard drive this sounds to me like it is unrepairable.If it does not repair it self with the SFC then most likely a reinstall is in order.

I would save any pictures or videos or music you might have to a 40 gig flash drive stick.

 

To Earthling and Goldenskull:
I uninstalled Microsoft.NET Framework1.1. I deleted ASP.NET. Didn't seem to do much but I did it.
I had an inspiration after that was done. Went to the Control Panel and under Appearance Settings I saw that it was on Windows Standard so I changed it to Windows Vista Basic. That cured the desktop problem. Don't know how it got changed.
So... I'm left with still having trouble with my mouse. Its a standard IR and USB.
Are there any tweaks to get it back to 1-click and working the way it should?
It's 5 years old, could it just be worn out and need replacing?

 

Unless it's simply the battery you need to beg, borrow or steal another, preferably an old style PS/2 wired as they are completely trouble and maintenance free.

 

The one that I have is wired too. I didn't know there could be a battery in it.
I will see about another mouse. I may even have one somewhere.

Ok, so last issue. My son and I installed a newly purchased game: Total War Rome II. It took 17 hours for it to install (no joke). We have sound and a cursor that moves and all but no picture.
If I uninstall it and re-install it, is my computer going to go nuts again? Could it have been because it was going nuts that it didn't install correctly?
At the beginning of it's installation, it calls for the install of "Steam" as part of the registration process. We had to use Steam to download the free gift of the "Spartan Culture Pack" that he got for the purchase and it had a number on the receipt to claim it. It downloaded and, as we were still working thru everything, that's when Internet Explorer stopped working and I realized I had Malware going on.
Any thoughts on this? :confused

 

As it's a wired mouse it probably takes its power from the USB port and in that case it won't have a battery, but just check. You could try plugging the mouse into a different USB port, as that often fixes problems.

I'm really sorry but I don't have a clue about the game problem but if all this started straight after you installed it then it's virtually certain that either it or something else you installed at the same time was the cause. You could try uninstalling everything related and, if it wasn't too long ago, then doing a system restore to a date preceding the installation. If that works and the system is OK afterwards I'd be inclined to leave well alone, especially as you seem to have acquired malware in the process.

I'm a bit surprised a game such as that would run at all on a Vista Basic system. I had a look at their website but couldn't see anything about compatibility. Does the packaging say?

 

I just found this on their website - sounds like the game is giving lots of ppl problems and they are still working on it.

Total War Rome II Tech Solutions

Evan
posted this on Sep 09 12:50
As with all large PC releases, the variety of hardware and general system specifications can cause a number of issues and we are urgently working to correct these problems.

As announced last month, Creative Assembly is planning to tweak the balancing, AI routines and other features now that we’re getting real-time metric feedback from thousands of players.

The result is that we intend to update the game on a weekly basis in the immediate future.

In addition, we recommend visiting the following forum thread at the official Total War support forums for a continually updated compilation of possible solutions to a variety of issues:

http://forums.totalwar.com/showthread.php/82113-Solutions-found-acr...

Please head there to find out more or report your own problem directly to the CA team.

You can also click on the "submit a request" button at the top of the page and we will do our best to assist you with whatever issue you are experiencing.

 

I didn't see a "submit a request button." I'd rather stay here if I am allowed. Where would I do that? Do I just start a new thread?

 

Of course you can stay here Denise, as long as you want to, but in this case you just might be able to get more focussed help from the authors of the program, as they understand it and its limitations best. I think you only need to register on the site in order to post your request.

This might be a step too far for you Denise but there are free programs available that can take a snapshot of your Windows system and later restore it if necessary. So you could take a snapshot now (technical term = image), before uninstalling the game, and then uninstall everything and test it. If it seems 'back to normal' after uninstalling you could take another snapshot, store it, and then try reinstalling the game. If it causes mayhem once again you have the means to go back to a clean situation by restoring your second snapshot.

If you feel you want to go down that road we can help.

 

Everyone has been most helpful with the many issues I've had. I'm so thankful to you all.
I've decided that since we are down to the Game: Rome II, and I already know that there are alot of people experiencing difficulties with it's operation, I want to see what the patches do for it.
I know I'll be quick to come back with any problems I might have.
It probably won't be long...:-o
Anyway, thanks again to all who've been with me thru all of this.
Sincerely,
C Denise