MSN error message and data entry problem

I am using XP Home Edition on a compaq. I access MSN hotmail through Internet Explorer. My pc has an AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Processor and 60 GB hard drive (almost half is still free).

Sometimes (not always), when I try to enter data into a form online, when I press <enter>, the form I am working on is deleted, all files close and I get an error message that says the error is a problem with MSN. There is a link to fix the problem. When I click on that, I am asked for my user name and password. No matter what name I use, the system won't recognize my account. I am then directed to create a new account or buy the upgraded MSN. I have to reboot to get back into hotmail, which is the platform from which I do my browsing.

I've been trying to set up a blog in blogger.com and this happens every time I try to edit the layout. I set up my blog through my hotmail account, and then tried through my gmail account. The problem keeps happening.

I tried cleaning the pc (AVG, Ad-aware, CCleaner, Advanced Windows Care, and other programs; registry cleaner programs; defragment programs) with no change. I tried resetting to the earliest system restore point I could (Feb 2008) and then downloaded all available MSN patches, including .net framework 3.0 and it's service pack. I still have the problem.

In case there were MSN patches I missed, I tried using MSBN (?), but it doesn't work for XP Home.

Any suggestions?

I am a first time poster but have been lurking, downloading from and enjoying majorgeeks for years. I am not a computer expert.

Thanks!

 

Hi Philosophical Cat,
Nice to have a lurker become a poster.

Do the forms you are trying to fill out have to do with a service which requires payment?

abri

 

Usually, yes, they are in regards to payment. Hm, never noticed that till you mentioned it. However, my attempt to add links to a page setting (which was simply a link to information, not a form for payment) in a blog also had the same problem.

 

Hi PhilosophicalCat,

This doesn't sound like malware. I will give you a couple more things to do, to get a bit more information.

Please begin by doing the following:

Reset Web Settings & Default Security Settings

Note for IE 6 users:
To Reset Web Settings:
Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK.

If you do not have an Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop, click Start, Control Panel (for some systems it may be Start, Settings, Control Panel), Internet Options, Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK

To Default Security Settings:
Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Security Tab and click Default Level for Internet, Local Intranet, Trusted Sites, and Restricted Sites. For IE 7 users, simply click the "Reset all zones to default level" button.

Note for IE 7 users:
Select Internet Options, then the Advanced Tab and then the Reset button under Reset Internet Explorer Settings.

After you complete the above, try the forms again. If you still have the same problem, I advise going through all of the READ & RUN ME FIRST to cancel out the possibility of malware. Alternatively, you can scroll down to the Windows XP Cleaning Procedure link and on the page that opens up, follow the instructions for Using MGTools. Be sure to run CCleaner before you run the tools or anything else. Instructions for CCleaner are on the first page before you scroll down to Windows XP Cleaning Procedure

If you end up doing the scans, please attach any logs you get as per the instructions.
Thanks.
abri

 

Thanks, Abri!

I followed your directions. They seem to have worked. Now I can edit my new blog. I haven't tried filling out a form that requires payment, yet. I've done a lot of downloading and updating recently, and the dust hasn't settled yet, but at least this issue seems to have been fixed. Thank you!

PC

 

You're welcome!