Multiple issues with IE loading, Earthlink Total Access, ad-aware

Not sure if they are related. I've been working on fixing this for about a week and I'm about at the end of my rope. I've read all of the "read this" and "before you ask" threads, and have followed the instructions.

I'm running Windows XP, service pack 2. I'm still using a dial up connection. I have Zone Alarm, NAV, SpyBot, Spyware Blaster, Ad Aware, Microsoft Spyware, CCleaner, CWShredder, Registry Scrubber, Antiv Personal, and probably a few more. I've run the two online scans recommended. Nothing was found to be the obvious root of my problem.

About 9 days ago, my computer starting running slow and would not open/load new IE windows without giving me a "program not responding" error. When I rebooted, it took over an hour. I've finally been able to get the reboot time down to five-seven minutes, and I can ALMOST normally function, but it's an adventure to open an internet window. Usually it takes about 3 minutes to fully load. Once the window is open, I can navigate back and forth to addresses and URL's just fine. God forbid I have to open a link that requires another window! Then the host page and the new window freeze for an undetermined length of time.

Earthlink Total Access was running well until the date mentioned. Now it is randomly working. Also, I cannot complete an Ad Aware scan any longer. It sticks mid-way or 2/3 of the way through. I've uninstalled and installed it 3 times now.

I cannot delete Kodak software updater ... one of the dll's (backweb) that seem to "hang up" the scans occasionally. It will not let me uninstall or add/remove or delete that folder or its contents.

Antivir Personal will shut itself off regularly ... I had AVG before but it was incompatible with NAV and caused errors. Up until the other issues, Antiv Personal was working swell.

I also get a system32/mdmxsdk.dll error that I seem to have disabled through Highjack this! but the dll itself still sticks the scans for random intervals. As does MSOHEV.dll occasionally.

I have no idea if any of these things are related. None of them show up as virus problems or spyware or regeistry problems that need to be fixed. I'm so frustrated at this point. It's not bad enough to try reloading Windows, but it's not the performance that I was getting and using so error-free before.

I have a HJT log that I can attach if necessary. Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated!!

 

Start>Run>msconfig>Start up tab

What's checked???

Other thing. Download Mozzila Firefox.

http://www.mozilla.org/

Runs faster. Safer.

 

Here's what's checked:
zclient ZoneAlarm zclient.exe
UpdReg Windows UpdReg.exe
sgtray Common files Sonic Update Manager sgtry.exe
PCMService Dell Media Experience PCMService.exe
Rundll32 P17 Rundll.32 P17.dll, P17 Helper
mm_tray Music Match jukebox mmtray.exe
DVD launcher Cyberlink Power DVD
tfswctrl Windows system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
CTsystvol Creative\Sound blaster Live! 24 bit\Surround Mixer
ccApp Common Files\Symnatec Shared\ccApp.exe
UrlLstck Norton Internet Security UrlLstck.exe
SNDMon SYMNET~1 SNDMon.exe\Consumer
AVGNT AVPersonal\AVGNT.EXE\min
gcasServ Microsoft Antispyware\2\gcasServ.exe
msmgs Messenger\msmgs.exe"/background
DSAngt Dell Support\DSAngt.exe"/startup
ctfmon Windows system32\ctfmon.exe
TaskPanl EarthlinkTotalAccess\TaskPanl.exe"-winstart
BuzMe RingCentral\BuzMe\RCUI.exe

There was also a blank description that was checked but I have now unchecked it. I could find no information on it.

 

Uncheck everything. Then start up. Then run adaware. Then run AVG. Then get back to me!!

 

perhaps i'm missing something, but from the sounds of it, and by my limited Hijack knowledge you have more than one AV program running. that in itself isn't good. they will conflict with each other and potentially leave more holes

 

See. Listen to them! They are right. I don't use any AV except a periodic McAfee online scan and if there is a problem i download AVG and run that. BUt, for the foremost I just use AdAwareSE. Works wonders.

^.^

 

I know this will sound redundant(Wow! Big word for me! ), but stay with me.


Like malware, anti virus programs attempt to perform the same operations at the same time. The end result is your resources are eaten up rapidly. And like was mentioned here before, they could conflict and cause some serious problems. I learned that the hard way.

PS (Sorry to butt-in.)

 

Thanks guys. I ran the msconfig and disabled everything. After that I was able to complete an Ad Aware scan (finally!) and removed some data mining cookies. I also uninstalled AV personal.

I have Zone Alarm and have never noticed a problem. I have NAV and Stinger. Am I correct in that those two virus programs should not conflict if the NAV is actively guarding and the Stinger must be manually started to scan?

Also, I cannot seem to get the programs I unchecked in the startup menu (through msconfig) to STAY unchecked. Any hints?

The biggest problem I have now is that it STILL takes forever to load a new browser window. (No problems once the window is opened) I did not have this problem a little over a week ago, and like I said, I cannot figure out why it occurs now. It's completely frustrating!!
Anyone notice anything on my HJT log that would help explain?

 

You should NEVER run 2 or more anitvirus programs. For one, there is no need to have more than 1 and two, it will cause conflicts and issues with your computer(computer will lock up, programs will not respond), causing more frustrations. Best bet is to remove all but one av program. This should help to stop some of your issues.

 

i am by no means an expert on anything, but i know a little about a lot

only things i noticed from your log was that you had NAV, and ZoneLabs (which i'm assuming is Zone Alarm) running at once. but this has already been comvered. i'm also assuming that AVGnet is either the McAffee Avert Stinger or AVG AV software.

otherwise, your RO dell4me line, i've heard and i believe read that that could be related to a baddie. but i wouldn't take my work for it. best bet would be hope someone like Bj, Chas, D3m, Phillie, or S_P_D see it. they all know way way more than i do

 

Stinger (unless I'm incorrect), is like a quick scan for certain virus strains. It is not a resident scanner as Avast, norton, mcafee, avg, etc are. It is like a good tool to run, incase something may be blocking one of the above mentioned programs from running.

I typically use a number of one time offline scanners just to be safe, when I'm attacking troublesome problematic computers at work.

Remover found here at major geeks is similar. It only will scan when you tell it to scan. Also, I typically disable any running (resident) AV programs when I run these tools.

Remover:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/remover.exe_d4638.html

 

theefool,

i believe you are right. i think the stinger just scans for certain threats. over 50 of them last i checked. it in itself is not a standalone AV program, just a "quick scan" tool

 

I am only running NAV actively.

Anyone have any suggestions about my Kodak software updater uninstall problem?