IE "encounters a problem"

Hopefully this is a simple problem that will leave people scratching their heads at my ignorance. My level of frustration is so high at this point I will be more than willing to admit to idiocy!

I keep getting a message that internet explorer has encountered a problem and has to shut down. Certain websites seem to cause the error, others I can surf with no problem. I've run AVG...updated it and found no viruses. I ran Ad-Aware SE and found no major problems. I cleaned the boot and did a defrag and still have the problem. I run Windows XP and would greatly appreciate any opinions or help.

 

Hi Cathy,

This is only half of the problem. It's the specific details that are needed here. When this error occurs are there any buttons you can push to find out those details?

Any pattern of errors/events you can see if you use the administrator tool event viewer? To do so:
*use the Run command in Start Menu to open the Event Viewer Console type: eventvwr.msc and hit enter.

Internet Explorer has a zillion problems it can encounter, we need to pin this down if possible. Are these sites particularly graphic or sound intensive? Java/flash heavy? Are you up to date on updates such as as graphics adapter, sound, directx, java etc.

While I'm still personally conflicted and am being dragged "kicking and screaming" to the conclusion that expertise and familiarity with hijackthis logs has become the best tool for troubleshooting these problems. I feel that using this method is not teaching the user how to solve and fix current problems with the built-in tools at hand and by themselves. They still find themselves having to seek expert help. Having said that I must admit that the quickest way to figure this out is:
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=39058

Run your on-line scan. No one scanner is designed to catch 100% of the virus', trojans and malware/adware 100% of the time.

Pinup/stickies can be found in the "Security Forum" and "subforum ".

Of course there is nothing that says one couldn't study up and learn how to use this tool themselves. Granted it's a lot of work but sooner or later this type of cleanup advice and help will no longer be easily found, at least for free.

 

Thanks goddez,

When I ask for "details" I am told that it is an unknown error. There is no pattern to it either. Yesterday I couldn't get to this site. I could get as far as the forum I've posted on but when I tried to click in and read responses to other posts the error box would pop up. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with graphics, sound or flash. It's a random sort of thing.

I ran eventvwr. The only pattern of errors shows as application errors. Not sure what that tells me. I've tried the link you suggest a couple of times...I keep getting the error message and then I'm shut down. I will continue to try, it will eventually let me through.

The thing that keeps me from studying up and learning how to use this tool myself is time. I work, I'm a mother with two boys who require attention. My main use of this darn "tool" is business though...if it doesn't run my business suffers. So, I guess that means findng the time to learn how to decipher what the problem is and fix it. Lately it's one problem after another!!

Thanks for your response,
Cathy

 

Just out of curiosity, do you use an accelerated dialup such as People PC or Netzero. It's been my experience that these accelerated dialups are only good for relatively short periods of time based on the size of the cache file you have set. I find myself having to either stop and empty the cache or disable the acceleration altogether. I know I could increase the cache size but this opens another door of opportunity for problems I don't care to be bothered with. I just find it easier to disable the acceleration or reboot. I don't generally notice to much difference using it or not. It may be more suited for people who tend to frequent the same sites but as I am all over the net having certain sites cached helps me very little. Not to mention that the sites I do visit seem to constantly change making a cached reference almost a moot point.

Speaking of temps have you cleaned yours recently? This may mean all areas were such are stored. If using Java it has it's own temp, windows temp, IE's TIF (temp)......

While I tend to lean towards a dreaded (additional toolbar) malware/adware/hijack or incomplete past cleanup snafu all other areas are suspect.

Let me take a wee bit of time to write up a cleanup routine you may want to use. I used to have a "cleanup-routine write-up" saved on this thing and probably still have it on backup disk somewhere (organization is fast getting out of hand...notes to self: "Procrastination is not my friend "! "Perhaps a New Years resolution is called for "!)

If anyone else is reading this that happens to have such a routine written up or a handy dandy link please feel free to tack it up in here and save both Cathy and I some time. It would be much appreciated.

As an after thought but also well worth mentioning are you using any popup blocker? Have you tried holding down the control key while clicking on a sublink? (Note: some use shift to override popup block. If one doesn't work try the other.)

 

Hi Cathy,
I haven't forgotten about you although it has been a while since I said I would do a cleanup write for you. A combination of the flu and sinus medication has left me at far less than a "speedy gonzalas ".

I did download a nifty little tool that seems to make cleaning temps and IE tif a breeze:
ccleaner (alias: CrapCleaner):
http://www.ccleaner.com/faq.php

No writeup needed here but a good read of the sites help topics and a quick check through the forum should give you a good idea of how this puppy works and what you wish to check and uncheck for cleanup: (Understand what you will be cleaning or losing as far as lists, cookies, etc. are concerned. You may wish to fine tune defaults so you don't lose things you would rather keep.)
http://www.ccleaner.com/help/fileclean.php

I was going to suggest spybots shredder since you indicated you already have spybot but ccleaner seems to be much more user friendly and does all the hard work for you by gathering all the areas one needs to clean, either routinely or on occasion, and puts them all in lists you can customize to suit your needs at the time. It's quick to.

Keeping safety in mind use precautions and prepare for the unforeseen! Set a manual restore point before using this and if using the registry tab make sure you do allow it make that backup *.reg. Since this program is new to me, I can't offer any mine fields to be on the lookout for. I have, however, used this on my machine and have not noticed any ill effects. Perhaps those members who are more familiar with the app will include any tips or problems they've had and inform both of us. It has been recommended by several members in the past.

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Any luck on clicking on the link in my previous thread? This is to a post that leads to links, how-to's, instructions and faqs for things you need to do and in the order you need to do them before posting a hijackthis log. You can find the same stickies tacked up in the "Security Forum" and its subforum. The post just had a little more personal touch to it as the poster has the same problem.

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Stupid of me not to ask what those application errors are that you see in your event viewer? If these are IE 'co-applications/components' that are called upon while trying to load a page or 'programs' that may be background tasking while your using IE, they can cause problems. I was so focused on creating a hijackthis log, (knowing it would be a reliable, fast method) this, got overlooked. Hijack log will allow others to catch potential problems that using a common standard method of tshooting may not.

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Sheesh... I'm still wobbling back and forth between the two methods or routines for pinning this down. To avoid further confusion, we should stay focused on one thing at a time and go for the hijackthis.log. The other things can always be gotten back to if hijackthis does not do the trick.

Note to self....do not use Nyquil (Night Time) during the day.