Internet Explorer 6 downloading problem

I have started to have a problem entering certain sites on the internet. I have two computers. . a desk top which has windows 98 and a laptop that has windows xp. I use a Wireless router to enable my laptop internet access.

There are certain sites that won't open up for me. I usually use google as my homepage and that will no longer open but msn.com opens with no problem. I can get into my credit card account, but it won't let me send a payment. It is moving very slow also. Both computers are having this problem.

I have AOL IM that usually starts up when the computer starts as well as the AOL weatherbug and they both no longer open when I turn on the computer. AOL gives me the message: The AIM service cannot be reached. Google gives me the message: This page cannot be displayed.

I ran adaware and spybot and the scan from my antivir protection program. Everything seems fine. I updated Microsoft. I'm not sure what else to do. I actually tried downloading Microsoft Service Pack 1 and it tells me it's already there. . but when I try to download a patch it tells me I need to download service pack 1.

I'm sure I am leaving important info out that you need, but I would definitely appreciate your advice.

Oh, one other thing. .. I now get an error when I go online: Spooler subsystem App has encountered a problem and must close.

Thanks

 

Thanks for responding. I did the suggestions and put my hijackthis log in the other section. I'm still having the same problems.

Thanks.

 

To this

Could this be connected

To this

I have one machine that the Kids use for AIM and it is showing some STRANGE behavior.

It did come up with that message but I do not think the kids clicked on it I HOPE not anyway

BillyBob

 

I did do the followup and I am still having the same problem. Any other suggestions?? Help!

 

I see from the other thread that you run Win98.
Do you have a HOSTS file? (Not HOSTS.sam or LMHOSTS, just HOSTS?) If so post back for further ideas.
Not sure how many of these ideas will help for your Spooler problem
http://www.google.com/search?source...GLD:2004-31,GGLD:en&q=Spooler+subsystem+error

 

Hello: I run Win98 on my desktop and I run XP on my laptop. both computers are having the same problem. How do I find if I have HOSTS? I'm not familiar with that. I couldn't get into the link you left because it was a google link. . that's one of the main sites I can't get into.

 

If you are having the "same problem" on two different PC's which are running two different versions of Windows, I assume you connect the two PC's from time to time. And then you probably had malware (trojan, virus, spyware) on one that you have given to the other.
However, if you have been unable to solve the problems using the suggestions from Arie and want to pursue the two problems, assuming malware is not involved
Spool subsystem
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1013173614 (see starting about half way down the page)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810894 (though this is for WinXP, there maybe some ideas that work in Win98. Be sure to back up your registry (Regedit File|Export) before making changes to the Registry.)
You can see if you have a HOSTS file by simultaneously clicking Windows Key and F. Enter HOSTS in the Find line. Find Now.

 

Ok, when I checked for HOSTS I got a lot of them like HOSTS.sam and such and just one by itself but it was lowercase "hosts ". Not sure if that makes a difference.

 

rrb9hi--Open that "hosts" file (using Notepad or Wordpad), copy the contents and post here.

 

Ok, hopefully this won't confuse the issue, but I went to my laptop this time and ran HOSTS. I got three by themselves. .

HOSTS:
# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost


and then "hosts" (program file/spycatcher)


äjcæ‰0ûçàë'7Å Ã֫þâH¼4&f‹ô»&Ó¦ "ükO[»¹CÛF<>
ŸæÀºâ€”ëñ0Û1××IG
¨Å fÃ$y4£ÿÈÑ‹ún*Ìá—Üëø8_õûb+ψ*Ã/D¶â€šGÀˆ»´w¼â€¡Å 6î³Ãß/˜æýí+{¹«»£Ã¸Ã†PÃÕ
tÃ…õ*Ælˆ%øð0È¢*N´ (there is a lot more of this but it won't copy for some reason)

and then "hosts" again (program/system 32)

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost


I hope this helps.


Thanks

 

Just wanted to post that my computer is now fixed. Not completely sure what did it. I ran a bunch more anti-virus softwares. . .and then I unplugged everything again and replugged it back in. Everything is working again! yeah!

Thank you everyone for your help!

 

rrb9hi --Thanks for posting back. Glad to hear the good news, but disappointed you do not know what fixed things though it sounds like the problem was a virus/trojan or two as Arie suspected.
The first and last of those HOSTS files you posted are what is usually known as HOSTS.sam. (I suspect you are hiding file extensions. You can change that if you want, by clicking Windows Explorer Tools|Folder Options|View tab|uncheck box "Hide extensions for know file types ". Not necessary but you might find it useful to know a file's extension.) HOSTS.sam would not have any effect on the performance of your PC. I have no clue what that Spycatcher HOSTS file is all about. I do not use Spycatcher.