MSN problems [HJT log]

MSN problems

I can't log on automatically anymore to MSN. Also it won't remember any of my addresses or information when filling out forms as it did before. I have spent hours with MSN ,reinstalled it also. tools shows that I have all the right check marks. This happened about 3 weeks ago, until then all was just fine. I have windows XP home. Dell wouldn't help me as it is a software problem they said and would charge me $99.00 to fix it !!! Thanks for any help.

Pat

 

Does this have any connection to MSN.COM which I WAS using for my home page.

I have two machines ( 2-98SE and 1 XP pro ) that CAN NOT get to MSN.COM.

It has been an on/off problem for a week or two. Tonight it is MUCH worse. It gets about 3/4s loaded and just sits there.

BillyBob

 

I have absolutley no idea if this has any bearing on the problem with MSN or not.

But I cleaned out the PREFETCH folder and MSN.COM is loading without a flicker.

Also before the cleaning I could be on this site and go hit HOME and MSN.COM was right there. But when I got there and hit REFRESH it would hangup but not now.

BillyBob

 

MSN.COM is working very smothly this morning. Even better than it has for a few days.

In fact the Internet as a whole seems to be working smoother. Even this site.

I also checked the PREFETCH folder and see that a new LAYOUT.INI was rebuilt after a COLD startup this AM. It was not there before I shut down late last evening after getting badly beaten in our Tesday Evening Golf game.

BillyBob

 

Hello Pat,

Let's start:

I can't log on automatically anymore to MSN.
Thru the Control panel > Internet options > Custom level > Security tab > and scroll down (to the bottom) to User Authentification > is Logon with current username and password checked?


Also it won't remember any of my addresses or information when filling out forms as it did before.
Also in the Security tab (toward the bottom) Userdata persistence. Is Enable checked?

Regards - Charles

 

MSN problems

I did everything in my internet properties you said to do, but it won't let my click on aply to activate it? And that PREFETCH folder, do I delete everything , but not the main folder? My MSN also is very slow to open and sometimes not at all.I keepgett a window that says it is low and I have 80% free space.

idaholady32

 

idaholady32

It reads VERY much like you and I have the same problem. Right now MSN.COM loads about halfway and QUITS. But during the early afternoon it loaded almost as soon as I clicked the Icon in the toolbar.

VERY puzziling. So any ideas may well apply to both of us.

BillyBob

 

Hi idaholady32,

I keepgett a window that says it is low and I have 80% free space.
That message is not about hard drive space. Sounds like your operating system is WinME, correct?. That message is about low Systems Resources. To make a dent in that, go to this page http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=39425 and follow the instructions on looking up startup/background programs. If you can eliminate some of those, that should ease up.

but it won't let my click on aply to activate it?
I don't know right now why IE is not allowing you to apply the changes. Is there a message?

Let's see if you have malware running on the system:
Go to Quicklinks at the top of this page > Recommended links and if you haven't done so, download/install Spybot - Ad-Aware - MS Anti-Spy, update them and then do the scans. Do not enable any real time protections when installing SpyBot or MS Anti Spyware - just want to use as scanners for the time being.

And that PREFETCH folder, do I delete everything , but not the main folder?
I'll let BillyBob answer that one - but I would hold off on that for the time being - too many changes to the system before we know something about the possibility of malware. Do the above first.

BTW, if this is WinME, create a manual system restore point between each step - if this is malware, we'll clear it out at the end.

Regards - Charles

 

As to the Prefetch folder.

I just deleted everything it it not the folder itself.
on the 13th

That all changed AGAIN around noontime.

Again. I am not sure whether there is a connection between the MSN problem and my MSN.com problem.

But I will 100% agree to making restore points among the way if you do indeed have the capabilty of doing so. I was messing around yesterday and had to do a System Restore from the day before.

But as of this time I have NO IDEA what is realy happening. I DO NOT see how it could be a system probem when it seem to straighten out all by itslef. And by having the same problem on all 3 machines turns me away from it being a proplem on the machine itself.

Right now msn.com is working fine. I will post back later if it messes up.

BillyBob

 

idaholady32

Wait to get ideas from more knowledgable people than me. But msn.com is MESSING UP AGAIN. And on two 2 machines and OSs not just one.

I myself am waiting to hear from someone as to the fact whether our problems are even connected. But having MSN in both does make me wonder.

BillyBob

 

I was looking at This site And it may well be that the problem that idaholady32 has and mine may well be connected somehow.

MSN.COM has been behaving VERY erraticly since my prevous post. And I checked with two different machines and two different OSs.

I also checked with Pop-Up blocker on and off, and there was no difference.

BillyBob

 

I fogot to add this suggestion in my previous note.

But at this time I would suggest that idaholady32 not make a lot of changes on the involved machine.

Until proven different I do not believe it is a machine problem at all. At least at this time that is my thought.

BillyBob

 

FWIW, my home page is a customized MSN page and no problems with it.

Regards - Charles

 

Before I go messing things up worse than they are I will ask for some help.

Namely; How do you customize The MSN page ?

BillyBob

 

Hi BB,

In the upper right corner of the MSN page is My MSN > sign in > then delete/add the columns you want to see along with whatever color. Then make that your home page.

Regards - Charles

 

My rule of thumb when it happens on more than one machine is that it is probably not anything on those machines.
If you changed something on your router, it maybe that; or it may be a problem at their end ( A denial of service attack against their servers or a problem where the internet backbone you are on connects to the one they are on , or a problem with their server).

 

My way of thinking also. That is the reason for this.

I thought about that also. but if it were the Router wouldn't I have problems with other sites ?

Now I have my own problem. This OLD ( ANCIENT ) Microsoft Keyboard has the shift key sticking. I think I have another one. But if I don't I will when I get home from shopping tonight.

I gotta go. I am hearing a bit angry voice calling and saying " ARE YOU READY ? "

BillyBob

 

Hi Charles.

Something appears to be different. It looks to me like you are actually using MSN ( have it installed ) I do not.

I use just plain WWW.MSN.COM And I do not have these My MSN > sign in > in the upper right corner.

CORRECTION

They are there. I missed them. I was not looking where they are.

BillyBob

 

MSN Problems

Hi Charles,

I was on the phone again for about another 1 1/2 hours yesterday, they didn't help me again, and don't know what is wrong. I still can't do auto log in or do any of the other stuff I want to do. I have Windows XP HOME on my PC. Also did what you suggested, have had already Microsoft Anti Spyware band ad Aware, I will add Spybot, didn't think I needed so much with my Macafee.

idaholady32

 

Hi idaholady32,

Sorry none of this is helping you.

Let's try HijackThis - it'll tell us what's running on your system.

HijackThis:

Download from here http://radiosplace.com/ latest version 1.99.1

Download it to it's own folder, for example C:\HijackThis - unzip (double click on zipped folder) - click on the execute - click scan button - click save log and save to the folder you just created *DO NOT FIX ANYTHING* - copy resultant .txt file and paste into your next post.

Regards - Charles