ie refresh/crash/overload

Hi MsTerious - Welcome to the BBS

Which OS, what version of IE ?

 

Hey - calm down - no problem we're here to help - we all started with zilch

In order to help we need details as requested - so Win 98, Me, Xp - Home or Pro ?

Security software -

Any Firewall installed - Norton, Zone Alarm, Kerio ....?

Any Antivirus software installed - Norton, McAfee, AVG ... ?

Please post back with these details - then we will be in a better position to help - beats guessing any day

 

There are a number of possibilities here - the most likely are a virus, spyware or a corrupted IE or all of them

First off you are living dangerously if you have no anti-virus software or a firewall. Many computer problems today are caused by viruses and by spyware - little applets loaded to your PC by some web sites you visit to spy on your surfing habits.

Get hold of some Antivirus software as soon as possible - install it, update it to include the latest virus definitions, ensure that it runs all the time and updates the virus definitions automatically - at least once a week. Do a full system scan

I prefer Norton Antivirus - others have their own preferences, but get something fast!!

In the meantime I suggest that you do the following - in this order :

1. Delete all the Temporary Internet Files and Cookies - In IE Tools > Internet Options > General >Temporary Internet Files > Delete Files and Delete Cookies.

2. Remove all spyware - download Spybot and AdAware
Run Spybot twice, and delete all it finds. Always run this before AdAware

Run AdAware - configure to max settings - all files and compressed files and delete all it finds.

3. Clean up the Registry - down load

RegCleaner and EasyClean 1.7 and RegScrubXP
.

Run in this order

RegCleaner - Check the first 2 columns for programs you thought you had uninstalled or removed and mark any that you are positive should not be on your computer. Remove these and go Tools > Registry Cleanup > Do them all. Delete all it finds

EasyClean - run only Unnecesary files and Registry Clean and delete all it finds. In the 'Unneccessary Files' skip box type 'HELP'. There is a bug which disables the Help and Support feature in XP despite skipping Help - this can be fixed by downloading a fix here Do NOT do Duplicate Files

RegScrubXP - Select ' RegScrub Finds Problems' and Fix all it finds.

This should clear your PC of any spyware.

Install a firewall - XP has a basic firewall which may well be turned on by default.

Start > Control Panel > Network Connections > Right your dial-up connection > Properties > Advanced > Check Internet Connection Firewall.

This will do for starters, but is not that bright. A couple of good, free firewalls are Zone Alarm or Kerio Personal Firewall preferred by many on this board.

Hopefully the clean out of the PC and the removal of any virus and spyware will do the trick - if not a repair of IE may be in order, but first things first.

Please post back with your results - and any further questions. This is not as complex as it sounds

 

Footnote to my last post:

When you install a standalone firewall, best to turn off the XP firewall:

Start > Control Panel > Network Connections > Right your dial-up connection > Properties > Advanced > Uncheck Internet Connection Firewall.

 

Oops - 'Right click ......'

Thanks for your message - glad to help

 

Mark

She's lost it - IE that is and I'm trying to help via email (I have no messenger service), so she may not see your post.

Her last 'post' -

" Yes, I've done a system restore. I did that a couple of weeks ago. I'm resigned to the fact that ie just doesn't like me. I couldn't even open it today. I had to go thru hotmail to get in. I've downloaded everything, but it's just causing more confusion. I keep getting a popup saying " Someone on address 66.66.6.218 wants to send ICMP packet to your machine" and something about something kernel, but I don't know what it is, so I keep clicking deny. I'm lost "

I've suggested all the usual and as a last resort running ie.inf from the Windows directory. Waiting a reply. A repair of XP seems unlikely as she appears to have no CD. As far as I know she has not run any of the clean up progs or an antivirus as yet.