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Resolved Question

Favorites drop off, Message boxes are blank, Icons change

Jul 2, 2012 10:19PM PDT

I'm usually pretty good at fixing problems with my PC but this one has me completely stumped. IE 8, XPsp3, Office 2007.

When I first boot the machine everything is fine. As I browse email and navigate the web over about a 10 minute span, strange things start to happen. When I hit a favorites folder in the favorites bar, the drop down appears but several items have missing text. If I hit it again it gets worse, even more items are missing text. Each time more and more items loose the text. When I exit IE the text on the desktop icons has turned black. So then I start Excel and I get error message boxes with no text and no buttons. As I X out of these I start getting instruction memory violation errors. I do manage to exit out of Excel, when I try go back to the web IE won't launch, the screen flashes a blank fully maximize window and then closes immediately. I have to re-boot to get the machine back to normal but it lasts about 10 minutes and starts doing the same thing all over again.

I have run a Windows Essentials security scan, I scanned the C drive with Avast antivirus, I scanned the Registry it was squeeky clean, ran CHKDSK, ran SPyware Doctor, deleted the IE temp files and cookies, and ran hardware driver updates. Everthing reported a PERFECT machine.

I am completely stumped. Thanks in advance for any help!!

Discussion is locked

cvwheeler has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
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Clarification Request
No changes?
Jul 2, 2012 11:13PM PDT

"C drive with Avast antivirus"
"I have run a Windows Essentials security scan"
"I scanned the Registry it was squeeky clean"

These are quotes from above. Quoted the above to help troubleshoot your system.

Avast! just recently updated their a/v from version 7.0.1426 to 7.0.1451. Some users at avast forum are reporting memory leaks with symptoms similar to yours, text missing, etc. This memory leak is affecting only some Win 2000 and XP users. Other operating systems are not affected. I am running XP Pro SP3, and it is not affected by this bug.

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=100359.0

Are you also running Microsoft Windows Essentials antivirus at the same time? Are you using a registry cleaner?

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Reply
Jul 3, 2012 12:07AM PDT

I am not running Windows Essential real time, I run it manually. I have multiple registry cleaners, the registry seems to be clean. I am running XP sp3, I can disbale Avast and see if things improve. Thanks for the feedback.

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Reply
Jul 3, 2012 12:14AM PDT

Thanks for the Link to Avast as well. Some of the symptoms I'm getting are very similar to the descritpions on the link. Those folks at Avast have been hitting the bong way too much, they need to refocus on their software.

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Clarification request:
Jul 3, 2012 2:16AM PDT

This is Microsoft Security Essentials a/v? Not Windows Essentials or Microsoft Windows Essentials (my typo)?

Should you run two antiviruses?

Here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-security/two-anti-virus-or-just-one-on-a-pc/e37c46e3-5ff8-48d1-8737-e73c115d3562

Not really able to fully disable Avast! as it has protective drivers that will run all the time.

Uninstall the a/v you want to remove here: http://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/

Uninstall Avast! by going to add/remove, then use the aswclear.exe file, in safe mode only, to completely remove all traces of avast! from your system.

Make sure aswclearexe is downloaded only to your desktop. Otherwise, there could be problems.

aswclear.exe here: http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility Follow instructions on that page.

Avast! version 7.0.1426 appears to work without causing the problems you are experiencing.

Here: http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/11817/

Important: Use the "FileHippo Mirror" link to download the correct version! File should be 71.30 MB in size if correct. Do not use the "Download this version" link as it gives the newest version, not 7.0.1426 version.

Do all work offline, when not connect to the internet or network.

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Sorry
Jul 3, 2012 2:22AM PDT

I do not use registry cleaners. I have found they can damage my os, and a clean install is the only fix.

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Clean install
Jul 3, 2012 2:24AM PDT

of the operating system is the only fix. All bets are off if these are used and the system shows signs of damage.

Some of this damage can be so deep that a clean install is the only fix here.

Just so no misunderstanding happens here.

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Sorry
Jul 3, 2012 4:14AM PDT

Thanks for the great advice. I understood your comments regarding the OS. I have the drive imaged so no sweat doing a recovery. Thanks for the tips on Avast and the link to filehippo, I'll make sure I re-install using your recommended version. Thanks again.

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Ok
Jul 3, 2012 5:10AM PDT

Come back here if you continue to have problems. Or if not, let us know.

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July 3rd, 2012
Jul 3, 2012 6:57AM PDT
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OK
Jul 3, 2012 8:12AM PDT

Funny, I checked the version as soon as I got home from work, I was on 7.0.1451. I got an update notice to 7.0.1456 at the same time. Thanks.

Best Answer

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Problem Resolved
Jul 3, 2012 10:21AM PDT

Upgraded Avast to version 7.0.1456

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Answer
Re: problems
Jul 2, 2012 10:30PM PDT

If it isn't software, it's hardware.

What hardware did you already replace to try to solve this? I'd start with the RAM, then the video card, then the motherboard. As replacing the motherboard implies a clean install of the OS the option of a damaged OS is included for free.

Kees

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Thanks Kees
Jul 2, 2012 10:33PM PDT

The funny thing is, I haven't changed a thing. I'll try the memory next, the Instruction Memory Violation may be a clue.

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It may be time to change a thing. Or remove said things.
Jul 3, 2012 5:14AM PDT

I've lost count of how many cans of air I've used to fix an issue like this one.