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General discussion

links don't work

Apr 10, 2005 11:10AM PDT

Whenever I logon to the internet I find that I can't click onto links within web pages. Everything just freezes. I?ve run Norton and every type of spyware I can get hold of. I?ve also uninstalled all the software I've installed recently but it makes no difference.I can't think what the problem might be, any ideas?

Discussion is locked

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So little to work with.
Apr 10, 2005 12:50PM PDT

All I can offer is a wild guess.

Try IEFIX that you find with google.com

Bob

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RE So little to work with.
Apr 11, 2005 4:48AM PDT

Thanks Bob, that seems to have fixed it

Mark

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correction!
Apr 11, 2005 11:16AM PDT

It didn't work. I still can't use links people send me in emails and on some web pages clicking on links just makes the screen freeze.

When I run IEFIX I'm told IE has been removed but when I try to reinstall the freshly downloaded version of IE6 I get this message

"setup has detected a newer version of internet explore already installed on this system

setup cannot continue"

I'm using XP, at least in win98 in "add and remove" there was an option to repair IE or just uninstall it.

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OK, now this is getting weird
Apr 11, 2005 1:57PM PDT

I don't know if this is connected but suddenly windows update won't work either

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Your story is not unlike ...
Apr 11, 2005 9:34PM PDT
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funny you should say that
Apr 11, 2005 10:48PM PDT

I installed ad-aware, stinger,spyware blaster and ccleaner when all this started to happen, spybot I've used for ages. I shouldn't have any spyware at all but whenever I log on to cnet I get a message saying something about how spybot has detected I want to download avenue-a.

In order to post this reply I've just had to sign up to a new isp as mine is permanently engaged today.Hopefully there's a problem at their end and not mine, I know that my neighbours have been having trouble to.

When I turned on my computer this morning , again I was told

"Internet explorer has been removed from this computer, do you want to clean up your
personalised settings for this programme?"

but IE has not been removed so I'm more confused than ever.

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It looks like spyware damage to me.
Apr 11, 2005 11:13PM PDT

Some find out what damage the spyware did after the spyware is removed. It's the spyware and not the removal tools that caused the damage.

The tools I noted are "the usual" to clean up about 98% of the common pests.

After these I suggest all 5 tools be run, then IEFIX and ...

You didn't answer how you keep the spyware off the machine. You seem to be trying to do the "after" the spyware but didn't get the hint that IE/OE are the current choices for spyware to be installed on machines.

I suggest Firefox and/or Mozilla be used until a new IE/OE arrives.

Bob

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It looks like spyware damage to me
Apr 12, 2005 1:37AM PDT

I ran all the tools again and this time was able to update ad-aware which found four problems previous scans hadn't noticed.The avenu-a business has stopped now and I discovered that my isp is having problems, nobody can connect through them at the moment so at least that problem isn't at my end.

Have installed firefox too so hopefully everything's sorted out.

Famous last words.

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famous last words
Apr 12, 2005 4:37AM PDT

I spoke too soon, the screen still freezes if I click on some shortcuts or links, firefox is a bit of an improvement but I can only use a lot of links if I paste them into my browser.

Having trouble using housecall as there are a few jumps involved which cause the screen to freeze.

Also, was prompted to download software to configure for netscape. Is this correct? I I downloaded it but it won't install since it can't locate netscape in my computer.

Just a thought.I recall , years ago, having similar problems which turned out to be due to a programme I was using, cybermedia, which was supposed to scan the hard drive for conflicts but, being built around an old version of IE, was causing a lot of them itself. I've installed a Belkin videobus and a new DVD writer recently, could something similar be happening there?

Everytime I reboot I'm still be prompted that IE has been removed from my computer and being asked if I want to clean up my personal settings for the software.I'm not sure what the consequences of doing so might be and am scared of losing my mailing list (about 2,000 names) so I click on "no", is this the right thing to do?

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For Housecall we use IE.
Apr 12, 2005 5:36AM PDT

Try that.

And a HIJACKTHIS log could be useful.

Bob

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Before I do that
Apr 13, 2005 2:20AM PDT

I finally got round to doing housecall and discovered I have the dropper trojan, the scan result was

"TROJ DROPPER BR cannot access C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\req.dat"

The file could not be deleted because it's in use. Is there some other way to do this?

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You need to move to the Security Forum.
Apr 13, 2005 2:28AM PDT

I may or may not be the best person at virus/trojan/spy removal.

I do know that the MOVEONBOOT program can delete it on a reboot, but I did not do any research about your new pest. That's done in the Security Forum.

Bob

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a2 spyware removal screwing with my system?
Sep 20, 2005 9:23AM PDT

OKAY, WHAT FOLLOWS IS WHAT I WROTE TO THE FOLKS AT EMSISOFT AFTER USING THEIR a2 (a-squared) PRODUCT:

**************************

A few weeks ago, I did a complete system reinstall of Windows XP Professional. Since my CDs were of a relatively original release of XP, after the reinstall, I went to the Microsoft website to update everything, including the download of SP2.

I reinstalled the programs I use, including MS Office, and various other software applications. Via the Internet, I also updated all of these, accordingly.

Finally, I downloaded AVG and a-squared...

Then, two days ago (Friday, 16 September), I decided to run a-squared. It found, if memory serves, about 42 spyware programs. Of course, a list containing the names and locations of each was returned at the end of the scan. Your software checked all of the boxes next to these programs and asked if I would like a-sqaured to get rid of them. I said yes and they were gone.

From that point forward, the computer started to slow down when I tried to access certain webpages, some pages would only return partial data. Worse, several sites that I have never had a problem loading simply returned the IE message that "The page requested cannot be displayed."

While poking around Google for a bit to see if there was a reason why this was happening, I came across the following website:
www.tech-recipes.com/windows_spyware_tips765.html

That page seems to strongly suggest a correlation between a-squared's removal of certain spyware and my current problems.

I should also say that I DID try some of the recommended solutions on that site and they have not helped.

I also tried to restore the system to a point in time before I ran a-squared. Still no help.

So, I am writing to you in the hope that you can help.

It's actually a little desperate at this point as it is really interfering with my wife's and my ability to get our work done.

Your time and assistance are most appreciated.

Sincerely,
sspencer9@yahoo.com

**************************

HERE'S WHAT EMSISOFT HAD TO SAY:

From: Christian Peters
Created: 9/19/2005 8:47:16 AM
Try following, put in your windows-xp-cd.

Go to "start" -> "command" enter in "sfc /scannow" and wait some time. Reboot computer. Hope that helps.

**************************

BEFORE I ATTEMPTED THAT, I WROTE BACK TO SAY:

Created: 9/19/2005 3:01:43 PM

I will try that, but before I do, there seems to be a follow-on problem (perhaps related to my already having tried a couple of the steps listed on www.tech-recipes.com/windows_spyware_tips765.html

What I did MAY have resolved some of my problems, although partial resolution may also have come from my later using system restore.

The new problem is, upon rebott, receiving an error message that says: Generic Host Process for Win32 Services has encountered a problem and needs to close.

The curious thing is that this message does not appear after each and every reboot (MAYBE every 3rd reboot?).

A little more poking around the Net evidenced that several others experiencing this Generic Host Process... problem also claim it to be intermitent (though not necessarily related to any of the thing that led me to this point).

I must now admit to exhaustion, having tried to solve this mess for most of the weekend.

**************************

THE REPLY:

From: Christian Peters
Created: 9/19/2005 3:46:45 PM

No idea, sorry. Try the steps with command "sfc /scannow"

**************************

I DID TRY THEIR RECOMMENDED FIX. STILL NOTHING.

**************************

ANY IDEAS? SUGGESTIONS? RECOMMENDATIONS OF GOOD DIVORCE LAWYERS? Wink

YOUR ADVICE AND (BETTER) A WAY OUTTA THIS MESS WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY.

THANKS IN ADVANCE.

sspencer9@yahoo.com