Another Computer Problem

[Captain Crunch]

I can't remember if anyone has had this issue or not, but about every 5 minutes, a box pops up on my monitor stating that Internet Explorer program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down, and then it goes to Active Desktop Recovery. I have done everything I can think of to solve this problem: defrag, scandisk and repair of IE. Could a virus be the problem. I did a virus scan about a week ago and came up negative. I have Norton Antivirus with the current updates. Does anyone have the a site that does virus scans. I seem to remember someone posting one and am thinking I should give that a shot to see if it would help. Thanks In Advance

 

[KMA]

http://www.trendmirco.com/

 

[MadJack]

i've had the same problems and can't figure out what to do either.

my computer was invaded by 'hotsearchbox' or something like that. do you have the same thing?

before i go online, i open IE and delete all cookies, delete all temp files, and delete history. then, when i get online, i repeat the process. it helps but my puter still isn't right so i ordered a new one. i know....stupid, but i don't have time for this crap.

also, when did this start? try recover by restarting your computer. when it starts to boot up start tapping the F8 key. go to config. type in scanreg /restore and hit enter. go back a few days to reset your registry.

maybe this will help but i'm certainly no expert.

jack@madjacksports.com

 

[Blue Jay]

i'm guessing your still running windows 98, if so, give up and switch to windows xp.....that's what i did.....

 

[prospector]

click start->run and type in regedit <hit enter>

go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

in that list of stuff if most likely some bizarre yet obvious command that does not belong. if you recognize it as such delete it from the list.

another alternative is to start by going to:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/

then download and run Ad-aware 6
when it first starts up be connected to the internet and do the update before running.
run it and delete everything it finds.

hth

 

[Captain Crunch]

Thanks Prospector. I was in areas of my computer that I had never been. I did what you said and once I got to "Run", there was no + or - so I didn't see anything that shouldn't be there, like I would know anyway. I did see a bunch of crap under "Software" that I would like to get rid of. How do you do that??? Old programs that I don't use anymore.

I had already run the AdAware software several times, but never with IE open. I did that it found 14 more files that I deleted. Two of them were HKEY/LOCAL/MACHINE, Gator and Althea or something like that. When I was in the regedit area, I did see something that I wasn't sure what it was and it was listed as cfgmgr32 and then when you clicked the +, it added "Phantom". Any idea if that is something shouldn't be there.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[MadJack]

prospector, thanks man. i had an old version of ad-aware and downloaded the new one. i had 432 objects that it found and removed and i'm running like normal once again.

thanks a lot!

 

[TJBELL]

Thanks Prospector. I had a box come up every 5 minutes of so (like Captain Crunch) and it ONLY happened on CBS Sportsline sites (and NFL.com) It would say that Microsoft found some problem and I had the option to send or dont send. Then it would go back to my desktop and I would have to go back into Madjacks and click scores and try again.

Just ran ad-aware and I was in there for 15 minutes and no bad Microsoft message.

THANKS!!!!!

 

[prospector]

Jack, np, glad i could help.

Capt'n,

there are two similiar keys ...
HKEY_LOCAL_USER\\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

and ...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

the latter one is more important and defines what (mostly) runs on startup. think of it as the equivilant to autoexec.bat

there is a utlity that you can run that will tell us what is running on startup ... i don't have it here at home. tomorrow i will post a link to it, you can download and run it then. then post up here the info and i'll help you out after that.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Thanks for all your help Prospector. I ran the Adaware again 10 minutes after I ran it the first time and it found 6 more that I deleted. The gator and althea have disappeared, so maybe I am slowly solving my problem. Will download the link tomorrow. Neither one of the "Run" had a plus by it so I couln't tell what was there. Will wait for tomorrow.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Prospector, I went to Run->msconfig->Startup and am listing everything that has a box checked next to it.

-Taskbar Display Controls
-ENsoniq Mixer
-TkBellExe
-Stillmage Monitor
-System Tray
-LV Coms
-Scheduling Agent
-Precision Time
-Date Manager
-Encoder Agent

If there are any of these that I don't need during start up, let me know.

I think my second attempt at running AdAware definetely helped. I haven't been down in over an hour. Thanks again.

 

[prospector]

TJ, glad to here it helped you out. i owe you for some great hoops halftime picks


Cap'n,

go to Control Panel->Add Remove Programs
uninstall:

-Precision Time
-Date Manager

(they are spyware ... and cause pop-ups, slow system response, errors on the internet, etc.)

while you're there look for SaveNow as well and remove it too if found. Also, uninstall any "Bar" add-ons. like Search Bar, Hot Bar, ... etc. These are VERY evil!

-----

other than that, so far your system looks pretty clean.
what O/S are you using?
which Anit-Virus do you have?

 

[Captain Crunch]

Got rid of the date manager and precision time. I had already gotten rid of the "Hotbar" and you are right, it was very evil. That thing took up a ton of memory.

I am using Windows 98 SE and have Norton Anti-Virus.

I am still having problems and I just ran the AdAware again 10 minutes ago.

Anything else to look at.

Once again, thanks.

 

[TJBELL]

Prospector: Whenever I use CBSSportsline form the madjacks page under scores, I STILL get that pop up after 5 minutes that says:

" Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for any inconvenience."

at the end it has 2 boxes that say

Send error report

Don't send.

HELP!!!!!!

 

[TJBELL]

Prospector: Whenever I use CBSSportsline form the madjacks page under scores, I STILL get that pop up after 5 minutes that says:

" Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for any inconvenience."

at the end it has 2 boxes that say

Send error report

Don't send.

HELP!!!!!!

----BUMP----

Anyone ever had this happen?? It's a pain in the ass!!! Thanks!!

 

[cisco]

I used to have that problem. I had the computer reformated about 6 months ago. Haven't had the problem since. I am using windows 98.

 

[prospector]

gents, i was crazy busy yesterday at the store. i had no spare time.

TJBell, cbs.sportsline.com ( i use my.sportsline.com ... same thing) uses the Java engine for live scores. it does not play nicely with a lot of other software. like norton antivirus, firewall, or mcafee products. make sure you have gone to the windows update site and downloaded all the patches ... especially for IE6. that might help.

Cap'n, i'll post up that small utility today, probably around noon.

 

[prospector]

http://www.sofotex.com/cgi-bin/ls/page.cgi?page=download&link=8882


the utilty is called "autoruns". it will download from that link.
you will need to unzip it and run it.

you will then be able to "copy to clipboard" the results (right-click somewhere on the report->copy to clipboard or click view->copy to clipboard). then you can just reply in this thread and paste (right-click->paste or ctrl-V) it in.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Prospector, I went back to the Control Panel->Add Remove Programs and did a repair of of IE6 and haven't been knocked off since. I think the key was getting rid of the garbage first and then doing the repair. Thanks for all your help. Good Luck

 

[DR STRANGELOVE]

i had 432 objects

holy chit jack