IE problems

[Rollingthunder]

New computer using Windows XP Home edition. Came with IE installed. It started adding porn sites to my favorites list. I deleted them but on next start-up, they were back. Tried blocking them in security section - no joy. Decided to download Netscape 7 to get away from that problem. New problems were Netscape taking away editing capabilities in My Pictures and when running IE, IE freezing up often (program not responding). Removed Netscape but problem (not responding) with IE remains.
???

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

Rollingthunder,

Malware and some viruses do that. Lets do two things to check out your system:

[list=1]
Run Trend Micro's HouseCall (http://housecall.trendmicro.com)
Download, Install and Run LavaSoft's Ad-Aware (http://lavasoft.element5.com/software/adaware/)
[/list=1]

Lets see what those two programs find.

Take Care,

Richard

[4granted]

Go to www.mozilla.org and download one of thier browsers. Best in the West!!!
:cool:

[PPRuNe Towers]

A suggestion strongly seconded here at the Towers. Danny and I both use mozilla's Firebird out of choice.

Why take any notice of us? Well we use every available and stable browser for PC and Mac to ensure the site renders properly for all users. The one we lapse into using most will have the fewest drawbacks and the best speed for intensive PPRuNing.

Whichever you go for, and this applies especially to those of you on dialup, don't use Microsoft's I.E. It actually obstructs your enjoyment (?????) of this site due to both its bloated, glacial progress (sic) and, especially, its lack of tabbed browsing. I'm forced to use it to run the site from internet cafes downroute and once you've used a decent browser Explorer will drive you crazy.

Regards
Rob

[Rollingthunder]

Thank you gentlemen.

Downloaded Trendmicro. It cleaned a Malware worm and found 105 other corrupted files that it either cannot access or are non-cleanable. Trojans and worms.

Downloaded regmech21.exe. It found ten problems and the trial version fixed 8 of them.

Downloaded Mozilla - now working on how to run it as it didn't end up as a desktop icon. Rate me as rank amateur.

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

Rollingthunder,

Did you run Ad-Aware?

It will let you remove Malware on the next bootup of your system. (If files are in use, they cannot be removed and that is why it will remove them on the next bootup.)

Take Care,

Richard

P.S. 100+ Viruses/Worms is not good. If any of them are destructive, it might be time to get a friend that knows about computers to do a fresh install of WinXP for you.

[Rollingthunder]

Ran Ad-aware. Got rid of Malware.
It's the others that are not cleanable I'm worried about. Will investigate re-load of
Win- XP. Bloody laptop is only a month old.

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

Rollingthunder,

Most notebooks come with a Restore Disk. Since the computer is still new, my guess is you do not have too much data loaded on it that you cannot live without.

If you have any data on the computer you want to save, burn it to a CD first. (Your Notebook should have CD-Burner.)

Before you put any of your data back on the computer from the CD, make sure you scan it with an Antivirus program like HouseCall.

Take Care,

Richard

[Rollingthunder]

Yup, tried that. Program asks for 25 digit product number from "certificate of authenticity". Got one of those but nowhere on it is a 25 digit number among lots of other numbers.

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

Rollingthunder,

That is the CD-Key. It will be a set of numbers and letters arranged in 5 groups of 5 in this format:

xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

Where each x = a number or a letter.

It will either be on a Certificate or stuck to the underside of the notebook computer itself.

Take Care,

Richard

[Rollingthunder]

Thanks Richard.

Numbers found on bottom of notebook. So much for windows on-screen instructions.
Will buy blank cds to copy some files and give the windows re-install a go.

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

Rollingthunder,

Sounds like a good plan. Let us know how it works out.

Take Care,

Richard

[Rollingthunder]

Well, it's been a long day.
Transferred a few files onto a disc and proceeded to re-install windows. Used the single disc provided. Installed but ended up with half screen size and no modem - and probably no other things. Re-installed with Compaq factory restore discs (7) and worked fine. Installed Norton Antivirus 2004 as first thing. Re-installed email program. Norton popped up while I was typing this to inform me of a virus removal. Funny, four years with a desk top PC and no vruses. A month with this laptop and viruses all over the place.

Richard, I notice you spend a lot of time in this forum helping others far less knowledgable and offer excellent advice, patiently.
If there was a PPRuNe award for this, you should get it. Thanks again. If I am ever in Naples, Florida or you are in YVR - all the rounds will be on me.

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

Rollingthunder,

It is my pleasure. I am always glad to help.

Take Care,

Richard

P.S. Either APF or YVR, I look forward to it. ;)