Computer Gurus

[Gigi]

HELP! LOL

Something is wrong with my Internet Explorer.

I contacted my provider (Earthlink) and they said it was probably a Windows update that corrupted the Internet Explorer and to contact Toshiba or to download Mozilla Firefox.

I tried both of those things. Nothing has changed. Firefox would not load any web pages.

Here's the problem:

My Internet is stoopid slow - it takes almost five minutes for some pages to load, some will not load at all, and some will load just fine (CNN seems to be the only site that works properly).

I am also getting very fast, full page pop-up ads...some of which are VERY inappropriate (things I would not want my child to see) porn sites and some are ads for various registry cleaners and universitys or "dumb tests."



I have tried doing a system restore multiple times with no results.

I have downloaded IE 7 and Mozilla Firefox and tried to surf from them. IE 7 has been giving me the same pop-ups and Firefox will not load any pages...it is slower than IE.

I have gone through and uninstalled every update that Windows has installed this month (this started on June 13).

I have uninstalled IE 7 and Firefox and am back to my old IE (6, I think).



I have no idea what else to try! I don't even know how I got this page to load and stay pulled up long enough to get logged in and post this! It will probably freeze on me when I hit "post!" LOL

HELP PEEPS! LOL

[Gigi]

Now I've lost my Windows toolbar. I have to go into task manager (Ctrl + Alt + Del) to even get to anything!

WTF???

ETA: Finally got the toolbar back. Disregard.

[SarahFae]

Definitely a virus, scan, sweep and reboot. Any recent changes to your computer?

[Tiffers]

Sounds to me like a virus or spyware. Do you have Ad-Aware or some sort of spyware/virus scan?

[Gigi]

I have Norton. Paid for new subscription and updates in mid-May.

I have scanned, defragged, restored evrything I know to do.

I even went back and removed every update from Microsoft this month (this started on 6/13...updates were done 6/11).

Posting from MotoQ right now. Will try running another Norton scan when I get home.

[Gigi]

OK, I did the Norton scan. It came up with two Trojan viurses and removed them.

I restarted computer and not only did it keep happening (the pop-ups), I lost my tool bar again!

ERRRRRRRRRRR........

I used the Task Manager to shut it down and took out the battery and left it off for a half hour.

Everything is back up and working but I'm still getting the pop-ups!

I have pop-up blocker on with both Norton and Google Toolbar!

I don't know what else to do!

[mtmomma]

OK, I did the Norton scan. It came up with two Trojan viurses and removed them.

I restarted computer and not only did it keep happening (the pop-ups), I lost my tool bar again!

ERRRRRRRRRRR........

I used the Task Manager to shut it down and took out the battery and left it off for a half hour.

Everything is back up and working but I'm still getting the pop-ups!

I have pop-up blocker on with both Norton and Google Toolbar!

I don't know what else to do!



Here is the free download for Ad-Aware http://lavasoft.com/single/trialpay.php

Norton will not remove all spyware or what are called broweser high jackers..

There is also a program called HiJackthis found free here )))---> ETA:****As a result, false positives are imminent, and unless you're sure about what you're doing, you always should consult with knowledgeable folks before deleting anything. Version 2.0.2 includes unspecified updates. (My husband maybe able to help you with this info) *****

http://www.download.com/Trend-Micro-HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10227353.html

they will keep taking over your browser until they have been removed

also to help stop that from happening try WinPatrol 2008
http://www.winpatrol.com/download.html

[Gigi]

Thanks. I will try those.

It hasn't done it in about an hour. I'll be all happy that it's stopped and then WHAMMO! It happens again!

LOL

[mtmomma]

I've had that to happen once when I was on dial up it sucked big time!! After getting married to a computer tech LOL (Today is our 7 yr anniversary) He has to have high speed & has firewalls & all this protective software. I haven't had it happen (Knock on wood) ;-)

But the one time it did happen thank goodness we was dating because it totally freaked out my computer the pop-ups would happen so fast at times it would crash my computer or I wouldn't be able to get it shut down it did suck!!

[SarahFae]

I agree with mtmomma on downloading new stuff.

Norton is the source of all computer evil.

[MiMi_of_4]

I hate Norton! I dealt with it for years and when I got my new laptop opted for McAfee instead, and I'm sooooooooooo happy with it.

[SarahFae]

That reminds me, MiMi, of a friend who had McAfee and Norton at the same time, and they both thought the other was a virus, very frustrating and kind of funny . . .

[MiMi_of_4]

That is funny, SarahFae!

[SarahFae]

Of course, I have the free version of AVG and it thinks The Sims is a virus, so I can't play it on this computer anymore, which sucks because it's the only thing I can do in the car with no internet connection. :P

[MiMi_of_4]

That's no fun! My techie friend uses and recommends AVG, but I didn't find that out until after I got my laptop. I plan to check into it when my McAfee subscription runs out.

[paper_]

I didn't like Norton.

I looked in to other programs, and found that I liked Kaspersky. I've had it about a year so far, no problems since then. It is also a much smaller program - it doesn't hog resources like Norton does.