Internet Explorer 8 Problems

DBowles wrote:
> Since I downloaded IE8 a few days ago, my computer has been taken
> over, spyware has taken over all controls cannot open anything, and
> its asking me to buy a virus protection program via credit care, it
> has also shut down my Macafee and has removed all administrative
> priv. cannot use system restore either....stumped

IE8 is a coincidence - you got yourself infested with malware. McAfee will
likely be of no help in your current state (obviously it did not protect
you.)

What I suggest...

Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):

SuperAntiSpyware
[URL="http://www.superantispyware.com/"]http://www.superantispyware.com/[/URL]

MalwareBytes
[URL="http://www.malwarebytes.com/"]http://www.malwarebytes.com/[/URL]

After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
if you wish.

Download and run the MSRT manually:
[URL="http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx"]http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx[/URL]

Reboot.

Search your registry for %fystem and replace the "f" with an "s". May be
three or four matches, may be (hopefully) none. You may need to take
ownership of the keys in order to change them.

Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
[URL="http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?familyid=5A58B56F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en"]http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?familyid=5A58B56F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en[/URL]

and...

Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
[URL="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237"]http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237[/URL]
.... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:

Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.

(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...

Reboot.

Then follow the instructions here:

How do I reset Windows Update components?
[URL="http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058"]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058[/URL]

and..

Remove Internet Explorer 8
[URL="http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700"]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700[/URL]

Reboot.

Then...

Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer and
visit [URL="http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/"]http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/[/URL] and select to do a CUSTOM scan...
(Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.)

Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.

Reboot again.

If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time.

The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones for
now. I would completely avoid the Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do
not see any urgent need to install Internet Explorer 8 at this time.

Come back - let us know if that worked.
.... Really - come back and let everyone know if that worked.
 >> Stay informed about: Internet Explorer 8 Problems 

DBowles wrote:
> Since I downloaded IE8 a few days ago, my computer has been taken
> over, spyware has taken over all controls cannot open anything, and
> its asking me to buy a virus protection program via credit care, it
> has also shut down my Macafee and has removed all administrative
> priv. cannot use system restore either....stumped

Where exactly did you download this program from? It sounds like it
really wasn't IE8 you downloaded!
 >> Stay informed about: Internet Explorer 8 Problems 

Thanks for all your help, followed your instructions and everything is back
to normal
Removed the macafee antivirus altogether nad replaced it with windows Defender
because it would not work anymore or open. Again thanks!!!!

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> DBowles wrote:
> > Since I downloaded IE8 a few days ago, my computer has been taken
> > over, spyware has taken over all controls cannot open anything, and
> > its asking me to buy a virus protection program via credit care, it
> > has also shut down my Macafee and has removed all administrative
> > priv. cannot use system restore either....stumped
>
> IE8 is a coincidence - you got yourself infested with malware. McAfee will
> likely be of no help in your current state (obviously it did not protect
> you.)
>
> What I suggest...
>
> Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with the
> following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):
>
> SuperAntiSpyware
> [URL="http://www.superantispyware.com/"]http://www.superantispyware.com/[/URL]
>
> MalwareBytes
> [URL="http://www.malwarebytes.com/"]http://www.malwarebytes.com/[/URL]
>
> After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
> whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
> if you wish.
>
> Download and run the MSRT manually:
> [URL="http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx"]http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx[/URL]
>
> Reboot.
>
> Search your registry for %fystem and replace the "f" with an "s". May be
> three or four matches, may be (hopefully) none. You may need to take
> ownership of the keys in order to change them.
>
> Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
> ( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
> [URL="http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?familyid=5A58B56F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en"]http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?familyid=5A58B56F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en[/URL]
>
> and...
>
> Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
> [URL="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237"]http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237[/URL]
> .... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
> of the C:\ drive, do the following:
>
> Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.
>
> Start button --> RUN and type in:
> %SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
> --> Click OK.
>
> (If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
> NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...
>
> Reboot.
>
> Then follow the instructions here:
>
> How do I reset Windows Update components?
> [URL="http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058"]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058[/URL]
>
> and..
>
> Remove Internet Explorer 8
> [URL="http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700"]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700[/URL]
>
> Reboot.
>
> Then...
>
> Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer and
> visit [URL="http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/"]http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/[/URL] and select to do a CUSTOM scan...
> (Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
> first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
> release the CTRL key after clicking each time.)
>
> Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
> (deselect any others) and install it.
>
> Reboot again.
>
> If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
> time.
>
> The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
> against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones for
> now. I would completely avoid the Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do
> not see any urgent need to install Internet Explorer 8 at this time.
>
> Come back - let us know if that worked.
> .... Really - come back and let everyone know if that worked.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> [URL="http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html"]http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html[/URL]
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Internet Explorer 8 Problems 

On Mon, 6 Jul 2009 06:36:02 -0700, DBowles
wrote:

> Thanks for all your help, followed your instructions and everything is back
> to normal
> Removed the macafee antivirus altogether nad replaced it with windows Defender
> because it would not work anymore or open. Again thanks!!!!


Removing McAfee anti-virus is a good thing to do, since it is the
second worst anti-virus program available (only Norton is worse).
However note that Windows Defender does *not* replace it and you are
now running without any anti-virus program. Defender is an
anti-spyware program, and not the best one of those either.

You need to run both anti-virus software and anti-spyware software.
For anti-virus, I recommend NOD32, if you are willing to pay for it,
or Avast, if you want a free one.

For anti-spyware, I recommend running at least two, and the free
MalwareBytes AntiMalware is best.
 >> Stay informed about: Internet Explorer 8 Problems