Topic awaiting preservation: internet explorer error --- anyone seen this before

hi there i recently tried to install a screensaver that i downloaded, zonealarm asked if i wanted to let the setup thingy access the net, i said yes. after installing it, ad-aware's ad-watch went nuts clocking up 8000+ registry modifications. i ran ad-aware and it found 14 new spyware programs. i deleted all of them then ran as-aware again it picked up the same 14 programs again. i ran nortons it found 11 adware programs and deleted them.

internet explorer now will not connect to the net, netscape has no porblems and outlook has no problems. then all of a sudden nothing couldconnect, i ran ad-aware and nortons again, it found all the same as above. i deleted all manually (found them on my HD and deleted) then netscape and outlook once again where allowed connection but iE is not.

i have tried revewrting to an old version, cause it wont let me uninstall it, still no connection

if anyone knows how to fix this error, a site that could lead me in the right direction, or has had the same or similar problem, PLEASE HELP ME!!!

Thanks in advance.

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kronk said:

then netscape and outlook once again where allowed connection but iE is not.

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I don't see the fact to not use IE as a problem, but rather as a gift that your computer is making to you.

Anyway, do you still have those spywares ? Have you tried to use SpyBot Search & Destroy ? What is the name/url of that bloody screensaver ? At worst, if you feel your system is still unsafe, you'll have to re-install it completely.

But a question remains open : Who needs a screensaver ?



(Edited by poi on 07-10-2004 09:28)

another good program you might want ot try is one called HijackThis!

quote:

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kronk said:

i recently tried to install a screensaver that i downloaded, zonealarm asked if i wanted to let the setup thingy access the net,

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You let the screensaver *installer* have access to the internet? Definately sounds like a virus/trojan. I've heard of some screensavers that connect to the net, but not untill *after* installation was complete. (Only when it was running, to communicate to others running)

Edit: Actually, some installers have a legitamate use to connect to the internet. If the installer is really small, (somewhere around less then a mb) It can connect to the web to download the latest version, and only components you want to install.

(Edited by ninmonkeys on 07-10-2004 15:33)

It sound to me like your installer have embedded some of the rogue files in you temp directories, some spyware killers are not very good at removing files that are currently in use.

I would run your PC in safe mode, and then do a scan, i would also visit trendmicro after you have done that and use their online scanning feature..

Also check you PROCESSES for any out of place files running and any files that are running up huge amounts of processor speed, but be careful...

I recently had problems with IE running popups everywhere even after running several good spyware proggies, but to no avail. I just installed Firefox and away they went, i wouild honestly recommend you do the same if yuo get no joy, in fact even if you do succeed, install it anyway, it rocks !

Do you have the addres of the screensaver ? Would be helpful as i can have a look at the small print and see where the source of your problems is coming from.

They are little annoying buggers sometimes, but i personally get great satisfaction by manually removing them.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.



(Edited by axleclarkeuk on 07-10-2004 16:05)

to answer some of your questions

1.. the installer needed to connect to d'load the rest of the setup files.
2.. the screensaver was ment to be a suprise for my daughter, i wanted to see what it was like before i put it onto her pc.
3.. i cannot remember the url of the site i d'loaded the screen saver from as it was found via a google search.

i think that i might have deleted a file from ie that i was not ment to. i deleted a few that norton said needed manual deletion, maybe one was from ie, i cant remember.

thanks for the help people. i still dont think that my system is stable, i am almost positive that i got rid of any spyware/adware however because i deleted so many files i dont know if my system is configured the same as i dont have the time to check all programs are still working correctly, i use ie everyday thats how i discovered that its crapped itself.

try reinstalling ie??

try the internet explorer repair tool

run system file checker

yah.. or get mozilla..

yah!

i tried to unistall ie but it only lets me revert to an older previously installed version. which i did then i done the update, still no good, then i ran the update again which reinstalled all ie components. still nothing....

i have decided to re-format and re-install my os tonight. i need to be certain that my system is clean before i start studying next week.

one more thing which i only discovered last night...

i have a web server that i use for study purposes installed and configured on my hd, using ie i cannot even veiw my local files. and it doesnt even use an internet connection...

strange huh?!!!

all done! what a nightmare that was.

thanks for the help everyone