Internet Problem, please help

EddieWalker · Apr 4, 2007

I'm running Windows XP and IE 7 on my computer. My wife and I both have email accounts with Yahoo, plus I have one with Hotmail. She likes to chat with friends on yahoo instant messanger.

Last week, we started having trouble logging onto IE. It has been coming up with the wrong password, but when we change it, it's always worked. Now it won't work no matter what we do. This week when we try to open our email or sing into yahoo, it goes to a screen that says, "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage." The diagnosis says there's nothing wrong.

Today it's progressed to hotmail. The same thing is happening when I try to open that up. A program that I use to draw home plans is also not funcioning any more.

I deleted all the yahoo stuff on my compter and downloaded Instant Messanger again without any sucess.

I downloaded IE 7 without any changes.

I have AVG anti virus 7.5 free edition. I ran it to test the sytem and it didn't find anything. Nothing.

I'm sure I have a virus or spyware that's in the process of taking over my system. It's happened before. The guys at the computer store charged us $200 to fix the system and save our pictures, but I'm hoping to fix this before it gets to the point we can't turn the computer on.

Please advise me on any ideas you have. I'd also love to hear about a program that actually works to get rid of these things and keep them out.

Thank you,
Eddie

Jimbrown · Apr 4, 2007

Eddie I do not know how much effort you want to put into it but here is site with detailed instructions on finding malware.
broadband help » Security Cleanup 2.0 Help - I'm Infected!

JerryG · Apr 4, 2007

More than likely this won't help now, but it could in the future. We did have AVG on out computer, but not any more. I had to pay to have some really bad viruses removed from our computers three times while running AVG. It seems like they don't update their virus database as often as they should. I have had Avast for over two years on my computer and about a year on the kids and about a year on my wife’s. Ever few days it updates, sometimes everyday. No more problems since changing to Avast. We have been using SeaMonkey for a year or so and it is great. It has so many options that make everything so easy, that I will never go back to IE again. Avast and SeaMonkey are both free.

BillyP · Apr 4, 2007

Eddie, the most likely problem is you're using IE 7. Heard a lot of strange complaints about it. Download Firefox 2 and see where that gets you. As far as AVG Free, been using it for several years and never had a problem with it. It downloads new definitions every day.

I would transfer all my pics and other important files to CD or some kind of storage device as quickly as possible, just in case.

IH3444 · Apr 4, 2007

Eddie, it might not be a virus, but a lot of cookies, and adware on your machine. Try getting a copy of ADAWARE SE, and let it scrub your machine. I am willing to try and sent you my latest copy in a file, through a PM, if you like. I just updated it last night. The FireFox is some excellent advice.

JerryG · Apr 4, 2007

For any one that doesn't know about SeaMonkey. It is from the same people that does FireFox. But, it is like a super, super version. It will do and has dozens of options that Firefox doesn't. They are both very good programs and work very good, but FireFox is more foolproof for someone that doesn't really want to have so options. I put it on one of my daughters computers because she was always messing things up. It worked out good for her. I have been thinking about putting it on my other kids computers. There are very few viruses that attack them compared to IE.
If AVG is updating everyday, that would sure be an improvement over the way that they were doing it.

LMTC · Apr 4, 2007

I had a major problem last week that ultimately SEEMED to be IE7 related to caches and cookies. Bizarre problem, diagnosed primarily because downloading and using Firefox cleared up the symptoms; clearing cookies and cache in IE7 did not help. I have heard from some others who have experienced similar problems with IE7 several months after "upgrading." Several months ago I allowed windows media player to upgrade to 11, then it auto-upgraded to 12, and played heck with my disc drives. I removed it, went back to 10, and was fine. I am now using Firefox and will likely stay there.

I have used AVG on 5 PCs for over a year...it updates daily, and I have had no problems with it.

hockeypuck · Apr 4, 2007

IE7 will not even run on my computer. I use Firefox. I only used to use IE for sites that would not run on Mozilla. I would get rid of IE. JMHO>

mwark · Apr 4, 2007

hockeypuck said:
IE7 will not even run on my computer. I use Firefox. I only used to use IE for sites that would not run on Mozilla. I would get rid of IE. JMHO>

+1 All the same here.

RoyJackson · Apr 4, 2007

So far, the only problem I've had with IE7 is it hangs up when I shut it down...maybe 10 seconds or so (then shuts down normally).

The first thing I would do is open IE7, go to TOOLS=>INTERNET OPTIONS=>Select the GENERAL tab=>DELETE. Delete all (make sure you and you wife have all your passwords available! You'll need them after deleting all the cookies and forms. Then reboot your computer and see if that fixes the problem.

If it doesn't, the next thing to try is SYSTEM RESTORE (START=>PROGRAMS=>ACCESSORIES=>SYSTEM TOOLS=>SYSTEM RESTORE). Restoring to an earlier point won't changes to data files (Word documents, Excel spread sheets, etc.) that you've saved or programs you've installed, but will undo any changes or upgrades you've made to the PC. There's a wizard that walks you through the process. I've done this when I had mysterious problems I couldn't diagnose. Even Windows Updates can give you problems with software and version conflicts.

If neither of the things I've written corrects the problem, try uninstalling and re-installing IE7.

I think you have corrupted cookies or an update that conflicts with some of your installed software.

Good luck!