Browser Freezes

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE]

My browser started freezing after I installed QuickBooks 2005. I
don't know if that's a related issue, but it certainly fits the
time-line.

KB Article ID 816769 describes the problem exactly. iexplore.exe
remains as a process even though it does not display as an active
application.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;816769
SNIP

My browser version is listed as:
Version: 6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519
Update Versions:; SP2;

I Have a clean system (No Spyware or Virus') that is monitored and
scanned weekly and updated daily.

BTW, I am using XP pro W/SP2, 1 gig ram, 60 gig HD.

TIA,

-Steve-

The article does not apply to SP2.

What do you use to make sure you don't have spyware?

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

 

[Steve Zimmelman]

My browser started freezing after I installed QuickBooks 2005. I don't know
if that's a related issue, but it certainly fits the time-line.

KB Article ID 816769 describes the problem exactly. iexplore.exe remains as
a process even though it does not display as an active application.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;816769

The artilce says the fix is to replace the user32.dll with these attributes:

Date: 21-Mar-2003
Time: 12:22
Version:5.1.2600.1189
Size: 528,896

However, the version of user32.dll I have on my system has these:

Version: 5.1.2600.2622
Created: Tuesday, January 01, 1980, 3:00:00 AM
Modified: Wednesday, March 02, 2005, 1:09:30 PM

It appears that the version I have on my system is more recent than the "hot
fix".

Does anyone know what else might be causing this and perhaps how to fix it?
If the fix is to replace user32.dll, where can I get it? The KB does not
offer that information.

My browser version is listed as:
Version: 6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519
Update Versions:; SP2;

I Have a clean system (No Spyware or Virus') that is monitored and scanned
weekly and updated daily.

BTW, I am using XP pro W/SP2, 1 gig ram, 60 gig HD.

TIA,

-Steve-

 

[Steve Zimmelman]

The article does not apply to SP2.

Ok, then why is the behavior exactly as the article described? Could QB
2005 have rolled something back in their installation? This started right
after upgrading QB 2003 to QB 2005.

I can barely use the browser without it locking up. I'm getting tired of
using the task mgr as the "fix".

What do you use to make sure you don't have spyware?

Sunbelt Software's CounterSpy 1.5. It's set to monitor all files, updates
daily, and the system is scanned weekly. The same for the AV. I use CA
eTrust. OTOH, I don't go to sites I'm not sure of, never download what
appear to be "fun" files, and never open attachments that I'm not expecting.
I've been developing software for almost 20 years, I do my best to be
"smart" while behind the keyboard.<g> The last thing I need is for my
development box to get hosed.

What I'd like to do is uninstall the browser and then reinstall it. But I
can't find the installation on line anywhere. So far MS support hasn't been
much help. They usually don't read the entire email, then use their canned
DB to reply to a problem that I didn't describe. It seems hopeless...

-Steve-

 

[Frank Saunders, MS_MVP OE]

Ok, then why is the behavior exactly as the article described? Could QB
2005 have rolled something back in their installation? This started right
after upgrading QB 2003 to QB 2005.

I can barely use the browser without it locking up. I'm getting tired of
using the task mgr as the "fix".


Sunbelt Software's CounterSpy 1.5. It's set to monitor all files, updates
daily, and the system is scanned weekly. The same for the AV. I use CA
eTrust. OTOH, I don't go to sites I'm not sure of, never download what
appear to be "fun" files, and never open attachments that I'm not
expecting. I've been developing software for almost 20 years, I do my best
to be "smart" while behind the keyboard.<g> The last thing I need is for
my development box to get hosed.

What I'd like to do is uninstall the browser and then reinstall it. But I
can't find the installation on line anywhere. So far MS support hasn't
been much help. They usually don't read the entire email, then use their
canned DB to reply to a problem that I didn't describe. It seems
hopeless...

-Steve-

I don't think reinstalling will help, but I'll get to that.

One anti-spyware program is usually not enough and Sunbelt's apparently only
catches around 60% with Microsoft's a touch higher. I'd also try these:
Ad-Aware 6:
http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/
and
Spybot - Search & Destroy -
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download
http://spybot.eon.net.au/
http://www.tomcoyote.org/SPYBOT/
and
BHO Demon: http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads/bhod/

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318378
Make sure your anti-virus is turned off.
The section
Windows XP and Windows XP SP1: Edit the registry and install Internet
Explorer 6
works on earlier versions of Windows.

 

[Steve Zimmelman]

One anti-spyware program is usually not enough and Sunbelt's apparently

only catches around 60% with Microsoft's a touch higher.

Hmm... That was version 1.029, and a month before in the same magazine thay
rated in the 90% range. They all go up and down. Just depends when they
get reviewed. Version 1.5 is much different. But that aside, my problem
started the day I upgraded to QuickBooks 2005. Since QB depends almost
entirely on IE 6, I have a feeling they dropped some older files on my
system. But which ones are anyone's guess.

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in
Windows

Thanks. I'll see if that works.

-Steve-

 

[Gary Smith]

Hmm... That was version 1.029, and a month before in the same magazine thay
rated in the 90% range. They all go up and down. Just depends when they
get reviewed. Version 1.5 is much different. But that aside, my problem
started the day I upgraded to QuickBooks 2005. Since QB depends almost
entirely on IE 6, I have a feeling they dropped some older files on my
system. But which ones are anyone's guess.
Thanks. I'll see if that works.

Intuit packages have a habit of dumping things onto your system that they
assume you'll need, without doing adaquate version checking and without
informing you of what they're doing. I got an unintended and unexpected
IE upgrade from TurboTax that way one year -- which is one of the major
reasons I no longer use TurboTax. I wouldn't be surprised if something
similar hadn't happened to you.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS_MVP OE]

My browser started freezing after I installed QuickBooks 2005. I don't
know
if that's a related issue, but it certainly fits the time-line.

KB Article ID 816769 describes the problem exactly. iexplore.exe remains
as
a process even though it does not display as an active application.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;816769

The artilce says the fix is to replace the user32.dll with these
attributes:

Date: 21-Mar-2003
Time: 12:22
Version:5.1.2600.1189
Size: 528,896

However, the version of user32.dll I have on my system has these:

Version: 5.1.2600.2622
Created: Tuesday, January 01, 1980, 3:00:00 AM
Modified: Wednesday, March 02, 2005, 1:09:30 PM

It appears that the version I have on my system is more recent than the
"hot
fix".

Does anyone know what else might be causing this and perhaps how to fix
it?
If the fix is to replace user32.dll, where can I get it? The KB does not
offer that information.

My browser version is listed as:
Version: 6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519
Update Versions:; SP2;

I Have a clean system (No Spyware or Virus') that is monitored and scanned
weekly and updated daily.

BTW, I am using XP pro W/SP2, 1 gig ram, 60 gig HD.

TIA,

-Steve-

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318378
Make sure your anti-virus is turned off.
The section
Windows XP and Windows XP SP1: Edit the registry and install Internet
Explorer 6
works on earlier versions of Windows.

 

[Steve Zimmelman]

Yeah, that was my take on it. I've noticed they assume everyone is using IE
4 <g> and just dump whatever version they happen to have on their CD. You
know, I remember when Intuit was a respectable company. Tying their product
to a specific browser shows a complete lack of technical understanding. And
if I wasn't so invested in QB, I dump it. BTW, the 2005 upgrade was a
forced issue. If I didn't, they said I could no longer get payroll updates.
Nothing like being threatend by your vendor... (;-P)

I loaded FireFox this morning. I need a browser that doesn't freeze...

-Steve-

 

[Steve Zimmelman]

FYI: I ran 2 spyware checks lastnight. 1 with SpyBot, 1 with Adaware.
Updated both DB's; Both came up clean.

 

[Steve Zimmelman]

I solved my problem. I switched to FireFox...

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

....

Ok, then why is the behavior exactly as the article described? Could QB
2005 have rolled something back in their installation? This started right
after upgrading QB 2003 to QB 2005.

I can barely use the browser without it locking up. I'm getting tired of
using the task mgr as the "fix".

It looks like your symptom is different from the article's and certainly
different from the partial description of the article's symptom description
that you have given above. Otherwise, just having iexplore.exe sticking
in the Task Manager without any apparent application windows might be
explained by closing *other* application windows. E.g. I have cleaned up
such symptoms by closing OE windows, Explorer windows and other
application windows any of which might have at one time launched
an IE window (or perhaps just rendered some HTML). I haven't noticed
if these processes cause difficulty with opening any other browser
windows however. BTW this is on XPsp2.

I'm trying to pay more attention to what circumstances make me notice
these processes. Mostly I think it's just when I want to change an IE
option which requires a restart; so in that case I would not be trying to
do anything which would detect a "hang"--I would just be trying to get rid
of all instances of iexplore.exe.

One thing you could do when you detect a hang is use a program
such as Process Explorer to look for clues about the associations
the process has. Unfortunately that tool doesn't really make such
associations very clear IMO.


HTH

Robert Aldwinckle
---