Email/Address Field Problem

[MPK]

I'm experiencing a couple problems with Internet Explorer
6.0.

1) Once I enter a html into the address field, the
mouse's arrow becomes a hour glass for just a second or
two, the windows icon in the upper right hand corner of
the screen waves for just a second, and then all activity
stops. When I try to close the window, I receive
a "program not responding" notice and then I have to "end
now."

2) My "home" page when I open Internet Explorer is
google.com. I can enter terms into the field and find
the page(s) I would have entered into the address field
and can get to them. For example, I can enter "2004
Olympics" and get lots of webpages and navigate them just
fine. However, if I were to enter those addresses into
address field and hit enter or click "Go" the Internet
Explorer program closes in the manner described above.

3) All webpages are fine to navigate once I get to them
through google, but strangely, the only webpages that
cause Internet Explorer to close are precisely those
pages that I want to log into for e-mail. (both are .edu
domains - both "webmail"). My friend can log on just
fine to her email. My accounts are the troublesome
ones.

All the Windows updates are up to date and installed
properly.

What is causing this?! I need to get my email ASAP!

Any help is appreciated.

 

[PA Bear]

Check your system for "hijackware":

Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/Darnit.htm

CoolWebSearch Chronicles
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Run these tools in the following order with nothing else running in
background:

1. CWShredder (fix all found)

2. Ad-Aware (fix all found)

3. Spybot (RTFM but generally fix everything in red)

Important: You *must* seek updates for Ad-Aware, Spybot, etc., before each
and every use, even "right out of the box". But even they can't catch
everything, 24/7. When all else fails, HijackThis
(http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe) is the preferred
tool to use. It will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware. **Post your files to http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**

[Alternate download pages for many of the above tools may be found at
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.]

Also:

1. Download and run Stinger (http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/); then...

2. Update your virus definitions, enable Show Hidden Files
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339)
and then run a full system scan in Safe Mode
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406)
with nothing else running in background. Note the files identified and
removed then find the corresponding page for the file at your AV maker's
online support pages (e.g.,
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/adware.winfavorites.html)
and follow all Removal steps.

WinXP Only (WinME similar): If this scan finds anything, create a new
Restore Point then Disk Cleanup > More options > Delete all but the most
recent Restore Point.

3. Check in at Windows Update.

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
http://boards.cexx.org/viewtopic.php?t=957

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=windowsxpsp2

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org