IE8 won't open

[Jim]

I'm having strange problems appearing on one of my XP Pro computers.
Possible virus but McAfee does not show anything.

Firefox, Safari, and Chrome all work fine but IE8 will not open (if it does,
it will then close). Yes, I re-installed it.

Also, when I boot this computer, the Windows firewall is turned off and I
must reset it usually each time.

Not certain what is happening, greatly appreciate any trouble shooting
suggestions.

 

[Elmo]

I'm having strange problems appearing on one of my XP Pro computers.
Possible virus but McAfee does not show anything.

Firefox, Safari, and Chrome all work fine but IE8 will not open (if it does,
it will then close). Yes, I re-installed it.

Also, when I boot this computer, the Windows firewall is turned off andI
must reset it usually each time.

Not certain what is happening, greatly appreciate any trouble shooting
suggestions.

Most malware will shut down your current a/v software, so McAfee may not
be showing accurate results.

Download, install, update and run these:

Malwarebytes© Corporation
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/program/mbam-setup.exe

SuperAntispyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html

If they can't get control, try Malwarebytes in Safe Mode, and then in
regular mode.

If still no luck, do this:

Burn BitDefender, or another program listed at the link below, to a CD
(using a working machine) and test the infected machine with it.
BitDefender also has a Rootkit checker on the Linux Desktop; run it if
you think that's the problem:

http://www.techmixer.com/free-bootable-antivirus-rescue-cds-download-list/

Download the executable rather than the .iso image, if one is available,
(though no .exe is available for BitDefender).

After the scan is run, if you elect to quarantine files, they're
quarantined to RAM and lost after you reboot. You'll need to copy any
quarantined files to the hard drive, a thumb drive or elsewhere before
exiting.

 

[db]

the browser can be tested
via safe mode w/networking.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
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- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen

 

[Jim]

Great advice Elmo, the malwarebytes did the job. IE8 now opens just fine.
Many thanks to all.

I'm having strange problems appearing on one of my XP Pro computers.
Possible virus but McAfee does not show anything.

Firefox, Safari, and Chrome all work fine but IE8 will not open (if it
does,
it will then close). Yes, I re-installed it.

Also, when I boot this computer, the Windows firewall is turned off and I
must reset it usually each time.

Not certain what is happening, greatly appreciate any trouble shooting
suggestions.

Most malware will shut down your current a/v software, so McAfee may not
be showing accurate results.

Download, install, update and run these:

Malwarebytes© Corporation
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/program/mbam-setup.exe

SuperAntispyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html

If they can't get control, try Malwarebytes in Safe Mode, and then in
regular mode.

If still no luck, do this:

Burn BitDefender, or another program listed at the link below, to a CD
(using a working machine) and test the infected machine with it.
BitDefender also has a Rootkit checker on the Linux Desktop; run it if
you think that's the problem:

http://www.techmixer.com/free-bootable-antivirus-rescue-cds-download-list/

Download the executable rather than the .iso image, if one is available,
(though no .exe is available for BitDefender).

After the scan is run, if you elect to quarantine files, they're
quarantined to RAM and lost after you reboot. You'll need to copy any
quarantined files to the hard drive, a thumb drive or elsewhere before
exiting.

 

[thanatoid]

I'm having strange problems appearing on one of my XP Pro
computers. Possible virus but McAfee does not show
anything.

<SNIP>

IE not opening is not a problem, it's a blessing.

You won't like this question any more than the statement above,
but why do you use 2 fairly good (but finicky and imperfect) and
two terrible and dangerous browsers instead of Opera?

NO ONE needs FOUR browsers, let alone the 4 YOU have chosen.

In case you care, I use Opera and OffByOne. Haven't used IE/OE
since the late 90's. Maybe that's why I have never gotten any
malware on my system.

 

[Elmo]

Great advice Elmo, the malwarebytes did the job. IE8 now opens just fine.
Many thanks to all.

Great news! Thanks for reporting back with your solution.