Possible explorer.exe issue but not sure

[Guest]

I have been running XP Pro for several months. Recently I started having problems linking to documents, or web sites from email "links". Then it seemed to be slow accessing applications to complete a "link." The HD is accessing, but not presenting the file/application/page, whatever, for upwards of 30 seconds or longer. On many occassions, I get the notification that the application is "not responding" and either close it via the Task Manager, or restart. I've done an XP repair, as well as trying to use Diagnose and Repair within Office XP, but nothing seems to help. At one point I was unable to do a System Restore which initiated the XP repair, but still having problems. I get no error messages, although if things hang up, I use the Task Manager to check for non responding applications.

 

[Malke]

I have been running XP Pro for several months. Recently I started
having problems linking to documents, or web sites from email "links".
Then it seemed to be slow accessing applications to complete a
"link." The HD is accessing, but not presenting the
file/application/page, whatever, for upwards of 30 seconds or longer.
On many occassions, I get the notification that the application is
"not responding" and either close it via the Task Manager, or restart.
I've done an XP repair, as well as trying to use Diagnose and Repair
within Office XP, but nothing seems to help. At one point I was
unable to do a System Restore which initiated the XP repair, but still
having problems. I get no error messages, although if things hang up,
I use the Task Manager to check for non responding applications.

What does a scan with a current antivirus program (meaning a version not
earlier than 2002 and using updated virus definitions) show? Also,
remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy from
www.safer-networking.org and Ad-aware from www.lavasoftusa.com. Be sure
to update these programs before running them. These programs are free,
so run them both since they complement each other. It is best to run
antivirus and spyware removal tools in Safe Mode. You may also need to
run CWShredder and HijackThis from

http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/index.html

Please read the instructions carefully. Also, make sure you've visited
Windows Update and applied all security patches. Do not install driver
updates from Windows Update. Make sure you are running a firewall.

Malke

 

[Malke]

Thanks for the reply. I've been running Adaware and Zone Alarm as
standard for a couple of years, and do the update checking on every
run of Adaware. I don't think that's the problem, but who knows. As
further clarification, when I clicked on the email link or read this
reply, it took roughly 15 seconds for the Taskbar to disply the "IE
button" and then it went to a blank IE screen. After another 15 or 20
seconds, it reverted to the Outlook email screen. Clicking on the IE
Task bar button twice, finally brought up the screen with your reply.
That's a pretty typical sequence whether going to IE or say a Word or
Excel document. I'm stumped.

Ad-aware alone isn't enough to remove malware. ZoneAlarm is a firewall,
not an antivirus. So, my original advice to scan with a current av
using updated definitions still stands. Add Spybot Search & Destroy,
CWShredder, and HijackThis to your spyware removal tools. Post back
after you've scanned with additional tools, and be sure to run all
scans in Safe Mode.

Malke

 

[Guest]

OK, downloaded and ran CW Shredder, Hijack This, and Spybod S&D and ran them along with Norton's A.V. and Adaware build 181 all in safe mode. N.A.V. and Adaware had 0 problems found. CW Shredder said my system was "clean" and Hijack This had a laudry list of items that didn't make a lot of sense. I saved them in a log file if necessary to refer back to them. Spybot S&D found 18 problems, 15 were tracking cookies, and 3 were "DSO related" if I recall correctly. Fixed all problems. Not sure what the next move is at the moment.

Just rebooted into normal mode so haven't had an opportunity to see if anything is "fixed" at this point.

RAF

 

[Guest]

Additional info. Just tried linking to the "response posted" in the email notification I received earlier. Here's what happens: I click on the "link" in the email. Witnin a second or two, a bland IE page opens, but nothing happens. After about 15 seconds, the screen reverts to the email that I was linking from and "grays out" the IE button on the Task Bar. After waiting about another 30 or 40 seconds, I click on the IE button again, and it flashes and returns to the email message. The next time I click it, it takes me to the page I was trying to link to. Go figure. Hope this makes some sense to you. I'm baffled.

RAF