Problem accessing MS's Support & KB pages

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jan Works
  • Start date Start date
J

Jan Works

Looking for the cause of large empty spaces and large text on the page
http://support.microsoft.com ...

After a crash (XP Prof) I reinstalled IE6. There are some weird HTML things
going on with some web pages but I can live with that... what is really
inconvenient (because I'm still troubleshooting reinstallation issues of
drivers and programs) is that I cannot access the MS support home page or
the KnowledgeBase search page normally. I get HUGE spaces; ie the
"Welcome..." text is followed by the Search icon about halfway down the page
followed by lots and lots of white space and then very very very large
letters that probably spell "Search" ....

The source code looks normal (Unicode UTF-8).... anybody have any clues?

Jan
 
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

--
HTH - Please Reply to This Thread

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

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/twc/privacy/spyware.mspx
 
Thanks, I'll check it out. I had looked for spyware using SpyBot prior to
the crash but found only a few strange cookies. If I have been hijacked, it
happened in a very short time frame between reloading Windows and installing
Zone Alarm.

Jan

PA Bear said:
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

--
HTH - Please Reply to This Thread

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

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/twc/privacy/spyware.mspx

Jan said:
Looking for the cause of large empty spaces and large text on the page
http://support.microsoft.com ...

After a crash (XP Prof) I reinstalled IE6. There are some weird HTML
things going on with some web pages but I can live with that... what is
really inconvenient (because I'm still troubleshooting reinstallation
issues of drivers and programs) is that I cannot access the MS support
home page or the KnowledgeBase search page normally. I get HUGE spaces;
ie the "Welcome..." text is followed by the Search icon about halfway
down the page followed by lots and lots of white space and then very very
very large letters that probably spell "Search" ....

The source code looks normal (Unicode UTF-8).... anybody have any clues?

Jan
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Please see:

Before You Connect a New Computer to the Internet
http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/before_you_plug_in.html

In essence, you've got a "new computer" when you reinstall Windows, Jan.
--
~PA Bear

Jan said:
Thanks, I'll check it out. I had looked for spyware using SpyBot prior to
the crash but found only a few strange cookies. If I have been hijacked,
it happened in a very short time frame between reloading Windows and
installing Zone Alarm.

Jan

PA Bear said:
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

--
HTH - Please Reply to This Thread

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

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/twc/privacy/spyware.mspx

Jan said:
Looking for the cause of large empty spaces and large text on the page
http://support.microsoft.com ...

After a crash (XP Prof) I reinstalled IE6. There are some weird HTML
things going on with some web pages but I can live with that... what is
really inconvenient (because I'm still troubleshooting reinstallation
issues of drivers and programs) is that I cannot access the MS support
home page or the KnowledgeBase search page normally. I get HUGE spaces;
ie the "Welcome..." text is followed by the Search icon about halfway
down the page followed by lots and lots of white space and then very
very very large letters that probably spell "Search" ....

The source code looks normal (Unicode UTF-8).... anybody have any clues?

Jan
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the article on security from the get-go.... it's frightening to
think that hackers are preying on unprotected ports in such a short time
frame...
But I took all the steps you suggested... ran all the scanning programs and
nothing was found. The browser doesn't act like it's hijacked. It looks to
me like an HTML problem and while some sites I visit look funky they're
still usable. The only real problem is Microsoft's Support site and any of
the Knowledge Base articles. Simply not usable. So I guess I'll live with it
and if I need to read a KB article online, I'll use my laptop or another
desktop.
Thanks again
Jan


PA Bear said:
Please see:

Before You Connect a New Computer to the Internet
http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/before_you_plug_in.html

In essence, you've got a "new computer" when you reinstall Windows, Jan.
--
~PA Bear

Jan said:
Thanks, I'll check it out. I had looked for spyware using SpyBot prior to
the crash but found only a few strange cookies. If I have been hijacked,
it happened in a very short time frame between reloading Windows and
installing Zone Alarm.

Jan

PA Bear said:
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
Click to expand...
(http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339)
and then run a full system scan in Safe Mode
Click to expand...
(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.,
Click to expand...
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

--
HTH - Please Reply to This Thread

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

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/twc/privacy/spyware.mspx

Jan Works wrote:
Looking for the cause of large empty spaces and large text on the page
http://support.microsoft.com ...

After a crash (XP Prof) I reinstalled IE6. There are some weird HTML
things going on with some web pages but I can live with that... what is
really inconvenient (because I'm still troubleshooting reinstallation
issues of drivers and programs) is that I cannot access the MS support
home page or the KnowledgeBase search page normally. I get HUGE spaces;
ie the "Welcome..." text is followed by the Search icon about halfway
down the page followed by lots and lots of white space and then very
very very large letters that probably spell "Search" ....

The source code looks normal (Unicode UTF-8).... anybody have any clues?

Jan
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Back
Top