J S W

Hi, my laptop has gone crazy in the last couple of days, firstly I have constant popups, something like 6/7 at a time and very frequently. Also for some reason when I double click my internt explorer icon it will not activate the web. I am on freeserve and never had this problem before. I can access the internet by opening network connections and connecting from there.

So far I have gone to interent options and increased privacy to high and this has slowed the popups down a bit but now I have cookie problems on ebay and here.

This really is causing me a problem as I also seem to struggle retaining an internet conection at the minute.

Can anyone suggest something that could solve this.

Many thanks

James

P.s I have a Dell Inspiron (sp) which is about 10 months old

Fatman

Dowload some spyware-checking software like Adaware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/) or OptOut (http://grc.com/optout.htm) and check that you don't have something nasty running in the background on your PC.

J S W

When you say something nasty, can you explain more, I'm not that tech minded sorry!!!

Fatman

Software running on your machine that is generating these pop-up adverts. Run Adaware - that'll tell you what, if anything, is installed (that shouldn't be there) and will also help remove it.

J S W

Thanks Fatman I am at work at the moment but will try that out when I get home, thanks for your help.

Any thoughts on why the interent explorer icon will not work and how I can re program for it to activate freeserve? Or will adaware sort this as well?

Cheers

James

Fatman

Not really, mate. The simplest thing will be to look at the properties of the shortcut and see where it's pointing. If something ad-related has changed this shortcut, Adaware will pick it up.

NOTE: remember to update Adaware once it's installed. It's kinda like updating your antivirus signatures.

lpski1

msblast was blamed for dropping net connections, maybe you have a virus, is the antivirus up to date ?

Delete all your history/temp net files and last used address menu, this may help (all simple to do in IE options)

Are they IE popups or windows popups ? stop the windows messenger service on within services in control panel, this will stop the window ones.

J S W

Fatman, I have completed the adaware download, it deleted 220 objects . Is that as much as it sounds?

What should I do know, just keep this updated and keep checking?

I know you are going to slate me for this but I don't have an antivirus program in place. What one should I be using?

Going to have a look to see what is wrong with IE icon now.

lipski1, I have already had a problem with blaster but have done the download.

Cheers

James

Fatman

No, 220 objects doesn't sound that scary. Most of them were probably cookies anyway. Yes, do keep it updated and run it periodically. It's good general maintenance. Regarding antivirus, AntiVirus Gold (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_avg_index.php) is good and it's also free.

Fatman

Sorry... wrong link. The d/l page for the free version of AVG is http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

J S W

Right, I have now downloaded both programs and virtually all popups have stopped. A big thank you to Fatman.

Unfortunately the IE icon still won't work, it has stopped linking me to a search related site (i presume this was virus based and has now been removed) it just comes up with standard windows page telling me site is unavailable. Network conection/properties does not appear to show any obvious problems.

Any more thoughts

Cheers

James

john_s

iTrader: (1)

Is IE loading and then coming up with the error message?

If it is, go to the "tools" menu and "internet options", and press the "use blank" button for the home page, or google, etc whatever you prefer.

Sounds like something had hijacked your home page.

HTH

John.

Redkop

I find that running Webroot Spy Sweeper is useful, as well as Ad-Aware. It finds things that Ad-Aware doesn't.

Also I run Google Toolbar to stop pop-ups.

J S W

John, I just goes straight to the error page, and asked me to try refresh etc. however there is a slight pause before this happens as if it is trying to find a page, I have been to internet options and re inserted www.freeserve.co.uk but I try using the default button and see if it works.

Redkop I will upload those programs when at home later.

thanks for your replies

James