I've had the same install of XP and IE6 for ages without any problems. Last couple of weeks I've allowed someone else to use my pc and for about the last week, whenever I start IE6, I get 3 different IE browser windows starting at the same, 1 of which is my homepage (google) the other two are ads for amazon and some **** site lol!!!

I've used regedit to check Run and AutoRun and all seems ok. Any suggestions as to what I can do? Shall I re-install IE?

 

Sounds like you've got some spyware infecting your system. Re-install of ie won't fix it. You need to get hold of some programs like adawar or spybot (preferably both) and run them. Should hopefully clear it up...

 

as above use a utility to sweep for spyware and adware.

I've found SpySweeper to be the best

 

try CWShredder as well

 

Try hijackthis plus ad-aware and cwshredder.
Also the Tomcoyote guys are v. helpful :
If you register with their site then post here :

http://forums.tomcoyote.org/index.php?showforum=27

Run cwshredder then Hijackthis and take a copy of the log it produces and you post it on the above and you'll get a helpful response : sorted me out from a similar problem recently - the Hijackthis program will list for removal a number of (registry ?) entries that are probably best left alone so these guys seem to know which to remove and which to delete.

 

Hi and thanks guys you were all on the right track.

I installed and ran Ad-Ware which got rid of one of the instances of IE opening a new window, but still left one.

I installed and ran SpyBot which found quite a few registry entries (9 I think)...but after everytime I asked spybot to remove these entries 5 of them would re-appear!!...and one pop up window would continue to open when starting IE.

So using regedit I manually deleted these five entries which did the trick. It was almost as though when SpyBot was trying to remove them they re-entered themselves....funnily enough the entries were called 'Self Heal' or summat like that.

Anyway it's sorted now, thanks for your help .