Not related to winamp but you people know stuff

[calipso]

Well my Internet Explorer is kinda behaving crazy.

I have IE5.5.The problem I have is that the settings seem to change on its own.The checkbox for "Show pictures" in the advanced properties seem to uncheck itself at random.But the pictures are not disabled and I can still view them with IE.

One other incident was when the content advisor got enabled itself right in the middle of browsing.I had already opened some pages which worked fine and for the next page I opened I got a warning that no sites have been defined in the content advisor and so I cannot view this page.When I viewed the properties the content advisor was enabled.To make matters worse I seem to have lost the password.Luckily for me when I closed all IE windows and reopened it, the content advisor was disabled and everything was back to normal.This has happened only once.

Well I decided to reinstall IE and I noticed some strange things happening in the registry.After reinstalling IE and before connecting to the www the registry entries for Advanced options was like this (http://www.geocities.com/calipso1234/before_change_registry.gif).I connected to the net, viewed some pages and sure enough the checkbox for "Show pictures" got unchecked itself.When I opened the registry (http://www.geocities.com/calipso1234/after_change_registry.gif) the value for text had changed from "Show pictures" to "Crash your IE" !!!

Well what is happening, can anyone tell me if this is a virus or bug in IE or why is this happening.Any kind of help is greatly appreciated.

[calipso]

I already checked all of the partitions with InoculateIT with the latest update available.No suspicions were reported.I have Windows98 and have installed every critical updates available.Still could this be some kind of bug with Windows?

[AlieXai]

Crash you I.E? (Sounds familiar) Naw, thats something a lamer would put into one of his viruses/trojans. I (My paranoid side) would recommend getting some other virus scanner (Norton Anti-Virus, or McAfee). Also, try using ZoneAlarm and see if any unusual programs are showing up in the list. Some virii might even pose to be more important programs, such as windows explorer itself.
It's definately not a bug with Windows/Internet Explorer because you reinstalled it (not that would fix the problem). But if it is a bug with internet explorer and it's intentional, I would sue :D. Maybe you ran hostile java, or went to some corrupt hackers site.

[a-arse]

And If thats doesn't work format your Hard-drive unplug your comp from the net disconnect the keyboard, mouse, monitor, hardrives, Floppy drives, Cd drives, anything else and then you can sit in a corner hold your knees and rock forward and backwards

:D

[calipso]

Thanks people for the replies and thanks a-arse for your valuable suggestion ,I'll consider it.

[a-arse]

worked for me :D

[DJ Egg]

B4 you ran InoculateIT, did you goto:
Options -> Program -> FileTypes tab & checkmark : Scan "All files" ?

Also, have you got the new v5.2 (updated Dec 2000)

It definitely sounds like a virus to me!
InoculateIT's never let me down . . . so far!

Have you got it set on "RealTime Protection mode"? (advisable)
Place a shortcut to "C:\Program Files\InoculateIt PE\VetTray.exe" in your
"C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" folder

Also, there should be a Toggle Images tool in your "Favorites -> Links" list

Another useful tool:
Add/Remove Programs Control Panel -> Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 -> Add/Remove -> Repair IE
Run this after you get rid of the virus.

[AlieXai]

Originally posted by a-arse
And If thats doesn't work format your Hard-drive unplug your comp from the net disconnect the keyboard, mouse, monitor, hardrives, Floppy drives, Cd drives, anything else and then you can sit in a corner hold your knees and rock forward and backwards

:D

What if it's a virus that infects the flash rom? Then your really screwed unless your MB/Computer manufacturer offers bios updates. O and those tips about holding your knee's and rocking back and forth... very helpful. I've done it many a times... when my internet connections (All 4: cable,dsl,aol,bellsouth.net dial-up) wouldn't work.

[John M]

My friend had a virus that fucked up his bios and only let the admin password work. He got caught with porn and games. :eek: :thatoldeek.gifthatiwishedwasback:

[AlieXai]

Ha ha, laughing at your friend. People keep strange things on their computer, and do some weird stuff with them. (Not that porn is a wierd thing, but you should see some of the stuff i've come across while is was... um looking at a few people's computers)

But anywayz, what is that second line supposed to mean John M? Your not high right now are you?

[Jstalilwyrd]

Originally posted by AlieXai
But anywayz, what is that second line supposed to mean John M? Your not high right now are you?

I believe John's referring to the animated "eek" from UBB.

[calipso]

DJ Egg thanks, I didn't know version5.2 was out I had only updated the virus defenitions.Anyways even with ver5.2 and with heuristic scanning, scan all files, memory scanning and boot sector scanning enabled no viruses could be detected.

So I am thinking some buggy program is causing the problem and I think I know which one.I have to use a program to dial into a free ISP (I cannot use the one in Windows dialup network when they check for username/password) which spawns a new IE window on getting connected and randomly thereafter.I didnt use this program for the past two days and the settings have not changed so I think I've found the culprit.

[DJ Egg]

calipso
Did you also get the latest signature files for v5.2, currently 1101 (22nd Dec)
http://antivirus.cai.com/update.htm

What's the name of this free ISP then?
I'd get in touch with them ASAP. Either that, or uninstall their dodgy software & get a real ISP.

One sure way of finding out if you've got a virus is to run the Windows search facility.
Start -> Find -> Files & Folders
Name & Location tab:
Make sure "Look In -> Windows_xx(C)" & "Include subfolders" are selected.
Date tab:
Search for all files 1) Created & 2) Modified during the previous x day/s
Try 1 day at first & increase it until a time nearest to when you installed the ISP's software.
If you find any EXE or DLL files that have been modified, other than ones you know you've updated yourself during this time, then the only other thing that could've modified them is a virus.
However, if you have any viruses, InoculateIt should detect & clean them, so it's now looking more likely that you haven't. You could well be right about your other theory.

I know how ya feel about having to click on an icon other than IE to get a connection.
The main ISP I use is BT Internet Surftime, which also puts an icon on the desktop.
I've got to click it to use their dial-up adapter, otherwise I get charged for all calls too.
I suppose it's worth it tho' for only £30 a quarter & all calls free.
The best thing is that it's charged to my phone bill, no credit card required.
I was spending about £150 a quarter on the internet b4, so I'm definitely onto a winner! :)
These so called free ISP's are a total rip off anyway. Free? Pull the other one! :D

Anyway, I hope you sort everything out. Good luck.

[John M]

$40 US/27 UK per month for DSL

[calipso]

DJEgg
Yup i've got aup_1101.exe in my InoculateIT folder and I'll check for the modified files though there's a hell of a lot to check(I had this free ISPs software for quite some time and I have installed many applications after that) .This software is a real buggy one ,windows almost always kills it with one of those illegal operations message.The only reason I use their service is sometimes I can connect without their software when they donot check for username/password (their database could be down or something).Btw this ISP is in India so you people wouldn't be concerned. I've deinstalled their software and got a real ISP.Cable hasnt yet reached the place where I live and DSL is quite expensive and isnt giving the speeds it claims .Guess I'll have to stick with dial-ups.Thanks again .

[a-arse]

Originally posted by AlieXai


What if it's a virus that infects the flash rom? Then your really screwed unless your MB/Computer manufacturer offers bios updates. O and those tips about holding your knee's and rocking back and forth... very helpful. I've done it many a times... when my internet connections (All 4: cable,dsl,aol,bellsouth.net dial-up) wouldn't work.

Ahhh Dr. A-arse has an answer for that one to!

You Will Need:

A large Hammer
Some protective wear
A Bin

Step1: Firstly Take put your protective gear on and get the bin ready take out the CPU (if it is fast otherwise goto step 2)

Step2: Smash It, SMASH IT ALLL!!!!!!!!

Step3: Put it in the bin

Hope this helps
If it makes you feel better you can do the knee rocking thing :D


BWAHAHAHAHA