Internet Explorer has stopped working

[Beetoad]

A few weeks ago I began having problems with my Internet Explorer 8.

I click the icon to start the browser and get this error message: "Internet Explorer has stopped working. Windows is checking for a solution to the problem".

After a minute of the progress bar, that notice is replaced with this: "Internet Explorer has stopped working. A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available."

At this point all I can do is close the notice (and browser).

So last week I reset the computer back a week (before the problem began) using System Restore. It functioned correctly for just one day (following morning had same problem).

Today I decided to install Firefox (3). Have a similar problem; get this error message when attempting to start it:

"We're Sorry Firefox had a problem and crashed. We'll try to restore your tabs and windows when it restarts. To help us diagnose and fix the problem, you can send us a crash report."

Oddly enough, I can get both browsers to start if I "Run as Administrator".

Steps I've already taken to resolve this issue:

• Run Ccleaner in safe mode (both "cleaner" & "registry" tabs)
• Run SuperAntiSpyware
• Reset Internet Explorer to default settings
• Downloaded and attempted to reinstall IE 8 (but got error message: "Setup cannot continue because a more recent version of Internet Explorer has been detected on this computer"
• Run MalwareBytes
• Run Ad-Aware
• Performed online scan with BitDefender

Because I have no other unusual symptoms, I don't suspect any malware (or virus). It seems like something in my OS has gone awry.

I'm running 32-bit Vista Home Premium on a Dell "Studio 15" laptop. The only peripherals I have: a Netgear WPN111 wireless adapter, and a Logitech mouse (USB).

Besides the above mentioned "malware scanning" programs, the only 3rd party software I have is:

• Roxio Creator DE
• MS Works (shipped with it)
• Windows Live

Any suggestions to correct this problem greatly appreciated!

TIA

Brad

[zep516]

Download http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en...HJTInstall.exe (HJT) to the Desktop.
• Double-click on HJTInstall.
• Click on the Install button.
• It will automatically place HJT in C:\Program Files\TrendMicro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe.
• Upon install, HijackThis should open for you.
• Click on the Do a system scan and save a log file button
• HijackThis will scan and then a log will open in notepad.
• Copy and then paste the entire contents of the log in your post.
• Do not have HijackThis fix anything yet. Most of what it finds will be harmless or even required.

Then this.

Double click the hijackthis Icon on the Desktop, Scroll down to ‘’Open the Misc Tools section” Click it at the bottom under System tools click “Open Uninstall Manager” over to the right click “Save List” Save it to your Desktop so you may find it, copy and paste it in your next reply..

Lets see if we can see anything.

[Beetoad]

Hi Zep516,

Thank you for your help. Below is the "log" and (below that), the "uninstall list".

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 5:54:26 PM, on 6/19/2009
Platform: Windows Vista SP1 (WinNT 6.00.1905)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe
C:\Program Files\DellTPad\Apoint.exe
C:\Program Files\IDT\WDM\sttray.exe
C:\Windows\System32\WLTRAY.EXE
C:\Program Files\Anonymizer\Anonymizer Software\Anonymizer.exe
C:\Windows\ehome\ehtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnscfg.exe
C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WPN111\wpn111.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\MOM.exe
C:\Windows\ehome\ehmsas.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CCC.exe
C:\Program Files\DellTPad\ApMsgFwd.exe
C:\Program Files\DellTPad\HidFind.exe
C:\Program Files\DellTPad\Apntex.exe
C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Anonymizer\Anonymizer Software\common\AnonProxy.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Windows\system32\SearchFilterHost.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = Preserve
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Bing
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = MSN.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = Bing
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = Bing
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = MSN.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Internet Explorer provided by Dell
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Search Helper - {6EBF7485-159F-4bff-A14F-B9E3AAC4465B} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\Search Helper\SEPsearchhelperie.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Browser Address Error Redirector - {CA6319C0-31B7-401E-A518-A07C3DB8F777} - C:\Program Files\Dell\BAE\BAE.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Toolbar Helper - {E15A8DC0-8516-42A1-81EA-DC94EC1ACF10} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Toolbar\wltcore.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Windows Live Toolbar - {21FA44EF-376D-4D53-9B0F-8A89D3229068} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Toolbar\wltcore.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe -hide
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Apoint] C:\Program Files\DellTPad\Apoint.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SysTrayApp] %ProgramFiles%\IDT\WDM\sttray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StartCCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Broadcom Wireless Manager UI] C:\Windows\system32\WLTRAY.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Anonymizer] C:\Program Files\Anonymizer\Anonymizer Software\Anonymizer.exe -nogui
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ehTray.exe] C:\Windows\ehome\ehTray.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [WMPNSCFG] C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\WMPNSCFG.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - .DEFAULT User Startup: Dell Dock First Run.lnk = C:\Program Files\Dell\DellDock\DellDock.exe (User 'Default user')
O4 - Global Startup: NETGEAR WPN111 Smart Wizard.lnk = ?
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\PROGRA~1\Java\JRE16~1.0_0\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\PROGRA~1\Java\JRE16~1.0_0\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Blog This - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &Blog This in Windows Live Writer - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O13 - Gopher Prefix:
O16 - DPF: {20A60F0D-9AFA-4515-A0FD-83BD84642501} (Checkers Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary...r.cab56986.cab
O16 - DPF: {C3F79A2B-B9B4-4A66-B012-3EE46475B072} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary...t.cab56907.cab
O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASWINLO.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: GoToAssist - C:\Program Files\Citrix\GoToAssist\514\G2AWinLogon.dll
O23 - Service: Andrea ST Filters Service (AESTFilters) - Andrea Electronics Corporation - C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\stwrt.inf_f091b975\aestsrv.exe
O23 - Service: Anonymizer Management Service (AnonMgmtSvc) - Anonymizer - C:\Program Files\Anonymizer\Anonymizer Software\Common\AnonMgmtSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Ati External Event Utility - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\Windows\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Labs Licensing Service - Creative Labs - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Creative Labs Shared\Service\CreativeLicensing.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Service for CDROM Access - Creative Technology Ltd - C:\Windows\system32\CTsvcCDA.exe
O23 - Service: Dock Login Service (DockLoginService) - Stardock Corporation - C:\Program Files\Dell\DellDock\DockLogin.exe
O23 - Service: GoToAssist - Citrix Online, a division of Citrix Systems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Citrix\GoToAssist\514\g2aservice.exe
O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: Advanced Networking Service (hnmsvc) - Dell Inc. - c:\ProgramData\SingleClick Systems\Advanced Networking Service\hnm_svc.exe
O23 - Service: Lavasoft Ad-Aware Service - Lavasoft - C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWService.exe
O23 - Service: SupportSoft Sprocket Service (DellSupportCenter) (sprtsvc_DellSupportCenter) - SupportSoft, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Dell Support Center\bin\sprtsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Audio Service (STacSV) - IDT, Inc. - C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\stwrt.inf_f091b975\STacSV.exe
O23 - Service: stllssvr - MicroVision Development, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SureThing Shared\stllssvr.exe
O23 - Service: Dell Wireless WLAN Tray Service (wltrysvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE

--
End of file - 7578 bytes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Acrobat.com
Acrobat.com
Ad-Aware
Ad-Aware
Adobe AIR
Adobe AIR
Adobe Flash Player 10 ActiveX
Adobe Reader 9.1
Advanced Audio FX Engine
Anonymizer Software
Anonymizer Software
ATI Catalyst Control Center
Banctec Service Agreement
Browser Address Error Redirector
Catalyst Control Center - Branding
CCleaner (remove only)
Choice Guard
Cisco EAP-FAST Module
Cisco LEAP Module
Cisco PEAP Module
Compatibility Pack for the 2007 Office system
Creative MediaSource 5
Dell DataSafe Online
Dell Dock
Dell Getting Started Guide
Dell Remote Access
Dell Support Center (Support Software)
Dell Touchpad
Dell Video Chat (remove only)
Dell Webcam Central
Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility
EDocs
GoToAssist 8.0.0.514
HijackThis 2.0.2
Hotfix for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (KB953595)
Hotfix for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (KB958484)
Integrated Webcam Driver (1.03.01.0825)
ITECIR Driver
Java(TM) 6 Update 7
Junk Mail filter update
K-Lite Codec Pack 4.5.3 (Full)
Live! Cam Avatar Creator
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
MediaDirect
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
Microsoft Office PowerPoint Viewer 2007 (English)
Microsoft Search Enhancement Pack
Microsoft Silverlight
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition [ENU]
Microsoft Sync Framework Runtime Native v1.0 (x86)
Microsoft Sync Framework Services Native v1.0 (x86)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable
Microsoft Works
Mobile Broadband Drivers
Mozilla Firefox (3.0.11)
MSVCRT
NETGEAR RangeMax(TM) Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter WPN111
Picasa 3
QuickSet
Roxio Creator Audio
Roxio Creator Copy
Roxio Creator Data
Roxio Creator DE
Roxio Creator DE
Roxio Creator Tools
Roxio Express Labeler 3
Roxio Update Manager
Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED MB
Spelling Dictionaries Support For Adobe Reader 9
SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition
Visual C++ 2008 x86 Runtime - (v9.0.30729)
Visual C++ 2008 x86 Runtime - v9.0.30729.01
VZAccess Manager
Windows Live Call
Windows Live Communications Platform
Windows Live Essentials
Windows Live Essentials
Windows Live Family Safety
Windows Live Mail
Windows Live Messenger
Windows Live Photo Gallery
Windows Live Sign-in Assistant
Windows Live Sync
Windows Live Toolbar
Windows Live Upload Tool
Windows Live Writer

[zep516]

I will look at above it really gives us a better idea of the computer, that is an odd problem you have I have never seen it especially that it affects 2 browsers.

Has google search turned up anything? "Browsers only work in administrator mode "

Maybe google those key words while i look at information.

Try running IE8 in no add/ons mode---Google that.

For firefox you can right click the Icon an choose SafeMode

see if that changes anything..

[Beetoad]

Yes, this is an odd problem. Unless some hidden malware is found, I am beginning to suspect something amiss with Vista...?

I googled your suggested phrase (Browsers only work in administrator mode) as well as "IE 8 works only in administrator mode"; both searches without success.

[zep516]

Try running IE8 in no add/ons mode---Google that.

For firefox you can right click the Icon an choose SafeMode

see if that changes anything..

[Beetoad]

I failed to mention in my initial post that I had already tried (without success) closing the "add/ons" mode in IE8.

The right-click menu for Firefox does not offer a "safe mode". It does, however, offer a "run as administrator" mode (which, like IE8, will run it).

In the event no malware is found, I am beginning to suspect this odd behavior might have something to do with Vista's UAC...? I'd hate to think that I am now resigned to running either browser as administrator every time I wish to surf...

[zep516]

There is no malware in the log and you have ran some good scans too so i don't see a malware issue. You have already done a restore so we/you have covered a lot of bases, lets let the post sit an see what other replies you get I'm as you are at a loss here.

zep516

Would it worth a try to run the browsers in windows Safemode??????

[Beetoad]

Hey zep516,

Comforting to know no malware mucking up my system; thanx!

I'll hang tight for now...

[zep516]

Would it worth a try to run the browsers in windows Safemode??????

not sure if you saw this above Safemode with networking maybe???