My computer has had some sort of spy ware thing that spybot picked up and I thought it had removed it but it has left me with big problems with my internet explorer.
I can`t access secure sites, hotmail or msn it just says the server is busy.

When i have attempted to repair internet explorer or re download from the website it it won`t let me.

I have scanned with norton anti virus, mcaffee and ad-adware and it is coming up clear of everything.

My computer is running so slow it frequently freezes or I get the blue screen up.

Out of desperation I decided to totally reboot the computer with my recovery disc cd but when I put it in the computer nothing happens at all.

Has anyone any ideas please what I can try or does any one know a computer man / woman I can ring who could re-boot my computer on win 98.

Can you provide a little more info on what you have in your PC.

Operating system: Is it windows 98?

When you say "nothing happens" when you try to reboot with the CD in.. are you getting NOTHING or is it just booting as normal and ignoring the disk?

Sorry.
Yes I already have win 98 and when i put the cd in it just boots up as normal .

I have been trying all day to download the Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 and it keeps telling me that set up may have been unable to use my proxy settings . Or the network may be busy etc....

If this pc is a packard bell, PM me - I was one of their techies for a couple of years so should be able to sort it for you.

It sounds as if the computer is not set to boot from CD. You will need to have a look in BIOS and check this out. Usually if you press F1 or "Del" or "Esc" just after you turn it on you will get into BIOS. I normally cycle thourhg all they keys pressing each one about every second until i am in. Once you are in you probably wnat to chose "CMOS setup" or similar by using your arrow keys. From there you should see either "Boot Sequence" or "1st Boot Device...2nd Boot Device.." etc...if you have the first option you need to change it to "A,CD ROM,C" by using page up/page down keys...if you have the second option, then 1st boot device wants to be floppy, then the 2nd wants to be CD ROM then the 3rd wnats to be CD ROM..once you have changed it there will be an option somehwre like "Save changes and exit" (Usually F10?), this might be on your main menu so you may have to press "esc" when you have finished and then select the option from the main menu....then give it a try!

Am i making any sense at all?

Originally posted by mshappy
Sorry.
Yes I already have win 98 and when i put the cd in it just boots up as normal .

I have been trying all day to download the Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 and it keeps telling me that set up may have been unable to use my proxy settings . Or the network may be busy etc....

This pme is easy..in internet explorer go to "Tools" then "internet options" then click on the "connections" tab, highlight your default connection in the white box, then click on "settings" then remove the tick from "Use a proxy server" and "Automatically detect settings"...and then click "apply" then "ok" and then "ok" back to internet explorer. Close it and re-open and you should be fine.

Originally posted by Avalon
This pme is easy..in internet explorer go to "Tools" then "internet options" then click on the "connections" tab, highlight your default connection in the white box, then click on "settings" then remove the tick from "Use a proxy server" and "Automatically detect settings"...and then click "apply" then "ok" and then "ok" back to internet explorer. Close it and re-open and you should be fine.

I just tried that and I`ve got a message " the service profile is damaged"

I haven`t tried the other yet, I`ll have to print this so I can follow the instructions how to find where the BIOS is.

Thank you Avalon

Originally posted by Avalon
..... ..... if you have the first option you need to change it to "A,CD ROM,C" by using page up/page down keys...if you have the second option, then 1st boot device wants to be floppy, then the 2nd wants to be CD ROM then the 3rd wnats to be CD ROM......

Mine says
1st boot.... floppy
2nd ... 1DE-0
3rd ... CD ROM

I haven`t a clue how to change the 2nd one to CD-ROM... There doesn`t seem to be any way of doing it.

I think I`m going to have to take it in to a computer shop aren`t I..

It will be either the cursor keys or the + and - signs on the numeric keypad that will change it (dont forget to highlight it first though)

Should tell you somewhere in the bois but I believe its page up and page down.:)

Originally posted by mshappy
I just tried that and I`ve got a message " the service profile is damaged"

I haven`t tried the other yet, I`ll have to print this so I can follow the instructions how to find where the BIOS is.

Thank you Avalon

No problem...glad to be of help. Im am not sure what "Service Profile Damaged" means...but i suspect you will have to re-install internet explorer? If anyone else can shed light on this fell free to put your oar in!

Well I`ve managed to change sequence at long last.

I`ve re booted it twice and it still hasn`t recognised the cd.

I`ve been trying to re-install internet explorer and haven`t been able to.

Anyway thanks folks for the suggestions, If anyone has a phone number of a computer shop / man who may be able to reboot this stupid computer for me I would be grateful.

Well one more try and i`m giving up.

It has to be booted with a win 98 boot disk - the drivers for the cd are on it - I forgot about that !

Am i right in thinking you can access your computer normally mshappy, and that this is just an Internet Explorer problem? (apart from your computer running slow)

If so, there is still a chance you can fix this problem.

Run Panda active scan (http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm). Then run [Windows security Trojan scan (http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/).

If that does not help, update Ad-Aware and Spybot search and destroy. Now install CWShredder (http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html) and update it.
Reboot your computer in to safe mode (repeatedly press f8 while starting your computer) and run all the programs above and have them fix anything they find.

If this does not work, get back to us and we can try something else ;).

Thank you.

I am just doing all the scans now.. I have tried to put windows 98 disc on the computer so i could re install internet explorer and it got so far and twice the screen just went black and the other times it came to the end but said it had failed and did I want to retry.

I haven`t tried to re-boot the computer with the windows 98 disc though so I will try it.

[/A][/QUOTE] Panda active scan (http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm). Then run [Windows security Trojan scan (http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/).

If that does not help, update Ad-Aware and Spybot search and destroy. Now install CWShredder (http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html) and update it.
Reboot your computer in to safe mode (repeatedly press f8 while starting your computer) and run all the programs above and have them fix anything they find.

[/B][/QUOTE]



Right all the above has been done.
Spybot and trojan scan came back completely clear.
Ad-Aware had 7x I E Cache Data miner cookie on
Panda scan had 3 x adware (funweb, save now, my web search, )
CW Shredder /spy subtract clear.

It still won`t let me go on some internet sites but will allow me on others..

I keep getting the page can`t be displayed sign...It must be something to do with the settings but I can`t get on the microsoft site to download internet explorer again.

Anyway thank you to those of you who have helped and if I ever meet you I owe you a pint.

Then we need to track down what is causing the errors mshappy :). I found This site (http://support.discusware.com/center/resources/errors/pcbd.php) that helps with the main ones.
Write down the exact error message you get and check it on that site. You can also give us the exact error message and we'll have a look too ;).

Vidster... this is the exact message I`m getting when I try to sign on to some sites.

"The page cannot be displayed
The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web site might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your browser settings. ........................

(then right at the very bottom is )

Cannot find server or DNS Error
Internet Explorer

OK mshappy :).

I have been googling around and most people seem to think WinsockFix (http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/central/display/details.php3?installerID=127&nav=OS&osID=6) will cure the problem.
I can not be sure as i don't know that much about DNS errors but it's worth a try :?.

If this does not work you may be better posting a HijackThis log in the CbtTechs forum (see my sig). If you want to try this i'll give you more info :).

Originally posted by vidster
OK mshappy :).

I have been googling around and most people seem to think WinsockFix (http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/central/display/details.php3?installerID=127&nav=OS&osID=6) will cure the problem.
I can not be sure as i don't know that much about DNS errors but it's worth a try :?.

If this does not work you may be better posting a HijackThis log in the CbtTechs forum (see my sig). If you want to try this i'll give you more info :).
Damn damn damn... of course... how the heck could I forget that one...

Win98 does tend to require this after a bit of spyware hassle...

Well remembered vidster...

Originally posted by Martin_s
Damn damn damn... of course... how the heck could I forget that one...

Win98 does tend to require this after a bit of spyware hassle...

Well remembered vidster...

Thanks Martin_s. Means a lot coming from you ;).

Although all i did was spend half an hour googling though :suspect:

Right, I am vaguely sorted.

After puzzling about this settings thing and the message I kept getting when trying to download the Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 being unable to use my proxy settings I decided to ring the technical support for my broadband and just act really thick.... (Not that I had much acting to do.)

The bloke on the other end just said I will re route you through a proxy server then and gave me some LAN settings, an address and port etc to type in and it works now.... But he says it was nothing to do with my computer in the first place.

My computer is still running so slow and is taking ages and ages to load pages up even though I can now view every page, even the ones I previously couldn`t .

There must still be something wrong with I.Explorer.

I tried to load Mozilla Firefox as an alternative browser but it flashed up refused connection.

Shall I still try Winsoc fix even though I can now get on the sites?

Originally posted by mshappy


I tried to load Mozilla Firefox as an alternative browser but it flashed up refused connection.

Shall I still try Winsoc fix even though I can now get on the sites?

I have no idea if it will mess up your settings so i wouldn't risk it unless someone else knows better :?.

You could try downloading Firefox from Here (http://www.download.com/Mozilla-Firefox/3000-2356_4-10368087.html?tag=pop) as well.

As for the performance problems. If no one else comes up with a solution, you can register at the CbtTechs forum and post a HijackThis (http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10307556.html?tag=lst-0-1) log. We will then give you instructions on what to do next.
NOTE: Please don't do anything with HijackThis unless told to do so :).

Originally posted by vidster
I have no idea if it will mess up your settings so i wouldn't risk it unless someone else knows better :?.

You could try downloading Firefox from Here (http://www.download.com/Mozilla-Firefox/3000-2356_4-10368087.html?tag=pop) as well.

As for the performance problems. If no one else comes up with a solution, you can register at the CbtTechs forum and post a HijackThis (http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10307556.html?tag=lst-0-1) log. We will then give you instructions on what to do next.
NOTE: Please don't do anything with HijackThis unless told to do so :).

If "Winsockfix" does what i think it does - it may not help. WinSock (short fro Windows Sockets) is they part of your PC that tells the computer HOW to communicate with the internet. It is related to the TCP/IP suite of protocols which ACTUALLY DO the communicating. If you were unable to view ANY sites at all then i would suggest either one of these things, but as you can view some sites it may not be the problem. What i would suggest is to try and access websites that you have NEVER been on before and see if you can access them...and record the results - try and think of two or three. Also try going on websited that you visit regularly and record the results - again two or three.

If you can get on the websites that you have NEVER been on before, then it is unlikey that you have a winsock error, but TCP/IP may be dying slowly. However if you cannot access websites that you never been on before then you may have a winsock problem. If you can get websites you visit regularly but NOT ones that you have NEVER been on then it is most likely that either TCP/IP or Winsock is corrupt and that your computer has stored your regular websites.

Having said all this the fact that everything is working (allbeit slowly) through the proxy server then it could be IE thats fubar.

LEt me know how you get on!

Originally posted by Avalon
If "Winsockfix" does what i think it does - it may not help. WinSock (short fro Windows Sockets) is they part of your PC that tells the computer HOW to communicate with the internet. It is related to the TCP/IP suite of protocols which ACTUALLY DO the communicating. If you were unable to view ANY sites at all then i would suggest either one of these things, but as you can view some sites it may not be the problem. What i would suggest is to try and access websites that you have NEVER been on before and see if you can access them...and record the results - try and think of two or three. Also try going on websited that you visit regularly and record the results - again two or three.............

Having said all this the fact that everything is working (allbeit slowly) through the proxy server then it could be IE thats fubar.

LEt me know how you get on!


I can access different websites I haven`t visited before, It is just when the page is loading up it is taking ages and ages to load....

There is still something not right with the computer because I keep getting the box come up saying the computer is not responding and do I want to end task, retry or cancel .... :confused:

I`ve downloaded firefox again and still keep getting error message the connection was refused when attempting to connect. Please check your proxy settings and try again. :?

Originally posted by mshappy
I can access different websites I haven`t visited before, It is just when the page is loading up it is taking ages and ages to load....

There is still something not right with the computer because I keep getting the box come up saying the computer is not responding and do I want to end task, retry or cancel .... :confused:

I`ve downloaded firefox again and still keep getting error message the connection was refused when attempting to connect. Please check your proxy settings and try again. :?

I would suggest that you back up al your important files and then put in a windows CD again and start from scratch. Other than that it would seem to be Winsock or TCP/IP thats had it - but i cant tell which one?