Spyware has left IE6 disabled, while Firefox works fine!

A friend running Windows ME asked me to look at her machine because IE6
(SP1) wasn't working, although Outlook Express was. I found I could ping
public servers, and when I loaded Firefox on the machine that worked
perfectly.

I used HijackThis, Process Explorer and AutoRuns (latter two from
Sysinternals.com) to remove all traces of the various "search assistants"
she'd picked up, but even when they were all gone, IE still couldn't connect
to a page.

I tried pinging a public website to get the IP address, and then tried the
address http://212.58.224.85/ (BBC website) to rule out a DNS problem.
Still nothing.

I uninstalled all IE patches, then IE6 to get back to IE5.5 (I think - I
neglected to check the version but it was certainly an earlier one!). Still
nothing. I then reinstalled IE6 from CD. Still nothing. Firefox is
working all this time. I've been through all the settings in IE I thought
remotely relevant - she connects to cable via a USB modem which appears as a
Network Adapter in Device Manager (rather than a modem) so Internet Options
/ Connections has the browser attempting to connect via LAN.

It's not a firewall issue - I disabled it completely at one point (Zone
Alarm Free edition).

I'm now stumped. Without a better idea my next move would be to attempt a
repair installation of ME, but that seems a bit drastic.

Any ideas?

--
####################
## PH, London
####################
Cross-posted to:
microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser,
microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.setup,
microsoft.public.windowsme.general, microsoft.public.windowsme.internet,
microsoft.public.windowsme.networking

Philip,

Download and run this Winsock fix tool:

http://downloads.subratam.org/WinsockFix.zip

Reboot and test.

Zee




"Philip Herlihy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:%23N5bkr6$(E-Mail Removed)...
> A friend running Windows ME asked me to look at her machine because IE6
> (SP1) wasn't working, although Outlook Express was. I found I could ping
> public servers, and when I loaded Firefox on the machine that worked
> perfectly.
>
> I used HijackThis, Process Explorer and AutoRuns (latter two from
> Sysinternals.com) to remove all traces of the various "search assistants"
> she'd picked up, but even when they were all gone, IE still couldn't connect
> to a page.
>
> I tried pinging a public website to get the IP address, and then tried the
> address http://212.58.224.85/ (BBC website) to rule out a DNS problem.
> Still nothing.
>
> I uninstalled all IE patches, then IE6 to get back to IE5.5 (I think - I
> neglected to check the version but it was certainly an earlier one!). Still
> nothing. I then reinstalled IE6 from CD. Still nothing. Firefox is
> working all this time. I've been through all the settings in IE I thought
> remotely relevant - she connects to cable via a USB modem which appears as a
> Network Adapter in Device Manager (rather than a modem) so Internet Options
> / Connections has the browser attempting to connect via LAN.
>
> It's not a firewall issue - I disabled it completely at one point (Zone
> Alarm Free edition).
>
> I'm now stumped. Without a better idea my next move would be to attempt a
> repair installation of ME, but that seems a bit drastic.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> --
> ####################
> ## PH, London
> ####################
> Cross-posted to:
> microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser,
> microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.setup,
> microsoft.public.windowsme.general, microsoft.public.windowsme.internet,
> microsoft.public.windowsme.networking
>
>

In article <udWqC56$(E-Mail Removed)>, oops!! says...

> Download and run this Winsock fix tool...

Just curious; should Firefox work with a broken Winsock?

--
Norman
~Win dain a lotica, En vai tu ri, Si lo ta
~Fin dein a loluca, En dragu a sei lain
~Vi fa-ru les shutai am, En riga-lint

"N. Miller" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> In article <udWqC56$(E-Mail Removed)>, oops!! says...
>
>> Download and run this Winsock fix tool...
>
> Just curious; should Firefox work with a broken Winsock?
>
> --
> Norman
> ~Win dain a lotica, En vai tu ri, Si lo ta
> ~Fin dein a loluca, En dragu a sei lain
> ~Vi fa-ru les shutai am, En riga-lint


No.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/sec...t/default.aspx

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 11:18:09 -0000, "Philip Herlihy"

>A friend running Windows ME asked me to look at her machine because IE6
>(SP1) wasn't working, although Outlook Express was. I found I could ping
>public servers, and when I loaded Firefox on the machine that worked

>I used HijackThis, Process Explorer and AutoRuns (latter two from
>Sysinternals.com) to remove all traces of the various "search assistants"
>she'd picked up, but even when they were all gone, IE still couldn't connect

You could try suppressing BHOs in IE via Tools, Options, Advanced,
UNcheck Enable 3rd-party extensions, but it's more likely a rogue
"Content Adviser" setup, or possibly other active malware.

>I tried pinging a public website to get the IP address, and then tried the
>address http://212.58.224.85/ (BBC website) to rule out a DNS problem.
>Still nothing.

Yep. Because Firefox works, you know it isn't a Winsock problem or an
http:// problem, so that leaves things that spazz out IE.

>It's not a firewall issue - I disabled it completely at one point

OK, but ZA has bits running as services. If its rules are not set to
block iexplore.exe, then that should not be a factor.



>--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
Tech Support: The guys who follow the
'Parade of New Products' with a shovel.
>--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

"Philip Herlihy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%23N5bkr6$(E-Mail Removed)...
>A friend running Windows ME asked me to look at her machine because IE6
>(SP1) wasn't working, although Outlook Express was. I found I could ping
>public servers, and when I loaded Firefox on the machine that worked
>perfectly.
>
> I used HijackThis, Process Explorer and AutoRuns (latter two from
> Sysinternals.com) to remove all traces of the various "search assistants"
> she'd picked up, but even when they were all gone, IE still couldn't
> connect to a page.
>
> I tried pinging a public website to get the IP address, and then tried the
> address http://212.58.224.85/ (BBC website) to rule out a DNS problem.
> Still nothing.
>
> I uninstalled all IE patches, then IE6 to get back to IE5.5 (I think - I
> neglected to check the version but it was certainly an earlier one!).
> Still nothing. I then reinstalled IE6 from CD. Still nothing. Firefox
> is working all this time. I've been through all the settings in IE I
> thought remotely relevant - she connects to cable via a USB modem which
> appears as a Network Adapter in Device Manager (rather than a modem) so
> Internet Options / Connections has the browser attempting to connect via
> LAN.
>
> It's not a firewall issue - I disabled it completely at one point (Zone
> Alarm Free edition).
>
> I'm now stumped. Without a better idea my next move would be to attempt a
> repair installation of ME, but that seems a bit drastic.
>
> Any ideas?
>

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I haven't been able to get access
to the machine as expected since my original post. I'll try the Winsock fix
tool anyway - can't do any harm, although the fact that Firefox is working
does suggest something above that layer. What I don't understand is how the
problem can persist when I've uninstalled and reinstalled IE. Is my only
option now a repair install of Windows ME? I don't want to leave the
machine as it is as there is now no way to obtain Windows Updates.

--
####################
## PH, London
####################

Run the winsock fix first... it may be the answer to all of these questions.

Carey

"Philip Herlihy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%23$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Philip Herlihy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%23N5bkr6$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>A friend running Windows ME asked me to look at her machine because IE6
>>(SP1) wasn't working, although Outlook Express was. I found I could ping
>>public servers, and when I loaded Firefox on the machine that worked
>>perfectly.
>>
>> I used HijackThis, Process Explorer and AutoRuns (latter two from
>> Sysinternals.com) to remove all traces of the various "search assistants"
>> she'd picked up, but even when they were all gone, IE still couldn't
>> connect to a page.
>>
>> I tried pinging a public website to get the IP address, and then tried
>> the address http://212.58.224.85/ (BBC website) to rule out a DNS
>> problem. Still nothing.
>>
>> I uninstalled all IE patches, then IE6 to get back to IE5.5 (I think - I
>> neglected to check the version but it was certainly an earlier one!).
>> Still nothing. I then reinstalled IE6 from CD. Still nothing. Firefox
>> is working all this time. I've been through all the settings in IE I
>> thought remotely relevant - she connects to cable via a USB modem which
>> appears as a Network Adapter in Device Manager (rather than a modem) so
>> Internet Options / Connections has the browser attempting to connect via
>> LAN.
>>
>> It's not a firewall issue - I disabled it completely at one point (Zone
>> Alarm Free edition).
>>
>> I'm now stumped. Without a better idea my next move would be to attempt
>> a repair installation of ME, but that seems a bit drastic.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>>
>
> Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I haven't been able to get
> access to the machine as expected since my original post. I'll try the
> Winsock fix tool anyway - can't do any harm, although the fact that
> Firefox is working does suggest something above that layer. What I don't
> understand is how the problem can persist when I've uninstalled and
> reinstalled IE. Is my only option now a repair install of Windows ME? I
> don't want to leave the machine as it is as there is now no way to obtain
> Windows Updates.
>
> --
> ####################
> ## PH, London
> ####################
>

"Carey Holzman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Run the winsock fix first... it may be the answer to all of these
> questions.
>
> Carey
>

Will do, and will report back. Having trouble finding a time when we're
both available at the same time though!

--
####################
## PH, London
####################

Where is the page associated with the ftp link,
http://downloads.subratam.org/WinsockFix.zip,
which describes which OS's are supported?

The lack of documentation here is disturbing (to me).

Where are any other winsock fixes?
--
Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS
Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.aspx
Your cooperation is very appreciated.
------
"Carey Holzman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Run the winsock fix first... it may be the answer to all of these
questions.
>
> Carey
>

<SNIP>

Don't know which stable it's from Jack, but a google search for 'WinsockFix'
finds various snippets - and info re- supported OS's
Try
http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/...=127&nav=title


Mart


"Jack E Martinelli" <jemartin_DELETE@NO_SPAM_gis.net> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Where is the page associated with the ftp link,
> http://downloads.subratam.org/WinsockFix.zip,
> which describes which OS's are supported?
>
> The lack of documentation here is disturbing (to me).
>
> Where are any other winsock fixes?
> --
> Jack E. Martinelli 2002-05 MS MVP for Shell/User / DTS
> Help us help you: http://www.dts-L.org/goodpost.htm
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.aspx
> Your cooperation is very appreciated.
> ------
> "Carey Holzman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Run the winsock fix first... it may be the answer to all of these
> questions.
>>
>> Carey
>>
>
> <SNIP>
>
>