Hello fellows,

Semi-quick question here.

Been struggling with a family member's box for a few days now. Every now and then while one is browsing online - or, for that matter, when the browser windows are closed - multiple IE windows will begin popping up in rapid succession.

The count of individual windows comes up to about 60 or so - whatever the Windows limit is for the same program in a taskbar group - until it reaches this limit.

Closing the group sometime results in more windows opened, sometimes it is successful.

Scanned it with AVG, Lavasoft AdAware and Spybot, found little much of anything but a few tracking cookies. Problem continued afterwards just as well.

Any insights?

Thanks for your help.

All the best,

-Kurt

Download and use CCleaner. There are multiple modules. Run the delfault cleaner module first. If you still have issues run the registry module. Choose to save the file just in case.

http://www.ccleaner.com/

I bet you are using IE7. That same thing happened to me when I went from IE6 to IE7.I went back to IE6.

I've never heard of such behavior happening just from upgrading from IE6 to IE7, as aegis stated, until I read this post. That's interesting. From the description you're giving it sounds like some kind of virus. But after you said you've done various scans and nothing bad came up, I'm not sure. But to rule out malware activity even more, did the pop-up windows contain different websites or was it the same page multiple times?

Additionally, when you scanned with Spybot, did you update and immunize before running the scan?

Greg

OtheHill: Just ran CCleaner, will report with results in a few days of testing.

aegis: IE6, specifically, build 6.0.2900.2180.

justcallmegreg: Same page, multiple times, if I recall right. Never did remember the exact address, but I believe it was nothing more then the main page on one of the search engines - i.e. Google or MSN start page.

Spybot was updated and immunization was taken care of.

-Kurt

I run CCleaner at least daily. Take only 10 seconds. I also run the registry cleaner if I think I have been to an iffy site.

Did you scan, update, and immunize in Safe Mode ? I never experienced your problem when upgrading from IE6 to IE7.

Does this problem happen in Safe Mode?

WinSimple Software

kx5m2g: Again, this problem is happening with IE6.

That said, the problem reappeared five minutes ago, despite having run both the default cleaner and the registry cleaner.

This time, I did check the site link - turned out to be nothing but a link that had been clicked on another page that was being browsed (a clean link, for the record).

-Kurt

Kurt: I understand that it is happening in IE6. I was just making a general comment about upgrading from IE6 to IE7, which of course does not apply in your case. Again, though, what happens in Safe Mode ?

Go here and run the scan.
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

I can't remember if IE6 has a reset option. I know IE7 and IE8 do. I'd be able to identify the culprit easier had you said you were visiting bad sites (ex. porn sites), but you haven't. Additionally, you said this occurs every once in awhile. You may consider doing (or having someone do) an HJT. It sounds like a browser helper object might be causing this also.

Greg

kx5m2g: What happens when IN safe mode, or after running CCleaner in safe mode (and consequently running as normal)? If the former, then I have yet to try; if the latter, the problem will persist.

per: Will do.

justcallmegreg: Nothing more then financial and news sites visited with this unit. Would you like for me to post a HJ log?

Take care,

-Kurt

Yes go ahead and post a HJT log if you have one.

WinSimple Software

Just ran House Call. 19 cookies that I hadn't a chance to eradicate with Spybot or AdAware. Nothing else.

I'll get to the HJT log over the weekend.

-Kurt

I'm not sure if you're allowed to post a HJT log, but you can try. I got a warning message just for spelling out the meaning of HJT so I don't know.

Greg

You're allowed to if you're asked to post one, but not if you're not asked.

WinSimple Software

Oh ok I see. Thanks for the clarification Rayburn, I wasn't sure. Much appreciated.

Greg

Would it be acceptable to link to an .TXT or .HTML file of the results?

-Kurt

That would be fine.

WinSimple Software

Sorry to have taken so long. Following is the HJT log:

http://www.jaysmarine.com/HJT_07280...

Let me know if you notice anything unusual.

-Kurt

Your HJT log looks perfect. I'm not sure what else to suggest other than a repair install of XP.

WinSimple Software

That's about the cleanest, uncluttered, and shortest HJT log I've ever seen at a glance. No activeX components, yet Windows Automatic Updates is running (2 instances in fact). I can't say this has any bearing on the problem at hand, but when was the last time Windows Updates was ran on that computer?

Greg

I believe the last time it was run (manually) was a few months ago. Can't recall if I have it set to auto-install or prompt before installing. Will check.

-Kurt

Like I said I don't know if that really has anything to do with your problem. I was just wondering. But I don't think there should be two instances of windows updates running. I've also read on some other forums that people were having conflicts with Firefox and IE. I noticed that that pc has Firefox on it so it may be something to look into also.

Greg

Also if you physically access the windows update website for updates, it would prompt to install an activeX component called MUWebControl Class. It would appear as an O16 entry in the HJT log. Since your log was missing it, I assumed either updates haven't been done, they haven't been done in a long time, or the activeX component was deleted.

Greg

The last time I did updates was about the time I built the unit (a year ago or so). All the suggested updates and no more.

Figured that it wasn't worth the effort to spiff this unit up when I knew the user of this unit would find some way to screw it up (the fact that I was asked to install AOL should indicate that).

Come to think of it, I don't recall if this problem has ever happened when running Firefox on it - only when AOL is up. Could be an AOL problem, though I would not know myself how to prove that with any concrete evidence.

Take care,

-Kurt

That's a possibility too. I've heard people complain about AOL and IE not getting along sometimes. So it's definitely something to look into.

Greg

Would be nice if there were some leads on that problem that could be found via Google. When it comes down to searching for AOL fixes, there's only one solution kicking about: Remove it.

Pity too, for as much as AOL is genuine trash, it is not impossible to get it to work reasonably and relatively stable. Not that I'm defending the crapware that it is, but when one has to troubleshoot AOL problems for a loyalist...well, you get my drift.

-Kurt

I agree, but since AOL has a dominating effect and it's own browser, stability would be maintained by simply not using any other browser except AOL's.

Well, you can always remove AOL for testing purposes and if the problem seems to be resolved then you'll know what the culprit was. That way you have a better idea what to tell the person their options are.

Greg

Precisely why I have Firefox installed on this unit as well.

So far, I have only been able to reproduce the problem whilst using the AOL browser (and its built in, horrific, AOL Search) - pretty much self-explanatory, I'd say.

Likely corrupted one of its own configuration files.

-Kurt