Strange happenings

[Guest Paul]

A friend of mine has a desktop running XP Pro SP3. He also had office 2000

installed until recently. Anyway he had to unistall Office due to some

problem or other but since then he has the following faults:

 

1. He can connect to the internet but after about 5 mins it just times out

everytime he tries to go to any website.

2. His pointer constantly has the small hourglass showing as soon as he

starts his computer, as if the computer is trying to do something. I checked

in task manager but there are no programs running. I had a look earlier but

ran out of ideas.

 

He tried using system restore to roll back to efore he uninstalled office

but still the same fault. I have tried re-installing office fresh but no

difference.

 

I can't find anything wrong with his internet setup and office will now run

fine.

 

Could this be a lost file or virus, he runs AVG free but this does not show

anything.

 

Any help would be appreciated before we have to do a clean install of windows.

 

Many thanks

 

Paul

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: Strange happenings

 

> ...desktop running XP Pro SP3.

 

Did his problems start after SP3 was installed?

> ...he had to unistall Office due to some problem or other

 

What problem? Did uninstalling Office resolve it?

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

 

 

Paul wrote:

> A friend of mine has a desktop running XP Pro SP3. He also had office

> 2000

> installed until recently. Anyway he had to unistall Office due to some

> problem or other but since then he has the following faults:

>

> 1. He can connect to the internet but after about 5 mins it just times out

> everytime he tries to go to any website.

> 2. His pointer constantly has the small hourglass showing as soon as he

> starts his computer, as if the computer is trying to do something. I

> checked in task manager but there are no programs running. I had a look

> earlier but ran out of ideas.

>

> He tried using system restore to roll back to efore he uninstalled office

> but still the same fault. I have tried re-installing office fresh but no

> difference.

>

> I can't find anything wrong with his internet setup and office will now

> run

> fine.

>

> Could this be a lost file or virus, he runs AVG free but this does not

> show

> anything.

>

> Any help would be appreciated before we have to do a clean install of

> windows.

>

> Many thanks

>

> Paul

[Guest Paul]

Re: Strange happenings

 

He tried to install publisher from the office 2000 discs he has but it kept

hanging during install. he then decided to try and uninstall all of the

office suite. At this point he started with the internet problem, just spoke

on phone and problem still there (keeps timing out).

 

He then tried to roll back using system restore but he still had internet

problem and also the pointer issue (working in background pointer displays as

soon as windows starts and won't go to normal arrow).

 

When i 1st looked no office programs would start, they kept asking for CD to

be inserted. Once i re-installed office worked, didn't try to install

publisher.

 

Paul

 

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> > ...desktop running XP Pro SP3.

>

> Did his problems start after SP3 was installed?

>

> > ...he had to unistall Office due to some problem or other

>

> What problem? Did uninstalling Office resolve it?

> --

> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

>

>

> Paul wrote:

> > A friend of mine has a desktop running XP Pro SP3. He also had office

> > 2000

> > installed until recently. Anyway he had to unistall Office due to some

> > problem or other but since then he has the following faults:

> >

> > 1. He can connect to the internet but after about 5 mins it just times out

> > everytime he tries to go to any website.

> > 2. His pointer constantly has the small hourglass showing as soon as he

> > starts his computer, as if the computer is trying to do something. I

> > checked in task manager but there are no programs running. I had a look

> > earlier but ran out of ideas.

> >

> > He tried using system restore to roll back to efore he uninstalled office

> > but still the same fault. I have tried re-installing office fresh but no

> > difference.

> >

> > I can't find anything wrong with his internet setup and office will now

> > run

> > fine.

> >

> > Could this be a lost file or virus, he runs AVG free but this does not

> > show

> > anything.

> >

> > Any help would be appreciated before we have to do a clean install of

> > windows.

> >

> > Many thanks

> >

> > Paul

>

>

[Guest Twayne]

Re: Strange happenings

 

> A friend of mine has a desktop running XP Pro SP3. He also had

> office 2000 installed until recently. Anyway he had to unistall

> Office due to some problem or other but since then he has the

> following faults:

>

> 1. He can connect to the internet but after about 5 mins it just

> times out everytime he tries to go to any website.

> 2. His pointer constantly has the small hourglass showing as soon as

> he starts his computer, as if the computer is trying to do something.

> I checked in task manager but there are no programs running. I had a

> look earlier but ran out of ideas.

>

> He tried using system restore to roll back to efore he uninstalled

> office

> but still the same fault. I have tried re-installing office fresh

> but no difference.

>

> I can't find anything wrong with his internet setup and office will

> now run fine.

>

> Could this be a lost file or virus, he runs AVG free but this does

> not show anything.

>

> Any help would be appreciated before we have to do a clean install of

> windows.

>

> Many thanks

>

> Paul

 

If not a virus, you may still have something in the family of trojan,

spyware, general malward, but ... it doesn't really point in that

direction unless he was online when some of that stuff was being done.

 

That said, I would still run another updated AV scan and at least three

spyware scanners and probably Windows Defender since they're all easy to

find download and install. I can recommend Adaware (lavasoft.com),

Spybot Search & Destroy (spybot.com) , Spyware Guard (gorget where it

is; use a search engine) to mention a few of the decent ones. NONE of

them are any good though if they aren't known to be completely up to

date.

 

Have you checked Event Viewer for any hints in the logs?

How about firewall logs?

 

If none of the above helps, I'd suggest it to be faster and more

efficient to simply do a reinstall, starting right from deleting the

partition/s and rebuild it all. Unless of course you have drive images,

but, if you do, be careful; use one that pre-dates the problem. If it's

malware, it's going to be in the images, too. That's my 3 ¢ anyway.

 

HTH

 

Twayne

[Guest Paul]

Re: Strange happenings

 

Many thanks i will try the malware scan and check event log to see if I can

find the problem.

 

I think you are right though i will have to do a re-install for him. God

only knows what he has done, it has baffled me.

 

Many thanks.

 

"Twayne" wrote:

> > A friend of mine has a desktop running XP Pro SP3. He also had

> > office 2000 installed until recently. Anyway he had to unistall

> > Office due to some problem or other but since then he has the

> > following faults:

> >

> > 1. He can connect to the internet but after about 5 mins it just

> > times out everytime he tries to go to any website.

> > 2. His pointer constantly has the small hourglass showing as soon as

> > he starts his computer, as if the computer is trying to do something.

> > I checked in task manager but there are no programs running. I had a

> > look earlier but ran out of ideas.

> >

> > He tried using system restore to roll back to efore he uninstalled

> > office

> > but still the same fault. I have tried re-installing office fresh

> > but no difference.

> >

> > I can't find anything wrong with his internet setup and office will

> > now run fine.

> >

> > Could this be a lost file or virus, he runs AVG free but this does

> > not show anything.

> >

> > Any help would be appreciated before we have to do a clean install of

> > windows.

> >

> > Many thanks

> >

> > Paul

>

> If not a virus, you may still have something in the family of trojan,

> spyware, general malward, but ... it doesn't really point in that

> direction unless he was online when some of that stuff was being done.

>

> That said, I would still run another updated AV scan and at least three

> spyware scanners and probably Windows Defender since they're all easy to

> find download and install. I can recommend Adaware (lavasoft.com),

> Spybot Search & Destroy (spybot.com) , Spyware Guard (gorget where it

> is; use a search engine) to mention a few of the decent ones. NONE of

> them are any good though if they aren't known to be completely up to

> date.

>

> Have you checked Event Viewer for any hints in the logs?

> How about firewall logs?

>

> If none of the above helps, I'd suggest it to be faster and more

> efficient to simply do a reinstall, starting right from deleting the

> partition/s and rebuild it all. Unless of course you have drive images,

> but, if you do, be careful; use one that pre-dates the problem. If it's

> malware, it's going to be in the images, too. That's my 3 ¢ anyway.

>

> HTH

>

> Twayne

>

>

>

>

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: Strange happenings

 

Repost:

> Did his problems start after SP3 was installed?

 

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

 

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis log

to an appropriate forum.

 

Checking for/Help with Hijackware

http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878

http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction

http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm

http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

 

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2

(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use.

It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware with

assistance from an expert. **Post your log to

http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,

http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,

http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7,

http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or other appropriate forums for review

by an expert in such matters, not here.**

 

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this

isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and

independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

 

Paul wrote:

> He tried to install publisher from the office 2000 discs he has but it

> kept

> hanging during install. he then decided to try and uninstall all of the

> office suite. At this point he started with the internet problem, just

> spoke on phone and problem still there (keeps timing out).

>

> He then tried to roll back using system restore but he still had internet

> problem and also the pointer issue (working in background pointer displays

> as soon as windows starts and won't go to normal arrow).

>

> When i 1st looked no office programs would start, they kept asking for CD

> to

> be inserted. Once i re-installed office worked, didn't try to install

> publisher.

>

> Paul

>

> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

>

>>> ...desktop running XP Pro SP3.

>>

>> Did his problems start after SP3 was installed?

>>

>>> ...he had to unistall Office due to some problem or other

>>

>> What problem? Did uninstalling Office resolve it?

>> --

>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

>>

>>

>> Paul wrote:

>>> A friend of mine has a desktop running XP Pro SP3. He also had office

>>> 2000

>>> installed until recently. Anyway he had to unistall Office due to some

>>> problem or other but since then he has the following faults:

>>>

>>> 1. He can connect to the internet but after about 5 mins it just times

>>> out

>>> everytime he tries to go to any website.

>>> 2. His pointer constantly has the small hourglass showing as soon as he

>>> starts his computer, as if the computer is trying to do something. I

>>> checked in task manager but there are no programs running. I had a look

>>> earlier but ran out of ideas.

>>>

>>> He tried using system restore to roll back to efore he uninstalled

>>> office

>>> but still the same fault. I have tried re-installing office fresh but

>>> no

>>> difference.

>>>

>>> I can't find anything wrong with his internet setup and office will now

>>> run

>>> fine.

>>>

>>> Could this be a lost file or virus, he runs AVG free but this does not

>>> show

>>> anything.

>>>

>>> Any help would be appreciated before we have to do a clean install of

>>> windows.

>>>

>>> Many thanks

>>>

>>> Paul

[Guest Paul]

Re: Strange happenings

 

Have sorted pointer problem, graphics control program glitch (thank god for

SELECTIVE START UP). Still have internet fault so here is the whole problem.

 

He has a DSL connection. For some reason the connection is fine for 15

minutes but after that I loose the connection because everytime I change

websites or refresh the current page i get a message that the page has timed

out.

 

The connection still shows as being connected on the task bar but wont let

me connect to the internet. I have tried using Internet explorer and Firefox

but still have the same problem with both.

 

Have tried running Spybot and adaware, there was a few problems so cleared

them, restarted but still had the same problem. Sometimes after restarting

the computer it will work for 15 minutes ish and then stops, but other times

still won,t play the game. Have checked all network settings, uninstalled

and re-installed browsers and internet connection.

 

All ideas kindly accepted

 

"Paul" wrote:

> Many thanks i will try the malware scan and check event log to see if I can

> find the problem.

>

> I think you are right though i will have to do a re-install for him. God

> only knows what he has done, it has baffled me.

>

> Many thanks.

>

> "Twayne" wrote:

>

> > > A friend of mine has a desktop running XP Pro SP3. He also had

> > > office 2000 installed until recently. Anyway he had to unistall

> > > Office due to some problem or other but since then he has the

> > > following faults:

> > >

> > > 1. He can connect to the internet but after about 5 mins it just

> > > times out everytime he tries to go to any website.

> > > 2. His pointer constantly has the small hourglass showing as soon as

> > > he starts his computer, as if the computer is trying to do something.

> > > I checked in task manager but there are no programs running. I had a

> > > look earlier but ran out of ideas.

> > >

> > > He tried using system restore to roll back to efore he uninstalled

> > > office

> > > but still the same fault. I have tried re-installing office fresh

> > > but no difference.

> > >

> > > I can't find anything wrong with his internet setup and office will

> > > now run fine.

> > >

> > > Could this be a lost file or virus, he runs AVG free but this does

> > > not show anything.

> > >

> > > Any help would be appreciated before we have to do a clean install of

> > > windows.

> > >

> > > Many thanks

> > >

> > > Paul

> >

> > If not a virus, you may still have something in the family of trojan,

> > spyware, general malward, but ... it doesn't really point in that

> > direction unless he was online when some of that stuff was being done.

> >

> > That said, I would still run another updated AV scan and at least three

> > spyware scanners and probably Windows Defender since they're all easy to

> > find download and install. I can recommend Adaware (lavasoft.com),

> > Spybot Search & Destroy (spybot.com) , Spyware Guard (gorget where it

> > is; use a search engine) to mention a few of the decent ones. NONE of

> > them are any good though if they aren't known to be completely up to

> > date.

> >

> > Have you checked Event Viewer for any hints in the logs?

> > How about firewall logs?

> >

> > If none of the above helps, I'd suggest it to be faster and more

> > efficient to simply do a reinstall, starting right from deleting the

> > partition/s and rebuild it all. Unless of course you have drive images,

> > but, if you do, be careful; use one that pre-dates the problem. If it's

> > malware, it's going to be in the images, too. That's my 3 ¢ anyway.

> >

> > HTH

> >

> > Twayne

> >

> >

> >

> >