HorizonGirl From Canada, joined Mar 2005, 782 posts, RR: 17 Posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 1551 times:
It seems every time I open a new window from
a website, my computer crashes!
When I am on MSN, sometimes, my screen turns all red, and music plays.
I cannot receive PM's because my computer crashes, and
I have to turn it off manually. I Have A LOT of virus protection,
which I update as often as possible. Worse yet I am aslo getting many unwanted Explorer pop-ups, that cannot closed by normal means.
I use AOL!
Do any of you know what's going on and hw to fix it?
Xjramper From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 2345 posts, RR: 52 Reply 1, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 1538 times:
Sounds to me you need to run a virus scan. If you don't have it, if you subscribe to AOL, its free. If not, i couldn't tell you where to find it.
NWA742 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 1515 times:
Definitely do your virus and spyware scans immediately - if your computer crashes whenever you try to run those programs - you might be in for a decent fight here.
Dan2002 From United States of America, joined Dec 2002, 2055 posts, RR: 5 Reply 4, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 1505 times:
You need to run a spyware/virus scan. For spyware I suggest Microsoft Antispyware, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Adaware.
Quoting NWA742 (Reply 3): You need to fix that problem too.
I'll second that.
Dan
A guy asks 'What's Punk?'. I kick over a trash can and its punk. He knocks over a trash can and its trendy.
Searpqx From Netherlands, joined Jun 2000, 4343 posts, RR: 12 Reply 6, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 1475 times:
Quoting Dan2002 (Reply 4): For spyware I suggest Microsoft Antispyware, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Adaware.
The mighty computer trio! All free and used together, almost impenetrable.
Depending on what you're infected with, you could have trouble downloading or configuring these - if so have someone e-mail you the install files (or drop me line -contact in profile) and go from there.
"The two most common elements in the universe are Hydrogen and stupidity"
Itsjustme From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2765 posts, RR: 11 Reply 8, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 1461 times:
There seems to be confusion here between spyware and a virus. All of the spyware programs mentioned are top notch. You can also do a virus scan of your computer for free at http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
Quoting HorizonGirl (Reply 5):
Are you kidding me!?
I have been using AOL since I was seven.
I think this was exactly NWA742's point. AOL is a good way for people new to the internet to get acquainted with signing on and browsing as it's an "all in one" program. It's an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and has a built in browser (sort of). With AOL however, you are relegated to using Internet Explorer as your browser which, in itself, opens your computer up to several serious security issues (that's a whole other topic which has been addressed in a few different threads here). Other, true ISP's allow you to decide which browser you want to use (such as Firefox or Opera).
Give that free virus scan a try and hopefully it will find whatever is causing your problems.
Dan2002 From United States of America, joined Dec 2002, 2055 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 1460 times:
Oh, and expect Klaus to start spreading Apple propaganda, just ignore that.
Dan
A guy asks 'What's Punk?'. I kick over a trash can and its punk. He knocks over a trash can and its trendy.
Uh, as I said, I cannot open things that open a new window.
I would like to check it out though!
Could you please post a link that I can cut and paste, not just a here? Thank you!
Searpqx From Netherlands, joined Jun 2000, 4343 posts, RR: 12 Reply 11, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 1449 times:
Here are some links for you - but almost all take you through 1 or 2 steps/windows - which sounds like may be a problem for you. Like I said, if they don't work for, contact me through my profile and I'll send you the latests programs:
Dan2002 From United States of America, joined Dec 2002, 2055 posts, RR: 5 Reply 14, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 1391 times:
Quoting Websters: Propaganda is a specific type of message presentation aimed at serving an agenda. At its root, the denotation of propaganda is 'to propagate (actively spread) a philosophy or point of view'. The most common use of the term (historically) is in political contexts; in particular to refer to certain efforts sponsored by governments or political groups.
Dan
A guy asks 'What's Punk?'. I kick over a trash can and its punk. He knocks over a trash can and its trendy.
Go3Team From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3266 posts, RR: 22 Reply 15, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1381 times:
PIA777 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 1738 posts, RR: 7 Reply 16, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1358 times:
Spysweeper always works for me. You can get a free trial version.
Just goodl Spy sweeper.
MD80fanatic From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2622 posts, RR: 11 Reply 17, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1350 times:
Whatever choices of spyware/adware/virus removal tools you make, be sure to run them several times, one then the other...back and forth. Really well written bugs can have a tendancy to cover up each other during a single scan.
Say you run spybot S&D, and it finds and removes all it can "see". Now you run ad-aware and it does the same. If you then run spybot S&D again, it will find another huge block of baddies that it missed the first pass. Just keep running the utilities, alternating from one to the other until all report "clean". It may help to re-boot every now and then during this entensive process.
Or you can format and load up a new clean version of Windoze XP (highly recommended judging by your description of the problem).
Gatorman96 From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 693 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1339 times:
If all else fails, re-install windows...this is a LAST resort though, as it is a huge pain in the ass and still might not fix the problem.
BigOrange From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2358 posts, RR: 3 Reply 20, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 1326 times:
Devon,
Have you tried booting in safe mode? If you have and it's still doing it, then you have a big problem and I would take it to a local computer shop (not Compusa or Best Buy) and have them fix it.
If you can get into safe mode then download spybot and Adaware and run those. You should also try CCCleaner which will fix any other problems you may have.
Sorry you're too far away for me to try and help you out personally!
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