Explorer crash when attempting to browse

[NiGHTS]

Whenever my girlfriend tries to open up Internet Explorer, it crashes moments after the window pops up with a fatal exception in the explorer.exe. It promptly goes back to the desktop and waits for your to put your fist through the monitor. Even if the homepage is blank, it still seems to crash. I don't have the exact specifications of the computer, but I do know its running WinME (ugh), ~733 PIII, and 128MB's RAM. Its a dell dimension, not quite sure of the series at the moment, but I will have it later definately. Was made in the mid 90s. The computer is also used for her father's business, so clearing the harddrive is out of the question. She keeps getting accused of crapping it up with "popup downloads" and music, straight from the secretary's mouth, and I'd like to put that old hag in her place...so, any ideas? I appreciate your time.

[qparadox]

Well its Me so it might just be flaky. But it could be spyware. Run ad-adaware and hi-jack this to start off.

[NiGHTS]

Done it, didn't help...you'd be amazed really. I found 934 objects with ad-aware, but when I deleted them it prevented some other programs from working, and I have a feeling HiJack this will result in the same...

[tefleming]

You might want to download the LSP Fix now, while you still can. If it is a particularly nasty Malware, then it could bork your Winsock Stack (I don't really know what that means, just that it will prevent you from getting on the net) link (http://cexx.org/lspfix.htm)

[primesuspect]

If you post your HJT log in the security forum, we can fix it for you.

[Dexter]

Done it, didn't help...you'd be amazed really. I found 934 objects with ad-aware, but when I deleted them it prevented some other programs from working, and I have a feeling HiJack this will result in the same...
How many of those 934 objects were browser cookies? If users never clean their browser cookies, then 934 can be easy to get too.

What programs stopped working after running Ad Aware? If Ad Aware caused problems with other programs, it means that either:

- the other programs contained adware or spyware (such as Kazaa.)

- the other programs had been altered by adware or spyware

Ad Aware does not cause normal, legitimate programs to stop running. And if they are legit, and you have paid for the licenses, then you *should* have an install CD, so you can re-install the software ;)

If you want help, we can help you. Post your HJT log in the security forum, and reference this thread for background info.

Dexter...