My laptop is having problems as of last Friday. When I open up internet explorer new sites keep popping or opening up. I have installed AVG anti spyware, AVG 7.5 anti virus, and a Cleaner I believe is called Pirorm CCleaner.

 

These new websites keep popping up and driving me crazy. They are not the same ones that keep opening up but some of the same ones do. Any suggestions on what to do?

Are you saying that your homepage doesn't come up first? You may have been hijacked.

 

My suggestion is:

 

Download the newest version of Hijackthis. Google it and you'll find plenty of places to get it for free.

 

Then go to a place like http://www.pcpitstop.com and click on "forums home." You can then enter your problem and someone will reply with what you need to do. Be patient as they help a lot of people. However, I've always had great success with them and they helped me in just this type of situation.

Are you saying that your homepage doesn't come up first? You may have been hijacked.

 

My suggestion is:

 

Download the newest version of Hijackthis. Google it and you'll find plenty of places to get it for free.

 

Then go to a place like www.pcpitstop.com and click on "forums home." You can then enter your problem and someone will reply with what you need to do. Be patient as they help a lot of people. However, I've always had great success with them and they helped me in just this type of situation.

 

Thanks CSH, I'll try that. But, my homepage does come up along with others that keep opening up.

Thanks CSH, I'll try that. But, my homepage does come up along with others that keep opening up.

 

Gotcha. I'd still go to that forum. They'll have you run Hijackthis and post the results. They'll then look at them and tell you what you need to do.

My first suggestion with such a scenario is always to disable the startup items on the computer. That way if there is any spyware on your computer, when you start it up those programs will not start automatically. You will have to open the program the spyware is attached to to trigger it... This is not a FIX, but it is a temporary solution while you find help.

 

To do this, assuming you have Windows XP, click on Start > Click Run > Type msconfig and click OK > Click the box that says selective startup > click the startup tab at the top of the screen > Choose Disable All > Apply.... Then restart the computer.

 

Like I said, this is not a fix and it's not 100% fool proof. Hopefully that works though. This is what I do for a living, so if you need further assistance and none of those links help, let me know and I'll see what I can come up with.

Go to Google and download the following 2 programs:

 

Spybot Search & Destroy

 

Ad-Aware

 

Update both programs and run them. They'll find all of your problems and automatically fix them. If you still have problems after you run these two programs, you'll have two choices: 1) format your computer and reinstall Windows or 2) spend countless hours trying to track down all of the tedious little places that the problem is hidden on your system and it's 50-50 that you'll be able to permanently get rid of it. Then, there's the final option of taking it to the local computer guy and paying him $80 to eventually tell you that you'll have to format and reinstall Windows. Hope this helps.

My laptop is having problems as of last Friday. When I open up internet explorer new sites keep popping or opening up. I have installed AVG anti spyware, AVG 7.5 anti virus, and a Cleaner I believe is called Pirorm CCleaner.

 

These new websites keep popping up and driving me crazy. They are not the same ones that keep opening up but some of the same ones do. Any suggestions on what to do?

 

Not a program called AdWare is it? I had trouble with that one earlier this fall.

Microsoft has a program that comes with a 90 day free trial. It is called Windows Live OneCare. It appears to have delete the (insert expletive here) pieces of (insert other expletive here) that attack like that.

Go to Google and download the following 2 programs:

 

Spybot Search & Destroy

 

Ad-Aware

 

Update both programs and run them. They'll find all of your problems and automatically fix them. If you still have problems after you run these two programs, you'll have two choices: 1) format your computer and reinstall Windows or 2) spend countless hours trying to track down all of the tedious little places that the problem is hidden on your system and it's 50-50 that you'll be able to permanently get rid of it. Then, there's the final option of taking it to the local computer guy and paying him $80 to eventually tell you that you'll have to format and reinstall Windows. Hope this helps.

Do both of these work under Vista?

Do both of these work under Vista?

 

Good question. I have never used either with Vista.

Spybot 1.5 does.. Not sure about AdAware.

Spybot 1.5 does.. Not sure about AdAware.

 

AdAware 2007 does.

Go to Google and download the following 2 programs:

 

Spybot Search & Destroy

 

Ad-Aware

 

Update both programs and run them. They'll find all of your problems and automatically fix them. If you still have problems after you run these two programs, you'll have two choices: 1) format your computer and reinstall Windows or 2) spend countless hours trying to track down all of the tedious little places that the problem is hidden on your system and it's 50-50 that you'll be able to permanently get rid of it. Then, there's the final option of taking it to the local computer guy and paying him $80 to eventually tell you that you'll have to format and reinstall Windows. Hope this helps.

 

 

I ran spybot search and destroy and there are 152 problems found (All in red) Should I now "fix" these problems, even though a lot of them are found under the antiviral gear and cleaner sections? This is what I down loaded to fix the initial problem

I ran spybot search and destroy and there are 152 problems found (All in red) Should I now "fix" these problems, even though a lot of them are found under the antiviral gear and cleaner sections? This is what I down loaded to fix the initial problem

 

Yes, delete everything it finds. For the record, 152 problems is alot.

Yes, delete everything it finds. For the record, 152 problems is alot.

 

Thanks Wireman, I'm fixing them now and then I'll download the ad aware, I'll let you know the outcome.

Yes, delete everything it finds. For the record, 152 problems is alot.

 

Well I ran the spybot search and destroy twice, 4 errors still come up on it and after I reboot, it says they can't be fixed. Then I scanned using the Ad-Aware. It fixed the errors.

 

Now the windows still pop up except they are blank. There is just a (sometimes multiple) windows internet explorer that pops up that is completely blank. I guess I will now go to pcpitstop and place the problem there.

Any other suggestions?