Strange problems with the Internet (not just IE!)

[Ironfistchamp]

Today I turned on the computer. I logged on to XP and went to dial my ADSL internet connection. No problems there.

Problem number 1) MSN, GAIM and Windows Messenger could not log me on to the MSN client. It would just say "Sorry we cannot log you on. Please try again later"....well I have been trying to log on since 11:00am British time.

Problem number 2) Some sites display themselves very strangley. There is no colour or formatting. No images and links only work sometimes. For example when I went on MSN.com it said that the page is displaying like this because I am using an out of date version of IE or a different browser. Well I have done all my updates through the windows site and thats all gone fine (I think)

Problem number 3) Some sites won't display at all! Google Images won't display any search results yet a normal Google Search will.

I have reset my Internet Settings, cleared out the temp files and cookies, performed registry scans with CCleaner, logged on to another account on this machine, tried using mozilla, cleaned my computer with Ad-Aware, redialled and restarted my computer numerous times.

None of these things worked.

Can anyone help me. That would be really great. Thanks in advance.

Ironfistchamp

--EDIT--

Ok i fixed it....sorry to bother you. I went back a few days on system restore. Service Pack 2 has gone but its fine now. Strange.

[Sylvander]

You have just had demonstrated the advantages of being able to "jump back" in time software-wise.
But XP's "System Restore" isn't really good enough.
It only works IF Windows will work. What about when Windows won't work?
1. Set up a system of 3rd party backup and restore.
2. Keep only Windows & Program Files on C:
3. Move "My Documents", emails, Address Book, Favourites off C: and onto either a separate [small, old, reclaimed] physical HDD ideally, or else a small partition on the master HDD.
4. Move all your data files to other partitions.
5. As you move forward in time, make backups [of C: in particular] when all's well. Keep a log [lined A4 paper, line for each entry] of software changes; Installs, uninstalls, backups, restores, major configuration changes etc
6. When you hit software trouble, then "jump back" to when all was well.
Now you have a way to not only go FORWARD, but also BACKWARD.

[Budfred]

You need to set up SP2 again, but it would be a good idea to make sure you PC is clean before that... The problem could even have been related to the interaction of SP2 with a malware issue... I suggest that you post a HijackThis log so we can confirm that your system is clean before you update....

To run HJT, extract it to a permanent folder such as one
you create like C:\HJT. Close all open windows and
browsers and make sure that all programs are enabled if
you use msconfig. Run it and Scan, then Save the log.
When the log window appears, Right click to Copy it, open
your browser and come here to Paste the entire log. Do
not make any changes until it is checked since most items
are either benign or essential to the computer.

http://www.downloads.subratam.org/hijackthis.zip

[Ironfistchamp]

Well I installed SP2 straight after so thats already on. Sorry I didnt know I should have waited. Here is the log I got

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 14:16:54, on 07/08/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXBCES.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXPPS.EXE
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Privacy Service\GUARDDOG.EXE
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsrte.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\PERSON~1\MPFSERVICE.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\SPAMKI~1\MSKSrvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Stardock\SDMCP.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Privacy Service\GUARDDOG.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\stardock\TrayServer.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\carpserv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\QCDriver\LVCOMS.EXE
C:\Program Files\Zoom\PCI ADSL\CnxDslTb.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\SPAMKI~1\MskAgent.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Shared Components\Guardian\CMGrdian.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshld.exe
c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsescn.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\PERSON~1\MPFTRAY.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\MUSICM~1\MUSICM~1\MMDiag.exe
C:\Program Files\CursorXP\CursorXP.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\WCESCOMM.EXE
C:\Program Files\MUSICMATCH\MUSICMATCH Jukebox\mim.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\PERSON~1\MPFAGENT.EXE
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcshield.exe
c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsftsn.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\Daniel\LOCALS~1\Temp\Temporary Directory 1 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.habbos.info/ie.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.tiny.com
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Companion BHO - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\ycomp5_5_7_0.d ll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: DgnWebIE - {2843DAC1-05EF-11D2-95BA-0060083493D6} - C:\Program Files\Dragon Systems\NaturallySpeaking\Program\web_ie.dll
O2 - BHO: McAfee Privacy Service Helper Object - {cc4b2ee5-4803-11d7-8a38-00b0d0c6b814} - C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Privacy Service\GDIEHELP.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: McAfee VirusScan - {BA52B914-B692-46c4-B683-905236F6F655} - c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshl.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Companion - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\ycomp5_5_7_0.d ll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [1A:Stardock TrayMonitor] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\stardock\TrayServer.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CARPService] carpserv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LVCOMS] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\QCDriver\LVCOMS.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CnxDslTaskBar] C:\Program Files\Zoom\PCI ADSL\CnxDslTb.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCAgentExe] c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCUpdateExe] C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcupdate.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSKAGENTEXE] C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\SPAMKI~1\MskAgent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VSOCheckTask] "c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcmnhdlr.exe" /checktask
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [McAfee Guardian] C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Shared Components\Guardian\CMGrdian.exe /SU
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VirusScan Online] "c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshld.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MPFTray] C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\PERSON~1\MPFTRAY.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MimBoot] C:\PROGRA~1\MUSICM~1\MUSICM~1\mimboot.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CursorXP] C:\Program Files\CursorXP\CursorXP.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [H/PC Connection Agent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\WCESCOMM.EXE"
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Create Mobile Favorite - {2EAF5BB1-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\INETREPL.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {2EAF5BB2-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\INETREPL.DLL
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Create Mobile Favorite... - {2EAF5BB2-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\INETREPL.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Privacy Bar - {cc4b2ee5-4803-11d7-8a38-00b0d0c6b814} - C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Privacy Service\GDIEHELP.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.tiny.com
O16 - DPF: {14B87622-7E19-4EA8-93B3-97215F77A6BC} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - [url]http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsPAClient.cab31267.cab[/url]
O16 - DPF: {4C39376E-FA9D-4349-BACC-D305C1750EF3} (EPUImageControl Class) - [url]http://tools.ebayimg.com/eps/wl/activex/EPUWALControl_v1-0-3-18.cab[/url]
O16 - DPF: {4ED9DDF0-7479-4BBE-9335-5A1EDB1D8A21} (McAfee.com Operating System Class) - [url]http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcinsctl/en-gb/4,0,0,83/mcinsctl.cab[/url]
O16 - DPF: {4F1E5B1A-2A80-42CA-8532-2D05CB959537} (MSN Photo Upload Tool) - [url]http://spaces.msn.com//PhotoUpload/MsnPUpld.cab[/url]
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - [url]http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1122918579093[/url]
O16 - DPF: {B38870E4-7ECB-40DA-8C6A-595F0A5519FF} (MsnMessengerSetupDownloadControl Class) - [url]http://messenger.msn.com/download/msnmessengersetupdownloader.cab[/url]
O16 - DPF: {B8BE5E93-A60C-4D26-A2DC-220313175592} (ZoneIntro Class) - [url]http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/ZIntro.cab32846.cab[/url]
O16 - DPF: {BCC0FF27-31D9-4614-A68E-C18E1ADA4389} (DwnldGroupMgr Class) - [url]http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcgdmgr/en-gb/1,0,0,20/mcgdmgr.cab[/url]
O16 - DPF: {E6187999-9FEC-46A1-A20F-F4CA977D5643} (ZoneChess Object) - [url]http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/Chess.cab31267.cab[/url]
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{ED6F9D5F-5B2C-491E-9671-3A69F6A5D889}: NameServer = 80.225.248.178 80.225.248.186
O20 - Winlogon Notify: MCPClient - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Stardock\mcpstub.dll
O23 - Service: McAfee Privacy Service (GuardDogEXE) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Privacy Service\GUARDDOG.EXE" /SERVICE (file missing)
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: LexBce Server (LexBceS) - Lexmark International, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXBCES.EXE
O23 - Service: McAfee.com McShield (McShield) - Unknown owner - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SecurityCenter Update Manager (mcupdmgr.exe) - McAfee, Inc - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee.com\Agent\mcupdmgr.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee.com VirusScan Online Realtime Engine (MCVSRte) - Networks Associates Technology, Inc - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsrte.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Personal Firewall Service (MpfService) - McAfee Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\PERSON~1\MPFSERVICE.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SpamKiller Server (MskService) - Networks Associates Technology. Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\SPAMKI~1\MSKSrvr.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe

[Budfred]

Your log looks okay... If you are still having any problems we can do deeper scans to see what else might be lurking... Otherwise, here is my prevention speech to help avoid future problems....

This is a good time to set up protection against further
attacks. Read the article linked below about "How did I
get infected". You need an antivirus that is updated, a
good firewall (a router firewall is not enough) and a
spyware blocker like SpywareBlaster and also IE-Spyads.
All of these have good free versions available... be very
cautious about any security software that advertises in
popups or other intrusive ways, they are not only usually
useless, but also often have malware in them....

http://www.computercops.biz/postlite7736-.html

[Ironfistchamp]

The comp seems to be working....well not fine but OK. This is not my computer. It is my dads and he doesn't like to update or anything. I was shocked to find over 30 important and critical updates that were not installed.

I think things are under control and I have turned Auto Updates on for the future. The Anti-virus and such like (McAfee Internet Security Suite "not the newest but the one before") is now also up to date.

It won't be long till I can get back to my PC. I have free run over it and it works like a dream (ish). Maybe I am not the one who is "breaking them" all the time.

Thanks for the help guys. Good work yet again. Do you ever make mistakes?

Ironfistchamp

[Budfred]

Do you ever make mistakes?
Of course!! :D