IE 6.0 unable to load / possible bad sector on HD

PA Bear,
Thanks for your continued support on this issue. Please refer to my reply
to Don Varnau. After I try Dell Support, and then Don's suggestions, I will
work with your suggestions, unless any of yours are precluded by something
Don has suggested.

As far as being too complex…naw…I've been down this road with similar issues
previously (but never unable to access the internet). I may not be the
brightest bulb on the tree, but have always been successful thanks to
valuable help from individuals like you.

If you have any other thoughts or suggestions, they are always appreciated.

Eventually it will work out, I hope, I hope, I hope…

Thanks - Ron



"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> If Spybot Tea Timer is enabled, please disable it until you get this problem
> sorted. See http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=32409
>
> NB: If you don't fully understand what Tea Timer does and how it does it,
> leave it permanently disabled.
>
> > - Note IE, after not loading, will not "close" when the red X in upper
> > right
> > corner is clicked. The only way to totally close IE is to CNTRL/ALT/DEL
> > and
> > use MS task manager to end the not responding program
>
> Until I saw the above (thank you!), I was going to suggest seeing if
> uninstalling KB951748 via Add/Remove Programs might resolve the behavior.
> But now I'm going to post:
>
> 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 (in
> conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on
> its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
> hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
> http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,
> http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
> http://castlecops.com/forum67.html, 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.
>
> Good luck!
>
>
> RoninFL wrote:
> [reformatted for legibility]
> > A) IE can't connect to any website or it can't connect to her webmail
> > page?
> >
> > REPLY - Unable to connect to any website (e.g. MSN.con, google.com,
> > yahoo.com). Her Outlook (not Outlook Express) e-mail is able to send &
> > receive e-mail… just unable to access the internet. The internet
> > provider
> > is Verizon FiOS. I could go the START / RUN / cmd and "ping" websites OK.
> >
> > B) Have you purchased System Suite 7?
> >
> > REPLY - SystemSuite was purchased
> > (valid for 3 computers) and was installed on her laptop & my laptop in
> > Feb-2008; been using SystemSuite5/6/7 for at least 5 years without
> > complaint. I ran all diagnostic tools contained in SystemSuite7 (I just
> > gave the short status in original post)
> >
> > C) Are any other anti-virus applications installed and loading at boot?
> >
> > REPLY - The only anti-virus apps that load are the one in SystemSuit7; we
> > also use Spybot Serach & Destroy plus AdAware plus SpywareBlaster….all
> > current versions and updated & swept every 2 or 3 weeks.
> >
> > D) Is the machine fully patched at Windows Update (other than SP3)?
> >
> > REPLY- All Windows updates were current as of Jul 5-2008, except for SP3;
> > this
> > problem began around July 7-8, 2008. We have not loaded any software in
> > the
> > past 6-8 weeks (minimum).
> >
> > ADD'L Info, 7/16/08…
> > - Note IE, after not loading, will not "close" when the red X in upper
> > right
> > corner is clicked. The only way to totally close IE is to CNTRL/ALT/DEL
> > and
> > use MS task manager to end the not responding program.
> > - Her laptop & my laptop both operate via wi-fi. I did connect her laptop
> > via direct connection to the router…still not able to connect to internet.
> >
> > Other suggestions appreciated. Thanks/Ron
> >
> > "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >>> ...she lost the ability to connect and download e-mail.
> >>
> >> IE can't connect to any website or it can't connect to her webmail page?
> >>
> >> Have you purchased System Suite 7?
> >>
> >> Are any other anti-virus applications installed and loading at boot?
> >>
> >> Is the machine fully patched at Windows Update (other than SP3)?
> >> --
> >> ~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/
> >>
> >>
> >> RoninFL wrote:
> >>> WinXP, SP2 installed
> >>> IE : Version 6.0.2900.xpsp_sp2qfe070227-2300
> >>>
> >>> My wife's laptop is a Dell Inspiron E1505; new in July-2006.
> >>>
> >>> Last week she could access the internet & download e-mail….then she lost
> >>> the
> >>> ability to connect and download e-mail.
> >>>
> >>> I have a software program called SystemSuite7 installed and did some
> >>> troubleshooting….
> >>> - the software has a firewall, virus, malware, etc.
> >>> - I did a sweep for malware/virus/bad things…nothing was found. (note -
> >>> without the ability to access the internet, I am unable to run any
> >>> outside
> >>> computer "sweep" websites)
> >>> - I ran a part of SystemSuite7 called "disk fixer" and it reported one
> >>> bad
> >>> sector on the disk.
> >>> - I ran another part of SysSuite7 called SmartDiskCheck which tests the
> >>> disk…also reported a bad sector on the disk.
> >>>
> >>> I ran disk defrag…after which I was able to use Outlook to send/receive
> >>> e-mail….so she has internet access sort of. Still unable to get IE to
> >>> load.
> >>>
> >>> She is a contract worker at home (her own computer), and cannot upgrade
> >>> to
> >>> Internet Explorer 7 due to compatibility issues with a major client.
> >>>
> >>> No other software appears to be affected…only IE-6.0
> >>>
> >>> A) Should I / can I download a copy of IE-6.0…and reload to (hopefully)
> >>> regain internet access?
> >>> or
> >>> B) Replace the hard drive and start over ?
> >>>
> >>> Comments and suggestions appreciated.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks - Ron
>
>

Well I think I have a solution for You using Windows built in maintance
tools. But first off most of those third party programs can screw with the
Microsoft settings and cause something to go wrong. I learned the hard way
on this. If you did anything to the registry like try to clean it up or fix
it as most of these performance enhancing softwares do claiming it speeds up
your computer the problem probably lies there. In that case I woul.d call MS
tech support and shell out $60 to have your computer restored to factory
settings. Although try this first. go to start, my computer, rt. click the C
drive and select Properties, select Toos, select error checking and select
and check both boxes. You will have to restart and then the computer will do
a check disc checking all the sectors and fixing problem sectors. Let me
know if this works.
Best Regards,
Kaja

"RoninFL" wrote:

> WinXP, SP2 installed
> IE : Version 6.0.2900.xpsp_sp2qfe070227-2300
>
> My wife's laptop is a Dell Inspiron E1505; new in July-2006.
>
> Last week she could access the internet & download e-mail….then she lost the
> ability to connect and download e-mail.
>
> I have a software program called SystemSuite7 installed and did some
> troubleshooting….
> - the software has a firewall, virus, malware, etc.
> - I did a sweep for malware/virus/bad things…nothing was found. (note -
> without the ability to access the internet, I am unable to run any outside
> computer "sweep" websites)
> - I ran a part of SystemSuite7 called "disk fixer" and it reported one bad
> sector on the disk.
> - I ran another part of SysSuite7 called SmartDiskCheck which tests the
> disk…also reported a bad sector on the disk.
>
> I ran disk defrag…after which I was able to use Outlook to send/receive
> e-mail….so she has internet access sort of. Still unable to get IE to load.
>
> She is a contract worker at home (her own computer), and cannot upgrade to
> Internet Explorer 7 due to compatibility issues with a major client.
>
> No other software appears to be affected…only IE-6.0
>
> A) Should I / can I download a copy of IE-6.0…and reload to (hopefully)
> regain internet access?
> or
> B) Replace the hard drive and start over ?
>
> Comments and suggestions appreciated.
>
> Thanks - Ron