Overview

If you have a problem using the Internet, before you assume there may be a problem with the explorer package, first of all check that the machine you are on can connect to the internet. Click here for connection instructions.

 If you can connect ok, but problems occur with Internet explorer when you are browsing the internet, then your system has either been attacked by a virus or spyware, which has either modified or corrupted the browser itself.

 Not all browser modifications are deemed by the Internet group, as malicious. For example; if you use certain 'free' internet facilities, (the internet is not and never has been free), such as 'free music', then this facility will probably have been paid for for by advertisements in the same way as terrestrial television programs are. It is seen as an acceptable practice to ensure that you receive these advertisements by modifying your browser to automatically issue certain links to their sites. Many will also try to automatically download and run browser programs to your machine.

 The modifications that they make to your machine are varied and complex. Auto load entries may be made in the registry, to run specific programs when the browser is loaded. Additional backup entries of the changes are made to ensure that these modifications are re-applied every time you load your browser in case you try to remove them.  Specific programs and data files may also be downloaded to your hard drive. The latter is easier to contain as a virus checker will in the main warn you that this is happening. However, registry modification is part of the normal process of a machine running, so these changes are not treaded in the same way as a virus. They may occasionally be seen as an attack on your system; and therefore intercepted by the firewall, but this is not usually the case. Only 'spyware/ad-ware' interception software will stop these changes being applied.

 Instructions to fix Internet Explorer

 Step 1:  Remove any 'known' adware or spyware attacks that exist on the system

a) First of all cleanup explorer of all old files and reset the settings.

► Click on the Start button

      On the Options displayed, click on 'Programs'

      On the Options displayed, click on 'Earls court Internet problems'

      On the Options displayed, click on 'Diagnostics - Internet options'

      The internet properties screen will now be displayed. The following changes should be applied.

► At the top of the properties screen click on the General Tab

In the Home Page section

      ►   Overtype the homepage address with www.yahoo.co.uk

      In the Temporary Internet files section

      ►  Click on the 'delete cookies' button

            on the resulting confirmation panel click on the ok button.

      ►  Click on the 'Delete files' button

 On the resulting screen, check the 'delete all offline content' and click the ok button

      ►   Click on the settings button.

            On the resulting page click on the 'view objects' button.

            This will show the list of programs in the downloaded files directory. You should delete all these. Any that are required, such as flash programs will be reloaded next time they are required.

      In the history section

      ►  Set days to keep history  to 0 and click the clear history button.

            On resulting confirmation panel click the ok button.

► At the top of the properties screen click on the content Tab

      In the personal information section

      ►   click on the Auto complete button.

            On the Auto complete settings screen displayed, click on the 'clear forms' and 'clear passwords' buttons in turn.

            A confirmation screen for each will be displayed. Click the ok button.

► At the top of the properties screen click on the connections Tab

      The machine which has the modem connected in the computer room is used as a backup for the Mail system and has two connections defined called 'Backup connection to AAISP' and 'Backup connection to Freeserve'. There should be no other connection defined on this machine.

      All the other machines should have no connections at all defined. If there are then they should be removed as they will have been dial in connections defined by an outside source, and are usually to premium rate numbers.

► At the top of the properties screen click on the programs Tab

      ► Click on the 'reset web settings' button.

            You will be asked if you want to reset the Home page.

            Uncheck this box and click ok.

► At the top of the properties screen click on the Advanced Tab

      ► Click on the 'restore defaults' button, and then uncheck the automatically check for internet updated box.

            Now click on the 'apply' button.

► Click on the ok button. Explorer has now been reset

b) Now clear up the registry sections for 'Malware' problems.

► Click on the Start button

      On the Options displayed, click on 'Programs'

      On the Options displayed, click on 'Earls court Internet problems'

      On the Options displayed, click on 'Browser problems -Ad-Aware'

► First of all see if there are any updates to the Ad-aware control file by clicking over the phrase  'Check for updates now'. On the resulting screen, click on the connect button. The machine will access the web and look for any new control files, and if applicable will download and apply them.

►  Now click on the Start button. The system will check the memory, registry and file system for invalid objects. At the end of the run, if any are found, right click over the top of any of them and click on 'select all' to put a check in the the box alongside all of them, and click on the 'Next button to remove them from the system. You will eventually be returned to the Ad-aware main screen. Closedown Ad-aware.  

► Retry the Explorer browser. Has the problem been resolved?. If not move onto the next stage, re-pairing the Explorer.

Step 2:  repair a corrupt Explorer package.

All explorer sessions on the system are running IE 6 with SP1 applied. This service pack allow a repair of the current installation.

► Click on the Start button

      On the Options displayed, click on 'Settings'

      On the Options displayed, click on 'Control Panel'

      On the icons displayed, double click on 'Add/remove programs'

      In the list of programs Installed, highlight 'Microsoft internet Explorer SP1' and alongside it click on the 'Change/remove' button.

      On the 'Internet explorer install screen' check the button 'Repair Internet Explorer' and click the ok button. This will re-install any corrupt files.

► Retry the Explorer browser. Has the problem been resolved?. If not move onto the next stage, Virus corruption.

Step3: Virus corruption

► Update the Virus scanner with the latest virus definitions and run a full virus scan. This may take up to an hour. For detailed instructions on virus checking, click here.

► Now rerun steps 1 and 2 above.

► Retry the Explorer browser. Has the problem been resolved?. If not move onto the next stage, 'Boy do I have problems!'.

Step 4: Major registry/run corruption of the Browser.

This type of error is usually referred to as the About:Blank Hijacker in Windows XP/2000. (It may also be known as Hidden_DLL, Appinit_DLLs, About:NavigationFailure, \temp\sp.html failure or SE.DLL failure). When you open Internet Explorer your browser will be redirected to a page called About:Blank or About:NavigationFailure. You cannot seem to get out of this whatever you do.

Warning: This fix is highly advanced. If you do not feel comfortable doing this fix on your own, then please Seek further assistance, and in the meantime use another machine. However if you do want to continue be aware improper use of these instructions can cause problems with your computer, so please only follow these steps if you are comfortable doing them.

► Click on the Start button

      On the Options displayed, click on 'Programs'

      On the Options displayed, click on 'Earls court Internet problems'

      On the Options displayed, click on 'Diagnostics - Hijackthis'

► On the Welcome screen, click on the 'Do a system scan only' Button.

  This screen contains lists of what programs and services will be started at Load time, and also gives a list of the Explorer customisation that's has occurred in the registry. For example, BHO entries (browser helper Objects), and objects that modify the browser,. They may or may not be valid, for example, adobe is a valid object to allow you to read PDF files through the browser. Clicking on an entry here and clicking on the fix this button, will remove references to this in the registry.

      This should only be done if you have an in-depth knowledge of what is running on this browser and this system. Contact Mike to see what you can remove.

Another Program available to correct Browser hijacks is the CWSshredder software which is designed to correct the multiple attacks caused by various variations on the cool web search virus. Again Contact Mike for instructions on running this feature.