IE7 Problem Fixed; but Not Really?

[RetLeo99]

First, my apologies for some duplication here. My original Post was titled "Pulling My Hair Out over IE7." I've done some cut/paste as well as editing so I don't repeat the whole thing, just enough to list the problem as well as give some credit to the Author of the only reply to leading me in the right direction.

My original Post:

"Ok, first I'm running Windows IE version 7.0.5730.11, Windows XP w/ Service Pack 2, and all updates current.

When I first execute IE7, I wait [usually no more than 10 seconds] and I'll see a flicker. Then my Home Page disappears, IE goes from "Maximized" to the "Restore Down" [NOT "Minimized] size, and up pops some stupid AD. I notice that if I leave the screen in the "Restore Down" size I can work a little longer before it does it again. I don't know if this is just a coincidence or what, but the whole thing is one giant pain in the rump."

My thanks to the Author of the one reply I received, BertImmenschuh, who informed me I had a malware infection, posting:

"Can't give much specific help but can say that I have seen similar symptoms appear after installation of IE 7 along with some adware/spyware/malware infections. I usually end up uninstalling IE 7 [Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs] which will restore IE 6 then running an up-to-date antivirus program along with the free Lavasoft Ad-Aware http://www.lavasoft.com/download_and...ison_chart.php and the free Spybot S&D/Search & Destroy http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/. Beware of similar-named programs as some aren't good."

Well, I didn't roll back IE7 to IE6, but I did D/L and run the Ad-Ware and Spybot programs, along with my Norton AV, with some interesting results.

I suggest you load up your printer and print out the sections on malware as well as some info from the links BertImmenschuh provided, as it is a wealth of information.

I will undoubtedly do this roll-back later and repeat BertImmenschuh's recommendations, but in the meantime, I tried another path. I D/L'ed Mozilla from Firefox and installed it. It not only works faster than IE7, but it imported all of my Favorites, and I have yet to get the FIRST flipping pop-up. For those of you that don't have Norton Go Back you can always use Windows Restore if you find you don't like it, but I love Firefox [so far] and as far as I'm concerned IE7 can lay there in disk space heaven with all its problems. I still have to read through all the directions for Firefox to see if it will let me put a new Toolbar on that I had some Quick-Launch Icons in IE7, but if not, I can live with it.

Give it a try. And thanks again to BertImmenschuh for leading me in the right direction. :D

Bob

[RetLeo99]

Ok, my last update, then I'll shut the h--- up over the whole deal.

Last night I followed BertImmenschuh's reply to the letter. I uninstalled IE7, which did indeed roll it back to IE6. Then, just for the heck of it, I executed IE6 just to see if the problem was still there. It wasn't. No pop-ups, no "Restore Down," nada. One thing I should mention is that should you want to stop here and use IE6, there is a post dated April, 2004 from az0000000 titled "Making IE6 a secure browser (if that's possible)". The reply, posted by mjq424, gives some simple user settings on how to do this.

One thing, after "rolling back" IE7 to IE6, the little yellow [Windows] triangle popped up in my taskbar advising me that updates were ready for my computer. It wanted to update to IE7, but I ignored it for now.

I then ran the free programs AdWare2007 and Spybot Search and Destroy. I then removed all the Malware listed on the list, with the exception of WildTangent. This was an optional but recommended remove but I recall it being installed along with a [trusted] software program (can't recall which one) so I left it alone.

After running the AdWare and Spybot programs, I then reinstalled IE7 from a saved download (When downloading, I ALWAYS select "Save" instead of "Run" when Windows asks what I want to do). I don't believe the Adware program gave me the option, it just saved it on my Desktop, and I then moved it to my "Downloads" folder.

After reinstalling IE7 and with fingers crossed, I executed it and waited, anticipating the dreaded "flicker" and "Restore Down." Well, it didn't take long before I saw the flicker, but the screen stayed maximized and the expected ad DID pop-up, but opened in a smaller window and stayed behind IE7. This I can live with :) . But having installed Mozilla's FireFox, I like it better and have set it as my default browser. It's faster, and I have yet to get the first pop-up, annoying or not :D .

So mucho thanks again to BertImmenschuh for heading me in the right direction. Now I need to read the instructions for Firefox to see how to add some quick-launch icons for programs I frequently use (like YouTube and Mapquest) like I had in IE7, and I'll be all set.

Bob