I cannot load Internet Explorer

Question

Since a couple of months ago I've got a problem trying to run Internet Explorer.The first time I want to use it the program refuses to load completely. When I check at the Windows Task Manager utility I notice that the iexplore process is running but the memory usage is only 7.500 K, more or less. After a while the process aborts. I've to try again, several times, until finally Internet Explorer runs normally. New copies of the program are loaded normally.I've tried multiple ways to open Internet Explorer like using different shortcuts, double clicking the file on the Explorer windows and so on but I've never got an error message. But, when I double click an .htm file after the hourglass appears for 30/40 seconds I receive the following message:Windows cannot find '(null)'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.Steps I've already taken so far, with no luck:1) I've reset  I.E. defaults.2) I used msconfig to stop any programs from loading at startup3) I ran the SFC utility but it didn't warned about any corrupted or missing file4) I reinstaled Internet Explorer. I posted this problem at the Software/Windows XP Forum, A Forum member mentioned that I may be vitim of some spyeware/malware and suggested to run HijackThis and post the results at this Forum. I'm running Norton Antivirus and Spybot and they didn't report any problem.I hope someone will be able to find something because this problem is really as baffling as obnoxious.This is the HijackThis log: Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7Scan saved at 21:41:12, on 24-Mar-04Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106) Running processes:C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exeC:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exeC:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exeC:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exeC:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exeC:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exeC:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exeC:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exeC:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXEC:\Program Files\Common Files\Dell\EUSW\Support.exeC:\WINDOWS\wt\updater\wcmdmgr.exeC:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OBealsched.exeC:\WINDOWS\SM1BG.EXEC:\Program Files\QUICKENW\QAGENT.EXEC:\Program Files\MUSICMATCH\MUSICMATCH Jukebox\mmtask.exeC:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exeC:\WINDOWS\System32\mrtMngr.EXEC:\WINDOWS\System\hppropty.exeC:\PROGRAM FILES\SCANJET\PrecisionScanPro\HPLamp.exeC:\WINDOWS\System32\DSentry.exeC:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy2\Surround Mixer\CTSysVol.exeC:\WINDOWS\System32\CTHELPER.EXEC:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy2\DVDAudio\CTDVDDet.EXEC:\WINDOWS\System32	askswitch.exeC:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exeC:\WINDOWS\BCMSMMSG.exeC:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exeC:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exeC:\Program Files\Onfolio\onfserv.exeC:\Program Files\Star Downloader\stardown.exeC:\Program Files\Babylon\Babylon.exeC:\Program Files\Epson\ESM2\STMS.exeC:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exeC:\Program Files\Palm\HOTSYNC.EXEC:\Program Files\Epson\ESM2\eEBSVC.exeC:\WINDOWS\System32\cisvc.exeC:\WINDOWS\System32\CTsvcCDA.exeC:\WINDOWS\system32\gearsec.exeC:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton AntiVirus
avapsvc.exeC:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Utilities\NPROTECT.EXEC:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\SPEEDD~1
opdb.exeC:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exeC:\WINDOWS\System32\MsPMSPSv.exeC:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exeC:\WINDOWS\System32\cidaemon.exeC:\WINDOWS\System32\cidaemon.exeC:\Program Files\Dell\Support\Alert\bin\NotifyAlert.exeC:\Program Files\PowerDesk\PDExplo.exeC:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXEC:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXEC:\Program Files\MailWasher\MailWasher.exeC:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exeC:\Documents and Settings\Jose Maria Fernandez\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 1 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.nytimes.com/R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://smbusiness.dellnet.com/R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,Shellnext = http://smbusiness.dellnet.com/O2 - BHO: (no name) - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dllO2 - BHO: (no name) - {45AD732C-2CE2-4666-B366-B2214AD57A49} - (no file)O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar_en_2.0.108-big.dllO2 - BHO: (no name) - {ba727652-f90e-4d82-9ce4-98766dffc375} - C:\Program Files\Onfolio\onfoliox.dllO2 - BHO: (no name) - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dllO2 - BHO: (no name) - {FFFFFEF0-5B30-21D4-945D-000000000000} - C:\PROGRA~1\STARDO~1\SDIEInt.dllO3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocxO3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dllO3 - Toolbar: &Notes Pilot - {C2565A0E-1C15-4021-9BBF-5D56457D3797} - C:\PROGRA~1\NOTESP~1
notes.dllO3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar_en_2.0.108-big.dllO3 - Toolbar: Onfolio - {1fea1109-9f65-4fdc-aec5-033f6cc60641} - mscoree.dll (file missing)O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DwlClient] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Dell\EUSW\Support.exeO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [wcmdmgr] C:\WINDOWS\wt\updater\wcmdmgrl.exe -launchO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdReg] C:\WINDOWS\UpdReg.EXEO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] 'C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OBealsched.exe' -osbootO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SM1BG] C:\WINDOWS\SM1BG.EXEO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] 'C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe' -atboottimeO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QAGENT] C:\Program Files\QUICKENW\QAGENT.EXEO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exeO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mmtask] C:\Program Files\MUSICMATCH\MUSICMATCH Jukebox\mmtask.exeO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exeO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP LaserJet ToolBox] hppropty.exeO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Lamp] C:\PROGRAM FILES\SCANJET\PrecisionScanPro\HPLamp.exeO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DVDSentry] C:\WINDOWS\System32\DSentry.exeO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTSysVol] C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy2\Surround Mixer\CTSysVol.exeO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTHelper] CTHELPER.EXEO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTDVDDet] C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy2\DVDAudio\CTDVDDet.EXEO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CoolSwitch] C:\WINDOWS\System32	askswitch.exeO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccRegVfy] 'C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccRegVfy.exe'O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] 'C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe'O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BCMSMMSG] BCMSMMSG.exeO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exeO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIModeChange] Ati2mdxx.exeO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdaptecDirectCD] C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exeO4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OnfolioStorage] C:\Program Files\Onfolio\onfserv.exe nosignalO4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Star Downloader] C:\Program Files\Star Downloader\stardown.exeO4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Babylon Translator] C:\Program Files\Babylon\Babylon.exeO4 - Startup: PowerReg Scheduler V3.exeO4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = ?O4 - Global Startup: EPSON Background Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\Epson\ESM2\STMS.exeO4 - Global Startup: HotSync Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\Palm\HOTSYNC.EXEO4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXEO4 - Global Startup: PowerReg Scheduler V3.exeO8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar_en_2.0.108-big.dll/cmsearch.htmlO8 - Extra context menu item: Backward &Links - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar_en_2.0.108-big.dll/cmbacklinks.htmlO8 - Extra context menu item: Cac&hed Snapshot of Page - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar_en_2.0.108-big.dll/cmcache.htmlO8 - Extra context menu item: Capture &Image To Onfolio... - res://C:\Program Files\Onfolio\Onfolio.WindowsResources.dll/AddEntryFromDocumentElement.htmlO8 - Extra context menu item: Capture &Page To Onfolio... - res://C:\Program Files\Onfolio\Onfolio.WindowsResources.dll/AddLinkEntryFromDocument.htmlO8 - Extra context menu item: Capture &Snippet To Onfolio... - res://C:\Program Files\Onfolio\Onfolio.WindowsResources.dll/AddEntryFromDocumentSelection.htmlO8 - Extra context menu item: Capture &Target To Onfolio... - res://C:\Program Files\Onfolio\Onfolio.WindowsResources.dll/AddEntryFromDocumentElement.htmlO8 - Extra context menu item: Download with Star Downloader - C:\Program Files\Star Downloader\sdie.htmO8 - Extra context menu item: IE Zoom &In - C:\PROGRA~1\IEZOOM~1\IE Zoom In.htmO8 - Extra context menu item: IE Zoom O&ut - C:\PROGRA~1\IEZOOM~1\IE Zoom Out.htmO8 - Extra context menu item: IE Zoomer Help... - C:\PROGRA~1\IEZOOM~1\IE Zoomer Help.htmO8 - Extra context menu item: Open in IE &Zoomer - C:\PROGRA~1\IEZOOM~1\Open in IE Zoomer.htmO8 - Extra context menu item: Si&milar Pages - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar_en_2.0.108-big.dll/cmsimilar.htmlO8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar_en_2.0.108-big.dll/cmtrans.htmlO9 - Extra button: Subscribe in Desktop Sidebar (HKLM)O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Subscribe in Desktop Sidebar (HKLM)O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Onfolio Capture... (HKLM)O9 - Extra button: Onfolio (HKLM)O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Onfolio Collection Explorer (HKLM)O9 - Extra button: iHarvest (HKLM)O9 - Extra button: Investigador (HKLM)O9 - Extra button: Web Entry (HKLM)O9 - Extra button: Related (HKLM)O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Show &Related Links (HKLM)O9 - Extra button: Real.com (HKLM)O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger (HKLM)O16 - DPF: {01A88BB1-1174-41EC-ACCB-963509EAE56B} (SysProWmi Class) - https://support.dell.com/systemprofiler/SysPro.CABO16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab Thanks in advance

ChrisRLG · Answer

Your machine is very clean from what I can see. The only items in your log even semi malware are the software nag reminders to register.

O4 - Startup: PowerReg Scheduler V3.exe
O4 - Global Startup: PowerReg Scheduler V3.exe

Sorry in a way because it would have solved your problem, but no , you are back to the windows board, with a clean bill of health.

----------------------
BTW do look at the links below to my web site - my recommended software - all free - to keep you that way.

You do have a lot of programs starting up at boot time (The 04's in the log) you may be able to trim those down and it might help. Here is a site to help you work out which ones you dont need starting at boot, those regulars in the windows board would be able to help you disable them (if not come back to me - but I am swamped by malware posts and others would be able to help you, they can't help those with malware.).
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

jmf26 · Answer

You're right, I'm sorry in a way because I'd have loved to discover some kind of malware and solve the problem.

On the other hand I learned something more about malware because before that incident I thought that running ocassionally SpyBot could take care of every spyware/malware.

Thanks a lot for your help

Virus & Spyware

I cannot load Internet Explorer

Was this post helpful?